Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 129 Job Upgrade, Black Wind Stronghold!

Back at the inn, Chen Ye bolted the door shut.

The room was quiet, with only the sound of his own breathing.

He walked to the table, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and drank it all in one gulp, trying to suppress the burning desire in his heart caused by the killing.

But it didn't work.

The exhilarating feeling that followed his realization was like a flood bursting its banks, washing over his entire body and leaving him in a strange state of excitement.

Just then, the familiar panel appeared before my eyes.

[Bounty Hunter class level upgraded to lv2]

Chen Ye's heart stirred, and he immediately opened the profession panel.

Name: Chen Ye

[Cultivational Realm: Nourishing Qi]

[Occupation: Bounty Hunter Lv2 (A swordsman who roams between towns and wilderness, making a living by slaying demons and monsters. Their swords are both for wealth and for the way.)]

[Talent: Bloodlust Vision - When the host's life is threatened or their body is injured, their mind will be highly focused, dynamic vision will be greatly enhanced, and the flow of time in their senses will slow down. The more severe the injury, the stronger the effect.]

[Method: Golden Toad Swallowing Qi Method lv2]

[Martial Arts: Needle Blade Technique Lv1]

Chen Ye was very satisfied with his current level.

Although this world is dangerous, we now have a solid foundation. All that's left is to slowly level up and see just how far the professional limits of this world can go.

Just as Chen Ye was taking stock of his gains, the events at Deyilou spread throughout Yuhuo County at an astonishing speed.

A newcomer to the profession killed another bounty hunter in a den of iniquity.

This matter is explosive enough in itself, not to mention that it involves the old incident at the dilapidated temple in the west of the city a few days ago.

For a time, many people were talking about this.

"Have you heard? A newcomer named Chen Ye killed Gong Chen!"

"Gong Chen? Is that the guy who made a fortune by betraying his teammates?"

"That's right! It's said that Chen Ye was the unlucky guy who was pushed into the mouth of the green-haired zombie. Who would have thought that not only did he not die, but he also came back for revenge!"

"Good heavens, this is truly a satisfying revenge! I knew that bastard Gong Chen was no good; those who betray their teammates deserve to die!"

Inside the Demon Slayer Division, Cong Bo listened to his subordinates' report. His hand holding the teacup did not tremble at all, only the corners of his mouth slightly turned up.

"Boss, should we get involved in this?" a man asked cautiously.

"Mind? Mind my ass!" Cong Bo put down his teacup. "The grudges between bounty hunters are usually ignored by the government as long as they don't come out in the open. Why should our Demon Slaying Division care? Besides, someone like Gong Chen is no good if he dies."

He paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

“I told you before that this kid was no ordinary person, but you didn’t believe me. Now you see, right? He’s decisive in killing and always seeks revenge. That’s the kind of person who can survive in this world. So, giving him those three exorcising talismans was definitely worth it!”

"Congtou was truly farsighted!"

"That's right, Cong Tou really has a keen eye for talent."

Upon hearing this, everyone showered him with flattery, making Cong Bo feel incredibly flattered and comfortable. However, he still feigned humility and said, "Oh, you flatter me, you flatter me. I was just doing it on a whim."

"Also, from now on, you should address people by their job titles in the company, instead of using informal terms like 'garlic heads' or 'shrimp heads,' as it sounds inelegant."

Chen Ye was unaware of what was happening outside. He stayed peacefully in the inn all day until evening when someone suddenly knocked on his door.

Chen Ye, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation, immediately opened his eyes, reached out and grasped the long sword lying across his knees, and coldly asked, "Who?"

"Is the brave warrior Chen Ye here? I am Xiao Hongye, and I have something to discuss with you." A clear, unhurried female voice came from outside the door.

Woman, is there something else you want to discuss?

Chen Ye raised an eyebrow slightly, glanced at the talisman he carried with him, and found that it had no effect. Only then did he get up and open the door.

Standing outside the door was a woman dressed in a red outfit. She was tall and slender with a beautiful face and particularly sharp phoenix eyes.

"What's up?" Chen Ye asked.

"I would like to ask you to join me on a mission." Xiao Hongye got straight to the point without any beating around the bush, and then she added.

"The compensation is generous."

In the bounty hunter line of work, it's common to invite others to team up, since some missions are indeed difficult to complete alone.

There are two ways to invite someone: one is to split the reward afterward, and the other is to pay a fee upfront, but then the recipient has no say in any of the rewards from the mission.

"What mission? Where to?" Chen Ye asked.

Xiao Hongye looked at him and slowly uttered three words: "Black Wind Stronghold".

Chen Ye's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

He had been gathering information in the city these past few days, and he had heard this name quite a few times.

Black Wind Stronghold was once a bandit stronghold outside Yuhuo County. The leader was said to be a Yin-nourishing master who practiced unorthodox methods and was quite powerful. If converted to Qi Refining level, he would probably be at the Unobstructed Realm.

But just three years ago, this group of fierce bandits were wiped out overnight.

The manner of their deaths was even more bizarre: hundreds of people in the village were all hanged from the rafters of various houses throughout the village, their faces bearing eerie smiles.

Since then, Black Wind Stronghold has become a dead end.

Some daring people have spied on the village from afar and said that after dark, lights would come on and one could hear a great commotion of people drinking and feasting, as if all the bandits had come to life.

But once someone dared to step inside, they never came out again.

In just the last few years, as many as seventeen or eighteen skilled fighters have perished in the prison.

Therefore, in Yuhuo County today, whether it's the Demon Slayer Bureau or a lone bounty hunter, everyone turns pale at the mention of Black Wind Stronghold.

"What is it about that place that's worth all this trouble?" Chen Ye's voice was somewhat cold.

Xiao Hongye seemed to have anticipated his question and smiled, saying, "The leader of Black Wind Stronghold has been running the place for many years and has amassed countless riches, which are now all ownerless. That's why so many people have been trying to explore Black Wind Stronghold over the years."

"Me, of course, is no exception."

Chen Ye, however, was somewhat skeptical of this claim.

Admittedly, because the destruction of Black Wind Stronghold was so bizarre, there might indeed be valuables looted by these bandits inside, but in his view, the danger was not proportional to the reward.

Therefore, Xiao Hongye was definitely not telling the truth.

This is not surprising, as it is normal for two people to hold back their words when they first meet.

"Yu Huo County has many skilled individuals, so why are they looking for a mere Qi Nourishing Realm cultivator like me?"

"Although your cultivation level is not high, your swordsmanship is quite good." Xiao Hongye's gaze fell on the sword at Chen Ye's waist. "You were able to kill the green-haired zombie all by yourself and then cleanly and decisively kill your enemy. This is enough to prove your strength, not to mention..."

She paused, a strange light flashing in her phoenix eyes.

"Even Steward Cong from the Demon Slayer Division said that your swordsmanship is sharp and carries a hint of demon-slaying power. And that's exactly what we need for this trip."

Chen Ye remained silent for a moment.

To go or not to go?

Black Wind Stronghold was undoubtedly a den of dragons and tigers, but as a newcomer, I knew very little about the cultivation schools and strange methods of this world.

Since Xiao Hongye dared to go this time, she must have made thorough preparations and invited more than just herself as a skilled person.

Going along and taking a look would be a good opportunity to secretly observe the methods of various cultivators, broaden my horizons, and prevent me from being caught off guard if I encounter them in the future.

“I can go.” Chen Ye finally nodded. “But I’m making it clear beforehand that I will never be the first to go, and if things don’t work out, I will immediately back out.”

"Of course, if things don't work out, we can just retreat; no one will blame us."

"it is good!"

Seeing that Chen Ye agreed, Xiao Hongye smiled and said, "Then let's meet at the city gate tomorrow morning."

After saying that, she turned and left, decisively and cleanly.

Chen Ye closed the door, went to the table, and then drew out the long, slender sword.

Although the blade was cool to the touch, Chen Ye still picked up a clean white cloth and carefully wiped it, checking the edge to make sure there were no defects. Then he went out and bought some beef jerky.

These are provisions prepared just in case.

After doing all this, he once again focused on his cultivation.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Chen Ye arrived at the city gate.

The morning mist made distant objects appear somewhat blurry.

Three figures were already waiting at the city gate.

A burly man, his face covered in tattoos and his expression fierce, leaned against the wall, resting with his eyes closed. Beside him stood a gaunt man, his face sallow, looking as if a gust of wind could blow him over, coughing incessantly.

There was also a girl who looked to be only sixteen or seventeen years old. She had a round face and round eyes, and was wearing a light green dress. She was innocent and very cute.

Chen Ye's arrival also caught the attention of the three.

The tattooed man and the sickly man only glanced at him before looking away, some continuing to cough, others closing their eyes to rest.

Only the round-faced girl looked him up and down curiously with her big eyes, but she didn't say a word.

Chen Ye didn't care. He held the knife and found a corner to stand quietly, like a silent stone.

Before long, Xiao Hongye's figure appeared in the morning mist.

There were three people following behind her.

Leading the way was a young man dressed in luxurious silk, with dark circles under his eyes, unsteady steps, and yawning as he walked, looking like someone who had overindulged in sex and was weak and deficient in kidneys.

Beside the young man stood a burly man nearly two zhang tall, his muscles bulging like an iron tower, carrying a giant sword wider than a door on his back.

The last person was a middle-aged man wearing a gray Taoist robe, holding a whisk, with a thin face, and a somewhat otherworldly air about him.

Including Chen Ye and the three who arrived earlier, there were a total of eight people.

Xiao Hongye's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Chen Ye, where she nodded slightly.

"Everyone's here," she said, her voice particularly clear in the cool morning mist.

"In that case, we..."

Before he could finish speaking, the young man with kidney deficiency suddenly pointed at Chen Ye, frowning, and said, "Hongye, is this the expert swordsman you were talking about? It turns out to be this Qi Cultivation Realm kid? You're not kidding me, are you?"

These words instantly made the already somewhat tense atmosphere in the morning mist even more rigid.

All eyes were on Chen Ye and the young man with kidney deficiency.

Xiao Hongye frowned slightly; she disliked the young man named Lü Song quite a bit.

This person always likes to talk big and often makes decisions on his own, acting as if the two have a very close relationship.

Unfortunately, this guy is indeed quite strong.

Although he took the unorthodox path of consuming elixirs, his cultivation level, when converted to the level of a Qi Refiner, was at least at the Unobstructed Realm, making him one of the main forces in this operation.

Therefore, Xiao Hongye held back and was about to speak up to smooth things over when she heard Lü Song continue, "Hongye, I'm not trying to criticize you, but we both know how dangerous this trip to Black Wind Stronghold is. Bringing along such a burden as a Qi Nourishing Realm cultivator is just harming both of us."

He acted as if he was thinking of everyone's best interests, but his words were full of arrogance.

Those present were all seasoned veterans; everyone understood the meaning behind his words.

Lei Cang, a man with tattoos all over his face, leaned against the wall without even lifting his eyelids, as if he were in a trance, completely indifferent to the situation.

The emaciated, sickly Zhao Ada next to him covered his mouth with a handkerchief and coughed violently, as if he were about to cough up his lungs. He naturally had no time to pay attention to the argument here.

Shi Meng, a muscular giant with muscles as thick as an iron tower, let out a disdainful snort from his nostrils, it was unclear who he was mocking.

Only the round-faced girl, Su Yuan, had her big, dark eyes full of curiosity, darting back and forth between Chen Ye and Lü Song, seemingly finding the scene before her quite amusing.

Meanwhile, the ethereal and otherworldly Daoist Master Yun Heqing held a whisk in his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Seeing that Chen Ye remained silent, a glint of black light flashed in Lü Song's eyes, and a chilling aura suddenly appeared, sweeping towards Chen Ye.

"Kid, try taking one of my moves! If you can't even withstand this bit of eerie wind, then get lost and stop making a fool of yourself here!"

This yin energy wasn't a killing move, but its chilling cold was enough to make ordinary Qi Nourishing Realm cultivators flustered and in a sorry state.

Chen Ye remained expressionless, but suddenly drew his sword from its sheath, took two steps forward, and slashed out with his blade.

With a flash of light, the fierce, chilling airflow was sliced ​​open, as if a piece of cloth had been cut through by scissors, without the slightest obstruction.

The airflow slid past Chen Ye's sides, making his clothes flutter, before finally dissipating into nothingness.

Not only that, a strand of hair drifted down from Lü Song's temple.

The whole place was dead silent.

Everyone seemed to freeze in their breathing.

The smug, mocking look on Lü Song's face froze completely, and then the color drained from his face, leaving it deathly pale.

Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

Others may have only seen the incredibly fast slash, but he clearly felt that just a moment ago, a cold and sharp blade of energy brushed past his cheek.

If the other party's knife had been off by even an inch, no, even just half an inch, it wouldn't have been a strand of hair falling off now, but half of his head!

This kid in the Qi Cultivation Realm... actually possesses such terrifying swordsmanship!
Xiao Hongye's beautiful eyes sparkled with admiration. She knew Chen Ye's swordsmanship was good, but she hadn't expected it to be this sharp.

Lei Cang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, had opened them at some point, and Shi Meng, who was as tall as an iron tower, also put away his contempt.

They all looked at this young man, whom they had always overlooked, with a scrutinizing gaze.

As for the round-faced girl Su Yuan, she became even more curious. She blinked her big, round eyes and looked at Chen Ye with an innocent and naive expression, as if she wanted to see through him from the inside out.

Her innocent appearance stirred a slight flutter in the heart of Daoist Yun Heqing, who was standing to the side.

Just then, Chen Ye slowly sheathed his sword.

"Can you leave now?"

"Ahem, now that everyone's here, let's set off." Xiao Hongye quickly smoothed things over and then took the lead, heading out of the city.

Lu Song's face turned pale and then red, but in the end he didn't say anything more. He just glared at Chen Ye and then quickly followed after him.

The group set off, and on the way, they saw Master Yun Heqing take out an exquisite feng shui compass from his bosom and walk at the front of the group, calculating with his fingers as he went.

“This place is filled with malevolent energy. Take thirty steps to the left and go around it.”

"The yin energy is gathering ahead, pass through quickly and do not linger."

Under his guidance, the group did indeed avoid several dangerous places in the wilderness, which made them more convinced of his abilities.

After walking for a while, Yun Heqing seemed to get a little bored. He rolled his eyes and his gaze fell on Su Yuan, who looked the most harmless in the group.

He leaned closer, a kind smile on his face: "Young lady, I see that your forehead is bright and your bones are extraordinary. It seems that you have an affinity with the Dao. Why don't I read your palm and predict your future opportunities?"

"Okay, okay!" Su Yuan said innocently, stretching out her delicate white hand without any guard.

Yun Heqing was overjoyed and quickly stretched out his withered hand, pretending to touch Su Yuan's palm.

But the moment his fingertips touched Su Yuan's skin, he felt as if he had been bitten by a venomous snake. He jerked his hand back, his face turned deathly pale, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. His smile became more like a grimace.

Because in that instant of contact, he keenly sensed an extremely subtle yet insidious aura trying to seep into his body through his fingertips!

It's a poison!

This seemingly innocent girl is actually a Gu Master who is extremely difficult to deal with!
Such a person, with every gesture and even breath, may carry deadly parasites, capable of infecting you without your knowledge.

If I had actually touched it just now, I probably wouldn't even know how I died!

"Kekeke..."

Seeing Yun Heqing's expression of having swallowed a fly, Su Yuan let out a silvery laugh, clear and melodious.

Having learned his lesson, Yun Heqing behaved much better for the rest of the journey, no longer daring to play any tricks, and simply focused on leading the way.

Finally, at noon, the group arrived at their destination.

Black Wind Village was built in a steep mountain valley.

From afar, the entire mountain village was shrouded in a thick black mist. Despite the bright sunshine and clear blue sky, the place gave off a gloomy, twilight-like feeling, making one's heart feel heavy.

The path up the mountain had long been completely blocked by waist-high thorns and weeds, making it impossible to walk.

"I come!"

The towering giant Shi Meng let out a muffled roar and, without saying a word, drew the massive sword, wider than a door panel, from his back.

He took a deep breath, his arm muscles bulging, and swung his greatsword across the thicket of thorns in front of him!

call!
A violent sword wind howled past, swirling up bits of grass.

Those tough thorns and weeds were as fragile as tofu under the giant sword, and were cut and torn apart.

With just a few sword strikes, a wide road, large enough for three people to walk side by side, appeared before everyone's eyes.

The tyrannical and unreasonable power of the body-forging martial artist was fully revealed at this moment.

The group followed the path cleared by Shi Meng and entered the territory of Black Wind Stronghold.

The moment Chen Ye stepped through the gate, the sword at his waist suddenly emitted a very faint buzzing sound, as if warning him.

Chen Ye felt a chill run down his spine, and his grip on the hilt of the knife tightened involuntarily.

This Black Wind Stronghold is indeed eerie!
(End of this chapter)