Chapter 8: Jiangdu

"You killed the Sand Thief King; you are our great benefactor, hahaha!"

"That's right! That's right! Xiahou, the hero, you are indeed our great benefactor!"

Hearing Pang Yong's words, Li Jing was momentarily taken aback.

"Who are you?"

"Xiahou, the hero! In the excitement just now, we have yet to introduce ourselves. How rude! Truly rude indeed!"

"My name is Pang Yong! I am the Commander of the Jiangdu Pang Family Army! In our Jiangdu, every year, hundreds die under the blades of the sand thieves. We have a blood feud with them! Xiahou, the hero, by slaying the Sand Thief leader, you've freed us from the calamity of the sand bandits! To us, this indeed is a great favor!"

"That's right! Xiahou, the hero, you truly are our great benefactor."

Those nearby also couldn't help but nod in agreement; even the somewhat spoilt Pei Rong was full of gratitude.

At the same time, they were unspeakably curious about Xiahou Jiang, the Commander with the unkempt beard, seeming like a wild man.

How skilled must his martial arts be to be able to kill the Sand Thief leader after continuous fierce battles and being ambushed?

Once Li Jing heard everyone's introductions and was certain there were no ill intentions towards him, he relaxed.

The world of "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" may just be a low-level world, but it is incredibly dangerous.

He had just begun, and he had already encountered danger twice.

Luckily, he had a powerful tool like the "Demon-slaying Sword," which allowed him to turn danger into safety.

Wait a minute!

What is that!?

Just as Li Jing was about to converse with everyone, he suddenly spotted something unusual.

Where the old mountain ghost had disappeared.

There seemed to be a group of sleek, bright fibers, tough like silk from ice worms.

"What's wrong, Xiahou, the hero?"

Seeing Xiahou Jiang with a different expression, Pang Yong curiously asked.

"Can't you see it?"

Li Jing replied subconsciously.

"See what?"

Pang Yong asked with a bewildered look on his face.

Seeing Pang Yong's expression didn't seem fake, Li Jing laughed it off with a chuckle, but a bit of realization dawned on him.

It seems like this anomaly can only be seen by himself; it might also be a function of the golden finger.

Thinking this, Li Jing hesitated no longer. Smiling, he stood up and approached inconspicuously.

When he got close, he realized that what he thought was silk from an ice worm was actually a tangled mass of hair.

Seeing that pale color!

Li Jing seemed to understand something.

This hair was actually grown from the head of the old mountain ghost.

Just as he thought, neither Pang Yong nor Pei Rong and the others noticed anything odd with Li Jing.

In their eyes, Li Jing appeared to be idly staring at his palm, as if there were flowers in it.

Right at the instant Li Jing picked up the hair.

The system interface unexpectedly popped up:

[Yin Item: Old Mountain Ghost's Hair*2, absorb to exchange for 5 Free Points!]

Looking at the prompt before him.

Li Jing couldn't help but pause, his eyes revealing ecstatic excitement.

So this is it!

This is how to correctly utilize the golden finger.

The world of "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" has no shortage of demons, doesn't this mean that he could evolve endlessly?

Considering this possibility, Li Jing was tremendously excited!

"Absorb!"

Following Li Jing's silent incantation in his heart, the two bundles of hair, akin to ice worm silk, vanished in an instant.

The somewhat depleted Free Points also increased by 5 in an instant!

The dimly lit plus sign once again became bright.

[Blood Evil Technique: Third Layer+

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Blood Killing Ten Forms: Fourth Layer

Withering and Flourishing Heart Sutra: First Layer+

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Apart from the Fourth Layer of the Blood Killing Ten Forms, both the Blood Evil Technique and the Withering and Flourishing Heart Sutra can be enhanced.

After much hesitation!

Li Jing still clicked the plus sign heavily after the Blood Evil Technique.

The somewhat plentiful Free Points were instantly depleted.

The Blood Evil Technique also advanced from the Third Layer to the Fourth Layer.

As his realm ascended, Li Jing's dried up veins were instantly burst by the onslaught, and countless streams of blood surged like a flood, roaring ceaselessly.

His skin, which had been dry like cowhide, was also gradually becoming plump.

Muscles bulged!

His strength was incessantly increasing.

According to his estimation.

This advancement in realm had increased Li Jing's strength by at least a thousand pounds.

Now, his strength was no weaker than a wild ox.

And his appearance, too, slowly recovered thanks to the richness of his qi and blood.

"Good!"

"Who would have thought that the Blood Evil Technique could be so miraculous!"

"It not only enhances strength and stimulates qi and blood but even restores the withered muscles to their original state!"

"If so!"

"With the Withering and Flourishing Heart Sutra in combination, wouldn't I be forever free of the danger of exploding and dying? Couldn't it be possible to compress endlessly, and for strength to grow indefinitely?"

Thinking of this, Li Jing's eyes suddenly shone brightly, his face revealing an eager desire to try.

Indeed!

The predecessors who created the Blood Evil Technique and the Withering and Flourishing Heart Sutra could never have imagined.

That in this world, there really would be someone who learned both techniques simultaneously; nor could they have anticipated that the combination of these two techniques would become so powerful.

It must be said, Li Jing is the biggest BUG of this world!

As Li Jing was lost in thought, a gust of wind swept through.

The already faint campfire was blown about, threatening to extinguish at any moment.

Li Jing stopped daydreaming and quickly rose, stabilizing the flame after throwing in a few dry sticks.

The house, which had been cold, began to warm up ever so slightly.

Wrapped in fur, the exquisite-looking Pei Rong observed Li Jing with curiosity...

Heh, how arrogant this man is.

From just now until now, he's been lost in his thoughts alone.

Several attempts by Pang Yong to initiate a conversation were rebuffed by an unwelcoming expression.

Just as the sun was about to burst forth.

Finally unable to contain his curiosity, Pang Yong asked with a smile, "Xiahou Hero!"

"What are your plans for the future?"

"Plans!"

Hearing Pang Yong's question, Li Jing was momentarily taken aback.

Although he had been in the world of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio for three years, due to his seclusion, he was very unfamiliar with everything around him.

Sorting through his past memories, he further realized that his predecessor had neither family nor friends, truly a lone wolf.

Sensing Li Jing's difficulty, Pang Yong, donned in armor, exchanged glances with others, receiving an affirmative response before rising, bowing solemnly: "Xiahou Hero, you have been a great benefactor to Jiangdu! If the hero has no place to go, you are welcome to stay in Jiangdu!"

...

"This!"

Li Jing hesitated upon hearing Pang Yong's invitation. Judging by age, both Pang Yong and Pei Rong were quite young, and Pang Yong was also a Commander. Relationally speaking, Pei Rong was still single at this time, not yet married to Wang Sheng.

From these two points of view, there was still some time before the story of "Painted Skin" began. Going to Jiangdu at this time would be somewhat a waste.

Yet, having just arrived in this world, he was unfamiliar with anything and anyone; apart from Jiangdu, he had nowhere else to go in the short term, which was quite troubling.

Suddenly, he remembered a hidden setting in "Painted Skin" - the Demon World!

In the desert, there was a gathering place for the Demon Clan; whether it was the Fox Demon Little Wei or the Lizard Demon Little Yi, they had all escaped from the Demon World. Maybe he would have unexpected gains there.

With that thought, Li Jing no longer hesitated and nodded with a smile.

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