Chapter 272: Iron Fist Gang
Chapter 272: Iron Fist Gang
Time flew by in the blink of an eye, and five months had passed.
The war in Ice Province was still raging, and although the Seven Mysteries Sect had yet to reach a consensus, the Supreme Elder had not intervened. However, due to conflicting interests, they were passively involved in the local conflicts in Ice Province.
It is said that interests can move the heart, but in times of chaos, the lofty ideals of fighting against foreign races and saving the people from disasters are often just slogans. Instead, the Seven Mysteries Sect was gradually drawn into the Ice Province war, lured by the resources and benefits that emerged, leading them to clash with the Heaven Demons, Heaven Corpses, and even foreign races.
Additionally, according to Chen Mu's knowledge, the various sects and powers in Cold Northern Path were all watching the situation in Ice Province. In reality, they had also sent people to operate in the province, seizing resources at every opportunity, creating a chaotic mess akin to the previous situation in North Province and Cold Province.
In the inner city of Yu Prefecture's capital, Chen Mu was guiding Chen Yue in her cultivation.
Chen Yue held a sword, and as she attacked Chen Mu with a flurry of sword lights, each strike was accompanied by a fierce breaking sound, and the force was incredibly powerful. She had already reached the level of Forging Bones Realm, comparable to some of the excellent inner disciples of the Seven Mysteries Sect.
Ding!
Chen Mu used his fingers like a sword, continuously deflecting and striking Chen Yue's attacks. He stood in place, unmoving as a mountain, and instructed her, "Be like a mountain, advancing when it's time to advance and retreating when it's time to retreat, unyielding and unwavering."
"These words from the books may sound a bit mystical, but they point to the essence. Just as a mountain advances or retreats, it's not about always clashing with your opponent. Instead, when you take action, do so without hesitation or doubt, and don't change your course."
Chen Mu pointed again, deflecting Chen Yue's sword and sending it flying. The force traveled through the blade, causing her wrist and arm to tremble, and she stumbled back several steps. Her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and she was panting lightly.
"That's enough for now. You've grasped the essence quite quickly. You can already unleash eight or nine-tenths of the strength of Forging Bones Realm with your sword techniques. When you can comprehend the concept of Mountain Peak, you'll be considered a high-level cultivator in Forging Bones Realm, even comparable to many of the top-ranked inner disciples of the Seven Mysteries Sect."
Chen Mu nodded slightly at Chen Yue, stopping her from continuing her attacks.
Chen Yue took a deep breath to calm herself, then said with a sweet voice, "Thank you, brother, for your guidance."
Chen Mu shook his head and smiled, "No need for thanks. Go and meditate for a while, and contemplate what you've learned."
"Mm."
Chen Yue nodded and stepped back a few paces. She removed her embroidered shoes and sat down on the clean pear wood corridor, closing her eyes to recall and contemplate.
After observing Chen Yue's actions, Chen Mu turned and walked outside. Soon, he returned to his own courtyard and entered his bedroom. He took out a stack of booklets from a box, and upon closer inspection, they were intelligence reports compiled from various sources.
As one of the Guardians of the Seven Mysteries Sect, although he wasn't currently holding an official position in the prefecture capital, he had easy access to the local inspection offices and could freely obtain intelligence from various places in Yu Prefecture.
After a moment's hesitation, Chen Mu began reading from the first page.
'Iron Fist Gang'
They control dozens of large and small fleets on the Black Sand River, monopolizing its production and profits. They are also linked to numerous banditry and highway robbery incidents, known for their brutal methods. To ensure obedience, they once slaughtered over a hundred members of a fleet, hanging their heads along the riverbank to intimidate others. Since then, they have faced no resistance, and despite several attempts by the prefecture to eradicate them, their whereabouts remain unknown. Each year, they kidnap and extort silver and money, but their destination remains a mystery.
'Emerald Rock Mansion'
They manage the mining of a large emerald spirit mine in the Emerald Rock Mountains, offering a substantial amount of silver to the Fang Family in return for their protection. With their backing, they have become a formidable force in the region, oppressing the county government to serve them. In recent years, they have been suspected of abducting young women from various places, and those who fall into their hands disappear without a trace.
...
Indeed.
The stack of intelligence reports in Chen Mu's hands was related to various dark forces within Yu Prefecture.
These long-existing powers in Yu Prefecture had been acting with impunity, their cruel and ruthless actions leaving a trail of terror. Most of them had some connection, direct or indirect, with the Seven Mysteries Sect, which governed Yu Prefecture. Some relied on offering silver to influential families like the Fang Family for protection, while others were external forces cultivated by these families.
Chen Mu didn't gather these intelligence reports out of a strong sense of justice or a desire to eradicate these despicable forces. Instead, he planned to randomly select some 'lucky' targets because he needed money.
After five months, the various resources he had previously gathered were almost entirely consumed. He had exchanged them for Nourishing Spirit Artifacts in the Seven Mysteries Sect to aid his cultivation in the Six Viscera Realm. The remaining resources were not suitable for him to use at the moment.
[Six Viscera Scripture (72%)]
[Experience: 0 points]
After five months of cultivation, his Six Viscera Tempering had reached an astonishing 72%!
As he had expected, the cultivation of the Six Viscera, like the previous cultivation of the Sinews and Forging Bones, became more demanding after surpassing the 60% threshold. Once he had exhausted the Nourishing Spirit Artifacts obtained from the Seven Mysteries Sect, his Six Viscera Tempering progress would halt at 72%.
This is all due to his desire for a stable foundation and to avoid harming the Six Viscera themselves, opting for gentler methods to gradually digest and nourish the spirit artifacts. Otherwise, the efficiency could be even higher.
Of course.
In fact, this efficiency is already astonishingly fast!
From the moment Chen Mu entered the Six Viscera Realm, it has only been seven or eight months!
Many cultivators in the Six Viscera Realm spend five or six years, and even then, they might only reach around seventy or eighty percent refinement. At this level, they would have just barely met the qualifications to attempt the Mystic Gateway and strive to enter the Marrow Washing Grandmaster Realm.
However, for Chen Mu, he wouldn't stop here. Even if he tried to break through the Mystic Gateway now, the chances of success would be slim. Even if he had the opportunity to break through, he wouldn't attempt it at this moment. After all, for ordinary people, reaching the limit of the Six Viscera Realm is already an unattainable feat, but for him, with sufficient resources, it's something he can easily achieve.
"With this kind of corruption from the top down, it's no wonder Yan Jingqing couldn't handle it."
Chen Mu flipped through the intelligence reports, sighing to himself.
The ruthless factions without any background had already been eliminated, and those that remained were either supported by the government or had connections to the Seven Mysteries Sect. Many disciples of the Seven Mysteries Sect who went down the mountain to train would target these factions. But the large, long-standing powers in various parts of Crystal State had the backing of the six great clans of Crystal State or other influential forces within the Seven Mysteries Sect.
In this situation, even with Yan Jingqing's upright character, what could he do?
He might be able to take down one Iron Fist Gang, but he couldn't eliminate ten of them. Once he angered all the powers in Crystal State, even if he was a high-ranking expert on the Wind and Cloud Rankings, he wouldn't be able to withstand them all. Even if he wasn't afraid, he still had to consider the Yan family, so he couldn't act without restraint.
In reality, figures like Feng Hongsheng and Qin Mengjun, as grandmasters, had their own martial will and pride, so it was unlikely that they would directly protect these evil forces. But they had their clans to consider.
Because of their existence, there were the Feng and Qin families.
And because of the Feng and Qin families, there were lower-level officials and even chaotic gangs. This layered structure formed an unbreakable chain. Even if a grandmaster wanted to break it, they couldn't do it alone.
Perhaps the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion had the right idea—to pacify the chaotic world, everything must be rebuilt from scratch, including the decayed Seven Mysteries Sect. And in this process, they wouldn't hesitate to use any means necessary.
However.
While Chen Mu agreed with some of the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion's ideas, he didn't condone their methods. If the world needed to be rebuilt, then the one to take that step... would be him.
Of course, thinking about this now was still too far ahead. Chen Mu's goal had never been to pacify the chaotic world; it was to act without fear. As he flipped through the intelligence on various factions, he had no interest in trying to change the world.
All he wanted was resources.
These factions were just right for him; eliminating two or three of them wouldn't weigh on his conscience.
As for these factions, he didn't care which family or which elder of the Seven Mysteries Sect they were connected to. His purpose was always clear: until his strength was sufficient, all his actions were for the sake of improving his strength.
"Now, on the Wind and Cloud Rankings, aside from the top three, I probably have no rivals. I wonder if I can withstand a few moves against a grandmaster like Fu Jingyuan."
Chen Mu shook his head slightly.
After five months, he had not only refined his Six Viscera to 72% but had also advanced another step in the Heaven-Earth Concept, completing the fifth cycle. He was getting closer and closer to the second stage's limit.
Additionally, he had cultivated the Flower-Fall Without Trace technique to the second layer. When used in conjunction with the Heaven-Earth Concept and the Heaven and Earth Wheel Seal, it brought him closer to the Martial Domain, further enhancing his power.
Currently, by focusing solely on the concept, he could probably harness around thirty-four or thirty-five portions of Heaven and Earth's power. The Primordial Essence True Force had also reached a similar level, totaling around seventy portions! In terms of quantity, he was not far off from third-tier grandmasters like Fu Jingyuan.
However, the other party had achieved unity between their inner and outer strength, with a complete Martial Body and Martial Domain, making their power far superior. They were on a different level, and encountering such an existence, Chen Mu could only flee, unable to resist.
In the 1619th chapter, you can see the correct version!
But the increase in strength was real, and he now had much more confidence.
Perhaps.
Once his concept strength increased further and his Six Viscera refinement approached the limit, he could create a 'quantity' gap. At that time, even without a domain or martial body, he might be able to defeat these third-tier grandmasters!
"Then, let's start with the Iron Fist Gang."
Chen Mu glanced at the intelligence report on the paper with a detached gaze.
The information on the Iron Fist Gang was the most obscure, and he didn't even know which of the Six Great Clans of Yu Prefecture they were affiliated with. But this was actually better for him; even if he provoked a Grandmaster of the Six Mystic Peaks Sect, he could easily feign ignorance and avoid any repercussions.
With his current abilities, although he rarely engaged in assassinations anymore, if he were to learn from the Blood Shadow Tower's methods, it would be nearly impossible to identify the perpetrator.
Putting the report aside, Chen Mu quietly opened a box hidden under his bed and took out a set of travel gear. After changing into it, he silently left the room.
...
The Iron Fist Gang operated along the Black Sand River region.
The Black Sand River flowed along the eastern edge of Yu Prefecture's capital, Yu City, which also marked the border between Yu City and Lin City, dividing the two cities.
Traveling north along the river led to Bi Prefecture and Jade Bell Prefecture, while heading south reached the remote Jade Jade Prefecture.
"This is the Black River, truly living up to its name."
After quietly leaving the capital, Chen Mu headed east. With his current speed, he arrived at the outskirts of Yu City in less than half a day and reached the banks of the Black River.
At that moment, he stood on the riverbank with his hands behind his back, gazing at the turbulent river flowing from the end of his sight. The water was murky, deep brown verging on black, a result of the black sand from underground being carried along with the current. It was unlike any other river he had seen before.
Black Sand.
A high-quality sand material, walls built with it were as sturdy as iron. The capital's city walls were constructed using this sand, and many private fortresses built by various powers also utilized the same material.
As Chen Mu observed the river, he noticed a boat slowly approaching on the murky waters. There were two figures on the boat: an old man, around fifty years old, and a little girl, about eleven or twelve.
"Are you looking to cross the river, sir?"
The old man, holding a pole, saw Chen Mu on the shore from a distance and rowed closer, asking him.
"Yes."
Chen Mu gave the old man a glance and calmly stepped onto the riverbank, then boarded the small boat.
The old man, seeing Chen Mu on the boat, didn't sit down but stood there, smiling as he reminded him, "Sir, you should sit down. Although this is the calmest part of the river, the current is still swift. The Dragon King of Water could cause trouble with just a flip of his body."
"Sir, you can sit here."
The little girl sitting on the boat spoke softly.
Chen Mu, after hearing the old man's reminder, was about to decline, but seeing the girl make space for him, he shook his head slightly and sat down beside her.
The old man, seeing this, finally pushed the pole and slowly guided the small boat into the river.
Chen Mu looked at the little girl in front of him. She appeared somewhat pale and thin, seemingly undernourished. He asked, "I heard that along the Black Sand River, people rely on the river for their livelihood. Although there are hardly any fish in the river, sifting for black sand can earn a considerable amount of money. Doesn't this seem more profitable than ferrying passengers?"
The old man, listening to Chen Mu's words while holding the pole, couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly. "Sir, you must be from out of town. The black sand is indeed valuable. In the past, one person could support an entire family with this work. But for the past eleven years, not only has the price of black sand been consistently low, but to do this work, you also have to pay 'protection fees' to the ship gang. My wife and child met with a water-related disaster a few years ago, and now I'm the only one working, but even the 'protection fees' are becoming unaffordable."
Eleven years ago.
That was when the Iron Fist Gang gradually started to control the ship gangs along the Black River.
Chen Mu's mind registered this information and he shook his head slightly. Indeed, the situation was not much different from the capital. The work was sufficient to provide food and clothing, but after layers of exploitation, it became a bitter struggle.
"What if you sold the black sand directly?"
Chen Mu asked again.
Hearing this, the old man shook his head repeatedly. "This area, for ten miles or so, is all under the control of the Zhang Family Fleet. Where could you sell it? Moreover, if you dare to bypass them and sell the black sand outside, if you're caught... Sir, you're not here to buy black sand, are you? If you're thinking of doing this, please abandon the idea. Last month, some outsiders came to buy black sand. They took sand directly from our village, but they were discovered by the ship gang. As a result, a pile of heads was hung at the ferry terminal."
Speaking of this, the old man couldn't help but shudder, and a hint of fear flashed in his eyes.
Chen Mu, upon hearing this, turned his gaze to the turbulent, murky river. His eyes remained calm, knowing that beneath his feet was the valuable black sand, an endless resource, yet it couldn't support a family. The corruption of the officials and their collusion with bandits was evident.
This situation couldn't be resolved by simply eliminating the ship gang and the Iron Fist Gang. The ship gang was made up of local villagers, and if one group was eradicated, another would take its place. The same was true for the Iron Fist Gang. However, Chen Mu hadn't come to save the commoners; he was here to borrow some resources from the Iron Fist Gang. If, in the process, the lives of the commoners along the Black River improved for a while, it would also ease his conscience.
(End of Chapter)
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