The Elixir is for You, The Poison is for Me

Having carried goods at the docks for a long time, Lu Jing could now roughly estimate the weight of those two large boxes with just a glance; each weighed at least six hundred catties.

Moreover, he spotted a familiar face among the porters carrying the boxes: Niu Jiu.

However, Niu Jiu didn't see him. In fact, Niu Jiu didn't dare to raise his head at all. The oppressive aura emanating from the hundred or so martial artists at the second-rate realm and above was simply too strong. Ordinary people like him didn't even have the courage to meet their gaze.

He simply followed orders to place the two boxes in the open space in front, and then hurriedly retreated with the other porters.

After they left, the small boss who had been humiliated by Wei Zixian earlier walked up to the two large boxes again and opened one of them.

The martial artists in the hall felt as if their eyes had been stabbed by something. The dazzling gold actually made the surrounding lights seem dim.

"Six hundred taels of gold. We don't need you to do anything special. As long as you leave immediately and give up the opportunity to comprehend the martial arts manual together, you can divide the money and leave. Each person will receive about thirty taels," the small boss said loudly.

However, after he finished speaking, no one in the hall responded.

"Not enough?" He opened the other box, which was filled with antiques. Judging by their value, they were no less than the box of gold on the left. The small boss added, "Those who leave first can also take an item from this box."

A commotion broke out among the heroes. More than thirty taels of gold plus an antique – this offer was undeniably generous, and the task required was exceptionally simple: merely walking out of this tavern.

Many people couldn't help but want to agree, especially those with relatively ordinary martial arts skills. Their chances of staying and obtaining the manual were very low. Perhaps taking the money and leaving at this moment was the wisest choice.

However, after experiencing the invitation debacle and learning that Wei Zixian was also attending the banquet tonight, those who still gritted their teeth and came here were all eager for the martial arts manual. How could they be willing to just take a sum of money and leave?

Especially since the banquet had only just begun for less than the time it takes to brew a pot of tea, and even Lian Jincheng's shadow hadn't been seen yet. Even if they were to leave, it was still too early.

Therefore, after a brief commotion in the hall, no one stood up.

The small boss's face didn't change. After waiting in place for a while, he clapped his hands again, closed the two large boxes, and the eight porters came out again to carry away the box of gold and the box of antiques.

First, there was fine wine and delicacies that they couldn't eat. Then, there were beauties by their side, almost offering themselves on a pillow, yet they couldn't seek them. Immediately afterward, there was gold and treasure, coming and going.

The heroes' patience was almost exhausted by this repeated torment.

Some people had already started to curse and scold, and some had picked up their weapons, giving off the impression that they would tear down this Geng Building if Lian Jincheng didn't show up.

Xia Huai had carefully put away the painting at this moment, her brows slightly furrowed. "Strange, what exactly does that Lian Jincheng want to do? He gathered everyone together; he can't possibly think that playing such petty tricks will persuade everyone to leave, right?

As an ordinary porter in the Green Bamboo Gang, Lu Jing didn't keep accounts and manage money like those scholars, but he knew the income of each porter.

Knowing that the Green Bamboo Gang takes 70% of the porters' freight fees, then it can be calculated how much income a porter can bring to the Green Bamboo Gang. Multiply that by the number of shifts and the number of porters per shift, and you can get the income of a dock.

And there are thirteen docks in Wujiang City, so the total daily income of the Green Bamboo Gang is actually not difficult to estimate. Add to that some real estate in the city, and it's… quite considerable.

However, this money is not pure profit. First, a portion must be taken out to pay the scholars, thugs, and small bosses. After that, another portion must be taken out to smooth relations with the government and other forces at the docks. After all that, not much money can actually be saved.

Six hundred taels of gold, plus antiques worth no less than six hundred taels of gold, Lu Jing really couldn't figure out where Lian Jincheng got it from.

Could it be that this guy changed his profession to tomb raiding?

Just as the heroes were making more and more noise, and the situation was about to completely spiral out of control, they heard a voice coming from overhead, "Good, very good."

Even though the hall was already in chaos, with shouts and curses constantly being heard, these three words clearly entered everyone's ears, and the person speaking seemed to be right next to them.

This time, even Wei Zixian, who had been closing his eyes to rest, opened his eyes and also uttered a sentence, "First-rate realm, good! Very good, tonight Wei didn't make a wasted trip after all."

His words caused the heroes present to lose color. First-rate realm? Is there such an expert hidden in a small Green Bamboo Gang?

When the person speaking jumped down from the upper floor, someone immediately recognized him and exclaimed, "Lian Jincheng, how is this possible?"

The person who came was none other than Lian Jincheng, who had been missing for a long time recently.

After receiving the news that Lian Jincheng possessed a powerful martial arts manual, many restless martial artists poured into Wujiang City from all directions.

Even with the deterrence of the invitation in place, these people wouldn't just be idle in the city.

In fact, during this period, many people were secretly searching for Lian Jincheng's whereabouts, but they had searched almost every inch of Wujiang City and still couldn't find him. Otherwise, why would they have obediently attended the banquet tonight? They would have already taken action to snatch the manual and run away.

Of course, they also didn't expect that Lian Jincheng had successfully advanced to the first-rate realm. This cultivation speed was simply too terrifying. You must know that Lian Jincheng was only at the third-rate level nine months ago.

Thinking of this, the greedy look in many people's eyes became even stronger. Not only did they not feel afraid, but their hearts were beating faster with excitement, and their breathing was unstable, because they knew that they had encountered great luck tonight!

The manual in Lian Jincheng's hands was definitely an unadulterated supreme treasure that every martial artist craved! Moreover, it was an even more powerful divine skill than the sect-protecting secret arts of famous sects such as the Sword Washing Pavilion, Hanging Temple, and Yunshui Jingci Pavilion. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it could change one's fate against the heavens.

Because since this manual could allow someone with ordinary aptitude like Lian Jincheng to cultivate to the first-rate realm in nine months, then if it fell into their hands, wouldn't they be invincible in the world in just a year or two?!

Everyone's gaze became fiery at this moment, and even Wei Zixian was tempted. Although he still had that arrogant expression on his face, the fingers holding the sword hilt had indeed tightened.

Only Lu Jing was无比disappointed in the crowd. Internal energy cultivation method? This thing is useless to him at all.

Nine months to first-rate is quite fast, but that depends on who you compare it to. If Lu Jing were to practice openly, he would be first-rate in a month. His current problem is that the increase in internal force is a little too fast. If he doesn't control it properly, endlessly refreshing hell is just around the corner.

The manual on Lian Jincheng's body is the supreme treasure that everyone in the martial world craves, but for Lu Jing, it is not even as good as a roll of toilet paper.