Chapter 117: Inventorying the Loot, a Big Harvest!

Chapter 117: Inventorying the Loot, a Big Harvest!

Lake Luoshui.

On a deserted island, devoid of human presence.

"Huh!"

Jiang Ning dragged Tan Yiyi's body back to the reef.

Although he had now mastered underwater breathing, his body's habits were not easily changed. He couldn't help but exhale a breath, then take in a gulp of fresh air.

The next moment, he looked down at Tan Yiyi's body placed on the reef.

"Tan Yiyi, an Eighth Rank Martial Daoist, also died by my hands. Although I had the advantage of occupying a superior position, there's no doubt that my strength has greatly improved to defeat such a powerful Eighth Rank expert."

"Moreover," Jiang Ning's lips curled into a slight smile, and he muttered to himself, "Moreover, I can now take Tan Yiyi's body to claim the reward of a hundred taels of gold."

"With that hundred taels of gold, I won't have to worry about money for a long time."

"A hundred taels of gold is equivalent to ten thousand taels of silver. This is an unimaginable fortune, enough to catapult me into the ranks of the wealthy in Luoshui County, surpassing even Cheng Ran's wealth!"

At this moment, although Jiang Ning had these thoughts, he wasn't overly excited.

A hundred taels of gold was simply too extravagant!

Even with the backing of Medicine King Valley, his instincts told him that this matter wasn't as simple as it seemed.

No matter how skilled Tan Yiyi was, he was just an Eighth Rank Martial Daoist and a river bandit.

What made him worthy of a hundred taels of gold reward from Medicine King Valley? Jiang Ning felt something was amiss.

The next moment, he crouched in front of Tan Yiyi and removed the black gloves from his hands.

He had been paying attention to these gloves for a long time.

Underwater, he had unleashed four powerful slashes, each at his limit.

But Tan Yiyi had easily blocked all four slashes with just his right fist.

Although Tan Yiyi's own strength played a role, these gloves also deserved credit.

Without these gloves that could withstand blades, how could Tan Yiyi's flesh and blood have blocked his four powerful slashes?

So when Jiang Ning saw the gloves on Tan Yiyi's hands, he knew they must be extremely valuable.

Gloves that could easily resist blades were worth several times more than ordinary swords.

After removing the gloves, Jiang Ning searched Tan Yiyi's entire body.

These bandits, who risked their lives, would undoubtedly keep their wealth on their person.

They trusted no one but themselves.

Moments later, Jiang Ning laid out the items he had gathered from Tan Yiyi's body.

There was a golden box, smaller than a palm.

A packet wrapped in oil paper.

A tied cloth bag.

And two jade bottles.

Not many items.

Jiang Ning first opened the packet wrapped in oil paper.

"So, it's silver tickets!" he muttered, as several folded silver tickets appeared before him.

He quickly counted them, and a hint of disappointment crept onto his face.

There weren't many silver tickets, just one hundred and thirty taels.

This wealth didn't match Tan Yiyi's status as an Eighth Rank Martial Daoist.

Jiang Ning carefully folded the silver tickets back into the oil paper, ensuring a tight seal to prevent water damage when submerged.

After putting away the silver tickets, Jiang Ning picked up the cloth bag and weighed it in his hand.

Just by holding it, he knew what it contained—some loose silver coins.

Money was essential for anyone traveling.

Jiang Ning untied the rope on the cloth bag and saw the loose silver coins shimmering in the sunlight.

"About seven or eight taels!" Jiang Ning estimated, muttering to himself.

Then he put away the loose silver coins.

He picked up the two jade bottles.

After opening them, he poured out two pills into his hand, examined them closely, and shook his head slightly.

"Unclear medicinal effects, can't take them recklessly!"

He put the pills back into the jade bottles and resealed them.

"I'll keep them for now and have them appraised by the appraiser at Wan Hua Tower when I get the chance."

Finally, he picked up the palm-sized box.

Just holding the box, Jiang Ning detected a faint scent of sandalwood emanating from it.

"This fragrance, which can repel insects, must be extraordinary."

As he spoke, he opened the box and saw two pills wrapped in a layer of golden pill coating.

These pills were about the size of pigeon eggs, and next to them was an indentation where a third pill had once been.

"These pills seem extraordinary!" Jiang Ning muttered, then shook his head. "Unfortunately, I don't recognize them, so I can't take them casually."

At that moment, his gaze suddenly sharpened.

On the pill coating of the two pills in the box, there was a slight bulge.

"Tiger Cub Transformation Body Strength Pill!"

He took a deep breath, his eyes glowing with brilliance, and muttered to himself.

"It's actually the Tiger Cub Transformation Body Strength Pill!"

"I understand now!"

"I finally understand why Medicine King Valley is offering a hundred taels of gold as a reward for capturing Tan Yiyi."

"Tan Yiyi managed to snatch three Tiger Cub Transformation Body Strength Pills from Medicine King Valley, and since he consumed one, there are two left."

At this moment, Jiang Ning's mind suddenly became clear as he read the seven large characters on the pill's outer coating—'Tiger Cub Transformation Body Strength Pill.' Everything made sense now.

He had, of course, heard of this pill before.

Or rather, nine out of ten martial artists in Dongling Prefecture had heard of this pill.

It was the most renowned divine pill produced by Medicine King Valley.

After consuming and refining it, one's physique would be enhanced, their qi and blood strengthened, their bones fortified, and their strength increased significantly. Most importantly, it could improve one's innate root bones.

It was precisely because of this effect that the Tiger Cub Transformation Body Strength Pill lived up to its name as a divine pill, becoming the dream pill for countless martial artists.

However, this pill was priceless and never sold outside the valley.

It was either consumed within the valley or offered as a tribute.

So, at this moment, Jiang Ning understood everything.

Tan Yiyi must have robbed the tribute from Medicine King Valley, taking these three pills, which was why he was being hunted down and had a hundred taels of gold on his head.

At that moment, seeing the remaining two Tiger Cub Transformation Body Strength Pills, Jiang Ning had only one thought in mind.

A hundred taels of gold?

It was nothing compared to the pills.

The value of just one Tiger Cub Transformation Body Strength Pill far exceeded a hundred taels of gold.

After all, this was the famous pill of Medicine King Valley, capable of improving one's innate root bones.

Just like when he joined the martial arts academy and Master Wang Jin examined his bones, he was deemed to have average talent.

His root bones were ordinary, with nothing extraordinary about them.

On the martial path, the importance of root bones was undeniable.

Those who achieved great success and advanced far on the path either had exceptional root bones from birth or possessed incredible comprehension.

In any case, they all had their strengths and opportunities.

Without these advantages, no amount of hard work would lead to significant accomplishments.

This path of fierce competition was also incredibly cruel.

So, Jiang Ning knew that even with his extraordinary attributes, improving his root bones would accelerate his growth.

Compared to a pill that could enhance one's innate root bones, money was truly insignificant.

Even if he had the money, obtaining such a pill would be difficult.

Then, Jiang Ning picked up Tan Yiyi's body and threw it into the lake.

Plop!

As the sound of the body hitting the water echoed, Tan Yiyi's corpse disappeared into the waves.

"Done!" Jiang Ning clapped his hands and continued, "Feeding his body to the fish, no one will ever find him, and no one will know that Tan Yiyi died by my hand."

"I don't even want the hundred taels of gold! With these two Tiger Cub Transformation Body Strength Pills, I'm satisfied!"

A look of joy appeared on Jiang Ning's face.

Then, he glanced at the spot where Tan Yiyi had disappeared, confirming there were no surprises, before grabbing the fifty-year-old blood lotus he had placed on the ground earlier and swiftly climbing up the cliff.

Soon, he reached the top of the cliff, returning to where he had hidden his belongings.

He had been practicing his sword skills on the island for several days, so he naturally brought the necessary supplies for martial cultivation.

After all, he couldn't have practiced underwater for so long without the support of medicinal herbs.

After packing up his supplies, Jiang Ning leaped off the cliff and plunged into the lake.

He was eager to return and make use of his newfound gains.

As for this uninhabited island, he planned not to return for a long time.

Staying away from the scene of the incident seemed like the wise thing to do.

The executor elder from Medicine King Valley was still pursuing Tan Yiyi.

If they found out that Tan Yiyi was killed by Jiang Ning, danger would immediately befall him.

Even Master Wang Jin might not be able to protect him from Medicine King Valley.

After all, the valley had sent only one executor elder, who was a seventh-rank martial artist, indicating their extraordinary strength.

Moreover, Medicine King Valley was renowned for its pill and medical arts.

Such a sect would undoubtedly have extensive connections.

They were a force not to be trifled with.

In their eyes, the Cao family might just be a wealthy household, incomparable to them.

Therefore, after discovering that Tan Yiyi was being hunted by Medicine King Valley, Jiang Ning, having swallowed the two Tiger Cub Transformation Body Strength Pills, dared not linger on the deserted island.

He feared encountering someone from Medicine King Valley.

If they saw him, and with Tan Yiyi's disappearance, they might suspect that Tan Yiyi was dead.

They might also suspect him.

Even though the possibility was minuscule, Jiang Ning didn't want to take the risk.

He chose to go home and quickly leave this uninhabited island to avoid the danger.

After diving into the water, Jiang Ning swam swiftly towards the shore.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end