Chapter 66: Thunder Sound Secret Art! (Please subscribe! Please vote for monthly ticket!)

Heavenly Centipede City.

An ancient large city located in the northernmost basin of the Qingyu Domain, this city's history is even longer than that of Qingshan City.

The city walls of Heavenly Centipede City are wider at the bottom and narrower at the top; from afar they look like a giant bowl inverted over the basin but missing its bottom.

Yunhe had not come to Heavenly Centipede City for the first time; after entering the city, he headed straight to the Qingzong Sect's station in Heavenly Centipede City.

Though called a station, it is actually a large residence.

Upon entering the residence, one could immediately sense a change in spiritual qi.

The spirit vein beneath Heavenly Centipede City is likewise a low-grade vein, but the station appears to have a special formation for gathering spirit, intercepting part of the vein's spiritual qi so that the qi inside the station can barely reach the level of a first-rank spirit vein.

After entering the station's main hall, Yunhe discovered that many Qingzong Sect disciples had already gathered there.

"Is this junior brother a menial disciple?"

At that moment, a voice came from beside him.

He followed the sound and looked over.

He saw an old man with a withered face, but wearing a kind smile, his voice warm and friendly, dressed in the robes of a formal disciple of the Qingzong Sect.

Actually, there's nothing strange about it; among the Qingzong Sect disciples, there are naturally young rising stars, and there are also those who have lingered in the disciple rank for a long time yet failed to break through to Foundation Establishment.

However, ordinary disciples usually try to look younger; seeing a disciple about to turn white-haired like this, Yunhe had indeed never seen one before.

But since the other party took the initiative to greet him, Yunhe was not the sort who only knew cultivation and lacked worldly sense, so he clasped his hands and said:

"Menial disciple Yunhe greets you, senior brother."

The old man likewise clasped his hands.

"Junior Brother Yun, I am Gong Youwang. Junior Brother, why not sit and wait? Qian Shushu is currently receiving the Wu family ancestor in the inner hall."

The Wu family is the foremost of the three major cultivation families of Heavenly Centipede City, and its ancestor is a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

And Qian Shushu is the person in charge dispatched by the sect to Heavenly Centipede City this time.

Yunhe hesitated slightly, then nodded and said:

"Then I'll trouble you, senior brother."

Saying so, he sat opposite Gong Youwang.

Although he did not dare to use his divine sense, as he approached Yunhe he could clearly feel that this elderly senior brother possessed the cultivation base of the ninth layer of Qi Refining.

But upon further thought, he felt relieved.

It is likely precisely because he has the ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivation base, giving him a tiny chance to hope for Foundation Establishment, that he can remain in the Qingzong Sect.

Otherwise, ordinary disciples at this age

would either apply to leave on their own, using the sect's name to branch out abroad and establish a cultivation family,

or the sect would assign them to less important posts, such as serving as a station steward in cities like Hongye City or Heavenly Centipede City.

Or they might return to their original family, managing family affairs while serving as a bridge between the family and the sect.

"Although you are a menial disciple, your cultivation has reached the late stage of Qi Refining; I, senior brother, greatly admire you."

"It's nothing, senior brother; your Spiritual Power is full, your jade tablet is chipped at the corner, so you must be close to perfect Qi Refining—it is I who should admire you."

After exchanging compliments, they both suddenly froze.

It seemed neither had expected the other to be so easy to talk to.

After making eye contact, they simultaneously smiled.

One "marginal person" menial disciple, one "elderly" formal disciple, their identities seem quite a match.

After exchanging pleasantries, the two began to chat intermittently.

Soon, Yunhe learned from Senior Brother Gong Youwang that he was not the only one who had noticed signs of cultivator manipulation behind the rat plague.

Even now, at least half of the disciples present in the hall had come for this reason.

This immediately eased Yunhe's mind considerably.

With so many disciples able to detect it, it shows the sect must have known about this long ago, yet still issued this mission, which means the sect has already made its move; however, from the perspective of a menial disciple like him, he still cannot see the board the sect has set before it.

However, he also decided in his heart that he would no longer venture far from Heavenly Centipede City to hunt rat demons; he would simply operate in the vicinity of Heavenly Centipede City.

The sect has made its move, and he does not wish to become a pawn.

"Hahaha, Brother Qian, no need to see me off; I, Mr. Wu, can go on my own."

Soon, a hearty laugh came.

"Ah, since it's so, Mr. Qian indeed has matters at hand; Brother Wu, please don't take offense."

"It's nothing."

Then a middle-aged man led an old man out from the inner hall.

"Qian Shushu!"

"Senior Wu!"

All the disciples in the hall rose and paid respectful obeisance; Yunhe and Gong Youwang did the same.

Qian Shushu stood at the hall's entrance, watching the departing Wu family ancestor; the smile on his face quickly faded.

It seemed his conversation with the Wu family ancestor was not very pleasant.

His gaze swept over all the disciples, then he took the upper seat in the hall.

After picking up a cup of spiritual tea and taking a sip, he then addressed the assembled disciples standing before him:

"What you wish to say, the sect already knows."

He set down the teacup and let out a sudden cold snort.

"Hmph! The sect's meaning is simple: just go and kill them; I, Qingzong Sect, want to see who dares to jump out!"

Hearing this, all the disciples' hearts tightened.

"Is this about responding to change with constancy, or has the sect already sent people to investigate?" Yunhe thought to himself.

But he still followed the other disciples and replied in a low voice:

Yes!

Qian Dajiang nodded in satisfaction, then spoke again: "The sect has issued an order: anyone who slays the accused rat demon will receive double contribution!"

Upon hearing this, many disciples below showed pleased expressions.

Of course, some disciples furtively furrowed their brows.

This included Yunhe, as well as the senior brother Gong Youwang, who was advanced in years.

Go your separate ways.

Qian Dajiang waved his hand, then picked up his teacup again and sat down in the chair, drinking leisurely.

Fifty Chinese miles west of Tianwu City, in a deserted mountain hollow.

Inside a cave obviously excavated by a sword implement.

It seems that, being pursued by the Wei family and the sect, Lei Er's life is no easy matter; no wonder he set up an ambush to rob travelers before reaching the Spirit Beast Domain.

After sorting through Lei Er's storage bag, Yunhe shook his head silently.

More than half a year ago, I heard that a band of cultivator bandits had robbed a Wei family caravan; after half a year of fleeing, hiding, and fighting, Lei Er's storage bag wasn't completely empty, but his Spirit Stones were indeed scarce.

On the contrary, the storage bag of the Qingzong Sect disciple he had slain still contained a decent amount of Spirit Stones.

"Introduction to the Dao of Alchemy," worth fifty Low-grade Ling Stones.

Yunhe set down the Jade Slip and smiled.

He couldn't help but recall when, at the Riverside Market, he went to the black market to buy elixirs, and the haughty expression of the alchemist.

Although he often heard Qian Dajiang muttering about herbs and medicinal theory, remembered many of them, and even tried to refine a few batches of low-grade mixed elixirs himself, a proper book on the Dao of Alchemy was indeed his first time obtaining one.

This "Introduction to the Dao of Alchemy" was found in the storage bag of a Qingzong Sect disciple.

The most valuable item should be Lei Er's Magical Artifact—the Wind-Riding Boat.

As a high-grade Magical Artifact among flying vessels, the price of flying artifacts is generally high.

This Wind-Riding Boat should be Lei Er's greatest reliance for banditry and escape.

Because it has no other special features or advantages, only one word: fast!

Although it is also a disreputable Magical Artifact, temporarily replacing the Ink Cloud Boat will suffice; when the opportunity arises to sell it in a bundle, I can directly purchase a top-tier high-grade Magical Artifact.

Yunhe actually felt a slight temptation in his heart.

If he were to use the Wind-Riding Boat and then be sought out by Lei Yi, would there be a chance?

After all, he found no trace of Wei family goods in Lei Er's storage bag, so it is highly likely they are with Lei Yi.

And the goods that have both the Qingzong Sect and the Wei family so concerned might possibly be something valuable.

But he soon dismissed the idea.

"Don't bring trouble upon yourself, unless Lei Yi carries a Foundation Establishment Pill, otherwise all this adventuring is not worth it."

He turned his gaze to Lei Er's other Magical Artifact.

"Black Scale Shuttle."

Also a high-grade Magical Artifact, its features are the ability to conceal magical power flow, and it is extremely fast, with considerable lethal power, making it a tool for ambush.

Combined with the soul-shaking Thunderclap, it can indeed instantly kill an opponent in a surprise attack.

Even a Qi Cultivation practitioner whose cultivation base is somewhat higher than Lei Er's might not be able to withstand it.

"It's a pity that this round shield with three linked rings, which should also be a high-grade Magical Artifact, was shattered by the Red Sheath Fan."

That a mid-to-late Qi Cultivation practitioner actually possesses three high-grade Magical Artifacts, equipped for offense, defense, and mobility, shows that the Lei brothers could make a name for themselves as bandits in the Qingyu Domain for good reason.

Add to that their brothers' tacit understanding, and it's no wonder that even a perfected Qi Cultivation practitioner would have to temporarily avoid their sharp edge.

"Those bandits who survive are all rich," Yunhe silently lamented.

The more famous a bandit cultivator, the stronger he inevitably is.

Because they are forged through real combat.

Based solely on battle experience, it is not something that some sect disciples can match.

Moreover, there is this first-tier high-grade spell—the Thunderclap Technique!

This should be what he obtained from the two storage bags, and it is the one he finds most interesting.

This technique is extremely rare, a spell that activates by combining sound waves with Spirit Sense.

You should know that a Qi Cultivation practitioner's Spirit Sense cannot leave the body, and its function is quite singular; aside from inwardly observing oneself, it is only used for examining Jade Slips, invoking the Storage Bag, and so on.

Yet this technique ingeniously gathers Spirit Sense at the mouth, and, by the power of sound waves, achieves a temporary semblance of leaving the body to a certain extent.

Taking sound waves as an extension of the body, the cultivator who created this technique—Yunhe absolutely admires his ingenuity.

Of course, executing this technique is not easy either; it cannot be done with a simple shout.

Moreover, its attack range is greatly limited.

Within three meters, it can exert its maximum power.

Beyond three meters, the farther the distance, the weaker the power, until at eight meters out only the sound wave effect remains.

The remaining low- and medium-grade Magical Artifacts, especially those belonging to that Qingzong Sect cultivator, Yunhe does not intend to take out; he plans to sell them all together when the opportunity arises.

Bang!!

Inside the cave, a puff of white smoke rose, accompanied by waves of medicinal fragrance.

However, this medicinal fragrance was quickly blown away by a gust of wind, silently vanishing in the mountain hollow.

"Low-grade elixir, Blood-Congealing Pill!"

He opened the alchemical furnace and took out three pills that bore a slight blood-red hue; Yunhe could not contain his joy.

This was the third month since he had entered the mountain hollow.

And it was also the third type of low-grade elixir he had successfully refined.

After learning that the sect's order granted double contributions for slaying the controlled rat demons, he completely abandoned the thought of competing for the top three positions.

It wasn't that he didn't want to; he simply couldn't.

He discovered that some disciples, having studied under the same master, were on good terms and thus cooperated to slay demons together.

Even if he killed many alone, how could he compare to others who worked in groups of several or even dozens?

Moreover, he had reservations and didn't really want to deliberately seek out those controlled rat demons.

That said, after this, the rat plague in the Qingyu Domain was finally gradually brought under control.

Since he had given up on competing for the top three, Yunhe focused his thoughts on alchemy, preparing to rely on the 'backup plan'.

But as he practiced, Yunhe realized that he seemed to have a bit of talent in the way of alchemy.

He was merely uncertain whether he truly had a little talent or if it was due to the boost from his divine sense.

Nowadays, his success rate in refining low-grade elixirs has become fairly respectable.

Of course, for alchemy, he inevitably bought many spiritual herbs and plants from Heavenly Centipede City, consuming a considerable number of spirit stones.

Fortunately, his family finances were still decent enough to support the cost of low-grade elixirs.

Meanwhile, while practicing the Thunder Sound Technique, Yunhe discovered that although the technique had considerable effect on cultivators, it worked even better on demon beasts!

The spiritual intellect of low-level demon beasts is far inferior to that of cultivators, and their mind and will are even more so; the Thunder Sound Technique, which targets spirit sense and mind, can exert its greatest effect on demon beasts' bodies.

In particular, Lei Er could only rely on spirit sense to execute this technique, but when Yunhe performed it, he could draw on his own divine sense, making the power of the same technique between them incomparable.

Yunhe, having realized this, also became more confident in the feasibility of the backup plan.

"The contributions I've saved are almost enough to exchange for an alchemy manual; it's time to go back."

Since he could not obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill through the sect's channels, he had no choice but to rely on himself.

(End of chapter)