Chapter 065 – Meat Field

The meeting in Blood Fury Hall wrapped up in about half an hour.

Among the inner disciples, nearly every eighth rank disciple was assigned a task.

These duties either involved tracking down and eliminating the remaining pockets of the Wei Family while keeping the opportunistic Sun Family at bay, or serving as instructors to the associate members—scouring that group for fresh talent to fill the gaps among the outer ranks. After all, the Wei Family’s counterattack had covertly wiped out many promising outer disciples of the Blood Blade Sect.

From the way tasks were allocated, Li Yuan deduced that seventh rank was essentially the pinnacle of strength in Gemhill County; these folks rarely made a move on a whim. In other words, someone at the eighth rank was nearly unstoppable.

Stepping out of the pavilion, Li Yuan found refuge in the shade of a nearby tree. Soon enough, Zhao Chunxin approached him with an unusually warm greeting.

“Junior Brother!” she exclaimed enthusiastically, but her cheer was entirely platonic.

Li Yuan returned her greeting, puzzled by the extra effusiveness. It wasn’t long, however, before he understood the reason.

Inside the pavilion, Senior Li had been conversing with someone and now emerged as well. He strode directly over to Li Yuan and Zhao Chunxin. When he drew near, he smiled broadly, stroked his beard, and nodded in approval.

“Li Yuan, you did very well this time.”

Modestly, Li Yuan replied, “It’s all thanks to your excellent guidance.”

Senior Li chuckled. “Oh is that so? Do you think so too, Zhao Chunxin?”

At that, Zhao Chunxin burst into giggles, her rosy cheeks shaking with laughter. She teased, “Li Yuan must have been wondering why an ugly girl like me was being so friendly to him...”

Li Yuan shot back, “Uh, no. You’re mistaken. Real beauty lies in strength.”

That only made Zhao Chunxin laugh even harder.

Senior Li added with a smile, “Li Yuan, you and Zhao Chunxin share a similar streak. Six years ago, I also picked her out from among the associate members and took her in as a student.

“Back then, she was always by my side with a book, and I also sent her off to train in my residence. Sadly she just couldn’t grasp the Spirit-Release Technique nor Spring-Autumn Blade, no matter how hard she tried.

“Eventually, I recommended her as an outer disciple so she could study the Blood Blade Sect’s martial arts. And wouldn’t you know it, she steadily worked her way up to eighth rank and became an inner disciple.

“Funny thing is, back in those days she wasn’t nearly as plump as she is now. Ever since her promotion, somehow she just kept getting chubbier and chubber.”

With a respectful bow, Zhao Chunxin said, “Master, I owe you a great debt of gratitude for your guidance and encouragement. Without you, I might have given up on cultivation back then.

“As for why I keep getting fatter...I still don’t know what happened. Once, after completing a big mission, I managed to ask the sect master about it.”

Senior Li leaned in. “And what did the sect master say?”

Zhao Chunxin laughed. “He said the change was caused by my shadow blood. It’s a good sign, actually.”

Senior Li paused for a moment before erupting into hearty laughter.

The sect master’s words were meant as encouragement. The type of technique one practiced shaped one’s shadow blood, which in turn would eventually lead to the development of the shadow bones. Through the life chronicle, that would pave the way for an even higher stage of existence.

Of course, none of these processes involved gaining fat

Zhao Chunxin simply laughed along with Senior Li.

After a moment of chuckling, Senior Li patted both of them on the shoulder and said, “You two are now truly senior sister and junior brother. In the future, stick together. Li Yuan, if you ever run into something you can’t handle, just go see Zhao Chunxin. She’s been doing quite well out there.”

“Then I’ll be counting on you,” Li Yuan said, turning to Zhao Chunxin.

“Don’t be so formal. We’re in the same sect, after all. That’s just how it should be.”

Hearing Senior Li’s words, both of them felt a genuine warmth of camaraderie well up inside.

Senior Li then reached into his bosom and pulled out a booklet wrapped in an oilcloth, handing it to Li Yuan with a serious tone.

“For a while you should stay off the black market. Focus on training here in the inner district until the remnants of the Wei Family have been mostly dealt with. This manual is a unique copy. Guard it well.”

Li Yuan accepted the booklet.

Zhao Chunxin patted his shoulder again and said, “If you need a woman, or anything else for that matter, just let me know and I’ll arrange it for you. But as for demonic beast meat, you should be well provided for.

“Every month, each inner disciple of the Blood Blade Sect is allocated 30 kg of elephant-nosed rabbit meat. These elephant-nosed rabbits are ninth rank demonic beasts, and their meat is more than enough for a ninth rank martial artist.

“That should be more than reassuring for you. But wait until you get to eighth rank, and then you’ll start having problems like me....”

Noticing that the two had started chatting, Senior Li added, “As my personal disciples, I wish for nothing more than you two to get along. I’m off back to guarding the black market. It’s not easy coming out here.”

“Farewell, Master,” Li Yuan bowed respectfully. Then he turned to Zhao Chunxin and asked, “Isn’t 30 kg of ninth rank demonic beast meat more than enough for you?”

The truth was, Li Yuan had reached the eighth rank himself, so the very problem that troubled Zhao Chunxin was one he understood all too well. It was the perfect opportunity to ask.

Sighing, Zhao Chunxin explained, “I need to consume eighth rank demon beast meat. Over 50 kg a month, actually. And 30 kg of ninth rank meat only roughly equals about 15 kg of eighth rank meat.

“Plus beyond a certain point, eating more of the lower rank meat just doesn’t cut it. So you have to figure out a way to procure eighth rank meat.

“Here in the county, there’s a decent supply of ninth rank meat, but eighth rank meat is in extremely short supply.

“That’s why ninth rank martial artists are plentiful, eighth rank ones are somewhat uncommon, and seventh rank ones are extremely rare.”

Li Yuan recalled wandering through the black market and indeed never seeing any eighth rank demonic beast meat for sale.

“Does our Blood Blade Sect not have a channel for obtaining eighth rank demon beast meat? Or... aren’t we allowed to hunt it ourselves?”

Zhao Chunxin replied, “We do have a steady supply channel, but it can barely provide for the sect master, deputy sect master, and a few elders, not even enough for the enforcers.

“As for hunting, you wouldn’t know this, but eighth rank demonic beasts are extremely scarce on our side. Besides, demonic beasts of the same rank are generally stronger than humans, and many of them even possess special abilities. So hunting them is exceedingly difficult.

“For instance, during the recent incident, those two seventh rank flame blaze leopards couldn’t be killed despite three different groups trying; they had to be lured into the wasteland so the beasts could escape, and many people ended up dying in the process.”

Li Yuan pondered for a moment and then asked curiously, “So if the Blood Blade Sect can supply each disciple with 30 kg of ninth rank demonic beast meat every month, how is that even possible? Where is all this meat...”

Zhao Chunxin didn’t offer any explanation; she simply said, “It’s easier to show you. Just follow me.”

This wasn’t a secret among inner disciples. In fact, the sect even instructed its inner disciples to be extra cautious when exploring outside the walls.

Before long, the two reached the western edge of the inner district. This area was noticeably different from the rest.

A chill hung in the air, and even the wind rustling through the branches carried an eerie tone. The road grew narrower, shifting from a paved stone path to a dusty country lane, its sides cloaked in dense, shadowy forests that kept the sunlight at bay.

After several twists and turns, Li Yuan’s view suddenly opened up. In the distance, a vast field stretched out in a deep, blood-red hue. It was as if every inch of the soil had been soaked in fresh blood, radiating an almost otherworldly, piercing brilliance.

At the edge of this crimson field stood a small house. In front of it, a man in a dark robe sat quietly, a book cradled in his hands as he nodded absently while reading. This was none other than one of the three elders who had just attended the meeting at Blood Fury Hall.

“Elder Tian,” Zhao Chunxin greeted with a respectful bow. Li Yuan followed suit.

Without setting aside his book, the man spoke coolly, “Do not linger near the meat field. Leave at once.”

“Understood.”

Immediately, Zhao Chunxin led Li Yuan away. Once they were a good distance from the house, she said, “That meat field is the source of our Blood Blade Sect’s ninth rank demonic beast meat.”

“Meat field...?” Li Yuan echoed.

“Yes,” she continued. “Simply by irrigating the field with blood—any kind will do, be it pig’s blood, chicken blood, even duck blood—the field produces thousands of kilograms of meat each spring and autumn. In lean years, it yields around 7,000 or 7,500 kg; in good years, up to 10,000 kg.

“Some people have identified the meat as coming from juvenile ninth rank elephant-nosed rabbits. That amount of meat is just enough for the inner disciples’ monthly allocation.”

Pausing for a moment, Zhao Chunxin lowered her voice. “But...nowadays, we’ve also discovered and secured the Wei Family’s meat field, so the total meat available to the sect should increase.

“And I've even heard a little rumor that our sect’s policies might be changing. I can’t say more right now, but just know that joining the inner circle at this time is truly a stroke of luck.”

Li Yuan’s expression grew serious as he suddenly understood why the various factions were warring with each other.

It wasn’t just about boosting their financial resources, expanding their pool of disciples, or increasing their overall power.

It was also a fight for the essential resources needed for cultivation...for the meat field! If the Wei Family were to lose control of this field, they’d never be able to rise again.