Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

The talisman in his hand had a supple, delicate feel unlike ordinary paper, a faint herbal fragrance drifting into his nose. Cinnabar mixed with Demon Beast Blood traced dragon-and-snake strokes across it, inscribing complex and abstruse Dao seals.

The effect and usage of this talisman had long since been secretly transmitted to him by Li Heng: it was a talisman that concealed one’s aura, with a particular efficacy in masking Blood Seals.

"Let’s test it."

Su Mu tried channeling a strand of Fire Sparrow Gang Force into it. In an instant, the runes on the talisman lit up and flowed with radiance; when he pressed it close to his heart, the aura of the Blood Seal on his chest was immediately and completely obscured.

After confirming the talisman was useful, Su Mu nodded inwardly, and his gaze fell onto the secret scroll.

This secret scroll was a mutual selection.

If it was not completed within three days, the agreement between Su Mu and Li Heng, and between him and the Li Family, would naturally be void.

If Su Mu wished to take part in it, he first had to prove he was worth the investment, that he had the strength to earn his reward. Tao Han’s secret scroll was a pledge of fealty.

"Jiao Blood Gang... Tao Han..."

The information on the secret scroll was extremely detailed. Before Su Mu’s eyes rose the scene of that night when the Blood Wolf Woman attacked the Black Whale; judging from how wantonly Liu Hong killed people that night, without the slightest scruple—

These River Bandits were vicious and depraved to the core; most of the crimes listed on the scroll were likely true. Moreover, Su Mu faintly felt that the style of the records on the scroll was extremely similar to the Demon Slayer Bureau’s bounty writs, only lacking the Bureau’s seal.

"Killing these people is nothing more than killing them. This is a test Li Heng set for me... Two Fifth-Grade Cultivators are laid out in the open, but in the dark there may well be more than two."

"And the secret meeting between Tao Han and the Hall Master of the Jiao Blood Gang happens to be set at Hai hour two days from now... Hai hour is already past curfew. Even if I succeed, I’ll still need to wait until the third day to return to the city; that means I’ll have to hold out until dawn under the retaliation from both the Tao Family and the Jiao Blood Gang."

"If I’m injured when I strike, miss the three-day appointment, or even die outside the city... that would only mean my strength was insufficient."

Thinking this, Su Mu’s emotions did not fluctuate much. There are no free lunches in this world; all things have their price. If you want to obtain something, you must pay the corresponding cost.

Let alone the chance to observe and comprehend at close range when Li Heng assaults the Profound Realm—a chance to personally sense an impact on the Upper Three Grades may not be once in a millennium, but it is still extraordinarily precious.

When a cultivator assaults a new Realm, it is often the moment when they are most vulnerable. If they are disturbed during the impact, at best their previous efforts are wasted and they suffer heavy injuries; at worst, body dies and Dao perishes. Unless it is someone they trust completely, they would never allow anyone to observe from the side.

Not to mention others—even Su Mu himself, whenever he assaults a Realm, will always seek out a secluded, deserted spot to make the attempt.

And the fact that the Sun Family Ancestor had gone so far as to send him a special sound-transmission reminder was enough to show how precious this opportunity was.

"My current strength is no weaker than the Blood Wolf Woman’s. I might as well use this chance to thoroughly test my capabilities."

Su Mu’s eyes flickered. Once he decided on something, he would not hesitate; besides, he still had Fire Sparrow Wings as a trump card. Even if he was outmatched, if he wished to retreat, a few Fifth-Grade Cultivators would not be able to keep him.

With a thought, a line of text surfaced before Su Mu’s eyes.

Music Arts (entry-level 30%)

Just one visit to the building to listen to music had raised his skill by seven percent—an effect that could truly be called immediate.

The Vast Sword appeared at Su Mu’s fingertips. After examining it a few times, he nodded inwardly; the hidden edge on the little sword had grown somewhat keener, and its lethality had also slightly increased.

...

In cultivation there is no sense of sun or moon; in the blink of an eye, two days passed.

Twilight poured into the courtyard, as if a layer of broken gold had been spread across it. Beneath the locust tree, a human silhouette slowly awoke and rose to his feet.

"Master, come back early."

"Alright."

From the wine house came Li Lu’s voice. Su Mu responded, then stepped across the scattered gold in the yard and pushed the door open, walking out of the small courtyard.

Under the night sky, a large ship slowly sailed out from the lonely isle, entering the eastern edge of the Black Waters via a hidden waterway.

"All of you, keep your spirits up. If anyone causes trouble tonight and delays the Hall Master’s business, go present yourself to the Hall Master for punishment!"

A lean, scar-faced man spoke in a low voice atop the deck, his cold, sharp gaze sweeping across those before him. The gathered Jiao Blood Gang members on the deck did not dare meet his eyes, and all lowered their heads in response.

"Yes, Sect Leader Li!"

The gang members answered respectfully on the surface, but inwardly were somewhat scornful, not truly convinced. Once they turned away, they began muttering in low voices.

"New officers always set three fires. He’s nothing but a traitor who came out of the Giant Wave Gang; in terms of seniority, he can’t compare to us brothers at all."

"Exactly. The Wave-Surge Hall’s reputation was carved out with our lives. What right does some outsider have to point fingers in front of the brothers?"

"The Hall Master says this Li Xuan is cautious in his conduct; I say he’s just a coward. If he’s scared, why even board the ship?"

Li Xuan, as a Fifth-Grade Martial Artist, did indeed possess strength. But when both parties met tonight, there would be no fewer than three Fifth-Grade Cultivators aboard the ship. Add in all these brothers, and even an ordinary Fourth-Grade Cultivator would have to think twice before making a move.

This was not battle on land, but on the water—it was their home ground.

Besides, how many Fourth-Grade Cultivators could there be in Donglai County anyway? And the very matter of tonight’s secret meeting was known to only a handful; why be so cautious and timid?

The stronger a Martial Artist is, the sharper their five senses. The mutterings behind his back naturally could not escape Li Xuan’s ears. His brows furrowed slightly, but it was not because of their comments—it was because of the unaccountable unease in his heart.

Li Xuan had defected from the Black Snake Gang to join the Jiao Blood Gang. Tonight, Liu E had brought him along to attend the secret meeting; this was trust, but also a test.

The Black Snake Gang had already been wiped out. If he could not perform outstandingly tonight at the secret meeting, his days in the Jiao Blood Gang would surely not go smoothly.

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