My Cultivation Techniques Upgrade Automatically

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: That’s Right, That’s the Expression

Wu Chen followed the tracks he found around the corpse, continuing his hunt for the great terror that carved out people’s hearts.

The two of them, one in front and one behind, weaved through the woods. In no time at all, they found the corpse of another refugee.

This one’s death was just as gruesome, its chest cavity wide open.

Wu Chen searched for tracks around this corpse, trying to determine which way to go next.

Liu Linshan, however, stared intently at the wound for a moment, a grave expression settling on his face.

”Hiss... this method... it’s like something from the Demon Sect...” A few clues seemed to surface in his mind as he grasped a critical point.

But he was uncertain, and in the end, he didn’t say it aloud.

When Wu Chen found the direction of the tracks, he beckoned, and Liu Linshan followed. The two continued their trek through the dense forest.

Soon, they came across another corpse.

This body was different from the first two. The man was dressed in black, not one of the refugees.

But just the same, the wound was on his chest, and his heart had been taken.

The cause of death was the same, just a different victim, so Wu Chen didn’t pay it much mind.

But this time, when Liu Linshan saw the corpse’s clothing, his heart skipped a beat.

He bent down to examine it closely, then grabbed the corpse’s wrist.

Seeing the pattern embroidered with dark red thread on the black sleeve, his mind exploded as if struck by lightning.

”The Blood Slaughter Sect!”

”This man is from the Demon Sect!”

From the moment Liu Linshan saw the first few heartless corpses, he knew something was wrong.

He felt the method resembled the work of the Demon Sect.

This wasn’t a baseless guess; he had heard stories of the Blood Slaughter Sect carving out hearts to use in medicine.

Moreover, wanted posters for the Blood Slaughter Sect’s demons were plastered all over the cities in Qingzhou, all of them fiends who had committed all sorts of horrifying, bloody crimes.

But Qingzhou was a heavily fortified border state, guarded by the Great Yun Dynasty’s Black Armor Army, so members of the Demon Sect were few and far between there.

Cangzhou was different. It had no Black Armor Army, only ordinary Officials and foot soldiers.

This allowed all sorts of questionable characters to gather in and around the Cangzhou State City and within these deep, old forests, creating a motley, chaotic mix.

Members of the Demon Sect were especially numerous.

Thinking this far, Liu Linshan finally understood the truth behind this Zhuangzi.

’This must be the Blood Slaughter Sect’s legendary ”medicine farm”!’

’And we refugees... we’re the ”great medicines”! We’re here for the Blood Slaughter Sect disciples to practice on, to harvest!’

’That’s why they’ve been feeding us elixirs and food without a second thought for the past month!’

As the details clicked into place, the healthy, ruddy color drained from Liu Linshan’s face, replaced by a visible, waxy pallor.

Wu Chen was still searching for tracks to figure out where to go next.

When he suddenly heard Liu Linshan’s voice, he scratched the back of his head, a confused look on his face.

”Blood Slaughter Sect? Demon Sect? What are those?”

’Right, I almost forgot. I have a walking catastrophe on my side!’

Knowing he was deep in a demon’s den, the still-shaken Liu Linshan’s nerves calmed considerably upon hearing Wu Chen’s voice.

He steadied himself, looked up, and seeing that Wu Chen truly didn’t seem to know about the Demon Sect, Liu Linshan gave him a summary of the important points.

”Young Master Wu, it’s like this...”

A short while later, Liu Linshan finished his explanation.

Wu Chen’s expression immediately became one of extreme disappointment.

”So you’re saying the one carving out hearts isn’t some great mountain terror? And everything we’ve seen is actually the work of a bunch of Demon Sect members?”

Liu Linshan nodded firmly, insisting there was no mistake. All the details matched—it could only be the Blood Slaughter Sect!

’But... being trapped by the Demon Sect is a terrifying thing. Why are you so disappointed?’

Liu Linshan didn’t know what to say.

But how could Wu Chen not be disappointed!

After learning the truth, his shoulders slumped, and his expression soured.

After all that—staying up all night, running all this way—there was no great terror, and no great opportunity to be found!

It was just a bunch of tricks played by some Demon Sect members!

And now I’m some damned ”great medicine,” for anyone to toy with as they please!

A nameless fire sparked in his heart, but he had nowhere to vent it.

He waved his hand listlessly, and just as he was about to say more, a sinister laugh echoed from the woods.

”Ehehe!”

”I didn’t expect to find a ’great medicine’ here who knows so much about my Blood Slaughter Sect. How very rare.”

”Since that’s the case, when I take your heart later, I’ll do you the favor of making it quick so your death is painless.”

As the voice faded, two figures, a man and a woman, slowly walked out of the forest.

The man was less than five feet tall, with a pockmarked face and the sharp jaw and sunken cheeks of a monkey.

The woman... was alive.

These two Demon Sect disciples had been there for a while. They had simply been listening to Liu Linshan recount the sensational deeds of their sect and decided not to reveal themselves.

They wanted to see the panicked expressions on their prey’s faces after learning the truth.

They enjoyed tormenting their prey, savoring the scene of cutting their flesh open, slice by slice, and plucking out their hearts right in front of them.

Wu Chen had long known of their presence, but before they appeared, he wasn’t sure if they were refugees or Demon Sect disciples.

Without pausing his hand-waving gesture, he said to Liu Linshan:

”You go. Get rid of these two Demon Sect disciples.”

”Who? Me?”

Liu Linshan looked at the blade in his hand, then at the two disciples in black, his eyes wide as saucers.

He was fine dealing with refugees of the same realm, but facing Demon Sect disciples, he felt an inexplicable fear.

”They’re not strong. Go on, don’t worry.”

Wu Chen couldn’t muster any interest in these Demon Sect disciples and didn’t want to waste his Qi Power.

With his realm being so much higher, he could easily sense that they weren’t that strong.

Hearing Wu Chen say this, Liu Linshan’s heart leaped with joy. He raised his blade, ready to charge.

Then he heard the second half of Wu Chen’s sentence:

”The woman is only at the Initial Realm of the Flesh Refining Realm, and the man is about at the Eighth Layer of the Body Tempering Realm.”

’Only?!’

Liu Linshan, who had taken two steps forward, immediately leaped a large step back.

He grabbed Wu Chen and pulled him in front of himself for protection.

”Young Master Wu, stop joking around! I’m an old man, in my late forties, almost fifty! I can’t beat them...”

Liu Linshan’s face was scrunched up like a bitter melon as he whispered, ”If I go, I’m really not coming back.”

To Wu Chen, these two really weren’t strong. But to Liu Linshan, the one at the Eighth Layer of the Body Tempering Realm alone was enough to take his old life.

Not to mention there was also one in the Flesh Refining Realm.

”Looks like these two are scared stiff. How boring.”

He watched the two ”great medicines” shove each other and mumble, neither daring to step forward.

The pointy-jawed disciple shook his head with a sneer, drew his blade, and said to the girl beside him:

”Senior Sister Tao, you can rest for a moment. I’ll take these two hearts for you.”

”So you can return to the sect sooner and trade for a Blood Blade!”

”No need.”

Tao E shook her head and also drew her blade.

”My Ghost Howl Saber Technique also needs sharpening. Leave the boy to me to practice on.”

”You take care of the old man.”

”Alright, I’ll do as Senior Sister says.”

The pointy-jawed disciple touched his own face. He knew perfectly well his Senior Sister only chose the boy because he was handsome.

Without any more nonsense, the two Demon Sect disciples leaped forward simultaneously to harvest their ”great medicines.”

Tao E faced Wu Chen.

Liu Linshan faced the pointy-jawed disciple.

Youth is feared in fists, and the same goes for blades.

Not only was Liu Linshan older, but his realm was also a level lower than his opponent’s. After clashing on the very first strike, he could faintly feel the strain. After three or four more, he was clearly at a disadvantage.

”Old man, you’d better put some effort into it! Otherwise, if you don’t get your Qi and Blood flowing, your heart will be useless once I take it out.”

The pointy-jawed disciple appeared relaxed and at ease, able to divide his attention to listen to the commotion at his side even as he swung his blade.

That was the direction where Senior Sister Tao was fighting the other ”great medicine.”

’Did Senior Sister kill the ”great medicine” without even using her Ghost Howl Saber?’

Hearing no piercing screams, only dead silence from that direction, the pointy-jawed disciple broke into a cold sweat.

’Senior Sister’s killing intent is getting stronger and stronger! She didn’t even give the ”great medicine” a chance to strike!’

’With such ruthless methods, she’s bound to have a place of prominence in the sect one day!’

After praising his senior sister in his heart, the pointy-jawed disciple refocused his attention on the man before him.

His saber technique remained unhurried, chopping away with the intent of forcing Liu Linshan’s Qi and Blood to their peak.

But he didn’t notice that with every blow Liu Linshan parried, his body would turn slightly.

The pointy-jawed disciple just assumed Liu Linshan lacked the Qi Power and was trying to dodge.

After seven or eight more strikes, the pointy-jawed disciple followed Liu Linshan’s slight turn, and the view to his side came into focus.

Then his eyes widened in shock, as if he were seeing something unbelievable.

His senior sister, the one who always had him under her thumb, was now being pinned under the foot of the ”great medicine.”

Her fair face was pressed into the ground, half her head buried in the rotting leaves.

She didn’t even have the strength to get up!

”Yes, yes, yes! That’s the expression!”

Joy bloomed in Liu Linshan’s heart. He was all too familiar with the expression now on the pointy-jawed disciple’s face.

And his subtle turns had all been in preparation for this very moment.

He had to let the disciple see Wu Chen’s methods and be shocked by them; only then would he have a chance to kill him!

Seizing the moment while the disciple was stunned, he twisted his wrist and viciously slashed!

SLASH!

A wound so deep the bone was visible opened up on the Demon Sect disciple’s chest.