Chapter 416 - 296: Hu Yun’s Condition, Fifth Grade Blood Marrow (Part 2)

Chapter 416: Chapter 296: Hu Yun’s Condition, Fifth Grade Blood Marrow (Part 2)

In the courtyard were three newly arrived white tigers: one large and two small.

The large one was Hu Yun’s companion and mount. It looked a bit tired from the long, swift journey and was sprawled lazily on the courtyard’s green bricks.

The two small ones were Fifth-Grade White Tigers skilled in the Transformation Technique, and they were currently playing with Hu Niannian.

Like three silly cats.

Seeing people come out, Hu Niannian made some introductions.

The ability to transform from white tigers into cats meant they were top-tier Fifth-Grade White Tigers to begin with.

Hu Yun waited for them to finish talking before asking, "You want me to be your backup. How am I supposed to get underground?"

The subterranean entrances near any major power are all heavily guarded.

Charging in is easy, but sneaking in requires careful planning.

Tang Wen simply took out the Moon Traveling Clothes and explained how to use them.

Hu Yun reached out, took the clothes, and draped them over herself to try them out.

The White Tiger Race also had its own methods for Concealing Breath.

With the Moon Traveling Clothes on, Hu Yun’s tall figure slowly vanished.

For a good while, no one could see where she was. Then, she reappeared in midair. "Not bad. I can sneak in with the three of them."

The white tigers transformed into cats weren’t very big.

One person and three cats could easily hide under the Moon Traveling Clothes.

"Oh, right. Hu Lan asked me to bring you something." As she spoke, she took out a black box.

An aroma wafted out.

Tang Wen felt an inexplicable stirring within him. He immediately understood that the box contained Fifth Grade Dark Blood Marrow.

He reached out to take one end of the box, but Hu Yun didn’t let go.

"I shouldn’t ask, but since you’ve agreed to my terms, you’re the father of my future child. So I have to ask. What are you going to use this for? Alchemy?"

Tang Wen shook his head. "Direct application, both external and internal, to stimulate my foundational marrow."

Hu Yun’s almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly. "Can you withstand the medicinal power of Fifth Grade Blood Marrow?"

"Sixth Grade Blood Marrow offers me very limited improvement."

Hu Yun pondered for a moment, staring into his eyes. "Although we’ve only just met, I trust that you’re not a reckless person. You must be extremely careful."

Having traveled tens of thousands of li in just a few days, Hu Yun was also tired.

After cautioning Tang Wen, she took the three white tigers to the adjacent courtyard to eat and rest.

Tang Wen turned and went back inside, where Xia Qingge jabbed him with her elbow. "A great beauty from the White Tiger Tribe is throwing herself at you to have your child. Are you happy?"

She was up to no good.

If Tang Wen said he was happy, she’d call him a lecher.

If he said he wasn’t happy, she’d call him a hypocrite.

And if he said nothing, he’d be both a lecher and a hypocrite—wanting his cake and eating it too!

The other women also wanted to hear his answer.

Tang Wen rubbed his side. "I’m still a bit dazed by it all. Sister Huli, according to the customs of your White Tiger Tribe, if I really do have a child with this Miss Yun, would the child have to be raised by your tribe?"

Hu Li nodded. "That’s right. After growing up, they would naturally be a member of the White Tiger Tribe."

Everyone understood what this implied.

Tang Wen sighed softly. ’She just wants to borrow my seed.’

The White Tiger Tribe was conscious of such things, understanding the need to constantly bring in outside geniuses to improve their own genes.

No one felt like sleeping, so they sat down again to discuss their plans.

Zhou Bing spoke first. "Four Fifth-Grade experts. Is that a safe bet?"

Hu Li frowned. "When we go inspect the underground two days from now, I’ll propose that after the trial begins, experts from all the major families should enter the underground in large numbers to ensure safety."

"Mm, the Black Water Gang, the Zhang Family, and the Giant Rock Martial Arts Hall will each keep an eye on the Fifth-Grade experts from the Huang Family and the Commerce Association."

At the mention of the Commerce Association, Feng San Niang’s expression darkened.

Shui Yun smiled at her and offered a few quiet words of comfort before saying, "The Huang Family has been operating underground for a long time. They might have a secret force hidden down there. However, one thing is for sure: there won’t be many Fifth-Grade experts among them."

The underground environment is harsh.

The Huang Family’s Fifth-Grade experts, if not exactly pampered, are still the favored children of heaven.

Who would be willing to hide their identity and live for long periods underground, never seeing the light of day?

If Huang the Seventeenth Lang hadn’t died and had been brought back by the Huang Family, perhaps they would have promised him great rewards to stay underground for a decade or two.

That’s probably the limit.

Tang Wen tapped the table lightly. "The Huang Family aren’t fools. If I go down there, they’ll know I’ve made preparations. The people they send to kill me will definitely be Fifth-Grade."

"We still need to keep a close watch on their family’s publicly known Fifth-Grade experts," Feng San Niang suggested.

As long as they could confirm that the Huang Family’s active Fifth-Grade experts weren’t entering the underground in large numbers, Tang Wen wouldn’t be in mortal danger.

Tang Wen said, "Two days from now, I’ll also go down with the experts from the other families to see what it’s like."

Feng San Niang replied, "Alright, I’ll go with you. I’ve been down there before."

Xia Qingge set down her wine gourd. "Speaking of which, I’m quite curious myself."

Zhou Bing didn’t say anything, but Tang Wen could tell from her eyes that she wanted to go too.

There were only two days left before the trip underground.

After thinking it over, Tang Wen decided to use the Fifth Grade Blood Marrow after all.

None of the women left.

Xia Qingge even followed them to the bathroom to watch the show.

The bath, half a man’s height, was filled with clear water.

Jar after jar of a brewed, azure medicinal soup was poured in, dyeing the bathwater a deep blue-green.

Feng San Niang personally used a Jade Bottle to extract a single drop of Blood Marrow.

The moment the Fifth Grade Blood Marrow left its sealed box, it began to jump about impatiently inside the Jade Bottle.

It was like a living droplet of black water, constantly striking the inner walls of the bottle with a CRACKLING sound.

It was both bizarre and fascinating.

HISS!

The black Blood Marrow fell into the water, like ice water being poured into a wok of boiling oil.

The bath liquid, which had been turned blue-green by the medicinal soup, instantly turned black.

A single drop of Blood Marrow had changed the color of the entire pool.

"Fifth Grade Blood Marrow is potent, but it’s been diluted so much. It should be fine." Despite her words, Feng San Niang’s pretty face was still filled with worry.

Tang Wen stripped down to his shorts and, with a SPLASH, lay down in the bath.

The women’s cheeks flushed slightly.

Xia Qingge, however, said with dissatisfaction, "Going in with clothes on will affect the medicinal efficacy."

Zhou Bing let out a giggle and gave her a push, assuming her "auntie" was just making another one of her improper jokes.

Little did she know, an image of a completely naked Xia Qingge soaking in a bath had already flashed through Tang Wen’s mind.

It felt like countless fine steel needles were frantically pricking his skin.

The alluring thoughts in Tang Wen’s mind instantly vanished like smoke.

"Does it hurt?" Feng San Niang wanted to persuade him to get out.

Tang Wen closed his eyes and endured it for a moment. The pain soon became bearable.

Zhou Bing used a handkerchief to wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead.

Tang Wen opened his eyes. "It’s not enough. Add another drop."

The Fifth Grade Blood Marrow was too diluted.

It could only stimulate his muscles, offering no help to his spirit or foundational marrow.

Feng San Niang didn’t move, but Shui Yun turned to get more Blood Marrow.

Behind them, Xia Qingge seized the opportunity to approach the bath. Kicking off her shoes, she dipped her fair, jade-like feet into the water and immediately sucked in a sharp breath.

But she didn’t pull them out. She closed her eyes to feel the sensation. When Shui Yun returned, she lifted her small, reddened feet. "Is that all? It’s really not enough."

Other than Tang Wen, no one present understood what she was doing.

Xia Qingge carried the Earth Curse. The stabbing pain in her heart and the piercing ache between her brows tormented her every moment.

That agony was far more intense than soaking in a bath of Blood Marrow.

After testing it, she seemed lost in thought.

This level of pain wasn’t just bearable for her; it actually distracted her, lessening the agony in her heart and between her brows.

HISS!

Tang Wen didn’t stand up in the bath.

Another drop of Fifth Grade Blood Marrow fell into the water.

Suddenly, something strange happened!

The pitch-black Blood Marrow, as if sensing something, shot straight toward Tang Wen. With a WHOOSH, it dove into the water and landed on his waist and abdomen.

"Be careful!" Feng San Niang was the first to cry out a warning.

"Get away from it!" Shui Yun exclaimed in alarm.

Xia Qingge was even faster. Her hands were already on Tang Wen’s shoulders, and she was about to pull him out of the water.

"Don’t worry," Tang Wen said, placing his hand over hers.

"Hmm?"

Xia Qingge’s phoenix-like eyes narrowed as she looked into the water, at Tang Wen’s lower abdomen.

The skin there was glowing with a golden-red light that instantly spread to cover his entire body.

Faintly, one could see that the drop of black Blood Marrow couldn’t break through this layer of defense.

"Your Hard Skills have reached such a level!"

Xia Qingge’s tone was one of astonishment. She casually tapped his shoulder, which didn’t feel like flesh.

Tang Wen casually crushed the black Blood Marrow, letting it dissolve into the water.

The pain instantly doubled.

The intense stimulation made his entire body tremble.

The Experience Panel also reacted...

「Two days passed in a flash.」

That morning, Tang Wen, along with the women, followed his master and Fifth-Grade experts like Hu Li toward the Inner City.

They were preparing to go underground to inspect the environment for the trial.

When Huang San saw him, he rejoiced inwardly. ’This cunning brat has finally taken the bait!’