In the secret chamber, Li Yuan temporarily put aside distractions and focused on memorizing the "Eighth Grade Blood Regulation" method from "Soul-Throwing Technique."

This method is an internal manipulation that doesn't show externally. However, accumulating qi and blood still requires the cultivation posture from the "Ninth Grade" level. Thus, in the maidservants' eyes, he appeared to be arduously practicing the Ninth Grade level of "Soul-Throwing Technique."

A few days ago, when he was with Yu Mao, he casually asked about how long it would take to break through to the Eighth Grade.

Yu Mao said that with a cultivation skill, resources, and talent, reaching the Ninth Grade takes about over a year. Among these, the most crucial is talent. Many people, no matter how hard they try in their lifetime, cannot cultivate into the Ninth Grade. As for what talent is, it's hard to say. One can only say that those with talent are more likely to develop Shadow Blood.

However, to enter the Eighth Grade, it takes at least two to three months, and it takes over three years to truly achieve it.

This aligns with the memories obtained in Li Yuan's mind and what he heard from Xi Yan that day, "To train with Puppets, you need to at least enter the Eighth Grade, which will be three to four years later."

In other words, within a year, if he couldn't break through the Ninth Grade of "Soul-Throwing Technique," it would be reasonable. On the contrary, if he broke through early, that would be a genius; if he broke through now... it would be a disaster.

But no matter what, before the breakthrough, he was still at the Ninth Grade, so using the Ninth Grade power wouldn't be contradictory.

After practicing in the secret chamber for a while, Li Yuan continued to the martial arts platform to grind the Shadow Blood using the Ninth Grade method.

Time flew by...

Unconsciously, he was drenched in sweat again.

As usual, Xi Yan brought in a bathtub, undressed the boy, and accompanied him for a bath, wiping him with medicinal packs.

During this process, Li Yuan's spirit was quickly recovering.

He let this enchanting woman serve him, cleaning his body and relieving his fatigue.

Meanwhile, he was pondering over the matter of demon beast meat.

First is money, second is how to purchase it in the black market...

...

A moment later.

Li Yuan, wearing a clean Profound Robe, arrived at the north gate of the black market.

He respectfully put down the cultivation skill and said, "Teacher, I want to go to Xiao Mo Mountain to train for a few days."

Master Li squinted his eyes slightly, swaying with the rocking chair, and after a while, said, "You were originally a hunter from Little Ink Workshop, going to Xiao Mo Mountain to train is fine... but I still want to remind you of one thing."

"Please, go ahead."

Master Li said hoarsely, "In this world, in the vast mountains and seas, in places sparsely populated, avoid going deep..."

Li Yuan felt a pull at his heart, and out of curiosity, he asked, "Is there danger?"

Master Li said, "This is the warning left by my master, your grandmaster."

Li Yuan asked, "Even you, teacher... do you need to follow it?"

Master Li nodded.

Li Yuan shivered internally, and said in a trembling voice, "Could it be that there really are... ghosts in the world?

In the neighborhoods, there are often strange talks about ghosts, are these... true?"

Master Li strangely neither confirmed nor denied, and after a long time, said, "Maybe there are, maybe there aren't. But those who have seen them have already disappeared, so how would you know... if there are or aren't."

Li Yuan's Adam's apple moved, and it was only at this moment he realized that the last time he managed to escape, it was almost an act of defiance against fate.

It was a sure-death scenario...

The danger of these deep mountains and ancient forests instantly climbed to the highest level in his heart.

However, what's more frightening is that this terror might... be slowly approaching.

Maybe... it has already appeared on this island of the black market.

He said, "I will heed the warning of my grandmaster."

"You may go."

"Student takes his leave."

Li Yuan took a few steps, and another voice came from behind.

"The spot for Inner Sect Disciple of Blood Saber Sect has already been secured for you, but the identity token still needs some time..."

"Thank you, teacher."

Li Yuan turned back respectfully, wanting to ask, "Could the disappearances on this island also be related to those unverifiable ghosts", but he held back, said no more, quickly turned to leave, and then swiftly headed to the South City's boat docking area.

He might not come to this place for a while...

While waiting for the boat at the docking area, he suddenly heard a bustling noise coming from the southwest corner, as if many people were shouting, with splashing water sounds along with some chaos and panic buzzing noise.

This commotion attracted the attention of many.

At the docking area, besides Li Yuan waiting for the boat, there were some other black market guests, and some sellers preparing to return to town for dining and entertainment.

With the noise, naturally, there were curious people running over to check it out.

In no time, a few who went to see what happened ran back, whispering to each other.

"It's the three Blood Saber Sect disciples who disappeared that day, they have been found, all of them... alas, they were found at the bottom of the lake. What on earth is going on?"

"What else could it be? I've heard that Blood Saber Sect and the Wei Family don't get along. When the Red Lotus Thieves tried to break the city, they temporarily put aside their feud. Now that the Red Lotus Thieves aren't attacking here, this conflict naturally arises again."

"Yes, indeed... We shouldn't get involved in these big power struggles. Let's just wait for our boat. Oh, speak of the devil and it arrives, haha... Tonight when I get ashore, I'm going to hire a courtesan at the Celestial Fragrance Building and have a good time walking around."

"Hey? Hire? Brother, how do you 'hire'?"

The conversation quickly veered off course.

When men chat about women, it's always convivial, with no barriers.

Li Yuan looked solemnly into the distance, where... a corpse was being pulled from the water, one of them being Cai Ze's...

He didn't look, only boarded the boat in silence when the bamboo-covered boat arrived.

After the boat docked, Li Yuan did not immediately return home, instead, he detoured to Baiyun Alley.

He vaguely recalled more than a month ago, carrying the two tael breakfast from "Yichan Residence," and the jar of "Rice Brew," pacing and waiting at Cai Ze's doorstep, but in the blink of an eye, circumstances had changed.

Soon, he found himself standing in front of Cai Ze's house again.

After hesitating slightly, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.

No one responded, and the room was dark.

He knocked again.

After a long while, a thin, cautious female voice came from inside the house.

"Who is it?"

"Miss Huang, it's me, Li Yuan."

The words had barely fallen when the deep night of the courtyard echoed with a soft opening of a door, followed by hurried footsteps.

Beyond the door, a woman's voice came again, with her closely pressing against the crack of the door.

"Is that you, Lord Li?"

Even though the title had changed, Li Yuan knew she was referring to him, so he replied, "It's me."

Creak~~

The door swung open, revealing a pretty face; it was Huang Ya.

Behind Huang Ya stood a round-faced timid woman, watching him nervously.

The woman had some charm, her skin appearing pale, perhaps from long seclusion or physical frailty.

Li Yuan stepped in quickly, and Huang Ya hurriedly closed the door.

Li Yuan looked at the timid woman and asked, "Who is she?"

Huang Ya was silent for a moment, then suddenly dropped to her knees straight towards Li Yuan.

Li Yuan hastened to support her and asked, "Miss Huang, what are you doing?"

Huang Ya softly replied, "If Lord Li does not mind, please allow me to explain inside."

"Alright..."

Once inside, Huang Ya began to slowly recount the story.

It turned out that Cai Ze had a wife; however, fearing he would not fit in with the Blood Saber Sect's martial artists, he insisted on telling others he had no wife, only two maids, one in the outer hall and one in the inner hall.

The one in the outer hall was Huang Ya, while the one in the inner hall was actually Cai Ze's legitimate wife, Zuo Xiuxiu.

Since Cai Ze's disappearance, the two women had been terrified, hiding at home every day.

"Although the master had many friends, as of now, only you, Lord Li, have come... Moreover, I feel that Lord Li is different from others, hence I dared to confide the truth," Huang Ya said softly.

Zuo Xiuxiu, in tears, said, "Lord Li, can you help me find out about my husband's whereabouts? Everyone outside says he's missing, fearing the worst..."

Li Yuan paused in silence and then said, "Sister-in-law, my condolences. Brother Cai has already passed away; this was discovered this evening... The reason I came here is that Brother Cai once helped me, so I came to check on you."

"Ah?!" Zuo Xiuxiu suddenly looked up, her expression filled with both sorrow and fear, seeming as if she were petrified.

Li Yuan asked, "What plans do you and Miss Huang have for the future?"

Zuo Xiuxiu appeared at a loss.

Huang Ya suddenly leaned in and whispered something in the woman's ear.

After a long while, Zuo Xiuxiu bit her lip and nodded.

Huang Ya said, "Lord Li, I... would like to ask a favor."

"Please go ahead, Miss Huang," Li Yuan said.

Huang Ya said, "The master once mentioned that the Blood Saber Sect has a rule that when a sect member dies, all of the member's belongings go to the sect.

And the maids are also considered belongings...

At that time, the Blood Saber Sect generally has three ways to deal with us.

First, they keep us, allowing other sect members to buy us;

Second, they reward us by giving us to some members;

Third, they sell us directly to a brothel...

I... I would like to ask you to buy us, then free my lady… As for me, I am willing to serve as a maid, for life without regrets.

The silver needed, we have at home; while the Blood Saber Sect hasn't arrived, I... I will take some for you, just hoping you can come and buy us... The price should only be fifty to sixty taels of silver."

Li Yuan sighed with relief and said, "It's good to be of help. By that time, Miss Huang, you can leave with your sister-in-law, and I will also return any excess money to you."

Upon hearing this, Huang Ya was stunned, but then she and Cai Ze's wife knelt, trying to bow in gratitude; after being lifted up by Li Yuan, they quickly fetched two glittering Gold Yuanbao, totaling ten taels, followed by ten Silver Yuanbao, totaling a hundred taels.

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