Cultivating in Different Professions

Chapter 159: Chapter 119: Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique

”Even so, you should have called me! It’s a good thing nothing terrible happened this time. Otherwise, how do you expect me to face your parents when I’m gone?”

Shi Ziran complained.

”I know, I know. I won’t be so reckless next time.”

Xiang Xiaoyuan said, ”Uncle Shi, did you deliver those things?”

”What do you think?”

Shi Ziran said irritably, ”I delivered them. But are you sure you want to give the Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique to Su Mu?”

”Do you know what that means? Your father nearly died to obtain this Blood Exchange Technique...”

”I know, Uncle Shi. With your strength, you could have lived a much better life all these years. But why did you choose to hide your identity and protect me all this time?”

Xiang Xiaoyuan said.

”Because your father saved my life—”

Shi Ziran said.

”It’s the same for me.”

Xiang Xiaoyuan said, ”Su Mu saved my life. The Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique... I feel it’s not enough.”

Shi Ziran was rendered speechless. A debt for saving one’s life could never be fully repaid. Xiang Xiaoyuan had used his own logic to silence him, leaving him with nothing to say.

”Fine, what’s given is given. It’s not like he’ll necessarily be able to master it anyway.”

Shi Ziran shook his head helplessly and said.

Compared to the Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique, a Top-Grade Weapon and two Sword Techniques were barely worth mentioning.

...

’I’ll practice it!’

Su Mu had finally made up his mind.

He had spent all these days trying every possible way to find a Blood Exchange Technique. Now that he had one, why was he hesitating and afraid to cultivate it?

’If there was really a problem with this Blood Exchange Technique, the system panel wouldn’t have displayed it.’

’As long as the system panel can display it, it means the Cultivation Technique itself is fine.’

This was the best possible guarantee that there was nothing wrong with the technique itself.

All that was left was to work hard and improve.

As for what the person who gave him the Blood Exchange Technique was planning, he would cross that bridge when he came to it.

As long as his strength increased fast enough, no matter what the other party had planned, Su Mu could ensure their schemes came to nothing.

Having figured this out, Su Mu no longer hesitated. He began to comprehend the Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique, character by character.

The Blood Exchange Technique was somewhat similar to the Body Tempering Technique; both utilized Spiritual Medicine combined with various postures for cultivation.

The difference was that the Spiritual Medicines for Body Tempering were mostly applied externally, while those for the Blood Exchange Technique were taken internally.

The Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique had a full three hundred and sixty stances, many of which defied the common understanding of the human body and were impossible for ordinary people to perform.

However, Su Mu was at the Body Tempering Limit, and his physique was far beyond that of an ordinary person.

He spent just one night firmly memorizing all three hundred and sixty stances and was able to perform them perfectly.

But he had not mastered the Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique, because he had not taken the internal Spiritual Medicine.

”To cultivate this Blood Exchange Technique, the primary Spiritual Medicine needed is actually Jiao Dragon Blood.”

Su Mu muttered to himself.

A Flood Dragon was a type of demon beast, and even the weakest was at Tier Three.

For a demon beast of this level, any part of its body was a priceless treasure.

Jiao Dragon Blood, in particular, could be used to refine many high-level Elixirs.

Such an item was a rare find, not something one could necessarily buy even with money.

’I’ll look for it first. If I can’t find it, I’ll figure something else out.’

Without Jiao Dragon Blood, he couldn’t practice the Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique. Su Mu had no choice but to put away the secret manual and the precious saber.

After dawn, Su Mu went straight to the market district in the Inner City.

Over two days, Su Mu visited nearly every shop in Wuling City, but the result was the same: no Jiao Dragon Blood.

It was the same with the Taiping Bureau. The last time the Wuling City Taiping Bureau had slain a Tier Three Demon Beast was a century ago. The Taiping Bureau had no Jiao Dragon Blood in stock.

Left with no other option, Su Mu sought out Shen Yizhi and asked him for help.

Shen Yizhi was well-connected and knew many people outside Wuling City. Perhaps he had a way to get some Jiao Dragon Blood.

Su Mu didn’t need much—just a few drops would be enough for him to cultivate the Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique to a level the system panel could recognize.

...

”Master, we can’t delay them outside the city for much longer. If we drag this out, I’m afraid the Luo Family will become suspicious.”

In the Hu Mansion in the Inner City, the butler reported in a low voice, ”We can delay her for two more days at most. The young miss of the Luo Family will have to return to the city then. If we’re going to hire the Golden Wind Tower, we must do it quickly.”

At this, he couldn’t help but glance around furtively, afraid of being overheard.

Assassinating the City Lord’s daughter—if this was exposed, the City Lord’s Mansion would undoubtedly pursue the Hu Family to the death.

”That damned Golden Wind Tower! So damn greedy!”

Hu Gongxiu couldn’t help but curse. ”To kill someone who just entered the Blood Transformation Realm, they’re demanding five hundred thousand taels of silver! Why don’t they just go rob someone?”

’Robbing isn’t this profitable.’

The butler grumbled inwardly.

Hu Gongxiu cursed a few more times before finally calming down.

Luo Anning was already in the Blood Transformation Realm. If they didn’t get rid of her now, she would be even more trouble in the future.

To kill her, the Hu Family’s experts couldn’t make a move, as they would be easily discovered by the Luo Family. Hiring the Golden Wind Tower was the safest option.

Although the Golden Wind Tower was obscenely expensive, they had an excellent reputation and never revealed their clients’ identities.

Even if the Luo Family tracked the matter back to the Golden Wind Tower afterward, it would have nothing to do with the Hu Family.

On the contrary, if the Luo Family actually went up against the Golden Wind Tower, they would be courting death. The Hu Family could then just sit back and reap the benefits.

The plan was great. The only problem was that the Golden Wind Tower’s price was too high!

The Hu Family had recently lost several sources of income and was already short on cash. Forking over five hundred thousand taels all at once would be a crippling blow, or close to it. It would definitely affect the family’s normal cash flow.

”Go tell the people from the Golden Wind Tower: three drops of Jiao Dragon Blood plus two hundred thousand taels of silver. If they want the job, they’ll take the deal. If not, forget it!”

Hu Gongxiu said after a moment of deep thought, his face contorted in a pained expression.

A look of surprise appeared on the butler’s face. He knew just how much the master treasured those few drops of Jiao Dragon Blood; they were being saved for the young master’s own blood transformation in the future.

For the master to be willing to part with the Jiao Dragon Blood now showed just how desperate he was for Luo Anning to die.

”Wait.”

Just as the butler was about to leave to contact the Golden Wind Tower, Hu Gongxiu suddenly stopped him.

”Tell the Golden Wind Tower I’ll add another twenty thousand taels of silver for them to kill one more person.”

Hu Gongxiu said.

”Master, the Golden Wind Tower’s starting price for a kill is fifty thousand taels...”

the butler said in a low voice.

”Hmph! Three drops of Jiao Dragon Blood plus two hundred thousand taels of silver is definitely worth no less than five hundred thousand taels. For such a big deal, can’t they throw in a little extra? I’m even giving them twenty thousand taels!”

Hu Gongxiu snorted coldly.

”I’ll... talk to them,”

the butler said, sounding uncertain.

The butler left apprehensively. Several hours later, he hurried back into Hu Gongxiu’s study.

”Master, the Golden Wind Tower agreed,”

the butler said. ”However, they demand payment upfront. And the ’extra’ can’t have a Cultivation higher than the Body Tempering Realm, otherwise it’ll cost more.”

”A bunch of bastards!”

Hu Gongxiu cursed. ”When my son Guang Shao becomes the Taiping Bureau Governor, I’ll make sure to kick the Golden Wind Tower out of Wuling City!”

Though he was cursing, he still took out a porcelain vial with a pained look on his face and handed it to the butler, along with the silver notes that had been prepared on the desk.

”Give it to them!”

Hu Gongxiu turned his head away, as if afraid he would change his mind if he looked at it for a second longer.

”Tell them, Luo Anning must die outside the city!”

”I don’t care where Su Mu dies, but make sure his death is painful enough!”

Hu Gongxiu said viciously.

A short while later, the butler of the Hu Mansion emerged from an inconspicuous alley. The items in his hand were gone, but a single phrase echoed in his ears: ”As you wish.”

’With the Golden Wind Tower on the job, that pair—the man and woman the master considers a grave threat—are surely done for.’

For some unknown reason, the butler felt a faint sense of unease.

Previously, the Fourteenth Master had acted personally, even hiring two experts from the Fragrance Sect at the Blood Transformation Realm and numerous cultivators at the Body Tempering Realm. It had seemed like a sure thing, but they were all wiped out in the end.

’Will it really succeed this time?’

’What am I thinking? The Golden Wind Tower has never failed a mission. They’ve successfully assassinated more than just one or two experts at the Blood Transformation Realm.’

’This time, there’s no way it can go wrong!’

The butler shook his head, muttering to himself as he quickened his pace back toward the Hu Mansion.