Chapter 114: Qin Shuo: Have I Become a Living Secret Manual?

In the pill chamber.

Various rare treasures and exotic herbs, mountain-root precious medicines, some placed in boxes, some arranged on jade platters, dazzling to the eyes, overwhelming to behold.

"What fine goods, Heavenly Mountain silver peaches, glazed clam pearls, stargrass..."

"Just take any one of these out, and it could sell for a sky-high price, making all the great martial clans scramble for it!"

He Mingjing's eyes shone with light, his gaze seemingly glued to those rows of shelves, unable to move away.

"Peiyuan Pills, Dragon-Tiger Great Return Pills, Beauty Nourishing Pills..."

Qin Shuo likewise wore an expression of astonishment, subtitles flashing in his mind's eye, letting him truly experience what it meant to be dazzled blind.

"Big spender, actually having so many good things!"

His heart burned hot; these medicinal ingredients and pills were too precious, even a leak would be enough to elevate an ordinary person to the level of Inner Strength Great Success.

No wonder the soldiers in the City Lord's Mansion all had such high cultivation realms.

With such a pill-refining master who also had money, wanting not to grow strong was impossible.

The two searched everywhere in the pill chamber, hoping to find something one-of-a-kind.

Soon, Qin Shuo was drawn to an animal-hide box placed in a corner.

He quickly walked over, took the animal-hide box down from the shelf, and placed it on the table.

Not far away, He Mingjing, seeing this, also came over, stared at the animal-hide box on the table for a while, and urged eagerly:

"Hurry up and open it to see; preserved this well, there might be something good inside."

Qin Shuo didn't hesitate, reaching out to undo the latch on the animal-hide box.

Pa-da!

As the animal-hide box opened, a stale, rotten smell assaulted his face.

Like an old book stored for decades, suddenly opened, giving off a moldy, pungent stench.

Qin Shuo took out the animal-hide scroll inside and slowly unfurled it.

First to catch the eye were the bright red characters "Forbidden," followed by the large characters "Wan Ling Blood Pill Formula" written in thick ink.

The two exchanged a smile.

Found you, the evidence of Xue Lao Deng's guilt.

With this Wan Ling Blood Pill Formula in hand, even if Wind Thunder Valley wanted to whitewash Xue Lao Deng, it would be impossible.

As Xue Chengkong himself said, a hair-drinking blood-eating beast, how could it possibly learn the high-level art of pill refinement?

Whether it was Xue Chengkong's instruction or his collusion with the Xiaoyue Demon King, for the Demon Suppression Division it no longer mattered.

With this pill formula in hand, the other party could not possibly wash away the suspicion of colluding with demons.

Thus, whether Qin Shuo killed Xue Chengkong or ransacked the City Lord's Mansion now, it became a legitimate act, no need to worry about Wind Thunder Valley's direct reproach.

As for behind the scenes...

We'll talk when the time comes!

After sweeping the pill chamber clean, Qin Shuo directly headed to the rear garden, demolishing all the black iron dungeons beneath the fake mountain.

The entire dungeon was forged from black iron essence, perfectly suited for weapon casting.

Now his strength had surged, ordinary swords and blades felt too light in his hand.

With this black iron essence, he could have a weapon custom-forged for himself.

Leaving the City Lord's Mansion was already deep into the second half of the night.

Qin Shuo had Lu Rong transport all the seized items by cart to his home, then he and He Mingjing rushed nonstop to the Sky Wolf Gang.

The two worked until dawn, then returned satisfied to Qin Shuo's small courtyard in the Inner City.

"Brother!"

Just as he entered the gate, Qin Lan came running up with a sobbing voice.

The little girl cried with pear blossoms in the rain, obviously frightened badly by last night's Sky Wolf massacre.

At this moment, seeing Qin Shuo return, her tightly wound heartstrings instantly loosened, all her grievances and discomfort surged upward, and she cried like a tearful person.

"Alright, alright, it's fine." Qin Shuo smiled and comforted.

Besides Qin Lan, Wei Yuan and others were also present.

Even Master Jueming had come over, making this already not-so-spacious small courtyard feel somewhat crowded.

"Old Eight, was it really you last night?"

Wei Yuan stepped forward, his gaze scanning Qin Shuo up and down, his tone full of disbelief.

Last night, he was first defeated by the Xiaoyue Demon King, his fleshly body controlled by the wolf demon's remnant soul, his consciousness falling into sleep.

Afterwards, the Sky Wolf's remnant soul used his body to battle Qin Shuo, was shattered by Qin Shuo's Longxiang Roar, his consciousness also affected, and he slept until broad daylight.

If it weren't for Zhan Bai bringing people to find him and wake him up, he might still be sleeping on the street now.

So from beginning to end, he never witnessed Qin Shuo's battle with the Xiaoyue Demon King.

When he learned from Zhan Bai and others that it was Qin Shuo who slew the Xiaoyue Demon King and saved the entire Black Water City, he felt as if struck by five thunderbolts, his whole person stunned.

He knew he had taken on a somewhat monstrous disciple, but never imagined the monstrosity had reached this extent.

How long has he studied martial arts...

Less than half a year!

And he can slay the Xiaoyue Demon King that even I cannot withstand?!

Such progress speed, such martial talent...

I fear only those Great Grandmasters, or even Martial Saints, in their youth could rival this?

Thinking of having taught a disciple with the bearing of a Martial Saint, Wei Yuan's lips couldn't help but turn up, impossible to suppress.

He wished he could now run back to the ancestral hall, burn incense and paper, and loudly proclaim to the ancestral masters beneath the nine springs.

"Indeed it is me." Qin Shuo smiled and nodded.

Hearing Qin Shuo admit it himself, Wei Laotou could no longer suppress his joy, bursting into loud laughter before everyone.

"Qin Shizhu, may I have a word with you in private?"

At this moment, Jueming Dashi stepped out from the crowd, expressing his desire to speak alone with Qin Shuo.

Upon hearing this, the others tactfully withdrew, leaving only He Mingjing behind, who said: "Perfect, I also have something to say to you."

Seeing that Jueming Dashi had no objection, Qin Shuo brought the two into the inner room.

"Qin Shizhu, forgive this old monk's boldness, but may I ask whether the Buddhist supernatural power you displayed last night in your battle with the Demon King was the Great Longxiang Force of our Buddha's gate?"

The old monk's eyes shone brightly, staring fixedly at Qin Shuo without blinking, as if he wished to see through his soul.

"Exactly! It is indeed the Buddhist supernatural power, the Great Longxiang Force."

Qin Shuo did not deny it, for there was no point in doing so.

The commotion last night was too great; countless people witnessed his battle with the Xiaoyue Yaowang, making it impossible to conceal.

Perhaps these people do not know what cultivation method he used.

But as long as those characteristics are described, observant individuals, combining them with the strength he previously displayed in Songyang Prefecture City, can easily deduce that the power he used to slay the Xiaoyue Yaowang was the Buddhist supernatural power.

There is no way around it—the Buddhist supernatural power's radiant golden light is simply too dazzling.

Moreover, the Longxiang Monk must have certainly employed the Great Longxiang Force when battling the Xiaoyue Yaowang.

Once the news of last night's battle reaches Songyang Prefecture City, it will be impossible for him to conceal that he possesses the Buddhist supernatural power.

"Alas—I never expected that the Longxiang Shizhi would truly have fallen!" Jueming Dashi said with a hint of sorrow.

Qin Shuo was slightly startled.

He thought the other party's inquiry about this matter was to retrieve the Longxiang Relic for Dalong Temple, never expecting it was merely to confirm the Longxiang Monk's life or death.

"So it truly is the Buddhist supernatural power—I was wondering how you suddenly became so fierce!" He Mingjing exclaimed in astonishment.

Regarding Qin Shuo's mastery of divine ability, he had also secretly suspected as much.

Yet now, hearing Qin Shuo admit it himself, his heart was still greatly shaken.

Divine ability—that is a heavenly means only a Martial Saint can comprehend and display; who would have thought I would encounter it in this tiny Heishui City?

"Eh? That's not right! You are neither a Buddhist disciple nor a holy monk's bloodline—how can you display Martial Saint divine ability?"

He Mingjing suddenly realized, looking at Qin Shuo with a puzzled expression.

Jueming Dashi pressed his palms together, slightly bowed his head, and said:

"He Shizhu is unaware: Martial Saint divine ability is not exclusive to those of sage bloodline.

Later generations, by relying on sage relics, can also unleash a portion of divine ability's power.

The Buddhist supernatural power Qin Shizhu displayed last night was made possible by relying on the Buddha Bone Relic of the Dragon Elephant Sheng Seng, using it as a medium to unleash divine ability.

"In other words, if he loses the Buddha Bone Relic, he can no longer display divine ability?" He Mingjing exclaimed in shock.

"Exactly!"

Jueming Dashi nodded, then looked at Qin Shuo and said: "This is also precisely what this old monk wishes to remind Qin Shizhu of."

"The Longxiang Relic is the medium for displaying the Great Longxiang Force; this old monk knows this, and many aristocratic clans and sects are likely aware as well."

"If this relic remains with the Longxiang Shizhi, even if others harbor designs, they would hardly dare to touch it."

"But Qin Shizhu is not the Longxiang Shizhi; with your current strength, wanting to safeguard the Longxiang Relic will likely be difficult."

"Does the Dashi mean someone will act against me, seeking to seize the Longxiang Relic?" Qin Shuo said, as if in thought.

"The power of divine ability—let alone ordinary martial practitioners, even Martial Arts Grandmasters would be tempted; Qin Shizhu must not underestimate human greed." Jueming Dashi earnestly warned.

"What Jueming Dashi said is correct—let alone others, even I would want to seize it!" He Mingjing said, eyes reddened.

That is Martial Saint divine ability, possessing the power to penetrate heaven and earth.

Who would have thought that Qin Shuo, merely at the Tongmai Small Accomplishment stage, after mastering divine ability, would blast the Xiaoyue Yaowang—whose strength rivals the peak of the Condensing Truth Realm—into pieces?

Who would not want such martial enhancement?

"Here, take it—can you use it?"

Qin Shuo gave that fellow a glance, then continued asking Jueming Dashi:

"Dashi, the Longxiang Relic is merely a medium, not the true Longxiang Divine Ability—would anyone really risk everything for this?"

"Certainly."

Jueming Dashi spoke with firm tone, then his eyes grew strange as he said: "After all, once Qin Shizhu is captured, both the medium and the secret manual will be in hand!"

"What? Does that mean I've become a living secret manual?"

Jueming Dashi's words awakened the dreamer.

Previously, he had not considered this, but now, upon being enlightened by Jueming Dashi, he suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed.

Indeed!

Relying on the Longxiang Relic to display divine ability—am I not just a living secret manual?

As long as someone captures me, forces out the method of cultivating the Great Longxiang Force, and then supplements it with the Longxiang Relic, naturally divine ability can be achieved.

But...

I damn well don't even know the cultivation method of the Great Longxiang Force!

I'm doomed, brothers…