Chapter 123: The True Strength of Lingbo Town (Part Two)

In Lei Peng’s storage pouch, there was only one yellow-skinned gourd containing Six-Yang Holy Water, one green-skinned gourd filled with Underworld Infant Pills, and the cultivation techniques of the Crimson Tiger. Aside from these, the pouch was empty, pitifully impoverished.

"It seems this man’s magical treasures were all destroyed when his soul collapsed. What a pity! Had I known the spoils would be so meager, I wouldn't have bothered with murder and looting." Jiang Feng checked the other two pouches, but their contents were even scarcer—only a gourd of Underworld Infant Pills and a similar crimson tiger carving in each, with not even a drop of Six-Yang Holy Water.

Six-Yang Holy Water and Underworld Infant Pills were fine items, but such meager rewards were hardly worth the risk of killing disciples of the Langya Chamber of Commerce from Lingbo Town.

"You have obtained the three Crimson Tigers forged from the life-essence of these three men—the crystallization of their very lifeblood—and you still feel it’s not enough?" Yan remarked. "Each of these three Crimson Tigers possesses the nether-power of two thousand wild horses. While you cannot fuse them into your own magical power, you can refine them into external avatars. The strength of these three tigers is not inferior to any precious artifact."

"Natal magical treasures?" Jiang Feng was taken aback, looking at the three crimson tigers again.

He could clearly feel the surging magical power contained within these three beasts. The nether-power in each was no less than his own, and it was far more refined than his true energy. However, this power could not be absorbed; any forced attempt would lead to a clash of energies, resulting in immediate self-destruction. The Art of Shifting Stars and Moving Constellations was even less viable here.

The only use for these tigers would be to wait until he reached the True Nether Realm, where he could set up grand formations and refine them into proper artifacts. Even then, their power would be immense. But if Yan claimed they could be refined into external avatars to be used immediately, the value would be astronomical.

"How do I refine them into external avatars?" Jiang Feng asked hurriedly.

"These three crimson tigers are not just any treasures; they are more precious than gems. They were forged by the three disciples of the Lingbo Town Langya Chamber of Commerce, who gathered various rare materials, infused their own vital blood, Crimson Tiger nether-power, and life-essence, and cultivated them day and night. Once they reached the True Nether Realm, they intended to refine these tigers into true physical forms. They could then transfer their life force; should their own bodies die, they could be reborn within these tigers. This cultivation method is a secret technique of the Lingbo Town Langya Chamber of Commerce called the 'Two-Mind Divine Art.' Now, these natal treasures are yours to enjoy. You need only cleanse them with your Nether Soul power, and after I teach you the Minor Puppet Technique, you can refine them into external avatars. Once you reach the True Nether Realm and master the Crimson Tiger Heavenly Might, you will effectively have three extra lives. Even if someone slays your physical body, you will still have three tiger lives left."

"Minor Puppet Technique? Is that a nether art? But I cannot learn other nether arts until I reach the True Nether Realm."

"The Minor Puppet Technique is not a nether art; it is a method for mental application. The Two-Mind Divine Art of the Langya Chamber of Commerce is also a mental technique."

With a flick of his spirit, Yan imparted the Minor Puppet Technique to Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng accepted the knowledge thoughtfully. He then tossed the three crimson tiger natal treasures into the Yellow Springs River, and an invisible surge of mental energy bombarded them. Instantly, the tigers seemed to come alive; the runes and cultivation methods on their bodies receded, syncing with Jiang Feng’s spirit. In a flash, he had mastered the cultivation of the Crimson Tiger Heavenly Might.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

The three tigers bellowed. Long, blood-red fur sprouted on their bodies, and they grew in size, radiating a majestic, kingly aura. With a single roar, the winds and clouds shifted, and the mountains and rivers trembled. The sonic power of their roars was not inferior to the Eight-Dragon Sound Kill.

The three giant tigers unleashed their might. Jiang Feng exerted the "Minor Puppet Technique," striving to refine the beasts into his external avatars.

After a long while, the three giant tigers suddenly collapsed, turning back into crimson nether-power. They swirled around Jiang Feng’s body, forming crimson tiger tattoos on his two arms and his lower abdomen.

Jiang Feng felt the immense power of these three tattoos, which exceeded his own magical strength. Yet, a tattoo was just a tattoo, not part of his own flesh, so he didn't worry about them conflicting with his Wood Emperor true energy. These three tiger tattoos were like wearing three suits of armor.

Each of these tattoos was equivalent to a master at the Nether Power Realm! If unleashed, they would be even more ferocious than Jiang Feng himself. In an instant, Jiang Feng’s combat power had more than tripled.

The Crimson Tiger from Lei Peng was the strongest, possessing strength equivalent to the second stage of the True Nether Realm, while those from Su Bing and Huo Liu were slightly weaker, at about the first stage. Jiang Feng’s own power was only at the ninth stage of the Void Nether Realm, and that was already the result of absorbing much of the power from the Crimson-Eyed Black Water Snake.

Because Lei Peng’s cultivation was the highest, his natal tiger was more agile. The crimson tiger tattoo settled on Jiang Feng’s lower abdomen. He now had four tattoos in total: the tigers on his arms and abdomen, and the "Landscape Bottle" on his chest and back. Stripped to the waist, he looked incredibly formidable.

The natal treasures that the three true disciples of the Langya Chamber of Commerce had spent their entire lives forging—their intended second lives—had now been refined by Jiang Feng into external avatars. Lei Peng, Huo Liu, and Su Bing had wasted the better part of their cultivation time on these tigers, which were far more powerful than three mere precious artifacts.

"With these three tattoos, it is no different from gaining the aid of three experts at the ninth stage of the Void Nether Realm. And they are loyal, striking exactly where I point. They are even more useful than the Crimson-Eyed Black Water Snake. The benefits of killing those three true disciples are more than enough." Jiang Feng was satisfied. While his own cultivation hadn't directly improved, his combat effectiveness had skyrocketed. With the White Emperor Glazed Tripod and the power of the three tiger tattoos, he could likely stand his ground against opponents two or three realms higher than himself.

However, against a figure like the Demon Commander, he would still be doomed if his soul collapsed.

"Even if the Langya Chamber of Commerce in Jiuyan Town tries to cause trouble for me due to the instigation of that new leader, they won't be able to do much now. Still, these tiger tattoos cannot be used lightly... otherwise..." Jiang Feng knew these avatars were a liability. They should not be exposed; anyone who saw them would have to be silenced. Otherwise, the secret of his killing the three true disciples would be leaked.

"I am still thinking about those fragments of the Immortal World’s Holy Tree. If you can dissolve them, the wood energy within will be the best nourishment for your Wood Emperor cultivation. I never managed to get my hands on such a thing back in my day," Yan said, still obsessed with the wood chips. He felt those fragments were the most precious treasure of all.

"Right! Improving my own strength is what matters most." Jiang Feng understood that he needed to reach the True Nether Realm as quickly as possible. Once he could comprehend the Yin and Yang and understand the harmony of heaven and man, he could ascend to the Nether King realm—that would be his greatest leap forward.

Truth be told, if he reached the True Nether Realm, even if the news of him killing the true disciples of the Lingbo Town Langya Chamber of Commerce leaked, the Jiuyan Town branch might even help him cover it up.

As they spoke, Jiang Feng picked up a gourd of Six-Yang Holy Water and approached the fragments of the "Immortal World’s Holy Tree."

***

Back on the desolate island where Jiang Feng had committed his murder and robbery, a earth-shattering change had occurred.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

One hour after Jiang Feng had killed Lei Peng, Huo Liu, and Su Bing, a streak of golden light suddenly descended upon the uninhabited island. It hovered in the air, circling continuously. Within the light was a middle-aged scholar with a majestic face. His aura was rolling like a tide, yet perfectly in harmony with the world. He was a master of the fifth level of the nether arts—the True Nether Realm!

"Lei Peng, Huo Liu, and Su Bing sent out a talisman for urgent reinforcements. According to the guidance of the talisman, they should be on this island. Why are there no traces? Where have they gone? They suffered such heavy injuries, they shouldn't have been able to fly!"

This middle-aged scholar was a true disciple of the Langya Chamber of Commerce from Lingbo Town, known as True Person Wanchun! He practiced the Great Nether Art of the Langya Chamber of Commerce, the "Wanchun Nether Art," which was incredibly formidable. Among the righteous sects, there was an unwritten rule: masters who reached the True Nether Realm could be addressed as "True Person."

"Senior Brother! We received your distress signal and have arrived!" At that moment, nether-power shot in from all directions in the sky. Seven Taoists appeared, all wearing Eight-Trigrams Purple Gold Taoist robes—typical true disciples of the Langya Chamber of Commerce. Two were masters who had reached the Nether Power Realm, while the other five were at the True Energy Realm.

Within the Langya Chamber of Commerce, reaching the Nether Art realm did not automatically make one a true disciple. One had to undergo many trials and accumulate "merit" before being taught the nether arts, and only upon reaching the True Energy Realm could one be considered a true disciple. Someone like Zhang Tianhao, who had reached the Nether Art realm but was still an inner-sect disciple, couldn't learn the true nether arts.

In this regard, they differed from other righteous sects; the secret of the nether arts was a treasure. This showed that the Langya Chamber of Commerce had deep foundations—a true giant among the righteous sects.

"Good! You Seven Sons of the Yin River also received the talisman?" True Person Wanchun nodded at the seven fellow disciples.

"Senior Brother, we were out at sea gathering Sunflower Water Essence to refine our nether arts and nourish our bodies when we received the talisman from Lei Peng and the others. We came immediately. Where are the three of them?" the seven disciples replied.

These "Seven Sons of the Yin River" practiced the "Yin River Divine Art," another water-based nether art of the Langya Chamber of Commerce.

"I haven't seen them!" True Person Wanchun said.

"Could they have met with foul play?" one of the Seven Sons asked. "The seas are rife with pirates, and some rogue cultivators are vicious. If they encountered the three injured brothers, they might have... or perhaps the Demon Commander did it!"

"Hmph! In this world, who would dare to lay a hand on disciples of our Langya Chamber of Commerce? I dare say even Liuyunzi, the top-ranked among the evil rogue cultivators, would not dare to kill a true disciple of our Langya Chamber of Commerce!" True Person Wanchun barked.