I Can Strengthen Infinitely-Chapter 98 - 88: Jingci Town

Carrying the booklet given by Xun Sheng, Qin Yuesheng arrived at Bai Hao’s residence, only to see Bai Hao just stepping out, looking quite melancholic.

"Lord Bai?" Qin Yuesheng called out.

"It’s you." Bai Hao relaxed his brow and deliberately controlled his expression, saying, "I was just about to ask you to take care of something. Come with me."

Bai Hao directly led Qin Yuesheng to the next room.

"The room I used to stay in has been given to my disciple. If you need anything in the future, you can find me here," said Bai Hao.

Qin Yuesheng nodded, "Yes."

He then handed over the booklet to Bai Hao, "Lord Bai, this is something that Lord Xun asked me to deliver to you, saying it was sent urgently from the Chang’an Seven Stars Bureau."

Bai Hao reached out to take it, opened it, and scrutinized it carefully. After a long time, he spoke.

"Several colleagues from the Seven Stars Bureau in Chang’an have been dispatched over here, with the ranks of four wood, three iron, and one copper."

"Oh!" Qin Yuesheng was secretly amazed. He understood that Bai Hao was referring to four with wooden Exorcism Toads, three with iron Exorcism Toads, and one with a copper Exorcism Toad.

The ranks within the Seven Stars Bureau are determined by strength, with the capable holding high positions.

It is said that the top figure of the Seven Stars Bureau, the Seven-Star General Manager, holder of the Dragon Horn Purple-Gold Toad, Prince Li Mu, is an expert at the Tenth Layer of the Internal Power Realm. Just one more step, and he could reach that mysterious Grandmaster Realm.

Qin Yuesheng is not yet sure what level of strength is required to rise to the rank of Copper Toad, but it’s certainly formidable.

"They are here to investigate those strange guests, not traveling hastily like couriers, so they’re probably still on the way. We don’t need to rush to greet them."

Bai Hao took out a sheet of white paper, picked up a pen and wrote on it, finally pressing his private seal on it.

"This is the two hundred bits of resentful energy I promised you earlier. Take this paper to Xu Chang; he’ll understand."

Qin Yuesheng took the paper and saw the words written on it, ’I transfer two hundred bits of resentful energy to Qin Yuesheng.’ Naturally, he accepted it gladly because who would turn down a good thing?

"In addition, recently, Cyan Yang City, both inside and out, has been quite turbulent. I have received several requests for help from civilians, suspected to be mischief from supernatural beings. I’m a bit too busy handling it all by myself. Do you have time to handle a few?" Bai Hao said.

Qin Yuesheng was just fretting over the lack of All-Purpose Essence, so he couldn’t refuse and directly replied, "What do you have?"

"Ten miles outside Cyan Yang City, near the Gusu River, there’s a small fishing village. Recently, songs sung by a woman are heard every night from the direction of the river center, but no one’s seen in the river.

Mao Mountain, which is a bit far, is thirty miles south of Cyan Yang City. Local hunters report a creature with eyes like lanterns, that only eats wild animals’ and hunters’ heads, leaving behind headless corpses wherever it goes.

In Jingci Town, on the Jingli Road, as a resident of Cyan Yang City, you should be familiar with it, right? It’s known for ceramics. Recently, craftsmen from Jingci Town have come to report that several craftsmen who were jointly repairing a porcelain piece from a previous dynasty have disappeared, and their whereabouts are unknown despite a thorough search of the entire town.

Recently, reports of mysterious disappearances of children and women have come from more than ten nearby villages and towns around Cyan Yang City, with the number of disappearances exceeding thirty. Surely there’s a villain behind all this."

Bai Hao listed four or five cases in one breath, then paused to ask, "Which one would you like to take on?"

Qin Yuesheng said, "I’ll take the case in Jingci Town. I’m familiar with Jingli Road."

Bai Hao promptly took another piece of paper, wrote quickly, and handed it to Qin Yuesheng, "This is the address and name of the person who came to report. Just contact him directly once you reach Jingci Town."

"Lord Bai, I have a question: why do people come to Cyan Yang City to report, yet the case is in your hands? Isn’t Lord Xun aware of it?"

Bai Hao laughed, "Cyan Yang City isn’t a county; besides the yamen, there are many things for Lord Xun to handle. Currently, I’m stationed at the yamen on his behalf. Isn’t it normal for these cases to come to my hands?"

Qin Yuesheng realized, "Oh."

"Anything else? The situation in Jingci Town is quite urgent. If you have time, you should depart quickly. I’m concerned that delays might lead to other incidents."

Qin Yuesheng then explained the purpose of his visit to the yamen this time, which was about someone in Fuan Alley conducting the ritual of refining the Severed Jar.

"The Severed Jar!" Bai Hao’s expression changed instantly, "Such a thing is happening!"

"The Severed Jar uses a human swine at its core. In its full state, it has eight arms and three legs, and its danger is immeasurable. If it were to achieve its full form, Cyan Yang City would suffer greatly."

"Lord Bai, do you think this could be the work of a strange guest?" Qin Yuesheng asked.

"That, I can’t determine," Bai Hao sighed, "The waters of Cyan Yang City are becoming murkier."

Cyan Yang City is just a city in the Jiangnan region, under the jurisdiction of Yangzhou Prefecture. In the Yangzhou area, there are five other cities like it. Although this world harbors ghostly and monstrous beings, Bai Hao has never seen so many bizarre events erupting simultaneously in one place in such a short time as in Cyan Yang City.

Honestly, if every place experienced frequent incidents like Cyan Yang City, the world would have plunged into chaos, and the common folk would be in panic.

After bidding farewell to Bai Hao, Qin Yuesheng left the Cyan Yang City yamen. Before heading to Jingci Town, he hurriedly visited the Du family, Su family, and Lu family to inform them of his intentions.

He asked Du Beilun, Su Lanyin, and Lu Junyi to help promote his novel.

Given Qin Yuesheng’s identity and their friendship, these people would surely do their utmost to assist, of that Qin Yuesheng had no doubt.

He gifted a Soul-Swaying Bell to Su Lanyin, and seeing the little girl’s excitement, he estimated she would be happy for many days to come.

"Brother Yuesheng, I heard from my elder sister that you’re looking for Thunderstruck Wood?"

As Qin Yuesheng was about to leave, Su Lanyin suddenly asked.

Her elder sister is Su Qiaoqiao. The day Qin Yuesheng spoke with Du Tankang at Nanyan Treasure Studio, she was nearby listening, so it’s no surprise she knows about it.

"Yes, what’s the matter?" Qin Yuesheng asked in confusion.

Su Lanyin said seriously, "I’ll ask Dad to help you find it."

"Haha," Qin Yuesheng laughed, "Then I’ll be counting on you."

Leaving the Su Mansion, Qin Yuesheng got into a carriage and instructed the driver to head straight to Baiding Street, unaware of what he might encounter in Jingci Town.

The spoils he gained previously at the Water Village, and the two hundred bits of resentful energy Bai Hao gave him, should be spent early. After all, enhancing his strength is more important than anything.

For some unknown reason, the storefront of Li Lai Pawnshop was often inexplicably deserted, and whenever Qin Yuesheng visited, he would see the tall, thin clerk idly playing with some antique porcelain behind the counter.

"The shopkeeper is in the back," the clerk said lazily when he saw Qin Yuesheng appearing with a burlap sack.

"Thanks," Qin Yuesheng, familiar with the place, walked straight into the back hall, where he saw Xu Chang leisurely sitting there drinking tea again.

"Ah, Lord Qin."

"Help me assess this batch, and also take a look at this," Qin Yuesheng said, handing over the sack and paper to Xu Chang.

"It seems Lord Qin has made quite the haul recently," Xu Chang remarked, glancing at the demon cores and claws inside the sack.

"Hurry up and count them. Lord Bai just gave me a task, and I’m pressed for time now."

"Alright."

After a bit of calculating, plus the two hundred ferocity points transferred by Bai Hao, Xu Chang smiled and said, "I’ll count it as five hundred and fifty for you."

"Convert it all into pills, the best kind."

Xu Chang said, "Lord Qin, I don’t have the best ones stocked in this small place. If you want them, I have to get them from Chang’an."

"What’s the best pill you have here?"

"The Strong Ape Pill, five hundred ferocity points per piece."

"Deal," Qin Yuesheng said quite straightforwardly.

As long as his strength increased, he could vanquish all sinister and monstrous beings worldwide, and ferocity points wouldn’t matter at all.

After a moment, Xu Chang carefully carried out a metal box from the warehouse.

Qin Yuesheng reached out to take it and opened the lid.

Immediately, a peculiar fragrance wafted out, and just by taking a whiff, Qin Yuesheng felt refreshed and comfortable all over.

Inside the box, a red soft cloth was spread, and on the cloth lay a yellow pill the size of a longan, nestled in the fabric.

"Good stuff." Qin Yuesheng closed the lid. Although he really wanted to consume it immediately to see how much All-Purpose Essence he could gain, Xu Chang was right in front of him watching, so he held back his urge.

"I still have fifty ferocity points. Can I exchange them for something to ward off evil?" Qin Yuesheng asked.

"You can exchange them for a peachwood talisman that prevents sinister beings from approaching."

"That sounds good, I’ll take one."

Quickly, Xu Chang fetched a wooden plaque from the warehouse, with the words ’Peace’ inscribed on its surface. It appeared to be an ordinary wooden plaque.

"Lord Qin, as long as you wear this peachwood talisman, once sinister beings approach, the talisman will start to char as a warning. If the sinister beings are strong enough, it will shatter outright.

If you encounter such a situation, I advise you to turn around and flee immediately, do not linger in battle."

Xu Chang advised.

Qin Yuesheng nodded, "Alright, I’ll keep it in mind. Also, could you take a look at this for me?"

Saying this, he reached down to his ankle and removed a flesh-colored circle.

"What is this?" Xu Chang was puzzled.

"Take a look. I’m not clear about the specifics of this thing."

Holding it in his hand, the Soul-Catching Demon remained motionless, staying in its crystal ring form as if playing dead.

"Apologies, Lord Qin, but my knowledge is limited, and I can’t determine what this is." Xu Chang handed the Soul-Catching Demon back to Qin Yuesheng.

"It’s fine, I just wanted to ask." Placing the Soul-Catching Demon back on his ankle, it adhered to Qin Yuesheng’s ankle at once.

After a few exchanges with Xu Chang, Qin Yuesheng left Li Lai Pawnshop with the Strong Ape Pill.

...

Strong Ape.

A species of ape living in the northern snowy mountains.

They are naturally large, and adult Strong Apes stand a head taller than the average height of a grown man, with robust and compact muscles, capable of delivering a punch weighing three thousand jin, hence the name Strong Ape.

Among the nomadic tribes of the north, there are festivals and activities where hunting a Strong Ape alone is considered an honor. Those who achieve this feat are revered as ’Celestial Divinity Warriors’ among their tribes.

The Strong Ape Pill is made using the Strong Ape as the ingredient and has the effect of increasing the user’s physical strength.

Once inside the carriage, Qin Yuesheng couldn’t wait to toss the Strong Ape Pill into his mouth.

Now, what does it mean to melt in the mouth?

Qin Yuesheng experienced it this time.

He didn’t even get to taste what the Strong Ape Pill was like before it melted in his mouth, flowing entirely down his throat.

All-Purpose Essence +4500!

The super-assist device instantly registered a hefty increase in All-Purpose Essence.

The last time Qin Yuesheng saw this much All-Purpose Essence was after drinking Shen Lang’s Celestial Demon Heart’s Heart Marrow.

"Awesome!" Qin Yuesheng marveled secretly, and quickly began using the All-Purpose Essence on the Soul-Shattering Roar.

The Soul-Shattering Roar was currently his only method for warding off evil, while the Evil-Subduing Saber was an external power.

Thus, the Soul-Shattering Roar was extremely significant for Qin Yuesheng.

Moreover, the Soul-Shattering Roar was incredibly convenient to use, and Qin Yuesheng was quite fond of this method of exorcism.

By consuming 2500 points of All-Purpose Essence, he directly pushed the Soul-Shattering Roar to its final realm, perfection.

The Soul-Shattering Roar achieved an explosive ascension.

Soul-Shattering Roar (Perfect)

Sole Passive: Ward off evil +20%, Duration +3s, Range +50%, blessed by Angry Roar Celestial Venerable.

"Hmm?"

Looking at the Soul-Shattering Roar in its perfect state, Qin Yuesheng couldn’t help but express doubt.

What is this Angry Roar Celestial Venerable blessing?

It seemed to not fit in with the other passives.

But Qin Yuesheng held back his urge to shout right then, since he didn’t know what the power of the perfected Soul-Shattering Roar was like, it was better to find a secluded place to test it.

Looking at the remaining 2000 points of All-Purpose Essence, Qin Yuesheng’s gaze turned to the attribute panel.

Strength and constitution already had talents.

Now, it’s time for agility, spirit, and charm to get one too.