Chapter 16

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

In just half a month, Song Ankang’s strength had advanced rapidly from an ordinary person to the first minor realm of internal refinement. He was qualified to be called a second-rate expert.

Even though the Fate-Defying Heaven Manual had played a huge role in allowing him to improve so quickly, the medicinal herbs obtained from the storeroom had also contributed greatly. However, the consumption was even greater.

Three months’ worth of monthly allowance, combined with Liu Yuanqing’s three months’ worth of monthly allowance, was only enough for Song Ankang to use for half a month.

As the owner of Chaoyun Village, his monthly allowance was the highest here. The medicinal herbs he could exchange for were very impressive.

These medicinal herbs could be used by ordinary martial artists for a year or two, but when it came to Song Ankang, they were used up in half a month.

Even though he was the owner of Chaoyun Manor, it was already good enough that he could get an advance of three months’ salary. It would be impossible for him to get another advance.

Without the help of medicinal herbs, there was only one way for Song Ankang to increase his strength at a high speed, and that was to practice more dirty punches.

Song Ankang reminded Qiu Shi with a bitter smile before coming to the training room. He locked the door and began to use the Injury Fist.

“Boom…”

“Ow…”

Song Ankang cried out in pain. Compared to the pain of his flesh and bones, the pain of his heart was much more terrifying. Just one punch was enough to make Song Ankang unable to withstand it.

“You have used the Seven Wounds Demonic Sutra. Because of the side effects of the Seven Wounds Demonic Sutra, all of your muscles and tendons have been damaged… the Fate-Defying Heaven Manual has taken effect. It is currently absorbing energy from the outside world and is about to transform into a side effect. Please wait a moment!”

Song Ankang collapsed to the ground in pain, waiting for the feedback of the side effects. At the same time, the contents of the Seven Wounds Demonic Sutra, the Hidden Heaven and Earth Technique, and the Traceless Snow Steps Technique kept appearing in his mind. He wanted to divert his attention by comprehending these cultivation techniques, but it was still very painful.

If not for the fact that he had been cultivating the Seven Wounds Demonic Sutra for the past half a month and the side effects of absorbing it had increased his mental will by a lot, Song Ankang would have fainted from the pain.

Unfortunately, one had to be especially careful when cultivating in the Internal Realm. Song Ankang did not dare to faint. Otherwise, he would have to punch him twice in a row.

“The Fate-Defying Heaven Manual has accumulated enough energy and is beginning to play a role… your wounds are being healed, your blood vitality is increasing, your bones are strengthening!”

After an unknown period of time, the feedback of the side effects finally arrived. Feeling the heart that felt like it was soaking in a hot spring, Song Ankang felt comfortable.

Unfortunately, the feedback from the side effects only lasted for a few minutes, so Song Ankang did not even have time to savor it. Fortunately, the tempering of his heart had increased a lot.

He left the training room and ate something. Even though there was no more medicinal cuisine, there was still beast meat to enjoy and the energy inside was not bad. It was barely enough for Song Ankang to practice the Seven Wounds Demonic Sutra for ten minutes.

After practicing the technique, Song Ankang hesitated for a moment, but still threw another dirty punch with a bitter face, then fell to the ground and twitched.

Under his fearless training, Song Ankang’s tempering speed of the internal organs were still considerable. It was at least dozens of times faster than cultivators of the same level.

However, with the help of sufficient medicinal herbs, the speed of improvement would be even faster. Moreover, the cultivation method of the Seven Wounds Demonic Sutra could effectively increase one’s mental willpower.

Therefore, while practicing hard, Song Ankang was also looking for a suitable way to earn money. After searching through the host body’s memories and borrowing some modern ways to earn money, he had a vague idea.

However, this path still needed to be perfected and could not be taken out immediately.

After dinner that night, Song Ankang was about to return to his bedroom to practice the Seven Wounds Demonic Sutra when he heard a commotion outside. He thought it would subside soon, but the commotion became louder and louder.

Song Ankang frowned and led Qiu Shi and Jiang Yunhe, who were also unable to sleep, towards the storeroom where the commotion was coming from. He found that more than half of the entire manor was gathered there, noisily doing something.

When they got closer, from the noise of the crowd, Song Ankang understood the reason for the matter.

“Hao Jiyong, hurry up and admit it. Other than you, who else would steal those precious herbs? If you admit it now, you can still end up well. Otherwise, don’t blame us for being impolite and killing you directly.”

“The weather is dry this year, so it’s not good to collect the costs. It’s all because of the precious medicinal herbs left behind last year. Now that you’ve stolen several precious medicinal herbs, how can we afford to pay taxes? You’re trying to force everyone to their deaths.”

“Steward Liu also said that you were the only one who used the key to the storeroom ten days ago. After that, the storeroom started to be robbed. After we checked carefully, we didn’t find any traces of demon beasts or monsters in the storeroom. This means that the theft of the storeroom must have been done by someone. Who else could it be?”

“That’s right. A few days ago, someone saw you selling a ten-year-old ginseng in Tongxin Town. Among the precious herbs lost in our warehouse, there was a ten-year-old ginseng. Moreover, someone discovered that your brother had become addicted to gambling again and owed the casino a lot of money. You must have done such a crazy thing to repay your brother’s debt.”

The theft of the warehouse pointed to a warehouse worker named Hao Jiyong. Hearing everyone’s condemnation, Hao Jiyong became a little anxious.

“I definitely didn’t steal those precious herbs. I, Hao Jiyong, am an upright person. I’ve never stolen anything from anyone, let alone the precious herbs in the storeroom. I didn’t do this.”

“I did use the key to the storeroom ten days ago, but instead of secretly using it to match a new key, I went to get food for you. Besides, I wasn’t the only one who used the key to the storeroom ten days ago. The others did, too. Why did they have to say that I stole something from the storeroom?”

“My brother does owe the casino a large sum of money these past few days. Our family is unable to repay it, so every night, I risk going to the surrounding forest to find medicinal herbs to sell to repay his debt. That ten-year-old ginseng was found in the red leaf forest and not from our storeroom.”

“If you don’t believe me, you can ask my wife and children. They all know about this and keep telling me not to take risks.”

However, not many people believed Hao Jiyong’s explanation.

“If you say you’re upright, then you’re upright. I even said that I’m a first-rate expert, but who would believe me?”

“None of the others had a motive for stealing the matching key and stealing the precious herbs. Only you had that motive.”

“Your wife and children must be on your side. Why would they expose you? Hao Jiyong, just admit it. There’s no one else in this matter but you.”

“Even if you didn’t do it, you’re definitely involved. Maybe your brother did. You’re just an accomplice.”

Because Hao Jiyong was more suspicious and the evidence he presented was not too strong, more people thought that he was behind this.

However, Hao Jiyong refused to admit it. Seeing that he was so stubborn, the warehouse manager, Liu Yuanqing, was a little angry. He walked forward and pointed at Hao Jiyong. “Since he refuses to admit it, let’s take him to the dungeon and teach him a lesson. Let’s see if he still dares to be so stubborn.”