This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 249: The killer's business, not burning is not professional
Earth Dragon Castle!
A prosperous and majestic city in the southern part of Xinjiang.

It is a hub connecting all directions, standing tall and majestic, unaffected by wind and rain, crowded with merchants, with prosperous trade and a dense population.

Xiang Yuan was beaten to his knees by Chan'er and kidnapped to Dilong Castle. He only strolled around the outskirts and never entered the city.

When I first arrived here, I was amazed by the endless flow of people on the streets and the bustling traffic. It was almost as bustling as the big cities in Western Chu.

Except that they are all fierce and look at you as if you are not easy to mess with, and they are open-minded and not easy to mess with, everything else is fine.

Especially the long street just now, with red buildings standing on both sides, gauze curtains swaying, birds singing and chirping, the fragrance of cosmetics mixed with the aroma of wine and flowers spreading, there are also melodious piano sounds, light plucking of the pipa, and some ambiguous humming and singing.

Having good hearing and good eyesight has its pros and cons. Xiang Yuan accidentally walked into this street and felt that the ground was shaking. It was like this in broad daylight, so what would it be like at night?
Once again, I sighed, although they were both cattle and horses, his Palu was still not suffering enough.

Xiang Yuan had just arrived and didn't dare to speak or ask. He chose to respect the local customs and habits. This time he didn't follow the local customs. He walked through the long street and found the meeting point, a teahouse.

The name is a teahouse.

The teahouse hall is spacious, with storytellers in every corner and dozens of tables filled with guests.

Since ancient times, teahouses have been a good place to exchange information, merchants gather in groups to chat and laugh, people in the underworld discuss where to make a fortune, and a group of idle people get together to brag and gossip.

Xiang Yuan walked into the teahouse wearing a black robe and a bamboo hat. When he heard a few familiar names, he subconsciously went over.

"Have you heard about the Five Poison Sect?"

"I know. Check the accounts! My goodness, the money is burning so brightly!"

"You're talking about the past. I heard that the leader went to Yundou City to catch an adulterer, and he had a fight with the leader's wife. They both died violently, and two great elders were also killed. Now the leader's position is vacant, and the Earth Elder and the Wood Elder are fighting for power."

"real or fake?"

"Yeah, I heard it with my own ears, how can I lie to you?"

The leader is dead too?
No, the leader ran away when he saw the situation was not right. He is not dead...

He hasn't shown up yet. Is he recovering from his injuries, or is he waiting until both his subordinates are hurt before coming out to clean up the mess?

Xiang Yuan leaned over to listen and grabbed a handful of melon seeds. When the topic turned to adultery, his brows furrowed.

According to reliable sources, the adulterer was a handsome, talented and beautiful man, one of the most beautiful men in the world. Ana coveted his beauty and courageously pursued love and divorced her husband, which eventually led to a fight.

This is what rumors are like. At first glance, they seem to be self-evident, but only those who know the truth understand how outrageous it is.

In a corner of the teahouse, a man in black sat alone. The fabric of his black robe was delicate with faint dark patterns. The cuffs and lapels were embroidered with silver cloud patterns, which made him look low-key yet noble.

This person had a stern face and was silent, totally out of tune with the hustle and bustle around him. There was an indescribable majesty in his every move, which made people around him feel an invisible sense of oppression, so he didn't even want to share the table with others.

There was a cup of tea and a leaf hanging alone in front of the man, nothing else. His eyes occasionally glanced out the window, as if he was waiting for something.

Why is it so slow? It’s clearly the agreed time.

After a moment, his eyes fell on the noisy crowd, and he saw Xiang Yuan peeking and eating melon seeds. He was stunned at first, and then fell silent.

Looks a bit silly (×)
As expected of the gold medal killer of Xingxiu Palace, he has a variety of auras and can act like a street person with ease. He looks just like a real person, with his head shaking while listening to gossip and his expression of spitting out melon seed shells. Every detail perfectly blends into the crowd (√)
It's money well spent!
The man took a deep breath, paused slightly as he passed Xiang Yuan, glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, and then quickly walked up to the second floor of the teahouse.

There are many people here, and the people above are talking.

After a moment, the man walked downstairs with a confused look on his face and returned to the original table to sit down.

The Xingxiu Palace killer he had arranged to meet has not arrived yet, and the one just now was really just an idler in the market.

Just as the man sat down and doubted his life, Xiang Yuan turned and walked over. When passing by the table, he paused slightly, glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, and then quickly walked up to the second floor of the teahouse.

There are many people here, and the people above are talking.

"..."

----

In the single room on the second floor, the man was a little upset and said expressionlessly, "Are you really the one I'm waiting for?"

"This is a matter of great importance. I just tested you to confirm your identity."

Xiang Yuan's voice was hoarse, as if he had throat cancer. He took out the letter he had found on the corpse, put it on the table and pushed it over: "You also know that in our line of work, we have offended many people. It is better to be careful than to make big mistakes. Only by being cautious can you live a long life."

That's true!
After seeing the letter, the man no longer had any doubts and took off the human skin mask on his face, revealing a beardless and gentle face: "Sang Shouyi, the second in command of Dilongbao, what is your name?"

"In our line of work, we don't have a name. At least I don't have a name in Southern Xinjiang. If City Lord Sang insists on finding out, just call me 'A Little Red in Southern Xinjiang'."

"No, there is only one city lord in Dilong Fort. It is safer for Brother Yidianhong to call me the second in command." Sang Shouyi shook his head slightly.

Before Xiang Yuan came to the teahouse, he asked in an alley in Dilongbao and, with the help of enthusiastic passers-by, he had a preliminary understanding of the identities and origins of several city lords.

For example, the man in front of you, Sang Shouyi, at first glance, sounds like a thirteen-spice seller. He is from the southern Xinjiang Yi tribe and a disciple of the Wuchang Sect. He is currently the second city lord of Dilong Fort, also known as the second in command.

It doesn't matter what sect or faction the Wuchang Sect is. It's just a branch of the Huangquan Dao, not very famous, and most likely just an empty shell. All you need to know is that Sang Shouyi works for the Huangquan Dao.

"Second in command, stop talking nonsense. I'll confirm the target of the mission before I take action, so as not to find the wrong person." Xiang Yuan lowered his voice.

The letter he took out from the two killers only stated the meeting place but did not specify the specific task. He took it one step at a time and prepared to extract some information from Sang Shouyi first.

After that, I handled the situation appropriately. If the other party paid more money, I would sell Sang Shouyi.

Being an undercover agent is not shabby at all!
Sang Shouyi nodded with satisfaction. This was why he was looking for a killer. His words were concise, straightforward and straightforward, without any bargaining like a gangster.

Sang Shouyi raised his hand and a scroll appeared on the table. When it was spread out, the woman in the painting was extremely beautiful. She was wearing a blue and white long skirt and had a graceful figure, like an orchid standing in the wind.

"The third city lord, Yu Wuling."

"I understand. Second in command, go back and wait for news!"

Xiang Yuan nodded, picked up the painting, took out his lighter, and a red light flashed at his fingertips, burning it with fire.

Because the scroll was so large, the fire burned very vigorously and became increasingly intense...

Seeing that his sleeves were about to be burned, Xiang Yuan had to give up his cold killer style. He threw the painting on the ground, jumped forward a few times before he stomped out the sparks.

Sang Shouyi was in a bad mood. Looking at Xiang Yuan, whose painting style had changed drastically, he was stunned and asked, "Brother Yidianhong, why are you burning the painting?"

No burning, no professionalism!
"You don't understand killer stuff. This is the rule of the trade."

Even though Xiang Yuan failed to show off, he still had a cold face. As long as he was not embarrassed, others would be embarrassed: "Second Master, don't question my professional ethics. For every person we kill in Xingxiu Palace, we have to burn a painting."

"I didn't ask you to kill anyone!"

"???"

Why would you hire a killer if you don't want to kill anyone?
Oh, I see, that's the Jianghu order!

"I understand what Second Master means. I will first tie Yu Wuling to the woods outside the city, and personally make her full of righteousness. Then I will throw her in front of the city lord's mansion to destroy her reputation."

Xiang Yuan suddenly realized something, and he praised Sang Shouyi for being tall and strong. He said with admiration: "Then the second in command made a grand appearance, and with the momentum of plowing the courtyard and sweeping the holes, he quickly cut the Gordian knot and said that Yu Wulingde was not worthy of the position, and took her territory and people under his command."

There is such an operation, why didn’t I think of it!

Sang Shouyi was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Brother Yidianhong, this trick of yours won't work. Not to mention that Yu Wuling is from the Cha Nu Sect, a branch of the Jile Dao, three or five innate strong men can't subdue her. Even if they succeed, what's the point of ruining your reputation? How can you lose something you don't have in the first place?"

Then she is invincible!

"This won't work, and that won't work either. What do you want to do with our Xingxiu Palace?"

Xiang Yuan slammed the table in anger: "I am a professional, I am not here to tell crosstalk with you!"

"..."

But you have been telling crosstalk all the time!

Seeing Xiang Yuan was about to leave, Sang Shouyi hurriedly tried to keep him, and after adding some money, the two of them sat down again.

After listening to Sang Shouyi's story, Xiang Yuan finally understood the whole story.

Come to think of it, the previous cause had a little bit to do with him.

The situation in Dilongbao is complicated. Because of the rich mineral resources, the first-rate forces near the southern border have all planted a leader here. Including but not limited to Huangquan Road, Jile Road, Baiyun Villa, Wangjian Villa, and other second-rate forces such as the Five Poison Sect survive in the cracks and mix in the soup.

Cultivating immortality is not about fighting and killing, or rather, fighting and killing is for the purpose of making more money.

Several forces have been fighting overtly and covertly for a long time, and finally set an unspoken rule that subordinates of each branch should make a living based on their own abilities and must not interfere and cause the situation to escalate, otherwise the situation will be ruined and no one will have anything to eat.

Last December, the fourth leader who represented the Five Poison Sect died. The Five Poison Sect has been fighting among itself and investigating its accounts, leaving a large piece of cake in Dilong Fort empty. Several leaders wanted to take it and offer it to their master.

The owner behind the scenes is not in a position to take direct action, so they have to do it themselves.

Yu Wuling lived off the land and the water. She slept with several innate masters who passed by and made a mess of Sang Shouyi's territory. He even lost two of the mines he had. Several other masters came to his aid and stepped on him a few times, making Sang Shouyi unable to deal with the situation.

Seeing that he not only failed to get his cake and had lost some of his territories, Sang Shouyi became furious and spent money to find the Xingxiu Palace.

There are rules in Dilongbao. The bosses make a living based on their own abilities. It doesn't matter if the subordinates fight and kill each other, but the bosses cannot kill each other. Sang Shouyi went to Xingxiu Palace because the killers are ruthless and don't talk much, and they are more disciplined when they are paid.

Unlike those heroes in the martial arts world, who are full of loyalty and wealth, and who eat at one house and then another, and who think whoever gives them milk is their mother and whoever gives them sleep is their mother, and they have no moral integrity at all.

In other words, Sang Shouyi was looking for a ruthless and quiet thug, not a killer.

This is why the two brothers sent by Xingxiu Palace were robbing each other halfway and seriously lacked the professional qualities of a killer who was on time and accurate. It was purely to meet customer needs!
"It's really troublesome. If you can't solve the problem, you should solve the person with the problem. From ancient times to the present, everyone has solved problems in this way." Xiang Yuan was full of impatience and insisted that killing Yu Wuling would be easier.

So you are the killer!
Now that the matter is clear, it will be easier to talk. Sang Shouyi took out a letter from his arms and pushed it in front of Xiang Yuan: "This is the hiding place of Yu Wuling's thugs... Wait a minute, don't burn it yet, listen to me finish my words."

"Sorry, it's professional custom."

Xiang Yuan put the letter down in dismay. It would be unprofessional not to burn it. That's how it's played out in the movies.

"The city lord knows what's going on with this fight. You can fight however you want, as long as no one is killed, the city lord will not interfere..." Sang Shouyi reiterated his request, asking the professional killer on the opposite side not to suffer from occupational diseases and not to kill people when he gets too excited.

"Okay, our Xingxiu Palace is open for business. Since the higher-ups sent me here, I can't refuse you."

Xiang Yuan picked up the letter and glanced at it, but under Sang Shouyi's speechless gaze, he still burned the letter.

"I can take care of those minor characters tonight. Second in command, go back and prepare. I will take over the territories and recruit the people. I am always efficient." Xiang Yuan stood up and was about to leave. He felt sleepy and found his pillow. He felt that this trip would be fruitful.

"Wait a minute, I have prepared a few helpers for you."

"It doesn't work."

Xiang Yuan pushed the door open and strode away, leaving Sang Shouyi who was a little unable to keep up with the pace. The latter thought about it and could no longer understand the killer.

That night, the territory of the Third City Lord Yu Wuling was smashed, and several innate stage thugs came upon hearing the news, and all of them were beaten up one by one.

Sang Shouyi was overjoyed when he received the news. He gathered his men and took advantage of the opportunity to not only regain the lost territory, but also took the opportunity to expand his sphere of influence.

Seeing that the killer was so useful, Sang Shouyi added some money and stuffed a letter.

The letter was from several bosses who came to Sang Shouyi's aid. Sang Shouyi remembered it very clearly. These guys had ugly and disgusting faces and he had to strike hard at them.

Xiang Yuan came to Dilongbao just to fight. He could make money for free, and the key was that he had someone backing him up, so he didn't have to hide anything. It was so satisfying.

Experience +1, +1...

For five consecutive days, Xiang Yuan fought everywhere, and relying on his minor headache, he gained a lot of knowledge of the laws of heaven and earth for free.

Fighting at night and practicing during the day, with Palu's overtime efforts, the progress bar of the innate period moved forward.

……

Quiet room.

Xiang Yuan sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, using magic weapons to help him sort out the laws of heaven and earth that he had learned. His eyes flashed with white light, taking in the intricate world in his eyes.

His eyes were slightly closed, his back was straight, his hands hung naturally on his knees, and the qi points in his body were opened one by one, just like breathing. The mysterious aura seemed to merge with the heaven and earth.

As the saying goes, what you leave for yourself is the best. The old demon Lingguang knew that the Wuxiang Seal had a bright future. He also knew that this fundamental skill took a long time to master and that each realm would take a long time to settle. He left a meditation cushion for himself so that he could speed up his comprehension of the laws of heaven and earth and return to the Tongyou period in the shortest time possible.

Now, all the benefits go to Xiang Yuan.

The five elements in Xiang Yuan's body are endlessly renewed, yin and yang merge, and the 365 energy points are like 365 stars, forming a cycle and a world of their own.

Strands of fine threads interweave and intersect, revealing strange visions.

In the vast universe, there are yin and yang, the clear rises and the turbid falls, the five elements give rise to all things, dragons and tigers meet, there are seas of blood and lakes, there are clouds and thunder, there are wind, rain, frost, there are sun and moon in the sky, there are stars dotting the sky...

The world is reborn, the framework is perfectly constructed, and the gaps are filled by threads drawn from the outside world under the endless cycle of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements.

Sitting on the enlightenment cushion in the distance, eliminating all distractions and focusing the mind, in a state of deep meditation, the speed of the world's evolution is accelerated.

Rumble!
With a loud bang, spring thunder roared, and the new world slowly sank and spread into Xiang Yuan's limbs and bones. Everything had happened, but it seemed as if nothing had happened.

Xiang Yuan exhaled a breath of foul air, stood up, stretched his stiff hands and feet, put away the meditation cushion and exclaimed in amazement: "My dear, if it weren't for you, I don't know how long it would take for me to complete the Xiantian stage."

The enlightenment cushion can only help the user to calm down and concentrate to comprehend the world, but it cannot improve the user's understanding. Xiang Yuan made rapid progress after obtaining the cushion. In addition to his own high level of understanding, it was also related to the accumulation of many opportunities before.

Just talking about the blood exchange and marrow cleansing that warriors dream of, he has experienced it several times, and his qualifications have expanded to the point where he has no friends. In addition, there are angel investors who are desperately trying to take advantage of his opportunities. If he progresses a little slower, he will be sorry for the blood and tears shed by these people.

The enlightenment cushion is just an auxiliary, the key is still to go further. I don’t know how much sweat and effort I have put in along the way.

Calm: "..."

"The innate state is perfect, and I can consider reaching the Divine Transformation stage..."

Xiang Yuan clenched his fists, and just like the previous two times, he was not in a hurry to break through the bottleneck. He personally preferred to make a breakthrough naturally, and to achieve further perfection on the basis of perfection without leaving any regrets.

Bang Bang Bang!
There was a knock on the door of the quiet room, the sound was urgent and very anxious.

Xiang Yuan frowned, walked out the door to see Sang Shouyi, and asked straightforwardly: "Who are you going to beat up tonight?"

"Brother Yidianhong, you haven't left yet?"

"Why would I leave if the mission isn't completed?"

Xiang Yuan asked back directly, besides, the balance has not been paid yet!
"I haven't seen you for more than half a month. I thought..."

Xiang Yuan did not hear the rest of the words, and thought to himself that time does not exist in cultivation. It was a short retreat, and before he could react, more than twenty days had passed.

Fortunately, there was no shortage of powerful medicine in his body. If it were someone else who made rapid progress every time he went into seclusion, he would have exhausted his blood and energy long ago and killed himself.

"Brother Yidianhong, you have been in seclusion these days and have not gone out, right?" Sang Shouyi asked tentatively.

"Speak directly if you have anything to say."

"Something bad has happened. Last night, the bosses who opposed me were killed!"

"!"

Xiang Yuan was stunned when he heard this: "Who did it? They all died overnight?"

"I don't know who did it. Yu Wuling is alive, but she was also ambushed..."

Sang Shouyi looked bitter: "I am the only one who has done nothing wrong, so I am the most suspicious."

As he said this, he stared at Xiang Yuan with a suspicious look on his face, as if to say, you kid are the murderer.

What does this have to do with me? I have been in seclusion in the quiet room and have never left the house. The air can testify that I have sufficient alibi!
"What do you mean, second in command, you doubt me?"

"That's not the case. I'm just asking. Brother Yidianhong is a professional after all. What do you think about this matter?"

"You've asked the right person. Based on my many years of experience as a killer, the deceased must have been killed by a murderer, and the person who killed the deceased..."

Xiang Yuan stared at Sang Shouyi, paused for a long time, and said in a deafening voice: "That's the murderer!"

It was well-reasoned, all to the point, and all correct. Sang Shouyi opened his mouth, but didn't know how to refute.

He could tell that the assassin sent by Xingxiu Palace had a problem with his brain and was most likely the murderer. He pursed his lips and said, "I know that Brother Yidianhong is innocent, but the city lord would not think so. You were born in Xingxiu Palace, so the city lord would not make things difficult for you, but you can't stay in Dilong Fort anymore."

What a coincidence, let’s go!
Xiang Yuan had no interest in the chaos in Dilongbao. He took the final payment from Sang Shouyi, patted his butt, and turned away.

A fast horse galloped out of Dilong Fort and rented a small courtyard in the suburbs.

He took out the jade disc and contacted Chan'er and Xiao Lingyue separately, but got no response. He pouted, feeling hurt by love and unable to let go or get over it. He planned to go to the heavenly realm to seek guidance from Bodhisattva Guanyin.

In this materialistic world, only the Bodhisattva's warm heart can give him a peaceful harbor.

Just as I was about to open the door, I discovered that because my realm had been elevated, there was a new world waiting to be explored.

"This is the world of the upper limit of the innate stage. Go over and play around. It will be a reward for me for combining work and rest." Xiang Yuan opened the Yama Gate and stepped in.

……

Earth Dragon Castle.

In the quaint and secluded mansion, the Third City Lord Yu Wuling sat cross-legged on the couch, not saying a word as if he was recuperating from his injuries.

On the palm of his hand, a pattern like a jade tattoo lit up.

Yu Wuling opened her eyes and looked at the tattoo on the jade disk in her palm. She felt happy and worried at the same time: "You bastard, you come to provoke Chan'er again..."

Zen!

Or maybe Xiang Yuan and the demon girl had a tacit understanding, for without any discussion, they both disguised themselves and stepped into southern Xinjiang, and chose Dilong Fort as their place to stay.

Chan'er looked at the dancing jade tattoo, and the scene of the two of them snuggling together flashed in his eyes. He felt sweet in his heart, but he regretted not cherishing her before and getting angry at Xiang Yuan every time. If he could do it again...

Humph, I shouldn’t have been nice to that bastard. I should have killed him the first time!
"Zen'er, what is the tattoo in your hand?"

A soft voice rang out, startling Zener so much that his eyes widened in horror, his body trembled, and he looked over with a bit of fear.

"I haven't seen you for many years. Chan'er has grown up!"

The woman in white slowly pushed the door open and walked in, her face covered by a veil. She recalled the past with a gentle and kind smile: "I still remember that you were only this tall at that time. You held my hand and asked me if I was your mother..."

Huang Quan said.

Saint, Jinse.

(End of this chapter)