Longevity: Starting from the Qi Tags

In the courtyard of Zhenyuan Escort Agency,

Jiang Yuan remained composed in the face of Li Hao’s desperate blow.

He channeled the qi and blood within his body, brandishing his heavy sword and slashing hard in front of him.

Boom—

A loud explosion rang out.

An invisible wave of energy spread outwards, causing the fallen petals and leaves strewn all over the ground to tumble.

Li Hao’s divine power staff was instantly thrown dozens of meters away, embedding itself deeply into the ground.

“I knew it, that attack of mine wouldn’t kill you!” Li Hao jeered at himself.

Jiang Yuan replied calmly: “I also knew that someone like you wouldn’t surrender so easily!”

“No complaints! No complaints! I have no regrets about losing to a heaven genius like you!”

Li Hao laughed mockingly for a moment before closing his eyes and gradually breathing his last.

At this time, Uncle Ma came over.

His expression was somewhat regretful.

“Who would have thought that the master of the Divine Power Martial Arts Hall, who has been renowned in Lin’an County for many years, would be buried here today.”

“He was once Old Master’s arch rival. But all these years, Old Master could only suppress him.”

Jiang Yuan said, “He made the same mistake many veterans of the martial world do – underestimating the enemy and being complacent! With my slash, I mustered at least several times my own strength. But he dared to take it head-on!”

He then looked determined and confident, “Even the Eighth Layer of Body Forging is nothing more than this!”

Uncle Ma laughed, “It’s not that he was too confident. Who could have imagined that the Young Master would be this powerful now? If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I never would have believed it.”

Jiang Yuan just smiled and said nothing.

After this battle, he finally knew his true combat capabilities.

On par with top experts of the Eighth Layer of Body Forging.

About on par with Li Hao in his prime.

His true combat power was now considered top tier within Lin’an County.

Especially as Jiang Yuan felt that, after this battle, he had fully digested the residual medicinal power in his body.

It had enabled him to fully complete the cultivation of his marrow and he was ready to break through to the blood transfusion level at any time.

Jiang Yuan then said, “Uncle Ma, handle the remaining issues. I feel that I can break through now!”

Upon hearing this, Uncle Ma’s face was filled with immediate joy.

“Young Master, you go ahead and breakthrough! I will handle things here. Besides, Gu Mo is here as well.”

Gu Mo also said, “Young Master, go ahead and breakthrough without worry. I’m here, nobody will disturb you tonight.”

Jiang Yuan nodded, then left.

…

Meanwhile, at another place,

A large number of officials had already surrounded Li Hao’s mansion, plunging his mansion into a chaotic scene with cries of panic echoing throughout.

At this moment, from a distant pavilion,

“Expropriation and extermination! How ruthless Li Hong is! Isn’t he afraid that Li Hao will fight him to the death?”

“Old Master, shall we proceed as planned?”

“Forget it! I don’t want to rub him the wrong way! Li Hong is clearly truly enraged this time!”

As the two were talking,

A furious roar suddenly came from Li Hao’s mansion in the distance.

“Li Hong, can’t you leave us a way to survive?”

“Li Jun, making noise won’t get you anywhere when the Lord isn’t here. If you surrender obediently, you might spare your life. If you resist to the end, bear the consequences yourself!” a man in armor said.

“Surrender? If I surrender, would you let me live?” He immediately shouted back in fury. “Since you’re not leaving us a way out, let’s go down together!”

After finishing his sentence, his qi and blood erupted fiercely, he broke through the heavy encirclement in an instant and headed straight for the leading man.

“Lord Wu, do you need me to step in?”

The man in black shook his head: “No need!”

He pulled out a strong bow from behind him and drew the bowstring.

“Go down together, you say? You think you’re worthy of saying that?”

He whispered as he strained the bowstring till it creaked.

A surge of killing intent instantly locked onto the charging Li Jun.

Danger!

Li Jun’s pupils shrank abruptly, his face showing horror.

Just being locked onto by this black-clothed man’s aura, he felt a great terror descending upon him.

Boom——

An explosion rang out in everyone’s ears.

In an instant, the crossbow bolt charged towards Li Jun, surrounded by swirling white waves.

“No——” he screamed, fear filling his eyes.

The moment his body made contact with the bolt, his flesh exploded into fragments.

“Foolish man, you’ve sought your own death!”

The man in black said impassively.

The old man in the distant tower watched this unfold, his face pale with shock.

After a long while, he murmured fearfully, “A top expert at the Ninth Level of the Body Forging Realm, who can integrate his spirit, qi, and essence… Li Hong actually has such a strong person beside him!”

“Abort the plan immediately, we cannot afford to provoke Li Hong.”

“Yes, Old Master!”

That night, no one among the great powers could sleep.

First, Li Hao appeared at the Zhenyuan Escort Agency, clearly met with a powerful adversary, causing his desperate aura to be perceived by all the grandmasters.

Then, Li Hong deployed troops to surround the Li Residence. The arrow shot by the man in black alerted all the major powers.

He, Li Hong!

He is the god of Lin’an County. Those who don’t give him face are choosing the path of death.

As soon as that man in black made a move, the chaotic situation was firmly set.

The rest were either killed or captured.

In just one night, the once large and prosperous Li Residence lay in ruins.

The Divine Power Martial Hall too, sunk into oblivion overnight.

As for the Zhenyuan Escort Agency at this time.

Everyone had already cast it to the back of their minds.

The shock of a Ninth Level Body Forging Expert was just too monumental.

With this person’s appearance, Li Hong had essentially established himself as the emperor of Lin’an City.

Just one man in black could easily suppress the entire city’s ghosts and monsters.

…

The next day.

Jiang Yuan pushed open the door, stretched lazily towards the sky.

His mood was jubilant.

[Name]: Jiang Yuan

[Realm]: Seventh Level of the Body Forging Realm.

[Innate Fate]: Dragon and Tiger Physique (Blue), Outstanding Comprehension (Green)

[Qi Yun Power]: 0 strands

[Luck Seed]: Low Level One (Watering with Qi Yun Power can cause it to bloom, bringing about a new Innate Qi Luck. The highest it can currently achieve is Purple Innate Qi Luck.)

Jiang Yuan checked his Personal Dashboard with satisfaction.

Body Forging Seventh Level, which counts as one of Lin’an City’s top fighters!

“Young Master, have you made a breakthrough?” Gu Mo suddenly asked.

“Did you… stay up guarding all night?”

Gu Mo nodded: “How could there not be somebody guarding when Young Master breaks through! I don’t trust Uncle Ma, after all, he’s aged and his strength is not enough!”

Jiang Yuan burst out laughing: “If Uncle Ma hears this, he’ll definitely be mad at you.”

Gu Mo smiled, hinting that he had no fear.

“Let me have a look at the sword in your hand!”

Jiang Yuan glanced at the weapon in his hand, and then spoke.

Gu Mo handed his long sword to Jiang Yuan.

He added: “After the clash with Li Hao’s Divine Power Staff last night, it’s mostly damaged, but it can still be used.”

Jiang Yuan took a look at the sword, then put it back in its sheath.

“Today, I’ll retrieve the Dragon Spring Sword for you. You should keep this sword well! Don’t use it anymore!”

“Yes, Young Master!”

Gu Mo responded.

Jiang Yuan nodded in approval: “Let’s go, let’s find Uncle Ma. Let’s see how he handled last night’s events!”

After saying so, Jiang Yuan swiftly absorbed the newly emerged strand of Qi Yun Power from Gu Mo.

Then, with a thought, he injected the only remaining Qi Yun Power into the seed.