Chapter 5: Lightning Martial Spirit

Shi Yan opened his eyes and gazed at the drug slaves not far away, lost in thought.

Most of these people had become drug slaves due to their impoverished family circumstances, having no choice but to sign an agreement with Mo Yan Yu. As long as they could endure for half a year, they would not only gain their freedom but also receive 200 purple crystals. Of course, if they died during the drug trials, their families would still receive the money.

In the Divine Grace Continent, one black crystal is equal to 100 purple crystals, which is equal to 10,000 blue crystals. The average annual income for a commoner is only about 5 to 6 purple crystals. To earn 200 purple crystals, a drug slave would need to work for 40 years.

On the day the agreement was signed, their families received 50 purple crystals, and the remaining amount would be given to them after half a year. If they unfortunately died, the purple crystals would go to their families. For these people, 200 purple crystals might be something they could never earn in their entire lives, which is why they took such a risk.

However, when they signed the agreement, they never imagined that the drug trials would be so cruel. Almost every few days, one of them would die from the trials, and their deaths were extremely gruesome. This made them live in constant fear and gave rise to many thoughts.

Unfortunately, the agreement was written in black and white, and once signed, it could not be withdrawn midway. This meant that for the next half year, they had to entrust their lives to the Mo family. If they disobeyed the agreement and tried to escape, the Mo family had the right to kill them.

There's no such thing as a free lunch. By the time they realized the cruelty of the drug trials, it was already too late, and they could only endure.

Shi Yan understood that none of these people would make it to the end. He knew that these drug slaves would eventually die, perhaps even tomorrow. He was aware of his limited abilities and could not change this, so he avoided interacting with them to avoid forming any bonds. This way, he wouldn't feel sad when they died.

Shi Yan frowned and secretly glanced at the alchemist Karu, who was sitting high in the earth dragon sedan chair, then quickly withdrew his gaze.

From the five white medicine bottles embroidered on Karu's chest, Shi Yan knew that he was a Fifth Rank Common Alchemist. Alchemists are a special group in this world, rarer than martial artists.

Almost every alchemist is also a martial artist. The pills they refine can enhance a martial artist's cultivation. A few powerful alchemists can even refine special pills that can enhance the abilities of a "Martial Spirit."

Unlike the ten realms of martial artists, alchemists are divided into five ranks based on their proficiency in alchemy: Common, Profound, Spirit, Saint, and Divine. Each rank is further divided into seven levels.

Alchemists of each rank have special symbols: Common alchemists have white medicine bottles on their chests, Profound alchemists have flames, Spirit alchemists have herbs, Saint alchemists have pills, and Divine alchemists have cauldrons. Karu, with five white medicine bottles on his chest, is a Fifth Rank Common Alchemist, which is clear at a glance.

Because the pills of alchemists can change martial artists and enhance their essence, alchemists have a very high status among martial artists. Due to their rarity, almost every alchemist becomes a target of contention for major forces, further elevating their status.

Karu, a Fifth Rank Common Alchemist, was invited to the Mo family by Mo Yan Yu from the Medicine King Valley of the Divine Protection Empire. The Mo family, like the Shi family, is one of the five major families of the Merchant Alliance. The Mo family has a "Martial Spirit" of lightning power, and many of its members are born with a "Lightning Martial Spirit," which grows stronger as their realm improves.

Mo Yan Yu is a young, talented member of the Mo family who possesses a "Lightning Martial Spirit."

The Mo family operates a medicinal business in the Merchant Alliance and has always been trying to gather alchemists from various regions to refine medicines for them. However, alchemists are eccentric and highly self-regarding, and few are willing to be constrained by a family, so the Mo family has never achieved its goal.

Although Karu is only a Fifth Rank Common Alchemist, it was not easy for the Mo family to persuade him. Mo Yan Yu must have used some method to convince Karu to leave the Medicine King Valley and agree to refine medicines for the Mo family.

However, Karu seems to be unconventional. He has a great interest in the dark arts of poison, and to refine poisons with precision, he needs to use live humans for testing, which is why there are drug slaves.

"Let's go!" Mo Yan Yu's light command came from a distance. The resting martial artists all stood up, tidied up, and prepared to set off. The drug slaves, huddled together, quickly stood up, afraid of being beaten for being too slow.

Shi Yan silently stood up, coldly glanced at the graceful yet venomous figure at the front of the group, and let out a barely audible cold snort before obediently following the group.

In the Merchant Alliance, the relationship between the Mo family and the Shi family has never been good. Three years ago, Mo Yan Yu's fifth uncle was killed by the Shi family during a dispute over a mine. The Mo family retaliated fiercely, killing many of the Shi family's guards. Because of this, the two families have been secretly competing ever since.

Shi Yan knew that if he revealed his true identity, he would not only not be released but would likely die even faster.

Fortunately, the original owner of this body, lacking a "Martial Spirit" and disliking martial arts, never participated in any martial arts activities in the Merchant Alliance, so Mo Yan Yu did not recognize him. Otherwise, his situation might be even worse.

At night, the moon was like a silver plate, and the stars dotted the sky.

The Mo family's group set up camp by a small river. The earth dragon made "huffing" sounds, resting quietly by the river. The Mo family's martial artists ate dried meat and laughed strangely, discussing the famous courtesans of the Merchant Alliance's brothels.

A few bold martial artists, when Mo Yan Yu turned her back, would occasionally sneak glances at her well-proportioned figure, swallowing their saliva, but they knew that a woman of her status and level was beyond their reach, so they could only satisfy their eyes.

Shi Yan silently sat down, preparing to continue circulating his essence, when he suddenly noticed Mo Yan Yu and Karu walking straight toward him from the front of the group.

Shi Yan's heart turned cold, knowing that trouble was coming, and his face gradually darkened.

"The power of the Intestine-Cutting Powder is too strong; ordinary people can't withstand it. Two have already died in just six days. It seems only martial artists can endure it. That boy has been kept for so long and has recovered quite a bit. It's time to put him to use..." Karu said with a sinister smile, holding a bowl of black, murky liquid in his left hand.

"Master, please don't be too polite. You can do whatever you want with this man, just don't let him die too easily," Mo Yan Yu said with a light laugh.

"Hehe, Miss Mo, rest assured. Since he's in my hands, he won't die easily. You saw the power of the Intestine-Cutting Powder before; those ordinary people all rotted away slowly before dying. The stronger this boy's body, the slower the rotting process, and the greater the pain. Just watch," Karu laughed, completely disregarding Shi Yan's feelings nearby.

"That's perfect," Mo Yan Yu nodded, her beautiful eyes filled with cold light, clearly hating Shi Yan to the bone.

The two of them chatted as they approached Shi Yan. Karu didn't waste any words, handing the bowl of black, murky Intestine-Cutting Powder to Shi Yan and coldly said, "Boy, drink it."

Mo Yan Yu extended her snow-white left hand, and dazzling electric light danced around her fingers, slowly wrapping from her pinky to her thumb like a nimble electric snake. The "Lightning Martial Spirit" combined with her essence, causing the air to crackle with energy.

"Hehe!" A strong, cold laugh came from behind Shi Yan. "Boy, if you dare not drink it, you know what will happen."

Karu's eyes were full of excitement, and he couldn't help but rub his hands, saying, "Boy, the Intestine-Cutting Powder is very interesting. It will make you rot away from the inside out..."

Mo Yan Yu coldly watched Shi Yan, her gaze unwavering, waiting for any sign of resistance. If Shi Yan showed any sign of non-cooperation, she would immediately strike, ready to vent her frustrations on him.

These past few days, every time she thought about Shi Yan's reckless violation of her, she felt a surge of anger. The place that even her fiancé had not yet touched was defiled by Shi Yan, leaving her feeling humiliated and almost ready to vomit blood.

"I'll drink it," Shi Yan said calmly, steadily taking the bowl of Intestine-Cutting Powder and drinking it all in one go.

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End of Chapter 5