Chapter Forty-Eight: Blood Burn!

The voice was shrill and filled with disbelief.

Attacking with a gun sneakily, and even using poison!

Besides himself, the Monk had never seen anyone so despicable.

Limpness and weakness spread from the root of his thigh.

His vision kept darkening, and stars flashed before his eyes.

Especially his lungs, which burned with a searing pain.

The Monk knew life or death hung in the balance of an instant.

If he wanted to live, he had to fight with everything he had.

But, thinking of the silver in his temple,

Thinking of the female benefactors in his temple,

The Monk couldn’t summon an ounce of fighting spirit.

The only reason he dared to charge earlier was for greater glory and wealth, and the confidence given by the two fine steel shields in his hands, but now, poisoned and clearly caught in a trap.

Right!

A trap!

Surely there was something more powerful waiting for him behind!

Thinking of this, the Monk’s last shred of courage receded like the tide.

“Amitabha!”

With a low cry, the Monk intended to beg for mercy.

But Ding Xie would not allow it.

Lifting his leg and stepping forward, he lunged.

Raising his hand and extending his claw, he locked onto the throat.

Bang!

Ding Xie’s knee struck the fine steel shield, and 【Unarmed Combat.Armor Piercing】 flashed.

The invisible penetrating force was like a knife digging into bone, tearing flesh and severing tendons.

The Monk’s hands trembled, and the two shields flew away.

The moment his guard was down, 【Unarmed Combat.Gale】 flashed again.

Ding Xie’s right hand, shaped like a tiger claw, swept across the Monk’s throat like lightning.

Pfft!

Blood sprayed out.

The Monk’s body swayed, and he fell off the roof.

【Firearms Kill: Heretic Monk X4, Experience +400】

【Tiger Fist Kill: ‘Monk’, Experience +800】

【Battle Determined, Talent ‘Martial Star’ Activated, Experience Increased by 100%!】

【rookie instance Determined, Experience Increased by 100%】

【Experience +3600】

…Experience points jumped forward again, only one step away from leveling up.

Ding Xie glanced at the notifications but wasn’t rushed.

Time,

Was still sufficient!

He began looting the bodies and decapitating them!

…Wandering for ninety years, seeking a path without a confidant.

Eating neither meat nor vegetables while reading Taoist scriptures, passing away peacefully was what he deserved.

The Old Daoist recited his death poem.

The gentle vital energy within him began to stir restlessly.

But just as it started, the Old Daoist noticed the Poisonous Bees had stopped swarming down.

Lifting his head, he saw the Poisonous Bees in the air had also dispersed.

Then, there were gunshots.

The Old Daoist knew something had changed.

He immediately jumped up, shoved another antidote pill into Zhang Yian’s mouth, and then stood guard with his twin guns, warily scanning his surroundings.

After a few minutes, the Old Daoist saw the shadows nearby begin to writhe.

It was Ding Xie.

Ding Xie walked back along the shadows of the wall, carrying a bulging, blood-soaked kasaya.

Without wasting words, Ding Xie shook the kasaya.

Six heads rolled out.

Seeing Ding Xie, joy lit up the Old Daoist’s eyes.

Seeing the pile of heads on the ground, the Old Daoist was momentarily stunned.

They were all people he knew.

The Little Devil, the Monk, and the Monk’s four disciples.

Two of the Thirteen Protectors, dead just like that?

So easily?

A vicious man!

Truly an unparalleled vicious man!

The back of the Old Daoist’s neck grew cold, and this chill began to spread toward his heart, especially when he saw Ding Xie’s calm expression.

Previously, the Old Daoist had half-jokingly said he couldn’t afford to offend him.

Now, the Old Daoist realized he truly couldn’t afford to offend him.

“immeasurable blessings and longevity.

Thank you, Brother Yao, for saving my life.

This Old Daoist has nothing of value left, and you have already taken my core Legacy, the ‘Shenxiao Visualization Method’. All I have left are some small life-saving tricks. I wonder if Brother Yao is willing to learn them?

The Old Daoist looked at Ding Xie.

“I will learn!”

Ding Xie was very direct.

The other party was willing to repay the favor, and it happened to be something he needed.

Ding Xie had no reason to refuse.

Likewise, the Old Daoist was straightforward. Seeing Ding Xie nod, he immediately began reciting the incantation.

The incantation was not complicated, only a few dozen words.

It only required stimulating a few hidden Acupoints.

The Old Daoist recited it once and then stopped.

Watching Ding Xie close his eyes to sense the hidden Acupoints, the Old Daoist was not impatient and continued speaking.

‘Blood Burning Art’ was something I found accidentally while organizing unknown ancient texts. Although it is quite unorthodox and harms one’s Foundation, it is the best trump card to keep hidden. I am teaching it to you now.

I am teaching it to you now.

Use it cautiously!

The Old Daoist kept talking.

Words flashed before Ding Xie’s eyes—

【Contacting a Secret Art beyond the scope of the current Instance world, determining…】

【Determined to be a rookie instance, determination passed, no additional difficulty added!】

【Determined to be personally taught by the Creator, learning difficulty reduced!】

【Corresponding hint provided: Physique greater than 10】

…【Blood Burning Art: Mastery -> Level 0 -> Level 1】

【Blood Burning Art Level 1: Burns vital energy to exert strength far exceeding the usual; Effect: Blood Burn (Burns vital energy to gain an additional +3 bonus to Physique for the duration of one stick of incense)】

(Note 1: If Physique is less than 10, Physique permanently decreases with each use)

(Note 2: If Physique is greater than 10, requires significant eating after each use)

…”Thank you!”

After reading the introduction to the 【Blood Burning Art】, Ding Xie sincerely thanked the Old Daoist.

The increase in 【Physique】 was the most direct manifestation of strength.

Even if it was temporary and had certain requirements,

In a life-or-death struggle, even the slightest change could affect the outcome.

Moreover, 3 points of 【Physique】 was quite a lot.

A smile also appeared on the Old Daoist’s face.

It was not easy to repay a debt to an unparalleled vicious man.

It was fine if he repaid it with his own life.

But if he ended up sacrificing the entire Iron Temple, he would have no face to see his Master or Senior Brothers.

To be able to repay it by teaching a Cultivation Technique was excellent.

Then, the Old Daoist eagerly took his leave.

‘That brat Zhang Yian has found some kind of demon; he insists on finding someone, and I have to go with him.

Brother Yao, you must be careful.

The Imperial Household Guard has a few old monsters.

And… the Zhan Gan Chu Six Guards!’

The Old Daoist took a few steps, then turned his head again, glancing at the residence. Realizing what Ding Xie was probably doing, the Old Daoist couldn’t help but offer a reminder.

The old monsters of the Imperial Household Guard?

The Zhan Gan Chu Six Guards?

The corner of Ding Xie’s mouth curved upwards.

He looked forward to it.

He hoped to meet them.

Afterward, Ding Xie did not linger here any longer.

Even if the Old Daoist hadn’t warned him, Ding Xie knew this residence had greatly diminished in value.

The gunshots had sounded; those big shots would not come here anymore.

A gentleman does not stand under a crumbling wall!

Ding Xie clearly understood the temperaments of those big shots; even if it was just a slight possibility, the big shots who were supposed to come to this residence would not come!

They would definitely change locations!

If they came, it would be to send people to investigate.

If it were normal circumstances, Ding Xie would wait and try to follow the trail.

But not today.

Today, there was a more important target—

The japanese people Pioneer Group at the Shallow Beach!

He had heard this information at Laphdon Manor.

Ding Xie had not forgotten.

As for those big shots at this residence?

Hong Kong wasn’t that big.

Mountains don’t move, but water flows.

Perhaps they would run into each other?

Ding Xie leaped over the wall.

He didn’t head straight for the Shallow Beach, but first returned to his temporary stronghold.

Not only to bring back the spoils he had just acquired, but also… to swallow the ziwei xia pill!

To push the Iron Cloth Shirt to a higher level!

Originally, this was the first thing Ding Xie planned to do upon returning to his temporary stronghold, but he had postponed it because he accidentally glimpsed that carriage.

Now, he was returning to the original plan.

His steps were light, his body like a ghost.

Ding Xie moved through the streets and alleys.

Soon, he returned to his temporary lodging.

A dilapidated courtyard where the roof of the main three-room house was open to the sky.

As soon as he entered the courtyard and confirmed no one was following him, Ding Xie took out the spoils obtained from the ‘Little Devil’ and the ‘Monk’ and examined them closely.

One item in particular drew Ding Xie’s utmost attention.