Chapter 190: Opening Mountain Axe Yang Si!

Yan Jueming didn't know how he had come down the mountain.

He only remembered that, before leaving, his master had instructed him to deliver the Thunder-Struck Ironwood Bow to Qin Shuo early the next morning.

By now, he had fully accepted that Qin Shuo was his master's illegitimate son.

Otherwise, his master's every action would make no sense.

The next morning.

Before dawn, just as Qin Shuo was preparing to rise and greet the morning breath, drawing in the Essence of Heaven and Earth, he suddenly saw Yan Jueming already waiting outside the door.

"So early?"

Qin Shuo was somewhat surprised.

He had said yesterday that he wanted Yan Jueming to come a little earlier.

Because today was the day of the Demon Suppression Division's operation, he felt he might need to use the Thunder-Struck Ironwood Bow.

Besides, having this bow in hand, his archery power could be increased by more than double.

Not to mention, the Xiao Family, being one of the Yun Prefecture Four Great Families, would surely not submit meekly to a search, so Qin Shuo had already prepared for a hard confrontation.

"Did I disturb Captain Qin's morning practice?"

Unlike yesterday's appearance of deep-seated hatred, Yan Jueming today seemed like a completely different person.

No one knew how long he had waited in this chilly morning wind, but his face still bore an enthusiastic smile.

"No."

Qin Shuo stepped aside to let him enter the courtyard, his gaze as strange as it could possibly be.

Yesterday he had still seemed ready to fight Qin Shuo to the death, but today he acted as if he were Qin Shuo's long-lost close brother.

This change left Qin Shuo truly at a loss.

But none of that mattered.

He took the bow case Yan Jueming handed him and once again began to refine the Wind-Thunder Arrow intent within.

The Wind-Thunder Arrow consists of four killing techniques, namely Storm Arrow, Thunder Arrow, Storm Thunder Dragon, and Wind-Thunder Kill.

Storm Arrow is formed by coiling True Essence around the arrow shaft like a whirlwind, stirring the flow of heaven and earth, thus creating a fierce wind blade that inflicts destruction upon the enemy.

Thunder Arrow, meanwhile, is achieved by attaching Thunder Strike Gang Qi to the arrow shaft, enhancing its shooting speed and armor-piercing capability.

It was by relying on a single hand of Thunder Arrow that Nie Jinfeng subdued the martial world of Yunzhou and earned the title of Eight-Armed Evil Dragon.

Storm Thunder Dragon combines both properties, using Thunder as bone and Storm as scale, possessing both wide-range killing and destructive effects, with the drawback being too long a charging time.

Wind-Thunder Kill, by contrast, is relatively simple,

this technique, like Storm Arrow, employs spiral force, rapidly rotating the arrow shaft, thereby increasing the arrow's killing and destructive power.

The only difference is that the Wind-Thunder Arrow Technique is driven by Storm Qi,

whereas Wind-Thunder Kill twists Storm Qi and Thunder Strike Gang Qi into a spiral energy force, forming greater propulsion and killing power.

The first three arrow techniques have already been refined by him,

and once he refines the final technique, Wind-Thunder Kill, his Wind-Thunder Arrow Technique will be considered fully perfected.

As his thoughts turned, within the Taotie Cauldron, the qi and blood energy that had just been filled the previous night was rapidly consumed.

At the same time, his mind continuously surfaced scenes of past masters of Wind-Thunder Valley using this longbow against enemies, including Nie Jinfeng, and even Zhang Youlong.

But this time, he did not, as he had the day before, draw the bow and test an arrow.

Because openly, Nie Laodeng had only taught him Thunder Arrow and Storm Thunder Dragon, and had not yet taught him Wind-Thunder Kill,

so he also felt it inappropriate to directly test the power of Wind-Thunder Kill in front of Yan Jueming.

Most importantly, he still had to participate in the Demon Suppression Division's search operation today, and could not waste his True Essence on archery practice; he must remain in peak condition.

As the energy gauge of the Taotie Cauldron was emptied, the final technique of the Wind-Thunder Arrow, Wind-Thunder Kill, was completely refined and mastered by Qin Shuo.

Boom!

As expected, a crimson light pillar once again shot up into the sky from the direction of Wind-Thunder Valley.

This time, the summoning emanating from the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow was even stronger.

He even faintly felt that, if he were to break through again, that crimson light pillar would descend from the heavens to receive and guide him.

"Captain Qin, what are you looking at?"

Seeing Qin Shuo holding the Thunder-Struck Ironwood Bow in a daze, Yan Jueming immediately became curious and asked.

He followed Qin Shuo's gaze, but saw nothing, only knowing it was the direction of Wind-Thunder Valley.

Could he be thinking of his master?

"Nothing."

Qin Shuo withdrew his gaze and said: "I have matters to attend to today; this bow, I will return it to you after I finish using it.

You may wait for me in the city, or wait until I finish my affairs, and I will personally return the bow to Valley Master Nie."

"Do you need my help?"

Yan Jueming spoke enthusiastically.

Qin Shuo's expression was strange; he couldn't figure out what medicine this fellow was selling in his gourd, and although a complete 180-degree turn in attitude would already be baffling, now he even proactively offered to help.

Could it be that Nie Laodeng had told this Yan True Disciple about their cooperation and their plot concerning the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow?

This possibility was not nonexistent, and Qin Shuo felt it was quite likely.

Otherwise, there would be no way to explain such a drastic change in attitude toward him after just one night of acquaintance.

But even if the other party genuinely wanted to help, he could not possibly agree.

After all, he was going to carry out the Demon Suppression Division's search mission, and bringing along a True Disciple of Wind-Thunder Valley would be most inconvenient.

Thus he politely declined: "No need."

"Alright, then Captain Qin, go ahead and attend to your affairs; I'll come for the bow this evening!"

Yan Jueming left decisively, without any hesitation, and his face showed no displeasure, which made Qin Shuo increasingly puzzled.

However, he didn't think much of it, tidied up, and then carried his bow case as he rushed to the Demon Suppression Division.

……

"General, I refuse to obey!"

Demon Suppression Division, conference hall.

A burly man wielding an Eight Trigrams Xuanhua Axe stormed in angrily.

He strode forward in large steps to stand before Mountain-Moving General Chen Ao and said angrily:

"On what grounds must I cooperate with that Qin?

He's just a yellow-mouthed brat—why should I cooperate with him?"

The man's name is Yang Si, a Cloud Dragon Captain under Mountain-Moving General Chen Ao.

Just now, Yang Si learned from others that for this inner city search, he would be assigned to assist the newly arrived Cloud Dragon Captain Qin Shuo in searching the Xiao Family.

This infuriated him.

With his strength, seniority, and the demon-hunting achievements accumulated over more than a decade, he was more than qualified for promotion to Demon Suppression General.

But now, he is actually required to assist that Qin—pale-faced youth……

On what grounds?

"Yang Si, obey orders!"

Being openly rebuked by his subordinate, Chen Ao's expression turned grim, and his voice grew cold.

Although he also did not understand Fu Lingyuan's approach,

the other party, as Division Master, has been in charge of the Demon Suppression Division for years without making any major mistakes.

Therefore, although he clearly understood Yang Si's dissatisfaction, he still demanded that Yang Si act according to the Division Master's orders.

After all, the most urgent matter now is searching the inner city,

and other matters can wait until this is settled, then he can slowly ask the Division Master for clarification.

However, Yang Si clearly did not think so.

That Qin is merely a petty hunter from a remote place who happened to resolve a demon calamity by chance, yet he suddenly leapt to the rank of Cloud Dragon Captain.

Even being promoted exceptionally to Cloud Dragon Captain would be tolerable,

but now he must climb onto his head, commanding his actions—how could he possibly accept this?

"General, it's not that Yang Si disobeys orders out of defiance, but this transfer order is utterly childish.

How many days has that Qin been in our Demon Suppression Division?

What does he know about searching?

Even if the Division Master does not allow Yang Si to independently lead troops to search the Four Great Families, it would be tolerable, but now he actually demands that I cooperate with that Qin's actions.

This is too chilling to the hearts of us old-timers!"

"Shut up!"

Mountain-Moving General Chen Ao coldly shouted,

"I don't care how much dissatisfaction you harbor in your heart,

today's search, you must give me your full cooperation!

As for the reason, after this matter, this general will definitely go to the Division Master to seek an explanation for you.

Now, get back into the ranks for me.

If Old Man finds out you're shirking during the search, Old Man will break your legs!"

Yang Si is a soldier personally brought up by Mountain-Moving General Chen Ao,

and although his current strength is in no way inferior to that of this Mountain-Moving General before him, he still must obey the latter's words.

Therefore, after venting his feelings, Yang Si still unwillingly walked out of the conference hall.

Coincidentally, just as he reached the hall's entrance, he collided head-on with Qin Shuo.