Chapter 28: The Deception

Chapter 28: The Scam

"Three days ago you came in clutching your belly, terrified your guts would spill out, and now you're already seven or eight parts healed. The recovery of you Martial Dao Sequencers is truly terrifying."

Crow Hua's eyes gleamed with a sharp light as he circled Li Jun, clicking his tongue in wonder. "How about you slice off a piece of flesh for this old man to study? I'll give you a ten percent discount on the consultation fee this time."

Li Jun narrowed his eyes, extending his bandage-wrapped arm with a smile. "How about I dislocate an arm for you? Make it a fifty percent discount?"

A chill shot from the soles of Crow Hua's feet straight to the crown of his head. He shuddered violently and hurriedly forced a laugh. "Let's... let's not. Research isn't my strong suit."

"No ambition."

A clear, melodious voice drifted from the corner. Crow Duoduo, her hair tied in a high ponytail, was crouched there, hugging a new book of unknown origin.

Her Ming-style black mamian pleated skirt dragged on the floor, the hem caked in dust.

Li Jun subtly tilted his head sideways, stealing a glance at the book's cover without moving a muscle.

*I Love A... Firewood Stick?!*

Li Jun felt his breath catch instantly. He cursed inwardly that this girl's reading material was getting more and more stimulating; he'd have to steal it and read it himself one of these days.

Just as his thoughts wandered, a sharp gaze swept over.

"Your body still has a bit of a problem."

Li Jun snapped his head back, staring blankly. "Huh?"

Crow Duoduo snapped the book shut with a *pa*, her expression grave. "To be precise, there's an issue with your genomic stability."

Li Jun and Crow Hua exchanged a subconscious glance, both seeing the bewilderment in the other's eyes.

The latter laughed dryly. "Actually... this girl's research on the human body is deeper than mine. You'd best believe her."

"How do you know?" Li Jun asked urgently.

"Last time you and Kuang Qingyun came, you asked him this question. So this time, while I was operating on you, I conveniently sliced off a bit of your tissue to take a look."

*Sliced?*

Crow Duoduo glanced at Li Jun's livid face and said calmly, "Relax. With your current physical constitution, as long as the removed part isn't an organ, it generally grows back."

Li Jun swallowed hard. "What is the problem?"

"The Martial Dao Sequence Nine genome currently reviving inside you is in a stage of sustained oscillation. And this oscillation isn't caused by the genome itself; an external force is continuously acting upon it."

Crow Duoduo looked up at the ceiling, pondered for a moment, then nodded heavily, her tone affirmative. "It's like a strongman wielding a jackhammer, chiseling away non-stop, twelve hours a day!"

Truly a vivid metaphor. Li Jun's whole body tensed; several freshly healed wounds on his arms instantly split open.

"What is this external force?"

"The internal cultivation method you practice, the *Azure Emperor Canon*." Crow Duoduo enunciated each word.

"There's a problem with this method?"

Li Jun scratched his eyebrow with his index finger. Deep within his black pupils, a cold light surged like a sharp blade leaving its sheath.

Standing beside him, Crow Hua suddenly felt a piercing killing intent. He silently shuffled a few steps to the side.

"The method itself has no problem. The problem lies in its grade being too high."

Li Jun, whose mind was already plotting how to kill Kuang Qingyun, had his train of thought abruptly severed. A look of astonishment appeared on his face. For a moment, he couldn't grasp Crow Duoduo's meaning.

Wasn't a higher grade cultivation method always better?

Those so-called Heaven's Chosen, Sons of Destiny—didn't they all start cultivating peerless methods and then rampage across the world?

He had only cultivated an Eighth-Grade internal art, and even *that* was considered too high a grade?!

"Wear pants that fit your ass. For the human body, 'compatibility' is the first and only rule."

On Crow Duoduo's childish yet incomparably serious face sat a maturity far beyond her years.

"You used an Eighth-Grade internal art to forcibly break the lock and ascend into Martial Nine. This behavior is akin to a pony pulling a massive cart."

"The newly awakened Martial Dao Sequence genes are incomparably fragile. They cannot withstand the continuous impact of Eighth-Grade internal force. In the long run, the genes will inevitably collapse."

Crow Duoduo spoke with conviction, yet Li Jun still found it hard to believe.

"According to you, a Martial Nine physique cannot withstand an Eighth-Grade internal art. Then why does the Martial Dao Sequence Nine ascension ritual require 'Eighth-Grade Power'?"

At this moment, all of Li Jun's focus was on his own body. He completely failed to notice Crow Hua shaking his head with an inexplicable sense of dejection beside him.

The old man's gaze toward Crow Duoduo was obscure and unfathomable, seemingly filled with reproach, heartache, and helpless resignation.

Crow Duoduo lowered her head, avoiding his gaze. After a long silence, she suddenly said, "Have you ever considered that this ritual might not be correct?"

Li Jun felt as if struck by thunder. His whole person froze in place, his back instantly turning ice-cold, cold sweat soaking through his clothes.

This ritual is wrong? Impossible!

Li Jun wanted to retort, but upon opening his mouth, he shockingly realized he couldn't find a single shred of evidence to prove the ritual's authenticity.

The prerequisite for proof is practice.

Only those who have used this ritual can prove its truth or falsehood.

Li Jun began to trace back, one by one, the sources of his Martial Dao Sequence information: black market merchants, information brokers, Bagua Society members...

As the memories deepened, Li Jun's face grew increasingly livid. He finally realized a crucial problem.

None of these people who provided him with information were Martial Dao Sequencers. Some hadn't even infused any martial arts.

Yet they all knew exactly what the Martial Dao Sequence Nine ritual entailed!

It felt as if someone was deliberately popularizing the content of this ritual.

Li Jun suddenly felt surrounded by boundless malice. Someone was borrowing countless mouths to repeat the same lie to him, attempting to turn the lie into truth.

This was a scam targeting Martial Dao Sequencers, a vicious scheme to pull the rug out from under them.

Why didn't those who had already ascended step forward to prove it?

Just who was targeting the Martial Dao Sequencers?

Li Jun racked his brains but couldn't understand. He could only clench his fists tight, using the pain of his splitting wounds to suppress the horror and fear in his heart, forcibly gathering his scattered wits.

The most critical issue right now was solving the trouble on his body. As for the rest, Li Jun believed that as long as he didn't die, he would eventually get the answers.

"Then what do I do now?" Li Jun's voice turned somewhat hoarse.

"Right now the pants are already stretched. You can only seize the time before your genes are washed away to rapidly strengthen your physique, using flesh and blood to feed back your fragile genes!"

Crow Hua wore a pained expression. "Duoduo, you're a girl. Talking like that..."

"Rough words, sound reasoning. Being able to clearly tell the patient where the problem lies is what matters most."

Crow Duoduo cut him off without mercy. She stood up, her eyes fixed on Li Jun, a fervent, almost tangible light blazing in her pupils!

"Cultivate every single martial art you have infused to the Great Perfection realm. Before your genes collapse, charge to the next higher Sequence. Complete the compatibility between genes and method."

"Become a Martial Dao Sequence Eight—a Crimson Blooded One!"

*Boom!*

Above the heavens, where dark clouds gathered, a thunder dragon suddenly flickered. Then, a deafening clap of thunder resounded through the entire Ghost Street.

A wind carrying the stench of blood and dampness howled from the alley outside the clinic. Dense raindrops followed close behind, crashing down with a tragic, fierce momentum.

The entire alleyway erupted into chaos in an instant; stall owners cursed and grumbled as they scrambled to pack their wares, while those sheltered by eaves wore broad grins, seizing the chance to hawk their goods to the pedestrians fleeing the rain.

Moments later, a drenched figure sprinted into the alley, barging roughly through the pedestrians blocking his path.

A man nearly knocked over seethed with rage, his mouth opening to unleash a torrent of abuse, only to falter, stunned silent by the other's ferocious glare.

The figure did not stop until he reached the Crow Clinic at the alley's depths, where he hammered his fist against the iron gate.

"Jun-ge, the Second Master demands you return to the headquarters immediately!!"

The scream was piercing, laced with a helpless, heartbreaking sorrow.