Tang Wen abruptly halted his forward momentum.
In an instant, he completed his visualization.
[Mountain-Cracking Cannon Fist]
Mountain Blasting Cannon—Triple Vibration!
The Dark Night Divine Fist was still not familiar enough to him.
Instinctively, he resorted to the Mountain-Cracking Cannon Fist, a technique he had practiced countless times.
Seeing Tang Wen preparing to take the blow head-on, the black-clad Martial Master was overjoyed: "He's dead for sure! A mere Transcendent, he's dead for sure!"
The massive shadowy figure was that of a person, a figure wielding a long blade.
Judging by its aura, it was at the Astral Martial Realm.
This was likely a stored killing move, a trump card for survival.
An ordinary Martial Master would never have access to such a technique.
Noticing the long blade in the shadow's hand, Tang Wen's heart stirred. If the blade was illusory, its killing power would inevitably be greatly diminished.
Boom!
The blade shadow collided with Tang Wen's fist.
At the moment of impact, Tang Wen's fist, arm, and shoulder were completely enveloped in black.
Hum!
An invisible vibrational force transmitted through.
His face turned pale.
The moment his fist met the blade shadow, the sensation was no different from striking a real blade.
After the shadow's attack, it dissipated.
Tang Wen's arms felt as if they were broken, and his entire body was numb.
Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
The blade technique also contained vibrational force.
If it were an ordinary Transcendent, they would likely be severely injured in a single move.
Seeing that Tang Wen wasn't killed, the black-clad Martial Master had already turned and fled.
Tang Wen didn't rush to pursue.
Instead, he pulled out a few Extraordinary Blood Essence pills from his pocket, swallowed them whole, and took half a minute to regulate his breathing.
The pain throughout his body was suppressed.
He then resumed the chase.
At the same time, he gained a new assessment of his own strength.
Having mastered the Multiple Vibration Fist, his combat power could rival that of an experienced Transcendent.
As for his physical strength and recovery ability, they might even surpass that of an experienced Transcendent.
"This is impossible!"
A few minutes later, the black-clad man was struck down by Tang Wen's Vibration Fist, slamming into the ground.
"Who are you people?"
"Why are you targeting the Blackwater Gang?"
The black-clad Martial Master slumped on the ground, muttering, "You don't even know what's going on, yet you dare to get involved! Let me tell you the truth—I'm actually a member of the Blackwater Gang."
"Clueless fool."
Tang Wen delivered another Vibration Fist, this time "restrained," striking the man's shoulder.
"Clack clack clack clack—"
The black-clad Martial Master's teeth chattered violently.
His bones creaked throughout his body.
His internal organs were also displaced.
Tang Wen didn't stop, casually throwing another punch.
The Martial Master's organs were shaken and injured, and he vomited blood in large mouthfuls.
His head was spinning, more disoriented than if he had drunk three pounds of strong liquor.
Taking advantage of the moment, Tang Wen shifted his vision into that of the brown-tailed crow.
Through the crow's eyes, he saw that it was already far away, monitoring the three Martial Masters fleeing toward the direction of the cold pond.
Tang Wen immediately withdrew from the vision and drew the dagger he carried with him:
"We've already found your other three Martial Masters. I'll count to three. If you don't talk, I'll send you on your way."
The black-clad Martial Master laughed bitterly, "If I talk, will you let me go?"
"I can't let you go, but your identity is special. You might still be worth a lot of money. There's a chance you'll survive."
As he spoke, Tang Wen shook the black velvet pouch he had just taken from the man.
Inside, apart from gold leaves, silver notes, and medicinal supplies, there was also a token.
A metal token engraved with the character "Lin."
A member of the Lin Family?
A relative of the Deputy Gang Lord?
If he died like this, it would be too easy for him.
Tang Wen bound the black-clad Martial Master's limbs, tying him up like a turtle, and casually lifted him.
He headed toward the cold pond.
Along the way, he continuously interrogated the man.
"You just claimed to be from the Blackwater Gang, and your family holds a high position within it, right?"
The black-clad Martial Master: ...
"Betraying your own people!"
"Just kill me!"
Tang Wen was pleased: This guy is quite naive.
He's already admitted it.
He coldly said, "You're more useful to me alive. As long as you don't play any tricks, you'll live. You'll return home safely. In one sentence, the secrets of your Lin Family will sustain me for a lifetime!"
"You!"
The black-clad Martial Master was first furious, then delighted: He's trying to grasp our Lin Family's secrets? Does that mean he wants to let me go?
Tang Wen asked in a deep voice:
"Why did you run in this direction?
Don't give me any nonsense about escaping. Remember, whether you live or die depends on how you answer."
The black-clad man's mask had already been removed.
His expression shifted repeatedly.
He looked at Tang Wen, uncertain.
Slap!
Tang Wen casually tossed him aside.
Like throwing out a dead dog.
He sneered, "Young Master Lin, you'd better think carefully.
If you die here to protect your secrets,
what will happen to your wives, your children?
Your family is quite large, isn't it?
If you die, your position in the family will likely be taken over immediately.
Why not just reveal the secret? Only heaven, earth, you, and I will know.
You'll still get to keep your life.
And in the future, if you cooperate with us, the Lin Family will eventually be yours."
The black-clad Martial Master closed his eyes.
Seeing him act like a dead dog, Tang Wen didn't waste any time. He took out a knife and stabbed it into the man's left chest.
"You!"
The black-clad Martial Master let out a scream, trembling in pain: Madman!
He talks about cooperating with me, but then he stabs me directly?
"Oops, not dead yet. Looks like I missed the mark."
Tang Wen deliberately controlled the angle, letting the blade graze the heart as it entered the body.
The black-clad Martial Master's lips trembled, unable to speak.
"Don't worry, I'll give it another try."
Ssshh.
The knife was pulled out.
Blood gushed forth.
Tang Wen smiled even more kindly: "Here. Press on the wound. Oh, I forgot your hands are still tied. Never mind, then. You'll be dead soon anyway."
The black-clad Martial Master broke down: "Stop! Stop! I'll talk, I'll talk!"
Tang Wen didn't stop, lightly stabbing again.
The black-clad Martial Master shouted, "I have a rare artifact."
The blade entered his flesh, stopping at the chest bone.
Tang Wen withdrew his hand, silently watching him.
"My bracelet, the red bracelet, is a Beast Control Ring."
Like a criminal confessing,
once he started, it was hard to stop:
"It can enhance the abilities of Mutated Beasts. It can also control them remotely."
Tang Wen reached over and took it from his wrist without a word: "How much does it enhance, and how far is the range?"
The red bracelet felt cool and smooth in his hand, its material neither metal nor stone.
"It can double their strength for a short time. As for the range," the black-clad Martial Master looked at the bleeding wound on his chest and coughed a few times.
"I'll bandage you up once you're done talking."
The black-clad Martial Master stopped coughing and spoke faster: "This Beast Control Ring can control Mutated Beasts within a hundred and twenty miles, making them do anything."
"Anything?"
Tang Wen's expression remained calm as he continued, "How is it used? What are the limitations? And what's the cost?"
The black-clad Martial Master was surprised by his reaction. This man, who seemed inexperienced, was actually unmoved by the allure of the Beast Control Ring.
"Inside the bracelet, there's a groove with a silver thread. When using it, you extend the thread and pierce it into the top of the Mutated Beast's head."
"That simple?"
"It must be inserted directly above the head, without causing bleeding. And once used, the Mutated Beast will surely die."
Tang Wen saw the groove but noticed there was no silver wire. He immediately understood:
"You controlled the Mutated Beast to enter the depths of the cold pool? What exactly is down there?"
The black-clothed Martial Master's expression shifted repeatedly. He took a deep breath:
"I haven't finished explaining how to use the Beast Control Ring. The first time it's used, it needs to be nourished with mental energy. As a first-class Martial Master, I spent a full forty-nine days nurturing it before I could activate it."
"Every time?" Tang Wen pulled out a bottle of golden wound medicine.
"Only when it changes owners does it require prolonged nurturing."
After a simple bandaging.
The black-clothed Martial Master watched the dagger flipping up and down in Tang Wen's hand.
He let out a bitter laugh.
As they hurried along, he began to reveal the truth:
"We did come for something at the bottom of the pool.
The Mutated Beast I control is a common Earth-Walking Beast,
but with the Beast Control Ring, it has strength close to that of a Transcendent.
We planned to drill a hole from above to retrieve what's at the bottom of the cold pool—"
"What? Retrieve what?"
The black-clothed Martial Master's eyes flickered with reluctance: "Another rare artifact."
Tang Wen tempted him: "Explain clearly. If what you say is true, I'll knock you out, reinsert the dagger into your wound, and kill everyone who saw this."
The black-clothed Martial Master gritted his teeth: "The Blackwater Gang is salvaging a sapphire slab, but they don't know that there are actually two slabs."
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