187 Unlaughing 5 (1/2)

”Why? What's the problem with this mirror?” Lu Sheng was stumped by Hongfang Bai's reaction.

”A big problem. I've heard of an organization fully consisting of Anomalies. They're extremely well-hidden and go by the name of Three Sacred Gates,” Hongfang Bai whispered. ”They're an organization shrouded in mystery and are not to be trifled with. If you see them, it's best to avoid them. I don't want to be implicated by you.”

”Even you are afraid of this Three Sacred Gates despite your strength?” Lu Sheng asked curiously.

”They're a pain to deal with. You've no idea because you've never had any contact with them. Their methods are extremely bizarre. To begin with, Anomalies exist in all shapes and color; there's no way to keep track of how many different kinds of Anomalies there are. You'll understand when you meet them,” Hongfang Bai said simply.

Lu Sheng recalled his first encounter with the mirror. Indeed, he had been pulled into the mirror. Moreover, the Anomaly possessed three modes and fought with its life without negotiations. It was indeed a pain in the neck.

”Forget it. You won't believe me even if I say more. What you encountered previously was probably a Collector in their organization—a rookie soldier with the job of collecting and gathering life force. If you ever encounter those white stained-glass mirrors, beware.” Hongfang Bai jumped down the table. ”Alright, I'm going to take a shower. I've said what I should. You decide.”

Lu Sheng did not stop her. He watched as she left the room and fell into deep thought.

'Aside from the Noble Families, it looks like many factions exist even among demons and ghosts. Wandering Heart Society is one. Then there's Ashoka Manor. And now a Three Sacred Gates pops up... and it's also an Anomaly-based faction.'

He sat in silence for a moment.

'I've still got more than fifty units of Yin Qi unused. Perhaps I can upgrade Yang Extreme Dao once more. Deep Blue.'

The Modifier screen emerged.

He glanced at his present status.

'Yang Extreme Dao: Grade Three. Special Effect(s): Amplified Strength Level Thirteen; Anti-Tremor Level Ten; Reinforced Defense Level Ten; Scorch Level Six...'

'Yang Extreme Dao is formed by the full mastery of all hard body skills and is an outer force skill through and through. It decides the strength of my fleshly body and physical abilities.

Previously I upgraded to Grade Three at one go. By integrating Yin and Yang inner Qi, I can enter the Destroyer mode. But now... it looks like I'm short on Yin Qi…'

He was disappointed to see no 'Extrapolate' button behind Yang Extreme Dao. Then, he looked at his inner force skills.

'Ultimate Crimson Nine Furies Skill: Level Nine. Special Effect(s): Inner Qi Detonation, Strengthened Blood Web.'

'Yin Yang Jade Crane Aquarius Qi: Level Nine. Special Effect(s): Yin Crane Web, Yin Extreme Mode.'

Although his skills were listed separately from each other in the Modifier, Lu Sheng could distinctly feel that the inner Qi in his body was integrated into one, with Yang on the outside and Yin on the inside.

On the outside, Ultimate Crimson Nine Furies Skill was the main foundation of his power. On the inside, he relied on Yin Yang Jade Crane Aquarius Qi to stabilize his body and protect himself from being scorched by the overly explosive Ultimate Crimson Nine Furies Skill.

Without Yin Yang Jade Crane Aquarius Qi, Lu Sheng would be unable to tolerate and control such a powerful Yang-attribute inner force skill.

'In other words, if I wish to upgrade my inner force now, I need to upgrade both Yin and Yang inner force skills together as far as possible.' Having realized that, his thoughts traveled further. 'Now, I'm left with slightly more than fifty units of Yin Qi. At the very most, I can upgrade either one of them... But if I break the current equilibrium, I may suffer from side effects. I might as well keep that Yin Qi first and upgrade them at the same time when I've saved up enough Yin Qi.'

He rose to his feet and placed the book back on the shelf slowly.

”Men.”

”Yes, sir!”

A guard pushed the door open, entered and knelt on the ground on one knee.

”Prepare the carriage for a trip to Tea Town. Relay my orders: Xu Chui is to accompany me with one squad,” Lu Sheng ordered. These guards who waited on him close by possessed extremely high clearance. Each one of them was an elite picked from the sect, ready to lay down their lives at any time. They all worshipped Lu Sheng fanatically and were 'equipped' with Yin Crane Web. Hence, their loyalty to him was without question.

”Yes, sir!” The guard received the Sect Master's command medallion and retreated.

Lu Sheng had intended to conceal his identity on the trip. But on second thought, he decided that it was better to bring a team over in broad daylight. There were advantages to having more men in his company.

After giving out his orders, he stood alone in the study, gazing at the sky outside the study. Wisps of clouds flew by the horizon, blocking the late autumn sun.

After standing there with a dazed gaze for a moment, he sighed, pushed open the door slowly and walked out of the study.

***

Three days later, in Tea Town.

Beside a giant wine urn in the winery in town, a Taoist in green robes fished out some copper coins from his pocket slowly and counted.

.

He glanced at the extraordinarily lively scene before him in the winery. Solemnly, he pinched his fingers together and calculated.

The Taoist looked handsome and square-faced. With the serious look on his face, he looked every bit the part of a wise Taoist. A neat black goatie was on his chin.

After some calculations, his originally solemn face turned every graver.

”I've run out of money...”

The owner of the winery had long since noticed this man standing beside the wine urn. Initially, he paid him no attention. But seeing his facial expression turn graver and graver, the owner began to feel nervous. His mind went to the strange incident that had recently happened in town and quickly finished his instructions to the waiters and strolled over.

”Excuse me, Taoist. May I know if there's anything wrong with my winery? Why have you been standing at the door with such a solemn expression...?”

At the sound of that, the Taoist sucked in a deep breath of air.

”This humble Taoist's Taoist name is Wan Hezi. I chanced upon your store accidentally and felt a sudden urge to calculate. But immediately I found something amiss...”