I Can Merge Techniques

Chapter 463: Chapter 152: Fierce Soul Sacrifice for the Ten Thousand Souls Banner; Baili Bing’s Mighty Rescue at the Red Flame Sect

’Are these three on the ground from the Seven Stars Gang?’

’The Red Flame Sect captured members of the Seven Stars Gang?’

’Didn’t the rumors say Medicine King Valley was going to blacklist the Seven Stars Gang and cut off their supply of Elixirs and Treasure Plants?’

’Why would Baili Bing come personally and even speak up for the Seven Stars Gang?’

’And call these brats her "friends"?’

A series of questions surfaced in Xiao Qun’s mind.

He spun around abruptly and sent the lead disciple beside him flying with a single slap!

Immediately after...

He formed a sword with his fingers and, with a few SWISHES, severed the ropes binding Fatty and the others.

"A misunderstanding! This is all a huge misunderstanding! My brothers from the Seven Stars Gang, you have suffered. My subordinates were blind. I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive this offense. Please, you must forgive us!!"

Xiao Qun’s voice even began to tremble. "The Red Flame Sect is willing to offer compensation!"

Both Cao Yan’s group and the Red Flame Sect disciples stared with wide, unblinking eyes.

Just a moment ago, the Red Flame Sect was demanding compensation from the Seven Stars Gang.

In the blink of an eye, the Hall Master of the Deacon Hall was now saying *he* would compensate the Seven Stars Gang.

The few Red Flame Sect disciples quickly brought back the Boxing Manual and silver coins they had confiscated, presenting them with both hands in a posture of utmost humility.

Baili Bing’s gaze swept coolly over the three men being helped up by Cao Yan. "Are you three alright?" she asked.

"We’re... we’re fine!" The three, including Fatty, rubbed their aching arms, looking a bit dazed by the dramatic turn of events.

Xiao Qun put on a fawning smile and bowed to Baili Bing. "It’s not often you grace the Red Flame Sect with your presence. Why not come inside for a cup of tea and allow us to show some hospitality?"

"There’s no need." Baili Bing refused curtly, her voice still icy. "Now that the men are released, we’ll take our leave. Let’s go."

Cao Yan nodded slightly and gave Fatty and the others a meaningful look.

Fatty and the others glanced timidly at Cao Yan, then hurried to follow.

Xiao Qun and his group of Red Flame Sect disciples respectfully escorted them out.

Outside the courtyard, all the Red Flame Sect disciples stood stunned and silent, their faces a mixture of lingering fear and disbelief.

***

Qing Province City was a dominant presence in the region, its streets always bustling with traffic and echoing with the clamor of crowds.

Chu Fan, along with Mo Yunzi who had changed into plain clothes and Cyan Snake who was in human form wearing a fiery red dress, made their way through the bustling crowd toward the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Sunlight filtered through the tall buildings on either side of the street, casting mottled shadows on the ground.

As they passed a tavern, a sturdy-looking middle-aged man stood in an open area outside, a serious expression on his face as he corrected a young boy’s boxing stance, meticulously demonstrating each move.

"Sink your waist, lower your stance, and channel your energy to your Dantian! Your punches must be fast and powerful, with enough force to feel like you’re tearing the air!"

The boy was a serious student. Although his movements were still green, they carried a fierce energy that drew the attention of passersby.

Chu Fan subconsciously slowed his pace and couldn’t help but sigh. "The martial culture in this Qing Province City is truly strong. Even ordinary families place such importance on the foundations of the Martial Dao, training their bodies from a young age."

Mo Yunzi nodded in agreement beside him, but Cyan Snake looked around in boredom, completely uninterested in such basic Fist Techniques.

’Strange, that Fist Technique looks familiar...’ After walking a few dozen more steps, Chu Fan suddenly stopped.

"Young Master, what is it?" Mo Yunzi asked, puzzled.

Chu Fan didn’t answer. A look of astonishment flashed in his eyes, followed by dawning realization. ’Isn’t that fucking... Mountain-Splitting Fist?’

’I can’t believe Fatty and Jiang Yuanfan’s business has made it all the way here!’

Chu Fan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

His expression quickly turned serious.

’I’ll have to give Fatty and the others a serious warning later and tell them to know when to stop.’

Qing Province City was nothing like a small, remote place such as Cyan Yang Ancient City.

Here, gangs had deep-rooted networks, sects and Noble Families were numerous, and Martial Arts Halls of all sizes were scattered throughout the city.

For these factions, Martial Arts Skills were the foundation of their existence and a core interest that they would never allow outsiders to touch.

Almost all factions had strict rules forbidding their disciples from passing on their Martial Arts to outsiders.

If caught, the lightest punishment was having one’s Martial Arts crippled and being expelled from the sect. The most severe was immediate execution. At the very least, they would have their limbs broken as a warning to others.

Fatty and the others selling the Boxing Manual so brazenly seemed unrelated to those gangs, factions, or Noble Families.

However, if "Mountain-Splitting Fist" became widespread in Qing Province—practiced by adults and children, owned by rich and poor, a copy in every hand—it would undoubtedly deal a heavy blow to the interests of the gangs, sects, and Martial Arts Halls!

This was especially true for the lower-tier factions and Martial Arts Halls that relied on teaching basic Martial Arts to recruit disciples and maintain their income.

’Cutting off someone’s livelihood is like killing their parents...’

When that time came, Fatty and the others would likely bring a fatal disaster upon themselves.

Chu Fan made a mental note of this, resolving to find them as soon as he had dealt with the matter of Mo Daozi.

***

Inside the Demon Suppression Bureau, the council hall was spacious and bright.

Several Demon Suppression Guards in Black Armor were gathered together, whispering with their heads close. Their voices were hushed as if discussing an important matter.

One Demon Suppression Guard sighed, a worried look on his face. "Alas, now that Chu has gone, I wonder if he’ll be able to return safely."

Another immediately shook his head, his tone grave. "It’ll be difficult! What kind of person is that Mo Daozi? He has the Cultivation of the Acupoint Realm’s Second Heaven, his methods are cruel, and he’s exceedingly cunning. Countless experts have died at his hands. For Chu to go alone... it’s far too arrogant."

Another person chimed in, "Even if he wanted to eliminate Mo Daozi, he should have invited a few colleagues from the Bureau to go with him and set up a Heaven and Earth Net. That would have been the safe bet."

"Speaking of which, does anyone know what Chu Fan’s current Cultivation is?" a young Demon Suppression Guard asked, his face full of curiosity. "I heard that before he came to Qing Province, he was only in the early Spirit Awakening Realm. From that incident in Cyan Yang Ancient City until now, it’s been two months at most. The best he could be is newly entered into the Divine Power Realm, right? With that level of Cultivation, how could he possibly kill Mo Daozi, who’s at the Second Heaven of the Acupoint Realm?"

At these words, everyone fell silent, their faces filled with confusion.

Just then, the burliest Demon Suppression Guard, whose surname was Wang, stroked the saber at his waist and spoke in a booming voice, "I can’t make heads or tails of it either! My brain hurts just thinking about it. When Chu Fan gets back, I’m definitely going to have a good spar with him, or else I won’t even be able to sleep soundly!"

"That’s enough out of all of you."

Demon Suppression Captain Li Mubai, who had been sitting in the main seat reading through scrolls, finally looked up and spoke, his brow slightly furrowed. "Are you all so idle you have nothing better to do? Gossiping about others here day after day. If you have this much free time, you’d be better off patrolling a few more streets."

The Wang-surnamed Demon Suppression Guard chuckled and sidled closer. "Boss, you can’t put it like that. Aren’t you the least bit curious whether Chu Fan can actually kill that Mo Daozi?"

"After all, he isn’t one of our own from the Qing Province Demon Suppression Bureau. He belongs to Lord Demon Suppression Envoy Yue Mankong from the Imperial Capital. If he ends up dead at Mo Daozi’s hands, how will Lord Leng explain it to Lord Yue Mankong?"

Li Mubai’s brow furrowed even deeper.

He wasn’t without such concerns himself.

But what was the use of mulling it over?

At that very moment, every sound in the council hall—voices and even breathing—seemed to be abruptly cut off by an invisible hand.

All eyes turned in unison toward the main entrance. A familiar figure was strolling in leisurely. Who else could it be but Chu Fan?

Trailing closely behind Chu Fan was a bewitchingly curvaceous and stunningly beautiful woman in a red dress. She stood with her hands by her sides, as docile as a handmaiden.

The entire council hall fell deathly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Under the stunned gazes of all the Demon Suppression Guards, Chu Fan walked unhurriedly up to Li Mubai. In a tone as casual as if he were commenting on the fine weather, he said:

"Lord Li, I killed Mo Daozi. Where do I go to collect the reward?"