Two days later, in the Spirit Gathering Room, Li Sheng opened his eyes and spoke to himself, "With the effect of the Supreme Golden Bone Pill, it took me two whole days to fully recover. If I had taken a lower-grade pill, it would have taken me a year and a half."
Leaving the Spirit Gathering Room, he glanced at Bai Ye, who was deep in her training next door, and secretly nodded. Yesterday, he had taken the time to refine a Supreme Bone Strengthening Pill and had given it to Bai Ye. Given the current circumstances, it wouldn't take her more than two days—at most, one—to break through to the sixth rank. The hope of promoting the sect was right in front of him, and Li Sheng was secretly looking forward to it. He then checked his status panel:
**[Special Mission: Hell Level]**
**[Soul Absorption: 3054/3000]**
**[Destruction of Sect: 42/50]**
**[Kill One Hundred: 124/100]**
Seeing that the mission wasn't complete, Li Sheng frowned. Previously, there were more than 130 sixth-rank martial artists among the invading forces, involving no less than 80 three-star factions. He had conveyed his message through Liu Guan, but the effect had been minimal. If he didn't surpass that fifty mark soon, he wouldn't bother with the others.
“Looks like I need to make a trip myself. Why do they have to force me into action when I don't like fighting?” Li Sheng sighed helplessly, called for Liu Hongfeng, and with Wang Hu driving the carriage, the three headed to Qingshan City.
In Qingshan City, there were more than a dozen families and gangs at the three-star level. This trip was to serve as an example, a warning to others. If he had to search one by one, it would take too long, and he kept Chen Hu's threats in mind.
...
In Qingshan City, Wang Hu drove the carriage toward Ronghu Square. Li Sheng planned to visit Hua Zhanggui first before making any further plans. Inside the carriage, Liu Hongfeng flashed a mischievous smile and teased, “Aren't you someone who doesn’t like fighting, yet you’re about to sever someone’s inheritance right after recovering?”
“It’s not that I’m eager to sever their inheritance; it’s that they’re forcing my hand. They first invaded my Qingshan Sect and then ignored my warnings. If I don’t take action, what will others think of me and my sect? I truly don’t like fighting; you have to believe me, sister.”
“Alright, alright, I believe you,” Liu Hongfeng laughed, covering her mouth.
At that moment, a voice from the roadside caught their attention. “Hurry, hurry! The storyteller at the Yue Lai Book House is talking about Monster Li of Qingshan Sect; you must go see it!”
“Is that true?”
“Isn’t he the one who’s eight feet tall, weighs eight feet wide, and enjoys eating people?”
“Yes, that’s him.”
Hearing this conversation, Li Sheng's expression darkened while Liu Hongfeng couldn't help but chuckle. “Shidi, why not go take a look?”
“Then let's go check it out. Wang Hu, follow those people.”
“Yes, Master.”
Soon, the carriage stopped, and the three entered the Yue Lai Building. Guided by a server, they were seated on the west side of the second floor just as the storyteller began.
“First, let me state that everything I said yesterday was merely for entertainment, just to amuse you all. Today, I’ll tell a different story.”
“Come on, old man, speak up! If you tell it well, there’s a reward!” shouted someone from the third floor.
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The old man, stroking his white beard, smiled and replied, “Thank you, Liu Shao.”
“Cough, cough... Now I’ll begin.”
“Monster Li—excuse me, I mean Master Li—looks charming and graceful, warm-hearted, doesn’t enjoy fighting…”
He continued to weave a narrative about Li Sheng, portraying him as a hero who remained with the sect during its dire straits, displaying a noble character.
“Wow~~”
“Old man, what are you doing?!”
“We want to hear about the secrets of Monster Li, Bai Mo Nu, and Hong Xiu Luo!”
“Right! How about Monster Li playing under the moonlight with two phoenixes?”
“Exactly! What about Bai Mo Nu and Hong Xiu Luo competing for his favor and slaughtering villages?”
As the crowd egged him on, the old man’s expression turned bitter. He had been fabricating tales about Qingshan Sect not out of hatred, but because of the sect’s rising fame—more outrageous tales meant more attention and tips.
But a moment ago, Liu Guan from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion had come to him, offering a substantial sum to change the narrative and rectify Li Sheng’s reputation. The Hundred Treasures Pavilion was not someone he could afford to offend.
“Oh dear, this is really tricky. I hope I can get through this!” the old man lamented internally.
“Everyone... everyone, what I said was true; yesterday's tall tales were just for a meal,” he pleaded.
“Master Li is young but capable of rivaling fifth-rank martial artists. Such a talent wouldn't betray his sect!” a short-haired man retorted.
“How do you explain the slaughter of over a hundred sixth-rank experts and thousands of seventh and eighth-rank warriors? I think he’s just deeply twisted!” a burly man stood up angrily.
“Stop spewing nonsense! If someone joins forces to raid your home and steal your resources, would you not take up arms against them? Otherwise, are you saying you’re the one who’s twisted?”
“You... you!!” The short-haired man’s face flushed, but seeing the burly man’s imposing figure, his bravado waned, and he left in disgrace.
“The old man speaks the truth; Master Li is the real hero here,” the burly man chuckled and sat back down.
Li Sheng and Liu Hongfeng sipped their tea, listening to the conversation. Initially, he was furious at the mention of the secrets and the double phoenix incident, wishing he could rush up and beat the storyteller. Fortunately, the later descriptions were somewhat reasonable.
Just as they were about to leave, a loud, arrogant voice echoed from the third floor.
“Qingshan Sect is nothing! Offending the Starfire Sect’s Elder Chen Hu means annihilation is imminent. My uncle says that Qingshan Sect is nothing more than a paper tiger. Though Monster Li is powerful, after battling Elder Chen, he’s already crippled. Once Elder Chen recovers, Monster Li, Bai Mo Nu, and Hong Xiu Luo will all be finished!”
“Liu Shao is wise!”
“Those who surrendered and disbanded their factions must be regretting their decisions!”
“Those short-sighted fools, why mention them? Let’s drink!”
Hearing the derision directed at Qingshan Sect, the burly man fumed: “Who dares to slander? Master Li is a great figure; how dare you insult him? Step forward!”
“Where’s this little brat coming from? No one in Qingshan City dares to provoke my Liu family!” Liu Shao sneered.
“Come, let me cripple that brute and cut out his tongue to teach him a lesson!” Liu Shao commanded the three seventh-rank guards beside him.
“Yes, Young Master!”