Chapter 73: The Means of a Golden Core Cultivator
“This fellow Daoist, don’t be reckless. If you have any demands, just state them.”
With a hostage in hand, the Nascent Soul cultivator didn’t dare to act rashly.
“I’m Qin Luan’s friend—Huang Li! I heard the Long Clan was targeting him. Now, I may not have many skills, but if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s not fearing death. Anyone who bullies my friends, I’ll kill them!” Jiang Li’s expression was fierce and murderous—it was clear to everyone that he was a man with nothing to lose.
The Nascent Soul cultivator cursed internally. Bullsh*t! This guy’s Golden Core was full and refined to the upper three grades—how could someone like that possibly be reckless with his life?
But he didn’t dare to take the risk and had no choice but to hear out Jiang Li’s demands.
“You will compensate my brother Qin Luan with ten high-grade spirit stones!”
“Ten? Impossible!” The Nascent Soul cultivator immediately refused, unafraid of Jiang Li’s threats.
Jiang Li smirked. “You noble clans always give your heirs a Substitute Death Talisman. Sure, it can save a life, but it can’t stop pain.”
He casually snapped one of Long Sanshui’s fingers.
Long Sanshui, spoiled and pampered all his life, had never endured such pain. He instantly burst into tears, wailing miserably.
Not a single person in the crowd felt sorry for him. On the contrary, they found it immensely satisfying.
Long Sanshui had committed countless atrocities—abducting innocent women, destroying families. Today, he finally got what he deserved.
Serves him right!
Jiang Li glanced at the dangling, broken finger and found it unsightly. For the sake of appearances, he took out a dagger and sliced it clean off.
He then spoke considerately, “Senior Nascent Soul, are you saying the Long Clan’s third son isn’t worth that much? Look, now that he’s lost a finger, I’ll only ask for nine high-grade spirit stones.”
“If you still think that’s too much, well, he’s got nine more fingers and ten toes.” Jiang Li grinned. “Tell me, Senior, how much do you want to pay? Five spirit stones? One?”
“If you have a grudge against the Long Clan, just say the word. I’ll settle it for you—guaranteed, not a single one of the Third Young Master’s fingers or toes will be left!”
The Nascent Soul elder felt like spitting blood. I don’t have a grudge against the Long Clan—you’re the one who has a grudge against me!
“Fine! It’s just ten high-grade spirit stones! Give it to him!” Long Sanshui shouted, glaring furiously at his supposed protector. He felt that the Nascent Soul elder his father had assigned to him was utterly useless—hesitating like a fool and allowing him to lose a finger.
Once he returned home, he would definitely demand that the patriarch have the ancestor kill this incompetent servant!
Idiot! This Huang Li is obviously making ridiculous demands. If we give in once, he’ll just keep asking for more!
A lost finger? So what? A single pill can regrow it! What’s the big deal?!
“Fine! Here are your ten high-grade spirit stones!” The Nascent Soul elder threw a pouch of spirit stones onto the ground, hoping Jiang Li would bend down to pick them up.
Jiang Li didn’t even look at it. “Swear to the Heavenly Dao that you won’t attack us and will let us leave the city safely.”
Both Long Sanshui and the Nascent Soul elder sneered inwardly. Swear not to attack? Hah! We’ve already put a bounty on your heads at the Heaven’s Kill Pavilion. Let’s see how long you last!
But outwardly, they obediently swore the oath.
Jiang Li picked up the spirit stone pouch, confirmed its contents, and then released Long Sanshui.
Long Sanshui immediately hid behind the Nascent Soul elder, his face filled with hatred as he glared at Jiang Li.
Jiang Li didn’t care at all. He regrouped with Qin Luan and Song Ying.
“W-We’re just… leaving like this?” Qin Luan was stunned by what he had just witnessed. He hadn’t expected such an extreme and violent approach.
Song Ying, too, was shocked to see this ruthless side of the Guardian of the Nine Provinces.
“When I was still in the Golden Core stage, I pulled stunts like this all the time. I only started restraining myself after I got stronger over the last few centuries,” Jiang Li said casually, as if there was nothing shameful about his past.
“But it’s not over yet. The Long Clan still hasn’t been dealt with.”
Jiang Li led the two to the City Lord’s Mansion. He handed a guard the pouch of spirit stones along with a letter. As for the spirit stones, Jiang Li said nothing, and the guards understood well enough.
Each guard took a high-grade spirit stone for themselves. The rest would go to the chief steward, who would then pass the letter to the City Lord.
“Aren’t you afraid they’ll just take the spirit stones and ignore your request?” Song Ying asked. This kind of tactic wouldn’t work in Great Zhou.
“I gave them high-grade spirit stones, which means I have some status and access to the upper ranks. If the steward finds out about this but wasn’t given a share, he might make things difficult for those guards. They can’t afford to take that risk—it’s not worth it.”
“Greedy people aren’t necessarily stupid.”
“What did you write in the letter?”
Jiang Li took out a dagger. “This blade is coated with poison. It won’t be fatal, but it seeps into the meridians like a parasitic worm, causing unbearable itchiness. Victims will scratch their own skin raw without even realizing it.
“But it only works on those below the Foundation Establishment stage, and anyone with a solid foundation can cleanse it themselves.”
Seeing how tense Qin Luan and Song Ying looked at the mention of poison, Jiang Li reassured them, “Relax. It doesn’t affect us.”
“The only way to get rid of it is by using divine sense to meticulously purge it from the body. Pills won’t work. And even a Nascent Soul cultivator’s divine sense lacks the precision for this—it has to be done by a Soul Formation expert.”
“Do you really think the Long Clan’s ancestor will bother dealing with this?” Song Ying was skeptical. After all, despite the massive conflict, the Long Clan’s ancestor had yet to step in.
“The Long Clan’s three young masters—have you ever heard of the eldest and second son abducting women in broad daylight?”
“They rarely do that,” Song Ying admitted.
“They’re focused on cultivation. They don’t have time for such nonsense.
“But Long Sanshui is the youngest and spoiled by his parents—that’s why he’s so lawless. If his father, the clan leader, sees his son suffering, don’t you think he’ll beg the ancestor for help?” Jiang Li said matter-of-factly.
“When a Soul Formation cultivator cleanses the poison, they must fully concentrate. Any interruption could lead to backlash. But once the process is complete, they recover quickly.”
“So in my letter, I advised the City Lord to find a way to interrupt the Long Clan’s ancestor mid-treatment—seizing the opportunity to eliminate him.”
“You really think the City Lord will act on this?” Song Ying asked.
“I smeared a bit of poison on the envelope. He’ll know soon enough.”
“The City Lord is a Soul Formation cultivator. He should be the undisputed ruler of this city, but the Long Clan’s presence has been a thorn in his side.
“There can’t be two tigers on one mountain. Likewise, a single city can’t have two Soul Formation powerhouses.
“All he needs is an opportunity. If he disrupts the Long Clan’s ancestor mid-treatment, even if he realizes I tricked him, he won’t have lost anything.”
“A guaranteed win with no risk—why wouldn’t he take the chance?”
“The poison has a latent period of over ten days, but thanks to Long Sanshui, it’ll take effect much sooner. If all goes as expected, we’ll see two Soul Formation cultivators clash tonight.”
Qin Luan’s eyes lit up, and he followed Jiang Li’s train of thought. “Because he’ll take a blood-circulating pill to regrow his severed finger, which will activate the poison early?”
“Finally using your brain.”
Jiang Li led them to a restaurant with the best view. He also had Yuan Wuxing reveal himself—ready to enjoy the show.
A thunderous roar echoed across Longyin City.
“Old Dragon, forgive my late-night intrusion!”
At the same time, assassins from the Heaven’s Kill Pavilion closed in behind them.