“At that time, you assassinated an eighth-level swordsman?”

Lily Harris exclaimed in a low voice, unable to help but ask.

“A high-level swordsman, even if he establishes his own sect and builds up his power, it’s no longer just some insignificant gang or organization, but a third-rate sect officially recognized by our Great Xia Dynasty. Young Sect Master, how did you manage to kill such a seventh-level swordsman?”

“Although my meridians have been severed all these years, I haven’t wasted my youth. Instead, I’ve cultivated some special techniques. I took advantage of his unpreparedness to kill him. If he had been on guard, I’m afraid he could have killed me with a single strike.”

“Took advantage of his unpreparedness, huh…”

Unable to come up with a better explanation, Lily Harris could only accept it.

“Young Sect Master, how do you think we should handle this matter?”

Blake asked in a deep voice.

“This matter should not be made public.”

“Oh?”

“Ryan Morgan is from the Xuanling Sect, and he actually dared to sneak into our Yunlai Sword Sect to commit murder. He clearly has no regard for us at all. Shouldn’t we go to the Xuanling Sect to demand justice?”

Lily Harris was a bit confused.

Ethan Brooks glanced at her and shook his head slightly: “The Xuanling Sect has a total of eight great swordsman-level experts and is faintly the number one sect in our Wanxia County. Among them, the Supreme Elder Beiyue reached the peak of the great swordsman level long ago and could break through to Swordmaster at any time, becoming a top expert in the Great Xia Dynasty. With the influence of our Yunlai Sword Sect, if we rashly go to the Xuanling Sect to demand justice, not only would it be meaningless, but they might even use Ryan Morgan’s death as an excuse to frame us, giving them a reason to annex our Yunlai Sword Sect.”

“This…”

“In the end, the Yunlai Sword Sect is just too weak.”

Ethan Brooks muttered to himself.

As soon as he said this, everyone present fell silent.

“Please, everyone, keep this matter a secret and act as if nothing happened.”

“Yes, Young Sect Master.”

Blake nodded in response, his tone heavy.

“Then, Young Sect Master, what if the Xuanling Sect sends someone to assassinate you again?”

“I believe that even if the Xuanling Sect figures out that something happened to Ryan Morgan, it will be at least half a month later. Who can say what will happen in half a month? Besides, with the sect competition coming up, if the Xuanling Sect really wants to deal with us, it will probably be after the competition.”

Lily Harris nodded worriedly.

“By the way, Young Sect Master, these are the spoils from Ryan Morgan.”

Apparently, Ryan Morgan never expected that, with his high-level swordsman cultivation, he would fail in the Yunlai Sword Sect, where the strongest is only a sixth-level swordsman, when targeting a mere third-level junior. He hadn’t stored his belongings in advance and carried everything with him. In Blake’s hands, there were not only three banknotes of one hundred taels each, but also two jade boxes that were clearly extraordinary.

Opening the jade box, a refreshing medicinal fragrance wafted out. Even just taking a whiff, Ethan Brooks felt a significant improvement in his physical condition.

“Young Sect Master, this is a Marrow Cleansing Pill. I can’t believe Ryan Morgan had such a treasure. No wonder it was kept in a green sandalwood box to prevent the medicinal power from dissipating.”

Seeing the pill in the box, Lily Harris exclaimed in surprise.

“Marrow Cleansing Pill?”

“That’s right. As the name suggests, the Marrow Cleansing Pill can greatly improve one’s physical constitution and expel toxins from the body. For any ordinary disciple of a sect, this pill is a highly sought-after treasure. Although the Marrow Cleansing Pill isn’t classified as a spiritual pill, it’s still a high-grade seventh-rank pill. Even a high-level swordsman would find it hard to obtain one. Among the thirty-six sects in Wanxia County, Wanding Sect specializes in alchemy, but even they can’t make Marrow Cleansing Pills because the success rate is too low. This pill was most likely bought from outside Wanxia County.”

“Greatly improves physical constitution and expels toxins…”

Ethan Brooks’s eyes lit up.

“Young Sect Master, this pill is your spoil of war. You should keep it. Although it may not heal your severed meridians, it can help alleviate your condition. Moreover, it can greatly enhance your potential. After taking it, I believe it won’t be long before you reach the peak of fourth-level swordsman.”

Ethan Brooks nodded and did not refuse.

“As for the pills in this other box…”

“These are Qi Condensing Pills, which refine true qi. Through alchemical methods, the spiritual energy contained in rare herbs is refined into pills for absorption, accelerating the cultivation of true qi. Qi Condensing Pills are on par with Marrow Cleansing Pills in grade, though slightly less precious, but they are still treasures fiercely contested by all major sects. It’s said that in those super-large cities, merchants don’t accept gold or silver, only Qi Condensing Pills and similar medicines. In a sense, they are hard currency. For a high-level swordsman like Ryan Morgan, even in a top second-rate sect like the Xuanling Sect, getting ten Qi Condensing Pills a year is already quite good.”

As Lily Harris spoke, she glanced regretfully at the box: “It’s just a pity there are only three. If there were more, our Yunlai Sword Sect could study them and see if there’s any hope of producing them ourselves.”