Chapter 150: Chapter 149: Grabbing with Both Hands

With four helpers, collecting the loot really did go much faster.

In just under the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all the spoils from the more than seven hundred people in Flying Serpent Gorge were gathered into the four storage bags.

"Sir! Your storage bags!"

The four men scrambled forward, bowing and scraping as they carefully handed the storage bags to Wu Chen.

"Good work."

Wu Chen took the storage bags.

Although their weight hadn’t changed, the palm-sized, shriveled bags were now bulging.

He weighed them in his hand and thought to himself:

’I reckon, with all the medicinal herbs, good and bad, thrown in together, each bag must be worth at least a thousand Contribution Points.’

’Four storage bags means four thousand Contribution Points, which is forty thousand taels of silver!’

Wu Chen was in a rather good mood and tossed a few medicinal herbs to the men.

"Thank you, Sir!"

The men hadn’t expected this extra reward. They thanked him profusely, their eyes crinkling with smiles.

But thinking of Wu Chen’s astonishing methods, they asked cautiously:

"Sir, are you still looking for followers? We’re willing to work like dogs for you..."

But sensing Wu Chen’s faint, unreadable smile, the men immediately shut their mouths and glanced at the figure by his side.

Then they quickly averted their gaze.

They didn’t recognize Wu Chen, but they had an impression of Xue Hongling, who was beside him.

After all, within the sect, Xue Hongling’s beauty ranked among the top ten.

It was just that her cultivation realm was low, and she was also young.

If she were a bit older, she would have no problem ranking in the top three, or even first, on that list.

A bitter taste filled the four men’s mouths. He had a girl like that by his side; why would he need them to slave away for him?

The men could only give up on their little scheme of latching onto a powerful expert to benefit from the chaos. They scurried away dejectedly.

Thus concluded the matter at Flying Serpent Gorge.

Wu Chen led Xue Hongling as they strolled toward other parts of the secret realm.

But he was still thinking about what Xue Hongling had said earlier. He asked, somewhat curious:

"By the way, what’s this ’Blood Palace’ you mentioned earlier? The name sounds pretty arrogant. Are they strong?"

"Very strong."

Xue Hongling said, "I’ve heard people in the sect say there are about twenty sects like my Blood Slaughter Sect, of various sizes, scattered throughout the mountains and wildernesses of many nations."

As she spoke, a trace of fear flashed in her eyes. "But even though there are many such sects, they are all under the control of the Blood Palace and act on its orders."

"Well, that is a little strong," Wu Chen remarked, rubbing his chin and nodding lightly after she finished speaking.

HUFF!

Xue Hongling let out a long breath through her nose and shot a sideways glance at Wu Chen, who was half a head taller than her.

’I’ve told him all that, and he still calls them ’a little strong’?’

’You really have no idea what you’re up against, do you?’

"They are *very* strong, not ’a little’ strong!"

Xue Hongling’s voice grew heavier as she emphasized, "I heard the Blood Palace is overseen by a peerless master. Beneath him, there are twelve first-rate masters, and hundreds of second-rate masters!"

She watched Wu Chen’s profile as she spoke.

She had thought such a description would bring a trace of fear to Wu Chen’s face, but instead, she found that not only was he not afraid, but a fanatical light was shining in his eyes.

Xue Hongling: "..."

’Does this guy even know what fear is?!’

She grumbled internally and could only shrug helplessly.

Of course, Wu Chen had his own thoughts on the matter.

’The Blood Palace is overseen by a peerless master, with twelve first-rate masters and hundreds of second-rate ones.’

’Beneath it are ten to twenty Blood Slaughter Sects, scattered across the mountains and wildernesses of various nations.’

’It seems this world is much larger than I imagined!’

Hearing this information, Wu Chen’s eyes couldn’t help but light up.

Before this, he had only known about the Blood Slaughter Sect, the four great sects, the Demon Suppression Bureau, and the military.

Now he knew that there were ten to twenty organizations just like the Purple Mist Mountain’s Blood Slaughter Sect.

A vast number of sects meant a vast number of Martial Arts.

But when he had seen the meager few Organ Refining Realm manuals in the Arsenal of Refining Valley, one of the four great sects, Wu Chen had to admit that this idea might be flawed.

This made him worry about a few things.

For instance, in the days to come, would the world’s Martial Arts be enough to satisfy his need for advancement?

If there was one thing Wu Chen feared, it was this.

Now that he knew of the Blood Palace’s existence, it surely housed even more Martial Arts of higher realms.

This meant he at least wouldn’t have to worry about running out of Martial Arts to learn after becoming a peerless master.

As for the Blood Palace’s Martial Arts belonging to the Demon Path, Wu Chen had no reservations whatsoever.

In his eyes, whether it was the Martial Arts of the righteous path or the Demon Path, as long as it could increase his strength, it was good Martial Arts.

Besides, as long as he was strong enough, who would dare define him as good or evil?

Courting death!

’But based on my experience so far, I estimate that the Blood Palace’s ultimate Martial Arts—that is, Armor Forging Realm techniques—probably number less than five manuals, maybe even fewer.’

Wu Chen thought to himself, ’It’s more than enough for an ordinary person, but for me, it’s not quite enough.’

’However, if a Demon Sect like the Blood Palace exists, there must be corresponding righteous sects. Otherwise, the Blood Palace would have taken over the world long ago.’

’That means other Armor Forging Realm Martial Arts must exist.’

’In that case, I have nothing to worry about when it comes to Martial Arts below the peerless level.’

’I just need to find out where these Demon Sects and righteous sects are located, and then I can make my plans.’

He would learn the Martial Arts of the righteous path, and he would learn the Martial Arts of the Demon Path too.

He’d grasp with both hands, and both would become mighty.

With that single thought, his world broadened. Wu Chen’s heart settled, and he no longer worried about the matter of Martial Arts.

He looked at Xue Hongling by his side and, suppressing his excitement, said, "Tell me the location of the Blood Palace!"

Xue Hongling: "???"

’Not only are you not afraid, you even dare to ask me for its location?!’

Xue Hongling didn’t know where Wu Chen got the audacity to say such a thing.

It was as if the moment he left this secret realm, his next destination would be the Blood Palace, where he intended to turn the place upside down.

Xue Hongling shook her head. "I don’t know."

Wu Chen tilted his head and looked at her. "You’re not telling me because you’re worried about me, are you?"

"You wish!"

Xue Hongling shot him a sidelong glance. "Who’s worried about you!"

Then she shook her head and said, "I really don’t know."

"The Blood Palace only contacts the Blood Slaughter Sect one-way. Perhaps the Black-Robed Elders know the general location, but that’s not something a disciple like me would know."

Wu Chen nodded. That made sense, but...

He looked at Xue Hongling, not understanding why, even here in the secret realm and after he had displayed such strength, her eyes still held a deep, unshakable worry.

’Was my display of power not enough? Or does she not trust that I can get her out of here?’

"Here, take these four storage bags."

Wu Chen untied the four storage bags filled with herbs from Flying Serpent Gorge from his waist, pushed them into Xue Hongling’s arms, and said:

"I have connections with the four great sects. Trust me, I can definitely get you away from the Blood Slaughter Sect."

"When the time comes, hand over these four storage bags, and I’m sure no one will give you any trouble."

He decided to tell her the truth to dispel her doubts.

Although he was certain the four great sects, especially the Sect Leader of Refining Valley, would do him a favor...

...using medicinal herbs worth forty thousand taels of silver would surely make things foolproof.

Besides, this way, they wouldn’t owe each other anything.

He didn’t want others to think he owed them a huge favor just for getting out of a secret realm.

Wu Chen had thought that after he’d said all this, the girl’s worried frown would finally relax, but instead, he saw a flash of pain in her eyes.

"I..."

Xue Hongling looked at the storage bags in her arms, her expression growing even more bitter. Finally, she handed the storage bags back to Wu Chen.

"I can’t leave the Blood Slaughter Sect."

She said with a conflicted expression, "Leaving with you will only bring harm to you, and to others."

Wu Chen pondered for a moment, then asked:

"Are you worried about being a wanted demonic practitioner? I’ve seen the wanted lists from the other sects, and your name isn’t on them. Besides, these bags of herbs are enough to smooth over any past issues."

"That’s not it."

Xue Hongling shook her head, a conflicted look in her eyes. She only spoke those three words and nothing more.

Seeing Wu Chen’s brow furrow, she sighed helplessly, extended her left hand, and rolled up her sleeve, revealing a fair wrist.

Only then did Wu Chen see a mark on her fair wrist, one that looked like a silver, flowing cloud.

"This is..." Wu Chen didn’t understand, but he knew it definitely wasn’t anything good. It was the source of Xue Hongling’s conflict and her inability to leave.

"This is a mark the Blood Palace places on promising disciples of the Blood Slaughter Sect. It can be used to track a disciple’s location."

Xue Hongling looked at the mark with disgust. "Unless the disciple dies," she said helplessly, "no matter where I go, an emissary from the Blood Palace will be able to find me."

"And this is just the first mark. Once I enter the Blood Palace, I’ll be branded with the Blood Seal. At that point, I will truly and completely become one of the Demon Path."

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