《Longevity: Starting from Refining Gu》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Wuyou Mountain Cold Wave Cave Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Wuyou Mountain Cold Wave Cave Editor: Henyee Translations Wuyou Mountain, Cold Wave Cave. The long-haired young man sitting on the cushion let out a breath, ¡°Finally, I¡¯ve achieved the third level of Qi Refinement.¡± After a year of transcending, Chen Qing finally broke through from the second level of Qi Refinement to the third level. ¡°Now that I have reached the third level of Qi Refinement, I can finally claim a Gu from the sect.¡± In this world, every cultivator practiced Qi Refinement. Within this realm, there were Gu. Qi circulated through the body, using the Gu as a medium to wield divine powers. Disciples of Wuyou Mountain, upon reaching the third level of Qi Refinement, could receive a Gu from the sect for free, to aid in cultivation or combat. Carrying a bundle of top-quality Gu Spirit Grass, Chen Qing visited Elder Chen skillfully as usual. Elder Chen laughed heartily as he welcomed Chen Qing in, ¡°Ah, it¡¯s young Chen! Came anyway, bringing gifts?¡± Chen Qing respectfully said, ¡°As a disciple in Wuyou Mountain, I owe much to the elder¡¯s guidance, so this is a little token of my respect.¡± Elder Chen ordered the child to serve tea, ¡°Seeing the Spiritual Energy around you is abundant, you should have reached the third level of Qi Refinement; the sect will provide you a Gu as your means of protection.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Chen Qing said, ¡°Indeed, but as a disciple who has just begun cultivation, I don¡¯t know the differences among these Gu, and I seek the elder¡¯s guidance.¡± Elder Chen explained, ¡°For disciples like you, who are new to cultivation, the first Gu is the most crucial.¡± ¡°Generally speaking, there are two options, the first being Gu for combat arts.¡± ¡°But if you choose such a Gu as your first, much of your cultivation will rely on going out to hunt and find herbs, which has certain risks.¡± ¡°Sometimes, you can gain great wealth; other times, you end up empty-handed.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°What about the other option?¡± Elder Chen smiled, ¡°The second option is production-focused Gu, which can promote the growth of herbs or control spirit beasts.¡± ¡°Although slower, it¡¯s stable.¡± Chen Qing clasped his hands and said, ¡°It is because I don¡¯t quite understand these that I wish for Elder Chen to take me to choose my first Gu.¡± Elder Chen glanced at the Gu Spirit Grass, ¡°Very well, since I am currently free, I shall accompany you.¡± Following Elder Chen up the mountain, greeting each fellow disciple along the way, they entered the Gu Altar. The Guardian Elder said, ¡°Old Chen, here to help Chen Qing choose a Gu?¡± Elder Chen pulled the Guardian Elder aside and whispered for a moment before the Guardian Elder led Chen Qing into the Gu Altar. The Gu Altar was where the sect stored Gu, like an overturned bowl, with various stone caverns, each containing a jade jar. Inside those jade jars were the Gu. As Chen Qing was about to follow the Guardian Elder to select a Gu, he suddenly noticed some unusual things. On top of those jade jars, strange information hovered. [Mortal Sword Gu] Quality, Third Transformation Life Span, 18/54 Effect, Could transform Spiritual Energy into Sword Qi; the sword Gu could convert ten strands of Spiritual Energy into one strand of Sword Qi Growth Requirements, Illusion Spirit Grass, Gu Spirit Grass Growth Progress, 52/100 Promotion Requirements, Ninth Transformation, one Sword Gu, three Sword Coffin Ganoderma, one Illusion Spirit Grass [Mortal Sword Gu] Quality, Fourth Transformation Life Span, 38/56 Effect, could transform Spiritual Energy into Sword Qi; the sword Gu could convert nine strands of Spiritual Energy into one strand of Sword Qi Growth Requirements, Mystic Iron, Gu Spirit Grass Growth Progress, 17/100 Promotion Requirements, Ninth Transformation, one Sword Gu, four Sword Coffin Ganoderma, ten pounds of Bibo Cold Iron [Mortal Power Gu] Quality, Third Transformation Life Span, 12/80 Effect, Three Oxen Power Growth Requirements, Cow Gallstone, Gu Spirit Grass Growth Progress, 5/100 Promotion Requirements, Ninth Transformation, one set of Demon Tiger Bone, one set of Demon Bull Bone, one Strengthening Bone Spirit Ginseng ¡­. Was this a belated cheat? Though it arrived late, it was, after all, a kind of cheat. Were these Gu so complex? Even the cultivation methods for Sword Gu were different? Quite peculiar indeed. Looking at each Gu, Chen Qing did not find any Gu with a quality surpassing the Fifth Transformation. At that moment, the Guardian Elder whispered to Chen Qing, ¡°Follow me, there¡¯s a few well-presented Gu over here.¡± Chen Qing nodded repeatedly, ¡°Thank you, Elder.¡± The Guardian Elder cautioned, ¡°After leaving, don¡¯t speak of anything, understood?¡± Chen Qing clasped his hands, then retrieved ten low-grade Spirit Stones from his sleeve and handed them to the Guardian Elder¡¯s sleeve. The Guardian Elder discreetly accepted them and led Chen Qing to three jars. [Mortal Iron Skin Gu] Quality, Fifth Transformation Life Span, 48/54 Effect, Iron Skin, tenacity Growth Requirements, tough skin, demon beast cowhide, Gu Spirit Grass Growth Progress, 78/100 Promotion Requirements, Ninth Transformation, three pairs of demon beast cowhorns, ten pounds of iron essence [Mortal Grass Spirit Gu] Quality, Seventh Transformation Life Span, 42/65 Effect, manages Gu Spirit Grass within a five-acre field and enhances growth speed and quality Growth Requirements, Earth Spirit Crystal, ochre earth yellow, spirit shed Growth Progress, 10/100 Promotion Requirements, Ninth Transformation, ten drops of Earth Mother Spirit Liquid, one Soul Stealing Flower [Mortal Sword Gu] Quality, Fifth Transformation Life Span, 19/52 Effect, transforms Spiritual Energy into Sword Qi; currently can convert eight strands of Spiritual Energy into one strand of Sword Qi Growth Requirements, Blazing Fire Feather, Gu Spirit Grass Growth Progress, 15/100 Promotion Requirements, Ninth Transformation, one Vermilion Bird feather, ten pounds of fire copper ore. Looking at these three Gu, the Guardian Elder introduced, ¡°These three Gu are all of excellent quality, the Iron Skin Gu offers great defense, most suitable for adventures. It¡¯s just its life span is too short, perhaps only a few years left.¡± ¡°That Grass Spirit Gu is quite good for increasing the yield of Gu Spirit Grass, with an estimated ten years of life left.¡± ¡°This Sword Gu is the best in quality among them, with an estimated life span of twenty to thirty years, and its effect is also good.¡± ¡°All three have the potential for Butterfly Transformation, so it¡¯s up to you how to choose.¡± The Sword Gu was good, but having just arrived in this world, resorting to violence seemed a bit too ambitious for himself. As for the Iron Skin Gu, while tempting, it paled in comparison to that Grass Spirit Gu. Though Earth Mother Spirit Liquid and Soul Stealing Flower were quite expensive, with this Grass Spirit Gu, he could manage the Spiritual Field to earn a living. Earning one Spirit Stone per acre meant earning five low-grade Spirit Stones a day. Within a year or so, he could have this little one promoted, and though he didn¡¯t know the benefits of promotion, it mustn¡¯t be bad. ¡°Elder, I¡¯ll take this Grass Spirit Gu.¡± The Guardian Elder smiled with a look of approval, ¡°Not bad, not bad, though slower, it¡¯s steady, you are cautious.¡± ¡°Unlike those reckless ones who rush out to fight and lose their Gu for nothing, throwing away their lives.¡± Yes, being steady without danger was most important. Chen Qing had a clear understanding of himself. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Contract and First Duty Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Contract and First Duty Editor: Henyee Translations Cold Wave Cave. ¡­ ¡°In the presence of the Spring and Autumn Cicada and the Floating Butterfly, I, Chen Qing, form this contract with you!¡± ¡°With my body, I nourish yours!¡± Chen Qing raised his bleeding index finger and drew the contract runes on the jade altar, blood spreading across it, forming a faint glow covering the altar. The glow gradually brightened, and the blood on the surface of the jade altar seeped in as if being absorbed into it. As an hour passed, Chen Qing picked up another Spirit Stone to replenish his Spiritual Energy. Another half an hour went by, the bloodstains finally fully merged in, and Chen Qing suddenly felt a faint consciousness exploring inside his body. Like a curious little fairy spirit wandering within him. Chen Qing opened the lid of the jade altar, placing a spirit shed fragment inside. A tiny, pea-sized green insect crawled up slowly and began gnawing at the spirit shed fragment. The green insect resembled a caterpillar, but it was more like a grub from rotting wood, tender and soft, like a living Jade Worm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Chen Qing reached out, and the Grass Spirit Gu crawled up, gradually melding into his body. It felt a bit special; he could sense an additional consciousness in the Mud Ball Palace, but this consciousness was very faint, very weak. This consciousness was completely open to him, transparent, without any particular thoughts. Eat, sleep, work. Simple thoughts, nothing more. Even clean. After feeding it the spirit shed, Chen Qing distinctly saw a slight change on the panel. [Mortal Grade Grass Spirit Gu] Quality: Seventh Transformation Life Span: 42/65 Effect: Manages Gu Spirit Grass within five acres and enhances growth speed and Quality Growth Requirements: Earth Spirit Crystal, ochre earth yellow, spirit shed Growth Progress: 11/100 Promotion Requirements: Ninth Transformation, ten drops of Earth Mother Spirit Liquid, one Soul Stealing Flower Did the Growth Progress increase after just eating it? Chen Qing took out another coin of ochre earth yellow and tossed it in; the Grass Spirit Gu crawled up, took a bite, but did not continue eating. ¡°It must be full.¡± This little fellow no longer had the urge to eat or sleep, but instead, had a strong desire to go out and work. It made sense; after being captured by the sect, it was stored in the jade altar, likely sleeping for too long. Chen Qing reached out his finger and rubbed it, soft and tender. ¡°A diligent little guy.¡± ¡°From now on, we¡¯ll rely on each other.¡± The next morning, Chen Qing checked the Grass Spirit Gu again; its Growth Progress had increased from 11 to 18. It must have finished digesting; it seems a spirit shed can increase the Growth Progress by 8 points. Having experimented with the spirit shed, Chen Qing took what remained of yesterday¡¯s ochre earth yellow and began feeding the Grass Spirit Gu. Outside the cave, someone rang the bell; Chen Qing opened the door to find Li He, who lived at the foot of the mountain. He brought over a small flask of wine and a package of roasted goose, congratulating him: ¡°Mr. Chen, I heard you chose a Grass Spirit Gu?¡± Chen Qing spread out his hand, the green glow shimmering, the Grass Spirit Gu lying in his palm, rolling around. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s this little guy.¡± The Grass Spirit Gu was no secret; the sect¡¯s distribution records made it an almost open secret, not worth hiding. In fact, Chen Qing hoped more people would know about it. After all, it was a productive type of Gu, and he needed more people to know about it to find work. The wine Li He brought was Spiritual Wine, helpful in stabilizing cultivation. ¡°Congratulations, Fellow Daoist!¡± After some wine and roast goose, Li He stated his purpose, ¡°Mr. Chen, I still need your help with my three acres of the Spiritual Field; many Gu Spirit Grass are turning yellow.¡± Chen Qing generously agreed, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll come by in the afternoon.¡± Li He, having achieved his purpose, was all smiles, ¡°Mr. Chen, when I heard you were at Qi Refinement Stage three, I feared you would choose some combat-type Gu.¡± He whispered: ¡°Have you heard, Senior Sister Li at the foot of the mountain has fallen.¡± Chen Qing was slightly startled, ¡°That Senior Sister Li was at Qi Refinement Stage five, a master with two Gu, both fallen?¡± Li He shook his head sadly, ¡°Who would have thought, venturing outside, there are not only wild beasts and poisons but also demon beasts.¡± His voice grew softer, ¡°And people¡¯s hearts are unfathomable.¡± ¡°Staying here on Wuyou Mountain offers some security; any incident, everyone knows about it.¡± ¡°So no one dares make a move in the open.¡± ¡°But outside the Wuyou Mountain¡¯s boundary, it¡¯s not that easy.¡± Chen Qing sipped his wine slowly, gaining a renewed understanding of this world¡¯s perils. If a Qi Refinement Stage five couldn¡¯t return, as a Stage three with only a Grass Spirit Gu, it might be wiser not to risk it. Living is more important than anything. Moreover, sticking to the sect provided more security; it was said that the lives of Loose Cultivators outside were even harsher. The next morning, Chen Qing rose early, took his place outside the Spirit Plant Garden, asking the child to report to the Spirit Plant Elder, stating his intentions. ¡°Elder, I¡¯ve acquired a Grass Spirit Gu and come specifically to tend to the Spiritual Field.¡± The Spirit Plant Elder, appearing about seventy years old, with spirited eyes, remarked, ¡°You¡¯re quite sensible, contributing to the sect the moment you gain the ability.¡± The reason it was called a contribution was because tending to the sect¡¯s Spiritual Field earned only half the Spirit Stones, with the other half converted to Contribution Points. Chen Qing replied with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s what we disciples should do.¡± Hearing this, the Spirit Plant Elder snorted, ¡°Hmph, there are always those who don¡¯t know their limits; once they get a Gu, they forget their boundaries and go fighting and killing!¡± The elder clearly held disdain for cultivators taking the combat path. It¡¯s understandable; upon reaching Qi Refinement Stage three, they could be useful to the sect, only to leave and never return. Losing their lives, and also losing the sect¡¯s Gu. The Spirit Plant Elder seemed to grow more infuriated with each thought, instructing the child to take Chen Qing to the Spiritual Field, departing with a flurry of his sleeve. Chen Qing retrieved a packet of candied fruit from his pocket and offered it to the child. Initially, the child hesitated to take it but, swayed by his sweet-tooth after Chen Qing mentioned he was past the age for such treats, accepted it. Upon receiving it, the child started chatting, ¡°Brother Chen, let me tell you, the reason for Elder¡¯s temperament is his granddaughter¡¯s matter.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°What matter?¡± The Spirit Plant Child replied, ¡°The Elder¡¯s granddaughter chose the path of a Sword Cultivator and has already reached Qi Refinement Stage six.¡± The child left it at that, saying no more. Chen Qing nodded to himself, understanding the cause. It was likely the typical clash between the child¡¯s wishes and the parent¡¯s desires. Reaching the Spiritual Field, Chen Qing selected two acres that seemed withered, intending to test the capabilities of the Grass Spirit Gu. The Grass Spirit Gu flew from his fingers, immersing into the Spiritual Field like diving into water. Sensing the Grass Spirit Gu working independently, Chen Qing watched for a while, setting its boundary. His Spiritual Energy gradually depleted as the Grass Spirit Gu absorbed it to work. The Grass Spirit Gu scurried through the Spiritual Field, and though Chen Qing had no idea what it was doing, continued observing without gleaning anything, ultimately giving up. The only visible trait was the Gu¡¯s enthusiasm was extremely high! It probably had slumbered too long in the jade altar, now awake, relishing in the joy of the world once more. With nothing better to do, Chen Qing sat down, began meditating and cultivating. An hour later, the Grass Spirit Gu flew back beside Chen Qing, merging into his body. Chen Qing rose, evaluated the Gu Spirit Grass in the Spiritual Field, visibly improved. Though not immediately evident to the naked eye, spiritually, the place seemed enlivened compared to its previous dead state. Finishing his work, Chen Qing collected a lower-grade Spirit Stone and a Contribution Point, planning to head home for a meal before visiting Li He. Returning from Li He¡¯s was already afternoon. In this world for just a year, with few friends other than occasional meditation. Now with a Grass Spirit Gu, Chen Qing weighed his three lower-grade Spirit Stones, ¡°Might as well expand my business today.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s head to Bright Moon Tower to enjoy some music; there will be plenty of people!¡± ¡°How can I get jobs if no one knows I have a Grass Spirit Gu?¡± ¡°I, Chen Qing, am not one to squander money in brothels listening to music idly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all for survival.¡± Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Life is Not Easy Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Life is Not Easy Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°¡±¡± In front of Bright Moon Tower, Chen Qing tidied up his clothes. Looking at the scene before him, with its bright lights and lush scenery, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°All for a living, how hard it is!¡± After speaking, he walked into Bright Moon Tower, quickly met by a pretty young lady who took his arm and led him inside. ¡°What does the gentleman have in mind today?¡± Her voice was soft and tender, making one feel weak in the knees. Chen Qing took out a lower-grade Spirit Stone from his pocket and tossed it into the young lady¡¯s arms. ¡°Find me a good spot on the second floor to listen to some music.¡± On the second floor, filled with colorful and beautiful women, it felt like entering a peacock¡¯s nest, with subtle fragrance permeating everywhere. He sat by the window, where the lady on stage opened her cherry-like mouth, singing a melodious tune that made one momentarily forget their worries, salivating in delight. No doubt, they were professionals! The charming young lady waved a beautiful fan. ¡°Would the gentleman like something to drink?¡± Chen Qing reached into his pocket, took out thirty lower-grade Spirit Stones, and placed them on the table. ¡°A pot of wine for everyone here.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Then, Chen Qing took another lower-grade Spirit Stone and tossed it to the young lady. ¡°You know what I mean?¡± She smiled sweetly, giving Chen Qing a gentle push on the arm. ¡°I understand.¡± Soon, more than one graceful young lady came with wine, serving each guest at the table a pot. Those who inquired were directed to Chen Qing by the gesture of a jade-like hand. Those served with wine cupped their hands toward Chen Qing, to which he responded with a smile and a cupped-hand greeting. When the wine was served, a newcomer, a scholar, took a sip, stood up, and said, ¡°I wonder why this Fellow Daoist is treating us?¡± Chen Qing thought to himself that Bright Moon Tower¡¯s arrangements were indeed well thought out, as the scholar was clearly introduced by the young lady attending him. Chen Qing stood up, cupped his hands, and laughed, saying, ¡°I am Chen Qing from Cold Wave Cave of Wuyou Mountain, now at the third level of Qi Refinement, fortunate enough to be favored by the sect and gain a Grass Spirit Gu.¡± ¡°Now with hope for a livelihood, I feel joyful and wish to share this joy with you!¡± Hearing this, many raised their wine in response, ¡°A Grass Spirit Gu, now that¡¯s something!¡± ¡°I see, congratulations, Fellow Daoist!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to rely on you for help in our Spiritual Fields next time!¡± ¡°That¡¯s definitely useful information.¡± After some conversation, Chen Qing knew that from today, many would know he had a Grass Spirit Gu. Just thirty lower-grade Spirit Stones, it¡¯s okay; it¡¯s okay. With the remaining Spirit Stones, Chen Qing bought some rice and meat and wandered around the market stalls for a while before discovering. ¡°Senior Brother, how much are you selling this Earth Spirit Crystal for?¡± The blue-robed Daoist replied, ¡°Five lower-grade Spirit Stones per qian.¡± Chen Qing, with some disdain, said, ¡°You¡¯ve got dirt in this, it¡¯s obviously not pure.¡± ¡°What if my family¡¯s Gu gets sick from eating it?¡± The blue-robed Daoist said, ¡°This is fresh, of course, there¡¯s dirt, but how about this, I¡¯ll count it as four lower-grade Spirit Stones per qian for you.¡± Chen Qing took out the last twenty Spirit Stones from his spirit stone bag: ¡°Give me half a liang.¡± Returning to Cold Wave Cave at night, Chen Qing looked at his now empty spirit stone bag. Earlier today, it was still full with fifty-six Spirit Stones, now all gone. Ah, such is the force of life. Speaking of which, that young lady¡¯s hands were really soft¡­ Ouch¡­ Slicing the bacon he bought, Chen Qing placed it neatly atop rice and put them into the pot. In no time, the fragrance wafted around, as he picked up three small Chinese cabbages ¡°borrowed¡± from Li He¡¯s field. Mixing them with the hot and fragrant bacon rice made his mouth water. Glancing at the Grass Spirit Gu, its growth progress rose from 18 to 24. ¡°A qian of ochre earth yellow can increase six points of growth progress.¡± Chen Qing placed one qian of the Earth Spirit Crystal, holding the rice bowl, ¡°I eat, you eat too.¡± The next day there was no news, so Chen Qing simply went to the Spirit Plant Elder to continue receiving tasks to do. After working for three straight days in the sect, Chen Qing returned home and saw a child waiting at the door one day. ¡°Are you Mr. Chen?¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The child said, ¡°My master asked me to see if you are available in the coming days. He and a few friends need their Spiritual Fields attended to and have sent me to invite you specifically.¡± Chen Qing inquired, ¡°Who¡¯s your master?¡± The child said, ¡°Ye Botong from Qingyu Temple.¡± Chen Qing smiled, ¡°Ah, Fellow Daoist Ye, I¡¯ve been quite busy recently, but since Fellow Daoist Ye has asked, I can make a visit.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come in the coming days.¡± The child joyfully responded, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Chen.¡± After confirming Ye Botong¡¯s background with Li He, knowing he was a crane breeder, Chen Qing was relieved. Generally speaking, those who made a living from production-oriented Gu took their reputations seriously; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t survive in the region. Moreover, after learning Ye Botong was also a disciple of Wuyou Mountain, Chen Qing felt more at ease. Over six days, he attended thirty mu of Spiritual Fields. Perhaps Ye Botong was busy; on the sixth day, when settling the accounts, Chen Qing finally met him. After receiving thirty Spirit Stones from Ye Botong, Chen Qing handed back two. ¡°Between us, no need for so many.¡± Ye Botong didn¡¯t object, raising his hand to accept, ¡°Actually, these are the fields of me and four other Fellow Daoists. Since they are away, they¡¯ve entrusted them to me.¡± Chen Qing laughed, ¡°Between us friends, no need to be so specific.¡± Pausing, he looked at the two Spirit Stones and added, ¡°Just keep this between us.¡± Ye Botong nodded with a laugh, ¡°Hahaha, be assured, Mr. Chen.¡± Chen Qing didn¡¯t want others to know for fear of being accused of undercutting prices, displeasing other cultivators who also had Grass Spirit Gu. For Ye Botong, because those two Spirit Stones were a reduction from the thirty mu of fields, with his share being four mu, it was equivalent to spending just half the cost, so those other four wouldn¡¯t find out. They exchanged smiles, satisfied with food and wine, before parting ways. During these times, Chen Qing gradually came to understand that generally, cultivators owning Grass Spirit Gu could attend to about three mu per day, and four mu was rare. His Grass Spirit Gu was indeed a precious treasure. Recalling this, he felt more convinced that the bundle of Gu Spirit Grass and ten lower-grade Spirit Stones spent were worthwhile. ¡°I should find time to visit Elder Chen again.¡± ¡°Frequent visits build relationships.¡± Being new in this realm, Elder Chen was one of the few acquaintances, and he had provided much guidance. Though Elder Chen was getting on in years, he remained a significant Cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refinement. Trading a few days¡¯ wages for Elder Chen¡¯s favor was undoubtedly a profitable deal. In over half a month, many brothers from nearby had come to invite him after Chen Qing completed his duties and took time to visit Elder Chen. He bought a bottle of ginseng wine valued at ten lower-grade Spirit Stones from Li He, but this time did not receive a warm welcome. Instead, Elder Chen scolded him, criticizing him for buying such expensive things right after gaining a means of living. With sincere advice, Elder Chen lectured him for an hour, ¡°You¡¯ve just got your first Gu, it¡¯s time to accumulate, don¡¯t waste money.¡± ¡°Focus on your cultivation, you¡¯re still young.¡± After a long lecture and a meal, Chen Qing gratefully bid farewell. Looking at the untouched wine, ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought, Elder Chen is a genuine, kind elder.¡± Recalling how Li He would describe the dangers outside Wuyou Mountain, Chen Qing wondered how Elder Chen managed to survive so long. Returning, Li He stopped Chen Qing with a bowl of rice, ¡°Did you hear, Brother Wu is crippled.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°The Wu Brother at the fourth level of Qi Refinement?¡± Li He nodded, ¡°Yep, he only had one sword Gu, and now with a crippled leg, I doubt anyone will want him for adventures anymore.¡± For some reason, Chen Qing felt a strange satisfaction. He liked hearing about cultivators who chose Combat Gu as their first Gu, getting into trouble. Look, fond of fighting and trouble, got into trouble, right! Production-oriented ones like us are more secure. So, Chen Qing tore a leg from the chicken in front of Li He and sat beside him on the doorstep, ¡°Tell me more, tell me more.¡± Li He grew more animated, ¡°He¡¯s left with just the one sword Gu, and with a broken leg, his combat power¡¯s surely gonna drop considerably, I reckon it¡¯ll be tough.¡± Chen Qing nodded in agreement, ¡°What¡¯ll he do if no one¡¯s hiring?¡± Li He laughed, ¡°I hear he¡¯s planning to spend everything on a fake leg, probably going to find work somewhere else.¡± Chen Qing understood the meaning, pretending he wasn¡¯t crippled. ¡°But that¡¯s not a long-term solution, he¡¯ll get caught eventually.¡± Li He nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, production Gu are the safer choice.¡± After finishing half of Li He¡¯s chicken, Chen Qing returned contentedly to his cave. Lifting the bed, underneath lay twenty-eight neatly arranged Spirit Stones, ¡°Does this count as sleeping on money?¡± The money spent at Bright Moon Tower was not in vain. After counting all his Spirit Stones again, Chen Qing prepared to check on his treasured Gu. [Mortal Grass Spirit Gu] Quality: Seventh Transformation Life Span: 42/65 Effect: Manages Gu Spirit Grass in a five-mu range, improving growth rate and quality Growth Requirements: Earth Spirit Crystal, ochre earth yellow, spirit shed Growth Progress: 42/100 Promotion Requirements: Ninth Transformation, ten drops of Earth Mother Spirit Liquid, one Soul Stealing Flower Over time, after feeding, he understood the growth progress from three materials. One qian of Earth Spirit Crystal improved growth by 3 points, costing five lower-grade Spirit Stones. One qian of ochre earth yellow improved growth by 6 points, costing nine lower-grade Spirit Stones. One piece of spirit shed improved growth by 8 points, costing ten lower-grade Spirit Stones. ¡°Seems using spirit shed is the cheapest way to cultivate.¡± Chen Qing carefully calculated his assets, with three qian of ochre earth yellow left, something he acquired by chance over the past year. Twenty-eight Spirit Stones, a rusty sword, three sets of clothing, three pieces of bacon, fifty pounds of white rice. Picking up a stick, he made calculations in the ground, ¡°The most economical method is to buy four more pieces of spirit shed, one qian of ochre earth yellow, and one qian of Earth Spirit Crystal.¡± ¡°Together, fifty-four Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°If starting from zero progress, to advance from the Seventh Transformation to the Eighth Transformation would roughly require a hundred and thirty lower-grade Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°Which is about twenty-six days of wages.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem too expensive.¡± ¡°¡±¡± Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Time to Get Rich Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Time to Get Rich Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Having taken on a three-day side job recommended by Ye Botong, Chen Qing headed to the marketplace at the foot of the mountain to buy four Spirit Sheds. Passing by Li He¡¯s house, he saw the guy sitting dejectedly on his doorstep. It was said that this guy had saved Spirit Stones for two months and excitedly bought materials worth more than two hundred Spirit Stones to cultivate his Gu insects. A few days ago, he had been all smiles, but today, looking like this, it was likely that those two hundred Spirit Stones went down the drain. Cultivating Gu insects was pretty much a gamble. Since each Gu insect was unique, their Growth Requirements varied, and each stage was different. Gu had nine transformations, each different. Although it was a gamble, there was still a certain method to follow. They would feed them different Spiritual Objects, Spiritual Medicines, or demon beast materials every month. Based on whether the Gu insects shed and advanced after feeding each month, they would determine what materials their Gu insects needed to grow. Once a Gu insect shed, they would switch to different materials to cultivate until they found the materials that could make the Gu insect transform again. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Li He sat on his doorstep, his eyes hollow as he looked at the Gu insect in his hand. Seeing Chen Qing pass by, his eyes suddenly lit up, ¡°Mr. Chen, do you think it¡¯s possible that I didn¡¯t buy enough Green Spirit Grass to support its promotion?¡± Li He didn¡¯t mind Chen Qing seeing his Gu insect. In fact, production-type cultivators generally did not hide their Gu insects because if others didn¡¯t know what your Gu was, how could you earn Spirit Stones? Chen Qing looked at the Gu insect in Li He¡¯s hand, [Mortal Alcohol Gu] Quality, Sixth Transformation Life Span, 24/58 Effect, Extracts ginseng essence, condensing into Ginseng Wine. Growth Requirements, Mica Growth Progress, 1/100 Promotion Requirements, Ninth Transformation, a thread of Earth Mother Spirit, one Iron Wood Core Chen Qing casually said, ¡°What if it¡¯s not enough?¡± Li He pondered for a long while, ¡°I¡¯ll buy another fifty lower-grade Spirit Stones worth of Green Spirit Grass, just fifty lower-grade Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°As long as it promotes to the Seventh Transformation, it might be able to brew Ginseng Ganoderma Wine. A bottle of Ginseng Ganoderma Wine is worth at least twenty-five lower-grade Spirit Stones, more than double the price of Ginseng Wine.¡± ¡°Just another fifty lower-grade Spirit Stones worth¡­¡± Seeing that Li He couldn¡¯t listen at this time, Chen Qing was no longer interested in persuading him. Fortunately, he was able to see those special pieces of information; otherwise, he¡¯d probably be worse off than Li He. Chen Qing¡¯s current thought was simple, slowly save money, and promote his Grass Spirit Gu to the Eighth Transformation. He didn¡¯t cause any trouble, and as a production-type, no one bothered him much. In this harsh world, Wuyou Mountain was one of the few peaceful places. After taking a few more days of side jobs, Chen Qing finally managed to gather enough money for the Grass Spirit Gu¡¯s materials. In the blink of an eye, a year passed, and it was the festival again. Chen Qing sat alone in his stone cave, taking out that bottle of Ginseng Wine worth ten Spirit Stones, hesitated for a long time but still didn¡¯t open it. He heard that Elder Chen¡¯s descendants had gone out and wouldn¡¯t be back for this year¡¯s festival. He planned to visit him tomorrow to pay his respects. After a sumptuous dinner, Chen Qing picked up the last piece of Earth Spirit Crystal to start feeding his Grass Spirit Gu. After less than an hour of feeding, the Grass Spirit Gu began to change; the plump Grass Spirit Gu lay still on the table. As if petrified, the Grass Spirit Gu seemed to solidify in an instant. Chen Qing reached out to touch it again; it felt hard, like a piece of jade. Was it going to transform? The information on the Grass Spirit Gu also changed to ¡°transforming,¡± and seeing these words, Chen Qing felt slightly relieved. ¡°I wonder how long this transformation will take.¡± ¡°Luckily, it¡¯s the festival days, and there¡¯s nothing much to do.¡± Chen Qing stayed beside it, and after two hours, the Grass Spirit Gu trembled slightly. Shortly afterward, the outer skin of the Grass Spirit Gu cracked, and out came a slightly larger Grass Spirit Gu than before. ¡°Transformation successful!¡± It had grown from the size of a soybean to a very large soybean. Chen Qing collected the spirit shed of the Grass Spirit Gu, an item that could be sold. The information on the Grass Spirit Gu had also changed. [Mortal Grass Spirit Gu] Quality, Eighth Transformation Life Span, 42/78 Effect, Manages Gu Spirit Grass within a six-acre range and improves growth speed and quality Growth Requirements, Wood Drying Growth Progress, 0/100 Promotion Requirements, Ninth Transformation, ten drops of Earth Mother Spirit Liquid, one Soul Stealing Flower Eighth Transformation! Life Span increased by 13 years, and the range increased by an acre, meaning it could earn six Spirit Stones a day! That was a full one lower-grade Spirit Stone increase! ¡°This is my stake in life!¡± ¡°In a month now, I can earn nearly two hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°In a year, it¡¯s more than two thousand Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Save up a little, and things like Iron Skin Gu, sword Gu, Power Gu, Wind Gu, wouldn¡¯t they be within my grasp?¡± He could cultivate Gu insects dozens of times more conveniently than others, ¡°When I have money, I¡¯ll collect one of every Gu!¡± ¡°Let you all know what a hexagonal warrior really is!¡± When visiting Elder Chen again, this time, Elder Chen said nothing; everyone just exchanged some auspicious words. He accepted his wine, kept him for a meal, and when leaving, he stuffed a red envelope containing twenty lower-grade Spirit Stones. During the festival, without any invitations, he simply went to the sect to take on Spiritual Field management tasks. This day, after finishing the Spiritual Field management, he encountered the inspecting Spirit Plant Elder on his way, ¡°Chen Qing, you¡¯ve been managing six acres of Spiritual Field every day recently?¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°I wasn¡¯t too familiar with the use of the Grass Spirit Gu before, but now that I¡¯m familiar, I can manage six acres.¡± The Spirit Plant Elder nodded in satisfaction; he was quite fond of disciples with Spirit Plant-type Gu insects, ¡°Very good, your Gu insect¡¯s initial appearance is excellent, although its Life Span surely cannot match those with poor initial appearances, you should save some Spirit Stones for transformations.¡± Chen Qing cupped his hands, ¡°Thank you for the advice, Elder.¡± After Chen Qing left, the Spirit Plant Elder murmured to himself, ¡°Just contracted an eighth to ninth transformation Grass Spirit Gu; just not sure how its Life Span will be. If it¡¯s longer, it might be worth considering.¡± On the night of January fifteenth, just as Chen Qing was about to sleep, he heard someone knocking outside. Chen Qing opened the door to find a team of Wuyou Mountain disciples, led by a young man dressed in sword clothes, carrying a sword in his arms. His aura was restrained, clearly indicating his cultivation was not low. ¡°Are you Chen Qing?¡± Chen Qing nodded, still unsure of what was happening. The young cultivator said, ¡°There are two Evil Cultivators from the foot of the mountain, probably here to assassinate production cultivators like us from Wuyou Mountain. You need to come with me up the mountain for a while.¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Qing hurriedly grabbed some essentials and followed at the back of the group. Li He pulled him over, and the two pretended to hold swords. As they left, Li He drew his sword, its rust even thicker than Chen Qing¡¯s. Chen Qing also showed his rusted sword to Li He, and the two exchanged a smile, quickly catching up with the senior brother ahead. Arriving halfway up the mountain, they were settled in a cave in the rear mountain. The young cultivator sat at the entrance, leaning on his sword, vigilantly watching everything outside. About a dozen production cultivators sat inside the cave, not very worried, chatting and laughing about their Gu insect cultivation. Chen Qing sat beside Li He, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Li He said, ¡°No big deal, it¡¯s not like we have to go up and fight. We just have to wait for those two Evil Cultivators to be dealt with.¡± ¡°Although we live at the foot of the mountain, beyond the mountain live all the Sword Cultivators.¡± ¡°Two Evil Cultivators aren¡¯t enough for them to kill.¡± Production cultivators were the foundation of a sect¡¯s rise and stability; whenever turmoil arose, the sect protected them first. Wuyou Mountain was particularly good at this. Others didn¡¯t care much either, ¡°Just two Evil Cultivators daring to act rampant at Wuyou Mountain, they must be sick of living.¡± After staying in the cave for only three hours, someone came to report, ¡°Brother Gongsun Xiu has already taken down those two Evil Cultivators!¡± Upon hearing the crisis was resolved, someone got up, handed ten lower-grade Spirit Stones to the sword-wielding cultivator at the entrance, and said, ¡°Thank you, brother, for your protection.¡± Then they left. Chen Qing followed, pulling out ten lower-grade Spirit Stones from his chest, thanked the senior brother, and took his leave. Returning to his cave, nothing appeared to have been taken; it seemed no one would come to this broken cave of his. The next morning, as Chen Qing passed outside the sect, he could see two patches of blood in the distance. It seemed they met a gruesome end. A crowd gathered around, discussing, ¡°I heard those two Evil Cultivators last night were likely from Lotus Cave nearby.¡± ¡°The sect is now urgently buying Gu Spirit Grass for preparation; Gu Spirit Grass prices are going to rise.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t cultivators with Grass Spirit Gu in high demand then?¡± ¡°Of course, after all, Gu Spirit Grass is necessary for the daily needs of Gu insects, it¡¯s indispensable.¡± Upon hearing this news, Chen Qing felt a bit delighted, he was going to get rich! ¡°` Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Ninth Transformation Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Ninth Transformation Editor: Henyee Translations In the evening, at the entrance of Chen Qing¡¯s cave dwelling, a nonstop stream of children came to invite him. In just two hours, he had already received almost a month¡¯s worth of work, and the price had changed too, from one piece of low-grade Spirit Stone per acre to four pieces for three acres. Previously, he earned one hundred eighty Spirit Stones a month, now it had become two hundred forty Spirit Stones a month. Having planned his schedule, Chen Qing began his work, and during this time, he didn¡¯t plan to go to the market at the foot of the mountain to buy anything. Though the wages increased, so did the prices of goods. A month slowly passed, and the wave of price increases finally subsided. Lotus Cave had already issued a statement saying that those two Evil Cultivators who attacked Wuyou Mountain were actually their expelled disciples and had nothing to do with them. ¡°Such a pity, it only lasted a month. If it had lasted longer, that would¡¯ve been great.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s okay, my Grass Spirit Gu is about to advance to the Ninth Transformation. Who knows, maybe after advancing to the Ninth Transformation, I can still earn eight pieces of low-grade Spirit Stone a day.¡± With forty pieces of low-grade Spirit Stone in hand, Chen Qing prepared to buy some Wood Drying to give it a try. After inquiring at Wanbao Pavilion, he discovered that Wood Drying cost ten pieces of low-grade Spirit Stone per qian, which was indeed quite expensive. After wandering out from Wanbao Pavilion, Chen Qing intended to check the market to see if there were any cultivators selling new goods outside. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? After making a round, he finally spotted a small piece of Wood Drying at a cultivator¡¯s stall. ¡°How much for this Wood Drying?¡± ¡°Nine pieces of low-grade Spirit Stone per qian.¡± It was indeed a bit cheaper than at Wanbao Pavilion, ¡°Cheaper, and I¡¯ll buy more.¡± ¡°If you buy it all, I¡¯ll give it to you for eight pieces of low-grade Spirit Stone per qian.¡± Chen Qing thought about it, uncertain of how much he needed at the moment. In case he bought too much, he was too lazy to come out and sell it. ¡°Four qian for thirty-five pieces of low-grade Spirit Stone, will you sell?¡± The cultivator, clearly in a hurry, agreed, ¡°Alright then.¡± Back home, Chen Qing took out one qian of Wood Drying to feed his Grass Spirit Gu. After consuming one qian, it still didn¡¯t seem enough, so Chen Qing took out another qian to feed it. The following evening, Chen Qing checked again, and the Growth Progress had increased from zero to 8. One qian of Wood Drying could increase the Growth Progress by 4 points. ¡°It seems I still need two liang and one qian of Wood Drying.¡± With enough money now, he brought it all to wander through the market. After searching around, he couldn¡¯t find the cultivator selling Wood Drying from the previous day, and Chen Qing had no choice but to reluctantly buy one liang from Wanbao Pavilion. Recently, he needed to come back here frequently; Wanbao Pavilion¡¯s greedy merchants were indeed selling things too expensively. On his way back, as he passed by Li He¡¯s house, Li He called out to Chen Qing, ¡°Mr. Chen, come have a feast!¡± Chen Qing cupped his hands and laughed, ¡°What¡¯s this, has your Alcohol Gu advanced?¡± Li He laughed awkwardly, ¡°Though I spent three years of my savings and bought more than twenty types of materials, it finally succeeded.¡± Chen Qing congratulated him, ¡°Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on your Alcohol Gu reaching the Seventh Transformation!¡± Entering the courtyard, there were some neighbors from around, plus a few Wuyou Mountain combat disciples familiar with Li He. It was evident that when others looked at Li He, their eyes carried envy. Gu advancing was comparable to the joy of a grand celebration or a promotion. As for Chen Qing, he wasn¡¯t qualified to enjoy such a feeling. After all, it took him three years to raise his Gu from the Sixth to the Seventh Transformation, and last month, he advanced his Gu from the Seventh to the Eighth Transformation, and this month, it was going to the Ninth. In his joy, Li He specifically brought out a bottle of Ginseng Ganoderma Wine worth twenty-five Spirit Stones to share with everyone. This showed that, after his Gu reached the Seventh Transformation, he was already able to brew Ginseng Ganoderma Wine. After drinking three small cups of Ginseng Ganoderma Wine, Chen Qing felt some looseness in his cultivation, so he bid farewell and returned to his cave dwelling for cultivation. Having fully refined the three small cups of Ginseng Ganoderma Wine, Chen Qing emerged from his cultivation state. ¡°My cultivation improved a bit.¡± After drinking this Ginseng Ganoderma Wine, his cultivation speed was more than three times faster than usual. It truly was a good thing, just unaffordable. No rush; the Grass Treasure would soon be at the Ninth Transformation, and by then, the speed of earning money would be even faster. Anyway, after the Ninth Transformation, the promotion materials were known; just save up and it would be enough for promotion. By then, he could save money to buy an Alcohol Gu and brew his own wine daily. He was only 21 years old this year, full of vigor and in the prime of life, what was there to hurry about? With the lack of the daily profit of eight Spirit Stones, Chen Qing prepared to return to the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s place to work a few days. These days, after his daily work, he went wandering around the market because, with the recent potential for war, many returning disciples from Wuyou Mountain¡¯s War Affairs Hall had come back. He wasn¡¯t worried about any trouble, and after wandering for three days, he finally encountered the cultivator selling Wood Drying once again. This cultivator now appeared even more despondent, evidently having suffered some setback. Chen Qing ignored such details and directly asked, ¡°Ninety Spirit Stones for one liang and one qian of Wood Drying, will you sell?¡± The despondent cultivator hesitated for a long time but eventually nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll sell it to you.¡± Having just sold to Chen Qing, the cultivator immediately packed up and headed towards Wanbao Pavilion, muttering to himself, ¡°Buy eighty Spirit Stones more, the last eighty Spirit Stones!¡± Well, looks like another one fell into it. But Chen Qing had no interest in understanding more, his entire focus was on his Grass Treasure now. By his calculations, in six days, the Grass Treasure would reach the Ninth Transformation, and he wondered what special changes would occur after the Ninth Transformation. ¡°I heard those senior brothers said that Gu at the Ninth Transformation would have a significant improvement.¡± ¡°Hopefully, it enhances the range.¡± After six consecutive days of feeding, the Grass Spirit Gu finally hardened again, turning into a small jade-like bug. After waiting for almost two hours, the shell broke open, releasing a Grass Spirit Gu that had grown larger by a circle. Chen Qing focused on observing the new Grass Spirit Gu, and the information had changed: [Mortal Grass Spirit Gu] Quality: Ninth Transformation Life Span: 42/86 Effect: Manage Gu Spirit Grass within the range of eight acres, enhance growth speed, and quality Growth Requirements: None Growth Progress: 100/100 (Ready for Promotion) Promotion Requirements: Ninth Transformation, ten drops of Earth Mother Spirit Liquid, one Soul Stealing Flower The range increased from six acres to eight acres! Great, great, that¡¯s wonderful! Now able to earn eight pieces of low-grade Spirit Stone a day, wealth was finally starting to accumulate. But as for promotion, that wasn¡¯t going to happen presently. Never mind that the Soul Stealing Flower costs around eight hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, just the Earth Mother Spirit Liquid alone required nearly a hundred low-grade Spirit Stones per drop. Chen Qing estimated that it would take about one to two thousand Spirit Stones to handle it all. For now, it was best not to think about advancement, just slowly save up money. Luckily, now he could earn eight low-grade Spirit Stones daily. Over two months had peacefully passed in this time; the entire sect had remained quiet, with no major disturbances, and everyone lived in harmony. Returning home, Chen Qing carefully counted the four hundred Spirit Stones he had recently saved, beginning to imagine what scenes would follow the promotion of his Grass Treasure. While feeding the Grass Treasure, Chen Qing monitored its information with delight in his heart. Yes, it was still so pleasing to the eye. Uh, wait a minute! Why had the required Earth Mother Spirit Liquid changed to nine drops? What was happening? Could it be that since he had been raising it well recently, its requirements had decreased? Alternatively, was there any Earth Mother Spirit Liquid in the soil he managed today, and this little guy devoured it by chance? Currently, a drop of Earth Mother Spirit Liquid cost eighty Spirit Stones! It took him nearly half a month to earn that kind of money! Tomorrow, he¡¯d find an excuse to visit the market again. Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6 How can I fail you when you treat me with such sincerity? Chapter 6: Chapter 6 How can I fail you when you treat me with such sincerity? Editor: Henyee Translations The next day after work, Chen Qing once again wandered to Wang Ye¡¯s cave dwelling. Without showing any emotion, he sent the Grass Spirit Gu to play in Wang Ye¡¯s fields and strode up, ¡°I couldn¡¯t forget the sound of Senior Brother Wang¡¯s oboe yesterday, so I came uninvited today.¡± Wang Ye was initially puzzled as to why Chen Qing had come again today, but hearing this, he was immediately delighted. ¡°I never thought that Junior Brother Chen would be interested in music too!¡± Not really. After listening for a moment yesterday, my ears are still buzzing. ¡°It¡¯s mainly because Senior Brother Wang plays so well.¡± Wang Ye introduced, ¡°This music, if learned well, can be very useful.¡± ¡°Many great cultivators need music to calm their minds during cultivation.¡± Stop it. If your music isn¡¯t annoying, that¡¯s a blessing already. Wang Ye excitedly said, ¡°I happen to have a new piece today. Junior Brother Chen, you will have great fortune today!¡± Wang Ye played, and Chen Qing played too. Wang Ye played the oboe. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Chen Qing played Wang Ye. It was only late at night when Chen Qing took his leave. Returning to his cave, he checked the Grass Spirit Gu¡¯s information and found there were still nine drops, no change at all. ¡°It seems it won¡¯t be easy to find another drop.¡± Tomorrow, I¡¯ll have to go ¡®enjoy great fortune¡¯ again. ¡°I say, Xiao Cao, you have to put in more effort, or if things continue like this, who knows when I might be sent off.¡± The next day after work, Chen Qing thought he couldn¡¯t just sit and listen to him play. It¡¯s not that he wants to learn, but listening like this is a bit much for his body. So he brought a flute, so he could at least have some quiet when he played himself. Half a month passed, and Chen Qing, with a flute stuck behind his neck, walked home, ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore. If this continues, I¡¯ll really learn to play the flute.¡± ¡°I have to think of a way. Falling in love with playing the flute is not a good thing.¡± This is a dangerous world¡ªwhat use is there in playing the flute? Can it kill someone with music? In keeping with the habit of checking on his precious Bug daily, Chen Qing took another look at the Grass Spirit Gu. [Mortal Grade Grass Spirit Gu] Quality: Ninth Transformation Life Span: 42/86 Effect: Manages Gu Spirit Grass within an area of eight acres and increases growth speed and quality Growth Requirements: None Growth Length: 100/100 (Growth length has reached its peak, awaiting promotion) Promotion Requirements: Ninth Transformation, eight drops of Earth Mother Spirit Liquid, one Soul Stealing Flower Hmm? Eight drops? There really is a way! At this point, Chen Qing felt deeply guilty. ¡°Brother Wang treats me so well, how can I easily let him down?¡± ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll look for a better flute.¡± ¡°Am I secretly digging Brother Wang¡¯s treasure from his field?¡± ¡°No, Brother Wang once said, music is such an elegant thing, how could it be blinded by material gains.¡± ¡°I¡¯m too vulgar.¡± Starting tomorrow, be a person of elegance. Watch the sunset, chop wood. Eat, play the flute. Graze his Gu bug in Brother Wang¡¯s field. Two months passed, and under Wang Ye¡¯s careful guidance, Chen Qing could play a complete piece of ¡°Dragon Roar¡±. ¡°Brother Chen, I¡¯ve never heard this piece before. Did you compose it?¡± Chen Qing humbly smiled, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Brother Wang¡¯s guidance, just some occasional insights.¡± Wang Ye became a bit emotional, ¡°Meeting you was truly like a tune that breaks the heartstrings, where in the world can we find a friend who truly understands?¡± ¡°This piece has a dash of sadness amidst its grandeur, and a touch of helplessness amid excitement, truly indescribable.¡± Really now? Oh, so this piece really had all these emotions. ¡°Brother Wang knows me well.¡± Returning to his cave, he glanced at his Gu bug and saw it still needed seven drops. It had been a month since the Grass Treasure had gotten the last drop of Earth Mother Spirit Liquid. It seemed he might need to learn for another month or two. If there was no result, there would be no need to continue. Three drops of Earth Mother Spirit Liquid, two hundred and forty low-grade Spirit Stones. In conversion, that¡¯s a month of hard labor! ¡°Bah, why am I thinking of such filthy money matters again?¡± ¡°I am a person of elegance.¡± Suddenly someone knocked on the door, and Chen Qing opened it to find an unfamiliar child. The child, not bothering to salute on seeing Chen Qing, said arrogantly, ¡°Are you Chen Qing?¡± Chen Qing nodded, ¡°Indeed!¡± The child instructed, ¡°There will be a Dao Conference about the Grass Spirit Gu in three days. Remember to attend on time.¡± Chen Qing couldn¡¯t quite understand, what was this thing? ¡°Oh, sure.¡± The child continued, ¡°Remember to bring a hundred Spirit Stones when you go, that¡¯s the entrance fee.¡± Chen Qing frowned, ¡°A hundred Spirit Stones?¡± The child looked at Chen Qing with contempt, ¡°Hmph, my master is Xiao Zhong, and he already has a Grass Spirit Gu that has undergone Butterfly Transformation!¡± ¡°Which Grass Spirit Gu cultivator in the surrounding hundred miles doesn¡¯t treat my master with respect?¡± ¡°Attending this conference and listening to my master¡¯s insights into Grass Spirit Gu cultivation is your good fortune!¡± Only then did Chen Qing understand, ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s it; I will definitely go!¡± ¡°Thank you for letting me know.¡± Back in his cave, Chen Qing felt increasingly suffocated. How I raise my Gu bug, do I need your guidance? Don¡¯t mention the Grass Spirit Gu, even the sword Gu, Power Gu, Fire Gu, Wind Gu¡ªaren¡¯t they all known to me? And a hundred Spirit Stones! This would take me nearly half a month of playing flute with Brother Wang to earn! The next day after playing the flute, Chen Qing began to inquire with Wang Ye, ¡°Brother Wang, are you aware of this Grass Spirit Gu Dao Conference?¡± Wang Ye was somewhat disdainful, ¡°They call it a Dao Conference, but isn¡¯t it just a money-grabbing trick?¡± ¡°The conference fee they charge supposedly supports the conference expenses, but how many Spirit Stones are a few meals worth?¡± ¡°At most, ten low-grade Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°Getting a few songstresses to sing some melodious tunes, which are unbearable to listen to!¡± ¡°Everyone eats and drinks, and in the end, the person conducting the conference rambles for half an hour, and it¡¯s over.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°So, going is just a means to give them money?¡± Wang Ye was a bit frustrated, ¡°Who says it isn¡¯t, but what can you do?¡± ¡°The initiators all have Grass Spirit Gu that have undergone Butterfly Transformation; stomp in this area and the mountain would shake three times.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t go, how will you live in the future?¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°What¡¯s this Gu Butterfly Transformation about?¡± Wang Ye smiled, ¡°You¡¯ll find out when you go. That bit of business, they can chatter about it all day.¡± Although extremely reluctant, when the day came, Chen Qing still brought Spirit Stones, ready to spend the day there. In another¡¯s shelter, there¡¯s no choice but to bow one¡¯s head. Let him roam free for a few more days! Upon entering the courtyard, he saw a vast lotus pond ahead, with walkways connecting various square pavilions on the pond. There were about thirty people there, who seemed nearly all present. These people gathered in threes and fours around square tables on the pavilions, eating Spirit Fruits and drinking wine. Chen Qing found a table not yet full and sat down. No sooner had he sat than an older cultivator, about fifty years old, asked, ¡°Is this Junior Brother Chen?¡± Chen Qing nodded and cupped his hands, ¡°And you are?¡± The cultivator stroked his goatee, ¡°Zhou Ke from the foot of Wuyou Mountain.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°So it¡¯s Senior Brother Zhou.¡± Zhou Ke whispered, ¡°I heard your Grass Spirit Gu can manage eight acres a day?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°It was a bit of luck.¡± Anyway, it¡¯s no secret; with a bit of care, one could find out. Zhou Ke envied, ¡°Junior Brother Chen is truly blessed. My Grass Spirit Gu has been nurtured for nearly thirty years and can only manage six acres a day.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Just lucky.¡± Zhou Ke whispered, ¡°Though the fee is steep, there are benefits. It¡¯s better than figuring out the cultivation methods alone.¡± ¡°Every Gu bug is unique; who knows how to cultivate it?¡± Chen Qing tutted, I actually do know! ¡°Even if you know, the materials for cultivation can¡¯t be simply picked from the ground, right?¡± Hey, now you¡¯re speaking my language! Chen Qing was ready to show him what elegance truly was! What it meant to be dear brothers. Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Brother, This Gu of Yours is Quite Unconventional, Huh Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Brother, This Gu of Yours is Quite Unconventional, Huh Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Chen Qing took out his flute, ¡°Senior Brother Zhou, to be honest, I¡¯ve been studying music recently.¡± Zhou Ke responded, ¡°Junior Brother, is your mind really this unfocused?¡± I¡¯m talking to you about cultivating the Grass Spirit Gu, and you¡¯re talking about music with me? Chen Qing laughed heartily, well, it¡¯s just that the materials for promoting our family¡¯s Grass Treasure, Brother Wang¡¯s place really has some great finds! After paying a membership fee of a hundred Spirit Stones, only chatting with our dear Brother Wang can soothe the wounds in my heart. Chen Qing said, ¡°I¡¯ve been discussing music with Fellow Daoist Wang Ye recently. Speaking of my Brother Wang, I could talk about him endlessly!¡± ¡­ After discussing music for an hour, the main door opened, and out walked a young man who seemed around thirty. This person wasn¡¯t extraordinarily handsome, but wearing luxurious clothes, he appeared somewhat graceful. Chen Qing silently cursed him for being all showy. No matter how you looked at him, he was just off-putting. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï As soon as Xiao Zhong stepped out, the cultivators on the water pavilion all stood up together, ¡°Greetings, Senior Brother Xiao!¡± Xiao Zhong smiled, ¡°Everyone, please be seated. All of you have come from afar; apologies if my hospitality is lacking.¡± Everyone praised the sumptuous hospitality of Xiao Zhong. Xiao Zhong continued, ¡°Today¡¯s first matter is to welcome our new member, Junior Brother Chen!¡± Chen Qing stood up, ¡°Fellow Daoists, I am Chen Qing from Cold Wave Cave on Wuyou Mountain.¡± Xiao Zhong said, ¡°This is Junior Brother Chen, who recently acquired a Grass Spirit Gu and is already able to manage eight acres of Gu Spirit Grass in one day.¡± ¡°Among us, that¡¯s quite an achievement, so everyone should get to know him more.¡± Chen Qing clasped his hands towards everyone, ¡°Lucky, just lucky.¡± They say colleagues are rivals, are you trying to create enmity for me by praising me like this? Is this stirring up resentment for myself? Xiao Zhong walked up to Chen Qing, warmly introducing him to the fellow cultivators attending the meeting. Once Chen Qing sat back down, Xiao Zhong made arrangements, ¡°Well, everyone should now exchange cultivation insights.¡± Chen Qing listened to the discussions around him and began to understand. According to their explanation, cultivating the Grass Spirit Gu was essentially about serendipity. Enhancing quality was generally the same as other Gu insects, continually trying different materials methodically until the Grass Spirit Gu¡¯s quality could no longer be improved. And this was where it got the hardest. Because when the Grass Spirit Gu reached this stage, it was about to transform. Which was exactly where Chen Qing¡¯s Grass Spirit Gu was now, at the quality of Ninth Transformation. Once a Gu insect reached Ninth Transformation, it could undergo Butterfly Transformation. This step was exceedingly difficult, requiring luck and resources. Once the Grass Spirit Gu advanced, it would transform into a butterfly, substantially enhancing its quality, ability, and gaining unique abilities. And this was known as its ¡°trait.¡± Xiao Zhong¡¯s Grass Spirit Butterfly could significantly boost the quality of aquatic Spirit Plants, which explained why Xiao Zhong had a lotus pond in his yard. Some might say that through meticulous research or asking other Daoists, one could also learn these details, making the membership fee seem unworthy. The crucial point was, Xiao Zhong had a notebook. This notebook recorded the materials fellow cultivators used to enhance their Grass Spirit Gu¡¯s quality! If cultivating the Grass Spirit Gu before felt like searching for a needle in a haystack, with this notebook, there was at least a general direction. It narrowed the range of cultivation materials. This notebook was the crucial part valued at a hundred Spirit Stones. Of course, it only catered to quality improvement. As for the materials needed for Butterfly Transformation, that was all nonsense. When cultivating the quality, one might deduce the materials one at a time through trial, but the materials for transformation were different. Several different materials might be needed for the advancement! It was possible that you fed the Gu insect a hundred kinds of materials, and it only needed three of those. Likely, they themselves didn¡¯t exactly know what specific materials were needed. As a formal member who paid the membership fee, Chen Qing was also allocated a notebook. When opened, it listed the names of the materials each cultivator used for their Grass Spirit Gu¡¯s growth. At the end, there was a list arranged statistically based on probability from high to low. The most cherished by everyone was precisely this list. And among them, surprisingly, the highest-ranked was natural enhancement! As much as twenty percent! That is to say, twenty percent of the enhancements relied solely on luck. For instance, a Gu insect might unintentionally eat something while tending the Spiritual Field and improve itself. As for the rest, none managed to reach ten percent. They listed more than thirty types of materials, ranked from high probability to low: Ocher Yellow Essence, earth yellow, Withered Skin, Wood Drying, Spirit Wood Liquid, yellow jellyfish, Sky Blue Leaf¡­ As for how to achieve Butterfly Transformation and the materials for advancement, none were mentioned here. Chen Qing glanced around, seeing everyone engrossed in studying the notebook meticulously; their eyes lit up whenever they spotted some special materials. ¡°Fellow Daoists, I have a bold hypothesis!¡± ¡°Do you think feeding it mica would be useful?¡± As discussions grew increasingly intense, Chen Qing felt somewhat out of place. It was as if they were still discussing the problem-solving process, while he already knew the answer. Such a sensation was downright monotonous. Zhou Ke got more excited, gesticulating wildly, ¡°How did I forget about the Spirit Wood Heart?¡± ¡°Junior Brother Chen, do you think using the Spirit Wood Heart will have extraordinary effects?¡± Chen Qing glanced at the Grass Spirit Gu in Zhou Ke¡¯s hand. Goodness, it actually required fire copper! Brother, your Grass Spirit Gu is a bit unusual! ¡°I notice most of the materials needed for the Grass Spirit Gu are earth, water, and wood attributes; the Spirit Wood Heart might be useful.¡± Brother, grieve no more; you¡¯ll probably never figure it out until you die. Zhou Ke said, ¡°By the way, Junior Brother Chen, why don¡¯t you join our discussion?¡± Chen Qing just found them noisy. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because my Grass Spirit Gu was already on the verge of transformation when it was first contracted?¡± Suddenly, the four people sitting at this table fell silent. Zhou Ke pondered, ¡°Now that you mention it, indeed, it seems that being able to manage around eight acres means it¡¯s on the brink of advancing.¡± Once he said this, the four became even more silent. They had painstakingly spent thousands, even tens of thousands, of Spirit Stones cultivating to this stage, while his was nearly ready for advancement when first contracted! Sensing the increasingly muted atmosphere, Chen Qing found their table increasingly estranged from the entire environment. During the silence, Xiao Zhong¡¯s child suddenly approached and softly whispered in Chen Qing¡¯s ear, ¡°After the meeting concludes, my master invites you inside for a talk.¡± In the evening, Xiao Zhong shared some insights on cultivating the Grass Spirit Gu. Mostly, it involved possible cultivation routes for the Grass Spirit Gu. However, they were merely possibilities. After rambling on for an hour, Chen Qing didn¡¯t pay much attention, and before long, it was late at night. As everyone dispersed, Chen Qing drank a cup of spirit wine, then a child arrived. ¡°Master Chen, my master invites you inside for a talk.¡± Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Taichu Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Taichu Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Chen Qing showed no sign of fear. After all, many people knew he was there; if something happened today, not even Xiao Zhong could clarify it. Chen Qing walked into the room, where Xiao Zhong poured him a cup of tea and gestured for him to sit opposite him. ¡°Chen, I kept you back to share some secrets.¡± Chen Qing became serious, ¡°Please enlighten me, Senior Brother.¡± Xiao Zhong pondered for a moment before speaking, ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed your record of managing the sect¡¯s Spiritual Field with your Gu. Your Grass Spirit Gu can handle around eight acres a day, right?¡± Chen Qing nodded. Xiao Zhong continued, ¡°That¡¯s about right. My Grass Spirit Gu was ready for advancement when it could manage around eight acres.¡± ¡°Your Gu, it is very likely on the brink of advancing.¡± ¡°This is both your fortune and your shackle.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xiao Zhong replied, ¡°You¡¯ve been preparing for advancement from the start, but the materials needed for advancement aren¡¯t the same as those for improving quality. The materials required for advancement cannot be settled with a few thousand Spirit Stones.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°I¡¯ve listed the materials my Grass Spirit Gu consumed upon advancement. Remember them.¡± Xiao Zhong took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and pushed it toward Chen Qing. Chen Qing picked it up and examined it closely. The materials listed estimated to be around fifty thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones! At this point, Xiao Zhong felt somewhat proud, ¡°I was fortunate. Generally, the advancement of a Grass Spirit Gu requires about a hundred thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones.¡± Chen Qing was secretly alarmed. Even if he could save two thousand Spirit Stones a year, without this information, striving to cultivate a Grass Spirit Butterfly would take fifty years. This was with good fortune and starting with the intention of advancement from obtaining the Grass Spirit Gu. Others weren¡¯t like him; they had to slowly cultivate their Grass Spirit Gu step by step, which also required a large number of Spirit Stones. Moreover, before cultivating to high quality, they wouldn¡¯t earn as many Spirit Stones per day as he did. Besides, cultivation also required Spirit Stones. In other words, throughout their lives, ordinary people couldn¡¯t cultivate a Grass Spirit Butterfly. This is only discussing cultivating a single Grass Spirit Gu. Xiao Zhong explained, ¡°The ones I¡¯ve circled are the materials I speculate to be most likely needed; note them down, Junior Brother.¡± After a quarter of an hour, Xiao Zhong asked, ¡°Did you memorize everything, Junior Brother?¡± Chen Qing nodded. Xiao Zhong took the paper, placed it into the red clay stove beside him, and burned it to ashes. Though uncertain of the truth in this information, since the other party had good intentions, Chen Qing still gratefully cupped his hands, ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother, for your generous gift. I¡¯ll surely remember it!¡± Xiao Zhong smiled, ¡°Then you may return, Junior Brother. I wish your Grass Spirit Gu becomes a butterfly soon.¡± Chen Qing nodded earnestly, ¡°Okay, Senior Brother.¡± Returning to his cave abode, Chen Qing lay on his bed, reflecting on the remaining number of Spirit Stones he had, suppressing the urge to count them again. ¡°Thus it seems the normal approach won¡¯t allow for Butterfly Transformation.¡± ¡°Yet I¡¯ve heard quite a bit about cultivators owning butterfly Gu.¡± ¡°Xiao Zhong is one, the Mountain Master certainly, and several elders inside the sect, too.¡± ¡°Normal accumulation can¡¯t lead to Butterfly Transformation. It¡¯s either relying on the forebears¡¯ accumulations or there remains only one path.¡± ¡°To kill and loot brings wealth unseen; fortune rises from such paths.¡± ¡°This cultivation world is even more ruthless than I imagined.¡± Half a month passed slowly; on this day, after finishing his work, Chen Qing wandered the market at the foot of the mountain and bought some rice and meat, intending to head home. While walking in a dark alley, a shadow suddenly rushed overhead, roof-hopping, and upon noticing Chen Qing, suddenly tossed a black bundle at him. Before Chen Qing understood what he had received, he saw three fellow disciples of Wuyou Mountain chasing from behind. ¡°Are you also a disciple of Wuyou Mountain?¡± Chen Qing cupped his hands, ¡°I am indeed a disciple of Wuyou Mountain!¡± The leading disciple inquired, ¡°Did you see a shadow pass by just now?¡± Chen Qing quickly pointed in the direction the shadow left, ¡°What happened, Senior Brother, was it an Evil Cultivator?¡± The lead disciple replied seriously, ¡°Not only an Evil Cultivator but a major one. It seems he is from the Jiguang Sect!¡± ¡°You should hurry back. We need to pursue him!¡± Chen Qing nodded, praying that these three Senior Brothers could cut down that inexplicable shadow as he walked away. The man in black clutched his chest, leaped over the wall, and ran on the roofs. Just after killing Wild Dog Daoist to seize this Ghost Mask, he was discovered by the disciples of Wuyou Mountain, how unlucky. Yet, it didn¡¯t matter, as he was the only third level of Qi Refinement cultivator in the market today; once healed, retrieving the Ghost Mask wouldn¡¯t be too late. Even Chen Qing couldn¡¯t have guessed, his third level of Qi Refinement, an astonishingly low cultivation, would make him a feature. ¡­ Back in his cave, Chen Qing opened the black package. He assumed it might be some treasure, if not Spirit Stones. Instead, it contained only a bronze ghost mask, looking peculiar. ¡°Is this a token of the Jiguang Sect?¡± Having been in this world for almost a year, Chen Qing remembered hearing about the Jiguang Sect¡¯s terrible reputation. It was said that thousands of years ago, the Jiguang Sect was already very active but declined after the fall of their Sect Hierarch. The Jiguang Sect was a mysterious organization, communicating solely through these Ghost Masks. Another characteristic of the Jiguang Sect was that its members didn¡¯t know each other. Wearing the Ghost Mask, consciousness would enter a special place where the mask would conceal all information. As Chen Qing heard, the bronze ghost mask was but a token of the smallest branch of the Jiguang Sect. As for the evil Sect Hierarch who created this bronze ghost mask and was the only one to control it, he¡¯d long passed away. It¡¯s said now that many factions exist within the Jiguang Sect, even in prestigious and orthodox sects. (1. It was universally known that the terminal controller of the Jiguang Sect¡¯s Ghost Mask has died. 2. Even the terminal controller couldn¡¯t know each person¡¯s identity or chat information, as this feature wasn¡¯t set by the Jiguang Sect¡¯s founder. Don¡¯t question the absurdity, as even members of the Jiguang Sect find it absurd. Walk my path, do my deed, illuminate with my light, and wear my mask, what difference is there to Jiguang?) ¡°I really don¡¯t know what the situation with this cult is.¡± Chen Qing put on the strange bronze ghost mask, and his consciousness entered a magical space. It appeared to be a cloud platform constructed in the sky, with a long table in the center, the table having twelve seats. Five on each side and one at each end. When Chen Qing¡¯s consciousness appeared here, he found himself seated in the second seat on the right-hand side. Here, besides himself, were two other individuals, one being a woman in red with a bronze ghost mask. The red-clad woman¡¯s figure was impressive, with a single ponytail, though her face was entirely obscured. The woman in red sat across from him, observing him with interest. On Chen Qing¡¯s left, a strong male cultivator was seated. When Chen Qing first arrived, he half-expected the Evil Cultivators to be discussing how to wreak havoc on the world, brewing some earth-shattering conspiracy, but these two were enthusiastically discussing Gu cultivation. Seeing Chen Qing arrive, they were surprised for a moment before calming down again. It didn¡¯t seem like the cult Chen Qing imagined. The male cultivator snapped his folding fan open, courteously asking, ¡°The Wild Dog Daoist must be dead by now. May I ask how to address the Fellow Daoist who now has the mask?¡± Though the mask insulated detection, Chen Qing could still feel the gaze of both people focusing on him. At that moment, Chen Qing suddenly had a bold idea. He recalled a book he¡¯d once read. Online social platforms, after all, are all the same. Though he wasn¡¯t the meeting¡¯s host, it didn¡¯t matter, not in the least deterring his plan to play a mysterious role. He came just for fun; joining the Jiguang Sect was never his intention. I, Chen Qing, a dignified disciple of the renowned and orthodox Wuyou Mountain, how could I possibly join an evil cult? Hence, he extended his right hand on the table, tapping his index finger on the surface. ¡°It¡¯s been too long, my name I have almost forgotten.¡± ¡°If you must give me a name,¡± ¡°Then, you may call me,¡± ¡°Taichu.¡± ¡°` Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9: West Desert and Thunder Pure Land Chapter 9: Chapter 9: West Desert and Thunder Pure Land Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°Taichu?¡± Hearing Chen Qing¡¯s words, the two of them were slightly stunned and somewhat cautious. Chen Qing began to speak whimsically but seriously, ¡°As our first meeting since I awoke from my slumber, I can offer you a gift.¡± Chen Qing looked at the female cultivator, ¡°You were just asking about cultivating the Power Gu, right?¡± The female cultivator nodded, ¡°My Power Gu is about to undergo the Butterfly Transformation. I was discussing with the scholar what materials might be needed for its promotion.¡± Chen Qing leaned back slightly, ¡°Ask me anything else, I might not know, but if you ask about this, then I¡¯m all ears.¡± ¡°Can I take a look?¡± The female cultivator didn¡¯t mind revealing her Gu here since no one recognized each other anyway. She opened her hand, and a strong red Gu slowly raised its head in her palm. Chen Qing looked at the Gu, [Mortal Power Gu] Quality: Ninth Transformation Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Life Span: 24/81 Effect: Nine Oxen Power Growth Requirements: None Growth Progress: 100/100 (Awaiting Promotion) Promotion Requirements: Three drops of Flood Dragon Blood ¡°You can try Flood Dragon Blood, just three drops will do.¡± The female cultivator looked at Chen Qing in surprise, ¡°So precise?¡± Chen Qing smiled and didn¡¯t speak. He turned to look at the extremely strong ¡®scholar,¡¯ ¡°And you?¡± The scholar couldn¡¯t quite figure out Chen Qing¡¯s background, but the term Taichu felt incredibly mysterious to him. He had never heard of it before; it made one feel inexplicably grand. Since he was just listening, he opened his hand to reveal a light blue Spirit Butterfly, no longer the size of a soybean, but as large as a cherry. [Mortal Thunder Butterfly] Quality: Third Transformation Life Span: 56/130 Effect: Call Lightning, converting spiritual energy into electricity [Trait]: Lightning Control, with a certain degree of immunity to lightning, and a certain degree of control over it Growth Requirements: Water Spirit Essence Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: Unable to advance further Chen Qing stroked his chin, ¡°Water Spirit Essence.¡± After saying this, he leaned back in his chair and said no more. Seeing that he remained silent, the two resumed their conversation. The female cultivator said, ¡°The leader mentioned he might not return for another two months. I¡¯m not sure if other members will appear here in the meantime.¡± The scholar said, ¡°Red Lotus, can you get me a Sword Gu? I¡¯m willing to pay a high price.¡± The female cultivator was a bit puzzled, ¡°You don¡¯t have any Sword Gu there?¡± The scholar nodded, ¡°I suppose it doesn¡¯t hurt to tell you. We are so far apart that we might never meet in this lifetime.¡± ¡°Where we are, there are many Five Elements Gu insects, but no Sword Gu.¡± Chen Qing thought that the people at this ghost mask gathering really wouldn¡¯t be able to know who anyone else was. Judging by their words, they seemed to be very far apart. This scholar might not even be on the same continent. This woman¡¯s name is Red Lotus. Red Lotus said, ¡°A Sword Gu is not easy to acquire from our side either.¡± While saying this, she glanced at Chen Qing and found him still sitting there, uninterested in their conversation, so she continued speaking. ¡°In general, Sword Gu are monopolized by major sects. The ones with better quality might cost one hundred and sixty Spirit Stones each.¡± Chen Qing remained motionless, but in his mind, he was quite surprised. A Sword Gu, good quality, a hundred sixty Spirit Stones each? Seriously? Where on earth is this Red Lotus from, with such outrageous prices? The scholar paused for a moment. He astutely noticed Red Lotus glance at Chen Qing, seemingly afraid he would expose her lie. This meant that the Sword Gu surely weren¡¯t priced as she claimed; however, that mysterious Taichu had not spoken a word since mentioning the materials needed for their Gu insects, seemingly uninterested in anything else. The scholar picked up his folding fan and lightly tapped his hand. There was surely a markup in Red Lotus¡¯s quoted price, but on their continent, Sword Gu were indeed hard to come by. Compared to unknown external dangers, he preferred to spend a little more Spirit Stones. ¡°Get me one.¡± Red Lotus, seeing the deal was done, said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll keep an eye out for you. This will require some insider connections in the sects and might take some time.¡± The scholar stood with a hand gesture of cupped fists, ¡°Then let us meet again on the first of the month?¡± Chen Qing, seeing their conversation was finished, didn¡¯t hesitate any longer and directly exited the gathering. ¡°Today is the fifteenth; when I arrived, they were having a meeting.¡± ¡°It seems they hold gatherings twice a month.¡± ¡°Based on their conversation, that space seems to allow transactions of Gu insects and Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°I hope that Wild Dog Daoist they mentioned dies, so no one knows I took this mask. Then I can join the next gathering and see their reactions.¡± ¡°In any case, it was dark then, so no one saw who I was. My senior brother from Wuyou Mountain and that Wild Dog Daoist only knew I¡¯m a disciple of Wuyou Mountain.¡± ¡°If it works out, next time, I might be able to start making money.¡± ¡°Charging a fee for Gu insect cultivation consultation shouldn¡¯t be excessive, right?¡± ¡°But their price discussions are really worrying.¡± Suppressing other thoughts, Chen Qing hid the bronze ghost mask deep in his cave dwelling and then lay down on his bed and fell asleep. Feiyun Creek, in the Qinglian Sword Sect domain of the West Desert. In a cave on a cliff, the red-clothed woman removed the ghost mask from her face and swallowed the bronze ghost mask whole. Outside, heavy rain poured down, and a black eagle with a wingspan of ten feet flew amidst the deluge, hearing the woman¡¯s call as it swooped down. ¡°Flood Dragon Blood, huh?¡± ¡°It seems the Demon Mansion also has that for exchange.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it a shot; after all, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s truly needed.¡± Leaping onto the back of the black eagle, she rode through the storm to distant lands. After two hours of flight, a thick concentration of demon energy gathered in the sky before her, forming a cloud that blocked the sky and covered the earth. On the ground, there were countless heaps of white bones, among which a massive dragon skeleton sprawled over the mountain peaks. Rugged palaces stood majestically upon the giant dragon bones, inhabited by bone-winged creatures flying through the sky. The red-clothed woman landed at the mountain¡¯s base on the black eagle and made her way toward a pavilion. The pavilion had a doorframe but no door, was white in color, merely two stories tall, with a white fox tail over three feet long swaying gently at the back. Seeing the red-clothed woman approach, the doorframe grew two giant teeth, with tables inside trembling. A hollow voice echoed from within, ¡°I was wondering why the magpies were chattering, and it turns out Hu Yao was coming.¡± ¡°Down the mountain has been quite restless recently; those little tigers of yours are increasingly dissatisfied with you.¡± The red-clothed woman didn¡¯t say much, ¡°Do you have any Flood Dragon Blood here?¡± The doorframe opened and closed, ¡°That stuff isn¡¯t cheap. What do you plan to trade for it?¡± Hu Yao pointed to the black eagle beside her, ¡°How about this?¡± Upon hearing Hu Yao¡¯s proposal, the black eagle visibly began to panic, but before it could react and take flight to escape, the enormous house leaped in a single bound, swallowing it whole through its open portal. ¡°Mmm, this flavor is excellent, excellent.¡± The doorframe opened again, but the black eagle was no longer visible. The portal ejected three tear drop-like red crystals, which, upon hitting the ground, caused the surrounding dry grass to start smoking, clearly signifying a high temperature. Hu Yao collected the three Flood Dragon Blood drops and took them down the mountain. Perched on the vertebrae of the flood dragon tail was a massive, black and yellow striped palace, its lanterns resembling two eyes. In the courtyard outside the palace, three tigers, each over ten feet in length, roared, ¡°Father, sister remains an outsider, and she shouldn¡¯t be allowed to enjoy your treasures anymore!¡± ¡°Yes, let sister marry off!¡± ¡°The bull demon¡¯s son is quite fond of sister and is willing to pay a hefty sum for her!¡± The monstrous palace came to life, ¡°Silence, get back inside!¡± Hearing this command, the three tigers begrudgingly returned inside the palace. ¡°How did you fare this time?¡± Hu Yao replied, ¡°Caught a black eagle and traded it for three drops of Flood Dragon Blood.¡± Father and daughter fell silent for a moment, until the father spoke first, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll at least raise you until you come of age.¡± ¡°Until you¡¯re of age, no one can force you into marriage.¡± Hu Yao asked, ¡°And after I¡¯m of age?¡± The palace was silent for a while before answering, ¡°Here, without a Butterfly Transformation Gu, you cannot freely roam the skies.¡± Hu Yao entered through the portal to return to her room. Here, inside her father¡¯s belly in the demon lands of the West Desert, only within her parent¡¯s belly was it truly safe. Butterfly Transformation, it¡¯s not that easy. Her own savings were dwindling, but fortunately, she could make some money through trading with the scholar. She spewed out three drops of Flood Dragon Blood for the Power Gu to consume. As the Power Gu devoured each of the three drops of Flood Dragon Blood, she suddenly noticed her Gu was becoming motionless. This is¡­ Could it really be true? Three hours slowly passed; the bright red Power Gu suddenly stirred, spewing silk from its mouth, wrapping itself tightly to form a red cocoon. Is it undergoing Butterfly Transformation? It really was just three drops of Flood Dragon Blood! Though she had fed it many materials before, there was no way to deduce what the remaining materials were! And that mysterious Taichu didn¡¯t even know what she had previously fed it! Out of the dozens or hundreds of possible materials, how could he instantly deduce what her Power Gu needed? Who was he, really? He wasn¡¯t just knowledgeable about Power Gu; he also knew a lot about the scholar¡¯s Thunder Butterfly, a Gu he had never seen before. The next day, when she displayed the transformed Power Butterfly to her father and three brothers, the brothers no longer mentioned marrying her off, but instead circled around her, affectionately calling her sister. The colossal palace¡¯s portal opened and closed, ¡°You are different now.¡± Hu Yao leaned against one of the brothers and thought of that silent, mystically speaking Taichu, ¡°Yes, from now on, everything is different.¡± In the Spiritual Treasure Land, Thunder Pure Land, Black clouds filled the sky; this place never saw sunlight, only continuous thunderbolts descending from the heavens, exploding on the ground, creating numerous black craters. The earth had been shattered by the thunder into black obsidian; among these obsidian-covered mountains sat a bronze tower. Inside the tower, rows of countless bookshelves held volumes written on metal pages. A scholar-like figure set down an ancient book he was reading, ¡°Couldn¡¯t find any description related to the name Taichu.¡± ¡°This appears to be a Dao title never before seen.¡± ¡°Anyhow, Water Spirit Essence isn¡¯t expensive and falls within the possible material list; I¡¯ll just request more under the pretext of studying ancient methods.¡± Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Scholar and the Female Demon Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Scholar and the Female Demon Editor: Henyee Translations While pondering, a young boy burst in from outside, ¡°Mr. Murong, the Baili family¡¯s child is about to be born, and the elder asked you to go quickly to prepare for the delivery.¡± Upon hearing this, Murong Lang quickly slotted the metal book he was holding back onto the bookshelf, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re heading over.¡± Murong Lang spread his hand, and a green Wind Spirit Butterfly unfurled its wings. A gentle breeze blew by, propelling his steps as if riding the wind, covering ten zhang in a single bound. In just a few leaps, he dashed across the ridge filled with black glazed tiles, rushing towards the village at the foot of the mountain. Amidst the villages scattered with black glazed caves, there stood a wooden hut. When Murong Lang arrived, the anxious villagers waiting outside finally saw their savior. ¡°Mr. Murong is here!¡± ¡°The gentleman arrived just in time.¡± Murong Lang approached the wooden hut, ¡°Has it started?¡± An old woman replied, ¡°It¡¯s about to begin.¡± Following the midwife into the wooden hut, Murong Lang leaped onto the rooftop, focusing intently as he awaited the descent of lightning to divert it elsewhere. After an hour passed, he finally heard the cry of a newborn coming from within the wooden hut. Murong Lang raised his hand and tossed a Thunder Gu to the child¡¯s father, ¡°Quickly, have the child contract with the Thunder Gu!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï The child¡¯s father repeatedly responded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do it right away.¡± In the sky, the dark clouds shifted, and a bolt of lightning as thick as a child¡¯s arm struck down towards the wooden hut with a loud crash! The Thunder Butterfly on Murong Lang¡¯s chest flapped its wings, channeling the bolt of lightning before directing it to the distant black glazed ground. Ten breaths later, another bolt of lightning struck down, once again diverted by the Thunder Butterfly elsewhere. With each strike of lightning, the baby¡¯s cries from within the hut grew louder and more howling like a ghost. After channeling over a dozen bolts of lightning, the baby¡¯s cries gradually weakened from the intense wailing, prompting Murong Lang to harbor a bad premonition. Channeling three more strikes, no more lightning fell. Murong Lang could no longer hear the baby¡¯s cries and looked towards the child¡¯s father who slowly walked out of the wooden hut, holding a shriveled piece of charcoal. Murong Lang felt little emotion, only a hint of helplessness. Such events were all too common for him. Murong Lang softly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± The child¡¯s father seemed to have grown accustomed to it all, ¡°Mr. Murong, you don¡¯t need to apologize.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the child¡¯s fate to be too frail, unable to bear the Nine Tribulations True Monarch¡¯s blessing.¡± Murong Lang sighed, ¡°It¡¯s time to apply for Water Spirit Essence.¡± ¡­ In the morning, Chen Qing steamed two buns, ate them with pickles, and then prepared to go to the Spirit Plant Elder to get work. There were many people there, allowing him to gather some information. Indeed, when he arrived at the Spirit Plant Garden¡¯s gate, several senior brothers and sisters were discussing last night¡¯s events. The three senior brothers from Wuyou Mountain chasing an Evil Cultivator in the market was not something that could be kept secret. ¡°Have you heard? An Evil Cultivator came to the village market last night!¡± ¡°Another Evil Cultivator? Just one, really not afraid of death.¡± ¡°What do you know? This Evil Cultivator was from the Jiguang Sect!¡± ¡°Ah, the Jiguang Sect, did they catch him?¡± ¡°I heard he got away.¡± ¡°What was the Evil Cultivator¡¯s cultivation level, to have escaped?¡± ¡°Escaped while being surrounded by three senior brothers at Qi Refinement level seven, what do you think?¡± Chen Qing thought, must be at Qi Refinement level nine? Foundation Establishment would be impossible. If it were Foundation Establishment, it would be the Evil Cultivator chasing the three Wuyou Mountain disciples. It¡¯s better he got away; that Evil Cultivator likely wouldn¡¯t dare come to the Wuyou Mountain area again in the short term. As for him coming back, he probably wouldn¡¯t make it to this side of the mountain, as the senior brothers and sisters specializing in combat outside would be enough to handle him. Even if that Evil Cultivator came back and got captured alive, Chen Qing wouldn¡¯t care. Can you trust what an Evil Cultivator says? Moreover, with so many Wuyou Mountain disciples in the market last night, how could they be sure it¡¯s him? They didn¡¯t know the Evil Cultivator gave him the bronze ghost mask, either. It seemed there should be no problems, so Chen Qing got his work and went on duty. He wasn¡¯t sure whether Red Lotus and the scholar had tried what he mentioned. No rush, he¡¯d know in half a month. To ensure safety, Chen Qing hadn¡¯t taken on any work from the foot of the mountain these days, just staying safely within the Spirit Plant Garden. After working for seven days with no news, Chen Qing guessed the Evil Cultivator probably left, so he began taking on tasks around the base of the mountain. But he still didn¡¯t go too far, sticking within a ten-mile radius to pick up work. Saving more materials, he¡¯d be able to have Grass Treasure undergo Butterfly Transformation soon; it would be his first time and he wasn¡¯t sure about the precautions. If anything went wrong, it would be a major event. Now, Grass Treasure was his lifeblood! So after duty that day, Chen Qing wandered to the marketplace at the foot of the mountain, intending to buy books related to Gu Butterfly Transformation. The books sold at stalls were usually unreliable; they were all copies. Copying was prone to errors, sometimes a single word difference could mean worlds apart. Investing so much into Grass Treasure, he naturally wouldn¡¯t skimp at such a crucial moment. Therefore, he went specifically to a shop set up by Wuyou Mountain at the base of the mountain. As soon as he walked into the shop, a friendly senior sister from Wuyou Mountain greeted him enthusiastically, ¡°Handsome junior brother, what can I get you?¡± Chen Qing never flinched at the enthusiasm of female cultivators like her, knowing full well their interest was in his Spirit Stones, not him personally. ¡°Senior sister, I¡¯m looking for books related to Gu cultivation.¡± The enthusiastic senior sister asked, ¡°What type?¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°Related to Butterfly Transformation.¡± Upon hearing this, the senior sister from Wuyou Mountain looked at him somewhat surprised, ¡°Junior brother preparing Gu Butterfly Transformation at such a young age?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Just looking to understand.¡± The senior sister nodded without further questioning, leading him to the bookshelves, ¡°Here they are, take your time to choose.¡± Chen Qing glanced over the titles: ¡°Sword Gu Cultivation Experience¡± ¡°Gu Butterfly Transformation Hundred Solutions¡± ¡°Essence of Capturing Wild Gu¡± ¡°Specialized Butterfly Transformation¡± ¡°Essentials of Sword Gu¡± ¡°Cultivation and Daily Care of Gu¡± ¡­ Hmm, ¡°Specialized Butterfly Transformation¡± and ¡°Gu Butterfly Transformation Hundred Solutions,¡± which one was better to buy? Picking them up to read the introductions, the content seemed different. Seeing the author¡¯s name, damn, it was the same person! So, writing two books on the same knowledge to earn twice, huh? Yu Daoxiong, I¡¯ve remembered you! Wait a minute, sounds like the name of the Spirit Plant Elder! Who would¡¯ve thought! Chen Qing silently cursed the Spirit Plant Elder and begrudgingly took both books to the counter. Ten lower-grade Spirit Stones each, for both it cost him a whopping twenty lower-grade Spirit Stones! Forget it, for Grass Treasure, it was a necessary expense. Back in his cave, Chen Qing lit a lamp and began meticulously reading the two books. After an hour, Chen Qing finally got the gist, ¡°Wasn¡¯t a waste of money, the writing is very detailed.¡± ¡°This way, Grass Treasure¡¯s chances for Butterfly Transformation are much better.¡± Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Spirit Stone is the Bridge between the Immortals and this World Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Spirit Stone is the Bridge between the Immortals and this World Editor: Henyee Translations May 1st, early morning. Hu Yao lightly counted her savings, left home early, and scooped a handful of water from a nearby stream to drink. ¡°Today¡¯s the gathering, but I wonder when that mysterious mentor will come.¡± ¡°If we miss it, it would be such a pity.¡± She glanced around to see no one was nearby. Finding a secluded path, she hurried into the depths of the forest. Deep in the dense woods, she found a large tree, climbed up, and chased away the squirrel hiding in the tree hole. She grabbed the pine nuts and dried fruits the squirrel had stored for winter and ate some. Feeling full, she lay at the depth of the tree hole and put on the bronze ghost mask. As her consciousness appeared on the Cloud Platform, across from her, the strong scholar was already leisurely shaking a folding fan. Murong Lang saw Hu Yao appear and spoke before she could ask, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting here since noon yesterday.¡± Hu Yao asked, ¡°Did your Thunder Butterfly successfully transform too?¡± Murong Lang nodded. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°After just feeding for ten days, my Thunder Butterfly successfully molted and reached the Fourth Transformation.¡± ¡°By the looks of it, your Power Gu must have transformed too.¡± Hu Yao spread her hands, and a bright red moth, like a flame, slowly appeared, spreading its wings between her fingers. After Hu Yao¡¯s Power Gu Butterfly Transformation, it resembled a moth more. Hu Yao felt inexplicably nervous, ¡°What Senior Taichu said, is it all true?¡± Murong Lang pondered for a moment and then said, ¡°Someone who can see through the existence of Gu wouldn¡¯t deceive us about such trivial matters.¡± ¡°Just like how an eagle flying in the sky has no reason to deceive an ant.¡± Hu Yao marveled, ¡°Who exactly is that senior?¡± Murong Lang shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve checked many records but found no mention of Taichu.¡± ¡°What I can determine is that he should be from a very long time ago, almost an existence close to the Dao, perhaps even an immortal.¡± ¡°I advise you not to inquire about this senior¡¯s identity.¡± ¡°It¡¯s very likely that a new game of chess has begun.¡± Hu Yao¡¯s body trembled inexplicably, a game of chess? A game in which the immortals above the heavens use all beings as their pieces? Murong Lang continued, ¡°You should understand that when we appear here again, we¡¯ve already become part of it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made your choice.¡± Hu Yao nodded slowly, realizing that being directly guided in Gu promotion and transformation was a gift she couldn¡¯t refuse. Even if it meant being a piece on Taichu¡¯s chessboard. The two fell into silence for a moment, then Hu Yao said, ¡°I wonder what Senior Taichu is doing, when he¡¯ll arrive.¡± Murong Lang didn¡¯t seem very concerned and sat quietly, ¡°I can wait here all day.¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, Chen Qing was skillfully flipping a fried egg in a pan, cooking the other side. ¡°Having an egg for breakfast is good for nutrition.¡± Next to the frying pan, Chen Qing placed two strips of bacon, sizzling with oil and giving off a mouthwatering aroma. With two buns and half a raw cabbage, Chen Qing ate heartily before heading out for work. As the sun was about to set, Chen Qing collected eight inferior Spirit Stones, returned to his dwelling, casually ate something, and then began to peruse ¡°Gu Promotion Hundred Solutions¡± again. Night fell, and outside, the cicadas and crickets chirped endlessly, some accompanied by the croak of frogs, then fell silent. Chen Qing unearthed the bronze ghost mask buried in the ground, spread out a black cloth wrap, settled in a sitting posture by his bed, and prepared to put on the bronze ghost mask. Wearing the bronze ghost mask, Chen Qing¡¯s consciousness once again appeared on the seat of the Cloud Platform. His gaze pierced through the mist on the ghost mask, scanning the surroundings to find the two people already seated in their previous positions. Chen Qing¡¯s appearance here was that of a figure in a black cloak. He raised his right hand, placed it on the table, and began tapping his index finger on the tabletop. ¡°Good evening.¡± Hu Yao quickly responded, ¡°Senior Taichu, good evening.¡± Murong Lang bowed his head in salutation, ¡°Respected Senior Taichu, welcome back to the gathering.¡± Hu Yao glanced awkwardly at Murong Lang; indeed, her father was right, scholars are skilled at deception! This guy was surprisingly polite! She cautiously looked at Chen Qing, relieved to find no changes in his demeanor. Murong Lang said, ¡°Unfortunately, the position of the mask¡¯s seat is fixed; otherwise, we should have invited you to sit at the head.¡± Chen Qing naturally shook his head, ¡°No need; I quite like this setting, where we all sit facing each other. It reminds me of the past.¡± He didn¡¯t inquire whether Murong Lang and Hu Yao¡¯s Gu had been upgraded, as if he knew they surely would. Hu Yao, no longer hesitating, displayed her Gu, ¡°Thanks to your guidance, senior, my Power Gu has undergone the Butterfly Transformation.¡± Chen Qing looked at the red moth, [Mortal Power Butterfly] Quality: First Transformation Life Span: 24/110 Effect: Strength of Nine Bulls and Two Tigers Trait: Tiger Shape, gaining double strength burst within ten breaths Growth Requirements: Foundation Establishment Tiger Demon Teeth Growth Progress: 0/100 (Awaiting Promotion) Promotion Requirements: Unable to promote It seemed that mortal-grade Gu could only undergo the Butterfly Transformation once; this was their extreme growth. The ability gained after the Power Gu Butterfly Transformation was extraordinary, allowing for a power burst effect. Combat is unlike farming; victory could be determined in an instant. Those ten breaths could indeed be a matter of life and death. Murong Lang also displayed his transformed Thunder Butterfly, ¡°Senior, my Thunder Butterfly has also successfully transformed.¡± [Mortal Thunder Butterfly] Quality: Fourth Transformation Life Span: 56/140 Effect: Call Lightning, converting Spiritual Energy to electricity; able to cast Palm Thunder. [Traits]: Lightning Control, partially immune to and control over lightning to a certain degree Growth Requirements: Thunder Cloud Mother Qi Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: Unable to further promote An additional ability was gained, able to cast Palm Thunder. Not sure what this Palm Thunder was or how to cast it. He sat squarely in his seat, ¡°I told you, it¡¯s a gift.¡± Undeniably. Murong Lang was silent, waiting for Hu Yao to ask. Hu Yao did not disappoint him, ¡°Senior Taichu, is there a chance for us to receive your guidance in the future?¡± Chen Qing thought, this little girl wasn¡¯t learning well, always thinking of getting something for nothing. ¡°Such karmic ties are beyond your current capacity.¡± Murong Lang appeared dejected, ¡°Is it the price we can¡¯t bear?¡± Once guided by this senior, they would inevitably be entwined in karmic ties with him. The karmic ties from this senior, even a slight involvement, they couldn¡¯t endure. Indeed, having received one gift was already a stroke of luck, how could it happen twice every month? Chen Qing saw the two were already captivated by his guidance but weren¡¯t coming to their senses. He said to himself, ¡°Everything that escapes must have its path.¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°Senior Taichu means that by elevating our Gu this way, we skip some processes, but the Spirit Stones saved must have a destination.¡± Murong Lang said, ¡°I see, the senior means for us to conduct a transaction, where the senior guides us and we provide¡­¡± He left his sentence unfinished; what could they offer? For a senior like this, ancient, perhaps even from antiquity, what could they possibly offer that he would deem worthy? Chen Qing remained silent, watching them converse without saying a word. Seeing they truly didn¡¯t get it, he continued spouting nonsense, ¡°Spirit Stones are the bridge between the immortal beings and this world.¡± Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12 And at this time Chapter 12: Chapter 12 And at this time Editor: Henyee Translations Hu Yao was stunned. Trading directly with Spirit Stones? Wouldn¡¯t that be too degrading for a senior? But aside from Spirit Stones, what else could they offer? Murong Lang, on the other hand, was overjoyed. Being able to continue receiving guidance was wonderful. However, a question arose in his mind, ¡°Senior, how many Spirit Stones do you think would be appropriate?¡± Hu Yao also looked over at Chen Qing, clearly very concerned about this matter. Chen Qing crossed his hands and smiled, ¡°Whatever, you can just discuss it among yourselves.¡± Murong Lang suddenly realized that the senior didn¡¯t care about their Spirit Stones at all! Senior Taichu was simply making it convenient for them! Hu Yao was equally excited. Whatever¡ªwhat did that mean? It meant that Senior Taichu didn¡¯t care at all how many Spirit Stones they could offer! As she was thinking that her future cultivation would be smooth sailing, she remembered one more thing. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Senior Taichu might not care about the amount of Spirit Stones they offered; what he might care about was their sincerity. She turned her gaze towards Murong Lang, clearly wanting to know what kind of price Murong Lang would propose. Murong Lang had no intention of speaking; at this moment, his mind was in a whirlwind of thoughts. What amount would be suitable? Senior Taichu didn¡¯t care about the amount; he cared about their sincerity. Finally, he fell silent, waiting for Hu Yao to propose a price. If Hu Yao proposed a price that angered the senior, he would quickly make amends. Hu Yao felt that she was about to break into a sweat. She tentatively asked, ¡°Is one-eighth okay?¡± Murong Lang immediately looked at Chen Qing, ready to speak up to salvage the situation at any sign of displeasure from Chen Qing. Seeing no reaction from Chen Qing, Hu Yao quickly added, ¡°It¡¯s like the Spirit Stones usually needed for a Gu to advance a stage, and we¡¯ll offer you one-eighth of that!¡± Chen Qing understood Hu Yao¡¯s meaning. Generally speaking, in this cultivation world where they had nurtured Gu for so long, there was a rough price for how many Spirit Stones were needed to advance a stage. For example, Hu Yao¡¯s Power Gu typically required around ten thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones for an advancement. It could be a bit more than ten thousand or a bit less. According to what Hu Yao meant, she would offer Chen Qing twelve hundred and fifty lower-grade Spirit Stones, and then Chen Qing would give her guidance. That price, Chen Qing could accept. But he considered that he still wanted them to grow, to earn more Spirit Stones. He couldn¡¯t make it appear that he needed Spirit Stones. With that in mind, Chen Qing calmly said, ¡°One-tenth.¡± Murong Lang¡¯s folding fan fell to the ground. Although the difference between ten and eight wasn¡¯t huge, to them, it meant eight times the growth compared to ordinary people, and ten times the growth! Think about it, ordinary people needed to spend ten thousand Spirit Stones to make their Gu advance, while they only needed to pay one-tenth of the cost! That was only a thousand Spirit Stones! What concept was this? Senior Taichu truly didn¡¯t care about Spirit Stones; this was just an excuse to help them. Murong Lang was worried that Hu Yao, not understanding, would raise the price and offend Chen Qing, so he hurriedly said, ¡°Senior, it takes about two hundred Spirit Stones for my Thunder Butterfly to advance from the Fourth Transformation to the Fifth. I am willing to offer twenty Spirit Stones for your guidance!¡± Chen Qing¡¯s heart was raging with anger. I worked so hard to pretend for so long, and you offer just twenty Spirit Stones, like throwing coins to a beggar? But then he saw those twenty Spirit Stones and immediately calmed down. Those were twenty mid-grade Spirit Stones! One mid-grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for one hundred lower-grade Spirit Stones, meaning two thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones! No wonder they said that a sword Gu cost one hundred sixty Spirit Stones that day. It turned out that this scholar¡¯s place typically traded in mid-grade Spirit Stones! I¡¯m rich! I¡¯m rich! This time I¡¯m truly rich! Murong Lang respectfully placed twenty mid-grade Spirit Stones in front of Chen Qing, who didn¡¯t even glance at them, and said, ¡°Thunder Cloud Mother Qi.¡± Murong Lang bowed his hands in thanks, ¡°Thank you, Senior, for your guidance!¡± Seeing that Murong Lang had received guidance, Hu Yao didn¡¯t wait any longer. She took out ten mid-grade Spirit Stones, placed them in front of Chen Qing with both hands, and said, ¡°Please guide me, Senior.¡± Chen Qing calmly responded, ¡°Foundation Establishment tiger demon tooth.¡± Hu Yao laughed charmingly, ¡°Thank you, Senior.¡± Foundation Establishment tiger demon teeth might be difficult for others to obtain, but for Hu Yao, wasn¡¯t that a piece of cake? She would just go home and ask her dad if his tooth hurt. With the transaction complete, everyone was momentarily at a loss for words until Chen Qing suggested, ¡°You can start exchanging ideas now.¡± Hu Yao then remembered there was still one business deal left unfinished, ¡°The matter of the sword Gu might take a while, I need to find the right opportunity.¡± Murong Lang nodded, and at this time, the sword Gu was no longer urgent for him; being able to attend this gathering was what he felt was most important. ¡°No rush, consolidate your position for a while and don¡¯t take risks.¡± Seeing that Murong Lang was not in a hurry, Hu Yao felt reassured. With Senior Taichu joining this gathering, everyone participating would be different. She had to seize this opportunity! Murong Lang inquired a bit more about how to use the sword Gu, and Hu Yao gave some simple explanations. ¡°The use of the sword Gu still requires guidance from the sword scripture.¡± ¡°The sword Gu needs to be paired with special Swordsmanship.¡± ¡°If the Swordsmanship is not available, its power will be significantly diminished.¡± ¡°However, that item cannot be easily obtained as it is a secret not passed on within a sect.¡± This was the first time Chen Qing had heard of such a thing as the sword scripture, and it was said that Wuyou Mountain had a precious sword scripture in the Mountain Master¡¯s possession. Except for gaining the Mountain Master¡¯s approval, there was no other way to learn it. The two chatted for a while longer, and Chen Qing, seeing they had nothing more to say, concluded, ¡°Then today¡¯s gathering is over.¡± Murong Lang and Hu Yao stood up and respectfully said, ¡°We look forward to seeing you again.¡± Hu Yao reached up to remove the mask from her face. The smell of squirrels in the tree hole always made her feel hungry. However, she ultimately didn¡¯t catch any squirrels to roast and eat. They had too little meat. She decided to catch some fat ground rats to fill her stomach. In Thunder Land, Murong Lang took off his mask and stepped out of the quiet room. He looked at the child waiting outside the door, ¡°Have you heard the legend of Taichu?¡± The child was perplexed, ¡°Sir, what is Taichu?¡± Murong Lang smiled and shook his head, reaching out to rub the child¡¯s head before turning to leave, speaking in a voice only he could hear, ¡°Someday, you will hear of it.¡± A moment later, he clapped his hand to his forehead, ¡°Darn it, I was too excited earlier and forgot to get a definite time from Senior Taichu!¡± ¡°Next time I go, I must mention it to the senior.¡± As for Red Lotus, he didn¡¯t have any expectations. That girl seemed like a reckless and impulsive person, missing a few brain cells. And at this time, the original host of this gathering, the branch leader of the Jiguang Cult, referred to by Murong Lang and Hu Yao, was battling against a fierce storm. Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13 All Materials Ready! Chapter 13: Chapter 13 All Materials Ready! Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` ¡°I¡¯ve struck it rich!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve struck it rich!¡± When Chen Qing removed his mask, those thirty pieces of medium-grade spirit stones appeared right in front of him. He grabbed them into his arms, overjoyed. How many spirit stones was this? In his hand, there were a full thirty medium-grade spirit stones! Converted, that¡¯s three thousand low-grade spirit stones! It would take him almost two years of work to save up that amount! Look at each one, full and jade-like, each one larger than a low-grade spirit stone, about the size of a grape! Overnight riches, overnight riches! Tomorrow, he would go into town to buy the materials needed for Grass Treasure¡¯s Butterfly Transformation! Chen Qing lay on his bed, looking at the Grass Spirit Gu crawling on his chest, ¡°Grass Treasure, with me, you¡¯re really in for a treat!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 The Grass Spirit Gu lost its grip and rolled off his chest, falling onto the bed. The next day, Chen Qing did not take on any work, intending to let Grass Treasure rest well for a day in preparation for its promotion. He had to keep Grass Treasure in the best condition! At night, Chen Qing changed into his specially made Wuyou Mountain disciple robe and followed a patrol group of Wuyou Mountain disciples to the market at the foot of the mountain. Entering the marketplace, Chen Qing found a latrine, took off his clothes, reversed them into a black outfit, and then put on a black cloak. Only then did he prepare to buy Earth Mother Spirit Liquid and Soul Stealing Flower. Best not to flaunt wealth. What¡¯s more, this wealth was acquired in a somewhat unspeakable manner. He couldn¡¯t let others know. In the darkness, wearing a black cloak, his face was not very visible. Chen Qing did not go searching among the street stalls, too many tracks might expose him, so he went straight to Wanbao Pavilion. He was a wealthy man now, not caring about those spirit stones. Besides, Grass Treasure¡¯s promotion was a big matter, so it had to be handled seriously. Buying from Wanbao Pavilion would give him peace of mind. Arriving at Wanbao Pavilion¡¯s entrance, just as Chen Qing was about to enter, an old cultivator in black clothes waved at him, ¡°Buying materials?¡± ¡°I have some cheap ones over here!¡± The old cultivator said this and pointed to a dark alley far away. Chen Qing shook his head, ¡°Not going.¡± Hard to say, it might be robbery! Even if it wasn¡¯t, what if their materials had problems and my Grass Treasure suffered? That would ruin everything! Seeing Chen Qing not going, the old cultivator continued to quietly call out, ¡°Everything we have is good stuff, you won¡¯t lose out!¡± Seeing the old cultivator pestering endlessly, Chen Qing said, ¡°If you call again, I¡¯ll call for help!¡± Only then did the old cultivator stop and walk towards an alley behind. Chen Qing cursed silently, he didn¡¯t look like a good person, and strode into Wanbao Pavilion. The attendant guarding the counter had been dozing off, but upon seeing Chen Qing¡¯s outfit, he immediately understood that business had arrived. Generally, those dressed like this didn¡¯t want their identity known. This was a big deal! He suddenly perked up, ¡°This guest, what would you like?¡± Chen Qing directly asked, ¡°Do you have Soul Stealing Flowers and Earth Mother Spirit Liquid?¡± The attendant smiled, ¡°Ah, what a coincidence, we¡¯ve always had Earth Mother Spirit Liquid, and recently got a batch of premium Soul Stealing Flowers.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Bring out the Soul Stealing Flower for a look.¡± The attendant quickly retrieved three Soul Stealing Flowers from the storeroom in the back, the petal on the flower in the center was very thick and looked substantial. ¡°How much is this one?¡± The attendant smiled, ¡°The guest has good taste, you have an eye for the best one at first sight.¡± ¡°This one is one thousand two hundred spirit stones.¡± Chen Qing exclaimed, ¡°That expensive?¡± The attendant pointed to a Soul Stealing Flower nearby, ¡°This one is cheaper, only nine hundred spirit stones.¡± After much hesitation, Chen Qing, now a wealthy person, decided not to be too frugal. Troubles could arise from being cheap. ¡°I¡¯ll take this one for one thousand two hundred spirit stones, and pack me seven drops of Earth Mother Spirit Liquid.¡± The attendant immediately grinned from ear to ear, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wrap them up for you, totaling one thousand seven hundred sixty spirit stones!¡± Chen Qing took out eighteen medium-grade spirit stones, ¡°Can you make change?¡± The attendant smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we have change.¡± Carrying his purchases, Chen Qing quickly walked out of Wanbao Pavilion, took another stroll on the street, went into an empty latrine, changed back into his Wuyou Mountain disciple robe, and stuffed his things back into his arms before heading back indifferently. On the road, Chen Qing walked faster than usual, fearing someone might jump out to rob him. When he returned to his own cave, he breathed a sigh of relief three times, and patted his chest with his hand. ¡°That was thrilling!¡± He sat by the bed for a while and released Grass Treasure, who was lively and bouncing on the table, to his delight. ¡°Very good, very lively!¡± ¡°Now is the time to slowly feed it the promotion materials.¡± He placed the Soul Stealing Flower on the table and directed the Grass Treasure, hungry for a day, to eat. After eating a third, Grass Treasure¡¯s consciousness no longer involved eating, and Chen Qing commanded it to stop. In the following days, Chen Qing still took jobs, but only one or two acres a day, ensuring Grass Treasure wasn¡¯t exhausted. After work, he discussed music theory with Wang Ye. The news of Grass Treasure¡¯s promotion was definitely going to spread, and it was his livelihood; hiding it wasn¡¯t appropriate either. To protect his secret, it involved some hardship for Brother Wang. His Grass Spirit Gu¡¯s promotion needed a plausible reason. He decided he would report to the sect saying it was a natural promotion; if the sect sought the reason, they would naturally find it in Wang Ye¡¯s fields. After five days of feeding, all the promotion materials were completely digested, and Chen Qing eagerly watched Grass Treasure, somewhat lazy on the table. Green, plump. With the last bit of Earth Mother Spirit Liquid digested, Chen Qing suddenly felt Grass Treasure¡¯s spirituality start to soar, beginning to spin silk around itself. A circle of green silk threads came out of Grass Treasure¡¯s mouth, enveloping it and gradually forming a green cocoon. After the cocoon formed, a circle of barbs suspiciously resembling a defense mechanism slowly emerged. ¡°According to the book, after the cocoon is completed, it can be retrieved, and a place with high spiritual energy concentration should be found.¡± ¡°The book says dense spirit stones would do.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s no rush now, a more important matter needs attention first!¡± Chen Qing left his cave, looked at the thick night outside, and began shouting loudly, ¡°Something¡¯s wrong!¡± After a few shouts, feigning urgency, he rushed toward the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s residence. Arriving outside the Elder¡¯s house, he knocked hard on the door, ¡°Elder, are you there?¡± ¡°Hey, Elder, are you there?¡± After a while, a child came to open the door, ¡°It¡¯s Brother Chen Qing, is there something wrong?¡± Chen Qing anxiously said, ¡°My Gu has something wrong, please get the Spirit Plant Elder!¡± Hearing this, the child became anxious too, as Chen Qing treated him well, often bringing him snacks. ¡°I¡¯ll report immediately!¡± Shortly, the Spirit Plant Elder came hurriedly, ¡°Chen Qing, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your Gu?¡± ¡°` Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14: The Mountain Master Has Not Arrived, But the Beauty Trap Has Chapter 14: Chapter 14: The Mountain Master Has Not Arrived, But the Beauty Trap Has Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` The Spirit Plant Elder actually quite admired Chen Qing; this disciple was different from the others. Most other disciples took jobs elsewhere and rarely came to the sect¡¯s Spirit Plant Garden. Chen Qing was different; he came at least five days a month, sometimes spending ten days here. In his view, Chen Qing was loyal to the sect, much more dependable than those ungrateful disciples. So upon hearing that Chen Qing¡¯s Gu had an issue, he didn¡¯t put on any airs as an elder and came directly to see for himself. Chen Qing hurriedly opened his hand, showing the cocoon resting there to the Spirit Plant Elder. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, my Gu suddenly turned into this tonight!¡± ¡°Elder, could it be that its life span has ended?¡± ¡°What should I do!¡± The Spirit Plant Elder was already anxious and, upon seeing the cocoon in Chen Qing¡¯s hand, his excitement surged, his entire face flushed with excitement. He laughed: ¡°It¡¯s going to transform into a butterfly, wonderful, truly wonderful!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing feigned bewilderment, ¡°Butterfly Transformation, is it about to advance?¡± The Spirit Plant Elder stroked his beard and smiled, ¡°Precisely, it¡¯s going to transform into a butterfly. You¡¯re quite fortunate to have stumbled into this unexpectedly!¡± ¡°It seems your Gu was at the Ninth Transformation when you first made a contract with it, and it likely encountered some advancement materials by chance. That¡¯s why it¡¯s advancing.¡± Chen Qing feigned complete ignorance and asked, ¡°So what should I do now?¡± The Spirit Plant Elder said, ¡°Place it in a pile of Spirit Stones, wait patiently, and do not disturb it. Let it focus.¡± Chen Qing bowed his hands, ¡°Thank you, Elder, I¡¯ll go back and place it in the Spirit Stone pile now!¡± The Spirit Plant Elder stopped Chen Qing, ¡°Wait, you¡¯ve come all this way, and returning will waste time, easily causing trouble. Let it transform here in my place.¡± ¡°Child, quickly prepare a fine guest room and bring over three hundred Spirit Stones!¡± The child promptly went to attend to it upon hearing this. The Spirit Plant Elder reached out to hold Chen Qing¡¯s hand, ¡°Chen Qing, rest assured, let it transform here. With me around, I can help keep an eye on it to prevent any mishaps.¡± Chen Qing naturally understood the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s intentions. Within a hundred-mile radius of Wuyou Mountain, only Xiao Zhong and the Spirit Plant Elder had a Grass Spirit Gu that had undergone the Gu Butterfly Transformation. Xiao Zhong, however, did not accept the sect¡¯s invitation and only became a Guest Elder, not joining the Spirit Plant Hall with the Spirit Plant Elder. This was not surprising, as the rate of earning in the sect couldn¡¯t match that of the outside world. Now, with Chen Qing¡¯s Gu about to transform into a butterfly, Wuyou Mountain was about to have a third cultivator with a Grass Spirit Butterfly. This caused a slight shift in the dynamics among the Grass Spirit Gu cultivators. Regardless, winning over Chen Qing would be beneficial. After the child finished the preparations, the Spirit Plant Elder led Chen Qing to the guest room prepared for him, which was furnished lavishly with three-hundred-year-old hardwood furniture. On the redwood table in the center of the room lay a large jade plate, filled with over three hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. The Spirit Plant Elder said, ¡°Chen Qing, place your Grass Spirit Gu on the jade plate now.¡± Chen Qing did as instructed, placing the cocoon of his Grass Spirit Gu in the center of the jade plate. The Spirit Plant Elder continued, ¡°During the Grass Spirit Gu¡¯s advancement, it requires a lot of Spiritual Energy, and it will absorb the Spiritual Energy from this jade plate.¡± Chen Qing smiled sheepishly, bowing and saying, ¡°Thank you, Elder, if not for your guidance, I would have been so worried, completely not knowing any of this.¡± The Spirit Plant Elder waved his hand with a smile, ¡°No problem, it¡¯s just basic knowledge.¡± ¡°Tonight, I will stay here and watch over your Grass Spirit Gu with you to prevent any unexpected incidents. If all is well, I will report to the Mountain Master in the morning.¡± After thanking once more, the two of them stayed to guard the place. After two full hours, the cocoon began to gradually absorb the spiritual energy around it. Seeing that there were no unexpected incidents and everything seemed normal, the Spirit Plant Elder then said, ¡°Chen Qing, from now on, your status will be different.¡± ¡°You will be the third cultivator on Wuyou Mountain to have a Grass Spirit Butterfly!¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°What¡¯s so special about that?¡± The Spirit Plant Elder explained, ¡°Of course it¡¯s special, on the whole of Wuyou Mountain, only Xiao Zhong and I have a Grass Spirit Butterfly!¡± ¡°But things will be different now, you will be the third!¡± ¡°Though Xiao Zhong dislikes the sect¡¯s restrictions and hasn¡¯t taken a position within it.¡± ¡°As for you, what do you plan to do in the future?¡± Chen Qing didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately said what he¡¯d planned to say all along, ¡°As the disciple fortunate enough to receive the sect¡¯s cultivation, I naturally listen to the Elder¡¯s instructions!¡± He earned money not solely relying on the Grass Spirit Butterfly; he could also earn it within gatherings. Besides gatherings, he planned to secretly cultivate a few production-type Gu and make money discreetly. Moreover, his current safety was very insecure, as he had nothing except for a single Grass Spirit Butterfly. His sword was rusty. Taking a position within the sect would greatly increase his safety. Wuyou Mountain was still peaceful for now; he just needed to hold fast to the sect¡¯s protection. Secretly growing, without drawing attention. The Spirit Plant Elder was delighted upon hearing this, ¡°Then when the Mountain Master asks tomorrow, just agree to join the Spirit Plant Hall.¡± ¡°After your Gu transforms into a butterfly successfully, I will seek a promising future for you from the Mountain Master!¡± Chen Qing thanked again, feigning a look of being moved, ¡°All thanks to the Elder¡¯s cultivation!¡± As the moonlight grew brighter outside, the Spirit Plant Elder heaped more praise upon Chen Qing. The two stayed up all night, and when morning came, the child brought food, and the two quickly ate. The Spirit Plant Elder said, ¡°Chen Qing, stay at my place for the next few days, should you lack Spirit Stones, ask my child here, don¡¯t hesitate, to avoid delaying your Gu¡¯s advancement!¡± ¡°I will go to inform the Mountain Master now, while you stay here guarding your Gu, do you understand?¡± Chen Qing put down his chopsticks, ¡°Understood.¡± After the Spirit Plant Elder left, Chen Qing, watching the smiling child beside him, fished a low-grade Spirit Stone from his pocket and slipped it into the child¡¯s hand, ¡°Go play.¡± The child happily left, ¡°Senior Brother, just call me if you need anything, I¡¯ll be in the courtyard outside.¡± Chen Qing sat by the table, watching as another Spirit Stone in the jade plate turned into an ordinary stone, he thought to himself: The next step is getting through to the Mountain Master. After waiting a while, the Mountain Master didn¡¯t arrive, but a beautiful senior sister with a great figure did. This senior sister wore an elegant long robe, with a water-green sword at her waist, a melon-seed-shaped face, and a red tear mole at the corner of her eye. Upon seeing Chen Qing, she showed no particular expression, just extreme calmness. She entered Chen Qing¡¯s room, picked up a leftover bun from Chen Qing and the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s meal, didn¡¯t speak a word to Chen Qing, and turned to leap onto the wall. In the morning twilight, the well-shaped beautiful senior sister sat tilted on the wall, one hand holding the sword, the other holding a bun, taking small bites. Observing her familiarity with the child, Chen Qing guessed this was the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s sword-learning granddaughter. The Mountain Master hadn¡¯t arrived yet, but here came the beauty strategy! ¡°` Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Wuyou Mountain Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Wuyou Mountain Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Seeing her on the wall, keeping watch, Chen Qing guessed that the Spirit Plant Elder had her there to guard him. The Spirit Plant Elder had never gotten along well with her granddaughter. Who told her she shouldn¡¯t have chosen to learn swordsmanship? Unwilling to let her go out adventuring, they had no choice but to keep her at home. But keeping her at home all the time was truly not cheap in terms of cultivation expenses. Now, seeing that Chen Qing was about to have a Grass Spirit Butterfly, they started planning. After all, the girl had grown up, and keeping her at home was not a long-term solution. That Xiao Zhong had three concubines, and with a Grass Spirit Butterfly, they could easily supply resources for both their cultivation. Actually, it was not a bad idea. After all, the senior sister was quite pleasing to the eye. When she reached for the steamed bun, the fragrance wafted through the air. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï But who knows what her temperament was like. Right now, she appeared very much like someone who didn¡¯t want strangers to approach. It was actually good; if she got along with everyone easily, Chen Qing would feel a bit uncomfortable. Sneaking a few glances at the dashing senior sister, the voice of the Spirit Plant Elder rose from outside. ¡°Yes, Mountain Master, it started transforming into a butterfly last night. I was worried something might go wrong, so I kept watch all night.¡± ¡°As it stands, everything appears to be going very well, no problems whatsoever.¡± As a middle-aged man wearing a sky-blue Daoist robe stepped into the courtyard, the beautiful senior sister jumped down from the wall, ¡°Greetings, Mountain Master.¡± The Mountain Master seemed only around forty, his face stern like unyielding ice. In Chen Qing¡¯s memory, the Mountain Master always appeared this way, as if he had weathered many storms in the past. But according to rumors, the Mountain Master was actually close to a hundred years old. The reason he still looked middle-aged was because he was a great cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm! Seeing Yu Qingshuang, the Mountain Master finally showed a slight change in his expression, revealing an extremely awkward smile, ¡°Shuang¡¯er, your skills are impressive, it seems you¡¯ve been very diligent in your cultivation lately.¡± Yu Qingshuang bowed her head and clasped her hands, ¡°Thank you for the praise, Mountain Master.¡± The Mountain Master did not say much more and walked directly over to Chen Qing, squeezing his arm, ¡°Hmm, solid.¡± He didn¡¯t ask about the Grass Spirit Gu Butterfly Transformation, ¡°What have you been eating regularly?¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°Living alone, I just make do with whatever¡¯s convenient.¡± The Mountain Master said, ¡°Young people, you should eat seriously. Remember, you are still in Qi Refinement.¡± Chen Qing clasped his hands, ¡°I will heed the Mountain Master¡¯s teachings.¡± The Mountain Master stepped into the room to check on the progress of the Grass Spirit Butterfly, nodding with great satisfaction, ¡°Excellent!¡± ¡°Very good!¡± ¡°Very good!¡± Production disciples are the backbone of any sect. Without production disciples, one would have to rely solely on fighting and killing to earn cultivation resources. A single mishap could mean utter destruction. And having a production disciple with a Butterfly Gu was the core strength of a sect. The appearance of any production disciple with a Butterfly Gu was good news for the entire sect. At least, the disciples knew their cultivation resources were secured. One might say that every production cultivator possessing a Butterfly Gu was a treasure to the sect. After inspecting the Grass Spirit Gu undergoing the Butterfly Transformation, the Mountain Master asked, ¡°Chen Qing, what are your plans once your Gu Butterfly Transformation is complete?¡± Chen Qing respectfully clasped his hands and said, ¡°I await the Mountain Master¡¯s and Elder¡¯s guidance!¡± The Mountain Master chuckled, ¡°I asked what your plans were, not what my arrangements are!¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°I was brought here by Elder Chen. If Wuyou Mountain hadn¡¯t rescued me from the war, there wouldn¡¯t be a Chen Qing today.¡± ¡°I am willing to follow the Mountain Master¡¯s and the Elder¡¯s instructions!¡± The Mountain Master pondered for a moment, ¡°Is that so?¡± He turned his head, ¡°Old Yu, let¡¯s have Old Chen join us tonight for a drink amongst our old friends.¡± The Spirit Plant Elder laughed heartily, ¡°Old Chen would laugh till he fell over. Mountain Master, you can¡¯t hide the good wine this time.¡± After praising Chen Qing a little more, the Mountain Master and Spirit Plant Elder left. At noon, a child brought a sumptuous meal, which wasn¡¯t just for one person; it seemed that the pretty senior sister would join as well. This senior sister was reportedly only twenty-three this year. As the child brought in platter after platter of fine dishes, Chen Qing pondered whether to invite the senior sister, who was on the wall keeping guard, when he heard a hearty laugh. ¡°Hahaha, I smelled this delicious aroma from afar!¡± ¡°Could it be Granny Yu¡¯s craftsmanship?¡± Chen Qing looked toward the door, seeing a young man in his twenties. This man was burly, commanding respect without being angry, with thick eyebrows and bright eyes, appearing very valiant. It was the Mountain Master¡¯s grandson, Ye Yuntian! At Wuyou Mountain, he was known as a dragon among men, already at the ninth level of Qi Refinement at such a young age, one step away from Foundation Establishment! Grass Spirit Gu transforming into a butterfly, elevating even the chickens and dogs. Now, even someone like this dragon among men wanted to make friends with him. Yu Qingshuang, on the wall, rolled her eyes at him, ¡°Here to scrounge food and drink again.¡± Ye Yuntian laughed heartily, ¡°Not this time. I heard my sister Shuang¡¯er got enlightened and hid a handsome lad.¡± ¡°I came specifically to see what kind of handsome man has caught my sister Shuang¡¯er¡¯s fancy!¡± Hearing this, Yu Qingshuang immediately got angry, her pretty face turning icy. She drew her sword and leapt down from the wall, thrusting it at Ye Yuntian! Ye Yuntian was unafraid, deftly turning to avoid the strike, catching the sword edge between his fingers, ¡°Sister Shuang¡¯er, don¡¯t be angry. Brother was just joking.¡± Chen Qing hurried out the door, ¡°Greetings, Senior Brother.¡± Ye Yuntian laughed heartily, ¡°No need to be so formal, Junior Brother, we¡¯re all fellow disciples!¡± ¡°I was passing by and caught the aroma of food. I thought I¡¯d come over for a meal. You wouldn¡¯t mind, would you, Junior Brother?¡± Chen Qing smiled and said, ¡°As long as Senior Brother is here, there¡¯s plenty of food and drink; it¡¯s just that these days are rather crucial, and it¡¯s not convenient to drink alcohol.¡± Ye Yuntian chuckled at this, ¡°Hahaha, once this period is over, I¡¯ll host a feast for you at the Bright Moon Tower, and we won¡¯t leave until we¡¯re thoroughly drunk!¡± Upon hearing the words ¡°Bright Moon Tower,¡± Yu Qingshuang visibly showed some displeasure, snorting coldly, ¡°So typical!¡± Chen Qing smiled, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble Senior Brother.¡± As the three dined, Yu Qingshuang finished her meal hastily and left, while Ye Yuntian showed no modesty, thoroughly enjoying the meal. At the table, Ye Yuntian asked, ¡°What kind of place would you like for your residence, Junior Brother? Let me arrange one for you on the mountainside.¡± The elite disciples of Wuyou Mountain all lived on the mountainside; as for the mountaintop, that was where the sect¡¯s grand hall was. Chen Qing wanted exactly that, living on the mountainside, surrounded by many senior brothers from the War Affairs Hall with high cultivation, and no one would dare to cause trouble. Even if an evil cultivator appeared, it would be the senior brothers and sisters on the lower mountain who would encounter the trouble first. That¡¯s the advantage of joining a sect and holding a role within the sect. ¡°I like caves, preferably stone ones!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always lived in a cave, allowing the Grass Spirit Gu to be upgraded. I think it¡¯s used to it as well.¡± Ye Yuntian thought for a moment, ¡°That¡¯s fine. Since you like it, I¡¯ll open up a cave next to my residence, and I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re satisfied!¡± Living next to Ye Yuntian wasn¡¯t a bad idea; after all, his cultivation was the highest among the younger generation, providing a sense of security. After all, they wouldn¡¯t know what he was doing at home. ¡°` Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Traits! Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Traits! Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` After dinner, Ye Yuntian left. Chen Qing sat by the table, propping his chin with both hands, quietly waiting for the transformation of Grass Treasure. He didn¡¯t know what changes might occur after the transformation, hoping the range would expand some more. Hopefully, around twenty acres! He couldn¡¯t guess the traits; these things varied too much. Normally, the promotion materials could offer some clues, but there were too few references for the Gu Butterfly Transformation of Grass Spirit Gu in this area, making it hard to guess. Chen Qing wasn¡¯t in a hurry, as he could always cultivate other types of production Gu insects. In the afternoon, the Spirit Plant Elder returned and gave Chen Qing a piece of paper, asking him to write a list of friends. This was to prepare a feast! The transformation of a Gu insect into a butterfly was a big event, and friends should be invited to share in the joy. Chen Qing thought for a long time and finally only came up with Li He, Wang Ye, and Zhou Ke. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï These three were the only ones he was slightly familiar with. Naturally, the elders had to be invited; this was without a doubt. Elder Chen and the Guardian Elder were among them. Ye Yuntian also needed to be invited; now that his status was different, having a good relationship with Ye Yuntian was always beneficial. Moreover, Ye Yuntian was a generous person with a chivalrous spirit; he was someone worth befriending. Seeing Chen Qing¡¯s list, the Spirit Plant Elder said, ¡°Your place is too small, and it wouldn¡¯t accommodate everyone. Let¡¯s host it at my place instead.¡± Chen Qing naturally understood the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s intention¡ªthis was to label him as part of the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s faction in the future. However, he didn¡¯t mind, as he was previously alone. ¡°Leave the arrangements to me; just make sure to send the invitations to your friends after your Gu insect completes its butterfly transformation.¡± Although Chen Qing wanted to decline the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s kindness, he couldn¡¯t resist the fact that Senior Sister Yu Qingshuang was indeed beautiful! ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave everything to you, Elder.¡± At night, under the watchful eyes of Chen Qing and the Spirit Plant Elder, the cocoon absorbed the spiritual energy of dozens of Spirit Stones and suddenly showed signs of loosening. The insides swelled, causing the cocoon shell to protrude various bumps. With a pop, the cocoon cracked open, and a plump green butterfly emerged. It stretched its four wings vigorously, unfurling its entire body. Feeling the changes, Yu Qingshuang leaped down from the wall to witness this enthralling magical moment. The transformation into a butterfly was successful! Chen Qing watched the subtly elegant and beautiful Grass Spirit Butterfly, its wings shimmering with dots of fluorescent light, with blue spots and patterns forming a masterpiece of nature¡¯s artistry. Extraordinarily cute. [Mortal Grade Grass Spirit Butterfly] Quality: First Transformation Life Span: 42/110 Effect: Manage Gu Spirit Grass over a fifteen-acre area, enhancing growth speed and quality Trait: Can tend to grassy spirit plants and enhance their growth speed Growth Requirements: Ghost Locust Flower Honey Growth Degree: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: Unable to promote further The Spirit Plant Elder immediately stood up and said, ¡°Chen Qing, I¡¯ll handle the banquet arrangements. You stay here and take a good look at the Grass Spirit Butterfly¡¯s changes.¡± This was to let him perceive the traits of the Grass Spirit Butterfly. The Spirit Plant Elder left with Yu Qingshuang, leaving Chen Qing to observe carefully. Chen Qing thought to himself that he didn¡¯t need to perceive it; he already knew. However, he still allowed the Grass Spirit Butterfly to merge into his body for a careful examination. In the consciousness of the Grass Spirit Butterfly, it flew around various types of grassy spirit plants, causing them to experience some changes. Within them, Chen Qing saw Spirit Ginseng! This was a crucial point! Spirit Ginseng was a key ingredient in ginseng wine, an essential need for cultivators! Early the next morning, just after Chen Qing woke up, the Spirit Plant Elder hurriedly arrived, ¡°Chen Qing, have you sensed any changes in your Grass Spirit Butterfly?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Its range seems to have expanded, and I sensed it flying among various spirit grasses.¡± ¡°Among these spirit grasses, there seems to be Spirit Ginseng.¡± The Spirit Plant Elder excitedly said, ¡°You mean Spirit Ginseng?¡± Chen Qing nodded. The Spirit Plant Elder excitedly pulled Chen Qing, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s try it out.¡± After experimenting in the spiritual field, they indeed managed to tend to various grassy spirit plants and even revitalized the Spirit Ginseng in the sect¡¯s spiritual field. The Spirit Plant Elder laughed heartily, ¡°Great, great, Chen Qing rest assured, I will ensure the Mountain Master gives you a satisfactory reward!¡± ¡°The range is approximately fifteen acres.¡± ¡°It seems we¡¯ll need to gather a group of disciples to plant Spirit Ginseng because what¡¯s here is not enough.¡± ¡°Also, more sword heart grass should be planted; sword Gu sometimes require it, and we have many disciples who practice sword techniques at Wuyou Mountain.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll report to the Mountain Master now, and during this time, you can stay at my place. Once Ye Yuntian arranges a place for you on the mountainside, you can move to your new cave abode.¡± At night, the Spirit Plant Elder returned, drunk, and after Yu Qingshuang helped him drink two bowls of sobering soup, he called Chen Qing to his side. ¡°The Mountain Master, Elder Chen, and I have already discussed it.¡± ¡°From now on, you will serve as the Deputy Hall Master at the Spirit Plant Hall.¡± ¡°The sect will open up an additional one hundred twenty acres of spiritual fields, with one hundred acres for Spirit Ginseng and twenty acres for sword heart grass, all under your management.¡± ¡°I have agreed with the Mountain Master that your annual offering cannot be less than eight thousand Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°If he doesn¡¯t agree, Elder Chen and I will confront him!¡± ¡°Also, due to the increased size of the spiritual fields, the Spirit Plant Hall will hire three more people to work under you, responsible for the daily management of the spiritual fields, with an annual salary of eight hundred Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°Find three trustworthy individuals¡­¡± Yu Qingshuang, standing nearby, expressed her discontent, ¡°At your age, you still drink so much.¡± The Spirit Plant Elder waved his hand dismissively, ¡°No problem, I¡¯m happy today!¡± Chen Qing was emotionally stirred by this appointment. He had not expected to directly become a Deputy Hall Master. Currently, the Spirit Plant Hall had always been managed by the Spirit Plant Elder but did not have a Hall Master! As the Deputy Hall Master, wasn¡¯t he the Hall Master? Chen Qing understood that this was the sect¡¯s opportunity for him to ascend in status in the future. Simply put, in all of Wuyou Mountain, only three people possessed the Grass Spirit Gu capable of butterfly transformation. Xiao Zhong was uncooperative, leaving only him. Plus, with his clean background, he could be considered almost a direct disciple of the sect, with no influential backing except for Wuyou Mountain. With the position of Deputy Hall Master, he entered the core of Wuyou Mountain. Even in major matters, he had a certain voice. And with this appointment, Chen Qing was firmly tied to Wuyou Mountain. However, Chen Qing didn¡¯t mind much, as higher status meant greater security and more attention from Wuyou Mountain. He was more of a homebody and didn¡¯t enjoy adventurous pursuits, which was quite nice. Now, he truly had reached the apex by association. Chen Qing stepped back three paces, bowed deeply, ¡°Disciple thanks the Elder for his guidance!¡± The Spirit Plant Elder waved his hand, ¡°Go on now, your Gu insect has just transformed into a butterfly; it needs care.¡± Chen Qing returned to the guest room, and as the Spirit Plant Elder and Yu Qingshuang left, he suddenly became exhilarated, without a trace of intoxication, ¡°Shuang¡¯er, I have troubled myself much for your sake.¡± ¡°` Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Banquet Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Banquet Editor: Henyee Translations For the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s scheme, Chen Qing did not feel too repulsed. In the previous life, he worked hard to earn money, and it took decades to pay off the house. After the house was paid off, there was the car money. Once the car was paid off, there were the dowry and bride price. Now, he had a stable position, with three people to order around, earning over eight thousand Spirit Stones a year. The Elder seemed to be secretly trying to match his granddaughter with Chen Qing. Thinking of Yu Qingshuang¡¯s impressive figure, gritting his teeth, it wasn¡¯t unbearable, he could make it work. The only problem might be that Chen Qing couldn¡¯t beat Yu Qingshuang at the moment. Who knows who would be on top in such a situation at home¡­ Hiss¡­ Chen Qing, oh Chen Qing, you¡¯ve fallen! You were supposed to be a promising young man working towards Foundation Establishment! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Although having a partner and reaching Foundation Establishment don¡¯t conflict with each other! Amid all sorts of thoughts, Chen Qing fell asleep. Three days later, under the sound of a string of firecrackers, numerous disciples and elders of Wuyou Mountain gathered at the courtyard of the Spirit Plant Elder. Elder Chen and the Spirit Plant Elder were particularly delighted. Both of their faces were flushed from drinking, introducing Chen Qing to the other elders as if he were their family¡¯s brilliant young talent. The familiar laugh of Ye Yuntian resounded. Following him were the core members of the younger generation of Wuyou Mountain, almost all the cultivators possessing the Butterfly Gu in the sect were present. Chen Qing did not expect the event to be this grand. Introduced by Ye Yuntian, Chen Qing started to familiarize himself with the cultivators of Wuyou Mountain who were in possession of the Butterfly Gu. From the War Affairs Hall, there were five people, all possessing Sword Butterflies, including Ye Yuntian, He Ming, Shen Ao, Guo Feng, and Ke Yuhao. Shen Ao was an orphan, discovered to have cultivation talent by the Mountain Master and brought back, held great reverence for Ye Yuntian, with a similar background to Chen Qing, thus held a favor towards Chen Qing. The other three were descendants of the three elders of the War Affairs Hall. Gongsun Xiu, the Hall Master of the Cultivation Hall, wielded a skillful sword yet had the Alcohol Butterfly as his Gu. Wu Yi, the Deputy Hall Master of the Cultivation Hall, appeared honest and was constantly drunk, also possessing an Alcohol Butterfly. The Cultivation Hall needed a lot of Spirit Ginseng for brewing Ginseng Wine, so upon hearing that Chen Qing could manage Spirit Ginseng, he was looked upon favorably by Wu Yi. He Ming, the Deputy Hall Master of the Beast Driving Hall, possessed the Crane Gu capable of Butterfly Transformation, always arrived on a crane wherever he went. Ju Xiu, the Hall Master of the Beast Driving Hall, possessed the Tiger Gu capable of Butterfly Transformation, was a rather fiery senior sister, slightly less attractive than Yu Qingshuang. Feng Qi, the Hall Master of the Shadow Hall, had the Wind Gu capable of Butterfly Transformation, always dressed in black, quite stern and silent, but seemed to be on good terms with Ye Yuntian, and was generally indifferent to others. As for the other two Hall Masters of the Shadow Hall, Feng Qi mentioned they had tasks and couldn¡¯t make it. Feng Qi solemnly apologized to Chen Qing, to which Chen Qing replied with a smile that tasks were important. The Shadow Hall usually patrolled various areas around the sect, so no-shows were quite normal. There were altogether twelve Hall Masters and Deputy Hall Masters, forming the core strength of the younger generation of Wuyou Mountain. Now, Chen Qing was to be added to this group. Besides these individuals, there was another disciple possessing the Butterfly Gu in Wuyou Mountain who hadn¡¯t arrived, and that was Xiao Zhong. After introducing everybody to Chen Qing, Ye Yuntian shrugged and smiled, ¡°Today is my Junior Brother Chen¡¯s big day, apart from Feng Junior Brother and Feng Junior Sister from the Shadow Hall on duty, anyone from the younger generation of Wuyou Mountain possessing the Butterfly Gu who doesn¡¯t show up would be disrespecting me, Ye Yuntian!¡± After Ye Yuntian¡¯s words, the Hall Masters didn¡¯t seem to care, as they all knew who Ye Yuntian was referring to. He was talking about Xiao Zhong! After a while, Chen Qing finally saw Xiao Zhong leading several disciples from Wuyou Mountain through the entrance, ¡°Congratulations to Junior Brother Chen on the Butterfly Transformation of his Gu, I¡¯ve brought a small gift!¡± Chen Qing went to greet him, ¡°Still, I must thank Senior Brother for your guidance back then! I should have visited Senior Brother to express my gratitude.¡± Xiao Zhong smiled, ¡°Junior Brother speaks too highly, it was only your good fortune, I merely provided some guidance.¡± Actually, everyone present knew that Chen Qing¡¯s Gu transformed naturally, and had little to do with Xiao Zhong¡¯s guidance. However, on such a joyous occasion, nobody wanted to upset the mood, all maintaining smiles on their faces, while their thoughts were anyone¡¯s guess. Apart from the Hall Masters, many members of various halls also came, with the most being from the Spirit Plant Hall, not a single one missing. The position of Hall Master in the Spirit Plant Hall had been vacant for a long time, now that Chen Qing had ascended directly to the position of Deputy Hall Master, almost equivalent to the Hall Master, it was only natural for them to come and pay their respects. The feast commenced, with each table served two jugs of Ginseng Ganoderma Wine, representing the status of the new Deputy Hall Master. After three rounds of drinks, for some reason, Xiao Zhong got a bit tipsy or otherwise, and actually said aloud, ¡°Although Junior Brother has the Grass Spirit Gu capable of Butterfly Transformation, it¡¯s a pity that his cultivation is too low, he needs to cultivate seriously.¡± ¡°Otherwise¡­¡± Before he could finish, Ye Yuntian walked up to him, domineeringly said, ¡°Otherwise, what do you intend to do?¡± Xiao Zhong gently brushed off Ye Yuntian, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do anything, seeing Junior Brother Chen¡¯s Gu transform, I¡¯m happier than ever.¡± ¡°However, with the Evil Cultivators aplenty, Junior Brother Chen should refrain from descending the mountain.¡± Ye Yuntian coldly retorted, ¡°Junior Brother Chen has the protection of my War Affairs Hall, not needing your concern!¡± Xiao Zhong scoffed, ¡°The sword is in your hand, naturally you call the shots.¡± Ye Yuntian¡¯s breathing turned hurried, showing clear signs of anger. Xiao Zhong was obviously sarcastically referring to Chen Qing¡¯s mere third layer of Qi Refinement, implying he would be easily suppressed by them! The atmosphere grew ever tenser, yet the elders and the Mountain Master¡¯s table inside the room remained unfazed. Chen Qing wanted to intervene to mediate but was firmly held back on the shoulder by Feng Qi, signaling him not to move. Ye Yuntian turned and asked, ¡°Feng Junior Brother, I heard recently you discovered traces of a Sword Gu at the Sword Abyss, is it true?¡± Feng Qi earnestly replied, ¡°Indeed.¡± Ye Yuntian declared, ¡°Once Junior Brother has investigated the Sword Gu thoroughly, I will personally lead the War Affairs Hall to capture it back.¡± ¡°Happening that I was in a rush and didn¡¯t bring a gift, this Sword Gu will serve as a gift for Junior Brother Chen today!¡± ¡°Xiao Senior Brother, what do you think?¡± Chen Qing nearly wanted to openly thank Xiao Zhong, as Xiao Senior Brother turned out to be quite straightforward! If he hadn¡¯t spoken out, how could he have received such a precious gift as a Sword Gu for free! This was worth over ten thousand Spirit Stones! Even at a gathering, it would be sixteen thousand Spirit Stones! Xiao Zhong remarked, ¡°Ye Junior Brother is quite generous.¡± After finishing the meal, Xiao Zhong departed. The other Hall Masters and Deputy Hall Masters didn¡¯t leave, intending to enjoy themselves into the night. When Ye Yuntian left, he pulled Chen Qing close, slinging an arm around his shoulder and whispered in Chen Qing¡¯s ear, ¡°I¡¯ve heard news about your annual stipend, it¡¯s estimated to be eight thousand four hundred Spirit Stones, and the amount will increase when you eventually become a Hall Master.¡± Having said that, Ye Yuntian chuckled, disappearing into the night with the other Hall Masters. Chen Qing stood in the night, spreading open his hands, the Grass Spirit Butterfly in his hand slowly spread its wings. Next, he would wait for that Sword Gu to arrive, and as of now, there was no need to use all the Spirit Stones solely for the cultivation of the Grass Spirit Butterfly. After all, the sect¡¯s stipend was fixed, and the position of Hall Master probably wouldn¡¯t be achieved in the coming years. He had to find another Alcohol Gu. That way, he wouldn¡¯t have to buy Spiritual Wine for cultivation, and any surplus Spiritual Wine could be secretly sold. Chen Qing turned his head, seeing Wang Ye, Li He, and Zhou Ke anxiously waiting for him. Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Alcohol Gu Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Alcohol Gu Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Perhaps they heard the news that I was going to recruit three people for positions in the Spirit Plant Hall, and they came to pledge their service to me. I am currently lacking strength in numbers, and since they came to offer their service, I must not treat them poorly, lest I lose their loyalty. Chen Qing walked over, shook his hand, and six middle-grade Spirit Stones appeared in his palm. He slipped two into each person¡¯s hand and said indifferently, ¡°Come see me at the Spirit Plant Hall tomorrow.¡± The three felt the weight of the Spirit Stones in their hands, exchanged glances, and quickly tucked them into their clothes, saying in unison, ¡°Yes, Hall Master!¡± At night, Chen Qing asked Yu Qingshuang to borrow the usual account books of the Spirit Plant Hall to understand the stockpiles of spiritual medicine at Wuyou Mountain. The types of spiritual medicine being planted were quite varied, but those were stocked to avoid emergencies and weren¡¯t very crucial. The essentials were three types of hard currency: Spirit Ginseng, Sword Heart Grass, and Gu Spirit Grass. Spirit Ginseng was related to enhancing cultivation, Gu Spirit Grass was needed for the daily sustenance of Gu, and Sword Heart Grass was a common item for the advancement and healing of sword Gu. Gu Spirit Grass had been previously managed by the Spirit Plant Elder, so there was quite a bit. The stockpile of Spirit Ginseng was down to just over three hundred pounds, and there was even less Sword Heart Grass, only about ten pounds. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï No wonder they value me so much! The gap in demand for Spirit Ginseng and Sword Heart Grass was too large, requiring constant sourcing from outside. Early the next morning, upon hearing that the Spirit Plant Elder had gone out early to visit friends, Chen Qing and Yu Qingshuang sat face-to-face at a table. Chen Qing eyed a slightly strange-looking bowl of noodles in front of him, took a bite, and unexpectedly found the taste quite good. ¡°Did Senior Sister make this?¡± Yu Qingshuang¡¯s expression was calm as she ate the noodles, ¡°Grandma and Grandpa went out together to visit friends.¡± Chen Qing thought to himself: I did not expect that this Senior Sister, who practices swordplay, is also good at cooking, though the appearance is not very appealing. After changing into the hall master garb freshly sent by the sect, Chen Qing looked at himself in the bronze mirror, feeling a bit more formidable. When Chen Qing entered the Spirit Plant Hall, the courtyard was already full of people standing around. All sixteen people from the Spirit Plant Hall were present, and when Chen Qing entered, they took turns saying, ¡°Greetings, Hall Master.¡± Chen Qing walked to the center of the main hall of the Spirit Plant Hall, glanced at the hall master¡¯s main seat, then turned and took the first position on the left side of the hall. ¡°Be seated.¡± After everyone was seated, Chen Qing said, ¡°Now that I, Chen Qing, have taken on the sect¡¯s task, from now on, this Spirit Plant Hall is under my command.¡± ¡°Does anyone have any objections?¡± The crowd looked at each other, thinking to themselves: The Spirit Plant Hall has no hall master currently, so Chen Qing as the Deputy Hall Master is essentially the same as being the hall master. Besides, today was Chen Qing¡¯s first duty, and the Spirit Plant Elder went out to visit friends. Incidentally, he brought everyone from his household except his granddaughter, and Chen Qing lives in the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s house. A lone man and an unmarried woman, who wouldn¡¯t understand the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s intentions? Seeing these people not reacting for a long time, Wang Ye immediately took the lead and said, ¡°Since the Spirit Plant Hall lacks a hall master, naturally we respect the hall master!¡± Others chimed in agreement. Chen Qing scanned them; they were all middle-aged and elderly cultivators. It made sense. Only those without the ability to advance their Gu would take positions within the sect. Anyone young with some ambition would take jobs outside, hoping for a better future. This was good; at least they didn¡¯t have many thoughts to cause unrest. ¡°The most urgent matter now is to plant the Spirit Ginseng and Sword Heart Grass so we can have a harvest this year.¡± ¡°The sect¡¯s intention is to open up one hundred acres of Spiritual Ginseng Field and twenty acres of Sword Heart Grass Field.¡± ¡°In my opinion, that¡¯s not enough. We should open up one hundred and twenty acres of Spiritual Ginseng Field.¡± ¡°Brother Zhou, you frequently come on duty at the Spirit Plant Garden and know the situation here. You will lead seven people to look after the current Spirit Plant Garden.¡± Zhou Ke smiled at these words, rose, and cupped his hands, saying, ¡°Yes, Hall Master.¡± Chen Qing continued, ¡°Brother Wang, your Gu is the Green Bull Gu, which is very effective for opening Spiritual Fields. You will lead seven people to enlist mortals to cultivate the Spiritual Ginseng Field and Sword Heart Grass Field.¡± Wang Ye immediately stood up and said, ¡°Yes, Hall Master.¡± Chen Qing continued, ¡°Once, the Spirit Plant Hall was under the management of the Spirit Plant Elder, but, being advanced in age, he struggled to manage effectively, possibly resulting in some leniency in management.¡± ¡°But today, since I, Chen Qing, have become head of the Spirit Plant Hall, it should indeed be vibrant.¡± ¡°If this year¡¯s tasks are accomplished, I will personally see to it that everyone receives twenty jugs of ginseng wine at the end of the year!¡± Previously, everyone thought it was fine, feeling that Chen Qing was relatively reasonable in his actions. After all, what was newly developed and managed by Chen Qing was his responsibility, and they were usually just overseeing. But now, the enthusiasm was entirely different. Twenty jugs of ginseng wine, at current market prices, were equivalent to two hundred lower-grade Spirit Stones. They could only save a little over a hundred lower-grade Spirit Stones in a month from outside jobs, so the twenty jugs of ginseng wine almost equated to two months¡¯ salary. Hearing this, everyone wore smiles; with those twenty jugs of ginseng wine and their salary, it was almost comparable to the disciples taking jobs outside. Most importantly, the work now was very stable and didn¡¯t require them to rush outside to find jobs. The Spirit Plant Hall¡¯s tasks had instantly shifted from a chore into a coveted opportunity. Seeing everyone smiling, Chen Qing continued, ¡°Let¡¯s not head straight home tonight; we¡¯ll go to the Bright Moon Tower for drinks.¡± Everyone expressed their gratitude. Chen Qing gave Wang Ye and Zhou Ke a look, and they led everyone to leave and begin their duties. Chen Qing stood up, ¡°Brother Li He, come with me, we¡¯re going to find Brother Gongsun Xiu from the Cultivation Hall to discuss some matters.¡± They hadn¡¯t walked far after leaving, and were just on the mountain path when they ran into Gongsun Xiu. Seeing Chen Qing, Gongsun Xiu laughed and said, ¡°Brother Chen, I was just about to look for you.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°I was about to look for you too, Brother.¡± Gongsun Xiu extended a hand invitingly, ¡°Then shall we go to my place?¡± As they walked along, the smell of alcohol grew stronger and stronger, and by the time they were near the Cultivation Hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of wine. After sitting in the reception room of the Cultivation Hall, Chen Qing asked, ¡°I wonder what Brother Gongsun wanted to see me for?¡± Gongsun Xiu replied, ¡°Brother Chen, your annual salary has already been set at eight thousand six hundred lower-grade Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°As you¡¯ve newly assumed the post of hall master, the Mountain Master, thinking of your solitude, has allowed you to draw a year¡¯s salary in advance.¡± ¡°When you want it, come to me to collect.¡± Chen Qing felt a wave of happiness in his heart; he had been thinking of crediting some Spirit Stones from the sect for expenses, and now it was all settled. Two hundred lower-grade Spirit Stones more than Ye Yuntian¡¯s information. Chen Qing cupped his hands with a smile and said, ¡°Thank you, Brother.¡± ¡°I wonder if Brother has any Alcohol Gu here?¡± Gongsun Xiu thought for a moment, ¡°Is Brother Chen planning to brew his own wine?¡± Chen Qing feigned an irritated expression, ¡°Xiao Zhong humiliated me yesterday, mocking my low cultivation level, so I had this thought.¡± ¡°Brewing my own wine would indeed make cultivation more convenient.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t take offense, Brother, I mean no disrespect.¡± Gongsun Xiu pondered briefly, ¡°Currently, there are three Alcohol Gu left in the Cultivation Hall.¡± ¡°If anyone else came seeking them, I surely wouldn¡¯t give them, but since it is you, Brother Chen, asking, I can¡¯t refuse.¡± Chen Qing knew the reason well; he was about to have access to a large amount of Spirit Ginseng resources, which made the Cultivation Hall green with envy. Before Chen Qing took over the Spirit Plant Hall, the structure of Wuyou Mountain was quite skewed. Without a large amount of spiritual medicine, they relied on cooperation between the War Affairs Hall and Shadow Hall to venture outside for resources, selling them afterward to acquire Spirit Ginseng for brewing. This caused Wuyou Mountain¡¯s stockpile to always be low and unstable. Once Chen Qing could provide a large amount of Spirit Ginseng, the stability of the entire Wuyou Mountain would improve. Hence, though Chen Qing had low cultivation, his status was not insignificant. Gongsun Xiu stood up to lead the way, ¡°Come with me, Brother Chen.¡± Chen Qing opened and closed his fist, almost clapping in joy. It was done, the Alcohol Gu was in hand! ¡°` Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19: In Hand Chapter 19: Chapter 19: In Hand Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` They followed Gongsun Xiu to pay respects to the Guardian Elder. As soon as the Guardian Elder saw the two of them, he waved his hand and said, ¡°You two, go inside. Li He, stay here and chat with this old man.¡± Since the storage of the Gu was a significant matter, Chen Qing also did not plan to take Li He inside. ¡°Senior Brother Li, why don¡¯t you stay and chat with the Elder?¡± The two walked into the Gu Altar. Chen Qing came to the Gu Altar again, but this visit was quite different from those before. Gongsun Xiu led the way, explaining as they walked, ¡°The jade altar has a restriction cast on it, which can seal the Gu and preserve their life spans.¡± Chen Qing glanced at the information of each Gu and casually said, ¡°I see, I always wondered how Gu could be preserved like this.¡± After a few steps, Gongsun Xiu pointed to a stone wall with a plaque of the Spirit Plant Hall, with two jade altars on it. ¡°These are the two Gu stored by the Spirit Plant Hall, which will be useful to cultivate trusty aides in the future.¡± Chen Qing glanced over; they were two Third Transformation Grass Spirit Gu. Pretending to be serious, he picked them up. Since they were things belonging to the Spirit Plant Hall, he naturally had the authority to make decisions. He played with them for a while, put them down, and continued to follow Gongsun Xiu to the stone wall of the Cultivation Hall. On the way, Chen Qing suddenly found an interesting Gu and took a glance; it turned out to be a Gu stored by the Shadow Hall. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï [Mortal Fog Gu] Quality: Fifth Transformation Life Span: 26/56 Effect: Converts the physical body into fog within three breaths, allowing flight during the fog state. After fog conversion, it requires thirty breaths to recover. Growth Requirements: Illusion Spirit Flower Growth Progress: 5/100 Promotion Requirements: Ninth Transformation, foggy weather, one Fog Spirit Essence, Rejuvenation Incense Three breaths to turn into fog, doesn¡¯t that mean you can easily enter any place? As long as there¡¯s a small hole, you can easily slip in. Furthermore, it has great use in combat. When faced with an unavoidable lethal attack, fog conversion can be used to dodge it! Whether it¡¯s for escape, concealing one¡¯s traces, or ambushing, it¡¯s excellent. This Fog Gu is truly a good thing. In the future, when I have enough Spirit Stones, I must get one. Finally, the two stopped in front of the stone wall of the Cultivation Hall, and Gongsun Xiu introduced, ¡°Junior Brother, please see, these are the three Gu stored here by our Cultivation Hall.¡± Pretending to be serious, Chen Qing picked up a jade altar, but his mind was entirely on the information. Three Alcohol Gu, the best quality was a Fifth Transformation Alcohol Gu, while the others were a Third Transformation and a Fourth Transformation. Without much thought, he picked up the jade altar of the Fifth Transformation Alcohol Gu. ¡°Senior Brother, I will take this one.¡± Gongsun Xiu, with his hands behind his back, said, ¡°This Gu is not of good quality. How about 8,400 Spirit Stones for you, junior brother?¡± Initial Fifth Transformation, and this is considered not good quality? Chen Qing naturally knew that a person like Gongsun Xiu, who possesses Alcohol Butterfly, could not possibly overlook the quality of a Alcohol Gu, and immediately understood Gongsun Xiu¡¯s meaning. ¡°Then many thanks, Senior Brother.¡± Gongsun Xiu laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. This way, junior brother, you¡¯ll have used 8,400 lower-grade Spirit Stones of your annual stipend, leaving 200 lower-grade Spirit Stones.¡± Taking the Alcohol Gu, Chen Qing then went to fetch the remaining 200 lower-grade Spirit Stones and asked Li He to acquire a large quantity of spirit ginseng seed in the name of the Spirit Plant Hall. Chen Qing then headed back home. Midway, Chen Qing suddenly remembered that he seemed to be staying at the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s place for the next few days. After some thought, Chen Qing went to the market at the foot of the mountain and bought a jade bracelet worth ten Spirit Stones. When he returned to the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s Court, Yu Qingshuang was still practicing her sword. Chen Qing closed the door and prepared to contract the newly obtained Alcohol Gu. With this little guy, his cultivation would be much easier. Following the previous method, Chen Qing bit his index finger and drew contract runes on the jade altar. ¡°In the witness of the Spring and Autumn Cicada and Floating Butterfly, I, Chen Qing, contract with you!¡± ¡­. ¡°With my body, nurture your form!¡± The runes lit up, blood seeped into the jade altar, and the spiritual energy within his body quickly flowed into the altar. Compared to the Grass Treasure, it seemed that the Alcohol Treasure required less spiritual energy. An hour later, a white Gu flew out of the jade altar and landed in Chen Qing¡¯s palm. [Mortal Alcohol Gu] Quality: Fifth Transformation Life Span: 24/54 Effect: Extracts the essence of spirit ginseng and condenses it into ginseng wine Growth Requirements: Bishui Lotus Seed Growth Progress: 41/100 Promotion Requirements: Ninth Transformation, ten drops of Fire Spirit Essence, three Dew Flowers There were still some Bishui Lotus Seeds in the Spirit Plant Hall. Tomorrow, let the Alcohol Treasure consume one and see how much progress it can make to understand better before going to the market at the mountain foot. During dinner, Chen Qing pulled out the jade bracelet from his pocket, opened the box containing the jade bracelet, and pushed it toward Yu Qingshuang. ¡°I¡¯ll have to rely on Senior Sister¡¯s care for the next few days, so please accept this small gift.¡± Yu Qingshuang¡¯s gaze fell on the jade bracelet, a light green color, very similar to the color of Chen Qing¡¯s Grass Spirit Gu. ¡°You guy, what is this for?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know I practice sword fighting, and wearing this is not convenient?¡± ¡°What if it accidentally breaks?¡± Chen Qing chuckled, thinking that inconvenience was good; it would make you remember me. If wearing it feels like not wearing it, what¡¯s the point? If it breaks, even better, it will force you to find time to inform me. ¡°Just wear it for fun, Senior Sister. It¡¯s not worth much.¡± Yu Qingshuang held the rice bowl, eating slowly, but her gaze frequently fell on the jade bracelet. After dinner, Chen Qing left, saying he had business at the Spirit Plant Hall, leaving Yu Qingshuang to clean up alone. When Chen Qing returned from drinking at the Bright Moon Tower with some Spirit Plant Hall disciples, the bracelet was nowhere to be found on the dinner table. The next morning, Chen Qing ate breakfast early. The meal was more refined than the day before, even included two fried eggs. After organizing everyone¡¯s tasks, Chen Qing took Li He to check the Spirit Plant Hall¡¯s spiritual medicine inventory. Behind the main hall of the Spirit Plant Hall was a large warehouse, said to be built with cold iron walls. From the outside, it looked ordinary, just painted blue. Leaving Li He to guard the door, Chen Qing entered alone, and upon entering, noticed a difference. It was very cold inside, with cold air drifting everywhere as he entered. Chen Qing went to where the Bishui Lotus Seeds were stored, picked one up, and found it was slightly shriveled, not in good condition. Seeing it was like this for a small sack with several hundred seeds, he casually grabbed a handful and slipped them into his sleeve, also selecting a dozen nearly spoiled seeds from the remaining ones. He leisurely walked out and said to Li He, ¡°After checking today, I found that the sect¡¯s inventory of spiritual medicine is low.¡± ¡°It seems we¡¯ll have to rely on our cultivation in the future.¡± Li He cupped his hands, ¡°Hall Master, your hard work is appreciated.¡± Chen Qing spread his hand, revealing the dozen or so nearly spoiled Bishui Lotus Seeds. ¡°I checked, and these seeds are spoiled; I¡¯ve already dealt with them. Make a note.¡± Watching Li He jot down ¡®Processed a batch of spoiled Bishui Lotus Seeds today¡¯ in the record book, Chen Qing nodded satisfactorily. Entering the Spirit Plant Garden, Chen Qing took Li He to check the progress of the development of the Spiritual Field. Wang Ye excitedly reported, ¡°Yesterday, with insufficient manpower, we opened four acres. Today, we can open up ten acres.¡± Surrounded by green trees, four acres of Spiritual Field had been developed in the middle. A Spiritual Field is different from ordinary farmland; it is a few acres of land developed in a hundred-acre forest. Chen Qing guessed that this had something to do with the effect of the Grass Spirit Gu. It¡¯s very likely that the Grass Spirit Gu absorbs the vitality of the surrounding plants to supplement the Spiritual Medicine needed for the Spiritual Field. After all, the place where the Soul Stealing Flower grows is almost devoid of vegetation around it. And when advancing his Grass Spirit Gu, he had used the Soul Stealing Flower. Chen Qing instructed, ¡°Open one acre in every one hundred acres near the Spirit Plant Garden. These twenty acres will be used to grow Spirit Ginseng.¡± Wang Ye cupped his hands, ¡°Yes, Hall Master.¡± Leaving Li He to continue to purchase the lacking spirit ginseng seed, Chen Qing wandered back to his cave residence. Opening the cave door, there were no signs of anyone having been there. After checking the bronze ghost mask and Spirit Stones, everything was there, and Chen Qing relaxed on the bed. Spiritual medicine needed regular checks, and his own needs were so minimal that it should be within the acceptable range of loss, without concern. He spread his palm out, instructing the Alcohol Gu to start eating the Bishui Lotus Seeds, ready to see if the handful he had grabbed was sufficient. ¡°` Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20 New Cave Abode Chapter 20: Chapter 20 New Cave Abode Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` ¡°Let¡¯s call you Wine Treasure then.¡± Wine Treasure was different from Grass Treasure, round and plump like a little winter melon, red-tinted white. After eating a Bishui Lotus Seed, it became even rounder, to the point that when it wanted to move to another place, it didn¡¯t crawl but rolled. I had to find more Spirit Ginseng when given the chance. The improvement of one¡¯s cultivation was also a significant matter. On the day he tested the Grass Spirit Butterfly, he felt his Spiritual Energy was somewhat lacking. After going down the mountain to buy Spirit Ginseng worth ten lower-quality Spirit Stones, Chen Qing got a wine gourd and started brewing wine in the store¡¯s wine vat with the purchased Spirit Ginseng. A unique advantage of brewing with Alcohol Gu was that the time required was much shorter than ordinary brewing methods, yet the quality was notably higher. This was the unique aspect of Alcohol Gu. Placing the Spirit Ginseng into the wine vat, Chen Qing raised his hand to summon the newly contracted Alcohol Gu to start the brewing process. Wine Treasure flew into the wine vat, and instantly a large amount of Spiritual Energy was drawn from Chen Qing¡¯s body. As Wine Treasure flew around the wine vat, Chen Qing could feel the spiritual property inside the vat beginning to rise. The temperature of the wine vat fluctuated between hot and cold, sometimes boiling, sometimes icy. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 The Spirit Ginseng, visibly shriveled, began exuding their essence. A quarter of an hour passed slowly, and the vat revealed a mixture of clear liquor and Spirit Ginseng residue. Chen Qing felt the shift in his body¡¯s Spiritual Energy, almost completely drained. During this time, he had also absorbed the Spiritual Energy of four Spirit Stones. He could not buy Spirit Ginseng worth ten lower-quality Spirit Stones next time, as the consumption of Spiritual Energy was unsustainable. Opening the outlet at the bottom of the wine vat, Chen Qing filled a gourd to the brim with wine, estimating that it weighed about one pound and six ounces. It seemed that earning money with Alcohol Gu was not easy. The daily earnings were about five to six Spirit Stones, but the consumption of Spiritual Energy was significant. Of course, on Wuyou Mountain, the most troublesome part of earning money with Alcohol Gu was not these; it was the source of the Spirit Ginseng. This item wasn¡¯t always available for purchase. Chen Qing was able to buy it because he was wearing the attire of the Spirit Plant Hall¡¯s Hall Master. Carrying the wine gourd, Chen Qing paid the bill, returned to his cave abode, and after drinking two large gulps of Spiritual Ginseng Wine, he felt his entire body was spiritually satiated and began to cultivate earnestly. In the evening, Chen Qing opened his eyes, ¡°My cultivation has advanced a little bit more.¡± ¡°The speed of circulating Spiritual Energy during cultivation is about a little more than twice the usual.¡± ¡°To cultivate fully for one day requires about two pounds worth, which means spending twenty Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°However, apart from cultivation, time is also spent on duties and rest, leaving only half a day for cultivation, or about ten Spirit Stones of expenditure.¡± ¡°By brewing it myself, I¡¯ve saved on labor costs, bringing it down to about five Spirit Stones a day.¡± ¡°The expenses really are considerable.¡± ¡°However, I can barely afford it now.¡± ¡°At this rate, it would take about a year and a half to advance to the fourth layer of Qi Refinement.¡± ¡°Once the spiritual ginseng seeds sprout, it should save me a lot of money.¡± ¡°Advancing the Alcohol Gu to the Butterfly Transformation stage will also boost it further.¡± Chen Qing checked Wine Treasure¡¯s growth progress; a shriveled Bishui Lotus Seed had added 3 points to its progress. He had gathered around thirty, which should be enough to advance to the Sixth Transformation. It was best to buy the materials to advance to the Seventh Transformation on his own, or else checking inventory every few days would become too apparent. He still had a little over twelve hundred lower-quality Spirit Stones left, which should be enough to reach the Ninth Transformation. Over the past few days, Chen Qing routinely checked the progress of the Spiritual Field development and returned to his cave abode to cultivate. Yu Qingshuang seemed to be avoiding him these days, deliberately steering clear of Chen Qing, focusing solely on practicing swordsmanship every day. Another three days passed, and Ye Yuntian sent disciples from the War Affairs Hall to invite Chen Qing to check out his new cave abode. In fact, it had been quite long already. It shouldn¡¯t take a cultivator this long to establish a cave abode. During dinner, Chen Qing picked up a piece of bok choy, ¡°Senior Sister, my new cave abode is almost complete. Would you like to take a look?¡± Yu Qingshuang retorted in mild annoyance, ¡°That¡¯s your home, not mine. Why should I look?¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°As a man, I have no idea what to set up at home, and I don¡¯t have any familiar senior sisters.¡± ¡°These things, women generally understand better.¡± Hearing this, Yu Qingshuang relented, ¡°Fine, we cultivators don¡¯t bother with worldly romantic attachments, I¡¯ll go with you to take a look.¡± Walking with Yu Qingshuang along the cobblestone path, they came across an ancient pine tree up ahead. At the foot of the ancient pine, an elderly man with disheveled hair excitedly pulled out a grub, ¡°Hahaha, my Gu has grown so robust, it must be about to transform into a butterfly!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, your master will transform you!¡± The old man peeled back the grub¡¯s outer skin, his hands coated in layers of protein. ¡°Alas, another failed Butterfly Transformation.¡± ¡°What a shame.¡± ¡°But the aroma is delightful.¡± Chen Qing noticed the elder¡¯s clothing becoming more and more familiar, ¡°Is he also a disciple of Wuyou Mountain?¡± Yu Qingshuang said, ¡°Saw him a few years ago, back then he was only in his thirties. He became destitute attempting to achieve Gu Butterfly Transformation, selling off his wife and children, ruined, he went mad.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°So no Evil Cultivator has killed him for his Gu?¡± Yu Qingshuang replied, ¡°Would you take a Gu that brought the downfall of a family?¡± Chen Qing thought to himself that he indeed would, as nurturing any Gu was similarly challenging for him, ¡°I definitely wouldn¡¯t want it, such bad luck.¡± ¡°Besides, nurturing Gu couldn¡¯t be more important than a wife.¡± Yu Qingshuang chuckled lightly, ¡°Sweet talk.¡± At a cliffside midway up the mountain, after crossing a long iron chain bridge, Chen Qing arrived at his new cave abode. Here, carved into the cliff, was a platform of about half an acre, with an ancient pine tree in one corner. Most fascinating was the spring that flowed from a natural hole the size of a teacup on the opposite side of the platform from the pine. The iron-clad door stood in the middle of the platform. Pushing the door open, inside was a living room with copper lamps in the shape of cranes hanging on the walls. The interior was spacious, capable of accommodating dozens for gatherings. To the left in the living room was a corridor leading to a wine cellar, and the first room on the right was the kitchen. Further back were four guest rooms. Behind the living room was a bedroom and two cultivation rooms. Chen Qing reached out to feel the stone bed behind, ¡°Need to get two cushions, what do you think, Senior Sister?¡± Yu Qingshuang said solemnly, ¡°Do you know the whole sect is trying to pair you with me?¡± Chen Qing nodded, ¡°I know.¡± Yu Qingshuang continued, ¡°Then do you know they want to keep you tied firmly to the war chariot that is Wuyou Mountain?¡± Chen Qing nodded, ¡°I know that too.¡± Yu Qingshuang sighed, ¡°Outside, you could earn tens of thousands of Spirit Stones a year; Wuyou Mountain only gives you eight thousand six hundred lower-quality Spirit Stones. Aren¡¯t you dissatisfied?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Do you see the location of this cave abode? It¡¯s surrounded by brothers from the War Affairs Hall, clearly a very safe location.¡± ¡°And I, greatly enjoy this safety.¡± ¡°Staying alive is the fundamental basis of everything.¡± And this, she who had been confined and sheltered in her home, wouldn¡¯t understand. ¡°` Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Gathering Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Gathering Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` ¡°Senior sister, your way of thinking is quite dangerous.¡± ¡°The sect has raised us, so we should treat it as our home.¡± ¡°In the future, please refrain from speaking such words.¡± Chen Qing began to lecture Yu Qingshuang in return. Yu Qingshuang was stunned for a moment, suddenly realizing something was amiss. Oh no, she had become a spy¡­ How come Chen Qing seemed more like a true disciple of Wuyou Mountain than she did? She got a bit angry, her face flushing red, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t be infatuated by me.¡± Chen Qing expressed, while she was indeed beautiful, he would not allow his character to be insulted like this. ¡°Though you¡¯re as beautiful as a fairy, capable of bringing down a country with your looks, I¡¯m not someone who gets swayed by mere beauty?¡± Mainly, you haven¡¯t done anything, after all. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Yu Qingshuang asked, ¡°Really?¡± Chen Qing pounded his chest in assurance, ¡°Senior sister, let¡¯s not talk about trivial matters now, we should quickly set up this cave dwelling.¡± The two walked out of the cave dwelling, and Chen Qing distinctly noticed a misty figure disappearing into the distance. It was probably that senior brother from the Shadow Hall eavesdropping nearby just now. He directed his gaze to Yu Qingshuang, only to find her measuring beside a spring. It shouldn¡¯t have anything to do with her. She was just a pure swordsplay enthusiast who had been confined at home since childhood. ¡°Here, it¡¯d be good to create another Spiritual Beast Cave for you to use in raising spirit beasts in the future.¡± ¡°With a spirit beast guarding the cave dwelling, you can be more at ease when you go out.¡± When Yu Qingshuang said this, Chen Qing suddenly thought of a crucial point. Indeed, I would surely have many treasures in the future; if I didn¡¯t have a spirit beast guarding them, it wouldn¡¯t be secure. Of course, having someone at home all the time would be the most secure. As he thought this, his gaze fell on Yu Qingshuang, who was standing at the kitchen door pointing out, ¡°You should build a chimney here, otherwise the smoke will fill the cave dwelling when you cook.¡± It actually seemed kind of nice. Her innocent nature made it easy to guide her. Hiss¡­ Yu Qingshuang walked through the living room, ¡°You should furnish this place. Now that you¡¯re the Hall Master, it¡¯s better to use something decent.¡± ¡°Fully furnishing it would only cost a few hundred Spirit Stones.¡± Looking at her earnest and charming demeanors, Chen Qing stepped forward and earnestly discussed it with her. At night, after eating, Chen Qing started feeding the last Bishui Lotus Seed, ¡°Eating this lotus seed should bring you to the Sixth Transformation.¡± Watching the Wine Treasure consume the last of the loot, completely eradicating the evidence, Chen Qing clapped his hands in relief. Casually, as he walked into the courtyard, he suddenly heard the sound of a sword dance from the back courtyard. This senior sister, indeed, never rests. Any moment of leisure she had was spent practicing swordsmanship. Truly a sword fanatic. He stood at the courtyard gate for an hour watching the beauty dance with her sword. That figure. Those legs. That waist. Tsk tsk tsk¡­ Only when the moonlight was obscured by clouds, making it hard to see, did Chen Qing finally return to his room to sleep. Early the next morning, on reaching the Spirit Plant Hall, Chen Qing suddenly felt a stirring sensation within him. He waved Li He away to close the door, ¡°I need to cultivate for a bit; go and fetch back the spiritual ginseng seeds.¡± Closing the door, Chen Qing stretched out his hand, and the white jade-like Alcohol Gu began to tremble. With a snap, the Alcohol Gu shed its skin, revealing a larger, chubbier Alcohol Gu. [Mortal Grade Alcohol Gu] Quality: Sixth Transformation Life Span: 24/64 Effect: Refining Spirit Ginseng Essence, condensing it into ginseng wine and slightly enhancing its quality Growth Requirement: Red Silver Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: Ninth Transformation, ten drops of Fire Spirit Essence, three Dew Flowers The demands of this Alcohol Gu seemed rather bizarre, didn¡¯t they? My Alcohol Gu seems a bit unconventional, doesn¡¯t it? If it were a regular cultivator, they¡¯d probably go bankrupt! Recently, there haven¡¯t been any stalls selling Red Silver; looks like I have to rely on the profiteers from Wanbao Pavilion. Checking the calendar, it seemed there was a gathering today, and he should head back to dig up his mask. At night, Chen Qing apologized, claiming he had left something in his previous cave dwelling, and thus returned to it. Ensuring there was no trace of any other visitor, he closed the cave door and dug out his bronze ghost mask. As he was about to move in the coming days, he decided it was best to keep these things close. Back at the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s home, he watched Yu practice swordsmanship for a while, then Chen Qing returned to his guest room, covered himself with a quilt, and put on the mask. Enveloped in clouds and mist, Chen Qing, dressed in a black robe, appeared once again at a seat on the Cloud Platform. With a sidelong glance, he surveyed the surroundings, seeing only the scholar and Red Lotus. Casually placing his right hand on the table, his index finger occasionally tapping the surface, ¡°Good evening.¡± This time, Hu Yao got smart, ¡°Honorable Senior Taichu, good evening.¡± Murong Lang chuckled softly, ¡°Honorable Senior Taichu, good evening.¡± Hu Yao, with her straightforward nature, brazenly showcased her Gu, ¡°Senior, my Power Butterfly has now reached the Second Transformation.¡± Chen Qing nodded slightly, showing a graceful smile, ¡°Hmm, congratulations.¡± Hu Yao pondered for a long time before speaking, ¡°Senior, I also have a Ninth Transformation Gu which I hope Senior could advise me on.¡± As she finished speaking, a new Gu appeared in the palm of her hand. This new Gu was iron green and looked quite formidable. [Mortal Grade Iron Skin Gu] Quality: Ninth Transformation Life Span: 21/72 Effect: Skin as hard as iron, impervious to knives and spears Growth Requirement: None Growth Progress: 100/100 (Ready for promotion) Promotion Requirements: A wisp of Geng Metal Qi, three Dragon Bone Flowers, a pair of Demon Ivory After examining it, Chen Qing remarked lightly, ¡°A wisp of Geng Metal Qi, three Dragon Bone Flowers, a pair of Demon Ivory.¡± This Iron Skin Gu was truly a good thing. Once I save enough money, I¡¯d sneak to the market to buy one. Anything that could boost defense was a good thing in Chen Qing¡¯s eyes. However, compared to the Fog Gu, it still seemed less intriguing. Swordsmanship and such, he didn¡¯t understand at all at the moment, but bolstering defense was always right. Listening, Hu Yao started to meditate, finding the Dragon Bone Flowers easy to procure, even quite attainable in Feiyun Creek. Obtaining Demon Ivory was simple too; she had long been unhappy with a few young men from the Xiang Family, and would find an excuse to pull one aside to teach them a lesson the next day. This Geng Metal Qi was, however, a bit troublesome. Putting aside other thoughts, she opened her hand, respectfully offering eighty mid-grade Spirit Stones with both hands. Of course, Chen Qing wouldn¡¯t reach out to accept; he was now a revered figure, a revered figure who wouldn¡¯t care about a mere eighty mid-grade Spirit Stones. Knowing this, Hu Yao gently placed them in front of Chen Qing. Murong Lang observed the whole situation, quietly praising in his heart that this girl had finally wised up. The enhancement of Butterfly Transformation outweighed its transformation afterwards! Butterfly Transformation was a qualitative change! Murong Lang¡¯s current enhancement was complete. He continued to reveal his Thunder Butterfly and began to inquire, ¡°Please advise, Senior.¡± With just a glance, Chen Qing understood and spoke, ¡°Leaves of the Enlightenment Tree.¡± Upon hearing this, Murong Lang hastily offered twenty-five mid-grade Spirit Stones, placing them before Chen Qing like Hu Yao did earlier. Chen Qing¡¯s peripheral vision brushed over, accepting one hundred and five mid-grade Spirit Stones, providing the means to seek an Iron Skin Gu or a Fog Gu. However, judging from the current trade, Red Lotus was unlikely to seek further advice from him for a long period. Eighty mid-grade Spirit Stones were not a small sum for a cultivator who just acquired a Power Butterfly. Speaking of their leader, wasn¡¯t he supposed to return soon? That would bring the big reward. ¡°` Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Admiring the Moon Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Admiring the Moon Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` The transaction completed, Chen Qing leaned back in his chair and said, ¡°You can start chatting now.¡± Murong Lang was the first to speak, ¡°When can you get that sword Gu?¡± Hu Yao¡¯s hand under the table opened and closed, clearly a bit nervous, ¡°I¡¯ll have a full assurance once my Iron Skin Gu undergoes the Butterfly Transformation.¡± Murong Lang and Chen Qing both thought, it seems she¡¯s not from a sect, otherwise how could she need the Iron Skin Gu to advance just to be sure. Murong Lang explained, ¡°My Thunder Butterfly is known among my friends, so I can¡¯t keep boosting it.¡± Chen Qing agreed silently, indeed, it couldn¡¯t be too obvious, otherwise if a Thunder Butterfly advanced rapidly in a short period, anyone would think it¡¯s strange. This scholar probably wanted to secretly cultivate a sword Gu, since their continent didn¡¯t even have sword Gu. During the first confrontation, the opponent wouldn¡¯t know how to react. Then he would spend all his savings on cultivating the sword Gu, as his trump card. According to what the scholar mentioned before, their continent was rich in Five Elements Gu, primarily using Five Elements Skills in battles. At that moment, if he pulled out a sword butterfly cultivated to its peak, it would be a sure kill once he closed in, wouldn¡¯t it? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Who would expect a cultivator specializing in Thunder Gu and Thunder to suddenly attack with a sword? It was indeed a clever strategy. It took Hu Yao a long time to understand the scholar¡¯s meaning, and she suddenly connected it to herself, ¡°Then my Power Gu just had its Butterfly Transformation, and the Iron Skin Gu would also undergo Butterfly Transformation, could it attract others¡¯ attention?¡± Murong Lang asked, ¡°When you go to do that thing, will there be any survivors?¡± Hu Yao shook her head. Murong Lang said, ¡°Then it¡¯s fine.¡± Chen Qing thought, this girl might seem a bit scatterbrained, but she¡¯s definitely no benevolent person. This was obviously grabbing someone else¡¯s treasures! Could she be an evil cultivator? No way, how could someone with this kind of personality from an evil cultivator survive this long? Murong Lang reminded, ¡°Just after your Iron Skin Gu undergoes the Butterfly Transformation, don¡¯t show it off easily.¡± Hu Yao got nervous, ¡°I got it.¡± ¡°I use the Iron Skin Gu without revealing it, as it enhances my defense, no one should notice.¡± Murong Lang thought, this young girl was rather laid-back, reminding her since they both were chosen by Taichu, ¡°Still, be careful. Cultivators with an Iron Skin Gu might notice the difference.¡± Hu Yao acknowledged with an ¡°oh.¡± Seeing the transaction discussion was mostly done, Murong Lang taught Hu Yao some basic ¡®procurement¡¯ knowledge, then cupped his hand toward Chen Qing, ¡°Senior, may I ask if you could set a specific start time for the gathering?¡± ¡°The place where Red Lotus is located is not safe, if we delay her too long, it might pose a certain danger.¡± Hu Yao finally realized, ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± Chen Qing leaned back and said, ¡°Alright, under the same sky, the times differ. Let¡¯s set it for the same time today.¡± Murong Lang smiled, ¡°Thank you, Senior.¡± Hu Yao also cupped her hand, ¡°Thank you, Senior.¡± Chen Qing said softly, ¡°So, is today¡¯s gathering concluded here?¡± Murong Lang and Hu Yao both cupped their hands and said, ¡°Goodbye, Senior.¡± After finishing speaking, their figures disappeared from the spot. This Jiguang Sect gathering gradually began to change in nature, and the gathering time shifted to midnight. Meanwhile, the original host of this gathering, the branch leader of the Jiguang Sect, was amid intense combat in a flurry of swords and sabers. Chen Qing took off his bronze ghost mask, sweating profusely under the covers, feeling utterly heated. Glancing at the additional one hundred and five mid-grade Spirit Stones, he suddenly thought the heat was manageable. Nestled under the covers, he carefully counted them once more, then hid all the Spirit Stones under the bed, placed the bronze ghost mask securely by his side, and finally lay down with peace of mind. Should these Spirit Stones be used to buy an Iron Skin Gu or a Fog Gu? An Iron Skin Gu directly enhances defense, which is certainly nice. However, for adventuring, it suits more for resisting demon beast attacks or wild beast assaults, preventing accidents, and protecting the body. But he wasn¡¯t going on adventures! What he needed to defend against, more than anything, were sword cultivators. After all, around Wuyou Mountain and the nearby sects, sword cultivators were everywhere. Sword cultivators didn¡¯t care what Iron Skin Gu you had. The difference an Iron Skin Gu might make is turning a severed limb injury into a deep, bone-visible scar, or even having part of the bone cleaved away. Unless the quality of the Iron Skin Gu was far superior to the sword Gu, only then could the flesh withstand it, though not without external injuries. That¡¯s the tyranny of sword cultivators. The Fog Gu was different, its ability to vaporize was extremely effective against sword cultivators. Consider two evenly matched sword cultivators, one with a Fog Gu and the other without. Without a Fog Gu, a sword cultivator might struggle tremendously to find an opening, and when about to deliver a killing blow, the opponent evades by vaporizing, then they¡¯re at a massive disadvantage. Moreover, a Fog Gu also had the advantage of convenience when one sneaked down the mountain to clandestinely buy Gu and materials. After much consideration, Chen Qing decided to go to Wanbao Pavilion to inquire about the price of a Fog Gu. Feeling invigorated as the spring breeze brushed his face, Chen Qing slept soundly, had breakfast, and then went to the Spirit Plant Hall. After instructing everyone to work, Chen Qing saw Wang Ye with a happy expression, so he kept him back to ask, ¡°What¡¯s going on, what¡¯s made you so happy?¡± Wang Ye cupped his hand and said, ¡°I was just about to thank the Hall Master, for it was by the Hall Master¡¯s favor that I could join the Spirit Plant Hall.¡± ¡°Last night, the senior brothers from the War Affairs Hall said that now I¡¯ve joined the Spirit Plant Hall, it¡¯s not stable to continue living there, and suggested I change my residence.¡± Chen Qing¡¯s eyebrow slightly twitched, here it came. ¡°What kind of place did you move to that makes you so happy?¡± Wang Ye smiled, ¡°It¡¯s near the four senior brothers from the War Affairs Hall, and I also got four acres of superior Spiritual Field.¡± Chen Qing smiled, ¡°Well, congratulations then.¡± Wang Ye waved his hand, ¡°Thanks to the Hall Master¡¯s favor.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Just do your work well, and I won¡¯t treat you unfairly.¡± Wang Ye acknowledged and then withdrew. Chen Qing went down the mountain, bought ginseng wine with five pieces of low-grade Spirit Stones, filled a gourd, and also bought two taels of Red Silver. When he returned to the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s house, besides the four dishes and one soup on the dining table, there was a note. He picked it up and read, ¡°The water¡¯s been heated.¡± Chen Qing knew it was because they had smelled the sweat on him in the morning. He took a bath before eating, then spent two hours in the backyard watching Yu Qingshuang practice her sword. When Yu Qingshuang sheathed her sword, she noticed Chen Qing. ¡°You guy, what are you doing watching here?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Admiring the moon.¡± Yu Qingshuang pointed her finger at Chen Qing, ¡°Not honest.¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°Senior sister, are you interested in enjoying the moon together?¡± Yu Qingshuang said, ¡°You¡¯ve been watching for nearly two hours, and you¡¯re not satisfied yet.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s an observation deck on Wuyou Mountain, accessible from all directions, where one can overlook the scenery for a hundred miles.¡± ¡°I hadn¡¯t had the chance to go up the mountain before, and now I do, but I don¡¯t know where it is, so may I ask senior sister to take me there?¡± When Yu Qingshuang let her hands down, she felt the jade bracelet on her wrist, ¡°Alright then.¡± Following the path to the mountain top, Yu Qingshuang led with a lantern, with Chen Qing following, getting an eyeful. This gauzy dress was truly graceful, with the moonlight outlining its curves and gentle waves. Was it really this flexible? At the observation deck next to the main hall of Wuyou Mountain Sect, Chen Qing rested his arms on the railing, gazing into the distance toward Wang Ye¡¯s residence. Flickers of firelight appeared and disappeared. Yu Qingshuang leaned against the railing, ¡°It has been a while since I came here, it¡¯s exceptionally open and gives a sense of clearing the mind.¡± Chen Qing shifted his gaze from Wang Ye¡¯s house to the oval moon in the sky, then to the senior sister beside him. On a high terrace under the moon, a beauty holding a lantern. ¡°Indeed, it clears the mind and is breathtakingly beautiful.¡± ¡°` Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Am I Actually a Pauper? Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Am I Actually a Pauper? Editor: Henyee Translations The night was dark, with birds and insects chirping. Feng Qi was draped in black clothing, holding a pipe in his left hand and a lantern in his right. He slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, standing quietly at the edge of Wang Ye¡¯s field, waiting. In front of him, three disciples of the Shadow Hall were swiftly digging up the ground. After an hour, a disciple from the Shadow Hall emerged from the pit, ¡°Hall Master, we¡¯ve found something.¡± Feng Qi glanced sideways, ¡°What is it?¡± The Shadow Hall disciple reported, ¡°Underneath is a cave, and in the center of the cave, Stone Nipples have condensed Earth Mother Spirit Liquid, approximately several dozen drops!¡± Feng Qi pondered for a moment, putting down the pipe from his mouth, ¡°Earth-attribute treasures, indeed they might be materials for the Grass Spirit Gu¡¯s advancement.¡± ¡°Retrieve it and store it in the Shadow Hall.¡± ¡°Restore the Spiritual Field after retrieval.¡± He rose, walked into the dense night, and said as he walked, ¡°Inform Ye Yuntian, tell him to go fetch the sword Gu.¡± ¡°Chen Qing¡¯s investigation ends here.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï After speaking, an ancient pine beside him swayed, and a shadow leaped, bounding between the large trees, retreating far into the distance. ¡­ Two days later, the Spirit Plant Elder returned from his visit, examined the newly opened Spiritual Field, and a smile appeared on his face. He found Chen Qing, who was arranging the planting of Spirit Ginseng, and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard Ye Yuntian and the others have already set out, so your sword Gu should soon be in your hands.¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°Then I should head down the mountain to wait for Brother Ye to come back every day and welcome him with open arms.¡± The Spirit Plant Elder said, ¡°Though you have a Grass Spirit Gu of Butterfly Transformation, it¡¯s unwise to be in the martial world without any means of self-preservation.¡± ¡°You¡¯re about to own a sword Gu; you should learn some swordsmanship.¡± Chen Qing pondered, knowing that both the War Affairs Hall and the Shadow Hall had many senior brothers with excellent swordsmanship, but they were often away. Brother Gongsun Xiu was indeed adept at swordsmanship; it was he who had beheaded two Evil Cultivators last time. Unfortunately, being a Hall Master meant having too many duties, leaving no time to teach. When the Spirit Plant Elder spoke, Chen Qing immediately thought of Yu Qingshuang. His senior sister was a sword enthusiast with exceptional swordsmanship, and anyway, whenever he sparred, he couldn¡¯t even get past one of her moves. Moreover, she hadn¡¯t joined any hall yet and was idle at home. Chen Qing agreed, ¡°My senior sister¡¯s swordsmanship is excellent, but I wonder if she could teach me a bit.¡± The Spirit Plant Elder laughed heartily, ¡°She¡¯s just idle at home; you might as well ask her.¡± Off duty, Chen Qing went down the mountain, preparing to buy some supplies for learning the sword. When night fell, Chen Qing mingled among the Wuyou Mountain disciples going downhill to the market, found a toilet in the night, and changed into a black robe. Carrying a pouch of medium-grade Spirit Stones, Chen Qing arrived in front of Wanbao Pavilion, lowering his voice and said, ¡°Clerk, do you sell Gu here?¡± The clerk gestured invitingly, ¡°Please come inside, sir, for a chat.¡± Chen Qing glanced around, seeing a bustling crowd, felt reassured, and followed the clerk inside with big strides. In the tea room, the clerk skillfully brewed tea, ¡°I wonder what kind of Gu sir is interested in?¡± Chen Qing, having concealed his identity, saw no need to waste time, and said in a low voice, ¡°Fog Gu.¡± The clerk was stunned for a moment, ¡°Sir, the Fog Gu is not easy to find and is more expensive than ordinary Gu.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°What¡¯s the price?¡± The clerk thought for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s usually sixteen thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones! If the quality is better, it could be even more expensive.¡± Chen Qing was astonished, ¡°Is it really that expensive?¡± It was almost twice the price of ordinary Gu! He had thought that having a hundred and five pieces of medium-grade Spirit Stones meant being wealthy, but who would have thought he couldn¡¯t even afford an ordinary Fog Gu. The clerk explained, ¡°Sir, you may not know, although the Fog Gu isn¡¯t remarkable in offense, it¡¯s extremely effective against Sword Cultivators.¡± That¡¯s exactly why I wanted to buy it! The clerk continued, ¡°And the Fog Gu is different from other Gu. Once a contract is made, it can deploy the fog ability, making it extremely practical.¡± ¡°Even our store doesn¡¯t have Fog Gu in stock here; it needs to be brought from Wo Hu City.¡± ¡°If you sincerely want it, I can apply through the Wanbao Pavilion branch there.¡± Now, I can directly see the information regarding the upgrade of Gu, so I don¡¯t really need a high-level one initially or those with good appearances. Cultivating from low-level is much cheaper. And the life span is also longer. ¡°I don¡¯t need top quality; as long as there are no defects, low-level is fine.¡± The clerk said, ¡°I see, it seems you¡¯re in a hurry. I¡¯ll make inquiries on your behalf, and if it¡¯s available, I¡¯ll arrange to have it delivered here.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°How long will it take?¡± The clerk replied, ¡°Around half a month.¡± Chen Qing took out five lower-grade Spirit Stones from his sleeve and placed them on the tea table, not even glancing at the brewed tea, ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you then.¡± The clerk discreetly accepted the five lower-grade Spirit Stones, ¡°Understood, understood.¡± Exiting Wanbao Pavilion, Chen Qing twisted and turned through several alleyways, found a deserted restroom, and changed into Wuyou Mountain disciple attire before leisurely walking out. ¡°Time to buy a sword.¡± In the blacksmith¡¯s shop, he picked a suitable sword, weighing nine pounds, crafted from Mystic Iron, extremely hard and reasonably flexible. It looked majestic and heroic, with an imposing presence. Chen Qing tried it out, finding that this Mystic Iron sword, which ordinary people would barely manage with both hands, was still manageable in his hand. Even though he didn¡¯t have a Power Gu with him, with his cultivation, his body was much more robust than an ordinary person¡¯s. ¡°How much is this sword?¡± Chen Qing asked. The owner took a sip of tea, ¡°That one doesn¡¯t sell alone; it¡¯s part of a pair, and there¡¯s also a female sword.¡± Chen Qing took the female sword handed by the owner, slightly more elegant than his own, a bit shorter, more agile. Perfect as a gift for his senior sister when learning swordsmanship from her; after all, he couldn¡¯t just ask for her guidance for nothing. ¡°I¡¯ll take both!¡± Hearing this, the owner instantly changed his expression to a smile, ¡°A fair price of one hundred sixty lower-grade Spirit Stones, please take care, sir.¡± Carrying the swords, Chen Qing skillfully found himself in the back garden of the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s house, where two banana trees just sprouted new leaves, green like jade. Yu Qingshuang was practicing her sword, her fragrant sweat drenching her clothes. I must say, the allure of a beauty in ancient attire was overwhelming to Chen Qing. She was poised and dignified, exuding charm throughout the garden. With each swing of the sword, there was a resonant sound, making her seem even more otherworldly. Having only gone through basic education, Chen Qing had never seen such a scene. ¡°Senior Sister, your swordsmanship is excellent!¡± Yu Qingshuang made a spinning motion and sheathed her sword, ¡°You rascal, why do you watch me practice swordplay at such a young age?¡± Carrying the sword, Chen Qing stepped forward, ¡°Brother Ye has gone to fetch a sword Gu for me. I¡¯ve been thinking, among the people I¡¯ve met, only Senior Sister¡¯s swordsmanship stands out, so I wish to learn some swordplay from you.¡± He stepped forward and handed over the newly bought female sword, ¡°A small gift, please, Senior Sister, accept it with a smile.¡± Yu Qingshuang, a lover of swords, felt pleased at Chen Qing¡¯s words. She drew the sword from its sheath and spun it twice, ¡°It¡¯s quite handy.¡± Upon saying that, she hurled the long sword, landing it neatly in the scabbard Chen Qing was holding, startling him. Yu Qingshuang went to fetch some water, ¡°Chen, have you forgotten the words I spoke to you in the cave that day?¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°But as a Cultivator with a Grass Spirit Butterfly, I lack the strength to restrain even a chicken. Even leaving home, I can¡¯t guarantee my safety.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather learn from you, so I at least have a choice.¡± Yu Qingshuang said, ¡°Think carefully, once you learn this, eventually, there will be blood.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll either be someone else¡¯s blood or your own.¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°Being in the martial world, you might evade for a while, but not for a lifetime.¡± As Yu Qingshuang walked past Chen Qing, she lifted a foot and kicked the female sword, catching it in her hand, and thrust it toward Chen Qing, ¡°Since you¡¯re determined to learn, then I¡¯ll teach you!¡± Watching Yu Qingshuang¡¯s graceful and agile figure, a sudden ominous feeling rose in Chen Qing¡¯s heart¡­ Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24 My Almost Zero Formidable Combat Power Chapter 24: Chapter 24 My Almost Zero Formidable Combat Power Editor: Henyee Translations The next morning, Yu Qingshuang was focused on her breakfast, holding a bowl of rice. The Spirit Plant Elder applied medicinal wine to the bruises on Chen Qing¡¯s arms and calves, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Chen Qing gritted his teeth, ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t!¡± While applying the medicinal wine, the Spirit Plant Elder commented, ¡°Chen Qing, don¡¯t blame your senior sister for being rough. Learning the sword is as tough as killing.¡± After saying this, the Spirit Plant Elder shot a glance at Yu Qingshuang, ¡°And you, it was Chen Qing¡¯s first day learning the sword; couldn¡¯t you have gone a little easier on him?¡± Yu Qingshuang continued to focus on her meal. Chen Qing said, ¡°It¡¯s alright, Senior Sister teaches well.¡± After the ¡®battle¡¯ with Yu Qingshuang last night, Chen Qing finally had a clear understanding of his own combat ability. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t win. After all, he hadn¡¯t even had a chance to fight back. Yu Qingshuang hadn¡¯t used her sword Gu or her cultivation to suppress him, yet she beat him without him having a chance to resist. If Yu Qingshuang truly got serious, calling her a humanoid beast would be underestimating her. To be modest, she could be called a killing machine. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 Despite Yu Qingshuang being so fierce, the Spirit Plant Elder still wouldn¡¯t trust her to go out for training. As for himself, it was better to stay honestly on the mountain. Putting on his clothes and finishing breakfast, Chen Qing glanced at himself in the mirror. Hey, you might not believe it, although Yu Qingshuang was tough on him, his face was blissfully unharmed. He went to tend to the spiritual ginseng in the Spiritual Ginseng Field. Seeing the ginseng gradually sprouting, Chen Qing dragged his ¡®battered body¡¯ to the Spirit Plant Hall. He found a quiet room, sat cross-legged, and fed the last bit of Red Silver to the Alcohol Gu. This should be enough to promote it to the seventh transformation. After absorbing the Alcohol Gu into his body, Chen Qing drank a large gulp of Spiritual Ginseng Wine, crossed his legs, and began cultivating, recovering his spiritual energy. Two hours later, Chen Qing felt a stirring within him, and he immediately manifested the Alcohol Gu in his palm. It twisted and then suddenly stiffened. Chen Qing reached out and pressed it; it had become hard and was about to shed its skin. An hour passed slowly, and a white Alcohol Gu emerged from its shell, now fatter than before. [Mortal Grade Alcohol Gu] Quality: Seventh Transformation Life Span: 24/64 Effect: Extract essence from spiritual ginseng, forming ginseng wine and slightly improving its quality Growth Requirements: Iron Tree Bud Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: Ninth Transformation, ten drops of Fire Spirit Essence, three Dew Flowers Previously, it looked like a winter melon; now it resembled a wine jar. Truly fitting for its name. There were Iron Tree Buds in the Spirit Plant Garden, so he planned to grab one at some point. As soon as he absorbed the Alcohol Gu into his body, a commotion rang out outside. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Hurry and fetch the Hall Master and Elder!¡± ¡°Cover the wound!¡± Hearing this, Chen Qing opened the door of the quiet room and walked straight in the direction of the voices. When others saw Chen Qing approaching, everyone except Wang Ye, who was pressing on Xie Dayou¡¯s wound, backed away, ¡°Hall Master!¡± Xie Dayou, who had been out on a task, was now bleeding profusely from his thigh. Chen Qing stepped forward and pressed two acupoints on Xie Dayou, temporarily stopping the bleeding. ¡°Has someone gone to get the Elder?¡± Wang Ye replied, ¡°Yes, someone has been sent.¡± Chen Qing nodded, took out his wine gourd, and handed it to Xie Dayou, ¡°Brother Xie, take a sip first.¡± Xie Dayou didn¡¯t waste words, downing a mouthful of Spiritual Ginseng Wine. Chen Qing lifted the gourd, uncovering the wound on Xie¡¯s leg, where flesh gaped open and a bone-deep cut was visible. While cleaning the wound with wine, Chen Qing asked, ¡°Brother Xie, what happened?¡± Xie Dayou explained, ¡°It was an ordinary task, but on the way, the Lotus Cave disciples and I discovered a Two Life Flower.¡± ¡°We agreed to split it, but unexpectedly they colluded with other Lotus Cave disciples to backstab us!¡± ¡°Luckily, I reacted quickly, cutting off one of his arms.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, he got away.¡± ¡°Master Chen, will I be able to keep this leg?¡± Chen Qing finished cleaning and stitching the wound, ¡°We¡¯ll see when the Spirit Plant Elder arrives.¡± In no time, the Spirit Plant Elder arrived, and opened his hand to let a jade green Gu fly out, landing on Xie Dayou¡¯s thigh, merging into his body. Chen Qing clearly saw Xie Dayou¡¯s leg lighting up with little glimmers of light. Did the Spirit Plant Elder also have a Rejuvenation Gu? Beads of sweat appeared on the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s forehead, and after half a moment, he retracted his hand, ¡°Hmm, who treated this wound?¡± Chen Qing saluted and said, ¡°It was done by this disciple!¡± The Spirit Plant Elder smiled, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have this skill!¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t treated it beforehand, even with my Rejuvenation Gu, saving his leg might have been impossible!¡± Chen Qing thought to himself, isn¡¯t this common sense? ¡°Before coming to the mountain, this disciple learned some medicine.¡± Upon hearing this, Xie Dayou was full of gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Hall Master, Elder.¡± The Spirit Plant Elder humbly replied, ¡°If anyone deserves thanks, it¡¯s Chen Qing. Without his initial actions to stop the bleeding, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to help either.¡± Xie Dayou thanked Chen Qing once again. After instructing others to take Xie Dayou to the Spirit Plant Hall¡¯s ward, Chen Qing said, ¡°Wash his wounds with wine daily, then apply medicine!¡± On the way back with the Spirit Plant Elder, Chen Qing thought to himself: The outside world is indeed turbulent. The growing tensions between Lotus Cave and Wuyou Mountain indicate that a large conflict is likely brewing soon. I need to speed up my sword training. As for going to war, I have no interest in that, and neither does the upper echelon of Wuyou Mountain, I suppose. Sending a money-making golden goose to battle, that¡¯s ridiculous! Those who are adept in war achieve great feats without fame. True masters act discreetly, avoiding action when possible. This is the path to survival. In recent days, even when going down the mountain to buy materials to improve the Wine Treasure, Chen Qing always took Li He and Wang Ye along. Indeed, things were unsettled at the foot of the mountain. Three days later, a sudden commotion arose in the valley below. Chen Qing, awakened from his cultivation, opened the door of the quiet room and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Wang Ye said, ¡°People from Lotus Cave have come to make amends. Many of our bored brothers have gone over to watch.¡± Chen Qing thought it was time to see how they would apologize, intending to stand back and observe from afar. As soon as he reached the path down the mountain, still twenty or so feet from the gate, he felt a hand on his shoulder, his body becoming light. Just about to cry out, he glanced sideways to see it was Feng Qi. Feng Qi had grabbed his shoulder, and the two of them landed steadily on a pine tree branch. ¡°Brother Chen, you also came to watch the show?¡± Chen Qing nodded. Feng Qi took a puff from his pipe, leaning against the tree trunk, ¡°Brother Chen, you¡¯re not skilled at fighting, so better keep a distance.¡± Many Wuyou Mountain disciples had gathered up ahead. A Lotus Cave disciple appeared, dragging a defeated cultivator with a severed arm to the front of Wuyou Mountain¡¯s gate. Raising the sword, he decapitated the cultivator, splattering blood over the gate and staining it red. Is this an apology? This was clearly a provocation! The Lotus Cave disciple feigned courtesy and said with a mocking smile, ¡°Having offended Wuyou Mountain, we bring the offending disciple today to apologize!¡± With that, the Lotus Cave disciple left behind the mutilated corpse and departed. It wasn¡¯t clear if this was the disciple who had attacked Xie Dayou. Chen Qing jumped from the pine tree, hearing Feng Qi¡¯s sinister remark, ¡°Challenging Wuyou Mountain so blatantly, clearly courting death.¡± Chen Qing turned to head back to his Spirit Plant Hall but heard Feng Qi¡¯s voice behind him, ¡°Brother, you can move now.¡± Chen Qing silently saluted and prepared to move with Li He and Wang Ye. War seemed imminent. Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Finally Gained Some Ability to Protect Oneself Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Finally Gained Some Ability to Protect Oneself Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` When they were halfway there, Yu Qingshuang and the slightly recovered Xie Dayou leaped among the trees and appeared in front of Chen Qing, ¡°You guys quickly grab your things, those Lotus Cave disciples haven¡¯t left yet.¡± Chen Qing returned to his own cave dwelling, packed his belongings, and had Wang Ye and Li He help move things inside. There wasn¡¯t much to keep hidden here, the Spirit Stones were stored at the Spirit Plant Elder¡¯s place, and that room was practically his exclusive space, with the keys in his possession. He carried the mask closely, so there was no need to worry. Upon returning to his new cave dwelling, except for the unopened Spiritual Beast Cave, the furniture had almost been set by Yu Qingshuang, and it was at least livable. After placing his things down, Chen Qing said, ¡°Brother Wang, you have some combat ability, ask Brother Zhou Ke to stay here with me for a few days too.¡± Wang Ye cupped his hands, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go call Brother Zhou right away!¡± In the evening, Zhou Ke and Wang Ye returned. When Wang Ye came, he brought several cranes for their escape. Chen Qing sat in the grand hall of his new cave, staring outside through the open door. On the other side of a long iron chain bridge, Yu Qingshuang sat at the bridgehead with her sword, constantly vigilant against the outside world. As night fell, Chen Qing didn¡¯t feel the slightest hint of sleepiness. The three two-person high cranes were also nibbling at things, their legs constantly moving, showing signs of restlessness. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? He instinctively sensed that the sect was being exceptionally cautious in its protection of him. At night, he¡¯d seen a cloud of mist sweeping over a nearby mountain peak. It should have been Feng Qi. As dawn broke, an entire night passed, leaving Chen Qing somewhat dazed. Was it just ending like this? At that moment, he suddenly saw Yu Qingshuang move, she got up and walked to the other side of the bridge, looking for a long while. From down the mountain, chaotic sounds emerged, ¡°A fire started!¡± ¡°Someone lit a fire!¡± Yu Qingshuang watched for a while before crossing the bridge, ¡°Junior Brother Chen, if enemies attack this place, join me in battle, then ride the cranes and leave!¡± As a tinge of warmth rose in Chen Qing¡¯s heart, he nodded resolutely, ¡°Alright!¡± At this moment, he was almost devoid of combat ability, and staying here would only cause trouble. After a brief half-hour, Chen Qing clearly saw Yu Qingshuang a few times wanting to draw her sword and rush out, but eventually, she held back. Chen Qing looked up towards the mountain top on the iron bridge, already lacking the image of Feng Qi. Seemed like Feng Qi had acted. Those Lotus Cave scums actually understood a bit of strategy. First, they set the mountain on fire to attract Wuyou Mountain¡¯s attention, and then they dispatched a squad to launch a surprise attack. As the newly promoted owner of the Grass Spirit Butterfly, and with low cultivation, he naturally became the focal point for hostile forces. But unfortunately, Feng Qi saw through it. In the past, Chen Qing occasionally wondered what it would be like if he had chosen the sword Gu. After training with Yu Qingshuang, he no longer entertained such thoughts. Why should his few days of practice be compared to others¡¯ efforts of more than a decade? From afar came the occasional cutting sound of a sharp sword slicing through the sky, resounding for only about ten breaths before fading away. That day, Chen Qing didn¡¯t go to his duty, staying in his cave where he could faintly hear senior and junior brothers chasing down those disguised Lotus Cave disciples in the distance. The next day, when Chen Qing was heading to his post, Yu Qingshuang stayed by his side to prevent Lotus Cave members from harboring ill intentions. Yu Qingshuang said, ¡°Once this period passes, it should get better.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Is it because Lotus Cave failed this time?¡± Yu Qingshuang nodded, ¡°For a sect to have someone like you, it needs to possess enough strength.¡± ¡°And yesterday, our Wuyou Mountain has proven that we have this qualification.¡± ¡°Even without Brother Ye, we can still protect our disciples in production roles.¡± ¡°Are we still practicing sword today?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Naturally, we are.¡± Swordsmanship is something that requires step-by-step progress. Hearing that Ye Yuntian would return in the next few days, Chen Qing originally planned to wait in the market at the foot of the mountain to welcome him directly at Bright Moon Tower. Unfortunately, the current situation was unstable, so he gave up on the idea. He tended to the injuries of disciples from the War Affairs Hall and Shadow Hall, significantly bolstering his reputation among Wuyou Mountain disciples. Chen Qing returned to his cave dwelling and watched the beautiful figure, tirelessly guarding outside his cave, secretly cursing at the Lotus Cave scums who would inevitably face their doom. After removing the wine gourd from his waist, Chen Qing drank the last mouthful and sat cross-legged to cultivate. Upon finishing cultivation and opening his eyes, he cursed those scoundrels for leaving him with no Spiritual Ginseng Wine to drink, truly deserving death. Whenever he left, Chen Qing could always see patches of bloodstains around the sect, gradually turning black as time flowed, then disappearing from view. As the bloodstains faded, everyone gradually returned to normalcy. Using the pretext of inspecting the Spirit Plant Garden, Chen Qing carefully searched beside an iron tree, conveniently plucking an Iron Tree Bud for ¡®researching its medicinal properties.¡¯ Chen Qing felt that his ¡®itchy hands¡¯ trait was getting increasingly severe. Returning to the Spirit Plant Hall¡¯s quiet chamber, Chen Qing fed a Wine Treasure an Iron Tree Bud and began meditating. After finishing his cultivation, he checked on the Wine Treasure¡¯s condition. One Iron Tree Bud could increase the progress by 7 points. Not too much was needed, but unfortunately, Iron Tree Buds were quite costly, selling for thirteen low-grade Spirit Stones each outside. ¡°About one hundred and seventy-two low-grade Spirit Stones, I¡¯ll ask Senior Sister tomorrow to buy some at the market.¡± After feeding Iron Tree Buds for five days, the Wine Treasure¡¯s progress rose to 56 points. Hearing the news of Ye Yuntian¡¯s return, Chen Qing tidied up the Spiritual Field early, finished his duties, and waited not far behind the mountain gate. In the evening, Chen Qing finally saw Ye Yuntian returning. ¡°Junior Brother Chen, I really put in a lot of effort this time!¡± Surrounding disciples said, ¡°If we don¡¯t get treated to drinks at Bright Moon Tower, it¡¯s hardly acceptable.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°I was planning to wait for Brother at the mountain market, but given the recent unrest, I waited here instead.¡± ¡°Brother Ye, I¡¯ve already arranged a welcome feast at Bright Moon Tower, let¡¯s go!¡± An indulgent delight. Drunk and tipsy, Chen Qing returned to his cave dwelling, closed the door, and looked at the palm-sized jade jar in his hand. [Mortal Sword Gu] Quality, Fourth Transformation Life Span, 12/42 Effect, Converts nine strands of Spiritual Energy into one strand of Sword Qi. Growth Requirements, Ancient Sword Remnants Growth Progress, 41/100 Promotion Requirements, Ninth Transformation, one Sword Gu, three strands of Geng Metal Qi, at least one three-hundred-year-old Green Snake Gallbladder This Sword Gu, unlike the other two, was incredibly lean and emitted a sharp aura. This was my first Combat Gu, and from now on, it would help safeguard my life. Drawing a blood rune proficiently, as the pale silver Sword Gu flew to his hand. Chen Qing finally felt a sense of tranquility. No longer would he be a passive producer among cultivators. Finally, he grasped a bit of self-preservation ability. Joining his two fingers as one, a wisp of Sword Qi arose at his fingertips, stepping out of the cave to gently slash at a nearby fragment of stone. That fragment, like tofu sliced by a knife, effortlessly split into two halves, with knife-like reflective cut surfaces. ¡°Truly impressive!¡± ¡°No wonder they say Sword Cultivators are the most powerful in killing and fighting!¡± To be able to wield such terrifying power upon contracting, did the Iron Skin Gu really have any use? I¡¯ll have to find a way to get a Fog Gu. Now, he clearly understood his advantage; as for Swordsmanship or Sword Dao, he couldn¡¯t compare with those immersed for decades. His advantage lay in overpowering! With the strength of Gu, overcoming power with one force! Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Thats the World of Humans Chapter 26: Chapter 26: That¡¯s the World of Humans Editor: Henyee Translations As the recent upheaval subsided, the surrounding powers finally realized that Wuyou Mountain was not to be messed with and things have been much more peaceful lately. Under Yu Qingshuang¡¯s guidance over the past few days, Chen Qing had become quite familiar with the use of the sword Gu. In fact, before the sword Gu underwent Butterfly Transformation, the usage was pretty much the same; attaching Sword Qi to the sword body to enhance the power of swordsmanship. According to Yu Qingshuang, after the sword Gu undergoes Butterfly Transformation, there could be two forms. One is the Void Sword, which does not require a physical sword and can use Spiritual Energy to form a sword in hand to oppose the enemy. The other is a flying sword, which can use Spiritual Energy to convert into Sword Qi and injure enemies at a distance. In Chen Qing¡¯s imagination, isn¡¯t this akin to an enhanced Sword Qi attachment and a Sword Qi machine gun? After sparring with Yu Qingshuang using the sword Gu, Chen Qing deeply realized that using the sword Gu in combat was not quite suitable for him at the moment. It was somewhat too dangerous. Seeing Chen Qing¡¯s impatience, Yu Qingshuang said, ¡°Let me teach you a simple method, which is the most practical for you now.¡± ¡°Right now, just practice one sword move, master it first, then learn more swordsmanship.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Anyway, with your current cultivation level, there¡¯s no way you can engage in long battles.¡± Chen Qing also thought this method was good, at least having one move to use against an enemy for now. To master it would require years of practice, far better to perfect one sword move for self-defense first. This sword move wasn¡¯t difficult; it was just a lunging step using all his strength, gathering it into one sword¡ªSword Qi attached to the blade¡ªand striking from the upper left to the lower right. Practiced continuously for three days, and the effect had immediately become apparent. Previously, sparring with Yu Qingshuang had always been easy for her. Now Chen Qing launched a forceful slash, forcing Yu Qingshuang back three steps. Yu Qingshuang felt the tremor from the blade in her hand, ¡°The core of this move is speed and ruthlessness, and you¡¯ve grasped a few key points now.¡± ¡°If your sword Gu was of much higher quality than mine, I wouldn¡¯t be able to block it at all.¡± Chen Qing understood these words; this was exactly the sword move he desired! In any case, it wouldn¡¯t take too long for his sword Gu to undergo Butterfly Transformation, and using the Sword Butterfly¡¯s power to execute this move, no cultivator with only a Sword Gu would be able to resist it! Pure brute force overcomes all techniques, unrestrained and dominant. No matter how advanced your swordsmanship, if you can¡¯t take my one strike, then what¡¯s the point of fighting! My senior sister understands me! He simply loved the straightforward thrill of overpowering with sheer strength. With this in mind, his progress in practicing swordsmanship accelerated, feeling each strike brought a new insight. June first. The sky over Feiyun Creek was always pitch black, shrouded by Demon Clouds. Rain often fell from the sky here. This was an outside world, a forbidden zone for humans. But for the disciples of the Qinglian Sword Sect, they didn¡¯t think so; in their eyes, it was more like their own backyard. In the drizzle, two Qinglian Sword Sect disciples, wearing rainproof cloaks, weaved through the forest, ¡°Hey senior brother, is that information legit?¡± ¡°Of course. I spent three Spirit Stones to buy that info, how could it be fake?¡± ¡°The White Tiger, a naturally born spirit beast, really appear on the outskirts of Feiyun Creek?¡± ¡°Anyway, I have definitive info; that guy even left his own brother under my custody!¡± They walked on the muddy path, cutting through the thorns ahead, and looked from afar at a giant banyan tree; under that banyan tree lay a majestic White Tiger. ¡°Senior brother, it¡¯s really there!¡± ¡°Keep your voice down so it doesn¡¯t get scared away!¡± They bypassed the main road ahead, planning to flank from a path. Just as they were rushing, suddenly a dull sound came from behind them. When they turned their heads, they saw a fierce-looking woman in red arrive in an instant, hands turned into claws slamming down on them! They activated their Protective Spirit Energy, trying to withstand the hit. But their chests were bombarded with enormous force, and both were thrown three zhang away like rag dolls. Hu Yao followed up and cleanly pierced their hearts with two claws. Reaching out, she captured the two escaping sword Gu with Spiritual Energy in her hand. She washed them clean in the nearby pond, then swallowed the two sword Gu and patted the nearby large tree. ¡°Come out and clean up.¡± The earth at the base of the tree lifted, and a half-man-high earth rat emerged, gesturing with its paws, ¡°Two people, six Spirit Stones.¡± Hu Yao looked at the plump earth rat before her, stretched out her tongue, and licked her lips, ¡°Seeing you makes me a little hungry.¡± The earth rat turned and burrowed into the ground, but emerged again in less than twenty breaths, holding a ten-pound earth rat in its hands. ¡°I caught you the fattest brother!¡± Hu Yao stretched out her hand to receive the plump earth rat, threw down six middle-quality Spirit Stones, returned to the banyan tree, and mounted the White Tiger, ¡°Let¡¯s go back, Xiao Wu.¡± The White Tiger stood up and let out a fierce roar, ¡°Alright, sis!¡± ¡°Sis, why can¡¯t we go over there?¡± ¡°Over there is the human world.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we go to the human world?¡± ¡°They would ride you.¡± ¡°But sis, you¡¯re riding me right now too!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hiss, ouch, sis, I won¡¯t ask anymore.¡± ¡­ Thunder Pure Land. Giant black clouds, occasionally flashing with lightning, spiraled upwards, converging towards the center in the sky. An endless tower stood towering in the center of the thunder cloud vortex. Looking upward from the tower¡¯s edge, it was deep and unfathomable. While gazing at the tower, one always felt as if it was sensing their existence with its entire being. The starry sky trembled under the purple canopy as thunder fell. Ruins and broken stairways converged into broken paths leading to the awe-inspiring tower. Murong Lang stood on a floating fragment of a wall, gazing down, with not a single spot untouched by the black, glass-like ground. The higher he climbed, the stronger the wind became; fortunately, he had the Wind Gu. Not only was the wind no hindrance, but it even helped him ascend the tower. As he climbed higher, more and more cultivators gathered around him. Thousands of cultivators entered the tower one after another, and Murong Lang blended in and went inside. Everyone wore silver-white robes because the Nine Tribulations True Monarch had proclaimed his love for silver-white colors. Murong Lang found his position among the many cultivators, standing among them. All the cultivators gathered on the first floor, standing in position. At sunrise, an elderly man with white hair, hunched over and leaning on a peach wood staff, walked up to the high platform. He raised his hands towards the mysterious paintings above, leading the chant, ¡°The Nine Tribulations True Monarch saw the people suffer from monsters and demons, thus created Thunder Pure Land!¡± The cultivators all raised their hands, following the chant, ¡°The Nine Tribulations True Monarch saw the people suffer from monsters and demons, thus created Thunder Pure Land!¡± The elder continued, ¡°The Nine Tribulations True Monarch said: demons and monsters entering Thunder Pure Land shall all die!¡± Murong Lang, amidst the crowd, also followed, ¡°The Nine Tribulations True Monarch said: demons and monsters entering Thunder Pure Land shall all die!¡± The elder let out a long call, ¡°Thus, all demons and monsters, entering Thunder Pure Land, shall turn to dust!¡± The crowd shouted in unison, ¡°Thus, all demons and monsters, entering Thunder Pure Land, shall turn to dust!¡± Once in awe of the Nine Tribulations True Monarch¡¯s great power, Murong Lang now had an odd thought rising in his mind. He wondered whether Senior Taichu or the Nine Tribulations True Monarch was more powerful. After all, even when the Nine Tribulations True Monarch manifested, it never revealed how to advance Gu. Feeling the Thunder Butterfly within him, it had already reached the Sixth Transformation. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27 The Female Demon Who Cant Hide Money Chapter 27: Chapter 27 The Female Demon Who Can¡¯t Hide Money Editor: Henyee Translations Night fell as Chen Qing walked into his own wine cellar, opened a jar, and filled his wine gourd with alcohol. Returning to his bedroom, Chen Qing spread out his hand, letting the Alcohol Gu and sword Gu go to consume the materials they needed. The Alcohol Gu gnawed on an Iron Tree Bud, while the sword Gu lay on an ancient sword, slowly breaking off small pieces to toss into its mouth. He took a sip of his wine, feeling a sense of tranquility reminiscent of bygone days. It would be even better if he could go out for some fresh air right now. Unfortunately, the Alcohol Gu was on the brink of a promotion and not suitable for going out. This promotion would be his Eighth-Transformation, unlike Li He, who was lucky enough to brew Ginseng Ganoderma Wine at the Seventh Transformation. After this Eighth-Transformation, everything should stabilize. After taking another two sips of Spiritual Ginseng Wine, Chen Qing felt his body brimming with spiritual energy and began cultivation accompanied by the sound of the spring outside. Time always seemed to fly during cultivation, and soon he heard the distant sound of the night watchman¡¯s call. ¡°It¡¯s midnight!¡± He unfolded his bedding, assumed a sitting posture, and placed a bronze ghost mask on his face. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï When he appeared on the Cloud Platform, Murong Lang and Hu Yao had already been waiting for some time. Hu Yao was the first to speak, ¡°Good evening, Senior Taichu.¡± Murong Lang cupped his hands, ¡°Respected Senior Taichu, good evening.¡± Chen Qing nodded slightly, ¡°Red Lotus, scholar, good evening.¡± Hu Yao probably had no more tricks up her sleeve, hoping this scholar would offer some surprises. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be enough money to buy the Fog Gu. Lately, he had asked Yu to buy items worth nearly four hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, and he couldn¡¯t continue like this. The source of her spent Spirit Stones was unclear, but acquiring the Fog Gu would make things easier. While contemplating this, he didn¡¯t expect Hu Yao to ask, ¡°Scholar, did you bring Spirit Stones?¡± Murong Lang revealed a pleased expression, ¡°Did you get the sword Gu?¡± Hu Yao opened her hand, in which a sword Gu resided, looking lackluster with restrained spiritual energy. This sword Gu was much smaller than Chen Qing¡¯s; he only needed one glance to discern its origin. Just a First Transformation! Typically, when wild Gu are captured, they are usually at the Third or Fourth Transformation. Such a newly transformed Gu can only have one origin. Murder and Gu theft! After the host is killed, the Gu is severely injured due to the contract. Some may die, while others might regress. The specific factors remain inconclusive, but there¡¯s a general evaluation standard. That is, the longer the Gu¡¯s Life Span, the greater its chance of survival. Of course, even if they survive, their Life Span is much lower than that of a wild Gu. If a Gu has a short Life Span, it might die directly. These second-hand Gu are not particularly valuable. Yet she dared to charge the scholar one hundred sixty mid-grade Spirit Stones for this thing? In the marketplace at the base of Wuyou Mountain, it would probably be worth only twenty or thirty mid-grade Spirit Stones. Murong Lang extended his hand to take the lackluster sword Gu, ¡°This sword Gu is not of good quality.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to have a long Life Span.¡± However, Hu Yao had anticipated this point, ¡°With Senior here, this sword Gu could quickly reach a high-level transformation or even Butterfly Transformation, then its Life Span would be enough, right?¡± Murong Lang shook his head, ¡°This is different from what we agreed upon. One hundred sixty Spirit Stones is indeed a bit expensive.¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°How much are you willing to offer?¡± Murong Lang replied, ¡°Eighty Spirit Stones, that¡¯s the highest I can go.¡± Chen Qing thought to himself, this scholar truly had money to spare! For this useless item, he was willing to spend eighty Spirit Stones! If it weren¡¯t for the need to maintain a composed demeanor and appear indifferent to such small matters, he would have been tempted to bring goods from the marketplace at the foot of the mountain for the scholar. Hu Yao pondered; she still had another sword Gu. It was well known that when a sword Gu promotes to Butterfly Transformation, it generally requires another sword Gu. She planned to sell the remaining sword Gu to the scholar then. ¡°Deal.¡± Murong Lang reached into his bosom, took out a spirit stone bag, counted the amount, and placed it in front of Hu Yao. ¡°If you manage to acquire the sword scripture, I am willing to pay a high price.¡± Hu Yao counted the Spirit Stones excitedly, ¡°That item isn¡¯t easy to come by, but perhaps the leader might have a lead.¡± Murong Lang lightly tapped his palm with his fan, ¡°The leader, eh?¡± Hu Yao wasn¡¯t one to hoard Spirit Stones. In a place teeming with demons, hoarded treasures only attracted fatal danger. She learned this lesson when she tried to hide a little wild boar as a child. Quickly counting out fifteen Spirit Stones, she placed them respectfully in front of Chen Qing and showed her Iron Butterfly, ¡°Please instruct me, Senior Taichu.¡± Chen Qing¡¯s gaze fell on the unassuming Iron Butterfly. By its appearance alone, it could no longer be called a butterfly, more like a beetle. Covered in a blue sheen, it looked quite appealing. [Mortal Iron Butterfly] Quality: First Transformation Life Span: 21/110 Effect: Skin as tough as iron, impenetrable by swords and spears Trait: [Dragon Elephant] A Dragon Elephant Strength shields the body Growth Requirements: Mystic Turtle Shell Growth Progress: 0/100 (Waiting for promotion) Promotion Requirements: Unable to promote The description suggested a Dragon Elephant Strength constantly wandered on the skin, serving as protection. Chen Qing tapped the table with his index finger, ¡°Mystic Turtle Shell.¡± Hu Yao counted out twenty more Spirit Stones and respectfully placed them in front of Chen Qing, revealing her Second Transformation Power Butterfly. ¡°Please instruct, Senior!¡± Chen Qing glanced at it, ¡°Blood Ganoderma.¡± Satisfied, Hu Yao sat upright, ¡°Thank you for the guidance, Senior.¡± Seeing her eager expression, she seemed desperate to spend all her Spirit Stones. This girl couldn¡¯t save money. However, it worked for him; he happened to need Spirit Stones. Seeing Hu Yao had finished her queries, the scholar no longer concealed his Wind Butterfly, then counted twenty Spirit Stones and handed them respectfully to Chen Qing. Chen Qing looked at the scholar¡¯s green Wind Butterfly. It was the first time he had seen a Butterfly Transformation Wind Gu. [Mortal Wind Butterfly] Quality: Second Transformation Life Span: 33/120 Effect: Light Body Trait: [Wind-guided] Capable of briefly treading the wind Growth Requirements: Official Seal Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: Unable to promote An Official Seal? Are there actually Gu that require such a thing for promotion? The promotion requirements for Gu were truly odd and varied. Despite his confusion, Chen Qing stated truthfully, ¡°Official Seal.¡± Murong Lang was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, ¡°It is indeed rare, although it¡¯s among the possible promotion materials, it¡¯s used the least.¡± Chen Qing leaned back, adopting a comfortable sitting posture, ¡°You may start your conversation.¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°Scholar, if you need more sword Gu, you can find me.¡± Murong Lang thought, this girl seemed to have acquired more than one item in this run. ¡°Mm, I will contact you if needed.¡± ¡°However, I am preparing for Foundation Establishment recently, so Spirit Stones might be scarce.¡± Hu Yao asked, ¡°Have you prepared your Lifebound Gu?¡± Chen Qing was astounded; it was his first time hearing the term Lifebound Gu. This was something he needed to listen to carefully. Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Obtaining the Fog Gu Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Obtaining the Fog Gu Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Murong Lang didn¡¯t hold back, ¡°Where I come from, many cultivators use the Thunder Butterfly as their Lifebound Gu.¡± ¡°If everything goes smoothly, I might also use a Ninth Transformation Thunder Butterfly as my Lifebound Gu.¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°Anyway, the Power Gu has already gone through Butterfly Transformation and can become a Dao Foundation. I intend to use the Power Gu to establish my Foundation.¡± Murong Lang cautiously glanced at Chen Qing, but found that Chen Qing had no reaction, feeling somewhat disappointed inside. It seemed that the two of us still didn¡¯t carry much weight in the eyes of Senior Taichu. Otherwise, Senior Taichu might have given us some advice. But then again, without Senior Taichu, we would just be two ordinary people. Murong Lang said, ¡°But I¡¯m planning to wait a bit longer, until I raise this Sword Gu to the Butterfly Transformation before making a decision.¡± Red Lotus chimed in, ¡°Unlike those core disciples of the Pure Land, we can¡¯t contract beyond-Mortal quality Gu. Besides, there are rumors that high-quality Gu contracts have certain requirements.¡± Murong Lang said, ¡°It¡¯s not just that, Gu surpassing Mortal quality possess extremely powerful abilities.¡± ¡°Even among the core disciples of the Pure Land, not everyone qualifies for a contract.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï ¡°Gu surpassing Mortal quality are exceedingly rare.¡± Murong Lang thought for a moment, ¡°We worshipped the Nine Tribulations True Monarch this morning, but unfortunately, there was still no response this time.¡± Hu Yao curiously asked, ¡°What is the Nine Tribulations True Monarch?¡± Murong Lang quietly observed Chen Qing¡¯s reaction while saying, ¡°The creator of the Thunder Pure Land.¡± Hu Yao asked, ¡°Was it not the Nine-headed Golden Crow who created it?¡± Murong Lang glanced deeply at Hu Yao, and Chen Qing sneaked a glance as well. This girl is from the Demon Clan, huh! Chen Qing scanned the two with the corner of his eye, a scholar and a lady demon. Hahaha, interesting. Just that this scholar was slightly taller, and the lady demon was a bit simple. Absolutely incredible! Hu Yao was completely unaware she had exposed her race. The two chatted a bit more, then fell into silence. Seeing that they couldn¡¯t provide much information related to Lifebound Gu, Chen Qing rhythmically tapped his index finger on the table, ¡°Then today¡¯s gathering is over.¡± As Murong Lang and Hu Yao left, Chen Qing waved his hand, gathering up the Spirit Stones and disappearing from the spot. The Cloud Platform towering above the Nine Heavens settled into silence once more, as clouds drifted leisurely. Chen Qing removed the bronze mask from his face, gazing at the fifty-five mid-grade Spirit Stones before him. Storing the Spirit Stones safely, Chen Qing thought to himself that now all of them combined barely sufficed to buy a Fog Gu. Still poor indeed. Once bought, his Spirit Stones would be nearly exhausted. However, Red Lotus still had quite a few Spirit Stones; that girl couldn¡¯t hide her money. Next time, there should be some income, and the expenses should be manageable. Chen Qing didn¡¯t intend to head down the mountain to purchase a Fog Gu just yet, as the turmoil had subsided only recently. He wanted to watch for a while longer. Wait for a few more days. After being thrashed by Yu Qingshuang for an hour, Chen Qing applied medicinal wine and resumed his duties as usual. These days while on duty, he often caught a glimpse of Yu Qingshuang. Cold and aloof, as if someone owed her money. It was only an accidental touch on the waist, was it that big of a deal? Petty! Wealthy yet not generous. In the evening, after another hour of being pummeled by Yu Qingshuang, Chen Qing returned to his cave residence. Spreading his hand, the Sword Gu had already hardened. After waiting only a quarter of an hour, a streak of Sword Qi broke through the Gu shell, and a more vibrant Sword Gu emerged from it. [Mortal Sword Gu] Quality: Fifth Transformation Life Span: 12/52 Effect: Converts eight strands of Spiritual Energy into one strand of Sword Qi. Growth Requirements: Golden Spirit Soul Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: One Sword Gu, three strands of Geng Metal Qi, and one at least three-hundred-year-old green snake gall. With reduced Spiritual Energy needs, it was safer to buy some Golden Spirit Souls from the foot of the mountain. It seemed he couldn¡¯t use the Sword Gu to spar with the senior sister anymore. With her acute sensitivity to the Sword Gu, she might discover his Sword Gu had already advanced. Knock, knock¡­ Someone knocked on the door. Chen Qing opened the door to find Xie Dayou holding some gifts, ¡°Thanks to Master Chen, I managed to keep this leg. Now that I¡¯ve recovered from my injuries, I¡¯ve come to thank you.¡± Chen Qing invited Xie Dayou inside for tea. After a cup, Chen Qing came up with a plan. It wasn¡¯t safe to go down the mountain alone, taking Xie Dayou might still be quite secure. After all, he was a disciple from the War Affairs Hall, and his cultivation wasn¡¯t bad either. ¡°Brother Xie, it¡¯s just me living here, with no servants to prepare meals or hospitality.¡± Xie Dayou stood up, ¡°Master Chen, there¡¯s no need!¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°How could that be appropriate? At Wuyou Mountain, I, Chen Qing, am somewhat of a figure. If word got out, people might think I lack hospitality.¡± ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go down the mountain for some drinks!¡± Xie Dayou refused several times, but seeing Chen Qing insist, he agreed. Chen Qing packed a big bag of Spirit Stones on his back and went down the mountain to the market with Xie Dayou. At Bright Moon Tower, they ordered a banquet. Chen Qing said, ¡°Brother Xie, wait here for a moment. I¡¯ll go get some Spiritual Ginseng Wine!¡± Hearing there would be Spiritual Ginseng Wine, Xie Dayou didn¡¯t think much of it. Chen Qing left the building, gestured for two young ladies to entertain Xie Dayou, and quickly made a small circle, finding a dark alley to expertly change his clothes. Wearing a black robe, Chen Qing just walked into Wanbao Pavilion, and the attendant led him to the tea room. ¡°Sir, the goods have arrived.¡± Chen Qing remained cautious, not touching the tea, ¡°Let me see.¡± The attendant turned to the inner vault to fetch the goods. Looking around, Chen Qing found the place quaint and old-fashioned. Wanbao Pavilion¡¯s background was unknown to him, yet it could thrive in this chaotic region, suggesting a formidable backing. The attendant returned holding two jade jars. ¡°Sir, have a look. These are the two Fog Gu I acquired.¡± Chen Qing glanced at them, seeing through their details. One was a Fourth Transformation Fog Gu, the other a Second Transformation. He pretended to closely examine the Fourth Transformation one, ¡°How much for this?¡± The attendant smiled, ¡°This one is of excellent quality, priced at eighteen thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.¡± Chen Qing thought to himself that this was nearly twice the typical price for Gu, Fog Gu truly were expensive! ¡°And the other one?¡± The attendant said, ¡°The other one isn¡¯t as great in appearance, just fifteen thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.¡± The price was acceptable; after all, he could cultivate the Second Transformation Fog Gu to Fourth Transformation, spending at most four to five hundred Spirit Stones. ¡°Wrap this young one for me.¡± After noting the growth requirement of the Second Transformation Fog Gu, Chen Qing said, ¡°Add ten Illusion Spirit Flowers, three ounces of Golden Spirit Soul.¡± The attendant packaged them, ¡°That¡¯ll be fifteen thousand four hundred Spirit Stones.¡± After settling the bill, Chen Qing carried the items, circled to a latrine near the distillery, changed his clothes again, and when no one was around, went directly into the distillery. Purchasing some Spirit Ginseng, he filled his wine gourd and brewed a pot of Spiritual Ginseng Wine. Chen Qing returned to Bright Moon Tower once more, drank for an hour, then left with Xie Dayou. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29: It Seems Ive Learned Some Strange Skills Chapter 29: Chapter 29: It Seems I¡¯ve Learned Some Strange Skills Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Late at night, Chen Qing and Xie Dayou returned to the mountain, each going back to their own cave mansion. Sitting cross-legged in the cultivation chamber, he picked up a jade pot, sliced into his arm with his fingers like a sword, and used his index finger to dab the blood, beginning to draw runes on the jade pot of the Fog Gu. ¡°In the presence of the Spring and Autumn Cicada and the Floating Butterfly, I, Chen Qing, hereby form this contract with you!¡± ¡°I shall nourish you, and you shall lend me strength.¡± ¡­ ¡°With my body, I shall nurture yours!¡± Spiritual energy within him started to rush towards the jade pot, and it stopped only after absorbing half of Chen Qing¡¯s spiritual energy. Chen Qing felt a faint consciousness emerging within him. He opened the jade pot, and the Fog Gu floated out according to his will. It was a tiny black insect, sometimes turning into mist, sometimes reverting to its insect form. [Mortal Fog Gu] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Quality: Second Transformation Life Span: 26/56 Effect: Turns the flesh into mist within two breaths, allowing flight during the mist phase. After turning to mist, it requires thirty breaths to recover. Growth Requirements: Illusion Spirit Flower Growth Progress: 28/100 Promotion Requirements: Ninth Transformation, foggy weather, Rejuvenation Incense, one drop of White Tiger Essence Blood, one pound of Cold Jade About to be promoted to the Third Transformation, not bad at all. Chen Qing absorbed the Fog Gu into his body and began practicing its use. Initially, mastering the Fog Gu was challenging, as he could only turn his whole body into mist without precise control. A cloud of mist hovered in the air for two breaths before descending, and Chen Qing took a steady step and stood firm. The Fog Gu indeed required frequent use to become proficient. After practicing for an hour, Chen Qing discovered he had mastered a peculiar ability. Initially wearing the robes of a Wuyou Mountain Hall Master, Chen Qing turned into mist and took flight. The mist drifted a zhang away, and when Chen Qing landed, he was dressed in a black robe. ¡°Why is it that others develop combat-focused abilities, but my first discovered use is changing clothes?¡± Lightning-fast outfit change, anyone? It felt like he might have unlocked the cultivation realm in a slightly offbeat way. ¡°Never mind, there¡¯s plenty of time; I¡¯ll practice again tomorrow.¡± As long as there were enough Butterfly Transformation Gu, Foundation Establishment was within reach! Once he reached Foundation Establishment, gaining a hundred years more of life span, there would be ample time to live freely! But for now, he would work hard and focus on making money. Lying on the bed, he solemnly said, ¡°Every bit of my power, I¡¯ve earned through my own hard work.¡± The next day, after his usual routine of getting beaten up, he went to his post; the Spirit Ginseng and sword heart grass in the field were thriving, likely ready for harvest by April of the following year. Plants like Spirit Ginseng needed to go through the natural cycles, experiencing all four seasons, to fully develop their medicinal properties. After his duties, he endured another round of beatings and returned home with his sword. Just as he was about to have a few drinks of Spiritual Ginseng Wine and begin his cultivation, he found Feng Qi at the door. ¡°Chen,¡± Feng Qi said, ¡°Has Xiao Zhong sent anyone to find you recently?¡± Chen Qing shook his head, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is it that Senior Brother Xiao¡­¡± Feng Qi took a drag from his pipe, ¡°If Xiao Zhong seeks you out, don¡¯t entertain him; push him away with all your might.¡± Chen Qing clasped his hands in thanks, ¡°Thank you for the warning, Senior Brother.¡± Feng Qi continued, ¡°Your cave mansion is newly built, few people know about it, but the people of Lotus Cave were precisely able to find your place last time¡­¡± Feng Qi didn¡¯t finish, but the implication was clear to Chen Qing. There was concern that Xiao Zhong might leak information and collude with those from Lotus Cave. Feng Qi¡¯s suspicion was reasonable, given that Lotus Cave cultivated quite a few Bishui Lotuses and had some dealings with Xiao Zhong. Chen Qing replied, ¡°I understand, Senior Brother.¡± Feng Qi then added, ¡°But don¡¯t worry too much; although Xiao Zhong isn¡¯t particularly aligned with the sect, it shouldn¡¯t come to that.¡± After saying that, Feng Qi left. Chen Qing cultivated for two hours, then decided to continue practicing with the Fog Gu. After three days of practice, Chen Qing rather awkwardly discovered that he had become increasingly skilled at changing outfits, even managing to reduce the time to half a breath. It seemed his talent lay in something rather peculiar¡­ However, he did manage to master an additional ability during those three days of practice. He could now selectively turn only a part of his body into mist! With this method, the duration of the mist phase extended significantly. If he turned only one hand to mist, it could last a full five breaths. Nevertheless, only his limbs could be selectively misted; once his head or body turned to mist, it was the entire body. Also, although misting was possible, once reverted, any wounds on the arm remained and couldn¡¯t be healed through body reconstruction. Next, he continued practicing simultaneous sword moves while turning to mist to evade the enemy¡¯s attacks. Chen Qing was focusing on a move that involved turning to mist to dodge an attack, then rapidly regaining his true form to unleash a practiced strike. While it wasn¡¯t particularly honorable, in matters of life and death, honor was irrelevant. Days gradually settled into a rare period of peace. He led a standard routine every day. Wake up. Get beaten up. Attend duties. Cultivate. Finish duties. Get beaten up. Cultivate. Practice his unique skill. Such regularity that even Chen Qing found it initially unsettling. The Alcohol Gu advanced to the Ninth Transformation, allowing him to brew superior Ginseng Ganoderma Wine. Regrettably, he couldn¡¯t expose this and had to continue using Spirit Ginseng for his own brew. Fortunately, the Ninth Transformation Alcohol Gu produced Spiritual Ginseng Wine of excellent quality, significantly boosting cultivation speed; Chen Qing estimated he needed just one year to break through to the fourth level of Qi Refinement. The sword Gu was on the verge of ascending to the Sixth Transformation, and the Fog Gu was merely one day away from reaching the Third Transformation. Sitting on his bed, he counted his fewer than a thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones once again, sighing, ¡°Why am I so broke?¡± The Alcohol Gu¡¯s Butterfly Transformation was out of the question, given the exorbitant Spirit Stone requirement. In fact, he could barely sustain the sword Gu and Fog Gu for a few more days. He hoped Red Lotus could swiftly enhance her Gu. Wuyou Mountain wasn¡¯t truly a single mountain but a series of mountains along a vast mountain range. The Spirit Plant Garden was situated in the middle of these mountains. It served as the fundamental wealth accumulation of a sect. Also providing the root of the sect¡¯s cohesion. And it was the source of Chen Qing¡¯s authority. In the morning, shortly after Chen Qing arrived at the Spirit Plant Hall, a disciple from the War Affairs Hall came to request his presence. ¡°Master Chen, Senior Brother Ye has called for a Hall Master meeting, and he requests your attendance.¡± Naturally, Chen Qing had to attend the meeting, but he didn¡¯t know what had happened that required his presence. He reckoned it probably had little to do with him since his role mainly involved overseeing agriculture, not warfare. His invitation was likely out of respect. Calling out to Li He, Chen Qing followed the disciple from the War Affairs Hall, passing many senior brothers¡¯ residences along the halfway point of the mountain, arriving at the council chamber next to the Ancestor Master Hall. Inside the council chamber, more than twenty seats were arranged, with a Mountain and River Map of Wuyou Mountain at the center. Next to each seat was a tea table, and servants gradually served tea to the front seats. Meanwhile, in the square outside the council chamber, hall masters gathered in small groups, discussing matters. Among these people, Chen Qing was most familiar with Gongsun Xiu, so he approached him and asked, ¡°Do you know what has happened to warrant such a grand scene today?¡± Gongsun Xiu replied, ¡°It¡¯s no secret. Lotus Cave has been excessively overbearing lately, and Junior Brother Ye wants to teach them a lesson.¡± Chen Qing nodded, relieved that it had nothing to do with him. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30 None of His Business Chapter 30: Chapter 30 None of His Business Editor: Henyee Translations Morning on the mountain top was refreshing and cool. The pines on the mountain swayed gently with the wind, making a rustling sound. After a short while, Feng Qi and Ye Yuntian came together. Ye Yuntian saw Chen Qing, patted him on the shoulder, ¡°Has Xiao Zhong been causing you any trouble lately?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°We haven¡¯t been in contact for some time.¡± Ye Yuntian said, ¡°That¡¯s good, if he tries anything, we¡¯ll make him taste his own medicine.¡± ¡°By the way, Qingshuang has been confined at home by the Spirit Plant Elder and isn¡¯t allowed to go out, so take her out to relax whenever you can.¡± Chen Qing felt a bit awkward, ¡°Alright.¡± Everyone laughed heartily at Chen Qing¡¯s embarrassed look. After teasing Chen Qing, the twelve Hall Masters gathered in groups, discussing some matters. Gongsun Xiu asked curiously, ¡°Brother Chen, how much Spirit Ginseng can the Spirit Plant Garden produce this year?¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°This is my first time planting, so I¡¯m not sure yet. We¡¯ll have to wait and see.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Gongsun Xiu said, ¡°From the mountain, it looks promising. With this Spiritual Ginseng Field, we can cultivate more disciples.¡± Of course, the one who needs Spiritual Ginseng the most is me. How are you going to brew any Alcohol Gu without it? Why do we even need so many Alcohol Gu cultivators? Everyone chatted endlessly until the Great Elder, wearing a gray Daoist robe, arrived. Then they followed him into the council meeting hall. Gongsun Xiu, worried that Chen Qing might not know where to sit since it was his first council meeting, pulled him to sit beside him. The Refinement Hall¡¯s Deputy Hall Master Wu Yi had no complaints about this and sat on the other side of Chen Qing. Li He, on the other hand, stood behind Chen Qing, like the other disciples of the halls. The Great Elder, looking serious, took a sip of tea and sat at the main seat, ¡°Talk among yourselves, don¡¯t mind me. I¡¯m only here because the Mountain Master needed some extra hands.¡± Chen Qing thought Ye Yuntian would speak first, but surprisingly it was Feng Qi who said, ¡°According to reliable information, there are a few wild Gu insects around Xiao Yue Lake near Lotus Cave.¡± Gongsun Xiu and Wu Yi seemed uninterested, and, considering himself akin to their production roles, Chen Qing didn¡¯t plan to speak. Shen Ao said, ¡°Lotus Cave has provoked us at Wuyou Mountain multiple times. We cannot let them get these wild Gu insects so easily this time!¡± Feng Qi said with a somber expression, ¡°Most of our mentors seeking breakthroughs are still away, so we can¡¯t provoke a large-scale war!¡± Shen Ao said, ¡°Can¡¯t we just send a few disciples from the War Affairs Hall disguised to get the Gu insects?¡± Feng Qi and Shen Ao argued intensely, but Gongsun Xiu and Wu Yi sat still as if unmoved. Gongsun Xiu even raised his cup of tea, gesturing slightly to Chen Qing, who also sipped his tea, just wetting his lips without actually drinking. He wasn¡¯t used to eating or drinking in unfamiliar places. Ultimately, Feng Qi subdued the issue, and Shen Ao, clearly unhappy, stormed off. It seemed this meeting was in vain; nothing was resolved¡­ The Spirit Plant Hall¡¯s Chen Qing and the Refinement Hall were just here to watch the drama and sip tea¡­ Everyone left dissatisfied, and Chen Qing went about his regular duties. At night, while Chen Qing was training, he heard a knock at the door. Opening it, he found Feng Qi and Ye Yuntian. Ye Yuntian smiled, ¡°Brother, we¡¯re here. Won¡¯t you invite us in to sit?¡± Chen Qing quickly ushered them in and served tea. Feng Qi carried a clay pot that seemed quite important. Ye Yuntian tasted the tea, ¡°Brother Feng, share your plan.¡± Feng Qi explained, ¡°Here¡¯s the plan. We¡¯ll send five Qi Refinement Seventh Transformation disciples from the War Affairs Hall, led by Deputy Hall Master Feng Qiao from the Shadow Hall.¡± ¡°When the Lotus Cave disciples capture those wild Gu insects, we¡¯ll ambush them on the road!¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll lead the Shadow Hall disciples for support.¡± Chen Qing was startled. He suddenly realized this might be his first brush with the real cultivation world. These guys were quite cunning! During the day, Feng Qi led the opposition, yet by night, he already had a plan in place! Ye Yuntian handed Chen Qing a slip of paper, ¡°Brother Chen, if you agree, circle on the paper. If not, cross it.¡± Then, he gestured to the clay pot in Feng Qi¡¯s hand. No wonder Gongsun Xiu and Wu Yi acted indifferent; the real meeting took place at night. Chen Qing took the paper and asked, ¡°What are those Lotus Cave disciples¡¯ cultivation levels?¡± Feng Qi showed an approving glance, ¡°Four at Qi Refinement Fifth Transformation, one at Qi Refinement Sixth Transformation.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit risky?¡± Feng Qi said, ¡°Feng Qiao is already at Qi Refinement Eighth Transformation. With her leading, it should be quite safe.¡± Chen Qing pondered for a moment, went to the study, ground ink, and finally drew a circle. After all, he wasn¡¯t the one going, and those bratty Lotus Cave disciples were asking for a beating. Folding the slip, he slipped it into the clay pot. As Ye Yuntian was leaving, he told Chen Qing, ¡°Brother Chen, next time, it¡¯ll be your turn to take the clay pot, and I¡¯ll come get you then.¡± So, passing the clay pot was a rotating duty, quite interesting. ¡°Take care, brothers.¡± After they left under the night sky, Chen Qing thought that Shen Ao was likely the bait thrown by Feng Qi and Ye Yuntian, provoking Lotus Cave and targetting their assassination attempts. That daytime meeting might have just been a trap to lure out spies. This was indeed the cutthroat cultivation world, where keeping your thoughts hidden from your enemies was essential. ¡°Interesting!¡± Though it really didn¡¯t concern him. Laying aside those thoughts, Chen Qing wielded his sword, resuming his tireless training of his secret skill. On June 9th, as Chen Qing arrived at the Spirit Plant Hall, he received a secret message from Ye Yuntian, which he read alone in the hall. It instructed him to prepare healing medicine. It seemed the plan had been approved. He¡¯d better spend all his money tonight before Lotus Cave found out, in case they retaliated, which would make it hard to go down the mountain later. Glimpsing the words ¡°incinerate after reading,¡± Chen Qing left the hall, tossed the secret message into the burning hearth of the Spirit Plant Hall until it burned completely before leaving. At night, Chen Qing went down the mountain, rented a private room near a dark alley at Bright Moon Tower next to Wanbao Pavilion, and asked everyone to leave, drinking alone. After two cups of liquor, seeing the alley was empty, Chen Qing used Fog to fly out the window, landing already clad in dark robes. Fog Gu truly was a treasure! After circling to Wanbao Pavilion, enhancing the quality of many Gu insects, Chen Qing had a rough estimate of the quantity of materials needed for enhancement. Chen Qing said, ¡°Get me twenty Demon Wolf Teeth and thirty drops of Spiritual Dew!¡± Spending four hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, Chen Qing circled back to the dark alley. Listening to the noise from Bright Moon Tower, his room was silent. Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, he leapt, using Fog to slip through the window, and was back in his seat, wearing the Spirit Plant Hall Master¡¯s robe. Finishing his meal quickly, Chen Qing returned to the mountain. With these materials, his Fog Gu could be enhanced to Fourth Transformation, and his sword Gu to Seventh Transformation. The only regret was that he had no Spirit Stones left. Well, that severed a desire, keeping him from wanting to go down the mountain to spend money for a while. Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Ill lay it out here today! Chapter 31: Chapter 31 I¡¯ll lay it out here today! Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Not to mention, after the money was gone, his mind was clearer, and his cultivation speed actually increased slightly. Chen Qing decided to extend his cultivation time during this period. In just three days, two injured people appeared at Chen Qing¡¯s place. The injuries were not particularly serious, it seemed to have been successful. He didn¡¯t know how many Gu of what qualities they had reclaimed this time. After treating the injuries, Chen Qing went as usual to tend to the Spiritual Ginseng Field. Under Chen Qing¡¯s daily care, the Spiritual Ginseng was already growing quite robustly. Comparing it with the Spirit Plant Garden in the past, Chen Qing easily noticed the differences. The Spirit Plant Garden from before, when the Spiritual Ginseng grew to the stage he was cultivating now, would grow extremely slowly and require years to accumulate spiritual essence. However, the Spiritual Ginseng he was cultivating now, with the Grass Spirit Butterfly¡¯s care, still grew beautifully. As for that twenty-acre special Spiritual Ginseng Field, its growth was even more outrageous! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï If it were in the past, it could barely be harvested. Grass Treasure was truly formidable! Once he got the life-saving measures in place, he would continue to enhance Grass Treasure! After spending a few days on the mountain with no news, it wasn¡¯t until the fifteenth of June that Chen Qing heard something. According to Li He, the people from Lotus Cave were robbed, but more than one group was involved. The exact number of people from the mountain was unclear, since it was just a rumor after all. Chen Qing estimated that the news of Lotus Cave¡¯s movement had leaked, not only discovered by Wuyou Mountain but possibly by other forces as well. Judging from the wounds of the two brothers from the War Affairs Hall, it seemed that someone took advantage of them after they had fought fiercely. When the snipe and the clam quarrel, the fisherman benefits. Under such circumstances, Lotus Cave likely found it hard to retaliate. The subsequent turmoil should be minimal. Knowing this, Chen Qing felt a bit relieved in his heart, silently praising Feng Qi and Ye Yuntian. They really did deal with matters cleanly and efficiently. That afternoon, when Chen Qing went to tend to the Spiritual Ginseng Field, Gongsun Xiu brought a pot of wine and invited Chen Qing to sit on the ridge of the field. He spread out a carpet, and the two sat on it, drinking wine and eating some dried fruits. ¡°Junior Brother, those twenty acres of your Spiritual Ginseng really make one envious!¡± Chen Qing laughed and replied, ¡°No hurry, after harvest, Senior Brother can come and take some.¡± Gongsun Xiu asked, ¡°Junior Brother, are you interested in cultivating some Blood Ginseng?¡± Cultivating Blood Ginseng with Demon Blood? In the wild, demon beasts pile the corpses they devour around wild Spiritual Ginseng, and over years it grows into Blood Ginseng! Chen Qing said, ¡°This Demon Blood isn¡¯t easy to get.¡± Gongsun Xiu replied, ¡°I heard there are still some in the Beast Driving Hall¡¯s stock.¡± Saying this, Gongsun Xiu didn¡¯t continue, only offering Chen Qing more wine. Chen Qing pondered, Blood Ginseng is much more precious than Spiritual Ginseng, if he could cultivate some, his status and position would be more secure. Moreover, after cultivating, he could retain some for his own use, which would greatly benefit his cultivation. Although Gongsun Xiu might have had this plan in mind, it wasn¡¯t a hindrance. He just didn¡¯t know if Grass Treasure could handle this task now. After Gongsun Xiu left, Chen Qing called Li He and instructed him to fetch a barrel of Demon Blood from the Beast Driving Hall. After an hour, Chen Qing ordered Li He to pour the Demon Blood over the land. Under the sunlight, the part of the Spiritual Field soaked with Demon Blood heated up. Chen Qing quickly opened his hand, releasing the Grass Spirit Butterfly, and sent it to tend to the field. Soon, under the care of the Grass Spirit Butterfly, the temperature gradually dropped, the Demon Blood seeped into the land, and the Spiritual Ginseng became more and more vibrant. The spiritual energy within him was rapidly consumed, so much so that Chen Qing couldn¡¯t help but take a couple of breaths. There was potential! After his cultivation increased a bit more, he could consider it, but for now, an acre of Blood Ginseng might be his limit. It seems when he has the time, he can chat with his senior sister from the Beast Driving Hall. After the Grass Spirit Butterfly had cared for it for a quarter of an hour, Chen Qing clearly saw that on this plot of land, the Spiritual Ginseng had a splash of red on its leaves. After finishing this, Chen Qing, feeling a bit weary, returned to his cave dwelling. In the cultivation room, Chen Qing released the Gu, letting them each eat their promotion items and daily needs. The Fog Gu turned into a mist, enveloped the Spiritual Dew, and slowly absorbed it. The Sword Gu was much more aggressive, lying on the Demon Wolf Teeth, cutting off a piece with a swing of its little claw, and sending it to its mouth. The Grass Spirit Butterfly was much more graceful, lying on the Gu Spirit Grass, nibbling at it daintily. The Alcohol Gu was lively, and from time to time, it would hand a piece of the Gu Spirit Grass it had torn off to the Grass Spirit Butterfly. Hmm, in a couple of days, Fog Treasure and Sword Treasure could probably advance. After watching the four Gu fill themselves, Chen Qing withdrew them into his body, drank a couple of sips of Spiritual Ginseng Wine, and continued cultivating to replenish spiritual energy. Nightfall. The Clouds above the Nine Heavens shifted and changed, on the Cloud Platform, a man dressed in a black robe and wearing a silver mask appeared at the head of the long table. The moment he appeared, he froze for three breaths, then disappeared. After ten breaths, he reappeared at this leader¡¯s seat. ¡°Where is everyone?¡± ¡°Where are my three big people?¡± ¡°Could it be I got the time wrong?¡± He stretched out a hand and placed it on the table, supporting his head as he fell into thought. ¡°No, I remember I set it for this time.¡± ¡°Could it be, I¡¯ve only been gone for three months, and they all died?¡± ¡°The speed at which I became a loner is too fast!¡± ¡°Is the world so dangerous?¡± ¡°No, we are supposed to be the cult!¡± ¡°Has the orthodox path become so powerful now?¡± ¡°Used to be hunted by cults when I was on the righteous path.¡± ¡°And after turning to the cult, getting hunted by the righteous path, but at least there were three subordinates!¡± ¡°Sigh, I just embraced the dark side, and how did it come to this?¡± ¡°Did I become a cult member for nothing?¡± The man with the silver mask disappeared from his seat. An hour later. The man with the silver mask reappeared. ¡°It¡¯s impossible!¡± Then he disappeared again. Another hour later, he appeared once more at the seat, bowing his head to analyze carefully. ¡°Wild Dog, that guy, always looked like he had a short life, so not surprising if he¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Red Lotus, that girl, was carefree and reckless, it¡¯s also possible she¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°The scholar, that guy, usually seemed quite cunning, perhaps blew himself up studying magic?¡± He looked up and found Hu Yao and Murong Lang watching him in surprise. ¡­ The leader pretended to be nonchalant, adjusted his clothes, ¡°Ahem!¡± He took a moment and then said, ¡°So, you¡¯re here.¡± Immediately, he shouted angrily, ¡°Why did you come so late? Wasn¡¯t it set for two hours ago?¡± Murong Lang lightly waved his folding fan, seemingly unchanged, ¡°Senior Taichu modified the time.¡± The leader yelled angrily, ¡°Who is hosting this gathering? He changed it just like that. Who does he think he is?¡± ¡°Wait, Senior Taichu?¡± ¡°A new member?¡± Hu Yao saw that the leader¡¯s temper was flaring up again. Remembering that he had also given her some pointers before, she felt it necessary to explain, ¡°A new member, you could say. Senior Taichu is using Wild Dog¡¯s mask.¡± The leader slapped the table with his hand, asking boldly, ¡°Senior, how senior?¡± ¡°Very powerful?¡± Murong Lang said, ¡°Can¡¯t say powerful¡­¡± The word ¡®powerful¡¯ was indeed an insult to Senior Taichu. Before Murong Lang finished, the leader swaggered and said, ¡°Not powerful, yet a senior? Who gave him the gall?¡± ¡°I¡¯m putting it plainly today, in this gathering, I am the supreme, even if a Divine Son or Goddess came, they must obediently kneel here for me!¡± Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32: I am Foundation Establishment, I Will Not Be Afraid! Chapter 32: Chapter 32: I am Foundation Establishment, I Will Not Be Afraid! Editor: Henyee Translations Hu Yao and Murong Lang exchanged a glance. Hu Yao earnestly said, ¡°If the leader angers Senior Taichu, the consequences would be truly terrifying.¡± Murong Lang nodded, thinking it true. Whatever Divine Son or Goddess, they wouldn¡¯t even be worthy to carry Senior Taichu¡¯s shoes if he was willing. If because of this reckless fellow they angered Senior Taichu and missed the opportunity for guidance, it would be disastrous. His hand slowly clenched into a fist under the table, a hint of murderous intent rising in his heart. Hu Yao said, ¡°Leader, it¡¯s not about whether he¡¯s powerful or not.¡± ¡°Let me tell you, don¡¯t be afraid.¡± The leader thought to himself, what danger had he not seen before? He had been hunted by cults and now by righteous paths, yet still managed to handle everything and live well. ¡°Speak freely, I¡¯m a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, I won¡¯t be afraid!¡± Hu Yao introduced, ¡°Senior Taichu is an ancient presence, even the scholar¡¯s Scripture Pavilion has no records of them, coming from a time far more ancient.¡± She recounted the details of her past conversations with Murong Lang. The leader casually said, ¡°You are still young, unaware of how perilous the world is. Just because someone claims to be from an ancient past doesn¡¯t mean they are.¡± ¡°He claims to be Taichu, so is he really Taichu?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 Murong Lang continued, ¡°At first, we didn¡¯t believe it either, until he gave us a gift.¡± The leader asked, ¡°What gift? Gu and whatnot, I can also casually take them out!¡± ¡°You all still haven¡¯t seen the world.¡± ¡°You are young, don¡¯t blindly believe in these supernatural claims.¡± ¡°You are really embarrassing our Jiguang Cult!¡± Hu Yao spread out her hand, revealing her Butterfly Transformation Power Gu and Iron Skin Gu. The leader only needed one glance to understand the situation. He had seen Hu Yao¡¯s Power Gu and Iron Skin Gu before, and their quality was very high. But how can Butterfly Transformation be so easy? Yet now, two transformed Gu appeared before him, shocking him immensely. The reason was simple; as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he knew more secrets than Hu Yao and the scholar. ¡°Both have transformed?¡± He began to calculate rapidly in his mind. Red Lotus usually didn¡¯t seem wealthy, so why suddenly rich now? Even if they suddenly became rich, how could two Gu Butterfly Transformations have been completed in just two months? And it seemed they weren¡¯t just at the First Transformation. This involved the concept of the Gu¡¯s satiation. Generally speaking, a normal cultivator would store a substantial amount of Spirit Stone to prepare for Gu advancement, taking a considerable time. This duration could range from several months to a year. Within a month, Butterfly Transformations occurred but were very rare. Gu Butterfly Transformation required several materials, and it was unlikely cultivators could provide all needed materials on the first try. If Hu Yao had one Gu Butterfly Transformation, it could be luck. But if two Gu achieved this, then it was supernatural! Such an occurrence was nearly impossible! At this moment, Murong Lang opened his hand, revealing his newly advanced Wind Butterfly and Thunder Butterfly. The Thunder Butterfly obviously had advanced several transformations! The leader now felt very confused, as if things were moving in an uncontrollable direction¡­ He eagerly awaited Murong Lang and Hu Yao to speak, both excited and frightened. ¡°Ahem¡­ Continue speaking. Even those so-called Divine Son and Goddess are no match for me. I won¡¯t be afraid.¡± Murong Lang said, ¡°Senior Taichu clearly pointed out the materials needed for Gu Butterfly Transformation and advancement.¡± Hu Yao continued, ¡°Then our Gu transformed and advanced.¡± At this point, the ¡®brave¡¯ Jiguang Cult leader froze for a moment, unknowingly moving forward a little bit in his seat. For some reason, he now felt his seat quite uncomfortable. ¡°You mean that this Senior Taichu could precisely determine what materials your Gu needed to advance and was incredibly accurate?¡± Murong Lang said, ¡°He has never been wrong!¡± Hu Yao reminded, ¡°After Senior Taichu pointed out the way, he never asked if our Gu had advanced.¡± The leader was now somewhat restless, for this indicated that Senior Taichu had complete confidence in his judgment. This could be a being close to Dao, or even an immortal entity. Possibly a terrifying presence awakened from the unrecorded epochs. To call him merely powerful would indeed demean Senior Taichu. How could such a colossal figure end up at his small gathering, the smallest branch of Jiguang Sect? He had heard of such occurrences, like a Nascent Soul appearing in a Jiguang Sect branch before. But hearing the scholar and Hu Yao¡¯s description, such a Nascent Soul was insignificant before this figure! Actually, Jiguang Sect didn¡¯t have a central leader; there were many factions. The reason for these factions was these mighty individuals forcibly rising to establish their own banner. Now, his gathering seemed to have attracted an even more absurd¡­ After hearing Murong Lang and Hu Yao¡¯s description, he increasingly felt his seat growing hot, hard to sit steadily. Time passed slowly amid his apprehensive anticipation. In that previously wild dog¡¯s position appeared a figure in a black robe. Chen Qing sat in his seat casually, resting his right hand on the table, rhythmically tapping with his forefinger. The leader jumped up immediately, but Chen Qing remained immovable, not even glancing at him. Chen Qing noticed the leader¡¯s reaction but remained unfazed. So, this was the so-called Jiguang Cult leader returned already, was he truly so timid? He thought he had portrayed a very amicable appearance here. Didn¡¯t he just appear slightly mysterious? Hu Yao cautiously spoke first, ¡°Good evening, Venerable Senior Taichu.¡± Murong Lang slightly bowed his head gracefully, ¡°Good evening, Venerable Senior Taichu.¡± The leader quickly followed, ¡°Good evening, Venerable Senior Taichu.¡± Chen Qing nodded slightly, ¡°Scholar, Red Lotus, hmm¡­¡± His gaze fell upon the leader, hesitating for a moment. Still didn¡¯t know what this fat sheep was called. Feeling Chen Qing¡¯s gaze, the leader, who once dominated the outside world and remained unperturbed by both righteous pursuit and cult persecution, almost collapsed back into his seat. ¡°My title is Yao Feng, Senior can simply call me Feng.¡± Chen Qing then continued, ¡°Scholar, Red Lotus, Feng, good evening.¡± Originally hesitant to sit down, Yao Feng eventually took a seat. Mainly because his legs felt somewhat weak. A little uncontrollable¡­ Chen Qing spoke indifferently, as if indifferent to everything, ¡°Well, today¡¯s gathering, let¡¯s begin now.¡± Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Light Creates All Things Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Light Creates All Things Editor: Henyee Translations The clouds below ebbed and flowed, yet steadily supported twelve seats. Chen Qing tapped the tabletop with his index finger in the rhythm of ¡°Congratulations on Wealth,¡± saying, ¡°Feng, it¡¯s fate that we meet.¡± ¡°Meeting for the first time, I offer you a gift.¡± Who knows what Red Lotus and the scholar said to this guy for him to be this ¡®cautious.¡¯ Yao Feng said shyly, ¡°How can I accept¡­¡± Chen Qing slowly continued, ¡°So, you want to refuse my gift?¡± Chen Qing thought he sounded friendly when he said this, but in the ears of the other three, it completely changed the meaning. [Would you dare refuse this favor?] Yao Feng immediately opened his hands, presenting a ball of light to Chen Qing. At first glance, Chen Qing wanted to say, why are you showing me a ball of light, but upon closer inspection, he was incredibly surprised. Is there really such a thing in the world? [Mortal Grade Light Butterfly] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Quality, Ninth Transformation Life Span, 24/200+??? Effect, emits light Trait, [Lifebound] Life Span linked. When the Gu¡¯s life is exhausted, it will draw from the host¡¯s life to a certain extent. When the host¡¯s life is exhausted, it will draw from the Gu¡¯s life to a certain extent. [Light Dust] Light creates all things, after Butterfly Transformation it can advance in grade again, and activate the third form, Harmonization. Growth Requirements, none Growth Progress, 100/100 Promotion Requirements, Ninth Transformation, a full-moon night, ten catties of moonlight silk, one piece of Cold Moon True Essence Is this the Lifebound Gu? So with a Lifebound Gu, lives are connected. The effect of the Butterfly Transformation Ninth Transformation is just emitting light? Is there a third form after the Butterfly Transformation? Does it mean the Gu is the first form, the butterfly as the second form, and Harmonization is the third form? Is the Light Gu so special? It can advance in grade too! His Light Butterfly was already Ninth Transformation, in butterfly form, and it could still ascend! Grade seems to be different from quality, could it be advancing to a spiritual item? That seems a bit unprecedented. Or, is it that only Lifebound Gus have the trait of continued advancement? No, if it¡¯s a Lifebound Gu trait, it shouldn¡¯t be in the description of [Light Dust], but rather in the Lifebound Gu description. Although his mind was racing, Chen Qing spoke indifferently, ¡°Full-moon night, ten catties of moonlight silk, one piece of Cold Moon True Essence.¡± ¡°Cold Moon True Essence?¡± Yao Feng was obviously surprised. He began to ponder carefully, as even knowing of it, it was still difficult to obtain it. Such a thing, priced but nowhere in the market. Murong Lang¡¯s expression changed slightly too, ¡°Cold Moon True Essence is indeed genuine Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.¡± Hu Yao hadn¡¯t reacted yet; it was clear she had never even heard of it. Chen Qing inwardly noted, it seems nurturing this Light Gu isn¡¯t easy; it had reached Butterfly Transformation Ninth Transformation yet had only the ability to emit light. It seemed a qualitative change came after the third form, Harmonization. Was the Jiguang Sect renowned for this Light Gu¡¯s uniqueness? Once a spiritual item Gu appears in the world, it¡¯s a treasure that can lead countless people to kill each other! And the Light Gu, it could ascend from Mortal Grade to spiritual item! No wonder the Jiguang Sect had such a great reputation. But looking at the reactions of Feng, the scholar, and Red Lotus now, even Cold Moon True Essence seemed harder to acquire than a spiritual item Gu. Hu Yao hadn¡¯t even heard of Cold Moon True Essence; she directly took out twenty-five middle-grade Spirit Stones, respectfully presenting them to Chen Qing. She revealed her Power Butterfly, already Third Transformation, and asked, ¡°Please, Senior, provide guidance.¡± Chen Qing glanced casually, ¡°Strengthening Bone Spirit Grass.¡± Having nearly spent her money, Hu Yao sat down in relief, feeling much more secure. She occasionally glanced at Murong Lang, seemingly anticipating how soon Murong would nurture his sword Gu. Murong Lang didn¡¯t make her wait, since buying a sword Gu meant preparing to cultivate it, ¡°Senior, my sword Gu, I seek your guidance.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Sword Heart Grass.¡± Materials required for a First Transformation Gu were indeed simple. Murong Lang respectfully offered a middle-grade Spirit Stone. Although it wasn¡¯t necessary to provide such a large amount, the minimum transaction here was calculated in middle-grade Spirit Stones. Chen Qing had no intention of giving him change. Murong Lang also asked about the growth requirements for the Wind Butterfly, contributing another thirty middle-grade Spirit Stones to Chen Qing. Seeing the quest for guidance cool off, Chen Qing leaned back in his chair, ¡°Now, you may start chatting.¡± Murong Lang and Hu Yao didn¡¯t open their mouths first, as their cultivation levels were too low and they weren¡¯t core figures within their forces. Yao Feng carefully settled in, ¡°In response to the request from the Heavenly Master Mansion, the Da Yan court is preparing to open a large Spiritual Field at the White Bone Cave, and has already baited with two spiritual item Gus.¡± ¡°Currently, monsters around White Bone Cave are already embroiled in warfare, yet it is said the Heavenly Master Mansion is not satisfied, wanting the war to become even more brutal.¡± ¡°If any of you have people there, make sure not to join in the excitement.¡± ¡°That place will become a complete land of death. In the later stages, it¡¯s very probable even more spiritual item Gu bait will be used to initiate more horrific wars.¡± Hu Yao was suddenly stunned, recalling a demonic clan uprising many years ago mentioned by her father, stating it also began with the sudden appearance of spiritual item Gu, leading the entire Demon Clan into chaos. As the war dragged on, it wasn¡¯t just spiritual item Gu; a King Grade Gu even appeared, intensifying the war until the entire Qinglian Sword Sect territories were a sea of corpses and blood. In the end, only a Dragon Transformation Demon King managed to escape with the remaining forces, but ultimately succumbed to severe injuries. Their current territory was once the skeleton of that Demon King. The former battlefield became today¡¯s Qinglian Sword Sect. She listened to Yao Feng¡¯s words, feeling an extremely intense and inexplicable fear. So, the Demon Clan was merely a nurtured Spiritual Field¡­ Murong Lang seemed to recall many glorious records in the classics, and the mysterious appearances of spiritual item Gu, followed by wars afterwards. ¡°Thank you, leader, for informing us,¡± he slightly bowed his hand in thanks. Yao Feng seemed suddenly pricked by a needle, shouting, ¡°Scholar!¡± ¡°Stop always using ¡®leader,¡¯ It¡¯s fate that everyone is here together!¡± ¡°Now, I command you as the host of this gathering!¡± ¡°In the future, just call me Yao Feng.¡± This damned Jiguang Sect gathering, couldn¡¯t they change the seating? Murong Lang smiled, ¡°Alright, Fellow Daoist Yao Feng.¡± Yao Feng continued, ¡°Recently, it¡¯s rumored that the Immortal Court is commissioning the writing of the Book of Communication with Gods, summarizing experiences gained from numerous Gu metamorphoses and promotions.¡± ¡°Many Cultivators from the Da Yan court have converted to the Infinite Heavenly Venerate, hoping to obtain a copy of the Book of Communication with Gods.¡± Chen Qing couldn¡¯t help but ponder, the Heavenly Master Mansion, the Immortal Court, the Da Yan court, what relation could these three have? Isn¡¯t divine power and imperial power united? That¡¯s truly peculiar. Yao Feng addressed Chen Qing, ¡°Oh, Senior Taichu, there¡¯s another extremely important message to report here!¡± ¡°This message is related to the gathering.¡± Chen Qing grew interested, quietly waiting for Yao Feng to speak. Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Abnormal People Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Abnormal People Editor: Henyee Translations Although Chen Qing ignored him, Yao Feng still reported earnestly, ¡°Our branch is just a very small branch of the Jiguang Sect.¡± ¡°When it was handed over to me, I only had four masks in total.¡± ¡°One of them is the silver mask I am wearing now, and I have three bronze masks left.¡± ¡°May I ask, senior, how should I select new members for these three remaining bronze masks?¡± So there were five bronze masks still lost out there? Chen Qing was actually not very concerned about this matter, are you the small cult leader, or am I the small cult leader? Of course, it would be best if they were a bit wealthier. However, Chen Qing did not mention this, it would be too lowly. ¡°Just be casual about it, handle it as you see fit,¡± Chen Qing left with these faint words. Yao Feng immediately felt the pressure immensely, having no requirements was the hardest part. In case the new members he selected were unsatisfactory to Senior Taichu, it would be awkward. It seemed that Senior Taichu had high standards for selecting new members, he needed to think of a way. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Then I will report to senior when I have suitable candidates.¡± Chen Qing neither agreed nor disagreed, nor did he make any gestures, he just sat quietly. Yao Feng sat nervously, saying no more, as he had already shared all the information he had. Chen Qing originally thought the next to speak would be Murong Lang, but unexpectedly, it was Hu Yao who spoke. ¡°I heard from a friend that the Yin Yang Sect in the West Desert caught an Abnormal person.¡± Murong Lang was evidently quite curious, ¡°What kind of Abnormal person?¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°It¡¯s said to be a Gu Spirit Body.¡± Yao Feng asked, ¡°Is it the type that can attract Gu like insects?¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°It should be, I heard the Yin Yang Sect is very active now, probably capturing many wild Gu like insects by enslaving this Abnormal person.¡± Chen Qing was secretly shocked, there were such physiques as Gu Spirit Body? Could it attract surrounding Gu like insects? Indeed extraordinary! Unfortunately, with too little strength, it was exposed and could only become a tool for the cult. The best fighters have no boastful achievements. Hiding oneself well was most important. Without strength, the greatest ability could only become someone else¡¯s accomplishment. Murong Lang suggested, ¡°Then it¡¯s best not to travel far recently.¡± Hu Yao nodded, ¡°I will naturally be careful about this.¡± Murong Lang looked at Yao Feng, ¡°Fellow Daoist Yao Feng, I wonder if there¡¯s any news on the place I asked you to investigate.¡± Yao Feng said, ¡°The place you mentioned, filled with thunder and never at rest, is quite like a place outside the world, not within this world.¡± ¡°Of course, it might also be because the journey is too far.¡± ¡°By the way, did the wooden house I suggested last time help?¡± Murong Lang said, ¡°There was a certain effect, but unfortunately, it was of little use for the birth of infants.¡± Yao Feng asked, ¡°Have you not tried letting a few great cultivators stay in formation to resist the thunder, and rotate when they can¡¯t hold it anymore?¡± Murong Lang said, ¡°That used to be how it was done, but unfortunately, a gentleman fell, creating a gap, and now it is the era of gaps.¡± Yao Feng said, ¡°The True Monarch you worship may have already fallen or might be gravely injured and asleep.¡± ¡°With the information you provided, I still can¡¯t tell clearly.¡± Murong Lang put away his folding fan, ¡°Thank you.¡± After a while, observing that no one had anything else to discuss, Chen Qing said, ¡°Then today¡¯s gathering ends here.¡± Red Lotus and the scholar stood up, ¡°Senior Taichu, see you on the first day of the new moon.¡± Seeing Yao Feng had not yet left, Chen Qing asked, ¡°Do you have any more matters?¡± Yao Feng quickly stood up, bowed, and then said, ¡°Senior Taichu, see you on the first day of the new moon.¡± Once again, only Chen Qing remained on the vast Cloud Platform. It seemed that acting with more caution was necessary. He should take the time to understand what entities like the Da Yan court, Immortal Court, Heavenly Master Mansion, and Yin Yang Sect really were. Da Yan. Ye City. Yao Feng rose from beside a beautiful woman, reached out to feel her breathing, even and peaceful, obviously sleeping soundly. After putting away the silver-white mask, he checked the door and windows he arranged with the beauty¡¯s hair. After ensuring no one had come, he took ten low-grade Spirit Stones from his pocket and placed them on the table, then walked out of Spring Breeze Building. The cool night breeze blew gently, he donned a White Tiger robe and a feathered cap, with a Thunder Blade at his waist. Walking on the street, everyone who saw him hurriedly avoided him as if avoiding the plague. The Conglong Guard was famed as Da Yan¡¯s fierce tiger, able to kill on the streets unpunished, everyone feared them. After walking merely two streets, while eating a piece of rice cake, Yao Feng sensed someone approaching, and as he glanced sideways, he found it was his subordinate. The subordinate whispered in his ear, ¡°Sir, the Dock Master requests an audience.¡± Yao Feng put down the rice cake, dipped it in some sugar bean powder under the vendor¡¯s frightened gaze, and took two big bites. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± His subordinate had taken only two steps when Yao Feng turned his head, ¡°Settle the bill.¡± The subordinate quickly took some Copper Coins from his pocket and handed them to the vendor. In the eyes of all his subordinates, Yao Feng was extremely serious, always stern and imposing without anger. Only then was Yao Feng satisfied, ¡°That¡¯s right, otherwise if I dare eat without paying today, tomorrow those Taoist bastards dare say I kill on the streets groundlessly.¡± After a brief visit to his office to hide the Ghost Mask, he left again. As the night deepened, fewer and fewer people populated the long streets he walked. At the end of the street stood a large Spirit Workshop. Occupying an area of three miles, it stood in the center of Ye City like a small mountain. At the entrance of the Spirit Workshop, Yao Feng waved his hand for his subordinates to wait nearby, bowed and said, ¡°Subordinate Xu Yaofeng, here to meet the Dock Master.¡± Soon, two young people in Daoist robes approached, removed the Thunder Blade from his waist, and searched him. After ensuring he carried no weapons, they blindfolded his eyes with a black cloth embroidered with ancient runes. Xu Yaofeng immediately felt his senses growing dulled, a trait of the Binding Spirit Cloth, severing all senses and spiritual insights. Truthfully, removing the Thunder Blade didn¡¯t significantly affect his abilities. But Xu Yaofeng understood, this was a warning. Or rather, a ritual. Feeling a distinct touch to his side, he grabbed it, sensing it to be a rope, though his senses were fuzzy. Guided by the object in his hand, he walked for a quarter of an hour, unsure of how many turns, inclines, and declines he had traversed. When the Binding Spirit Cloth was removed, he stood within a spacious grand hall. Scanning the hall¡¯s setup, aside from a White Tiger screen, there was nothing else. On either side of the walls, one depicted the Tiger Roar Mountain Forest Map, while the other was the Fierce Tiger Descending Mountain Painting. Xu Yaofeng swept aside his cloak, knelt on one knee, ¡°Subordinate Xu Yaofeng, greets the Dock Master!¡± From behind the White Tiger screen, a middle-aged man¡¯s voice echoed, ¡°The Heavenly Master Mansion is dissatisfied with the current war situation.¡± ¡°The blood isn¡¯t thick enough.¡± ¡°The land is still not fertile enough.¡± ¡°Among the three Conglong Guard commanders, your conduct is the most meticulous.¡± ¡°You should release another spiritual item Gu.¡± A servant emerged from a room beside the grand hall, carrying a jade jar, and handed it to Xu Yaofeng. Xu Yaofeng took it with a severe and indifferent expression, ¡°This subordinate will surely fulfill the mission!¡± Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35: It Really Is a Feng Shui Issue Chapter 35: Chapter 35: It Really Is a Feng Shui Issue Editor: Henyee Translations Just after leaving the Spirit Workshop, Xu Yaofeng quickly stuffed the jade jar into his shirt. Walking with his subordinates on the way back to the office, one subordinate said, ¡°Sir, I heard that the ¡®Book of Communication with Gods¡¯ is almost done, and many brothers in the guard want to worship the Infinite Heavenly Venerate.¡± Xu Yaofeng¡¯s stern expression did not change in the slightest. Please, I believe in Taichu! That ¡®Book of Communication with Gods¡¯ just describes various possibilities, they say it might save a small portion of Spirit Stones. But Senior Taichu can accurately pinpoint all the required materials, without the slightest error! They simply can¡¯t be compared. Thinking like this, Xu Yaofeng felt that Senior Taichu was even more mysterious and powerful. As long as his Lifebound Light Butterfly advanced, he could open the Harmonization Domain! His Dao Foundation would also be greatly enhanced due to the Lifebound Gu¡¯s advancement, with his power skyrocketing. Moreover, once the Harmonization Domain was opened, his strength would experience a qualitative leap! But this Cold Moon True Essence was indeed a bit tricky. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï He reached out and touched the spiritual Gu jade jar in his shirt, pondering. It¡¯s not like there was no way. ¡­ Having gathered the fifty-six medium-grade Spirit Stones obtained from this gathering, Chen Qing began to quickly calculate in his mind. The Alcohol Gu could no longer be enhanced, as he needed to use it frequently. If it underwent the Butterfly Transformation, it would be too obvious. The sword Gu, however, could continue to be enhanced, as it was the only means for slaughter; the higher the level, the better. After all, he didn¡¯t need to act often, he could just refrain from making moves in the sect. Who would send someone like him, a farmer, to do the killing? When he had more Spirit Stones in the future, he could completely contract another sword Gu to show others. The Fog Gu could always be enhanced, and even if it underwent the Butterfly Transformation, it wouldn¡¯t matter. After all, no one knew, as long as it was not displayed, no one would know. He currently had ample Spirit Stones, so he would first enhance the sword Gu and Fog Gu to their full potentials. Once the Fog Gu and sword Gu both underwent the Butterfly Transformation, his strength should be sufficient for self-preservation. June 16. During this period, the Lotus Cave was preoccupied and probably didn¡¯t have time to cause trouble at Wuyou Mountain. Just after nightfall, Chen Qing went down the mountain. The sword treasure had already advanced to the Seventh Transformation, and the fog treasure had reached the Fourth Transformation. On the 16th night, the moonlight was still bright, and since cultivators naturally had extraordinary eyesight, descending the mountain by moonlight was no problem at all. Wandering around the streets, he didn¡¯t find any materials for the sword Gu to advance to the Eighth Transformation, but there were materials for the Fog Gu to advance to the Fifth Transformation, though they were too scarce and fragmented. It looked like he¡¯d have to resort to the Wanbao Pavilion¡¯s profiteers again. This time, he didn¡¯t hide his identity. With his status, spending three or four hundred Spirit Stones wouldn¡¯t raise any eyebrows. He spent a total of three hundred fifty-six Spirit Stones at the Wanbao Pavilion, buying fifteen Gold Seeking Stones and twenty strands of White Tiger Bright Hair. On the way back home, Chen Qing walked along the mountain path, with moonlight filtering through the leaves casting spots of light on the road. ¡°Chen, going down the mountain to buy materials again?¡± Chen Qing looked in the direction of the voice, into the darkness. ¡°Is that Feng?¡± Feng Qi emerged from the darkness, occasionally a red glow flickering at his mouth. He walked into the moonlight and exhaled a puff of smoke. ¡°Today happens to be my night duty.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Thanks for your hard work, senior brother.¡± Feng shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s all just my duty, just like you, tending to the Spiritual Field during the day and only having time to go down the mountain at night to buy materials.¡± Chen Qing nodded, ¡°Recently, there have been a few injured in the sect, so I really have no time during the day.¡± Feng¡¯s figure again faded into the darkness, with only the red glow from his smoking pipe visible now and then. ¡°Junior brother, head home soon.¡± Bidding farewell to Feng, Chen Qing wasn¡¯t worried about Feng discovering anything, as his actions were entirely reasonable. He simply had a feeling that this guy was rather deep. Actually, more often than not, Chen Qing felt that the affairs of Wuyou Mountain were not directed by Ye Yuntian, but were led by Feng. Ye Yuntian seemed more like a sharp sword directed wherever Feng pointed. Just an executor of plans. Returning to his cave residence, Chen Qing surveyed his own living room for a moment and finally chose to go to the kitchen. He let the sword Gu and the Fog Gu each consume the Gold Seeking Stones and White Tiger Bright Hair, while he wanted to dig a hole in the kitchen. The sword Gu was close to advancing to the Eighth Transformation, and it shouldn¡¯t take much longer for it to reach the Ninth Transformation; he should prepare a place for the sword Gu to advance. After all, advancement still took some time. The reason it was in the kitchen was mainly that it was an unusual place, a normal person wouldn¡¯t think of it. Lifting a floorboard, he aligned his fingers like a sword, and a wisp of Sword Qi emerged from between his fingers. Sword treasure, oh sword treasure, all your effort now is for yourself, don¡¯t ever feel aggrieved. It seemed like his Gu were all up to some peculiar activities; the Fog Gu had become a wardrobe-changing tool, while the sword Gu was a digging tool. Alternating the use of the sword Gu for half an hour, Chen Qing increasingly felt that the sword Gu was genuinely useful! Cutting stone was as easy as cutting tofu. Digging into the middle of the night, Chen Qing cleared away the rubble before him, and suddenly discovered that the ground was no longer stone but was instead similar to jade, yet with a slight sense of flesh, more resembling bone. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Clearing a wider area, he found that not only had the material changed, but there were patterns on it as well. Looking at the large, somewhat irregular, circular hexagonal patterns on the ground, ¡°Is this a freakin¡¯ turtle shell!¡± He stomped forcefully and it didn¡¯t budge. Reaching out and touching, it felt a bit cold. The sect of Wuyou Mountain wasn¡¯t on a mountain, but on a gigantic turtle shell. It¡¯s just that after so many years, the stones on it were dozens of feet tall. No wonder I¡¯ve been so steady, it¡¯s the Feng Shui of this land that¡¯s influenced me! It seemed there was a reason Wuyou Mountain was established here. Chen Qing didn¡¯t have much interest in digging further; this giant turtle had been dead for who knows how many years, there probably wasn¡¯t anything left. Lying in the newly dug stone chamber, although enclosed, Chen Qing felt an inexplicable peace. It was as if this place was isolated from the world, keeping out external dangers. ¡°Why not, just make a stone bed here and sleep here at night.¡± ¡°If someone comes to assassinate me, they wouldn¡¯t know I¡¯m here.¡± With that thought, he began shaping a stone bed and arranging the entrance. Since coming to this otherworldly realm, he had become like a groundhog. Just wanting to be buried alone, counting his treasures. After all, he couldn¡¯t depend on others¡¯ mercy for his life. The exit was arranged by Chen Qing to be a pile of rubble, with the floor covering it, allowing fog to pass through. To get in, one only needed to become fog and pass through the rubble pile. Having crossed over for more than a year, Chen Qing slept soundly for the first time. Staying in such a secretive place brought great peace of mind. Early in the morning, Chen Qing headed towards the Beast Driving Hall, as the brothers and sisters there often weren¡¯t home during the day due to grazing duties. Just as he ascended the summit of the Beast Driving Hall, Chen Qing saw a continuous stream of rats transporting goods. Mouse-sized white and tan rats, with two cargo racks strapped to their backs, swayed as they emerged one after another from an opening at the foot of the mountain. This was underground transport. Aerial transport was uncommon, primarily because no one dared do it, too easily exposed, too obvious a target. And these rats ran through the tunnels as fast as flying yet were concealed and quite safe. Leading the way was Sun, a senior brother from the Beast Driving Hall, said to be over seventy years old, sitting atop the lead rat, his body swaying with the rat¡¯s movements. ¡°Chen, you¡¯re quite the rare visitor!¡± Someone nearby quickly reminded, ¡°Old Sun, you¡¯ve been out too long, didn¡¯t know. Chen is now the Hall Master of the Spirit Plant Hall, he should be called Master Chen.¡± Contrary to what people expected, Sun Feiting didn¡¯t laugh and banter with Chen Qing; instead, he dismounted the rat. Walking over to Chen Qing, he held Chen¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Since Master Chen is here, you must be here for a council meeting with the Hall Masters. While it¡¯s still early and they haven¡¯t left, hurry and find them.¡± Pulling Chen along as they walked, he gave a look back. Chen suddenly sensed a very chilling aura emanating, and he turned to look at the source of the aura. It was a middle-aged man with slightly graying temples, wearing a ragged Daoist robe, his spirit fatigued, yet his eyes firm. Ascetic! When cultivators felt they¡¯d reached a bottleneck and were hard to advance further, the stronger ones would choose to travel far and wide. They would seek different places, cultures, and nurture their Gu, looking for advancement or breakthrough opportunities. The reason natural advancement accounted for a full twenty percent of the weight was largely due to the existence of ascetics. He looked at the entire topography of Wuyou Mountain, breathing the fresh air outside the tunnel, ¡°Finally reached a new territory.¡± Having walked only seventy or eighty steps, Chen Qing could already see from afar the Mountain Master and two hall masters from the Beast Driving Hall arriving. They clearly received the news early from the Beast Driving Hall and awaited here. Seeing Chen Qing there, the Mountain Master was surprised, ¡°Chen Qing, what are you doing here?¡± Chen replied, ¡°I came to discuss some matters with the brothers and sisters of the Beast Driving Hall.¡± The Mountain Master said, ¡°Ju Xiu, take Chen to your Beast Driving Hall while I handle this ascetic¡¯s concerns.¡± Following Ju Xiu for a while, this fiery-tempered senior sister no longer walked, instead lying on a bluestone and watching the Mountain Master and the ascetic conversing below. Seeing Ju Xiu acting like this, Chen Qing similarly laid down nearby to watch. Due to the distance, he couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying, but it was evident that the ascetic seemed quite polite. ¡°Seems like a righteous sect ascetic.¡± Ju Xiud said, ¡°Can¡¯t say for sure, once they choose to travel, the lines between right and wrong blur.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by their fairy-like demeanor, they¡¯re ruthless when it comes to action.¡± She added mysteriously, ¡°It¡¯s said that quite a few sects around here have members exiled due to doctrinal disagreements.¡± ¡°Though the Mountain Master doesn¡¯t quite seem that way.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Then what do you think the Mountain Master is like?¡± Ju Xiu laughed out loud, patting Chen¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Come on, junior brother, let¡¯s discuss proper business instead.¡± Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36: If We Meet Again, Dont Blame the Ruthless Swords and Sabers Chapter 36: Chapter 36: If We Meet Again, Don¡¯t Blame the Ruthless Swords and Sabers Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` The layout of the Beast Driving Hall differed significantly from the Cultivation Hall. From the mountain peak, all one could see were golden haystacks. The air was filled with the Harvest Aura. Unfortunately, these were merely fodder for the spirit beasts. Surrounded by rows of green pines, Chen Qing walked into the Beast Driving Hall, with Ju Xiu walking leisurely among the pines, exuding the charm of a landscape beauty painting. ¡°There are quite a few spirit beasts in the Beast Driving Hall, and they have a strong odor, so we¡¯ve planted a lot of greenery outside to isolate and absorb the smell.¡± Just as Chen Qing was about to speak, a warm breath brushed past his ear, and Ju Xiu whispered, ¡°But I see it¡¯s not very effective.¡± This senior sister was wealthy and generous. ¡°Hahaha, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Hurry up, hurry up. I have lots to do!¡± Upon sitting in the hall, Ju Xiu waved a young and cute junior sister to serve tea, ¡°Junior brother, what¡¯s your business this time?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°The day before yesterday, I tried watering the Spiritual Field with Demon Blood. Thanks to my Grass Spirit Butterfly, I should be able to cultivate Blood Ginseng.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°I wonder if you can provide some Demon Blood here.¡± Ju Xiu replied, ¡°We do have it, and we can supply it stably.¡± ¡°But you know, the Demon Blood extracted from spirit beasts isn¡¯t as effective as the real thing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s much weaker in terms of spirituality.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Then let¡¯s do this. However much you can provide, I¡¯ll see how much I can cultivate.¡± Ju Xiu said, ¡°Once it¡¯s done and Gongsun Xiu brews the Blood Ginseng Wine, I want two-tenths!¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°That won¡¯t do. I have to offer fifty percent to the sect elders, and I can¡¯t shortchange Brother Gongsun Xiu. If I give you two-tenths, wouldn¡¯t I have worked for nothing all year?¡± Ju Xiu pondered for a moment, ¡°At least one and a half-tenths. It¡¯s not easy to extract blood from spirit beasts.¡± Chen Qing cupped his hands, ¡°Thank you, senior sister.¡± Ju Xiu waved her hand, ¡°Qingqing, take Master Chen to get the blood and send it to the Spirit Plant Hall.¡± Then, she seemed to remember something, ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll go myself!¡± The young girl named Qingqing looked at Chen Qing reluctantly, clearly disappointed. ¡­ When Chen Qing returned to the Spirit Plant Hall, a giant rat followed behind him. Ju Xiu sat atop it, her curvy body swaying with its movements. On the way back to the Spirit Plant Hall, Chen Qing noticeably felt the heightened vigilance of the entire Wuyou Mountain, with brothers from the War Affairs Hall patrolling everywhere. Not long after he returned to the Spirit Plant Hall, he had just tended to the Spiritual Ginseng Field when Gongsun Xiu came with wine. ¡°There aren¡¯t many Spirit Ginsengs recently. With Junior Brother Wu watching over the Cultivation Hall, I¡¯m free and came to drink with you.¡± This was to ensure his safety, fearing that the ascetic might make a move on him. It was unclear if this was the Mountain Master¡¯s idea or his own. At night, on his way home, Chen Qing gathered more information. It was said that the ascetic was named Zhang Yangdao, at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, and he had been an ascetic for thirteen years. Unfortunately, his most crucial Gu still hadn¡¯t transformed into a butterfly. It seemed this guy wanted to have this critical Gu transform into a butterfly before using it as his Lifebound Gu for Foundation Establishment. When Zhang Yangdao explicitly stated his willingness to offer Spirit Stones to pay his respects to the mountain, Wuyou Mountain ultimately chose not to lightly initiate a conflict. It was said that his itinerary had been arranged by the Mountain Master, allowing him to play on Wuyou Mountain for three days, debate for three days, and finally be permitted half a day in the Spirit Plant Garden. Once these procedures were complete, Zhang Yangdao could leave Wuyou Mountain and proceed to the next location. If he insisted on staying, Wuyou Mountain would have to be unkind. Playing for three days was easy to understand, but he certainly wouldn¡¯t be allowed into any too-sensitive spots. Chen Qing didn¡¯t attend the three days of debate, but he heard that Senior Sister Yu Qingshuang had made quite a splash. Initially, Zhang Yangdao only watched Gongsun Xiu and Yu Qingshuang spar. After watching for a while, he proposed wanting to try some moves, without using the sword Gu, of course. Gongsun Xiu was soundly defeated, barely able to fight back. But Yu Qingshuang managed to make Zhang Yangdao surrender his sword after just ten moves. But they were all friendly matches; everyone stopped at the point, and no one got hurt. On June 23, Chen Qing had just gotten up when early-rising Yu Qingshuang called him to breakfast. ¡°Grandfather asked me to invite you over for breakfast.¡± After breakfast, the Spirit Plant Elder shared some instructions for Chen Qing. Chen Qing and Yu Qingshuang proceeded to the Spirit Plant Hall and, after waiting for a while, saw Feng Qi accompanying Zhang Yangdao over. Zhang Yangdao still wore that tattered Daoist robe, though he seemed in better spirits over the past few days. As the Hall Master of the Spirit Plant Hall, Chen Qing naturally had to make an appearance. He had already ordered the Spirit Plant Garden to be cleared. He strode to within ten steps of Zhang Yangdao, ¡°Before entering the garden, I have no acquaintance with you, Wuyou Mountain!¡± Zhang Yangdao offered a slight bow with a smile, ¡°After leaving the garden, I am not connected to you, Wuyou Mountain!¡± Chen Qing sidestepped to make way, gesturing with his hand, ¡°Please!¡± Zhang Yangdao bowed, picked up an herb basket, and waved his sleeve as he walked in. Chen Qing immediately called Yu Qingshuang and Feng Qi to prepare some dry fruit tea in the Spirit Plant Hall while waiting for Zhang Yangdao to come out. Feng Qi chuckled, ¡°In the end, the half-day here with you, junior brother, was the most valuable.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°After all, it¡¯s a direct financial transaction.¡± But Feng Qi said, ¡°I sensed a heavy aura of bloodshed on him and am considering recommending him to visit Lotus Cave. What do you think?¡± This was to kill with a borrowed knife. The bunch of bastards in Lotus Cave didn¡¯t have the best temperament. Encountering this guy, they might actually take action. Chen Qing said, ¡°If they team up, wouldn¡¯t we be shooting ourselves in the foot?¡± If Zhang Yangdao were to join forces with Lotus Cave, it would indeed be quite troublesome. Feng Qi fell silent, immersed in thought. The half-day passed quickly, and by the time Zhang Yangdao emerged, Chen Qing and Feng Qi were already standing at a square table just beyond the garden gate. Zhang Yangdao placed his herb basket on the table, then pulled ten middle-grade Spirit Stones from his sleeve and placed them on the tabletop. Chen Qing glanced at the herbs in the basket and began, ¡°The source of your goods, I won¡¯t inquire about.¡± Zhang Yangdao reached back into his sleeve and pulled out two more middle-grade Spirit Stones, setting them on the table. Only then did Chen Qing continue, ¡°From today onward, we shall part ways.¡± He solemnly cautioned, ¡°If we meet again, don¡¯t blame the sword and blade for their mercy.¡± He stepped back and cupped his hands, ¡°I wish you a successful transformation of your treasure Gu into a butterfly, Fellow Daoist Zhu!¡± Zhang Yangdao cupped his hands in return, ¡°Thank you!¡± Finishing his words, he picked up his herb basket and, with his back to the glaring sun, started down the mountain path. Having sent Zhang Yangdao off, Chen Qing breathed a deep sigh, finally getting rid of this ascetic. Yu Qingshuang stood beside Chen Qing, sighed, and said, ¡°I hope that when my father and the others are wandering outside, they can encounter sects like ours, Wuyou Mountain.¡± Chen Qing comforted, ¡°Senior sister¡¯s swordsmanship is exquisite; surely, uncle¡¯s swordsmanship is even more brilliant, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± Yu Qingshuang pouted, ¡°What use is exquisite swordsmanship when the sword Gu I¡¯ve raised for over ten years is only at the Seventh Transformation?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go back and tell grandfather that, since that ascetic couldn¡¯t defeat me, I should be allowed to join the War Affairs Hall!¡± The next day, Chen Qing heard that Yu Qingshuang and Gongsun Xiu had gone through over fifty moves at the Spirit Plant Hall. Yu Qingshuang was defeated! Gongsun Xiu hadn¡¯t used any real moves against that ascetic! These guys are truly black-hearted! Probably, Zhang Yangdao was also pretending! When my sword Gu transforms into a butterfly, even Yu can¡¯t defeat me¡ªhow will she feel about that? Putting these thoughts aside, Chen Qing inspected the Spirit Plant Garden and headed home early. The sword Gu was about to reach the Eighth Transformation! Returning to his cave abode, Chen Qing shut the door and immediately transformed into fog, drilling into the cellar beneath the kitchen. Placing the sword Gu on the stone bed, Chen Qing watched it devour the last small piece of Gold Seeking Stone. Watching the sword Gu earnestly consume it, Chen Qing sat cross-legged beside it to commence cultivation. After two hours of cultivation, Chen Qing glanced at the sword Gu, which was already petrified by the last piece of Gold Seeking Stone. Another half a quarter-hour passed, and the solidified sword Gu finally started to move anew. Its skin trembled, revealing an ever more vigorous sword Gu from within. [Mortal Sword Gu] Quality: Eighth Transformation Life Span: 12/76 Effect: Converts six strands of Spiritual Energy into one strand of Sword Qi. Growth Requirements: Purple Pattern Bamboo Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: One Sword Gu, three strands of Geng Metal Qi, at least a three-hundred-year-old Aged Green Snake Gallbladder The day before, he had earned twelve middle-grade Spirit Stones from Zhang Yangdao. Although it was the earnings of the Spirit Plant Hall, as its Hall Master, he could share in some of the profits. Time to purchase some Purple Pattern Bamboo. Chen Qing absorbed the sword Gu into his body, a wisp of Sword Qi emerging from his fingers, sharper and longer than before. They say a weapon in hand naturally breeds killing intent. Yet Chen Qing felt none of that. He still hadn¡¯t fully integrated into this world. The following evening, Chen Qing went down the mountain to a food stall in the market, feasting before wandering around the market alleys. He donned a black robe as he walked through a deserted dark alley. Barely a few steps in, Chen Qing suddenly felt an extremely cold aura. It seemed familiar. He slowed his pace and approached a stall to inquire, ¡°Brother, how much do you want for this stone jade?¡± The stall owner replied, ¡°Ten lower-grade Spirit Stones per tael.¡± Chen Qing picked up a piece, examined it, and then put it down. ¡°Too expensive.¡± As he sensed the person with the cold aura pass by him, he turned to look, seeing him clad in a clean sky-blue Daoist robe and wearing a conical hat. After a few steps, Chen Qing seized a chance to catch a glimpse of his side profile. He quickly turned away, a single thought echoing in his mind: If we meet again, don¡¯t blame the sword and blade for their lack of mercy! If we meet again, don¡¯t blame the sword and blade for their lack of mercy! If we meet again, don¡¯t blame the sword and blade for their lack of mercy! It was a warning. As a regular ascetic, you¡¯ve seen the sights here, gathered your treasures, and exchanged swordsmanship. Theoretically, you should be leaving. But why are you appearing again in the market? Panic surged through his heart; this man was casing the place! With his black robe and the cover of night, keeping his head down, he hoped he wouldn¡¯t be recognized. Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Then Swords Must Be Blind Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Then Swords Must Be Blind Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Chen Qing bought a bunch of Gu Spirit Grass and tucked it into his coat. Then he turned his back to Zhang Yangdao and walked away. After a few steps, he saw three Wuyou Mountain disciples drinking and playing games at a tavern, and Chen Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief. He walked into a corridor beside the tavern, and seeing no one around, he immediately used the Fog Gu Clothing Changing Divine Skill, leisurely joining the drinking game with the three Wuyou Mountain disciples. Seeing Chen Qing, they naturally welcomed him happily, and after drinking with them for an hour, Chen Qing didn¡¯t actually drink much. In the end, he went up the mountain with the three Wuyou Mountain disciples, and by the time Chen Qing returned to the foot of the mountain, his heart was still pounding. He looked toward the black forest not far from the mountain gate, ¡°Is there a senior brother from the Shadow Hall? I have something to discuss with Brother Feng.¡± The three Wuyou Mountain disciples saw this and bid farewell with cupped hands. After the three left, a pine tree in the distance shook, and a disciple from the Shadow Hall dressed in black descended from it, ¡°Master Chen, please follow me.¡± The Shadow Hall disciple took out a lantern from behind and lit it to lead the way. They circled in the forest, and the Shadow Hall disciple led Chen Qing to a massive cave entrance, with huge stone formations on either side resembling the mouth of a beast. The Shadow Hall disciple had a brief exchange with the gatekeeping disciple, who then led Chen Qing into the cave. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï As they ventured deeper, the interior became more expansive, like another world. The cave was extremely vast, making Chen Qing feel that the entire Wuyou Mountain was hollow. This was the inside of the turtle shell! Inside, there was a gigantic metal workshop steaming with hot air, with all sorts of exquisite and sharp weapons and armor arranged nearby. From time to time, the resonant sounds of hammers striking iron could be heard. The turtle shell was indeed thick; one could hear nothing from above. Avoiding these, Chen Qing met Feng Qi in a room deep within the cave. At that moment, Feng Qi was marking a map of Wuyou Mountain, and Chen Qing had no idea what those symbols meant. Seeing Chen Qing approaching, Feng Qi picked up an oil lamp and said with a smile, ¡°Brother Chen, you¡¯re quite a rare guest. What brings you to me in the middle of the night?¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°Last time when Zhang Yangdao entered the garden, I shared some Spirit Stones, and I thought I¡¯d buy some materials to feed the sword Gu, see if it can be improved.¡± ¡°Who knew I would see Zhang Yangdao at the market.¡± Feng Qi put down the map in his hand, ¡°It seems he came to scout the area.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°What are you planning to do, Senior Brother?¡± Feng Qi¡¯s expression turned serious, placing a hand on Chen Qing¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Brother, remember, since we said ¡®If we meet again, care not for sword and blade,¡¯ then we must remain ruthless.¡± On his way back to his own cave, Chen Qing saw Ye Yuntian descending the mountain with a disciple from the Shadow Hall. He made up his mind. The warning to Zhang Yangdao had been given, and since he didn¡¯t heed it, it was time to take action! During this period, it was best not to descend the mountain. It was simply too dangerous. He had to quickly upgrade the sword Gu and fog Gu. Otherwise, if such situations were to happen again, he would have no means to protect himself! One couldn¡¯t live by luck. Speaking of which, why were things becoming more tumultuous lately? No, it must be because he became the Hall Master. It wasn¡¯t that becoming Hall Master brought these troubles, but after becoming the Spirit Plant Hall Master, he was privy to more information. In the past, as an ordinary disciple, he didn¡¯t need to be informed of these things. Well, it¡¯s better than knowing nothing, at least with prior knowledge, he could avoid some troubles. This time, Ye Yuntian indeed did not ask him to carry the jug, which seemed to signify an action that required no consultation. At night, Chen Qing went to the basement, lay on the turtle shell, and listened carefully, confirming there were no sounds. This turtle shell was truly thick. Spreading out his hand, he released the fog Gu, then took out a strand of White Tiger Bright Hair and placed it in his palm for the fog Gu to munch on. He checked the progress, which had reached 98. Eating this strand should nearly complete it. By calculation, the transformation should ascend by dawn. Chen Qing went to bed early, planning to rise early after the fog Gu¡¯s transformation and then begin his duties. At dawn, in the dim basement, Chen Qing suddenly awoke from a dream. This feeling, no mistake about it! He spread out his hand; the fog Gu no longer changed between smoke and bug form but condensed into a lump. He observed through the transparent Gu shell, where the internal mist kept morphing, and eventually squeezed out through a small hole in the Gu shell. [Mortal Fog Gu] Quality: Fifth Transformation Life Span: 26/69 Effect: Flesh can transform to fog within three seconds, allowing flight. After transforming to fog, it requires thirty seconds to recover. Growth Requirements: Dawn Dew Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: Ninth Transformation, foggy weather, Rejuvenation Incense, a piece of White Tiger Fur, one pound of Cold Jade Upgraded to the Fifth Transformation, the duration extended by one second. Why did the fog Gu¡¯s Life Span exceed that of the same-tier Grass Spirit Gu and sword Gu and even the Alcohol Gu? Dawn Dew? Morning¡¯s dew. A bit troublesome, but manageable. This was indeed the most economical time; dew was all it required. Chen Qing immediately withdrew the fog Gu into his body, transforming to fog and squeezing through the chaotic stones to exit the basement. The weather today wasn¡¯t great, the entire sky was overcast early in the morning, though it didn¡¯t rain, filling hearts with a sense of heaviness. Of course, this didn¡¯t stop Chen Qing from collecting some dew to feed the fog Gu. He made his way to the Spirit Plant Garden with ease. At this hour, the disciples of the Spirit Plant Hall hadn¡¯t arrived, making it a good time. Sparkling dew rolled on various spirit grasses and flowers. Without the illuminance of the first rays of sunlight, they looked somewhat dull, not that bright, like dim-colored jade beads. Chen Qing crouched before a Blood Ginseng plant, letting the fog Gu climb on and drink the dew. Wandering among lush grasses and blooming flowers, Chen Qing felt a sense of clarity in his mind. He reached out and picked the most beautiful peony, its vibrant yet elegant colors would certainly look great on Yu Qingshuang¡¯s head. After collecting dew for fifteen minutes, the fog Gu was well-fed with no more desire to eat. Chen Qing tidied up the area and marked in the Blood Ginseng field. A Blood Ginseng was excavated here, yet he didn¡¯t see it in Zhang Yangdao¡¯s basket. In the evening, Chen Qing sat in the Spirit Plant Hall and cooked a bowl of Spiritual Ginseng Porridge, quickly consuming it before planning to return. Li He came to report, ¡°Hall Master, a disciple from the Shadow Hall has arrived.¡± Chen Qing gestured for Li He to bring the Shadow Hall disciple in, who approached and cupped his hands slightly, bowing, ¡°Master Chen, the Hall Master sent me to inform you that the traps are set and the ambush complete.¡± ¡°Please come to witness.¡± Chen Qing contemplated briefly and nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± Although he could upgrade Gu, what he lacked most was actual combat experience. Now, with Wuyou Mountain¡¯s encirclement of Zhang Yangdao, it was a great opportunity to learn combat firsthand. Given Feng Qi¡¯s meticulousness, there shouldn¡¯t be any dangers. The Shadow Hall disciple continued, ¡°The Hall Master also requested that you bring Yu Qingshuang.¡± Chen Qing slightly lifted his eyes, understanding perhaps that Yu Qingshuang¡¯s lack of worldly experience should see more of the world. The nature of people, always viewed with the eyes, not heard with the ears. Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Ive Seen Plenty of Killings in the Martial World Chapter 38: Chapter 38 I¡¯ve Seen Plenty of Killings in the Martial World Editor: Henyee Translations Chen Qing and Yu Qingshuang were descending the mountain when thick, dark clouds still loomed over the sky. A day passed, yet the rain hadn¡¯t fallen. Upon reaching the mountain gate, they found Gongsun Xiu already waiting outside. Gongsun Xiu burped out a trace of alcohol, ¡°Ye wasn¡¯t too confident in you two, so he sent me to help keep an eye.¡± Chen Qing cupped his fist, ¡°Thank you, Brother.¡± Yu Qingshuang, somewhat reluctantly, also cupped her hand, ¡°Thank you, Brother.¡± Gongsun Xiu laughed, ¡°Qingshuang, a sword that has taken a life and a sword that hasn¡¯t are different.¡± ¡°Being able to exchange over fifty blows with me without stepping out of the house makes you the best among Wuyou Mountain¡¯s younger generation.¡± ¡°The Mountain Master has decided to impart the sword scripture to you.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°And what about me?¡± Gongsun Xiu shook his head, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be hasty, Brother. Teaching you now would only harm you.¡± He finished and subtly gestured towards Yu Qingshuang. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing understood some of the reasoning behind this. For ordinary people, holding a sword could easily ignite a killing intent. Just like Yu Qingshuang, even after practicing the sword behind closed doors for over a decade, she longed to venture into the Jianghu. If they taught her the sword scripture, stopping her would be nearly impossible. Learning the sword scripture would likely make her itch to slay someone. But I, Chen Qing, am different! I¡¯m a more steady person! ¡­ As night fell, the darkness came especially early tonight due to the weather. Zhang Yangdao walked alone on the street of the market at the foot of the mountain. Today, the streets were unusually quiet, unlike the usual hustle and bustle. Part of it was because of the impending rain, but mostly, it was out of respect for Wuyou Mountain. His years of venturing the Jianghu gave him an instinctive sense of danger. As he walked, a sky-blue butterfly appeared on his shoulder. The butterfly¡¯s wings were streaked with tear stains, appearing elegant and cunning. As the butterfly flapped its wings, rain began to fall gently around him. He took a step forward, and the rain followed, covering a radius of thirty feet. Rain Butterfly, calling the rain. ¡°Unfortunately, the gloomy clouds stay overhead, without the rain falling. Otherwise, my rain curtain¡¯s range could be broader.¡± He continued forward, down a street lined with bright yellow lanterns. In the center of the street stood a large black umbrella. Feng Qi sat under the umbrella, lighting his pipe with indifference and taking a puff. ¡°Rain Gu, you¡¯re a cultivator out training from the Lotus Cave?¡± Zhang Yangdao said nothing. Feng Qi extended his hand, making a gesture of invitation. Zhang Yangdao looked at a stool three feet in front of Feng Qi. He walked over and sat down, and the rain curtain followed him, enveloping Feng Qi¡¯s umbrella. ¡°I¡¯m just one person. I didn¡¯t expect you to send so many after me?¡± The rain-covered area informed him of the surrounding situation through intuition. Feng Qi took a drag from his pipe, picked up the hot tea beside him, and took a sip, ¡°We must be cautious with a senior.¡± ¡°This is respect for a senior.¡± Thirty feet away, Chen Qing, sitting in a broad-viewing room in Bright Moon Tower, asked, ¡°Why not just strike?¡± Gongsun Xiu picked up the wine pot and poured drinks for the two, ¡°That person uses a Rain Gu. The area covered with rain will greatly enhance his perception, not to mention the Rain Gu has transformed into a butterfly.¡± ¡°A sneak attack wouldn¡¯t work.¡± ¡°Also, remember this: ascetics on the road carry many Gu insects.¡± ¡°Their quality may not be high, but the quantity could exceed your imagination.¡± ¡°Time accumulates, and years of wandering the Jianghu will make a person incredibly strong.¡± Chen Qing pondered silently, was it the Gu insects obtained from years of wandering and killing? On the path of asceticism, long-term planning was not a concern, nor was the remaining life span of a Gu insect. After all, gaining even a tiny bit of strength increases the hope of survival. Yu Qingshuang walked to the window, clearly a little dazed after realizing the reality. Chen Qing focused on Feng Qi, thinking he was trying to extract information. Feng Qi and Ye Yuntian were both at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, Feng Qiao was at the eighth, Ju Xiu was also at the ninth, and there were more than a dozen others at the seventh level surrounding them, which seemed enough to secure the situation. Zhang Yangdao was clearly not too intimidated now, he casually remarked, ¡°I only stayed at Wuyou Mountain for a day. Do you really need to go all out?¡± Feng Qi demanded, ¡°Are you from Lotus Cave really planning to break ties?¡± Zhang Yangdao laughed heartily, ¡°Lotus Cave, what Lotus Cave? I know nothing of any Lotus Cave.¡± He stood up, drew the long sword from his waist, holding it horizontally in the rain curtain. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a lot of killings in the Jianghu.¡± ¡°And I¡¯ve done a lot!¡± ¡°What¡¯s with all the entanglement?¡± ¡°Are you coming one by one, or all together?¡± Feng Qi suddenly stood up and smashed the teacup in his hand. Mist rose from a hidden alley, passing through the rain curtain in an instant. Gongsun Xiu said, ¡°The uniqueness of the Fog Gu allows Feng Qiao to isolate the rain curtain¡¯s perception, but it might not succeed.¡± The mist moved through the rain curtain, like a ghost drifting. Within half a foot of Zhang Yangdao, the mist suddenly converged. Feng Qiao revealed his figure, a cold sword in his hand, stabbing straight toward Zhang Yangdao. As the sword approached Zhang Yangdao, Sword Qi surged from Feng Qiao¡¯s body, covering the sword in a dazzling cold light. Zhang Yangdao stepped to the side, turning and swinging his long sword. He paid no heed to Feng Qiao¡¯s long stab with the sword. Instead, he swung his sword to slice off Feng Qiao¡¯s head. Neither stepped back, their swords filled with decisive killing intent, showing no sign of retreat! Feng Qiao¡¯s sword stabbed into what seemed like a mass of fog in Zhang Yangdao¡¯s chest. Zhang Yangdao carried a Fog Gu too! Zhang Yangdao¡¯s sword swung across, and Feng Qiao¡¯s body turned into a mist. The sword shadows vanished in an instant as the two masses of mist passed one another. Landing again, both swords clashed fiercely once more! Feng Qi never moved, merely watching coldly from the side. Chen Qing guessed that Ye Yuntian was likely observing the battle from somewhere as well. Facing an ascetic cultivator like Zhang Yangdao, they acted with extreme caution. Gongsun Xiu sipped his wine, ¡°He¡¯s trying to escape.¡± Chen Qing moved to Yu Qingshuang¡¯s other side, putting his hand on his sword hilt before leaning against the window to watch the battlefield. So the tough talk was all a facade. This fight indeed broadened Chen Qing¡¯s understanding. The two swords exchanged between Zhang Yangdao and Feng Qiao were filled with a raw, decisive killing intent! It was astonishing! That was pure slaughter at its essence. Gongsun Xiu set down his wine cup, ¡°Those truly prepared to fight to the death wouldn¡¯t speak so much, especially an old hand in the Jianghu.¡± No sooner had Gongsun Xiu finished speaking than Chen Qing and the others saw Zhang Yangdao stomp a brick to pieces, leap into the air, and jump onto the stone wall of the alley. While probing Zhang Yangdao¡¯s depth, Feng Qiao¡¯s eyes cleared as the killing intent faded. Only when Zhang Yangdao leaped onto the wall did he realize what had happened. Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Old Man Fights a Crowd of Heroes Alone Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Old Man Fights a Crowd of Heroes Alone Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Zhang Yangdao had just leaped onto the wall when a shadow wearing a conical hat lunged out from the alley beside him. Under the night sky, the shadow wielded a bright sword and struck fiercely, cutting Zhang Yangdao down from the wall. Ye Yuntian stood in the place on the wall where Zhang Yangdao had been and laughed, ¡°It seems your Rain Butterfly, the effect after transformation, clears the mind.¡± ¡°It can even dissolve some killing intent, making us momentarily forget our purpose.¡± Chen Qing was shocked internally, ¡°Can there be such an effect?¡± After the rain, indeed, everyone felt refreshed, and the whole world seemed clean and comfortable. Of course, the Rain Gu was different; its effect was more mandatory. The desire to kill wouldn¡¯t wane just because of rain. However, Zhang Yangdao¡¯s Rain Gu could make people momentarily lose focus. Clearing one¡¯s mind was a positive effect, but in the hands of an experienced person like Zhang Yangdao, it was used even more masterfully. Ye Yuntian stood on the wall and said, ¡°Do not let too many people enter the rain curtain; his rain curtain can unconsciously absorb your Spiritual Energy to bolster himself.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°The more people there are, the stronger he becomes!¡± ¡°From my observation, he should also have the Power Gu and Wind Gu on him.¡± ¡°And he¡¯s using the Lotus Cave¡¯s swordsmanship.¡± Zhang Yangdao looked around, and Wuyou Mountain disciples began retreating from the rain curtain, limiting his Rain Gu¡¯s ability to cleanse. Humans naturally didn¡¯t have Spiritual Energy within, and Spiritual Energy was akin to worldly impurities. He pondered slightly, his gaze darting between Ye Yuntian and Feng Qi. In a one-on-one, neither of them was his match. After a moment¡¯s thought, he raised his sword and hurled it straight at Ye Yuntian. Seizing the moment Ye Yuntian dodged, he tumbled on the ground and burrowed into the soil. Chen Qing was anxious internally, ¡°Earth-burrowing! Zhang Yangdao still has an Earth Gu!¡± What should be done? Time quickly answered Chen Qing as a loud explosion echoed from the street. Ju Xiu sat atop a giant tiger, wielding an iron hammer the size of a millstone. The tiger leaped, and Ju Xiu swung the hammer downward with full force! Masses of dirt churned as the hammer¡¯s power scattered the bluestone bricks all over the street, dirt flying everywhere! The stone walls on both sides of the street collapsed, and a startled mouse fled frantically. Zhang Yangdao was blasted out from the dirt, coughing up a mist of blood! Landing, Zhang Yangdao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression dark and grim. Behind him, Feng Qi was already unsheathing his sword and charging forward, transforming into fog. He turned his head and spread his hands. Spiritual Energy surged like a tide in his hands, and a massive fireball had already formed. Seeing this, Feng Qi quickly retreated from the fog state. Although the fog state ignored Sword Qi damage, it was no match for flames! Receiving a hit like this would injure him! Feng Qi swung his cloak to block the exploding fireball, forced back three steps. ¡°Fire Gu!¡± Even Gongsun Xiu clicked his tongue slightly, ¡°This old guy really has a lot of Gu insects on him.¡± ¡°But once he¡¯s killed, probably not many will be left.¡± ¡°These were all taken from others, with poor quality, and after his death, due to the contract, they¡¯ll revert. Given their already insufficient life span, they¡¯re likely to perish.¡± Under the rain curtain, Zhang Yangdao moved swiftly as though treading on the wind, quickly crossing more than ten feet. Ye Yuntian pursued closely, wielding his sword aggressively with his right hand, while his left hand subtly gathered a strand of Sword Qi. A faint glow shimmered on his sword; it was Sword Qi enveloping his blade, making his sword unstoppable. Zhang Yangdao was fully occupied facing Ju Xiu in front, and Ye Yuntian certainly wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity, thrusting a sword directly at Zhang Yangdao¡¯s back! As his sword was about to pierce Zhang Yangdao¡¯s back, four extremely chilling auras seeped out from behind Zhang Yangdao. Four ghostly bone claws emerged from his back, clasping Ye Yuntian¡¯s sword. Ye Yuntian withdrew his sword, the sharp Sword Qi leaving scratches on the bone claws. ¡°Six-Armed Gu?¡± Feng Qi shook his head, ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like it, more like an Evil Cultivator¡¯s Gu.¡± Ye Yuntian said, ¡°Even with my Butterfly-Transformed Sword Gu Sword Qi, it only left a scratch on these bone claws; these Gu insects must be at least at the Ninth Transformation.¡± The four bone claws extended to Zhang Yangdao¡¯s chest, tearing four blood-soaked ribs from his chest. Zhang Yangdao grunted, his heart entirely exposed, thumping visibly. The four bone claws rubbed the ribs against each other, quickly grinding them into four scimitars. Though Ye Yuntian and Feng Qi exchanged words, Ye Yuntian¡¯s sword remained unyielding, striking at Zhang Yangdao¡¯s lower body with the speed of a fierce wind. The four bone claws wielded the scimitars to swiftly counteract. At Zhang Yangdao¡¯s front, Ju Xiu urged the tiger to leap, mercilessly hammering down! Zhang Yangdao raised his sword horizontally to block. With one hammer strike, Zhang Yangdao¡¯s legs were driven a foot into the ground. The whole street trembled, even those watching from afar like Chen Qing felt the pavilion slightly shake. Ju Senior Sister definitely possessed a Power Gu! And of high quality. Given the strength of Zhang Yangdao¡¯s body, he must have an Iron Skin Gu, or he couldn¡¯t have taken it. This guy is mighty indeed, holding off Ye, Feng, and Ju for so long. As Chen Qing marveled, a giant sword, weighing perhaps over a hundred pounds, suddenly plummeted from the sky, descending on Zhang Yangdao¡¯s head! The sword descended rapidly, heavily infused with intense Sword Qi! The entire sword glowed brilliantly, emanating an unmistakable sharpness. This was the real killing strike! Chen Qing looked above the sword and saw a crane flying across. It was Senior Brother He Ming of the ninth level of Qi Refinement! Zhang Yangdao, bearing Ju Xiu¡¯s mighty hammer and pressured by Ye Yuntian and Feng Qi from behind, could only slightly shift to avoid a lethal blow. The giant sword descended, piercing through the four bone claws from his back, impaling him completely to the ground. Behind him, two bone claws wielded scimitars to fend off Ye Yuntian and Feng Qi¡¯s attacks, while the other two bone claws swiftly extracted the giant sword from his back. Blood gushed out, Zhang Yangdao¡¯s face turned deathly pale, yet bore a fierce resolve. The giant sword, hurled by the bone claws, was sent flying, and Spiritual Energy surged within Zhang Yangdao, his body beginning to heal at a visible rate! ¡°Rejuvenation Gu!¡± Zhang Yangdao actually had a Rejuvenation Gu! Even though his body was tattered like his Daoist robe, he still stood in the center of the street, brandishing his sword to counter Ju Xiu¡¯s hammer! The four bone claws behind him started to move again, one claw left three bloody marks on Ye Yuntian¡¯s unsuspecting chest. Ye Yuntian, now furious, gripped his sword with both hands, letting a Sword Butterfly fly out and land on the sword¡¯s back. His body flooded with Spiritual Energy, extending the sword¡¯s light over ten feet! ¡°` Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: 30 Years of Spring Breeze and Morning Dew, Qi Refining Realms extremes Chapter 40: 30 Years of Spring Breeze and Morning Dew, Qi Refining Realm¡¯s extremes Editor: Henyee Translations Ye Yuntian attacked with all his might, and the situation instantly changed. Even though the white bone claws on Zhang Yangdao¡¯s back resisted with all their might, they were still insignificant in the face of Ye Yuntian¡¯s long and domineering sword light. The bones turned into bone fragments under the sword light. Zhang Yangdao, who had four arms on his back and three of them broken, held the longsword in his hand and coughed out a mouthful of blood. He turned around and slashed at Feng Qi again. Feng Qi instantly turned into mist. Unexpectedly, when Zhang Yangdao¡¯s sword landed on Feng Qi¡¯s mist, it instantly ignited a raging fire. Feng Qi, who then left the mist state, spat out a mouthful of blood. He spun the sword in his hand and slashed down ruthlessly again. On the other side, Ye Yuntian¡¯s three-meter-long sword beam swept across and directly shattered Zhang Yangdao¡¯s last white bone claw! Ju Xiu controlled her tiger to leap up and made it sweep with its claws, stirring up a gust of wind. A strong wind blew at Zhang Yangdao¡¯s face. Zhang Yangdao raised his sword with difficulty and blocked the tiger¡¯s claws. Naturally, Feng Qi would not let go of this good opportunity. With a slash of his sword, Zhang Yangdao¡¯s head fell to the ground, and blood splattered all over the ground. Gongsun Xiu got up and went downstairs. ¡°A little weaker than I expected.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing asked, ¡°Senior Brother, do you mean that Zhang Yangdao is not strong enough for an ascetic?¡± Gongsun Xiu nodded. ¡°If you meet an ascetic who has been cultivating for more than 30 years, you will see the limit of the Qi Refining realm.¡± When they went downstairs, Gongsun Xiu asked, ¡°Qingshuang, did you learn anything from today¡¯s battle?¡± Yu Qingshuang said, ¡°I feel that my sword technique has improved again.¡± Gongsun Xiu said, ¡°I think what Senior Brother Feng wants you to know is that the martial world has never been about duels nobody interferes in, but about group fights.¡± The two of them followed Gongsun Xiu to the center of the battlefield. The entire street was ruined. Zhang Yangdao¡¯s strange corpse lay in the middle of the street. He knelt on the ground, but did not fall. Chen Qing walked to Zhang Yangdao¡¯s head, and realized that the head was actually laughing strangely. Feng Qi, who was standing beside this head, had a gloomy expression, as if he was also puzzled by this head that had a frozen expression and was laughing. More than 10 Carefree Mountain disciples walked out from all directions, and started to clean up the battlefield. Ye Yuntian held three Gu insects in his hands. ¡°Only Rain Gu, Sword Gu, and that strange four-armed white bone Gu are left.¡± ¡­ After returning to his cave abode, Chen Qing lay on the stone bed in the basement and recalled the battle. After this battle, Chen Qing finally had a slight understanding of the battles in this world. Cultivation was the foundation of everything. Only when one had spiritual qi in their body could they activate Gu insects. Of course, Gu insects like Iron Skin Gu and Strength Gu that were related to physique had very low requirements for spiritual qi. Even without spiritual qi, it could still unleash extraordinary power. Gu insects were magic, and they were related to the power of spells. Sword techniques were techniques, and were concerned with how to unleash Gu insects¡¯ power to the utmost. Zhang Yangdao had many Gu insects, but they were of poor quality. Other than Rain Gu, Sword Gu, and the unknown white bone Gu, most of them were rank two or three. Even so, he was still able to hold on for so long in front of the four strongest hall masters of Carefree Mountain. Ye Yuntian¡¯s Sword Gu looked like it had only turned into a butterfly rank three or four. He still had a rank nine Wind Gu. As for him having more Gu insects, it was hard to tell. Cheng Qing had to continue getting more Gu insects! In a battle of sword techniques, other than Fog Gu, Wind Gu was the key! If his techniques were insufficient, he would make up for it with speed! ¡®If I nurtured all the Gu insects to the butterfly transformation stage or even beyond it, the situation would be completely different.¡¯ Even if Ye Yuntian, Feng Qi, Ju Xiu, and He Ming attacked together, they should not be his match! In the face of absolute speed and strength, everything would be reduced to ashes! Of course, this was based on the performance of the four of them tonight. After all, they had only suffered minor injuries. Chen Qing guessed that they still had more tricks up their sleeves. After confirming his future path, Chen Qing began to recall their moves. It was a sword technique that was even more straightforward and direct than Yu Qingshuang¡¯s sword technique. It purely pursued lethality. It wasn¡¯t that Yu Qingshuang¡¯s sword technique was fanciness over practicality, but Yu Qingshuang¡¯s sword technique was still a little superficial, and lacked a hint of ruthlessness. After this, this senior sister¡¯s sword technique would improve again. Chen Qing had a new understanding of sword moves. He struck while the iron was hot and practiced again. The next morning, Chen Qing woke up early, and found some first dew in the morning to feed Fog Gu in the spirit plant garden. As soon as he arrived at the spirit plant hall, a senior brother from the Shadow Hall carried a box over. ¡°Hall Master Chen, what happened last night is over. This is remuneration for the information you provided a few days ago.¡± That was right. If Chen Qing hadn¡¯t reported this news, how could they have intercepted and killed Zhang Yangdao? This was what he deserved. Chen Qing opened the box. There were about 1,000 low-grade spirit stones inside. He smiled, and said, ¡°Help me thank Senior Brother Feng.¡± Carefree Mountain didn¡¯t even have the intention to impart the sword scripture to him now. The sect wouldn¡¯t be stupid enough to send him out to fight. It was time to raise the Sword Gu to the rank nine and turn it into a butterfly. At night, Chen Qing carried a bag and quickly went down the mountain. He booked a room in the Bright Moon Building, locked the door, and used his godly Clothes Swap Skill to arrive at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. He followed a clerk into the tea room. ¡°Give me 20 segments of purple-striped bamboo.¡± The purple-striped bamboo was as thick as a thumb and solid. Not only were there purple stripes on the outside, but there were also purple veins inside. This item was extremely tough, and its surface was extremely sharp. When the clerk brought over the purple-striped bamboo, Chen Qing asked, ¡°Do you have Sword Gu here? ¡°The kind that is at rank one,¡± Chen Qing emphasized. The sword darling needed a Sword Gu to evolve into a butterfly. However, since it only needed a Sword Gu, there was no need to buy a wild one. It was fine as long as it was left behind after killing and robbing. The priority was in it being a cheap one. After hearing this, the clerk understood what Chen Qing meant. He did not say much. ¡°This kind of Sword Gu is cheap. I¡¯ll help you get a few.¡± Soon, the clerk brought over three rank one Sword Gu. Chen Qing first picked the one with the shortest lifespan, and asked, ¡°How much is this one?¡± The clerk smiled, and said, ¡°These Sword Gu are all of the same price, 2,500 low-grade spirit stones.¡± When Chen Qing saw this, he pointed at the one with the most lifespan, and said, ¡°This one then. This one looks pleasing to the eye.¡± The clerk quickly sealed the Sword Gu. ¡°Sir, what else do you want?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Three wisps of geng gold qi, and get me a high-quality green snake gallbladder.¡± The shop assistant asked, ¡°Regarding green snake gallbladders, we have 200-year-old, 300-year-old, and 500-year-old gallbladders here. I wonder what kind you want?¡± Chen Qing thought for a moment. The higher the quality of the materials used to advance to butterfly form, the better. ¡°How much is the 500 years old type?¡± The clerk smiled, and said, ¡°500-year-old ones are more precious. It costs about 2,400 low-grade spirit stones.¡± Chen Qing counted his current spirit stones. It was not a big deal to get a 500-year-old green snake gallbladder. ¡°I¡¯ll take one.¡± Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Where the Peach Blossoms Fade, Gold Covers the Ground Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Where the Peach Blossoms Fade, Gold Covers the Ground The promotion materials for the sword Gu were truly not cheap, costing more than twice the price of the Grass Spirit Gu. Finally, the total bill came to six thousand five hundred lower-grade Spirit Stones. Having spent so much money, the shop assistant guessed what Chen Qing needed the sword Gu for and even gifted him a book. ¡°Gu Spirit Theory.¡± After paying, Chen Qing had seven or eight hundred Spirit Stones left. Feeling slightly uneasy, Chen Qing went to buy another copy of ¡°Gu Spirit Theory.¡± Although the content was somewhat different, the overall meaning was the same. In the past few days, Chen Qing had been living cautiously, as the sword Gu was about to advance. He didn¡¯t want any trouble to disturb him. Because Yu Qingshuang was going to practice the sword scripture, Chen Qing had to practice swordsmanship on the platform outside his own cave. However, it wasn¡¯t a big problem. From the experience of watching the previous battle, he hadn¡¯t fully digested it yet. In these few days of practicing swordsmanship, he didn¡¯t know if it was because of watching the battle or because the sword Gu was close to the Ninth Transformation, but his progress in swordsmanship was very fast, with new insights in every practice. The speed of his improvement in swordsmanship far exceeded before! After practicing swordsmanship, Chen Qing returned to his own cave, lit an oil lamp, and began reading the book that the shop assistant had given him and the one he had bought, cross-referencing them. The books described many Evil Skills that could gain power by sacrificing one¡¯s own Gu. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Of course, it was just a description, with no actual instructions or scriptures. According to the books, anyone who practiced such Evil Skills would be detested by part of the Gu, unable to make a contract with them. However, the case of promoting the sword Gu was different. This was a matter between the Gu, unrelated to the cultivator. Also, even if the sword Gu devoured each other, an altar was still needed. Otherwise, they would be entangled in great resentment. Chen Qing wasn¡¯t very clear about the specifics, but with the mindset of ¡°better safe than sorry,¡± he still bought yellow paper and three incense candles. On the morning of June 30th, While searching for Dawn Dew to feed the Fog Treasure, Chen Qing felt a special tremor. The sword treasure was about to reach the Ninth Transformation! After quickly searching for Dawn Dew and tending to the Spiritual Field, Chen Qing finished his tasks at the Spirit Plant Hall and returned to his own cave. Reaching the basement, Chen Qing released the sword treasure. When it appeared in his hand, it was already in a solidified state. He patiently waited by the side, and after an hour, a wisp of Sword Qi shot out, cutting the entire shell into two halves. The sword treasure had grown larger, becoming the size of a melon seed. [Mortal-grade Sword Gu] Quality: Ninth Transformation Life Span: 12/85 Effect: Converts five wisps of Spiritual Energy into one wisp of Sword Qi. Growth Requirements: None Growth Progress: 100/100 Promotion Requirements: One sword Gu, three wisps of Geng Metal Qi, and at least one three-hundred-year-old green snake gall. The demand for Spiritual Energy had become lower. If it only needed five wisps of Spiritual Energy, he should be able to sustain Sword Qi for half a quarter of an hour! Chen Qing immediately placed the jade altar containing the First Transformation sword Gu on the stone table, placing it in the center. He opened the lid, confirmed that the state of the sword treasure was good, and placed his sword Gu inside. Lighting candles on both sides, he began writing the memorial on yellow paper as described in ¡°Gu Spirit Theory.¡± [With respect to the Gu God, hear my words.] [All things compete, time is a journey.] [The sword Gu fights, its fate is ordained.] [With the Gu God above, disciple Qing harbors no harm for the Gu, nor disdains the path.] [Respecting the destiny set by the Gu God, dare not defy.] ¡­ After spending a quarter of an hour, Chen Qing checked his memorial. He couldn¡¯t say it was beautifully written, but at least it was legible. He took the yellow paper with the memorial and lit it on the candle flame. As the yellow paper with the memorial was burned to ash, Chen Qing clearly saw the jade altar start to shake slightly. The shaking grew more intense. Strangely, no matter how much the jade altar shook, it never toppled over. Several times, Chen Qing thought the jade altar would fall off the stone table, but it swayed back just in time. Dozens of breaths passed, and Chen Qing felt like an hour had gone by. Just watching the jade altar¡¯s shaking, he could sense the fierce struggle within! Damn it, sword treasure, you¡¯re dignified at Ninth Transformation, you can¡¯t lose to a First Transformation, right? If you can¡¯t handle this, you¡¯d be a disgrace! Watching the jade altar shake, Chen Qing felt more nervous than when he fought in the arena himself. Another ten breaths passed, and the jade altar¡¯s shaking finally became gentle. He could still feel the sword treasure¡¯s consciousness. It had won! It should have won! After another thirty breaths, there was no more movement inside, and the jade altar no longer shook, standing steadily on the stone table. Chen Qing opened the jade altar¡¯s lid, heart pounding, hoping there was no damage. He was raising a Gu for the first time, and he wasn¡¯t very knowledgeable. He opened his hand, and the sword treasure jumped into it, like a triumphant general showing off. Seeing the sword treasure intact and larger, Chen Qing finally felt relieved. Come on, winning against a First Transformation as a Ninth Transformation, what¡¯s there to be proud of? Have some shame. Chen Qing lowered his head to see if there were any remnants of the First Transformation sword Gu, but he found the jade altar suddenly shattered into pieces. The cuts were smooth as mirrors, breaking into dozens of pieces. He looked at the fragments, carefully inspecting them. There were no remnants of Gu. It seemed the sword treasure had eaten it cleanly. This should mean it was complete. Feeling the sword treasure¡¯s consciousness, it seemed it could still eat. Chen Qing immediately took out the Sheep Fat Bottle containing Geng Metal Qi and placed the sword Gu inside. Maybe air wasn¡¯t filling, and the sword treasure could still eat. Chen Qing almost thought it could undergo Butterfly Transformation before the gathering. However, after consuming three wisps of Geng Metal Qi, the green snake gall only took one bite and then stopped eating. On July 1st, It was heard that a few days ago Feng Qi and others sent Zhang Yangdao¡¯s body to the Lotus Cave, only to find that they weren¡¯t the only ones delivering a body. The neighboring Wutong Mountain also sent a body. It was rumored that in the next few days, Wutong Mountain would send a highly respected elder to visit Wuyou Mountain. This instinctively made Chen Qing feel that something big might be about to happen. At night, Chen Qing continued to feed the sword treasure the green snake gall. The five-hundred-year-old green snake gall was halfway consumed this time by the sword treasure. It seemed the age was at its peak, and eating the green snake gall would take another two days. Ye City. Lotus Cave. Xu Yaofeng wore the silver mask of the Jiguang Sect, sitting at the stern of a small boat, with a half-human tall rat at the bow wielding a bamboo pole. Outside the Lotus Cave, there were dense peach trees, while inside was a dark river, with only occasional fireflies flying up. The rat propelled the boat, occasionally snatching fireflies flying by its mouth and greedily chewing them. The damp cave widened ahead, and dazzling golden palace lanterns glowed brightly, with the cave ceiling adorned with several Luminous Pearls. The pearl light illuminated the water flowing by the shore, and the water shimmered with golden light, full of gold coins. Xu Yaofeng disembarked, stepping onto the land of gold. He raised his eyes to the peak of the treasure mound, where stood an old man in a gray cloak, holding a peculiar lantern. The old man puffed out a smoke ring, blowing the smoke onto Xu Yaofeng, who immediately felt a slight heaviness in his head. He looked down at the reflection in the water, seeing his head had turned into a fat-headed, pig-faced form. Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42 The Secret of Light Gu Chapter 42: Chapter 42 The Secret of Light Gu The pig-headed man wore a silver mask, looking ever so eerie. Nonetheless, he didn¡¯t take it off and casually strolled past the ground littered with gold and jewels, stopping in front of the elder. The elder sat in a place untouched by light, puffing on his pipe, as he pushed a golden scale to the center of the glass jade table. ¡°What do you want?¡± Xu Yaofeng sat down opposite the elder and said, ¡°Cold Moon True Essence.¡± A sly gleam appeared in the elder¡¯s eyes, ¡°That¡¯s not something cheap.¡± He lifted the teapot, pouring it over a frog-shaped tea pet, which surprisingly came to life as the water fell. The elder patted the table, ¡°Go, fetch a piece of Cold Moon True Essence.¡± The frog hopped around on the table, extending its tongue, curling it around a gem that sparkled with a cold sheen like grapefruit pulp, placing it onto the table. The elder reached out and picked up the Cold Moon True Essence, placing it in the pan of the scale on his side. ¡°What else do you want?¡± Xu Yaofeng continued, ¡°A Vajra Gu that¡¯s been contracted once.¡± The elder rubbed his hands, ¡°That¡¯s indeed rare, but the Vajra Gu isn¡¯t considered an exotic breed. I do have it here.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï He stood up, rummaged through a dilapidated cabinet, and took out a jade jar, placing it again in the pan in front of him. After placing two items, the pan on the elder¡¯s side lowered, ¡°Since you dare come here, you must have treasures that can outweigh these two items.¡± He suddenly laughed heartily, ¡°You know the consequence of not outweighing them, right?¡± He grabbed the frog, and Xu Yaofeng clearly saw that in the light, the elder¡¯s hand was nothing but white bones. Once withdrawn into the darkness, it became flesh and blood again. If what he brought couldn¡¯t outweigh these two items, they would likewise become his. However, he would need to stay here, repaying the debt like that frog until it was cleared. Xu Yaofeng reached into his clothes, placing the jade jar containing the spiritual item Vajra Gu, given by the Dock Master, in the pan of the scale before him. The scale moved again, rocking several times. In the end, Xu Yaofeng¡¯s side seemed heavier, hanging down steadily. The frog on the side watched the elder expectantly, as if anticipating him to press down the pan on his side. The elder rotated the scale, ¡°Take your things and scram.¡± The frog croaked in displeasure, waving its limbs and pointing at Xu Yaofeng as if saying, ¡°I wasn¡¯t like this at first!¡± The elder flicked his sleeve, sending the frog flying into the dark river. The frog¡¯s croak disappeared for a while. Xu Yaofeng reached out and took the Cold Moon True Essence and the jade jar containing the contracted Vajra Gu, tucking them inside his robe. When he left Taohua Cave by boat and stepped onto land again, he looked back, and the reflection in the water had reverted to his own appearance. Looking around once more, there were no peach groves. Turning back to where he had come from, there was no cave with a dark river. Like a ghost. Xu Yaofeng chuckled coldly in his heart, lucky to be a member of the Jiguang Sect. The Black Heart Elder still had to show face to the Jiguang Sect and dared not make a move against him. If it were someone without background, they¡¯d likely end up like that frog or the boat-rowing rat. He took a few steps forward as the sunlight suddenly poured down in torrents, making his eyes sting slightly. ¡­ Midnight. Chen Qing sat in the underground stone chamber, assuming a posture before putting on the bronze ghost mask. When he appeared at the gathering, the other three were already there. Habitually, he placed his right hand on the table, occasionally tapping his index finger on the surface. ¡°Today¡¯s gathering begins now.¡± The first to speak was Xu Yaofeng, who displayed his Light Butterfly, ¡°Senior, is there anything I should pay attention to for the advancement of my Light Gu?¡± Chen Qing thought, didn¡¯t I already mention this? To maintain his mystique, he added, ¡°Full moon, no clouds, let your Light Butterfly be bathed in moonlight.¡± Of course, this was just a guess from Chen Qing, but it shouldn¡¯t affect much. Actually, Chen Qing was quite curious about the advancement of this guy¡¯s Light Butterfly. After it advanced, he was eager to see what effect it would have. So, did Yaofeng obtain the Cold Moon True Essence? Chen Qing had never even heard of such a thing before, it must be hard to acquire. But Yaofeng was in the Foundation Establishment stage, he probably had more means. Murong Lang then inquired, ¡°Can the Light Butterfly continue to advance?¡± Xu Yaofeng replied, ¡°The higher-ups in the sect said that the Light Butterfly can continue to advance, eventually becoming a spiritual item Gu.¡± Murong Lang was visibly surprised, ¡°A spiritual item Gu, can it still advance further from a Light Butterfly?¡± Xu Yaofeng nodded, ¡°But advancement is troublesome and costly. Without Senior Taichu, my Light Butterfly might never advance in its lifetime.¡± Murong Lang nodded, ¡°Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures like the Cold Moon True Essence are indeed hard to procure.¡± Hu Yao suddenly asked, ¡°Scholar, didn¡¯t you say you were preparing for Foundation Establishment? Have you prepared your Lifebound Gu?¡± She was preparing for Foundation Establishment soon as well, hence her keen interest in the matter. In the gathering, Xu Yaofeng and Murong Lang clearly had higher cultivation levels than her and knew more. Not to mention, with Senior Taichu present, asking more questions was always beneficial. Murong Lang looked at Xu Yaofeng, ¡°Leader, what¡¯s the saying about this Foundation Establishment?¡± Xu Yaofeng glanced at Chen Qing, seeing no reaction from him, he said, ¡°Foundation Establishment is about building the Dao Foundation, the heavens and earth have Dao, manifestation of the great Dao takes form as Gu.¡± ¡°So, one must use Gu as one¡¯s Lifebound Gu.¡± ¡°The stronger the Lifebound Gu, the stronger the Dao Foundation.¡± ¡°Foundation Establishment with a spiritual item Gu greatly enhances the spiritual energy compared to using a Mortal Gu for Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°With Senior Taichu here, I recommend you use the Light Gu as your Lifebound Gu.¡± ¡°However, I must warn you, even with the Light Gu¡¯s Ninth Transformation quality, it only has the ability to emit light.¡± Murong Lang fell silent, clearly weighing the pros and cons. The benefits were clear, to use Light Gu as the Lifebound Gu, even at the Ninth Transformation of Light Butterfly, there was still room for advancement. However, the disadvantage was also apparent, the Light Gu had little to no benefit before advancing to a spiritual item. Before that, it required significant investment. Realizing this, Murong Lang quietly glanced at Chen Qing. But with Senior Taichu around, the investment seemed less daunting. Hu Yao was also clearly tempted, ¡°But how do I find a Light Gu? I¡¯ve never seen one in my life!¡± Murong Lang replied, ¡°Where I¡¯m from, there¡¯s quite a few Light Gu, but many people shelved them when they realized it only emitted light.¡± ¡°In the Thunder Pure Land, there are plenty of Light Gu, and they¡¯re quite cheap.¡± Hu Yao asked, ¡°But how will I know which Light Gu is the one I need?¡± Chen Qing pondered for a moment and then appropriately spoke, ¡°I know a little about that.¡± He could judge the materials needed for the Light Gu¡¯s advancement, and through the required materials, make certain deductions. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Light, is the origin of everything Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Light, is the origin of everything At this moment, Xu Yaofeng couldn¡¯t help but have a strange thought arise in his mind. Taichu Senior, could it be that the Hierarch of the Jiguang Sect has awakened? Truly, his understanding of the Light Gu is extraordinary! In the Jiguang Sect, the Light Gu is unique, entirely different from other Gu! Yet, this Taichu Senior knows all about the Light Gu! ¡°Senior, are you also interested in the Light Gu?¡± Xu Yaofeng probed carefully. Chen Qing spoke calmly, ¡°Light begets all things.¡± ¡°Light is the origin of everything.¡± From a physics standpoint, there¡¯s actually nothing wrong with saying light begets all things. Matter is also energy, and energy ultimately is light. This light symbolizes not brightness or justice, but the true nature of the world. Murong Lang quickly seized the opportunity to chime in, ¡°If Senior is interested, Hu Yao and I would like to ask for your guidance on the Light Gu we need.¡± ¡°And I am willing to offer up a Light Gu as a tribute for Senior¡¯s amusement.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°The Light Gu I brought, Senior may choose any of them.¡± All along, Chen Qing had shown no interest in anything at the gatherings. This was the first time Chen Qing was willing to join their conversation, so how could Murong Lang pass up on this opportunity! He had a premonition that this gathering with Taichu Senior at the core would develop into something remarkable in the future! Some might even chant, ¡°Taichu is eternal, the Gu Dao is majestic!¡± and dominate over all! Therefore, at the beginning of this gathering, one should seize the time to enhance one¡¯s importance within the group. As for importance in the eyes of Taichu Senior, he knew he was not there yet. What he could do now was elevate his significance at the gathering. The fact that he could mobilize a large number of Light Gu was a crucial part! Even if new members joined later, if they wanted to use Light Gu as their Lifebound Gu, they would need to go through him. Chen Qing nodded slightly, ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Yaofeng quickly felt his position threatened; he cast a wary glance at Murong Lang, feeling a twinge of anxiety. Originally, he held three bronze ghost masks, which could give him capital to showcase his usefulness in front of Taichu Senior. No matter what, in the future, he could use these three bronze ghost masks to become the spokesperson for Taichu Senior in the human world, thus increasing his weight at the gathering. But now, the scholar had beaten him to it! Who would have thought that this scholar could mobilize such a large amount of Light Gu! How infuriating! It seemed he needed to speed up the process of selecting new members! Once his Light Butterfly was promoted, greatly increasing his power, he would start earnestly seeking new members. ¡°Taichu Senior, regarding what you mentioned last time, I still don¡¯t fully understand. Could you give a bit more insight on the selection of new members?¡± Chen Qing observed Murong Lang and Xu Yaofeng¡¯s small actions, easily guessing what they had in mind. This was a battle for favor! Chen Qing pondered briefly, ¡°Qi Refining Realm, or creatures for whom the Light Gu is their Lifebound Gu.¡± For this gathering to grow strong, it was best to have members for whom the Light Gu was their Lifebound Gu, due to its high controllability and potential for growth. Firstly, the promotional items for the Light Gu almost covered all materials; without his guidance, they could not advance. This would enhance his control over the gathering. If your Lifebound Gu couldn¡¯t advance, would you be worried? Secondly, the Light Gu¡¯s growth potential was high; although it was not clear if it could continue to advance after reaching the level of a spiritual item, it seemed to be the best choice for now. Analyzing the name Jiguang Sect also indicated that the Light Gu had distinct and extraordinary traits. In this context, the members of the gathering would generally be stronger and wouldn¡¯t fall easily. Xu Yaofeng was overjoyed, ¡°Disciple understands, thank you for the guidance, Senior.¡± Xu Yaofeng now had a clear understanding of his role in the gathering, being Taichu Senior¡¯s spokesperson. As for the trivial matter of admitting new members, Taichu Senior certainly wouldn¡¯t bother with such tasks. This was where he stepped in. Watching as Murong Lang and Xu Yaofeng competed intensely, Hu Yao didn¡¯t fully grasp their motives, merely displaying her Power Butterfly and consulting Chen Qing. After spending her last twenty mid-grade Spirit Stones, Hu Yao felt a deep sense of ease and satisfaction. What an adorable and naive demon girl. Murong Lang inquired again about the cultivation of the Wind Butterfly and Sword Gu, offering twenty-six mid-grade Spirit Stones. Xu Yaofeng, however, took out an Eighth-Transformation Sword Butterfly, genuinely surprising Chen Qing. [Mortal Sword Butterfly] Quality: Eighth Transformation Life Span: 35/180 Effect: Converts twenty threads of spiritual energy into Flying Snow Blade Light. Trait: [Cold Blade] When holding the blade, the cold can partially freeze an enemy, slowing their movements and spiritual energy flow. Growth Requirements: Blood Seal Throat Growth Progress: 5/100 Promotion Requirements: Unable to advance further Blood Seal Throat seemed to be an extremely rare poisonous herb. It appeared there would be significant changes after the Ninth Transformation. Chen Qing spoke, ¡°Blood Seal Throat.¡± Xu Yaofeng jubilantly reached into his shirt to pull out sixty mid-grade Spirit Stones, reverently placing them before Chen Qing just like Murong Lang and Hu Yao did. As everyone had nothing else to say, Chen Qing leaned back slightly. ¡°Well then, this meeting is adjourned.¡± As the three left, Chen Qing looked at the one hundred and six mid-grade Spirit Stones before him; it seemed cultivating the Sword Gu to the Butterfly Transformation Ninth Transformation was promising. Withdrawing from the gathering, Chen Qing placed the Spirit Stones on the stone table in the basement; observing the Sword Gu still nibbling at the green snake gall in small bites. Such a glutton. ¡­ July 3. In the morning, as usual, Chen Qing rose early to search for Dawn Dew in the Spirit Plant Garden. Checking his progress, it had reached 68; in three or four more days, it should reach the Sixth Transformation. Chen Qing put away the fully-fed Fog Gu; it was time for the Sword Gu to undergo Butterfly Transformation. After finishing his chores, he returned to his cave and closed the door, immediately transforming into fog to enter the basement. Amid his pile of Spirit Stones, the Sword Gu had already formed a teal cocoon. Chen Qing took a big gulp of Spiritual Ginseng Wine and sat beside it, ready to cultivate earnestly. He cultivated while awaiting the Sword Gu¡¯s Butterfly Transformation. Zhang Yangdao was formidable with merely having a great number of low-quality Gu; once I have multiple Gu undergo Butterfly Transformation, protecting myself shouldn¡¯t be difficult at all. Time passed quickly during cultivation, and before he knew it, another day had gone by. Chen Qing reluctantly had to leave for a trip, resolving his matters hastily before returning. With the Sword Gu undergoing Butterfly Transformation, he needed to quickly return to oversee it to prevent any mishaps. If others were to face such a significant event as Butterfly Transformation, they would have disregarded any other matter. But he had no choice and couldn¡¯t expose himself, thus he had to handle it this way. The Grass Spirit Gu took more than a day to transform into a Butterfly, so he reckoned the Sword Gu wouldn¡¯t need less time. Late at night, suddenly, he heard a sharp sword cry. He turned his head to look at the teal cocoon among the Spirit Stones; the shell was cracking into numerous pieces, and a pair of teal antennae extended outward. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Encountering Taichu is the fortune of my lifetime. Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Encountering Taichu is the fortune of my lifetime. ¡°` Seeing Chen Qing refuse, Xiang Baiyu sat down on a piece of dead wood nearby and began to eat happily. It seemed like he sincerely intended to disgust himself. He reached into his arms, pulled out a piece of dry cake, took a few bites, and waved his hand to summon a breeze, catching a handful of dew. The dry cake paired with dew water actually tasted a bit ethereal. Three days later, Chen Qing lay lazily on the green stone by the riverbank, a willow twig in his mouth, and turned over in boredom, ¡°Xiang Baiyu, is your information reliable or not?¡± Xiang Baiyu smoothed out the scarf in his hand, ¡°What, can¡¯t wait any longer?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°No, it¡¯s just that I¡¯ve never seen a small cult leader doing laundry, it¡¯s intriguing!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t a Qi Refinement level nine person be dignified?¡± Xiang Baiyu said, ¡°Sorry, our Taiping Sect¡¯s doctrine is equality for all.¡± Over the past couple of days, Chen Qing had learned about some of the origins of the Jiguang Sect from Xiang Baiyu. Other cults were labeled as such because they committed evil deeds or attempted to overthrow the government. Jiguang Sect was different, it was simply too powerful! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Of course, the doctrine of the Jiguang Sect was also an issue. The opening line of Jiguang Sect¡¯s doctrine was: Immortals are immortal, bandits never stop. Yes, you heard it right, the ultimate goal of the Jiguang Sect was to hunt immortals. A cult that could boldly shout such a foolish slogan and still survive until now was quite remarkable. Another three days passed; it was December 15th. The Sword Abyss should now be in the fiercest contention. After they finished fighting, he planned to ambush the people from Lotus Cave. Snatch the sword Gu and flee, delightful! Such a childish trick as a seventy-thirty split, not only did Chen Qing not believe it, but Xiang Baiyu didn¡¯t either. Chen Qing stayed here solely to obtain Xiang Baiyu¡¯s information. Under the bright moonlight, Chen Qing sought a secluded spot, preparing to attend tonight¡¯s gathering. When the moon reached the zenith, Chen Qing sat on a tall pine tree, his consciousness entering the bronze mask. Just as he settled in, Chen Qing scanned around, seeing there were still three people with no new members. He was about to speak when he noticed a new woman appear beside Hu Yao. Her face was unclear, clad in an elegant and stylish gauze dress, three phoenix hairpins in her hair, exuding an aura of dignity and elegance. She sat gracefully in her seat, composed and demure. She first glanced at the surroundings, then carefully assessed the four attendees, noticing Chen Qing exuded a steadfast and imposing presence. The other three were steadily pressured by Chen Qing¡¯s aura, cautiously watching Chen Qing¡¯s reaction. She focused seriously on Chen Qing, realizing he was the true master here. After discerning this, she gently stood up, bowed toward Chen Qing, and said, ¡°Destiny guided me here. Meeting you all is my good fortune.¡± Her voice was soft and gentle, yet not lacking in grace and dignity. Chen Qing casually placed his right hand on the table, tapping it rhythmically. This girl was sharp! Just one glance and she figured out that he, Chen Qing, was indeed in charge! Destiny, fortune, her words were somewhat peculiar. Xu Yaofeng, seeing Chen Qing¡¯s indifferent reaction, quickly said, ¡°Senior Taichu, this should be a lost bronze ghost mask that¡¯s been rediscovered.¡± The new girl curiously observed Chen Qing¡¯s every move. Taichu? This title sounded quite ancient, evoking a sense of distance in time. Xu Yaofeng soon took on the role of the ¡®gathering host,¡¯ asking questions Chen Qing disdained to ask. ¡°Fellow Daoist, how should we address you?¡± The girl slightly bowed to Chen Qing, ¡°You may call me Fu Luo.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Fu Luo, is it? It¡¯s our first meeting; I can offer you a gift.¡± Fu Luo looked at Xu Yaofeng, who wore a silver mask. Xu Yaofeng immediately responded, ¡°Senior Taichu can unveil all the mysteries of Gu. As long as it pertains to Gu, you can inquire with Senior Taichu.¡± ¡°The first time is a gift from Senior Taichu to you.¡± ¡°If you need further guidance in the future, a tenth in offering is required!¡± Before Xu Yaofeng finished speaking, Fu Luo asked, ¡°Is it because of karma?¡± Xu Yaofeng, Hu Yao, and Murong Lang were all astonished. Murong Lang halted his folding fan momentarily, Xu Yaofeng was slightly stunned, while Hu Yao straightforwardly asked, ¡°How do you know?¡± Fu Luo opened her hand, revealing a red spirit Gu the size of a peanut. This spirit Gu appeared extremely cute and chubby, exuding a prosperous aura. Just seeing it made one feel at ease. ¡°It guided me here.¡± ¡°Being able to come here is my good fortune.¡± ¡°Since it is a blessing, there must be an unreachable majestic presence here.¡± ¡°Faced with such existence, even I cannot bear that karma.¡± When Chen Qing saw the Gu, he was extremely shocked! Could this be a spiritual item Gu? Then what terrifying entities were even higher quality Gu? [Spiritual Luck Gu] Quality: Ninth Transformation Life Span: 18/300 Effect: Extends good fortune, brings continuous luck. Growth Requirements: None Growth Progress: 100/100 Promotion Requirements: Luck Gu and white deer in one box. A simple description, without any trait, yet it shocked Chen Qing more than Gu with traits. Could such Gu exist in the world? It seemed he truly needed to travel ten thousand miles in the future to encounter myriad Gu and expand his knowledge. Tapping his finger on the table, Chen Qing spoke calmly, ¡°Extends good fortune, brings continuous luck. The Luck Gu, in the realm of spiritual item Gu, is quite a rarity.¡± The other three were astonished, looking at the Gu in Fu Luo¡¯s hand. This was a legendary treasure they had never even heard of. Although it had no combat power, the ability to bring good luck was incredibly absurd, refreshing their understanding. Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°Abnormal people?¡± Gu were self-bonded at birth with living beings, hence referred to as abnormal people. This type of Gu generally had peculiar characteristics. Fu Luo shook her head, ¡°My family is not considered abnormal.¡± Chen Qing immediately had an understanding; being able to preserve such Gu indicated a significant background. Having such Gu, yet maintaining such good manners and courtesy, was truly rare. Fu Luo continued, ¡°I¡¯ve never heard the tune Senior Taichu played; is it your composition, sage?¡± Chen Qing thought, of course, you¡¯ve never heard it, ¡°A tune long lost to the world, this melody is called ¡®Mountain and Stream.''¡± Only now did the other three participants realize Chen Qing had been playing a tune with his finger taps all along! Fu Luo smiled and said, ¡°¡®Mountain and Stream,¡¯ such an elegant name. However, the tune itself is even more refined, embodying a sense of detached integrity and noble virtue.¡± ¡°The melody and name complement each other, stirring one¡¯s soul.¡± ¡°Having heard it now, I consider myself to have retrieved a precious memory from the vast ocean.¡± The other three felt as if they had a ¡®casting pearls before swine¡¯ sign on their foreheads. Fu Luo stood, slightly bowed to Chen Qing, and gracefully saluted, making people feel like a spring breeze, ¡°Meeting Senior Taichu is truly my great fortune.¡± Meanwhile, Chen Qing was pondering other questions. He had merely tapped his finger, yet she could discern the meaning within the melody. Despite her young age. Who exactly was this girl? Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Honor Taichus Command, Inscribing the Rules of Heaven and Earth Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Honor Taichu¡¯s Command, Inscribing the Rules of Heaven and Earth ¡°` Xu Yaofeng, Murong Lang, and Hu Yao pondered the significance of the Luck Gu guiding Fu Luo to this place. The Luck Gu, which could bring good fortune, guiding Fu Luo here indicated that attending this gathering was indeed a stroke of luck. In other words, just attending this gathering would bring immense benefits. They carefully observed Chen Qing¡¯s demeanor and actions, thinking to themselves, ¡°Indeed, meeting Senior Taichu is a blessing of a lifetime.¡± Xu Yaofeng, however, astutely considered that if this Senior Taichu had begun to cultivate followers en masse, then attending this gathering might no longer be considered a blessing. After all, if everyone has it, what kind of blessing is that? Having something that others don¡¯t is what defines a blessing. In other words, it was highly probable that the four of them were the only people Senior Taichu was cultivating at the moment. Previously, Xu Yaofeng had been indifferent to the concept of fate, thinking it was all nebulous. But now, he thought otherwise. Senior Taichu chose an ordinary gathering, where the members, aside from the three bronze ghost masks in his hand, were all determined by fate. Those who were destined would naturally come to this gathering. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? And Senior Taichu, he started with this slender thread of fate. Senior Taichu didn¡¯t care whether you were strong or not, because under his guidance, everyone could become powerful in the world. A strong sense of destiny enveloped his heart; it was fate that led him here, quietly waiting for the arrival of Senior Taichu! Murong Lang was secretly alarmed; if he had merely speculated before that this gathering was orchestrated by Senior Taichu, then now, with the arrival of Fu Luo, he was almost certain. A new chess game had begun. To the ordinary people of the mortal world, being a pawn on the chessboard was already a tremendous stroke of luck. They were the people chosen by destiny! They had to follow Taichu¡¯s guidance, to maneuver and write the rules of the entire world! Chen Qing could see that these people had many thoughts; he quietly said, ¡°So the self-introductions end here.¡± He leaned back slightly to sit more comfortably. ¡°Today¡¯s gathering starts now.¡± Fu Luo first bowed politely to Chen Qing and then said, ¡°Senior Taichu, my Luck Gu was contracted independently, not one I had at home, so I don¡¯t know its promotion requirements. I ask Senior for guidance.¡± You mean you have more at home? That fortunate? Chen Qing smiled and asked, ¡°So, you want to know the promotion requirements as a gift from me?¡± Fu Luo nodded, ¡°Yes, Senior Taichu.¡± Chen Qing directly said, ¡°The White Deer Fortune Gu comes in one box.¡± Fu Luo asked playfully, ¡°Do I catch a white deer and put it in the same box with the Luck Gu?¡± Chen Qing nodded, ¡°You could interpret it that way. Of course, the box must be absolutely sealed.¡± Murong Lang said, ¡°I remember reading in a book that the white deer symbolizes luck and is an extremely rare spirit beast!¡± ¡°Unfortunately, the Thunder Pure Land does not tolerate demons. Any spirit beast born in the Thunder Pure Land is struck by lightning and reduced to ashes as soon as it gains spiritual wisdom.¡± Fu Luo thanked, ¡°Thank you, Senior, I understand.¡± Fu Luo curiously glanced at Murong Lang. Thunder Pure Land, a place she had never even heard of, indeed made this gathering unusual. ¡°Such a rare creature as the white deer is indeed quite hard to come by.¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°If you really want it, I do have a way.¡± Mr. Lu Er¡¯s house seems to have an albino child who is very interested in his own body. Moreover, that guy is quite powerful. If he reaches Foundation Establishment, it would be harder to deal with. Better to send him on his way early. Fu Luo asked, ¡°Do you have a way to get the white deer to Da Yan?¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°I can only guarantee it will go to Da Yan, but I¡¯m not responsible for catching it.¡± Fu Luo said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m willing to offer fifty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°In a month, it will enter Da Yan from the direction of the Qinglian Sword Sect in the West Desert. You can arrange for people to wait nearby.¡± Fu Luo nodded, ¡°Thank you, sister, I will take note.¡± She looked at Hu Yao with keen interest; there was a demon clan member at the gathering! It would be so easy to let a clairvoyant white deer head to Da Yan on its own; it must be acquainted. She recalled reading that the demon clan was a race with indifferent feelings toward their kin. They were arrogant. They were willful. They pursued ecstasy. They lived for the moment, enjoyed life to the fullest! They revered the strong as kings! In a place where today you eat me and tomorrow I eat you, they strove to live each day to the fullest. They poured all their efforts into turning every piece of treasure into power on their bodies! Thus, the corpses of the demon clan became the rarest treasures in the world. Why would they stop eating deer before becoming demons and continue after? She remembered reading that although the demon clan completely lacked humanity, the demon clan kept a soft spot in their hearts that evolved into a strange kind of love. Because it was their only persistence in the chaotic place they were born, their meaning for existence. For example, the monkey who loved meditation, the fox demon who liked scholars, the moth that chased the light¡­ Of course, sometimes, the demon clan also gave birth to monsters with abundant emotions toward their kin. And such monsters often pondered strange questions. Ultimately, they would raise a flag of rebellion, lead a multitude of demons in worship, and claim the title of king for an era. However, what Fu Luo didn¡¯t know was that Hu Yao was not a fox demon but a tiger demon. Compared to having an affair with a handsome scholar, Hu Yao might think this guy didn¡¯t have much money and the meat wasn¡¯t tasty. The demon clan¡¯s way of thinking always ran on a different channel from humans. After Hu Yao and Fu Luo finished discussing the details, Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°The war at White Bone Mountain has stopped. The Heavenly Master Mansion has issued an order to contain the war at White Bone Mountain to prevent it from spreading further.¡± ¡°Sometimes I wonder, by planting spirit Gu as bait and creating more Spiritual Fields, why do they restrict the range of such a convenient thing?¡± ¡°Moreover, it only occurs every few decades.¡± At this point, Murong Lang looked somewhat somber, ¡°The Nine Tribulations True Monarch once said something.¡± ¡°War is the precursor to the birth of the Demon King.¡± Xu Yaofeng was intrigued, ¡°How so?¡± Murong Lang said, ¡°According to the Nine Tribulations True Monarch, war leads to the fragmentation of the human race, but it does not split the demon clan.¡± ¡°On the contrary, war has a high probability of giving rise to a new king in the demon clan.¡± ¡°Once a new king emerges in the demon clan, use every means to bring the war to an end.¡± ¡°Otherwise, this war will never cease.¡± ¡°The origin of the Thunder Pure Land was a demon clan war that swept across the continent.¡± ¡°That war lasted for three hundred years.¡± ¡°` Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52: The Spirit Gu Appears! Chapter 52: Chapter 52: The Spirit Gu Appears! ¡°The Demon Clan, while indifferent to their own kind, are even more xenophobic.¡± ¡°The flames of war ignited from the southern part of the continent, then spread to the Central Plains until the fire engulfed the Demon Clan across the entire continent.¡± ¡°And it continued to burn until the true King of Kings emerged among the Demon Clan.¡± ¡°And that was when the real catastrophe began.¡± ¡­. ¡°Finally, to preserve the embers of humanity, the Thunder Pure Land emerged.¡± Chen Qing marveled at this piece of history, amazed that such things happened. Hu Yao, on the other hand, seemed to have discovered something extremely interesting and fell into contemplation. She occasionally glanced at Chen Qing, becoming increasingly cautious and wary. Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°It seems highly probable that the Heavenly Master Mansion knows the origins of the Thunder Pure Land.¡± Murong Lang laughed, ¡°Fellow Daoist Yao Feng can help keep an eye on it for me.¡± Hu Yao remained silent while the other three chatted for a while. Seeing that they were not continuing the conversation, Chen Qing said, ¡°Well then, today¡¯s gathering ends here.¡± Removing the bronze ghost mask, Chen Qing thought to himself that it was fortunate there were no trades today, or there¡¯d be no place to store the spirit stones. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 He observed the Taiping Sect¡¯s camp from a distance, still without any reaction. It wasn¡¯t until the next morning that the Taiping Sect¡¯s camp suddenly grew noisy. Chen Qing quietly approached, squatting in a large tree to watch the commotion. The valley entrance was crowded with many Taiping Sect followers, engaged in a fierce argument, while their leader, Xiang Baiyu, grilled a snake. ¡°Sword Ghost, how did this ghost thing appear?¡± ¡°Now, the cultivators of Wuyou Mountain, Wutong Mountain, and Lotus Cave have suffered heavy losses. Should we join in?¡± ¡°Since there¡¯s a Sword Ghost, that means there¡¯s a sword scripture as well, though nobody knows how powerful the sword scripture that birthed the Sword Ghost really is.¡± ¡°Below the seventh level of Qi Refinement, it¡¯s said to disappear in a single encounter.¡± ¡°If we could find the relic of a strong cultivator based on the Sword Ghost, it could lead to Foundation Establishment.¡± It was only then that Chen Qing understood why no message had come from Wutong Mountain. Sword Ghosts were the products of the meeting between the Ancient Sword Scripture and a sword Gu. The Ancient Sword Scripture contained the obsessions of a powerful figure, which, upon encountering a sword Gu, would transform into a strange entity known as a Sword Ghost. Sword Ghosts were devoid of emotions or desires, formless and shapeless, acting only on primal instinct. Some could stand guard in front of a blade of grass for years, while others were like madmen, killing everyone they encountered. Sword Ghosts had appeared on the outskirts of the Sword Abyss before, but according to them, this Sword Ghost seemed particularly formidable this time. He didn¡¯t know how Ye Yuntian and Yu Qingshuang were doing. Xiang Baiyu, holding the grilled snake, walked to the tree where Chen Qing was squatting. ¡°How do you view the appearance of a Sword Ghost on the outskirts of the Sword Abyss?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°The Sword Ghost causing heavy losses to the cultivators of Lotus Cave¡ª isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡± ¡°Wait a minute, in this extreme cold, where did you get the snake?¡± Xiang Baiyu took a small bite and then said, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the truly strange thing.¡± ¡°This morning, I encountered three snakes, and this is the fattest one.¡± Chen Qing jumped down from the tree, ¡°Bring the other two snakes.¡± Xiang Baiyu clapped her hands, and soon a Taiping Sect follower brought over a cage. Chen Qing opened the cage, and two snakes quickly crawled out. ¡°The same direction!¡± He chased the two snakes for a few miles, ¡°Although there are slight differences in small directions, the general direction is the same.¡± Xiang Baiyu, following behind, said, ¡°That way leads to the Sword Abyss.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°It seems that there¡¯s more to the Sword Abyss than just a Sword Ghost appearing on the outskirts. There¡¯s a major upheaval there right now.¡± Xiang Baiyu said, ¡°Have you heard the rumors about Gu emergence?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Are you saying that there¡¯s a new Gu appearing in the Sword Abyss, and it involves snakes?¡± Xiang Baiyu pondered for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s highly possible that a new spiritual item Gu has emerged. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be such a big stir!¡± Chen Qing, however, said, ¡°Could it be that you set this up, intentionally releasing a spiritual item Gu as bait to incite a scramble among Wuyou Mountain, Lotus Cave, and Wutong Mountain, while you reap the benefits?¡± Xiang Baiyu laughed heartily, almost doubling over with laughter, ¡°Are you saying that for a few sword Gu, no wait, even for a dozen or even dozens of sword Gu, we would use a spiritual item Gu as bait and throw it into a place like the Sword Abyss where there¡¯s no return?¡± ¡°Are we that stupid?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you Jiguang Sect folks understand the value of a spiritual item Gu?¡± If before, Chen Qing indeed had little concept of spiritual item Gu, after encountering Yao Feng¡¯s spirit Light Butterfly and Fu Luo¡¯s Luck Gu, he understood the tremendous power of spiritual item Gu. Chen Qing looked thoughtfully at Xiang Baiyu. This woman wanted him to follow, to use him to attract others¡¯ attention. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have kindly shared such information with him. In such a dangerous place as the Sword Abyss, a major Evil Cultivator from the Jiguang Sect was far more threatening than a group from the Taiping Sect. It¡¯s a simple truth, such dangerous places have a threshold; if your strength isn¡¯t enough, entering will most likely be a dead end. Unless you have something as defiant as a Luck Gu. Otherwise, there¡¯s no point in going. Thus, a lone cultivator like Chen Qing, with many means, had an advantage. A spiritual item Gu related to snakes? It didn¡¯t really matter what it was related to; what mattered was, it was highly likely to be a spiritual item Gu! The quality of a spiritual item Gu determined that it possessed extremely powerful divineness! Moreover, even if the three nearby sects were all destroyed, their value was not necessarily higher than a single spiritual item Gu. Besides, Chen Qing had the ability to see through Gu. If that Gu was in its nascent state, then Chen Qing could determine that it was definitely a brand new Gu emerging! If that Gu was ancient, then someone might be maliciously stirring up war. If so, Chen Qing would definitely turn around and leave! However, it might be worth checking out first. The lure of a spiritual item Gu was truly captivating. ¡°Bring all your people above the seventh level of Qi Refinement, let¡¯s go see the excitement.¡± Chen Qing naturally ordered. Xiang Baiyu, with hands on her hips, said, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you to say that. With you there, I always feel more secure!¡± Chen Qing and the twelve people led by Xiang Baiyu rushed towards the Sword Abyss. Along the way, they occasionally spotted a snake. As they got closer to the Sword Abyss, the snakes they encountered became increasingly larger. Chen Qing swung his hand, cutting down an arm-thick, several yards long snake. Standing beside the snake¡¯s corpse, he asked, ¡°Have you noticed that the snakes we¡¯re seeing are getting bigger?¡± Xiang Baiyu bent down to inspect beside the large snake, wielded her sword to cut open the snake¡¯s belly, revealing it was densely packed with small snake skeletons. Among them, one snake¡¯s bones were only slightly smaller than the slain large snake. ¡°It seems that this new Gu possesses powers beyond imagination.¡± Chen Qing glanced around and climbed to the top of the tallest tree, looking around. There were dozens of snake skins hanging. He went to the nearest spot, picked up a snakeskin, and found it extremely fresh, without any signs of weathering. ¡°These snakes devour each other on the way here and seem to be able to digest quickly and grow larger.¡± The closer they got, the more bizarre it became. Chen Qing suddenly began to understand why a spiritual item Gu would be used as bait. These unowned Gu would uncontrollably manifest their divineness, even causing a massive disaster. And this would alert the people nearby that an extremely powerful Gu had emerged. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53: I Follow the Guidance of Light to Save Your Life Chapter 53: Chapter 53: I Follow the Guidance of Light to Save Your Life ¡°` The group rushed along, and even the lowest cultivation among them was at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, so their traveling speed was naturally fast. When they arrived ten miles outside Sword Abyss, the surrounding area was already covered in snake skins. Almost every few steps, there was a snake skin. Xiang Baiyu reached out and picked up a piece of snake skin, kneading it for a moment, ¡°This snake skin has been shed for over a month. It seems that the Gu has been awake for more than a month now.¡± As they approached within three miles of Sword Abyss, there was the entrance of a giant canyon ahead. Before Xiang Baiyu and the others could get close, a disciple from Wutong Mountain wearing a red Daoist robe came forward from the valley, ¡°What is your Taiping Sect doing here?¡± Xiang Baiyu laughed softly, gesturing toward Chen Qing, who was beside her. But just as she was about to speak, she discovered that there was no one where Chen Qing should have been! She glanced around her team but couldn¡¯t find Chen Qing¡¯s figure anywhere. Where did that guy go? She turned her head, swaying as she spoke, ¡°By the order of the Jiguang Sect, we¡¯re here to search for the Gu.¡± In no time, a male disciple of Wutong Mountain dressed in white strode out and waved them away, ¡°You all go back, I¡¯ll negotiate with her.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï This person looked no older than thirty, with a cultivation level already at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, a jade-white face, and an impressive appearance, quite heroic. His surname was Huang, with the given name Shengluan, and he was a leading figure among the young generation of Wutong Mountain. Huang Shengluan frowned, demanding, ¡°Haven¡¯t I sent you any news yet?¡± ¡°Why are you here now? If Lotus Cave gets alerted, wouldn¡¯t that ruin everything?¡± Xiang Baiyu stepped forward two steps, her fingers playing with the scarf around her waist, ¡°I have no desire to, but unfortunately, these people of the Taiping Sect are all prisoners of the Jiguang Sect, and have no choice but to follow orders.¡± Huang Shengluan¡¯s brows formed a deep ¡°´¨,¡± clearly increasingly disgruntled, ¡°Jiguang Sect¡¯s people are involved too?¡± Xiang Baiyu nodded, ¡°Yes, over fifty of us, and not one could withstand even a single move against him; all were captured.¡± Huang Shengluan said, ¡°According to you, isn¡¯t this person comparable to an ascetic who has practiced for thirty years?¡± Xiang Baiyu chuckled, ¡°Thirty years of spring breeze and morning dew, among them Daoist Collection, how could it be casually shared with outsiders?¡± Huang Shengluan glanced at Xiang Baiyu¡¯s team, becoming more alert, ¡°Where is he now?¡± Xiang Baiyu spread her hands, ¡°How would I know?¡± Huang Shengluan said resignedly, ¡°All right, since you traveled a long way, come and rest in the valley for a while.¡± Xiang Baiyu immediately led her people forward, ¡°All right, thank you very much then.¡± After only three steps, Huang Shengluan added, ¡°Never mind, you¡¯d better not get too close to me; exposure would be unfavorable.¡± ¡°As an ambush force, that would be wiser. You should enter the valley from elsewhere.¡± Xiang Baiyu didn¡¯t mind much, turning and leading her people away. Watching Xiang Baiyu and her group depart, Huang Shengluan¡¯s expression grew increasingly gloomy. After Xiang Baiyu led her people to settle down in another valley of Sword Abyss, Chen Qing finally leaped down from a nearby cliff, stepping smoothly onto the ground. ¡°You really sold me out decisively.¡± Xiang Baiyu said, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to, but Huang Shengluan invited us into the valley, clearly intending to ambush us, so I had to use your reputation to scare them.¡± ¡°When he invited me into the valley just now, if I even hesitated for a moment, he might have immediately acted.¡± ¡°Then you would never get to see an understanding beauty like me again.¡± Chen Qing was too lazy to argue with this woman who was already starting to give up hope. He leaped up the cliff face, ¡°Settle down here first, I¡¯ll go scout around.¡± Entering this martial world, these bastards he encountered never spoke a word of truth. Standing atop a cliff, Chen Qing looked around. The terrain of Sword Abyss increasingly resembled an enormous sword mark cleaved by someone. Sword Abyss was right in the center, unfathomably deep. The surrounding valleys which granted access to Sword Abyss were the rifts caused by this massive sword mark. Concealing his form, now and then transforming into fog to obscure his tracks. After scouting the area, Chen Qing roughly figured out the locations of the Lotus Cave, Wutong Mountain, and Wuyou Mountain encampments. With the addition of the newly arrived Taiping Sect, things seemed calm for the moment. No one wished to suffer losses first under these circumstances with the spirit Gu appearing. He touched his chin, originally intending to hide here and wait for the right time, but unfortunately, Xiang Baiyu had already sold him out. Since he was already exposed, he might as well expose himself more thoroughly. No one would have any peace! He shouted for a while, adjusting his voice to sound older and hoarser, then immediately leaped toward Wutong Mountain¡¯s camp. Arriving outside the Wutong Mountain valley, Chen Qing kicked a head-sized stone, sending it flying toward the Wutong Mountain camp. Huang Shengluan, with a sword at his waist, accompanied by an elder, saw the bronze ghost mask on Chen Qing¡¯s face and laughed, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you from Xiang Baiyu. What¡¯s your purpose in visiting?¡± Chen Qing lowered his voice, pretending to be hoarse and aged as he laughed, ¡°You and I both understand the current situation, so why discuss irrelevant matters?¡± ¡°After the spirit Gu appears, you and I will join forces to kill everyone from Wuyou Mountain and Lotus Cave, then I will assist you in exterminating the Taiping Sect.¡± Huang Shengluan asked, ¡°What is it that Fellow Daoist wants?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°The spirit Gu is mine; I don¡¯t want anything else.¡± Huang Shengluan shouted angrily, ¡°Isn¡¯t Fellow Daoist asking too much?¡± Chen Qing laughed heartily, ¡°The sword is in my hand, when is it your turn to call the shots?¡± ¡°Allowing you to keep your lives is already my biggest concession!¡± Huang Shengluan angrily said, ¡°Do you mean to say that without you we can¡¯t even protect our lives?¡± Chen Qing turned as if to leave, ¡°Since we can¡¯t agree, I¡¯ll go find the people from Lotus Cave.¡± After only a couple of steps, Huang Shengluan¡¯s voice came from behind, ¡°Fine, it¡¯s settled then!¡± ¡°When do you plan to make your move, Fellow Daoist?¡± Chen Qing did not turn back, ¡°I¡¯ll act at the most opportune moment.¡± After Chen Qing left, Huang Shengluan asked the elder beside him, ¡°Uncle-Master, do you think what this rogue from the Jiguang Sect is saying can be trusted?¡± The elder said, ¡°It should be true.¡± ¡°His demands are too harsh. If he were bluffing, he wouldn¡¯t make such exorbitant demands.¡± Huang Shengluan said, ¡°Fine, after we have completely wiped out Lotus Cave, Wuyou Mountain, and the Taiping Sect, we¡¯ll kill him too, but let him be arrogant for a while longer!¡± A moment later, outside the Lotus Cave encampment, Chen Qing kicked a floating piece of wood that flew out, and soon a woman appeared with four Lotus Cave disciples to investigate. The woman dressed very seductively, ignoring the cold weather. ¡°Jiguang Sect?¡± ¡°Are you the one who captured the Taiping Sect?¡± Chen Qing walked confidently within three steps of the woman, ¡°Lotus Fairy, you¡¯re quite charming.¡± Lotus Fairy said, ¡°Arriving here at night, might you have some matters?¡± Chen Qing laughed, ¡°Your life won¡¯t last much longer.¡± ¡°I followed the guiding light to come and save your life.¡± Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The Appearance of a Spiritual Item Snake Gu! Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The Appearance of a Spiritual Item Snake Gu! The sky was filled with swirling snowflakes, dense and countless like drifting dandelion seeds. In the vast snowy scene, Chen Qing reached out to support a nearby tree trunk, his breathing starting to become rapid. [Spiritual Snake Gu] Quality, First Transformation Life Span, 1/200 Effect, Snake Swallowing Elephant, can consume large amounts of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Spiritual Medicine, and flesh, quickly digesting and absorbing them to enhance the physical body and improve cultivation. Won¡¯t be overburdened by ordinary food lacking spirit. Trait: Winter Storage, can store items from five categories. Growth Requirements, Greed Growth Progress, 0/100 Promotion Requirements, a night with no moon, one piece of Human Sin Money, nine wisps of Lightless Breath A newborn spirit Gu! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? It really was a newborn spirit Gu! Not only could it quickly improve cultivation and physique, but it could also store items! In this world, most at Foundation Establishment are of advanced age, at least over fifty. With this Snake Gu, Chen Qing was confident he could cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Refinement within one or two years, reaching the stage to pursue Foundation Establishment before turning thirty! In two years in this world, Chen Qing had never heard of a treasure capable of storing items, which was an extremely precious ability! Moreover, possessing such formidable power at only the First Transformation, surely stronger traits would emerge post-Butterfly Transformation, not to mention upon Harmonization! But what exactly did this ¡°Greed¡± mean? Soon enough, Chen Qing understood what it meant. The commotion here was too great, drawing many Loose Cultivators who sensed it. Two Loose Cultivators saw the large black serpent covered in blood and charged forward with their swords. They intended to seize the spirit Gu while everyone else was still watching! Little did they expect that the black serpent would merely open its jaws wide, swallowing the two airborne cultivators in one gulp. After a short while, Chen Qing noted that the growth progress of the Snake Gu increased by one point, seemingly digesting them. Human greed, perhaps? These two Loose Cultivators were so blinded by greed that even as mere fifth-level Qi Refinement cultivators, they dared to charge forward, undeniably serving as prime examples of greed! Apparently, he could wait a little longer, allowing the serpent to devour more before attempting to capture it once it reached the Second Transformation. In the Sword Abyss, it seemed as though a great fire was burning, thick black smoke rolling out in layers. One by one, Sword Ghosts holding rusty swords charged toward the serpent to attack. The black serpent sprinted into a mountain valley, fleeing wildly, leaving a trail of broken trees and flying stones. A multitude of cultivators watched intently, seemingly hoping that the Sword Ghosts would further exacerbate the serpent¡¯s injuries. The black serpent, now blind in both eyes, couldn¡¯t see its surroundings but relied on its instincts to sense danger, heading towards the direction outside the Sword Abyss. Each Sword Ghost clung to the serpent¡¯s massive body like maggots on a bone, their long swords continuously falling. From a distance, Chen Qing watched and felt it resembled ants hunting a giant beast. The scales on the serpent¡¯s body were peeled off piece by piece, blood flowing profusely, staining the snowy ground red. Amidst the chaos, Xiang Baiyu, who had been looking for Chen Qing all the while, finally spotted him, ¡°Taiyi, what should we do now?¡± Chen Qing glanced aside, having summoned six more seventh-level Qi Refinement cultivators; this seemed to be the limit of the Taiping Sect in this area. The Taiping Sect was, after all, only active in this region and not a local power. Looking further afield at Wuyou Mountain, Wutong Mountain, and Lotus Cave, nearly all of the War Affairs Hall¡¯s cultivators were dispatched. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look first, and then wait a bit longer.¡± Chen Qing began to seriously observe. The strength of those Sword Ghosts varied, but they were formidable due to their formless and intangible special trait. The serpent controlled by the Snake Gu struggled to inflict a fatal blow on them, but the Sword Ghosts¡¯ attacks were equivalent only to low-level sword Gu. Fortunately, the Sword Qi of the Sword Ghosts was almost unending, capable of wearing down the serpent¡¯s combat strength a little further. The battle between the Sword Ghosts and the black serpent grew fiercer by the moment. The entire battlefield seemed to turn into a meat grinder, leaving devastation wherever the Sword Ghosts and the serpent passed. In this situation, whoever stepped forward was destined for death. As the serpent bolted a mile away, the Sword Ghosts, isolated and trailing behind, fell silent, lacking the same level of aggression, intending to retreat into the sword Gu. Seeing over a dozen Sword Ghosts already returning to the Sword Abyss while the black serpent showed no signs of slowing, with its fierce aura still intact, Huang Shengluan couldn¡¯t restrain himself. He drew his sword and declared, ¡°Fellow Daoists, the serpent¡¯s fierce might remains unabated, and we can¡¯t do much against it!¡± ¡°Instead of letting it slip away, where none of us benefit, it¡¯s better for us to strike at this moment!¡± ¡°Its eyes are blind, surely it doesn¡¯t know direction, we should drive it back into the Sword Abyss, let the Sword Ghosts continue battling it!¡± ¡°In such a way, there¡¯s a chance to seize the Gu!¡± The surrounding cultivators glanced at each other, evidently waiting for commands from their respective leaders. Ye Yuntian and the Lotus Fairy were each leading some from a distance, but ultimately, their gaze converged on Xiang Baiyu of the Taiping Sect. Ye Yuntian, Lotus Fairy, and Huang Shengluan had contested for a long time, everyone was aware. However, Xiang Baiyu and Chen Qing were suddenly emerging fierce players. At this moment, some felt uneasy and wanted Chen Qing and Xiang Baiyu to make a stance first. Chen Qing crossed his arms over his chest, leaning slightly towards the battlefield, in a raspy voice, said, ¡°Do as he says.¡± Xiang Baiyu hesitated for a moment but saw Chen Qing leaping down from the big tree, locking eyes with her intently. Unable to resist, Xiang Baiyu could only grit her teeth, drew her sword, and commanded, ¡°Go, drive the serpent back into the Sword Abyss!¡± Xiang Baiyu was the first to dive forward, her body surrounded by dazzling lightning, rapidly closing in to ten yards in front of the serpent, wielding brilliant lightning that struck towards the serpent. Seeing the Taiping Sect take action, Huang Shengluan, the one who proposed the plan, quickly led his people to charge forward; in a flash, five or six streams of Sword Qi were launched towards the serpent¡¯s front! People from Lotus Cave and Wuyou Mountain hesitated no longer. Over twenty cultivators drew their swords in unison, and sword glows flared up, attacking the serpent. In an instant, dozens of Sword Ghosts and more than forty cultivators began to encircle the serpent! Cultivators blocked the path of the serpent, while the Sword Ghosts pursued from behind. In the sky, flying cranes took off, with eight people riding them, soaring above. They extended their fingers like swords, releasing Sword Qi! On the ground, the clusters of sword light resembled torrential rain, occasionally with a cultivator turning into fog to fly away, distancing from the battlefield, waiting by for an opportunity. Seizing the right moment, they dashed up for another sword strike, avoiding a death match. Chen Qing stayed out of the battlefield, observing its movements. Though the cultivators¡¯ attacks were fierce, unfortunately, the serpent seemed to know that the Sword Abyss was absolutely off-limits, as it just focused on charging outward desperately. The battle grew ever more bloody. A cultivator was accidentally injured by a Sword Ghost, then was sucked into the serpent¡¯s maw, vanishing from sight. Seeing that none could obstruct the serpent¡¯s path, with more Sword Ghosts returning to the Sword Abyss, the cultivators engaged on the battlefield became even more anxious, their attacks turning more ruthless. Yet unexpectedly at this moment, the serpent suddenly opened its massive mouth, spitting out countless rusty swords and a horde of venomous snakes, among which was an item emitting a greenish glow! A female disciple from Lotus Cave was cut on the face by that luminous object, gazing at the green-gleaming item stuck in the ground, ¡°Sword Gu!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a Sword Gu!¡± Chen Qing inwardly muttered bad, the Snake Gu indeed had concealed a Sword Gu within! In the next second, three cultivators charged swiftly towards the green glow, ignoring the serpent altogether. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Spirit Gu in Hand! Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Spirit Gu in Hand! He leaped into the woods, searching in the direction the small snake had flown. To him, the greatest threat was the Foundation Establishment cultivator, Qiu Feng, so the snake must have wanted to stay far away from Qiu Feng. With this thought in mind, Chen Qing continued his pursuit, straining his eyes to search carefully. Not this one. Not this one. This one, hmm, yes, this is it! He could see the information on the Snake Gu, making it as conspicuous as a firefly in the night before him. A small white snake was slithering ahead, completely unaware that the hunter had locked onto it. Chen Qing sprinted forward in a few leaps, reached out his hand, and grabbed the white snake. The snake bit Chen Qing¡¯s hand, but instead of breaking the skin, it broke one of its own teeth. Though the Iron Skin Gu had not undergone the Butterfly Transformation, it was not something a small snake could penetrate. A sliver of Geng Metal Sword Qi gathered between his left fingers, and Chen Qing struck with the sword, cutting open the snake¡¯s chest and belly, extracting a Gu that was as white as jade. The Snake Gu was entirely snow-white, slender in shape, no longer in the typical form of a Gu, but resembling a small snake, although only as thick as a melon seed. It was indeed much larger than an ordinary Gu. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? He immediately took out a jade jar, sealed the small snake inside, and inscribed runes with Spiritual Energy, putting the Snake Gu into a deep sleep. It wasn¡¯t yet suitable to forge a contract, as the Spiritual Energy required for the contract with a spirit Gu could instantly drain all of his own Spiritual Energy. Since the Foundation Establishment cultivators were involved in the fight, it would be best to leave this place of contention first before considering a contract! With the wind beneath his feet, Chen Qing sprinted away from the battlefield at breakneck speed. In just a quarter of an hour, he had covered over thirty miles. Ahead, the shadows in the snow flickered; as Chen Qing, swift as the wind, stepped forth with Stepping on Snow Without Trace, he sensed four figures approaching. Just as he was about to transform into fog to evade, those four waved their hands, creating a Thunder Net to trap him within. ¡°Fellow Daoist Taiyi, I really didn¡¯t expect you to be the first one to try and run,¡± Xiang Baiyu said, rising from a snowdrift. ¡°Taiyi, since you¡¯ve already come, what¡¯s the rush? Why not come to my Taiping Sect¡¯s base for a good rest?¡± Chen Qing slowly formed a four-foot-long Geng Metal Sword in his hand. ¡°Xiang Baiyu, are you tired of living?¡± Xiang Baiyu laughed heartily, ¡°Your Sword Butterfly is indeed extraordinary, but unfortunately, I won¡¯t give you the chance to get close again.¡± ¡°Hand over your treasures now, and I might just let you go.¡± Chen Qing replied blankly, ¡°Treasures? What treasures? I only wanted to leave because I saw the Foundation Establishment cultivators and got scared.¡± Xiang Baiyu¡¯s face turned cold, ¡°Taiyi, let¡¯s not beat around the bush.¡± ¡°With your abilities, how could you not take a few Sword Gu before you left?¡± ¡°The reason isn¡¯t hard to deduce; you obtained a treasure far superior to the Sword Gu!¡± Chen Qing retorted, ¡°Offering up my treasure for survival, are you kidding me?¡± ¡°We all act openly and honestly, yet we¡¯re part of demonic sects where nine out of ten sentences are lies. Let¡¯s show our real skills with our hands!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve roamed the martial world for eighteen years, and you¡¯re the first to dare block my path!¡± Seeing the waves of Taiping Sect members gathering from afar, Xiang Baiyu felt more confident. Just as Chen Qing was about to survey the surrounding situation, Xiang Baiyu suddenly shouted, ¡°Attack!¡± The four Taiping Sect members, who had surrounded Chen Qing with the Thunder Net, immediately closed the net tighter to entrap Chen Qing within. Thunderlight surged in Xiang Baiyu¡¯s palm as he unleashed a Palm Thunder towards Chen Qing! Chen Qing tightly gripped his four-foot Geng Metal Sword, glaring coldly at the gradually constricting Thunder Net, and transformed into fog to perform the Wall-penetrating Skill right away! Xiang Baiyu¡¯s face changed drastically, ¡°Quick, retreat, he has a Mist Butterfly!¡± Chen Qing¡¯s figure vanished for a moment, reappearing outside the Thunder Net. Turning his head, he saw a Taiping Sect member swiftly retreating, not daring to get even a bit closer. Surveying the surroundings, eleven other Taiping Sect members were rushing to encircle him. It seemed the time spent capturing the Snake Gu had given them the chance to ambush him first. Activating the Wind Butterfly within him, Chen Qing became as light as a feather. He swiftly exited the encirclement with Stepping on Snow Without Trace. Reaching a small hilltop, thirty or so feet away from these people, Chen Qing halted. Surrounded once more by the Taiping Sect members, Chen Qing chuckled, ¡°Xiang Baiyu, take one more step, and believe me, you¡¯ll leave not even a whole corpse behind!¡± Xiang Baiyu motioned for the surrounding Taiping Sect disciples to stop, ¡°Taiyi, do you really believe three Butterfly Gu make you invincible?¡± What a pretense. ¡°Having escaped from your ambush, you don¡¯t think you can catch me now, right?¡± ¡°Now, I offer you two choices.¡± ¡°Leave something to buy your own life.¡± ¡°Or, wait and see if my sword is sharp or not!¡± Chen Qing was always a person who would never let a good opportunity go to waste, and there was no way he would let these fat sheep get away. Moreover, the Snake Gu still needed a few large pieces of greediness to advance to the Second Transformation! After returning to the mountain, there wouldn¡¯t be such a good opportunity. Chen Qing admitted he wasn¡¯t a good person, but he didn¡¯t have the habit of wantonly killing the innocent. If he didn¡¯t take advantage of this chance to gather a few pieces of greed, when would the Snake Gu advance to the Second Transformation? Xiang Baiyu pondered over and over, but fear of the Jiguang Sect made her ask, ¡°What do you want for the ransom?¡± Chen Qing laughed, ¡°I¡¯m a very reasonable person.¡± He pointed at Xiang Baiyu, ¡°Either you kill yourself, and I take your treasures and Gu.¡± Then he pointed at the Taiping Sect members behind Xiang Baiyu, ¡°Or these people, give me seven hearts.¡± ¡°Make your choice.¡± Xiang Baiyu burst into anger, ¡°Taiyi, you never intended to negotiate.¡± Chen Qing stood up, ¡°Dare to attack me, and you should be ready to pay the price!¡± He knew very well his current strength; in a one-on-one, he was unbeatable, but in a group battle, he was very wary of the numerous Thunder Gu. The thunderous lightning was somewhat restrictive to his Fog Gu, and the Wall-penetrating Skill couldn¡¯t be used endlessly. Moreover, his cultivation level wasn¡¯t high; if the battle became difficult, exhausting his Spiritual Energy, he would certainly be the first to fall. The Taiping Sect members were also dissatisfied, ¡°Sister, there¡¯s no need to talk much with him, he¡¯s just one person!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe he can really defeat so many of us!¡± ¡°Sister, we have the upper hand, why is he setting the terms?¡± Xiang Baiyu raised her sword, finally giving the order, ¡°Kill!¡± Seeing so many people charging at him, he wasn¡¯t all that worried. The Wind Butterfly enveloped him, and with Divine Hundred Steps and Stepping on Snow Without Trace, he easily crossed over a hill. Holding a mid-grade Spirit Stone in hand, absorbing the Spiritual Energy within to recover, Chen Qing quickly ran into a dense forest. Although he made minimal noise, for the acute hearing of cultivators, there were still some traces. They chased after Chen Qing, until eventually everyone entered the dense forest. At that moment, Chen Qing transformed into fog, flying thirty feet away in silence, then made a U-turn and came back. After waiting for less than thirty breaths, he saw the Taiping Sect people, led by Xiang Baiyu, rushing towards his former position. And the last person in the group lagged about thirty feet behind. With the Geng Metal Sword appearing in his hand, the Spiritual Energy within Chen Qing was almost exhausted, while his left hand wildly absorbed the Spiritual Energy from the mid-grade Spirit Stone. Chen Qing transformed into fog, noiselessly closing in on the last person. With the Mist Butterfly having undergone the Ninth Transformation, he could now transform into fog for ten breaths. In those ten breaths, coupled with his Wind Butterfly, he could flee for dozens of feet. Arriving behind the final person, Chen Qing raised his sword and brought it down, a gust of sharp wind rising! The person had just turned around when Chen Qing decapitated him with a single strike. Where the Geng Metal Sword passed, the Protective Spirit Energy shattered instantly, slicing the person into two. Blood splattered, melting small holes into the snowy ground. Puff, the person¡¯s lifeless body collapsed with a soft thud. The fleeing Taiping Sect members turned around to witness Chen Qing, wearing a bronze ghost mask, slicing open the chest of the corpse with a sword, extracting a still faintly beating heart. Chen Qing tore open the person¡¯s robe, wrapped the heart, without concern over it spoiling in the cold. ¡°I promised seven hearts, so seven it is, not one less!¡± Leaving such words behind, Chen Qing turned and departed. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Encountering Taichu is the fortune of my lifetime. Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Encountering Taichu is the fortune of my lifetime. ¡°` Seeing Chen Qing refuse, Xiang Baiyu sat down on a piece of dead wood nearby and began to eat happily. It seemed like he sincerely intended to disgust himself. He reached into his arms, pulled out a piece of dry cake, took a few bites, and waved his hand to summon a breeze, catching a handful of dew. The dry cake paired with dew water actually tasted a bit ethereal. Three days later, Chen Qing lay lazily on the green stone by the riverbank, a willow twig in his mouth, and turned over in boredom, ¡°Xiang Baiyu, is your information reliable or not?¡± Xiang Baiyu smoothed out the scarf in his hand, ¡°What, can¡¯t wait any longer?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°No, it¡¯s just that I¡¯ve never seen a small cult leader doing laundry, it¡¯s intriguing!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t a Qi Refinement level nine person be dignified?¡± Xiang Baiyu said, ¡°Sorry, our Taiping Sect¡¯s doctrine is equality for all.¡± Over the past couple of days, Chen Qing had learned about some of the origins of the Jiguang Sect from Xiang Baiyu. Other cults were labeled as such because they committed evil deeds or attempted to overthrow the government. Jiguang Sect was different, it was simply too powerful! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Of course, the doctrine of the Jiguang Sect was also an issue. The opening line of Jiguang Sect¡¯s doctrine was: Immortals are immortal, bandits never stop. Yes, you heard it right, the ultimate goal of the Jiguang Sect was to hunt immortals. A cult that could boldly shout such a foolish slogan and still survive until now was quite remarkable. Another three days passed; it was December 15th. The Sword Abyss should now be in the fiercest contention. After they finished fighting, he planned to ambush the people from Lotus Cave. Snatch the sword Gu and flee, delightful! Such a childish trick as a seventy-thirty split, not only did Chen Qing not believe it, but Xiang Baiyu didn¡¯t either. Chen Qing stayed here solely to obtain Xiang Baiyu¡¯s information. Under the bright moonlight, Chen Qing sought a secluded spot, preparing to attend tonight¡¯s gathering. When the moon reached the zenith, Chen Qing sat on a tall pine tree, his consciousness entering the bronze mask. Just as he settled in, Chen Qing scanned around, seeing there were still three people with no new members. He was about to speak when he noticed a new woman appear beside Hu Yao. Her face was unclear, clad in an elegant and stylish gauze dress, three phoenix hairpins in her hair, exuding an aura of dignity and elegance. She sat gracefully in her seat, composed and demure. She first glanced at the surroundings, then carefully assessed the four attendees, noticing Chen Qing exuded a steadfast and imposing presence. The other three were steadily pressured by Chen Qing¡¯s aura, cautiously watching Chen Qing¡¯s reaction. She focused seriously on Chen Qing, realizing he was the true master here. After discerning this, she gently stood up, bowed toward Chen Qing, and said, ¡°Destiny guided me here. Meeting you all is my good fortune.¡± Her voice was soft and gentle, yet not lacking in grace and dignity. Chen Qing casually placed his right hand on the table, tapping it rhythmically. This girl was sharp! Just one glance and she figured out that he, Chen Qing, was indeed in charge! Destiny, fortune, her words were somewhat peculiar. Xu Yaofeng, seeing Chen Qing¡¯s indifferent reaction, quickly said, ¡°Senior Taichu, this should be a lost bronze ghost mask that¡¯s been rediscovered.¡± The new girl curiously observed Chen Qing¡¯s every move. Taichu? This title sounded quite ancient, evoking a sense of distance in time. Xu Yaofeng soon took on the role of the ¡®gathering host,¡¯ asking questions Chen Qing disdained to ask. ¡°Fellow Daoist, how should we address you?¡± The girl slightly bowed to Chen Qing, ¡°You may call me Fu Luo.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Fu Luo, is it? It¡¯s our first meeting; I can offer you a gift.¡± Fu Luo looked at Xu Yaofeng, who wore a silver mask. Xu Yaofeng immediately responded, ¡°Senior Taichu can unveil all the mysteries of Gu. As long as it pertains to Gu, you can inquire with Senior Taichu.¡± ¡°The first time is a gift from Senior Taichu to you.¡± ¡°If you need further guidance in the future, a tenth in offering is required!¡± Before Xu Yaofeng finished speaking, Fu Luo asked, ¡°Is it because of karma?¡± Xu Yaofeng, Hu Yao, and Murong Lang were all astonished. Murong Lang halted his folding fan momentarily, Xu Yaofeng was slightly stunned, while Hu Yao straightforwardly asked, ¡°How do you know?¡± Fu Luo opened her hand, revealing a red spirit Gu the size of a peanut. This spirit Gu appeared extremely cute and chubby, exuding a prosperous aura. Just seeing it made one feel at ease. ¡°It guided me here.¡± ¡°Being able to come here is my good fortune.¡± ¡°Since it is a blessing, there must be an unreachable majestic presence here.¡± ¡°Faced with such existence, even I cannot bear that karma.¡± When Chen Qing saw the Gu, he was extremely shocked! Could this be a spiritual item Gu? Then what terrifying entities were even higher quality Gu? [Spiritual Luck Gu] Quality: Ninth Transformation Life Span: 18/300 Effect: Extends good fortune, brings continuous luck. Growth Requirements: None Growth Progress: 100/100 Promotion Requirements: Luck Gu and white deer in one box. A simple description, without any trait, yet it shocked Chen Qing more than Gu with traits. Could such Gu exist in the world? It seemed he truly needed to travel ten thousand miles in the future to encounter myriad Gu and expand his knowledge. Tapping his finger on the table, Chen Qing spoke calmly, ¡°Extends good fortune, brings continuous luck. The Luck Gu, in the realm of spiritual item Gu, is quite a rarity.¡± The other three were astonished, looking at the Gu in Fu Luo¡¯s hand. This was a legendary treasure they had never even heard of. Although it had no combat power, the ability to bring good luck was incredibly absurd, refreshing their understanding. Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°Abnormal people?¡± Gu were self-bonded at birth with living beings, hence referred to as abnormal people. This type of Gu generally had peculiar characteristics. Fu Luo shook her head, ¡°My family is not considered abnormal.¡± Chen Qing immediately had an understanding; being able to preserve such Gu indicated a significant background. Having such Gu, yet maintaining such good manners and courtesy, was truly rare. Fu Luo continued, ¡°I¡¯ve never heard the tune Senior Taichu played; is it your composition, sage?¡± Chen Qing thought, of course, you¡¯ve never heard it, ¡°A tune long lost to the world, this melody is called ¡®Mountain and Stream.''¡± Only now did the other three participants realize Chen Qing had been playing a tune with his finger taps all along! Fu Luo smiled and said, ¡°¡®Mountain and Stream,¡¯ such an elegant name. However, the tune itself is even more refined, embodying a sense of detached integrity and noble virtue.¡± ¡°The melody and name complement each other, stirring one¡¯s soul.¡± ¡°Having heard it now, I consider myself to have retrieved a precious memory from the vast ocean.¡± The other three felt as if they had a ¡®casting pearls before swine¡¯ sign on their foreheads. Fu Luo stood, slightly bowed to Chen Qing, and gracefully saluted, making people feel like a spring breeze, ¡°Meeting Senior Taichu is truly my great fortune.¡± Meanwhile, Chen Qing was pondering other questions. He had merely tapped his finger, yet she could discern the meaning within the melody. Despite her young age. Who exactly was this girl? Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Honor Taichus Command, Inscribing the Rules of Heaven and Earth Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Honor Taichu¡¯s Command, Inscribing the Rules of Heaven and Earth ¡°` Xu Yaofeng, Murong Lang, and Hu Yao pondered the significance of the Luck Gu guiding Fu Luo to this place. The Luck Gu, which could bring good fortune, guiding Fu Luo here indicated that attending this gathering was indeed a stroke of luck. In other words, just attending this gathering would bring immense benefits. They carefully observed Chen Qing¡¯s demeanor and actions, thinking to themselves, ¡°Indeed, meeting Senior Taichu is a blessing of a lifetime.¡± Xu Yaofeng, however, astutely considered that if this Senior Taichu had begun to cultivate followers en masse, then attending this gathering might no longer be considered a blessing. After all, if everyone has it, what kind of blessing is that? Having something that others don¡¯t is what defines a blessing. In other words, it was highly probable that the four of them were the only people Senior Taichu was cultivating at the moment. Previously, Xu Yaofeng had been indifferent to the concept of fate, thinking it was all nebulous. But now, he thought otherwise. Senior Taichu chose an ordinary gathering, where the members, aside from the three bronze ghost masks in his hand, were all determined by fate. Those who were destined would naturally come to this gathering. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? And Senior Taichu, he started with this slender thread of fate. Senior Taichu didn¡¯t care whether you were strong or not, because under his guidance, everyone could become powerful in the world. A strong sense of destiny enveloped his heart; it was fate that led him here, quietly waiting for the arrival of Senior Taichu! Murong Lang was secretly alarmed; if he had merely speculated before that this gathering was orchestrated by Senior Taichu, then now, with the arrival of Fu Luo, he was almost certain. A new chess game had begun. To the ordinary people of the mortal world, being a pawn on the chessboard was already a tremendous stroke of luck. They were the people chosen by destiny! They had to follow Taichu¡¯s guidance, to maneuver and write the rules of the entire world! Chen Qing could see that these people had many thoughts; he quietly said, ¡°So the self-introductions end here.¡± He leaned back slightly to sit more comfortably. ¡°Today¡¯s gathering starts now.¡± Fu Luo first bowed politely to Chen Qing and then said, ¡°Senior Taichu, my Luck Gu was contracted independently, not one I had at home, so I don¡¯t know its promotion requirements. I ask Senior for guidance.¡± You mean you have more at home? That fortunate? Chen Qing smiled and asked, ¡°So, you want to know the promotion requirements as a gift from me?¡± Fu Luo nodded, ¡°Yes, Senior Taichu.¡± Chen Qing directly said, ¡°The White Deer Fortune Gu comes in one box.¡± Fu Luo asked playfully, ¡°Do I catch a white deer and put it in the same box with the Luck Gu?¡± Chen Qing nodded, ¡°You could interpret it that way. Of course, the box must be absolutely sealed.¡± Murong Lang said, ¡°I remember reading in a book that the white deer symbolizes luck and is an extremely rare spirit beast!¡± ¡°Unfortunately, the Thunder Pure Land does not tolerate demons. Any spirit beast born in the Thunder Pure Land is struck by lightning and reduced to ashes as soon as it gains spiritual wisdom.¡± Fu Luo thanked, ¡°Thank you, Senior, I understand.¡± Fu Luo curiously glanced at Murong Lang. Thunder Pure Land, a place she had never even heard of, indeed made this gathering unusual. ¡°Such a rare creature as the white deer is indeed quite hard to come by.¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°If you really want it, I do have a way.¡± Mr. Lu Er¡¯s house seems to have an albino child who is very interested in his own body. Moreover, that guy is quite powerful. If he reaches Foundation Establishment, it would be harder to deal with. Better to send him on his way early. Fu Luo asked, ¡°Do you have a way to get the white deer to Da Yan?¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°I can only guarantee it will go to Da Yan, but I¡¯m not responsible for catching it.¡± Fu Luo said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m willing to offer fifty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°In a month, it will enter Da Yan from the direction of the Qinglian Sword Sect in the West Desert. You can arrange for people to wait nearby.¡± Fu Luo nodded, ¡°Thank you, sister, I will take note.¡± She looked at Hu Yao with keen interest; there was a demon clan member at the gathering! It would be so easy to let a clairvoyant white deer head to Da Yan on its own; it must be acquainted. She recalled reading that the demon clan was a race with indifferent feelings toward their kin. They were arrogant. They were willful. They pursued ecstasy. They lived for the moment, enjoyed life to the fullest! They revered the strong as kings! In a place where today you eat me and tomorrow I eat you, they strove to live each day to the fullest. They poured all their efforts into turning every piece of treasure into power on their bodies! Thus, the corpses of the demon clan became the rarest treasures in the world. Why would they stop eating deer before becoming demons and continue after? She remembered reading that although the demon clan completely lacked humanity, the demon clan kept a soft spot in their hearts that evolved into a strange kind of love. Because it was their only persistence in the chaotic place they were born, their meaning for existence. For example, the monkey who loved meditation, the fox demon who liked scholars, the moth that chased the light¡­ Of course, sometimes, the demon clan also gave birth to monsters with abundant emotions toward their kin. And such monsters often pondered strange questions. Ultimately, they would raise a flag of rebellion, lead a multitude of demons in worship, and claim the title of king for an era. However, what Fu Luo didn¡¯t know was that Hu Yao was not a fox demon but a tiger demon. Compared to having an affair with a handsome scholar, Hu Yao might think this guy didn¡¯t have much money and the meat wasn¡¯t tasty. The demon clan¡¯s way of thinking always ran on a different channel from humans. After Hu Yao and Fu Luo finished discussing the details, Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°The war at White Bone Mountain has stopped. The Heavenly Master Mansion has issued an order to contain the war at White Bone Mountain to prevent it from spreading further.¡± ¡°Sometimes I wonder, by planting spirit Gu as bait and creating more Spiritual Fields, why do they restrict the range of such a convenient thing?¡± ¡°Moreover, it only occurs every few decades.¡± At this point, Murong Lang looked somewhat somber, ¡°The Nine Tribulations True Monarch once said something.¡± ¡°War is the precursor to the birth of the Demon King.¡± Xu Yaofeng was intrigued, ¡°How so?¡± Murong Lang said, ¡°According to the Nine Tribulations True Monarch, war leads to the fragmentation of the human race, but it does not split the demon clan.¡± ¡°On the contrary, war has a high probability of giving rise to a new king in the demon clan.¡± ¡°Once a new king emerges in the demon clan, use every means to bring the war to an end.¡± ¡°Otherwise, this war will never cease.¡± ¡°The origin of the Thunder Pure Land was a demon clan war that swept across the continent.¡± ¡°That war lasted for three hundred years.¡± ¡°` Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52: The Spirit Gu Appears! Chapter 52: Chapter 52: The Spirit Gu Appears! ¡°The Demon Clan, while indifferent to their own kind, are even more xenophobic.¡± ¡°The flames of war ignited from the southern part of the continent, then spread to the Central Plains until the fire engulfed the Demon Clan across the entire continent.¡± ¡°And it continued to burn until the true King of Kings emerged among the Demon Clan.¡± ¡°And that was when the real catastrophe began.¡± ¡­. ¡°Finally, to preserve the embers of humanity, the Thunder Pure Land emerged.¡± Chen Qing marveled at this piece of history, amazed that such things happened. Hu Yao, on the other hand, seemed to have discovered something extremely interesting and fell into contemplation. She occasionally glanced at Chen Qing, becoming increasingly cautious and wary. Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°It seems highly probable that the Heavenly Master Mansion knows the origins of the Thunder Pure Land.¡± Murong Lang laughed, ¡°Fellow Daoist Yao Feng can help keep an eye on it for me.¡± Hu Yao remained silent while the other three chatted for a while. Seeing that they were not continuing the conversation, Chen Qing said, ¡°Well then, today¡¯s gathering ends here.¡± Removing the bronze ghost mask, Chen Qing thought to himself that it was fortunate there were no trades today, or there¡¯d be no place to store the spirit stones. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 He observed the Taiping Sect¡¯s camp from a distance, still without any reaction. It wasn¡¯t until the next morning that the Taiping Sect¡¯s camp suddenly grew noisy. Chen Qing quietly approached, squatting in a large tree to watch the commotion. The valley entrance was crowded with many Taiping Sect followers, engaged in a fierce argument, while their leader, Xiang Baiyu, grilled a snake. ¡°Sword Ghost, how did this ghost thing appear?¡± ¡°Now, the cultivators of Wuyou Mountain, Wutong Mountain, and Lotus Cave have suffered heavy losses. Should we join in?¡± ¡°Since there¡¯s a Sword Ghost, that means there¡¯s a sword scripture as well, though nobody knows how powerful the sword scripture that birthed the Sword Ghost really is.¡± ¡°Below the seventh level of Qi Refinement, it¡¯s said to disappear in a single encounter.¡± ¡°If we could find the relic of a strong cultivator based on the Sword Ghost, it could lead to Foundation Establishment.¡± It was only then that Chen Qing understood why no message had come from Wutong Mountain. Sword Ghosts were the products of the meeting between the Ancient Sword Scripture and a sword Gu. The Ancient Sword Scripture contained the obsessions of a powerful figure, which, upon encountering a sword Gu, would transform into a strange entity known as a Sword Ghost. Sword Ghosts were devoid of emotions or desires, formless and shapeless, acting only on primal instinct. Some could stand guard in front of a blade of grass for years, while others were like madmen, killing everyone they encountered. Sword Ghosts had appeared on the outskirts of the Sword Abyss before, but according to them, this Sword Ghost seemed particularly formidable this time. He didn¡¯t know how Ye Yuntian and Yu Qingshuang were doing. Xiang Baiyu, holding the grilled snake, walked to the tree where Chen Qing was squatting. ¡°How do you view the appearance of a Sword Ghost on the outskirts of the Sword Abyss?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°The Sword Ghost causing heavy losses to the cultivators of Lotus Cave¡ª isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡± ¡°Wait a minute, in this extreme cold, where did you get the snake?¡± Xiang Baiyu took a small bite and then said, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the truly strange thing.¡± ¡°This morning, I encountered three snakes, and this is the fattest one.¡± Chen Qing jumped down from the tree, ¡°Bring the other two snakes.¡± Xiang Baiyu clapped her hands, and soon a Taiping Sect follower brought over a cage. Chen Qing opened the cage, and two snakes quickly crawled out. ¡°The same direction!¡± He chased the two snakes for a few miles, ¡°Although there are slight differences in small directions, the general direction is the same.¡± Xiang Baiyu, following behind, said, ¡°That way leads to the Sword Abyss.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°It seems that there¡¯s more to the Sword Abyss than just a Sword Ghost appearing on the outskirts. There¡¯s a major upheaval there right now.¡± Xiang Baiyu said, ¡°Have you heard the rumors about Gu emergence?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Are you saying that there¡¯s a new Gu appearing in the Sword Abyss, and it involves snakes?¡± Xiang Baiyu pondered for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s highly possible that a new spiritual item Gu has emerged. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be such a big stir!¡± Chen Qing, however, said, ¡°Could it be that you set this up, intentionally releasing a spiritual item Gu as bait to incite a scramble among Wuyou Mountain, Lotus Cave, and Wutong Mountain, while you reap the benefits?¡± Xiang Baiyu laughed heartily, almost doubling over with laughter, ¡°Are you saying that for a few sword Gu, no wait, even for a dozen or even dozens of sword Gu, we would use a spiritual item Gu as bait and throw it into a place like the Sword Abyss where there¡¯s no return?¡± ¡°Are we that stupid?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you Jiguang Sect folks understand the value of a spiritual item Gu?¡± If before, Chen Qing indeed had little concept of spiritual item Gu, after encountering Yao Feng¡¯s spirit Light Butterfly and Fu Luo¡¯s Luck Gu, he understood the tremendous power of spiritual item Gu. Chen Qing looked thoughtfully at Xiang Baiyu. This woman wanted him to follow, to use him to attract others¡¯ attention. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have kindly shared such information with him. In such a dangerous place as the Sword Abyss, a major Evil Cultivator from the Jiguang Sect was far more threatening than a group from the Taiping Sect. It¡¯s a simple truth, such dangerous places have a threshold; if your strength isn¡¯t enough, entering will most likely be a dead end. Unless you have something as defiant as a Luck Gu. Otherwise, there¡¯s no point in going. Thus, a lone cultivator like Chen Qing, with many means, had an advantage. A spiritual item Gu related to snakes? It didn¡¯t really matter what it was related to; what mattered was, it was highly likely to be a spiritual item Gu! The quality of a spiritual item Gu determined that it possessed extremely powerful divineness! Moreover, even if the three nearby sects were all destroyed, their value was not necessarily higher than a single spiritual item Gu. Besides, Chen Qing had the ability to see through Gu. If that Gu was in its nascent state, then Chen Qing could determine that it was definitely a brand new Gu emerging! If that Gu was ancient, then someone might be maliciously stirring up war. If so, Chen Qing would definitely turn around and leave! However, it might be worth checking out first. The lure of a spiritual item Gu was truly captivating. ¡°Bring all your people above the seventh level of Qi Refinement, let¡¯s go see the excitement.¡± Chen Qing naturally ordered. Xiang Baiyu, with hands on her hips, said, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you to say that. With you there, I always feel more secure!¡± Chen Qing and the twelve people led by Xiang Baiyu rushed towards the Sword Abyss. Along the way, they occasionally spotted a snake. As they got closer to the Sword Abyss, the snakes they encountered became increasingly larger. Chen Qing swung his hand, cutting down an arm-thick, several yards long snake. Standing beside the snake¡¯s corpse, he asked, ¡°Have you noticed that the snakes we¡¯re seeing are getting bigger?¡± Xiang Baiyu bent down to inspect beside the large snake, wielded her sword to cut open the snake¡¯s belly, revealing it was densely packed with small snake skeletons. Among them, one snake¡¯s bones were only slightly smaller than the slain large snake. ¡°It seems that this new Gu possesses powers beyond imagination.¡± Chen Qing glanced around and climbed to the top of the tallest tree, looking around. There were dozens of snake skins hanging. He went to the nearest spot, picked up a snakeskin, and found it extremely fresh, without any signs of weathering. ¡°These snakes devour each other on the way here and seem to be able to digest quickly and grow larger.¡± The closer they got, the more bizarre it became. Chen Qing suddenly began to understand why a spiritual item Gu would be used as bait. These unowned Gu would uncontrollably manifest their divineness, even causing a massive disaster. And this would alert the people nearby that an extremely powerful Gu had emerged. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53: I Follow the Guidance of Light to Save Your Life Chapter 53: Chapter 53: I Follow the Guidance of Light to Save Your Life ¡°` The group rushed along, and even the lowest cultivation among them was at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, so their traveling speed was naturally fast. When they arrived ten miles outside Sword Abyss, the surrounding area was already covered in snake skins. Almost every few steps, there was a snake skin. Xiang Baiyu reached out and picked up a piece of snake skin, kneading it for a moment, ¡°This snake skin has been shed for over a month. It seems that the Gu has been awake for more than a month now.¡± As they approached within three miles of Sword Abyss, there was the entrance of a giant canyon ahead. Before Xiang Baiyu and the others could get close, a disciple from Wutong Mountain wearing a red Daoist robe came forward from the valley, ¡°What is your Taiping Sect doing here?¡± Xiang Baiyu laughed softly, gesturing toward Chen Qing, who was beside her. But just as she was about to speak, she discovered that there was no one where Chen Qing should have been! She glanced around her team but couldn¡¯t find Chen Qing¡¯s figure anywhere. Where did that guy go? She turned her head, swaying as she spoke, ¡°By the order of the Jiguang Sect, we¡¯re here to search for the Gu.¡± In no time, a male disciple of Wutong Mountain dressed in white strode out and waved them away, ¡°You all go back, I¡¯ll negotiate with her.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï This person looked no older than thirty, with a cultivation level already at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, a jade-white face, and an impressive appearance, quite heroic. His surname was Huang, with the given name Shengluan, and he was a leading figure among the young generation of Wutong Mountain. Huang Shengluan frowned, demanding, ¡°Haven¡¯t I sent you any news yet?¡± ¡°Why are you here now? If Lotus Cave gets alerted, wouldn¡¯t that ruin everything?¡± Xiang Baiyu stepped forward two steps, her fingers playing with the scarf around her waist, ¡°I have no desire to, but unfortunately, these people of the Taiping Sect are all prisoners of the Jiguang Sect, and have no choice but to follow orders.¡± Huang Shengluan¡¯s brows formed a deep ¡°´¨,¡± clearly increasingly disgruntled, ¡°Jiguang Sect¡¯s people are involved too?¡± Xiang Baiyu nodded, ¡°Yes, over fifty of us, and not one could withstand even a single move against him; all were captured.¡± Huang Shengluan said, ¡°According to you, isn¡¯t this person comparable to an ascetic who has practiced for thirty years?¡± Xiang Baiyu chuckled, ¡°Thirty years of spring breeze and morning dew, among them Daoist Collection, how could it be casually shared with outsiders?¡± Huang Shengluan glanced at Xiang Baiyu¡¯s team, becoming more alert, ¡°Where is he now?¡± Xiang Baiyu spread her hands, ¡°How would I know?¡± Huang Shengluan said resignedly, ¡°All right, since you traveled a long way, come and rest in the valley for a while.¡± Xiang Baiyu immediately led her people forward, ¡°All right, thank you very much then.¡± After only three steps, Huang Shengluan added, ¡°Never mind, you¡¯d better not get too close to me; exposure would be unfavorable.¡± ¡°As an ambush force, that would be wiser. You should enter the valley from elsewhere.¡± Xiang Baiyu didn¡¯t mind much, turning and leading her people away. Watching Xiang Baiyu and her group depart, Huang Shengluan¡¯s expression grew increasingly gloomy. After Xiang Baiyu led her people to settle down in another valley of Sword Abyss, Chen Qing finally leaped down from a nearby cliff, stepping smoothly onto the ground. ¡°You really sold me out decisively.¡± Xiang Baiyu said, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to, but Huang Shengluan invited us into the valley, clearly intending to ambush us, so I had to use your reputation to scare them.¡± ¡°When he invited me into the valley just now, if I even hesitated for a moment, he might have immediately acted.¡± ¡°Then you would never get to see an understanding beauty like me again.¡± Chen Qing was too lazy to argue with this woman who was already starting to give up hope. He leaped up the cliff face, ¡°Settle down here first, I¡¯ll go scout around.¡± Entering this martial world, these bastards he encountered never spoke a word of truth. Standing atop a cliff, Chen Qing looked around. The terrain of Sword Abyss increasingly resembled an enormous sword mark cleaved by someone. Sword Abyss was right in the center, unfathomably deep. The surrounding valleys which granted access to Sword Abyss were the rifts caused by this massive sword mark. Concealing his form, now and then transforming into fog to obscure his tracks. After scouting the area, Chen Qing roughly figured out the locations of the Lotus Cave, Wutong Mountain, and Wuyou Mountain encampments. With the addition of the newly arrived Taiping Sect, things seemed calm for the moment. No one wished to suffer losses first under these circumstances with the spirit Gu appearing. He touched his chin, originally intending to hide here and wait for the right time, but unfortunately, Xiang Baiyu had already sold him out. Since he was already exposed, he might as well expose himself more thoroughly. No one would have any peace! He shouted for a while, adjusting his voice to sound older and hoarser, then immediately leaped toward Wutong Mountain¡¯s camp. Arriving outside the Wutong Mountain valley, Chen Qing kicked a head-sized stone, sending it flying toward the Wutong Mountain camp. Huang Shengluan, with a sword at his waist, accompanied by an elder, saw the bronze ghost mask on Chen Qing¡¯s face and laughed, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you from Xiang Baiyu. What¡¯s your purpose in visiting?¡± Chen Qing lowered his voice, pretending to be hoarse and aged as he laughed, ¡°You and I both understand the current situation, so why discuss irrelevant matters?¡± ¡°After the spirit Gu appears, you and I will join forces to kill everyone from Wuyou Mountain and Lotus Cave, then I will assist you in exterminating the Taiping Sect.¡± Huang Shengluan asked, ¡°What is it that Fellow Daoist wants?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°The spirit Gu is mine; I don¡¯t want anything else.¡± Huang Shengluan shouted angrily, ¡°Isn¡¯t Fellow Daoist asking too much?¡± Chen Qing laughed heartily, ¡°The sword is in my hand, when is it your turn to call the shots?¡± ¡°Allowing you to keep your lives is already my biggest concession!¡± Huang Shengluan angrily said, ¡°Do you mean to say that without you we can¡¯t even protect our lives?¡± Chen Qing turned as if to leave, ¡°Since we can¡¯t agree, I¡¯ll go find the people from Lotus Cave.¡± After only a couple of steps, Huang Shengluan¡¯s voice came from behind, ¡°Fine, it¡¯s settled then!¡± ¡°When do you plan to make your move, Fellow Daoist?¡± Chen Qing did not turn back, ¡°I¡¯ll act at the most opportune moment.¡± After Chen Qing left, Huang Shengluan asked the elder beside him, ¡°Uncle-Master, do you think what this rogue from the Jiguang Sect is saying can be trusted?¡± The elder said, ¡°It should be true.¡± ¡°His demands are too harsh. If he were bluffing, he wouldn¡¯t make such exorbitant demands.¡± Huang Shengluan said, ¡°Fine, after we have completely wiped out Lotus Cave, Wuyou Mountain, and the Taiping Sect, we¡¯ll kill him too, but let him be arrogant for a while longer!¡± A moment later, outside the Lotus Cave encampment, Chen Qing kicked a floating piece of wood that flew out, and soon a woman appeared with four Lotus Cave disciples to investigate. The woman dressed very seductively, ignoring the cold weather. ¡°Jiguang Sect?¡± ¡°Are you the one who captured the Taiping Sect?¡± Chen Qing walked confidently within three steps of the woman, ¡°Lotus Fairy, you¡¯re quite charming.¡± Lotus Fairy said, ¡°Arriving here at night, might you have some matters?¡± Chen Qing laughed, ¡°Your life won¡¯t last much longer.¡± ¡°I followed the guiding light to come and save your life.¡± Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 66: Half a day of hard work, Qi Refinement Level 5!!! Chapter 67: Chapter 66: Half a day of hard work, Qi Refinement Level 5!!! Three Soul Stealing Flowers swallowed, and the whole body remained in an extremely full spiritual state. Chen Qing even clearly felt his cultivation advancing at a flying pace. It was nothing like the arduous practice before, where progress was slow as an ant¡¯s crawl. Right now, he would break through to the fifth level of Qi Refinement! An hour later, Chen Qing felt a tremor throughout his body, and his Dantian expanded by another circle. It only took one day to reach the fifth level of Qi Refinement! The Snake Gu truly was extraordinary! As long as one earned a lot of Spirit Stones, enhancing cultivation was simply effortless. His Spirit Stones were nearly exhausted now, and he didn¡¯t know when he could earn more. The Imperial Palace of Da Yan. The Da Yan Imperial Palace at night still seemed grand. The city gates were broad and tall, unlike anything of the mortal world, resembling a massive mountain wall. Carved upon it were the figures of twenty-four gods, each vividly etched onto its surface. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Beside the city gates stood towering ancient walls, marked with numerous traces of knife cuts and axe hews. When looking towards the Da Yan Imperial Palace at night, one could always see spots of phosphorescence, remnants of slain cultivators¡¯ blood that didn¡¯t perish, continuing to adorn this ancient city after death. Ruyi slowly opened her eyes. Wearing only a cloud-like gauze, she sat up in bed. ¡°The medicine from the Heavenly Master Mansion is really effective, made for a beautiful dream.¡± She opened the lantern hanging above her head, took the Light Gu from it, and held it in her hands. The cocoon of the Light Gu, different from other Gu worms, was a dense beam of light, staring at it too long could hurt one¡¯s eyes. She extended her hand, allowing the Light Gu to enter her body. She opened the window and looked out; the bright moon hung high. ¡°Seems I went to bed too early, and woke up too early too.¡± ¡°Going for a walk would be nice, haven¡¯t gone out at night for a long time.¡± She wrapped herself tightly in a white cloak, grabbed a lantern, and walked outside of the courtyard. Once she stepped outside her palace, she found herself in a courtyard covering over ten acres. Many immortal peach trees were planted in the courtyard, not just for flower viewing. Compared to admiring flowers, she preferred the taste of peaches. Now in the early spring, she reached out and snapped off a branch, pink peach buds already climbing the branches. She posed formally, silently declaring, ¡°I am the Taichu Divine Woman Ji Ru, walking the earth under the command of Taichu, wishing that all I see becomes a paradise!¡± Giggling twice, she planted the peach branch, hopeful it would grow into a small tree. Suddenly, there were hurried footsteps outside. She came to her courtyard¡¯s entrance and pushed open the door, only to see her elder sister in white, Princess Yi¡¯an. ¡°Sister, sleeping so late?¡± Princess Yi¡¯an heard this and suddenly beamed, ¡°No choice, it¡¯s almost the fifteenth, I must earnestly pray for the Heavenly Venerable, maybe when entering the Immortal Court, his edict might be heard.¡± Ji Ru secretly thought: I can see Taichu twice every month and even chat with him. Thinking that way, Senior Taichu truly was a very kind person. Princess Yi¡¯an was more slender and taller than Princess Ji Ru. Her body was frail, and Ji Ru often wondered if this sister might be blown over by a gust of wind. She didn¡¯t understand what attracted the Immortal Court Divine Son to choose her out of seven princesses. Ji Ru, naturally, didn¡¯t participate in that selection. She was too young to be of marriageable age. Actually, Da Yan¡¯s princesses rarely married into the Immortal Court or Heavenly Master Mansion, as the Divine Sons of these places had long life spans, resulting in significant age differences over two generations. Commonly, Da Yan¡¯s princesses married into Da Yan¡¯s noble families to show imperial favor. For the princesses who could marry the Immortal Court Divine Son, the last was eight hundred years ago. So, Princess Yi¡¯an always felt a bit proud when talking about the Immortal Court. Whenever Princess Yi¡¯an mentioned the Heavenly Venerable and the Immortal Court, she became loquacious, ¡°If later my sister can¡¯t find a good family, I¡¯ll see if I can find a natural Dao seed for you over there in the Immortal Court.¡± Ji Ru bowed slightly, ¡°Thank you, Sister, I wish you¡¯ll rest early.¡± Yi¡¯an left with a smile, and Ji Ru leaned against the door wall, involuntarily wondering: Would the Taichu Sect have a Divine Son in the future? Or perhaps, there already was one, sealed by Senior Taichu in some era? If there really was, then myself as the Taichu Divine Woman, and the Taichu Divine Son, wouldn¡¯t that be¡­? She shook her head, why think so much. Senior Taichu was such a wonderful person. Even if there was a Taichu Divine Son, he should also be a great person. If he was charming, it wouldn¡¯t be bad. Footsteps sounded behind her, she turned her head and saw her maid. The maid brought a young man with a full head of white hair, pale complexion, yet with a handsome figure, to her front. Kneeling on both knees, the man bowed his head and said, ¡°Cao Yizhi from Wugen Sect pays respect to Your Highness. The goods are acquired, please give your instructions, Princess.¡± Ji Ru softly said, ¡°I dislike such ruthless matters. Take my Luck Gu, place it in the same box with that item, and retrieve my Luck Gu after three days.¡± Opening her hand, she released her Luck Gu to Cao Yizhi and decided to take a nap. The dawning in the Imperial Palace was not much different from the outside, there were not nine suns as described by the common folk. Everyone shared the same sun. The scholar teaching in the Imperial Palace was always very serious, so serious that every word in the book seemed as weighty as a human life. At this moment, the twenty-three princesses, of various ages, sat upright on cushions, listening to the scholar teaching. This scholar had a large frame, standing a full ten feet tall, yet was extremely old, with long fingers but little flesh, wrinkles covered him like the bark of an old tree, ancient and weathered. No one dared daydream or nap during this scholar¡¯s lectures, for their father, the current Emperor Donghua, was also the scholar¡¯s disciple. Even their father had to show respect to this scholar when meeting him. Ji Ru always secretly guessed that this scholar might be a True Monarch. What pleased Ji Ru was that the scholar didn¡¯t seem to like Princess Yi¡¯an much; on the contrary, he treated Ji Ru quite well. The palace folk all said she was a fortunate girl, and the scholar seemed to think so too. She didn¡¯t plan to attend the afternoon etiquette lesson because she sensed that the Light Gu, meticulously chosen for her by Senior Taichu, was about to emerge into a butterfly. Her Light Butterfly, purple in hue, its wings fluttered as if adorned with starlight. After absorbing the Light Butterfly into her body, she went to her little treasure vault to fetch five hundred medium-grade Spirit Stones, bathed and perfumed, then lay down, gently wearing that bronze ghost mask. Appearing on the Cloud Platform afterward, a bit later, first came the scholar, then Yao Feng, and finally Red Lotus. The four didn¡¯t say a word, quietly waiting for the true master of this place to descend. As the time for midnight approached, Chen Qing finally appeared on his seat. He merely sat quietly in his seat, yet the other four felt incredibly insignificant. Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The Appearance of a Spiritual Item Snake Gu! Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The Appearance of a Spiritual Item Snake Gu! The sky was filled with swirling snowflakes, dense and countless like drifting dandelion seeds. In the vast snowy scene, Chen Qing reached out to support a nearby tree trunk, his breathing starting to become rapid. [Spiritual Snake Gu] Quality, First Transformation Life Span, 1/200 Effect, Snake Swallowing Elephant, can consume large amounts of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Spiritual Medicine, and flesh, quickly digesting and absorbing them to enhance the physical body and improve cultivation. Won¡¯t be overburdened by ordinary food lacking spirit. Trait: Winter Storage, can store items from five categories. Growth Requirements, Greed Growth Progress, 0/100 Promotion Requirements, a night with no moon, one piece of Human Sin Money, nine wisps of Lightless Breath A newborn spirit Gu! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? It really was a newborn spirit Gu! Not only could it quickly improve cultivation and physique, but it could also store items! In this world, most at Foundation Establishment are of advanced age, at least over fifty. With this Snake Gu, Chen Qing was confident he could cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Refinement within one or two years, reaching the stage to pursue Foundation Establishment before turning thirty! In two years in this world, Chen Qing had never heard of a treasure capable of storing items, which was an extremely precious ability! Moreover, possessing such formidable power at only the First Transformation, surely stronger traits would emerge post-Butterfly Transformation, not to mention upon Harmonization! But what exactly did this ¡°Greed¡± mean? Soon enough, Chen Qing understood what it meant. The commotion here was too great, drawing many Loose Cultivators who sensed it. Two Loose Cultivators saw the large black serpent covered in blood and charged forward with their swords. They intended to seize the spirit Gu while everyone else was still watching! Little did they expect that the black serpent would merely open its jaws wide, swallowing the two airborne cultivators in one gulp. After a short while, Chen Qing noted that the growth progress of the Snake Gu increased by one point, seemingly digesting them. Human greed, perhaps? These two Loose Cultivators were so blinded by greed that even as mere fifth-level Qi Refinement cultivators, they dared to charge forward, undeniably serving as prime examples of greed! Apparently, he could wait a little longer, allowing the serpent to devour more before attempting to capture it once it reached the Second Transformation. In the Sword Abyss, it seemed as though a great fire was burning, thick black smoke rolling out in layers. One by one, Sword Ghosts holding rusty swords charged toward the serpent to attack. The black serpent sprinted into a mountain valley, fleeing wildly, leaving a trail of broken trees and flying stones. A multitude of cultivators watched intently, seemingly hoping that the Sword Ghosts would further exacerbate the serpent¡¯s injuries. The black serpent, now blind in both eyes, couldn¡¯t see its surroundings but relied on its instincts to sense danger, heading towards the direction outside the Sword Abyss. Each Sword Ghost clung to the serpent¡¯s massive body like maggots on a bone, their long swords continuously falling. From a distance, Chen Qing watched and felt it resembled ants hunting a giant beast. The scales on the serpent¡¯s body were peeled off piece by piece, blood flowing profusely, staining the snowy ground red. Amidst the chaos, Xiang Baiyu, who had been looking for Chen Qing all the while, finally spotted him, ¡°Taiyi, what should we do now?¡± Chen Qing glanced aside, having summoned six more seventh-level Qi Refinement cultivators; this seemed to be the limit of the Taiping Sect in this area. The Taiping Sect was, after all, only active in this region and not a local power. Looking further afield at Wuyou Mountain, Wutong Mountain, and Lotus Cave, nearly all of the War Affairs Hall¡¯s cultivators were dispatched. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look first, and then wait a bit longer.¡± Chen Qing began to seriously observe. The strength of those Sword Ghosts varied, but they were formidable due to their formless and intangible special trait. The serpent controlled by the Snake Gu struggled to inflict a fatal blow on them, but the Sword Ghosts¡¯ attacks were equivalent only to low-level sword Gu. Fortunately, the Sword Qi of the Sword Ghosts was almost unending, capable of wearing down the serpent¡¯s combat strength a little further. The battle between the Sword Ghosts and the black serpent grew fiercer by the moment. The entire battlefield seemed to turn into a meat grinder, leaving devastation wherever the Sword Ghosts and the serpent passed. In this situation, whoever stepped forward was destined for death. As the serpent bolted a mile away, the Sword Ghosts, isolated and trailing behind, fell silent, lacking the same level of aggression, intending to retreat into the sword Gu. Seeing over a dozen Sword Ghosts already returning to the Sword Abyss while the black serpent showed no signs of slowing, with its fierce aura still intact, Huang Shengluan couldn¡¯t restrain himself. He drew his sword and declared, ¡°Fellow Daoists, the serpent¡¯s fierce might remains unabated, and we can¡¯t do much against it!¡± ¡°Instead of letting it slip away, where none of us benefit, it¡¯s better for us to strike at this moment!¡± ¡°Its eyes are blind, surely it doesn¡¯t know direction, we should drive it back into the Sword Abyss, let the Sword Ghosts continue battling it!¡± ¡°In such a way, there¡¯s a chance to seize the Gu!¡± The surrounding cultivators glanced at each other, evidently waiting for commands from their respective leaders. Ye Yuntian and the Lotus Fairy were each leading some from a distance, but ultimately, their gaze converged on Xiang Baiyu of the Taiping Sect. Ye Yuntian, Lotus Fairy, and Huang Shengluan had contested for a long time, everyone was aware. However, Xiang Baiyu and Chen Qing were suddenly emerging fierce players. At this moment, some felt uneasy and wanted Chen Qing and Xiang Baiyu to make a stance first. Chen Qing crossed his arms over his chest, leaning slightly towards the battlefield, in a raspy voice, said, ¡°Do as he says.¡± Xiang Baiyu hesitated for a moment but saw Chen Qing leaping down from the big tree, locking eyes with her intently. Unable to resist, Xiang Baiyu could only grit her teeth, drew her sword, and commanded, ¡°Go, drive the serpent back into the Sword Abyss!¡± Xiang Baiyu was the first to dive forward, her body surrounded by dazzling lightning, rapidly closing in to ten yards in front of the serpent, wielding brilliant lightning that struck towards the serpent. Seeing the Taiping Sect take action, Huang Shengluan, the one who proposed the plan, quickly led his people to charge forward; in a flash, five or six streams of Sword Qi were launched towards the serpent¡¯s front! People from Lotus Cave and Wuyou Mountain hesitated no longer. Over twenty cultivators drew their swords in unison, and sword glows flared up, attacking the serpent. In an instant, dozens of Sword Ghosts and more than forty cultivators began to encircle the serpent! Cultivators blocked the path of the serpent, while the Sword Ghosts pursued from behind. In the sky, flying cranes took off, with eight people riding them, soaring above. They extended their fingers like swords, releasing Sword Qi! On the ground, the clusters of sword light resembled torrential rain, occasionally with a cultivator turning into fog to fly away, distancing from the battlefield, waiting by for an opportunity. Seizing the right moment, they dashed up for another sword strike, avoiding a death match. Chen Qing stayed out of the battlefield, observing its movements. Though the cultivators¡¯ attacks were fierce, unfortunately, the serpent seemed to know that the Sword Abyss was absolutely off-limits, as it just focused on charging outward desperately. The battle grew ever more bloody. A cultivator was accidentally injured by a Sword Ghost, then was sucked into the serpent¡¯s maw, vanishing from sight. Seeing that none could obstruct the serpent¡¯s path, with more Sword Ghosts returning to the Sword Abyss, the cultivators engaged on the battlefield became even more anxious, their attacks turning more ruthless. Yet unexpectedly at this moment, the serpent suddenly opened its massive mouth, spitting out countless rusty swords and a horde of venomous snakes, among which was an item emitting a greenish glow! A female disciple from Lotus Cave was cut on the face by that luminous object, gazing at the green-gleaming item stuck in the ground, ¡°Sword Gu!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a Sword Gu!¡± Chen Qing inwardly muttered bad, the Snake Gu indeed had concealed a Sword Gu within! In the next second, three cultivators charged swiftly towards the green glow, ignoring the serpent altogether. Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Joy in the Human World Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Joy in the Human World ¡°` Ji Ru continued, ¡°Even the Immortal Court Divine Son might not be able to hear the Heavenly Venerable explain the Great Dao.¡± Indeed, although they were neither Immortal Court Divine Sons nor naturally gifted with the Heavenly Dao Seed, possessing the talent of Three Yang True Veins. They might have just been ordinary people. Yet they had come to this gathering! Perhaps, allowing them, just ordinary people, to possess the strength of Divine Sons and Goddesses would be considered a miracle by the world. But Senior Taichu, with the ability to transform decay into miraculous, almost didn¡¯t mind such miracles, using them as mere leisurely distractions. Chen Qing sat there casually, pondering how many Soul Stealing Flowers to purchase on this trip. The four people beside him only felt that Chen Qing was indifferent to these worldly matters. Divine Sons and whatnot, don¡¯t bother my mind. At this moment, Xu Yaofeng finally gained some insight into the casual selection of three members as suggested by Chen Qing. At least they should have potential close to that of Divine Sons and Goddesses. Ji Ru privately thought that the Gu insect given to her by Senior Taichu was quite special, and the Foundation Establishment tribulation might not be weaker than King Grade Gu Foundation Establishment. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï She could inquire more about the strength of the Immortal Court Divine Son from Princess Yi¡¯an when she returned, to have more assurance. In front of Princess Yi¡¯an, as long as the Immortal Court Divine Son was mentioned, she would have endless things to say, making inquiries extremely convenient. Seeing that everyone did not continue conversing, Chen Qing said calmly, ¡°Then, today¡¯s gathering is concluded.¡± After he spoke, the four of them stood up in unison, saluted Chen Qing, and except for Hu Yao, the other three instantly disappeared, leaving only Hu Yao, who seemed particularly interested in her remaining Spirit Stones. This was the first time Hu Yao was the last to leave the gathering, and the amount of Spirit Stones this time was substantial. She picked up her Spirit Stones, casually preparing to take them away, unpretentious and very outspoken. At that moment, she was somewhat curious if Chen Qing would carefully count them like her and then take them away handful by handful. Yet, she saw Chen Qing merely wave his hand, and the Spirit Stones in front of him vanished. This scene startled Hu Yao, prompting her to exclaim, ¡°Amazing!¡± After speaking, she realized she might have misspoken, quickly lowered her head, and dared not look at Chen Qing. How could the esteemed Senior Taichu possibly need her praise? After a while, she finally looked up like a dazed squirrel, only to find that Chen Qing had long since disappeared. Removing the bronze ghost mask, Chen Qing chuckled, ¡°How adorable.¡± Chen Qing perceived the Spirit Stones in a peculiar space, finally determining an accurate number. Five hundred and sixty mid-grade Spirit Stones! Let¡¯s see to what extent I can elevate my cultivation. With a thought, he communicated with the Fog Gu, adjusting his Spiritual Energy fluctuation to Qi Refinement Fourth Layer, and then finally rested assured. Recently, due to the departure of Feng Qi and Xiao Zhong as well as Gongsun Xiu, Wuyou Mountain became a bit desolate. Chen Qing, however, didn¡¯t concern himself with these matters, and while strolling in the Spiritual Ginseng Field, he sometimes saw robust Spiritual Ginseng, some protruding through the soil, revealing their plump and thick roots. This once made Chen Qing doubt whether he had planted radishes instead. Yet the enticing aura of the Spiritual Ginseng told him otherwise. A breeze blew through, and the Spiritual Ginseng, which had settled its medicinal properties through the winter, sprouted small green shoots again. Feeling the gentle spring breeze, Chen Qing felt immensely satisfied. Sitting on the field ridge, he chewed on a piece of licorice, letting the Light Gu hidden in his sleeve enjoy the gentle spring breeze with him. Being in such a flourishing scenery was immensely comfortable and made everything feel beautiful. Having tended to the Light Gu and managed the Spiritual Field with the Grass Spirit Butterfly, Chen Qing was about to finish his duties when he encountered Shen Ao. ¡°Brother Chen, I was just about to find you!¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°What is it, Senior Brother?¡± Shen Ao grinned and said, ¡°Naturally, it¡¯s about Brother Ye¡¯s wedding.¡± ¡°Now that the situation is settled, the marriage of Brother Ye and the granddaughter of the Mountain Master of nearby Qingsong Mountain also needs to be scheduled.¡± ¡°A few elders discussed and felt it would be best if you accompanied us.¡± Chen Qing, who didn¡¯t much like going out, pondered upon hearing this news. To put it simply, he was now one of the most precious treasures of the entire sect. His presence symbolized a wealth of Spiritual Ginseng and Blood Ginseng, a large amount of cultivation resources. Having him go was also to represent the power of Wuyou Mountain, showcasing its robust strength. Disciples in the production line represented financial strength. Previously wiping out the Lotus Cave symbolized military strength. With both financial and military strength, the marriage would proceed smoothly. The union of Ye Yuntian and the Mountain Master¡¯s granddaughter from Qingsong Mountain could also stabilize Wuyou Mountain further. Both Ye Yuntian and Feng Qi took good care of him, making it difficult to decline. ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll accept this task. When do we depart?¡± Shen Ao was overjoyed, ¡°Brother Chen, as long as you¡¯re willing to go, this marriage will certainly come together seamlessly!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call on you in three days!¡± Upon reaching the Spirit Plant Hall, Chen Qing gave an order, instructing Li He to pick nine top-quality Blood Ginsengs from the Blood Ginseng Field. Three days later, Chen Qing set out with the Blood Ginseng alongside Shen Ao, and just in front of the mountain gate, they saw He Ming from the Beast Driving Hall waiting for them for quite a while. Beside him were twelve celestial cranes as tall as two people, occasionally stretching their wings and letting out crisp calls. Only He Ming from the Beast Driving Hall had come, along with Chen Qing from the Spirit Plant Hall, while most others were disciples from the War Affairs Hall and Shadow Hall. Including Shen Ao and Ye Yuntian, there were four from both the Main Hall and Deputy Hall Masters. It was a rather grand occasion, with the hall masters present, and every accompanying disciple had a handsome appearance. The usually bold Ye Yuntian was unexpectedly shy today and less talkative, making everyone laugh heartily. ¡°Brother Ye, I never thought you¡¯d ever get embarrassed!¡± Ye Yuntian retorted in a low voice, ¡°Nonsense!¡± He Ming, the oldest among them at forty-five, was seasoned and mature, considered the leader and elder of this trip. He Ming smirked, ¡°Just worried that when you, Brother Ye, take your partner, you¡¯ll forget about us brothers while doting on your lovely wife.¡± Shen Ao laughed heartily, ¡°If that happens, we¡¯re digging our own grave!¡± Ye Yuntian¡¯s face reddened slightly, ¡°Enough of that nonsense, our brotherly bond won¡¯t allow me to forget you all!¡± Looking around the crowd, Chen Qing noticed the presence of Yu Qingshuang. Yu Qingshuang, with exceptional swordsmanship and personally taught by the Mountain Master, had greatly improved her strength and significantly contributed to previous battles by slaying three foes. ¡°Sister Yu, are you going too?¡± Chen Qing curiously asked. He Ming glanced over, smiling, ¡°She¡¯s worried that once you reach Qingsong Mountain, you¡¯ll be too enchanted by the young ladies there, so she¡¯s coming to keep an eye on you!¡± Yu Qingshuang stomped her foot angrily, ¡°You all are talking nonsense. If you keep at it, I¡¯m not going!¡± Only then did He Ming say, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s my bad, but Qingshuang, your great-grandfather and the Mountain Master of Qingsong Mountain are old friends. It¡¯s not good if you don¡¯t go.¡± The spring breeze warmed hearts, and under the gentle, warm yet not too intense sunshine, the little grasses sprouted, branches budded, and white and pink cherry blossoms bloomed in patches here and there. Amidst cheerful laughter, the celestial cranes spread their wings and flew skyward, carrying the young talents of Wuyou Mountain toward the distance. Sitting on the back of a celestial crane, Chen Qing overlooked the splendid spring while brothers and sisters shared happiness. Such joy made this worldly journey worthwhile. ¡°` Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Spirit Gu in Hand! Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Spirit Gu in Hand! He leaped into the woods, searching in the direction the small snake had flown. To him, the greatest threat was the Foundation Establishment cultivator, Qiu Feng, so the snake must have wanted to stay far away from Qiu Feng. With this thought in mind, Chen Qing continued his pursuit, straining his eyes to search carefully. Not this one. Not this one. This one, hmm, yes, this is it! He could see the information on the Snake Gu, making it as conspicuous as a firefly in the night before him. A small white snake was slithering ahead, completely unaware that the hunter had locked onto it. Chen Qing sprinted forward in a few leaps, reached out his hand, and grabbed the white snake. The snake bit Chen Qing¡¯s hand, but instead of breaking the skin, it broke one of its own teeth. Though the Iron Skin Gu had not undergone the Butterfly Transformation, it was not something a small snake could penetrate. A sliver of Geng Metal Sword Qi gathered between his left fingers, and Chen Qing struck with the sword, cutting open the snake¡¯s chest and belly, extracting a Gu that was as white as jade. The Snake Gu was entirely snow-white, slender in shape, no longer in the typical form of a Gu, but resembling a small snake, although only as thick as a melon seed. It was indeed much larger than an ordinary Gu. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? He immediately took out a jade jar, sealed the small snake inside, and inscribed runes with Spiritual Energy, putting the Snake Gu into a deep sleep. It wasn¡¯t yet suitable to forge a contract, as the Spiritual Energy required for the contract with a spirit Gu could instantly drain all of his own Spiritual Energy. Since the Foundation Establishment cultivators were involved in the fight, it would be best to leave this place of contention first before considering a contract! With the wind beneath his feet, Chen Qing sprinted away from the battlefield at breakneck speed. In just a quarter of an hour, he had covered over thirty miles. Ahead, the shadows in the snow flickered; as Chen Qing, swift as the wind, stepped forth with Stepping on Snow Without Trace, he sensed four figures approaching. Just as he was about to transform into fog to evade, those four waved their hands, creating a Thunder Net to trap him within. ¡°Fellow Daoist Taiyi, I really didn¡¯t expect you to be the first one to try and run,¡± Xiang Baiyu said, rising from a snowdrift. ¡°Taiyi, since you¡¯ve already come, what¡¯s the rush? Why not come to my Taiping Sect¡¯s base for a good rest?¡± Chen Qing slowly formed a four-foot-long Geng Metal Sword in his hand. ¡°Xiang Baiyu, are you tired of living?¡± Xiang Baiyu laughed heartily, ¡°Your Sword Butterfly is indeed extraordinary, but unfortunately, I won¡¯t give you the chance to get close again.¡± ¡°Hand over your treasures now, and I might just let you go.¡± Chen Qing replied blankly, ¡°Treasures? What treasures? I only wanted to leave because I saw the Foundation Establishment cultivators and got scared.¡± Xiang Baiyu¡¯s face turned cold, ¡°Taiyi, let¡¯s not beat around the bush.¡± ¡°With your abilities, how could you not take a few Sword Gu before you left?¡± ¡°The reason isn¡¯t hard to deduce; you obtained a treasure far superior to the Sword Gu!¡± Chen Qing retorted, ¡°Offering up my treasure for survival, are you kidding me?¡± ¡°We all act openly and honestly, yet we¡¯re part of demonic sects where nine out of ten sentences are lies. Let¡¯s show our real skills with our hands!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve roamed the martial world for eighteen years, and you¡¯re the first to dare block my path!¡± Seeing the waves of Taiping Sect members gathering from afar, Xiang Baiyu felt more confident. Just as Chen Qing was about to survey the surrounding situation, Xiang Baiyu suddenly shouted, ¡°Attack!¡± The four Taiping Sect members, who had surrounded Chen Qing with the Thunder Net, immediately closed the net tighter to entrap Chen Qing within. Thunderlight surged in Xiang Baiyu¡¯s palm as he unleashed a Palm Thunder towards Chen Qing! Chen Qing tightly gripped his four-foot Geng Metal Sword, glaring coldly at the gradually constricting Thunder Net, and transformed into fog to perform the Wall-penetrating Skill right away! Xiang Baiyu¡¯s face changed drastically, ¡°Quick, retreat, he has a Mist Butterfly!¡± Chen Qing¡¯s figure vanished for a moment, reappearing outside the Thunder Net. Turning his head, he saw a Taiping Sect member swiftly retreating, not daring to get even a bit closer. Surveying the surroundings, eleven other Taiping Sect members were rushing to encircle him. It seemed the time spent capturing the Snake Gu had given them the chance to ambush him first. Activating the Wind Butterfly within him, Chen Qing became as light as a feather. He swiftly exited the encirclement with Stepping on Snow Without Trace. Reaching a small hilltop, thirty or so feet away from these people, Chen Qing halted. Surrounded once more by the Taiping Sect members, Chen Qing chuckled, ¡°Xiang Baiyu, take one more step, and believe me, you¡¯ll leave not even a whole corpse behind!¡± Xiang Baiyu motioned for the surrounding Taiping Sect disciples to stop, ¡°Taiyi, do you really believe three Butterfly Gu make you invincible?¡± What a pretense. ¡°Having escaped from your ambush, you don¡¯t think you can catch me now, right?¡± ¡°Now, I offer you two choices.¡± ¡°Leave something to buy your own life.¡± ¡°Or, wait and see if my sword is sharp or not!¡± Chen Qing was always a person who would never let a good opportunity go to waste, and there was no way he would let these fat sheep get away. Moreover, the Snake Gu still needed a few large pieces of greediness to advance to the Second Transformation! After returning to the mountain, there wouldn¡¯t be such a good opportunity. Chen Qing admitted he wasn¡¯t a good person, but he didn¡¯t have the habit of wantonly killing the innocent. If he didn¡¯t take advantage of this chance to gather a few pieces of greed, when would the Snake Gu advance to the Second Transformation? Xiang Baiyu pondered over and over, but fear of the Jiguang Sect made her ask, ¡°What do you want for the ransom?¡± Chen Qing laughed, ¡°I¡¯m a very reasonable person.¡± He pointed at Xiang Baiyu, ¡°Either you kill yourself, and I take your treasures and Gu.¡± Then he pointed at the Taiping Sect members behind Xiang Baiyu, ¡°Or these people, give me seven hearts.¡± ¡°Make your choice.¡± Xiang Baiyu burst into anger, ¡°Taiyi, you never intended to negotiate.¡± Chen Qing stood up, ¡°Dare to attack me, and you should be ready to pay the price!¡± He knew very well his current strength; in a one-on-one, he was unbeatable, but in a group battle, he was very wary of the numerous Thunder Gu. The thunderous lightning was somewhat restrictive to his Fog Gu, and the Wall-penetrating Skill couldn¡¯t be used endlessly. Moreover, his cultivation level wasn¡¯t high; if the battle became difficult, exhausting his Spiritual Energy, he would certainly be the first to fall. The Taiping Sect members were also dissatisfied, ¡°Sister, there¡¯s no need to talk much with him, he¡¯s just one person!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe he can really defeat so many of us!¡± ¡°Sister, we have the upper hand, why is he setting the terms?¡± Xiang Baiyu raised her sword, finally giving the order, ¡°Kill!¡± Seeing so many people charging at him, he wasn¡¯t all that worried. The Wind Butterfly enveloped him, and with Divine Hundred Steps and Stepping on Snow Without Trace, he easily crossed over a hill. Holding a mid-grade Spirit Stone in hand, absorbing the Spiritual Energy within to recover, Chen Qing quickly ran into a dense forest. Although he made minimal noise, for the acute hearing of cultivators, there were still some traces. They chased after Chen Qing, until eventually everyone entered the dense forest. At that moment, Chen Qing transformed into fog, flying thirty feet away in silence, then made a U-turn and came back. After waiting for less than thirty breaths, he saw the Taiping Sect people, led by Xiang Baiyu, rushing towards his former position. And the last person in the group lagged about thirty feet behind. With the Geng Metal Sword appearing in his hand, the Spiritual Energy within Chen Qing was almost exhausted, while his left hand wildly absorbed the Spiritual Energy from the mid-grade Spirit Stone. Chen Qing transformed into fog, noiselessly closing in on the last person. With the Mist Butterfly having undergone the Ninth Transformation, he could now transform into fog for ten breaths. In those ten breaths, coupled with his Wind Butterfly, he could flee for dozens of feet. Arriving behind the final person, Chen Qing raised his sword and brought it down, a gust of sharp wind rising! The person had just turned around when Chen Qing decapitated him with a single strike. Where the Geng Metal Sword passed, the Protective Spirit Energy shattered instantly, slicing the person into two. Blood splattered, melting small holes into the snowy ground. Puff, the person¡¯s lifeless body collapsed with a soft thud. The fleeing Taiping Sect members turned around to witness Chen Qing, wearing a bronze ghost mask, slicing open the chest of the corpse with a sword, extracting a still faintly beating heart. Chen Qing tore open the person¡¯s robe, wrapped the heart, without concern over it spoiling in the cold. ¡°I promised seven hearts, so seven it is, not one less!¡± Leaving such words behind, Chen Qing turned and departed. Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 71: Then I have no choice but to send you on your way! Chapter 74: Chapter 71: Then I have no choice but to send you on your way! A mass of black fog raced through the forest on the raging wind, landing on a branch to reveal a bronze-colored figure. This was the trait brought about by the Iron Skin Gu Butterfly Transformation. [Bronze Image]: You could bronze your body. Using this ability for the first time didn¡¯t feel inconvenient, only making his body slightly heavier. A medium-quality Spirit Stone appeared in his left hand, which he put into his mouth, chewing and swallowing it in just a few bites. Immediately, he felt power surging through his body. At this level, the Spiritual Energy within him was comparable to the Sixth Transformation of Qi Refinement! Adjusting his spiritual energy fluctuations to the Ninth Transformation of Qi Refinement, Chen Qing leaped off the branch, coming to the city gate, and directly kicked it down with one foot. The Light Gu flew out from his body and landed on his shoulder, illuminating the surroundings within ten feet with dazzling light. He walked leisurely toward the intense battlefield ahead, now spanning four shattered streets. In the darkness, the intense combatants suddenly saw a brilliant light appear in the distance, somewhat dazzling. They all looked at Chen Qing, clearly seeing the bronze ghost mask on his face and the faint black fog behind the mask, as well as the light symbolizing Jiguang on his shoulder. The blood-covered Lotus Fairy exclaimed, ¡°Taiyi?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã0 Everyone stopped in unison, looking at this unexpected intruder. Qiu Lie approached the Lotus Fairy, asking, ¡°A member of the Jiguang Sect, who is this person?¡± The Lotus Fairy replied, ¡°Father, he was just at the Eighth Transformation of Qi Refinement before, and even then, his strength was probably not weaker than yours.¡± ¡°Now, he has broken through to the Ninth Transformation of Qi Refinement.¡± Ye Yuntian was also somewhat surprised, coughing up a mouthful of blood, softly saying, ¡°Why did Taiyi come?¡± Blood dripped from one of his legs, and his pants were torn, revealing the wound. He Ming, on the other hand, was already covered in blood. Everyone else was injured, except for Yu Qingshuang, who had just arrived at the battlefield and was less wounded. Chen Qing strolled across the battlefield full of broken walls and ruins, hoarsely saying, ¡°Fight, why not continue fighting?¡± The Lotus Fairy said, ¡°Taiyi, we don¡¯t have any major grievances. I advise you not to meddle!¡± Chen Qing crossed his arms, ¡°Saying that makes me unhappy.¡± ¡°Huang Shengluan paid money to buy the lives of you leftover heirs of the Lotus Cave.¡± ¡°I originally planned to wait until you finished fighting and fulfilled my last wish before taking action.¡± ¡°But seeing your attitude, it doesn¡¯t seem very cooperative.¡± He made a hollow grip with his right hand, and a four-foot-long Geng Metal Sword appeared in his hand, his whole body taking on a bronze hue, with each step echoing with the sound of metal clashing. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just have to send you on your way first!¡± He continued forward, casting a glance at Ye Yuntian, hoarsely laughing, ¡°Ye Yuntian, just to be clear, I won¡¯t split the bounty with you on this job.¡± Ye Yuntian laughed heartily, ¡°Hahaha, the job you accepted, naturally no need to split it with me!¡± Chen Qing chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s for the best.¡± The Wind Butterfly attached itself, and he instantly felt his entire body become lighter, free of the bronze body¡¯s heaviness. He charged forward in the rain, directly at Qiu Lie. Qiu Lie saw Chen Qing coming at him and became extremely cautious, ¡°Why did a Taiyi from the Jiguang Sect suddenly appear?¡± But he didn¡¯t think much, as there¡¯s no time to consider so much when killing. You must be single-minded. Qiu Lie also charged at Chen Qing from the alley, his sword emitting a blaze of light! Chen Qing suddenly swung his sword, clashing with Qiu Lie¡¯s longsword. The Geng Metal Sword, usually invincible, did not break Qiu Lie¡¯s sword but only forced Qiu Lie back three steps. Qiu Lie felt his sword constantly trembling and knew that this opponent was a formidable enemy! Just the force of one sword made his Sword Gu tremble uncontrollably, clearly at a disadvantage. Others saw this and immediately understood that Qiu Lie probably couldn¡¯t match Taiyi, quickly attacking their previous opponents. Shen Ao rushed into the crowd, leading Wuyou Mountain disciples in a counterattack against the Lotus Cave remnants, like a sharp sword cutting a gap in the Lotus Cave¡¯s formation. Ye Yuntian and He Ming charged towards the Lotus Fairy, aiming to slay her. The Lotus Cave remnants fell into a stalemate after losing a master like Qiu Lie. Previously, with Qiu Lie alone restraining He Ming, Ye Yuntian, and Shen Ao, the Lotus Fairy was slaughtering Wuyou Mountain disciples. But now, Shen Ao led Wuyou Mountain disciples in pursuing the Lotus Cave disciples! Nonetheless, Qiu Lie dared not be distracted in front of Chen Qing, treating him with utmost caution. The Sword Butterfly of Void Sword. The Iron Butterfly of Bronze Image. The Wind Butterfly of terrifying speed. Only at the beginning, the opponent had already revealed three Butterfly Gu! Such a formidable opponent was rare in his twenty-seven years of wandering the martial world. Chen Qing leveled his sword, preparing to perform the Sword Butterfly chapter of the Great Kui Sword Scripture! The Great Kui Sword Scripture was known only to him and the Mountain Master in Wuyou Mountain, and the Mountain Master gave it to him in a single day back on the mountain, indicating he had never practiced it. Just from their descriptions, it was impossible to determine the Great Kui Sword Scripture. Furthermore, in such a life-and-death situation, who would have the leisure to care about the swordsmanship he was using? The Great Kui Sword Scripture had four chapters: the Sword Butterfly chapter using only the Sword Gu, the Giant Sword chapter using both Power Gu and Sword Gu, the Thunder Sword chapter using both Thunder Gu and Sword Gu, and lastly, the Great Kui Sword combining Sword Gu, Power Gu, and Thunder Gu. Now, without Power Gu and Thunder Gu, he could only use the Sword Butterfly chapter for now. Fortunately, the higher the quality of the Sword Gu, the greater the power of the Great Kui Sword Scripture. His current Sword Butterfly was at the Ninth Transformation, naturally powerful! Sweeping his sword again, forcing Qiu Lie back three steps, Chen Qing closed in, wielding the Geng Metal Sword with the Great Kui Sword Scripture, attacking Qiu Lie with great force, relentless and powerful! The Ninth Transformation Sword Butterfly, along with the grand and domineering moves of the Great Kui Sword Scripture, made Chen Qing move like a fierce tiger, each sword heavy as a mountain, pressing Qiu Lie to defend feebly! Under Chen Qing¡¯s long sword, jade and stone alike shattered, and the surrounding buildings or stone sculptures crumbled before him as if made of clay. With an uplifted hand, rubble flew apart! Wherever he trod, things shattered into pieces! Chen Qing glanced at Qiu Lie¡¯s bleeding sword-wielding right arm, secretly thinking: With such speed in absorbing my body¡¯s spiritual energy, his Rain Butterfly¡¯s quality isn¡¯t particularly high, just around the Second and Third Transformation. However, his Sword Butterfly might be at the Sixth Transformation! Moreover, the opponent should have Power Gu to compensate for the lack of sword power. Otherwise, he would never withstand my Great Kui Sword! Despite suppressing Qiu Lie continuously, Chen Qing dared not grow complacent. A well-traveled ascetic known for numerous stratagems. Chen Qing slashed again, violently as if to cleave a great river, cutting through the rain curtain and raising a gust of wind. Qiu Lie¡¯s right hand swung the sword to clash with Chen Qing, but the keen-eyed Chen Qing noticed the left hand was hidden in the sleeve! Just about to react, intending to lift a foot to kick Qiu Lie flying, he saw a mass of thunder light tearing open Qiu Lie¡¯s sleeve, flying at him! Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 72: Bloody Battle! Chapter 75: Chapter 72: Bloody Battle! ¡°` The lightning struck Chen Qing¡¯s chest, charring the black robe on his chest to a crisp. The force sent him flying backward, crashing into a building. Amidst the rubble and wood, Chen Qing reached out and flung the beam off his body. The electricity swiftly traveled from his body into the ground through his feet. It used to be tingling and numb, but now, there¡¯s no feeling at all! Seeing no one around, he quickly popped a mid-grade Spirit Stone into his mouth, chewed it twice, and swallowed, filling his body with Spiritual Energy once again! He glanced at the battlefield in the distance. Without Qiu Lie¡¯s restraint, Wuyou Mountain had started to reverse the losing battle, gaining the upper hand slightly. As long as he could eliminate Qiu Lie completely, his senior brothers should be able to retreat safely. He kicked off the ground, shooting forward like an arrow, aiming a sword thrust directly at Qiu Lie¡¯s chest. Bang! Qiu Lie raised his slightly numb right hand and struggled to parry the strike. His tiger¡¯s mouth cracked, and blood dripped from the hilt. Chen Qing observed Qiu Lie¡¯s unwavering and determined gaze. Was he planning to drag me down with the Rain Gu? Too bad, I have a Snake Gu that can quickly replenish Spiritual Energy. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing didn¡¯t believe that Qiu Lie¡¯s Rain Gu could absorb spiritual energy faster than his Snake Gu could devour Spirit Stones! In a flash of lightning, they had already exchanged over fifty strikes. Qiu Lie, a veteran swordsman of the martial world for many years, had far superior swordsmanship skills to Chen Qing. However, fortunately, Chen Qing could cope effortlessly thanks to the speed granted by the Seventh Transformation of the Wind Butterfly. Amidst the constant exchanges, Chen Qing could feel his swordsmanship improving rapidly, an experience he never got when sparring with Yu Qingshuang. At this moment, the spiritual energy within Chen Qing was overflowing, making him feel the need to vent it out properly. The spiritual energy contained in the mid-grade Spirit Stone was rather overbearing. So, he raised his hand and hurled the Geng Metal Longsword at Qiu Lie, wielding an even longer and thicker Geng Metal Sword. He swung the sword again, sending Qiu Lie flying with a single strike, crashing into three small buildings. Chen Qing sprinted towards him, delivering three consecutive powerful strikes, driving Qiu Lie¡¯s legs into the ground! The continual onslaught of the Geng Metal Sword pressed Qiu Lie relentlessly downwards as if he was a mole being driven into the earth. The sustained barrage of strikes shattered Qiu Lie¡¯s body, and with a crack, even his right hand was split open by Chen Qing¡¯s blade! With his internal organs wounded, Qiu Lie spat out a mouthful of blood! Yet, unperturbed, Qiu Lie laughed, ¡°Hit me, keep hitting, and let¡¯s see if it¡¯s you who kills me today or I who kills you!¡± ¡°A strong bow at its end!¡± Chen Qing, however, glared coldly, ¡°Ha, even a dog with its tail between its legs dares to bark wildly in front of me!¡± A burst of vibrant green light emerged from Qiu Lie¡¯s body, and his severed arm started to heal. Transforming into fog, Qiu Lie evaded Chen Qing¡¯s sword and fled into the distance. Chen Qing stomped heavily, shattering a pavilion beneath his feet, and chased after the fog-transformed Qiu Lie. Qiu Lie sprinted wildly, leaping onto the city wall, just about to escape when he heard the roaring wind from behind. Holding his sword in his left hand, he parried the incoming long sword, but Chen Qing¡¯s blow sent him crashing into the city wall, breaking a section of it. Watching as another strike from Chen Qing approached, he immediately transformed into fog and continued fleeing into the distance. But in front of Chen Qing¡¯s Ninth Transformation of the Wind Butterfly, that speed was laughable. After flying a few dozen feet, Chen Qing¡¯s blow again made him cough up blood, leaving Qiu Lie helpless. ¡°How much did Huang Shengluan pay you? I¡¯ll give you double!¡± Fighting for so long under his rain curtain, with seemingly endless spiritual energy within him, Chen Qing¡¯s intense and growing strength left Qiu Lie frightened. Chen Qing was indifferent, ¡°I came here today for your life!¡± ¡°Use whatever tricks you have left, quickly!¡± Qiu Lie¡¯s eyes darkened, and five black shadows flew from behind him towards Chen Qing. Chen Qing glanced and immediately recognized them, ¡°Five Ghost Gu?¡± Although the five ghosts came at him with claws and teeth bared, Chen Qing didn¡¯t care and charged ahead, slicing at Qiu Lie again, weakening his left arm with a single blow. The five evil ghosts fell upon Chen Qing¡¯s body, scratching and clawing, but only a series of metallic clangs was heard! Feeling the ticklish attacks, Chen Qing laughed, ¡°No wonder a twenty-seven-year ascetic like you is so weak, with so few means.¡± ¡°I restrain you!¡± These five ghosts, formless and shapeless, could only be repelled by Thunder or Fire Skills, similar to the Sword Ghost, and were difficult for ordinary cultivators to handle! But against Chen Qing, they had no effect at all! ¡°Thus, you must die as well!¡± Chen Qing immediately deployed the Wall-Penetrating Skill, bypassing Qiu Lie and slashing from behind. With both arms broken and the Fog Gu already used, Qiu Lie hurriedly summoned the Five Ghosts to fend off the attack. But these formless ghosts, how could they block the Geng Metal Longsword? Slash! Qiu Lie was split in two by Chen Qing¡¯s sword attack, and Chen Qing pursued, piercing Qiu Lie¡¯s head with a single strike. The surrounding rain slowed, not as continuous as before. He waved his hand, releasing a surge of spiritual energy and capturing the three escaping Gu. Sword Gu, Rain Gu, and a Five Ghost Gu. This Five Ghost Gu could fetch a good price. Such Gu were most valuable due to their scarcity and could instantly boost combat effectiveness once contracted, especially restraining for lower-level cultivators. However, it was of little use to Chen Qing. He was not interested in contracting a Gu with a short lifespan and nurturing it to a high level. Returning to the city, the disciples of Lotus Cave immediately understood everything when they saw the blood-dripping sword in Chen Qing¡¯s hand. Qiu Lie must have been defeated! The Lotus Fairy exclaimed, ¡°No, my father, an ascetic for twenty-seven years, how could he not be your match?¡± Tears of blood overflowed from her eyes, but an unguarded moment left her slashed by Ye Yuntian, wounding her abdomen. Chen Qing took a step, quickly closing the distance to the Lotus Fairy, and mercilessly swung down a tyrannical strike. Already surrounded by two opponents and low on spiritual energy, she couldn¡¯t withstand Chen Qing¡¯s relentless Geng Metal Sword. With a single strike, Chen Qing beheaded the Lotus Fairy! Blood splattered all over Chen Qing, and he turned to rush towards the remaining Lotus Cave remnants, striking down a disciple just forced back by Shen Ao. Blood poured like rain. Fully activating the Ninth Transformation of the Wind Gu, Chen Qing weaved and dodged in the rain, slaughtering a Lotus Cave disciple with a single strike. These ordinary Refinement Level Six and Seven, and Lotus Cave remnants without Butterfly Transformation Gu, had no power to resist him. In mere thirty breaths, Chen Qing stood amidst the carnage, sheathing his Geng Metal Sword and letting the rain wash the blood from his body. Looking back, Ye Yuntian and the others were all injured, with two Wuyou Mountain disciples seriously wounded, lying on the ground, uncertain if they were alive. But that wasn¡¯t something he could take care of now. It was time to leave. He turned, leapt onto the rooftop, and vanished into the night as fog. ¡°` Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 59: The Da Yan Imperial Palace Built on the Ruins of Jiguang Chapter 60: Chapter 59: The Da Yan Imperial Palace Built on the Ruins of Jiguang ¡°` The young boy faced the blade, expressionless and extremely numb, as if he had long been accustomed to it. The blood dripped down, but it seemed to fall not into the wine bowl, but onto Chen Qing¡¯s face. In the understanding of this world, wasn¡¯t he also considered an abnormal person? Perhaps one day, he too would be pierced by massive chains through his shoulder blades, hung in the dark depths where no light shone, with people coming daily with Gu to ask him how to enhance. To grow old like this, to be so numb, to wait for death. An inexplicable surge of immense anger and unwillingness rose in his heart, like a wildfire. He shook his head. Anger, he thought, was the most useless thing. He reached out and scooped up a handful of snow, seriously wiping his hands. The sword had just returned to its sheath, and yet again he met injustice. This sword was difficult to contain! He reached out and drew his long sword from his waist, the Geng Metal Sword Light already crawling up the blade. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Leaping down from the rooftop, Chen Qing struck down with his sword, beheading the village chief. The crowd immediately erupted into chaos, with everyone hurriedly groping around for weapons. The numb, tormented young boy lifted his head for the first time, seriously watching Chen Qing. Chen Qing stepped boldly into the crowd, weaving and maneuvering among them, killing with every step. Being ordinary mortals, they were ravaged effortlessly by his cultivator¡¯s physique. Blood gushed like a fountain, as Chen Qing moved ghost-like among the bandits, leaving decapitated heads in his wake. In merely thirty breaths, Chen Qing chopped down the last fine head, the blood completely soaking the long sword, gathering at the tip and dripping continuously. He flicked a bandit¡¯s clothing with his sword, wiped off the blood, and walked up to the young boy. ¡°You are free now, you can go.¡± The young boy dazedly walked out of the village. Chen Qing sliced open the village chief¡¯s heart, feeding it to the Snake Gu, but to his surprise, it ate only one and refused any more, almost about to advance. Hahaha, who would have thought, that the heart of a cultivator, three weren¡¯t even worth one of a mortal¡¯s heart! This greed-filled heart, truly overflowing with insatiable lust. Chen Qing walked out the village gate, with the boy following Chen Qing after he¡¯d walked a bit. Chen Qing turned his head and asked, ¡°Why are you following me?¡± The young boy murmured, ¡°I don¡¯t know where to go.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s your mother?¡± ¡°Killed by my father.¡± ¡°And your father?¡± ¡°Killed by you.¡± Chen Qing, ¡°¡­¡± So that village chief was his father? ¡°Sorry.¡± The young boy shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°How old are you this year?¡± The young boy absentmindedly fiddled with his fingers, ¡°Twelve years old.¡± At twelve, he was only as tall as an eight or nine-year-old, apparently heavily tormented by this group of bandits. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The young boy rubbed his head, ¡°Forgot.¡± Chen Qing suddenly asked, ¡°Do you want to cultivate immortality with me?¡± The young boy asked blankly, ¡°What are immortals, why cultivate immortality?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°It¡¯s naturally to become an immortal.¡± The young boy asked, ¡°What¡¯s the use of becoming an immortal?¡± Chen Qing pointed to the bodies all over the ground, ¡°Become an immortal, and you can be like me, slaying all evil people.¡± The young boy finally nodded, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll cultivate immortality with you.¡± Chen Qing took the young boy back to Black Tiger Village, washed with wine, and treated his wounds with his golden sore medicine. ¡°From now on, you will be called Wushang.¡± ¡°With life unharmed, remember?¡± The young boy nodded. Chen Qing pointed towards the camp, ¡°Go, burn this village down.¡± Flames rose up, amidst the raging fire, Chen Qing crouched down, ¡°Climb on, let¡¯s go.¡± This was an attempt, an attempt to protect abnormal people, to protect himself. In the deep night, after Wushang fell asleep, Chen Qing slipped away to the distance, sitting on a large tree, putting on the bronze ghost mask. Three hours earlier. In a dense forest outside Feiyun Creek. Hu Yao and a handsome young man sat on separate branches, observing the dazzling lights in the distance. In a little while, a few splendid fireworks flew up in the night. It was the human race¡¯s year-end festival, not belonging to the Demon Clan. In fact, humans even enjoyed killing a few demons for fun. Uncle Lu stared at the beauty before him and said, ¡°Hu Yao, I want to sleep with you.¡± Hu Yao did not turn her head, stating bluntly, ¡°I can only sleep with one person.¡± Uncle Lu said, ¡°Then only let me sleep with you!¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°I am a tiger, only a great hero of the Demon Clan, the Great Demon King, can sleep with a tiger!¡± Uncle Lu said, ¡°I will become the Great Demon King in the future, I am about to reach Foundation Establishment!¡± Hu Yao replied, ¡°Then you can¡¯t sleep with me now.¡± Uncle Lu said, ¡°But I want to sleep with you now, I¡¯m going crazy thinking about it.¡± Hu Yao pointed toward Da Yan¡¯s direction, ¡°I read in a book that demons who can become the Great Demon King are those who can dominate among humans.¡± ¡°If you can steal an official seal of Da Yan, proving you can come and go freely among humans, then I¡¯ll only let you sleep with me.¡± ¡°But can you do it?¡± Uncle Lu suddenly got angry, ¡°An official seal, right? I¡¯ll go get it now! You wait for me!¡± Hu Yao watched as Uncle Lu ran off into the distance, thinking that demons were indeed demons. They didn¡¯t need any elaborate schemes. Just a simple ¡®can you do it?¡¯ Sometimes, she thought, Uncle Lu might not be a deer, but rather an antelope. Now, she was becoming more certain that this guy definitely had the bloodline of an antelope. One hour earlier. At the Da Yan Imperial Palace. Heavenly Book Pavilion. The small, exquisite rosewood incense burner emitted tendrils of incense smoke, its fragrance entrancing, calming the mind. Under the bronze white crane lamp, in the dim yellow light. The graceful and dignified Ninth Princess Princess Ruyi of Da Yan set down the scroll in her hand. This scroll was extremely ancient, easy to shatter if handled carelessly. ¡°Searched the Ancient Times, found no title of Taichu.¡± ¡°Searched the Gods Era, found no title of Taichu.¡± ¡°Even in the most ancient of times, the Ancient Times, there were no clues.¡± She gently closed the scroll, softly speaking, ¡°Can it be that he is an existence that has transcended everything, erased his traces from the river of history?¡± Finding a Jiguang Sect bronze ghost mask in the Da Yan Imperial Palace didn¡¯t surprise her. After all, according to the Imperial Palace Secret Scroll that only the Emperor¡¯s descendants were qualified to view, Jiguang Sect during the Ancient Times was a colossal entity overshadowing half the world. It was the one who personally ended the Gods Era. Where the night existed, there was Jiguang. They walked in the night and chose to embrace the light. The Da Yan Imperial Palace was built on the ruins of Jiguang Sect. So finding a bronze ghost mask was too normal. As a princess of Da Yan, interacting with Jiguang Sect didn¡¯t feel contrary to her status. Resolutely, she had no opportunity to become Emperor Donghua of Da Yan. Before the return of the master of Jiguang Sect, Jiguang Sect was still a grand feast, a Taotie feast laid out for everyone to enjoy. Da Yan¡¯s establishment as a country was due to seizing a fattest piece from the initial split of the Jiguang Sect feast. Moreover, she could clearly ascertain that the master of Jiguang would absolutely not come back to life. Otherwise, the Da Yan established by Donghua today, the Heavenly Master Mansion that Da Yan enshrined, the Immortal Court, West Desert¡¯s Buddhist sect, North Sea¡¯s Dragon Palace and snowfield, Nanli¡¯s Jiuli, would not be so peaceful. That Senior Taichu should be an ancient being awakened from slumber, trying to claim a Pure Land of his own in this world. If she could secure the position of Taichu Goddess in the future Taichu Sect, it would be greatly beneficial to her. According to Senior Taichu¡¯s exhibited control over the authority of heaven and earth, his authority seemingly surpassed even Heavenly Master and Heavenly Venerable. The status of Taichu Goddess in the future might compare to that of the Da Yan Emperor Donghua. Even Senior Taichu would need a goddess to walk among humanity. No, she shouldn¡¯t use the word ¡°secure.¡± An ancient being like Taichu could see through every little scheme. It should be gaining his affection. ¡°` Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 74: Consecutive Breakthroughs Chapter 77: Chapter 74: Consecutive Breakthroughs One Soul Stealing Flower after another went down his stomach. This state of cultivation, filled with spirituality, allowed Chen Qing¡¯s practice to be as fast as Divine Speed! His cultivation level kept climbing. In just a short hour, Chen Qing already felt a significant increase in his cultivation level. At this pace, he was about to reach the sixth layer of the Qi Refining Realm! The Spiritual Energy surged within him, and every inch of his flesh greedily grew! Another hour passed, Chen Qing¡¯s entire aura shook, and a wave of spiritual pressure rippled out; he had now reached the sixth layer of the Qi Refining Realm! There were still plenty of Soul Stealing Flowers left. Chen Qing didn¡¯t want to slack off, so he kept pushing, seeing if he could directly breach the seventh layer of Qi Refining! Sleepless through the night, Chen Qing chewed the last petal of the Soul Stealing Flower, ¡°Seems like I¡¯m just a bit shy of the seventh layer.¡± Continuing such cultivation would surely become addictive. But he was just one step away! Forget it, he thought. I¡¯ll buy another ten Soul Stealing Flowers and see if I can break through the bottleneck of the seventh layer. I¡¯m about to become a master of the seventh layer of Qi Refining! In the martial world, reaching the seventh layer made one a rare master and a backbone of any sect. At night, Chen Qing went down the mountain again and spent twelve thousand low-grade Spirit Stones to buy ten Soul Stealing Flowers. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï According to the female cultivator at the Wanbao Pavilion, he had bought all the Soul Stealing Flowers they had. Chen Qing couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit disappointed. If he wanted to continue improving his cultivation, he would have to buy other Spiritual Medicines, though none had the potency of the Soul Stealing Flower. Fortunately, the Blood Ginseng he had planted was about to mature. When the time came, he could secretly consume some to boost his cultivation! On his way back, Chen Qing passed by the War Affairs Hall where they were meeting. Seeing Chen Qing pass by, they didn¡¯t shy away but continued their discussion. ¡°Wutong Mountain seems to have sent spies recently.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know where they¡¯ve gone.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to guess, they must have sent them our way!¡± ¡°Keep investigations quiet; don¡¯t make unnecessary moves.¡± Chen Qing returned to his cave, lying in the stone chamber, eating Soul Stealing Flowers as if they were snacks. Looks like I should find an opportunity to kill Huang Shengluan. Not for any particular reason, just that Chen Qing wasn¡¯t familiar with anyone else. Also, Huang Shengluan held a high position; his death could throw Wutong Mountain into chaos for a few years. In the past, Wuyou Mountain was always on the defensive, which was extremely exhausting for Chen Qing. This time, Chen Qing decided to take the offensive; he didn¡¯t know when this fellow would go out. Killing him at his home in front of so many wouldn¡¯t be right. Better to let him die outside and keep things dignified. After swallowing three more Soul Stealing Flowers, Chen Qing felt the time was right to break through the seventh layer of Qi Refining. He quickly got up, sat cross-legged, and began seriously cultivating in an attempt to break through! Gathering all the Spiritual Energy in his body, he continually attacked the seventh meridian within him. Qi Refining had ten layers, referring to the ten meridians within the body. Breaking through each meridian was akin to reaching a new layer, providing more capacity for Spiritual Energy within. However, generally, no one referred to ten layers of Qi Refining as such; instead, they called it Qi Refining Perfection. Once all ten were unblocked, they allowed for continuous circulation within the body, termed ¡°small circulation,¡± also known as Qi Refining Perfection. Chen Qing persistently attacked the last hurdle of the seventh meridian, with the Spiritual Energy in his body crashing against the bottleneck like a great river. An hour later, Chen Qing opened his eyes, ¡°Still not quite there, but I feel close!¡± Looking at the seven remaining Soul Stealing Flowers, Chen Qing grabbed them and started devouring them in big bites. Might as well go all out to break through to the seventh layer of Qi Refining! With seven Soul Stealing Flowers consumed, Chen Qing felt his whole body overflowing with spirituality; the Spiritual Energy within him seemed about to boil! He concentrated fully, seriously attacking the bottleneck. The Spiritual Energy within his body flowed endlessly; whenever Chen Qing used a large surge, a new supply would replenish it! And the seventh meridian, under this continuous onslaught, showed signs of loosening. Chen Qing was overjoyed and pushed harder! He continuously attacked, and his consciousness could even sense the sound of Spiritual Energy clashing with his meridian. Boom! Boom! Boom! Bang! All the Spiritual Energy in his body entered an entirely new place! The seventh layer of Qi Refining was breached! A wave of energy rippled around Chen Qing¡¯s body, a sign that the spiritual pressure within him had changed. Opening new meridians didn¡¯t expand the Dantian too much; what mattered was the spiritual pressure, or the purity of Spiritual Energy. Spiritual Energy entered the body from the outside and was compressed by meridians; the more meridians it passed through, the purer the Spiritual Energy. Thus, the level of Qi Refining influenced the spiritual pressure experienced, being a primary basis for assessing cultivation level. Using the remaining medicine power, Chen Qing continued expanding the newly breached seventh meridian, stabilizing his cultivation. After stabilizing his cultivation for two hours, Chen Qing finally opened his eyes. Using the Fog Gu, he adjusted his spiritual pressure to the fourth layer of Qi Refining, lying down to prepare for the new day. Finally, he had reached the seventh layer of Qi Refining in his practice. Though such cultivation speed was very fast, the Spirit Stones were indeed running low. For the eighth layer of Qi Refining, there was no rush. Once the Spirit Ginseng and Blood Ginseng were harvested, with a good feast, it might be possible to reach the eighth layer of Qi Refining. With the remaining Spirit Stones, he decided to continue enhancing the Wind Gu and Iron Skin Gu, and search for a Power Gu. The Power Gu was inexpensive, far cheaper than domineering Gu like the sword Gu, costing only seven to eight thousand low-grade Spirit Stones; the remaining Spirit Stones would suffice. The second day of February. Chen Qing busied himself in the Blood Ginseng field, directing the disciples of the Spirit Plant Hall to continue watering with spirit beast blood. Last night¡¯s gathering wasn¡¯t much of a discussion; Yao Feng and the scholar¡¯s Spirit Stones were nearly drained by him. Red Lotus, true to form, couldn¡¯t hold onto money and bought a Fifth Transformation Copper Bone Gu for Chen Qing to guide. He made a small profit of twenty middle-grade Spirit Stones. For the Demon Clan, Copper Bone Gu was indeed better than Iron Skin Gu. Claws and teeth were considered part of the bone. For Demon Clan who excelled in close combat, Copper Bone Gu was not just a defensive Gu, but also an offensive one. Both offensive and defensive, so they were quite valuable among the Demon Clan. Only after Red Lotus found the rich patron Fu Luo could she afford to buy one. What surprised Chen Qing was that after Fu Luo¡¯s Luck Gu advanced to a Fortune Butterfly, it finally began seeking guidance from other Gu. It was a sword Gu, but not an ordinary sword Gu; it was a spiritual item sword Gu. [Spiritual Item Sword Gu: Lonely Shadow] Quality: Seventh Transformation Life Span: 78/270 Effect: Condenses twenty strands of Spiritual Energy into a single Lonely Shadow Sword Qi. [Trait]: [Sword Nurturing Skill] Can nurture seven Lonely Shadow Swords within, capable of flying swords. Growth Requirements: Night Ghost Core Growth Progress: 5/100 Promotion Requirements: Five Shadow Creation Stones, seven Essence of the Void, one Sword Coffin Spiritual item sword Gu were indeed extraordinary; a mere Seventh Transformation was already more powerful than his Ninth Transformation Sword Butterfly. Chen Qing speculated that these so-called Lonely Shadow Sword Qi and Lonely Shadow Sword were possibly intangible, possibly not less powerful than his Geng Metal Sword. Seeing such a treasure, Chen Qing could only sigh, truly a treasure. Of course, in front of that Fortune Butterfly, everything seemed pale and powerless. After the Fortune Butterfly advanced to Butterfly Transformation, it had no traits, nor any change in its effect description. However, such a mysterious Gu, mysterious as gods, Chen Qing did not dare say the Butterfly Transformation was useless; only the user could truly feel the change within. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 61: Death is Imminent Chapter 62: Chapter 61: Death is Imminent Princess Ruyi nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡± Seeing how unique Princess Ruyi¡¯s Light Gu was, Murong Lang and Hu Yao couldn¡¯t sit still. Each spent five mid-grade Spirit Stones to inquire about the current growth requirements of Chen Qing¡¯s Light Gu. Xu Yaofeng, however, did not speak. Although he now possessed a spiritual Light Gu and his power had greatly increased, it still took time to convert this into acquiring a large number of Spirit Stones. His Light Gu was not like these, which only required a Gu¡¯s elevation. His Light Gu now required Harmonization for elevation, making it difficult even for him to gather such a large amount of Spirit Stones in a short time. Silence fell again as Chen Qing sat quietly, ¡°Now, you can start chatting.¡± Hu Yao, whose pockets were relatively empty lately, spoke first, ¡°That white deer has already gone to Da Yan. If you have any people there, you should receive news soon.¡± Princess Ruyi smiled warmly, ¡°Alright, once it¡¯s caught, I¡¯ll bring the Spirit Stones to you.¡± ¡°Yeah, five hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones.¡± Hu Yao was satisfied and quickly became happy again with the thought of getting Spirit Stones soon. Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°The Immortal Court¡¯s ¡®Tome of Understanding¡¯ is said to have been written and sent to the Azure Dragon True Monarch of the Immortal Court, but it is still unknown whether the Azure Dragon True Monarch has responded.¡± Princess Ruyi picked up the conversation, ¡°I¡¯ve seen the ¡®Tome of Understanding.¡¯ After all, it¡¯s the heart and soul of the Immortal Court. It¡¯s more economical with Spirit Stones compared to the previous version of the ¡®Tome of Understanding.''¡± ¡°If the elevation situation of the Gu worms in the early stages is predicted according to the methods in the ¡®Tome of Understanding,¡¯ large forces should be able to save about one-fifth of their Spirit Stones.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï ¡°Compared to outside loose cultivators, they should save about one-third of their Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, the part about advancing to Butterfly Transformation and Harmonization still has little significance.¡± Elder Chen understood this point. In fact, the Spirit Stones required for the elevation of Gu worms differed for each faction. Of course, this was an average calculated from many people¡¯s tests, excluding exceptions. Roughly speaking, if outside cultivators required a thousand Spirit Stones for elevation like a small faction such as Wuyou Mountain, after reading the ¡®Tome of Understanding,¡¯ they might only need six hundred and sixty-six Spirit Stones. As Fu Luo was already part of a large faction with rich experience in Gu worm elevation, he originally required only eight hundred and thirty-two Spirit Stones, and after reading the ¡®Tome of Understanding,¡¯ he only needed six hundred and sixty-six Spirit Stones. This used vast data to meticulously calculate every possibility of a Gu worm, narrowing the scope once again. It seemed this world was not entirely ignorant after all. Princess Ruyi continued, ¡°This ¡®Tome of Understanding¡¯ took three hundred years to compile, and it can almost be said to be reaching its limit. It will be difficult to continue improving in the future.¡± ¡°Unless the Heavenly Master Mansion and the Immortal Court can discover more mysteries about Gu worms.¡± Xu Yaofeng asked, ¡°Why wasn¡¯t there such a great improvement before?¡± Princess Ruyi explained, ¡°Because the ancient books of the Jiguang Sect had not been discovered before, this ¡®Tome of Understanding¡¯ was corrected and written based on the ancient books of our Jiguang Sect.¡± However, it now belonged to the Immortal Court. Chen Qing listened, occasionally tapping his index finger on the table, realizing these large factions had their reason for being so powerful. With no one continuing the conversation, Chen Qing calmly said, ¡°Well, today¡¯s gathering ends here.¡± As the people at the gathering disappeared one by one, Chen Qing remained silent for a moment, waved his sleeve, collected the eight mid-grade Spirit Stones from the table, and then left the gathering. Let¡¯s first let Fu Luo try, to see what kind of existence he truly was in this world. Three days later, Chen Qing returned to Wuyou Mountain, carrying the fully healed Wushang on his back. There weren¡¯t many people at Wuyou Mountain at that moment. Feng Qi and Ye Yuntian were not present, nor was the Mountain Master. Upon returning to the mountain, Chen Qing received the news that the Mountain Master had already reached an agreement with the Mountain Master of Wutong Mountain to destroy the Lotus Cave. That made sense. The Cave Master of Lotus Cave had revealed his power in the battle against the Great Snake, so the Mountain Master and the Mountain Master of Wutong Mountain must have long been ambushing in secret. Now that the Cave Master of the Lotus Cave had obtained a page of sword scripture and over ten sword Gu, there was no way the Mountain Master and the Mountain Master of Wutong Mountain would sit idly by and let the Lotus Cave grow stronger. No wonder when he had only obtained a page of the sword scripture, Qiu Feng was furious. It turned out the end was near. Upon returning to Wuyou Mountain, Chen Qing only mentioned having destroyed a bandit camp and saved an orphan. No one questioned it too much. After all, Chen Qing had been picked up by Elder Chen back in the day, so it was normal for Chen Qing to pick up a child now. After settling Wushang in his original cave and preparing food and clothes, Chen Qing said, ¡°I¡¯ve enrolled you in the school of Wuyou Mountain. When you go, tell them you¡¯re my younger brother. No one will dare to bully you.¡± ¡°In school, be good. Absolutely no fighting, understand?¡± Wushang, dressed in white, nodded. Chen Qing continued, ¡°If you lack anything or encounter any difficulties, just tell me.¡± Wushang replied, ¡°Okay.¡± This child had been with him for three days, and after seemingly realizing he was safe, he had become much more lively and spirited. It reminded him of his memories at the age of twelve, and Elder Chen had treated him similarly at that time. He would have to find a chance to visit and pay respects to Elder Chen. He placed his hand firmly on Wushang¡¯s shoulder and earnestly said, ¡°Absolutely no fighting, don¡¯t shed another drop of blood.¡± ¡°You will die.¡± ¡­ After arranging Wushang¡¯s matters, Chen Qing went to the Spirit Plant Hall and gathered the disciples of the Spirit Plant Hall. ¡°Now, with our Wuyou Mountain at war with the Lotus Cave, although we belong to the production department and cannot participate in the frontlines, we must not remain indifferent!¡± Li He and Wang Ye exchanged a glance, immediately stepping forward, ¡°We await the Hall Master¡¯s orders!¡± Chen Qing nodded and then said, ¡°Wang Ye, your Gu worm is the Green Bull Gu, which is handy for transportation and has some combat strength.¡± ¡°The main battlefield is now near the Lotus Cave. Our Wuyou Mountain¡¯s hinterland is safe.¡± ¡°You are to gather the disciples of Wuyou Mountain who have not gone to the battlefield and receive injured Wuyou Mountain disciples at each road returning to Wuyou Mountain!¡± ¡°If anyone disobeys, they¡¯re to reflect in the cold cave of the mountain for three years!¡± ¡°Inform everyone, all meritorious deeds are to be recorded, and after the war, they will be rewarded according to their contributions!¡± ¡°Whoever makes the greatest contribution, I will award them a Grass Spirit Gu, and they may join our Spirit Plant Hall!¡± Wang Ye immediately received the order, ¡°Yes, Hall Master!¡± Chen Qing continued, ¡°Li He, lead the Spirit Plant Hall brothers to fully prepare Healing Medicines, be quick, and in ample quantity!¡± ¡°You may use ten thousand Spirit Stones from the Spirit Plant Hall¡¯s accounting records!¡± ¡°In three days, I want to see enough Healing Medicines for one hundred people!¡± Li He immediately received the order, ¡°Yes, Hall Master!¡± Zhou Ke said, ¡°The Hall Master truly is a man capable of great deeds. Before the Hall Master¡¯s return, we were all at a loss, but now that the Hall Master is back, everything is orderly.¡± Chen Qing further instructed, ¡°Zhou Ke, I command you to lead three from the Spirit Plant Hall to oversee the Spirit Plant Garden. The war is important, but the Spirit Plant Garden is the foundation and cannot be neglected!¡± Zhou Ke immediately received the order. Upon leaving the Spirit Plant Hall, Chen Qing encountered the Guardian Elder, smiling as he watched him. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 76 Taiping Sects Poisonous Plot, The Battle Resumes Chapter 79: Chapter 76 Taiping Sect¡¯s Poisonous Plot, The Battle Resumes »ÆʤöÇ wanted to drag Wuyou Mountain into the mess? If that¡¯s the case, then no one in this inn could be left alive. The Bronze Image was highly effective against Thunder Skills, so Chen Qing wasn¡¯t afraid at all and was confident he could take them all out. Lightning flickered in Xiang Baiyu¡¯s hand, crackling as it struck Huang Shengluan, knocking him out. She really didn¡¯t dare to listen. She pushed open the door and asked the Taiping Sect disciples in the hall, ¡°How long until the Lord of Altar arrives?¡± The Taiping Sect disciple replied, ¡°On the way.¡± Xiang Baiyu instructed, ¡°Don¡¯t let Huang Shengluan escape. I¡¯m going to greet the Lord of Altar!¡± She leaped into the air, jumping out of the hall skylight, heading westward. Chen Qing immediately used the Wall-penetrating Skill, arriving in Huang Shengluan¡¯s room. The Geng Metal Sword appeared in his hand, piercing through Huang Shengluan¡¯s head with a single thrust. Then he waited in place for thirty breaths, once again using Wall-penetrating Skill to directly reach the street, transforming into fog as he pursued in the direction Xiang Baiyu disappeared. Lord of Altar? Even Xiang Baiyu had to address him respectfully as ¡°Lord,¡± what kind of strength did he possess? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Keeping a distance, Chen Qing followed Xiang Baiyu, concealing himself all the way. With the Seventh Transformation Wind Butterfly¡¯s support, he landed silently. After pursuing for an hour, Chen Qing saw a black figure standing with Xiang Baiyu from a distance, Xiang Baiyu kneeling on one knee and reporting, ¡°Master, I have already pried open Huang Shengluan¡¯s mouth, just waiting for you to arrive!¡± Chen Qing did not feel the imposing aura of Foundation Establishment from that Lord of Altar, he should be in the Qi Refining Realm. For even Xiang Baiyu to call him ¡°Master,¡± his strength was undoubtedly extraordinary, possibly even above his own. The man was quite tall, too distant to clearly see his features, his outline only revealing he was a man. ¡°Remember, this matter can only be carried out in secret, the Jiguang Sect¡¯s mad dogs are not so easy to deal with.¡± ¡°If you want to capture Jiguang Sect people, there¡¯s only one chance. If you miss it, there won¡¯t be another.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t implicate too many, if we inadvertently involve Da Yan¡¯s watchdogs and they catch the scent, it will be even more troublesome.¡± Once the two left and went far away, only then did Chen Qing begin to prepare to return to Wuyou Mountain. It seemed Taiyi could no longer appear in the territory of Wuyou Mountain. Returning to Wuyou Mountain, Chen Qing went back to his cave and contracted the Power Gu, then headed to the Spirit Plant Garden. After being away for a few days, this time Chen Qing took an entire day to manage all the poorly growing Spirit Ginseng. After contracting the Power Gu, Chen Qing felt as if he had endless strength, casually clenching his fist, and it was as though thousands of catties of force were in his hand. Returning home, Chen Qing began practicing the Great Kui Sword Scripture with the Power Gu. After practicing a set of sword techniques, the feeling was indeed different, each sword strike was incredibly powerful, with force radiating in all directions. Power significantly increased! The Great Kui Sword Scripture was indeed extraordinary! Next time he encountered someone with strength similar to Qiu Feng¡¯s, he should be able to finish the fight more quickly! But the Thunder Gu was still relatively troublesome; only the Taiping Sect had it in this area. If he killed someone from the Taiping Sect, he might have a chance to obtain one, but Chen Qing was unwilling to put in too much effort to cultivate a Gu that wouldn¡¯t last long. What he was looking forward to more now was what new changes would occur after the Ninth Transformation of the Wind Butterfly. Three days later, when Chen Qing finally arrived at the Spirit Plant Hall, he heard the latest news. Xiao Zhong had disappeared. The disciples of the Shadow Hall were currently reporting the situation to the War Affairs Hall. The disappearance of a Deputy Hall Master caused Wuyou Mountain to become alert. Chen Qing immediately thought of the Taiping Sect. Could it be that they not only captured Huang Shengluan but also Xiao Zhong? A few days later, news of Huang Shengluan¡¯s death finally came, along with a hand belonging to Xiao Zhong, which was also delivered to Wuyou Mountain. It was said that the disciples of Wutong Mountain witnessed Xiao Zhong accidentally killing Huang Shengluan. Making a corpse be killed again was not a difficult thing for the Taiping Sect. It was clearly an attempt to incite a war between Wutong Mountain and Wuyou Mountain! The Taiping Sect! To make the two sects get along was difficult enough, but to provoke a war between the two sects was as easy as drinking water for the Taiping Sect. These lunatics, they had already started to act insanely for the sake of the spirit Gu! In their eyes, the hundreds of lives from the two sects were simply not worth mentioning. No, he had to request a meeting with the Mountain Master! Chen Qing immediately passed through the War Affairs Hall, straight up to the summit of Wuyou Mountain. After consulting the Great Elder, Chen Qing saw the Mountain Master in front of a pile of graves in the back mountains. ¡°Mountain Master, someone is trying to sow discord between us and Wutong Mountain!¡± The Mountain Master still had that deadpan face, standing in the mound of graves as if he had just climbed out of a coffin. He pulled a handful of grave grass, ¡°I know.¡± Chen Qing continued, ¡°Mountain Master, I feel like someone is controlling all of this from behind the scenes, and we probably won¡¯t be able to withstand it.¡± The Mountain Master nodded, ¡°I know that too.¡± Chen Qing suggested, ¡°Then let¡¯s leave, find another place to establish a sect!¡± The Mountain Master sighed deeply, ¡°But who will save Xiao Zhong?¡± The Mountain Master¡¯s eyes burned as he looked at Chen Qing, ¡°Since you know this is a conspiracy, then you must know that Xiao Zhong is innocent, he has been framed, he definitely did not kill Huang Shengluan.¡± ¡°If we leave, what about Xiao Zhong?¡± He approached Chen Qing, saying seriously, ¡°Let¡¯s save Xiao Zhong first, then we¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Wait a little longer, Feng Qi and the others are about to make a move.¡± Chen Qing felt somewhat disheartened as he descended the mountain. Yes, if they left, what would happen to Xiao Zhong? Who would have thought that the Taiping Sect actually captured Xiao Zhong as well? Chen Qing returned to his cave and packed up his things. It was time to go. Isn¡¯t it the spirit Gu you want? Then come and chase. But before leaving, he must clean up his tracks. Chen Qing once again glanced at the Great Kui Sword Scripture, ensuring he had memorized all its contents. He placed the Great Kui Sword Scripture on the table in his cave, then closed the door and walked out. Just as he reached the mountain gate, he glanced back, intending to take one last look at Wuyou Mountain, the place he had lived for ten years. He found that Yu Qingshuang had caught up with him. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Chen Qing said softly, ¡°To kill a few people.¡± Yu Qingshuang asked, ¡°Can you take me with you?¡± Chen Qing shook his head, ¡°Following me is too dangerous.¡± Yu Qingshuang looked at Chen Qing with a dreamy expression, ¡°Will you come back?¡± Chen Qing thought for a long time, ¡°I will be back.¡± Yu Qingshuang handed the package from her back to Chen Qing, ¡°Come back soon.¡± Chen Qing nodded with a smile, ¡°I will be back.¡± Chen Qing turned and walked away, Yu Qingshuang¡¯s voice came from behind, ¡°Don¡¯t be like my father, leaving and never returning.¡± Taking a step forward, the Eighth-Transformation Wind Butterfly activated under his feet, and he sped towards the territory of Wutong Mountain like an arrow released from a bowstring. Yu Qingshuang suddenly felt as if her heart was missing a piece, ¡°I knew it was you.¡± ¡°Counting the time at Sword Abyss, you¡¯ve saved me twice.¡± ¡°And your swordsmanship, others might not recognize it, but how could I not feel it?¡± Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 63: The Spy Cannot Escape, Sitting Securely Without Worries Chapter 64: Chapter 63: The Spy Cannot Escape, Sitting Securely Without Worries ¡°Xie, since it is so, I have no choice but to entrust this task to you!¡± ¡°Last time the people from Lotus Cave came to attack, someone headed straight for my cave abode.¡± ¡°My cave abode was newly built; how could the people from Lotus Cave possibly know of it?¡± ¡°I am certain there must be a traitor on Wuyou Mountain.¡± ¡°Now with Sun Feiting leading people to the frontlines to deliver supplies, if something goes wrong, we surely cannot continue the pursuit. Once the people from Lotus Cave escape, the problems will be endless!¡± Xie Dayou also understood the reasons and said, ¡°Master Chen, just give the order!¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Brother Xie, I want you to go to the place where Brother Sun and the rest have descended into the earth, stay vigilant at all times, hide day and night, do not leave, do not expose yourself!¡± ¡°If anyone comes to check this place, or enters the cave to search for Brother Sun¡¯s whereabouts, capture them on the spot!¡± ¡°If there is danger in a confrontation, no matter who it is, I authorize you to kill them immediately!¡± Xie Dayou immediately went back to his room, and in just a moment, he had already returned carrying three long swords and said, ¡°Master Chen, rest assured, I¡¯m on my way!¡± Chen Qing waved his hand and said, ¡°Wait!¡± He took off the wine gourd he had carried at his waist for a year and handed it to Xie Dayou, ¡°Brother, go now, be very careful!¡± Xie Dayou shook the wine gourd, felt it was full of wine, hung it at his waist, and quickly strode away into the night. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï After finishing this task, Chen Qing felt somewhat at ease. He came to the Grand Hall at the mountain¡¯s peak, found a seat, and sat down, preparing to arrange the important matters for the disciples who were left to guard at Wuyou Mountain. Seeing the maid serving tea, Chen Qing instructed, ¡°From today on, the lights of the Grand Hall on the mountain peak must not be extinguished, they must be seen from all over Wuyou Mountain!¡± He wanted everyone to know that there was still someone in charge at Wuyou Mountain. Hearing this, the maid hurriedly called some people to come and light the lamps. Leaning against a tea table, he dozed off for a while, and then the sky gradually brightened. Chen Qing rubbed his eyes, and it was dawn. While eating the food brought by the maid, Chen Qing instructed, ¡°Go, summon all the disciples from War Affairs Hall and Shadow Hall who are still on the mountain!¡± The maid hurried off to pass the order, and in just a while, more than ten disciples from War Affairs Hall and Shadow Hall had gathered. They stood outside the Grand Hall, quietly awaiting Chen Qing¡¯s command. Inside the Grand Hall, only the Hall Master and Deputy Hall Master had the privilege to enter. These disciples, most of them had not been at Wuyou Mountain due to the holidays when the battles broke out and had heard the news and returned these past two days. Chen Qing glanced over them, a total of fifteen people, which was barely enough. Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, Chen Qing stood up and came outside the Grand Hall, ¡°Now the war situation is urgent, Brothers Ye and Feng are busy with war affairs outside.¡± ¡°Brother Gongsun Xiu is also guarding the mountain gate to prevent the petty thieves from spying on Wuyou Mountain.¡± ¡°It is I who will take charge of Wuyou Mountain.¡± As he was speaking, the War Affairs Hall and Shadow Hall disciples were listening but not very attentively. Chen Qing paused and continued, ¡°You fifteen, I intend to divide into three teams¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, a clamor arose outside the Grand Hall. Xie Dayou, holding a bloody man, walked briskly towards the Grand Hall and threw the bloody man into the midst of the people, then faced Chen Qing and saluted with a fist, ¡°Master, your prediction was indeed accurate. This morning, before dawn, I spotted him emerging from the cave!¡± ¡°It was clear he had just gone to scout Sun Feiting¡¯s trail, likely intending to betray us!¡± ¡°I followed him, and this man was actually releasing a carrier pigeon!¡± Xie Dayou stepped forward and knelt on one knee before Chen Qing, presenting the wine gourd and a sealed letter, ¡°Now the person has been captured, and the secret letter is here, please inspect it, Master!¡± Upon hearing this, the crowd was astounded, turning their gaze to the bloodied figure on the ground. Chen Qing took the wine gourd and the secret letter, gesturing for Xie Dayou to stand aside as he opened the letter. Inside was indeed a map of Sun Feiting¡¯s route, along with the four characters ¡°Speedily cut him down¡±. Chen Qing handed the secret letter to a disciple of Shadow Hall, ¡°Let everyone have a look.¡± Everyone examined the secret letter in their hands, passing it along, their gazes filled with shock and suspicion as they looked towards the bloodied figure on the ground. ¡°Wu, how could you do this!¡± ¡°Wu Yi, I know your leg is broken and life is not easy, but of all the sins, you should not have committed such a grave one!¡± ¡°Detestable!¡± ¡°Wuyou Mountain raised you, and yet you are such a heartless cur!¡± ¡°When you were injured, to think I even brought you medicine for your wounds!¡± Wu Yi did not utter a word, merely waiting quietly for his fate. With evidence and witnesses present, he had long lost any ground to argue. Seeing that the moment was ripe, Chen Qing immediately shouted, ¡°Xie Dayou!¡± Xie Dayou stepped forward from the crowd, ¡°Present!¡± Chen Qing ordered, ¡°Drag Wu Yi to the viewing platform and behead him, do not allow his body to be collected, and let the birds feast on it!¡± ¡°Any other deserters or traitors will be executed immediately!¡± Xie Dayou took away Wu Yi, and in no time, a scream was heard. Chen Qing thought to himself that Xie Dayou was effective in his actions, even letting the man scream before his death to establish authority. Chen Qing returned to the main hall and sat in his place, ¡°All disciples of War Affairs Hall and Shadow Hall, heed my command!¡± Upon hearing this, the disciples from War Affairs Hall and Shadow Hall were shaken and no longer as careless as before, they stood in an orderly fashion outside the main hall, bowing with clasped hands, ¡°We are present!¡± Chen Qing instructed, ¡°You fifteen, divide into three teams, and each team shall gather the Sword Cultivator disciples from the base of Wuyou Mountain.¡± ¡°One team will patrol, one team will prepare for battle, and one team will rest, with the three teams rotating without error!¡± ¡°If there is an enemy attack, report it immediately!¡± The disciples of War Affairs Hall and Shadow Hall bowed in unison and replied, ¡°Understood!¡± Having said their piece, each went off to attend to their tasks, while Chen Qing sat inside the main hall, ordering a maid to arrange a seat in the courtyard outside the main hall for Xie Dayou to sit and hold fort. He waved his hand, instructing Xie Dayou to draft a secret letter daily, proclaiming that the front-line war efforts were going exceedingly well, having it delivered to him every morning during the council. Although Xie Dayou did not understand, considering Chen Qing¡¯s now seasoned tactics, he happily complied. Now, things were settled. For seven consecutive days, Chen Qing did not leave the mountaintop main hall for a moment, managing Wuyou Mountain in an orderly manner. During this time, under Chen Qing¡¯s arrangements, they captured three Evil Cultivators who sought to take advantage of the chaos to kill and loot near Wuyou Mountain. A large amount of supplies was also sent to the front lines. With War Affairs Hall and Shadow Hall disciples constantly patrolling everywhere, coupled with Chen Qing¡¯s daily fabrication of positive news from the frontline spreading, the hearts of Wuyou Mountain¡¯s people were finally put at ease. That day, an exhausted Chen Qing was dozing off in his chair when he suddenly heard a tsunami-like roar from outside. ¡°We¡¯ve won!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve won!¡± ¡°Lotus Cave has been completely destroyed, from now on, this land is ours to rule!¡± ¡°Brother Sun is back, we¡¯ve achieved a complete victory!¡± Chen Qing rubbed his legs, sore from sitting too long; it was finally over. Now with over twenty thousand Spirit Stones left, it was time to descend the mountain to buy Spiritual Medicine and elevate his cultivation. Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 78: Raiding the Wutong Mountain Treasury! Chapter 81: Chapter 78: Raiding the Wutong Mountain Treasury! So, I¡¯m here to save someone? Alright, let¡¯s rescue then. Saves me the trouble of making up excuses, great. Nie Fei stepped forward and picked up the sword of the Wutong Mountain disciple that Chen Qing had just slain, ¡°Just now, when you suddenly attacked, they were too busy dealing with you, so I slipped out. I thought to myself that this old thief had tormented me for so long, I couldn¡¯t just let it go like that.¡± ¡°I used the Mirror Gu to transform into his granddaughter¡¯s appearance, gave him a stab, and then got blasted away by his palm.¡± ¡°By the way, got any Spirit Stones? I didn¡¯t get a chance to rummage through their treasury.¡± Chen Qing casually tossed a mid-grade Spirit Stone over, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Nie Fei picked up the mid-grade Spirit Stone and started rapidly absorbing the Spiritual Energy within it. ¡°Nie Fei.¡± Chen Qing nodded and leaped up to behead another Wutong Mountain disciple behind Nie Fei. Nie Fei frantically absorbed the Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Stone and said, ¡°Benefactor, what about you?¡± Chen Qing replied casually, ¡°Taiyi.¡± Nie Fei sensed a trace of Spiritual Energy returning to his body and asked, ¡°What do we do now?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing asked, ¡°Can you still fight?¡± Nie Fei answered, ¡°Although I injured that Foundation Establishment old thief, I still can¡¯t handle him. Can you face off against a Foundation Establishment now?¡± Chen Qing shook his head. Nie Fei did not show any disappointment; after all, very few in Qi Refinement could fight against Foundation Establishment. He said, ¡°How about we head to their treasury then, take as much as we can.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Did you also get the key to their treasury?¡± Nie Fei nodded, ¡°Yeah, when that old thief hit me, I swiped it.¡± You really are resourceful! Hearing there was a treasury to raid, Chen Qing¡¯s homesickness was instantly swept away, and he became invigorated, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s raid their treasury!¡± Nie Fei immediately stepped forward and leaped onto the wall, ¡°This way!¡± Chen Qing followed right behind; he hadn¡¯t even seen the treasury of Wuyou Mountain yet, and now he was off to Wutong Mountain¡¯s treasury. After just a few steps, a fifty-something Wutong Mountain elder rushed at Chen Qing from the nearby rooftop. Chen Qing immediately turned and swung the Great Kui Sword, cleaving the elder, making him cough blood before crashing into a house. Nie Fei looked back to see Chen Qing already handling it and continued to lead the way, transforming into an eagle and rapidly absorbing a mid-grade Spirit Stone. ¡°This way, hurry!¡± ¡°Once that old thief stabilizes his injuries, there¡¯ll be no more chance.¡± Chen Qing thought, the Mountain Master wouldn¡¯t give him this chance. Sure enough, in the next moment, terrifying waves of energy rippled from the mountaintop, with dozens of ancient swords soaring through the sky, and the continuous sounds of fierce impacts were heard. Startled, Nie Fei said, ¡°Looks like we¡¯re not the only ones here today, no wonder you were so fierce on the attack!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, perfect timing to take advantage of the chaos and raid their treasury.¡± Nie Fei flew in front, Chen Qing followed, both moving at astonishing speed. Chen Qing glanced back to see over thirty Wutong Mountain disciples converging from all directions, ¡°Catch up quickly!¡± ¡°They¡¯re heading to our treasury!¡± ¡°Everyone, gather quickly and storm over!¡± ¡°Damn it, another from Jiguang Sect has run off!¡± In just over ten breaths, they covered more than a mile, and Chen Qing clearly saw a cave in front, Nie Fei shouted from the air, ¡°Their treasury is right there!¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°In such a place, can we get in and out?¡± Nie Fei remained fearless, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the lack of Spiritual Energy in me before, would I fear them?¡± ¡°At worst, we¡¯ll grab things and fight our way out!¡± The two leapt down from the sky, rushing toward the cave, and when they were halfway there, Chen Qing keenly sensed someone hiding above the cave. Just as they landed to enter the cave, a gust of force came from above, narrowly missing a sword strike. Chen Qing turned into a fog, swiftly appearing behind the person, and slashed out with a fierce sword! Swoosh! The person¡¯s robe was sliced open by Chen Qing¡¯s sword, leaving a deep wound on their back! ¡°Hmm, Iron Butterfly!¡± Seeing Chen Qing miss a kill, the person somersaulted up, then vanished into the ground. Nie Fei landed and transformed into human form, ¡°Wow, even a Qi Refinement ninth-layer Iron Butterfly couldn¡¯t withstand a single strike from you!¡± Chen Qing quickly moved forward, ¡°Quickly open the door!¡± ¡°Otherwise, once we have the items, we won¡¯t be able to leave!¡± With Wall-penetrating Skill, Chen Qing was confident in this mission. Nie Fei nodded, and the two charged towards the grand door hundreds of feet ahead. Nie Fei inserted the key, twisted it thrice, and kicked the door open. Chen Qing¡¯s eyes lit up with the brilliance of various Spirit Stones and some jade boxes before him. With a quick scan, he saw no less than a hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones and a pile of mid-grade ones. He rushed forward, waving his hand to absorb all the mid-grade Spirit Stones, before turning to see Nie Fei transformed into a pelican ten feet tall, greedily ingesting Spirit Stones with its massive mouth. Chen Qing looked back; the Wutong Mountain disciples were rapidly closing in, sealing the cave airtight. There wasn¡¯t much time; take what you can! He urgently opened a jade box, discovering a Fire Gu inside! Swinging his hand to store it, Chen Qing looked at the numerous jade boxes, with no time to scrutinize their contents, swiftly moving among them and storing one with a wave of his hand. Just grab them first! Seeing Chen Qing begin to collect jade boxes, Nie Fei, now having almost ten thousand low-grade Spirit Stones in his mouth, also turned to start stuffing these jade boxes into his mouth. ¡°Quick!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t pop back, you still have Snake Gu!¡± At this moment, Chen Qing lamented that his Snake Gu hadn¡¯t evolved, the space was too small to carry much treasure! After collecting nearly thirty jade boxes, the Wutong Mountain disciples finally stormed in. Chen Qing turned to see Nie Fei with a mouthful of Spirit Stones, occasionally dropping a few, ¡°I¡¯ll open the way, you follow!¡± With his mouth full of Spirit Stones and jade boxes, Nie Fei could only nod repeatedly. Seeing the treasury ransacked, these Wutong Mountain disciples were already enraged! Behind the two leading Wutong Mountain disciples, over a dozen arcs of Sword Qi instantly formed and shot towards them. Chen Qing clutched his sword in both hands, wielding the Great Kui Sword to forcefully intercept, instantly raising a violent storm of Sword Qi, knocking down every attack. He stamped down, cracking the ground with a crevice, then flew forward, unleashing another fierce strike. The leading Wutong Mountain disciple swung his sword defensively, only to be knocked back by Chen Qing¡¯s strike, crashing into three or four others. After just a few steps, more Wutong Mountain disciples charged forward, while from outside the cave, countless tree roots frantically grew, slithering like snakes and swarming towards Chen Qing. Nie Fei flickered to the front of Chen Qing, spreading his wings to raise a wave of fire ten feet long, scorching the roots into splinters, sending six or seven flying. Delighted, Chen Qing quickly stepped forward and lunged with his sword! No time to worry about the Gu on the dead. Getting out was the priority! Just then, the Wutong Mountain disciples in front scattered, ¡°Second Elder!¡± ¡°They¡¯re right ahead, trapped inside!¡± Wutong Mountain¡¯s Second Elder waved a sleeve, absorbing all the fire waves, then raised his hand to unleash a more intense pillar of fire toward Chen Qing and Nie Fei! Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 65 This is too thrilling! Chapter 66: Chapter 65 This is too thrilling! Although the sword scripture had only one page, it was densely packed with tiny characters the size of ants. Both the front and back were covered, and there were also illustrations of sword dance pictures. The opening lines consisted of four large characters, [Great Kui Sword Scripture] [I observed the Great Kui treading on the sea, inspired by the Dao of Heaven and Earth, thus creating the Great Kui Sword Scripture.] [The Great Kui Swordsmanship is as fierce as fire, still unless moved, and when moved, it is like thunder, vast and domineering.] [The stronger the sword Gu, the greater the power.] [With Power Gu to assist, it can be greatly achieved!] [With Thunder Gu to assist, only then can it be perfected!] ¡­ No wonder the Mountain Master wanted me to learn it and said that others were not suitable. This must be because I currently only have one sword Gu, and because the Grass Spirit Butterfly can bring in significant earnings, there¡¯s enough Spirit Stones to raise another Power Gu. That¡¯s why I was told to practice first. The sword techniques of Wuyou Mountain mostly use Wind Gu or Fog Gu in combination. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï It turns out the sword scripture is about coordinating different Gu insects to achieve unity. Truly extraordinary! With this sword scripture, once I buy a Power Gu Butterfly, my strength will surely take a completely new leap! However, the Mountain Master couldn¡¯t foresee that Chen Qing had a chance to obtain a Thunder Gu. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t ask a scholar for it; an exalted Taichu wouldn¡¯t covet such a small item. Although the Thunder Gu is rare, it can still be purchased. The Power Gu needs to be bought, cultivation needs to be improved, Iron Skin Gu Butterfly must be continued, and Snake Gu must also be raised. After calculating, Chen Qing suddenly felt that two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones seemed hardly enough to spend. Unexpectedly, even with over two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, I am still a pauper! When will these hard days ever end? With a sigh, Chen Qing decided to first buy some precious spiritual medicine and check the effect of the Snake Gu on enhancing cultivation. After his duty, Chen Qing began diligently practicing the Great Kui Sword Scripture, which was vastly different from the Sword Dao of Wuyou Mountain, broad and open, quite domineering. At night, he went to the market, found a secluded alley, and used a clothes-changing magic technique to enter Wanbao Pavilion in a masked black robe. He figured he might get overcharged at Wanbao Pavilion for quite a while; after all, buying at the stalls on the main street was too conspicuous. Wanbao Pavilion¡¯s tea room was rather discreet. This time, he was tended to by a young female cultivator, who spoke gently, ¡°What would you like, sir?¡± Chen Qing set down the bag he was carrying and presented a hundred middle-grade Spirit Stones, ¡°I want spiritual medicine; bring me the best premium spiritual medicine you have, every kind, up to ten thousand Spirit Stones¡¯ worth.¡± ¡°I want those with strong and potent properties!¡± Chen Qing added. The female cultivator smiled happily, ¡°Please wait a moment, sir, I will get them for you.¡± Excited by such a big sale, the female cultivator called a slender-waisted companion and went to the storeroom. Soon, she returned with a long list and a large package. ¡°Please take a look, sir. In total, we have provided ten thousand and four hundred low-grade Spirit Stones¡¯ worth of spiritual medicine, twenty-four kinds in total, all selected for their high age and strong properties.¡± Chen Qing opened the package, the size of a large basket, and was hit with a rich aroma of medicine, making his fingers twitch. The spiritual medicines inside were plump; for example, the Heart-cleansing Lotus had thick, fleshy petals, evidently of significant value. Surprisingly, there was even a Soul Stealing Flower, a spiritual medicine with fierce properties. Chen Qing picked up the parcel and left. After he had gone, the two female cultivators cheerfully chatted, ¡°Sister, you got a big sale this time. This person is definitely preparing for a Gu Butterfly Transformation, ten thousand Spirit Stones, just starting as a foundation.¡± ¡°No rush, he¡¯ll come back. Give him some discounts, and he¡¯ll choose us again next time.¡± Finding an inn, Chen Qing went to a room and laid the spiritual medicines on the table one by one. Since contracting the Snake Gu, he always felt a bit hungry when looking at the spiritual medicines, not sure if it¡¯s a side effect of contracting the Snake Gu. Picking up a Blood Ganoderma, Chen Qing weighed it for a moment, munched it in three bites, and swallowed. Within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he felt it was fully digested. His entire body frantically absorbed the medicinal essence, and within moments, it was completely refined. His cultivation improved slightly. His physical body seemed to have strengthened a bit too. He picked up a Blood Ginseng and put it in his mouth. Hmm, cultivation improved a little more. After consuming a Soul Stealing Flower, it took a full half incense stick time to digest. Soul Stealing Flowers are exceedingly domineering while growing, absorbing all surrounding nutrients and life force, with intense medicinal properties. Typically, very few people use Soul Stealing Flowers for brewing because their potency is too strong. He felt the surging medicinal power within his body; he felt as if he was floating on clouds! Was it this stimulating? It felt like he was undergoing a transformation, as if every pore was freely breathing and every bit of flesh and blood was fully absorbing the medicinal power. He could clearly perceive that his control over his physical body seemed to have improved by another level. A single Soul Stealing Flower was able to increase his cultivation so much! He sat cross-legged, carefully sensing his Dantian, which had noticeably enlarged compared to earlier in the day. It seemed like just four more Soul Stealing Flowers were needed to break through to the fifth level of Qi Refinement! A bit overwhelming. Since he had already spent ten thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, four or five thousand more wouldn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll buy four more. After a roundabout trip, he returned to Wanbao Pavilion and entered the tea room. ¡°Why have you returned, sir?¡± asked the female cultivator. Chen Qing said coldly, ¡°I¡¯ve been robbed.¡± Robbed harshly by the Snake Gu! The female cultivator was instantly stunned. Chen Qing, however, said, ¡°Go, fetch me four top-grade Soul Stealing Flowers, a wisp of Xuanhuang Qi, a piece of white jade, and a Demon Turtle Shell.¡± The Xuanhuang Qi, white jade, and Demon Turtle Shell were needed for the Iron Skin Gu Butterfly, and he was curious about any changes in its transformation. The remaining Spirit Stones weren¡¯t many, and aside from improving cultivation, the Iron Skin Gu Butterfly could be quite crucial. ¡°That totals to seven thousand two hundred Spirit Stones, seventy middle-grade Spirit Stones,¡± she replied. With the items in hand, Chen Qing entered a dark alley, waved his hand to store the items in his body, and used the fog to change his clothes before returning to Wuyou Mountain. Back in the stone chamber that gave him great peace of mind, Chen Qing let the Iron Skin Gu eat the Promotion Items while the other Gu insects gnawed on Gu Spirit Grass. Chen Qing then planned to consume these four Soul Stealing Flowers, striving for a breakthrough to the fifth level of Qi Refinement in one go! Swinging the Soul Stealing Flowers three or four times and swallowing them, Chen Qing closed his eyes and began to meditate. A quarter of an hour later, he opened his eyes. Almost there, nearly at the fifth level of Qi Refinement! This cultivation speed was ridiculously fast! One Soul Stealing Flower was almost equivalent to four months of arduous practice! The growth was rapid! Sensing his cultivation skyrocketing, Chen Qing picked up another Soul Stealing Flower and put it into his mouth. Meanwhile, other Gu insects were happily munching on Gu Spirit Grass, while only the Snake Gu remained motionless as if in hibernation. With three Soul Stealing Flowers remaining, he picked another one, chewed it in a few bites, and swallowed. It didn¡¯t taste as pleasant as Blood Ganoderma but the medicinal power was truly potent. He sat cross-legged with his eyes shut, feeling the frantic increase of cultivation within and couldn¡¯t help but smile. Foundation Establishment seemed within reach, Foundation Establishment indeed! Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 66: Half a day of hard work, Qi Refinement Level 5!!! Chapter 67: Chapter 66: Half a day of hard work, Qi Refinement Level 5!!! Three Soul Stealing Flowers swallowed, and the whole body remained in an extremely full spiritual state. Chen Qing even clearly felt his cultivation advancing at a flying pace. It was nothing like the arduous practice before, where progress was slow as an ant¡¯s crawl. Right now, he would break through to the fifth level of Qi Refinement! An hour later, Chen Qing felt a tremor throughout his body, and his Dantian expanded by another circle. It only took one day to reach the fifth level of Qi Refinement! The Snake Gu truly was extraordinary! As long as one earned a lot of Spirit Stones, enhancing cultivation was simply effortless. His Spirit Stones were nearly exhausted now, and he didn¡¯t know when he could earn more. The Imperial Palace of Da Yan. The Da Yan Imperial Palace at night still seemed grand. The city gates were broad and tall, unlike anything of the mortal world, resembling a massive mountain wall. Carved upon it were the figures of twenty-four gods, each vividly etched onto its surface. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Beside the city gates stood towering ancient walls, marked with numerous traces of knife cuts and axe hews. When looking towards the Da Yan Imperial Palace at night, one could always see spots of phosphorescence, remnants of slain cultivators¡¯ blood that didn¡¯t perish, continuing to adorn this ancient city after death. Ruyi slowly opened her eyes. Wearing only a cloud-like gauze, she sat up in bed. ¡°The medicine from the Heavenly Master Mansion is really effective, made for a beautiful dream.¡± She opened the lantern hanging above her head, took the Light Gu from it, and held it in her hands. The cocoon of the Light Gu, different from other Gu worms, was a dense beam of light, staring at it too long could hurt one¡¯s eyes. She extended her hand, allowing the Light Gu to enter her body. She opened the window and looked out; the bright moon hung high. ¡°Seems I went to bed too early, and woke up too early too.¡± ¡°Going for a walk would be nice, haven¡¯t gone out at night for a long time.¡± She wrapped herself tightly in a white cloak, grabbed a lantern, and walked outside of the courtyard. Once she stepped outside her palace, she found herself in a courtyard covering over ten acres. Many immortal peach trees were planted in the courtyard, not just for flower viewing. Compared to admiring flowers, she preferred the taste of peaches. Now in the early spring, she reached out and snapped off a branch, pink peach buds already climbing the branches. She posed formally, silently declaring, ¡°I am the Taichu Divine Woman Ji Ru, walking the earth under the command of Taichu, wishing that all I see becomes a paradise!¡± Giggling twice, she planted the peach branch, hopeful it would grow into a small tree. Suddenly, there were hurried footsteps outside. She came to her courtyard¡¯s entrance and pushed open the door, only to see her elder sister in white, Princess Yi¡¯an. ¡°Sister, sleeping so late?¡± Princess Yi¡¯an heard this and suddenly beamed, ¡°No choice, it¡¯s almost the fifteenth, I must earnestly pray for the Heavenly Venerable, maybe when entering the Immortal Court, his edict might be heard.¡± Ji Ru secretly thought: I can see Taichu twice every month and even chat with him. Thinking that way, Senior Taichu truly was a very kind person. Princess Yi¡¯an was more slender and taller than Princess Ji Ru. Her body was frail, and Ji Ru often wondered if this sister might be blown over by a gust of wind. She didn¡¯t understand what attracted the Immortal Court Divine Son to choose her out of seven princesses. Ji Ru, naturally, didn¡¯t participate in that selection. She was too young to be of marriageable age. Actually, Da Yan¡¯s princesses rarely married into the Immortal Court or Heavenly Master Mansion, as the Divine Sons of these places had long life spans, resulting in significant age differences over two generations. Commonly, Da Yan¡¯s princesses married into Da Yan¡¯s noble families to show imperial favor. For the princesses who could marry the Immortal Court Divine Son, the last was eight hundred years ago. So, Princess Yi¡¯an always felt a bit proud when talking about the Immortal Court. Whenever Princess Yi¡¯an mentioned the Heavenly Venerable and the Immortal Court, she became loquacious, ¡°If later my sister can¡¯t find a good family, I¡¯ll see if I can find a natural Dao seed for you over there in the Immortal Court.¡± Ji Ru bowed slightly, ¡°Thank you, Sister, I wish you¡¯ll rest early.¡± Yi¡¯an left with a smile, and Ji Ru leaned against the door wall, involuntarily wondering: Would the Taichu Sect have a Divine Son in the future? Or perhaps, there already was one, sealed by Senior Taichu in some era? If there really was, then myself as the Taichu Divine Woman, and the Taichu Divine Son, wouldn¡¯t that be¡­? She shook her head, why think so much. Senior Taichu was such a wonderful person. Even if there was a Taichu Divine Son, he should also be a great person. If he was charming, it wouldn¡¯t be bad. Footsteps sounded behind her, she turned her head and saw her maid. The maid brought a young man with a full head of white hair, pale complexion, yet with a handsome figure, to her front. Kneeling on both knees, the man bowed his head and said, ¡°Cao Yizhi from Wugen Sect pays respect to Your Highness. The goods are acquired, please give your instructions, Princess.¡± Ji Ru softly said, ¡°I dislike such ruthless matters. Take my Luck Gu, place it in the same box with that item, and retrieve my Luck Gu after three days.¡± Opening her hand, she released her Luck Gu to Cao Yizhi and decided to take a nap. The dawning in the Imperial Palace was not much different from the outside, there were not nine suns as described by the common folk. Everyone shared the same sun. The scholar teaching in the Imperial Palace was always very serious, so serious that every word in the book seemed as weighty as a human life. At this moment, the twenty-three princesses, of various ages, sat upright on cushions, listening to the scholar teaching. This scholar had a large frame, standing a full ten feet tall, yet was extremely old, with long fingers but little flesh, wrinkles covered him like the bark of an old tree, ancient and weathered. No one dared daydream or nap during this scholar¡¯s lectures, for their father, the current Emperor Donghua, was also the scholar¡¯s disciple. Even their father had to show respect to this scholar when meeting him. Ji Ru always secretly guessed that this scholar might be a True Monarch. What pleased Ji Ru was that the scholar didn¡¯t seem to like Princess Yi¡¯an much; on the contrary, he treated Ji Ru quite well. The palace folk all said she was a fortunate girl, and the scholar seemed to think so too. She didn¡¯t plan to attend the afternoon etiquette lesson because she sensed that the Light Gu, meticulously chosen for her by Senior Taichu, was about to emerge into a butterfly. Her Light Butterfly, purple in hue, its wings fluttered as if adorned with starlight. After absorbing the Light Butterfly into her body, she went to her little treasure vault to fetch five hundred medium-grade Spirit Stones, bathed and perfumed, then lay down, gently wearing that bronze ghost mask. Appearing on the Cloud Platform afterward, a bit later, first came the scholar, then Yao Feng, and finally Red Lotus. The four didn¡¯t say a word, quietly waiting for the true master of this place to descend. As the time for midnight approached, Chen Qing finally appeared on his seat. He merely sat quietly in his seat, yet the other four felt incredibly insignificant. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 67 We All Have a Bright Future Chapter 68: Chapter 67 We All Have a Bright Future After a brief greeting, Chen Qing spoke calmly, ¡°The gathering today is now beginning.¡± Xu Yaofeng presented a bag of mid-grade Spirit Stones and placed them in front of Chen Qing, showcasing his Light Gu, which had already advanced to the spiritual item level. ¡°Please, Senior Taichu, offer some guidance.¡± Chen Qing found it interesting after examining it. The growth of the Gu was indeed diverse, especially after reaching the spiritual item level, becoming increasingly aligned with the Dao. ¡°Meditate on a Yin Mountain.¡± Xu Yaofeng was clearly taken aback upon hearing this advice. After thanking Chen Qing, he began to contemplate it himself. Murong Lang presented his sword Gu, seemingly unsure about the amount of Spirit Stones required for its cultivation, directly offering one hundred twenty mid-grade Spirit Stones, ¡°Now that the sword Gu has reached its Ninth Transformation, please guide me, Senior!¡± Chen Qing spoke, ¡°One sword Gu, three Fire Ling scales, seven ounces of Yang Gold.¡± The new year had arrived, and everyone seemed to have money. Hu Yao glanced eagerly at Ji Ru, ¡°Has the shipment arrived?¡± Ji Ru smiled, ¡°It has arrived, and here is your payment.¡± Ji Ru lifted three large bags of Spirit Stones from beside her seat and placed them next to Hu Yao. Hu Yao clearly wanted to count them but felt embarrassed to do so during the gathering, so she set them aside. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À0.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing thought to himself, ¡°This girl, she¡¯s like me.¡± Remembering something else, Hu Yao hurriedly counted out two hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones and respectfully placed them before Chen Qing. ¡°My Light Gu is about to undergo Butterfly Transformation. Please advise, Senior.¡± Chen Qing examined it closely, ¡°Three strands of Dragon Energy, four Flood Dragon scales.¡± Ji Ru revealed her Light Butterfly, ¡°Senior Taichu, my Light Gu successfully transformed into a butterfly.¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°Meteorite from Beyond.¡± Seeing no one else seeking guidance, Chen Qing leaned back slightly, ¡°You may begin your discussions.¡± Upon hearing this, Ji Ru quickly spoke up, ¡°I heard that Princess Yi¡¯an from Da Yan is soon to marry into the Immortal Court, and there¡¯s a chance to hear the Divine Oracle from the Heavenly Venerable.¡± Xu Yaofeng glanced at Fu Luo secretly, realizing that such news could easily reach Fu Luo, a person blessed by fortune. ¡°I heard that the Divine Son of the Immortal Court possesses an Innate Dao Seed, Innate Divine Blood, and Three Yang True Veins, making him almost unbeatable at the same level. Who knows if it¡¯s true?¡± Ji Ru said, ¡°This Divine Son should have truly reached the pinnacle of the Qi Refining Realm. According to rumors, even during Foundation Establishment, he possesses the power to slay those above his level!¡± Chen Qing was secretly astonished. He had witnessed the might of Foundation Establishment. Compared to Qi Refinement, it was entirely a different tier, making him question whether Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement were even the same kind. Given Tian Qiufeng¡¯s performance that day, not to mention Ye Yuntian, even someone like Zhang Yangdao would be obliterated in an instant. To exaggerate a bit, if Qiufeng fought ten Ye Yuntians, he would still be victorious. Of course, Qiufeng might be exceptionally powerful even among Foundation Establishments. A Qi Refinement being capable of slaying a Foundation Establishment member, what kind of monster is that? Chen Qing evaluated his current strength and, even at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, admitted he had no right to be arrogant in front of Foundation Establishment. The aura of Foundation Establishment was overwhelming. Compared to Qi Refinement, it was like the difference between immortal cultivation and martial arts. Murong Lang was a bit amazed, ¡°Reversing the orders of Qi Refinement over Foundation Establishment, even in the entire Thunder Pure Land, I¡¯m afraid only one person can accomplish that.¡± Hu Yao responded nonchalantly, ¡°No matter how great he is in the Qi Refining Realm, it¡¯s useless if he¡¯s not in Foundation Establishment.¡± Xu Yaofeng shook his head, ¡°Otherwise, why are there so many at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement and so few in Foundation Establishment?¡± Hu Yao asked, ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it because breaking through from the ninth layer to the tenth layer of Qi Refinement is extremely difficult?¡± Xu Yaofeng coughed twice. This Red Lotus was really straightforward, asking questions without understanding, ¡°It has nothing to do with the bottleneck at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement but relates to the Lifebound Gu.¡± ¡°The stronger the Lifebound Gu, the stronger the calamity of Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°The Foundation Establishment calamity is an internal tribulation, related only to oneself, not the external world.¡± Hu Yao said, ¡°Ah? Then I won¡¯t raise the Light Gu to Butterfly Transformation before Foundation Establishment.¡± Xu Yaofeng waved his hand, ¡°It¡¯s useless. The peculiar nature of the Light Gu determines that its Foundation Establishment calamity will be extremely challenging.¡± ¡°According to the Jiguang Sect, the Foundation Establishment tribulation of the Light Gu far surpasses that of the spiritual item Gu.¡± ¡°And based on my own experience, it should be close to the King Grade Gu¡¯s Foundation Establishment tribulation.¡± ¡°Similar to figures like the Immortal Court Divine Son, at least a King Grade Gu foundation is needed, so he must have the ability to reverse the orders of Foundation Establishment to be eligible to overcome the Foundation Establishment calamity.¡± Hu Yao looked at Xu Yaofeng in confusion, ¡°So, how did you achieve Foundation Establishment?¡± ¡°Is it true that you say the Divine Sons and Goddesses aren¡¯t your match?¡± Xu Yaofeng didn¡¯t speak, clearly confirming it. Chen Qing found it rather surprising that someone like Yao Feng, who didn¡¯t seem to come from a good background, possessed such strength. Impressive! Murong Lang, Ji Ru, and Hu Yao all looked at him, and Xu Yaofeng awkwardly said, ¡°Well, my talent in the Dao of the Blade is a tiny bit good, so I was lucky to pass.¡± Chen Qing was secretly pondering, thinking that Yao Feng¡¯s ¡°tiny bit¡± was perhaps an enormous bit. Hu Yao and Murong Lang fell into contemplative silence. They were both preparing to use the Light Gu for Foundation Establishment, but upon hearing of its difficulties, they realized how challenging it was. Now, they started considering how they could possess strength comparable to the Divine Sons and Goddesses. Chen Qing sighed lightly in his heart, realizing he still had a long road ahead. Hu Yao and Murong Lang thought for a long time, eventually focusing their attention on Chen Qing, but didn¡¯t dare look too much, only sneaking a glance. Ji Ru then remarked, ¡°The Divine Son of the Immortal Court differs from you. Although he has a vast number of Gu insects to support him, aside from the Lifebound Gu he needs for Foundation Establishment, the qualities of his other Gu insects aren¡¯t very high.¡± ¡°Most of the Divine Son¡¯s Gu insects in the Immortal Court are low-level Butterflies, barely reaching Ninth Transformation.¡± ¡°And the Ninth Transformation after the Gu insect becomes a butterfly will have a qualitative change!¡± Xu Yaofeng spoke, ¡°Is it because even when all the materials are adequate, time is still required to test?¡± Ji Ru nodded, ¡°Exactly.¡± Upon realizing Chen Qing¡¯s authority, the first thing Xu Yaofeng thought of was the issue of time. Senior Taichu¡¯s greatest strength wasn¡¯t merely allowing them to know the materials needed for the Gu insect¡¯s advancement; more importantly, Senior Taichu could save them a massive amount of time. That was the critical point! For instance, someone like the Immortal Court Divine Son, with that status, certainly lacks no materials. However, even when all materials are present, advancing a Gu insect from low-level to Butterfly and then to high-level Butterfly still requires years. But for them, they only need one-tenth of the cost to elevate a Gu insect to Butterfly Ninth Transformation in a short period! Murong Lang finally felt slightly reassured, realizing he had Senior Taichu¡¯s guidance, no need to rush. Hu Yao cautiously observed Chen Qing¡¯s reaction, only to discover Chen Qing remained unmoved. It made sense; for Senior Taichu, nurturing a few talents comparable to the Divine Sons and Goddesses was nothing. Perhaps Senior Taichu had already cultivated many personally. Just sitting there, Senior Taichu gave people a sense of reassurance. Completely at ease. At this moment, Chen Qing was contemplating how to achieve Foundation Establishment. His Light Gu was evidently not an ordinary Light Gu; he had chosen the most unique one. Its lengthy life span surpassed that of all same-quality Gu insects he had ever seen! Their Light Gu was only near the difficulty of a King Grade Gu Foundation Establishment. This one of his surely wouldn¡¯t be lower than that difficulty. Could it be that he needed the strength to reverse Foundation Establishment before achieving it? What nonsense! If you want to establish your Foundation, you must have the power to defeat Foundation Establishment. The problem arose: without Foundation Establishment, how does one possess the power of Foundation Establishment? Could he give up the Light Gu Foundation Establishment and use the Snake Gu instead? Impossible! Using the Snake Gu for Foundation Establishment would be cutting off his future! The Light Gu Foundation Establishment is the path to a bright future. Catching a glimpse of the Spirit Stones in front of him, he felt as though there was hope once again. Foundation Establishment, let¡¯s think about it later. For now, breaking through to the sixth layer of Qi Refinement seems more reliable. Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Joy in the Human World Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Joy in the Human World ¡°` Ji Ru continued, ¡°Even the Immortal Court Divine Son might not be able to hear the Heavenly Venerable explain the Great Dao.¡± Indeed, although they were neither Immortal Court Divine Sons nor naturally gifted with the Heavenly Dao Seed, possessing the talent of Three Yang True Veins. They might have just been ordinary people. Yet they had come to this gathering! Perhaps, allowing them, just ordinary people, to possess the strength of Divine Sons and Goddesses would be considered a miracle by the world. But Senior Taichu, with the ability to transform decay into miraculous, almost didn¡¯t mind such miracles, using them as mere leisurely distractions. Chen Qing sat there casually, pondering how many Soul Stealing Flowers to purchase on this trip. The four people beside him only felt that Chen Qing was indifferent to these worldly matters. Divine Sons and whatnot, don¡¯t bother my mind. At this moment, Xu Yaofeng finally gained some insight into the casual selection of three members as suggested by Chen Qing. At least they should have potential close to that of Divine Sons and Goddesses. Ji Ru privately thought that the Gu insect given to her by Senior Taichu was quite special, and the Foundation Establishment tribulation might not be weaker than King Grade Gu Foundation Establishment. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï She could inquire more about the strength of the Immortal Court Divine Son from Princess Yi¡¯an when she returned, to have more assurance. In front of Princess Yi¡¯an, as long as the Immortal Court Divine Son was mentioned, she would have endless things to say, making inquiries extremely convenient. Seeing that everyone did not continue conversing, Chen Qing said calmly, ¡°Then, today¡¯s gathering is concluded.¡± After he spoke, the four of them stood up in unison, saluted Chen Qing, and except for Hu Yao, the other three instantly disappeared, leaving only Hu Yao, who seemed particularly interested in her remaining Spirit Stones. This was the first time Hu Yao was the last to leave the gathering, and the amount of Spirit Stones this time was substantial. She picked up her Spirit Stones, casually preparing to take them away, unpretentious and very outspoken. At that moment, she was somewhat curious if Chen Qing would carefully count them like her and then take them away handful by handful. Yet, she saw Chen Qing merely wave his hand, and the Spirit Stones in front of him vanished. This scene startled Hu Yao, prompting her to exclaim, ¡°Amazing!¡± After speaking, she realized she might have misspoken, quickly lowered her head, and dared not look at Chen Qing. How could the esteemed Senior Taichu possibly need her praise? After a while, she finally looked up like a dazed squirrel, only to find that Chen Qing had long since disappeared. Removing the bronze ghost mask, Chen Qing chuckled, ¡°How adorable.¡± Chen Qing perceived the Spirit Stones in a peculiar space, finally determining an accurate number. Five hundred and sixty mid-grade Spirit Stones! Let¡¯s see to what extent I can elevate my cultivation. With a thought, he communicated with the Fog Gu, adjusting his Spiritual Energy fluctuation to Qi Refinement Fourth Layer, and then finally rested assured. Recently, due to the departure of Feng Qi and Xiao Zhong as well as Gongsun Xiu, Wuyou Mountain became a bit desolate. Chen Qing, however, didn¡¯t concern himself with these matters, and while strolling in the Spiritual Ginseng Field, he sometimes saw robust Spiritual Ginseng, some protruding through the soil, revealing their plump and thick roots. This once made Chen Qing doubt whether he had planted radishes instead. Yet the enticing aura of the Spiritual Ginseng told him otherwise. A breeze blew through, and the Spiritual Ginseng, which had settled its medicinal properties through the winter, sprouted small green shoots again. Feeling the gentle spring breeze, Chen Qing felt immensely satisfied. Sitting on the field ridge, he chewed on a piece of licorice, letting the Light Gu hidden in his sleeve enjoy the gentle spring breeze with him. Being in such a flourishing scenery was immensely comfortable and made everything feel beautiful. Having tended to the Light Gu and managed the Spiritual Field with the Grass Spirit Butterfly, Chen Qing was about to finish his duties when he encountered Shen Ao. ¡°Brother Chen, I was just about to find you!¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°What is it, Senior Brother?¡± Shen Ao grinned and said, ¡°Naturally, it¡¯s about Brother Ye¡¯s wedding.¡± ¡°Now that the situation is settled, the marriage of Brother Ye and the granddaughter of the Mountain Master of nearby Qingsong Mountain also needs to be scheduled.¡± ¡°A few elders discussed and felt it would be best if you accompanied us.¡± Chen Qing, who didn¡¯t much like going out, pondered upon hearing this news. To put it simply, he was now one of the most precious treasures of the entire sect. His presence symbolized a wealth of Spiritual Ginseng and Blood Ginseng, a large amount of cultivation resources. Having him go was also to represent the power of Wuyou Mountain, showcasing its robust strength. Disciples in the production line represented financial strength. Previously wiping out the Lotus Cave symbolized military strength. With both financial and military strength, the marriage would proceed smoothly. The union of Ye Yuntian and the Mountain Master¡¯s granddaughter from Qingsong Mountain could also stabilize Wuyou Mountain further. Both Ye Yuntian and Feng Qi took good care of him, making it difficult to decline. ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll accept this task. When do we depart?¡± Shen Ao was overjoyed, ¡°Brother Chen, as long as you¡¯re willing to go, this marriage will certainly come together seamlessly!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call on you in three days!¡± Upon reaching the Spirit Plant Hall, Chen Qing gave an order, instructing Li He to pick nine top-quality Blood Ginsengs from the Blood Ginseng Field. Three days later, Chen Qing set out with the Blood Ginseng alongside Shen Ao, and just in front of the mountain gate, they saw He Ming from the Beast Driving Hall waiting for them for quite a while. Beside him were twelve celestial cranes as tall as two people, occasionally stretching their wings and letting out crisp calls. Only He Ming from the Beast Driving Hall had come, along with Chen Qing from the Spirit Plant Hall, while most others were disciples from the War Affairs Hall and Shadow Hall. Including Shen Ao and Ye Yuntian, there were four from both the Main Hall and Deputy Hall Masters. It was a rather grand occasion, with the hall masters present, and every accompanying disciple had a handsome appearance. The usually bold Ye Yuntian was unexpectedly shy today and less talkative, making everyone laugh heartily. ¡°Brother Ye, I never thought you¡¯d ever get embarrassed!¡± Ye Yuntian retorted in a low voice, ¡°Nonsense!¡± He Ming, the oldest among them at forty-five, was seasoned and mature, considered the leader and elder of this trip. He Ming smirked, ¡°Just worried that when you, Brother Ye, take your partner, you¡¯ll forget about us brothers while doting on your lovely wife.¡± Shen Ao laughed heartily, ¡°If that happens, we¡¯re digging our own grave!¡± Ye Yuntian¡¯s face reddened slightly, ¡°Enough of that nonsense, our brotherly bond won¡¯t allow me to forget you all!¡± Looking around the crowd, Chen Qing noticed the presence of Yu Qingshuang. Yu Qingshuang, with exceptional swordsmanship and personally taught by the Mountain Master, had greatly improved her strength and significantly contributed to previous battles by slaying three foes. ¡°Sister Yu, are you going too?¡± Chen Qing curiously asked. He Ming glanced over, smiling, ¡°She¡¯s worried that once you reach Qingsong Mountain, you¡¯ll be too enchanted by the young ladies there, so she¡¯s coming to keep an eye on you!¡± Yu Qingshuang stomped her foot angrily, ¡°You all are talking nonsense. If you keep at it, I¡¯m not going!¡± Only then did He Ming say, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s my bad, but Qingshuang, your great-grandfather and the Mountain Master of Qingsong Mountain are old friends. It¡¯s not good if you don¡¯t go.¡± The spring breeze warmed hearts, and under the gentle, warm yet not too intense sunshine, the little grasses sprouted, branches budded, and white and pink cherry blossoms bloomed in patches here and there. Amidst cheerful laughter, the celestial cranes spread their wings and flew skyward, carrying the young talents of Wuyou Mountain toward the distance. Sitting on the back of a celestial crane, Chen Qing overlooked the splendid spring while brothers and sisters shared happiness. Such joy made this worldly journey worthwhile. ¡°` Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 85: The Crouching Tiger and Immortal Servant (Combined) Chapter 90: Chapter 85: The Crouching Tiger and Immortal Servant (Combined) Nie Fei picked up a jade box, opened it, and saw it was just Blood Ginseng. He tossed it aside and said, ¡°Hurry up, once we finish looting, we¡¯ll set fire to it!¡± Nie Fei¡¯s way of doing things was something Chen Qing really liked. Chen Qing felt within the space of his Snake Gu; it seemed there was still enough room to fit two more boxes of treasures. If there wasn¡¯t anything particularly valuable, he¡¯d just have to collect some low-grade Spirit Stones. After searching around, both Chen Qing and Nie Fei were somewhat disappointed; this Taiping Sect base was a bit too poor. There were no particularly precious treasures, not even as much as in Wutong Mountain. But then again, it made sense; this base didn¡¯t have a Foundation Establishment guard, so it should be poorer. It¡¯s just that life is full of uncertainties, not everything goes as one wishes. Resigned, Chen Qing had to fill the space in his body with low-grade Spirit Stones and picked up a box of Spirit Ginseng, munching as he walked. Nie Fei turned back and spewed out a flame, igniting a large quantity of Spiritual Ginseng Wine. Only when the fire was raging did he catch up, saying, ¡°You like chasing us, huh? Let¡¯s see if you keep chasing now!¡± They took advantage of the chaos and rushed out of the cave entrance of the Taiping Sect base; ahead by the lakeside, dozens of Taiping Sect disciples were fighting with the prisoners. Chen Qing patted Nie Fei on the shoulder, who was watching the scene, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Nie Fei nodded, and the two flew away, heading towards the distant woods. It was Chen Qing¡¯s first time going far, and he didn¡¯t know much about the outside world. ¡°Where do we go next?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï Nie Fei replied, ¡°I¡¯m planning to find the Immortal Land, are you coming?¡± Upon hearing the name Immortal Land, Chen Qing knew there must be treasures involved, but truth be told, he wasn¡¯t very eager for treasures right now. He urgently needed a stable environment to absorb what he had gained. These Spirit Stones and Spiritual Medicines could significantly boost his strength, possibly even allowing him to fully master the Great Kui Sword Scripture. Moreover, since it was the Immortal Land, it was likely full of dangers, and he didn¡¯t have Nie Fei¡¯s ability to change forms to travel freely. Chen Qing shook his head, ¡°I want to quietly cultivate for a while, to digest my recent insights.¡± Nie Fei said, ¡°Alright then, sigh, after all this wild looting, I¡¯m actually a bit reluctant.¡± Chen Qing laughed, ¡°There will always be chances to meet again.¡± Nie Fei replied, ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll make a mark. If you see it in the future, you¡¯ll know I¡¯m nearby.¡± Seeing the mark Nie Fei drew, Chen Qing nodded, ¡°Remember to use materials with different disappearing times.¡± Nie Fei laughed, ¡°Isn¡¯t that common sense?¡± ¡°By the way, if you¡¯re looking for a stable place, I recommend you visit Wo Hu City, find a caravan, and head south with them.¡± ¡°Our Jiguang Sect finds a bit of peace only in the south.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Is there a specific place you¡¯re suggesting? Like our Jiguang Sect¡¯s base in the south?¡± Nie Fei shook his head, ¡°Our Jiguang Sect doesn¡¯t have a base. The world is my home, with the sky as our quilt, and the ground as our seat!¡± ¡°The world is vast, and there¡¯s nowhere our Jiguang Sect can¡¯t go.¡± Chen Qing asked again, ¡°Where did you get that Mirror Gu?¡± Nie Fei wasn¡¯t afraid Chen Qing would get greedy. He laughed, ¡°This, ah, is a one-of-a-kind treasure in the world; you won¡¯t find another one.¡± ¡°Alright, enough said, I¡¯m off!¡± Chen Qing watched as Nie Fei transformed into an eagle and flew away, lightly saying, ¡°Until we meet again!¡± Three days later. February 12. In front of Wo Hu City. Chen Qing slightly lowered the brim of the bamboo hat on his head, approached the city gate, paid five low-grade Spirit Stones, and walked into the bustling Wo Hu City. At this moment, he was dressed in a practical set of sword clothes and wore a brimmed hat with face covering, looking every bit like a wandering ascetic. The prosperity of Wo Hu City genuinely surprised Chen Qing; there were no vendors, only tall buildings everywhere. Inside the city was a lake, with music towers and pavilions scattered all around it. However, there were no scenes of gold lying everywhere or jade as tiles. After asking around, he found out that to find vendors, he would have to go to the chaotic Lantern Street. Chen Qing first went to Wanbao Pavilion, bought the materials needed for his Guchong to upgrade, and also bought a Rejuvenation Gu. Then he went to look for a bulletin board to see if there were any caravans heading south. Upon arriving at the bulletin board, the first thing Chen Qing saw was the bounty on him and Nie Fei. Nie Fei was worth more than him? His bounty was two hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, while Nie Fei¡¯s was three hundred thousand. But thinking of the fact that Nie Fei¡¯s Mirror Gu was a unique Gu, he was relieved. That Mirror Gu was extremely mystical, capable of transforming into others or insects to escape, and able to transform into Exotic Beasts for combat; it was truly an all-in-one marvel and an incredibly precious Gu. He looked at the bulletin board and saw there were indeed tasks recruiting guards for caravans, but most were heading toward Da Yan or the West Desert. It seemed he had to wait a bit longer. After spending a hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, he painfully rented a yard, deciding to wait for a southbound caravan. Walking down the street with his bamboo hat on, Chen Qing constantly felt like someone was glancing at him occasionally. He scanned his surroundings and realized he was the only one wearing a black veil over his face in broad daylight, which instead attracted attention. Entering the yard he rented and closing the door, Chen Qing thought to himself, this yard was truly expensive! When he was earning money with the Grass Spirit Gu, it would only net him about two hundred low-grade Spirit Stones for a night¡¯s work, yet this lousy yard cost a hundred! It was practically daylight robbery. He drew a bucket of water from the well, placed it into a bath barrel, took out the red fruit, and after a moment in the barrel, the water started to heat up. Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 85: The Crouching Tiger and Immortal Servant (Combined)_2 Chapter 91: Chapter 85: The Crouching Tiger and Immortal Servant (Combined)_2 ¡°` Lying in hot water, Chen Qing comfortably took a bath, shedding all his fatigue. He soaked for a full two hours before getting out of the tub to start tending to his wounds. He knew that wounds shouldn¡¯t be exposed to water, but now as a Cultivator, it wasn¡¯t too much of a problem. The main thing was that he was simply too tired recently and needed to relax a bit. After cleaning his wounds, he prepared to contract the Rejuvenation Gu. The Rejuvenation Gu was extremely expensive, even more so than the Fog Gu, costing as much as 32,000 lower-grade Spirit Stones. However, considering he was traveling alone and had to rely on himself for everything, he decided to buy it. Otherwise, after getting injured and not being able to find a healer, it would be too easy to get into trouble. Moreover, he still had 1,600 mid-grade Spirit Stones on hand, enough to last him for a while. With the Rejuvenation Gu, his sustained combat power would be greatly enhanced! After contracting the Rejuvenation Gu, Chen Qing immediately infused spiritual energy into it to begin healing his injuries. Under the effect of the Rejuvenation Gu, warm green fluorescences fell on his wounds, suddenly feeling a sensation of Qingshuang. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing carefully sensed the changes, only to discover an awkward point. This Rejuvenation Gu was not a Gu that could bring the dead back to life and rejoin bones and flesh, its operation was more like accelerating the healing process. In other words, it would consume Life Span to some extent. It seemed that this Rejuvenation Gu shouldn¡¯t be used too often, best reserved for critical moments. Of course, it was still necessary to continue enhancing its Quality, the higher the Quality, the faster the recovery. Feeling his wounds had mostly healed and wouldn¡¯t affect his movement, he stopped using the Rejuvenation Gu. The rest would rely on his own regenerative ability to recover, it was best to use the Rejuvenation Gu sparingly. He had the Snake Gu and Iron Skin Gu, making his physical body far stronger than that of a typical seventh-level Qi Refinement, almost comparable to the ninth level. At this moment, Chen Qing didn¡¯t plan to advance in his cultivation; pushing himself in practice before fully recovering would only worsen the injury. He opened his hand, and the Snake Gu coiled around his fingers. [Spirit Snake Gu] Quality: Second Transformation Life Span: 1/220 Effect: Snake Swallowing Elephant: Able to swallow large quantities of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Spiritual Medicine, flesh, and quickly digest and absorb to enhance the body, improve cultivation. Will not be overwhelmed by mundane, non-spiritual food. [Traits]: [Winter Storage] able to store five different items. Growth Requirements: Millennial snake gallbladder Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: One piece of Human Sin Money on a moonless night, nine wisps of Lightless Breath Having witnessed the profound nature of the Mirror Gu, he cherished his Snake Gu more and more. The power of a spirit Gu far exceeded that of a Mortal Gu! The Snake Gu could quickly devour the Growth Requirements to advance in Transformation; he now had nearly 200,000 lower-grade Spirit Stones, enough to directly usher the Snake Gu into Butterfly Transformation! If the Snake Gu underwent Butterfly Transformation, his strength would surely increase significantly! Thinking about this, he stepped out of the room, deciding to first go buy a millennial snake gallbladder. Meanwhile, the recently tidied-up Taiping Sect residence. Zhang Ke, Elder Wang, and Ling Jiu all knelt beside the lake in front of the residence, behind them, all the surviving disciples of the Taiping Sect also knelt. Though the blood on the ground was cleaned up, there was still a heavy stench of blood. They bowed their heads, waiting silently, extremely respectfully. An hour later, four bronze figures carrying a bronze palanquin appeared on the lake¡¯s surface. The bronze figures walked on the lake as lightly as the wind, showing no signs of sinking. On top of the bronze palanquin was a small wooden pavilion, its four sides draped with white gauze. Hanging from the four corners of the wooden pavilion were four beige square lamps. The four bronze figures carrying the palanquin stopped in front of Elder Wang at the shore; Elder Wang immediately led the crowd in a great bow, ¡°We pay respects to the Immortal Servant!¡± A crisp female voice came from inside the palanquin, ¡°Zhang Ke.¡± Zhang Ke immediately crawled forward on his knees, prostrating himself, ¡°Please, Immortal Servant, instruct us!¡± The woman inside the palanquin asked, ¡°Was it because of your greed for the spirit Gu that you delayed reporting until now?¡± Zhang Ke lay prostrated on the ground, beads of cold sweat pouring from his forehead. The woman continued to ask, ¡°Now that you have caused my Taiping Sect to lose an elite, the residence has been looted, and the disciples are gravely wounded. How long were you planning to hide this?¡± Zhang Ke wanted to raise his head to speak, but thinking about the woman¡¯s status, he couldn¡¯t help but tremble all over. The status of Immortal Servant was not actually high, but the person behind the Immortal Servant was someone he could not afford to offend no matter what. Zhang Ke closed his eyes, resigning himself, ¡°It was my greed. I wanted to capture Taiyi, extract the spirit Gu, and present it to the Dao Seed.¡± Hearing this, the woman inside the palanquin took three breaths before speaking, ¡°Wang Li, Ling Jiu, why did you not report this when you knew?¡± Wang Li crawled forward on his knees, reporting, ¡°Reporting to the Immortal Servant, by the time we received Zhang Ke¡¯s message, the battle had already begun. Before I left, I instructed Wen Jingming to report, but unfortunately, he was attacked by those two Jiguang rogues.¡± Ling Jiu respectfully replied, ¡°Immortal Servant, we did not expect there would be two Jiguang rogues. If it weren¡¯t for that mysterious figure who suddenly intervened, we would have surely taken down Taiyi by now!¡± From the palanquin came the woman¡¯s loud and clear laugh, ¡°Haha, that person is called Nie Feng. Even the Dao Seed can¡¯t do anything about him, and you tried to capture him?¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t know the meaning of death!¡± Zhang Ke hurriedly said, ¡°I only saw that Taiyi had just received the spirit Gu, so I wanted to take the Gu early before he had the chance to cultivate it, lest it became unmanageable later!¡± ¡°` Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 85: The Crouching Tiger and Immortal Servant (Combined)_3 Chapter 92: Chapter 85: The Crouching Tiger and Immortal Servant (Combined)_3 The sound of a woman¡¯s sharp voice came from inside the carriage, ¡°Things have already spiraled out of control!¡± Zhang Ke reported, ¡°Immortal Servant, I have news. It seems very likely that Wuyou Mountain and Taiyi are colluding. We just need to take action against Wuyou Mountain¡­¡± The Immortal Servant shouted angrily, ¡°Enough! Do you want to make it known to everyone and attract Da Yan¡¯s hounds?¡± ¡°Wuyou Mountain and Wutong Mountain are both righteous sects. Da Yan won¡¯t interfere in their conflict, but if we, the Taiping Sect, get involved and let Da Yan¡¯s hounds catch wind of the spirit Gu, we¡¯ll all die!¡± ¡°Look at Wuyou Mountain and Wutong Mountain. They both know Taiyi took the spirit Gu, but have they leaked this information?¡± ¡°They are even worse than two gravel-sized sects.¡± Seeing that his punishment was going to be severe, Zhang Ke hurriedly said, ¡°Immortal Servant, I will track down Taiyi and surely bring him back!¡± The Immortal Servant sneered, ¡°So are you planning to get Wang Li or Ling Jiu killed this time?¡± Zhang Ke bowed in silence, trembling all over. The Immortal Servant continued, ¡°The people of the Jiguang Sect are not ones you worthless people can handle.¡± ¡°Ordinary cultivators can be wiped out with a flip of your hand, and you dare to underestimate the Jiguang Sect?¡± She announced the final verdict, ¡°Order of the Dao Seed: Wang Li and Ling Jiu, for failing to report knowledge, inadequate responses, and incompetence, are demoted to acting sect leaders.¡± Wang Li and Ling Jiu let out a sigh of relief, knowing their lives were spared and the punishment was not too harsh. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï The Immortal Servant continued, ¡°Zhang Ke, you are ordered to proceed immediately to Feiying Dock in the territory of the Nanli Ming King. Prepare for battle; the battlefield there needs more lives.¡± Zhang Ke¡¯s once upright posture slowly bent, feeling utterly powerless, his eyes filled with despair. The copper statues carried the Immortal Servant into the dock, while Wang Li and Ling Jiu quickly led people to follow, leaving only Zhang Ke kneeling on the ground, still not rising. As Wang Li walked, he asked, ¡°Immortal Servant, how are we supposed to deal with those two Jiguang miscreants?¡± The Immortal Servant retorted angrily, ¡°Don¡¯t you understand? Even if Nie Fei were a Dao Seed, it wouldn¡¯t make a difference!¡± ¡°Capturing someone like Nie Fei requires opportunity!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even understand what it means to be a lone traveler, a Jiguang miscreant.¡± ¡°If we can capture one Taiyi to present to the Dao Seed, it would be a great achievement!¡± Ling Jiu said, ¡°Please command us, Immortal Servant!¡± The Immortal Servant said, ¡°Go to Wo Hu City and arrange a southbound caravan, but ensure that no one realizes it¡¯s your doing.¡± Ling Jiu asked, perplexed, ¡°Why is that?¡± The Immortal Servant coldly replied, ¡°Just follow orders; there¡¯s no need for so many whys!¡± ¡­ At dawn, Chen Qing only got up when the sunlight was too bright to ignore. This sleep was truly refreshing. Long battles and pursuits had left him exhausted, but this sleep finally allowed him to recover. Having consumed too much spiritual medicine earlier, he wasn¡¯t hungry at all. Chen Qing picked up his straw hat, thought it over, and decided to remove the black veil covering his face. In such a crowd, being the only one with a black veil was too conspicuous and could easily draw attention. Besides, the farthest he¡¯d gone in Wuyou Mountain was the market at the foot of the mountain, and no one in Wo Hu City knew him. Wearing a straw hat to cover the upper half of his face should be sufficient. Donning the straw hat, Chen Qing left and headed toward Lantern Street, where there was a free market. He would first see if there was a thousand-year snake gall available. If there was, he¡¯d buy one to see how much progress it could bring, and then head to Wanbao Pavilion to make a purchase. As he walked along, he suddenly realized he had recently picked up some of Red Lotus¡¯s traits, always feeling uneasy with too many Spirit Stones on him. It was time to spend some, so he planned to elevate his Snake Gu to Butterfly Transformation to see what special changes it might bring. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 70: Shes Going to Fulfill an Unfinished Appointment Chapter 73: Chapter 70: She¡¯s Going to Fulfill an Unfinished Appointment ¡°` Everyone surrounded Chen Qing to prevent the ¡°weakest¡± Chen Qing from being attacked and killed. Ye Yuntian looked at the woman, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that the corpse we found wasn¡¯t yours!¡± The Lotus Fairy said bitterly, ¡°That was my sister, who looked very much like me.¡± ¡°When we were defeated, she told me to escape and not to avenge her.¡± Suddenly, the voice of a middle-aged man came from behind, ¡°But how can such a massacre be easily let go?¡± The man appeared to be in his fifties, wearing a tattered Daoist robe, slowly approaching the crowd in the rain, ¡°I only left the Lotus Cave for ascetic practice for twenty-seven years, and it turned out like this.¡± ¡°You all have to give me an explanation!¡± He Ming spread his hands, and his sword flew directly to his hand from in front of the Lotus Fairy. He stood behind Ye Yuntian with his sword horizontal, and said in a deep voice, ¡°I¡¯ve hidden a crane outside the city, how should we arrange it?¡± Ye Yuntian simply drew his sword, throwing the scabbard to the ground. Although it was He Ming who arranged for them to come and watch the dance, he never considered the possibility that He Ming might have leaked their whereabouts, and instructed, ¡°Find an opportunity, carve out a path, and let Qingshuang take Chen Qing away first!¡± There was only one crane, yet Ye Yuntian¡¯s first thought was not to escape himself, but to let Chen Qing, the ¡°weakest,¡± leave first. He Ming placed a hand on Chen Qing¡¯s shoulder with a smile, ¡°Since I brought you here, I¡¯ll definitely take you back safely.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? The middle-aged man reached up to remove the hat from his head, caught a handful of rainwater, and instantly the rain curtain became denser. Qiu Lie drew his rusty sword from his waist, ¡°This sword was given to me by my youngest daughter, but now, she¡¯s gone.¡± He waved his hand, without a hint of hesitation. ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°I want to tear them to pieces!¡± ¡°Extract their bones and marrow, boil them in a great cauldron to ease the hatred in my heart!¡± More than a dozen black-clad remnants of the Lotus Cave immediately charged fiercely through the rain, their swords blazing with Sword Qi. He Ming seemed to sense something, shouting, ¡°Now, Junior Brother Ye, act!¡± Ye Yuntian instantly charged forward with his sword, heading toward the remnants of the Lotus Cave in front of him. The sword light extended three zhang, and as he swung, fierce winds swept through, shattering the surrounding buildings! Cultivators around him scattered at once, not daring to face Ye Yuntian¡¯s sword edge directly. Just then, a wall was suddenly smashed open, and a crane leaped out from within, landing in front of He Ming. He Ming grabbed Chen Qing and Yu Qingshuang by the shoulders and threw them onto the crane¡¯s back. ¡°Go!¡± Chen Qing tightly hugged the crane¡¯s neck, ¡°Senior Brother!¡± He Ming leaped high, cutting down a Lotus Cave remnant who tried to harm the crane, shouting angrily, ¡°Quickly go!¡± He whistled, and the crane spread its wings and took flight, creating a violent gust of wind, parting the rain curtain before them, and soaring into the sky. The crane flew barely over thirty zhang when a black-clad figure leaped from the top of a tall building, slicing through the rain with a long sword, heading straight for Chen Qing and the others! As Chen Qing hesitated whether to act, Yu Qingshuang stood behind him, her sword drawn, leaping from the crane into the air, exchanging three consecutive sword strikes with the black-clad figure! With the final strike, the two separated, and Chen Qing quickly maneuvered the crane to catch Yu Qingshuang as she fell. Riding on the crane in the rain, Chen Qing looked back. The black-clad figure who had ambushed them, seeing no success, had already joined the siege against Ye Yuntian and the others. Looking at the town center again, high buildings were reduced to ruins, sword light ravaged in all directions, and amidst the howling winds, vital energies scattered everywhere! Ye Yuntian took a sword wound during the chaos, his expression unchanged, returning a fiercer strike to his opponent. He Ming and Shen Ao broke through the enemy¡¯s encirclement, making way to carve a path out! The crane flew farther and farther, the city becoming smaller and smaller in Chen Qing¡¯s eyes, indistinguishable now between Ye Yuntian and the people of the Lotus Cave, only seeing the tall buildings one by one collapse. This was the life-and-death struggle of the jianghu. After flying ten miles, Yu Qingshuang spoke behind Chen Qing, ¡°Land.¡± Chen Qing guided the crane down, turning back to suddenly see drops of blood dripping from Yu Qingshuang¡¯s right sleeve. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Yu Qingshuang seemed unconcerned, ¡°It¡¯s just some minor wounds.¡± Chen Qing reached to take Yu Qingshuang¡¯s hand for a closer look at her injuries but was stopped as Yu Qingshuang held his face in her hands, ¡°Chen Qing, I know you¡¯ve always been cultivating on the mountain, never seen such brutal fights.¡± She continued seriously, ¡°But don¡¯t be afraid, we¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Listen, you must listen to me seriously.¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°Okay!¡± Yu Qingshuang held Chen Qing¡¯s face tightly, ¡°Head straight to Senior Brother Feng¡¯s outpost and tell them what¡¯s happened, let them come to save us!¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°With their outpost so far, will they make it in time?¡± Yu Qingshuang reassured him, ¡°Trust me, I know combat better than you, I¡¯ve killed two at Qi Refinement level six and one at level seven.¡± ¡°Trust me, we can hold until Senior Brother Feng and the others arrive!¡± In the drizzle, Chen Qing asked, ¡°What about you?¡± Yu Qingshuang wiped the rain from Chen Qing¡¯s brow, releasing his face, ¡°I¡¯ll naturally stay with the others to fend off the enemy. At Wuyou Mountain, we don¡¯t abandon our brethren and flee alone.¡± Her smile was as radiant as a flower, remarkably spirited in the dismal rain, ¡°Remember, you¡¯re not running away, you¡¯re fetching help.¡± In her eyes, Chen Qing was just a naive, weak person who had never been away from the protection of Wuyou Mountain. She pushed Chen Qing onto the crane¡¯s back, raised her hand, sending a gust of wind to spur the crane into flight, and gave Chen Qing one earnest look before turning away unhesitatingly. She was heading off to meet the battle left unfinished. The crane lifted into the air, flying farther and farther. Chen Qing sat on the crane, feeling the rain-filled spring breeze against his face. She lied to me. Lotus Cave was most famous for the Rain Gu, and now with continuous rain. Aside from the Lotus Fairy, who was not weaker than Ye Yuntian, Lotus Cave still had a cultivator who had just returned after hearing the news. Qiu Lie, after twenty-seven years of ascetic practice, would certainly be even more formidable. How could just Ye Yuntian, He Ming, and Shen Ao possibly withstand? When you all decided to let me go, couldn¡¯t you at least hesitate so I could peacefully head to fetch help? He took a deep breath, inhaling both the spring breeze and the gentle rain. With the crane landing in front of an unnamed stream, he scooped a handful of the stream water to wash his face. Then, he removed the Daoist hairpin from the top of his head, letting his hair fall freely upon his shoulders. Raising his hand, Chen Qing drew the long sword from his waist, hooking the crane¡¯s reins onto a stone beside the stream. ¡°Good crane, wait here for me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± He rose and walked into the depths of the forest. Under the cover of night, as he moved, he transformed into fog. When he landed again, he was clad in black robes, a bronze ghost mask on his face. Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 71: Then I have no choice but to send you on your way! Chapter 74: Chapter 71: Then I have no choice but to send you on your way! A mass of black fog raced through the forest on the raging wind, landing on a branch to reveal a bronze-colored figure. This was the trait brought about by the Iron Skin Gu Butterfly Transformation. [Bronze Image]: You could bronze your body. Using this ability for the first time didn¡¯t feel inconvenient, only making his body slightly heavier. A medium-quality Spirit Stone appeared in his left hand, which he put into his mouth, chewing and swallowing it in just a few bites. Immediately, he felt power surging through his body. At this level, the Spiritual Energy within him was comparable to the Sixth Transformation of Qi Refinement! Adjusting his spiritual energy fluctuations to the Ninth Transformation of Qi Refinement, Chen Qing leaped off the branch, coming to the city gate, and directly kicked it down with one foot. The Light Gu flew out from his body and landed on his shoulder, illuminating the surroundings within ten feet with dazzling light. He walked leisurely toward the intense battlefield ahead, now spanning four shattered streets. In the darkness, the intense combatants suddenly saw a brilliant light appear in the distance, somewhat dazzling. They all looked at Chen Qing, clearly seeing the bronze ghost mask on his face and the faint black fog behind the mask, as well as the light symbolizing Jiguang on his shoulder. The blood-covered Lotus Fairy exclaimed, ¡°Taiyi?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã0 Everyone stopped in unison, looking at this unexpected intruder. Qiu Lie approached the Lotus Fairy, asking, ¡°A member of the Jiguang Sect, who is this person?¡± The Lotus Fairy replied, ¡°Father, he was just at the Eighth Transformation of Qi Refinement before, and even then, his strength was probably not weaker than yours.¡± ¡°Now, he has broken through to the Ninth Transformation of Qi Refinement.¡± Ye Yuntian was also somewhat surprised, coughing up a mouthful of blood, softly saying, ¡°Why did Taiyi come?¡± Blood dripped from one of his legs, and his pants were torn, revealing the wound. He Ming, on the other hand, was already covered in blood. Everyone else was injured, except for Yu Qingshuang, who had just arrived at the battlefield and was less wounded. Chen Qing strolled across the battlefield full of broken walls and ruins, hoarsely saying, ¡°Fight, why not continue fighting?¡± The Lotus Fairy said, ¡°Taiyi, we don¡¯t have any major grievances. I advise you not to meddle!¡± Chen Qing crossed his arms, ¡°Saying that makes me unhappy.¡± ¡°Huang Shengluan paid money to buy the lives of you leftover heirs of the Lotus Cave.¡± ¡°I originally planned to wait until you finished fighting and fulfilled my last wish before taking action.¡± ¡°But seeing your attitude, it doesn¡¯t seem very cooperative.¡± He made a hollow grip with his right hand, and a four-foot-long Geng Metal Sword appeared in his hand, his whole body taking on a bronze hue, with each step echoing with the sound of metal clashing. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just have to send you on your way first!¡± He continued forward, casting a glance at Ye Yuntian, hoarsely laughing, ¡°Ye Yuntian, just to be clear, I won¡¯t split the bounty with you on this job.¡± Ye Yuntian laughed heartily, ¡°Hahaha, the job you accepted, naturally no need to split it with me!¡± Chen Qing chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s for the best.¡± The Wind Butterfly attached itself, and he instantly felt his entire body become lighter, free of the bronze body¡¯s heaviness. He charged forward in the rain, directly at Qiu Lie. Qiu Lie saw Chen Qing coming at him and became extremely cautious, ¡°Why did a Taiyi from the Jiguang Sect suddenly appear?¡± But he didn¡¯t think much, as there¡¯s no time to consider so much when killing. You must be single-minded. Qiu Lie also charged at Chen Qing from the alley, his sword emitting a blaze of light! Chen Qing suddenly swung his sword, clashing with Qiu Lie¡¯s longsword. The Geng Metal Sword, usually invincible, did not break Qiu Lie¡¯s sword but only forced Qiu Lie back three steps. Qiu Lie felt his sword constantly trembling and knew that this opponent was a formidable enemy! Just the force of one sword made his Sword Gu tremble uncontrollably, clearly at a disadvantage. Others saw this and immediately understood that Qiu Lie probably couldn¡¯t match Taiyi, quickly attacking their previous opponents. Shen Ao rushed into the crowd, leading Wuyou Mountain disciples in a counterattack against the Lotus Cave remnants, like a sharp sword cutting a gap in the Lotus Cave¡¯s formation. Ye Yuntian and He Ming charged towards the Lotus Fairy, aiming to slay her. The Lotus Cave remnants fell into a stalemate after losing a master like Qiu Lie. Previously, with Qiu Lie alone restraining He Ming, Ye Yuntian, and Shen Ao, the Lotus Fairy was slaughtering Wuyou Mountain disciples. But now, Shen Ao led Wuyou Mountain disciples in pursuing the Lotus Cave disciples! Nonetheless, Qiu Lie dared not be distracted in front of Chen Qing, treating him with utmost caution. The Sword Butterfly of Void Sword. The Iron Butterfly of Bronze Image. The Wind Butterfly of terrifying speed. Only at the beginning, the opponent had already revealed three Butterfly Gu! Such a formidable opponent was rare in his twenty-seven years of wandering the martial world. Chen Qing leveled his sword, preparing to perform the Sword Butterfly chapter of the Great Kui Sword Scripture! The Great Kui Sword Scripture was known only to him and the Mountain Master in Wuyou Mountain, and the Mountain Master gave it to him in a single day back on the mountain, indicating he had never practiced it. Just from their descriptions, it was impossible to determine the Great Kui Sword Scripture. Furthermore, in such a life-and-death situation, who would have the leisure to care about the swordsmanship he was using? The Great Kui Sword Scripture had four chapters: the Sword Butterfly chapter using only the Sword Gu, the Giant Sword chapter using both Power Gu and Sword Gu, the Thunder Sword chapter using both Thunder Gu and Sword Gu, and lastly, the Great Kui Sword combining Sword Gu, Power Gu, and Thunder Gu. Now, without Power Gu and Thunder Gu, he could only use the Sword Butterfly chapter for now. Fortunately, the higher the quality of the Sword Gu, the greater the power of the Great Kui Sword Scripture. His current Sword Butterfly was at the Ninth Transformation, naturally powerful! Sweeping his sword again, forcing Qiu Lie back three steps, Chen Qing closed in, wielding the Geng Metal Sword with the Great Kui Sword Scripture, attacking Qiu Lie with great force, relentless and powerful! The Ninth Transformation Sword Butterfly, along with the grand and domineering moves of the Great Kui Sword Scripture, made Chen Qing move like a fierce tiger, each sword heavy as a mountain, pressing Qiu Lie to defend feebly! Under Chen Qing¡¯s long sword, jade and stone alike shattered, and the surrounding buildings or stone sculptures crumbled before him as if made of clay. With an uplifted hand, rubble flew apart! Wherever he trod, things shattered into pieces! Chen Qing glanced at Qiu Lie¡¯s bleeding sword-wielding right arm, secretly thinking: With such speed in absorbing my body¡¯s spiritual energy, his Rain Butterfly¡¯s quality isn¡¯t particularly high, just around the Second and Third Transformation. However, his Sword Butterfly might be at the Sixth Transformation! Moreover, the opponent should have Power Gu to compensate for the lack of sword power. Otherwise, he would never withstand my Great Kui Sword! Despite suppressing Qiu Lie continuously, Chen Qing dared not grow complacent. A well-traveled ascetic known for numerous stratagems. Chen Qing slashed again, violently as if to cleave a great river, cutting through the rain curtain and raising a gust of wind. Qiu Lie¡¯s right hand swung the sword to clash with Chen Qing, but the keen-eyed Chen Qing noticed the left hand was hidden in the sleeve! Just about to react, intending to lift a foot to kick Qiu Lie flying, he saw a mass of thunder light tearing open Qiu Lie¡¯s sleeve, flying at him! Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 72: Bloody Battle! Chapter 75: Chapter 72: Bloody Battle! ¡°` The lightning struck Chen Qing¡¯s chest, charring the black robe on his chest to a crisp. The force sent him flying backward, crashing into a building. Amidst the rubble and wood, Chen Qing reached out and flung the beam off his body. The electricity swiftly traveled from his body into the ground through his feet. It used to be tingling and numb, but now, there¡¯s no feeling at all! Seeing no one around, he quickly popped a mid-grade Spirit Stone into his mouth, chewed it twice, and swallowed, filling his body with Spiritual Energy once again! He glanced at the battlefield in the distance. Without Qiu Lie¡¯s restraint, Wuyou Mountain had started to reverse the losing battle, gaining the upper hand slightly. As long as he could eliminate Qiu Lie completely, his senior brothers should be able to retreat safely. He kicked off the ground, shooting forward like an arrow, aiming a sword thrust directly at Qiu Lie¡¯s chest. Bang! Qiu Lie raised his slightly numb right hand and struggled to parry the strike. His tiger¡¯s mouth cracked, and blood dripped from the hilt. Chen Qing observed Qiu Lie¡¯s unwavering and determined gaze. Was he planning to drag me down with the Rain Gu? Too bad, I have a Snake Gu that can quickly replenish Spiritual Energy. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing didn¡¯t believe that Qiu Lie¡¯s Rain Gu could absorb spiritual energy faster than his Snake Gu could devour Spirit Stones! In a flash of lightning, they had already exchanged over fifty strikes. Qiu Lie, a veteran swordsman of the martial world for many years, had far superior swordsmanship skills to Chen Qing. However, fortunately, Chen Qing could cope effortlessly thanks to the speed granted by the Seventh Transformation of the Wind Butterfly. Amidst the constant exchanges, Chen Qing could feel his swordsmanship improving rapidly, an experience he never got when sparring with Yu Qingshuang. At this moment, the spiritual energy within Chen Qing was overflowing, making him feel the need to vent it out properly. The spiritual energy contained in the mid-grade Spirit Stone was rather overbearing. So, he raised his hand and hurled the Geng Metal Longsword at Qiu Lie, wielding an even longer and thicker Geng Metal Sword. He swung the sword again, sending Qiu Lie flying with a single strike, crashing into three small buildings. Chen Qing sprinted towards him, delivering three consecutive powerful strikes, driving Qiu Lie¡¯s legs into the ground! The continual onslaught of the Geng Metal Sword pressed Qiu Lie relentlessly downwards as if he was a mole being driven into the earth. The sustained barrage of strikes shattered Qiu Lie¡¯s body, and with a crack, even his right hand was split open by Chen Qing¡¯s blade! With his internal organs wounded, Qiu Lie spat out a mouthful of blood! Yet, unperturbed, Qiu Lie laughed, ¡°Hit me, keep hitting, and let¡¯s see if it¡¯s you who kills me today or I who kills you!¡± ¡°A strong bow at its end!¡± Chen Qing, however, glared coldly, ¡°Ha, even a dog with its tail between its legs dares to bark wildly in front of me!¡± A burst of vibrant green light emerged from Qiu Lie¡¯s body, and his severed arm started to heal. Transforming into fog, Qiu Lie evaded Chen Qing¡¯s sword and fled into the distance. Chen Qing stomped heavily, shattering a pavilion beneath his feet, and chased after the fog-transformed Qiu Lie. Qiu Lie sprinted wildly, leaping onto the city wall, just about to escape when he heard the roaring wind from behind. Holding his sword in his left hand, he parried the incoming long sword, but Chen Qing¡¯s blow sent him crashing into the city wall, breaking a section of it. Watching as another strike from Chen Qing approached, he immediately transformed into fog and continued fleeing into the distance. But in front of Chen Qing¡¯s Ninth Transformation of the Wind Butterfly, that speed was laughable. After flying a few dozen feet, Chen Qing¡¯s blow again made him cough up blood, leaving Qiu Lie helpless. ¡°How much did Huang Shengluan pay you? I¡¯ll give you double!¡± Fighting for so long under his rain curtain, with seemingly endless spiritual energy within him, Chen Qing¡¯s intense and growing strength left Qiu Lie frightened. Chen Qing was indifferent, ¡°I came here today for your life!¡± ¡°Use whatever tricks you have left, quickly!¡± Qiu Lie¡¯s eyes darkened, and five black shadows flew from behind him towards Chen Qing. Chen Qing glanced and immediately recognized them, ¡°Five Ghost Gu?¡± Although the five ghosts came at him with claws and teeth bared, Chen Qing didn¡¯t care and charged ahead, slicing at Qiu Lie again, weakening his left arm with a single blow. The five evil ghosts fell upon Chen Qing¡¯s body, scratching and clawing, but only a series of metallic clangs was heard! Feeling the ticklish attacks, Chen Qing laughed, ¡°No wonder a twenty-seven-year ascetic like you is so weak, with so few means.¡± ¡°I restrain you!¡± These five ghosts, formless and shapeless, could only be repelled by Thunder or Fire Skills, similar to the Sword Ghost, and were difficult for ordinary cultivators to handle! But against Chen Qing, they had no effect at all! ¡°Thus, you must die as well!¡± Chen Qing immediately deployed the Wall-Penetrating Skill, bypassing Qiu Lie and slashing from behind. With both arms broken and the Fog Gu already used, Qiu Lie hurriedly summoned the Five Ghosts to fend off the attack. But these formless ghosts, how could they block the Geng Metal Longsword? Slash! Qiu Lie was split in two by Chen Qing¡¯s sword attack, and Chen Qing pursued, piercing Qiu Lie¡¯s head with a single strike. The surrounding rain slowed, not as continuous as before. He waved his hand, releasing a surge of spiritual energy and capturing the three escaping Gu. Sword Gu, Rain Gu, and a Five Ghost Gu. This Five Ghost Gu could fetch a good price. Such Gu were most valuable due to their scarcity and could instantly boost combat effectiveness once contracted, especially restraining for lower-level cultivators. However, it was of little use to Chen Qing. He was not interested in contracting a Gu with a short lifespan and nurturing it to a high level. Returning to the city, the disciples of Lotus Cave immediately understood everything when they saw the blood-dripping sword in Chen Qing¡¯s hand. Qiu Lie must have been defeated! The Lotus Fairy exclaimed, ¡°No, my father, an ascetic for twenty-seven years, how could he not be your match?¡± Tears of blood overflowed from her eyes, but an unguarded moment left her slashed by Ye Yuntian, wounding her abdomen. Chen Qing took a step, quickly closing the distance to the Lotus Fairy, and mercilessly swung down a tyrannical strike. Already surrounded by two opponents and low on spiritual energy, she couldn¡¯t withstand Chen Qing¡¯s relentless Geng Metal Sword. With a single strike, Chen Qing beheaded the Lotus Fairy! Blood splattered all over Chen Qing, and he turned to rush towards the remaining Lotus Cave remnants, striking down a disciple just forced back by Shen Ao. Blood poured like rain. Fully activating the Ninth Transformation of the Wind Gu, Chen Qing weaved and dodged in the rain, slaughtering a Lotus Cave disciple with a single strike. These ordinary Refinement Level Six and Seven, and Lotus Cave remnants without Butterfly Transformation Gu, had no power to resist him. In mere thirty breaths, Chen Qing stood amidst the carnage, sheathing his Geng Metal Sword and letting the rain wash the blood from his body. Looking back, Ye Yuntian and the others were all injured, with two Wuyou Mountain disciples seriously wounded, lying on the ground, uncertain if they were alive. But that wasn¡¯t something he could take care of now. It was time to leave. He turned, leapt onto the rooftop, and vanished into the night as fog. ¡°` Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 73 Taiyis Bounty Chapter 76: Chapter 73 Taiyi¡¯s Bounty ¡°` It wasn¡¯t until Chen Qing had left for a quarter of an hour that He Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief, using his longsword to support himself as he collapsed. ¡°He¡¯s gone.¡± Shen Ao was equally apprehensive, for the recent massacre had once again shown them the true terrifying power of the Jiguang Sect¡¯s ruthless members. Traveling alone for miles, the infamous villain of the Jiguang Sect. Truly living up to his reputation. Chen Qing¡¯s stance of killing with every step was truly terrifying. They knew well that with their Spiritual Energy nearly depleted, even if they all attacked together, they might still not be a match for the infamous villain of the Jiguang Sect. The only fortunate thing was that he had finally left. Ye Yuntian sat down on a piece of broken stone, gasping for air. ¡°In the future, if you encounter Taiyi, don¡¯t provoke him no matter what, or else there will be a calamity.¡± Yu Qingshuang, meanwhile, puzzled, looked in the direction where Chen Qing had gone, wanting to say something, but remained silent. Ye Yuntian asked, ¡°Qingshuang, how is Chen Qing doing?¡± Yu Qingshuang replied, ¡°I told him to seek help from Brother Feng.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã0 Ye Yuntian nodded, ¡°Good, this way he shouldn¡¯t be in too much danger.¡± ¡°Check the wounded, deal with their injuries, and quickly return to Wuyou Mountain.¡± Everyone agreed and began to help up the severely injured disciples of Wuyou Mountain. Chen Qing returned to the creekside, drew the sword at his waist, and jumped into the creek to carefully wash off the bloodstains on his body. He couldn¡¯t afford to wait for danger to find him like this in the future. If this continued, he would inevitably be exposed sooner or later. And exposure for him didn¡¯t mean a genius suddenly emerging from Wuyou Mountain. Rather, it would bring the bounty order of Abnormal people from major forces, leading to the complete destruction of Wuyou Mountain. He looked up at the dense clouds overhead. Since you all are so free as to trouble Wuyou Mountain every day, let¡¯s give you something to do. Chen Qing went as promised to report the news. He and Feng Qi had only gone halfway with reinforcements when they received a message from Ye Yuntian saying that the crisis had been averted. Returning to Wuyou Mountain, all the brothers and sisters were injured quite seriously, with four being critically injured, but fortunately, they all survived without any disabilities. Chen Qing¡¯s timing was just right. After returning, they didn¡¯t mention the name Taiyi again, pretending as if that person never existed. That was for the best. Taking advantage of an errand to the mountain to buy medicine, Chen Qing, carrying Spirit Stones, planned to buy some more Soul Stealing Flowers. As soon as he reached the street, he saw a notice posted on the bulletin board. [Taiyi] Affiliation: Jiguang Sect Cultivation: Eighth Level of Qi Refinement Bounty: One hundred thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones Chen Qing watched for a while, confirming it was the work of the Taiping Sect. But why only one hundred thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones? Is my status as Taiyi really so undervalued? What a stingy display. Indeed, people around were also discussing it, ¡°The villain of the Jiguang Sect, only worth one hundred thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones, fooling ghosts?¡± ¡°These one hundred thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones are probably for buying a coffin.¡± ¡°Let whoever loves seeking death go.¡± ¡°I heard over fifty people from the Taiping Sect couldn¡¯t keep Taiyi, so is this one hundred thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones just a joke?¡± Chen Qing had just walked away a bit when he saw a disciple from Wuyou Mountain step forward and tear down that bounty notice. Are they forbidding bounties on me in the Wuyou Mountain territory? It seems like the previous battle left quite an impression on Ye Yuntian and the others, making them realize they shouldn¡¯t provoke me. After secretly purchasing Soul Stealing Flowers equivalent to thirty thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones, Chen Qing decided to improve his cultivation significantly. Previously the Wind Butterfly had advanced from the Sixth Transformation to the Seventh Transformation, and now it was time to continue improving, to see if any special changes would happen after the Ninth Transformation. When he returned to the Spirit Plant Hall, Wang Ye and Li He were enthusiastically discussing what changes might occur after Wang Ye¡¯s Green Bull Gu advanced to the Seventh Transformation. Wang Ye said, ¡°In my opinion, after advancing to the Seventh Transformation, the bull might rival a spirit beast!¡± Li He replied, ¡°I think it¡¯s difficult. Sister Ju Xiu¡¯s tiger Gu only turned into a spirit beast after reaching the Ninth Transformation.¡± Wang Ye insisted, ¡°That¡¯s different. My bull listens to my suona playing every day and is cultured!¡± Chen Qing had entirely different concerns from them. While Wang Ye and they considered what changes might occur at the Seventh Transformation for the Gu, Chen Qing was curious about what changes might occur for the Butterfly Transformation at the Ninth Transformation. A phrase suddenly came to Chen Qing¡¯s mind, ¡°Playing the piano to the cow?¡± Wang Ye:¡­ Li He burst into laughter, ¡°The Hall Master¡¯s wit is unmatched!¡± Chen Qing waved his hand, ¡°Alright, stop fooling around, go summon Brother Xie Dayou, and ask if he wants to join my Spirit Plant Hall.¡± ¡°Last time during the mountain defense, Brother Xie deserved first place!¡± Such accolades from the disciples had nothing to do with Chen Qing, after all, he was the one who decided who held the top merit. Moreover, as the Hall Master, now one of the five Hall Masters of Wuyou Mountain, he had become one of the decision-makers. Before long, Xie Dayou arrived and respectfully cupped his hands toward Chen Qing, ¡°Hall Master!¡± Currently, with Chen Qing holding the prestige of defending the mountain and stabilizing the hearts, he already commanded great respect within Wuyou Mountain. Chen Qing, sitting in the Hall Master¡¯s seat, asked, ¡°Brother Xie, during the last defense of Wuyou Mountain, I spoke with Brother Ye and believed you deserved top merit.¡± Xie Dayou was overjoyed and cupped his hands, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the Hall Master¡¯s excellent command!¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Brother Xie, as I mentioned before, the person with the top merit will be awarded a Grass Spirit Gu. This promise is genuine.¡± ¡°Would you like to join my Spirit Plant Hall?¡± Xie Dayou cupped his hands again, ¡°Hall Master, I have a daughter, eighteen years old, already at the third level of Qi Refinement. Could you give her a position in the Spirit Plant Hall?¡± Chen Qing considered for a moment. Xie Dayou was from the War Affairs Hall and already had a livelihood. Securing a livelihood for his daughter seemed more appropriate. Moreover, Xie Dayou had relied on his sword Gu for years, and adding another Grass Spirit Gu wouldn¡¯t be of much use to him. Chen Qing asked, ¡°What are your daughter¡¯s thoughts?¡± Xie Dayou cupped his hands, ¡°She is overjoyed at the prospect of joining the Spirit Plant Hall.¡± Chen Qing raised his hand, ¡°Li He, go summon Xie Miaoyi!¡± Before long, Li He returned with a delicate young girl. Among those in cultivation, Chen Qing seldom saw unattractive girls. This Xie Miaoyi, with her twin ponytails and green floral dress, appeared exceptionally pure and cute. ¡°Miaoyi, tell me, would you like to join my Spirit Plant Hall?¡± Xie Miaoyi glanced at Xie Dayou, looking a bit nervous. Chen Qing immediately waved his hand, ¡°Brother Xie, Li He, Wang Ye, you all leave.¡± The three promptly excused themselves, leaving only Chen Qing and Xie Miaoyi alone, without any further thought. Of course, if Chen Qing truly took a liking to Xie Miaoyi, Xie Dayou would probably laugh in his dreams. With his skills in cultivating Spirit Ginseng and Blood Ginseng, Chen Qing¡¯s position in Wuyou Mountain was as solid as a rock. Chen Qing continued to ask, ¡°Miaoyi, tell me truthfully, would you like to enter my Spirit Plant Hall and cultivate spiritual medicines?¡± Only then did Xie Miaoyi speak, ¡°Disciple is willing to join the Spirit Plant Hall, please take care of me, Uncle!¡± Chen Qing asked once more, ¡°Is it truly how you feel?¡± Xie Miaoyi coyly asked, ¡°Uncle, if I join the Spirit Plant Hall, can I still learn the sword?¡± Chen Qing chuckled, ¡°If you want to learn the sword, I won¡¯t stop you, but it has to be after your duties.¡± Xie Miaoyi nodded, ¡°Then I will join the Spirit Plant Hall.¡± Chen Qing waved his hand, ¡°Go inform your Uncle Li He, have him take you to collect the Gu.¡± He rose and went to the cultivation room of the Spirit Plant Hall, locked the door, and a Soul Stealing Flower appeared in his hand. It was time to enhance his cultivation, let¡¯s see to what extent the Soul Stealing Flower equivalent to thirty thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones could elevate his cultivation! ¡°` Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 74: Consecutive Breakthroughs Chapter 77: Chapter 74: Consecutive Breakthroughs One Soul Stealing Flower after another went down his stomach. This state of cultivation, filled with spirituality, allowed Chen Qing¡¯s practice to be as fast as Divine Speed! His cultivation level kept climbing. In just a short hour, Chen Qing already felt a significant increase in his cultivation level. At this pace, he was about to reach the sixth layer of the Qi Refining Realm! The Spiritual Energy surged within him, and every inch of his flesh greedily grew! Another hour passed, Chen Qing¡¯s entire aura shook, and a wave of spiritual pressure rippled out; he had now reached the sixth layer of the Qi Refining Realm! There were still plenty of Soul Stealing Flowers left. Chen Qing didn¡¯t want to slack off, so he kept pushing, seeing if he could directly breach the seventh layer of Qi Refining! Sleepless through the night, Chen Qing chewed the last petal of the Soul Stealing Flower, ¡°Seems like I¡¯m just a bit shy of the seventh layer.¡± Continuing such cultivation would surely become addictive. But he was just one step away! Forget it, he thought. I¡¯ll buy another ten Soul Stealing Flowers and see if I can break through the bottleneck of the seventh layer. I¡¯m about to become a master of the seventh layer of Qi Refining! In the martial world, reaching the seventh layer made one a rare master and a backbone of any sect. At night, Chen Qing went down the mountain again and spent twelve thousand low-grade Spirit Stones to buy ten Soul Stealing Flowers. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï According to the female cultivator at the Wanbao Pavilion, he had bought all the Soul Stealing Flowers they had. Chen Qing couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit disappointed. If he wanted to continue improving his cultivation, he would have to buy other Spiritual Medicines, though none had the potency of the Soul Stealing Flower. Fortunately, the Blood Ginseng he had planted was about to mature. When the time came, he could secretly consume some to boost his cultivation! On his way back, Chen Qing passed by the War Affairs Hall where they were meeting. Seeing Chen Qing pass by, they didn¡¯t shy away but continued their discussion. ¡°Wutong Mountain seems to have sent spies recently.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know where they¡¯ve gone.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to guess, they must have sent them our way!¡± ¡°Keep investigations quiet; don¡¯t make unnecessary moves.¡± Chen Qing returned to his cave, lying in the stone chamber, eating Soul Stealing Flowers as if they were snacks. Looks like I should find an opportunity to kill Huang Shengluan. Not for any particular reason, just that Chen Qing wasn¡¯t familiar with anyone else. Also, Huang Shengluan held a high position; his death could throw Wutong Mountain into chaos for a few years. In the past, Wuyou Mountain was always on the defensive, which was extremely exhausting for Chen Qing. This time, Chen Qing decided to take the offensive; he didn¡¯t know when this fellow would go out. Killing him at his home in front of so many wouldn¡¯t be right. Better to let him die outside and keep things dignified. After swallowing three more Soul Stealing Flowers, Chen Qing felt the time was right to break through the seventh layer of Qi Refining. He quickly got up, sat cross-legged, and began seriously cultivating in an attempt to break through! Gathering all the Spiritual Energy in his body, he continually attacked the seventh meridian within him. Qi Refining had ten layers, referring to the ten meridians within the body. Breaking through each meridian was akin to reaching a new layer, providing more capacity for Spiritual Energy within. However, generally, no one referred to ten layers of Qi Refining as such; instead, they called it Qi Refining Perfection. Once all ten were unblocked, they allowed for continuous circulation within the body, termed ¡°small circulation,¡± also known as Qi Refining Perfection. Chen Qing persistently attacked the last hurdle of the seventh meridian, with the Spiritual Energy in his body crashing against the bottleneck like a great river. An hour later, Chen Qing opened his eyes, ¡°Still not quite there, but I feel close!¡± Looking at the seven remaining Soul Stealing Flowers, Chen Qing grabbed them and started devouring them in big bites. Might as well go all out to break through to the seventh layer of Qi Refining! With seven Soul Stealing Flowers consumed, Chen Qing felt his whole body overflowing with spirituality; the Spiritual Energy within him seemed about to boil! He concentrated fully, seriously attacking the bottleneck. The Spiritual Energy within his body flowed endlessly; whenever Chen Qing used a large surge, a new supply would replenish it! And the seventh meridian, under this continuous onslaught, showed signs of loosening. Chen Qing was overjoyed and pushed harder! He continuously attacked, and his consciousness could even sense the sound of Spiritual Energy clashing with his meridian. Boom! Boom! Boom! Bang! All the Spiritual Energy in his body entered an entirely new place! The seventh layer of Qi Refining was breached! A wave of energy rippled around Chen Qing¡¯s body, a sign that the spiritual pressure within him had changed. Opening new meridians didn¡¯t expand the Dantian too much; what mattered was the spiritual pressure, or the purity of Spiritual Energy. Spiritual Energy entered the body from the outside and was compressed by meridians; the more meridians it passed through, the purer the Spiritual Energy. Thus, the level of Qi Refining influenced the spiritual pressure experienced, being a primary basis for assessing cultivation level. Using the remaining medicine power, Chen Qing continued expanding the newly breached seventh meridian, stabilizing his cultivation. After stabilizing his cultivation for two hours, Chen Qing finally opened his eyes. Using the Fog Gu, he adjusted his spiritual pressure to the fourth layer of Qi Refining, lying down to prepare for the new day. Finally, he had reached the seventh layer of Qi Refining in his practice. Though such cultivation speed was very fast, the Spirit Stones were indeed running low. For the eighth layer of Qi Refining, there was no rush. Once the Spirit Ginseng and Blood Ginseng were harvested, with a good feast, it might be possible to reach the eighth layer of Qi Refining. With the remaining Spirit Stones, he decided to continue enhancing the Wind Gu and Iron Skin Gu, and search for a Power Gu. The Power Gu was inexpensive, far cheaper than domineering Gu like the sword Gu, costing only seven to eight thousand low-grade Spirit Stones; the remaining Spirit Stones would suffice. The second day of February. Chen Qing busied himself in the Blood Ginseng field, directing the disciples of the Spirit Plant Hall to continue watering with spirit beast blood. Last night¡¯s gathering wasn¡¯t much of a discussion; Yao Feng and the scholar¡¯s Spirit Stones were nearly drained by him. Red Lotus, true to form, couldn¡¯t hold onto money and bought a Fifth Transformation Copper Bone Gu for Chen Qing to guide. He made a small profit of twenty middle-grade Spirit Stones. For the Demon Clan, Copper Bone Gu was indeed better than Iron Skin Gu. Claws and teeth were considered part of the bone. For Demon Clan who excelled in close combat, Copper Bone Gu was not just a defensive Gu, but also an offensive one. Both offensive and defensive, so they were quite valuable among the Demon Clan. Only after Red Lotus found the rich patron Fu Luo could she afford to buy one. What surprised Chen Qing was that after Fu Luo¡¯s Luck Gu advanced to a Fortune Butterfly, it finally began seeking guidance from other Gu. It was a sword Gu, but not an ordinary sword Gu; it was a spiritual item sword Gu. [Spiritual Item Sword Gu: Lonely Shadow] Quality: Seventh Transformation Life Span: 78/270 Effect: Condenses twenty strands of Spiritual Energy into a single Lonely Shadow Sword Qi. [Trait]: [Sword Nurturing Skill] Can nurture seven Lonely Shadow Swords within, capable of flying swords. Growth Requirements: Night Ghost Core Growth Progress: 5/100 Promotion Requirements: Five Shadow Creation Stones, seven Essence of the Void, one Sword Coffin Spiritual item sword Gu were indeed extraordinary; a mere Seventh Transformation was already more powerful than his Ninth Transformation Sword Butterfly. Chen Qing speculated that these so-called Lonely Shadow Sword Qi and Lonely Shadow Sword were possibly intangible, possibly not less powerful than his Geng Metal Sword. Seeing such a treasure, Chen Qing could only sigh, truly a treasure. Of course, in front of that Fortune Butterfly, everything seemed pale and powerless. After the Fortune Butterfly advanced to Butterfly Transformation, it had no traits, nor any change in its effect description. However, such a mysterious Gu, mysterious as gods, Chen Qing did not dare say the Butterfly Transformation was useless; only the user could truly feel the change within. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 75 Poor Huang Keeps a Secret for Me Chapter 78: Chapter 75 Poor Huang Keeps a Secret for Me ¡°` Another 230 mid-grade Spirit Stones in hand, Chen Qing decided to go down the mountain to buy a Power Gu. To buy a Power Gu, it was best to go to the territory of the Divine Fist Sect, which was adjacent to Wutong Mountain and had established its sect 153 years ago. It was said that the founder of the sect had reached that ineffable mysterious realm beyond the Foundation Establishment. Since coming to this world, Chen Qing had seen Foundation Establishment but had never heard of any realm beyond it. Indeed, he hadn¡¯t even heard legends or rumors about realms beyond Foundation Establishment. This sometimes made him wonder if this world actually had only three realms. However, judging by the scholar¡¯s tone, they worshiped the Nine Tribulations True Monarch. The Heavenly Master Mansion had Heavenly Masters, the Immortal Court had Heavenly Venerables, and the Demon Clan had Demon Kings. Yet, in the realms between Foundation Establishment and True Monarchs, Chen Qing rarely heard anything. He hadn¡¯t even heard about them in casual conversations. In the vicinity of Wuyou Mountain, it seemed Foundation Establishment was already the pinnacle of cultivation. Once reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, life was considered complete. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Any further and it was the ineffable realm. Chen Qing thought it was all too mysterious. But considering the strength of the Foundation Establishment, Chen Qing speculated that the realm beyond it would be terrifying, perhaps reaching the horror level of the Sumeru Hidden Immortal Country. Actually, it was understandable; this was a world of Gu Dao, and possessing high-quality Gu insects wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing, but rather a path to death. After all, spirit-level Gu wouldn¡¯t perish just because the host died. Spirit-level Gu were inherently longer-lived than Foundation Establishment. A spirit-level Gu represented the flourishing of a sect for centuries! If not for the heavy killing in this realm, how would a spirit-level Gu¡¯s value be only a mere million? The founder of the Divine Fist Sect was rumored to be one who existed beyond Foundation Establishment but had passed away over 60 years ago. Chen Qing didn¡¯t believe it at all, with Foundation Establishment having a life span of 200, and the life span beyond Foundation Establishment surely only increasing. Yet their founder had already passed for 60 years, so it seemed they hadn¡¯t reached beyond Foundation Establishment. Moreover, the Divine Fist Sect was now merely a power equivalent to their Wuyou Mountain. The Divine Fist Sect had a large supply of Power Gu, giving Chen plenty of choices. Of course, the most important thing was that Huang Shengluan had run to the territory of the Divine Fist Sect. Letting them fight among themselves was appropriate, Chen Qing thought. Seeing them idle each day, unlike himself, who only focused on earnest cultivation for longevity. So he needed to find something for them to do. Informing the Spirit Plant Elder of his intention to go out and purchase spirit seeds, Chen Qing prepared to set off. Disguising himself with a hat and adjusting his cultivation to the fifth stage of Qi Refinement, he arrived at the market at the foot of the Divine Fist Sect, rented a room in an inn opposite Huang Shengluan, and prepared to buy the Power Gu first, then settle matters in the evening. Finding a shop of Divine Fist Sect, Chen Qing strode forward arrogantly and said, ¡°I am Huang Sanlang of Wutong Mountain, quickly bring out the Power Gu, I want to pick a good one to gift my elder sister!¡± The cultivators of the Divine Fist Sect looked at the hat-wearing Chen Qing like he was a fool, thinking, you surely have talent! Gifting such an expensive item to your elder sister is one thing, but you¡¯re gifting a Power Gu to a female cultivator? Truly an eye-opener. However, the cultivators of the Divine Fist Sect didn¡¯t say much, bringing out as many as sixteen Power Gu for Chen Qing to choose from. Chen Qing looked over each one and finally chose a Sixth Transformation Power Gu. ¡°How much is this one?¡± The Divine Fist Sect cultivator said, ¡°12,000 Spirit Stones!¡± Chen Qing exclaimed, ¡°Do you think Wutong Mountain is stupid?¡± Only then did the Divine Fist Sect cultivator say, ¡°For the sake of Wutong Mountain, I can give you a 30% discount.¡± Only then did Chen Qing say, ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Quickly wrap it up, my elder sister will definitely like it!¡± After Chen Qing paid, as the time for a cup of tea passed, the Divine Fist Sect cultivator was still muttering to himself, ¡°How did such a fool cultivate to the fifth stage of Qi Refinement?¡± Originally, Chen Qing intended to impersonate a disciple of Wutong Mountain to cause trouble and provoke disputes, but he later thought this method was too demeaning. Moreover, the Divine Fist Sect hadn¡¯t provoked him, so he decided against it. After some inquiries, Chen Qing heard that Huang Shengluan had been staying at the inn for three days, so he decided to stake out and see when this guy might leave, planning to take care of him when he reached a less crowded place. Unfortunately, after waiting a whole day, Huang Shengluan surprisingly didn¡¯t leave at all! Just as Chen Qing was perplexed, at midnight, he suddenly saw a woman dressed in white with a veiled face entering the inn where Huang Shengluan resided, closing the door behind her. Xiang Baiyu? What was this woman doing here? That night, Chen Qing quietly infiltrated the inn where Huang Shengluan resided, only to find no sign of anyone in the lobby. He immediately deployed the Fog Gu, completely concealing his spiritual energy fluctuations, turning into fog and flying up onto the rafters, lying quietly in the darkness. After a while, a disciple of the Taiping Sect entered the inn, delivering food to the backyard. ¡°Is Senior Sister Xiang upstairs?¡± ¡°Hurry, look at the time you¡¯re arriving!¡± He immediately turned into fog, flying through the darkness and landing on a rafter in the backyard. Through the skylight, he saw within, Huang Shengluan was already covered in scales, charred all over, unsure whether he was dead or alive, his body drenched in blood. ¡°Huang Shengluan, reveal the whereabouts of the Taiyi, and I will release you!¡± After a while, Chen Qing only heard Huang Shengluan¡¯s weak voice, fortunate that he was still a cultivator, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have heard it at all. ¡°I¡­ really¡­ don¡¯t¡­ know¡­¡± Xiang Baiyu laughed, ¡°Ridiculous, just a few days ago, our spy overheard that you bribed the Taiyi to hunt down the remnants of the Lotus Cave!¡± ¡°In that battle, the Taiyi indeed toiled for you!¡± ¡°When vying for the spirit Gu, he didn¡¯t dare to challenge me and fifteen others!¡± ¡°Yet within a few short days, he had single-handedly slain nineteen people of Lotus Cave, among them twelve at the seventh layer of Qi Refinement or above, two at the eighth layer, one at the ninth layer, plus one who had been in bitter cultivation for twenty-seven years!¡± The previously despondent Huang Shengluan¡¯s eyes finally showed a trace of spirit, ¡°You mean¡­ that¡­ Taiyi¡­ snatched¡­ the spirit Gu?¡± Xiang Baiyu sneered, ¡°Not too stupid, so now you should understand, either reveal how to contact Taiyi, or let Wutong Mountain accompany him in death!¡± Chen Qing was utterly stunned. Ah, this. I was just casually mentioning it at the time. Poor Huang, guarding my secret. He was genuinely just ignorant. Xiang Baiyu walked up to Huang Shengluan, ¡°After torturing you for three days with Thunder Skills, you still refuse to talk?¡± ¡°You really are a tough nut to crack.¡± At this moment, Huang Shengluan was also a bit more spirited. Involving spirit Gu made him truly feel fearful. For a single spirit Gu, annihilating Wutong Mountain, the Taiping Sect could really do such a thing. Mustering his spirit, he said, ¡°I really don¡¯t know, I never told Taiyi to hunt the remnants of the Lotus Cave.¡± If he didn¡¯t make it clear now, he might really be wiped out. Xiang Baiyu asked, ¡°Then why did Taiyi chase after the people of Lotus Cave?¡± Huang Shengluan raised his head, his eyes full of confusion, ¡°How would I know?¡± Xiang Baiyu waved a hand, and someone brought a disciple of Wutong Mountain, and she drew her sword, stabbing the unconscious Wutong Mountain disciple. ¡°I will keep killing like this, until you speak!¡± Huang Shengluan grabbed this junior brother¡¯s hand, finding his body was already slowly growing cold. ¡°I really don¡¯t know!¡± ¡°Xiang Baiyu, if you want to kill, come at me, don¡¯t involve my Wutong Mountain!¡± Xiang Baiyu curiously asked, ¡°What exactly did Taiyi offer you that you¡¯re willing to protect his secret to the death?¡± Chen Qing initially thought Huang Shengluan couldn¡¯t say anything, but unexpectedly, he chuckled mischievously, ¡°Considering the timing, the matter should be about finished.¡± ¡°I know where Taiyi is, but do you dare to pursue?¡± Xiang Baiyu was suddenly frozen on the spot. She suddenly felt danger. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 76 Taiping Sects Poisonous Plot, The Battle Resumes Chapter 79: Chapter 76 Taiping Sect¡¯s Poisonous Plot, The Battle Resumes »ÆʤöÇ wanted to drag Wuyou Mountain into the mess? If that¡¯s the case, then no one in this inn could be left alive. The Bronze Image was highly effective against Thunder Skills, so Chen Qing wasn¡¯t afraid at all and was confident he could take them all out. Lightning flickered in Xiang Baiyu¡¯s hand, crackling as it struck Huang Shengluan, knocking him out. She really didn¡¯t dare to listen. She pushed open the door and asked the Taiping Sect disciples in the hall, ¡°How long until the Lord of Altar arrives?¡± The Taiping Sect disciple replied, ¡°On the way.¡± Xiang Baiyu instructed, ¡°Don¡¯t let Huang Shengluan escape. I¡¯m going to greet the Lord of Altar!¡± She leaped into the air, jumping out of the hall skylight, heading westward. Chen Qing immediately used the Wall-penetrating Skill, arriving in Huang Shengluan¡¯s room. The Geng Metal Sword appeared in his hand, piercing through Huang Shengluan¡¯s head with a single thrust. Then he waited in place for thirty breaths, once again using Wall-penetrating Skill to directly reach the street, transforming into fog as he pursued in the direction Xiang Baiyu disappeared. Lord of Altar? Even Xiang Baiyu had to address him respectfully as ¡°Lord,¡± what kind of strength did he possess? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Keeping a distance, Chen Qing followed Xiang Baiyu, concealing himself all the way. With the Seventh Transformation Wind Butterfly¡¯s support, he landed silently. After pursuing for an hour, Chen Qing saw a black figure standing with Xiang Baiyu from a distance, Xiang Baiyu kneeling on one knee and reporting, ¡°Master, I have already pried open Huang Shengluan¡¯s mouth, just waiting for you to arrive!¡± Chen Qing did not feel the imposing aura of Foundation Establishment from that Lord of Altar, he should be in the Qi Refining Realm. For even Xiang Baiyu to call him ¡°Master,¡± his strength was undoubtedly extraordinary, possibly even above his own. The man was quite tall, too distant to clearly see his features, his outline only revealing he was a man. ¡°Remember, this matter can only be carried out in secret, the Jiguang Sect¡¯s mad dogs are not so easy to deal with.¡± ¡°If you want to capture Jiguang Sect people, there¡¯s only one chance. If you miss it, there won¡¯t be another.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t implicate too many, if we inadvertently involve Da Yan¡¯s watchdogs and they catch the scent, it will be even more troublesome.¡± Once the two left and went far away, only then did Chen Qing begin to prepare to return to Wuyou Mountain. It seemed Taiyi could no longer appear in the territory of Wuyou Mountain. Returning to Wuyou Mountain, Chen Qing went back to his cave and contracted the Power Gu, then headed to the Spirit Plant Garden. After being away for a few days, this time Chen Qing took an entire day to manage all the poorly growing Spirit Ginseng. After contracting the Power Gu, Chen Qing felt as if he had endless strength, casually clenching his fist, and it was as though thousands of catties of force were in his hand. Returning home, Chen Qing began practicing the Great Kui Sword Scripture with the Power Gu. After practicing a set of sword techniques, the feeling was indeed different, each sword strike was incredibly powerful, with force radiating in all directions. Power significantly increased! The Great Kui Sword Scripture was indeed extraordinary! Next time he encountered someone with strength similar to Qiu Feng¡¯s, he should be able to finish the fight more quickly! But the Thunder Gu was still relatively troublesome; only the Taiping Sect had it in this area. If he killed someone from the Taiping Sect, he might have a chance to obtain one, but Chen Qing was unwilling to put in too much effort to cultivate a Gu that wouldn¡¯t last long. What he was looking forward to more now was what new changes would occur after the Ninth Transformation of the Wind Butterfly. Three days later, when Chen Qing finally arrived at the Spirit Plant Hall, he heard the latest news. Xiao Zhong had disappeared. The disciples of the Shadow Hall were currently reporting the situation to the War Affairs Hall. The disappearance of a Deputy Hall Master caused Wuyou Mountain to become alert. Chen Qing immediately thought of the Taiping Sect. Could it be that they not only captured Huang Shengluan but also Xiao Zhong? A few days later, news of Huang Shengluan¡¯s death finally came, along with a hand belonging to Xiao Zhong, which was also delivered to Wuyou Mountain. It was said that the disciples of Wutong Mountain witnessed Xiao Zhong accidentally killing Huang Shengluan. Making a corpse be killed again was not a difficult thing for the Taiping Sect. It was clearly an attempt to incite a war between Wutong Mountain and Wuyou Mountain! The Taiping Sect! To make the two sects get along was difficult enough, but to provoke a war between the two sects was as easy as drinking water for the Taiping Sect. These lunatics, they had already started to act insanely for the sake of the spirit Gu! In their eyes, the hundreds of lives from the two sects were simply not worth mentioning. No, he had to request a meeting with the Mountain Master! Chen Qing immediately passed through the War Affairs Hall, straight up to the summit of Wuyou Mountain. After consulting the Great Elder, Chen Qing saw the Mountain Master in front of a pile of graves in the back mountains. ¡°Mountain Master, someone is trying to sow discord between us and Wutong Mountain!¡± The Mountain Master still had that deadpan face, standing in the mound of graves as if he had just climbed out of a coffin. He pulled a handful of grave grass, ¡°I know.¡± Chen Qing continued, ¡°Mountain Master, I feel like someone is controlling all of this from behind the scenes, and we probably won¡¯t be able to withstand it.¡± The Mountain Master nodded, ¡°I know that too.¡± Chen Qing suggested, ¡°Then let¡¯s leave, find another place to establish a sect!¡± The Mountain Master sighed deeply, ¡°But who will save Xiao Zhong?¡± The Mountain Master¡¯s eyes burned as he looked at Chen Qing, ¡°Since you know this is a conspiracy, then you must know that Xiao Zhong is innocent, he has been framed, he definitely did not kill Huang Shengluan.¡± ¡°If we leave, what about Xiao Zhong?¡± He approached Chen Qing, saying seriously, ¡°Let¡¯s save Xiao Zhong first, then we¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Wait a little longer, Feng Qi and the others are about to make a move.¡± Chen Qing felt somewhat disheartened as he descended the mountain. Yes, if they left, what would happen to Xiao Zhong? Who would have thought that the Taiping Sect actually captured Xiao Zhong as well? Chen Qing returned to his cave and packed up his things. It was time to go. Isn¡¯t it the spirit Gu you want? Then come and chase. But before leaving, he must clean up his tracks. Chen Qing once again glanced at the Great Kui Sword Scripture, ensuring he had memorized all its contents. He placed the Great Kui Sword Scripture on the table in his cave, then closed the door and walked out. Just as he reached the mountain gate, he glanced back, intending to take one last look at Wuyou Mountain, the place he had lived for ten years. He found that Yu Qingshuang had caught up with him. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Chen Qing said softly, ¡°To kill a few people.¡± Yu Qingshuang asked, ¡°Can you take me with you?¡± Chen Qing shook his head, ¡°Following me is too dangerous.¡± Yu Qingshuang looked at Chen Qing with a dreamy expression, ¡°Will you come back?¡± Chen Qing thought for a long time, ¡°I will be back.¡± Yu Qingshuang handed the package from her back to Chen Qing, ¡°Come back soon.¡± Chen Qing nodded with a smile, ¡°I will be back.¡± Chen Qing turned and walked away, Yu Qingshuang¡¯s voice came from behind, ¡°Don¡¯t be like my father, leaving and never returning.¡± Taking a step forward, the Eighth-Transformation Wind Butterfly activated under his feet, and he sped towards the territory of Wutong Mountain like an arrow released from a bowstring. Yu Qingshuang suddenly felt as if her heart was missing a piece, ¡°I knew it was you.¡± ¡°Counting the time at Sword Abyss, you¡¯ve saved me twice.¡± ¡°And your swordsmanship, others might not recognize it, but how could I not feel it?¡± Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 77: Suddenly a teammate emerges amidst the mayhem Chapter 80: Chapter 77: Suddenly a teammate emerges amidst the mayhem ¡°` Wutong Mountain. Chen Qing wore a bronze ghost mask, silently surveying the towering mountain full of phoenix trees. It was just spring, and the phoenix trees had not yet sprouted, so they looked bare. After glancing around, it seemed Feng Qi and the others hadn¡¯t arrived yet. Chen Qing immediately found a quiet place to sit down and quietly awaited the arrival of night. For killing, nighttime was always best. At night, the Fog Gu was more effective and easier to escape with. Chen Qing planned to charge directly up Wutong Mountain. The Taiping Sect had orchestrated this conspiracy; they would certainly be watching Feng Qi and the others trying to rescue Xiao Zhong. As long as he appeared here, they would inevitably discover him. Afterward, he would slip away in the direction away from Wuyou Mountain. Chen Qing opened the bundle Yu Qingshuang had given him, which contained three boxes of lotus cakes she had made by hand, along with thirteen mid-grade Spirit Stones and twenty-three low-grade Spirit Stones. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 Picking up a lotus cake, Chen Qing was somewhat surprised, ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought, in just a year, her skills have improved this much.¡± Just then, Chen Qing suddenly felt a slight tremor from his Wind Gu. It was surprising that the Wind Butterfly chose now to advance to the Ninth Transformation. But that was fine too. Eating all the remaining lotus cakes, Chen Qing opened his hand, watching the Wind Butterfly in his palm slowly begin to transform. As dusk settled, the Wind Butterfly in his palm finally completed its transformation, gaining an additional trait. [Wind¡¯s Breath]: The wind would tell you what it sees. Chen Qing closed his eyes, beginning to listen to the wind. Voices and figures were carried to his ears and mind by the wind. ¡°Elder Brother Huang must not have died in vain!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve long been displeased with Wuyou Mountain, and now they¡¯ve even killed our Elder Brother Huang!¡± ¡°I shall beat Xiao Zhong again. If not for the lack of ants this season, I would smear honey on his wounds.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy. The Mountain Master has instructed us to prepare to attack Wuyou Mountain in a few days!¡± These were the voices of Wutong Mountain disciples. ¡°Those fools on Wutong Mountain really thought it was Xiao Zhong who did it. Does he even have the ability?¡± This was a voice from inside a stone cave. ¡°Brother Feng, it¡¯s dark now.¡± ¡°Wait a little longer for them to lower their guard.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°We must be quick, rescue Xiao Zhong, and leave at once. The Mountain Master will arrive shortly.¡± Chen Qing opened his eyes, realizing that Wind¡¯s Breath was indeed a useful ability for gathering information about the enemy. The words and actions of those people, as well as their cultivation levels, seemed to appear right before his eyes. He rose, stretched lazily, and touched the bronze ghost mask on his face to ensure it was securely in place, then boldly strode towards Wutong Mountain. If they were determined to attack Wuyou Mountain, he had to take some down first. His arrival quickly caught the attention of the gatekeeping disciples of Wutong Mountain, ¡°Jiguang Sect, what are you here for!¡± Throwing a mid-grade Spirit Stone into his mouth, Chen Qing stepped forward. The Ninth Transformation of the Wind Butterfly activated, his speed producing afterimages. As he ran, a five-foot Geng Metal Sword appeared in his hand. Splat! The Wutong Mountain disciple who had just questioned Chen Qing fell to the ground, motionless. Another disciple on the other side immediately shouted, ¡°Someone¡¯s here, the Jiguang Sect is here to attack us!¡± The shouting disciple quickly alerted some Wutong Mountain disciples who were practicing swordsmanship in the distance. The wind brought more messages, such as the two figures inside the stone cave. The tall one said, ¡°Taiyi has appeared, Taiyi has appeared, go report to the Lord of the Altar immediately!¡± The short one responded, ¡°You go report to the Lord of the Altar, I¡¯ll keep watch here!¡± On another side, he heard Feng Qi¡¯s excited voice, ¡°Taiyi, how did Taiyi come?¡± And the Mountain Master, whose face was always expressionless, was suddenly stunned. ¡°Great Kui¡­ No wonder¡­¡± The Mountain Master bitterly smiled, ¡°Feng Qi, after Taiyi attracts the attention of the Wutong Mountain disciples, quickly rescue Xiao Zhong.¡± Feng Qi cupped his hands and said, ¡°Yes, Mountain Master.¡± After swiftly dispatching another gatekeeping disciple, Chen Qing clearly saw fifteen Wutong Mountain disciples charging towards him. ¡°Heh, a bunch of fish not even at the fifth level of Qi Refinement, and they dare to confront me?¡± Following the mindset of killing as many as possible, Chen Qing felt no fear. He leaped forward, his body already tinged with bronze. His long sword swept through, and Chen Qing sliced two Wutong Mountain disciples at the waist with one strike. Tiger-like, he leaped out, his sword continuously fell. In just ten breaths, he was covered in blood, surrounded by fifteen corpses. This was Chen Qing¡¯s first visit to Wutong Mountain, but fortunately, the wind brought a wealth of information. He clearly sensed that more than twenty people were encircling him from all directions, while in their War Affairs Hall, a Sword Cultivator named Huang Tian rang Wutong Mountain¡¯s great bell. As the bell tolled, more and more seventh-level Qi Refinement cultivators ran towards the bell¡¯s direction, obviously planning to gather before coming to encircle Chen Qing. ¡°How could I possibly give you that chance?¡± Chen Qing immediately charged at the nearest Sword Cultivator. After the Ninth Transformation of the Wind Butterfly, his perception had become extraordinarily sharp. When he was ten zhang away from this Sword Cultivator, he immediately turned into fog. Once he reached the Sword Cultivator¡¯s side, he swung his sword. This person hadn¡¯t even reacted before falling into a pool of blood. With his sharp perception as a guide, Chen Qing hastily rushed towards the peak of Wutong Mountain, leaving blood everywhere in his path. He cautiously eyed the peak of Wutong Mountain, wondering if the Foundation Establishment old thief was truly unconcerned? Chen Qing knew very well that he was still quite weak in front of Foundation Establishment cultivators. He was confident he could withstand one or two moves from a Foundation Establishment cultivator and then escape. But facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator head-on would be suicidal. With the Mountain Master also present and recognizing him, he felt more assured of his full retreat. For now, his aim was to cause as much damage as possible to Wutong Mountain¡¯s fighting power, deterring them from daring to provoke Wuyou Mountain for a long time. And then to draw the Taiping Sect¡¯s people as far away as possible. As he ran, Chen Qing slashed three Sword Cultivators, making a beeline for Wutong Mountain¡¯s great bell. After consecutively slaying twenty-three people, Chen Qing, drenched in blood, was about to strike at the three people in front of him when he saw a figure on the mountain top being hurled away! The figure landed beside Chen Qing, coughing up blood, and Chen Qing was ready to finish him off with a sword when he saw the young man reach into his coat and pull out a bronze ghost mask, putting it on his face. He reached out to Chen Qing, ¡°Give me a hand, I¡¯ve been stuck here for too long.¡± Chen Qing reached out and pulled him up, somewhat bewildered. How did a comrade appear in the midst of the killing? The Jiguang Sect member, looking terribly pale, said, ¡°You must have seen the secret signal I left and came to rescue me. I knew someone from our Jiguang Sect passing by would realize I was captured by the Wutong Mountain disciples.¡± Chen Qing slowly turned his head, slicing down a suicidal Wutong Mountain disciple in front of him with his sword. ¡°Then how did you end up flying down from the mountain?¡± ¡°` Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 78: Raiding the Wutong Mountain Treasury! Chapter 81: Chapter 78: Raiding the Wutong Mountain Treasury! So, I¡¯m here to save someone? Alright, let¡¯s rescue then. Saves me the trouble of making up excuses, great. Nie Fei stepped forward and picked up the sword of the Wutong Mountain disciple that Chen Qing had just slain, ¡°Just now, when you suddenly attacked, they were too busy dealing with you, so I slipped out. I thought to myself that this old thief had tormented me for so long, I couldn¡¯t just let it go like that.¡± ¡°I used the Mirror Gu to transform into his granddaughter¡¯s appearance, gave him a stab, and then got blasted away by his palm.¡± ¡°By the way, got any Spirit Stones? I didn¡¯t get a chance to rummage through their treasury.¡± Chen Qing casually tossed a mid-grade Spirit Stone over, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Nie Fei picked up the mid-grade Spirit Stone and started rapidly absorbing the Spiritual Energy within it. ¡°Nie Fei.¡± Chen Qing nodded and leaped up to behead another Wutong Mountain disciple behind Nie Fei. Nie Fei frantically absorbed the Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Stone and said, ¡°Benefactor, what about you?¡± Chen Qing replied casually, ¡°Taiyi.¡± Nie Fei sensed a trace of Spiritual Energy returning to his body and asked, ¡°What do we do now?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing asked, ¡°Can you still fight?¡± Nie Fei answered, ¡°Although I injured that Foundation Establishment old thief, I still can¡¯t handle him. Can you face off against a Foundation Establishment now?¡± Chen Qing shook his head. Nie Fei did not show any disappointment; after all, very few in Qi Refinement could fight against Foundation Establishment. He said, ¡°How about we head to their treasury then, take as much as we can.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Did you also get the key to their treasury?¡± Nie Fei nodded, ¡°Yeah, when that old thief hit me, I swiped it.¡± You really are resourceful! Hearing there was a treasury to raid, Chen Qing¡¯s homesickness was instantly swept away, and he became invigorated, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s raid their treasury!¡± Nie Fei immediately stepped forward and leaped onto the wall, ¡°This way!¡± Chen Qing followed right behind; he hadn¡¯t even seen the treasury of Wuyou Mountain yet, and now he was off to Wutong Mountain¡¯s treasury. After just a few steps, a fifty-something Wutong Mountain elder rushed at Chen Qing from the nearby rooftop. Chen Qing immediately turned and swung the Great Kui Sword, cleaving the elder, making him cough blood before crashing into a house. Nie Fei looked back to see Chen Qing already handling it and continued to lead the way, transforming into an eagle and rapidly absorbing a mid-grade Spirit Stone. ¡°This way, hurry!¡± ¡°Once that old thief stabilizes his injuries, there¡¯ll be no more chance.¡± Chen Qing thought, the Mountain Master wouldn¡¯t give him this chance. Sure enough, in the next moment, terrifying waves of energy rippled from the mountaintop, with dozens of ancient swords soaring through the sky, and the continuous sounds of fierce impacts were heard. Startled, Nie Fei said, ¡°Looks like we¡¯re not the only ones here today, no wonder you were so fierce on the attack!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, perfect timing to take advantage of the chaos and raid their treasury.¡± Nie Fei flew in front, Chen Qing followed, both moving at astonishing speed. Chen Qing glanced back to see over thirty Wutong Mountain disciples converging from all directions, ¡°Catch up quickly!¡± ¡°They¡¯re heading to our treasury!¡± ¡°Everyone, gather quickly and storm over!¡± ¡°Damn it, another from Jiguang Sect has run off!¡± In just over ten breaths, they covered more than a mile, and Chen Qing clearly saw a cave in front, Nie Fei shouted from the air, ¡°Their treasury is right there!¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°In such a place, can we get in and out?¡± Nie Fei remained fearless, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the lack of Spiritual Energy in me before, would I fear them?¡± ¡°At worst, we¡¯ll grab things and fight our way out!¡± The two leapt down from the sky, rushing toward the cave, and when they were halfway there, Chen Qing keenly sensed someone hiding above the cave. Just as they landed to enter the cave, a gust of force came from above, narrowly missing a sword strike. Chen Qing turned into a fog, swiftly appearing behind the person, and slashed out with a fierce sword! Swoosh! The person¡¯s robe was sliced open by Chen Qing¡¯s sword, leaving a deep wound on their back! ¡°Hmm, Iron Butterfly!¡± Seeing Chen Qing miss a kill, the person somersaulted up, then vanished into the ground. Nie Fei landed and transformed into human form, ¡°Wow, even a Qi Refinement ninth-layer Iron Butterfly couldn¡¯t withstand a single strike from you!¡± Chen Qing quickly moved forward, ¡°Quickly open the door!¡± ¡°Otherwise, once we have the items, we won¡¯t be able to leave!¡± With Wall-penetrating Skill, Chen Qing was confident in this mission. Nie Fei nodded, and the two charged towards the grand door hundreds of feet ahead. Nie Fei inserted the key, twisted it thrice, and kicked the door open. Chen Qing¡¯s eyes lit up with the brilliance of various Spirit Stones and some jade boxes before him. With a quick scan, he saw no less than a hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones and a pile of mid-grade ones. He rushed forward, waving his hand to absorb all the mid-grade Spirit Stones, before turning to see Nie Fei transformed into a pelican ten feet tall, greedily ingesting Spirit Stones with its massive mouth. Chen Qing looked back; the Wutong Mountain disciples were rapidly closing in, sealing the cave airtight. There wasn¡¯t much time; take what you can! He urgently opened a jade box, discovering a Fire Gu inside! Swinging his hand to store it, Chen Qing looked at the numerous jade boxes, with no time to scrutinize their contents, swiftly moving among them and storing one with a wave of his hand. Just grab them first! Seeing Chen Qing begin to collect jade boxes, Nie Fei, now having almost ten thousand low-grade Spirit Stones in his mouth, also turned to start stuffing these jade boxes into his mouth. ¡°Quick!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t pop back, you still have Snake Gu!¡± At this moment, Chen Qing lamented that his Snake Gu hadn¡¯t evolved, the space was too small to carry much treasure! After collecting nearly thirty jade boxes, the Wutong Mountain disciples finally stormed in. Chen Qing turned to see Nie Fei with a mouthful of Spirit Stones, occasionally dropping a few, ¡°I¡¯ll open the way, you follow!¡± With his mouth full of Spirit Stones and jade boxes, Nie Fei could only nod repeatedly. Seeing the treasury ransacked, these Wutong Mountain disciples were already enraged! Behind the two leading Wutong Mountain disciples, over a dozen arcs of Sword Qi instantly formed and shot towards them. Chen Qing clutched his sword in both hands, wielding the Great Kui Sword to forcefully intercept, instantly raising a violent storm of Sword Qi, knocking down every attack. He stamped down, cracking the ground with a crevice, then flew forward, unleashing another fierce strike. The leading Wutong Mountain disciple swung his sword defensively, only to be knocked back by Chen Qing¡¯s strike, crashing into three or four others. After just a few steps, more Wutong Mountain disciples charged forward, while from outside the cave, countless tree roots frantically grew, slithering like snakes and swarming towards Chen Qing. Nie Fei flickered to the front of Chen Qing, spreading his wings to raise a wave of fire ten feet long, scorching the roots into splinters, sending six or seven flying. Delighted, Chen Qing quickly stepped forward and lunged with his sword! No time to worry about the Gu on the dead. Getting out was the priority! Just then, the Wutong Mountain disciples in front scattered, ¡°Second Elder!¡± ¡°They¡¯re right ahead, trapped inside!¡± Wutong Mountain¡¯s Second Elder waved a sleeve, absorbing all the fire waves, then raised his hand to unleash a more intense pillar of fire toward Chen Qing and Nie Fei! Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 79: Frenzied Battle (Extra Chapter, Please Subscribe First) Chapter 82: Chapter 79: Frenzied Battle (Extra Chapter, Please Subscribe First) Sure, here¡¯s the translated text: ¡ª Once the battle began, there was no room for other thoughts. A pillar of fire struck, but Chen Qing was unafraid. He thought, ¡°I¡¯m now a copper man; do you think you can melt me instantly?¡± Nie Fei spoke while spitting out a few Spirit Stones from his mouth, ¡°Damn it, this old bastard¡¯s Fire Gu is of higher quality than mine!¡± When it came to a contest of the same type of Gu, higher quality suppressed lower quality significantly. Chen Qing¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he used the cave walls to propel himself swiftly toward the Second Elder of Wutong Mountain. The blaze brushed by, turning his robes into tatters. The scorching feeling swept over him, but it couldn¡¯t hurt him. He only felt extremely hot! His chest felt stifled and uncomfortable, making him want to vent. The long sword in his hand descended, unleashing the Great Kui Sword as the sword Gu and Power Gu within him trembled wildly, merging sword and strength. Every slash could unleash a wave three zhang away. With one stroke, Chen Qing struck the Second Elder of Wutong Mountain, causing blood to spew from his mouth. The five disciples behind the elder were also sent flying by this sword stroke, coughing blood endlessly. Chen Qing walked with large strides, like a fierce tiger out of its cage. As he passed by the Second Elder of Wutong Mountain, he slashed diagonally again. However, he hadn¡¯t yet finished this old man, only sending him flying out of the cave. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°Aah!¡± Chen Qing was like a tiger among sheep, unleashing slaughter in the cave. With each sword strike, a disciple of Wutong Mountain was slain! Except for the elders, even those disciples with Butterfly Gu couldn¡¯t withstand the might of his sword! With the long sword in hand, the threat of the sword felt like a prison! The Great Kui Sword was unleashed without cease, and Chen Qing killed along his path. By the time he was halfway through, he had slain thirty-two people, one sword for each! Blood flowed like a river, corpses littered the ground. Blood dripped steadily from his long sword, and he alone had forced dozens into retreat. This group of Wutong Mountain disciples finally tasted fear. ¡°Run!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t fight anymore!¡± ¡°Quickly! Go, get the elders!¡± It was too late to think of fleeing now! Chen Qing quickly overtook them, unwilling to let them escape. Killing one more now meant one less opponent for Qingshuang when they eventually faced Wutong Mountain, reducing some pressure. This was the last thing he could do for Wuyou Mountain. Striking a female cultivator from Wutong Mountain, Chen Qing tossed a mid-grade Spirit Stone into his mouth, bit it, and swallowed. In just ten breaths, his spiritual energy was replenished and flowed endlessly! Pursuing them all the way out, as soon as he exited the cave, seven elders surrounded him, with a person above wielding a large sword descending upon him. Chen Qing swung his sword horizontally, sending the opponent flying backward. Yet, another elder with white hair thrust a sword toward his chest. The sword tip penetrated three inches into his body, failing to impale Chen Qing. He kicked out, sending the elder spewing blood. He touched his chest, feeling fresh blood flow like molten lava. Nie Fei approached Chen Qing, placing a hand over his wound, spiritual energy surging through, making Chen Qing feel extremely refreshed. Nie Fei had frozen his wound, solidifying the flowing lava-like blood to stop the bleeding. ¡°Thanks!¡± Nie Fei moved his body, bones cracking audibly, ¡°Damn it, being tormented by these bastards for so long, it¡¯s time for revenge!¡± Chen Qing coldly observed the seven in front of him, all at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. ¡°How many can you handle?¡± Nie Fei said, ¡°Transformed into a pelican, it¡¯s inconvenient, but I can handle three!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll forcibly hold off five. You quickly deal with them!¡± Chen Qing nodded, ¡°Five, can you manage?¡± Nie Fei became angry, spitting out three Spirit Stones, infuriating the elders of Wutong Mountain, ¡°Although we can¡¯t take on Foundation Establishment now, just a few at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, what¡¯s there to fear?¡± He flew into the air, his wings spreading fire, snow, thunder, iron clanging with fire, and wind and rain flying together. Chen Qing understood then. This guy had a mysterious Fist Scripture, capable of manipulating the Five Elements Gu within him, creating transformations amidst the Five Elements! Nie Fei charged into the crowd, a pelican with clumsy actions, but constantly unleashing Five Elements changes, forcing four to only parry his attacks! Chen Qing ceased hesitating, stepping onto a boulder that crumbled underfoot, immediately unleashing the Great Kui Sword against the remaining three. The three saw Chen Qing¡¯s copper-like body, knowing simple fire couldn¡¯t melt him. They immediately conjured explosive fireballs. ¡°Flame Explosion!¡± Boom! With one sword stroke, Chen Qing sent an elder flying, who spewed blood. He was also struck by a Flame Explosion, blasted into the ground. He glanced at his chest¡ªjust left a black mark, not injuring him, though his internal organs ached. He needed to hurry! Nie Fei had just escaped; his spiritual energy was limited and wouldn¡¯t last long. Chen Qing pushed off from the pit he created, launching himself at another person. The Great Kui Sword mercilessly fell, splitting a wall of fire and the person in two! Nie Fei cheered joyously beside him, ¡°Good!¡± ¡°Taiyi, keep killing. Today we¡¯ll annihilate Wutong Mountain!¡± A new voice came on the wind, ¡°Entangle him with Wutong Mountain¡¯s elders. When his spiritual energy exhausts, we¡¯ll all strike and capture him!¡± Chen Qing looked around, but couldn¡¯t locate the Taiping Sect¡¯s Sect Leader. Wind¡¯s Breath failed to detect his position! Chen Qing wasn¡¯t afraid of Wutong Mountain¡¯s people, but the Taiping Sect Sect Leader alarmed him with a dangerous presence. Damn it! What trick did that Sect Leader have to capture him? He had to hurry, be even faster! Chen Qing went berserk, leaping and continuously striking with the sword. Each strike paralyzed a Wutong Mountain elder in front! Chen Qing maneuvered agilely, the Ninth Transformation Wind Butterfly showcasing incredible speed, his Great Kui Sword invincible! On the other side, Nie Fei withstood the attack of four ninth-level Qi Refinement elders from Wutong Mountain, his wings catching fire and lightning, unleashing thunder and flame into the crowd, wreaking havoc everywhere! In his battlefield, the ground¡¯s trees and grasses were ablaze, fire scorching the earth. Seeing the four ahead manipulating fire, Nie Fei shouted, ¡°Wind, come!¡± Kicking out, forming a Fiery Fire Tornado that swept up the surrounding fire, merging into the tornado. Boom! Mountain rocks collapsed, forcing the four to retreat simultaneously! The four suddenly felt a terrifying gust from behind, but the already seriously injured Second Elder of Wutong Mountain couldn¡¯t react in time as the Geng Metal Sword fell, his unyielding expression frozen in time. Chen Qing wanted to kill another but saw lightning erupt around, four Thunder Apes covered with lightning surged toward him, spitting a Thunder Lock to bind his limbs, suspending him in midair. The Thunder Ghost stood over a zhang tall, wielding jade axe, golden hook, long sword, and broadsword, resembling a demon, akin to a giant ape. The five Wutong Mountain elders, though unsure who was attacking, aligned with whoever countered Chen Qing, and attacked in unison! Chen Qing roared fiercely, spiritual energy surging into his Power Gu, shaking his limbs to fling the four Thunder Apes around. He dodged several enormous fireballs, but two still struck! He was blasted three feet into the ground, his body charred, covered in dirt and ash. He tried to swing his sword, only to have the Thunder Ape pulling his right hand redirect its aim with a fierce tug. Damn it! If only I could use a flying sword! Unfortunately, the Geng Metal Sword wasn¡¯t a flying sword! Nie Fei was equally anxious, realizing the Thunder Apes meant Taiping Sect¡¯s involvement. He shouted, ¡°Taiping Sect¡¯s dogs, daring to strike against Jiguang Sect, courting death?¡± He dashed towards Chen Qing, trying to free him, but someone stood in his path, blocking him. The Taiping Sect Sect Leader gazed at Nie Fei with a smile, ¡°Initially, I only wanted to capture Taiyi, but it seems your Gu is also quite exceptional!¡± The Taiping Sect Sect Leader¡¯s body erupted with lightning, like a thunder child¡¯s descent, each punch unleashing lightning for ten zhang, transforming the surrounding ten zhang into a thunder purgatory! Nie Fei went all out, unleashing fire, thunder, wind, snow, rain, and golden spear in a single punch, clashing with the Taiping Sect Sect Leader! ¡°Dogs, if my spiritual energy were abundant, would you dare flaunt your power!¡± Chen Qing leaped forcefully, trying to unwind the Thunder Lock and pull a Thunder Ape close. Xiang Baiyu spotted Chen Qing¡¯s strategy early on, ¡°Follow my command!¡± In the sky, eighteen Taiping Sect disciples mounted on cranes continuously infused spiritual energy into a black cloud. Rolling thunder echoed with sporadic flashes! Raising her hand skyward, her spell matched the thunder, instantly gathering a child¡¯s arm-sized lightning bolt crashing towards Chen Qing! Though Chen Qing didn¡¯t fear the thunder, it struck with immense power! As lightning intensified, the black cloud released child-arm-sized lightning bolts, disrupting Chen Qing¡¯s movements. Meanwhile, Xiang Baiyu kept forming incantations, chanting spells, ¡°Summon the cloud, descend the thunder; as a curse inducement, now opens Taiping. Bow to Xuantian, lead thunder to the world, uphold King¡¯s might, annihilate demons and devils¡­¡± As she continued her chant, the black cloud boomed and a giant hand slowly took form. Chen Qing gazed upwards at the arm, thick as an ox, muscles rippling, entirely composed of lightning. Damn, this woman is invoking a Divine Descent! Just by looking at the size of the hand, Chen Qing knew if this thing fully manifested, even with a copper body, he couldn¡¯t withstand it! No choice¡ªhe had to quickly take down the eighteen people in the sky! He transformed into fog; the Fog Gu crackled, reacting to the Thunder Lock. Reappearing on the ground, his limbs bloodied, coughing blood, Chen Qing turned his body to bronze again, pushing off to leap towards the sky! Thunder overwhelmingly suppressed the Fog Gu! But he couldn¡¯t care about that now. He had to stop Xiang Baiyu from invoking the Divine Descent despite his severe injuries. Chen Qing leaped upwards, but as soon as he did, a figure rushed at him, a punch wrapped in ten zhang of lightning knocked him back down! The four Thunder Apes closed in again, casting Thunder Locks to restrain his limbs! The Taiping Sect Sect Leader floated in the air, sneering, ¡°With such manpower I could dispatch, how could you break through easily!¡± Chen Qing looked at Nie Fei in the distance, just crawling out from rubble, his attacks no longer as fierce¡ªNie Fei¡¯s spiritual energy was running low. Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: Chapter 93: With Your Blood, I Accomplish My Great Achievement! Chapter 107: Chapter 93: With Your Blood, I Accomplish My Great Achievement! The scholar dashed through the mountains for three hundred miles, lit a bonfire, and went to the nearby stream to catch a big fish weighing more than ten pounds. When he returned to the bonfire, Xuanping was already sitting by the fire with the help of Jiang Miaoxian. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t this worsen your injuries?¡± Xuanping replied, ¡°It¡¯s good to get some fresh air occasionally.¡± Chen Qing scaled and roasted the fish, ¡°How did you get injured?¡± Xuanping didn¡¯t hide it, ¡°Failed at the Foundation Establishment in the north.¡± She smiled, as radiant as a flower after rain, ¡°But next time, I won¡¯t fail.¡± She spoke with great confidence. ¡°What about you, why aren¡¯t you staying in the tribe and instead are wandering around? Your cultivation hasn¡¯t reached the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, right?¡± Chen Qing feigned a slight anger, ¡°The old scoundrel won¡¯t tolerate me!¡± Xuanping laughed smugly, ¡°With skills like yours, you indeed easily provoke the leader¡¯s suspicion in a small tribe.¡± ¡°Even Hu Kui doesn¡¯t often encounter someone as strong as you.¡± ¡°Our Xuan Bird tribe is a large tribe with a Great Witch overseeing it. We now have three Hu Kui in our tribe, so you don¡¯t need to worry about us not accepting you.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing looked sideways, ¡°I just want to live a peaceful life.¡± He was not an ambitious person, just wanting to live quietly and practice in his own small domain. His cultivation goal was modest, merely seeking longevity. Chen Qing wasn¡¯t entirely convinced by Xuanping¡¯s words, could they really protect him? ¡°Hopefully.¡± After eating the fish, Chen Qing leaned against a tree to sleep. Xuanping watched Chen Qing, clearly guessing his past experiences. Born with immense strength, gaining fame as a young man, standing out, and then provoking fear from the tribe¡¯s leader, facing various difficulties. Finally, unable to endure it, he left angrily. Very common, very typical. The only thing that puzzled her was that Chen Qing lacked the aura of a hero. She didn¡¯t like the so-called hero aura. People with it often died because of it. Those people would compete, they would fight, and end up dying from their pride. Cultivation was a long journey; it wasn¡¯t about being brilliant at any moment, but about how long you could live. She thought Chen Qing could live a long time. Just like her father, who was already two hundred and twenty-three years old. Born at twenty-six, she had only seen her father once at the tribal assembly. The only thing making her uncomfortable was that she didn¡¯t see admiration in Chen Qing¡¯s eyes. This gave her a tiny sense of frustration. Only a tiny bit. The next day, on the road, Chen Qing actually hoped to encounter enemies he could easily handle. So it would seem he exerted great effort in escorting Xuanping back to the Xuan Bird tribe. Then he¡¯d have more bargaining chips in negotiations. Yet he didn¡¯t want the enemies too strong to avoid risking his life. All in all, quite conflicting. But for now, it was somewhat comforting that Xuanping believed the pursuers were after her, which made Chen Qing feel much relieved. Handling his pursuers and gaining a village and a scroll along the way was quite satisfying. After three days, covering eighteen hundred miles, they finally came across a town where Chen Qing could easily see a mass of dried bones outside from afar. He closed his eyes, listened to the wind, and knew that the people in this town were not to be trifled with, so he turned directly, taking Jiang Miaoxian away. They traveled in a straight line, scaling mountains, crossing rivers, and in many places, Jiang Miaoxian didn¡¯t recognize. Fortunately, the general direction was correct. On this day, Chen Qing ran across a river over water and saw a boundary stele in the pile of dry grass. Looking carefully, it read Nanli Green Bird Tribe. Jiang Miaoxian was very happy, ¡°Brother, we¡¯ve reached the Nanli territory. If this is the Green Bird Tribe, we only need to cross three more big rivers to return to the Xuan Bird tribe.¡± Jiang Miaoxian eagerly anticipated returning to the Xuan Bird tribe, so she wouldn¡¯t have to be carried by Chen Qing on the road. Thinking of this, she felt a slight sense of loss. Reading Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t of much interest to Chen Qing, ¡°Is there a way to contact folks from the Xuan Bird tribe?¡± Jiang Miaoxian said, ¡°This is the Green Bird Tribe, not our territory. But we can first go to the royal city and request an audience with the Great Witch.¡± ¡°With the Great Witch sending someone to escort us back, there wouldn¡¯t be any danger.¡± Chen Qing didn¡¯t like the imperial capital, nor did he like the royal city. There were too many unknowns in those places. ¡°Let¡¯s not go to the royal city; we¡¯ll detour back.¡± Jiang Miaoxian said, ¡°We can¡¯t just freely cross others¡¯ territories. We¡¯ll be considered invaders if discovered.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°No worries, I can avoid them.¡± This made Chen Qing somewhat annoyed, not expecting to slow down after reaching Nanli territory. He had first to use Wind¡¯s Breath to probe the road ahead before proceeding. Except for that day¡¯s outing, Xuanping mainly slept in an ice coffin, using the cold to suppress her injuries. Jiang Miaoxian had a Snow Gu, repairing the melting ice coffin daily. On the first day of the fourth month, Chen Qing traveled until late at night before stopping, asking Jiang Miaoxian to look after Xuanping, and went out to a gathering, returning with prey. Nothing particularly important was said at this gathering; the scholar¡¯s writings were still under verification. He hadn¡¯t yet ascended to Daoist Master and couldn¡¯t retrieve the ¡°Dragon Tiger True Gang.¡± With Xuanping, they crossed mountains and ridges for half a month. Besides encountering an unruly demon beast on the road, they encountered almost no danger. Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 81: Then Lets Make Wuyou Mountain Stronger Chapter 84: Chapter 81: Then Let¡¯s Make Wuyou Mountain Stronger ¡°` Zhang Ke saw the situation and laughed loudly, ¡°Hahaha, go, all of you, go!¡± ¡°They¡¯re low on Spiritual Energy, attack!¡± In an instant, dozens of Taiping Sect disciples surrounded Chen Qing. Wielding his sword, Chen Qing decided to continue the fight! With a powerful sword wave, he sent the three Taiping Sect disciples at the front flying! A massacre began anew! After slaying seven or eight people, the Taiping Sect disciples continued to charge at Chen Qing relentlessly, launching countless thunderbolts from their palms at Chen Qing and Nie Fei! Chen Qing shielded Nie Fei with his body, taking the brunt of the thunderbolts, leaving him somewhat numb from the force. The wound on his chest that had been frozen by Nie Fei cracked open, oozing bronze-like blood. But that was all. He could still fight on! With vigorous swings of his massive sword, the Great Kui Sword was wielded to its fullest, each strike was powerful and unmatched in Divine Power! After dispatching five who carelessly exposed weaknesses, Chen Qing felt a bit dizzy. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï He was losing too much blood. Too bad he didn¡¯t have a Rejuvenation Gu. If he had one to heal his wounds, he could fight indefinitely! ¡°Are you done yet?!¡± Nie Fei was quickly collecting Spirit Stones, shoving handfuls into his mouth, ¡°Almost, almost, hang on for ten seconds!¡± Hearing ten seconds reassured Chen Qing slightly, and he charged again like a fierce tiger out of its cage. Chen Qing advanced, slicing through two, cutting them at the waist, and continued to wield his giant sword tirelessly, sweeping in all directions! He glanced towards Zhang Ke behind the crowd, watching as a silver-white insect flew from his hand, landing on Xiang Baiyu¡¯s corpse. Xiang Baiyu¡¯s body twitched continuously, with occasional flashes of lightning, and stood back up. This method allowed Xiao Zhong to kill Huang Shengluan once more! Xiang Baiyu, now risen again, had no head but was covered in eerie blue and purple, with numb limbs, yet moved incredibly fast, lunging at Chen Qing! Chen Qing cleaved with his sword, smashing the Thunder Corpse Xiang Baiyu away, clearly sensing it hadn¡¯t caused significant damage! Looking at the crawling Xiang Baiyu, that sword only left a fingertip-deep wound! Looking back at Zhang Ke, he continued to release silver-white insects, embedding them in the corpses of Qi Refinement Stage nine cultivators, summoning one Thunder Corpse after another. No wonder he escalated the battleground, this Taiping Sect Leader grew stronger the more he fought! The larger the battlefield, the more casualties, the stronger he became! These Thunder Corpses couldn¡¯t perform magic but were incredibly tough and immensely strong. ¡°Nie Fei, are you done yet? If not, we won¡¯t be able to leave!¡± Nie Fei responded, ¡°Almost, just hold on for three seconds!¡± Chen Qing looked at the battlefield and saw Xiang Baiyu charging at him again, a flash of lightning within his body. Thunder Gu! Xiang Baiyu¡¯s Thunder Gu was still present! Chen Qing grabbed Xiang Baiyu¡¯s charging body with his bronze hand, manipulating Spiritual Energy to restrain the Thunder Gu, then kicked Xiang Baiyu away. Finally, Nie Fei¡¯s voice came from behind, ¡°Done, let¡¯s go!¡± Chen Qing immediately turned around, grabbed Nie Fei, and sprinted away with the wind. At this moment, Zhang Ke felt victorious, waving his hand gently, ¡°Chase!¡± Eight Thunder Corpses and the remaining thirty-two Taiping Sect disciples abandoned their confrontation with Wuyou Mountain, fully pursuing Chen Qing and his companions. Taiping Sect wasn¡¯t seeking war; war was merely a means. Their target was the spirit Gu. Initially, there was one, but now, there seemed to be two. Ye Yuntian watched the retreating Chen Qing and the Taiping Sect members, his gaze falling on Chen Qing, carrying a large pelican. He silently thought: Junior Brother, come back soon. Feng Qi walked up to Ye Yuntian, patting his shoulder, ¡°He will return.¡± He Ming smiled, ¡°He¡¯s treating this place like home, that¡¯s why he came tonight.¡± On the distant hillside, Xiao Zhong smiled bitterly, ¡°Our Wuyou Mountain is still too weak; otherwise, Junior Brother wouldn¡¯t be forced away.¡± Gongsun Xiu supported the nearly collapsing Xiao Zhong, ¡°Then we¡¯ll make Wuyou Mountain stronger!¡± Originally, with the Taiping Sect¡¯s help, the disciples of Wutong Mountain could hold their ground against Wuyou Mountain. They looked around and embarrassingly realized that all of Wutong Mountain no longer had a cultivator with a Butterfly Gu. A Wutong Mountain disciple attempting to leave suddenly found Feng Qi eyeing him. Observing the surrounding Wuyou Mountain disciples closing in, he cursed under his breath, ¡°Damn!¡± The Wutong Mountain disciples immediately began to scatter, now truly unable to fight back! The group of over thirty from Wutong Mountain, fleeing, reached the mountain gate only to find a zombie-like old Taoist descending from the sky, his face cold and dead-like. ¡­ Chen Qing carried the transformed giant pelican Nie Fei through the night, pursued closely by eight Thunder Corpses. Zhang Ke sat on the Thunder Corpse of Xiang Baiyu, driving it to chase them frantically. Carrying a giant pelican, Chen Qing looked as ridiculous as possible. But at this time, there was no room for such concerns, ¡°Nie Fei, where are we heading now?¡± Nie Fei looked up at the starry sky, flapping his wings and pointing eastward, ¡°Damn it, let¡¯s head directly to Da Yan¡¯s territory. I don¡¯t believe these bastards dare to enter Da Yan¡¯s realm!¡± Running, Chen Qing asked, ¡°Entering Da Yan¡¯s territory, we¡¯ll die!¡± Nie Fei replied, ¡°What else can we do? His Thunder Corpses don¡¯t need Spiritual Energy, they can catch up just by brute force!¡± Chen Qing suggested, ¡°Recover your Spiritual Energy fully, I can hold on for another day. Once you recover most of it, carry me and I¡¯ll contract a Thunder Gu to counterattack!¡± Nie Fei remarked, ¡°It seems your Snake Gu can consume Spirit Stones to restore Spiritual Energy, in that case, I¡¯ll recover my Spiritual Energy quickly!¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Which direction should we run now?¡± Nie Fei said, ¡°East leads to Da Yan, which we can¡¯t provoke; we¡¯ll head south, that way!¡± Chen Qing understood instantly and continued to sprint wildly. Zhang Ke sneered, ¡°Run, I want to see how far you can run!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already alerted others. Soon, three more Taiping Sect leaders will arrive. Let¡¯s see where you can possibly go then!¡± At this moment, Zhang Ke, with disheveled hair and a handsome face only showing coldness, thought to himself: ¡°After killing so many of my people, you think you can leave? Wishful thinking!¡± ¡°From the pursuit of a single spirit Gu, it has become two spirit Gu.¡± ¡°I have noticed. Nie Fei carries a spirit Gu as well, and this spirit Gu is exceptional, even capable of transformation!¡± ¡°When the others arrive, I¡¯ll take Nie Fei¡¯s spirit Gu, and they can have the Taiyi¡¯s spirit Gu. It will be perfect!¡± Nie Fei, carried by Chen Qing, continued recovering his Spiritual Energy, and shouted continuously, ¡°Chase after me, damn it, chase hard, don¡¯t stop!¡± ¡°Tai Yi, let¡¯s head where there are more people. Let¡¯s see if your Taiping Sect has more people or if my Jiguang Sect does!¡± ¡°My Jiguang Sect has members all over the world, each one fierce!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see, if several more Jiguang are drawn out, how will you handle it!¡± Chen Qing, hearing this, spotted a glow on a high mountain platform in the distance and immediately sprinted towards the light. Zhang Ke remained unfazed, ¡°Our Taiping Sect is active in this area, the hidden power is not something your Jiguang Sect can compare to!¡± ¡°Bringing out the Jiguang villains would be perfect. The Gu on your Jiguang Sect members, each one better than the last!¡± ¡°Perfect for strengthening my Taiping Sect!¡± Under the starry field, Chen Qing sprinted ahead while Zhang Ke led eight Thunder Corpses in relentless pursuit. As they neared the light, they were soon discovered, as the commotion was too great. People there shouted, ¡°Which Fellow Daoist?¡± ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Chen Qing roared, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, get out of my way!¡± Initially, the group of cultivators hunting demon beasts saw Chen Qing carrying a giant pelican, thinking he was another hunter. As they neared the firelight, they recognized Chen Qing¡¯s bronze ghost mask, exclaiming, ¡°Jiguang villain!¡± ¡°Run!¡± Chen Qing dashed past the crowd, untouched. He grabbed a roasted lamb leg from a stunned female cultivator, munching as he ran. Nie Fei exclaimed, ¡°Grab one for me too, I¡¯m starving!¡± Chen Qing tossed his half-eaten lamb leg to the Nie Fei on his back, then quickly snatched a golden lamb leg still roasting over the fire, and continued to eat. ¡°Transformed like that, with your mouth full of Spirit Stones, you can still eat?¡± Nie Fei responded, ¡°Transforming into a pelican to store Spirit Stones is a secret skill, what¡¯s eating a lamb leg?¡± ¡°I can even drink soup!¡± Behind them was chaos, Zhang Ke and his eight Thunder Corpses charged through, scattering the cultivators. ¡°Taiping Sect members, run!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t handle either of them, quick, flee.¡± ¡°Pull me up, I got kicked by that ghost thing, my leg¡¯s broken!¡± ¡°First the Jiguang villain, now the Taiping scourge, what bad luck we have today!¡± While running, Nie Fei dropped a jade bottle. Chen Qing caught it and heard Nie Fei whisper, ¡°Sprinkle it on the leftover meat!¡± Hearing this, Chen Qing understood it wasn¡¯t something good. Holding the lamb leg in his mouth, he hugged Nie Fei with his left hand and quickly opened the jade bottle with his right, sprinkling it over the lamb legs. Just as he finished, Nie Fei turned back towards Zhang Ke and laughed, ¡°Hahaha, your grandpa still has roast lamb legs to eat, how about that!¡± As they passed the resting area, Chen Qing turned to look at Zhang Ke, who sat on the bloodied shoulders of Xiang Baiyu, also gnawing on a lamb leg. Chen Qing sprinted forward and asked, ensuring they were out of earshot, ¡°What did you put in his lamb leg?¡± Nie Fei whispered, ¡°A purgative strong enough to affect cultivators!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not easy to find poison potent enough for cultivators.¡± ¡°But thinking about that guy squatting on a Thunder Corpse with diarrhea, isn¡¯t that amusing?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t kill him, but it¡¯ll disgust him!¡± As the three continued their pursuit, to their surprise, aside from the unfortunate one with a broken leg from the Thunder Corpse, it seemed they only lost three lamb legs. ¡°In that case, it¡¯s a blessing.¡± ¡°` Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: Chapter 95: The Bravery of Qingxu, Surpassing the Xuan Bird Chapter 111: Chapter 95: The Bravery of Qingxu, Surpassing the Xuan Bird ¡°` How did he dare? One man charging into a formation of two hundred! How did he dare! This wasn¡¯t some kind of tag-team combat, where you fight one-on-one, but rather two hundred people attacking one! And he carried an ice coffin as a burden! Could it be that after lingering in the North for too long, killing too many people, he grew accustomed to the fight? Did he think our Nanli was as foolish as that eastern bunch who knew only single combat? Yuan Ye shouted in anger, ¡°Then let him see the prowess of my Nanli army formation!¡± ¡°Release the arrows!¡± ¡°Shoot them all dead for me!¡± Crack, crack, crack! Crack, crack, crack! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Crack, crack, crack! Almost every Nanli samurai had a Power Gu, and now two hundred men drew their bows simultaneously, like a thunderous roar, the Mystic Iron great bows clacking and echoing! A volley of arrows filled the sky, and when Chen Qing looked up, those iron arrows descended like a torrential storm, as swift as a gale! Chen Qing spun his body, dodging most of the iron arrows, but still took five arrows to shield the ice coffin! The moment the iron arrows struck the ground, their mountain-splitting power became apparent, embedding deep into the earth, creating web-like cracks where they landed. In a blink of an eye, Chen Qing surged twenty yards with the wind, mere twenty steps from the group of over twenty people ahead. Suddenly, another volley of arrows came at him, and Chen Qing felt the wounds on his body; he was nearing his limits, though his internal organs were unharmed. A dead end? Ha, with the Snake Butterfly restoring his Spiritual Energy, he could still fight for another day and night! The fatigue, that¡¯s all it was. He could withstand another round, and if he wasn¡¯t worried about taking too many arrows would appear fake, Chen Qing might even take dozens more. As he broke through, another rain of arrows fell; Chen Qing once again took six more to conceal the ice coffin behind him. By now, he had reached the twenty or so men in front of him. Five or six long swords slashed at him. Chen Qing swept across with the Great Kui Sword, driving back five or six men, breaking their arms and causing them to cough blood. With a side step, he twisted his body to dodge a sword, then cut a man in two with a single slash, just as he was about to continue breaking through, Yuan Qiu thrust a new spear at him! Chen Qing surveyed the situation; the over two hundred men were closing in on him. Since reinforcements were almost here, he might as well kill to his heart¡¯s content! He brandished the Geng Metal Giant Sword wrapped in lightning, pushing back Yuan Qiu with one strike, and commenced a massacre amidst the crowd! Battle! Frenzied battle! He stuffed a mid-grade Spirit Stone into his mouth, a ball of flame burst from his left hand, forcing three men back, while he wielded the six-foot-long Geng Metal Giant Sword with his right, sweeping across, clearing out the enemies within six feet! Amidst the crowd, he swung his sword wildly. Wherever the Great Kui Sword swept, it left a trail of dismembered corpses. Sword light shone, thunder roared, Chen Qing stood in the crowd, swinging his sword, killing madly. Chen Qing just drove back four, but from the left came a strong gust; as he turned, Yuan Qiu held a spear for a thrust. It was too late to retract his sword; the spear pierced Chen Qing¡¯s waist and abdomen. With his left hand gripping the spear handle, Chen Qing swung with force, flinging Yuan Qiu away. Feeling the pain in his left waist, now he truly was heavily wounded. No need to sustain more injuries next. He cut the spear with his sword; Chen Qing activated Iron Butterfly with all his might, punched the long sword in front of him, and the Great Kui Sword followed, decapitating three before him! More and more people closed in, but no matter how they charged, none could come within six steps of Chen Qing. The thunder light made it tough to break through, and Chen Qing¡¯s Great Kui Sword was too formidable, deadly with a touch, injurious with a brush. Yuan Ye angrily shouted, ¡°What is this, have I been feeding you for nothing, two hundred people can¡¯t kill a Qi Refining Realm cultivator?¡± ¡°Attack!¡± Everyone responded to the order and started to encircle and attack again. Yet, for some reason, looking at the corpses around Chen Qing, they felt a tinge of fear. With fear in their hearts, they dared not fight to the death, being repeatedly driven back by Chen Qing! Yuan Ye was about to continue giving orders but then heard the thunder of hooves from behind. Lord Xuan Mang rode a fiery red horse with scales, holding a fierce tiger-spitting spear upside down, he shouted, ¡°Charge!¡± Over a hundred cavalry, each riding spirit beast steeds, galloped with immense power, waving their spears, charging forward, overturning and piercing those from the Yuan Rang Tribe surrounding Chen Qing! Yuan Ye punched the carriage in anger, smashing half a door, and gritted his teeth with rage, ¡°Retreat!¡± More and more cavalry clashed, scattering the encircling attackers around Chen Qing. Chen Qing slashed down the last enemy beside him, divided from others by the cavalry. Then he closed his eyes, pretending to faint from exhaustion on the ground. Xuan Mang ordered the cavalry to continue pursuing the Yuan Rang Tribe and rode straight to Chen Qing¡¯s side, instructing them to remove the ice coffin, ¡°Someone, quickly take Qingxu to Cold Mountain City, and use the best medicine!¡± After a while, Chen Qing heard a report, ¡°Lord Xuan Mang, Lady Xuanping did not sustain any external injuries in this pursuit.¡± Hearing this, Xuan Mang, even more excited, personally placed Chen Qing on his horse¡¯s back, ¡°Suffering dozens of wounds, yet didn¡¯t let my sister get hurt; truly courage beyond comparison!¡± ¡°Jiang Yu, take ten men to escort Qingxu and Xuanping to Cold Mountain City, have the priest heal them!¡± ¡°Everyone else, follow me to slay the enemy!¡± What happened afterward, Chen Qing didn¡¯t care much. He felt someone help him onto a bed, begin tending to his wounds, and he contently continued pretending to be unconscious. Feeling someone using Gu resembling Rejuvenation Gu to treat his injuries, he finally relaxed completely and fell into a deep sleep. The next day, Chen Qing felt much more comfortable all over. He opened his eyes, ready to get up, but a wave of pain surged through his body. ¡°` Chapter 112 - Chapter 112: Chapter 95: The Bravery of Qingxu, Surpassing the Xuan Bird_2 Chapter 112: Chapter 95: The Bravery of Qingxu, Surpassing the Xuan Bird_2 The Bronze Body did not feel it sometimes, but now returning to his flesh and blood body, he finally felt the excruciating pain. Especially in the waist and abdomen area, it was even more painful. ¡°You should just lie down for now,¡± Xuanping¡¯s voice came from beside him. Chen Qing, hearing this, turned his head to look beside him. In the medicine house, there were only the two of them, Xuanping lying on a bed three steps away from him. Were they really not treated separately? Could it be that Xuan Mang, after hearing Yuan Ye¡¯s words about inviting a son-in-law, also had this thought? No, it was more likely for the purpose of recruitment and winning favor. Before Chen Qing could speak, Xuanping said, ¡°Did you hear? The arrowhead that the priest took from you weighed over a pound.¡± Chen Qing thought to himself, of course, he knew, it was on purpose. Could it be that he wouldn¡¯t risk his life for a woman he had only met twice? ¡°I was just focused on bringing you back, didn¡¯t think too much about it.¡± Xuanping struggled to sit up, looked at Chen Qing wrapped like a dumpling, ¡°All the way southward, thanks to you. If not for your fierce battle, I wouldn¡¯t have made it back.¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°Just don¡¯t forget the promise you made to me, that¡¯s all I ask.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Xuanping laughed and said, ¡°Now the outside world is spreading the rumor that you are the first Hu Kui of the Xuan Bird Tribe, the top of the Xuan Bird Tribe.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t move in the ice coffin, but I could still hear some noises from the outside world.¡± ¡°You truly are impressive, living up to the name of the top of Xuan Bird.¡± Chen Qing was silent for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s just an empty title. I just want to live a peaceful life.¡± Xuanping was not someone good at chatting, spoke little, and Chen Qing wasn¡¯t interested in chatting with her. He took out a piece of lotus cake and put it in his mouth, crispy and sweet. After a while, the door of the medicine house was pushed open, and Xuan Mang, smelling of blood, walked in, ¡°Little sister, is this Qingxu?¡± Xuanping replied, ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± Xuan Mang said, ¡°You two should rest and heal well, and when your injuries have healed, and you have received your reward, I will have someone send you to the Qingxu Clan.¡± Chen Qing was puzzled, ¡°Qingxu Clan?¡± Xuan Mang smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, since you are going to be the Hu Kui in Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s tribe, her tribe will naturally treat you as their master, for the Qingxu Clan.¡± Xuan Mang seemed to be in his thirties, elegant and handsome, not like someone who kills on the battlefield, with a somewhat scholar-general demeanor. ¡°But that Yuan Ye, he insists on putting to death the unidentified Hu Kui, which makes it a bit tricky, but I will do my best to seek justice for you.¡± This justice referred to some compensation. Chen Qing felt that if Xuan Mang could go this far, it would be commendable, so he nodded slightly, ¡°Thank you.¡± After five days of healing, Chen Qing and Xuanping lay separately three steps apart, and the atmosphere was increasingly awkward. Fortunately, that morning, Jiang Miaoxian brought four robust men, carrying a green bamboo sedan chair, saying they were going to take Chen Qing back to Qingxu. Chen Qing saw that these four were also from the caravan and had no doubt, sat on it. Stepping out of the medicine house, there were quite a number of people observing Chen Qing. Chen Qing felt those gazes and looked back, causing those people to quickly lower their heads, not daring to meet his gaze. It seemed that his reputation had spread throughout the entire Cold Mountain City. Before Chen Qing could react, the crowd in front parted, and over sixty strong men, dressed in black, riding tall horses, surrounded Chen Qing. After isolating Chen Qing from the crowd, Jiang Yu led the men to dismount, half-kneeling and shouting in unison, ¡°Welcome, Hu Kui, back!¡± The sound was loud and echoed throughout Cold Mountain City. Chen Qing looked at Jiang Miaoxian beside him, ¡°Is your tribe this large?¡± Jiang Miaoxian replied, ¡°Our family is a big tribe, we can muster a hundred good men!¡± Chen Qing hadn¡¯t expected this, looking at the more than sixty strong men in front of him, the lowest cultivation level being the fifth level of Qi Refinement, not lacking those in the seventh level of Qi Refinement, and even six in the eighth level of Qi Refinement. Da Yan had many sects, and Nanli many tribes. Under large tribes, there were many clans, resting and recuperating when there was no war, and gathering for war when necessary. Chen Qing looked at the men kneeling on the ground, seeing only reverence in their eyes towards him, without much dissatisfaction. It seemed that new Hu Kui taking charge was a common occurrence among them, and they didn¡¯t mind much. ¡°Let¡¯s go, back to the tribe.¡± Once Chen Qing gave the word, the four carrying him moved, heading to the Qingxu Clan surrounded by over sixty cavalry. The Qingxu Clan¡¯s residence was less than fifty miles from Cold Mountain City, located in a valley where a two-zhang wide river flowed alongside fields cleared by cultivation. Deep in the valley were patches of Spiritual Field. At the top of the valley, Qingxu Clan had opened up two large platforms, building numerous three-story small buildings. In the center of the gorge was a ten-zhang wide iron bridge. Above the bridge stood a six-story high building, suspended and built atop the iron bridge. And here was Chen Qing¡¯s residence. With Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s support, ascending to the sixth floor of the tall building, Chen Qing could see the entire Qingxu Clan at a glance. In the distance, clansmen were planting medicinal herbs, and in the valley, mostly clansmen above the third level of Qi Refinement managed the Spiritual Field. Chen Qing said, ¡°Is there anyone in the clan who does not accept me?¡± Jiang Miaoxian was stunned for a moment when she heard this, and then asked, ¡°Why would anyone not accept you?¡± ¡°Both the Witch and the Witch had agreed, isn¡¯t that normal?¡± ¡°With Hu Kui in charge, our tribe will only become stronger and stronger. Those neighboring tribes without Hu Kui are envious!¡± Chen Qing let go of his worries, and overall, this place still fell under the Xuan Bird Tribe¡¯s jurisdiction. They just lived relying on the tribe, but truly speaking, it was still the Xuan Bird Tribe. Coming here was just like when he was crowned the Hall Master of the Spirit Plant Hall in Wuyou Mountain, just an internal transfer arrangement. With Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s help, Chen Qing sat on the tiger-skin chair, reached into his bosom, and took out a jade bottle, extracting the Qi Gu. Although this Qi Gu was still there, it had little life span left, and he didn¡¯t plan on contracting with it himself. His gaze fell on Jiang Miaoxian¡ªit was this girl who had traveled thousands of miles with him, and she was the only one he could trust at the moment. It would be better to cultivate someone like Ling Jiu, to share the pressure of managing the Qingxu Clan, so he wouldn¡¯t have to personally deal with everything. ¡°What¡¯s your current cultivation level?¡± Jiang Miaoxian replied, ¡°I just broke through to the eighth level of Qi Refinement last year.¡± Chen Qing nodded slowly, ¡°Come here.¡± He placed the Qi Gu in Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s hand, ¡°This Qi Gu was obtained from killing the enemy. Before she died, I forced her to reveal the materials needed for advancement.¡± ¡°Remember, after contracting, the first material is the Sky-shooting Flower.¡± ¡°After cultivating to the Second Transformation, come find me again.¡± Jiang Miaoxian, without any doubt, reached out to take it. Upon realizing it was a Qi Gu, she was immediately shocked, ¡°This is a Qi Gu, it¡¯s too precious!¡± As one of the strongest types of Mortal Gu, even for a second contract, it held immense value, far surpassing ordinary Gu. Chen Qing shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m not suitable for this Gu. Even if I contracted with it, it wouldn¡¯t be of much significance. You take it.¡± Only then did Jiang Miaoxian reluctantly accept it, thanking him, ¡°Thank you, elder brother.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Who was in charge of your tribe before?¡± Jiang Miaoxian replied, ¡°It was Elder Jiang Yu.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Once you¡¯ve contracted with the Qi Gu, I will let him know that you will be in charge, and unless it¡¯s a major issue, don¡¯t report to me.¡± ¡°All tribal affairs, business as usual.¡± After speaking, Chen Qing waved his hand, ¡°Go ahead, I want to sleep for a while.¡± After Jiang Miaoxian left, Chen Qing took out the golden scripture page given to him by Xuanping, ¡°Golden Skin and Jade Bone? It requires Bone Gu, Iron Skin Gu, Copper Bone Gu.¡± ¡°Upon successful cultivation, your body will be indestructible, capable of withstanding attacks from Foundation Establishment!¡± ¡°It sounds quite exaggerated.¡± Chen Qing estimated it and found that, compared to the Great Kui Sword Scripture, it also required three types of Gu. However, the difference was that the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Skills required a Bone Gu among its Gu. Bone Gu, like Qi Gu, was one of the strongest Mortal Gus, something you couldn¡¯t buy even if you had the money. So, considering this, the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Skills should be stronger than the Great Kui Sword Scripture. But the description of being able to withstand Foundation Establishment attacks, Chen Qing merely laughed at. Occasionally taking a few hits might not be a problem, but if you to face it head-on every time with your body, it would surely lead to a dead end. Chen Qing suddenly pondered, relying on Snake Butterfly, he could mitigate the long-range attacks of Foundation Establishment. If combined with Golden Skin and Jade Bone, even if he slipped up, it wouldn¡¯t lead to his death. In facing Foundation Establishment, his survivability would be more secured. If this technique was cultivated to perfection, perhaps he would have the strength to confront Foundation Establishment head-on! Chapter 113 - Chapter 113: Chapter 96: Nanli is vast, but the hearts of its people are even vaster Chapter 113: Chapter 96: Nanli is vast, but the hearts of its people are even vaster ¡°` After just one day¡¯s rest, Xuanping brought people to greet him. After Chen Qing left, Xuanping¡¯s injury had also improved significantly, and he returned to his tribe by the afternoon. The nine tribes under the control of the Xuan Bird Tribe were private properties left by the Great Witch for his four children. Xuanping was the youngest, and the Xuan Mang that Chen Qing had seen was the second in rank. The third child had gone out traveling and was nowhere to be found. The eldest was serving alongside the Great Witch. The Great Witch had long resided in the royal city and rarely returned, so Cold Mountain City was primarily managed by Xuanping and Xuan Mang. Xuan Mang, as the second brother, guarded Cold Mountain City, while Xuanping became the chief of the strongest tribe among the nine, leading them to protect Cold Mountain City. The scale of Cold Mountain City far exceeded Chen Qing¡¯s imagination. Excluding those in Foundation Establishment, just one Qingxu Clan alone could match the power of Wuyou Mountain. As for Cold Mountain City, there were likely no fewer than a handful of Foundation Establishment practitioners. These Foundation Establishment practitioners were as elusive as the Mountain Master, rarely seen in ordinary times, and might appear once or twice a year at most. Since Chen Qing had just arrived there, he naturally hadn¡¯t had many opportunities, except for encountering the priest, who was suspected to be in Foundation Establishment while healing him; he hadn¡¯t seen any other Foundation Establishment practitioners. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï When Xuanping arrived, Chen Qing met him at the entrance of the valley, received his gifts, and they strolled along the small river outside the valley. ¡°Are you satisfied with this place?¡± Chen Qing looked around, observing several people that Jiang Miaoxian had arranged to guard the surroundings to prevent anyone from eavesdropping. ¡°The mountains are nice, the water is nice, and the people are nice.¡± Xuanping sat on a green stone and said, ¡°I know you don¡¯t like being under others¡¯ command, so I spoke with Second Brother. Your tribe won¡¯t need to offer tributes or await his orders.¡± ¡°You only need to attend the tribal meeting once a year.¡± ¡°And in case of war, you¡¯ll need to go to Cold Mountain City.¡± Would there be wars? Chen Qing asked, ¡°Would there still be wars?¡± Xuanping replied, ¡°As of now, it¡¯s possible, but certainly not frequent. For ordinary treasures, other tribes wouldn¡¯t dare challenge our Xuan Bird Tribe.¡± ¡°Only if there are treasures that even Foundation Establishment practitioners covet might wars arise.¡± ¡°Our Nanli side has always been different from Da Yan. If treasures are encountered, a great army will sweep across, not giving certain people any opportunity.¡± ¡°In Nanli, no tribe can survive without unity.¡± ¡°When I achieve Foundation Establishment, there won¡¯t be many who dare to offend us. At that time, we can have long-lasting peace.¡± Chen Qing understood that in Nanli, tribes were more unified and formed greater forces. Unlike near Wuyou Mountain, where small sects constantly engaged in skirmishes. If Nanli went to war, it involved thousands of horses and soldiers. And someone like him, a Hu Kui, would need to assemble his troops and go to listen to commands. This situation had much to do with the Gu. Over by Da Yan, there were many Wind Gu, Fog Gu, and Sword Gu, so they preferred solitary combat with a strong martial spirit. While on Nanli¡¯s side, there were many Power Gu, leaving no way to deal with lone warriors except to raise an army. And, to survive in an army of thousands, physical techniques were indispensable. Chen Qing remembered Yuan Ye and asked, ¡°What about the Yuan Rang Tribe?¡± Xuanping explained, ¡°We¡¯re still negotiating, and as for you, just focus on recuperating here.¡± Chen Qing asked directly, ¡°Do you still have any meat Gu in the tribe?¡± Xuanping said, ¡°Currently, there are two: one has been contracted once, and the other is wild. If you want one, the prices are similar.¡± Contracted Gu being comparable to a wild one could only mean one thing, ¡°Does the contracted one have a complete promotion items diagram?¡± Xuanping shook his head, ¡°Only up to the Butterfly Transformation Fifth Transformation.¡± Chen Qing feigned a disappointed expression, ¡°Only able to quickly cultivate it to the Butterfly Transformation Fifth Transformation in a few years isn¡¯t worth it.¡± ¡°How much for the wild one?¡± Xuanping didn¡¯t mind selling Chen Qing this meat Gu. The meat Gu required large amounts of transformation materials and promotion items, all of which needed to be purchased in Cold Mountain City, potentially keeping Chen Qing around for over a decade. As to what might happen in over ten years, Xuanping figured Chen Qing would have adapted to life here, ¡°If you want it, I can promise it to you for 100,000 Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve traveled extensively, you should know this price isn¡¯t high.¡± For such a strong Gu among the Mortal Gu, 100,000 low-grade Spirit Stones indeed wasn¡¯t much. Chen Qing pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want the compensation from the Yuan Rang Tribe; whatever you negotiate can go to you. I¡¯ll add another 50,000 low-grade Spirit Stones, so what about granting me that meat Gu?¡± Xuanping analyzed the pros and cons, her face full of courage, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s settled!¡± Seeing the negotiation for the meat Gu conclude, Chen Qing was quite satisfied, and his anxieties about being in a foreign place began to dissipate. After discussing the business, Chen Qing remembered Xuanping¡¯s injury, ¡°How is your injury now?¡± At this moment, Xuanping wasn¡¯t golden; it was evident that she had forcibly exhibited the Golden Skin and Jade Bone that day to intimidate Chen Qing. Now, she looked a bit pale, like recovering from a severe illness. ¡°Much better, but it¡¯s a Dao injury and needs to be healed gradually. It¡¯ll take some time.¡± Jiang Miaoxian arranged a banquet, and after Chen Qing and Xuanping had eaten, they went their separate ways. When leaving, Xuanping mentioned, ¡°If Second Brother sends people to give you some shops in Cold Mountain City, just accept them; I won¡¯t mind.¡± Chen Qing agreed and saw Xuanping off. Watching Xuanping¡¯s distant figure, this charade finally paid off; he earned the trust of the Xuan Bird Tribe and once again secured a place to stay. Returning to his pavilion, Chen Qing sorted through his remaining Spirit Stones, realizing there weren¡¯t many left. Including those Gu he obtained in the last battle, it amounted to just over 100,000. ¡°` Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 84 Rampaging Along the Way (Two in One) Chapter 88: Chapter 84 Rampaging Along the Way (Two in One) ¡°` Blood flowed over the straw on the ground, streaming to the center of the cell. Chen Qing rose from beside the headless corpse of the Black Bear, holding the Geng Metal Sword. ¡°Not even a single Gu. All vanished. Truly useless!¡± The entire cell was exceptionally silent, his voice echoing through the narrow dungeon. All the prisoners were extremely tense, desperately thinking, ¡°Ling Jiu, not closing the door is one thing, but you didn¡¯t even drain his Spiritual Energy!¡± In Chen Qing¡¯s left hand appeared a mid-grade Spirit Stone, while his right held the sword. He tossed the Spirit Stone into the air and caught it again, ¡°Now, we can have a good talk.¡± Someone asked, ¡°Sir, what do you want to do?¡± Chen Qing smiled, tossing the mid-grade Spirit Stone to the person who asked, ¡°I¡¯m planning to kill Wen Jingming. Are any of you interested?¡± At this moment, the prisoners in the dungeon finally understood that it wasn¡¯t the Taiping Sect capturing the Jiguang outlaw, but rather the Jiguang outlaw slaughtering his way through the Taiping Sect. Indeed, worthy of being the Jiguang Outlaw who traveled alone for a thousand miles! Silence. Silence for ten breaths. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Willing, please lead us out to kill!¡± ¡°Willing to follow you to kill our way out!¡± Chen Qing waved his hand, and more than a dozen mid-grade Spirit Stones rolled out, falling into each of the cells. After finishing this, Chen Qing returned to his cell, locked the door, then shackled himself to the copper crucifix. Of course, he didn¡¯t lock it tight, just made it seem so. Now, it was just a matter of waiting for Nie Fei to bring Wen Jingming alone. The prisoners around, seeing Chen Qing¡¯s actions, instantly understood his intent. Each of them concealed the Spirit Stone in hand, frantically absorbing the Spiritual Energy within to restore their cultivation. Seemingly thinking of the imminent escape, their breathing became heavier. Chen Qing said in a low voice, ¡°You¡¯re bothering me.¡± Instantly, the dungeon became silent again. In his left hand, the jade bottle containing the Thunder Gu appeared; Chen Qing intended to complete the contract once more. Nie Fei¡¯s plan was good. Once they thoroughly disrupted the Taiping Sect¡¯s settlement this time, there should be plenty of time to slowly digest the gains of this period. After all, constantly on the run, there really wasn¡¯t much chance to improve his strength. Nie Fei¡¯s Mirror Gu was truly impressive; after resolving the pursuit here, he would ask if he could get one for himself. That thing was extremely useful for concealing identity and avoiding pursuit and killing! After waiting for most of the day, the dungeon¡¯s door finally opened. Ling Jiu led Wen Jingming inside. Ling Jiu glanced at the two Taiping Sect disciples behind Wen Jingming and exclaimed, ¡°Do they deserve to come in and listen to Taiyi¡¯s intelligence?¡± Wen Jingming smiled, ¡°Ling Jiu, you¡¯re right. You two, wait outside!¡± Wen Jingming was a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his thirties, possessing a gentle temperament that was pleasing to others; his voice was magnetic and warm, sounding very pleasant. His trusted aides immediately exited the dungeon, closing the dungeon door. Wen Jingming seemed not overly concerned with Chen Qing¡¯s current situation, just gently smiling at Ling Jiu, ¡°Ling Jiu, you¡¯ve worked hard on this trip, even capturing Taiyi and getting this spirit Gu; it¡¯s indeed a great achievement!¡± Ling Jiu remained indifferent, ¡°Let¡¯s interrogate first. His mouth likely holds the whereabouts of another. Extract the Jiguang Sect¡¯s contact code from him to capture the other one.¡± Wen Jingming smiled, ¡°Ling Jiu, you¡¯re right!¡± Ling Jiu walked to Chen Qing¡¯s cell, took out the key from her waist, and opened the door. She looked at Wen Jingming, ¡°You ask, I don¡¯t like the smell here.¡± Wen Jingming glanced at the Black Bear in the adjacent cell, ¡°How did he die?¡± Ling Jiu coldly replied, ¡°He dared to speak disrespectfully to me. Shouldn¡¯t he be killed?¡± Wen Jingming then relaxed his vigilance, ¡°No problem, he¡¯s just a Qi Refinement level seven. If he offended you, he¡¯s naturally deserving of death!¡± Wen Jingming entered Chen Qing¡¯s cell, shouting, ¡°Are you Taiyi?¡± Chen Qing slowly raised his head, seeing Ling Jiu nod slightly at him. He understood instantly, channeling Spiritual Energy into the Sword Butterfly. Ling Jiu waved a punch onto Wen Jingming¡¯s back, releasing a vast amount of Xuanhuang Qi. With just one punch, Wen Jingming spewed blood and flew toward Chen Qing. Wen Jingming immediately realized something was wrong. Just as he prepared to counteract, he saw Chen Qing before him, sword in hand, stepping instantly into his face, a single swipe of the sword. A sting at the neck and the coldness of the blade¡¯s edge. In just a moment, the head had already fallen. Chen Qing flicked a surge of Spiritual Energy, capturing a sword Gu, a Book Gu, and a Wind Gu, drawing them into his body. This was someone who made him feel very comfortable. Killing him felt equally comfortable for Chen Qing. Chen Qing, holding the sword, stepped out of the cell, ¡°These prisoners in the cells are already arranged.¡± Ling Jiu nodded, ¡°Good, then I will deceive a few more to come in. You prepare.¡± ¡°Get rid of more at Qi Refinement level eight and level nine left here.¡± Chen Qing glanced at the dungeon¡¯s corridor, immediately transforming into fog, ascending to the darkness above the corridor, spreading his legs across the corridor sides, hidden in the darkness. Ling Jiu exited the dungeon door and instructed, ¡°Liu Shutong, go call Li Qingyun. He¡¯s quite skilled at interrogation.¡± Liu Shutong nodded and immediately jogged away. After a while, Chen Qing saw Ling Jiu bringing Li Qingyun inside. As soon as Li Qingyun entered the dungeon a short distance, he asked, ¡°Why does it smell bloody?¡± Ling Jiu indifferently replied, ¡°Do you not use torture during interrogation?¡± ¡°` Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 84: Rampaging Along the Way (Combined Chapter 2) Chapter 89: Chapter 84: Rampaging Along the Way (Combined Chapter 2) Li Qingyun rubbed his hands and laughed, ¡°That¡¯s too bloody; I usually use other methods.¡± The two walked side by side, and Li Qingyun suddenly heard something. He looked up, but a Green Blade sword had already fallen on the back of his neck. Chen Qing wiped the blood off Li Qingyun¡¯s body to prevent any blood from dripping and alerting others while hiding. ¡°Next, let¡¯s continue.¡± Ling Jiu turned around. ¡°You¡¯re quite adept at this!¡± Chen Qing laughed, ¡°After you¡¯ve killed enough, you naturally become proficient.¡± As Ling Jiu went out to call for others, Chen Qing dragged Li Qingyun¡¯s body and threw it beside Wen Jingming. Although the surrounding prisoners had already recovered their cultivation, they were so terrified they didn¡¯t dare to breathe, watching these two Jiguang villains kill like slaughtering pigs, their eyes unintentionally vacant. It was only at this moment that they truly understood what being a Jiguang villain meant. After consecutively executing six people, Chen Qing wiped the blood off his sword. ¡°Can we continue?¡± Ling Jiu shook his head, ¡°No, they¡¯ve already started to suspect.¡± Chen Qing nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s fight our way out.¡± He walked past a cell, sliced through a door lock, and the prisoners stretched their bodies, slowly following Chen Qing, who was at the forefront. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The dungeon doors opened once again, and Ling Jiu was the first to step out, followed by a roaring explosion. Chen Qing leapt out to kill, glancing around. Liu Shutong cowered, trembling in the corner; the other two Taiping Sect guards had already been severely injured by Nie Fei. Chen Qing advanced and swung his sword at one of them; the man drew his sword to block, but Chen Qing cut through both man and sword, spilling blood. Meanwhile, Nie Fei was wiping the blood off his delicate fists. He approached Liu Shutong and, with a punch, shattered her cultivation dream. Nie Fei ran ahead, ¡°This way, come on!¡± Chen Qing threw down a map, ¡°This is their base map. Whether you can escape or not depends on your own skills.¡± Having said that, he immediately followed Nie Fei, taking a turn into another tunnel. In the narrow passage, they made left and right turns for about a hundred feet. Chen Qing said, ¡°You enjoy dressing as a woman, don¡¯t you?¡± Nie Fei responded, ¡°How can you say dressing as a woman is an indulgence? It¡¯s to catch them off guard!¡± Hearing a commotion ahead, Chen Qing and Nie Fei stepped on the walls to gain leverage to hide in the darkness above, each falling silent. More than a dozen Taiping Sect disciples rushed underneath, ¡°Hurry, the prisoners are escaping!¡± ¡°Could Taiyi have released them? Are we capable of handling this?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With Lord Ling Jiu and Lord Wen around, Taiyi won¡¯t cause much of a stir!¡± The Taiping Sect disciples rushed by in a flurry, completely unaware that the notorious criminals they were chasing were right above them. As the group passed, Chen Qing dropped from above, accompanied by a soft wind noise. The narrow passage stirred a breeze due to the hurried steps of the Taiping Sect disciples. He looked at Nie Fei and asked, ¡°Which way?¡± Nie Fei pulled out the map and showed Chen Qing the route, ¡°First, go straight to the end of this passage, then go up, pass three entrances, take a right turn, and at the end, turn left, and you¡¯ll reach their treasury.¡± Chen Qing closed his eyes, carefully listening to the wind, ¡°There are two guards at the end of this passage, one at Qi Refinement level seven, the other at level six.¡± Nie Fei laughed, ¡°Great, I¡¯ll disguise as Ling Jiu to launch a surprise attack!¡± Having said that, the two briskly rushed forward. Seeing that they were about to reach the end of the passage, Chen Qing leapt high, and Nie Fei walked boldly up, shouting, ¡°The prisoners have escaped! Why are you still guarding here? Go quickly and arrest them!¡± The two Taiping Sect disciples immediately drew their swords, heading towards the dungeon. The moment they turned, Nie Fei used his fists to unleash the Five Elements Skill, knocking them to the ground. Chen Qing descended, crushing one disciple¡¯s skull with a stomp, while his right hand reversed grip on the Geng Metal Sword, piercing the other¡¯s skull. ¡°Go, head up, there¡¯s an old man with decent strength guarding the treasury!¡± Nie Fei nodded and leapt up immediately. Along the way, they didn¡¯t encounter much resistance; most of the Taiping Sect disciples had been lured away to chase the prisoners. They reached the passageway leading to the treasury unhindered. Chen Qing signaled to Nie Feng, who nodded in response. Chen Qing immediately kicked Nie Fei into the passageway leading to the treasury. Masquerading as Ling Jiu, Nie Feng shouted, ¡°Come quickly, Taiyi is attacking!¡± Just as Nie Fei got up, Chen Qing followed through, kicking Nie Fei towards the elder guarding the treasury. The elder¡¯s face changed dramatically, and he hurriedly helped Nie Fei up, ¡°Lord Ling Jiu, what¡¯s happening?¡± Nie Fei stood, his sleeves slightly bulging, and seizing the elder¡¯s moment of inattention, he punched out swiftly, mixing Xuanhuang Qi with thunderous fiery winds, crushing the elder¡¯s head. Nie Fei flicked the red and white matter off his hands, ¡°Done. You¡¯re a great help in making this treasury raid so much easier!¡± ¡°Before, I had to be extremely cautious for fear of being discovered. But with you, our strength is enough to fight our way out directly!¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°We must still be careful; taking risks is never a long-term solution. Our own strength is what truly matters.¡± Nie Fei turned and took out a key from his waist, unlocking the treasury door, ¡°This time, we can take our time choosing. No need to grab empty jade boxes like last time.¡± Chen Qing was also looking forward to the Taiping Sect¡¯s treasury. The strength of the Taiping Sect was much greater than that of Wutong Mountain. Even if this was just a dock, there should still be plenty of treasures. Walking into the treasury, they were momentarily dazzled by the sight. A small mountain of Spirit Stones lay piled high. Chen Qing wasn¡¯t interested in those lower-grade Spirit Stones. His Snake Gu was only at Second Transformation and could only store lower-grade Spirit Stones. At most, it could hold five to six thousand. It¡¯s better to take treasures that occupy less space. Nie Fei picked up three jade bottles containing Thunder Gus and stuffed them into his coat, ¡°I don¡¯t have a Snake Gu, so I can¡¯t carry much. These three Gus are mine.¡± Chen Qing wouldn¡¯t argue with Nie Fei over such a trivial matter and quickly moved forward. Before the pile of lower-grade Spirit Stones, he saw several medium-grade Spirit Stones, finally smiling. It had been worth the trip. Waving his hand, he discarded Nie Fei¡¯s lower-grade Spirit Stones and collected all the medium-grade ones. At this point, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to count them all. Judging by the quantity, it wasn¡¯t less than a thousand! Meanwhile, Nie Fei picked up a fist-sized Spiritual Pearl, his eyes shining, ¡°Wow, they managed to get a Spiritual Pearl!¡± Chen Qing glanced at the Spiritual Pearl, which was about the size of a fist, perfectly round and lustrous, and emitting a jade-like glow. The Spiritual Energy around it formed a misty vapor. ¡°Is this a high-grade Spirit Stone?¡± Nie Fei nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a high-grade Spirit Stone. But we usually call it a Spiritual Pearl.¡± ¡°This is easy to carry; I¡¯ll take it!¡± Chen Qing nodded and moved to the treasure chests, sweeping his hand across to open them one by one. Inside were numerous Spirit Ginsengs and plenty of Spiritual Ginseng Wine. Better to take other treasures first; as for these, we¡¯ll eat as much as we can later! Opening a jade box, he found a thirty-year-old Blood Ginseng, which Chen Qing immediately stuffed into his mouth as he continued opening other boxes. Hmm, is this Mystic Turtle Shell? Just what the Iron Skin Gu needs. Take it! With a wave of his hand, he collected it and began gathering other treasures. He picked up a silver-white scripture page, which was the Summoning Thunder Scripture. Might as well take it first, then decide later whether to practice it or not. On the other side, Nie Fei was munching on a Blood Ganoderma while searching for more precious and easily portable treasures. They rummaged like mice in a granary, wreaking havoc on the treasures. Searching through chests, Nie Fei stood in front of a cold iron box, eyes glowing, ¡°Come quickly, there¡¯s something good here!¡± Chen Qing hurried over and saw brilliant flashes of light. Plump and vivid fruits filled the box. As soon as it opened, they were hit by a refreshing fragrance. ¡°What is this?¡± Nie Fei picked one up and took a bite, ¡°It tastes tingling and crispy, slightly zapping the tongue. It must be Thunder Spirit Feather Fruit. With such a large box of them, they could fetch about thirty thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones.¡± Chen Qing immediately waved his hand, collecting the entire box of Thunder Spirit Feather Fruits. Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 85: The Crouching Tiger and Immortal Servant (Combined) Chapter 90: Chapter 85: The Crouching Tiger and Immortal Servant (Combined) Nie Fei picked up a jade box, opened it, and saw it was just Blood Ginseng. He tossed it aside and said, ¡°Hurry up, once we finish looting, we¡¯ll set fire to it!¡± Nie Fei¡¯s way of doing things was something Chen Qing really liked. Chen Qing felt within the space of his Snake Gu; it seemed there was still enough room to fit two more boxes of treasures. If there wasn¡¯t anything particularly valuable, he¡¯d just have to collect some low-grade Spirit Stones. After searching around, both Chen Qing and Nie Fei were somewhat disappointed; this Taiping Sect base was a bit too poor. There were no particularly precious treasures, not even as much as in Wutong Mountain. But then again, it made sense; this base didn¡¯t have a Foundation Establishment guard, so it should be poorer. It¡¯s just that life is full of uncertainties, not everything goes as one wishes. Resigned, Chen Qing had to fill the space in his body with low-grade Spirit Stones and picked up a box of Spirit Ginseng, munching as he walked. Nie Fei turned back and spewed out a flame, igniting a large quantity of Spiritual Ginseng Wine. Only when the fire was raging did he catch up, saying, ¡°You like chasing us, huh? Let¡¯s see if you keep chasing now!¡± They took advantage of the chaos and rushed out of the cave entrance of the Taiping Sect base; ahead by the lakeside, dozens of Taiping Sect disciples were fighting with the prisoners. Chen Qing patted Nie Fei on the shoulder, who was watching the scene, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Nie Fei nodded, and the two flew away, heading towards the distant woods. It was Chen Qing¡¯s first time going far, and he didn¡¯t know much about the outside world. ¡°Where do we go next?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï Nie Fei replied, ¡°I¡¯m planning to find the Immortal Land, are you coming?¡± Upon hearing the name Immortal Land, Chen Qing knew there must be treasures involved, but truth be told, he wasn¡¯t very eager for treasures right now. He urgently needed a stable environment to absorb what he had gained. These Spirit Stones and Spiritual Medicines could significantly boost his strength, possibly even allowing him to fully master the Great Kui Sword Scripture. Moreover, since it was the Immortal Land, it was likely full of dangers, and he didn¡¯t have Nie Fei¡¯s ability to change forms to travel freely. Chen Qing shook his head, ¡°I want to quietly cultivate for a while, to digest my recent insights.¡± Nie Fei said, ¡°Alright then, sigh, after all this wild looting, I¡¯m actually a bit reluctant.¡± Chen Qing laughed, ¡°There will always be chances to meet again.¡± Nie Fei replied, ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll make a mark. If you see it in the future, you¡¯ll know I¡¯m nearby.¡± Seeing the mark Nie Fei drew, Chen Qing nodded, ¡°Remember to use materials with different disappearing times.¡± Nie Fei laughed, ¡°Isn¡¯t that common sense?¡± ¡°By the way, if you¡¯re looking for a stable place, I recommend you visit Wo Hu City, find a caravan, and head south with them.¡± ¡°Our Jiguang Sect finds a bit of peace only in the south.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Is there a specific place you¡¯re suggesting? Like our Jiguang Sect¡¯s base in the south?¡± Nie Fei shook his head, ¡°Our Jiguang Sect doesn¡¯t have a base. The world is my home, with the sky as our quilt, and the ground as our seat!¡± ¡°The world is vast, and there¡¯s nowhere our Jiguang Sect can¡¯t go.¡± Chen Qing asked again, ¡°Where did you get that Mirror Gu?¡± Nie Fei wasn¡¯t afraid Chen Qing would get greedy. He laughed, ¡°This, ah, is a one-of-a-kind treasure in the world; you won¡¯t find another one.¡± ¡°Alright, enough said, I¡¯m off!¡± Chen Qing watched as Nie Fei transformed into an eagle and flew away, lightly saying, ¡°Until we meet again!¡± Three days later. February 12. In front of Wo Hu City. Chen Qing slightly lowered the brim of the bamboo hat on his head, approached the city gate, paid five low-grade Spirit Stones, and walked into the bustling Wo Hu City. At this moment, he was dressed in a practical set of sword clothes and wore a brimmed hat with face covering, looking every bit like a wandering ascetic. The prosperity of Wo Hu City genuinely surprised Chen Qing; there were no vendors, only tall buildings everywhere. Inside the city was a lake, with music towers and pavilions scattered all around it. However, there were no scenes of gold lying everywhere or jade as tiles. After asking around, he found out that to find vendors, he would have to go to the chaotic Lantern Street. Chen Qing first went to Wanbao Pavilion, bought the materials needed for his Guchong to upgrade, and also bought a Rejuvenation Gu. Then he went to look for a bulletin board to see if there were any caravans heading south. Upon arriving at the bulletin board, the first thing Chen Qing saw was the bounty on him and Nie Fei. Nie Fei was worth more than him? His bounty was two hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, while Nie Fei¡¯s was three hundred thousand. But thinking of the fact that Nie Fei¡¯s Mirror Gu was a unique Gu, he was relieved. That Mirror Gu was extremely mystical, capable of transforming into others or insects to escape, and able to transform into Exotic Beasts for combat; it was truly an all-in-one marvel and an incredibly precious Gu. He looked at the bulletin board and saw there were indeed tasks recruiting guards for caravans, but most were heading toward Da Yan or the West Desert. It seemed he had to wait a bit longer. After spending a hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, he painfully rented a yard, deciding to wait for a southbound caravan. Walking down the street with his bamboo hat on, Chen Qing constantly felt like someone was glancing at him occasionally. He scanned his surroundings and realized he was the only one wearing a black veil over his face in broad daylight, which instead attracted attention. Entering the yard he rented and closing the door, Chen Qing thought to himself, this yard was truly expensive! When he was earning money with the Grass Spirit Gu, it would only net him about two hundred low-grade Spirit Stones for a night¡¯s work, yet this lousy yard cost a hundred! It was practically daylight robbery. He drew a bucket of water from the well, placed it into a bath barrel, took out the red fruit, and after a moment in the barrel, the water started to heat up. Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 85: The Crouching Tiger and Immortal Servant (Combined)_2 Chapter 91: Chapter 85: The Crouching Tiger and Immortal Servant (Combined)_2 ¡°` Lying in hot water, Chen Qing comfortably took a bath, shedding all his fatigue. He soaked for a full two hours before getting out of the tub to start tending to his wounds. He knew that wounds shouldn¡¯t be exposed to water, but now as a Cultivator, it wasn¡¯t too much of a problem. The main thing was that he was simply too tired recently and needed to relax a bit. After cleaning his wounds, he prepared to contract the Rejuvenation Gu. The Rejuvenation Gu was extremely expensive, even more so than the Fog Gu, costing as much as 32,000 lower-grade Spirit Stones. However, considering he was traveling alone and had to rely on himself for everything, he decided to buy it. Otherwise, after getting injured and not being able to find a healer, it would be too easy to get into trouble. Moreover, he still had 1,600 mid-grade Spirit Stones on hand, enough to last him for a while. With the Rejuvenation Gu, his sustained combat power would be greatly enhanced! After contracting the Rejuvenation Gu, Chen Qing immediately infused spiritual energy into it to begin healing his injuries. Under the effect of the Rejuvenation Gu, warm green fluorescences fell on his wounds, suddenly feeling a sensation of Qingshuang. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing carefully sensed the changes, only to discover an awkward point. This Rejuvenation Gu was not a Gu that could bring the dead back to life and rejoin bones and flesh, its operation was more like accelerating the healing process. In other words, it would consume Life Span to some extent. It seemed that this Rejuvenation Gu shouldn¡¯t be used too often, best reserved for critical moments. Of course, it was still necessary to continue enhancing its Quality, the higher the Quality, the faster the recovery. Feeling his wounds had mostly healed and wouldn¡¯t affect his movement, he stopped using the Rejuvenation Gu. The rest would rely on his own regenerative ability to recover, it was best to use the Rejuvenation Gu sparingly. He had the Snake Gu and Iron Skin Gu, making his physical body far stronger than that of a typical seventh-level Qi Refinement, almost comparable to the ninth level. At this moment, Chen Qing didn¡¯t plan to advance in his cultivation; pushing himself in practice before fully recovering would only worsen the injury. He opened his hand, and the Snake Gu coiled around his fingers. [Spirit Snake Gu] Quality: Second Transformation Life Span: 1/220 Effect: Snake Swallowing Elephant: Able to swallow large quantities of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Spiritual Medicine, flesh, and quickly digest and absorb to enhance the body, improve cultivation. Will not be overwhelmed by mundane, non-spiritual food. [Traits]: [Winter Storage] able to store five different items. Growth Requirements: Millennial snake gallbladder Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: One piece of Human Sin Money on a moonless night, nine wisps of Lightless Breath Having witnessed the profound nature of the Mirror Gu, he cherished his Snake Gu more and more. The power of a spirit Gu far exceeded that of a Mortal Gu! The Snake Gu could quickly devour the Growth Requirements to advance in Transformation; he now had nearly 200,000 lower-grade Spirit Stones, enough to directly usher the Snake Gu into Butterfly Transformation! If the Snake Gu underwent Butterfly Transformation, his strength would surely increase significantly! Thinking about this, he stepped out of the room, deciding to first go buy a millennial snake gallbladder. Meanwhile, the recently tidied-up Taiping Sect residence. Zhang Ke, Elder Wang, and Ling Jiu all knelt beside the lake in front of the residence, behind them, all the surviving disciples of the Taiping Sect also knelt. Though the blood on the ground was cleaned up, there was still a heavy stench of blood. They bowed their heads, waiting silently, extremely respectfully. An hour later, four bronze figures carrying a bronze palanquin appeared on the lake¡¯s surface. The bronze figures walked on the lake as lightly as the wind, showing no signs of sinking. On top of the bronze palanquin was a small wooden pavilion, its four sides draped with white gauze. Hanging from the four corners of the wooden pavilion were four beige square lamps. The four bronze figures carrying the palanquin stopped in front of Elder Wang at the shore; Elder Wang immediately led the crowd in a great bow, ¡°We pay respects to the Immortal Servant!¡± A crisp female voice came from inside the palanquin, ¡°Zhang Ke.¡± Zhang Ke immediately crawled forward on his knees, prostrating himself, ¡°Please, Immortal Servant, instruct us!¡± The woman inside the palanquin asked, ¡°Was it because of your greed for the spirit Gu that you delayed reporting until now?¡± Zhang Ke lay prostrated on the ground, beads of cold sweat pouring from his forehead. The woman continued to ask, ¡°Now that you have caused my Taiping Sect to lose an elite, the residence has been looted, and the disciples are gravely wounded. How long were you planning to hide this?¡± Zhang Ke wanted to raise his head to speak, but thinking about the woman¡¯s status, he couldn¡¯t help but tremble all over. The status of Immortal Servant was not actually high, but the person behind the Immortal Servant was someone he could not afford to offend no matter what. Zhang Ke closed his eyes, resigning himself, ¡°It was my greed. I wanted to capture Taiyi, extract the spirit Gu, and present it to the Dao Seed.¡± Hearing this, the woman inside the palanquin took three breaths before speaking, ¡°Wang Li, Ling Jiu, why did you not report this when you knew?¡± Wang Li crawled forward on his knees, reporting, ¡°Reporting to the Immortal Servant, by the time we received Zhang Ke¡¯s message, the battle had already begun. Before I left, I instructed Wen Jingming to report, but unfortunately, he was attacked by those two Jiguang rogues.¡± Ling Jiu respectfully replied, ¡°Immortal Servant, we did not expect there would be two Jiguang rogues. If it weren¡¯t for that mysterious figure who suddenly intervened, we would have surely taken down Taiyi by now!¡± From the palanquin came the woman¡¯s loud and clear laugh, ¡°Haha, that person is called Nie Feng. Even the Dao Seed can¡¯t do anything about him, and you tried to capture him?¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t know the meaning of death!¡± Zhang Ke hurriedly said, ¡°I only saw that Taiyi had just received the spirit Gu, so I wanted to take the Gu early before he had the chance to cultivate it, lest it became unmanageable later!¡± ¡°` Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 85: The Crouching Tiger and Immortal Servant (Combined)_3 Chapter 92: Chapter 85: The Crouching Tiger and Immortal Servant (Combined)_3 The sound of a woman¡¯s sharp voice came from inside the carriage, ¡°Things have already spiraled out of control!¡± Zhang Ke reported, ¡°Immortal Servant, I have news. It seems very likely that Wuyou Mountain and Taiyi are colluding. We just need to take action against Wuyou Mountain¡­¡± The Immortal Servant shouted angrily, ¡°Enough! Do you want to make it known to everyone and attract Da Yan¡¯s hounds?¡± ¡°Wuyou Mountain and Wutong Mountain are both righteous sects. Da Yan won¡¯t interfere in their conflict, but if we, the Taiping Sect, get involved and let Da Yan¡¯s hounds catch wind of the spirit Gu, we¡¯ll all die!¡± ¡°Look at Wuyou Mountain and Wutong Mountain. They both know Taiyi took the spirit Gu, but have they leaked this information?¡± ¡°They are even worse than two gravel-sized sects.¡± Seeing that his punishment was going to be severe, Zhang Ke hurriedly said, ¡°Immortal Servant, I will track down Taiyi and surely bring him back!¡± The Immortal Servant sneered, ¡°So are you planning to get Wang Li or Ling Jiu killed this time?¡± Zhang Ke bowed in silence, trembling all over. The Immortal Servant continued, ¡°The people of the Jiguang Sect are not ones you worthless people can handle.¡± ¡°Ordinary cultivators can be wiped out with a flip of your hand, and you dare to underestimate the Jiguang Sect?¡± She announced the final verdict, ¡°Order of the Dao Seed: Wang Li and Ling Jiu, for failing to report knowledge, inadequate responses, and incompetence, are demoted to acting sect leaders.¡± Wang Li and Ling Jiu let out a sigh of relief, knowing their lives were spared and the punishment was not too harsh. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï The Immortal Servant continued, ¡°Zhang Ke, you are ordered to proceed immediately to Feiying Dock in the territory of the Nanli Ming King. Prepare for battle; the battlefield there needs more lives.¡± Zhang Ke¡¯s once upright posture slowly bent, feeling utterly powerless, his eyes filled with despair. The copper statues carried the Immortal Servant into the dock, while Wang Li and Ling Jiu quickly led people to follow, leaving only Zhang Ke kneeling on the ground, still not rising. As Wang Li walked, he asked, ¡°Immortal Servant, how are we supposed to deal with those two Jiguang miscreants?¡± The Immortal Servant retorted angrily, ¡°Don¡¯t you understand? Even if Nie Fei were a Dao Seed, it wouldn¡¯t make a difference!¡± ¡°Capturing someone like Nie Fei requires opportunity!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even understand what it means to be a lone traveler, a Jiguang miscreant.¡± ¡°If we can capture one Taiyi to present to the Dao Seed, it would be a great achievement!¡± Ling Jiu said, ¡°Please command us, Immortal Servant!¡± The Immortal Servant said, ¡°Go to Wo Hu City and arrange a southbound caravan, but ensure that no one realizes it¡¯s your doing.¡± Ling Jiu asked, perplexed, ¡°Why is that?¡± The Immortal Servant coldly replied, ¡°Just follow orders; there¡¯s no need for so many whys!¡± ¡­ At dawn, Chen Qing only got up when the sunlight was too bright to ignore. This sleep was truly refreshing. Long battles and pursuits had left him exhausted, but this sleep finally allowed him to recover. Having consumed too much spiritual medicine earlier, he wasn¡¯t hungry at all. Chen Qing picked up his straw hat, thought it over, and decided to remove the black veil covering his face. In such a crowd, being the only one with a black veil was too conspicuous and could easily draw attention. Besides, the farthest he¡¯d gone in Wuyou Mountain was the market at the foot of the mountain, and no one in Wo Hu City knew him. Wearing a straw hat to cover the upper half of his face should be sufficient. Donning the straw hat, Chen Qing left and headed toward Lantern Street, where there was a free market. He would first see if there was a thousand-year snake gall available. If there was, he¡¯d buy one to see how much progress it could bring, and then head to Wanbao Pavilion to make a purchase. As he walked along, he suddenly realized he had recently picked up some of Red Lotus¡¯s traits, always feeling uneasy with too many Spirit Stones on him. It was time to spend some, so he planned to elevate his Snake Gu to Butterfly Transformation to see what special changes it might bring. Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 86: I Have Wine, Do You Have a Story? Chapter 93: Chapter 86: I Have Wine, Do You Have a Story? Lantern Street. Lantern Street got its name from the sheer number of lanterns. Looking out, nearly every possible spot to hang a lantern on the entire street was adorned with pale yellow square lanterns. It was said that during the festival seasons, all these lanterns would be replaced with red ones. However, Chen Qing felt that these pale yellow lanterns were more comfortable to look at, as if the stars fell to the mortal world. Looking around, whether it was pavilions or paths, everything was brightly lit, leaving no dark corners. This was to accommodate the vendors who set up stalls here. Chen Qing couldn¡¯t help but admire the owner of Lantern Street. They didn¡¯t charge the vendors any Spirit Stones. There were always people like Chen Qing who came here, intending to buy some inexpensive materials from the vendors. However, true business couldn¡¯t possibly be concluded at a loose cultivator stall; eventually, one had to enter the shops here. As he walked, Chen Qing saw a variety of materials, red fruits, yellow flowers, green grasses, somewhat dazzling to the eyes. Chen Qing wasn¡¯t too confident he could find the thousand-year snake gallbladder here, but after scouring for an hour, he finally found it at the stall of a cultivator who seemed about fifty years old. Chen Qing picked up the jade box, opened it for a glance, and judged that it was about twelve hundred years old. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï In truth, a thousand-year snake gallbladder didn¡¯t mean the snake lived a thousand years but referred to a thousand years of cultivation. Snakes were naturally endowed with long life spans and were extremely difficult to undergo demon transformation. Moreover, snake demons had no hands, feet, or horns, and were not truly formidable within the Demon Clan. Most demon clans preferred melee combat, but snake demons were exceptions, cultivating magic and relying on spells. Therefore, most snake demons put all their effort into enhancing their cultivation, which was essentially their spiritual power. Frankly, a thousand years of cultivation was only equivalent to perfection in the Qi Refining Realm. Seeing the stall had snake skin, snake meat, and snake spirits displayed, Chen Qing guessed they had teamed up to kill a large snake. ¡°How much for this snake gallbladder?¡± The old man glanced at Chen Qing, sensing his Qi Refining Ninth Transformation spiritual energy fluctuation, before responding, ¡°Three lower-grade Spirit Stones per year.¡± At Wanbao Pavilion, it¡¯d cost about four thousand Spirit Stones; here, just thirty-six hundred. Chen Qing reached into his sleeve, took out thirty-six middle-grade Spirit Stones, placed them on the stall, and stood to take the jade box, preparing to go home. He had been in this world for over two years, and no one had ever raised the price on him when he was purchasing something, which was truly dull. He put it in his sleeve, letting the Snake Gu consume it, and Chen Qing found a teahouse to drink tea and gather some information while waiting for the Snake Gu to digest it. After drinking for an hour, he hadn¡¯t gathered much news, almost all of it was things he already knew. These days, people mostly talked about him; of course, they didn¡¯t know his name, only that some Evil Cultivator had slain numerous cultivators in a battle¡­ In their stories, the number he killed in that battle at Wutong Mountain had climbed from nearly a hundred to three hundred. It was foreseeable that in one or two more months, people might claim he had achieved a thousand slain. It was just a mystery where Wutong Mountain and Taiping Sect were getting so many people. He looked at the Snake Gu in his sleeve, and its advancement progress had risen by thirty-six points. At this rate, he¡¯d need to purchase two more thousand-year snake gallbladders. It required more than ten thousand Spirit Stones! Nurturing a spirit Gu was indeed a pitfall. For others, not knowing the materials needed to nurture it, especially with a newly born Gu, unlike those big forces that knew the scope of materials, ascending the First Transformation likely cost hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones. But now, with the Spirit Stones in his hands, he was confident he could let the Snake Gu undergo Butterfly Transformation. He visited Wanbao Pavilion to purchase two thousand-year snake gallbladders, one of which was as old as fifteen hundred years. On the way back, as Chen Qing walked into an alley, a gentle breeze blew as he sensed two people following him. However, before reaching a secluded spot, the pair were stopped by someone else who quietly remarked, ¡°A Qi Refining Ninth Transformation in his twenties, if you provoke him, are you courting death?¡± The two who were tracking him instantly realized, ¡°A Qi Refining Ninth Transformation in his twenties, the lives at his hands must be countless.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. We better not provoke him.¡± Chen Qing, who was walking ahead, felt the three tracking him withdraw and couldn¡¯t help but smile. At last, they weren¡¯t too stupid. These past few days, Chen Qing had been buying materials needed for the Snake Gu¡¯s promotion, and Wo Hu City was unlike the market at the foot of Wuyou Mountain, where only one Wanbao Pavilion had a large stock. There were plenty of shops here. He¡¯d buy one item at one place and move on, not worrying about being discovered. There were many cultivators in Wo Hu City, and with his cultivation at the Ninth Transformation of Qi Refining, no one dared to plot against him. Spending eighty to ninety thousand Spirit Stones, the Snake Gu finally advanced to the Ninth Transformation. [Spiritual Item Snake Gu] Quality: Ninth Transformation Life Span: 1/360 Effect: Snake Swallowing Elephant: Can devour vast amounts of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Spiritual Medicine, and flesh, quickly digest and absorb to enhance the body and improve cultivation. Will not be overstuffed by ordinary food without spirituality. Trait: Winter Storage can store nine types of items. Growth Requirements: None Growth Progress: 100/100 Promotion Requirements: A night without a moon, one Human Sin Money, nine threads of Lightless Breath Lightless Breath could be bought, costing Chen Qing thirty-six thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones. Now, the only problem was getting a Human Sin Money. Human Sin Money referred to blood-stained Copper Coins, Silver Taels, or Gold. It wasn¡¯t hard to stain them with blood; the difficult part was making sure it was because of that money that the blood was shed. It needed to be life and death karma initiated by that piece of money to be considered genuine Human Sin Money. Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Chapter 86: I Have Wine, Do You Have a Story?_2 Chapter 94: Chapter 86: I Have Wine, Do You Have a Story?_2 ¡°¡±¡± All causes and effects had to be fixed on a single coin, that was the key. Fortunately, he was now only at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, which still counted him as one of those in the human realm. But once in Foundation Establishment, Life Span surpassed that of ordinary people, and they could no longer be considered as those in the human realm. Yet, one could create a Human Sin Money. However, Chen Qing had little interest; he didn¡¯t want to get entangled in such karma, especially since it was necessary for his Snake Gu¡¯s promotion. After the gathering, he planned to go to Yibao Building to see if they had any in stock. It was midnight. Chen Qing donned the bronze ghost mask, appearing again on the Cloud Platform. He sat there like a mountain and river, and Ji Ru was the first to greet, ¡°Good evening, esteemed Senior Taichu.¡± She didn¡¯t greet as grandly as before; the initial meeting warranted grandeur, but now that they¡¯ve met many times, excessive formality could cause dissatisfaction among the others at the gathering. After Xu Yaofeng, Murong Lang, and Hu Yao expressed their greetings, Chen Qing nodded slightly, ¡°Fu Luo, Red Lotus, Yao Feng, scholar, good evening.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? ¡°Then, today¡¯s gathering now begins.¡± Fu Luo continued inquiring about the promotion materials for her Lonely Shadow Sword Gu and then produced a spirit Gu, inquiring of Chen Qing. To be honest, Chen Qing felt a little envious. Was it so easy to acquire a spirit Gu nowadays? He had just obtained one spirit Gu and was chased to the ends of the earth, yet Fu Luo casually produced a third spirit Gu! [Spiritual Heart Gu¡¤Jade] Quality: Sixth Transformation Life Span: 95/180 Effect: Illuminate the mind and reveal one¡¯s will, mind as pure as jade. [Trait]: [Sitting Forget] Enter a state of meditation that greatly enhances cultivation speed. Growth Requirements: Jade Bodhi Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: Under a ten-thousand-year Bodhi tree, eight stones from afar, a cup of enlightenment tea. Looking at this Life Span, it should have been a second or even third contract. Spirit Gu can be contracted multiple times, but no inheritance was gained with the second contract? Was it seized? Suppressing the unease in his heart, Chen Qing said calmly, ¡°Jade Bodhi.¡± Fu Luo joyfully performed a ritual of thanks, ¡°Thank you, Senior Taichu, for your guidance.¡± After expressing thanks, she presented two bags of mid-grade Spirit Stones on the table. She respectfully laid them down, showing her already Seventh Transformation Light Butterfly, ¡°Please guide me, Senior Taichu.¡± Chen Qing thought to himself, already at Seventh Transformation? It seemed like this girl¡¯s fortune was continuous; after the Light Butterfly advanced, she even found materials on her own to promote it another transformation. Perhaps luck was on her side, so she succeeded. ¡°Yellow Millet Wood.¡± Seeing that Ji Ru had finished asking, Murong Lang promptly showed his Sword Butterfly and Light Butterfly for further guidance. Hu Yao sought advice on the Copper Bone Gu. Xu Yaofeng was probably still meditating on Yin Mountain and thus did not inquire. Seeing that the others had no further guidance to seek, Chen Qing spoke, ¡°You may start chatting now.¡± Murong Lang immediately said, ¡°We have once more worshipped the Nine Tribulations True Monarch, though he still hasn¡¯t responded.¡± ¡°But a new round of Daoist Master competition has begun, requiring us to compose works to showcase our talents.¡± ¡°Many are contending for the position of Daoist Master. Lady Fu Luo, would you be willing to bring the ¡®Book of Communication with Gods¡¯ for me to peruse?¡± Ji Ru said, ¡°¡®Book of Communication with Gods¡¯ includes too many Gu insects; will you be able to remember?¡± Murong Lang laughed, ¡°Most cultivators here use Thunder Gu and Five Elements Gu. This time, I only need the Thunder Gu portion.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not usual to write too many canonical works.¡± Ji Ru replied, ¡°Even if it¡¯s just the Thunder Gu chapter, that¡¯s over a hundred pages. Can you remember it all?¡± Murong Lang laughed, ¡°No problem, I have a Book Gu, and it memorizes everything after just one viewing.¡± Only then did Ji Ru agree, ¡°You gave me a Light Gu last time, and I didn¡¯t know how to thank you. In that case, I¡¯ll bring you the Thunder Gu chapter of the ¡®Book of Communication with Gods¡¯ next time.¡± Chen Qing sat immovable, thinking to himself how shrewd this scholar was, now starting to fabricate academically. The Book of Communication with Gods was surely more reliable than what they could write themselves. With it, the scholar would certainly shine in this Daoist Master competition. Good, it finally showed they were beginning to grow. Seeing Murong Lang and Ji Ru complete a transaction, Xu Yaofeng slowly said, ¡°Recently, near Wo Hu City, traces of two figures from the Jiguang Sect and the Taiping Sect have been discovered.¡± Chen Qing, though expressionless, listened attentively. Were you able to hear this news while meditating on Yin Mountain? Xu Yaofeng continued, ¡°It¡¯s certain that the Dao Seed from Taiping Sect, Zhang Taia, has started to take interest and sent an Immortal Servant.¡± ¡°It¡¯s highly likely a spirit Gu appeared, which is why Zhang Taia sent someone.¡± An Immortal Servant? Previously, he and Nie Fei had only encountered four Sect Leaders. Was this Immortal Servant from a Dao Seed? It seemed the crisis was still unresolved. He must be more cautious in his actions recently. Hu Yao asked, ¡°What is an Immortal Servant?¡± Xu Yaofeng delightfully answered this curious individual¡¯s question, ¡°A Dao Seed is a Heavenly Pride with potential to become immortal, and Immortal Servants are their attendants.¡± Hu Yao replied, ¡°But they¡¯re just attendants, what¡¯s so powerful about them?¡± Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°Not so, Immortal Servants are those who lost in the Dao Seed competitions, meaning they once had the qualification to battle against Dao Seeds.¡± Hu Yao continued to ask, ¡°What about those two from the Jiguang Sect?¡± Xu Yaofeng replied, ¡°So far, it¡¯s known that one of them is Nie Fei; presently, he¡¯s the only one active in that area from Jiguang Sect. Three years ago, Zhang Taia set up a ten-sided ambush, failing to capture Nie Fei, instead suffering heavy losses.¡± ¡°Maybe this time they¡¯re aiming to capture the other person.¡± Chen Qing thought, wouldn¡¯t that be me? It¡¯s a small world after all. Afterward, no one discussed anything significant, instead focusing on Fu Luo¡¯s Light Butterfly. Given Fu Luo¡¯s financial prowess, it wasn¡¯t hard to predict that at the next gathering, Fu Luo¡¯s Light Butterfly would be at Eighth-Transformation. After its Ninth Transformation, it would Harmonize. With Harmonization¡¯s promotion requirements, Senior Taichu had already informed Fu Luo. Just waiting for the next gathering, she would hear Senior Taichu play a melody that belonged neither to the past nor to the present, nor to the future. Thinking of this, the crowd began to anticipate. This would signify Senior Taichu demonstrating a power commensurate with his authority for the first time. Seeing everyone quiet, Chen Qing gravely stated, ¡°Thus, this gathering is concluded.¡± Murong Lang removed the bronze mask from his face and walked to the Scripture Pavilion window, gazing toward the seemingly endless tower, thinking: it belonged neither to the past nor to the present, nor to the future. Even the Nine Tribulations True Monarch hadn¡¯t had such a mystical description. He turned back to his desk, opened an untouched Mystic Iron Book, drew a small knife, preparing to carve words onto it. He was not too concerned about copying books. When a scholar does it, how can it be called copying; it¡¯s borrowing! What should this book¡¯s name be? It certainly couldn¡¯t be named the Book of Communication with Gods or Taichu Language. Senior Taichu hadn¡¯t allowed them to use his honorable title. He thought a while, finally penning and carving six characters with a golden stroke and iron hook: Divine¡¯s Beginning¡¤Thunder Gu Chapter. ¡­ Chen Qing removed the bronze ghost mask from his face, tallying the Spirit Stones he gained this time. Hmm, four hundred and eighty mid-grade Spirit Stones¡ªnot bad. Brewing a cup of tea, he carefully recalled the people he met during those days, racking his brain but couldn¡¯t recall seeing anyone from the Taiping Sect. What tricks did this so-called Immortal Servant have? It seemed actions needed caution lately. The next morning, after having a bowl of noodles, Chen Qing went straight to Yibao Building to inquire about Human Sin Money. Yibao Building was nine stories tall, with the first story exhibiting items needed for daily cultivation, not worth considering as treasures. To see treasures, one must go to the third floor. Finding a young servant at the third level of Qi Refinement, Chen Qing straightforwardly asked, ¡°Take me to see your manager.¡± Sensing Chen Qing¡¯s Spiritual Energy fluctuation of the ninth level of Qi Refinement, the servant had no doubts and hurriedly led Chen Qing to a tearoom upstairs. After he sat down, smelling the tea aroma, an old man soon arrived, not wearing gold or jade, but with a wooden Pixiu at his waist. Chen Qing observed this wooden Pixiu closely; it should be Seven-Colored Wood, a small piece worth thirty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. The old man looked at Chen Qing and asked with a smile, ¡°What might the guest desire?¡± Chen Qing raised his hand, taking out a jug of Spiritual Ginseng Wine from his sleeve and asked, ¡°I have wine, do you have a story?¡± ¡°¡±¡± Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Chapter 87 Qi Refinement Level 8, Breakthrough! Chapter 95: Chapter 87 Qi Refinement Level 8, Breakthrough! The old man chuckled as he picked up the pot of Spiritual Ginseng Wine, uncorked it and took a sniff, ¡°Good wine, though it is only made from Spirit Ginseng, it¡¯s comparable to Ginseng Ganoderma Wine!¡± He filled a tea bowl with wine and drank it down, ¡°What story does the gentleman wish to hear?¡± Chen Qing pulled out a Copper Coin from his bosom and placed it on the table, ¡°Wealth has stirred the hearts of men since ancient times. Do you have any tale of evil fate to share?¡± The old man picked up the Copper Coin, popped it in his mouth, chewed it twice as if it were a snack with his wine, then downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp. ¡°I do have a peculiar tale here. Since the gentleman is interested, I shall share it with you.¡± ¡°During the Xinghua Period, there was an oil seller with a wife named Huang and two blessed children.¡± ¡°The elder was a son of eleven years, and the younger, a daughter of eight.¡± ¡°Though the family was destitute, by relying on the oil seller¡¯s hard-earned wages, the wife tilling the fields, and weaving cloth at night, they managed quite well to raise their two children.¡± ¡°Now this oil seller¡¯s son was truly bright, industrious with farm work yet never chasing dogs or playing games, instead preferring to eavesdrop outside a private school.¡± ¡°The teacher initially paid no heed, but after half a month, upon testing his knowledge, he found the boy could recite ¡®Learning¡¯ and ¡®Opening Taiping¡¯ effortlessly.¡± ¡°Seeing the boy¡¯s intelligence, the teacher wanted to take him as a disciple and sent someone to tell Huang, urging her to send her son for enlightenment.¡± ¡°But Huang barely had enough money to fill their stomachs, where would she find the funds to afford her son¡¯s education?¡± ¡°She refused.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°The oil seller, upon hearing this, could only sigh in helplessness.¡± ¡°In the same private school was another boy, the son of Landlord Li, who, envious of the oil seller¡¯s son¡¯s intelligence, ordered his friends to beat him up and warned him against eavesdropping.¡± ¡°The oil seller felt helpless when he found out, and could only ask his son to swallow his anger.¡± ¡°One month later, as the oil seller went into the town to sell oil, upon his return he saw Landlord Li being chased by two men dressed in black.¡± ¡°Landlord Li was carrying something the size of a human head, which made his escape difficult, so he threw the object into the bushes and prioritized his life.¡± ¡°When the oil seller came across it, he discovered it to be a golden Buddha the size of a human head!¡± ¡°After three days, knowing the golden Buddha was not rightfully his, he took it with his wife Huang to Landlord Li and returned the golden Buddha.¡± ¡°When Landlord Li got his golden Buddha back, he was dissatisfied, claiming that there were two and questioned why the oil seller had only returned one.¡± ¡°Landlord Li commanded his men to beat the oil seller brutally and proclaimed that the oil seller¡¯s wife would pay off the debt!¡± ¡°Turns out, Landlord Li, knowing of the intelligence of the oil seller¡¯s son and the lack of reputation of the oil seller himself, surmised that it was due to Huang, and aimed to seize her to have her bear his child.¡± ¡°Huang, who was also cunning herself, knew that she could not resist, so she planned to lower Landlord Li¡¯s guard before seeking revenge.¡± ¡°Another year passed, and Huang bore Landlord Li a son, who at the age of five displayed great intelligence.¡± ¡°Landlord Li was overjoyed and became increasingly fond of him, granting his every request.¡± ¡°Thus, Huang ordered the son to serve poisoned soup to Landlord Li, who succumbed to death.¡± ¡°Then Huang killed Landlord Li¡¯s wife and urged the oil seller to terminate Landlord Li¡¯s eldest son.¡± ¡°Landlord Li¡¯s eldest son, knowing Huang¡¯s ruthlessness, fled far away.¡± ¡°The oil seller and Huang conspired to seize Landlord Li¡¯s property. Night after night, they fondled the golden Buddha, triumphantly elated.¡± ¡°Eight years later, the two sons Huang bore were extremely intelligent. The oil seller, fearing the sons of Landlord Li and Huang might share the golden Buddha, plotted to kill them.¡± ¡°Huang did not agree, and her two sons, aware of their stepfather¡¯s intentions, killed him while he was asleep.¡± ¡°Their half-brother, the oil seller¡¯s son, was also smart and noticing the act, sought to avenge his father by killing one of the younger brothers in front of Huang, saying, ¡®Now I am your only son, do you also wish to kill me?''¡± ¡°Huang, left with no choice, kept silent.¡± ¡°As for Landlord Li¡¯s eldest son, after such tribulations, he matured in wisdom and devoted himself to martial arts. Under the name Zhang Dafu, once he had accomplished his training and changed his appearance, he returned in disguise to the place, contrived to rescue Huang¡¯s daughter, and won her affection.¡± ¡°On their wedding night, Zhang Dafu intoxicated Huang and her son before killing them, framing it as a robbery.¡± ¡°Huang¡¯s daughter knew the truth but kept silent. Zhang Dafu inquired daily about the golden Buddha¡¯s whereabouts, and she kept evading the question, claiming ignorance.¡± ¡°She immersed the golden Buddha into a poison pond. Only when the poison thoroughly permeated the Buddha did she let Zhang Dafu find it.¡± ¡°Zhang Dafu played with the golden Buddha day by day, the poison seeped into his body, and he eventually died.¡± ¡°Later, the golden Buddha fell into the hands of Huang¡¯s daughter, unaware of the numerous greedy predators eyeing her.¡± Having finished the story, the old man chuckled and asked, ¡°A single golden Buddha led to the downfall of two families and kins slaughtering each other, is this a terrible karma, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± Chen Qing pondered for a moment, ¡°Where is Huang¡¯s daughter now?¡± The old man stretched out a finger and shook it four times. Chen Qing reached into his bag and spread it out, revealing a hundred medium-grade Spirit Stones. The old man laughed and said, ¡°Two hundred li southwest from here, in Huang Family Village, there¡¯s a Chunfeng Lane, and there you will find her, named Hong Liu.¡± The old man stood up, walked to a bookshelf behind him, fetched a golden Buddha, and placed it in front of Chen Qing. Chen Qing took the Buddha in hand and thanked him with a bow. A day later. In Chunfeng Lane of Huang Family Village, Chen Qing watched the plump woman washing clothes by the river with a young child strapped to her back. Approaching with the golden Buddha in hand, he asked, ¡°Do you have a moment?¡± Hong Liu glanced around somewhat embarrassedly, ¡°You come during broad daylight?¡± Chen Qing spoke softly, ¡°I am pressed for time.¡± Hong Liu then picked up her laundry basin, leading Chen Qing to her house. Once inside and the door shut, she began to remove her clothes, having just taken off her outer garment when she saw Chen Qing place what he had been carrying on the table, unfolding it. Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 87 Qi Refinement Level 8, Breakthrough!_2 Chapter 96: Chapter 87 Qi Refinement Level 8, Breakthrough!_2 Suddenly, it was a golden Buddha! She was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t speak, her legs giving out as she collapsed onto the bed. Chen Qing spoke quietly, ¡°I want to trade my golden Buddha for yours, if you desire wealth.¡± Chen Qing reached into his sleeve, pulling out ten gold bars and placing them on the table, ¡°All of this wealth is yours.¡± After a long moment, Hong Liu finally retrieved a golden Buddha from under the bed, ¡°I don¡¯t want these gold bars. Could I get some silver instead?¡± Chen Qing was momentarily taken aback, carefully studying Hong Liu. Hong Liu said, ¡°This golden Buddha brought ruin to my family, and I dare not keep it. Since you have come for it, you must have the ability to protect it.¡± ¡°Seeing gold now terrifies me, I dare not keep it any longer.¡± ¡°I only wish to have some silver to support my son.¡± Chen Qing again reached into his sleeve, withdrawing one hundred taels of silver and ten thousand in copper coins, placing them on the table. Hong Liu gathered the silver and copper coins, sitting at the edge of the bed, somewhat shy, ¡°Do you desire this? If you want, I can accompany you for three days.¡± ¡°But, I can¡¯t get pregnant again, two children are really more than I can manage.¡± Chen Qing shook his head, taking up the two golden Buddhas and the gold bars as he left, ¡°In the future, use this money to make a stable living.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? ¡°Is there any trouble you are facing? If so, tell me now.¡± Hong Liu said, ¡°There¡¯s a family at the village entrance that seems to know something.¡± ¡°By the way, my golden Buddha is poisonous, be very careful not to touch it with your hands.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°I know.¡± Chen Qing walked out the door, heading to the village entrance, casually tossing the golden Buddha given by the old man into that family¡¯s home. As for any resulting entanglements, they were not his to manage. After doing this, he took the poisonous Buddha back to Wo Hu City. Unwrapping the black cloth, the golden Buddha still wore its stately smile, seemingly ignorant of how much blood it had been stained with. The Snake Gu flew out, swallowing the golden Buddha. After just a moment, Chen Qing clearly noted that the promotion requirements had one less phrase: Human Sin Money. It seemed this trip was not made in vain. Recalling that story, he finally understood that he was no longer living in the human world. A hundred years later, Hong Liu would have long become a skeleton, while he would remain as radiant as ever. He shook his head, trying to cast away the troublesome thoughts, striving to not think about these, to forget that story. Next, it was about the nine strands of Lightless Breath. The Lightless Breath was stored in a glass bottle. At a glance, it seemed like black smoke. Upon closer inspection, one could see the difference. It was not that the Lightless Breath was black, but rather it could absorb the surrounding light. After feeding the nine strands of Lightless Breath, the next step was simply to wait for February 31st. In these sixteen days of waiting, Chen Qing needed to prepare more, wanting to join the merchant caravan heading south, he must reveal a notable Gu. His usual Gu were naturally not the best to showcase; he should contract another and cultivate it to the Butterfly Transformation stage. Currently, he still had a Fire Gu, but its quality was low, making it difficult to achieve Butterfly Transformation in a short time. However, he still considered contracting it, now that wealth was ample, it should take only two months to cultivate it to Butterfly Transformation. After thinking for a long time, Chen Qing decided to contract the Fire Gu. As long as there were Spirit Stones, his Spiritual Energy was virtually endless, perfect to lack a magic-type Gu for explosive attacks. Cultivating the Fire Gu to Butterfly Transformation should supplement some group attack capabilities. During this period, Chen Qing focused on healing, nurturing Power Gu, Thunder Gu, Fire Gu, Iron Butterfly, and then practicing the Great Kui Sword Scripture in the underground chamber beneath the courtyard. Though the courtyard was expensive, it had its advantages, particularly the addition of a basement. Cultivators often had secrets they wished to keep hidden, so nearly all had basements. After seven days, his injuries finally healed, and Chen Qing was ready to resume cultivating. Jumping into the dry well in the courtyard, Chen Qing passed through the well¡¯s wall entrance, entering the basement. Taking out the box of Thunder Spirit Feather Fruit, Chen Qing devoured them, their crispy texture numbing his mouth, leaving no discernible taste. After consuming more than ten, feeling full of spiritual energy, he quickly sat cross-legged to begin cultivation. A night of intense practice depleted much of the Thunder Spirit Feather Fruit, bringing him to the bottleneck of the Qi Refinement seventh layer. Only three Thunder Spirit Feather Fruit remained, which Chen Qing set aside without eating. Three wouldn¡¯t be of much use. After spending three thousand Spirit Stones on Thunder Spirit Feather Fruit reached a bottleneck, it was evident that the fruit¡¯s efficacy couldn¡¯t compare to the Soul Stealing Flower. The Soul Stealing Flower was indeed the most economical. Now, he brought out a Zhu fruit. A treasure like the Zhu fruit was not meant to be consumed in the Qi Refining Realm. As for whether Foundation Establishment cultivators could eat it directly, well, it was unheard of. Which Foundation Establishment cultivator would be foolish enough to boast about consuming a Zhu fruit? But with his nearly Butterfly Transformation Snake Gu, he boldly sliced a piece, putting it in his mouth. It was scorching, like swallowing a piece of fiery coal. Yet it didn¡¯t burn him; it merely left him unable to taste anything. Swallowing a piece, he immediately felt an explosive burst of spiritual energy throughout his body, as if it was about to overflow! Such powerful medicinal strength! If left uncut, preserved for the eighth layer of Qi Refinement, there might be a chance to break through its bottleneck! Testing how it might break through, he ultimately failed to open the eighth meridian. Chen Qing gazed at the remaining half of the Zhu fruit and felt eating a slice was fine; eating a whole one shouldn¡¯t pose a problem either. He took the scalding Zhu fruit into his mouth, chewed a few bites, and swallowed. It felt like swallowing a mouthful of magma. Unfortunately, once inside him, it was as if it entered a furnace, turning into an intensely potent flow of medicinal power coursing through his body. An intense surge of spiritual energy and medicinal power rose within him, Chen Qing immediately sat down to seriously break through. Due to consuming the Zhu fruit, the Spiritual Energy inside was exceedingly turbulent. Chen Qing was delighted by it, the more turbulent, the more forceful the torrent, aiding him in breaking open the eighth meridian. Boom! Boom! Boom! He fully controlled the spiritual energy, launching an intense assault on his eighth meridian. The Spiritual Energy was unending, like a great river rushing through him, repeatedly crashing against the bottleneck like waves. After several hundred attempts, with a sudden explosion of spiritual pressure around Chen Qing, he felt a lightness¡ªthe eighth meridian was broken through! The medicinal power still surged, he continued to sit, consolidating his cultivation, checking whether he could further develop the eighth meridian. Spending a day and night cultivating, Chen Qing finally completed the process, having broken through the eighth meridian, pushing it six-tenths through¡ªnotable, how potent the Zhu fruit¡¯s medicinal properties were! He opened his hand, a wisp of Spiritual Energy appeared, carrying a slight simmering heat. This must be the aftereffect of consuming the Zhu fruit. But the impact was minor, it would subside in a few days once the Spiritual Energy within had cycled through. Using the Fog Gu to adjust his cultivation back to the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, after a rest, Chen Qing went out again. Upon reaching the notice board, he discovered a southbound merchant caravan was recruiting skilled individuals. He glanced at the notice and turned away. They were likely to recruit for about a month; within a month, he could probably cultivate Power Gu to Butterfly Transformation. He had never revealed Power Gu before, showcasing Power Gu Butterfly should be acceptable. However, he figured it best to investigate first, finding a nearby tea house. He ordered a pot of tea and some dried fruits, intending to listen for any news. The tea house wasn¡¯t far from the notice board; naturally, it was bustling with cultivators awaiting new jobs. With a southbound merchant caravan just announced, the conversations were lively, ¡°Not many merchant caravans head south.¡± ¡°Word has it the south is quite chaotic.¡± ¡°Although few caravans head south, the rewards are remarkably generous!¡± ¡°Heh, the pay is indeed generous, but a southern caravan requires experts with at least a Butterfly Transformation Gu. How could we even qualify?¡± ¡°The journey south is over thousands of miles, without any skills, why would they hire you?¡± Chen Qing casually inquired, ¡°Are there really so few southbound caravans?¡± The tea house owner smiled, ¡°Typically, you hear about two or three a year at most.¡± Chen Qing laid down a piece of silver shard and got up to leave. It seemed further investigation was necessary; the timing of this caravan¡¯s appearance seemed rather suspicious. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 88 Snake Gu Butterfly Transformation! Chapter 97: Chapter 88 Snake Gu Butterfly Transformation! After feeding his Gu, Chen Qing took his sword and went out. At a restaurant near the courtyard where the merchant caravan staying south had lodged, he ordered a table full of good dishes, eating while occasionally glancing over. He observed no unusual movements. Only the pack rats seemed completely untired, as if the goods they were transporting weren¡¯t very heavy. Could they be transporting Gu? No, if it were Gu, they should be carrying them personally. The head of the caravan, upon closer inspection, appeared just to be a middle-aged man around forty and didn¡¯t seem like someone who frequently traveled far and wide. Although he was extremely courteous, it came off as somewhat contrived. Somewhat deliberate. Was this the method of the Immortal Servant? It was all too easily deciphered. Chen Qing had considered traveling to the south alone, but being alone risked exposure; traveling with the caravan could avoid a lot of trouble. He settled the bill and descended the stairs, heading straight out of the city gate. He would first go to Jinzhou City in the south. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï It was closer to Nanli, and there were relatively more caravans heading south. Traveling alone, Chen Qing adjusted his straw hat, quickly traversing through the mountain streams. Jinzhou was different from Wo Hu City, as Wo Hu City was a mountain city, while Jinzhou City was a water city. Jinzhou City sat on the Jiuqu River, with numerous rivers converging into it. Chen Qing wasn¡¯t worried about losing his way, as following the river downstream would eventually lead him to Jinzhou City. Following the river, Chen Qing hurried through the woods. Initially planning to set out for long journeys after the Light Gu transformed into a Butterfly and progressed to the Ninth Transformation, unforeseen events concerning the spirit Gu forced him to depart now, proving that life is full of uncertainties. After three days of travel, he encountered a merchant ship heading south at a dock, and upon paying the fare, he secured a guest room. It took three more days with the ship to reach Jinzhou City. Chen Qing stood at the bow of the ship, looking up at this vast city on water, marveling at how indeed, there were endless wonders in the world of cultivation. The city¡¯s foundation was forged from Floating Cloud Wood poured over incorruptible Mystic Iron, suspended upon the Jiuqu River. Jinzhou City wasn¡¯t permanently fixed and would migrate with time as the city lord would order it moved downstream. Therefore, Jinzhou City was essentially a long, narrow city. Along the banks were bronze platforms, with bronze locks securing pavilions that floated on the water surface. Rather than a city, it was more accurate to call it a colossal market pieced together from thousands of boats. At the moment, it wasn¡¯t the flood season yet, so the migration hadn¡¯t begun. Jinzhou City¡¯s commerce was far more prosperous than Wo Hu City¡¯s, with continuous merchant caravans stretching for miles. Chen Qing even saw several girls dressed in black, showing their fair arms and calves, adorned with elaborate silver accessories. Women from Da Yan often favored colors similar to azure, Northern women preferred white, while women from the West Desert liked red and yellow. Only the women from the south favored black. Nanli valued the color black, revered the mystical, favored silver, worshipped the Miao God and White Tiger, and favored fresh blood and meat. Watching the Nanli girls laughing and playing as they left, Chen Qing suddenly had an idea. He bought some old silver accessories, found a secluded spot, and instantly transformed into fog. When he emerged, he wore a straw hat, a silver tiger-buckle belt around his waist, and had a hundred-pound giant axe the size of a millstone on his back. His hair was left unbound, flowing down his shoulders to his waist, with a White Tiger Lock tied at the end. He had transformed into a genuine, handsome young man from Nanli. Compared to the clothes he used to wear, he now exuded less poise and authority, yet more boldness and recklessness. Since the caravan he found might be the work of the Taiping Sect, why not let these Nanli girls introduce him to a Nanli caravan heading south? Wouldn¡¯t that allow him to escape from the Taiping Sect¡¯s traps easily? Having traveled for three days to get here, Chen Qing was quite hungry and found a shop where there were quite a few Nanli people. He walked in and shouted, ¡°Shopkeeper, roast a lamb for me, make it a green-colored one.¡± ¡°And bring me five jars of your strongest liquor.¡± Everyone around looked at Chen Qing simultaneously. It was only after seeing the White Tiger Lock around his waist that they understood. Only the most outstanding warriors in the clan had the right to wear the White Tiger Lock, which explained why he could eat so much. Yes, in Nanli, the measure of a man was whether he could eat and how much he could drink. A good eater and drinker must be a hero. Chen Qing drank heartily and feasted on the meat, feeling pleasantly invigorated. With his Snake Gu, this amount of food and drink was nothing. He could consume ten more carts full. After finishing the meat and drinking the wine, Chen Qing wiped his mouth, only to find a Nanli girl with a basket in front of him curiously watching him. Chen Qing smiled and asked, ¡°Little sister, what are you looking at?¡± The Nanli girl blinked her bright eyes and said, ¡°Brother, you can really eat.¡± She placed the basket of golden apricots in front of Chen Qing, ¡°Brother, after finishing the wine and meat, have some fruit to clear the palate.¡± Chen Qing, not one for polite formality, took one and stuffed it into his mouth. The girl also took one and began eating it, finally breaking open the seed to eat the kernel before spitting out the seed husk. Chen Qing also broke the seed, ate the kernel inside, and then spat it out. The girl seemed satisfied and said, ¡°You are indeed one of our Nanli people; eating golden apricots means eating the kernel.¡± She then sat beside Chen Qing and asked, ¡°Brother, how long have you been out, and when do you plan to return to Nanli?¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°I plan to find a Nanli caravan and return with them.¡± The girl¡¯s eyes sparkled, ¡°Grandpa said a Nanli caravan will pass by in a month. Would you like to come to my house?¡± In his mind, Chen Qing thought the Nanli people were exceedingly hospitable, agreeing and visiting the girl¡¯s home to arrange being called to join the caravan when it arrived. Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: Chapter 88: Snake Gu Butterfly Transformation!_2 Chapter 98: Chapter 88: Snake Gu Butterfly Transformation!_2 February 31. Chen Qing left the dock where he lived and walked along the main road for a while before turning into the forest, traveling dozens of miles to a secluded valley, quietly waiting for the night to fall. Because there was no moon, the night was very dark. In a place where he couldn¡¯t see his hand in front of his face, Chen Qing sat by a small river, quietly waiting for his Snake Gu to evolve into a Butterfly. The Snake Gu resting on his shoulder also sensed the changes in the world, froze, and only emerged two hours later, already larger. Besides getting bigger, it had surprisingly grown a pair of wings. Not insect wings, but feathers. A Feathered Snake? It had previously looked like an ordinary little snake, but now the Snake Butterfly appeared somewhat divine. [Spiritual Item Snake Butterfly] Quality, First Transformation Life Span, 1/420 Effects, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 Snake Swallowing Elephant, can consume large quantities of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, spiritual medicine, and flesh, rapidly digesting and absorbing to enhance the body, and improve cultivation. Will not die from consuming ordinary non-spiritual food. [Trait]: [Winter Storage] can store twelve items. [Trait]: [Universe in the Sleeve] all methods dissolve where the sleeve flies. Growth Requirements: Forbidden Spirit Stone Growth Progress, 0/100 Promotion Requirements: Ghost Gate opens, three Mirage Whiskers, one drop of Nine Nether Jisui When Chen Qing had contracted the Snake Gu, he had seen its devouring ability, but he had not expected that evolving into a Butterfly could grant it. He immediately conjured a ball of fire in his hand, swept his sleeve, and it vanished instantly. He tested it, and after exhausting his Spiritual Energy three times, he could no longer absorb anything. Reflecting, if he encountered the Taiping Sect¡¯s Divine Descent again in the future, it seemed that all he would need to do is wave his sleeve to seize the large hand. He felt his sleeve, reached in with his divine sense, and it was as if he was entering a bottomless abyss. Could the Snake Butterfly be a door, a door to a bottomless abyss? He wondered what it would be like to take himself in. He shook his head and dismissed the idea, realizing he was thinking nonsensically every day. After more trials, he found it would reset roughly after an hour. He thought of the scene during Foundation Establishment with hundreds of Sword Qi crossing the sky, and he felt confident he could withstand three such moves with Universe in the Sleeve next time. Withstand three moves, not evade three moves! In his current state, when facing ordinary cultivators of battle magic type, he could be considered unbeatable! The opponent¡¯s magic was almost useless against him. This was the formidable strength of the spirit Gu! He tried catching a rabbit to test, but he couldn¡¯t absorb it. It seemed living creatures couldn¡¯t be absorbed. March 1. Chen Qing sat in the dock guest room, watching the rushing river outside the window, pondering what piece to teach Fu Luo tonight. He didn¡¯t remember many ancient tunes, besides Dragon Roar and Mountain and Stream, there was only Spring Snow and Phoenix Seeking Phoenix left. Phoenix Seeking Phoenix was clearly inappropriate, so Spring Snow it would be. After tonight, at the next gathering, he could know his true identity. As for sheet music, it clearly overestimated himself, he just remembered the melodies. At midnight, Chen Qing put on the bronze ghost mask. He sat immovably and majestically at his position as usual, swept his gaze, and noticed the four were already assembled. After brief greetings, Chen Qing said, ¡°Now, let the gathering begin.¡± Xu Yaofeng, Murong Lang, and Hu Yao all sat quietly, seemingly not seeking Chen Qing¡¯s guidance today. Fu Luo glanced around, understanding that others were drawn to her Light Butterfly, hoping to see some change in it. So she took the lead in displaying her Light Butterfly and said, ¡°The Light Butterfly has reached Eighth Transformation, please guide me, Senior!¡± Chen Qing glanced over, his tone indifferent, ¡°Bifang Bird Feather.¡± To be fair, the growth material for this Light Butterfly was unusually bizarre. Fu Luo bowed her head slightly, ¡°Please grant me the tune, Senior.¡± Chen Qing smiled, his index finger tapping rhythmically on the table. The other three held their breath, not daring to disturb Chen Qing¡¯s actions. After a cup of tea, Chen Qing softly said, ¡°This tune is called Spring Snow, can you remember it?¡± Fu Luo nodded, ¡°Fu Luo remembers, thank you for the tune, Senior.¡± Just hearing it once, could she remember it, was it the Jade Gu¡¯s effect? Truly mystical. Seeing that no one was inclined to inquire today, Chen Qing said, ¡°Well then, you may start chatting.¡± Today, everyone seemed disinclined to chat, except for Hu Yao, who was unaware that everyone else¡¯s minds were on Ji Ru¡¯s Light Gu, and she said, ¡°I now have an Iron Butterfly, a Power Butterfly, and a Copper Bone Gu about to transform, what Gu should I contract next?¡± Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°It¡¯s best to find an Ancient Scripture, an Ancient Scripture can integrate the power of Gu and gather it into one, that¡¯s real strength.¡± Hu Yao said a little troubled, ¡°I see, Ancient Scripture and stuff, that¡¯s quite difficult to get.¡± Murong Lang smiled and clapped his folding fan, ¡°Coincidentally, my Thunder Pure Land was once a Demon Clan territory, and a large number of demon clan texts are preserved, maybe there are Ancient Scriptures.¡± ¡°What kind do you want? I can keep an eye out for you.¡± Hu Yao was overjoyed, ¡°Thank you, preferably a battle magic one, I like battle magic methods!¡± Murong Lang thought for a moment, ¡°A battle magic method should be there, I¡¯ll go look.¡± Fu Luo took out a Book of Communication with Gods and handed it to Murong Lang, allowing him to quickly browse and remember. Today Xu Yaofeng did not continue to talk about Taiyi, Nie Fei, and Zhang Taia, obviously cut off by the Taiping Sect, and he wasn¡¯t very concerned, considered it just a curiosity. Who knows if after learning the other person¡¯s name was Taiyi, he would give up so easily. Chen Qing wondered if Xu Yaofeng traced Taiyi, should he reveal that Taiyi was his sole disciple, only Xu Yaofeng seemed indifferent on this matter. Oh well. The gathering ended. Though it was late at night, Fu Luo didn¡¯t feel the slightest sleepiness. She got up, went to the gate of her palace, and awakened Little Tao, who was dozing off leaning against the door. ¡°Little Tao, have Cao Yizhi fetch a Bifang Bird Feather for me.¡± Little Tao rubbed her sleepy eyes, ¡°Princess, do you have to go this late?¡± Fu Luo popped a candied fruit into Little Tao¡¯s mouth, ¡°Hurry, hurry.¡± Nibbling as she went, Little Tao reached a dry well, tugged the copper bell hanging above it. Soon, Cao Yizhi¡¯s voice came from the well, ¡°Little Tao, what is it?¡± Little Tao said, ¡°The Princess wants a Bifang Bird Feather, go get it quickly.¡± Hearing the wind sound coming from the well, Little Tao stepped aside, and Cao Yizhi leaped out like a fish, ¡°I¡¯ll go fetch it now.¡± Fu Luo¡¯s mind in recent days wasn¡¯t focused on class, constantly playing the zither alone in her palace, trying not to forget that melody. She divided the tune into four sections, playing only one part at a time to not disrupt the moment. Lying at the bedside, she curiously watched the purple light butterfly in her hand, ¡°Butterfly, oh butterfly, why do you eat so slowly?¡± ¡°If only you could finish in a day!¡± She lay back on her bed, imagining her Light Butterfly advancing to Harmonization Spiritual Item, ¡°I wonder what abilities it would have after promotion.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be somewhat related to the Senior, I wonder which part of the Senior¡¯s authority it is.¡± She remembered Chen Qing once said, this was an experiment. Then she wondered: hopefully, it wouldn¡¯t fail, right? After seven more days, she felt a sudden agitation and immediately returned to her palace, quietly watching as her Light Butterfly transformed into the Ninth Transformation. Once the transformation was complete, and it grew slightly larger, she promptly ordered preparations for a bath. This time, she wanted to play the zither with utmost seriousness, to completely perform the mysterious tune taught by Senior Taichu. After bathing and calming her mind, she recited the Heart Clarity Spell for a while to keep herself calm. Spiritual Energy was channeled into the Jade Gu, allowing her to become exceptionally focused, inducing a state of calmness. She opened her hand, and the purple light butterfly flew out and perched at the corner of the guqin. Then she began to play, the clear chime of the zither immediately resonating throughout her palace. And outside the palace, it remained a silent night. Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Chapter 89 Spiritual Item Light Butterfly·Harmonization·Void Chapter 99: Chapter 89 Spiritual Item Light Butterfly¡¤Harmonization¡¤Void ¡°` The Imperial Capital of Da Yan was located in the north, and the cold wind from the North Sea blew over, first reaching the Imperial Capital of Da Yan. Silently, a snowfall began. However, the snow only fell on the imperial capital; beyond that, it couldn¡¯t continue to spread to other territories of Da Yan. Little Tao shivered while leaning against the pillar at the door, thinking about how snow only fell at the Da Yan Imperial Palace here. She wondered what kind of misdeeds the northern barbarians were up to. But thinking about how the Emperor was also in the Imperial Palace, she finally felt at ease. With the Emperor present, there¡¯s no fear of any enemy in the world! Here snow, there spring. Meanwhile, further south in Jinzhou City, Chen Qing, carrying a giant axe, walked across wooden planks in the middle of Jinzhou City, buying Cow Demon bones needed for the promotion of the Power Gu. He ordered a bowl of deer blood soup and sat at the bow of a boat to drink. Sunlight shone over the great river, and the waves seemed to dance like golden scales. By this time, early spring had passed, and the cherry blossoms had withered. Peach blossoms, unlike cherry blossoms, didn¡¯t bloom profusely across the north and south of the great river. Only occasionally could one see a tree, but it was extraordinarily enchanting. Spring was in full bloom, and Chen Qing opened his large sleeves to let the Light Butterfly fully enjoy the caress of the spring breeze. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Suddenly, he felt a stir inside. The Light Gu was about to undergo Butterfly Transformation. Last year, when he made a contract with the Light Gu, he caught the last summer rain. An hour later, Chen Qing looked at the jade white Light Butterfly in his sleeve, his eyes narrowing slightly. [Mortal Light Butterfly] Quality: First Transformation Life Span: 99/200 Effect: Illuminates [Traits] [Light Dust]: After promoting the Light Butterfly, it can be promoted again to enhance grade and open the third form, Harmonization. Growth Requirements: Monument Shard Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: Travel ten thousand miles, observe all living things. But the newly promoted Light Butterfly¡¯s Life Span had already surpassed the Ninth Transformation Mist Butterfly! Chen Qing felt he had vaguely grasped some opportunity. This Light Butterfly had great fortune! This Monument Shard was easy to manage. Chen Qing immediately stood up, walked along the main road, and after about three miles, he stood under a large tree and closed his eyes to listen to the sound of the wind. He felt the wind blowing across his cheeks, over his hands, and everything around him settled in his mind. After three breaths, he opened his eyes and looked toward a place with overgrown weeds. He walked over, swept away the weeds, and revealed a stone monument. He thought this would be a monument of Da Yan, but to his surprise, it was a monument of the Jiguang Sect! The words on it had become blurred with the passage of time, but the faint words ¡®Jiguang¡¯ were still visible. Faintly, eight words could still be discerned: ¡°Immortals never die, great thieves never cease.¡± Chen Qing waved his sleeve to let the Light Butterfly perch on it. The newly promoted Light Butterfly was evidently hungry and started nibbling at the corner of the monument. He sat down beside it, starting a meditation session to consolidate his cultivation. After three hours, he noticed that the Light Butterfly¡¯s growth progress had increased; only then did he reach out to lift the monument and stored it within himself. Chen Qing looked at the bustling Jinzhou City in the distance, realizing that he didn¡¯t quite like this city. Strictly speaking, he didn¡¯t dislike this city, but rather such cities. He preferred the feeling of being in the wilderness, since he didn¡¯t have to interact with others. Walking into the nearby valley, Chen Qing started familiarizing himself with the Great Kui Sword Scripture, having the Eighth-Transformation Power Gu and Seventh Transformation Thunder Gu. With a sweep of the sword, over ten feet of thunder light arose, dancing with terrifying sword energy, splitting mountains and rocks. Chen Qing compared the current sword might with that of Foundation Establishment and found it was still inadequate. The gap between Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement wasn¡¯t something a single sword scripture could bridge. During this period, Chen Qing awaited news from the trade caravan and bought materials to cultivate Gu in the valley. March 15th. Chen Qing sat atop a large tree, moonlight falling on him. He looked at the Power Gu in his hand, now cocooned, thinking that now he just had to wait for the caravan to arrive. Watching as the moon in the sky gradually climbed to its peak, a bronze ghost mask appeared in Chen Qing¡¯s hand, which he gently placed on his face. When Chen Qing appeared at the Cloud Platform, the other four had long been waiting. The other three were much the same, except for Fu Luo, who wore a light purple long dress today. On her shoulder, a purple Light Butterfly, the size of a child¡¯s palm, was gently flapping its wings. Chen Qing looked over, slightly surprised. [Spiritual Light Butterfly¡¤Harmonization¡¤Void] Quality: First Transformation Harmonization Life Span: 56/360 Effect: Illuminates Greatly enhances physique, slowly increases cultivation during dreams, and draws spiritual energy from the void. [Traits]: [Shrinking Ground to Inch]: Can consume a large amount of spiritual energy to perform Shrinking Ground to Inch. [Child of Void]: Once a month, you can retrieve an item from the endless void. The current void must have an item to retrieve. Can open the Harmonization Celestial Phenomenon [Void Flowering]. [Light Dust]: Light gives birth to all things, can be promoted again after Ninth Transformation. Growth Requirements: Void Flower Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: At the dream moment of hundreds of miles of living beings, complete a meeting with otherworldly creatures. Ninety-nine strands of Void Purple Qi, one complete Lanrotuo Realm, one River Gu (at least King Grade). Chen Qing had speculated if this Light Gu was related to time and space. He previously guessed it was time, but now it seemed it wasn¡¯t time, but void. Because its promotion requirement was to hear a piece of music that didn¡¯t belong to the present, the past, or the future. However, thinking carefully, its promotion requirements excluded all time-related factors. What it enabled was the endless void. But these promotion requirements were truly outrageous, even more so than Yao Feng¡¯s Harmonization Light Butterfly! Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: Chapter 89 Spiritual Item Light Butterfly?Harmonization?Void_2 Chapter 100: Chapter 89 Spiritual Item Light Butterfly?Harmonization?Void_2 ¡°` The hardest thing was not the King Grade River Gu. The King Grade River Gu was something that existed in the world, so there was always a chance to obtain it. Meeting with Otherworldly beings was the truly difficult part! However, Chen Qing already had a way to overcome this most difficult point. Now, he could accurately determine that he himself was an Otherworldly being. As an Otherworldly being, it seemed he was inherently a part of the void. He originally belonged to the void. He had a strange feeling, that his arrival had opened a door, a door leading to the void. Because of his existence, those Gu related to the void could ascend! And Fu Luo, was his Gatekeeper. A new Dao had started with his arrival, or rather, the Void Dao had always existed, just that it had been a long time since an Otherworldly being appeared. Thinking of this, he suddenly wondered if his ability to see the information of Gu was not some cheat, but rather a part of the void¡¯s authority. No, the void only opened the door to another world. It should not allow one to see all Gu information. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï Or perhaps, there was some constraint in this world, preventing its beings from seeing that information, and he, being a transmigrator, was free from this restraint, enabling him to see it. He suddenly recalled the inscription on the Jiguang Sect¡¯s boundary monument, ¡°Immortals do not die, great thieves do not stop!¡± There seemed to be some inexplicable connection, but he lacked enough information to deduce it. Until he heard Ji Ru¡¯s greeting, he finally snapped out of his complex thoughts. To others, Chen Qing appeared as if just sitting there unmoved, as always. ¡°Respected Senior Taichu, Fu Luo greets you here.¡± Xu Yaofeng was also staring blankly at the beautiful and colorful purple Light Butterfly. It was only upon hearing Ji Ru¡¯s words that he reacted, ¡°Good evening, Senior Taichu.¡± Harmonization had succeeded! This could only mean one thing, that Senior Taichu did not belong to the past, nor the present, nor the future! Murong Lang also laughed loudly, ¡°Good evening, Senior Taichu.¡± Senior Taichu had truly awakened; he had regained his authority! Thinking that his divine initiation had already produced its first chapter, he became increasingly excited. Relying on Senior Taichu, he would have the opportunity to solve the disaster at Thunder Pure Land, leading his clan out of Thunder Pure Land, and return to this world! Even though Hu Yao couldn¡¯t discern too much, she felt increasingly revered towards Chen Qing¡¯s figure through the others¡¯ transformation. Chen Qing nodded slightly, ¡°Fu Luo, Red Lotus, Feng, Scholar, good evening.¡± ¡°Well then, today¡¯s gathering begins now.¡± Fu Luo seemed particularly lively today. She felt she had gotten a bit closer to Senior Taichu, receiving a tiny bit of his authority. But just that sliver significantly boosted her power! The Void Flower swayed, summoning countless strands of Void Power to descend. She had secretly tested this by summoning Cao Yizhi. Even Cao Yizhi, who had already reached Foundation Establishment, coughed up blood after being struck with the Void Flower¡¯s sway! Additionally, with her Shrinking Ground to Inch ability, she could step across a hundred feet with ease, making every attack catch her opponents off guard. Once her cultivation advanced further and the other Gu improved, she even felt confident in defeating the Immortal Court Divine Son! King Grade Gu might not necessarily be a match for her Void Flower! No, she shouldn¡¯t think like that; she was destined to be the Taichu Divine Woman in the future. And the first Taichu Divine Woman! Defeating the Immortal Court Divine Son should be perfectly normal! Her gaze fell on Xu Yaofeng and Murong Lang. One hosted the gathering, and the other owned many Light Gu, thus naturally holding a higher status than the others at the gathering. But now, they had to face her properly. Because she, Ji Ru, had obtained a bit of Taichu¡¯s authority. Just a bit, but the significance behind it was monumental! Fu Luo immediately lowered her head and said, ¡°Senior Taichu, your mighty power is like an abyss or sea, and I am but a leaf boat on this vast ocean, picking just a mere grain. Yet, obtaining just a sliver of your might feels as though I have completely transformed!¡± Xu Yaofeng and Murong Lang both turned to look. Fu Luo had hinted before, during the selection of her Light Gu, her desire to gain strength from Senior Taichu. Thus, she had Senior Taichu choose a Light Gu for her, and it seemed she truly gained a part of his power now. They both felt their status at the gathering beginning to waver. At this moment, they each had to secretly praise Ji Ru¡¯s talent. Chen Qing smiled, feeling he should show his Gatekeeper some care, ¡°What did you obtain from the void?¡± Fu Luo wasn¡¯t surprised Chen Qing saw through her Light Butterfly ability. Taichu should know everything. She picked up an item from beside her and placed it on the table. Chen Qing looked over, and it was a piece of Star Fall, not some Otherworldly object. But it wasn¡¯t bad either. Chen Qing considered that Fu Luo had the Luck Gu, and maybe one day she might get something good from the void. Fu Luo said, ¡°It¡¯s this piece of Star Fall.¡± Seeing Fu Luo¡¯s Light Butterfly had also harmonized, Murong Lang and Hu Yao were a bit anxious. Others possessed things they didn¡¯t, which made them anxious. Acquiring spiritual items was extremely difficult, but now they had an opportunity before them. At this point, Murong Lang hurriedly displayed his Light Butterfly, seeking guidance, ¡°Please guide me, Senior Taichu.¡± Chen Qing glanced at it and said, ¡°Thunderstruck Wood.¡± Hu Yao also presented her Light Butterfly, seeking advice, ¡°Please guide me, Senior Taichu.¡± Although she didn¡¯t understand much, she understood that to truly change her fate and complete her transformation, she needed the Light Gu. Chen Qing advised, ¡°Flood Dragon Scale.¡± Xu Yaofeng was still meditating on Yin Mountain and didn¡¯t seek guidance, clearly intending to invest all his Spirit Stones into cultivating his Light Butterfly after witnessing Fu Luo¡¯s harmonization with her Light Butterfly. Seeing everyone had sought guidance, Chen Qing instructed, ¡°You may start chatting now.¡± Ji Ru said, ¡°I wish to prepare and then challenge the Immortal Court Divine Son, of course, discreetly.¡± Xu Yaofeng hurriedly said, ¡°No, we are all still growing and should not expose ourselves.¡± He understood what Ji Ru intended to do. As a follower of Taichu, she wanted to test who was stronger, herself or the Immortal Court Divine Son. In other words, this wasn¡¯t a dispute with the Immortal Court Divine Son, but Ji Ru wanted to do something for Senior Taichu and prove herself. Ji Ru replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine. My family has a good relationship with the Immortal Court, so nothing should happen.¡± Murong Lang asked, ¡°Would it still be okay even if you reveal your Light Butterfly?¡± Ji Ru responded, ¡°My family appears to have a bad relationship with Jiguang Sect on the surface, but in secret, we¡¯re not actually against them. In fact, we share some connections.¡± Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°It¡¯s still inappropriate, we should not attract attention now.¡± ¡°If your family¡¯s power is great and has a good relationship with the Immortal Court, I suggest you trust a Foundation Establishment practitioner to probe the strength of the Immortal Court Divine Son first, then duel with this person, and you should be able to gauge it that way.¡± Ji Ru immediately understood, ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s a much better approach.¡± ¡°Thank you for the advice, Fellow Daoist.¡± With this matter settled, Murong Lang said, ¡°I have finished writing my scripture. Currently, Thunder Pure Land is gathering a large number of Cultivators to read my scripture and follow its guidance to elevate the Gu.¡± ¡°If all goes well, I will become the first Daoist Master in the Qi Refining Realm at Thunder Pure Land, thereby gaining more resources and manpower.¡± Xu Yaofeng wanted to say something, but as he was meditating on Yin Mountain, he hadn¡¯t much recent information about the outside world and had to refrain. Hu Yao asked, ¡°Scholar, have you found a way to help me find the Ancient Scripture?¡± Murong Lang smiled, taking out a metal ancient tome, ¡°I¡¯ve found several. Take a look and pick one you like.¡± At that moment, Murong Lang found it somewhat odd. Thunder Pure Land was a forbidden ground for demons, yet now he was secretly exchanging his family¡¯s scriptures with the Demon Clan¡ªtruly a twist of fate. He sneaked a glance at Chen Qing, thinking inwardly: The Nine Tribulations True Monarch was missing, and Senior Taichu was the true hope for Thunder Pure Land. He and Hu Yao were now both under Taichu¡¯s command. ¡°` Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: Chapter 103: The Tigers Roar - The Tiger of Nanli, To Death Not Life_2 Chapter 129: Chapter 103: The Tiger¡¯s Roar ¨C The Tiger of Nanli, To Death Not Life_2 Continuing to charge forward a hundred feet, making room for the rear troops, Chen Qing shouted, ¡°Rear team becomes the front team, about-face!¡± When he led the Eight Tigers back to the front again, he saw Yuan Tianfang, covered in blood from killing, but at this point, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to pursue any issues. Killing was killing. After all, they were about to win. Chen Qing raised his giant sword, ¡°Charge and kill with me!¡± Once more, he plunged into the enemy ranks, transforming into a sword tip, tearing through the formation. The Eight Tigers and Yuan Tianfang followed, expanding the breach, while the warriors at the rear slaughtered the enemy troops who had just been attacked by the Eight Tigers. As for those in the very back, they felt as if they were just constantly running. By the time they were close to the enemy, there were not many left in front of them. At this point, no one foolishly left the team to charge elsewhere, as that was a path seeking death. Chen Qing plunged into the enemy ranks again, but he felt less resistance than before, making the slaughter easier. The enemy army was on the brink of collapse! Seeing Chen Qing charge again, they didn¡¯t even want to organize an offensive; they just wanted to save their lives. As the horses galloped, Chen Qing swung his two giant swords, leading the five hundred soldiers behind him as they passed through the layers of enemy troops like a deep dragon flying through the sky. With a charge, they left behind another two hundred corpses! Shi Xintie used a spear to repel an enemy Foundation Establishment before him, glancing over the battlefield with the corner of his eye, he sighed, ¡°Truly one man against a thousand!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing had lost count of how many people he had killed, as he was just continuously killing without a moment¡¯s stop. Chen Qing turned his horse around, covered in blood like a Divine General, he shouted, ¡°Where are the warriors of the Yusheng Clan!?¡± The warriors of the Yusheng Clan shouted in response, ¡°We are here!¡± Chen Qing raised his giant sword, ¡°Charge and kill with me!¡± He charged out on his horse, immediately followed by the Eight Tigers and over two hundred cavalrymen from the Yusheng Clan. Yuan Tianfang, having charged twice with Chen Qing, was now out of breath, and he immediately led the people of Iron Flow Valley and the Xuanping Clan to maintain their formation, ¡°Don¡¯t let them escape, follow me!¡± He stood in front of the enemy, allowing Chen Qing to lead his men to charge forward. Yuan Ye¡¯s gaze fell on Chen Qing, thinking he should have personally dealt with him earlier. Such a Tiger General, Xuanping was truly lucky! Failing to establish Foundation in the north, yet they gained such a Tiger General, they actually profited! Watching Chen Qing slaughter the crowd, his own army couldn¡¯t resist, not even standing a single round against Chen Qing. With the great sword falling, bodies were shattered and heads severed. Most of the corpses on the ground were warriors of the Yuan Rang Tribe, Yuan Ye only needed a glance to estimate there were about six or seven hundred. Yet the other side, with Chen Qing tearing apart the formation by himself, had only lost around a hundred due to most of the pressure being on him. ¡°One man against a thousand, truly a Tiger General!¡± His army had already done their best; in a mundane war, losing thirty percent of the troops would lead to a collapse. Yet his soldiers, having lost almost forty percent, were still fighting hard, and no one used Earth Gu to escape underground, only temporarily avoiding Chen Qing¡¯s fury. Charging through the formation again, Chen Qing was about to return to his own formation when he saw Yuan Ye standing on the shoulder of a Mud Stone Giant shouting loudly, ¡°Retreat!¡± ¡°Retreat!¡± ¡°Retreat!¡± After speaking, Yuan Ye jumped off the Mud Stone Giant¡¯s shoulder, mounted his Mutant Blood Horse, and headed for the distant Great City of the Yuan Rang Tribe. Yuan Tianfang laughed loudly, ¡°Hahaha, we won! We won!¡± ¡°Soldiers, pursue them with me!¡± Chen Qing also spurred his horse to pursue, unwilling to let too many enemies return to the Yuan Rang Tribe. Only the warriors of the Stone Heart Clan were still shouting, ¡°No, Lord Qingxu hasn¡¯t led us to charge yet!¡± ¡°Why did they surrender?¡± ¡°It hasn¡¯t been our turn yet!¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t the fools of the Yuan Rang Tribe hold on a little longer?¡± Yuan Tianfang also found it amusing, hearing complaints about the enemy not being defeated quickly enough. ¡°Kill, pursue them, don¡¯t let the enemy escape!¡± Seeing a large number of enemy troops using the Earth Tunneling Skill, the Xuan Bird Clan, pursuing immediately, bent their bows and shot wildly at the bulging mounds, occasionally hitting an enemy not deeply tunneled. As for the over a hundred Yuan Rang Tribe warriors without Earth Gu, watching many comrades disappearing, they merely cursed under their breath, ¡°Damn it, let¡¯s fight them!¡± ¡°Fight, we Nanli people lack no blood courage!¡± They turned their horses, ¡°Our brothers retreated, we can¡¯t retreat, let¡¯s stay to block the enemy!¡± Yuan Wujue, draped in a luxurious wolf-skin robe, turned his horse while holding a knife, raising it high, ¡°Brothers, Nan Li has no warriors who surrender!¡± Seeing sixteen hundred troops closing in on him, Yuan Wujue coldly watched, pulling a Spirit Stone from his shirt, and frantically absorbing the Spiritual Energy within. The Yuan Rang Tribe warriors, not possessing Earth Gu, gathered around him, likewise pulling out Spirit Stones, absorbing the Spiritual Energy, blood gleaming in their eyes. Chen Qing rode up slowly, ¡°Even in defeat, are there such fierce warriors?¡± This was entirely different from the sects over in Da Yan. In Da Yan, if defeat was certain, surrendering was no big deal. But the Nanli tigers, today, showed Chen Qing their faith. He understood why the people of Nanli were called tigers by the world. To live is glory, to die is not to be mourned. Chapter 130 - Chapter 130: Chapter 103: The Tigers Roar - The Tiger of Nanli, To Death Not Life_3 Chapter 130: Chapter 103: The Tiger¡¯s Roar ¨C The Tiger of Nanli, To Death Not Life_3 ¡°` Yuan Wujue was a square-faced man, very tall and muscular. Even though the enemy army had completely surrounded him, there was not a hint of fear in his eyes. He tore his luxurious robe and bound the wound on his left arm. He raised his sword, ready to charge recklessly, ¡°Brothers, follow me for one more charge!¡± ¡°Let the people of the Xuan Bird Tribe know that our Yuan Rang Tribe is full of warriors unafraid of death!¡± The warriors of the Yuan Rang Tribe behind him shouted, ¡°We swear to fight to the death!¡± ¡°Better to wrap our corpses on the battlefield than to kneel!¡± Chen Qing saw the rear army had not arrived yet. While everyone was looking at the more than a hundred men, he picked up a medium-grade Spirit Stone, stuffed it in his mouth, and chewed it into pieces in a few bites, swallowing it down. Yuan Tianfang rode over to him, ¡°Qingxu, kill them, give them a quick death.¡± As soon as his words fell, more than a thousand Mystic Iron bows were drawn tight with creaking sounds. As soon as Chen Qing gave the order, a thousand iron arrows would rain down and in an instant, half of the last hundred men would be annihilated. Chen Qing rode forward alone on his horse, waving his hand to signal the rear army to lower their Mystic Iron bows. He tore off the White Tiger cloak from his shoulders and wiped the blood from his hand. He suddenly remembered Wuyou Mountain, remembered the senior brothers and sisters who risked their lives to save him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Xuanping would soon be going to Foundation Establishment, and he, the Light Butterfly would soon be completing the Ninth Transformation. He wanted to travel ten thousand miles with Xuanping to help her achieve the Foundation Establishment while letting the Light Butterfly achieve Harmonization. At the same time, he would seek opportunities for himself to reach the ninth level of Qi Refining or even achieve perfection in the Qi Refining Realm, perhaps even Foundation Establishment. He didn¡¯t want Iron Flow Valley to become the next Wuyou Mountain after he left. He didn¡¯t want to be displaced from his home again. That kind of pain, once is enough. So make Iron Flow Valley strong enough! And the group of people before him, Chen Qing admired them. Riding alone to the front, Chen Qing shouted, ¡°I give you an opportunity!¡± ¡°If you defeat me, I will let you go without pursuit!¡± Yuan Wujue shouted, ¡°What if we lose?¡± Chen Qing laughed heartily, ¡°If you lose! Defeated by me, do you think there is any other way out for you?¡± Yuan Wujue shouted angrily, ¡°Since you are straightforward, I won¡¯t deceive you just because you are alone.¡± ¡°But if it¡¯s a one-on-one duel, it seems to underestimate the chief tiger of the Xuan Bird Tribe.¡± ¡°We will fight you five at a time!¡± He immediately rode forward confidently, shouting, ¡°Who dares to join me in fighting the chief tiger of the Xuan Bird Tribe?¡± Instantly, a large number of warriors from the Yuan Rang Tribe rode forward. They seemed unaware that Chen Qing had battled so many and that his stamina and Spiritual Energy were at their weakest, just wanting to strike first. Yuan Wujue pointed at the four who rushed forward fastest, ¡°You guys, come with me!¡± He raised his sword and charged at Chen Qing, ¡°Kill!¡± Chen Qing smiled, gripping the Geng Metal Sword in his right hand, channeling Spiritual Energy to dull the blade, turning it into a blunt sword. At this moment, Xuan Mang finally had a moment to spare, but seeing Chen Qing fighting against the five, in a moment they crossed paths, and those five were knocked unconscious to the ground by Chen Qing¡¯s sword back. Chen Qing¡¯s Mutant Blood Horse under him couldn¡¯t stop its forward momentum, charging into the remaining ninety-plus, who didn¡¯t attack Chen Qing, allowing him to return and change horses. After changing horses, Chen Qing rode forward again, extending his hand toward them, ¡°Come!¡± The opponent sent out five more riders charging at Chen Qing again. Chen Qing charged forward on horseback, passing through them as before. Xuan Mang clearly saw Chen Qing¡¯s extremely fast movements, due likely to contracting a meat Gu, making the sword speed even faster. Seeing another five knocked unconscious and fallen, Xuan Mang did not interrupt the battle, as he knew Chen Qing wanted to win over these hundred or so people. In today¡¯s battle, Chen Qing had completely established his position in the Xuan Bird Tribe. Chief tiger! Even someone at Foundation Establishment was on equal footing with him. No one doubted that Chen Qing would one day achieve Foundation Establishment. Xuan Mang saw, as if in rapid development, a new hero whose future was immeasurable. But even so, Xuan Mang felt no jealousy nor concern about Chen Qing¡¯s power growing too fast. For he always remembered, Chen Qing had once carried Xuanping, traveling eight thousand miles, breaking through to a fierce array of two hundred men with a single sword. And Xuanping was unharmed. ¡°` Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: Chapter 108: Chapter of Fairyland - Blood Disaster Chapter 138: Chapter 108: Chapter of Fairyland ¨C Blood Disaster Mist grazed by, wafting over the sailboat sails. The two at the bow watched as Chen Qing and the others at the stern communicated by writing in the snow, with Li Xuetang wearing a snow-colored fur coat, donned in a grey-white windproof cape. Li Xuetang stretched out her hand and wrote four characters on the railing¡¯s snow: What brings you here? As an Immortal Court Divine Son, one should not need to wander the world seeking opportunities to break through to the Foundation Establishment phase. Even if it were necessary, the Immortal Court has an abundance of methods, such as the Lanrotuo Realm. Li Chonghuan has always stood tall and proud, raising his hand to write a sentence on another patch of snow: Waiting for someone who will surely come to challenge me. Li Xuetang was slightly surprised by this sentence. He used the word challenge, not assassination? The Immortal Court Divine Son emerges once every eight hundred years, and the Little Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Master Mansion is now three hundred years old. It¡¯s rare for heirs of the Great Sects to appear in the same era. This means that Li Chonghuan is currently the undisputed number one in the Qi Refining Realm. Yet he is waiting for someone to challenge him, and has even chosen the immortal island, which only those in the Qi Refining Realm can enter, as the battlefield. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Isn¡¯t this blatantly giving the other party an opportunity to challenge him? Has another successor of a Great Sect appeared? ¡°Will he come?¡± In Li Chonghuan¡¯s eyes lay a deep confidence, ¡°He will come. It¡¯s a once-in-a-millennium opportunity, and he must come.¡± ¡°He has a reason that he must come.¡± But at this moment, he frowned slightly, a trace of melancholy arising, ¡°I¡¯m only wondering if I should win or lose.¡± In his words, winning or losing seemed simple, to win if he wished, to lose if he chose. And this victory or defeat would set off a sequence of events. He reached into his sleeve and gripped a talisman tightly. This game was initiated by the Yin Yang Sect, but they do not know what they have really started. Now that the game has begun, it is beyond their control. Li Xuetang, standing by, shuddered at the conversation. Because she knew nothing, she was simply following the arrangements of the Heavenly Master Mansion to come and achieve Foundation Establishment. Perhaps, this is the difference between a Daoist woman, a Daoist, and a Divine Son. ¡°Thank you for the pointer, Divine Son.¡± Li Xuetang whispered softly. Meanwhile, on the other side, Chen Qing and Nie Fei were roasting fish, ¡°I have to say, the fish we had a few days ago tasted the best.¡± ¡°The water here is too warm, and the fish is not as fresh.¡± Xuanping passed the newly roasted fish to Chen Qing. Surrounded by an endless fog, she found Chen Qing¡¯s presence oddly reassuring. It wasn¡¯t until the noon of the 4th of August that they vaguely saw a huge shadow hidden in the fog ahead. As they drew nearer, the shadow grew clearer; it was an immense mountain range ¨C not just one mountain, but a series of mountain ranges converging into a massive formation. Above the peaks, mists could be vaguely seen. The clouds covered so much that it was hard to see clearly. The large boat docked, and no sooner had the five passengers disembarked than they saw half a body on the ground, slowly sinking into the soil. Nie Fei went over to the person, whose body was sinking into the earth, and pulled off a jade pendant from his clothing. ¡°I know this person; he is a Daoist of the Yin Yang Sect named Xu Sanbian. He¡¯s usually very slippery, so how could he fall so easily here?¡± As the four were puzzled by how the Daoist of the Yin Yang Sect had died, they saw a young boy in red approaching them. Only when the boy came closer did they realize that it wasn¡¯t any red garment but one drenched in blood. With every step he took, a blood-soaked footprint was left behind. The blood had congealed his hair into strands, like little braids. Chen Qing looked into the boy¡¯s eyes and felt as if he was looking at a wolf. Exceptionally bright and full of an aggressive desire to hunt. The boy glanced at them and then turned to walk into the fog, his destination unknown. Nie Fei braced his slightly trembling legs, ¡°Damn, that scared me! Encountering such a monster as soon as we get on the immortal island!¡± Looking back at the body of Xu Sanbian, only one foot remained. Both the blood and the body were slowly sinking into the ground. Chen Qing picked up a stone and tossed it next to the body, but it did not sink into the ground like the body had. Is this the supernatural power of the Abnormal people that Yao Feng spoke of? Have the Abnormal people broken away from the control of the Yin Yang Sect? They felt the young boy move away before heading towards the immortal island. They barely took ten steps when they heard a soft sound from behind. Chen Qing turned around to see another bloodied young boy emerging from Xu Sanbian¡¯s corpse, the blood congealing into a garment of blood on his body. He got up, not even glancing at Chen Qing and the others, and walked into the nearby fog with bloodied footprints as they watched. On the ground, only a blood-stained skin remained. Nie Fei dusted off his pants and stood up solemnly, ¡°It¡¯s not much. Not scary at all. I¡¯ve seen much worse back in the day.¡± ¡°It was truly a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, with cut-off ears, legs, and viscera everywhere.¡± ¡°The intestines and livers stewed in a pot, each one hanging on a hook like a forest of meat.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Are you talking about the Evil Sect or the Demon Clan?¡± Nie Fei shook his head, ¡°Neither, it was a pig slaughterhouse.¡± Seeing Nie Fei still in the mood to joke, Chen Qing also relaxed a bit of his own fear. Chapter 139 03-25 - Chapter 139: Chapter 108: Chapter of Fairyland - Blood Disaster_2 Chapter 139: Chapter 108: Chapter of Fairyland ¨C Blood Disaster_2 He said, and even he felt a bit hungry. There was still too much about this world he didn¡¯t understand. Chen Qing took a step back, moving behind Xuanping, ¡°We¡¯ve seen the immortal island now, perhaps we should head back.¡± Xuanping said, ¡°That abnormal person didn¡¯t attack us. His target wasn¡¯t us; it should be the Yin Yang Sect that imprisoned him for so long.¡± Looking over at Li Chonghuan, he had already stridden into the fog with Li Xuetang. Nie Fei said, ¡°They¡¯re already gone, what should we do?¡± Xuanping pondered for a moment, walked towards the piece of human skin left on the ground, tore a piece, and examined it closely, ¡°No aura of Gu¡¯s grand path, it should be due to the control over this piece of heaven and earth.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not as strong as we imagined; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t need to make it so bloody.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more of a deterrent, warning us not to interfere with his revenge.¡± She stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s move, we came to the immortal island, we should do something, we can¡¯t just come for nothing.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no reason Li Chonghuan and Li Xuetang wouldn¡¯t be afraid, and then we¡¯d be afraid.¡± Chen Qing, helpless, had to follow. Why was he, a weak and helpless Qi Refinement ninth level, coming to such a dangerous place? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Isn¡¯t it better to cultivate quietly at home? Absolutely not going to join the excitement next time. Just as the three were preparing to leave, they saw a small boat docking behind them, and a woman wearing a Twin Fish Daoist Robe of the Yin Yang Sect disembarked from it. Chen Qing turned back, suddenly thought of something, and boldly stepped forward, ¡°Fellow Daoist, are you from the Yin Yang Sect?¡± The woman from the Yin Yang Sect saw the bronze mask on Chen Qing¡¯s face and seemed a bit cautious, ¡°Jiguang Sect?¡± Chen Qing approached with a smile, ¡°Indeed, we are from the north, from the Jiguang Sect, and now coming to this immortal island, we are unsure how to seek treasure.¡± As he spoke, he drew closer, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that this abnormal person was released by you, so I wanted to gather some intelligence.¡± As he spoke, he reached into his arms, causing the woman to immediately grow wary, placing her hand on her sword¡¯s hilt. Chen Qing drew out a Spiritual Pearl, ¡°If Fellow Daoist could enlighten us a bit, we will surely express our gratitude.¡± ¡°One Spiritual Pearl for a small favor, please accept it, Fellow Daoist.¡± He pretended to hand over the pearl, and the woman didn¡¯t relax her vigilance in the slightest, when a familiar voice came over, ¡°You¡¯re here too?¡± The woman looked over and discovered it was Xu Sanbian, Daoist of the Yin Yang Sect. Seeing a fellow sect member, she instantly relaxed, just as her hand left the sword hilt, doubts arose in her heart again, something was off. If Xu Sanbian is here, why is he asking me this? While hesitating, she saw a flash of sword light before her eyes, dodged the fatal blow but got hit in the waist, and blood flowed profusely. Just as she was about to react, she felt a forceful breeze pass by, and a cyan feathered arrow pierced through her skull, killing her instantly. In death, her expression was frozen at the last moment, full of confusion, and a trace of anger. Chen Qing pulled out the Xuan Bird Arrow, washed it in the seawater, and tossed it back to Xuanping. Dragging the woman¡¯s body onto a flat area of the immortal island, he and Nie Fei, who had transformed into Xu Sanbian, squatted down next to it. Nie Fei asked, ¡°Why attack someone from the Yin Yang Sect?¡± Xuanping also came over, squatted next to them, watched for a full twenty breaths, and saw no sign of the woman¡¯s body merging into the ground. Chen Qing then picked up the Geng Metal Sword, still stained with fresh blood, and dug a big pit on the ground, tossing the woman into it, then kicked dirt over her with his feet, burying her completely. They then quietly waited by the side. Xuanping instantly understood Chen Qing¡¯s intention and helped him completely bury the woman, then waited alongside him. A whole cup of tea¡¯s time passed, and finally, there was a change in the mound of earth, a blood-soaked boy emerged from it. This time, when the boy came out, he seemed a bit dazed, until he picked up the skin and clothes of the Yin Yang Sect woman, after looking around for a while, he seemed to confirm something. He spoke, intermittently, ¡°During the day¡­ don¡¯t¡­ move around¡­ at night¡­ leave.¡± Finished speaking, he walked towards another direction, completely different from where the previous two boys went. Chen Qing then stood up, ¡°Now I can be sure that he really has no interest in us.¡± Since they couldn¡¯t provoke that boy¡¯s true form, they might as well test the rules here by first provoking a less formidable one. In this way, even if danger arises, it would be within a manageable scope. They had killed someone from the Yin Yang Sect, so the boy revealed some secrets of the immortal island to them. As for killing a complete stranger, Chen Qing felt little burden in his heart. Given how far the boy was pushed, one could imagine the torment he had suffered at the Yin Yang Sect. Anything bad for the abnormal people, Chen Qing always treated as an enemy. The three glanced at the sky, it was still noon, recalling what the boy had said, Chen Qing suggested, ¡°Perhaps we should find a place to rest for a while?¡± Nie Fei transformed into the woman¡¯s form, ¡°Since we can¡¯t move during the day, why not wait here for more Yin Yang Sect people to bury a few more and gain more information?¡± ¡°If that lord gets pleased, and tells us the treasure¡¯s location directly, wouldn¡¯t that be great?¡± The three then found a reef to sit on, quietly waiting for darkness, planning to act after nightfall, also hoping to ambush another Yin Yang Sect member to gain more information. Unfortunately, luck wasn¡¯t on their side, and until the night fell, they hadn¡¯t encountered another member of the Yin Yang Sect. During the day, Chen Qing listened intently, in this eerie immortal island, there were numerous strange sights. There were giant trees walking on the ground, exotic beasts running rampant, blood-clothed boys hunting everywhere, and man-eating caves. This was just a part of it; the wind hadn¡¯t brought much information. After nightfall, even the wind seemed to stop, Chen Qing listened to the last whisper of the breeze and suddenly realized that a walking giant tree he saw during the day had stopped moving and fallen asleep. Chen Qing then said, ¡°Let¡¯s move, I sense that the danger has subsided.¡± The three of them then made their way deeper into the immortal island; strangely, while the heavy fog lingered during the day, it dissipated at night. Under the hazy moonlight, they could barely make out the surroundings. After walking for a while, Chen Qing sensed a century-old sword heart grass ahead. Approaching the area, he saw a Sword Ghost sleeping nearby. He instantly transformed into fog, reached out, plucked the sword heart grass, and returned to Nie Fei and Xuanping¡¯s side after transforming back. The Sword Ghost didn¡¯t wake up and continued to sleep. ¡°Nights here, the exotic beasts and those creatures seem to sleep very deeply.¡± Nie Fei immediately grew interested in treasure hunting, ¡°We¡¯ve just walked a bit, and we¡¯ve already got a century-old sword heart grass, although the age isn¡¯t particularly significant, it¡¯s still quite rare.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s continue searching for treasures.¡± Recently, Xuanping also realized that Chen Qing and Nie Fei shared a deep relationship, ¡°Let¡¯s not get separated; the only ones we can rely on are the three of us.¡± Nie Fei said, ¡°No worries, Sister-in-law, I understand the importance.¡± Feeling the gentle breeze at his ears, Chen Qing said, ¡°I think I heard a dilapidated sword hut ahead.¡± Nie Fei didn¡¯t bother asking why it was heard as a broken sword hut, just said, ¡°Is there any danger?¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°Several sleeping Sword Ghosts nearby, but there shouldn¡¯t be much trouble.¡± Nie Fei was immediately intrigued, ¡°Let¡¯s go check it out. Even if there are no Spirit Sword Gus, there should still be sword scriptures and sword Gu!¡± The three of them immediately started walking lightly, following Chen Qing towards the unknown sword hut. Passing through clumps of bushes, Nie Fei suddenly tripped over something. He got up and picked up what tripped him, ¡°A broken sword?¡± ¡°After all these years, it¡¯s still recognizable as a broken sword, looks like this island might have famous swords!¡± ¡°And the owner of this island should possess extraordinary sword-forging techniques.¡± Chen Qing, however, said, ¡°Too bad we couldn¡¯t encounter more Yin Yang Sect members, otherwise we could have learned even more.¡± Chapter 105 - Chapter 105: Chapter 92: The Great Kui Sword Strikes Down the Immortal Servant! Chapter 105: Chapter 92: The Great Kui Sword Strikes Down the Immortal Servant! ¡°` Once Ling Jiu left, the pressure on Hao Changchuan and Elder Liu drastically decreased, and they were finally able to barely resist the offensive from the Taiping Sect. The setting sun was like blood, casting the last ray of light through the valley. The clouds on the horizon were as red as if they were on fire. As more and more Taiping Sect disciples approached, more and more dark clouds gathered above the valley. Song Yuqing was about to call lightning, but suddenly discovered Chen Qing, with his big axe held high, calling lightning, with rolling thunders gathering around him. ¡°You actually have a Thunder Gu too?¡± Chen Qing held the giant axe, sweeping the surrounding lightning that coiled around him, and with a stamp of his foot, the ground cracked. By wielding the Great Kui Sword Scripture with the axe in his hand, Chen Qing felt an inexplicable sense of cohesion. Were they all open and close weapons? With the blessing of the Power Butterfly, Chen Qing swung his giant axe with the force of nine bulls and two tigers like a whirlwind, showering down like a raging storm towards Ling Jiu! Ling Jiu raised his sword to continuously defend but after blocking only seven or eight axe strikes, his longsword shattered. He was struck against the stone wall by Chen Qing¡¯s axe, creating a deep pit, spewing blood from his mouth. Song Yuqing took four bronze beans from his sleeve and threw them to the ground, transforming them into four bronze men, who then charged at Chen Qing with giant axes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Ling Jiu, assist from the sidelines, do not engage him head-on.¡± ¡°The southern tiger of Nanli, few can withstand his direct assault.¡± Chen Qing¡¯s jet-black hair danced wildly in the light of the lightning. At this moment, having already fought with all his spirit, when he saw the four bronze men surrounding him, he lifted his hand and swung his axe as if moving mountains and rivers, sending a bronze man flying with one strike! In the moment he dealt with the bronze man, Song Yuqing chanted a spell, and the Thunder Butterfly on her shoulder flapped its wings frantically, stirring waves of thunder. She extended her hand toward the sky, as if grasping a piece of black cloud from afar, and swung the black cloud down on Chen Qing. As the black cloud descended, Chen Qing immediately swung his axe, stirring up a gust of wind ten yards high. The wind blew the cloud away, and out from the black cloud came a fifteen-foot-tall Thunderbolt Warrior, holding a large hammer, charging at Chen Qing. Chen Qing took one look and used the Great Kui Sword to block an attack, getting knocked back three steps, his entire arm going numb. He tentatively swung his left sleeve, using the Universe in the Sleeve to pluck a small piece off the cloak behind the Thunderbolt Warrior. Upon successfully collecting it, Chen Qing then battled fiercely with the Thunderbolt Warrior. Boom! Boom! Boom! Chen Qing and the Thunderbolt Warrior fought as though they were gods and demons battling in the world. Both had the strength to lift great weights, their bodies sparkling with lightning, and the terrifying force of their collision turned into a fierce wind, sweeping up countless dead leaves and fallen branches. Seeing that the Thunderbolt Warrior had entangled Chen Qing, Song Yuqing conjured a Thunder Whip in her hand and sidled ten yards away, wandering around the battlefield between Chen Qing and the Thunderbolt Warrior, waiting for a chance to strike. Jiang Miaoxian, seeing the fierce battle taking place, was also stunned by Chen Qing¡¯s strength and, along with the elders of the clan, drove a carriage to the outskirts of the battlefield, trying to stay far away from it while not daring to stray too far from Chen Qing. Currently, Chen Qing was their strongest here. If they got too far from him and encountered another master, they¡¯d have no means of dealing with it. With dual fists falling, the Thunderbolt Warrior struck while Chen Qing blocked with his axe, driving Chen Qing¡¯s knees into the ground, yet the Thunderbolt Warrior did not relent, continuing to press down with both fists. Seeing Chen Qing¡¯s hands completely entangled by the Thunderbolt Warrior, Song Yuqing finally approached Chen Qing from behind, ready to lash out with the Thunder Whip. Chen Qing was overjoyed, holding the axe single-handedly against the Thunderbolt Warrior, immediately swung his left sleeve. Universe in the Sleeve! Where the sleeve flew, all spells were nullified! A sweep of the wide sleeve and the Thunderbolt Warrior instantly vanished, Chen Qing turned and slashed with his axe, not caring at all about Song Yuqing¡¯s Thunder Whip. ¡°Ah!¡± His chest struck by the thunder whip, Song Yuqing was also cleaved by Chen Qing¡¯s axe, drenched in blood, with a deep, bone-exposing cut revealing at her waist. Chen Qing took a glance at his chest, already charred pitch black. An ache settled in his abdomen. He immediately activated the Rejuvenation Gu, circulating within him to heal his injuries. Song Yuqing¡¯s wounds were even more severe. Song Yuqing clutched her abdomen, tearing her skirt to reveal her smooth, ample thigh, wrapping the skirt around her waist and belly, a strong hate flaring in her eyes. Chen Qing swung the giant axe again, every blow powerful and forceful, repeatedly pounding toward Song Yuqing. Struggling to support, Song Yuqing hastily commanded for the four bronze men to rush at Chen Qing. Ling Jiu also became anxious, waving his hand to unleash a loud boom behind Chen Qing. Boom! The violent airblast hit Chen Qing¡¯s back, pushing him closer to Song Yuqing, making the power of Chen Qing¡¯s axe even more fierce. Crack! The sound exploded from Song Yuqing¡¯s arms as they were broken by Chen Qing¡¯s strike, helplessly falling down. The giant axe descended, tearing apart Song Yuqing¡¯s Daoist robe, landing on her chest, cleaving yet another deep, bone-exposing wound, breaking several ribs. Having taken a blast, Chen Qing tasted sweetness at the corners of his mouth, spurting a mouthful of fresh blood. Spitting out the blood-laden saliva, he hurled the axe with all his might, striking Ling Jiu, who tried to rush forward to assist, with a single blow. Chen Qing took a mid-grade Spirit Stone and stuffed it into his mouth, feeling the turbulent wind around him, determining that, apart from Song Yuqing and Ling Jiu, there were no stronger opponents. He then drained the Spiritual Energy within him into the Sword Butterfly, manifesting the Geng Metal Giant Sword in his hand. Your pursuit of Taiyi ends here. He raised both hands high, the violent lightning and sword light converging together, forming a golden sword light nine yards long. Chen Qing slashed the sword, shattering the Qi Wall in front of him, while the bloodied Song Yuqing struggled to crawl again yet was cut off by Chen Qing¡¯s strike. Chapter 106 - Chapter 106: Chapter 92: Great Sword Strikes Down the Immortal Servant!_2 Chapter 106: Chapter 92: Great Sword Strikes Down the Immortal Servant!_2 ¡°` Ling Jiu¡¯s face changed drastically the moment the Geng Metal Giant Sword appeared. She understood immediately, but talking about Chen Qing being Taiyi now was useless. She turned to leave, walking on air. Chen Qing stepped on the wild wind to catch up. Sensing the wind stop, he understood that there was a Qi Wall ahead. Immediately, he performed the Wall-penetrating Skill. Chen Qing leaped three zhang forward to appear in front of Ling Jiu, unleashing a Great Kui Sword slash that hurled Ling Jiu into the mountain wall. He charged through the air, his figure like the wind, catching up with another sword thrust into the mountain wall. Rocks shattered and flew, and a torrent of blood poured from the mountain wall. Still unsatisfied, Chen Qing reached into the rubble, pulled out the blood-soaked, unconscious Ling Jiu, and beheaded her with a swift stroke. Seeing both leaders slain by Chen Qing, the remaining Taiping Sect members no longer dared to attack, ¡°The Immortal Servants have fallen, retreat!¡± ¡°Ling Jiu, Ling Jiu!¡± ¡°Retreat, retreat!¡± Chen Qing fiercely ran along the mountain wall, leaping down at the valley entrance to block the retreat of the Taiping Sect disciples. Covered in blood, he descended like a Demon God. Hao Changchuan and Elder Liu exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with joy, and the caravan guards burst into laughter. ¡°Dare to provoke us, the Nanli Tiger, it¡¯s as good as seeking death!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Do you know what the Nanli Tiger is?¡± ¡°Only warriors who slaughter Qi Refiners like dogs can be called the Nanli Tiger!¡± Chen Qing commanded, ¡°Kill them, leave no one alive!¡± With that, the caravan was invigorated, waving their weapons as they charged at the Taiping Sect disciples. Chen Qing leaped into the crowd, swinging his Geng Metal Giant Sword, and two or three bodies fell. He killed with a frenzy, as if trying to vent all the anger from leaving his hometown. Did I do anything wrong to possess just one spirit Gu? If being weak was a sin, then now, you all were the weak ones! Blood fell like rain. Chen Qing went on a killing spree among the crowd; he was like a fierce tiger among a flock of sheep, wantonly slaughtering! Seeing Chen Qing¡¯s ferocity, Elder Liu and Hao Changchuan also exerted their strength to avoid being held accountable by Chen Qing afterward. Hao Changchuan, despite his injuries, fought recklessly. Elder Liu even charged into the fray, engaging in close combat with the Taiping Sect. As the Great Kui Sword opened and closed, blood splattered, and flesh flew. The complete Great Kui Sword, in frontal combat, was unparalleled in the Qi Refining Realm! Chen Qing leaped three zhang forward, slicing the last Taiping Sect disciple in half before sheathing his sword. The caravan guards surrounded him, ¡°We won!¡± ¡°We won!¡± They stood by Chen Qing, cheering excitedly. Jiang Miaoxian looked at Chen Qing, whose body was covered in blood and whose shirt had been torn during the fierce battle, revealing solid muscular lines, and her face turned slightly red. ¡°Lord Hu Kui, what now?¡± Chen Qing pointed at the ground filled with corpses, ¡°Clean the battlefield, collect the Gu, then gather the bodies and burn them.¡± With the numerous means of cultivators, he wanted to prevent these people from coming back to life. As the fire blazed, Chen Qing took the black clothes Jiang Miaoxian handed him and put them on. He looked at his tattered sleeve and thought that the Universe in the Sleeve needed ideal sleeves to be activated. He should seek some precious materials to sew a robe for future use. After the crowd finished cleaning the battlefield, bringing the collected Gu in jade bottles before Chen Qing, he took a glance, spotting eight Thunder Gu, one Qi Gu, three Wind Gu, and five sword Gu. He immediately took out three sword Gu, handing them to Jiang Miaoxian, ¡°Convert them into Spirit Stones and distribute them to the guards.¡± He then took out two more sword Gu and gave one each to Elder Liu and Hao Changchuan. ¡°You both have worked hard.¡± Hao Changchuan lay on the wagon, with a doctor from the caravan tending to his wounds. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Qingxu, without you, we would all be dead.¡± Elder Liu asked, ¡°Brother Qingxu, what shall we do next?¡± Chen Qing went straight to Xuanping¡¯s wagon, entered, and said to Xuanping, ¡°I plan to split into two teams, what do you think?¡± Xuanping, knowing how fierce the battlefield outside had been, no longer doubted Chen Qing when he claimed to be Hu Kui upon seeing him again. With this strength, he almost caught up with her; what else could he be if not Hu Kui? Moreover, in her eyes, Chen Qing was now at the ninth layer of the Qi Refining Realm. If he achieved perfection, his strength would certainly be greater, possibly reaching her current level. She thought no more and said solemnly, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Chen Qing felt slightly surprised at Xuanping¡¯s decisiveness and open-mindedness. Did she truly believe him so easily? Chen Qing figured it made sense; now, she needed her safe return to the Xuan Bird clan, relying only on herself. ¡°If I went to your Xuan Bird clan, could you protect me?¡± Xuanping replied, ¡°Hu Kui kills naturally; why need protection from others?¡± Chen Qing finally felt assured. Nanli was not so xenophobic and greatly respected the strong. It was widely believed that Nanli liked to recruit experts, and it seemed not to be a false rumor. Chen Qing pointed at Jiang Miaoxian, ¡°Does her clan have a Hu Kui?¡± Xuanping said, ¡°No.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Then I want to become the Hu Kui of her clan!¡± Xuanping nodded, ¡°You can!¡± Chen Qing immediately cupped his hands, ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± With that, Chen Qing pulled a large piece of black cloth to wrap the ice coffin, carrying it on his back. Elder Jiang Yu initially wanted to say something, but remembering that if Chen Qing brought Xuanping back to the Xuan Bird clan, he would become the master of her clan, he immediately stayed silent, just asking, ¡°Lord Hu Kui, what should we do now?¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Does Miao Xian know the way?¡± Jiang Yu said, ¡°She traveled far and wide with the caravan since childhood, so naturally she knows the way.¡± Chen Qing instructed, ¡°Lead the caravan to continue southward, fight the enemies you can and scatter the clan guards back to the Xuan Bird clan if you cannot.¡± ¡°The goods are not important; it¡¯s life that matters.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll meet at the Xuan Bird clan.¡± After saying this, Chen Qing picked up Jiang Miaoxian and set off on the wind, crossing the valley toward the distant mountains. Following the caravan carried too much of a risk. Jiang Yu watched Chen Qing walk away, understanding that Chen Qing¡¯s action was the most suitable. The strongest traveled alone with the shaman Xuanping, minimizing the target and making it hard to detect. Moreover, with Chen Qing¡¯s strength, ordinary Qi Refining Realm cultivators were no match; even if the enemy sent Hu Kui to hunt him down, they might not be Chen Qing¡¯s opponent. He pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Keep moving, rest only when night falls.¡± After traveling ten li, Jiang Miaoxian shyly asked, ¡°Brother, could we change positions, my shoulder hurts.¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Qing wrapped his arm around Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s soft waist, continuing to run through the forest. To Chen Qing, two women and an ice coffin did not feel heavy, nor did they impact his movements. Running with the wind through the forest, he thought that bringing Xuanping back to the Xuan Bird clan meant having a foothold in Nanli. In the deep of night, Chen Qing and Jiang Miaoxian sat by the campfire, roasting a fawn. After they finished the venison, Chen Qing said, ¡°I need some rest, keep watch for me.¡± Chen Qing closed his eyes, leaning on a big tree, listening to the wind for a stick of incense time, ensuring no danger around him, and then began sleeping. As a cultivator, seven or eight days without sleep wouldn¡¯t kill but would be exhausting. Considering the long journey south ahead, Chen Qing chose to conserve energy. When Chen Qing¡¯s breathing evened, Jiang Miaoxian took a deer leg to the ice coffin, pulling small pieces to feed Xuanping. After eating a bit, Xuanping signaled that she didn¡¯t need more, occasionally glancing at Chen Qing with Jiang Miaoxian. ¡°Do you like him?¡± Jiang Miaoxian blushed, burying her face in her knees. Xuanping said, ¡°If you like him, I¡¯ll have him marry you when we return to the Xuan Bird clan; how about that?¡± Jiang Miaoxian shook her head, ¡°Brother wouldn¡¯t like me.¡± Xuanping looked toward Chen Qing, pondering what clan such a powerful warrior belonged to. When asked before, he didn¡¯t say¡ªcould he have caused some trouble in his clan? No, this person seemed fearless yet cautious and comprehensive in his actions, not like someone who would cause trouble. Perhaps some clan was too jealous and blind to accept such a warrior? If so, it¡¯s destined that I should subdue this mighty tiger. Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: Chapter 93: With Your Blood, I Accomplish My Great Achievement! Chapter 107: Chapter 93: With Your Blood, I Accomplish My Great Achievement! The scholar dashed through the mountains for three hundred miles, lit a bonfire, and went to the nearby stream to catch a big fish weighing more than ten pounds. When he returned to the bonfire, Xuanping was already sitting by the fire with the help of Jiang Miaoxian. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t this worsen your injuries?¡± Xuanping replied, ¡°It¡¯s good to get some fresh air occasionally.¡± Chen Qing scaled and roasted the fish, ¡°How did you get injured?¡± Xuanping didn¡¯t hide it, ¡°Failed at the Foundation Establishment in the north.¡± She smiled, as radiant as a flower after rain, ¡°But next time, I won¡¯t fail.¡± She spoke with great confidence. ¡°What about you, why aren¡¯t you staying in the tribe and instead are wandering around? Your cultivation hasn¡¯t reached the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, right?¡± Chen Qing feigned a slight anger, ¡°The old scoundrel won¡¯t tolerate me!¡± Xuanping laughed smugly, ¡°With skills like yours, you indeed easily provoke the leader¡¯s suspicion in a small tribe.¡± ¡°Even Hu Kui doesn¡¯t often encounter someone as strong as you.¡± ¡°Our Xuan Bird tribe is a large tribe with a Great Witch overseeing it. We now have three Hu Kui in our tribe, so you don¡¯t need to worry about us not accepting you.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing looked sideways, ¡°I just want to live a peaceful life.¡± He was not an ambitious person, just wanting to live quietly and practice in his own small domain. His cultivation goal was modest, merely seeking longevity. Chen Qing wasn¡¯t entirely convinced by Xuanping¡¯s words, could they really protect him? ¡°Hopefully.¡± After eating the fish, Chen Qing leaned against a tree to sleep. Xuanping watched Chen Qing, clearly guessing his past experiences. Born with immense strength, gaining fame as a young man, standing out, and then provoking fear from the tribe¡¯s leader, facing various difficulties. Finally, unable to endure it, he left angrily. Very common, very typical. The only thing that puzzled her was that Chen Qing lacked the aura of a hero. She didn¡¯t like the so-called hero aura. People with it often died because of it. Those people would compete, they would fight, and end up dying from their pride. Cultivation was a long journey; it wasn¡¯t about being brilliant at any moment, but about how long you could live. She thought Chen Qing could live a long time. Just like her father, who was already two hundred and twenty-three years old. Born at twenty-six, she had only seen her father once at the tribal assembly. The only thing making her uncomfortable was that she didn¡¯t see admiration in Chen Qing¡¯s eyes. This gave her a tiny sense of frustration. Only a tiny bit. The next day, on the road, Chen Qing actually hoped to encounter enemies he could easily handle. So it would seem he exerted great effort in escorting Xuanping back to the Xuan Bird tribe. Then he¡¯d have more bargaining chips in negotiations. Yet he didn¡¯t want the enemies too strong to avoid risking his life. All in all, quite conflicting. But for now, it was somewhat comforting that Xuanping believed the pursuers were after her, which made Chen Qing feel much relieved. Handling his pursuers and gaining a village and a scroll along the way was quite satisfying. After three days, covering eighteen hundred miles, they finally came across a town where Chen Qing could easily see a mass of dried bones outside from afar. He closed his eyes, listened to the wind, and knew that the people in this town were not to be trifled with, so he turned directly, taking Jiang Miaoxian away. They traveled in a straight line, scaling mountains, crossing rivers, and in many places, Jiang Miaoxian didn¡¯t recognize. Fortunately, the general direction was correct. On this day, Chen Qing ran across a river over water and saw a boundary stele in the pile of dry grass. Looking carefully, it read Nanli Green Bird Tribe. Jiang Miaoxian was very happy, ¡°Brother, we¡¯ve reached the Nanli territory. If this is the Green Bird Tribe, we only need to cross three more big rivers to return to the Xuan Bird tribe.¡± Jiang Miaoxian eagerly anticipated returning to the Xuan Bird tribe, so she wouldn¡¯t have to be carried by Chen Qing on the road. Thinking of this, she felt a slight sense of loss. Reading Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t of much interest to Chen Qing, ¡°Is there a way to contact folks from the Xuan Bird tribe?¡± Jiang Miaoxian said, ¡°This is the Green Bird Tribe, not our territory. But we can first go to the royal city and request an audience with the Great Witch.¡± ¡°With the Great Witch sending someone to escort us back, there wouldn¡¯t be any danger.¡± Chen Qing didn¡¯t like the imperial capital, nor did he like the royal city. There were too many unknowns in those places. ¡°Let¡¯s not go to the royal city; we¡¯ll detour back.¡± Jiang Miaoxian said, ¡°We can¡¯t just freely cross others¡¯ territories. We¡¯ll be considered invaders if discovered.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°No worries, I can avoid them.¡± This made Chen Qing somewhat annoyed, not expecting to slow down after reaching Nanli territory. He had first to use Wind¡¯s Breath to probe the road ahead before proceeding. Except for that day¡¯s outing, Xuanping mainly slept in an ice coffin, using the cold to suppress her injuries. Jiang Miaoxian had a Snow Gu, repairing the melting ice coffin daily. On the first day of the fourth month, Chen Qing traveled until late at night before stopping, asking Jiang Miaoxian to look after Xuanping, and went out to a gathering, returning with prey. Nothing particularly important was said at this gathering; the scholar¡¯s writings were still under verification. He hadn¡¯t yet ascended to Daoist Master and couldn¡¯t retrieve the ¡°Dragon Tiger True Gang.¡± With Xuanping, they crossed mountains and ridges for half a month. Besides encountering an unruly demon beast on the road, they encountered almost no danger. Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: Chapter 93: With Your Blood, I Accomplish My Great Achievement!_2 Chapter 108: Chapter 93: With Your Blood, I Accomplish My Great Achievement!_2 This made Chen Qing feel both relieved and a bit disappointed. During this time, because they had entered the territories of the Nanli Tribe, their speed had slowed down. Crossing the Lancang River and arriving at a familiar place, Jiang Miaoxian was visibly excited, ¡°When I was a child, I even caught fish here with my brother and the others.¡± ¡°If we go another two hundred miles, we can reach Cold Mountain City!¡± However, Chen Qing was now only concerned about how many acres of Spiritual Field Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s tribe had and whether Spirit Ginseng could be planted. As soon as they landed, Chen Qing sensed from a distance on a low mountain a man clad in black armor rising and releasing a crow. Chen Qing immediately felt an alert rise within him, and he quickly sprinted toward the man. Seeing Chen Qing chasing after him, the man hurriedly tunneled away, disappearing into the earth. Chen Qing punched the ground, releasing a flood of immense force accompanied by Spiritual Energy, smashing a large hole into the earth. Underground tunnels? He leaped into the tunnel, but ahead were three passages, leaving him clueless as to which way the man went. ¡°Damn!¡± Jiang Miaoxian also grew tense, ¡°It¡¯s people from the Yuan Rang Tribe!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°They¡¯ve always been at odds with the witches.¡± ¡°These ground monkeys are most adept at the Earth Tunneling Skill!¡± Chen Qing reflected on his own skills but found himself without much means against those proficient in Earth Tunneling skills. Continuing to walk on the surface would certainly lead to being discovered and surrounded, so it would be better to move through the tunnels. He leaped high, grasping a Stone Nipple hanging from above, quietly waiting for the wind. After waiting for a full hour, he finally heard the sound of the wind, carrying new intelligence within it. ¡°Report, a Tiger General of unknown identity has been discovered, carrying a massive black coffin, accompanied by Jiang Miaoxian.¡± ¡°That must be Xuanping!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t expect her to be so lucky, even encountering a Tiger General near Da Yan!¡± ¡°But it¡¯s no match for our lord¡¯s divine foresight, having us lie in wait near Cold Mountain City like sitting ducks waiting for a hare!¡± ¡°Deploy personnel to search for the Tiger General¡¯s trail on the surface and signal immediately upon discovery!¡± ¡­ Since all of you are searching for me on the surface, I have no choice but to tread the underground tunnels. Fighting on someone else¡¯s turf was beginning to irritate him. He set Jiang Miaoxian down, ¡°Wait here for news, and return only when word of Xuanping¡¯s return to Cold Mountain City arrives.¡± Jiang Miaoxian also realized she was now a burden to Chen Qing, and crying, she crossed the Lancang River once again. Taking advantage of the wind, Chen Qing evaded three men, traveling fifteen miles toward Cold Mountain City. As the wind ceased, so did he. Suddenly, a gust came from ahead, and Chen Qing reached out to grab, tightly holding an iron arrow as thick as a finger. He looked ahead and saw a middle-aged man dressed in black, with a ferocious tiger totem embroidered on his chest, commending, ¡°Quick reflexes.¡± ¡°Hand over Xuanping, and I¡¯ll report your meritorious service to the Witch Sect!¡± Chen Qing grinned slyly. Had he carried Xuanping over thousands of miles just for this man to kill him? Sensing that this middle-aged man was only at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, Chen Qing was fearless. Now in the lands of Nanli, having escaped the Taiping Sect, he could finally fight with full force. Loosening up, his body shimmered with a bronze hue, and a four-foot-long Geng Metal Sword appeared in Chen Qing¡¯s hand, crackling with hidden lightning. Shooting arrows in the tunnels, what an idea! Chen Qing sprinted swiftly, his figure so fast that it left afterimages, dodging three iron arrows from the man before circling around to strike with a sword from the side. The middle-aged man swiftly drew a long knife from his waist to engage Chen Qing head-on, but with just one sword strike, his tiger mouth split, and Chen Qing sent him crashing backward into the tunnel walls. In a head-on confrontation, Chen Qing feared no Qi Refinement ninth level now! This person had Sword Butterflies, and their quality wasn¡¯t bad! But compared to Chen Qing¡¯s intact Great Kui Sword, they were slightly inferior. Chen Qing flew forward, unleashing a series of three more sword strikes, making the man¡¯s right hand go numb and splitting his tiger mouth. ¡°Incredibly formidable!¡± Just as Chen Qing intended to pursue further, the man had already tunneled away, Chen Qing¡¯s anger making him punch in the direction the man fled, his hand smashing down with immense force, causing rocks and stones to fly. Amid the debris, the man coughed up blood, fled in a panic, and tunneled away once more. Chen Qing pursued with another punch, but could no longer force him back out from the earth. This Tiger General¡¯s Earth Gu quality wasn¡¯t low either! Chen Qing looked around, aware that he had been exposed; many cultivators were rushing toward him. He immediately swung his long sword to cut a passage upward. Emerging on the surface, Chen Qing glanced downward, spotting two young men in black racing toward him. Without hesitation, he stepped and rode the wind, swiftly darting across the plains. He had assumed they would send everyone to the surface, but was surprised to find they had left a Tiger General underground to block his path. With no way through below, he was forced to fight his way across the surface. Running atop the wind, he landed on tree branches, each step spanning thirty feet, quickly skimming the ground. Suddenly, a forceful wind swept from behind, as seven or eight young warriors, holding Mystic Iron Great Bows, drew them back with a cacophony of creaking sounds. The Nanli honored martial bravery, often using Power Gu by Qi Refiners to train their bodies, wielding immense strength, and compensating for their range with Great Bows. Chen Qing immediately swerved left and right, preventing them from locking onto him. Whizzing sounds filled the air as an iron arrow narrowly missed Chen Qing, embedding itself in a large tree with a trunk as thick as an embrace, splintering the wood. Glancing back, he saw those people chasing after him. Chen Qing had just run three miles when he saw earth churning on a barren mountain ahead. The earlier middle-aged man with whom he sparred now held a cyan-colored Great Bow, channeling endless spiritual energy into the bow and launching an arrow toward him. The cyan long arrow formed of spiritual energy exuded a palpable sense of danger even from afar. The bow¡¯s power was stronger than a flying sword! As the cyan long arrow whizzed toward him, Chen Qing waved his left sleeve, instantly dissipating it into nothingness. The middle-aged man squinted his eyes, ¡°A true ferocious tiger, holding off this monster while the Witch Sect¡¯s Yuan Qiu leads reinforcements to hunt him down!¡± Chen Qing felt the frustration of being unable to leverage his full strength, with this man¡¯s Earth Gu being so bothersome, tunneling as soon as he couldn¡¯t win! An uncanny resemblance to his Fog Gu. Seeing the middle-aged archer preparing his bow again, Chen Qing turned into mist, sprinting dozens of meters, racing through the forest, dodging his aim. Yuan Feng retracted his bow, ¡°Xuanping sure is lucky. Although her Foundation Establishment attempt in the north failed, she managed to tame such a Tiger General!¡± Beside him, a man laughed, ¡°What of a Tiger General? When Master Yuan Qiu arrives, what chance does he stand?¡± Yuan Feng shook his head, ¡°Hurry Yuan Qiu here. I¡¯ve roamed the Lancang River for thirty years, and this is my first time being beaten back head-on. If he didn¡¯t struggle against tunneling, he almost would¡¯ve killed me!¡± ¡°This man¡¯s fierceness and decisive reactions match those of Yuan Qiu!¡± Chen Qing dashed through the forest, hearing an eagle¡¯s screech from behind, turning to see Yuan Feng seated atop a massive black eagle, bowing an arrow aimed at him! Chen Qing¡¯s anger flared. He didn¡¯t wish to battle again, just to find a place to live peacefully, yet now he faced another ambush! He quickly pondered. This so-called witch dared to hunt Xuanping only when she was gravely wounded, clearly inferior to Xuanping. He needed a strong ally to lead a stable life, and Xuanping was the best candidate. Firstly, he had saved her life, and secondly, this woman acted decisively, unlike these sneaky pursuers, who were full of treachery and deceit. Seeing Yuan Feng about to shoot, Chen Qing felt the surrounding breeze, thinking, ¡°Since you dare to fly and forgo the Earth Tunneling technique, don¡¯t blame me for my ruthlessness!¡± He immediately vaulted onto the wind, fearlessly charging straight at Yuan Feng in mid-air! Yuan Feng was shocked, launching a long arrow, but Chen Qing diffused it with a sleeve flick. Yuan Feng spurred the black eagle toward distant peaks, intending to land and employ Earth Tunneling again. Chen Qing wouldn¡¯t allow it, activating the Wind Butterfly, sprinting rapidly to catch up with Yuan Feng. Using the Great Kui Sword Scripture, he summoned lightning from three meters around, striking with the might of thunder! Yuan Feng couldn¡¯t dodge in time; he leaped from the black eagle in desperation. Chen Qing¡¯s sword fell upon the black eagle, which let out a scream, reduced to shreds under his blade, debris falling. Looking at Yuan Feng now suspended mid-air, he sent a forceful wind blowing him rapidly to the ground, attempting the Earth Tunneling Skill once more to escape. Chen Qing¡¯s eyes glinted coldly. If this so-called Tiger General had only this level of skill, then this challenge was just right! With your blood, my great feat shall be accomplished! Chapter 161 03-25 - Chapter 161: Chapter 116 Great Witch_3 Chapter 161: Chapter 116 Great Witch_3 Reaching into the wooden trough, he grabbed a wine bowl and downed a cup, laughing loudly, ¡°The wine from Cold Mountain City is still the best!¡± Then, the Great Witch and the people from the city, over a thousand strong, gathered for a meal. After receiving the homage of the people, he was escorted back to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion by the leaders of the nine clans. Upon entering the mansion, the Great Witch turned back, ¡°Qing, you come in with me too.¡± Chen Qing looked around, knowing the Great Witch was addressing him, and somewhat reluctantly followed into the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Xuanping walked to Chen Qing¡¯s side, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, my father is a good man.¡± As they reached the main hall of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, everyone took their seats; the Great Witch sat in the central throne, with Chen Qing sitting next to Xuanping. The Great Witch smiled, ¡°It¡¯s been over twenty years, Ping¡¯er has grown so much.¡± Xuanping quickly replied, ¡°All thanks to the reputation of my father that I can live without worries.¡± The Great Witch chuckled, ¡°It was not without worries; the Taiping Sect tried to assassinate you when you headed south.¡± He looked at Chen Qing, scrutinizing, ¡°Is this Qingxu who escorted you south?¡± Chen Qing stood up and bowed, ¡°I am Qingxu, pleased to meet the Great Witch.¡± The Great Witch smiled kindly and gestured with his hand, ¡°Please sit down.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°What a good kid.¡± ¡°We waited for a day, you all must be tired.¡± ¡°Except for Dalang and Qingxu, everyone else should go to sleep.¡± Once everyone else had left, Xuanping noticeably sensed a different atmosphere, and glanced worriedly at Chen Qing as she departed. Then unexpectedly, she turned back, the previously amiable face of the Great Witch suddenly turned ferocious like a tiger opening its eyes. Xuanping stepped forward, drew a Daoist hairpin from her sleeve, tidied Chen Qing¡¯s messy hair, and inserted the hairpin, ¡°When facing father, you should show some respect.¡± Once done, Xuanping made her exit under the ravenous gaze of the Great Witch, ¡°Father, your daughter takes her leave.¡± Xuanping left the main hall, hurried back to her quarters, collapsed onto her bed, her mind filled with the image of her father¡¯s suppressed rage. She couldn¡¯t help but feel frightened. She didn¡¯t even know if her actions just now had indeed saved Chen Qing. She hoped her father would, for her sake, treat Chen Qing a bit better. No sooner had Xuanping left than the Great Witch¡¯s demeanor became amiable again, causing a slight tingle in Chen Qing¡¯s heart. Such authority; compared to the Mountain Master, the Mountain Master is merely a mortal! The Great Witch waved his sleeve, ¡°Qingxu, you saved Ping¡¯er, and I haven¡¯t properly thanked you.¡± ¡°Dalang, bring in my gift.¡± Xuan Cuo shortly returned, carrying a wooden chest which he placed beside Chen Qing, ¡°Here¡¯s the gift, please have a look, Brother Qingxu.¡± Chen Qing opened the chest, and inside was unexpectedly a human head. Chen Qing immediately understood that this meeting was anything but ordinary. The Great Witch maintained a smile, ¡°This is Zhang Taia¡¯s head, a gift for you. Are you satisfied?¡± Chen Qing was shocked inwardly, but maintained a composed expression, sitting firm and steady, ¡°Thank you for your generous gift, Great Witch.¡± At this point, the Great Witch walked over, sat down on Xuanping¡¯s seat next to Chen Qing. He reached into his sleeve, pulled out the twenty-one Hu Kui Enfeoffment Documents, and placed them in front of Chen Qing. Chen Qing looked them over: aside from the designated Hu Kui names and tribes to lead, all other formalities were already completed. The Great Witch picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and placed it beside Chen Qing¡¯s hand, ¡°I am only back for two months this time.¡± ¡°These twenty-one Hu Kui Enfeoffment Documents, you fill in the Hu Kui¡¯s names and tribes.¡± ¡°In two months, when I leave, I want to see the Hu Kui of twenty-one tribes bringing their forces to bid me farewell!¡± ¡°For the regions around Xuan Bird tribe, just handle seizing these tribes, I will take care of the aftermath, the consequences are mine to resolve.¡± ¡°If you fail to do so.¡± ¡°Chen Qing!¡± ¡°Then you can roll back to your Wuyou Mountain!¡± Chapter 162 03-25 - Chapter 162: Chapter 118 Walking on the Earth Chapter 162: Chapter 118 Walking on the Earth Two months¡¯ time wasn¡¯t too difficult. Chen Qing was confident because of the thirteen members of the Jiguang Sect under him. It was an exceptionally powerful force. Chen Qing picked up the hot tea beside him and took a small sip. All previous concealments were now laid bare in the eyes of the Great Witch. Was this the power accumulated over two hundred years? But none of that mattered. He didn¡¯t know he was Taichu, nor did he know his own abilities. In Xuanping¡¯s eyes, he wasn¡¯t even an Abnormal person. Then there was no problem. This was just a test. That night, Chen Qing stayed in the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, sleeping soundly in the guest room. The Great Witch sat alone at the entrance of the main hall, looking up at the stars. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï He didn¡¯t know if what he did was right or wrong, but he just wanted to do it. There was no reason to live as a blade for two hundred years and not have a desire to wield one. ¡°What is he up to?¡± Xuan Cuo said, ¡°Sleeping, and sleeping very soundly.¡± Hearing this, the Great Witch burst into laughter, ¡°Ha ha ha, good, it¡¯s done.¡± Calm in the face of danger, he had composure. He should be able to handle the plans ahead. The morning of August 29. Chen Qing stepped out of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion and looked back, seeing Xuanping not there to send him off. He guessed she had been grounded by the Great Witch. Picking a wildflower from the grass outside the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, Chen Qing reentered and placed the flower at Xuanping¡¯s door, then turned and left. Just outside the city, Chen Qing met the long-waiting Wei Qingchen. ¡°Sir, was there any surprise last night?¡± Chen Qing took out the twenty-one Hu Kui Enfeoffment Documents and showed them to Wei Qingchen. ¡°Did the Great Witch want to test your abilities?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Probably, gather the brothers, there¡¯s been a change of plans, let¡¯s return to Iron Flow Valley for a discussion.¡± Back at Iron Flow Valley, he asked Jiang Miaoxian to gather the Eight Tigers and Yuan Wujue. The Eight Tigers and Yuan Wujue arrived quickly, and seeing the seriousness on Chen Qing¡¯s face as he sat at the head, they knew something big was happening today. After about two hours, Wei Qingchen came in with thirteen others. Once everyone was present, Chen Qing took out the twenty-one Hu Kui Enfeoffment Documents, and asked Jiang Miaoxian to distribute one to everyone except Wei Qingchen. ¡°I acquired the twenty-one Hu Kui enfeoffment documents, everything is ready except the names and tribes.¡± ¡°In two months, I want you to conquer the tribes around the Xuan Bird tribe and gain control of them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve given you the documents, now it¡¯s up to your abilities.¡± Everyone was slightly surprised by these words. They had the strength of the Hu Kui, true, and even the thirteen of the Jiguang Sect far surpassed the Hu Kui. But the sudden appearance of the twenty-one Hu Kui Enfeoffment Documents was still surprising. Chen Qing continued, ¡°Remember, you are all from Iron Flow Valley, cooperate, don¡¯t go at it alone.¡± ¡°The one who contributes the most will receive a spiritual item sword Gu from me.¡± ¡°Iron Flow Valley¡¯s people are at your disposal, but there¡¯s only close to two hundred of them.¡± ¡°Each of you can choose ten people to accompany you on this task.¡± ¡°For this operation, I have only one requirement, do not cause innocent bloodshed.¡± Chen Qing reached into his robe, took out the spiritual item sword Gu, and placed it on the table. ¡°This spiritual item sword Gu, I¡¯ll leave it here. It¡¯s a Green Blade sword Gu, very strong in close combat, capable of breaking gold and cutting jade, slicing through hair.¡± ¡°Even a Foundation Establishment would be harmed by it.¡± ¡°And in my possession, I have the complete Promotion Map for this spiritual item sword Gu.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone was even more excited, a complete Promotion Map, meaning it could be promoted to Harmonization Ninth Transformation! Seeing Chen Qing was willing to bestow even the spiritual item sword Gu, the people of Iron Flow Valley suddenly felt a wave of awe inside. Had the lord¡¯s strength grown to the point where even a spiritual item sword Gu was unnecessary? Seeing everyone eager to try, Chen Qing finally said, ¡°This operation will be led by Wei Qingchen.¡± ¡°First, send people to investigate the tribes you¡¯re targeting, and within three days, determine the tribes to be targeted.¡± ¡°Wei Qingchen stays, all others may leave.¡± The crowd left with the documents, each selecting ten people in the valley, then galloped out of Iron Flow Valley, heading toward the surrounding tribes. When only Wei Qingchen remained, Chen Qing began discussing the key points of the plan. ¡°Qingchen, you are now my most trusted confidant, your work is the most reassuring.¡± Feeling Chen Qing¡¯s trust, Wei Qingchen was very pleased, ¡°For this operation, I will not let you down.¡± Chen Qing nodded and then said, ¡°In the next few days, prepare yourself and begin your Foundation Establishment, let me know what you need.¡± ¡°During your Foundation Establishment, I will be traveling nearby, exploring underground spirit stone veins and undiscovered treasures.¡± ¡°Use these treasures and spirit stone veins as bait to spark wars, then have them step in to clean up the situation.¡± Wei Qingchen was overjoyed at this, ¡°If so, capturing twenty-one tribes will be easy!¡± With these baits, wars could be ignited, and with their strength, it would be easy to establish dominance during the wars. Wealth always moves people¡¯s hearts, and when it comes time to compete for it, it¡¯s the best opportunity for the strong to gain power. As long as you lead that tribe to seize wealth, you can secure a foothold. Then the twenty-one tribes can watch over each other, forming a deterrence and gaining temporary control. Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: Chapter 95: The Bravery of Qingxu, Surpassing the Xuan Bird Chapter 111: Chapter 95: The Bravery of Qingxu, Surpassing the Xuan Bird ¡°` How did he dare? One man charging into a formation of two hundred! How did he dare! This wasn¡¯t some kind of tag-team combat, where you fight one-on-one, but rather two hundred people attacking one! And he carried an ice coffin as a burden! Could it be that after lingering in the North for too long, killing too many people, he grew accustomed to the fight? Did he think our Nanli was as foolish as that eastern bunch who knew only single combat? Yuan Ye shouted in anger, ¡°Then let him see the prowess of my Nanli army formation!¡± ¡°Release the arrows!¡± ¡°Shoot them all dead for me!¡± Crack, crack, crack! Crack, crack, crack! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Crack, crack, crack! Almost every Nanli samurai had a Power Gu, and now two hundred men drew their bows simultaneously, like a thunderous roar, the Mystic Iron great bows clacking and echoing! A volley of arrows filled the sky, and when Chen Qing looked up, those iron arrows descended like a torrential storm, as swift as a gale! Chen Qing spun his body, dodging most of the iron arrows, but still took five arrows to shield the ice coffin! The moment the iron arrows struck the ground, their mountain-splitting power became apparent, embedding deep into the earth, creating web-like cracks where they landed. In a blink of an eye, Chen Qing surged twenty yards with the wind, mere twenty steps from the group of over twenty people ahead. Suddenly, another volley of arrows came at him, and Chen Qing felt the wounds on his body; he was nearing his limits, though his internal organs were unharmed. A dead end? Ha, with the Snake Butterfly restoring his Spiritual Energy, he could still fight for another day and night! The fatigue, that¡¯s all it was. He could withstand another round, and if he wasn¡¯t worried about taking too many arrows would appear fake, Chen Qing might even take dozens more. As he broke through, another rain of arrows fell; Chen Qing once again took six more to conceal the ice coffin behind him. By now, he had reached the twenty or so men in front of him. Five or six long swords slashed at him. Chen Qing swept across with the Great Kui Sword, driving back five or six men, breaking their arms and causing them to cough blood. With a side step, he twisted his body to dodge a sword, then cut a man in two with a single slash, just as he was about to continue breaking through, Yuan Qiu thrust a new spear at him! Chen Qing surveyed the situation; the over two hundred men were closing in on him. Since reinforcements were almost here, he might as well kill to his heart¡¯s content! He brandished the Geng Metal Giant Sword wrapped in lightning, pushing back Yuan Qiu with one strike, and commenced a massacre amidst the crowd! Battle! Frenzied battle! He stuffed a mid-grade Spirit Stone into his mouth, a ball of flame burst from his left hand, forcing three men back, while he wielded the six-foot-long Geng Metal Giant Sword with his right, sweeping across, clearing out the enemies within six feet! Amidst the crowd, he swung his sword wildly. Wherever the Great Kui Sword swept, it left a trail of dismembered corpses. Sword light shone, thunder roared, Chen Qing stood in the crowd, swinging his sword, killing madly. Chen Qing just drove back four, but from the left came a strong gust; as he turned, Yuan Qiu held a spear for a thrust. It was too late to retract his sword; the spear pierced Chen Qing¡¯s waist and abdomen. With his left hand gripping the spear handle, Chen Qing swung with force, flinging Yuan Qiu away. Feeling the pain in his left waist, now he truly was heavily wounded. No need to sustain more injuries next. He cut the spear with his sword; Chen Qing activated Iron Butterfly with all his might, punched the long sword in front of him, and the Great Kui Sword followed, decapitating three before him! More and more people closed in, but no matter how they charged, none could come within six steps of Chen Qing. The thunder light made it tough to break through, and Chen Qing¡¯s Great Kui Sword was too formidable, deadly with a touch, injurious with a brush. Yuan Ye angrily shouted, ¡°What is this, have I been feeding you for nothing, two hundred people can¡¯t kill a Qi Refining Realm cultivator?¡± ¡°Attack!¡± Everyone responded to the order and started to encircle and attack again. Yet, for some reason, looking at the corpses around Chen Qing, they felt a tinge of fear. With fear in their hearts, they dared not fight to the death, being repeatedly driven back by Chen Qing! Yuan Ye was about to continue giving orders but then heard the thunder of hooves from behind. Lord Xuan Mang rode a fiery red horse with scales, holding a fierce tiger-spitting spear upside down, he shouted, ¡°Charge!¡± Over a hundred cavalry, each riding spirit beast steeds, galloped with immense power, waving their spears, charging forward, overturning and piercing those from the Yuan Rang Tribe surrounding Chen Qing! Yuan Ye punched the carriage in anger, smashing half a door, and gritted his teeth with rage, ¡°Retreat!¡± More and more cavalry clashed, scattering the encircling attackers around Chen Qing. Chen Qing slashed down the last enemy beside him, divided from others by the cavalry. Then he closed his eyes, pretending to faint from exhaustion on the ground. Xuan Mang ordered the cavalry to continue pursuing the Yuan Rang Tribe and rode straight to Chen Qing¡¯s side, instructing them to remove the ice coffin, ¡°Someone, quickly take Qingxu to Cold Mountain City, and use the best medicine!¡± After a while, Chen Qing heard a report, ¡°Lord Xuan Mang, Lady Xuanping did not sustain any external injuries in this pursuit.¡± Hearing this, Xuan Mang, even more excited, personally placed Chen Qing on his horse¡¯s back, ¡°Suffering dozens of wounds, yet didn¡¯t let my sister get hurt; truly courage beyond comparison!¡± ¡°Jiang Yu, take ten men to escort Qingxu and Xuanping to Cold Mountain City, have the priest heal them!¡± ¡°Everyone else, follow me to slay the enemy!¡± What happened afterward, Chen Qing didn¡¯t care much. He felt someone help him onto a bed, begin tending to his wounds, and he contently continued pretending to be unconscious. Feeling someone using Gu resembling Rejuvenation Gu to treat his injuries, he finally relaxed completely and fell into a deep sleep. The next day, Chen Qing felt much more comfortable all over. He opened his eyes, ready to get up, but a wave of pain surged through his body. ¡°` Chapter 112 - Chapter 112: Chapter 95: The Bravery of Qingxu, Surpassing the Xuan Bird_2 Chapter 112: Chapter 95: The Bravery of Qingxu, Surpassing the Xuan Bird_2 The Bronze Body did not feel it sometimes, but now returning to his flesh and blood body, he finally felt the excruciating pain. Especially in the waist and abdomen area, it was even more painful. ¡°You should just lie down for now,¡± Xuanping¡¯s voice came from beside him. Chen Qing, hearing this, turned his head to look beside him. In the medicine house, there were only the two of them, Xuanping lying on a bed three steps away from him. Were they really not treated separately? Could it be that Xuan Mang, after hearing Yuan Ye¡¯s words about inviting a son-in-law, also had this thought? No, it was more likely for the purpose of recruitment and winning favor. Before Chen Qing could speak, Xuanping said, ¡°Did you hear? The arrowhead that the priest took from you weighed over a pound.¡± Chen Qing thought to himself, of course, he knew, it was on purpose. Could it be that he wouldn¡¯t risk his life for a woman he had only met twice? ¡°I was just focused on bringing you back, didn¡¯t think too much about it.¡± Xuanping struggled to sit up, looked at Chen Qing wrapped like a dumpling, ¡°All the way southward, thanks to you. If not for your fierce battle, I wouldn¡¯t have made it back.¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°Just don¡¯t forget the promise you made to me, that¡¯s all I ask.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Xuanping laughed and said, ¡°Now the outside world is spreading the rumor that you are the first Hu Kui of the Xuan Bird Tribe, the top of the Xuan Bird Tribe.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t move in the ice coffin, but I could still hear some noises from the outside world.¡± ¡°You truly are impressive, living up to the name of the top of Xuan Bird.¡± Chen Qing was silent for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s just an empty title. I just want to live a peaceful life.¡± Xuanping was not someone good at chatting, spoke little, and Chen Qing wasn¡¯t interested in chatting with her. He took out a piece of lotus cake and put it in his mouth, crispy and sweet. After a while, the door of the medicine house was pushed open, and Xuan Mang, smelling of blood, walked in, ¡°Little sister, is this Qingxu?¡± Xuanping replied, ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± Xuan Mang said, ¡°You two should rest and heal well, and when your injuries have healed, and you have received your reward, I will have someone send you to the Qingxu Clan.¡± Chen Qing was puzzled, ¡°Qingxu Clan?¡± Xuan Mang smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, since you are going to be the Hu Kui in Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s tribe, her tribe will naturally treat you as their master, for the Qingxu Clan.¡± Xuan Mang seemed to be in his thirties, elegant and handsome, not like someone who kills on the battlefield, with a somewhat scholar-general demeanor. ¡°But that Yuan Ye, he insists on putting to death the unidentified Hu Kui, which makes it a bit tricky, but I will do my best to seek justice for you.¡± This justice referred to some compensation. Chen Qing felt that if Xuan Mang could go this far, it would be commendable, so he nodded slightly, ¡°Thank you.¡± After five days of healing, Chen Qing and Xuanping lay separately three steps apart, and the atmosphere was increasingly awkward. Fortunately, that morning, Jiang Miaoxian brought four robust men, carrying a green bamboo sedan chair, saying they were going to take Chen Qing back to Qingxu. Chen Qing saw that these four were also from the caravan and had no doubt, sat on it. Stepping out of the medicine house, there were quite a number of people observing Chen Qing. Chen Qing felt those gazes and looked back, causing those people to quickly lower their heads, not daring to meet his gaze. It seemed that his reputation had spread throughout the entire Cold Mountain City. Before Chen Qing could react, the crowd in front parted, and over sixty strong men, dressed in black, riding tall horses, surrounded Chen Qing. After isolating Chen Qing from the crowd, Jiang Yu led the men to dismount, half-kneeling and shouting in unison, ¡°Welcome, Hu Kui, back!¡± The sound was loud and echoed throughout Cold Mountain City. Chen Qing looked at Jiang Miaoxian beside him, ¡°Is your tribe this large?¡± Jiang Miaoxian replied, ¡°Our family is a big tribe, we can muster a hundred good men!¡± Chen Qing hadn¡¯t expected this, looking at the more than sixty strong men in front of him, the lowest cultivation level being the fifth level of Qi Refinement, not lacking those in the seventh level of Qi Refinement, and even six in the eighth level of Qi Refinement. Da Yan had many sects, and Nanli many tribes. Under large tribes, there were many clans, resting and recuperating when there was no war, and gathering for war when necessary. Chen Qing looked at the men kneeling on the ground, seeing only reverence in their eyes towards him, without much dissatisfaction. It seemed that new Hu Kui taking charge was a common occurrence among them, and they didn¡¯t mind much. ¡°Let¡¯s go, back to the tribe.¡± Once Chen Qing gave the word, the four carrying him moved, heading to the Qingxu Clan surrounded by over sixty cavalry. The Qingxu Clan¡¯s residence was less than fifty miles from Cold Mountain City, located in a valley where a two-zhang wide river flowed alongside fields cleared by cultivation. Deep in the valley were patches of Spiritual Field. At the top of the valley, Qingxu Clan had opened up two large platforms, building numerous three-story small buildings. In the center of the gorge was a ten-zhang wide iron bridge. Above the bridge stood a six-story high building, suspended and built atop the iron bridge. And here was Chen Qing¡¯s residence. With Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s support, ascending to the sixth floor of the tall building, Chen Qing could see the entire Qingxu Clan at a glance. In the distance, clansmen were planting medicinal herbs, and in the valley, mostly clansmen above the third level of Qi Refinement managed the Spiritual Field. Chen Qing said, ¡°Is there anyone in the clan who does not accept me?¡± Jiang Miaoxian was stunned for a moment when she heard this, and then asked, ¡°Why would anyone not accept you?¡± ¡°Both the Witch and the Witch had agreed, isn¡¯t that normal?¡± ¡°With Hu Kui in charge, our tribe will only become stronger and stronger. Those neighboring tribes without Hu Kui are envious!¡± Chen Qing let go of his worries, and overall, this place still fell under the Xuan Bird Tribe¡¯s jurisdiction. They just lived relying on the tribe, but truly speaking, it was still the Xuan Bird Tribe. Coming here was just like when he was crowned the Hall Master of the Spirit Plant Hall in Wuyou Mountain, just an internal transfer arrangement. With Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s help, Chen Qing sat on the tiger-skin chair, reached into his bosom, and took out a jade bottle, extracting the Qi Gu. Although this Qi Gu was still there, it had little life span left, and he didn¡¯t plan on contracting with it himself. His gaze fell on Jiang Miaoxian¡ªit was this girl who had traveled thousands of miles with him, and she was the only one he could trust at the moment. It would be better to cultivate someone like Ling Jiu, to share the pressure of managing the Qingxu Clan, so he wouldn¡¯t have to personally deal with everything. ¡°What¡¯s your current cultivation level?¡± Jiang Miaoxian replied, ¡°I just broke through to the eighth level of Qi Refinement last year.¡± Chen Qing nodded slowly, ¡°Come here.¡± He placed the Qi Gu in Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s hand, ¡°This Qi Gu was obtained from killing the enemy. Before she died, I forced her to reveal the materials needed for advancement.¡± ¡°Remember, after contracting, the first material is the Sky-shooting Flower.¡± ¡°After cultivating to the Second Transformation, come find me again.¡± Jiang Miaoxian, without any doubt, reached out to take it. Upon realizing it was a Qi Gu, she was immediately shocked, ¡°This is a Qi Gu, it¡¯s too precious!¡± As one of the strongest types of Mortal Gu, even for a second contract, it held immense value, far surpassing ordinary Gu. Chen Qing shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m not suitable for this Gu. Even if I contracted with it, it wouldn¡¯t be of much significance. You take it.¡± Only then did Jiang Miaoxian reluctantly accept it, thanking him, ¡°Thank you, elder brother.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Who was in charge of your tribe before?¡± Jiang Miaoxian replied, ¡°It was Elder Jiang Yu.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Once you¡¯ve contracted with the Qi Gu, I will let him know that you will be in charge, and unless it¡¯s a major issue, don¡¯t report to me.¡± ¡°All tribal affairs, business as usual.¡± After speaking, Chen Qing waved his hand, ¡°Go ahead, I want to sleep for a while.¡± After Jiang Miaoxian left, Chen Qing took out the golden scripture page given to him by Xuanping, ¡°Golden Skin and Jade Bone? It requires Bone Gu, Iron Skin Gu, Copper Bone Gu.¡± ¡°Upon successful cultivation, your body will be indestructible, capable of withstanding attacks from Foundation Establishment!¡± ¡°It sounds quite exaggerated.¡± Chen Qing estimated it and found that, compared to the Great Kui Sword Scripture, it also required three types of Gu. However, the difference was that the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Skills required a Bone Gu among its Gu. Bone Gu, like Qi Gu, was one of the strongest Mortal Gus, something you couldn¡¯t buy even if you had the money. So, considering this, the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Skills should be stronger than the Great Kui Sword Scripture. But the description of being able to withstand Foundation Establishment attacks, Chen Qing merely laughed at. Occasionally taking a few hits might not be a problem, but if you to face it head-on every time with your body, it would surely lead to a dead end. Chen Qing suddenly pondered, relying on Snake Butterfly, he could mitigate the long-range attacks of Foundation Establishment. If combined with Golden Skin and Jade Bone, even if he slipped up, it wouldn¡¯t lead to his death. In facing Foundation Establishment, his survivability would be more secured. If this technique was cultivated to perfection, perhaps he would have the strength to confront Foundation Establishment head-on! Chapter 113 - Chapter 113: Chapter 96: Nanli is vast, but the hearts of its people are even vaster Chapter 113: Chapter 96: Nanli is vast, but the hearts of its people are even vaster ¡°` After just one day¡¯s rest, Xuanping brought people to greet him. After Chen Qing left, Xuanping¡¯s injury had also improved significantly, and he returned to his tribe by the afternoon. The nine tribes under the control of the Xuan Bird Tribe were private properties left by the Great Witch for his four children. Xuanping was the youngest, and the Xuan Mang that Chen Qing had seen was the second in rank. The third child had gone out traveling and was nowhere to be found. The eldest was serving alongside the Great Witch. The Great Witch had long resided in the royal city and rarely returned, so Cold Mountain City was primarily managed by Xuanping and Xuan Mang. Xuan Mang, as the second brother, guarded Cold Mountain City, while Xuanping became the chief of the strongest tribe among the nine, leading them to protect Cold Mountain City. The scale of Cold Mountain City far exceeded Chen Qing¡¯s imagination. Excluding those in Foundation Establishment, just one Qingxu Clan alone could match the power of Wuyou Mountain. As for Cold Mountain City, there were likely no fewer than a handful of Foundation Establishment practitioners. These Foundation Establishment practitioners were as elusive as the Mountain Master, rarely seen in ordinary times, and might appear once or twice a year at most. Since Chen Qing had just arrived there, he naturally hadn¡¯t had many opportunities, except for encountering the priest, who was suspected to be in Foundation Establishment while healing him; he hadn¡¯t seen any other Foundation Establishment practitioners. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï When Xuanping arrived, Chen Qing met him at the entrance of the valley, received his gifts, and they strolled along the small river outside the valley. ¡°Are you satisfied with this place?¡± Chen Qing looked around, observing several people that Jiang Miaoxian had arranged to guard the surroundings to prevent anyone from eavesdropping. ¡°The mountains are nice, the water is nice, and the people are nice.¡± Xuanping sat on a green stone and said, ¡°I know you don¡¯t like being under others¡¯ command, so I spoke with Second Brother. Your tribe won¡¯t need to offer tributes or await his orders.¡± ¡°You only need to attend the tribal meeting once a year.¡± ¡°And in case of war, you¡¯ll need to go to Cold Mountain City.¡± Would there be wars? Chen Qing asked, ¡°Would there still be wars?¡± Xuanping replied, ¡°As of now, it¡¯s possible, but certainly not frequent. For ordinary treasures, other tribes wouldn¡¯t dare challenge our Xuan Bird Tribe.¡± ¡°Only if there are treasures that even Foundation Establishment practitioners covet might wars arise.¡± ¡°Our Nanli side has always been different from Da Yan. If treasures are encountered, a great army will sweep across, not giving certain people any opportunity.¡± ¡°In Nanli, no tribe can survive without unity.¡± ¡°When I achieve Foundation Establishment, there won¡¯t be many who dare to offend us. At that time, we can have long-lasting peace.¡± Chen Qing understood that in Nanli, tribes were more unified and formed greater forces. Unlike near Wuyou Mountain, where small sects constantly engaged in skirmishes. If Nanli went to war, it involved thousands of horses and soldiers. And someone like him, a Hu Kui, would need to assemble his troops and go to listen to commands. This situation had much to do with the Gu. Over by Da Yan, there were many Wind Gu, Fog Gu, and Sword Gu, so they preferred solitary combat with a strong martial spirit. While on Nanli¡¯s side, there were many Power Gu, leaving no way to deal with lone warriors except to raise an army. And, to survive in an army of thousands, physical techniques were indispensable. Chen Qing remembered Yuan Ye and asked, ¡°What about the Yuan Rang Tribe?¡± Xuanping explained, ¡°We¡¯re still negotiating, and as for you, just focus on recuperating here.¡± Chen Qing asked directly, ¡°Do you still have any meat Gu in the tribe?¡± Xuanping said, ¡°Currently, there are two: one has been contracted once, and the other is wild. If you want one, the prices are similar.¡± Contracted Gu being comparable to a wild one could only mean one thing, ¡°Does the contracted one have a complete promotion items diagram?¡± Xuanping shook his head, ¡°Only up to the Butterfly Transformation Fifth Transformation.¡± Chen Qing feigned a disappointed expression, ¡°Only able to quickly cultivate it to the Butterfly Transformation Fifth Transformation in a few years isn¡¯t worth it.¡± ¡°How much for the wild one?¡± Xuanping didn¡¯t mind selling Chen Qing this meat Gu. The meat Gu required large amounts of transformation materials and promotion items, all of which needed to be purchased in Cold Mountain City, potentially keeping Chen Qing around for over a decade. As to what might happen in over ten years, Xuanping figured Chen Qing would have adapted to life here, ¡°If you want it, I can promise it to you for 100,000 Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve traveled extensively, you should know this price isn¡¯t high.¡± For such a strong Gu among the Mortal Gu, 100,000 low-grade Spirit Stones indeed wasn¡¯t much. Chen Qing pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want the compensation from the Yuan Rang Tribe; whatever you negotiate can go to you. I¡¯ll add another 50,000 low-grade Spirit Stones, so what about granting me that meat Gu?¡± Xuanping analyzed the pros and cons, her face full of courage, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s settled!¡± Seeing the negotiation for the meat Gu conclude, Chen Qing was quite satisfied, and his anxieties about being in a foreign place began to dissipate. After discussing the business, Chen Qing remembered Xuanping¡¯s injury, ¡°How is your injury now?¡± At this moment, Xuanping wasn¡¯t golden; it was evident that she had forcibly exhibited the Golden Skin and Jade Bone that day to intimidate Chen Qing. Now, she looked a bit pale, like recovering from a severe illness. ¡°Much better, but it¡¯s a Dao injury and needs to be healed gradually. It¡¯ll take some time.¡± Jiang Miaoxian arranged a banquet, and after Chen Qing and Xuanping had eaten, they went their separate ways. When leaving, Xuanping mentioned, ¡°If Second Brother sends people to give you some shops in Cold Mountain City, just accept them; I won¡¯t mind.¡± Chen Qing agreed and saw Xuanping off. Watching Xuanping¡¯s distant figure, this charade finally paid off; he earned the trust of the Xuan Bird Tribe and once again secured a place to stay. Returning to his pavilion, Chen Qing sorted through his remaining Spirit Stones, realizing there weren¡¯t many left. Including those Gu he obtained in the last battle, it amounted to just over 100,000. ¡°` Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: Chapter 96: Nanli is vast, but the hearts of its people are even vaster_2 Chapter 114: Chapter 96: Nanli is vast, but the hearts of its people are even vaster_2 ¡°¡±¡± He needed to send fifty thousand Spirit Stones to Xuanping, leaving only a little over fifty thousand Spirit Stones. Currently, he had reached the eighth level of Qi Refinement, so there was no rush regarding his cultivation status. After all, as long as he had Spirit Stones and relied on the Snake Butterfly, he could reach the perfect state of the Qi Refining Realm within two days. However, the cultivation of Gu was different. Although he could view the information about Gu, it still required time to cultivate them. Not all Gu could advance as quickly as the Snake Gu. He sat at the highest point of the Qingxu Clan, writing down his small cultivation goals: longevity. Then he dipped his finger in tea and wrote down his current goal: Ninth Transformation Light Butterfly, capable of fighting Foundation Establishment. After summoning Jiang Miaoxian, Chen Qing wrote a list for her to buy some materials necessary for the Gu transformation in Cold Mountain City, and then called Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu had been on the left side of the canyon instructing his subordinates to plant Spiritual Medicine when he received a message from Chen Qing, asking him to come over. He immediately put down what he was doing and nervously made his way to Chen Qing¡¯s pavilion. He arrived at the iron bridge, walked up the stairs, and reported to the two samurai of the seventh level of Qi Refinement guarding the gate. Soon, an order came allowing him to go up. Jiang Yu went upstairs straight to the fourth floor. The fifth floor was where Chen Qing resided and cultivated; general discussions were held on the fourth floor. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï As for gatherings, they were held on the second floor above the bridge. Since arriving at the Qingxu Clan, Chen Qing had not convened an internal clan meeting. He simply had the habit of calling people when he thought of something, otherwise letting them manage their own affairs. Jiang Yu climbed the stairs, his steps steady, but his mind wandered elsewhere. If Chen Qing were only as strong as Ling Jiu, their clan might still have had a chance to resist, but now Chen Qing¡¯s strength was such that he dared to charge against a formation of two hundred people with Xuanping on his back, leaving nothing to be imagined. Even if they gathered the entire tribe, it might not be enough to rival Chen Qing. Furthermore, the young people in the tribe had begun considering themselves part of the Qingxu Clan. Jiang Yu finally reached the fourth floor, where Chen Qing sat in the sunlight cultivating on the platform in front. He stood by the side, not daring to disturb Chen Qing¡¯s cultivation, waiting patiently. An entire hour passed before Chen Qing finally opened his eyes, ¡°Come sit.¡± Jiang Yu then stepped forward, only to hear Chen Qing say, ¡°I don¡¯t like the name Qingxu Clan. Using my name as the clan¡¯s name, I find it uncomfortable.¡± Jiang Yu¡¯s face changed drastically as he quickly lowered his head, saying, ¡°Sir, I didn¡¯t intend to conceal anything!¡± Chen Qing¡¯s expression shifted slightly, ¡®What did you conceal?¡¯ He simply didn¡¯t like using his name as the clan¡¯s title; it sounded strange, as if everyone in the clan were his children. Instead, the result frightened Jiang Yu in front of him? Chen Qing spoke sternly, ¡°Speak!¡± Jiang Yu quickly said, ¡°The one who traveled south with us, that ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator, Liu Guang, wants to join our clan. It took me three days to report this!¡± ¡°I was selfish, afraid he would enter the clan and seize power from me.¡± Chen Qing stood up, ¡°Why does he want to join us?¡± Jiang Yu said, ¡°Liu Guang said he¡¯s getting older and knows that reaching Foundation Establishment is hopeless, so he wants to find a place to settle down.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Why not join the Xuan Bird tribe, but instead, join us?¡± Jiang Yu said, ¡°Liu Guang said, in all his years of wandering the world, he has never met such a young master like you, and he believes that you will undoubtedly achieve Foundation Establishment in the future.¡± ¡°Therefore, he wants to pledge allegiance while you are at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, so that in the future when you achieve Foundation Establishment, he will be one of your old followers.¡± ¡°Xuan Bird tribe is too large for a ninth-level Qi Refinement like him to matter, but under you, sir, he could be of use.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Have someone secretly observe what he has been up to recently and report back daily.¡± Jiang Yu was dumbfounded, ¡®Was he being so cautious?¡¯ Chen Qing felt he wasn¡¯t any heaven-sent genius, nor had he displayed any regal aura. How could someone possibly want to pledge allegiance? Especially someone at the ninth level of Qi Refinement! The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Little did he know, the men and women of the Xuan Bird tribe now revered him so highly they would line up from one city gate to the other. Jiang Yu agreed with clasped hands, then Chen Qing continued, ¡°Let¡¯s continue, what was your original clan called?¡± Jiang Yu said, ¡°Iron River.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Alright, from now on, you will refer to yourselves as people of Iron Flow Valley. Calling it a tribe or clan just sounds odd to me.¡± Jiang Yu complied, having no objection to this particular matter. Chen Qing continued, ¡°In the future, let Miao Xian manage the affairs of the valley, do you have any opinions?¡± Jiang Yu laughed, ¡°Miao Xian grew up under my watch; she¡¯s not young anymore, it¡¯s time for her to take charge.¡± Chen Qing waved him off, letting him go, looking at all the people in the valley busy with their work, feeling overwhelmed. How had he suddenly become the head of such a large tribe? Fortunately, Jiang Miaoxian was competent, so he didn¡¯t have to worry too much. He decided to take it slow, thinking he¡¯d eventually get used to it. It was still best to plant some Spirit Ginseng; being in this place where no one knew his background, planting two hundred acres wouldn¡¯t be too much. After all, no one knew the original quality of his Grass Spirit Butterfly. He instructed Jiang Miaoxian to buy spiritual ginseng seeds and developed a two-hundred-acre Spiritual Field, finally reclaiming his familiar ground, feeling much more at ease. After a day working in the fields, wiping his sweat, Chen Qing thought he would eat all of this batch of Spirit Ginseng himself! He tested his current cultivation speed, estimating it would take him six or seven years to break through to the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Planting Spirit Ginseng was different; with two hundred acres, even if he only consumed a hundred acres, he felt he could cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Self-cultivation would take seven years; planting Spirit Ginseng would only take one year. It was simple math. In the City Lord¡¯s Mansion of Cold Mountain City, Xuan Mang listened to the report from his subordinates and asked seriously, ¡°Are you saying he¡¯s farming?¡± ¡°Planting spiritual ginseng?¡± ¡°He even went into the fields himself?¡± ¡°Hahaha, farming is great, it shows he¡¯s truly intending to settle down here!¡± ¡°Give him as many spiritual ginseng seeds as he wants; if there aren¡¯t enough, go buy some from nearby major cities!¡± ¡°By the way, send him the deeds to eight shops, no, make it ten. They should be in the best locations! Send him the ten shops with the best business by the city gates!¡± ¡°What are you standing around for? Go quickly!¡± ¡°Just say it¡¯s a token of gratitude for escorting my sister back.¡± The old priest who had once treated Chen Qing¡¯s injuries asked, ¡°Second young master, isn¡¯t this benevolence too excessive?¡± Xuan Mang laughed, ¡°For someone with his skill, it would take tens of thousands, if not millions of Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°My sister said he¡¯s unable to return to his original tribe, so no matter what, I want to keep him here!¡± ¡°A few shops, some spiritual ginseng seeds, plus an Iron River Clan, how many Spirit Stones are these worth?¡± The old priest saw the persuasion was fruitless and had to stop. ¡°Second young master, then let me go deliver the deeds.¡± Chen Qing had just gotten up, ready to inspect the Spiritual Field they developed, and received a report that Xuan Mang had sent ten shops to him. Chen Qing picked one up and saw they were located at all key routes by the city gates. Looking up, he saw the old priest who came to deliver the deeds; Chen Qing stepped forward and supported him, ¡°The priest worked hard to treat my injuries; how could I trouble the old priest to come personally?¡± The old priest dismissed others, speaking slowly, ¡°If I guessed correctly, you should be from Da Yan.¡± ¡°Although I¡¯m old, my eyesight is still keen.¡± Chen Qing immediately grew wary; he couldn¡¯t gauge the old priest¡¯s cultivation level, and though the old priest was hunched over, he felt like he was being eyed by a hawk, a prickling sensation on his back. ¡°Since the old priest could see it, why didn¡¯t he speak out that day?¡± The old priest said, ¡°The affairs of you young people, you should handle yourselves. I¡¯m old and don¡¯t want to involve myself too much.¡± ¡°I came here just to warn you not to underestimate the heroes of the world.¡± He gestured to the heavens and earth, ¡°This matter, you know it, I know it; I won¡¯t question your origins, but don¡¯t let Xuanping down.¡± ¡°Nanli is vast, and the minds of Nanli¡¯s people are even broader. Settle down here, and nobody will forget the hard work you¡¯ve done carrying Xuanping for thousands of miles and killing countless enemies.¡± ¡°¡±¡± Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: Chapter 97 The Strength of the Immortal Court Divine Son Chapter 115: Chapter 97 The Strength of the Immortal Court Divine Son ¡°` As for the old man¡¯s words, Chen Qing dismissed them as nonsense. ¡°If you have the guts, go talk to Xuanping and Xuan Mang, see if they believe you.¡± Even so, upholding the custom of respecting the elderly, Chen Qing still let him stay for a meal. On April 15, Chen Qing sat in the grand tiger-skin chair on the fourth floor, listening to Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s report. ¡°On March 29, Liu Guang arrived in Cold Mountain City with the caravan led by Jiang Dahu.¡± ¡°On April 2, Liu Guang and the others from the caravan were under the protection of Lord Xuan Mang.¡± ¡°On April 3, Liu Guang heard that Lord Qingxu arrived and urged Lord Xuan Mang to deploy troops along with Jiang Yu.¡± ¡°On April 5, Liu Guang inquired about the possibility of joining Iron Flow Valley, spending fifty spirit stones at Cold Food Building.¡± ¡°On April 9, Liu Guang gifted Jiang Yu in hopes of joining Iron Flow Valley.¡± ¡°On April 12, Liu Guang gifted me, asking me to speak well of him before you, my lord.¡± Chen Qing propped his head with his hand and asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± Jiang Miaoxian replied, ¡°My lord, your reputation has spread throughout the Xuan Bird Tribe. Liu Guang is not the only one at the ninth stage of Qi Refinement who wishes to join Iron Flow Valley.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking about that.¡± Jiang Miaoxian then picked up a cup of tea and handed it to Chen Qing. ¡°My lord, Liu Guang sees that you have just arrived at Iron Flow Valley and that everyone else here was previously unified. As a newcomer seizing control of Iron Flow Valley, you may face disputes with the Jiang family.¡± ¡°And if he joins Iron Flow Valley, with no one else available to you, he is likely to become the weapon you need against the Jiang family.¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°So, you¡¯re saying my current subordinates are limited to the Jiang family¡¯s influence, making it difficult to manage without external intervention to create a ¡®two tigers fighting¡¯ scenario for me to control?¡± Yet, he didn¡¯t see this as a problem¡­ The entire Iron Flow Valley seemed to respect him fairly well. So, Chen Qing asked, ¡°In your current management, does Jiang Yu have any dissatisfaction?¡± Jiang Miaoxian paused for a moment, ¡°A little bit.¡± Chen Qing¡¯s expression turned slightly cold. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let Liu Guang join Iron Flow Valley and work under you.¡± Although he had not yet reached Foundation Establishment, Chen Qing could clearly feel that his aura had already formed. For ordinary cultivators to challenge him was as difficult as ascending to heaven. Even for those at Foundation Establishment, they would need to consider carefully. ¡°Go summon Liu Guang inside.¡± When Liu Guang entered the fourth floor, Chen Qing didn¡¯t mention Iron Flow Valley to him. Instead, they chatted about trivial matters for over an hour, without a word about Iron Flow Valley. In the end, he granted Liu Guang¡¯s request to work in Iron Flow Valley. A cultivator at the ninth stage of Qi Refinement, with an annual salary of eight thousand spirit stones, made Chen Qing quite reluctant. But considering these spirit stones came from Iron Flow Valley, Chen Qing felt much better. After Liu Guang left, thoroughly puzzled, Chen Qing summoned Jiang Miaoxian to gather all the young members of the clan with Butterfly Gu to come to him. Nanli was different from Wuyou Mountain. Here, conflicts might arise in the future. Besides training Jiang Miaoxian to be a general manager, he needed to cultivate a few trusted aides. The meat Gu hadn¡¯t been delivered yet, the Copper Bone Gu was still on the way, and Spirit Ginseng could not grow in a day. Idling was just idling. Moreover, to continue acquiring a large amount of resources, going through wars was inevitable. To gain the most resources from warfare, and also to protect his own life, it was wise to train a few trustworthy people. The most fascinating thing was that he discovered most of the young men in Nanli had Power Butterflies, while he held a large number of Thunder Gu and sword Gu! It wasn¡¯t impossible to train a few miniature versions of himself. Instead of selling them for a meager two thousand spirit stones, it made more sense to cultivate a few good hands for his conquests. Jiang Yuhu, at twenty-seven, was at the eighth stage of Qi Refinement and possessed a Power Butterfly, considered a rising star among the younger generation in Iron Flow Valley. That day, following Xuan Mang into the Yuan Rang Tribe, witnessing Chen Qing¡¯s tiger-like might as he single-handedly charged through two hundred men, Jiang Yuhu was captivated and full of admiration. Upon hearing Chen Qing¡¯s summons, he immediately put down his massive axe, left the youngsters under his command to practice on their own, and rode toward the iron bridge. Upon arriving at the bridge, he found that almost all young members of the clan with Butterfly Gu were already there. There were eight in total. After exchanging a chest thump with his buddy, Jiang Shanhu, he saw Jiang Miaoxian walking down the iron staircase, which was a yard wide. ¡°Jiang Yuhu, come up here.¡± Jiang Yuhu obeyed and ascended to the fourth floor, where he saw the Tiger General who had single-handedly fought through two hundred miles. At this moment, Chen Qing¡¯s aura was firmly established. Jiang Yuhu made no effort to hide the admiration in his eyes, kneeling on one knee, ¡°Jiang Yuhu, at your service, my lord!¡± Chen Qing gestured for him to rise and slowly walked over to Jiang Yuhu, taking out a jade bottle. ¡°These are a sword Gu and a Thunder Gu that I acquired during my ten years of wandering the martial world.¡± ¡°Before they died, I managed to extract the Promotion Map for these Gu.¡± ¡°Take them and form a contract.¡± Jiang Yuhu was overjoyed, thinking to himself, this is the advantage of having a Tiger General in the tribe! The man before him had defeated two Tiger Generals in chaotic warfare and fought through two hundred miles. Even among Tiger Generals, he was an exceptional case! Such a strong person having some Gu with knowledge of the Promotion Map was truly common. Chen Qing beckoned Jiang Yuhu closer. ¡°Remember, the first advancement material for the Thunder Gu is mica, and the first for the sword Gu is sword heart grass.¡± Jiang Yuhu immediately knelt on both knees, ¡°Jiang Yuhu pledges to follow you to the death, my lord!¡± Chen Qing nodded slightly. ¡°Tomorrow, accompany me to practice swordplay by the Spiritual Ginseng Field.¡± Patting Jiang Yuhu on the shoulder, Chen Qing instructed Jiang Miaoxian to summon the next person. Chapter 116 - Chapter 116: Chapter 97 The Strength of the Immortal Court Divine Son_2 Chapter 116: Chapter 97 The Strength of the Immortal Court Divine Son_2 ¡°` After subduing eight people, Chen Qing finally sat on the large tiger-skin throne, crossed his legs, and began cultivating, waiting for the hour of the Rat to arrive. Spiritual Treasure Land, Thunder Pure Land. The ancient and solemn High Priest sat on a large black thunder jade chair, holding the final message of this generation¡¯s Daoist Master competition. And below the stage, nine priests sat in the front, responsible for overseeing this Daoist Master competition. Below the high platform, Murong Lang and eighteen Foundation Establishment cultivators sat at the forefront of a large number of cultivators, waiting for the High Priest to announce the results of this Daoist Master competition. Behind him sat thousands of cultivators from Thunder Pure Land. The High Priest picked up a page of the Mystic Iron Book and began to read aloud, ¡°One hundred people participated in verifying the text authored by Baili Changxi, and four were promoted!¡± ¡°One hundred people participated in verifying the text authored by Xuanyuan Yang, and five were promoted!¡± Xuanyuan Yang was overjoyed, stood up, and received countless cheers. Five was already an extremely high number! ¡°One hundred people participated in verifying the text authored by Tuoba Qingyuan, and four were promoted!¡± ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 ¡°One hundred people participated in verifying the text authored by Diwu Guangzu, and six were promoted!¡± Diwu Guangzu was overjoyed, stood up, and bowed to those around him, immediately causing a loud uproar. In his view, this time, the Daoist Master was his for sure! Six people, what kind of concept was this? Even in the last Daoist Master competition, there were not six! Murong Lang sat in place, feeling slightly nervous. Could centuries of labor from the Immortal Court really lose to a single Foundation Establishment cultivator? The High Priest read out the seventeenth name and finally reached Murong Lang¡¯s name. ¡°One hundred people participated in verifying the text authored by Murong Lang, ¡®Divine¡¯s Beginning¡¤Thunder Gu Chapter,¡¯ and nine were promoted!¡± The High Priest nearly shouted the words, and all the priests on stage looked towards Murong Lang, who was only at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm. The entire hall fell silent for a moment as Murong Lang politely stood up, held a scroll, and slightly bowed to those around him. He originally expected eight people, but didn¡¯t expect his luck to deliver nine! This was already a higher ratio than that of the Immortal Court, although it was partly due to the vast number of Thunder Gu in Thunder Pure Land. Although he had borrowed the Immortal Court¡¯s ¡°Book of Communication with Gods,¡± when it came to Thunder Gu, Murong Lang believed his understanding was not inferior to that of the Immortal Court. Now, after integrating the ¡°Book of Communication with Gods,¡± he soared to new heights! After a brief moment of silence, the crowd erupted into waves of cheers, resounding throughout the entire hall without stopping. Even the High Priest couldn¡¯t hide his joy, exclaiming loudly, ¡°I declare that in this Daoist Gathering, Murong Lang is the victor!¡± ¡°Promoted to, Daoist Master!¡± ¡°Gifted with Thunder Feather Fan, Flood Dragon Clothes, ascend to the Scripture Hall!¡± Murong Lang rose, allowing two maidservants to equip him with the Thunder Feather Fan and Flood Dragon Clothes, and then he bowed deeply to the high platform, ¡°Murong Lang, thanks the esteemed priests!¡± After a series of bustling promotion ceremonies, Murong Lang and the child quickly made their way to the Scripture Hall and went straight to the storage area of the Demon Clan¡¯s texts to begin consulting. Walking past rows of iron book pages, Murong Lang picked up a page inscribed with the Ancient Scripture ¡°Dragon Tiger True Gang¡± and turned around to leave the Scripture Hall. The item Red Lotus needed was finally in hand. He walked out of the Scripture Hall and glanced at the sky; it was time to attend the gathering. Returning to his iron tower, he went to his room, shut the doors and windows, and put on the bronze ghost mask. The other three seemed to have arrived earlier than he did. Hu Yao glanced at him curiously and saw him place a golden page on the table, nodding slightly. Yet she couldn¡¯t directly speak, as they needed to wait for Senior Taichu to arrive. When the hour of the Rat arrived, Chen Qing finally appeared in his seat, and everyone began to greet him one by one. Chen Qing gently nodded, ¡°Fu Luo, Red Lotus, scholar, Yao Feng, good evening.¡± ¡°Well then, let¡¯s begin the gathering!¡± Ji Ru once again inquired about the upgrades required for her three spirit Gu, contributing six hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones to Chen Qing¡¯s delight. Hu Yao and Murong Lang continued to inquire about their Light Butterflies and Hu Yao¡¯s Copper Bone Gu, earning Chen Qing another one hundred and twenty mid-grade Spirit Stones. As for Xu Yaofeng, he was still meditating on Yin Mountain¡­ An upgrade that doesn¡¯t require money indeed takes a lot of time. After the usual inquiries regarding the Gu upgrades, Chen Qing finally said, ¡°You may start chatting.¡± Murong Lang immediately picked up that golden scripture page and handed it to Hu Yao, ¡°The ¡®Dragon Tiger True Gang¡¯ you wanted, I¡¯ve found for you.¡± Hu Yao held up the scripture with both hands and presented it to Chen Qing, ¡°Please, Senior, take a look.¡± Chen Qing took the golden scripture page and examined it closely; it required two Power Gu, Tiger Roar Gu, Thunder Sound Gu, a body with Dragon Energy, and Tiger Might for completion. After mastering it, one¡¯s arms would possess the power to cleave mountains and split stones, being able to fight against Foundation Establishment with Qi Refinement. Indeed, it was very suitable for Red Lotus, but unfortunately not suitable for himself. If he cultivated it, he couldn¡¯t achieve great success. Where could one find Dragon Energy and Tiger Might? The most difficult was Dragon Energy; one must find dragon-related Gu, yet unfortunately, even the lowest-grade dragon species Gu were spirit Gu, not easily found. However, Red Lotus¡¯s Light Gu, after Harmonization, would likely align with dragons, so having Dragon Energy shouldn¡¯t be difficult. This Dragon Tiger True Gang technique required not just four Gu, aside from two Power Gu, Tiger Roar Gu, and Thunder Sound Gu, but also needed one Dragon Species Gu and one Tiger Species Gu. Now, Red Lotus¡¯s Light Butterfly had already resolved the most challenging part. This scripture integrating the mysteries of six Gu, including the need for a Dragon Species Spirit Gu, was so difficult to master that it was understandable it could kill Foundation Establishment cultivators. If he could master it, he would, too. Chen Qing put down the golden scripture he was holding and pushed it back to Hu Yao, ¡°It suits you well; you can cultivate it once.¡± Hu Yao could barely hide her joy, ¡°Thank you, Senior.¡± Hu Yao immediately picked up the scripture page and began to memorize every word diligently. Seeing Hu Yao already studying the scripture like a child memorizing, Ji Ru said, ¡°I dispatched a Foundation Establishment cultivator to spar with the Immortal Court Divine Son under the guise of an exchange.¡± ¡°After sixteen moves, the Foundation Establishment cultivator I sent was defeated.¡± ¡°Later, I sparred with this Foundation Establishment cultivator, struggling through ten moves, and was still defeated.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s because I haven¡¯t cultivated the scriptures, even though the Gu within me are strong, they can¡¯t cooperate.¡± ¡°Therefore, I¡¯ve been looking up Ancient Scriptures recently.¡± Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°Lasting ten moves without scriptures shows how powerful your Gu really are.¡± ¡°What you need now is to find a suitable scripture and find a way to integrate your Gu.¡± Ji Ru nodded, ¡°Do you have any recommendations?¡± Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°You have a spiritual item sword Gu, it¡¯s best to find a sword scripture.¡± Ji Ru slightly bowed, ¡°Thank you.¡± Xu Yaofeng watched everyone else talk and thought back to how he had been meditating on Yin Mountain for months, feeling somewhat helpless. Chen Qing was somewhat looking forward to the sword scripture Ji Ru would cultivate; given her family¡¯s wealth, it was bound to be something extraordinary. After the gathering, Chen Qing removed the bronze ghost mask and began calculating the strength of Foundation Establishment. Listening to what Fu Luo said, if the Immortal Court Divine Son could defeat a Foundation Establishment in sixteen moves, it meant defeating Foundation Establishment needed to be quick, not slow. Once it dragged on, Foundation Establishment cultivators, with their vastly superior Spiritual Energy compared to Qi Refining, would surely win. But it was different for him; he had a Snake Gu that could quickly recover Spiritual Energy. Meaning, the difficulty he faced in battling Foundation Establishment was less than that of the Immortal Court Divine Son. Of course, this was just speculation; the Immortal Court Divine Son might also have means to recover Spiritual Energy. Let¡¯s see what further information Fu Luo provides about how many methods Foundation Establishment has. According to what he currently knew, the Spiritual Energy of Foundation Establishment far surpassed Qi Refining, and its flow speed was also much faster, with physical strength greatly superior to Qi Refining. The Quality of Gu far surpassed that of Qi Refining Realm, but this didn¡¯t apply to Chen Qing. Between him and Foundation Establishment¡¯s Gu Quality, it wasn¡¯t certain whose was higher. So in reality, defeating Foundation Establishment wasn¡¯t that difficult for him. As long as he could withstand Foundation Establishment¡¯s attacks, he could slowly wear them down to death. He picked up the scripture on ¡°Golden Skin and Jade Bone.¡± The price for the meat Gu had already been negotiated, and the Spirit Stones had been sent, yet why hadn¡¯t it arrived? Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Chapter 98: Cultivating Personnel, Meat Gu at Hand! Chapter 117: Chapter 98: Cultivating Personnel, Meat Gu at Hand! ¡°` While in deep thought, Chen Qing felt a stirring within him. He opened his hand, and the silver-white Thunder Gu had begun its Butterfly Transformation, emitting strands of silver thread to cocoon itself. Chen Qing waved his hand and took out three hundred medium-quality Spirit Stones, placing them on the table, and then put the Thunder Gu among them. He walked to the window, glanced outside, and saw two people still guarding on the iron bridge. Then he went outside the third-floor room and listened for a while, hearing Jiang Miaoxian¡¯s even breathing. Only then did he return to the sixth floor, lying on the bed to sleep. The next morning, Chen Qing woke up early and beckoned to the Thunder Butterfly, which landed on his fingertip. [Mortal Thunder Butterfly] Quality: First Transformation Life Span: 36/110 Effect: Call Lightning, convert Spiritual Energy into lightning. [Trait]: Lightning Control, partial immunity to lightning, partial control over lightning Growth Requirements: One-element Heavy Water Growth Progress: 0/100 Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Promotion Requirements: Unable to further advance The Thunder Gu had already transformed into a butterfly. It was time to test the power of the Great Kui Sword with all three Gu fully transformed! Arriving at the Spiritual Ginseng Field, Jiang Yuhu and the others were already waiting. Chen Qing waved them over, ¡°Come, all eight of you, together. Let¡¯s see.¡± Jiang Yuhu had long heard of Chen Qing¡¯s exploits and was eager to experience Chen Qing¡¯s power firsthand. He said, ¡°Sir, then we won¡¯t hold back!¡± Chen Qing laughed, ¡°Bring it on!¡± The battle ended quickly. Chen Qing dispatched them with ease, sending one flying with each sword strike; in just twelve moves, he effortlessly knocked all eight down. Chen Qing held back somewhat. Using the Great Kui Sword with three Butterfly Gu was indeed formidable! Jiang Yuhu, rubbing his chest, looked around at his fallen brothers, truly convinced. With just a few casual moves, Chen Qing had defeated them all as if it were nothing. Chen Qing stood before Jiang Yuhu, reaching out to pull him up, ¡°Want to learn?¡± Jiang Yuhu¡¯s face reddened slightly, ¡°You mean, you¡¯d teach us this swordsmanship?¡± Chen Qing nodded, finding a piece of dead wood to sit on. Once the eight were seated cross-legged, he began to recite the scripture. ¡°This sword technique, I developed myself over many years of wandering.¡± ¡°I call it the Thunderbolt Sword.¡± ¡°Its momentum is majestic, combining the force of a thousand catties with the might of thunder, delivering strikes with open and sweeping gestures, vast and domineering¡­¡± As Chen Qing recited the scripture, he also shared his insights, encouraging them to learn quickly. Once these eight have all their Sword Gu and Thunder Gu undergo Butterfly Transformation, he would like to see who in the Xuan Bird Tribe dared to disrespect him. If all eight wielded the Great Kui Sword with three Butterfly Gu, even Foundation Establishment wouldn¡¯t faze him! Thus, Chen Qing spent the mornings teaching the eight the Great Kui Sword. In the afternoons, he practiced riding the powerful steeds capable of traveling a thousand miles a day, tended to the Spiritual Field, and occasionally pointed out a move or two to Jiang Miaoxian in the evenings, settling into this peaceful routine. After three days, Xuanping visited again. While warming wine and eating venison by the river with Chen Qing, before he could speak, Xuanping placed a jade bottle on the table, ¡°Knowing you¡¯re anxious, I went personally to fetch this for you.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°You¡¯re still injured, it¡¯s best not to move around too much.¡± Xuanping looked curious, ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± Chen Qing remained silent; there was something unsettling about this woman. Xuanping took a sip of wine, ¡°My injuries have healed quite a bit. I can now mobilize half of my Spiritual Energy.¡± ¡°Want to try the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Skills?¡± Chen Qing stood up, ¡°Do you think you can handle it now?¡± Xuanping replied, ¡°Why not? You use only thirty percent of your strength.¡± Seeing Xuanping¡¯s determination to try, Chen Qing also grew curious about the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Skills. Xuanping rolled up her sleeves, revealing fair arms, which didn¡¯t look capable of much strength. Xuanping closed her eyes, and when she reopened them, her body glowed gold, as if enveloped in a faint Protective Golden Light. In Chen Qing¡¯s hand, the three-foot Geng Metal Sword appeared, and he immediately executed the Great Kui Sword, using only twenty percent of his strength on Xuanping¡¯s arm. A powerful recoil traveled through his hand, causing a slight tingling. Xuanping said, ¡°Add another ten percent.¡± Hearing this, Chen Qing continued, this time truly using thirty percent of his strength, yet still couldn¡¯t shake her, not even break through her Protective Golden Light. They kept attempting, and finally, when Chen Qing used eighty percent strength, Xuanping swayed slightly. He reached out to steady her from falling, ¡°Incredible, truly a Vajra Body!¡± Xuanping said, ¡°This technique was obtained by my father from the royal city, naturally extraordinary!¡± ¡°And it requires a meat Gu for cultivation, naturally far superior to ordinary magic techniques.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only just mastered it. If all three Gu undergo the Ninth Transformation, it will be even mightier!¡± Lowering her sleeve to cover her fair arm, Xuanping sat by the small river. Chen Qing, sitting two paces away, asked, ¡°Have you tested it against Foundation Establishment?¡± Xuanping replied, ¡°I can withstand a bit, but not for too long.¡± ¡°In a life-or-death battle, I could slay Foundation Establishment!¡± As she spoke, her face exuded strong confidence. Still somewhat weaker compared to the Immortal Court Divine Son. But quite strong nonetheless. At least stronger than he was currently. Xuanping suddenly asked, ¡°When I advance to Foundation Establishment next time, will you come to protect me?¡± Chen Qing answered, ¡°I¡¯ll come if I have time.¡± Mainly, he wanted to see firsthand what Foundation Establishment entailed. After observing Xuanping¡¯s Foundation Establishment, he would feel more confident when his turn came. ¡°` Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: Chapter 98 Cultivating Personnel, Meat Gu Obtained!_2 Chapter 118: Chapter 98 Cultivating Personnel, Meat Gu Obtained!_2 ¡°¡±¡± Xuanping laughed, ¡°Good, it¡¯s settled then. Next time I break through Foundation Establishment, you need to be by my side.¡± Jiang Yuhu stood guard from a distance, preventing anyone from eavesdropping on the secret conversation between the priestess and Hu Kui. Watching from afar, he suddenly felt that the priestess and Lord Hu Kui seemed quite a match. He immediately dismissed the thought; the priestess was about to reach Foundation Establishment, so how could that be possible? But then again, with Lord Hu Kui¡¯s strength, wasn¡¯t Foundation Establishment a breeze? Chen Qing¡¯s relationship with Xuanping didn¡¯t quite resemble that of a superior and subordinate; it was more akin to friendship. After having a meal, Chen Qing sent Xuanping on her way. The meat Gu looked peculiar, resembling a round ball, yet oddly adorable in its appearance. [Mortal Meat Gu] Quality: Third Transformation Life Span: 6/48 Effect: Increases muscle strength, muscle control, and reaction speed Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 Growth Requirements: Cat Demon Tendon Growth Progress: 18/100 Promotion Requirements: Ninth Transformation, four Shock God Flowers, three Tree Demon Cores Chen Qing had initially thought it would be an ugly Gu, but it turned out to be quite cute. The meat Gu was extremely elastic, and in idle times, it could be played with like a bouncy ball. Throw it on the table and it bounced back, eagerly looking at Chen Qing, hoping for another toss. After contracting with the meat Gu and Copper Bone Gu, Chen Qing began practicing the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Scripture. Upon initial application, his skin didn¡¯t turn golden, but glowed faintly. The consumption of the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Scripture wasn¡¯t as extensive as expected, comparable to the Sword Butterfly¡¯s Spiritual Energy consumption before it transformed. The primary reason was the requirement for three Gu, but he currently had only one Iron Skin Gu Butterfly. Indeed, the Gu that enhanced physical strength consumed less than other Gu. This was also why despite the meat Gu¡¯s lack of aggressive power, it remained so expensive. On the second day of contracting with the meat Gu, Chen Qing clearly felt his reaction speed had significantly increased. Moreover, his control over his body strengthened considerably, allowing him to draw his sword faster, swifter, and more accurately. During this period, Chen Qing really enjoyed horseback riding. The horses of Nanli were different from those in Da Yan; they had spirit beast bloodlines mixed in, having been bred over generations to become extraordinarily robust, covered in spirit armor, impervious to knives and guns. These mutant blood horses were more suitable for battlefield tactics compared to spirit beasts. A crucial factor was that although spirit beasts were strong in singular combat, they would be afraid when facing the battle formations of the Nanli army. However, the mutant blood horses did not fear. Moreover, with their immense strength and armor, mutant blood horses had a higher survival rate amidst battlefield chaos than ordinary spirit beasts. Iron Flow Valley had a herd of mutant blood horses, about one hundred; the most majestic among them was the lead horse. The lead horse was sixteen years old and had yet to be subdued. When Chen Qing first attempted to ride this lead horse, it was unwilling, but once Chen Qing punched it to the ground, it became obedient immediately. Chen Qing didn¡¯t dwell much on this aspect; he spent most of his time practicing the Golden Skin and Jade Bone and Great Kui Sword, for this was the essence. Learning horseback riding was merely to appear more like a Nanli native. As Jiang Baihu and seven others gradually mastered the Great Kui Sword, Chen Qing had to move his sword practice further into the valley depths. Engaging in battle with eight Jiang family members wielding the Great Kui Sword created a rather vast formation. The long sword swept across, toppling trees, shattering stones, with thunderous roars resonating. Jiang Baihu now felt a peculiar sensation as if his strength was rapidly skyrocketing. Indeed, skyrocketing. The increase wasn¡¯t slight but skyrocketing! Opponents who once matched him were now easily defeated within a few moves. He even felt that if both the Thunder Gu and sword Gu transformed into butterflies, his strength might rival Hu Kui! Of course, not like Chen Qing, who was an anomaly among Hu Kui, but an ordinary Hu Kui. After his shift, he handed over the task of guarding Chen Qing to two other brothers practicing swords with him. He and Jiang Shanhu went to the tavern in the valley, ordered two jars of wine, filled their bowls with clear wine, and gulped it down in one swig, exhaling a long breath. ¡°Refreshing!¡± Jiang Shanhu grabbed a deer leg, ¡°Why haven¡¯t we heard of any warfare recently?¡± In the past, Jiang Yuhu might have questioned the desire for battle, whether that was a call for death? But now, he too felt this way, eagerly anticipating a battle to test the prowess of the Thunderbolt Sword taught by the lord. Suddenly, he remembered something, ¡°In three months, there will be the tribal assembly. You¡¯ll have your time to shine then.¡± Jiang Shanhu laughed, ¡°This time, I¡¯ll earn the lord some reputation!¡± Jiang Yuhu clinked his wine bowl with Jiang Shanhu, ¡°Indeed, let them see which tribe is truly the strongest in Xuan Bird Tribe!¡± ¡°So they stop saying the lord¡¯s not at Foundation Establishment but enjoys its privileges.¡± Jiang Shanhu said, ¡°The lord¡¯s strength makes Foundation Establishment a piece of cake, it¡¯s inevitable. Isn¡¯t their jealousy just because our Iron Flow Valley doesn¡¯t pay tribute?¡± The setting sun shone into the tavern from afar, illuminating Jiang Yuhu¡¯s wine bowl. Jiang Yuhu said, ¡°If anyone dares to trouble the lord, we two brothers will take care of them!¡± ¡°When my Gu¡­¡± Before Jiang Yuhu could finish, Jiang Shanhu covered his mouth, ¡°This matter shouldn¡¯t be discussed outside!¡± Jiang Yuhu nodded repeatedly, ¡°By the way, the lord is really strong; he¡¯s probably claimed over three hundred lives by now.¡± Jiang Shanhu laughed, ¡°You don¡¯t know. When Miao Xian returned, she mentioned that during the lord¡¯s escort of Priestess Xuanping, he killed four Qi Refinement ninth layers and defeated a hundred evil cultivators with a single battle, personally beheading seventy-two!¡± Beside them, a man listening couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and cursed, ¡°Nonsense, is the lord like that?¡± ¡°I heard the lord beheaded seventy-two before, then to make it a hundred, he chased the pursuers three hundred miles to complete the count before sheathing his sword!¡± Jiang Shanhu filled this man¡¯s bowl with wine, ¡°Is that so?¡± The man laughed, ¡°Of course, have you heard of Yuan Feng, the Hu Kui from Yuan Rang Tribe?¡± Jiang Yuhu approached, ¡°What about it?¡± The man drained his bowl, ¡°Our Hu Kui lord defeated Yuan Feng in three moves, leaving him begging for mercy like a baby, calling the lord his grandpa before sparing his life!¡± ¡­ Passing by on his way to check the Spiritual Ginseng Field, Chen Qing thought, my reputation is ruined by rascals like you. Soon enough, in others¡¯ words, he¡¯d have slain a thousand¡ªjust a matter of time! Thus, Chen Qing ordered a bowl of wine, motioned not to disturb the tavern folks, listened to these fools brag for an hour, then contentedly led his horse towards the Spiritual Ginseng Field. It turned out not having to pay tribute was a privilege of Foundation Establishment; it showed Xuan Mang valued him highly. He hadn¡¯t witnessed a tribal assembly but estimated in three months, the Gu of his eight subordinates could transform into butterflies. After tending to the Spiritual Field, Chen Qing went to Jiang Yu¡¯s Spirit Medicine Building, obtained some materials needed for Gu promotion, without Jiang Yu keeping any records, letting Chen Qing take them freely. When Chen Qing was about to leave, Jiang Yu inquired with a ledger in hand, ¡°Lord, we¡¯re running low on sword heart grass, should we purchase more?¡± Chen Qing nodded slightly, ¡°How many spirit stones are left in the valley account?¡± Jiang Yu said, ¡°Not much, just over forty thousand. In the past, without a Hu Kui leader, our Iron Flow Valley reaped few rewards even after hard battles.¡± Chen Qing nodded slightly, ¡°If there¡¯s a battle here, would Foundation Establishment members participate?¡± Jiang Yu said, ¡°Foundation Establishment rarely intervenes unless a family has two, then one might join. But even in our Xuan Bird Tribe, there¡¯s only one such family.¡± Chen Qing understood that Foundation Establishment was more of a deterrent. As long as a family had Foundation Establishment, common folks dared not offend, ensuring long-term benefits. If they did join the battle, victory was fine, but defeat could mean utter ruin. ¡°Purchase another batch of sword heart grass.¡± With materials in hand, he returned to his loft. Indeed, being the head of a valley had its perks. For ordinary Gu cultivation materials, there was no need for him to go out and buy them; he could simply take them from the valley. No need for disguises to buy materials, and even for expensive ones, hiding wasn¡¯t necessary. As the head of the valley, he should have plenty of spirit stones. Chapter 119 - Chapter 119: Chapter 99: As March Drifts By, I Nurture Eight Tigers in My Command Chapter 119: Chapter 99: As March Drifts By, I Nurture Eight Tigers in My Command ¡°` Besides the operation of Spirit Stones in the valley having some issues, there¡¯s not much else to worry about. Fortunately, the ten shops sent by Xuan Mang provided him with some income, which barely managed to support him. April 21st. Chen Qing called Jiang Miaoxian over, ¡°Let Liu Guang arrange for people to spread out and purchase a batch of Soul Stealing Flowers, for fifty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.¡± They still had quite a few Spirit Stones on hand, as promoting the Snake Butterfly required too many Spirit Stones. Cultivating the Copper Bone Gu, meat Gu, Iron Butterfly, Thunder Butterfly, Power Butterfly, and Fire Butterfly did not take many Spirit Stones, so Chen Qing was also considering improving his cultivation. Jiang Miaoxian did not inquire about the source of Chen Qing¡¯s Spirit Stones. In her eyes, masters like Chen Qing should have a large number of Spirit Stones stored in various places. Previously, Chen Qing found it inconvenient because he had to hide his strength, but now, with part of his strength revealed, these Spirit Stones merely suited his identity. Jiang Miaoxian agreed and added, ¡°Master, recently in the Xuan Bird faction, the three Foundation Establishment families¡ªthe Yusheng Clan, the Black Feather Clan, and the Stone Heart Clan¡ªhave had a lot to say about you, spreading some gossip.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Are they saying I¡¯m not at Foundation Establishment, yet enjoying the privileges of one?¡± Jiang Miaoxian nodded, ¡°Recently, these three families have sent people to cause trouble at our stores in Cold Mountain City.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°How are you managing with the Qi Gu?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Jiang Miaoxian said, ¡°I¡¯ve reached the Fourth Transformation!¡± Chen Qing continued, ¡°Can you handle those troublemakers?¡± Jiang Miaoxian, full of confidence, her eyes sparkling, said, ¡°I couldn¡¯t before, but now, with the domineering Qi Gu, I¡¯m sure I can handle them!¡± Chen Qing instructed, ¡°Then take them down, but don¡¯t let anyone get killed.¡± ¡°After all, they¡¯re our own people, we shouldn¡¯t damage camaraderie.¡± Jiang Miaoxian bowed, ¡°I understand.¡± It was Xuanping¡¯s idea to stop paying tribute, and a slight punishment from him would suffice. Xuanping would handle the rest. Sensing some internal conflicts within the Xuan Bird faction, Chen Qing gathered his eight trusted aides and instructed them to summon the samurai in the valley, leaving the top twenty cultivators to guard it. Under Chen Qing¡¯s arrangement, the remaining thirty or so people were all incorporated into his newly formed Shadow Guard, scattered to gather intelligence. For him, newly arriving at the Xuan Bird faction, acquiring more information was most crucial. Know your enemy and yourself, and you will be invincible in a hundred battles. Xuanping managed to smooth things over, but lately, she enjoyed coming to have meals with him. Chen Qing knew Xuanping wanted to show her closeness, so that the three Foundation Establishment families would restrain themselves. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t come in vain, occasionally guiding Chen Qing in cultivating the Golden Skin and Jade Bone. The more Chen Qing practiced the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Skills, the more he appreciated its intricacies. His muscles had become highly elastic, capable of absorbing impact to protect his inner organs and bones, keeping great force isolated outside the muscles, effectively acting as a powerful shock absorber. Xuanping¡¯s chief guard was a middle-aged man in his forties, Xuanping¡¯s uncle. The tribe that Xuanping belonged to was originally led by her uncle, but after the Great Witch married Xuanping¡¯s mother and Xuanping was born, the tribe became Xuanping¡¯s. This was the most common form of integration in Nanli. It required hardly any military suppression, as after all, it was Xuanping¡¯s maternal tribe. Xuanping¡¯s uncle, named Yuan Tianfang, was a carefree and straightforward man, at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, yet he didn¡¯t look down on Chen Qing in the slightest. He knew very well that he might not be Chen Qing¡¯s match. Moreover, because Chen Qing carried Xuanping back to the Xuan Bird faction as a favor, he was very warm towards Chen Qing. This morning, Chen Qing was practicing swordsmanship with eight others deep in Iron Flow Valley, when a fast horse reported, ¡°Lord Hu Kui, we discovered the tracks of a demon beast near the newly opened Spiritual Field.¡± Chen Qing turned his head and gave Jiang Yuhu a look, ¡°Jiang Yuhu, you go with him to check it out, report back once you¡¯ve found the demon beast!¡± After just three hours had passed, Jiang Yuhu rode back on a Mutant Blood Horse, ¡°Master, it¡¯s a Qi Refining Realm level three cat demon.¡± Chen Qing frowned slightly, as cat demons were rare. He immediately mounted his horse, ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look.¡± After traveling fifteen miles, Chen Qing saw the cat demon, though it was only the size of an adult goat, seated on a blue stone with five mice placed in front of her. She picked one up and ate it in a few bites. Seeing Chen Qing and his group approach, she wasn¡¯t afraid, merely gathered the mice closer to her. ¡°Miao Miao won¡¯t give you the mice!¡± A very childish voice, sounding like a cute little girl. Chen Qing found it amusing as he rode forward. Miao Miao glared angrily, ¡°Why are you staring at me!¡± Chen Qing laughed, ¡°Where¡¯s your master?¡± Miao Miao said, ¡°During the heavy snow six years ago, he fell asleep and couldn¡¯t wake up no matter how much Miao Miao tried.¡± Just gaining Spiritual Wisdom, huh! Chen Qing said, ¡°This is my territory.¡± Miao Miao curiously looked at Chen Qing, carrying the five mice to him, ¡°Then Miao Miao will give you the mice to eat.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°I don¡¯t want your mice, come home with me. When you can¡¯t catch mice, I¡¯ll give you fish to eat.¡± Miao Miao arrogantly lifted her head, ¡°Miao Miao can always catch mice!¡± Chen Qing chuckled, ¡°Do you like eating fish?¡± Miao Miao licked her lips, ¡°Will you give me fish to eat?¡± ¡°What do you want Miao Miao to do? But you¡¯re not allowed to pet me.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°You just catch mice in my territory, but don¡¯t hurt anyone.¡± ¡°` Chapter 176 03-25 - Chapter 176: Chapter 123 Spiritual Grade Cicada·Three Years Chapter 176: Chapter 123 Spiritual Grade Cicada¡¤Three Years ¡°` Where does the wind blow from? To wander amidst the flowers in search of the secluded. After traversing a particularly rugged mountain path, Chen Qing stepped over the orchids, entering a serene place filled with green bamboo. Flowers bloomed everywhere, green grass thrived, surrounded by green plums and bamboo, was the dwelling of an evil ghost. However, Yin Shu Niang did not reside in a place filled with blood but rather chose a remarkably beautiful spot. Perhaps because this place was a cemetery. After all, people had the habit of planting greenery on their family graves. Chen Qing approached and knocked on an unmarked stone tablet. After a short while, Yin Shu Niang pushed it open, and seeing Chen Qing, she was startled. ¡°Mountain God, do you have any business?¡± Chen Qing smiled calmly, ¡°Nothing in particular, just came to chat with you.¡± Although she was extremely beautiful, she noticed that Chen Qing did not have any lustful glare in his eyes, only purity and clarity. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°Then do come in, Mountain God.¡± Inside the burial chamber, there was indeed another world, with flowers and vines forming a bed. Yin Shu Niang led Chen Qing to sit on a stone bench, then said, ¡°Please wait here for a moment, Mountain God, I will make tea for you.¡± Despite the fragrant floral tea, Chen Qing¡¯s thoughts were elsewhere, ¡°Tell me specifically, how do you see me?¡± Yin Shu Niang looked closely at Chen Qing and found him unexpectedly majestic. ¡°On your body, Mountain God, there are many mysterious threads connecting to this land. As soon as you come near me, Mountain God, one thread connects to me.¡± ¡°I feel an overwhelming pressure that makes it hard to breathe. It seems that with a gentle press, I would turn into smoke.¡± ¡°Beyond that, I cannot see.¡± Chen Qing felt a slight disappointment. At this moment, Yin Shu Niang added, ¡°However, I know of a Foundation Establishment ghost cultivator not far from here, named Xu Ye. Possibly, his cultivation might be higher and could see more.¡± Chen Qing was immediately delighted, as ghost cultivators to him were utterly manageable. Not to mention he could wipe them out with a thought, even in a real fight, the outcome was uncertain. As for leaving safely, it was no problem at all. ¡°Go, summon him to pay respects to me!¡± Given his current status, it was natural that he wouldn¡¯t visit but should have others come to pay respects. Yin Shu Niang immediately took the order and left, leaving Chen Qing alone in this tranquil burial chamber. A day later, Yin Shu Niang brought Xu Ye and a slew of evil ghosts towards her dwelling, and the closer they got, the more Xu Ye felt his scalp tingle. How could a Mountain God appear? Ghosts feared those who controlled the world, as they were part of the earth. Mountain ghosts, that¡¯s who they were. Initially thinking Yin Shu Niang was joking, but upon approaching, he noticed something different. Just by nearing the place, he felt slightly out of control. A peculiar power enveloped him, as if it could extinguish him at will. At the first sight of Chen Qing, Xu Ye immediately kowtowed, ¡°Xu Ye pays respects to the Yinsi!¡± Chen Qing, however, did not allow him to rise, only asked, ¡°Why do you call me Yinsi?¡± Xu Ye said, ¡°Lord Yinsi can control our lives at will, and there is Black and White Qi, Impermanence Power, emanating from you.¡± ¡°Apart from these, there is also Xuanhuang Qi.¡± Chen Qing¡¯s interest piqued, sipping the floral tea, ¡°Continue, describe what you see of me in detail.¡± ¡°Do not exaggerate, if there¡¯s a single falsehood, your Divine Soul will be obliterated!¡± Xu Ye trembled all over, looking carefully at Chen Qing, becoming more frightened the more he looked, ¡°On Lord Yinsi, I seem to see a phantom.¡± ¡°Just a feeling, not actually seeing it.¡± ¡°It should be a certain god, and the lord possesses part of this god¡¯s power.¡± Xu Ye at this moment understood something, realizing what Chen Qing truly wanted. He must have acquired strength but didn¡¯t know what it was. This sort of person was more troublesome than real Yinsi. Real Yinsi followed rules, but someone like Chen Qing could annihilate you effortlessly without any reason or justice. ¡°In my perception, you are more terrifying than those real Yinsi.¡± ¡°Real Yinsi gain some borrowed power through treasures or official titles.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re different. This power comes from within you, not borrowed from any god.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Anything more?¡± Xu Ye shook his head. Chen Qing pondered slightly. Where he was, All Things Grow, leading to the flowers and plants here flourishing vibrantly. Lush green. The earth nurtures all things, then gathers the souls back into the earth. Ghosts also belonged to the earth, hence he had the power to control them. Born of the earth, nurtured by the earth, buried in the earth. Life and death both lay upon the earth, hence a cycle of reincarnation. Chen Qing fell into contemplation, unconsciously entering an Enlightenment state. After a quarter of an hour, his eyes gradually cleared. It seemed his Light Gu Harmonization was strongly related to the Life and Death Reincarnation. He gained some insights. ¡°I heard you have a ghost market; could you take me there for a look?¡± Xu Ye thought inwardly, ¡°Brothers, it¡¯s not that I want to invite the wolf into the house, but I¡¯m forced to bow to authority.¡± ¡°Yes, though we call it the Floor Market.¡± Chen Qing immediately rose, ¡°Take me there.¡± Following Xu Ye for two days, they arrived at an underground yin river, where in the cave, there stood various pavilions of different styles, all hanging with white lanterns. ¡°` Chapter 122 - Chapter 122: Chapter 100 The Roar of the Tiger - Tiger Out of the Cage_2 Chapter 122: Chapter 100 The Roar of the Tiger ¨C Tiger Out of the Cage_2 ¡°` He sat tall and proud on his horse, exuding youthful vigor and appearing impressively mighty. ¡°Let¡¯s go, join the tribal gathering!¡± Chen Qing spurred his horse through the crowd, with Jiang Miaoxian and Liu Guang following him first, then Jiang Yuhu and eight others, with fifty-four samurai at the rear. The galloping horses stirred up a cloud of dust. After rushing forward for thirty miles, Chen Qing arrived at the junction where two major roads converged and saw Xuanping, who had been waiting on her Mutant Blood Horse. Her tribe was much larger than Chen Qing¡¯s, with over two hundred people. Chen Qing rode ahead and exchanged a friendly chest bump with the approaching Yuan Tianfang to greet him, ¡°Yuan, your troops are truly formidable!¡± Yuan Tianfang glanced at the eight people behind Chen Qing and laughed, ¡°Can¡¯t compare to your Iron Flow Valley producing the Eight Tigers!¡± The two shared a hearty laugh, then rode up beside Xuanping, ¡°What¡¯s the process for this tribal gathering?¡± Xuanping seemed a bit displeased for some reason and said, ¡°First, there¡¯s a blood ritual, then a hunt for malevolent demons nearby, and finally, perhaps some combat trials.¡± ¡°In the past, it might not have been certain. But now that you¡¯ve recently joined the Xuan Bird tribe, everyone wants to see what you¡¯re made of and weigh your capabilities. There¡¯s probably no way you can avoid this combat trial.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°What about the Foundation Establishment of the three families?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Xuanping rode ahead, ¡°Let¡¯s talk while we move!¡± Chen Qing followed on his horse, the two riding at the head of the group, and Xuanping said, ¡°The Black Feather Clan is quite unhappy with you. Did you detain their people?¡± Chen Qing nonchalantly replied, ¡°If they dare make trouble at my shop, shouldn¡¯t they pay a price?¡± Xuanping said, ¡°I¡¯ve been going to your place off and on, barely keeping them in check, but you can¡¯t avoid them at this tribal gathering!¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°I¡¯ve now mastered the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Skills, I¡¯m not necessarily afraid of them!¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t come to a fight to the death, right?¡± Xuanping said, ¡°That¡¯s unlikely. But you¡¯ve just joined our Xuan Bird tribe and already have the rights of Foundation Establishment; naturally, they are displeased.¡± ¡°Once you showcase your abilities, it should be resolved.¡± Chen Qing pressed his legs against the horse¡¯s sides, ¡°Why do you seem unhappy today, an old injury acting up?¡± Xuanping turned her head, ¡°You¡¯re calling my uncle ¡®brother,¡¯ should I be calling you ¡®Uncle¡¯ too?¡± Chen Qing chuckled, ¡°No need, no need, let¡¯s keep it casual!¡± ¡°Your little brother here will follow your lead, Priestess Xuanping. You point, and I¡¯ll attack!¡± After three months of peace, Chen Qing felt relaxed enough to joke again. Xuanping laughed disdainfully, ¡°Ha, there¡¯s not an ounce of truth in your words.¡± Leading over three hundred riders galloping for thirty miles, they approached a high mountain with an exceptionally flat top, where a large fortress stood at the center of a platform spanning hundreds of feet. This mountain was accessible in all directions, with seven broad paths around it, wide enough for horses to gallop. Chen Qing gazed around and saw dust rising as numerous tribes led their forces to congregate at the mountain¡¯s summit. It looked like streams of black iron flowing past; seeing such a spectacle, Chen Qing thought no wonder there weren¡¯t many major demons around the Xuan Bird tribe. This force would annihilate demons and evil spirits swiftly. Two teams alone might easily crush small forces like Wuyou Mountain. No grass would grow where the iron hooves passed. Following the mountain path ahead, Chen Qing and Xuanping led the group uphill. Xuanping pointed her whip towards the wide plains to the east, ¡°We¡¯ll camp here, Qingxu, your people will camp next to mine.¡± Chen Qing sent Liu Guang to make arrangements, then rode with Jiang Miaoxian and the Eight Tigers to the center fort. In front of the fort, there was an ironwood desk, flanked by five more on each side. Chen Qing instructed Jiang Miaoxian and the Eight Tigers to dismount and settle the horses. Then he and Xuanping entered the meeting area. Xuanping sat at the first desk on the right, gesturing for Chen Qing to sit at the one beside her, which he did without hesitation. Three desks across were occupied except for the one at the front. Once the nine tribal leaders had taken their seats, the old priest slowly came out from the fort and sat at the first desk to the left of the central table. Chen Qing observed the people across from him, and Xuanping introduced them, ¡°That one is the leader of the Yusheng Clan, at Foundation Establishment level, named Yushengzi.¡± Chen Qing looked over, seeing a middle-aged man who appeared about forty, with a somewhat sinister demeanor. ¡°The third one over there is the leader of the Black Feather Clan, Foundation Establishment level, named Hei Yu.¡± This man wore a long robe woven from black crow feathers, unusually tall with a prominent nose like a hooked beak, sharp-eyed, and also examining Chen Qing. ¡°That young man is the young clan leader of the Stone Heart Clan. His old clan leader is also at Foundation Establishment level, with unfathomable cultivation.¡± The young clan leader of the Stone Heart Clan looked extraordinarily young. Upon meeting Chen Qing¡¯s gaze, he smiled warmly, his face sincere and slightly heroic but maintaining a sense of fairness. To Chen Qing, he seemed deeply calculating, one to engage in friendly chatter face-to-face while ready to stab you in the back. Just as Xuanping finished this introduction, everyone heard the sound of something massive flying overhead. Chen Qing looked towards the noise to see Xuan Mang arriving on a giant Xuan Bird with an eight-foot wingspan, flying through the clouds towards them. This Xuan Bird was bronze-colored, its feathers unlike normal feathers but more like bronze itself, flying as if a bronze statue of a Xuan Bird had come to life. A feather on its head stood a foot long, resembling a crown. Every feather bore intricate patterns, elaborate and magnificent, offering a bizarre beauty like viewing an ancient painting or a legendary divine bird emerging. Xuan Birds in flight, priests are born. The Xuan Bird landed in the center of the meeting area; Xuan Mang dismounted and smiled at everyone before heading to the central seat. The Xuan Bird approached Xuanping, pleasingly rubbing against her until she fed it a red Spiritual Peach, after which it obediently lay down beside Xuan Mang, motionless like a bronze Xuan Bird statue. This was the core of the Xuan Bird tribe¡¯s power, the true guardian of Cold Mountain City. The Xuan Bird. Chen Qing wasn¡¯t sure of the Xuan Bird¡¯s strength, but judging from its divine appearance, before his Foundation Establishment, it was likely unbeatable for him. With his recent substantial power growth, Chen Qing constantly wondered if he could defeat whatever he saw, commonly known as ¡°itchy fingers.¡± However, Chen Qing remained cautious; even if tempted, he could control his impulses. Xuan Mang took his seat, and only then did Xuanping lead a respectful bow, ¡°Greetings, City Lord!¡± The ritual ceremony was somewhat dull. Chen Qing restrained himself from nodding off, mainly out of respect for Xuanping, who presided over the rituals, unlike Yushengzi, who nearly dozed off from weariness. Not that it mattered to him! The proceedings mostly involved informing the royal capital, worshiping the Miao God, and honoring King Wu, praying for favorable weather and prosperity. The major difference from earthly ceremonies was that this one truly worked! King Wu, also known as Martial Virtue Monarch, symbolized strength and courage within the Jiuli. The current King Wu had reigned for eight hundred years, one of the longest among the Nine Kings. But Emperor Donghua of Da Yan was different, with each generation having very short lives. Except for the founding Emperor Donghua, who lived three hundred years, most barely surpassed a lifespan of a hundred; the longest reigned only a hundred fifty-four years. The shortest merely thirty years. Absurd! Fu Luo said she had never seen her father, hearing his health wasn¡¯t good. Chen Qing speculated it might be related to the Gu on Emperor Donghua, perhaps one that drained life span. But Chen Qing wasn¡¯t overly concerned about that now; he was more focused on whether he could find some valuable herbs in this demon hunt to break through to the ninth level of Qi Refinement. If not, he¡¯d have to consider spending a fortune to buy them. With the rituals concluded, Xuanping, donned in a long black dress, began listening to Xuan Mang speaking, ¡°Last year, there were traces of demons and evils in thirty-two locations. Seven urgent ones have been eradicated, leaving twenty-five that are less pressing and can be addressed now.¡± Xuan Mang turned to the old priest, ¡°I request the old priest to announce these demon traces so that our warriors can investigate thoroughly and annihilate the demons!¡± ¡°` Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: Chapter 101: The Roar of the Tiger - It Infuriated Me! Chapter 123: Chapter 101: The Roar of the Tiger ¨C It Infuriated Me! The old priest immediately took orders and went down with scrolls of yellow silk inscribed with traces of evil, to distribute them to the warriors brought by various clans. Chen Qing received three scrolls, and Xuanping also took three. Xuanping, too lazy to arrange, directly tossed his three scrolls to Chen Qing. Chen looked at them briefly; the highest was only at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, completely not a threat. He then instructed Jiang Miaoxian to assign them to the Eight Tigers under his command. With their strength, and each of them bringing along twenty skilled warriors from the Xuanping Clan and Iron Flow Valley, these mere evil creatures were not an issue at all. With such an outrageous scale being eradicated year after year by the Xuan Bird Division, where would any great monsters or evil cultivators come from? The reason there were so many this time was that the Taiping Sect had once hunted Xuanping, causing the Taiping Sect to be considered evil cultivators in the Xuan Bird Division as well. Large troops thundered down from the mountain top, charging in all directions, leaving one to wonder how frightened the nearby monsters must be living their days in terror. Squads of warriors clad in black moved like great rivers cascading down, transforming into more than twenty long rivers rushing into the distance. For about three hours, they each did their part, and as the sky turned evening, everyone settled down to rest. By noon the next day, Yushengzi coughed lightly, ¡°Lord Witch, now each team of troops has been dispatched to eradicate the evil.¡± ¡°It must take a long time; as we sit here idly, it is indeed quite dull.¡± Hei Yu raised his bronze-footed wine cup, ¡°Why not let the warriors under our command spar for entertainment to display their bravery and inspire the younger generation?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Shi Xintie waved his hand and said, ¡°It is inappropriate; since we all belong to the Xuan Bird Division, should any injuries or disabilities occur, wouldn¡¯t it harm our harmony?¡± He picked up his chopsticks to grab a slice of Deer Blood Cake, ¡°Sparring is truly too coarse; I think it¡¯s inappropriate.¡± Yushengzi responded, ¡°Our Xuan Bird Division has a glorious martial tradition, and the warriors we send out are naturally exceptional. Could such warriors not know their limits?¡± Hei Yu stroked his goatee, ¡°Indeed, we will stop as necessary to avoid causing severe injuries.¡± ¡°Also, isn¡¯t the old priest here?¡± ¡°As long as there are no fatalities, the old priest should be able to heal them. What is there to fear?¡± Yushengzi said leisurely, ¡°Shi Xintie, could it be that there are no outstanding warriors in your family?¡± Shi Xintie said angrily, ¡°Then only if Lord Witch allows it!¡± Chen Qing watched the three of them harmonize their act, and things were settled. Xuan Mang glanced at Chen Qing and, seeing him still calm and unperturbed, said, ¡°Since you all have this intention, then call forth the warriors to spar!¡± ¡°Remember, stop at the right moment; do not cause injury or disability!¡± Soon, someone cleared a thirty-zhang-square area in front of the large camp, forming a huge circle with weapons in hand. Shi Xintie called forth a stout guy at the ninth level of Qi Refinement to challenge to the Black Feather Clan¡¯s Hu Kui, Hei Pi. Hei Pi immediately threw off his wolf-skin coat and went to fight. In just over ten rounds, Shi Xintie¡¯s warrior was defeated. Hei Pi bent his bow and nocked an arrow, shooting an arrow from afar that landed on Chen Qing¡¯s ironwood desk. From a distance of over ten zhang, the arrow fell on the table without moving the desk, showing that his archery was indeed superb. ¡°I have long heard that Hu Kui of Iron Flow Valley cannot be stopped. Today, I, Hei Pi, ask for a few pointers from Qingxu Hu Kui!¡± Provocation! This was not just provocation; it was an attempt to intimidate Chen Qing with an arrow, making him lose face. If Chen Qing had not already undergone the Fifth Transformation of the meat Gu, reacting incredibly quickly, he might have been startled by the arrow aimed at the table. Chen Qing reached out to pull out the nearly one-jin heavy iron arrow and handed it to Jiang Miaoxian behind him, ¡°Give this arrow to Jiang Yuhu.¡± Jiang Miaoxian immediately left the venue to find Jiang Yuhu, who had been waiting nearby. Chen Qing sat still as before, ¡°If I enter the arena, it would be a case of the strong bullying the weak. Besides, my sword is meant for killing; controlling its precision can be difficult, and I fear that I might accidentally¡­¡± He did not finish, but everyone knew the meaning in his words. Chen Qing glanced at the three Foundation Establishment watching the spectacle. Since you want to test my strength, then test it well. Do you think, under my command, no one has the strength of Hu Kui except me? He simply disliked fighting, but it did not mean he was cowardly. A strong punch prevents a hundred fists from coming! ¡°I will summon a child from my clan to fight you!¡± Jiang Yuhu tightly gripped the iron arrow in his hand, as if trying to squeeze water out of it. How dare you insult Lord Qingxu like this, then do not blame me for being ruthless and fighting to the death! He immediately took his sword and rode into the battle ring, throwing the iron arrow and slicing it in half with a lift of his sword. The broken arrow fell, sticking in the sandy ground. The challenge was accepted. Hei Pi was furious as he rode on his horse, ¡°You brat, are you here to seek death?¡± ¡°Your master is afraid, sending you to die, and you are willing to shield him?¡± Jiang Yuhu shouted, ¡°Arrogance!¡± He galloped on his horse, his eyes flashing with thunderous light, as the giant sword in his hand shone with dazzling sword radiance. Power Gu, sword Gu, Thunder Gu, were all extremely domineering in the path of attack. Now united, with the Great Kui Sword as its backbone and the power of the three butterflies as its flesh, the momentum became even more overwhelming! Faced with this scene, Hei Pi seemed once again to see Chen Qing with a sword charging through the formation of two hundred men, growing serious without a trace of carelessness. He galloped forward, mustering all his force into the iron spear in his hand, rushing at Jiang Yuhu. Jiang Yuhu swung his giant sword, invoking thunder whistling within a three-zhang radius and danced the giant sword with great force to execute a fierce strike with the Great Kui Sword! Chapter 124 - Chapter 124: Chapter 101: The Roar of the Tiger - Infuriating!_2 Chapter 124: Chapter 101: The Roar of the Tiger ¨C Infuriating!_2 ¡°`html Crack! A sword and spear crossed paths, the Mutant Blood Horse beneath Hei Pi¡¯s hips knelt, and Hei Pi was directly knocked off his horse, his chest trembled, spilling a trace of fresh blood. With just one strike, victory was almost certain! In the audience, aside from Chen Qing and Xuanping, even Xuan Mang stood up in astonishment, watching this scene. Xuan Mang glanced at Chen Qing, then looked towards Jiang Yuhu, who was charging towards Hei Pi on horseback in the battle circle, and it seemed as if he saw Chen Qing from that night once more. A lone warrior charged into the formation of two hundred, slaughtering everywhere! If he remembered correctly, there were a total of eight people like Jiang Baihu carrying giant swords on their backs! Eight Hu Kui? Eight Hu Kui! He knew Xuanping was close to Chen Qing, so he secretly made an eight-finger sign to her, and Xuanping nodded slightly, continuing to introduce Deer Blood Cake to Chen Qing. ¡°This Deer Blood Cake is made from medicinal deer, fed daily with Spiritual Medicine. Once its body is filled with medicinal properties, blood is drawn every three months. It doesn¡¯t endanger the deer¡¯s life but yields this Deer Blood Cake.¡± Chen Qing ate a piece and felt the medicinal properties within; just a small piece was almost comparable to a bottle of Spiritual Ginseng Wine! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï The cultivation methods of Nanli indeed had some merits. Seeing Xuanping nod, Xuan Mang then felt relieved. Since his sister was aware of this matter, there was nothing to be surprised about. Out of the corner of his eye, he cast a glance at Chen Qing, who bore Xuanping, charged and battled along the way, the long sword in his hand cleaving through eight thousand miles of clouds and moon. Despite being heavily wounded by several arrows, he could protect Xuanping from harm, truly impressive! It was then he realized that the Chen Qing he saw that day was already at his limit, yet still so brave. All the way through battle, slaughtering an unknown number of Da Yan pursuers, annihilating dozens of Taiping Sect members, holding a large number of sword Gu and Thunder Gu, might even know the Promotion Map. Training these Eight Tigers now made sense. Perhaps this was his true skill. Several loud booms echoed again in the arena, with threads of blood flowing from Hei Pi¡¯s arms as he persisted in battle. For the people of Nanli, their heads could fall, but their momentum could not be defeated! Hei Yu shouted angrily, ¡°Enough, haven¡¯t you lost enough face already?¡± Only then did Hei Pi stop, exhaling deeply, fainting as he collapsed on the ground. Jiang Yuhu only felt his blood boiling in battle, immediately roaring in the arena, ¡°Jiang Yuhu of Iron Flow Valley, who will challenge me?¡± His voice shook the stratocumulus clouds, piercing the skies. Everyone looked at the blood stains left by Hei Pi on the ground, then at Hei Pi being carried away. If even a Hu Kui was not an opponent, were they courting death by stepping forward? Hei Yu also remembered hearing about Chen Qing that day, who, after piercing through hundreds of miles, was still at the end of his strength yet dared to charge into the formation of two hundred alone. Now, after recuperating, what could his strength be like? Looking at his Eight Tigers, one could glimpse a thing or two. The might of nine was indeed qualified to battle a Foundation Establishment! His power had already formed, capable of dividing the power of Cold Mountain City. Jiang Yuhu stood in the arena, as if to vent out all the humiliation Hei Pi inflicted on Chen Qing, shouting three times in succession, ¡°Jiang Yuhu of Iron Flow Valley, who will challenge me?¡± ¡°Jiang Yuhu of Iron Flow Valley, who will challenge me?¡± ¡°Jiang Yuhu of Iron Flow Valley, who will challenge me?!¡± No one accepted the challenge. Hei Yu, seeing such an awkward scene, stepped out from behind the table and said, ¡°Lord Witch, Jiang Yuhu is brave among the warriors of Xuan Bird Tribe, please reward him!¡± Xuan Mang saw that Hei Yu was the first to make peace and smiled, ¡°That¡¯s good, come, reward Jiang Yuhu with five thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones, and grant him the White Tiger Silver Belt!¡± Chen Qing, knowing when to stop, since the people of Foundation Establishment had conceded, it wasn¡¯t good to let Jiang Yuhu continue being arrogant. He stood up and shouted, ¡°Jiang Yuhu, didn¡¯t you hear what Lord Witch said?¡± ¡°Even Senior Hei Yu has requested a reward for you, now get down!¡± Jiang Yuhu chuckled, rode out of the battle circle, and Jiang Shanhu punched Jiang Yuhu¡¯s chest, ¡°I knew you weren¡¯t satisfied, that¡¯s why I let you stay.¡± Jiang Yuhu laughed, ¡°It¡¯s all due to the patience of the adults.¡± Meanwhile, in the venue, Hei Yu raised a cup towards Chen Qing from afar and said, ¡°Jiang Yuhu, so young, already possessing the might of a Hu Kui, is he engaged?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Could it be that Senior Hei Yu has a recommendation?¡± Hei Yu smiled, ¡°Hei Pi has a daughter, presently in her youth, gentle and graceful, a sensible girl.¡± ¡°Why not betroth her to Jiang Yuhu? Not only would this resolve the grudges between Hei Pi and Jiang Yuhu from today¡¯s sparring, but it would also be a joyous event, wouldn¡¯t it be the best of both worlds?¡± Chen Qing raised his cup, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be rewarding that kid Jiang Yuhu?¡± Hei Yu said, ¡°Not at all, if the young ones are well-matched, it¡¯s a good match!¡± For the first time, Chen Qing was making the decision to host someone else¡¯s marriage, ¡°If that kid Jiang Yuhu is willing, then so be it!¡± Since Hei Yu had conceded and now showed goodwill, giving Chen Qing face, Chen Qing accepted. ¡°By the way, there are a few young juniors in Senior¡¯s tribe who were injured in a bandit attack. They are currently recovering in my Iron Flow Valley. Once they are healed, I will send them back!¡± Hei Yu laughed heartily, ¡°Thanks a lot, Qingxu!¡± He laughed very frankly, almost unaware that the people were being held by Chen Qing. Being from the Xuan Bird Tribe, there was no need to pursue things relentlessly; should war arise in the future, they would need to work together, causing trouble would be counterproductive. Xuan Mang didn¡¯t mind tribes under his command intermarrying and making alliances. First of all, he couldn¡¯t let these tribes internally marry. Then, intermarrying with other tribes, like the nearby Yuan Rang Tribe, would instead cause more discomfort. Chapter 125 - Chapter 125: Chapter 101: The Roar of the Tiger - How Infuriating! Part 3 Chapter 125: Chapter 101: The Roar of the Tiger ¨C How Infuriating! Part 3 ¡°` In the end, the Xuan Bird Clan relies on the Xuan Bird and the Great Witch! As long as the Great Witch and the Xuan Bird are there, the Xuan Bird Clan shall remain unshakable like a mountain! Once this matter was agreed upon, Shi Xintie and Yushengzi also began to inquire about the Eight Tigers under Chen Qing¡¯s command, planning their own schemes for any who were yet unmarried. By showcasing the Eight Tigers, Chen Qing was now firmly established in Cold Mountain City. Next, it was time to wait for reports from the warriors beneath his command regarding the eradication of demons and Evil Cultivators. Eradicating demons and Evil Cultivators was not as simple as directly charging into their dwellings or hiding spots. If it were that simple, there wouldn¡¯t be a need for annual eradication campaigns that never seemed to end. The first step was to investigate and confirm that they were indeed evildoers. Then came tracking, finding out their whereabouts and hiding places. Demons actually were not too difficult to deal with; they came in two types, one that preferred to stay around its home. And another type that wandered the world, here today, gone tomorrow. The ones to be eradicated now were usually the home-loving type. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Evil Cultivators, on the other hand, were extremely troublesome, with difficult-to-find hiding spots and elusive traces, requiring a lot of time. Of course, since the old priest has brought this up now, he must have some important clues, and most of the effort would be directed at capturing people. After discussing the marriages of his subordinates in the mountains for three days, a team finally returned on horseback with more than a dozen heads hanging from their saddles. Jiang Dahu was the first to come forward and report, ¡°Lord Witch, your subordinate has pursued tirelessly for three days, and all fifteen Evil Cultivators of the Taiping Sect have been executed!¡± Xuan Mang rejoiced, clapping his hands in approval, ¡°Anyone who dares to touch our Xuan Bird Clan people, even the Taiping Sect, must be rooted out one by one!¡± ¡°Good, bestow my reward!¡± Other teams of men and horses also began to return one after another, and Chen Qing felt quite pleased as he heard of one Taiping Sect member after another being eradicated. See how you like being hunted down! Three days later, most of the other teams had started to return, but there was still one team that had not yet come back. After waiting a whole day, they were finally seen returning; out of the twenty-one who had left, only twelve remained. The middle-aged man leading the team was covered in blood, and he came forward to report at the meeting, ¡°Lord Witch, I have failed in my duty, please punish me!¡± Xuan Mang¡¯s eyes turned cold, ¡°Speak, what happened?¡± It was the first time such heavy casualties had occurred in the annual eradication of demons and Evil Cultivators, which made him irate. The man reported, ¡°We were tracking the Taiping Sect, and on the edge of Xuan Bird Clan¡¯s territory, we discovered their stronghold, and to our shock, we found they were secretly mining a spirit stone vein!¡± ¡°I immediately led our men to storm in, but right after we eliminated the demon sect members, we were ambushed by a team from the Yuan Rang Tribe out to eradicate demons.¡± ¡°We had just fought a battle and were no match for them, losing nine of our own!¡± ¡°Knowing the importance of this matter, I took the initiative to lead the men back to report to you, Lord Witch!¡± Upon hearing of the spirit stone mine, Xuan Mang¡¯s eyes flickered with a sharp gleam, but upon learning that the Yuan Rang Tribe had already taken it over, he stood up with rage and shattered the desk in front of him with a stomp. ¡°Fury consumes me!¡± Chen Qing asked in a low voice beside him, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a spirit stone vein? Is it really that important?¡± Xuanping spoke softly, ¡°Spirit stone veins are usually only found in Cave Heaven Blessed Lands, and moreover, such places are likely to contain elixirs or Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures deep within the veins, right at the source of the mine.¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Qing also couldn¡¯t help himself, stood up, and shattered the desk in front of him with a stomp. ¡°Fury consumes me too!¡± Chapter 126 - Chapter 126: Chapter 102: The Roar of the Tiger - Tiger Descending the Mountain Chapter 126: Chapter 102: The Roar of the Tiger ¨C Tiger Descending the Mountain ¡°` ¡°Mobilize the troops!¡± ¡°Transmit Lord Witch¡¯s command!¡± ¡°Mobilize the troops!¡± ¡°The Yuan Rang Tribe has unilaterally stirred up border disputes, mobilize the troops to protect the territory of the Xuan Bird Tribe!¡± Over a dozen fast horses galloped in all directions, spreading Xuan Mang¡¯s orders throughout the entire Xuan Bird Tribe. After Xuan Mang decided to engage in a grand battle with the Yuan Rang Tribe, he immediately dispatched Hei Yu, Yushengzi, and the old priest to escort the injured Xuanping back home. Hei Yu and Yushengzi were the only Foundation Establishments in the tribe. Sending them back not only avoided casualties but also helped Xuanping defend the city. The old priest had excellent medical skills, but was not strong in combat and would need a lot of protection on the battlefield. As for healing, there were many physicians, but only the old priest was a Foundation Establishment. If he were to be assassinated on the battlefield, it couldn¡¯t be compensated even by a spirit stone vein. The battlefield was right at their doorstep, so there was still time to send the wounded back. Chen Qing, in fact, wanted to escort Xuanping back to Cold Mountain City as well, as it would mean avoiding the battlefield once there. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? However, he thought about how he was about to reach Qi Refinement level nine, and within a few years might advance to Foundation Establishment. Opportunities for such large-scale battles wouldn¡¯t come again soon, so he decided to stay. He couldn¡¯t allow the Yuan Rang Tribe to hunt him for two hundred miles without responding, right? He had to lead troops to chase them as well. Moreover, regarding the treasure deep within the spirit stone veins, Chen Qing had a strong premonition that this treasure would surely allow him to break through to Qi Refinement level nine successfully! Xuanping mounted her horse, and Chen Qing couldn¡¯t help but notice with astonishment the elasticity of a certain part of her body, akin to having a meat Gu. ¡°You rascal, I¡¯m going back to hold Cold Mountain City, while the warriors of my tribe are entrusted to you.¡± ¡°Remember, listen to your brother, and don¡¯t act recklessly on your own.¡± She lowered her voice, ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°Remember, when I reach Foundation Establishment, you still need to protect me!¡± After saying so, she quickly left with the three Foundation Establishments to hold Cold Mountain City. Chen Qing also mounted his horse, heading to Yuan Tianfang and Tie Liu Valley¡¯s encampment, ¡°Break camp!¡± Seeing his subordinates swiftly packing up tents, Chen Qing rode his horse over to Jiang Yuhu and his team of eight, saying softly, ¡°Put on the inner armors I¡¯ve prepared for you in advance.¡± Jiang Yuhu and the others hurried back to their tents to change into the silver inner armors embedded with ten medium-grade spirit stones. The Great Kui Sword was excellent, but its consumption of Spiritual Energy was truly astounding. While Chen Qing didn¡¯t need to worry because of his Snake Gu, Jiang Yuhu and the others could only rely on absorbing Spiritual Energy. It wasn¡¯t long after the army set out when Chen Qing heard that Xuan Mang had summoned him. Chen Qing rode his horse to catch up with the main force, arriving at the front to meet Xuan Mang, ¡°Lord Xuan Mang.¡± Xuan Mang nodded with a smile and said, ¡°Qingxu, I¡¯ll sit at the center with Shi Xintie stationed. You have command over your and Xuanping¡¯s men. Feel free to act on your own initiative without following my orders to seek out a tactical advantage.¡± He extended a hand, tapping Chen Qing¡¯s chest lightly, ¡°It¡¯s your first time on the battlefield; they might not be on guard. Let¡¯s see how you can catch them unawares.¡± Chen Qing clasped his fists, ¡°Yes, I won¡¯t disappoint Lord Witch¡¯s trust.¡± As Chen Qing rode back to lead the army, Xuan Mang thought to himself that Qingxu had once charged alone at two hundred men. Now leading three hundred, with the Eight Tigers under his banner, he couldn¡¯t even imagine how ferocious the scene would be! Therefore, he let go of controlling Chen Qing, allowing him to find his own tactical advantage. Chen Qing understood Xuan Mang¡¯s intention. Just joining the Xuan Bird Tribe and being entrusted like this gave him some fondness for Xuan Mang. Honestly speaking, for someone of Xuan Mang¡¯s status to personally lead troops into battle, Chen Qing found him quite courageous. Xuan Mang was a Foundation Establishment. Also the son of the Great Witch. Leading the army all the way, they had just arrived near the low mountains close to the spirit stone veins when Chen Qing heard shouts of battle erupting ahead. ¡°Rest for a moment, I¡¯ll return shortly!¡± Chen Qing rode up the low mountain, looking at the distant battlefield. In the night, the Yuan Rang Tribe raised torches, resembling a fire dragon charging at the yet-to-be-stabilized Xuan Bird Tribe army. The momentum was terrifying. The Yuan Rang Tribe numbered about two thousand people, while the Xuan Bird Tribe had around eighteen hundred. Excluding Chen Qing¡¯s three hundred, Xuan Mang was leading only about fifteen hundred. Chen Qing thought they would spend a couple of days observing before engaging in battle, but the Yuan Rang Tribe rose up their army as soon as the Xuan Bird Tribe arrived, catching them off guard. Yuan Ye was no fool. At this moment, with volleys of arrows raining down, Xuan Mang and Shi Xintie erected a stone wall twenty zhang long, only to have it shattered in mere moments by iron arrows. Amidst the chaos, Xuan Mang remained unhurried, calmly directing the surrounding tribal army in defense. Unfortunately, due to being ambushed, the tribe was in disarray, struggling to hold on, relying solely on Xuan Mang and Shi Xintie¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivation to forcibly erect a Spiritual Energy Wall, barely resisting the enemy¡¯s assault. In a battlefield of cultivators, terrain was practically useless. Chen Qing saw clearly that a single charge from the Yuan Rang Tribe leveled a low mountain, leaving behind scattered stones and toppled trees. Chen Qing rode back, glancing up at the bright moon, ¡°Abandon torches and supplies, wrap the horses¡¯ hooves, and follow me!¡± Once everyone mounted again, they rode around to the rear of the Yuan Rang Tribe. The Mutant Blood Horses traversed the mountains like level ground, and in a matter of moments, Chen Qing had circled to the rear of the Yuan Rang Tribe¡¯s army. ¡°` Chapter 127 - Chapter 127: Chapter 102 The Roar of the Tiger - Tiger Descends the Mountain_2 Chapter 127: Chapter 102 The Roar of the Tiger ¨C Tiger Descends the Mountain_2 ¡°¡±¡± Looking at the fierce battle ahead, Chen Qing was about to lead his three hundred men forward when he saw the opposing forces shifting, seemingly making some preparations. Chen Qing cursed under his breath about the despicable scouts, realizing they had discovered their whereabouts. Yuan Tianfang, beside him, said, ¡°Lord Qingxu, they are prepared and are mobilizing to encircle us.¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°No worries, the battle in front is fierce; they can¡¯t spare many men.¡± ¡°Block us? They have to manage that first!¡± Turning back, he saw Jiang Yuhu and eight others beside him. Chen Qing said, ¡°Miao Xian, go tell the Witch to let the warriors of the Black Feather Clan rest for a moment.¡± He then told Jiang Yuhu and the eight others, ¡°Stay close behind me.¡± With a hearty laugh, he said, ¡°Yuan, care to charge with me?¡± Yuan Tianfang laughed, ¡°Chen Qing, don¡¯t underestimate our Xuanping Clan.¡± Only then did Chen Qing raise his hand, releasing spiritual energy to form a black thundercloud overhead. In his hand, he condensed a five-foot Geng Metal Giant Sword and shouted, ¡°Charge with me!¡± The Mutant Blood Horse galloped down the slope, careening downwards; rocks and trees were like nothing before such a beast. In just an instant, they were reduced to splinters and rubble. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Yuan Ye turned his horse around, ¡°I foresaw this move of yours!¡± ¡°Yuan Qiu, Yuan Feng, take people and hold them off for me!¡± ¡°Each of you lead a unit from the flanks to intercept!¡± Yuan Qiu and Yuan Feng turned their horses, ¡°Follow me, stop him!¡± Chen Qing led his men charging down from the hillside like a tiger descending the mountain, galloping wildly. On the opposing side, Yuan Qiu and Yuan Feng, each with two hundred men, came to encircle him from both sides. Chen Qing thought, Last time, you had numbers; this time, I¡¯m not charging alone. A faint golden light enveloped him as he activated the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Skills. With a swing, he used the sword¡¯s back to hit the horse, sending the Mutant Blood Horse beneath him into another powerful burst. ¡°Kill!¡± In just a moment, the two forces met as one. The blade of Chen Qing¡¯s Geng Metal Sword blazed, with lightning striking continuously from the sky, turning the sword golden. With a sweep of the sword, he directly cut Yuan Qiu¡¯s spear in half, causing his hands to crack, leaving a bloody mark across his chest from Chen Qing¡¯s cutting blade. Fear filled Yuan Qiu¡¯s heart. Hadn¡¯t seen him in three months; how did he grow so strong? Ah, back then he had traveled thousands of miles. Now, this Qingxu had recovered; his energy was boundlessly vigorous! Luckily, with the two armies now engaged, I only need to take one of his blows and can evade. How could one strategize to capture such a fierce tiger? Should I call upon Foundation Establishment cultivators for assistance? No, our Foundation Establishment cultivators are already entangled with Xuan Mang and Shi Xintie, having no time to spare. A whirl of thoughts flashed through his mind, yet faced with Chen Qing¡¯s Great Kui Sword¡¯s full might, Yuan Qiu remained remarkably composed. Then, his pupils dilated, revealing an expression as if witnessing a ghost, his entire face freezing instantly. The eight behind Chen Qing all raised their swords in unison, the four closest to Yuan Qiu slashing at him with Great Kui Swords in succession. Yuan Qiu wielded his broken gun to parry the first sword. His arms cracked, spilling blood copiously, yet at this moment, he did not wish to defend anymore. He couldn¡¯t withstand it. Chen Qing alone had already rendered him helpless; now with the Eight Tigers backing Chen Qing, he couldn¡¯t even take a single sword strike. How could he fight? Watching the giant sword wrapped in lightning about to descend on him, Yuan Qiu summoned his last bit of courage, shouting, ¡°Yuan Feng, retreat quickly¡­¡± Before he could voice the word ¡°retreat,¡± his chest was split open by a sword, knocked off the horse, and trampled into a pulp by its hooves. Yuan Feng heard Yuan Qiu shout, and just trying to look through the gaps between Chen Qing and those in the forefront to see what happened to Yuan Qiu, he realized he couldn¡¯t spot Yuan Qiu at all. Was Yuan Qiu cut down right as they met? Chen Qing leaped forward on his horse, the Geng Metal Sword in his hand brought lightning¡¯s fury down as if to split Yuan Feng along with his horse in two. Surmising Yuan Qiu¡¯s fate, Yuan Feng faced the impending sword with his own blade, felt the terrifying sword pressure conveyed through it, immediately abandoning his horse, getting blasted five lengths away by Chen Qing¡¯s sword, rolling on the ground several times before getting up and coughing out blood. Seeing Chen Qing slice down one of the Eight Tigers in but a breath and heavily injure another, the soldiers behind him were instantly boosted. Yuan Tianfang shouted loudly, ¡°Lord Qingxu has cut down two Hulking Tigers!¡± ¡°Follow Lord Qingxu, charge!¡± The soldiers following in the charge didn¡¯t know what happened at first, only aware the front was in chaos, with two enemy units enclosing them. Initially wary, upon hearing two Hulking Tigers felled in an instant by Chen Qing, they shouted and spurred their horses, following Chen Qing into the fray. ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Charge forward!¡± Chen Qing rode at the forefront, feeling the enemy forces around him like two rivers rushing toward him. He swung his sword, frantically hacking at the soldiers on both sides. With one sweep, he cut down one or two soldiers, blood splattering, flesh flying. He swung wildly at the front, even feeling one sword wasn¡¯t enough; he infused spiritual energy into a Sword Butterfly, forming another five-foot-long Geng Metal Sword in his left hand. Dual swords danced wildly, like a rampant dragon¡¯s claws and teeth. After slicing down an enemy soldier, the sword force lingered, with its energy fanning out, causing bodies around him to bend back. They hadn¡¯t even reacted, barely steadied themselves from Chen Qing¡¯s fierce assault, only to witness the same horrifying scene Yuan Qiu had seen earlier. The Eight Tigers behind Chen Qing swung the thundering giant swords continuously as well, sweeping across the battlefield, beheading foes. Jiang Yuhu found it incredibly smooth to swing the sword, killing rapidly. Once swept by Chen Qing¡¯s sword, the enemies who survived were only just recovering from his formidable presence, ambushed again. All he needed was to keep swinging to cut down enemies one by one. Chen Qing felt differently; in a cavalry charge, bravery was paramount. Whoever was braver could cut through the enemy ranks. And Chen Qing, in this battlefield¡ªeven across all of Nanli¡ªwas one of the strongest in the Qi Refining Realm. Chen Qing felt his Mutant Blood Horse galloping beneath him, trampling shattered corpses, while enemy soldiers were thrust toward him by the charging war horses, prime for him to hack. After taking three enemy pikes head-on, he glanced, noticing even his Protective Golden Light remained unbroken; thanks to the meat Gu, not even his internal organs felt the slightest hint of shock. Squeezing his mount¡¯s sides, Chen Qing continued to charge, wielding the Geng Metal Giant Sword in both hands, continuously intercepting and swinging with the lightning from the dark clouds. Chen Qing cleaved through as if a dragon crossing the river, smashing everything obstructing his path. Enemy¡ªcut down! Enemy horse¡ªcut down! Enemy weapon¡ªcut down! The great sword swept across, scattering a thousand soldiers! Charging past these four hundred enemies, Chen Qing easily slaughtered his way to the enemy¡¯s rear; by now, it was even easier, as enemies, facing away, couldn¡¯t react in time and were beheaded or dismembered by his sword swings. Only occasionally did an enemy react, yet could inflict no harm on Chen Qing before being struck down again. Chen Qing paved a bloody path through, leaving entrails scattered with each charge. The Eight Tigers behind him kept swinging down swords mercilessly, cutting down one enemy after another. With warhorses galloping and swords slashing furiously, Chen Qing charged directly into the center of the enemy formation, determined to force his way through them all! Standing high on horseback on a ridge, Xuan Mang saw Chen Qing routing the force encircling him in an instant, charging straight into the enemy¡¯s center, and immediately understood Chen Qing¡¯s intent. ¡°Tell the warriors of the Black Feather Clan to prepare to receive Lord Qingxu!¡± His aim was to pierce through the entire enemy line! And what was even scarier, he truly had the strength to achieve it! Golden Skin and Jade Bone, along with the Great Kui Sword, rendered Chen Qing invincible on this battlefield! As he slaughtered his way through, Chen Qing lost count of the enemy soldiers he felled, only knowing that such unrestrained carnage was truly exhilarating, with enemies continually delivering themselves for his slaughter! ¡°¡±¡± Chapter 128 - Chapter 128: Chapter 103: The Tigers Roar - The Tiger of Nanli, To Death Not Life Chapter 128: Chapter 103: The Tiger¡¯s Roar ¨C The Tiger of Nanli, To Death Not Life The Geng Metal Sword in his hand fell, and there was a rain of blood. Chen Qing broke through the enemy lines, feeling suddenly that the space before his eyes had opened up. It turned out, he had already slaughtered his way through the entire enemy ranks. Turning his horse around and looking back, along the path he had killed through, there were at least two hundred corpses strewn on the ground. Of course, it wasn¡¯t just his doing alone; there was also the merit of the Eight Tigers and the three hundred warriors behind him. Chen Qing immediately shouted, ¡°Jiang Yuhu, you eight continue to follow me in the charge!¡± He turned his head and bellowed, ¡°Warriors of the Black Feather Clan, do you still have the courage?¡± The Nanli people may lack everything else, but they certainly don¡¯t lack bravery. ¡°Yes!¡± Chen Qing reached out to wipe the fresh blood on his face, ¡°Hahaha, then follow me in the charge!¡± Previously, the charge had been from behind the enemy troops, and although Yuan Qiu and Yuan Feng put up a resistance, they had been slaughtered by him, leaving the enemy troops disheartened, hardly inflicting any major damage to him and Xuanping¡¯s men. But this time, it was a head-on charge against the opposing army, and Chen Qing naturally did not want his own men to suffer too many losses. Therefore, he let his own troops take a brief respite under that name and switched them with the troops of the Black Feather Clan, to continue the charge with him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï The warriors of the Black Feather Clan, seeing Chen Qing bravely slaughter his way through the enemy ranks, now also had their blood boiling with eagerness, wishing themselves to be part of the Iron Flow Valley, following Chen Qing in a grand spree of killing. Now that Chen Qing was calling them, they were naturally extremely eager. One could say that this was a strategy satisfying to both sides. The only ones who might not be satisfied were Xuanping¡¯s men and Chen Qing¡¯s own warriors, who still wanted to join Chen Qing for another round of assault. Seeing Chen Qing lead the people of the Black Feather Clan into the charge, Chen Qing spurred his horse into a leap, and in just a moment he tore through the enemy¡¯s defense, plunging into their ranks. Like a Divine General descending to the mortal realm, determined to carry the war to the ends of the earth! Yuan Tianfang, witnessing this astonishing scene, felt a bit eager to try. He looked around; the nearby warriors had no mind to listen to Xuan Mang¡¯s orders. Moreover, Xuan Mang was currently engaged with Yuan Ye across from him, and as soon as they clashed, their might was like mountains crumbling and the earth splitting; to avoid harming his own soldiers, they had taken their fight far away, leaving no time to give orders. Yuan Tianfang immediately raised his sword and shouted, ¡°Charge through, follow Qingxu and break through the enemy lines!¡± This was definitely a victory, now was the time to vie for military achievements! Chen Qing was fighting with wild abandon in the midst of the crowds; no, to be precise, it was a massacre. For these ordinary soldiers could not breach Chen Qing¡¯s Golden Skin and Jade Bone. Chen Qing had just chopped down two adversaries when a group of over a dozen with long spears came lunging at him. Chen Qing shouted loudly, ¡°Rise!¡± Like a fierce tiger¡¯s roar echoing in the wilderness, he swung the Geng Metal Giant Swords in succession, cleaving through the obstruction of these dozen or so men, and continued to advance. Chen Qing had no interest in completely slaughtering them; that was a task for the Eight Tigers and the Black Feather Clan behind him. His sole responsibility was to carve out a continuous path for the charge! Even so, the number of people he killed was too many, the enemy¡¯s blood converging in large streams along the muscles of his arms, persistently dripping down. The blood did not make his grip slippery; the sticky blood made his hold even firmer, his hands as though glued to the hilt of his sword. Just as he was about to continue the charge, Chen Qing saw Yuan Ye far away throw a chunk of black soil that landed ten zhang ahead of him. Chen Qing charged through, slaying three men on his way. That clump of soil expanded like a gushing spring, swelling into a small hill in just three breaths, and then solidified into a ten-zhang-tall Mud Stone Giant, which swung down a fist at him. Chen Qing felt the wind rushing at him, and even with his Golden Skin and Jade Bone activated, he sensed a hint of danger. The howling gale tousled his black hair wildly, and just as he was about to abandon his steed and evade by turning into fog, a crisp cry of the Xuan Bird sounded behind him. ¡°Chirp~!¡± The Xuan Bird, like a bronze statue, pierced through the clouds, tracing a perfect arc, its sharp beak like a Cloud Piercing sword, instantly piercing through the Mud Stone Giant¡¯s hand. Passing entirely through the hand, the stone arm of the Mud Stone Giant was utterly shattered. Chen Qing swiftly spurred his horse past the legs of the Mud Stone Giant, holding a piece of the soil from its shattered arm, trying to see if it could be collected into the Universe in the Sleeve but found it could not. However, it could be stored within his in-body space. It wasn¡¯t magic. Was it actual mud and stone? Could it possibly be regenerating Cloud Soil? Looking back, he saw the Xuan Bird, having shattered the Mud Stone Giant¡¯s arm, circle back, its talons lifting the Mud Stone Giant and tossing it into a gorge outside the battlefield, immediately causing the ground to shake and the mountains to tremble. Chen Qing steadied the Mutant Blood Horse beneath him, and while the enemy was stunned by this earth-shattering momentum, he once again entered the fray. The Mud Stone Giant¡¯s legs stepped into the mountain, continuously absorbing the mud and stone from the range, conjoining like streams onto its body and causing its body to swell again to twelve zhang tall, its arms regenerating as well. The Xuan Bird soared high, its wings flapping at the Mud Stone Giant, immediately whipping up a terrifying chill wind, forming thousands of icicles as long as longswords, and with a shake of its wings, it launched thousands of icicles falling at the Mud Stone Giant. Chen Qing, listening to the mountain-opening and rock-splitting commotion, swung his twin swords through the enemies with abandon. Charging toward the front, Chen Qing single-handedly bulldozed across the battlefield, tearing a bloody path right through the enemy formation. With the previous chaos, the enemy troops had already been divided into four pieces. Racing over a hundred zhang through the battlefield, Chen Qing once again felt the space in front of him open up as he had, yet again, broken through the enemy lines! Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: Chapter 103: The Tigers Roar - The Tiger of Nanli, To Death Not Life_2 Chapter 129: Chapter 103: The Tiger¡¯s Roar ¨C The Tiger of Nanli, To Death Not Life_2 Continuing to charge forward a hundred feet, making room for the rear troops, Chen Qing shouted, ¡°Rear team becomes the front team, about-face!¡± When he led the Eight Tigers back to the front again, he saw Yuan Tianfang, covered in blood from killing, but at this point, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to pursue any issues. Killing was killing. After all, they were about to win. Chen Qing raised his giant sword, ¡°Charge and kill with me!¡± Once more, he plunged into the enemy ranks, transforming into a sword tip, tearing through the formation. The Eight Tigers and Yuan Tianfang followed, expanding the breach, while the warriors at the rear slaughtered the enemy troops who had just been attacked by the Eight Tigers. As for those in the very back, they felt as if they were just constantly running. By the time they were close to the enemy, there were not many left in front of them. At this point, no one foolishly left the team to charge elsewhere, as that was a path seeking death. Chen Qing plunged into the enemy ranks again, but he felt less resistance than before, making the slaughter easier. The enemy army was on the brink of collapse! Seeing Chen Qing charge again, they didn¡¯t even want to organize an offensive; they just wanted to save their lives. As the horses galloped, Chen Qing swung his two giant swords, leading the five hundred soldiers behind him as they passed through the layers of enemy troops like a deep dragon flying through the sky. With a charge, they left behind another two hundred corpses! Shi Xintie used a spear to repel an enemy Foundation Establishment before him, glancing over the battlefield with the corner of his eye, he sighed, ¡°Truly one man against a thousand!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Chen Qing had lost count of how many people he had killed, as he was just continuously killing without a moment¡¯s stop. Chen Qing turned his horse around, covered in blood like a Divine General, he shouted, ¡°Where are the warriors of the Yusheng Clan!?¡± The warriors of the Yusheng Clan shouted in response, ¡°We are here!¡± Chen Qing raised his giant sword, ¡°Charge and kill with me!¡± He charged out on his horse, immediately followed by the Eight Tigers and over two hundred cavalrymen from the Yusheng Clan. Yuan Tianfang, having charged twice with Chen Qing, was now out of breath, and he immediately led the people of Iron Flow Valley and the Xuanping Clan to maintain their formation, ¡°Don¡¯t let them escape, follow me!¡± He stood in front of the enemy, allowing Chen Qing to lead his men to charge forward. Yuan Ye¡¯s gaze fell on Chen Qing, thinking he should have personally dealt with him earlier. Such a Tiger General, Xuanping was truly lucky! Failing to establish Foundation in the north, yet they gained such a Tiger General, they actually profited! Watching Chen Qing slaughter the crowd, his own army couldn¡¯t resist, not even standing a single round against Chen Qing. With the great sword falling, bodies were shattered and heads severed. Most of the corpses on the ground were warriors of the Yuan Rang Tribe, Yuan Ye only needed a glance to estimate there were about six or seven hundred. Yet the other side, with Chen Qing tearing apart the formation by himself, had only lost around a hundred due to most of the pressure being on him. ¡°One man against a thousand, truly a Tiger General!¡± His army had already done their best; in a mundane war, losing thirty percent of the troops would lead to a collapse. Yet his soldiers, having lost almost forty percent, were still fighting hard, and no one used Earth Gu to escape underground, only temporarily avoiding Chen Qing¡¯s fury. Charging through the formation again, Chen Qing was about to return to his own formation when he saw Yuan Ye standing on the shoulder of a Mud Stone Giant shouting loudly, ¡°Retreat!¡± ¡°Retreat!¡± ¡°Retreat!¡± After speaking, Yuan Ye jumped off the Mud Stone Giant¡¯s shoulder, mounted his Mutant Blood Horse, and headed for the distant Great City of the Yuan Rang Tribe. Yuan Tianfang laughed loudly, ¡°Hahaha, we won! We won!¡± ¡°Soldiers, pursue them with me!¡± Chen Qing also spurred his horse to pursue, unwilling to let too many enemies return to the Yuan Rang Tribe. Only the warriors of the Stone Heart Clan were still shouting, ¡°No, Lord Qingxu hasn¡¯t led us to charge yet!¡± ¡°Why did they surrender?¡± ¡°It hasn¡¯t been our turn yet!¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t the fools of the Yuan Rang Tribe hold on a little longer?¡± Yuan Tianfang also found it amusing, hearing complaints about the enemy not being defeated quickly enough. ¡°Kill, pursue them, don¡¯t let the enemy escape!¡± Seeing a large number of enemy troops using the Earth Tunneling Skill, the Xuan Bird Clan, pursuing immediately, bent their bows and shot wildly at the bulging mounds, occasionally hitting an enemy not deeply tunneled. As for the over a hundred Yuan Rang Tribe warriors without Earth Gu, watching many comrades disappearing, they merely cursed under their breath, ¡°Damn it, let¡¯s fight them!¡± ¡°Fight, we Nanli people lack no blood courage!¡± They turned their horses, ¡°Our brothers retreated, we can¡¯t retreat, let¡¯s stay to block the enemy!¡± Yuan Wujue, draped in a luxurious wolf-skin robe, turned his horse while holding a knife, raising it high, ¡°Brothers, Nan Li has no warriors who surrender!¡± Seeing sixteen hundred troops closing in on him, Yuan Wujue coldly watched, pulling a Spirit Stone from his shirt, and frantically absorbing the Spiritual Energy within. The Yuan Rang Tribe warriors, not possessing Earth Gu, gathered around him, likewise pulling out Spirit Stones, absorbing the Spiritual Energy, blood gleaming in their eyes. Chen Qing rode up slowly, ¡°Even in defeat, are there such fierce warriors?¡± This was entirely different from the sects over in Da Yan. In Da Yan, if defeat was certain, surrendering was no big deal. But the Nanli tigers, today, showed Chen Qing their faith. He understood why the people of Nanli were called tigers by the world. To live is glory, to die is not to be mourned. Chapter 130 - Chapter 130: Chapter 103: The Tigers Roar - The Tiger of Nanli, To Death Not Life_3 Chapter 130: Chapter 103: The Tiger¡¯s Roar ¨C The Tiger of Nanli, To Death Not Life_3 ¡°` Yuan Wujue was a square-faced man, very tall and muscular. Even though the enemy army had completely surrounded him, there was not a hint of fear in his eyes. He tore his luxurious robe and bound the wound on his left arm. He raised his sword, ready to charge recklessly, ¡°Brothers, follow me for one more charge!¡± ¡°Let the people of the Xuan Bird Tribe know that our Yuan Rang Tribe is full of warriors unafraid of death!¡± The warriors of the Yuan Rang Tribe behind him shouted, ¡°We swear to fight to the death!¡± ¡°Better to wrap our corpses on the battlefield than to kneel!¡± Chen Qing saw the rear army had not arrived yet. While everyone was looking at the more than a hundred men, he picked up a medium-grade Spirit Stone, stuffed it in his mouth, and chewed it into pieces in a few bites, swallowing it down. Yuan Tianfang rode over to him, ¡°Qingxu, kill them, give them a quick death.¡± As soon as his words fell, more than a thousand Mystic Iron bows were drawn tight with creaking sounds. As soon as Chen Qing gave the order, a thousand iron arrows would rain down and in an instant, half of the last hundred men would be annihilated. Chen Qing rode forward alone on his horse, waving his hand to signal the rear army to lower their Mystic Iron bows. He tore off the White Tiger cloak from his shoulders and wiped the blood from his hand. He suddenly remembered Wuyou Mountain, remembered the senior brothers and sisters who risked their lives to save him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Xuanping would soon be going to Foundation Establishment, and he, the Light Butterfly would soon be completing the Ninth Transformation. He wanted to travel ten thousand miles with Xuanping to help her achieve the Foundation Establishment while letting the Light Butterfly achieve Harmonization. At the same time, he would seek opportunities for himself to reach the ninth level of Qi Refining or even achieve perfection in the Qi Refining Realm, perhaps even Foundation Establishment. He didn¡¯t want Iron Flow Valley to become the next Wuyou Mountain after he left. He didn¡¯t want to be displaced from his home again. That kind of pain, once is enough. So make Iron Flow Valley strong enough! And the group of people before him, Chen Qing admired them. Riding alone to the front, Chen Qing shouted, ¡°I give you an opportunity!¡± ¡°If you defeat me, I will let you go without pursuit!¡± Yuan Wujue shouted, ¡°What if we lose?¡± Chen Qing laughed heartily, ¡°If you lose! Defeated by me, do you think there is any other way out for you?¡± Yuan Wujue shouted angrily, ¡°Since you are straightforward, I won¡¯t deceive you just because you are alone.¡± ¡°But if it¡¯s a one-on-one duel, it seems to underestimate the chief tiger of the Xuan Bird Tribe.¡± ¡°We will fight you five at a time!¡± He immediately rode forward confidently, shouting, ¡°Who dares to join me in fighting the chief tiger of the Xuan Bird Tribe?¡± Instantly, a large number of warriors from the Yuan Rang Tribe rode forward. They seemed unaware that Chen Qing had battled so many and that his stamina and Spiritual Energy were at their weakest, just wanting to strike first. Yuan Wujue pointed at the four who rushed forward fastest, ¡°You guys, come with me!¡± He raised his sword and charged at Chen Qing, ¡°Kill!¡± Chen Qing smiled, gripping the Geng Metal Sword in his right hand, channeling Spiritual Energy to dull the blade, turning it into a blunt sword. At this moment, Xuan Mang finally had a moment to spare, but seeing Chen Qing fighting against the five, in a moment they crossed paths, and those five were knocked unconscious to the ground by Chen Qing¡¯s sword back. Chen Qing¡¯s Mutant Blood Horse under him couldn¡¯t stop its forward momentum, charging into the remaining ninety-plus, who didn¡¯t attack Chen Qing, allowing him to return and change horses. After changing horses, Chen Qing rode forward again, extending his hand toward them, ¡°Come!¡± The opponent sent out five more riders charging at Chen Qing again. Chen Qing charged forward on horseback, passing through them as before. Xuan Mang clearly saw Chen Qing¡¯s extremely fast movements, due likely to contracting a meat Gu, making the sword speed even faster. Seeing another five knocked unconscious and fallen, Xuan Mang did not interrupt the battle, as he knew Chen Qing wanted to win over these hundred or so people. In today¡¯s battle, Chen Qing had completely established his position in the Xuan Bird Tribe. Chief tiger! Even someone at Foundation Establishment was on equal footing with him. No one doubted that Chen Qing would one day achieve Foundation Establishment. Xuan Mang saw, as if in rapid development, a new hero whose future was immeasurable. But even so, Xuan Mang felt no jealousy nor concern about Chen Qing¡¯s power growing too fast. For he always remembered, Chen Qing had once carried Xuanping, traveling eight thousand miles, breaking through to a fierce array of two hundred men with a single sword. And Xuanping was unharmed. ¡°` Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: Chapter 108: Chapter of Fairyland - Blood Disaster Chapter 138: Chapter 108: Chapter of Fairyland ¨C Blood Disaster Mist grazed by, wafting over the sailboat sails. The two at the bow watched as Chen Qing and the others at the stern communicated by writing in the snow, with Li Xuetang wearing a snow-colored fur coat, donned in a grey-white windproof cape. Li Xuetang stretched out her hand and wrote four characters on the railing¡¯s snow: What brings you here? As an Immortal Court Divine Son, one should not need to wander the world seeking opportunities to break through to the Foundation Establishment phase. Even if it were necessary, the Immortal Court has an abundance of methods, such as the Lanrotuo Realm. Li Chonghuan has always stood tall and proud, raising his hand to write a sentence on another patch of snow: Waiting for someone who will surely come to challenge me. Li Xuetang was slightly surprised by this sentence. He used the word challenge, not assassination? The Immortal Court Divine Son emerges once every eight hundred years, and the Little Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Master Mansion is now three hundred years old. It¡¯s rare for heirs of the Great Sects to appear in the same era. This means that Li Chonghuan is currently the undisputed number one in the Qi Refining Realm. Yet he is waiting for someone to challenge him, and has even chosen the immortal island, which only those in the Qi Refining Realm can enter, as the battlefield. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Isn¡¯t this blatantly giving the other party an opportunity to challenge him? Has another successor of a Great Sect appeared? ¡°Will he come?¡± In Li Chonghuan¡¯s eyes lay a deep confidence, ¡°He will come. It¡¯s a once-in-a-millennium opportunity, and he must come.¡± ¡°He has a reason that he must come.¡± But at this moment, he frowned slightly, a trace of melancholy arising, ¡°I¡¯m only wondering if I should win or lose.¡± In his words, winning or losing seemed simple, to win if he wished, to lose if he chose. And this victory or defeat would set off a sequence of events. He reached into his sleeve and gripped a talisman tightly. This game was initiated by the Yin Yang Sect, but they do not know what they have really started. Now that the game has begun, it is beyond their control. Li Xuetang, standing by, shuddered at the conversation. Because she knew nothing, she was simply following the arrangements of the Heavenly Master Mansion to come and achieve Foundation Establishment. Perhaps, this is the difference between a Daoist woman, a Daoist, and a Divine Son. ¡°Thank you for the pointer, Divine Son.¡± Li Xuetang whispered softly. Meanwhile, on the other side, Chen Qing and Nie Fei were roasting fish, ¡°I have to say, the fish we had a few days ago tasted the best.¡± ¡°The water here is too warm, and the fish is not as fresh.¡± Xuanping passed the newly roasted fish to Chen Qing. Surrounded by an endless fog, she found Chen Qing¡¯s presence oddly reassuring. It wasn¡¯t until the noon of the 4th of August that they vaguely saw a huge shadow hidden in the fog ahead. As they drew nearer, the shadow grew clearer; it was an immense mountain range ¨C not just one mountain, but a series of mountain ranges converging into a massive formation. Above the peaks, mists could be vaguely seen. The clouds covered so much that it was hard to see clearly. The large boat docked, and no sooner had the five passengers disembarked than they saw half a body on the ground, slowly sinking into the soil. Nie Fei went over to the person, whose body was sinking into the earth, and pulled off a jade pendant from his clothing. ¡°I know this person; he is a Daoist of the Yin Yang Sect named Xu Sanbian. He¡¯s usually very slippery, so how could he fall so easily here?¡± As the four were puzzled by how the Daoist of the Yin Yang Sect had died, they saw a young boy in red approaching them. Only when the boy came closer did they realize that it wasn¡¯t any red garment but one drenched in blood. With every step he took, a blood-soaked footprint was left behind. The blood had congealed his hair into strands, like little braids. Chen Qing looked into the boy¡¯s eyes and felt as if he was looking at a wolf. Exceptionally bright and full of an aggressive desire to hunt. The boy glanced at them and then turned to walk into the fog, his destination unknown. Nie Fei braced his slightly trembling legs, ¡°Damn, that scared me! Encountering such a monster as soon as we get on the immortal island!¡± Looking back at the body of Xu Sanbian, only one foot remained. Both the blood and the body were slowly sinking into the ground. Chen Qing picked up a stone and tossed it next to the body, but it did not sink into the ground like the body had. Is this the supernatural power of the Abnormal people that Yao Feng spoke of? Have the Abnormal people broken away from the control of the Yin Yang Sect? They felt the young boy move away before heading towards the immortal island. They barely took ten steps when they heard a soft sound from behind. Chen Qing turned around to see another bloodied young boy emerging from Xu Sanbian¡¯s corpse, the blood congealing into a garment of blood on his body. He got up, not even glancing at Chen Qing and the others, and walked into the nearby fog with bloodied footprints as they watched. On the ground, only a blood-stained skin remained. Nie Fei dusted off his pants and stood up solemnly, ¡°It¡¯s not much. Not scary at all. I¡¯ve seen much worse back in the day.¡± ¡°It was truly a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, with cut-off ears, legs, and viscera everywhere.¡± ¡°The intestines and livers stewed in a pot, each one hanging on a hook like a forest of meat.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Are you talking about the Evil Sect or the Demon Clan?¡± Nie Fei shook his head, ¡°Neither, it was a pig slaughterhouse.¡± Seeing Nie Fei still in the mood to joke, Chen Qing also relaxed a bit of his own fear. Chapter 139 03-25 - Chapter 139: Chapter 108: Chapter of Fairyland - Blood Disaster_2 Chapter 139: Chapter 108: Chapter of Fairyland ¨C Blood Disaster_2 He said, and even he felt a bit hungry. There was still too much about this world he didn¡¯t understand. Chen Qing took a step back, moving behind Xuanping, ¡°We¡¯ve seen the immortal island now, perhaps we should head back.¡± Xuanping said, ¡°That abnormal person didn¡¯t attack us. His target wasn¡¯t us; it should be the Yin Yang Sect that imprisoned him for so long.¡± Looking over at Li Chonghuan, he had already stridden into the fog with Li Xuetang. Nie Fei said, ¡°They¡¯re already gone, what should we do?¡± Xuanping pondered for a moment, walked towards the piece of human skin left on the ground, tore a piece, and examined it closely, ¡°No aura of Gu¡¯s grand path, it should be due to the control over this piece of heaven and earth.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not as strong as we imagined; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t need to make it so bloody.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more of a deterrent, warning us not to interfere with his revenge.¡± She stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s move, we came to the immortal island, we should do something, we can¡¯t just come for nothing.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no reason Li Chonghuan and Li Xuetang wouldn¡¯t be afraid, and then we¡¯d be afraid.¡± Chen Qing, helpless, had to follow. Why was he, a weak and helpless Qi Refinement ninth level, coming to such a dangerous place? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Isn¡¯t it better to cultivate quietly at home? Absolutely not going to join the excitement next time. Just as the three were preparing to leave, they saw a small boat docking behind them, and a woman wearing a Twin Fish Daoist Robe of the Yin Yang Sect disembarked from it. Chen Qing turned back, suddenly thought of something, and boldly stepped forward, ¡°Fellow Daoist, are you from the Yin Yang Sect?¡± The woman from the Yin Yang Sect saw the bronze mask on Chen Qing¡¯s face and seemed a bit cautious, ¡°Jiguang Sect?¡± Chen Qing approached with a smile, ¡°Indeed, we are from the north, from the Jiguang Sect, and now coming to this immortal island, we are unsure how to seek treasure.¡± As he spoke, he drew closer, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that this abnormal person was released by you, so I wanted to gather some intelligence.¡± As he spoke, he reached into his arms, causing the woman to immediately grow wary, placing her hand on her sword¡¯s hilt. Chen Qing drew out a Spiritual Pearl, ¡°If Fellow Daoist could enlighten us a bit, we will surely express our gratitude.¡± ¡°One Spiritual Pearl for a small favor, please accept it, Fellow Daoist.¡± He pretended to hand over the pearl, and the woman didn¡¯t relax her vigilance in the slightest, when a familiar voice came over, ¡°You¡¯re here too?¡± The woman looked over and discovered it was Xu Sanbian, Daoist of the Yin Yang Sect. Seeing a fellow sect member, she instantly relaxed, just as her hand left the sword hilt, doubts arose in her heart again, something was off. If Xu Sanbian is here, why is he asking me this? While hesitating, she saw a flash of sword light before her eyes, dodged the fatal blow but got hit in the waist, and blood flowed profusely. Just as she was about to react, she felt a forceful breeze pass by, and a cyan feathered arrow pierced through her skull, killing her instantly. In death, her expression was frozen at the last moment, full of confusion, and a trace of anger. Chen Qing pulled out the Xuan Bird Arrow, washed it in the seawater, and tossed it back to Xuanping. Dragging the woman¡¯s body onto a flat area of the immortal island, he and Nie Fei, who had transformed into Xu Sanbian, squatted down next to it. Nie Fei asked, ¡°Why attack someone from the Yin Yang Sect?¡± Xuanping also came over, squatted next to them, watched for a full twenty breaths, and saw no sign of the woman¡¯s body merging into the ground. Chen Qing then picked up the Geng Metal Sword, still stained with fresh blood, and dug a big pit on the ground, tossing the woman into it, then kicked dirt over her with his feet, burying her completely. They then quietly waited by the side. Xuanping instantly understood Chen Qing¡¯s intention and helped him completely bury the woman, then waited alongside him. A whole cup of tea¡¯s time passed, and finally, there was a change in the mound of earth, a blood-soaked boy emerged from it. This time, when the boy came out, he seemed a bit dazed, until he picked up the skin and clothes of the Yin Yang Sect woman, after looking around for a while, he seemed to confirm something. He spoke, intermittently, ¡°During the day¡­ don¡¯t¡­ move around¡­ at night¡­ leave.¡± Finished speaking, he walked towards another direction, completely different from where the previous two boys went. Chen Qing then stood up, ¡°Now I can be sure that he really has no interest in us.¡± Since they couldn¡¯t provoke that boy¡¯s true form, they might as well test the rules here by first provoking a less formidable one. In this way, even if danger arises, it would be within a manageable scope. They had killed someone from the Yin Yang Sect, so the boy revealed some secrets of the immortal island to them. As for killing a complete stranger, Chen Qing felt little burden in his heart. Given how far the boy was pushed, one could imagine the torment he had suffered at the Yin Yang Sect. Anything bad for the abnormal people, Chen Qing always treated as an enemy. The three glanced at the sky, it was still noon, recalling what the boy had said, Chen Qing suggested, ¡°Perhaps we should find a place to rest for a while?¡± Nie Fei transformed into the woman¡¯s form, ¡°Since we can¡¯t move during the day, why not wait here for more Yin Yang Sect people to bury a few more and gain more information?¡± ¡°If that lord gets pleased, and tells us the treasure¡¯s location directly, wouldn¡¯t that be great?¡± The three then found a reef to sit on, quietly waiting for darkness, planning to act after nightfall, also hoping to ambush another Yin Yang Sect member to gain more information. Unfortunately, luck wasn¡¯t on their side, and until the night fell, they hadn¡¯t encountered another member of the Yin Yang Sect. During the day, Chen Qing listened intently, in this eerie immortal island, there were numerous strange sights. There were giant trees walking on the ground, exotic beasts running rampant, blood-clothed boys hunting everywhere, and man-eating caves. This was just a part of it; the wind hadn¡¯t brought much information. After nightfall, even the wind seemed to stop, Chen Qing listened to the last whisper of the breeze and suddenly realized that a walking giant tree he saw during the day had stopped moving and fallen asleep. Chen Qing then said, ¡°Let¡¯s move, I sense that the danger has subsided.¡± The three of them then made their way deeper into the immortal island; strangely, while the heavy fog lingered during the day, it dissipated at night. Under the hazy moonlight, they could barely make out the surroundings. After walking for a while, Chen Qing sensed a century-old sword heart grass ahead. Approaching the area, he saw a Sword Ghost sleeping nearby. He instantly transformed into fog, reached out, plucked the sword heart grass, and returned to Nie Fei and Xuanping¡¯s side after transforming back. The Sword Ghost didn¡¯t wake up and continued to sleep. ¡°Nights here, the exotic beasts and those creatures seem to sleep very deeply.¡± Nie Fei immediately grew interested in treasure hunting, ¡°We¡¯ve just walked a bit, and we¡¯ve already got a century-old sword heart grass, although the age isn¡¯t particularly significant, it¡¯s still quite rare.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s continue searching for treasures.¡± Recently, Xuanping also realized that Chen Qing and Nie Fei shared a deep relationship, ¡°Let¡¯s not get separated; the only ones we can rely on are the three of us.¡± Nie Fei said, ¡°No worries, Sister-in-law, I understand the importance.¡± Feeling the gentle breeze at his ears, Chen Qing said, ¡°I think I heard a dilapidated sword hut ahead.¡± Nie Fei didn¡¯t bother asking why it was heard as a broken sword hut, just said, ¡°Is there any danger?¡± Chen Qing replied, ¡°Several sleeping Sword Ghosts nearby, but there shouldn¡¯t be much trouble.¡± Nie Fei was immediately intrigued, ¡°Let¡¯s go check it out. Even if there are no Spirit Sword Gus, there should still be sword scriptures and sword Gu!¡± The three of them immediately started walking lightly, following Chen Qing towards the unknown sword hut. Passing through clumps of bushes, Nie Fei suddenly tripped over something. He got up and picked up what tripped him, ¡°A broken sword?¡± ¡°After all these years, it¡¯s still recognizable as a broken sword, looks like this island might have famous swords!¡± ¡°And the owner of this island should possess extraordinary sword-forging techniques.¡± Chen Qing, however, said, ¡°Too bad we couldn¡¯t encounter more Yin Yang Sect members, otherwise we could have learned even more.¡± Chapter 151 03-25 - Chapter 151: Chapter 113: The Chapter of Immortal Realm - Fatian Xiangdi Chapter 151: Chapter 113: The Chapter of Immortal Realm ¨C Fatian Xiangdi ¡°` The Earth Vein Flower slowly opened, completely rejuvenated, and Chen Qing, whose injuries had healed, walked out from within. Xuanping clearly sensed the change in Chen Qing. This change was peculiar because she actually felt a sense of comfort just by seeing him. It was a very solid feeling of tranquility. Bai Wangming, however, felt differently; he sensed an inexplicable dignity about Chen Qing. That dignity was heavy and domineering, giving the impression of a Mount Tai standing before one¡¯s eyes. Xuanping walked up to Chen Qing, opening her hand to reveal a pink Gu. ¡°During the three days you were lying in the Earth Vein Flower, this was what I obtained by following its guidance.¡± [Spiritual Item Wind Gu ¡¤ Chasing the Moon] Quality: Eighth Transformation Life Span: 59/110 Effect: Can harness fierce winds. [Trait]: Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï [Wind-guided] Moves with the wind, allowing you to use wind power for short flights. Growth Requirements: Wind Spirit Essence Growth Progress: 72/100 Promotion Requirements: Ninth Transformation, nine feathers from a Cloud Sparrow, one drop of Wind King¡¯s Blood ¡°Not only did I acquire this spiritual item Wind Gu, but I also obtained its Promotion Map, enough to promote it to Harmonization Fifth Transformation!¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Your attack strategies are mostly long-range, requiring distance, quickly form the contract!¡± Xuanping said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you tempted?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Since the Earth Vein Flower led you to it, it¡¯s its gift to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already obtained what I wanted.¡± ¡°Besides, I already have a Ninth Transformation Wind Gu, I won¡¯t be needing it.¡± To be honest, such a secondary contract spirit Gu doesn¡¯t appeal to me. It suits Xuanping well. Xuanping giggled, ¡°Who said I was giving it to you?¡± After Xuanping formed the contract with the spiritual item Wind Gu, Chen Qing said, ¡°It¡¯s time to rescue Nie Fei and that young man.¡± When he spoke, he was filled with strong confidence, and it was only at this point that he understood what kind of power could slay a Foundation Establishment. Leaving the cave where the Earth Vein Flower had hidden them, Chen Qing said, ¡°Elder Bai, since you¡¯re not skilled in combat, wait for us by the seaside. Once we¡¯ve rescued our companions, we¡¯ll take you with us to leave!¡± Bai Wangming, however, smiled and said, ¡°Since I¡¯ve decided to join you, let¡¯s see it through to the end.¡± ¡°Rest assured, I have my own ways to ensure survival. Having wandered the martial world for so many years, I may not have many skills, but preserving my life is one of them.¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Alright then, since you¡¯re determined to come, let¡¯s go!¡± Chen Qing stood on the flat ground outside the cave, feeling the changes in the earth and sensing everything around, beginning to control the earthly momentum, and lightly commanded, ¡°Wind, rise!¡± In the previously windless mountainside, a gust of wind suddenly rose from the distant valley. Chen Qing grabbed Bai Wangming¡¯s shoulder, who was instantly startled; this person could actually control the power of these heavens and earth! Chen Qing walked with the wind, Xuanping following closely behind. The two of them advanced in the wind, harnessing its power to move quickly. Within just two hours, they had galloped 160 miles. Chen Qing listened to the wind, controlling his altitude not to exceed 33 zhang, saying, ¡°They are all now in the Immortal Palace at the top of the immortal island, let¡¯s find Nie Fei first!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve found his trace!¡± ¡°Go!¡± Chen Qing journeyed thirty miles on the wind and landed before a cliff, a Three-eyed Crow in a nearby large tree remarked, ¡°At last, you have arrived!¡± ¡°They are now planning to use that young man to force out the Earth Vein Flower and capture it again!¡± ¡°The young man¡¯s situation is very dangerous right now. When I sneaked a look, eight nails were already pierced into him.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Who is the strongest opponent?¡± Nie Fei said, ¡°It¡¯s a Daoist from the Yin Yang Sect, Xi Wangye!¡± ¡°He was already a Daoist, about as strong as us, and now at Foundation Establishment, he¡¯s tough to deal with!¡± Chen Qing felt the power within him, ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try!¡± He placed Bai Wangming on the ground, ¡°Elder, wait for a chance to rescue a young man trapped in the Immortal Palace by them!¡± He looked at Nie Fei and Xuanping, saying, ¡°I will lead the main attack to draw their attention, you cover me!¡± ¡°Nie Fei, you find a way to release the Jiguang Sect brothers captured by the Yin Yang Sect!¡± Nie Fei laughed, ¡°Leave this matter to me!¡± ¡°This is what I¡¯m best at!¡± The Immortal Palace ahead was shrouded in clouds and mist, and at the entrance of the Immortal Palace stood Lu Suo and Xiang Tian, who had been waiting for a long time. Within the Immortal Palace, Li Chonghuan and Xi Menye Dao were sitting across from each other, drinking wine. Chen Qing then leaped forward; guarding outside the Immortal Palace, Lu Suo and Xiang Tian immediately noticed Chen Qing, ¡°This damn Jiguang Sect, still dare to come!¡± ¡°Disciples of the Yin Yang Sect, attack!¡± Suddenly, thirty Qi Refining Realm disciples of the Yin Yang Sect rushed out of the hall, dashing down from the mountain, intending to annihilate Chen Qing completely! Chen Qing¡¯s hand revealed a Spiritual Pearl, which he chewed and swallowed in two or three bites; he opened his right hand toward the front, ¡°Earth Dragon Flipping!¡± The ground cracked dozens of zhang, startling the disciples of the Yin Yang Sect rushing down the mountain, causing them to lose their footing and scatter in all directions. Taking advantage of the Yin Yang Sect disciples being caught off guard, Chen Qing brought his two fingers together and chanted a formula. The terrifying Spiritual Energy contained within the Spiritual Pearl spread throughout his body, even though he had the Snake Butterfly, he felt like his whole body was about to tear apart! Fortunately, once the incantation was chanted, a large amount of Spiritual Energy was instantly consumed, and his entire body continued to absorb the Spiritual Energy constantly erupting from his abdomen! Fatian Xiangdi! Consuming massive amounts of Spiritual Energy enabled the physical Dharma Form to stand tall and unwavering! ¡°` Chapter 152 03-25 - Chapter 152: Chapter 113 The Chapter of the Land of Immortals - Fatian Xiangdi_2 Chapter 152: Chapter 113 The Chapter of the Land of Immortals ¨C Fatian Xiangdi_2 ¡°` With the power of moving mountains and filling seas, the strength to pick stars and break clouds, greatly amplifying the magic he cultivated! However, now Chen Qing was only at the ninth layer of the Qi Refining Realm. Even after forcibly swallowing a Spiritual Pearl, he could not fully exhibit the Fatian Xiangdi, nor reach the sky-high height. A strong wind blew, and Chen Qing¡¯s body swelled with the wind, expanding like a balloon. In just a mere three breaths, he was already ten zhang tall! Chen Qing drew the Great River Sword from his back, which was a full six zhang long. Thousands of Sword Qi surged forth, like a true river rushing out! Chen Qing swung the Great River Sword in his hand, controlling the true Sword Qi River to strike down towards the Yin Yang Sect disciples ahead! Thousands of Sword Qi swept over, immediately sending many flying. Only some with deep cultivation could barely stand their ground and not be swept away! Nie Fei watched this terrifying scene from afar, ¡°Wow, what Light Butterfly Harmonization, to actually unleash such divine skills like Fatian Xiangdi?¡± ¡°It¡¯s still the Fatian Xiangdi of Snake Butterfly!¡± Xuanping saw this scene and was so shocked her crimson lips could barely close, ¡°Fatian Xiangdi?¡± ¡°Divine skills!¡± ¡°His Light Butterfly Harmonization has unlocked divine skills, it¡¯s the Fatian Xiangdi kind!¡± Bai Wangming finally understood why he had calculated a great fortune for this. He also knew why when he previously calculated for Chen Qing, all the Copper Coins stood upright. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? ¡°What an earth-shattering power!¡± ¡°Such divine power, and he¡¯s only at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement!¡± ¡°No wonder nothing could be foretold!¡± ¡°Lucky I didn¡¯t forcefully calculate it; if I did, my old life would have been lost!¡± With one strike, mountains crumbled and the earth split, three Yin Yang Sect disciples couldn¡¯t withstand it and were torn to pieces by the Sword Qi River! Xiang Tian and Lu Suo were dumbfounded, ¡°What kind of magic is this!¡± ¡°Oh no, an opponent that can compete with the Immortal Court Divine Son from the Jiguang Sect has arrived!¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a mere ninth level Qi Refiner, how could he unleash such magic?¡± Xi Menye Dao heard the commotion outside, walked to the entrance of the Immortal Palace, and upon seeing Chen Qing¡¯s magic, his eyes shone with wild joy. He stood at the door and shouted, ¡°Villain, hand over your Light Butterfly and spirit Gu, and I will spare your life!¡± Chen Qing roared in fury. The Great River Sword in his hand flew out, summoning a Sword Qi River rushing towards Xi Menye Dao! Xi Menye Dao sneered dismissively, ¡°Trivial tricks!¡± ¡°If I dared to let Li Chonghuan in, how could I not have countermeasures?¡± He stepped out dozens of zhang, standing in the sky. Inside him, several Gu burst forth as his hands opened a Yin Yang Roulette the size of a millstone in front of him. His hands danced, twisting the Yin Yang Roulette, diverting all the Sword Qi River aimed at him elsewhere. One strike dissipated the Sword Qi River. Xi Menye Dao shook his arms, and instantly the sound of a tsunami resonated around him. As he swung his arms, a blood sea of thirty zhang by thirty zhang emerged around him. With a swing of his fist, a blood-colored Dragon Whale flew to the sky, as if to slaughter everything in the world! Seeing this, Chen Qing thought to himself that this Daoist who had already reached Foundation Establishment was indeed extraordinary, far superior to ordinary Foundation Establishers! Chen Qing immediately invoked the might of the earth. With a wave of his hand, a ten zhang long dragon flew out of a low mountain, clashing with the blood-colored Dragon Whale! With a thunderous rumble, the ground shook, causing all Qi Refinement Realm cultivators to roll away. At this moment, whenever the two engaged, it was with the force of mountain-opening and earth-cracking, causing everyone to scatter in unison, not daring to come closer by even a bit. Even those at Foundation Establishment, witnessing this situation, were deeply unsettled. Xi Menye Dao, however, showed no fear. A long blade flew from his sleeve, carrying the blood sea as it charged towards Chen Qing. Chen Qing, with a punch, summoned ten zhang of lightning, striking Xi Menye Dao¡¯s body, blasting him into a stone mountain. The stone mountain collapsed, as Xi Menye Dao rode the flowing blood sea out, laughing loudly, ¡°Just so, just so!¡± ¡°I must see how long you, a mere ninth layer Qi Refiner, can sustain such divine skills like Fatian Xiangdi!¡± He laughed wildly, his blood-red long hair flailing in the wind, bringing the blood sea again before Chen Qing. In his hand, the long blade summoned a ten zhang blade light to strike fiercely towards Chen Qing! Chen Qing¡¯s hand condensed the eight zhang long Geng Metal Giant Sword. With a single swing, he shattered the blade light. Raising the sword towards the sky, he immediately summoned a cloud of black covering a hundred zhang area, with dozens of lightning bolts crashing down, converging onto Chen Qing¡¯s Geng Metal Giant Sword. Since you want to exhaust my Spiritual Energy, let me show you what Snake Butterfly truly means! Seeing this, Xi Menye Dao finally showed a slight change in expression, ¡°After using Fatian Xiangdi, you still have this much Spiritual Energy, there are treasures on you!¡± ¡°Hahahaha, perhaps it¡¯s my fate to strike it rich today!¡± ¡°If I kill you, I will become the Divine Son of the Yin Yang Sect!¡± Xi Menye Dao held the blade in his right hand, forming a seal with his left. A tremendous flying knife appeared in the blood sea, coming behind Chen Qing¡¯s neck in an instant, ready to cut down! The blade light flashed, and there was a loud clang as the blood-red flying knife shattered, and Chen Qing was utterly unharmed! Seeing this, Xi Menye Dao¡¯s expression changed. He withdrew and shouted, ¡°Attack him, all of you!¡± Lu Suo and Xiang Tian exchanged glances, seeing the bitterness in each other¡¯s eyes. Dammit, you can¡¯t defeat him, so you send us to wear down his Spiritual Energy first! However, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and charge, immediately flying up to attack Chen Qing. From afar, Xi Menye Dao watched Chen Qing, ¡°He has both Fatian Xiangdi and the Vajra Body. What kind of monster is this?¡± The greatest weakness of Fatian Xiangdi is that while it increases defense after enlarging, the boost is not significant. Hence, one can exploit the lack of agility in the Fatian Xiangdi state by inflicting injuries using a plethora of long-range attack techniques. But Chen Qing also practiced the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Skills, rendering it a Vajra Body, leaving Xi Menye Dao momentarily without a plan of attack. ¡°We can only wear down his Spiritual Energy first!¡± ¡°Fatian Xiangdi is powerful, but the consumption of Spiritual Energy is enormous, truly enormous. How long can you, a mere ninth layer Qi Refiner, last?¡± Lu Suo immediately unfolded the Yin Yang Roulette, throwing it at Chen Qing like a child attempting to break a nut with an adult. Chen Qing effortlessly grabbed it, crushing it with a pat of his hand, as the Geng Metal Giant Sword swept across dominantly, slashing Lu Suo to the point he coughed blood. With a stomp, causing the ground to split, ¡°Trying to flee, not that easy!¡± Chen Qing leaped forward, spanning hundreds of zhang, swinging the Geng Metal Giant Sword in hand, summoning surrounding thirty zhang of lightning to strike down upon Xi Menye Dao! Xi Menye Dao opened his Yin Yang Formation Diagram, but with one strike, he was struck, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The Yin Yang Formation Diagram was also shattered by Chen Qing. Xi Menye Dao immediately entered the blood sea, making it impossible for Chen Qing to find his hiding spot. ¡°Shen Chong, come quickly and help me kill the enemy!¡± Hearing this, Shen Chong left the place where he was guarding the Jiguang Sect members, took to the air, fully operating the Blood Gu, intending to draw all the blood from Chen Qing¡¯s body. Yet in the Fatian Xiangdi state, Chen Qing merely felt his left hand being drawn for an instant! His body was too enormous; the Blood Gu was essentially useless! Chen Qing immediately slashed with his sword, sweeping across as Shen Chong vanished into the fog, only to be struck down by the lightning, falling out scorched! At this moment, Xiang Tian circled behind Chen Qing, wielding a long sword to stab towards Chen Qing¡¯s back! The sword pierced through Chen Qing¡¯s Protective Golden Light, only to meet a heavy force of the earth that blocked it, unable to harm Chen Qing in the slightest. Instead, it was Xiang Tian¡¯s great force that sent himself flying! Such humiliation! A lofty Foundation Establishment, sneak attacking a ninth layer Qi Refiner, yet failing to break his defense! Chen Qing turned his head, his foot driving dozens of lightning bolts as he stomped towards Xiang Tian! Xiang Tian leaped to dodge, but was struck by three lightning bolts, his whole body tingling. Just as he prepared to retreat at Shen Chong¡¯s signal, he felt a chill in his chest. Three Xuan Bird Arrows pierced his back, protruding through. Spitting blood, Xiang Tian rolled to the ground, leaning on one arm to rise, his hair tousled wildly, ¡°Damn it, are a few mere Qi Refiners going to turn the world upside down?¡± As soon as Shen Chong left, a fly flew into the side hall where the Jiguang Sect was imprisoned. Returning to his true form, Nie Fei landed on the ground, skillfully shattering the gate lock with one punch, throwing dozens of middle-grade Spirit Stones into the cell. ¡°Hahaha, brothers of the Jiguang Sect, fear not. I singlehandedly slaughtered everyone from the Yin Yang Sect, and I brought Taiyi to rescue you all!¡± ¡°` Chapter 159 03-25 - Chapter 159: Chapter 116 Great Witch Chapter 159: Chapter 116 Great Witch August 15. Wei Qingchen and Nie Fei had entered the city two days earlier; that night, Chen Qing sat at the bow of the ship, cultivating while waiting for news. The full moon hung high, and silvery moonlight spilled over the sea. Not long after nightfall, Chen Qing saw them returning one by one. Nie Fei was the sixth to return, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s done. Wei Qingchen is just wrapping things up.¡± About a quarter of an hour later, Wei Qingchen returned, holding a box in his hands, which he handed to Chen Qing, ¡°Lord Qingxu, I have retrieved the Void Flower.¡± Chen Qing took it, satisfied, and absorbed it into his body. Wei Qingchen continued, ¡°This time, we disguised ourselves as operating under Wanbao Pavilion, so it won¡¯t implicate us.¡± ¡°I investigated the manager of the Yibao Building; he once trafficked one hundred fifty-two boys and girls for demons to use in enhancing Gu.¡± ¡°He deserved to die!¡± Hearing this, Chen Qing felt somewhat better. This Wei Qingchen was quite competent, not only could he kill, but he also left no future trouble. Moreover, he even found a reason for Chen Qing to justify the act, making things smoother. Seeing that Nie Fei nodded towards him, Chen Qing was satisfied and said, ¡°Wei Qingchen has done well this time, and also contributed significantly in the last battle, having slain the most people from the Yin Yang Sect.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°I grant you a Wind and Rain sword Gu!¡± ¡°Remember, the first material for the ascension is Sword Ganoderma.¡± Placing the jade bottle containing the spiritual item sword Gu into Wei Qingchen¡¯s hands, Wei Qingchen was overjoyed, ¡°Thank you, Lord Qingxu, for the reward!¡± The others looked envious, realizing that following Chen Qing was worthwhile; someone had just joined and already received a spiritual item sword Gu! Chen Qing continued, ¡°Wait until your sword Gu ascends, then come find me.¡± With the Promotion Map in hand, he could greatly increase his control over Wei Qingchen. Seeing that it was almost midnight, Chen Qing said, ¡°Rest for now. After I attend the gathering, we¡¯ll head south tomorrow.¡± This gathering did not involve much discussion; everyone¡¯s focus was on the immortal island, yet no one knew the specific situation, only that even Li Chonghuan went. Even Ji Ru did not inquire about the Gu, instead asking others about the immortal island¡¯s news. Unfortunately, the news was not widespread. Listening to their discussion, Chen Qing felt no interest. As the final victor, he naturally knew most. At this time, someone from the Jiguang Sect resting in the tent under the ship asked, ¡°Wei Qingchen, why did you investigate the Yibao Building¡¯s manager?¡± Wei Qingchen replied, ¡°Though Lord Qingxu is strong, his foundation is not yet stable.¡± ¡°Moreover, now that we have committed to him, we must avoid sullying his dao heart.¡± ¡°Lord Qingxu is as good as his word, displaying unrivaled loyalty.¡± ¡°Being with someone like this is the only way to a future.¡± ¡°Unlike Xi Wangye, who abandoned his comrades when facing death to save himself.¡± ¡°If Lord Qingxu¡¯s dao heart is sullied and he becomes like that, you can be discarded at any time. Is that what you wish to see?¡± In the end, it was about reputation, respecting the virtue of the dao was always more convincing. And Chen Qing¡¯s reputation was excellent, which is why he could quickly establish himself in Cold Mountain City. After the gathering, the next day, Chen Qing and his group prepared to head south, seeking a hidden Jiguang Sect base, and everyone was transported to Nanli. After investigating for a day, they discovered they were near King Wu¡¯s city. Xuanping led the team, taking twelve days to return to Iron Flow Valley. As they approached Iron Flow Valley, Nie Fei said, ¡°I still can¡¯t settle in one place, preferring to roam freely.¡± Chen Qing knew someone like Nie Fei would fall ill from staying in one place for too long. ¡°If you encounter danger, come find me anytime.¡± Nie Fei laughed, ¡°Hahaha, as soon as I¡¯m in danger, you¡¯ll surely appear to rescue me!¡± Chen Qing instructed, ¡°Li Xuetang, follow Xuanping from now on.¡± Seeing Li Xuetang had a plan, Nie Fei left gracefully. Everyone took a distant look at Cold Mountain City, and Wei Qingchen, gazing at the majestic city, asked, ¡°Lord, do you require us to take this city?¡± Chen Qing glanced sidelong at Xuanping; after all, it was Xuanping¡¯s family business. Xuanping said, ¡°Except for this city, the other neighboring tribes can be at your disposal.¡± She knew that people from the Jiguang Sect were highly skilled and couldn¡¯t be truly confined to Iron Flow Valley. These seven tribes were what Chen Qing and Xuanping offered them as a foundation. Wei Qingchen said, ¡°In just three months, aside from Cold Mountain City, the other seven tribes will surely submit before you, Lord!¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Don¡¯t make it too obvious; just maintain control in the shadows.¡± Wei Qingchen cupped his hands, ¡°Understood!¡± Chen Qing continued, ¡°Wei Qingchen, now you have completed the Qi Refining Realm and possess two spiritual item Gus, it¡¯s time you prepared for Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°As for obtaining control over these seven tribes, just issue the orders; let someone else execute them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll say just one thing: on the surface, they can do as they wish, but one day when I raise an army, I wish to see all who can fight come to me.¡± Waving the others away, Chen Qing and Xuanping rode toward Iron Flow Valley. Chen Qing asked, ¡°I¡¯m planning to take over your family¡¯s foundation, and you¡¯re not reacting?¡± Xuanping was indifferent, ¡°My family¡¯s foundation belongs to my father, not to me.¡± Chapter 160 03-25 - Chapter 160: Chapter 116 Great Witch_2 Chapter 160: Chapter 116 Great Witch_2 ¡°He heard that I was going to reach Foundation Establishment, so he should be returning soon.¡± Chen Qing felt a jolt in his heart; was the Great Witch really coming back? ¡°What realm is your father in?¡± Xuanping didn¡¯t hide it. ¡°Qi Refinement is the First Realm, Foundation Establishment is the Second Realm, Ghost Mask is the Third Realm, and my father is in the Fourth Realm, Mystic Gate.¡± It was the first time Chen Qing heard the names of the Third and Fourth Realms. ¡°Fourth Realm?¡± He had originally thought that the Great Witch was only in the Third Realm. To his surprise, he was actually in the Fourth Realm. The gap between Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment had already made him acutely aware of the vast differences between realms. In the Fourth Realm, he had no resistance at all, but fortunately, he was outwardly aligned with Xuanping. Just a day after returning to Iron Flow Valley, Chen Qing received news from Xuanping that the Great Witch had returned. The entire Cold Mountain City, the whole Xuan Bird tribe, plunged into jubilation. After thirty years, the Great Witch returned to his fief. The busiest person, however, was neither Xuan Mang nor Xuanping, but Xuanping¡¯s mother. Yuan Yi. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Once the Great Witch returned, Yuan Yi would be the highest status person in Cold Mountain City. Chen Qing soon received the news, accompanying Xuanping to Cold Mountain City to welcome the Great Witch. Since the Great Witch hadn¡¯t arrived yet, Chen Qing took the opportunity to enter the city and buy materials to advance the Great River Gu. Then, he followed Xuanping to the city wall. After paying respects to Xuanping¡¯s mother, Chen Qing stood behind Xuanping, waiting for the arrival of the Great Witch. Cold Mountain City was enveloped in a festive atmosphere more intense than any New Year¡¯s celebrations. On both sides of the streets, shopkeepers set out long tables filled with fine wines and dishes, offered freely for all to enjoy. Every household was decorated with lanterns and streamers. Wooden channels were even constructed in the streets, flowing with Spiritual Ginseng Wine, with cups floating on top for anyone to drink from. Standing at the very front was Yuan Yi. Although she was over forty, she was well-maintained and looked just about thirty, standing beside Xuanping, resembling sisters more than mother and daughter. Yuan Yi had initially been sent to serve the Great Witch because of her beauty, and for some unknown reason, the Great Witch allowed her to become pregnant. Since then, the Yuan Family went from being the weakest among the nine tribes of Xuan Bird to becoming the strongest. After giving birth to Xuanping, she returned to the Xuanping Clan and no longer meddled in worldly affairs. She was an extremely wise woman, knowing what she should and shouldn¡¯t do. Behind Yuan Yi stood Xuan Mang and Xuanping. Further back were the leaders of the other nine tribes, with Yuan Tianfang standing beside Chen Qing, saying, ¡°Brother Qingxu, fear not, the Great Witch is a good person.¡± ¡°Very amiable. Though I¡¯ve only met him once, I was captivated by his demeanor.¡± Chen Qing thought to himself, ¡°You don¡¯t know the situation, so don¡¯t speak nonsense. I¡¯m secretly plotting to take over his family business!¡± From morning until evening, everyone continued to wait respectfully before the city gate. What surprised Chen Qing the most was that, under the scorching sun, the mortal woman Yuan Yi stood as steady as a mountain, showing not the slightest sign of weakness. He couldn¡¯t help but silently praise her. On a distant mountain peak, an elder dressed in black cloth put down his wine bowl and asked, ¡°Dalang, how long have they been waiting?¡± This elder appeared to be just over fifty years old, but his aura was extremely imposing. His eagle-like eyes seemed capable of seeing through all things. Despite his graying hair, he exuded a remarkable air, looking from afar not like a person, but like a sleeping tiger. By his side stood a middle-aged man bearing a strong resemblance to him, dressed like a scholar, who bowed to the elder and said, ¡°Father, they¡¯ve been waiting an entire day.¡± The Great Witch grinned and said, ¡°Let them wait a bit longer. We¡¯ll enter the city tonight.¡± ¡°Dalang, did you read Ping¡¯er¡¯s letter?¡± Xuan Cuo stepped forward and said, ¡°I¡¯ve read it and burned it.¡± The Great Witch asked, ¡°What do you think of this fellow?¡± Xuan Cuo replied, ¡°Qi Refining Ninth Layer, he carried Ping¡¯er eight thousand miles south without letting her suffer a scratch!¡± ¡°But with a mere Qi Refining Ninth Layer, he commands twenty-one skilled warriors of Hu Kui¡¯s strength. His influence is established.¡± ¡°He is loyal and righteous, true to his word, possesses extraordinary strength, and has astonishing potential. He could join our family.¡± The Great Witch shook his head and said, ¡°Chasing Light, you are still underestimating the Jiguang Sect. To have thirteen Qi Refining Realm masters, perfectly honed, submit. He is likely the most powerful of the thirteen in the Jiguang Sect today.¡± ¡°His strength greatly exceeds your estimates.¡± ¡°He may even rival the Immortal Court Divine Son.¡± Xuan Cuo was slightly startled, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Father, aren¡¯t we risking our necks here?¡± The Great Witch dismissed his concern, saying, ¡°I took Zhang Taia¡¯s head myself. Young people handle things too sloppily.¡± ¡°Cuo¡¯er, remember, cultivation is a risky business.¡± ¡°Only by cutting a bloody path can one obtain the qualifications, wealth, and support needed for further cultivation.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve lived over two hundred years, and the life and death I¡¯ve witnessed are beyond counting.¡± ¡°When you reach my age, you¡¯ll understand.¡± ¡°For now, you needn¡¯t worry about that. Wake me after dark.¡± Late at night, Cold Mountain City was still brightly lit. At last, everyone heard the sound of hooves approaching. At the forefront was the Great Witch on horseback, followed by eighteen Foundation Establishment cultivators. As the Great Witch arrived, the entire city erupted in cheers, with drums and gongs sounding, and music starting to play. Chen Qing mingled with the crowd, bowing and paying respects along with everyone else. The Great Witch entered the city and dismounted. Chapter 161 03-25 - Chapter 161: Chapter 116 Great Witch_3 Chapter 161: Chapter 116 Great Witch_3 Reaching into the wooden trough, he grabbed a wine bowl and downed a cup, laughing loudly, ¡°The wine from Cold Mountain City is still the best!¡± Then, the Great Witch and the people from the city, over a thousand strong, gathered for a meal. After receiving the homage of the people, he was escorted back to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion by the leaders of the nine clans. Upon entering the mansion, the Great Witch turned back, ¡°Qing, you come in with me too.¡± Chen Qing looked around, knowing the Great Witch was addressing him, and somewhat reluctantly followed into the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Xuanping walked to Chen Qing¡¯s side, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, my father is a good man.¡± As they reached the main hall of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, everyone took their seats; the Great Witch sat in the central throne, with Chen Qing sitting next to Xuanping. The Great Witch smiled, ¡°It¡¯s been over twenty years, Ping¡¯er has grown so much.¡± Xuanping quickly replied, ¡°All thanks to the reputation of my father that I can live without worries.¡± The Great Witch chuckled, ¡°It was not without worries; the Taiping Sect tried to assassinate you when you headed south.¡± He looked at Chen Qing, scrutinizing, ¡°Is this Qingxu who escorted you south?¡± Chen Qing stood up and bowed, ¡°I am Qingxu, pleased to meet the Great Witch.¡± The Great Witch smiled kindly and gestured with his hand, ¡°Please sit down.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°What a good kid.¡± ¡°We waited for a day, you all must be tired.¡± ¡°Except for Dalang and Qingxu, everyone else should go to sleep.¡± Once everyone else had left, Xuanping noticeably sensed a different atmosphere, and glanced worriedly at Chen Qing as she departed. Then unexpectedly, she turned back, the previously amiable face of the Great Witch suddenly turned ferocious like a tiger opening its eyes. Xuanping stepped forward, drew a Daoist hairpin from her sleeve, tidied Chen Qing¡¯s messy hair, and inserted the hairpin, ¡°When facing father, you should show some respect.¡± Once done, Xuanping made her exit under the ravenous gaze of the Great Witch, ¡°Father, your daughter takes her leave.¡± Xuanping left the main hall, hurried back to her quarters, collapsed onto her bed, her mind filled with the image of her father¡¯s suppressed rage. She couldn¡¯t help but feel frightened. She didn¡¯t even know if her actions just now had indeed saved Chen Qing. She hoped her father would, for her sake, treat Chen Qing a bit better. No sooner had Xuanping left than the Great Witch¡¯s demeanor became amiable again, causing a slight tingle in Chen Qing¡¯s heart. Such authority; compared to the Mountain Master, the Mountain Master is merely a mortal! The Great Witch waved his sleeve, ¡°Qingxu, you saved Ping¡¯er, and I haven¡¯t properly thanked you.¡± ¡°Dalang, bring in my gift.¡± Xuan Cuo shortly returned, carrying a wooden chest which he placed beside Chen Qing, ¡°Here¡¯s the gift, please have a look, Brother Qingxu.¡± Chen Qing opened the chest, and inside was unexpectedly a human head. Chen Qing immediately understood that this meeting was anything but ordinary. The Great Witch maintained a smile, ¡°This is Zhang Taia¡¯s head, a gift for you. Are you satisfied?¡± Chen Qing was shocked inwardly, but maintained a composed expression, sitting firm and steady, ¡°Thank you for your generous gift, Great Witch.¡± At this point, the Great Witch walked over, sat down on Xuanping¡¯s seat next to Chen Qing. He reached into his sleeve, pulled out the twenty-one Hu Kui Enfeoffment Documents, and placed them in front of Chen Qing. Chen Qing looked them over: aside from the designated Hu Kui names and tribes to lead, all other formalities were already completed. The Great Witch picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and placed it beside Chen Qing¡¯s hand, ¡°I am only back for two months this time.¡± ¡°These twenty-one Hu Kui Enfeoffment Documents, you fill in the Hu Kui¡¯s names and tribes.¡± ¡°In two months, when I leave, I want to see the Hu Kui of twenty-one tribes bringing their forces to bid me farewell!¡± ¡°For the regions around Xuan Bird tribe, just handle seizing these tribes, I will take care of the aftermath, the consequences are mine to resolve.¡± ¡°If you fail to do so.¡± ¡°Chen Qing!¡± ¡°Then you can roll back to your Wuyou Mountain!¡± Chapter 162 03-25 - Chapter 162: Chapter 118 Walking on the Earth Chapter 162: Chapter 118 Walking on the Earth Two months¡¯ time wasn¡¯t too difficult. Chen Qing was confident because of the thirteen members of the Jiguang Sect under him. It was an exceptionally powerful force. Chen Qing picked up the hot tea beside him and took a small sip. All previous concealments were now laid bare in the eyes of the Great Witch. Was this the power accumulated over two hundred years? But none of that mattered. He didn¡¯t know he was Taichu, nor did he know his own abilities. In Xuanping¡¯s eyes, he wasn¡¯t even an Abnormal person. Then there was no problem. This was just a test. That night, Chen Qing stayed in the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, sleeping soundly in the guest room. The Great Witch sat alone at the entrance of the main hall, looking up at the stars. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï He didn¡¯t know if what he did was right or wrong, but he just wanted to do it. There was no reason to live as a blade for two hundred years and not have a desire to wield one. ¡°What is he up to?¡± Xuan Cuo said, ¡°Sleeping, and sleeping very soundly.¡± Hearing this, the Great Witch burst into laughter, ¡°Ha ha ha, good, it¡¯s done.¡± Calm in the face of danger, he had composure. He should be able to handle the plans ahead. The morning of August 29. Chen Qing stepped out of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion and looked back, seeing Xuanping not there to send him off. He guessed she had been grounded by the Great Witch. Picking a wildflower from the grass outside the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, Chen Qing reentered and placed the flower at Xuanping¡¯s door, then turned and left. Just outside the city, Chen Qing met the long-waiting Wei Qingchen. ¡°Sir, was there any surprise last night?¡± Chen Qing took out the twenty-one Hu Kui Enfeoffment Documents and showed them to Wei Qingchen. ¡°Did the Great Witch want to test your abilities?¡± Chen Qing said, ¡°Probably, gather the brothers, there¡¯s been a change of plans, let¡¯s return to Iron Flow Valley for a discussion.¡± Back at Iron Flow Valley, he asked Jiang Miaoxian to gather the Eight Tigers and Yuan Wujue. The Eight Tigers and Yuan Wujue arrived quickly, and seeing the seriousness on Chen Qing¡¯s face as he sat at the head, they knew something big was happening today. After about two hours, Wei Qingchen came in with thirteen others. Once everyone was present, Chen Qing took out the twenty-one Hu Kui Enfeoffment Documents, and asked Jiang Miaoxian to distribute one to everyone except Wei Qingchen. ¡°I acquired the twenty-one Hu Kui enfeoffment documents, everything is ready except the names and tribes.¡± ¡°In two months, I want you to conquer the tribes around the Xuan Bird tribe and gain control of them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve given you the documents, now it¡¯s up to your abilities.¡± Everyone was slightly surprised by these words. They had the strength of the Hu Kui, true, and even the thirteen of the Jiguang Sect far surpassed the Hu Kui. But the sudden appearance of the twenty-one Hu Kui Enfeoffment Documents was still surprising. Chen Qing continued, ¡°Remember, you are all from Iron Flow Valley, cooperate, don¡¯t go at it alone.¡± ¡°The one who contributes the most will receive a spiritual item sword Gu from me.¡± ¡°Iron Flow Valley¡¯s people are at your disposal, but there¡¯s only close to two hundred of them.¡± ¡°Each of you can choose ten people to accompany you on this task.¡± ¡°For this operation, I have only one requirement, do not cause innocent bloodshed.¡± Chen Qing reached into his robe, took out the spiritual item sword Gu, and placed it on the table. ¡°This spiritual item sword Gu, I¡¯ll leave it here. It¡¯s a Green Blade sword Gu, very strong in close combat, capable of breaking gold and cutting jade, slicing through hair.¡± ¡°Even a Foundation Establishment would be harmed by it.¡± ¡°And in my possession, I have the complete Promotion Map for this spiritual item sword Gu.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone was even more excited, a complete Promotion Map, meaning it could be promoted to Harmonization Ninth Transformation! Seeing Chen Qing was willing to bestow even the spiritual item sword Gu, the people of Iron Flow Valley suddenly felt a wave of awe inside. Had the lord¡¯s strength grown to the point where even a spiritual item sword Gu was unnecessary? Seeing everyone eager to try, Chen Qing finally said, ¡°This operation will be led by Wei Qingchen.¡± ¡°First, send people to investigate the tribes you¡¯re targeting, and within three days, determine the tribes to be targeted.¡± ¡°Wei Qingchen stays, all others may leave.¡± The crowd left with the documents, each selecting ten people in the valley, then galloped out of Iron Flow Valley, heading toward the surrounding tribes. When only Wei Qingchen remained, Chen Qing began discussing the key points of the plan. ¡°Qingchen, you are now my most trusted confidant, your work is the most reassuring.¡± Feeling Chen Qing¡¯s trust, Wei Qingchen was very pleased, ¡°For this operation, I will not let you down.¡± Chen Qing nodded and then said, ¡°In the next few days, prepare yourself and begin your Foundation Establishment, let me know what you need.¡± ¡°During your Foundation Establishment, I will be traveling nearby, exploring underground spirit stone veins and undiscovered treasures.¡± ¡°Use these treasures and spirit stone veins as bait to spark wars, then have them step in to clean up the situation.¡± Wei Qingchen was overjoyed at this, ¡°If so, capturing twenty-one tribes will be easy!¡± With these baits, wars could be ignited, and with their strength, it would be easy to establish dominance during the wars. Wealth always moves people¡¯s hearts, and when it comes time to compete for it, it¡¯s the best opportunity for the strong to gain power. As long as you lead that tribe to seize wealth, you can secure a foothold. Then the twenty-one tribes can watch over each other, forming a deterrence and gaining temporary control. Chapter 163 03-25 - Chapter 163: Chapter 118 Walking on the Earth_2 Chapter 163: Chapter 118 Walking on the Earth_2 Chen Qing¡¯s task was to speed up this process. However, what was truly remarkable was that his current Light Butterfly could listen to the earth¡¯s breathing. He could clearly sense Spirit Stone veins even if they were buried deep beneath the ground. Put simply, he planned to use money to subdue these twenty-one tribes. Of course, once everything became clear, at least thirty percent of the wealth would go into Chen Qing¡¯s pocket. He wasn¡¯t intending to keep this wealth all to himself, as he certainly couldn¡¯t lead Iron Flow Valley to mine Spirit Stones on his own; that would be too slow. Not very realistic. After allowing Wei Qingchen to proceed with Foundation Establishment, Chen Qing got up, mounted his horse, and left Iron Flow Valley, intending to explore the surrounding Spirit Stone veins and hidden treasures. Yuan Wujue led ten riders from the Yuan Rang Tribe out of Iron Flow Valley, galloping down the road, becoming increasingly convinced by Chen Qing. What he was doing now was completely different from what he did when he was in the Yuan Rang Tribe. They aimed to seize control of twenty-one tribes at once; he had never encountered such a grand scheme in the Yuan Rang Tribe. A sense of mission to accomplish great things arose spontaneously. He increasingly couldn¡¯t fathom Chen Qing¡¯s abilities. In the ninth level of Qi Refining, he casually took out a spiritual item sword Gu to reward his subordinates. What kind of concept was that? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï He had no doubt that Chen Qing had the power to slay those at the Foundation Establishment stage, as without this strength, he couldn¡¯t possibly possess an extra spiritual item sword Gu. In the previous battle for the Spirit Stone mine, Chen Qing¡¯s strength was still considered normal, but rarely had such formidable Hu Kui appeared. But the ability to bestow a spiritual item sword Gu was beyond what even a once-in-decades talent like Hu Kui could accomplish. When he was in the Yuan Rang Tribe, he hadn¡¯t even seen a spiritual Gu. He only knew that Yuan Ye had a spirit Gu, but he didn¡¯t know exactly what it was. This time, Chen Qing was going to bestow a spiritual item sword Gu. In comparison, what was Yuan Ye in front of Chen Qing? At that moment, he threw all thoughts of the Yuan Rang Tribe behind him. He only knew that he wanted to make the biggest contribution this time. To gain Chen Qing¡¯s trust and regard, and to obtain that spiritual item sword Gu! At most, he could assure that while hunting nearby tribes, he wouldn¡¯t harbor thoughts against the Yuan Rang Tribe. That was the greatest respect he could offer his own tribe. Times had changed. He wanted to follow Lord Qingxu, who could freely bestow spiritual item sword Gu, to the very end of the sky! His heart was filled with passionate excitement, feeling that joining Iron Flow Valley was indeed an incredibly wise decision; this was the force that could rise! Thinking of this, the forty-two-year-old Yuan Wujue began pondering another question: how could he contribute the most? To swiftly capture a tribe? No, that was just individual bravery, which wouldn¡¯t significantly help the bigger picture. That would only complete his own task, not fulfill the lord¡¯s requirements. The lord wanted twenty-one tribes, not just one. He looked at the Eight Tigers of Iron Flow Valley galloping in front; Jiang Yuhu was the strongest and had excellent relations with the Stepping Square Clan. He guessed Jiang Yuhu might go to seize this tribe. The thirteen people that came back with the lord, though extremely powerful, were not necessarily simpler than these local experts when it came to capturing nearby tribes. Jiang Yuhu might be the quickest to succeed. Better to help Jiang Yuhu secure victory first, then use his strength to help others. This way, his role would be clear, uniting many fierce tigers to help them successfully capture tribes. Finally, with their strength, easily taking down a tribe! In this way, he would be the greatest hero! Moreover, because they would all have received his help, they would not be discontent when the spiritual item sword Gu was rewarded to him in the future. Thinking of this, Yuan Wujue hurriedly urged his horse forward, ¡°Yuhu brother, where are you heading?¡± Jiang Yuhu laughed, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m going to the Stepping Square Clan. I have good relations with them and am sworn brothers with their chieftain.¡± ¡°When the time comes, once I produce the documentation, I can establish the identity of Hu Kui.¡± Yuan Wujue said, ¡°Not so, Yuhu brother, you think too simply. The Stepping Square Clan is not a small clan; they won¡¯t submit to you so easily.¡± ¡°Moreover, you are already engaged and can¡¯t officially marry a woman from the Stepping Square Clan, making it difficult to truly control them.¡± Jiang Yuhu stopped and asked, ¡°Then, Yuan brother, what do you suggest?¡± Yuan Wujue smiled, ¡°You are currently engaged to someone from the Hei Pi family of the Black Feather Clan. Naturally, first reach out to the Black Feather Clan, seek an audience with Hei Yu.¡± ¡°Once Hei Yu hears of the matter, he will definitely assist you!¡± Jiang Yuhu was overjoyed, ¡°Brother Yuan, you are indeed thorough. If I can intimidate with the strength of the Black Feather Clan, I will surely make it easier to succeed!¡± Yuan Wujue felt a delight in his heart. Very well, let the events unfold as he had planned. ¡­ Chen Qing rode his horse through the mountains and rivers, his heart gradually broadening, no longer weighed down by the depression from being discovered by the Great Witch. Walking upon the earth made him feel a deep sense of belonging. He had only traveled sixty miles when Chen Qing sensed a Cave Heaven Blessed Land in the mountains ahead. Located at the mountain source, the Spiritual Medicine there grew at an exceptionally fast pace. Right in front, hidden within the mountain stream was another cave dwelling, which appeared to have another world inside it. Chen Qing rode over, and as he approached that cave dwelling, he saw a young cultivator in the seventh level of Qi Refining. Seeing Chen Qing approach on horseback, the young man immediately became vigilant, ¡°Where did this Fellow Daoist come from?¡± Chen Qing thought to himself that this must be someone who had discovered the secret of this cave dwelling and, having gained this opportunity, was quietly cultivating there. He hadn¡¯t expected the first treasure land he found to already be discovered by someone. Chen Qing said, ¡°This is my territory. Join my Iron Flow Valley, and I¡¯ll ensure you don¡¯t lose out on cultivation resources.¡± ¡°Otherwise, this Cave Heaven Blessed Land won¡¯t be yours to claim.¡± Out of respect for this cultivator who had stumbled upon the opportunity, Chen Qing offered the best terms he could. The young man was taken aback, ¡°You know the secret of this place?¡± Chen Qing smiled, ¡°This place is originally my territory; of course I know.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been occupying my treasure land to cultivate for a long time. I only advised you now because I assumed you were unaware.¡± The young man said angrily, ¡°You say this is your treasure land, so why weren¡¯t you here before?¡± Chen Qing saw that this was a novice in cultivation who had only reached the seventh level of Qi Refining because of his fortuitous encounter with this treasure land. ¡°There¡¯s no point in talking more. I have many matters to attend to. In time, I will bring an army here. If you don¡¯t rectify your ways by then and insist on occupying my territory, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless!¡± The young man was clearly hesitant, and Chen Qing didn¡¯t press further, letting the young man make his own choice. Chen Qing rode past, marked it on his map, and continued to other places. September 1. Chen Qing spent three days traveling around three hundred miles. He took out his map, which now marked five Spirit Stone veins and three hidden cave dwellings, with only one cave already discovered by someone. At night, Chen Qing let his horse drink from the river, scooped a handful of river water to wash his face, and prepared to rest for a moment. Just as he stood up, Chen Qing listened to the earth¡¯s breathing in this area, clearly sensing a strong presence of demon energy. ¡°So close, there¡¯s actually a Foundation Establishment demon hidden here?¡± Chen Qing carefully sensed the area. It was a treasure land with water veins converging and abundant Spiritual Energy, with many thriving Spirit Plants growing underwater. Inside the water cave of the river was a demon cave with over a dozen small demons in the Qi Refining Realm and one old demon in the Foundation Establishment stage. Carefully sensing again, its Spiritual Energy fluctuations were similar to those of the Qingsong Mountain Master he had encountered before, likely possessing comparable strength. He thought it might be suitable for Wei Qingchen, post-Foundation Establishment, to come and exterminate it with a team. The ability of the Light Butterfly to gather information from the surrounding land was simply extraordinary. In Chen Qing¡¯s view, this power was more useful than Fatian Xiangdi. Finding Spirit Stone veins, caves, hidden treasures, and discovering lurking evil spirits was incredibly practical. A big fish slowly floated to the river¡¯s surface, hiding in the water plants, observing Chen Qing. Chen Qing knew all this well, but only chuckled. Let it watch; it wouldn¡¯t live for many days anyway. Chapter 164 03-25 - Chapter 164: Chapter 118: One Sentence, Three Hundred Years of Prosperity Chapter 164: Chapter 118: One Sentence, Three Hundred Years of Prosperity One night of gentle rain. Geese flew as the wind blew. Chen Qing, wearing a bamboo hat, sat under a big tree, leaning against it while drinking. Surrounded by darkness, Chen Qing felt as if he were home. He was able to clearly sense an ant ahead that had been knocked down by the rain, landing on a dead leaf riddled with wormholes. Towering trees surrounded him, and the fallen leaves on the ground formed a thick, soft cushion. Even though the rain was sparse, it couldn¡¯t penetrate the dense foliage to fall on Chen Qing. As midnight approached, Chen Qing reached out to take the bronze ghost mask; there was no danger within a ten-mile radius. He confidently put on the mask and let his consciousness enter it. The other four had been waiting there for a while. After brief greetings, Chen Qing calmly said, ¡°So, today¡¯s gathering starts now.¡± Fu Luo seemed to have gathered quite a bit of information, and her focus returned to the cultivation of her Gu. She presented several of her Gu, individually consulting Chen Qing. After earning eight hundred middle-grade spirit stones, Chen Qing provided guidance on her four spiritual Gu. As he instructed her, Chen Qing estimated her strength in his heart. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? With her current strength, she was far from being a match for himself and Li Chonghuan. She had a long way to go to successfully reach Foundation Establishment. Xu Yaofeng continued to inquire about improving his Light Butterfly. After Chen Qing examined it, he softly replied, ¡°Bone Transforming Flower.¡± Murong Lang and Hu Yao didn¡¯t seek any guidance this time since they had invested heavily in their Light Butterfly. They hoped the Light Butterfly would quickly transform, granting them a powerful spiritual Gu for protection. Hu Yao even carried a debt owed to Murong Lang on her back. After the guidance session concluded, Chen Qing said, ¡°Now, you can start chatting.¡± Ji Ru, with the most extensive sources, began speaking, ¡°The immortal island in the north disappeared half a month ago, and I¡¯ve uncovered some information about it.¡± Xu Yaofeng was noticeably interested, ¡°What news did you hear over there?¡± Ji Ru said, ¡°This incident was caused by the Yin Yang Sect, who deliberately released information about the immortal island to hunt Li Chonghuan.¡± ¡°But it was clear they miscalculated, as they suffered a complete defeat on the island.¡± ¡°A Daoist woman from the Heavenly Master Mansion died, but she rarely appeared, and the Heavenly Master Mansion didn¡¯t bother to investigate further, likely considering her a pawn.¡± ¡°In the end, Li Chonghuan found an ancient sword scripture on the island and also came across a spiritual sword Gu.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I know.¡± Xu Yaofeng pondered for a moment, ¡°That¡¯s not right!¡± Hu Yao had no intention of interrupting; she just wanted to listen quietly. Murong Lang didn¡¯t know what had happened, being too far removed. Ji Ru asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°I mentioned before that many from the Qi Refining Realm who reached the rank of Jiguang Sect moved north, yet there¡¯s no information about them in what you¡¯ve discovered.¡± ¡°With our Jiguang Sect¡¯s power, those in the Qi Refining Realm who reached completion are akin to Daoist or Daoist women, and some even surpass them.¡± ¡°For such a powerful force, there¡¯s no news about them, as if they never moved north at all. Isn¡¯t that strange?¡± Hu Yao replied simply, ¡°Yeah, what about our Jiguang Sect people?¡± ¡°Even now, I can easily defeat a Daoist. Though they might not be as strong as me, it¡¯s impossible there¡¯s no news given so many people.¡± Xu Yaofeng continued, ¡°According to the information I¡¯ve gotten, around ten individuals from our sect at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm have lost contact.¡± ¡°They were all among those who headed north.¡± ¡°Plus, with the information from Ji Ru, we can deduce it¡¯s likely these ten have begun Chasing Light.¡± Hu Yao asked in confusion, ¡°Chasing Light? What¡¯s that?¡± Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°While our Jiguang Sect operates independently, once someone encounters an individual with a Harmonization Light Butterfly whose strength far surpasses others in the same rank, they temporarily abandon their affiliation with the Jiguang Sect to start Chasing Light.¡± Murong Lang said, ¡°Are you suggesting our Jiguang Sect has produced someone who can rival an Immortal Court Divine Son?¡± Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°It¡¯s very possible. Even I couldn¡¯t reach that level back then; I could only defeat those in the same realm but couldn¡¯t evoke a sense of overwhelming strength.¡± ¡°To cause the Jiguang Sect to start Chasing Light, their strength must have reached a level that makes it seem impossible to ever catch up.¡± ¡°Sadly, we don¡¯t know who it is.¡± ¡°Moreover, once Chasing Light begins, the group from the Jiguang Sect will go into hiding until they feel they can stand their ground in the world once more.¡± As Xu Yaofeng spoke, Ji Ru was pondering when they could announce Taichu¡¯s name to the world. But it was certainly not the time, with only one Foundation Establishment and three in the Qi Refining Realm, the Taichu Sect seemed laughably small. When the name of Senior Taichu arose, it should shake the world, fitting of Senior Taichu¡¯s stature. Listening to their conversation, Chen Qing thought it fortunate that only the Jiguang Sect could deduce this much. But at most, they could guess that Jiguang Sect produced someone on par with an Immortal Court Divine Son, yet they didn¡¯t know specifically who it was. It seemed better for him to keep a low profile in the future. To cultivate peacefully, reach Foundation Establishment smoothly, and diligently pursue immortality quietly. Chapter 165 03-25 - Chapter 165: Chapter 118: A Single Phrase, Three Hundred Years of Prosperity_2 Chapter 165: Chapter 118: A Single Phrase, Three Hundred Years of Prosperity_2 When everyone sitting here becomes Immortals, let¡¯s discuss the matters of Taichu¡¯s emergence. After the gathering ended, Chen Qing removed the bronze ghost mask from his face. He stood up, passed through the dense forest, and walked ten miles, passing by a nest of an Exotic Beast. He walked by gently, reaching out to pluck three fruits from the Yangjin Day Fruit Tree guarded by the Exotic Beast, and then left quietly. These fruits had extremely potent medicinal power, worth three thousand Spirit Stones each in the market, but now, to him, they were easily obtainable. The entire earth seemed like his own backyard. Was this the true meaning of being an Earth Walker? As if the whole land was his home. As he walked, Chen Qing felt his understanding of Houtu deepen once more. Reaching out to grab his horse, Chen Qing fed it a fruit, and the Mutant Blood Horse happily nuzzled against Chen Qing¡¯s chest. Eating a fruit himself, it tasted slightly sweet, just right, refreshing, and thirst-quenching. After walking only eighteen miles, Chen Qing saw a thick fog in the drizzle ahead. In the dense fog, the sound of suonas came, and four ferocious ghosts with blue faces and sharp teeth were playing suonas and beating drums. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Behind them was a flower bridge, carried by four headless bronze men. Chen Qing, unfazed, watched closely. The flower sedan stopped before him, the four blue-faced ghosts in front showing obvious fear, stopping the suona and the drumming. From the sedan stepped down a woman with a face like a peach blossom; if she weren¡¯t holding her own head, she¡¯d certainly be exceedingly beautiful. This female ghost, cradling her own head, wearing white, took small steps toward Chen Qing, kneeling before him, ¡°Mountain God, I am Yin Shu Niang, paying respects to the Mountain God.¡± Chen Qing didn¡¯t ask her to rise, only asked, ¡°Why do you call me Mountain God?¡± Yin Shu Niang answered, ¡°I had Yin Yang Eyes in life, allowing me to see special things.¡± ¡°In my eyes, the Mountain God has many threads connecting to the whole land.¡± ¡°Moreover, it seems the entire heaven and earth are under Mountain God¡¯s control; I feel that with a single thought, you could eliminate me.¡± Chen Qing didn¡¯t expect this female ghost to see these things, she was indeed unique. ¡°Have you ever harmed anyone?¡± ¡°I have.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Eighteen people.¡± ¡°Why did you harm them?¡± ¡°They took my eyes and killed me.¡± Chen Qing laughed, ¡°Good killing!¡± ¡°Go now, do not harm the innocent, do more good deeds, wash away your sins, and reincarnate early.¡± The female ghost joyfully got up, ¡°Thank you, Mountain God, I¡¯ll return now.¡± Chen Qing didn¡¯t expect that after Harmonization with Light Butterfly, he could incite fear in ghosts; according to her, their lives and deaths were in his hands. To Chen Qing, they felt like part of the earth, subject to his control. Was it possible that this world too had an Underworld? His Light Butterfly must be greatly connected. Now after Harmonization, he needed the Nine Thunder Purple Cloud Qi, perhaps not only Houtu but connecting to the heavens? These, he didn¡¯t know. As he walked, suddenly he thought of something, he looked back at the retreating sedan, not daring to drum or blow the suona, just proceeding quietly, neither fast nor slow. Walking ten thousand miles, observing the death of all things. The requirement for his Light Butterfly to ascend to King Grade was to walk ten thousand miles, observe the death of all things. Just now, he encountered a group of ghosts. Could there be a connection here? He laughed to himself, perhaps he was overthinking it. He¡¯d seen the Harmonization Light Butterfly of Yao Feng and Fu Luo. Those requirements seemed impossible, not at all like his Light Butterfly. Walking ten thousand miles, and observing the death of all things was simple. How it would truly unfold had to be tested after achieving Ninth Transformation in Harmonization. Thus, Chen Qing walked across this land, along the way gathering Spirit Fruits and Spirit Grass. Exploring spirit stone veins while accumulating medicinal properties, preparing for his breakthrough to Qi Refinement Realm perfection. After two more days, Chen Qing had surveyed the local terrain almost completely, and as he prepared to take a different route back, he aimed to see more. Wandering the mountain wilderness for a day, Chen Qing suddenly felt the surrounding Spiritual Energy converging towards a point. He began to carefully perceive the terrain, heading towards the most mystical place. Reaching the summit of a peak, Chen Qing suddenly saw a lake ahead, with nine rivers converging from all directions. The nine rivers split the nine mountain ranges, surprisingly, this was a rare site for a Nine Mountain Rise, where nine rivers converge. This lake naturally gathered Spiritual Energy, but the lake wasn¡¯t large, and the surrounding trees grew extremely dense, so it was difficult to discover. Chen Qing sensed that from this location, the nine mountain ranges extended outward, spreading into nine extremely long and large mountain ranges, seemingly stretching a thousand miles. Being a farmer himself, he immediately saw the treasure of this place. In other locations, opening Spiritual Fields required opening one acre out of a hundred to succeed. Here, one could continuously open Spiritual Fields, as it was the source, able to draw vitality from the nine mountain ranges extending outwards. His surroundings could indeed let all things grow, but only to a limited range. It was only within one mountain¡¯s area. If Spirit Ginseng was planted in Iron Flow Valley, it could only influence about a dozen acres. Here it was different, allowing for hundreds of acres of Spiritual Fields to be opened continuously. If Iron Flow Valley was relocated here, he could plant Blood Ginseng in large quantities. With this in mind, Chen Qing remembered this place, planning to move Iron Flow Valley here after dealing with the current matters. Another day passed, and Chen Qing returned to Iron Flow Valley. As soon as he returned, Wei Qingchen sought him out. ¡°My lord, I have broken through to Foundation Establishment!¡± Chen Qing nodded, informed him of the second ascension material for the Wind and Rain sword Gu, and handed him a map. ¡°It marks fifteen spirit stone veins; I¡¯ve noted the depths.¡± ¡°And twelve abodes and blessed lands for you to use as plans.¡± Wei Qingchen, seeing the most crucial bait finally in hand, confidently responded, ¡°Let the Lord witness my methods!¡± Chen Qing nodded and said, ¡°This matter is entrusted to you, I will rarely appear in the future, discuss frequently with Jiang Miaoxian.¡± After saying so, Chen Qing let Wei Qingchen leave, planning to return to his attic and then summon Jiang Miaoxian for a discussion. In this world, cultivators rarely made moves once reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. Now Chen Qing, though not in Foundation Establishment yet stronger than one, needed to be more concealed than those in Foundation Establishment. In the world of Gu Dao, it¡¯s about who can survive and who can hide better. No matter how strong you are, once dead, your opponent could possibly use your Gu to recreate you. Once action is taken, it must decisively determine the victory. Chen Qing in Wuyou Mountain for ten years only saw the Mountain Master take action once. And now, he too needed to begin hiding himself. Wei Qingchen was the frontman he groomed, henceforth handling many overt matters, with Chen Qing planning to use him. Of course, it¡¯s only a trial, maybe someone better will emerge later. Currently, Wei Qingchen was merely useful; as for loyalty, it couldn¡¯t be stated. As he lacked reason to sacrifice his life, presently it was due to Chen Qing¡¯s strength and having saved them. If someone with a thousand Spirit Stones receives a thousand more, they at most respect you. But if someone with only twenty Spirit Stones receives a thousand, then you¡¯ve earned loyalty. Chen Qing watched the graceful Jiang Miaoxian enter, hoping for good news. ¡°How¡¯s the situation?¡± Jiang Miaoxian replied, ¡°Yuan Wujue assisted Jiang Yuhu, first securing a tribe.¡± ¡°Now, Yuan Wujue is taking Jiang Yuhu to assist Jiang Baihu.¡± Chen Qing furrowed his brow slightly, ¡°You mean Yuan Wujue?¡± Jiang Miaoxian nodded, ¡°Yes, Yuan Wujue seems uninterested in ruling tribes currently, focusing entirely on aiding others.¡± Chen Qing chuckled, ¡°That is quite interesting.¡± Wei Qingchen, having already a thousand Spirit Stones, initially possessed a spirit Gu. And those with only twenty Spirit Stones were Yuan Wujue, initially a defector, their status hinging on Chen Qing¡¯s whim. If Yuan Wujue succeeds, he might be rewarded. After all, without Chen Qing, Yuan Wujue would never have the opportunity to obtain a spirit Gu, let alone achieve Foundation Establishment. ¡°If he indeed has talent, then let him be granted three hundred years of family prosperity!¡± Chapter 166 03-25 - Chapter 166: Chapter 119 Master of Mortal World Chapter 166: Chapter 119 Master of Mortal World City Lord¡¯s Mansion, Cold Mountain City. Xuan Mang paced back and forth in the water pavilion of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, ¡°Sister, can you tell me what Qingxu and Father are conspiring about?¡± Xuanping leaned against a stone pillar, ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± Xuan Mang asked with suspicion, ¡°I always feel a bit uneasy.¡± ¡°Sister, can you tell me, what exactly is Qingxu¡¯s strength?¡± Xuanping seemed a bit distracted at that moment. In her mind echoed the words of the Great Witch, you want to protect him, yet you don¡¯t even know his name. ¡°Stronger than both of us.¡± Xuan Mang¡¯s expression changed slightly. He had been at Foundation Establishment for eight years, yet Chen Qing, now merely at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, was stronger than him! Xuan Mang suddenly felt his entire body relax, as if he had let go of some burden, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Ping¡¯er, do you like him?¡± Xuanping said, ¡°I liked him before, but not anymore.¡± ¡°Maybe after I achieve Foundation Establishment, I¡¯ll like him again.¡± ¡°When he achieves Foundation Establishment, maybe I won¡¯t like him again.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï A girl¡¯s mind is truly unpredictable. At that moment, there weren¡¯t many people in Iron Flow Valley, all the warriors above the fifth level of Qi Cultivation were taken out. All the generals strived for merit, each extremely brave, disregarding life and death, reportedly running more than ten horses to death. Although it was a spiritual item Gu that had been contracted once, having a complete Inheritance Map made its value higher than a wild spiritual item Gu. It was extremely suitable for those without a foundation to gain powerful forces to change their fate with a small amount of wealth. Chen Qing was leading the horse, ready to walk around the surroundings of Iron Flow Valley again, to thoroughly understand his surroundings. Firstly, it was to deepen his understanding of his own Light Butterfly to better handle the internal tribulation of the Foundation Establishment, and secondly, to obtain a large number of rare spiritual medicines to advance to the perfect Qi Refining Realm. Most cultivators needed decades of hard work to perfect the Qi Refining Realm. For him, it took just over a year to almost cultivate from the third level of Qi Refinement to the perfect Qi Refining Realm. He walked like a god among mortals, harvesting the treasures of this land with his control over it. Chen Qing stood on a spirit fruit tree, reaching out to pluck a crystal-like pear. Sometimes he felt like a phoenix, moving from one place to another, taking treasures as he went. Occasionally, he would stop to feel human emotions, experiencing a night of prosperity. He finally understood where Li Chonghuan¡¯s calmness and composure came from. When one¡¯s power became great enough to ignore Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment, he surpassed the common people. That day, Chen Qing was walking on horseback among the mountains when he suddenly felt a hidden cave mansion in a large mountain. Chen Qing walked in, pushing away the dense fog in front of him, and deep within, he saw a Blood Ginseng as thick as an arm. Entering the abandoned cave mansion, everything inside was decayed, even the skeletons were broken beyond recognition. After walking around the cave mansion, he didn¡¯t find any Gu, it seemed to be just a ordinary Foundation Establishment or Qi Refinement cave mansion from a thousand years ago, with no treasures. Chen Qing came before the Blood Ginseng, reaching out to pick its seed. ¡°Though you enter my mouth, your descendants will continue in Iron Flow Valley.¡± Preserving the seed, Chen Qing harvested the Blood Ginseng, ¡°With this Blood Ginseng, and acquiring some potent spiritual medicines, I should be able to break through to the perfect Qi Refining Realm.¡± He stored the Blood Ginseng and set off to return. Arriving in Cold Mountain City, he purchased spiritual treasures worth 180,000 lower-grade Spirit Stones from an apothecary in the city. A thousand-year-old Nine-Headed Ganoderma, an eight-hundred-year-old Ice Soul Flower. These two spiritual medicines were extremely potent, combined with the thousand-year Blood Ginseng and the numerous spiritual medicines consumed lately, it should be enough. Returning to Iron Flow Valley, Chen Qing went up to his pavilion, consumed three top-grade spiritual medicines, sat cross-legged, and began earnestly impacting the perfect Qi Refining Realm with the overwhelming medicinal power inside him. The last checkpoint was daunting as if it were a natural moat. If he converted all the spiritual medicines he¡¯d consumed into Spirit Stones, it would be no less than 300,000. His internal spiritual energy surged like a tide, gathering with the medicinal properties to frenziedly attack his tenth meridian. The spiritual energy in his body surged like a tidal wave, rushing through his meridians, attacking the final barrier. A tsunami-like sound emanated from his body, it was the roaring tidal wave of spiritual energy. Jiang Miaoxian, sleeping downstairs, was awakened by the noise, increasingly astonished to discover that it was Chen Qing cultivating. The might of the lord when cultivating was truly extraordinary. She wasn¡¯t upset about Chen Qing disturbing her dream; instead, she felt fortunate. Since Chen Qing came to Iron Flow Valley, there had been daily changes. Not to mention the ongoing major enterprise, just Jiang Yuhu and others, including her, had experienced a transformation from ordinary cultivators to Hu Kui level strength. Their strength far surpassed others of the same level, enough to look down on their peers. When the lord conquered the twenty-one clans, he would certainly value the people of Iron Flow Valley more, raising their status alongside. After a sleepless night, Chen Qing cultivated all night, finally opening his eyes as the sun rose. A wave of majestic spiritual energy pressure blasted outward, awakening everyone. The remaining families and young people in Iron Flow Valley looked with some delight at the highest pavilion in the valley. Their leader had increased his power again; this was good news for all Iron Flow Valley. Chapter 167 03-25 - Chapter 167: Chapter 119: Master of Mortal World_2 Chapter 167: Chapter 119: Master of Mortal World_2 ¡°` Chen Qing got up, letting out a long breath. He had opened all ten meridians! Now, the meridians in his body started from the Dantian, coursed through his entire body, and returned to the Dantian again. The spiritual energy inside him flowed continuously, being refined repeatedly, which increased the quality of his spiritual energy. A wisp of spiritual energy appeared in Chen Qing¡¯s hand, and now three wisps of spiritual energy could compare to five wisps of spiritual energy from before. It was truly a qualitative change! With his strength upgraded, Chen Qing also felt a lightness all over his body. Next, he would complete the task arranged by the Great Witch, and then focus wholeheartedly on preparing for the Foundation Establishment. Walking out of the door, he saw Jiang Miaoxian waiting at the entrance, ¡°How is the current situation?¡± Jiang Miaoxian replied, ¡°The nine of us in the valley are progressing the fastest. Yuan Wujue helped Jiang Yuhu take a clan, and then helped Jiang Baihu take another clan.¡± ¡°As for the thirteen people the lord brought back, there is still no news; they are just brewing for battle.¡± After listening, Chen Qing wasn¡¯t too worried, as the strategy he devised was an open conspiracy and was bound to be successful. Treasures have always been alluring, causing conflict at this time. If there were no strong helpers, those tribes couldn¡¯t hold out. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï Wei Qingchen was not in Iron Flow Valley at the moment but was rushing everywhere making arrangements, so Chen Qing didn¡¯t know specific news. In contrast, he, the master here, became idle at this moment. However, he wasn¡¯t doing nothing. He started staying here, making sure his Spirit Ginseng matured rapidly. After planting the second crop, he was determined to consume this batch of Spirit Ginseng. With the Light Butterfly, which could make all things grow, he should be able to mature the Spirit Ginseng quickly. During this period, Chen Qing walked among the Spiritual Fields daily, leisurely listening to Jiang Miaoxian report progress on the battlefront. He also listened to the behaviors of the twenty-one people, trying to grasp more of his subordinates¡¯ personalities, knowing it would be beneficial. September 15th. After bathing, Chen Qing consolidated his cultivation again, practiced for three hours, and prepared to attend a gathering. Donning the bronze ghost mask, he quickly saw the familiar four people. After a brief greeting, they began this gathering. Unlike before, Hu Yao happily showed off her Harmonization Light Butterfly to Chen Qing. After harmonization, the Light Butterfly was no longer a butterfly shape but a small white dragon. Upon seeing this, everyone felt pleasantly surprised. Seeing someone in the gathering had improved always gave them a sense of shared glory. Judging by the Light Butterfly¡¯s form, one could tell this Light Butterfly was extraordinary. [Spiritual Item Light Butterfly¡¤Harmonization¡¤Like a Dragon] Quality: Harmonization First Transformation Life Span: 24/300 Effect: Contains Dragon Energy, veins flow with Dragon Blood, skin develops Dragon Scales, restrains Dragon Power, body grows Dragon Bones Trait: [Dragon Transformation]: Possesses the strength of a dragon, can perform the Divine Power of Dragon Transformation. [Cloud Formation and Rainfall]: Can perform the Miraculous Five Thunder Spell, summon wind and rain, command thunder and lightning [Flight]: You can fly freely. [Light Dust]: Light gives birth to all things, after Harmonization Ninth Transformation, you may ascend again Growth Requirements: Dragon Vein Essence Growth Progress: 12/100 Promotion Requirements: Harmonization Ninth Transformation, when Dragon Gate opens, one complete ancient dragon skeleton, a Dragon Soul, and ninety-nine strands of Dragon Tomb King Qi. ¡°Thanks to Senior Taichu¡¯s guidance, my Light Butterfly has harmonized!¡± ¡°It looks like a small dragon and doesn¡¯t eat anything normally, just occasionally goes out to wander.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit unruly, needing a few calls before it comes back.¡± Chen Qing, looking at its growth progress, realized the small dragon was absorbing the Dragon Vein Essence by itself. It seemed a Dragon Vein was in the place where Hu Yao stayed. Chen Qing smiled, ¡°It¡¯s feeding; your Gu won¡¯t need to spend money to advance to Harmonization Second Transformation.¡± Hu Yao was even more delighted, ¡°Ah, really?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll frequently take it to its favorite spots to walk around.¡± She felt a bit embarrassed immediately after, ¡°Senior just told me how to promote it, but I don¡¯t have any Spirit Stones now¡­¡± Chen Qing smiled, ¡°No worries, you can owe it first.¡± He wasn¡¯t lacking Spirit Stones right now; he needed some time to settle down completely and become thoroughly familiar with himself. Seeing Hu Yao exhibit her Harmonization Light Butterfly, Murong Lang also opened his hand to display a half-palm-sized Light Butterfly. ¡°Under Senior¡¯s guidance, my Light Butterfly has finally harmonized as well.¡± Looking at Murong Lang¡¯s Light Butterfly, Chen Qing discovered this Light Butterfly was also extraordinary. [Spiritual Item Light Butterfly¡¤Harmonization¡¤Thunder Pool] Quality: Harmonization First Transformation Life Span: 36/300 Effect: Generates Thunder Pool inside, can nurture nine Purple Sky Thunders. Trait: [Thunder Lord]: Commands all thunder below the spirit grade, can traverse within thunder. [Huaihuai]: Can replenish spiritual energy through natural thunder, absorbing thunderclouds. Can unfold Thunder Domain, creating a thunderfield around oneself. Can perform the Miraculous Thunder Jade Qilin. [Tongsheng]: Every thirty years, can enlighten one spiritual grade Thunder Gu from thirty-three Thunder Gu. Each host is limited to three times. [Light Dust]: Light gives birth to all things, after Harmonization Ninth Transformation, may ascend again Growth Requirements: At least three thousand years old Ancient Wood Heart Growth Progress: 0/100 Promotion Requirements: Harmonization Ninth Transformation, ten thousand years old Ancient Wood Heart, a strand of Thunder Immortal Qi, a drop of Immortal blood These requirements, both difficult and not difficult. However, for the scholar, maybe relatively easy. Chen Qing estimated that Murong Lang¡¯s Light Butterfly might very well be the first among them to advance to King Grade. Seeing others¡¯ Light Butterfly harmonization, Ji Ru was also delighted, ¡°Truly a double blessing!¡± After inquiring about the cultivation of Gu and contributing eight hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones to Chen Qing, they began chatting. Xu Yaofeng was the first to speak, ¡°There is news in the sect already, the Jiguang Sect going north encountered a terrifying presence and did not reach the immortal island, ending in annihilation.¡± ¡°However, I found someone had used the Northern region¡¯s Transmission Formation half a month ago.¡± ¡°The situation is very apparent now. A strand of light really has appeared in our Jiguang Sect.¡± ¡°These Jiguang Sect members have started Chasing Light.¡± ¡°All the high-ups chose to seal the news.¡± ¡°Currently, they¡¯re rapidly eradicating all kinds of information regarding that person.¡± ¡°I dare not investigate further, fearing being discovered by the sect¡¯s big figures.¡± Murong Lang said, ¡°Being cautious is right, we are still growing and shouldn¡¯t directly collide with major powers.¡± Ji Ru said, ¡°Does this mean, after three hundred years, another strand of light and a Master of Mortal World appeared in Jiguang Sect again?¡± Xu Yaofeng said, ¡°Three hundred years, such a distant thing, I do not know.¡± ¡°But due to the Light Dust, this strand of light is indeed referred to as the Master of Mortal World within the sect.¡± Ji Ru said, ¡°I read it in history books, regular people cannot view that book, I was fortunate to have seen it.¡± ¡°Three hundred years ago, a Master of Mortal World appeared in Jiguang Sect as well.¡± ¡°At that time, it coincided with the Dragon King Crown Prince of North Sea roaming the world.¡± ¡°Due to disputes in the Death Realm, the Master of Mortal World beheaded the Dragon King Crown Prince, then led Jiguang Sect to annihilate all Dragon Clan powers in the Death Realm.¡± ¡°Then, this Master of Mortal World sat in the Death Realm for sixty years, within which no Dragon Clan dared to ascend to the Third Realm Ghost Face, unable to practice in the Death Realm, consequently losing a large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators.¡± ¡°The Master of Mortal World refused to leave the Death Realm, forcing the Dragon Clan to seek Longevity Gu everywhere to prolong the life of their Foundation Establishment experts.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, countless hopefuls to breakthrough to Ghost Face were lost this way.¡± Chen Qing suddenly became interested in these matters. He knew exceedingly little about Ghost Face and Mystic Gate Realms. Apart from learning realm names from Xuanping, he knew nothing else. As for the Ghost Face Realm, he had never even seen it. In those abodes he found, they were either Foundation Establishment or Mystic Gate Realm. Xu Yaofeng confidently smiled upon hearing this, ¡°Of course, even in decline, a dying camel is still bigger than a horse.¡± ¡°In the Ghost Face Realm, no one can rival our Jiguang Sect!¡± ¡°Given that the Master of Mortal World has emerged, it is only a matter of time before the Death Realm returns to the hands of our Jiguang Sect.¡± Chapter 168 03-25 - Chapter 168: Chapter 120 Ancient Prince Chapter 168: Chapter 120 Ancient Prince Whenever Chen Qing didn¡¯t understand what they were talking about, Hu Yao would always kindly help Chen Qing ask. ¡°What do you mean, Ghost Face Realm, Death Realm, what are all these?¡± Xu Yaofeng explained: ¡°The Ghost Face Realm is the third major realm in cultivation.¡± ¡°This realm requires an understanding of life and death to transcend the heavens and earth, gaining a longevity far surpassing ordinary people.¡± Hu Yao asked: ¡°Doesn¡¯t Foundation Establishment have a life span of two hundred years?¡± Xu Yaofeng said: ¡°Ordinary mortals, if they are free from illness and disaster, can also live over a hundred years.¡± ¡°With precious medicines and proper management, the longest one has lived to one hundred and eighty years.¡± ¡°Foundation Establishment is just because their bodies are better than mortals, so they can easily reach this life span.¡± ¡°Foundation Establishment is not truly transcending the mundane world; it¡¯s because of living too long and being detached from the secular world, that they seem transcendent.¡± Ji Ru continued: ¡°It is said that the cultivation method of the Ghost Face Realm, before the emergence of the Jiguang Sect, was not like this.¡± ¡°But after the Jiguang Sect opened the Ghost Gate, it became this way.¡± Chen Qing suddenly thought of more; the Jiguang Sect opened the Ghost Gate, changing the cultivation method of a realm. He was also a gate; what would he open? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Xu Yaofeng said: ¡°Foundation Establishment is divided into four stages: early stage, middle stage, late stage, and completion.¡± ¡°The peak of cultivation is called Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°After reaching Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, one must borrow power from Heaven to sever life span in order to enter the Death Realm.¡± ¡°Born from death, die first and then live, transcend the Great Dao, through this breakthrough the confinement of life and death, obtaining immense fortune and prolonged life span.¡± ¡°The cultivation method of the Ghost Face Realm is said to be through subduing evil spirits to obtain merit and enlightenment, seeking to see through life and death, suddenly comprehending Xuanming.¡± ¡°And this requires entering the Death Realm.¡± ¡°Because only the Ghost Face Realm exists in the Death Realm, and because of severing life span, everyone¡¯s life span is not long, the competition in the Death Realm is also where cultivators have the highest ratio of perishing.¡± ¡°In the Ghost Face Realm, almost no one dies of old age; they either die in battle or succeed in their breakthrough.¡± ¡°But you all need not worry, our Jiguang Sect has great influence in the Death Realm, much more advantageous than others.¡± ¡°The reason why the Jiguang Sect has survived to this day after many declines is because of the Death Realm.¡± ¡°The Sect Hierarch once said: ¡®I open one realm, eternal Jiguang!''¡± ¡°This is the foundation of our Jiguang Sect!¡± After hearing all this, Chen Qing also felt the strength of the Jiguang Sect. They actually controlled a realm! Of course, that was when the Jiguang Sect was at its peak. Nowadays, the control over the Death Realm is likely not that exclusive. Ji Ru continued: ¡°At the end of the Ancient Era, the Jiguang Sect lost control of the Death Realm, and it was from that time that the Jiguang Sect began to split.¡± ¡°The entire sect disintegrated, and the Sect Hierarch perished.¡± ¡°The most recent historical record is of the Master of Mortal World three hundred years ago, who once unified the Death Realm.¡± ¡°At that time, the Jiguang Sect also started to flourish again.¡± ¡°Everyone who wanted to cultivate in the Ghost Face Realm and break through to the Mystic Gate Realm had to buy qualifications from the Jiguang Sect.¡± ¡°Only with the complete qualifications could one peacefully cultivate in the Death Realm.¡± ¡°That Master of Mortal World controlled the entire Ghost Face Realm for sixty years, and all promotions required his approval.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, it did not last many years.¡± ¡°After that Master of Mortal World left the Death Realm, he faced a fierce backlash from the great powers of the whole world.¡± ¡°Especially the dragon race, which put out a large number of precious treasures as a bounty for the head of the Master of Mortal World.¡± ¡°Despite Jiguang Sect¡¯s many efforts, unfortunately, they failed to protect this outstanding person who dominated the Ghost Face Realm.¡± Chen Qing thought to himself, you control a realm and even implement a taxation system; it¡¯s not strange that people hold grudges against you. When you were in the Death Realm, no one could touch you, but upon returning to the main world, you wouldn¡¯t know how you¡¯d die. Chen Qing also began to understand more about the Jiguang Sect. The predecessor of an organization that could fully control the ascendance or otherwise of an entire realm must have been terrifying, right? To put it unpleasantly, if the Master of Mortal World had an even worse temper, he could make it so that only the Jiguang Sect could break through to the Third Realm. In this way, Jiguang Sect could even control other major forces for many years, preventing them from cultivating. It¡¯s like, if a force controlled the Qi Refining Realm, you would have to pay taxes on time to cultivate normally. Failing to pay taxes would label you an Evil Sect, making you a target for extermination. Controlling the entire heaven and earth, similar to the Heavenly Court? That¡¯s quite absurd. At that time, Jiguang Sect was probably attempting to control the entire authority of heaven and earth and even succeeded for a while. Chen Qing increasingly felt that this world was not without its unifications, it¡¯s just that something later went wrong, leading to the disintegration of Jiguang Sect. It was then that Chen Qing truly understood how terrifying and vast the predecessor of Jiguang Sect was. It was a colossal entity that enveloped all the heavens. A terrifying force that once fully controlled a realm. Unfortunately, the Master of Mortal World failed to understand the situation. It¡¯s no longer the Ancient Times, yet he dared to play this game. Trying to restore the glory of Jiguang Sect is simply courting death. Chen Qing was different. Even if he truly became the Master of Mortal World in the future, he would operate covertly. Why make it so obvious? Isn¡¯t that clearly seeking death? The dwellers of the Mystic Gate Realm have at least several hundred years of Life Span, and naturally, those from higher realms have even longer lifespans. Sixty years of preventing someone from advancing would only create a sixty-year gap and would not even impact that duration fully. This would only affect the lower-level Cultivators of other forces, and it was useless against the true powers. Instead, it would incite countless resentments. Actually, apart from the Ghost Face Realm, Cultivators from other realms cannot enter the Death Realm, but there is a way to regain control of this realm. That is by ensuring the position of the Master of Mortal World can be passed down through generations. For example, say Chen Qing stayed in the Death Realm for thirty years and firmly established its structure, and then chose a successor who could suppress everyone. Then he could continue to preside over it for decades. Even after leaving the Death Realm, control would still be in his hands, and other major forces would not dare to move against him. Of course, this is just a restraining effect. Ji Ru continued, ¡°By the way, there was an Ancient Prince in Da Yan who has awakened from the slumbering pages of history books.¡± ¡°This Ancient Prince is extraordinarily talented. The former Emperor Donghua once said, if there¡¯s no one in the royal family to inherit the throne, this Ancient Prince should be awakened.¡± ¡°To take over Emperor Donghua¡¯s position. Nowadays, although the royal family cannot be said to be brimming with talent, several princes are quite gifted, not amounting to a break in succession.¡± ¡°It is very likely that the reason this Ancient Prince has awakened is to counter the unknown Master of Mortal World.¡± Xu Yaofeng exclaimed, ¡°Has Da Yan already made a move?¡± ¡°It seems that it¡¯s not just us who can deduce this.¡± ¡°After experiencing the last great calamity of the Master of Mortal World, this time, many major forces might send the Heavenly Prides preserved in the pages of history books to prevent the Master of Mortal World from attempting to control the Death Realm.¡± Chen Qing instantly felt a tingling on his scalp; he was still only at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Realm, yet those targeting him were already emerging constantly. Is it really so necessary? Chapter 169 03-25 - Chapter 169: Chapter 121: She Truly Is a Woman Blessed with Good Fortune Chapter 169: Chapter 121: She Truly Is a Woman Blessed with Good Fortune The so-called Tianjiao sealed within the pages of history refers to a situation where two extremely strong Heavenly Prides emerge in the same era and power structure. To avoid internal strife, one is sealed to be available for when a succession is needed in the absence of a Tianjiao. However, this is not the most interesting aspect. The real intrigue of this sealing system lies in the fact that the victor is the one who gets sealed, leaving the slightly weaker contender to become the ruler of the current era. Of course, such Tianjiao wouldn¡¯t intentionally lose. Showing anything less than their full strength would disqualify them from being sealed and would mean they have no right to vie for the position of Sect Hierarch or Emperor. Because it is the loser who takes over the power, this system greatly reduces internal conflict to some extent. The reason for the loser¡¯s ascension is to protect the sealed individual. The person sealed remains in a state of slumber. If the victor were to ascend and accidentally caused the death of the sealed victor due to some mishap, After all, as the victor, a cover-up might be all that¡¯s needed to deal with it, at most leading to some serious injury. But with the loser ascendancy system, it¡¯s a completely different matter. Legally speaking, the loser is allowed to take power because the victor has given up the opportunity to the loser. If the loser were to act against the sealed victor, his legitimacy would be challenged. With the person who yielded the seat to you dead, on what grounds can you still sit in this position? Moreover, this greatly ensures that the sealed one¡¯s right to assume authority after awakening is morally justifiable. The world was originally his. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The sealed also benefit from this system¡ªthey can wait for an era that suits them. For instance, the arrival of Chen Qing has opened a mysterious Void Gate. After Ji Ru explained in detail the sealing system, Chen Qing immediately felt the pressure. Not only has a Tianjiao awakened, but he is also a fierce character. Furthermore, other sects may likely awaken their sealed ones. However, Chen Qing has no desire to become the Master of the Mortal World. For a being of the Ghost Face Realm to try and control the third realm is no different from seeking death. After the gathering concluded, Chen Qing picked up a pile of battle reports sent by Jiang Miaoxian and found that the situation was not bad after reading them. With the help of Wei Qingchen, who is at the Foundation Establishment level, in all directions, all obstacles have been dissolved. Moreover, the Jiguang Sect itself is very powerful, and people like Jiang Yuhu are the local strongmen here. There seems to be no major issues, and everything should be settled within two months. Chen Qing lay in bed and began to sleep with his head buried. Unlike normal people, Chen Qing really enjoys an enclosed environment. He can¡¯t stand any light when he sleeps, so he usually sleeps with his head covered. Don¡¯t ask. The answer is that he¡¯s timid. Meanwhile, at the Imperial Palace of Da Yan. In the back garden. Li Chonghuan maintained his proud demeanor. After meeting his future wife, Princess Yi¡¯an, he turned around and headed to another quiet palace. Although it was late at night, martial chants could be heard outside the palace. The place was quiet, yet vast, looking almost like a duplicate of the Imperial Palace itself, standing behind it like a mirror image. Li Chonghuan casually made his way to the depths of the palace and in a grand hall resembling the imperial audience chamber of the Imperial Palace, there was no one present except for a shirtless man with muscles tense, wielding a Coiling Dragon Spear, vigorously practicing. The man had a remarkably handsome face, exuding a daunting charisma. Upon seeing Li Chonghuan enter, the man didn¡¯t stop but continued his spear practice. Li Chonghuan found a desk to sit at leisurely and watched Ji Dang practicing with his spear calmly. After half an hour, Ji Dang finally put down his spear. He casually sat down on the floor next to Li Chonghuan. ¡°Are you the Divine Son of the Immortal Court?¡± Li Chonghuan nodded slightly. ¡°You are quite diligent, practicing with your spear as soon as you awaken.¡± Ji Dang laughed casually: ¡°I haven¡¯t practiced for a few thousand years. It feels a bit rusty.¡± Li Chonghuan said, ¡°To be precise, it has been two thousand two hundred and fifty-one years.¡± Ji Dang didn¡¯t find it surprising that Li Chonghuan knew this. It wasn¡¯t strange for Li Chonghuan to have access to this information. ¡°Did you lose at the immortal island?¡± Li Chonghuan said, ¡°I alone vanquished the Yin Yang Sect.¡± Ji Dang chuckled, ¡°Then it¡¯s a defeat. The current Master of Mortal World and the strongest of the Qi Refining Realm from the Jiguang Sect, it¡¯s not shameful for you to be defeated.¡± ¡°Tell me about him. After all, I was awakened because of the appearance of this lifetime adversary.¡± ¡°The reason for my awakening is to confront him.¡± Li Chonghuan said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Ji Dang was slightly puzzled, ¡°Have you made some deal with him? How could you lose so completely?¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be like this. Traditionally, the successors of your Immortal Court are supposed to be slightly more powerful than ours of Da Yan.¡± ¡°After all, you select one only every seven or eight hundred years.¡± ¡°It seems that we need to rely on wit rather than force.¡± Li Chonghuan left the grand hall, looked westward for ten breaths, and then departed. After Li Chonghuan had left, Ji Dang slowly said, ¡°Is it a monk or someone from the Demon Clan?¡± After pondering for a while, he said, ¡°Someone, send a message to the Dragon Palace. Tell them I will be visiting the Biyou Dragon Girl soon.¡± ¡°To contend with the Jiguang Sect, it¡¯s necessary to involve the dragon clan.¡± ¡°Just thrashed by them three hundred years ago, how could I not seek revenge?¡± After saying this, he turned and walked into the depths of the palace library. Upon entering, he saw a young girl in blue flipping through historical pages. Ji Ru looked up, her gaze caught by his. Ji Dang was not in the mood for play with the younger generation and simply asked, ¡°Where did you put the ¡®Spring and Autumn Annals¡¯?¡± Chapter 170 03-25 - Chapter 170: Chapter 121: She Truly Is a Woman Blessed with Good Fortune_2 Chapter 170: Chapter 121: She Truly Is a Woman Blessed with Good Fortune_2 ¼§Èã led Ji Dang to the volume of ¡°Spring and Autumn Annals,¡± where Ji Dang picked it up and found a spot nearby to read carefully. Ji Ru was beside him, cautiously watching her own book, listening to the sound of pages turning next to her. Because of the Book Gu, she could clearly sense the order in which Ji Dang was turning the pages. Page fifty-three, page eight, page twelve, page twenty-nine¡­ After Ji Dang left, Ji Ru hurriedly stepped forward, picked up the ¡°Spring and Autumn Annals,¡± and turned it the way Ji Dang had. When she turned to page thirty-seven, she suddenly heard a cicada¡¯s cry. Her body remained in the reading posture, but her consciousness came to rest under a giant clump tree blocking the sky and sun. On the trunk of that great tree, she saw a cicada. Indeed, she was a blessed woman. ¡­ Another morning, Hu Yao woke up naturally, came out from her father¡¯s mouth, called Xiao Wu, and rode her brother out the door. Xiao Wu was always a bit talkative, ¡°Sister, let¡¯s go catch ground mice to eat; ground mice taste the best.¡± Hu Yao remembered Chen Qing¡¯s reminder, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the end of Dragon Bone Mountain.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Xiao Wu giggled, ¡°Hmm, sister has good taste, the ground mice there are indeed the best.¡± After taking just three steps, a big demon passed by, but upon seeing Hu Yao, it quickly stepped aside. In just three days, Hu Yao had already repeatedly demolished three Foundation Establishment¡­ The big demons all knew Hu Yao was not to be messed with, and they also knew young people were rather spirited, so they simply chose to avoid her. Arriving at the dragon¡¯s tail of Dragon Bone Mountain, Hu Yao let Xiao Wu catch ground mice by himself while she waited to enjoy eating. With her hands open, her little dragon eagerly plunged into the depths of the loess. Hu Yao thought that since there was a dragon vein here, could there be something good underneath? Thus, she followed the dragon¡¯s tail, digging along with her little dragon. Before long, she had dug to an extremely hard place, uncovering the soil to reveal a piece of dragon scale. She continued to dig downward, and after only three zhang deep, she found something faintly glowing in the soil. Picking it up, she found it was a perfectly round pearl, and her little dragon greedily sucked in the gas emanating from the pearl. She reached out to take a wisp, slightly puzzled, ¡°Dragon Energy?¡± Cleaning the pearl in her hand, she wondered, ¡°Dragon Pearl?¡± It seemed to be a valuable treasure. Going back, I still had to read more books, lest I knew nothing. Attending gatherings, acting like a deer. That old monkey seemed quite knowledgeable. Meanwhile, in the grand hall of Feiyun Creek, an old monkey was earnestly advising, ¡°Great King, Hu Yao¡¯s strength far surpasses other Demon Clans; the Great King should make some preparations.¡± The Cow Demon lying on a pile of treasures asked, ¡°How to prepare?¡± The old monkey said, ¡°Marry her or accept her as an adopted daughter.¡± The Cow Demon shook its head, ¡°No, I don¡¯t like girls that slim; I like them strong and plump.¡± ¡°My sons also like plump ones.¡± The old monkey said, ¡°This is to consolidate your status!¡± The Cow Demon was indifferent, ¡°My status needs no consolidation, I¡¯m late-stage Foundation Establishment, she¡¯s only Qi Refinement Realm.¡± The old monkey said, ¡°Then we can only kill her!¡± The Cow Demon still disagreed, ¡°No, I have no grudge with her, why kill her? That wouldn¡¯t be right.¡± The old monkey was raging inside, nearly blurting out, ¡°A child is unworthy of a plan.¡± ¡°What does the Great King intend to do?¡± The Cow Demon said, ¡°I heard Hu Yao recently enjoys reading. You¡¯ve traveled among humans for a long time, you go teach her to read.¡± The old monkey was dumbfounded, I¡¯m so talented, and you want me to teach her to read? Fine, I¡¯ll teach earnestly and let her take over your bird¡¯s place! The old monkey, dressed in a scholar¡¯s robe, swung his sleeve and left. After the old monkey had gone far, the Cow Demon murmured, ¡°You want a King, but I¡¯m just a common Foundation Establishment, not something I can meddle with.¡± ¡°Since you want a King, I¡¯ll give you a King of Ten Thousand Beasts.¡± Then, he called his sons and instructed, ¡°Follow Hu Yao and do whatever she asks of you.¡± ¡°Even if she asks you to kill me.¡± Exchanging one cow¡¯s life for the possibility of future generations breaking through Foundation Establishment, following Hu Yao into the Ghost World, cultivating to Mystic Gate Realm. It¡¯s worth it. ¡­ Noon, Ye City Tea House. Xu Yaofeng lifted his tea cup, watching the charming young lady in front, who sang a tune softly, revealing a satisfied smile. It had been a long time since I enjoyed tea and music so leisurely, truly delightful. After listening to the tune, Xu Yaofeng stood up, placed one tael of Silver in front of this girl in white, ¡°Do you commit suicide, or do I need to act?¡± The woman in white was slightly taken aback, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be discovered so quickly.¡± ¡°Indeed, a worthy Da Yan hound.¡± Xu Yaofeng calmly said, ¡°I allowed you to finish a song, giving you enough face already.¡± ¡°Now, you should give me face.¡± ¡°We are all Foundation Establishment, so let¡¯s maintain some dignity.¡± ¡°Beating like those Qi Refinement Realm, all bloody, taints the identity.¡± The woman ultimately didn¡¯t comply with his wishes, and a cup of tea later, Xu Yaofeng left the tea house, as if nothing happened. The only difference was that his backpack now had a woman¡¯s head inside. After turning around, Xu Yaofeng arrived at Jiao Fangsi, entered and called a girl playing the zither, then went into a private room. Xu Yaofeng sat down, asked amid the gentle sound of the zither, ¡°What¡¯s the sect¡¯s order this time?¡± The zither-playing girl whispered, ¡°The sect says Ye City is under your control, your cultivation resources will be provided according to the treatment of a Da Yan Prince.¡± Xu Yaofeng was slightly surprised, ¡°What else did the sect say?¡± The girl replied, ¡°The sect wants you to quickly break through to the Ghost Face Realm, when the Ghost Gate opens next, to enter the Death Realm and take over some of our Jiguang Sect¡¯s forces there.¡± Xu Yaofeng asked, ¡°How many others like me?¡± The girl said, ¡°Two, the other is called Shang Tong.¡± ¡°Your men are already waiting for you in the back garden.¡± After listening to the tune, Xu Yaofeng went to the back garden, where no one else was, only a waterside pavilion with eighteen Foundation Establishment Realm at peak. These eighteen all wore bronze ghost masks, and upon seeing Xu Yaofeng, they moved forward in unison, removed their ghost masks, knelt on one knee, saying, ¡°We greet the Master of Mortal World!¡± Xu Yaofeng was momentarily stunned, and at that moment, he fully understood Jiguang Sect¡¯s scheme. Before his Light Butterfly Harmonization, his strength was only close to Divine Son and Goddess. Jiguang Sect knew this; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have obtained the Light Butterfly. Jiguang Sect wanted him to impersonate the Master of Mortal World to protect the real one. He rubbed his head, ¡°Really gives a headache.¡± Once he entered the Death Realm with the identity of the Master of Mortal World, he would surely face attacks from all sides. So frustrating. But Jiguang Sect didn¡¯t know his Light Butterfly had already harmonized, and his current strength might not be weaker than those Divine Sons and Goddesses. Moreover, Death Realm was still Jiguang Sect¡¯s home ground, so he might be able to do something under this guise. I wonder what the Jiguang Sect seniors would think once they discovered he genuinely had the Master of Mortal World strength. It might be worth using this identity to secure cultivation resources and gain support from Jiguang Sect in Death Realm. Sending the sacrificial pawn, let Shang Tong do it, while he enjoys the resources, and if need be, he can show a hand. As long as he learns from Mo Xiang¡¯s predecessor three hundred years ago, it shouldn¡¯t threaten his life. I, a Taichu follower, why should I serve your Jiguang Sect? What you offered is nothing, but Senior Taichu offered a bright future! Thinking this, Xu Yaofeng moved forward, using the head-laden parcel, collected all eighteen bronze ghost masks. ¡°Kneel first, kneel for three days, then we¡¯ll talk.¡± These eighteen showed no hesitation and shifted from kneeling on one knee to kneeling with both knees. Xu Yaofeng could see the fervor in their eyes, as they anticipated him recreating the scene from three hundred years ago, reconstructing Jiguang Sect¡¯s glory. They were truly fanatical! Chapter 171 03-25 - Chapter 171: Chapter 122: Cultivation Has Always Been a War (Super Long Chapter) Chapter 171: Chapter 122: Cultivation Has Always Been a War (Super Long Chapter) Chen Qing is currently not very concerned about the major affairs of the world, which still seem quite distant to him. He at least feels that way for now. ¡°I am just a cultivator who has fully completed the Qi Refining Realm.¡± He has a clear understanding of himself. Straightening his back, he symbolically wiped his forehead which wasn¡¯t even sweaty, to make those men working with him feel better. Chen Qing continued swinging his hoe, loosening the soil in the Spiritual Ginseng Field. As a member of an ancient native tribe, he perfectly inherited his ancestors¡¯ genes, planting wherever he went. Planting Spirit Ginseng and growing grains and vegetables were quite similar; both were farming. Hearing that Chen Qing was farming these days, the Great Witch took interest and went to Iron Flow Valley to join him in the fields, wielding a hoe. ¡°When I was in the royal city, I once supervised the military in Mangcang Mountain, where I grew Spiritual Medicine for thirty years.¡± ¡°Your timing for applying fertilizer is off, it should be done after the rain when the soil is still moist.¡± ¡°This timing allows the fertility to enter the soil more effectively and prevents it from being washed away by the rain.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï After hearing this, Chen Qing felt that the Great Witch made a lot of sense, truly worthy of someone who had been farming Spiritual Medicine for thirty years. At noon, Chen Qing and the Great Witch sat on the ridge, rolled up their trouser legs, and started eating the steamed buns brought by Jiang Miaoxian. ¡°By the way, Great Witch, do you still need to eat?¡± The Great Witch broke a steamed bun in half and handed one piece to Chen Qing, ¡°I¡¯m old and can¡¯t eat much.¡± ¡°But I still haven¡¯t reached the point where I can subsist entirely on drinking dew and feeding on Spiritual Energy.¡± While they were chatting, a fast horse approached, and a bloodied warrior dismounted, ¡°Report, we have taken down the Shuye Clan!¡± ¡°To fully control the mobilization of troops, Mei Zuochen led us to defeat the Black Stone Clan, who were vying for the spirit stone mine.¡± Chen Qing wasn¡¯t very pleased, he simply nodded slightly, ¡°I know, you may go back.¡± The bloodied warrior respectfully bowed and slowly backed away, thinking inwardly: Why does Lord seem not very happy? At that moment, a brother from the Jiang family galloped over, his appearance clean as if he hadn¡¯t been in a battle. Contrarily, he even carried the scent of a woman¡¯s makeup. ¡°Report, with Yuan Wujue¡¯s help, we have seized the military power of another tribe.¡± Chen Qing then smiled, ¡°Well done, you may go.¡± The Jiang family brother left joyously, while the bloodied man, spat out a mouthful of saliva, ¡°Phew, a sly and villainous lot!¡± After finishing the steamed bun, the Great Witch softly said, ¡°If anyone near you ever mentions the four words ¡®Master of Mortal World,¡¯ execute them immediately!¡± Chen Qing pondered for a moment, thinking greatly of the extensive knowledge of the Great Witch. Is this the accumulation of power from living two hundred years? ¡°How many people are aware of this?¡± The Great Witch smiled, ¡°You haven¡¯t kept it from Xuanping, so naturally Da Lang and I know.¡± ¡°Besides us, no one else knows, not even Xuan Mang.¡± ¡°That boy can¡¯t settle his mind and shouldn¡¯t be involved in this.¡± ¡°Xuan Cuo is reliable, no worries.¡± ¡°I remember when Cuo¡¯er was just born, I was wondering what name to give him.¡± ¡°After much thought, I finally decided to name him ¡®Cuo¡¯ [mistake/error].¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that his birth was a mistake, but as a reminder to myself that in the world of cultivation, you often face schemes planned for thousands of years, one careless move and the whole game is lost.¡± ¡°Cultivation is always a battle.¡± ¡°The world is only so large; the more you cultivate, the less others can.¡± ¡°Take mortal kingdoms, for instance, since they consist of mortals, their individual strength isn¡¯t strong, so they band together; the small ones become tribes, the large ones become nations.¡± ¡°That is their way of surviving.¡± ¡°Cultivators, on the other hand, possess power far beyond that of a single country.¡± ¡°Among nations, other than strife and submission, what else is there?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think that meditation alone in silence is cultivating; that won¡¯t yield any results.¡± ¡°If mere tranquility could lead to immortality, wouldn¡¯t the whole world be full of deities?¡± The Great Witch said a lot, making Chen Qing understand a lot more. The Master of Mortal World from three hundred years ago, as well as his witnessed experiences of Abnormal people, made him deeply realize how dangerous this world is. Even the Jiguang Sect, which once had total control over a realm, ended up in its current state, let alone him. ¡°In a few days, Ping¡¯er will undergo Foundation Establishment, and you are to protect her.¡± ¡°Watching may also help you accumulate some experience for Foundation Establishment.¡± Three days later, Chen Qing arrived in front of Cold Mountain City, and seeing it was Chen Qing, the Hei Pi at the gate immediately let him through. Hei Pi had already vaguely sensed that Chen Qing was completely different from others. During this period, the troops of Iron Flow Valley had spread far and wide beyond the Xuan Bird tribe, causing him unease. Furthermore, every two days, a person from Iron Flow Valley successfully became the Hu Kui of a tribe, making him realize that Chen Qing¡¯s momentum was unstoppable. Even a family with members at the Foundation Establishment level, in front of Chen Qing, could be annihilated with a flick of the wrist. ¡°Lord Qingxu has arrived; I¡¯ll lead Lord Qingxu to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion!¡± Entering Cold Mountain City, Chen Qing observed people from the Xuan Bird tribe stationed at various watchtowers. Outside the city, there were over ten scouting teams constantly patrolling day and night. Foundation Establishment is a significant event, and in the Xuan Bird tribe, Xuanping¡¯s Foundation Establishment is even more critical. Chapter 176 03-25 - Chapter 176: Chapter 123 Spiritual Grade Cicada·Three Years Chapter 176: Chapter 123 Spiritual Grade Cicada¡¤Three Years ¡°` Where does the wind blow from? To wander amidst the flowers in search of the secluded. After traversing a particularly rugged mountain path, Chen Qing stepped over the orchids, entering a serene place filled with green bamboo. Flowers bloomed everywhere, green grass thrived, surrounded by green plums and bamboo, was the dwelling of an evil ghost. However, Yin Shu Niang did not reside in a place filled with blood but rather chose a remarkably beautiful spot. Perhaps because this place was a cemetery. After all, people had the habit of planting greenery on their family graves. Chen Qing approached and knocked on an unmarked stone tablet. After a short while, Yin Shu Niang pushed it open, and seeing Chen Qing, she was startled. ¡°Mountain God, do you have any business?¡± Chen Qing smiled calmly, ¡°Nothing in particular, just came to chat with you.¡± Although she was extremely beautiful, she noticed that Chen Qing did not have any lustful glare in his eyes, only purity and clarity. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°Then do come in, Mountain God.¡± Inside the burial chamber, there was indeed another world, with flowers and vines forming a bed. Yin Shu Niang led Chen Qing to sit on a stone bench, then said, ¡°Please wait here for a moment, Mountain God, I will make tea for you.¡± Despite the fragrant floral tea, Chen Qing¡¯s thoughts were elsewhere, ¡°Tell me specifically, how do you see me?¡± Yin Shu Niang looked closely at Chen Qing and found him unexpectedly majestic. ¡°On your body, Mountain God, there are many mysterious threads connecting to this land. As soon as you come near me, Mountain God, one thread connects to me.¡± ¡°I feel an overwhelming pressure that makes it hard to breathe. It seems that with a gentle press, I would turn into smoke.¡± ¡°Beyond that, I cannot see.¡± Chen Qing felt a slight disappointment. At this moment, Yin Shu Niang added, ¡°However, I know of a Foundation Establishment ghost cultivator not far from here, named Xu Ye. Possibly, his cultivation might be higher and could see more.¡± Chen Qing was immediately delighted, as ghost cultivators to him were utterly manageable. Not to mention he could wipe them out with a thought, even in a real fight, the outcome was uncertain. As for leaving safely, it was no problem at all. ¡°Go, summon him to pay respects to me!¡± Given his current status, it was natural that he wouldn¡¯t visit but should have others come to pay respects. Yin Shu Niang immediately took the order and left, leaving Chen Qing alone in this tranquil burial chamber. A day later, Yin Shu Niang brought Xu Ye and a slew of evil ghosts towards her dwelling, and the closer they got, the more Xu Ye felt his scalp tingle. How could a Mountain God appear? Ghosts feared those who controlled the world, as they were part of the earth. Mountain ghosts, that¡¯s who they were. Initially thinking Yin Shu Niang was joking, but upon approaching, he noticed something different. Just by nearing the place, he felt slightly out of control. A peculiar power enveloped him, as if it could extinguish him at will. At the first sight of Chen Qing, Xu Ye immediately kowtowed, ¡°Xu Ye pays respects to the Yinsi!¡± Chen Qing, however, did not allow him to rise, only asked, ¡°Why do you call me Yinsi?¡± Xu Ye said, ¡°Lord Yinsi can control our lives at will, and there is Black and White Qi, Impermanence Power, emanating from you.¡± ¡°Apart from these, there is also Xuanhuang Qi.¡± Chen Qing¡¯s interest piqued, sipping the floral tea, ¡°Continue, describe what you see of me in detail.¡± ¡°Do not exaggerate, if there¡¯s a single falsehood, your Divine Soul will be obliterated!¡± Xu Ye trembled all over, looking carefully at Chen Qing, becoming more frightened the more he looked, ¡°On Lord Yinsi, I seem to see a phantom.¡± ¡°Just a feeling, not actually seeing it.¡± ¡°It should be a certain god, and the lord possesses part of this god¡¯s power.¡± Xu Ye at this moment understood something, realizing what Chen Qing truly wanted. He must have acquired strength but didn¡¯t know what it was. This sort of person was more troublesome than real Yinsi. Real Yinsi followed rules, but someone like Chen Qing could annihilate you effortlessly without any reason or justice. ¡°In my perception, you are more terrifying than those real Yinsi.¡± ¡°Real Yinsi gain some borrowed power through treasures or official titles.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re different. This power comes from within you, not borrowed from any god.¡± Chen Qing asked, ¡°Anything more?¡± Xu Ye shook his head. Chen Qing pondered slightly. Where he was, All Things Grow, leading to the flowers and plants here flourishing vibrantly. Lush green. The earth nurtures all things, then gathers the souls back into the earth. Ghosts also belonged to the earth, hence he had the power to control them. Born of the earth, nurtured by the earth, buried in the earth. Life and death both lay upon the earth, hence a cycle of reincarnation. Chen Qing fell into contemplation, unconsciously entering an Enlightenment state. After a quarter of an hour, his eyes gradually cleared. It seemed his Light Gu Harmonization was strongly related to the Life and Death Reincarnation. He gained some insights. ¡°I heard you have a ghost market; could you take me there for a look?¡± Xu Ye thought inwardly, ¡°Brothers, it¡¯s not that I want to invite the wolf into the house, but I¡¯m forced to bow to authority.¡± ¡°Yes, though we call it the Floor Market.¡± Chen Qing immediately rose, ¡°Take me there.¡± Following Xu Ye for two days, they arrived at an underground yin river, where in the cave, there stood various pavilions of different styles, all hanging with white lanterns. ¡°`