Wanhua Tower.
After packing up, Jiang Ning walked out of Wanhua Tower.
He left the conspicuous box, along with the ancient manual titled [Indestructible Golden Body], with Lin Qingyi.
After understanding the [Indestructible Golden Body], he realized that it was undoubtedly a martial arts technique far beyond his imagination.
According to Lin Qingyi, the complete [Indestructible Golden Body] was one of the core martial arts of the Golden Temple.
The Golden Temple was a top-tier sect with more than twenty grandmasters and several great grandmasters.
The strength of such a sect was unimaginable.
And the [Indestructible Golden Body], being one of the Golden Temple's core martial arts, was undoubtedly of an extraordinary level.
Perhaps even supreme techniques couldn't compare to it.
Even though the version Jiang Ning had was only a fragment that could be cultivated to the minor success level of bronze skin, it was still incredibly precious in his eyes.
According to the manual, even at the same level, the skin tempered by the [Indestructible Golden Body] was 30% to 50% stronger than that tempered by other techniques.
A difference of 30% to 50% was significant.
This further highlighted the importance of the [Indestructible Golden Body].
That was why Jiang Ning chose to leave the incomplete version with Lin Qingyi.
He had already memorized it after reading it once.
Taking it with him would be pointless.
Moreover, accidentally revealing the existence of the [Indestructible Golden Body] could lead to fatal consequences, which would be a loss outweighing the gain.
As for the jars and bottles in the box, Jiang Ning packed them into a bundle and took them with him.
When he walked out of Wanhua Tower, he only carried a bundle and the ebony longsword in his hand.
After walking a short distance, Jiang Ning's ears twitched slightly.
"Follow Jiang Ning for now and wait for Deputy Gang Leader Hong Chengtao. We'll make our move when we reach a secluded area."
Hearing this, Jiang Ning's heart stirred slightly.
Xu Yunfeng?
Is he coming after me again?
It seems the Cao family is getting restless again after Shen Congyun's departure.
Deputy Gang Leader Hong Chengtao?
Who is that?
Isn't the leader of the Green Snake Gang named Shi Xiaoyuan?
Why is there a Deputy Gang Leader Hong Chengtao?
The leaders of the Black Tiger Gang and the Bamboo Gang aren't named Hong Chengtao either.
Hearing Xu Yunfeng's voice, Jiang Ning pondered silently.
He then slowed his pace slightly and headed toward a more crowded area.
At the same time, he heightened his senses to their maximum, carefully listening to the conversation behind him.
After a while, as he continued eavesdropping on Xu Yunfeng and the others, he finally understood.
Deputy Gang Leader Hong Chengtao wasn't the actual gang leader but the deputy leader of the Green Snake Gang.
"Minor success in skin tempering?"
"I can kill him."
Jiang Ning thought to himself.
He then continued walking forward while pondering.
After a moment, he made a decision.
"Cao Rong is gone. With my current strength, there's no need to hold back anymore!"
"Kill!"
"Why continue living in such humiliation?"
In the next moment, he chose a direction and headed toward the outer city.
The people behind him continued to follow at a distance.
After leaving the inner city and entering the outer city, a burly, dark-skinned man approached Xu Yunfeng.
"Hall Master Xu, I'm here!" the dark-skinned man said.
"Thank you, Deputy Gang Leader Hong, for coming to assist!" Xu Yunfeng said in a low voice.
The dark-skinned man glanced at him with a hint of disdain.
He looked at Jiang Ning's back in the distance. "Third Young Master's task for you is to kill him?"
Xu Yunfeng replied, "We need to kill him first to complete the task the Third Young Master assigned me."
"That's simple!" the dark-skinned man chuckled. "A mere brat like him? With my minor success in the ninth rank, I can crush his head like a watermelon with a single hand."
Seeing the dark-skinned man about to act, Xu Yunfeng quickly stepped forward to stop him.
"Deputy Gang Leader Hong, wait!" he said in a low voice.
"What's wrong?" the dark-skinned man asked, puzzled.
Xu Yunfeng continued in a low voice, "Third Young Master said we can't make a move against Jiang Ning in public. He's someone Shen Congyun values highly!"
"Making a move in public would be a direct slap in Shen Congyun's face!"
"Fine!" the dark-skinned man stopped. "Then we'll wait until we reach a secluded area and kill everyone there!"
Xu Yunfeng nodded. "That's what I meant."
Meanwhile, Jiang Ning, with his senses heightened to their maximum, also heard this conversation.
So, they plan to make a move against me!
And Deputy Gang Leader Hong is here too!
Do they want to make their move in a secluded area?
Fine, I'll grant their wish!!
A flash of killing intent appeared in Jiang Ning's eyes.
Since they're seeking death, I'll cut them all down!
In the next moment, he tightened his grip on the longsword and continued walking along the main road of the outer city toward the city gate.
After the time it took to burn an incense stick, Xu Yunfeng and the others continued to follow.
Suddenly, someone whispered, "Is he planning to leave the city?"
Xu Yunfeng was momentarily stunned.
After recalling for a moment, he slowly nodded. "It seems so."
The dark-skinned man grinned, revealing yellowed teeth.
"If he's leaving the city, that's perfect!"
"Kill him outside the city, toss his body into the wilderness, and by morning, the beasts will have devoured him. No evidence will remain!"
Hearing this, the woman in the leopard-skin outfit also smiled.
"As the saying goes, 'Heaven has a road, but he won't take it; hell has no door, but he barges in!'"
"Choosing to leave the city at this time is like walking straight to his death!"
Meanwhile, Xu Yunfeng felt a growing sense of unease as he listened to their conversation.
Strange!
This kid was so cautious before, not leaving the martial arts hall for a month.
Let alone leaving the city?
Why is he suddenly leaving the city today?
He has no reason to leave the city. Why would he?
And why now?
Did he discover us and deliberately lead us out of the city?
No, that can't be!
Xu Yunfeng shook his head silently.
If he had discovered us, he would have taken the crowded main road back to the martial arts hall!
Leaving the city is like seeking death!
Thinking this, Xu Yunfeng suppressed his unease.
Especially after glancing at the dark-skinned man, Hong Chengtao, he felt more at ease.
Hong Chengtao.
He was much stronger than Xu Yunfeng.
This man had joined the Green Snake Gang at the age of thirteen, rising from an ordinary gang member to the position of deputy gang leader step by step.
His combat experience was incredibly rich, having narrowly escaped death multiple times and turning desperate situations around.
Through sheer effort, he had risen from poverty to the ninth rank of martial arts, achieving a level of success.
With his extensive combat experience, Hong Chengtao could even hold his own against someone like Cao Bin, who had achieved major success in skin tempering.
In a life-and-death battle, he still had a decent chance of turning the tables.
With this in mind, Xu Yunfeng completely set aside his worries and continued to follow Jiang Ning from a distance.
After a while, Jiang Ning arrived at the city gate.
Following the crowd, Jiang Ning passed through the gate, crossed the drawbridge, and left Luoshui County.
Behind him, the group saw this.
"He's leaving the city!" the dark-skinned man said with a pleased expression. "Let's hurry and follow!"
"Alright!" The two deputy hall masters quickened their pace.
Xu Yunfeng followed suit.
Not long after leaving the city, Xu Yunfeng suddenly spoke.
"Something's wrong!"
"What's wrong?" the dark-skinned man asked.
"Jiang Ning is heading into the woods. He's going to a secluded area. This is too strange!" Xu Yunfeng said again.
Hearing this, the dark-skinned man laughed. "You're just overthinking things, like a constable!"
"What's so strange about it?"
"This kid is a disciple of the Canglang Martial Arts Hall, and the Canglang Martial Arts Hall teaches the Five Animals Fist!"
"To master the Five Animals Fist, one often needs to go into the wild and observe the habits and fighting styles of tigers, apes, bears, and deer to understand the essence and form of the fist techniques."
"So, what's so strange about this?" the dark-skinned man retorted.
Hearing this, Xu Yunfeng was momentarily speechless.
After a few breaths, he slowly shook his head. "I hope I'm just overthinking it."
The dark-skinned man chuckled. "Do you think this kid discovered us and is deliberately leading us to a secluded area to kill us all?"
Xu Yunfeng remained silent.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ning continued along the mountain path. The further he went, the quieter and more secluded it became.
Howl
From time to time, he heard the howl of a wolf or the roar of other beasts.
He glanced at his surroundings.
Towering trees blocked most of the sunlight, with only scattered beams breaking through the dense foliage. The area was completely deserted.
He nodded slightly.
"This should be about right."
Then, he turned and stopped behind a large tree.
In less than ten breaths, a series of footsteps approached from behind.
"Hall Master Xu, are you sure we're on the right path?" the dark-skinned man asked.
Xu Yunfeng scanned the ground and shook his head. "We're on the right path. These tracks were left recently. Who else could it be but Jiang Ning?"
"Good!" the dark-skinned man nodded. "In that case, let's pick up the pace! This is a perfect burial ground!"
"Besides, sunset is only a few hours away. By then, the beasts will come out to hunt. One night is enough to leave no trace of his body!"
Xu Yunfeng nodded. "Alright, sounds good! We'll follow your lead, Deputy Gang Leader Hong!"
As Xu Yunfeng led the way, following Jiang Ning's tracks, he quickened his pace.
However, after a moment, he had only walked a few feet before suddenly stopping.
"Hall Master Xu, what's wrong now?" the dark-skinned man asked, visibly annoyed.
"Something's wrong!" Xu Yunfeng said.
"What's wrong now?" the dark-skinned man asked.
"Jiang Ning's tracks have suddenly disappeared!" Xu Yunfeng explained.
"Did Jiang Ning discover us?" the woman in the leopard-skin outfit asked.
"Possibly!" Xu Yunfeng nodded. "Don't rush. Let me look around. I should be able to find some traces he left behind!"
"Even if he tried to cover his tracks, he would have left some clues!"
Xu Yunfeng was full of confidence.
At that moment, Jiang Ning stepped out from behind the tree.
"No need to look. I'm right here!"
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