44: Chapter 44 System Space Unlocked

Zhang Sanfeng did not enter the city to stay at an inn; instead, he found a dilapidated Earth Temple outside the city of Jiaxing.

Although the ruined temple was small, it could shelter him from the wind and rain, making it the perfect place to hide his tracks.

He sat cross-legged on a prayer mat and once again attempted to communicate with the System.

This time, the System finally responded, and a cold prompt sounded in his mind:

"Detection of host consciousness stability confirmed. Commencing repair of basic functional modules... Repair progress 10%... 50%... 100%!"

"Basic functional modules repair complete. Unlocking System storage space (1000 cubic meters)."

As the prompt faded, a massive virtual space appeared in Zhang Sanfeng's consciousness.

Inside the space, all the supplies he had prepared in advance in the Yitian World were neatly stored:

From the complete set of Secret Manual for Wudang martial arts to various Medicinal Pill for healing and life-saving; from gold, silver, and grain to tokens engraved with the Wudang Dao lineage mark.

There were even a dozen refined steel longswords and a full set of Daoist robes and Magical Artifact, everything one could need.

Zhang Sanfeng felt relieved, and the awkwardness of his start instantly vanished.

He took out a clean moon-white Daoist robe from the space to change into, then took a few taels of broken silver and a bottle of golden wound medicine, tucking them into his robe.

The rest of the supplies remained stored in the space.

He specifically chose a peach wood sword that looked the most ordinary to carry on his back, continuing to maintain his disguise as a down-and-out wandering Daoist.

After finishing all this, the sky had already darkened.

Taking advantage of the night, Zhang Sanfeng silently slipped into Jiaxing and headed straight for Zuixian Restaurant.

Zuixian Restaurant was brightly lit; the waiters were busy cleaning up and arranging tables and chairs in preparation for tomorrow's martial arts competition.

Zhang Sanfeng hid in the shadows, carefully observing every wine jar and ingredient in the kitchen, but he did not find any traces of tampering.

Evidently, the poisoners had not yet made their move; they were waiting for the most intense moment of tomorrow's competition to seize the opportunity to poison the wine.

Just as he was preparing to leave, the whispers of two people suddenly came from the backyard.

Zhang Sanfeng held his breath and quietly approached.

"Is everything ready? Tomorrow, when they are fighting the fiercest, pour the medicine into the wine."

"Rest assured, Big Brother. The Seven-Absolute Gut-Severing Poison is colorless and odorless. It will only take effect half an hour after being ingested. By then, everyone will die from the poison, and no one will be able to trace it back to us."

"Hmph, once Master Qiu Chuji and the Jiangnan Seven Freaks are dead, the Quanzhen Sect and the Jiangnan Martial Forest will inevitably turn against each other."

"By then, West Poison will be able to reap the rewards and unify the Jiangnan Martial Forest."

"Keep your voice down, don't let anyone hear you. Senior Mei is still waiting for a reply at the stronghold. Let's go quickly, lest complications arise."

After the two men in black finished speaking, they climbed over the wall and left Zuixian Restaurant.

A cold light flashed in Zhang Sanfeng's eyes; it turned out that not only were there people from Baituo Mountain, but there was also a "Senior Mei."

That faint, lingering trace of Evil Qi was indeed not an illusion.

"Detection of host obtaining identity information of the poisoners. Issuing branch mission: [Track the Poison Source]."

"Mission Objective: Follow the men in black to find Baituo Mountain's stronghold in Jiaxing and destroy the remaining poison."

"Mission Reward: System function repair, unlocking living creature storage permission."

"Mission Failure Penalty: The men in black will transfer the remaining poison, and the poisoning incident tomorrow will still occur. The Fusion degree of the world will deviate. If missions are failed multiple times, the world Fusion will stop."

As soon as the System prompt faded, Zhang Sanfeng was already silently following behind the two men in black.

Under his feet, he used the Wudang Cloud Ladder Step, his figure clinging to the shadows of the eaves like a ghost, maintaining a distance of several dozen zhang from the two.

Just a moment ago, he had silently left a Taiji mark on the back of the lead man in black.

That mark was currently emitting a faint Pure Yang Dao Rhyme, like the most precise beacon, clearly discernible even from half a street away.

The two men in black were clearly extremely cautious. Along the way, they circled through seven or eight alleys and changed their attire three times. Only after confirming no one was following them did they head toward the mass grave outside the South Gate of Jiaxing.

Deep within the mass grave stood a long-abandoned mortuary. The courtyard walls had collapsed, and the weeds were waist-high, appearing eerie and terrifying under the moonlight.

Zhang Sanfeng hid in an old locust tree, watching the two men in black climb over the wall and enter the mortuary.

His figure flickered, drifting into the courtyard like a falling leaf, without making a single sound.

A dim yellow oil lamp was lit in the main hall of the mortuary. Several silhouettes could be vaguely seen moving, and the air was filled with a pungent snake stench and a faint smell of blood.

He silently crept under the window, gently poked a hole in the window paper with his fingertip, and looked inside.

He saw seven or eight Baituo Mountain Disciples standing in the hall, with over a dozen black earthen jars placed on the ground, filled with venomous snakes flicking their tongues.

The leader was the very same man in black from the backyard of Zuixian Restaurant, currently bowing and reporting to a figure in black robes who had their back to the window.

"Senior Mei, everything has been arranged properly."

"Tomorrow at noon, when the competition at Zuixian Restaurant is at its most intense, we will mix the Seven-Absolute Gut-Severing Poison into the wine. I guarantee that neither Master Qiu Chuji nor the Jiangnan Seven Freaks will survive."

The black-robed figure slowly turned around. Zhang Sanfeng's pupils constricted.

Her face was withered, her eyes deeply sunken, her fingernails long and black, and her entire body was shrouded in a chilling, creepy Evil Qi.

Who else could it be but Mei Chaofeng?

Mei Chaofeng let out a cold snort, her voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing together.

"West Poison promised me something, do not forget it."

"Once I have killed the Jiangnan Seven Freaks and the dog Daoists of the Quanzhen Sect to avenge my husband, he must give me the second half of the Nine Yin Manual!"

"Rest assured, Senior Mei, West Poison always keeps his word."

The lead man in black said with a fawning smile, "As long as it is done tomorrow, the Master will immediately send someone to deliver the second half of the Nine Yin Manual."

"By then, with your Cultivation Technique reaching Major Achievement, let alone the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, even if Master Wang Chongyang were resurrected, he would not be your match."

A flash of ruthlessness flickered in Mei Chaofeng's eyes, mixed with pain that could not be concealed.

"My dear husband, just you wait; I will avenge you very soon."

"I will not let a single one of those who killed you escape!"

Zhang Sanfeng understood. So that was it.

After Chen Xuanfeng was killed by the Jiangnan Seven Freaks, Mei Chaofeng was hunted by the Quanzhen Sect. Fleeing everywhere and with nowhere else to turn, she had colluded with the equally ambitious West Poison.

West Poison coveted the Nine Yin Skeleton Claw Cultivation Technique, so he used helping her take revenge and the second half of the Nine Yin Manual as bait to utilize her in eliminating rivals and inciting conflict within the Martial Forest.

At this moment, Mei Chaofeng suddenly frowned and whipped her head toward the window: "Who is outside? Get out here!"

Zhang Sanfeng was startled; he had not expected Mei Chaofeng's perception to be so keen.

He no longer hid. With a flicker of his figure, he drifted in from outside the window and landed in the hall.

"A wandering Daoist, passing through, smelled the scent of blood here, and came to take a look."

Zhang Sanfeng said with a calm expression, holding his peach wood sword.

"Stinking Daoist, how dare you follow us!" The lead man in black shouted angrily, waving his hand, "Kill him!"

Four Baituo Mountain Disciples simultaneously drew their poisonous blades and lunged toward Zhang Sanfeng.

Zhang Sanfeng slightly shifted his feet, using the Taiji Cloud Hands. With his left hand, he gently guided the first Disciple's poisonous blade toward the second Disciple beside him. With his right hand, his peach wood sword tapped, precisely piercing the third Disciple's Shenmen acupoint, while his right foot gently hooked, tripping the fourth Disciple to the ground.

In less than a breath, all four Baituo Mountain Disciples fell to the ground, having lost their ability to fight.

"You have some skills." A flash of surprise crossed Mei Chaofeng's eyes, followed by a cold sneer.

"No wonder you dared to break in here alone; so you have some tricks. However, since you have come today, don't think about leaving alive!"

Before the words fell, her figure flickered, lunging toward Zhang Sanfeng like a ghost. Her right hand formed a claw, carrying a bone-chilling, cold Evil Qi, as she aimed straight for Zhang Sanfeng's crown.

It was the Nine Yin Skeleton Claw! The claw wind was fierce; wherever it passed, the air hissed, and even the blue bricks on the ground were gouged with five deep marks.

Zhang Sanfeng's expression was grave. Mei Chaofeng's cultivation had reached the half-step Innate, far exceeding the previous Zhou Hu, and added to that, the Nine Yin Skeleton Claw was incomparably sinister.

At this moment, his cultivation was suppressed, so he dared not lower his guard.

He stepped with the Bagua footwork, retreating rapidly, while his peach wood sword utilized the Wudang Cotton Palm, accurately thrusting toward the Shenmen acupoint on Mei Chaofeng's wrist.

With a "ding," the peach wood sword collided with Mei Chaofeng's fingernails, producing a sound like metal striking metal.

Zhang Sanfeng felt a cold Internal Energy travel along the peach wood sword, instantly invading his body, attempting to corrode his Meridians.

He hurriedly activated his Pure Yang Dao Rhyme, dissolving the cold Internal Energy into nothingness.

"Eh? Pure Yang Dao Rhyme?" A flash of suspicion crossed Mei Chaofeng's eyes. "Are you from the Quanzhen Sect?"

"This Daoist is not a Disciple of Quanzhen," Zhang Sanfeng said calmly.

"Mei Chaofeng, the death of Chen Xuanfeng is certainly regrettable. But you kill the innocent and aid the tyrant; are you not afraid of divine retribution?"

"Do you not know what kind of person West Poison is? He is merely using you. Once you have no value to him, the first person he will kill is you."

"Shut up!" Mei Chaofeng shouted angrily, her offensive becoming even more fierce.

The ultimate moves of the Nine Yin Skeleton Claw were unleashed one after another, with layers of claw shadows surrounding Zhang Sanfeng.

"My husband's revenge is none of your business! Today, I will kill you to avenge my husband!"

Zhang Sanfeng used the Wudang Cotton Palm; his palm technique appeared soft and gentle, yet it contained infinite variations.

Every strike was able to precisely deflect Mei Chaofeng's force.

Although the Nine Yin Skeleton Claw was sinister and ruthless, it could never touch the corner of his robe.

After fighting for over fifty rounds, Mei Chaofeng became increasingly alarmed as they fought.

Clearly, her cultivation was far higher than her opponent's, yet she could not win; instead, she was drawn in by the opponent's Taiji Force, causing her blood to churn.

She knew in her heart that this seemingly ordinary Daoist was definitely a hidden expert.

"Enough!" Mei Chaofeng suddenly retreated three steps, stopping her offensive.

"Who exactly are you? With your martial arts, you cannot possibly be an ordinary wandering Daoist."

Zhang Sanfeng stood with his palms retracted and said calmly: "This Daoist is just a passing Daoist who cannot stand West Poison's schemes and tricks, nor do I want to see you used as a tool by others."

"The Jiangnan Seven Freaks killed Chen Xuanfeng because he killed the innocent; the Quanzhen Sect hunts you because you Cultivate evil arts and have harmed too many lives."

"Every grievance has its source, and every debt has its debtor. Even if you want revenge, you should seek the true culprit, not kill the innocent and aid the tyrant."

Mei Chaofeng fell silent.

She looked at Zhang Sanfeng, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

For so many years, everyone has only treated her as a cold-blooded Devil Head; no one had ever said these things to her.

She also knew that West Poison had ulterior motives, but she had no other choice.

Except for West Poison, no one would help her take revenge.

"My affairs are none of your concern," Mei Chaofeng said coldly.

"I will let you go today; you had better not interfere in the matter at Zuixian Restaurant tomorrow."

Zhang Sanfeng smiled slightly: "I will naturally go to Zuixian Restaurant tomorrow."

"However, I will not let West Poison's conspiracy succeed. Mei Chaofeng, take care of yourself."

Having said that, his figure flickered, arriving at the side of the hall, and with one kick, he overturned the earthen jar on the ground containing the Seven-Absolute Gut-Severing Poison.

The black poison spilled onto the ground, instantly corroding the blue bricks and emitting puffs of black smoke.

"Detection of host successfully destroying the remaining poison. Branch mission [Track the Poison Source] completion 100%!"

"Mission reward issued: System functions fully repaired, unlocking living creature storage permission."

"You!" Mei Chaofeng shouted angrily and was about to attack.

"Mei Chaofeng, if you want to know the truth at Zuixian Restaurant tomorrow, come and see for yourself."

Zhang Sanfeng left behind these words, his figure flickered, drifting out of the window, and vanished into the night.

Mei Chaofeng looked at the corroded blue bricks on the ground, then looked at the direction where Zhang Sanfeng had vanished, a flash of hesitation in her eyes.

She clenched her fists, her fingernails digging deep into her palms.

After Zhang Sanfeng left the mortuary, he circled around Jiaxing City, confirmed that he was not being followed, and returned to the ruined temple.

He sat cross-legged on the prayer mat, recalling the fight with Mei Chaofeng just now.

Mei Chaofeng's Nine Yin Skeleton Claw was indeed powerful and incomparably sinister. If not for his Pure Yang Dao Rhyme to restrain it, he would likely have had to expend quite a bit of effort.

West Poison had actually come to Jiaxing as well; tomorrow at Zuixian Restaurant, things would likely not be so peaceful.