Zhang Yang spoke softly, his voice carrying a tone meant to stabilize the nerves, and Huang Jing’s visibly frightened expression finally settled into a semblance of calm.

"Mr. Zhang, can we speak privately?"

Huang Jing first glanced toward Zhu Daoqi standing nearby before whispering her request. Whatever she needed to discuss could not be overheard by ordinary people.

"You two go ahead and get busy. I’ll go back and make arrangements; let’s get the research projects moving soon!"

Without waiting for Zhang Yang to respond, Zhu Daoqi spoke up himself. It was clear from Huang Jing’s demeanor that this was an urgent matter for Zhang Yang, and besides, Zhu Daoqi wasn't keen on lingering. He needed to take Zhang Yang’s research materials and focus on deployment.

Zhu Daoqi left voluntarily; his mind was clearly elsewhere.

The materials Zhang Yang had given him concerned a matter critical to whether the school could ascend to the next tier.

The two research projects, while seemingly offering only minor accolades to the university, were far more significant. If these projects were truly established and yielded results, it would signify major breakthroughs for the school in two distinct fields.

In the future, these two types of diseases would be most closely associated with their university. Even if other institutions achieved superior results later on, they would maintain a significant lead for a period.

That wasn't all. These two diseases would also drive the development of two academic disciplines, propelling both fields within the university into a phase of healthy, rapid growth, thereby solidifying the school's authority in those two areas.

Most importantly, any student participating in this research, provided the project succeeded, would gain a significant advantage, potentially becoming experts in these fields in the future. If some of those students stayed on staff, they would effectively leave behind this foundational strength. Given time, there was a high probability they could become national leaders in research concerning these two disease types—a true source of immense pride.

The two projects couldn't instantly elevate Changjing University to the rank of a key national institution, but they stood a very good chance of significantly boosting its reputation and establishing outstanding achievements and contributions in specific areas.

This was Zhu Daoqi’s true concern. He truly had no mind for anything else right now; even if Zhang Yang took a completely hands-off approach to the projects, he wouldn't object, so long as Zhang Yang could ensure their successful research... "Tell me, what exactly happened!"

Zhang Yang and Huang Jing entered a private room. This time, Huang Jing didn't bother with preparing tea. After entering, Zhang Yang poured himself a simple cup of tea and took a sip.

"Mr. Zhang, Fourth Uncle is dead. Fourth Uncle died horribly!"

When Zhang Yang questioned her, Huang Jing suddenly burst into tears, her face etched with deep terror.

Zhang Yang’s brows knitted together, and he asked directly, "Explain yourself clearly. Who is your Fourth Uncle?"

"My Fourth Uncle was primarily responsible for the business in Canada; that side of the operation is the most crucial. The family attached great importance to the transaction you and I completed last time, and Fourth Uncle personally escorted the items you requested back. He only arrived in Hangzhou last night, but unexpectedly, he died today, and his death was gruesome. All the blood was drained from his body, and his heart was gouged out. You can't imagine how terrifying he looked!"

Huang Jing sobbed as she spoke, her body trembling as she seemed to recall the scene.

"You said his entire body was drained of blood? And his heart was removed?"

Zhang Yang’s eyebrows shot up, and he asked loudly. This phenomenon instantly made Zhang Yang sense that something was profoundly wrong.

"Yes. At first, we almost thought some vampire or zombie had done it. But then we found a message written in blood, and we realized it wasn't a vampire. Fourth Uncle was murdered by someone very powerful. He demanded we hand over all the remaining items within three days, or he would slaughter our entire family, leaving no one alive!"

Huang Jing nodded, weeping. Her Fourth Uncle had been murdered, yet they hadn't called the police, nor dared to. They knew very well that the police couldn't handle someone like this.

"The person who left you the note, is he called Chu Yuntian?"

A cold glint flashed in Zhang Yang’s eyes as he asked lightly.

"You... How did you know?"

Huang Jing shuddered violently. Having witnessed her Fourth Uncle's remains firsthand was the reason for her extreme panic. The family was in utter chaos, and in her desperation, she thought of Zhang Yang to beg for their rescue.

"Don't ask me how I know. Tell me everything you know, every detail!"

Zhang Yang shook his head gently. Chu Yuntian had appeared, sooner than he expected, and in such a manner. After upgrading his system to Level Four, he could access more information, including basic data on Chu Yuntian.

Chu Yuntian practiced a technique called the Blood Transformation Art. Both humans and animals possess energy within their blood, and quite a significant amount at that. Extracting the essence from blood can aid human cultivation; elixirs like the Essence Blood Pill are prepared using the vital blood of spiritual beasts.

However, there’s a difference: spiritual beast essence blood is self-generated and easily absorbed, which is why it’s widely used. The essence within the blood of ordinary people or animals requires a special method for absorption. This specialized method was eventually perfected and given a very domineering name: the Blood Transformation Art.

The Blood Transformation Art is one of the most infamous techniques in the Demonic Path. It allows the practitioner to drain the blood of ordinary animals and humans, converting that energy to be absorbed internally, leading to rapid cultivation speed. Techniques like this are the most despised by cultivators of the Orthodox Path.

Animal blood often contains more volume than human blood, but its energy is too impure; human blood is purer. Since human blood originates from the same source, it is the most easily assimilated. Consequently, many practitioners of the Blood Transformation Art resort to murder to acquire blood for their training. The mere thought of cultivating using human blood is chilling, which is a major reason why the Demonic Path is rejected by the Orthodox Sects.

Furthermore, the blood of internal energy practitioners contains far more energy than that of ordinary people. Those practicing the Blood Transformation Art most prefer the blood of internal energy cultivators, which makes them intolerable to other sects and prominent families.

Huang Jing slowly recounted their situation. Usually articulate, she spoke for at least ten minutes before Zhang Yang fully grasped the circumstances.

The real situation was that the Huang family was not entirely satisfied with the terms of the trade with Zhang Yang. However, they dared not voice this to him. Zhang Yang was an internal energy cultivator, and they understood the nature of such individuals, making them extremely hesitant to offend him. Thus, while concluding the deal with Zhang Yang, they were simultaneously contemplating whether they could sell the items a second time, perhaps for a better price.

As luck would have it, they were successful and managed to contact another internal energy cultivator. However, they didn't realize they had connected with a demon, a truly terrifying one. On the very first night Fourth Uncle brought the items back to China, this demon paid a personal visit. He not only murdered Fourth Uncle and stole the materials but also killed several of the Huang family's bodyguards and a number of servants. All of them shared the same fate: withered bodies with their hearts ripped out. Fortunately, the Huang family owned multiple estates in Hangzhou. The location where Fourth Uncle died was a secluded spot he preferred, which inadvertently saved the other members of the Huang family in Hangzhou from disaster. Alas, the very items Zhang Yang required were taken by this Demonic Path master.

Because the Huang family was displeased that Zhang Yang hadn't immediately agreed to help them cultivate an internal energy practitioner, they held back a crucial, small piece of information—the reason Chu Yuntian left a note behind.

"So, from the beginning, this transaction lacked sincerity on your part?"

After hearing Huang Jing’s account, Zhang Yang spoke lightly. Huang Jing shuddered, catching the note of accusation in his tone.

"No, I was sincere! It was the others in the family. Their greed invited this disaster and immense danger. Mr. Zhang, that person is terrifying. Fourth Uncle’s residence had a hidden, extremely solid panic room—walls a meter thick—yet he punched a hole through it with a single strike! He even left a bright red bloody handprint. It was too horrifying!"

Huang Jing shook her head violently. Her tears had mostly dried up, but her body trembled even more intensely. Unless one had witnessed the carnage firsthand, one couldn't grasp the horror. This gruesome scene was what threw the Huang family into disarray, with many contemplating fleeing the family altogether.

It wasn't just spouses who scattered when disaster struck. At that time, Huang Jing had proposed seeking Zhang Yang’s help, but the family had dismissed her suggestion. The main reason was the youthfulness of Zhang Yang she reported. They knew internal energy cultivators well and assumed that someone so young wouldn't be particularly strong, especially since Zhang Yang wasn't using the Youth Elixir to mask his age—Ren Lijuan had already confirmed his true years. In contrast, the killer who drained the blood and could smash through reinforced concrete walls of that thickness must possess unfathomable strength. Comparing the two, since they lacked faith in Zhang Yang, they naturally avoided him, fearing they might provoke the demon. Only Huang Jing, having exhausted all other options, came to Zhang Yang.

"Where did he tell you to deliver the items?"

Zhang Yang ignored the frightened Huang Jing and asked softly, his mind already calculating. Chu Yuntian had shown himself, earlier than anticipated. This was a positive development for Zhang Yang; he didn't have to wait blindly, as the system data contained no information regarding when or where Chu Yuntian would appear. However, this Chu Yuntian was truly vile, murdering so many people right out of the gate.

The mindset of Demonic Path practitioners truly diverged from their own, especially Zhang Yang's lineage dedicated to healing. Now Zhang Yang understood why such a hidden mission existed. Even without the mission, Zhang Yang wouldn't stand idly by upon hearing such news. He was a Tier Four expert; few things in this world posed a threat to him, and with his three spiritual beasts, hearing reports of a Demonic Path master slaughtering people would inevitably lead him to intervene. In that scenario, he would encounter Chu Yuntian anyway. If Zhang Yang were lucky enough to kill Chu Yuntian, he would unintentionally complete the hidden mission. The system's design for many things indeed derived from reality.

"D-deliver them to the place where Fourth Uncle died!"

Huang Jing looked at Zhang Yang timidly, appearing fragile and pitiful. She was utterly terrified now, completely at a loss. Even the most capable career woman, ultimately being a woman, becomes the most helpless lamb once her capacity for endurance is surpassed.

I recommend a good urban novel, The Strongest Prison System, book ID 2533323, humorous and very entertaining. If you like it, you can check it out. (To be continued) RQ