Becoming a god by following the natural order and seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune.

Chapter 76 You're Not Qualified! (Seeking First Subscription)
At the top of White Bone Cliff, the wind howls mournfully.

Gao Yuanfeng stopped outside a cave hidden by withered leaves, straightened his robes, and bowed deeply towards the dark cave entrance. His voice was exceptionally clear on the silent cliff top:

"Gao Yuanfeng of the Gao family seeks an audience with the devout Master."

The sound echoed between the rock walls, and after a moment, the withered leaves at the cave entrance were violently blown away by an invisible force, revealing the dark cave entrance.

A calm yet somewhat hollow voice rang out:
"Benefactor Gao, please enter the cave."

Gao Yuanfeng took a deep breath, suppressed the pounding in his heart, and stepped into the cave.

The cave was dimly lit, with only a faint light filtering through the cracks in the rocks to barely outline the jagged, strange stones. A bone-chilling cold permeated the air, carrying a hint of the eerie and unsettling.

Even though it wasn't his first time here, Gao Yuanfeng couldn't help but feel wary. This was precisely why the Gao family called him a 'demon monk' behind his back.

He walked in along the familiar path, his footsteps particularly clear in the silence.

After walking about a hundred steps, the view suddenly opened up before him. Looking into the cave, Gao Yuanfeng saw a figure dressed in ancient monk's robes sitting cross-legged on a stone platform in the center.

His face was calm, his body was thin, and his eyes were closed, but there was an inescapable fierce aura between his brows.

What's most chilling is that the stone platform where he sat was actually a blood pool about ten feet in diameter. The heavy stench of blood was almost tangible, making one want to vomit.

"Greetings, Master." Gao Yuanfeng bowed with his eyes lowered, his voice echoing in the empty cave.

The believer slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over him indifferently:
"Why did they arrive so quickly this time?"

According to custom, the Gao family would only send the elixir at least every half month. They had just left yesterday and returned today; there must be something fishy going on. Good Samaritan's heart was filled with alarm bells. Could it be that Jinquan Temple had discovered this place?
Gao Yuanfeng did not hesitate, and knelt down with a thud, his forehead hitting the cold rock hard.

"I have come here to ask the master to help me avenge the massacre of my Gao family!"

"The hatred of wiping out an entire family?"

The believer frowned slightly: "The Gao family was wiped out?"

He had some understanding of the Gao family's strength. With three Marrow Transformation Realm martial artists and dozens of Foundation Establishment Realm martial artists, they might not be much in the prefecture, but in Changshan County, they were a powerful force.

The reason we chose to cooperate with the Gao family was because we valued their influence in the area.

Could it really be people from Jinquan Temple who have come knocking on our door?

Seeing the believer's changing expression, Gao Yuanfeng hurriedly explained:

"Reporting to the master, the ones who made the move were officials from Changshan County. The leader is named Chen Sheng, who is the newly appointed commander of the county's military battalion."

He then paused, steer the conversation toward a point of common ground between the two parties:

"To be honest, the feud between my Gao family and him is also related to the master."

He tried to connect Chen Sheng with believers.

This is not unfounded. Chen Sheng's father, Chen Xingzhou, was silenced by the Gao family precisely because he knew of Shanxin's existence. In a sense, Chen Sheng's blood feud with the Gao family is indeed inextricably linked to Shanxin.

"Oh?"

The believer felt slightly relieved upon hearing this; as long as Jinquan Temple didn't directly intervene, things hadn't reached the worst point yet. But he immediately let out a cold laugh:
"What, do you perhaps intend to implicate this humble monk in this disaster?"

The faint yet menacing aura emanating from him began to spread, making Gao Yuanfeng, who was kneeling on the ground, feel a tightness in his chest.

"I don't dare!"

Gao Yuanfeng lowered his head even further: "But now I am all alone, and the only one I can ask is you, Master. I hope that you can consider that in the past six months, the Gao family has been quite respectful to you and has done their best to search for spiritual medicine and handle the aftermath."

To avenge the Gao family's blood feud, from this day forward, I, Gao, am willing to be a lackey of the master, following his every command, and braving fire and water without hesitation!

Gao Yuanfeng's voice was earnest, carrying the last glimmer of hope amidst despair.

However, the believer's expression remained as cold as ice, and not even his eyes showed the slightest ripple:

"This humble monk has no affection for your Gao family; it's merely a conflict of interest where each of us gets what we need. Your Gao family's grudges are your own karma, so don't bother this humble monk with your cultivation."

His words were firm and decisive, directly blocking Gao Yuanfeng's attempt to play the emotional card.

His relationship with the Gao family was one of mutual exploitation. The Gao family provided him with healing elixirs and the essence of martial artists needed for cultivation, while he paid in return with Golden Jade Ointment and innate opportunities that were like empty promises.

To provoke the government for the sake of a Gao family that has lost its usefulness, even if it is only the Changshan government, is, in his view, utterly foolish.

Gao Yuanfeng's expression remained unchanged, as if he had already anticipated that the believer would not be easily swayed by words.

He slowly straightened up and carefully took out a black wooden box from his sleeve. The box had an antique style and simple patterns carved on its surface. He held the box high above his head with both hands and then gently opened the lid.

Suddenly, a strange medicinal fragrance mixed with a faint smell of blood wafted out, slightly diluting the strong bloody smell in the cave.

The box was lined with soft brocade. On one side was a paste that was as black as ink and had a faint jade-like luster; on the other side was a strangely shaped herb that was as red as blood and had leaves that curled up like small snakes.

“Master, the contents of the box are the Black Jade Broken Heart Ointment you mentioned earlier, and a Red Serpent Blood Grass that is fifty years old.”

Gao Yuanfeng's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly:

"I, Gao, am willing to offer these two items as payment, only asking that you, Master, take action once to kill Chen Sheng!"

The believer's gaze was drawn to it, a burning desire flashing in his eyes.

He moved swiftly, transforming into a blurry afterimage, and in the next instant, he stood silently in front of Gao Yuanfeng, looking down at the two treasures in the wooden box.

After carefully examining it for a moment and confirming that it was correct, he suddenly let out a soft, ambiguous laugh:

"Hehe. You do know some rules, you know that you need to be polite when asking someone for a favor."

His voice suddenly turned cold, filled with chilling murderous intent: "However, if I were to kill you now, wouldn't these two items still be mine? Why bother with all this?"

Gao Yuanfeng's heart sank. This evil monk was indeed quick to change his mind and had no integrity whatsoever.

However, he tried his best to maintain a respectful demeanor: "So that the master may know that although my Gao family has suffered a great calamity, some of my descendants are still operating outside and have luckily escaped the disaster. They also know that I, Gao, have come to White Bone Cliff today to see the master. If I unfortunately perish here today and fail to return on time, I'm afraid the master's whereabouts here will no longer be a secret." This was the first layer of protection in his plan—deterrence.

He had to make the believers understand that killing him to silence him would also bring huge trouble.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be qualified to ask the other party to do so.

"Threatening this humble monk?"

In the believer's calm eyes, a fierce look suddenly surged, and the innate true energy that had been contained within him suddenly erupted, like a tangible wave of energy rolling about.

The next moment, a withered but terrifyingly powerful hand gripped Gao Yuanfeng's throat like an iron clamp, easily lifting him off the ground.

Do you think you're qualified?

The believer's voice was hoarse and low.

He killed Gao Yuanfeng, seized the treasure, and immediately fled. Even if his whereabouts were exposed, it wouldn't matter. By the time the people from Jinquan Temple received the news and rushed over, he would have already left Changshan County.

He might not be afraid to take that risk.

Gao Yuanfeng's face was flushed red from being choked, his blood and qi stagnating, but he still endured the pain of suffocation and managed to squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth:

"I, Gao, am naturally not qualified to threaten a Xiantian expert. It's just that the master may not know this."

He was breathing heavily, as if every word was expending tremendous effort:
"Every medicinal herb presented to the master over the past six months has been secretly sprinkled with a secret 'odorless fragrance' by the Gao family. This fragrance is non-toxic and colorless, undetectable by ordinary means, yet it can adhere to the body and remain for three months."

Upon hearing this, the believer's expression changed abruptly, and the hand gripping Gao Yuanfeng's throat unconsciously loosened its grip slightly.

Taking the opportunity to catch his breath, Gao Yuanfeng continued:

"If you are absolutely certain that you can withstand the relentless pursuit of the eminent monks of the Jinquan Sect for three months, then please kill me. This time, I, the Gao family, will admit defeat."

Gao Yuanfeng dared to ask the believer for help this time because he was confident in his abilities.

In fact, from the moment the Gao family learned of Shanxin's true identity, the core members of the clan were well aware of the danger of dealing with a tiger.

Given the wicked and cruel nature of this evil monk, it is highly likely that he will slaughter the entire Gao family after recovering from his injuries in order to keep the matter completely secret. Therefore, they must leave behind a means of countermeasure.

The believer's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty as he casually slammed Gao Yuanfeng heavily against the nearby mountain wall.

He quickly raised his arm, brought it to his nose and sniffed carefully. He then circulated his internal energy to carefully sense his surroundings. A hint of suspicion flashed between his brows. Even with his keen senses at the Innate Realm, he could not detect anything unusual.

"How dare you cheat this poor monk!"

He shouted sharply, but the surprise and doubt in his eyes betrayed his inner uncertainty.

"cough cough"

Gao Yuanfeng clutched his chest, coughing violently, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. But he grinned, revealing a smile that was both painful and somewhat gleeful.

He didn't argue, but instead put his index and middle fingers together in his mouth and blew a sharp and strange whistle.

The whistle echoed inside the cave.

A few breaths later, a loud eagle cry came from outside the cave, and a white shadow shot into the cave like lightning, circling and flying above the believer's head, emitting urgent cries, its sharp eagle eyes locked on the believer.

"This is a rare white falcon that the Gao family painstakingly trained specifically to identify 'odorless fragrance'."

Gao Yuanfeng leaned against the rock wall, panting, and said, "It usually circles around the White Bone Cliff and is already familiar with the master's aura. It can accurately track him within a ten-mile radius. As for white falcons like this, the Gao family has three other ones in the hands of their disciples outside."

"I underestimated you before."

The believer's eyes flickered uncertainly. He had previously been arrogant and arrogant, never taking the Gao family seriously. He never expected that the other party would have such countermeasures and schemes.

"One must be cautious when dealing with masters."

Gao Yuanfeng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled bitterly.

The believer stared at him, his mind racing. If he could forcefully kill him and seize the treasure, and if what he said about the odorless fragrance was true, and the fragrance would linger for three months, then the risk would be too great.

Since the Gao family has such confidence, it seems unlikely that they can be eliminated.

"Since you know my identity, you should also understand that once my whereabouts are exposed, and Jinquan Temple investigates, the remaining bloodline of the Gao family will surely be implicated!"

A hint of determination flashed in Gao Yuanfeng's eyes:
"More than three hundred members of the Gao family were brutally murdered, not even women and children were spared. I will not rest in peace until I avenge this!"

He stared intently at the believer: "As long as the master kills Chen Sheng, I will bear all the consequences. Just push the blame onto me. The master can also kill someone to silence them. At that time, I will have no complaints."

Furthermore, the 'Blood Spirit Jade Marrow' that the master has been searching for has also been found by the Gao family. I, Gao, will present it to them upon completion of the task!

The words 'Blood Spirit Jade Marrow' made the believer's eyes light up.

This item was of utmost importance to him, even more precious than the two items before him.

The cave fell silent for a moment.

After much deliberation, the believer's hesitation vanished, replaced by cold indifference.

"Since you are willing to pay the price, this humble monk will help your Gao family this once."

Then, he slowly approached Gao Yuanfeng and said, word by word:

“But if you deceive me in the slightest, I will slaughter all the remaining members of the Gao family and wipe out your Gao clan completely.”

A look of relief flashed in Gao Yuanfeng's eyes, and he bowed deeply.
"Please keep this in mind!"

He had gone to great lengths to persuade this wicked monk, and he no longer cared whether the other party would turn against him afterward.

As long as Chen Sheng dies and avenges the Gao family's blood feud, he would be willing to be silenced by the evil monk afterward!

(End of this chapter)