For the next half-day.

Under Wu Dao’s thunderous methods.

Tan County was swept up in a stormy purge!

Zhao Jianji, Lv Tiezhu, and Chen Ergou.

The three ’Evil Dogs’ split into three groups.

Leading disciples from the martial arts hall—each as fierce as a wolf or tiger and eager to prove their loyalty—they used their fists and feet to clear the way, barging into one grand estate after another and storming the city’s major commercial districts.

At every moment, people were wailing, and every so often, chests of treasure were moved into the storerooms of the Inner City’s main hall.

「As evening fell.」

The fiery evening clouds burned the sky crimson.

Within the manor of the Tan County branch of the White Whale Martial Arts Hall.

Wu Dao sat imposingly in the main seat of the assembly hall, sipping fine tea and listening to Zhao Jianji’s report.

"From the residence of Liu the bandit, we seized a total of six hundred thousand taels of silver, along with a number of jewels, antiques, and rare medicinal herbs. In addition, his two chain restaurants, one brothel, one casino, and one pawnshop have all been absorbed by the hall."

"The various noble and prominent families of the city who were in collusion with Liu the bandit—uh... that would be eight or nine out of ten—have surrendered a total of five hundred thousand taels in ’dirty money,’ which has been placed in the storerooms."

"The various Vice Instructors and Stewards within the hall showed a good attitude in confessing their guilt and cooperated actively. They surrendered a total of three hundred thousand taels of silver, which has been placed in the storerooms."

One million four hundred thousand taels!!

Zhao Jianji held the account book, his lips trembling.

’Oh, sweet mother.’

Although he was the descendant of a famous official family and considered himself worldly, he had never seen so much money before.

’No wonder they say crime pays.’

’Once a man’s heart turns black...’

’...the money really does come rolling in.’

"What’s the official number?"

Wu Dao put down his teacup and asked calmly.

Having seen the treasure of a big fish like Elder Qin, a mere million-plus taels was no longer enough to catch his eye.

However, even ten thousand taels was still a piece of meat, and when there was meat, he had to eat his fill first!

As for cooking the books for internal and external reporting, he believed that with Zhao Jianji’s slick, cunning personality, he wouldn’t have failed to consider it and handle it properly.

"Well..."

Zhao Jianji closed the account book, glanced outside to make sure no one was there, and then leaned in close to Wu Dao. "From Instructor Liu’s haul, I skimmed seventy percent. The official number is one hundred and eighty thousand taels. After all, he was just an Instructor, so that amount is more than enough.

"I also gave one thousand taels each to the eight disciples who participated in the raids. Consider it hush money and an initiation fee."

"As for the noble families in the city and the hall’s Stewards and Vice Instructors, that part can’t withstand scrutiny, so there was no way to falsify it."

"However, according to the martial hall’s rules, the branch hall can keep thirty percent of the assets seized from punishing traitors."

"In other words,"

"this whole affair will bring in a total of six hundred and sixty thousand taels for ’the hall.’"

As he finished,

Zhao Jianji’s breathing had grown heavy.

Six hundred and sixty thousand taels.

That was enough to support an army of a hundred Inner Strength Martial Artists for a long time!

’I wonder how much of a cut the Hall Master will give me...’

Wu Dao glanced at the longing on Zhao Jianji’s face; he knew exactly what the man was thinking.

He said, "Well done. Later, you’ll take forty thousand taels. Chen Ergou and Lv Tiezhu will each get twenty thousand."

"As for the other disciples who participated in the raids today, publicly reward each of them with another thousand taels. Let the others understand: if you obey, you get to eat meat. If you don’t, you won’t even get a sip of water!"

’If you want the horse to run,’

’you have to feed it grass!’

With his current wealth, Wu Dao didn’t care about a mere few tens of thousands of taels of silver. Nor did he expect that handing out this bit of money would make people loyal to the death.

Of course, he didn’t need that kind of undying loyalty.

He just needed to ensure that before he left the stepping stone that was the White Whale Martial Arts Hall, the people under him would follow his lead and operate with his will and interests as their core principle.

’Forty thousand taels!’

’Holy hell, how many top courtesans can I buy with that!’

Hearing the amount of Wu Dao’s reward, Zhao Jianji almost grinned from ear to ear. He quickly dropped to one knee to pledge his loyalty.

"Thank you for your immense grace, Hall Master! From now on, this subordinate will go through fire and water and not shrink from ten thousand deaths!"

"No need for such empty pleasantries in the future."

Wu Dao waved his hand. "My rule is, if there’s meat, we eat together; if there’s soup, we drink together. Just focus on your work, and you won’t be short of benefits in the future."

However,

’on the condition that I eat my fill first.’

Wu Dao added silently in his heart.

When a fierce beast hunts, eats, and drinks its fill, it naturally leaves some scraps for the lower predators.

This is called a gift from nature.

’Nothing wrong with that.’

"By the way, I need you to announce something in my name. Have the Stewards spread the word throughout Tan County!"

Remembering his true purpose for joining the White Whale Martial Arts Hall, Wu Dao called out to Zhao Jianji, who was about to leave.

Zhao Jianji stopped and asked, "Is it about putting a bounty on Cheng Tiankun, the ’Leopard Gall’? That’s easy. It just takes a word from you, Hall Master."

"Don’t forget about that, but that’s not what I wanted to talk about."

A strange light flickered in Wu Dao’s eyes. ’Putting a bounty on myself... Not a bad idea.’

However, that matter had already become a cold case. Elder Qin had most likely died in vain.

He didn’t pay it much mind and said seriously, "Starting tomorrow, all the branch halls in the towns and villages of Tan County, the patrol officers, and all the major and minor factions affiliated with the martial arts hall—"

"—aside from their main duties and necessary daily activities,"

"—are to spend the rest of their time spreading out to collect any and all information about Alien Species within the county and its surroundings. Anyone who makes a discovery must report it immediately. If the information is verified, there will be a reward of one thousand taels of silver!"

"The same goes for any information provided by the Jianghu or the common folk."

’Alien Species?’

’A thousand-tael reward for a single piece of information?’

Even someone as quick-witted as Zhao Jianji was stunned for a moment, not understanding what Wu Dao was up to.

Normally, a successful Martial Artist, while not afraid of Alien Species, would avoid them whenever possible—with the exception of yao—for fear of bringing misfortune upon themselves.

But Wu Dao was a different story.

Not only was he actively looking for trouble, but he was also publicly offering a huge reward. It was like lighting a lantern in a latrine pit—he was looking for shit.

Although a Second Rebirth already made one a master in their own right,

to put it bluntly,

any random Fierce Gu from Black Lotus could run circles around such a master!

But the undertone of Wu Dao’s words suggested he wasn’t picky, not worried at all about encountering some great evil. It was hard to tell if he was confident or just reckless.

However, Zhao Jianji only thought these things to himself. A subordinate only needed to follow orders.

But Wu Dao’s next words

made Zhao Jianji’s expression turn troubled.

"One more thing."

Wu Dao caressed his teacup, his eyes glinting darkly. "Investigate Lin Village. I’m very curious about what kind of dangerous place it really is!"

’A place that even an Innate expert like Qi Canghai avoids.’

’It’s not hard to imagine...’

’...just how fat the so-called ’big hedgehog’ inside must be!’

Once he figured out the details, and his strength had increased, he would definitely pay it a visit.

"This... Hall Master, it’s not my place to speak out of turn..."

Zhao Jianji said with a pained expression, "Shouldn’t you... lie low for a bit? After all, the Grandmaster himself specifically warned us. That place is a dragon’s pool and a tiger’s den."

"Just make the arrangements. I know what I’m doing with the rest."

Wu Dao set down his teacup and said flatly, with no intention of explaining. Finally, he added, "From today on, I will be entering secluded Cultivation for a period of time. As long as it’s not a major issue, you can make the decisions on the hall’s affairs.

"Other than that,"

"do not disturb me unless it’s news about an Alien Species."

"This... sigh... very well."

Seeing that Wu Dao had made up his mind, Zhao Jianji could only sigh and go carry out his orders obediently.

The sky grew dim and hazy, and night soon fell.

Not to mention the uproar and heated discussions that Wu Dao’s series of actions had caused in Tan County today,

when the moon was bright and the stars were few,

Zhao Jianji and the other two went to attend a "welcome banquet" held by the city’s noble and wealthy families.

Wu Dao, however, couldn’t be bothered to give them face.

After eating and drinking his fill at the hall, he went straight to the spacious training room reserved for the Hall Master.

He stripped off his clothes, revealing a nine-foot-tall, human-shaped Fierce Beast’s physique that looked as if it were cast from steel. After briefly stretching his muscles and bones,

he opened his attribute panel—

[Physique: Hero (Minor Achievement)]

[Extraordinary: Essence Devouring Art (65% Potential Release) +

Overlord Whale Fist 150 Years (Thunder Listening) +]

[Teleportation Points: 40]

He glanced at the 65% Potential Release progress, which hadn’t moved a single bit since he left Canyun Mountain.

Wu Dao looked at the Great Medicines and Elixir Pills in the Treasure Chest before him, worth well over ten million taels of silver, and his eyes glinted.

"This should be enough. Perhaps the Essence Devouring Art can even break through to the Heroic Great Success Domain."

With this in mind,

Wu Dao took out the rubbing of the "Giant Whale Skill" from the chest.

RUSTLE~

As the pages turned,

Wu Dao adjusted his breathing. The seven emotions and six desires vanished from his eyes, leaving them sacred and clear as he entered a perfect state of epiphany: "Taming One’s Own Heart, Unity of Heaven and Man."

The Giant Whale Skill was a Horizontal Refining Skill!

Transverse Cultivation was all about being tempered and refined a thousand times!

Every posture in the Cultivation Diagrams of the Giant Whale Skill was designed to forge the tissues of the human body to their absolute limit, refining them into gold!

This was perfectly in line with the cultivation essence of the Essence Devouring Art.

Therefore, the two could complement each other!

The Comprehension of the Celestial Human State, and an ample supply of medicinal herbs to provide Healing Fluid!

Wu Dao could continuously engage in training that pushed him beyond his limits, like a video game character rapidly accumulating experience. Once the experience bar was full, he would break through directly!

A Body Refining Technique that would take an ordinary person decades of arduous struggle to achieve any success,

before him,

had no such obstacles.

As long as he had enough resources,

he could sprint all the way without any barriers!

One could say

the Essence Devouring Art was a complete cheat code for Body Refinement!