The sun blazed like a molten coin in the sky, half-shrouded by drifting clouds that cast shifting patterns of light and shadow over Black River Mountain.
Noon had arrived, but Wu Ming showed no urgency as he ended his meditation. His breathing was steady, his mind utterly calm.
The Blood Elemental Essence Heart had already stabilized, no longer requiring his attention.
Instead, his gaze shifted to the pile of Scarlet Blood Crystals resting beside him. The deep red stones glowed faintly under the light, emanating a rich aura of vitality.
'Still a good amount left,' he reflected. 'If I sell them, I'll make a decent profit. But selling them in the sect is asking for trouble.'
Scarlet Blood Crystals were rare and especially unseen in the hands of an ordinary outer sect disciple. If word got out that he had them, numerous eyes filled with greed would look at him.
Wu Ming snorted. 'Not worth the headache.'
His thoughts shifted, and suddenly, his eyes lit up.
'There's the Black Market, right? Heh, If there was ever a place to sell Scarlet Blood Crystals without concern, it was there. And considering the type of goods being sold this time, I might even fetch a higher price than expected.'
His lips curled into a faint smirk before his expression turned cold once more. His mind wandered to Su Lingxue.
It hadn't been long since her death, so no one had raised an alarm. But given a few more days, would the sect then bother investigating a missing outer disciple? Probably not, but Wu Ming couldn't be certain.
Disciples often vanished for days or weeks, either lost in secluded cultivation, training, or falling prey to the dangers of the outside world. As long as they weren't from a major faction, had ties to someone powerful, or were themselves a big shot within the sect, the sect didn't care.
But not all disappearances were ignored. If too many disciples went missing, the sect would have to step in. But in Su Lingxue's case, if someone close to her got suspicious, they could pay a fee and file a request with the Execution Hall.
That would be a problem.
Wu Ming's eyes flickered. 'Well, too late to worry about that now.'
Her death had benefited him.
Of course, if he compared the gains he earned from Su Lingxue's death to the benefits received from Uncle Sun, the difference was vast.
Could he have squeezed more value out of her? Maybe. But hindsight was a bitch, and he wasn't the type to cry over spilled blood.
Every choice he made, he accepted fully.
A decision that seemed optimal at one moment might later appear flawed due to the unpredictability of life. But what was done was done, and Wu Ming had no regrets.
He rose to his feet, stretching his limbs before stepping out into the warm afternoon air.
His first stop wasn't the inner sect for his mission rewards. He had other business to handle first.
---
Within the winding paths of the outer sect, tucked away in a quiet corner, stood a well maintained two-floored bamboo house.
From time to time, disciples would come here and leave quickly.
A man of skill lived inside.
This man was known to have eyes in the dark, ears in the wind. If you wanted to know something within the outer sect, you came to him.
His name was Han Zhao. A cultivation base at the Ninth Layer of the Green Copper Realm, a top-tier figure in the Black River Outer sect.
Wu Ming walked right into the courtyard.
Inside, Han Zhao sat behind a low wooden table, pouring himself a cup of tea. His long white hair was tied loosely, his robe slightly open at the chest.
Despite his casual posture, his eyes gleamed with intelligence.
"Well, well. Junior Brother Wu Ming." Han Zhao lifted his cup, gaze flickering. "Didn't expect to see you here. What do you need?"
Wu Ming clasped his hands in greeting. "Senior Brother Han, I need a list."
Han Zhao took a slow sip. "What kind of list?"
"Disciples in the outer sect who have no affiliations. No faction ties, no close connections with inner sect disciples. The loners." Wu Ming replied.
Han Zhao's brows raised slightly. A moment later, he chuckled. "A rather specific request, Junior Brother Wu. Are you planning to invite them into your Black Ink Pavilion?"
Wu Ming smiled indifferently. "Nothing like that. Just curious."
Han Zhao smirked but did not press further.
"Five spirit stones."
Wu Ming took out five lustrous stones, placing them on the table. Han Zhao smiled lightly before retrieving a jade slip, pressing it against his forehead. Threads of spiritual energy flickered as information was inscribed into the jade.
A few breaths later, he tossed it over.
Wu Ming caught it, scanning it with his divine sense. Names, faces, cultivation levels, and other minor details were neatly recorded inside.
He clasped his hands in thanks before turning around to leave.
Han Zhao suddenly chuckled. "You know, I'm curious. What's this about?"
Wu Ming paused in his steps, turning part of his face back, smiling coldly. "You sell information, not questions."
Han Zhao laughed lightly. "That's true... But if you ever need more information, you know where to find me."
Wu Ming didn't respond. He walked out, disappearing into the growing evening shadows.
Han Zhao watched his departing figure, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"Hmm, something's different about him today. He was more unrefined than usual. Did something happen..?"
Han Zhao pondered for a moment before circulating his spiritual energy and flicking his sleeves. A paper plane shot out and vanished with the wind.
Then, he returned to enjoying his tea.
---
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the Black River Sect in a deep orange hues.
Inside a wooden house in the outer sect, a young cultivator sat alone. His name was Liu Ren. He was a man of few talents and even fewer achievements. His cultivation base was at the third Layer of the Green Copper Realm.
Right now, a cup of wine rested in his hand. He was already half-drunk, his face flushed as he muttered to himself.
"Bitch… thinks she's too good for me?" Liu Ren sneered, his voice slurred. "I cultivate day and night… I'm not worthless. One day, she'll regret it."
A heartbroken drunkard, wallowing in his own delusions.
Then a sudden explosion rocked the house.
BOOM-!!
Wooden shards flew in all directions as a violent force blasted through. Liu Ren fell back from his seat, his wine spilling across the floor.
His drunken haze vanished instantly. Panic surged through his chest as he scrambled to his feet, grabbing his sword.
"Who dares—"
Before he could finish, a jade-green dragon surged forward, its serpentine body coiling through the air like a living whip.
It was too fast.
Liu Ren barely had time to react. The dragon coiled around him, its jade body wrapping around him in a deadly, crushing embrace.
Bones creaked. Blood burst from his mouth. Liu Ren's vision blurred as agony shot through his limbs.
"Ahhh–!" He screamed miserably, his body powerless in the dragon's grasp.
A figure stepped through the broken doorway, bathed in the dying sunlight.
Wu Ming's face was expressionless as he stared at him.
Liu Ren struggled fiercely, but the jade-green dragon only squeezed tighter. His ribs bent. His organs felt like they were about to rupture.
Wu Ming stepped forward and slapped him across the face.
Liu Ren's head snapped to the side.
"Calm down," Wu Ming said flatly.
Liu Ren gasped, his body trembling. He looked at Wu Ming in shock, eyes wide with terror.
Wu Ming smiled slightly. "You're going to accept a ranking battle with me."
Liu Ren's face twisted. "You… you bastard! This isn't how it's done! If you want a ranking duel, you have to—"
Wu Ming snorted. With a flick of his fingers, the jade-green dragon roared and tightened.
Liu Ren let out a strangled gasp as his ribs began to crack. More blood dripped from his mouth, even his ears bled now.
Wu Ming's voice was calm. "You either accept the battle, or you die here."
Liu Ren clenched his teeth, his heart pounding wildly. He wanted to curse, to spit in Wu Ming's face. But the pain… the pain was unbearable.
He had no choice.
"I… I accept!" he forced the words out.