Chapter 79: line with translation of chapter title

The total amount of magical power hasn't changed much, but the quality of each drop of liquid magical power has increased, and quite significantly.

For the same spell, using the magical power from the Gold Water Element Classic versus using that from the Great Longevity Five Elements True Scripture increases its power by at least thirty percent.

My cultivation speed has also increased considerably. It's not just because I switched cultivation methods, but also because of my spiritual body.

Originally, after he successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, cultivating the Gold Water Element Classic made him barely feel any increase in his cultivation base, or rather it was almost negligible; only by relying on some elixirs could he barely make any progress.

But now, cultivating the Great Longevity Five Elements True Scripture, he can clearly feel his magical power increasing; although it's still not fast, it's obviously much better.

The Great Longevity Five Elements True Scripture still requires gathering the bloodlines of the five elemental spirit beasts, cultivating at least a Minor Five-Element Spiritual Body; only after the five elements mutually support and generate each other can the cultivation advantage of a top-tier technique be fully revealed.

Furthermore, many of the powerful auxiliary spells attached to the technique also require cultivating a Minor Five-Element Spiritual Body before they can be used.

Just that.

He managed to barely refine the water-element spiritual body using the essence blood of his Demon Beast Body, but where is he to find the essence blood of the remaining four elemental spirit beasts?

Saying this, Kong Zhibo handed over a jade slip.

Yunhe's face showed a smile as he opened his arms and deeply inhaled several breaths of the rich spiritual energy of the azure mountains.

The Five Elements Escape Techniques may seem ordinary, but each one is actually a great supernatural power for killing enemies and preserving life.

He slightly pinched his fingers.

A message talisman hanging outside his cave dwelling was then grasped in his hand.

Generally speaking, right after a cultivator achieves Foundation Establishment, they have the most affairs to handle.

The next moment.

But achieving it is a good thing.

It was indeed a message talisman from Sect Leader Kong Zhibo, meaning that after he finishes his secluded cultivation, he should go to the main hall to find him.

However, the Five Elements Escape Techniques are profound and extensive; I now only grasp the most basic superficialities, and if I wanted to master them to the utmost, I'm afraid I could only pile up a vast amount of time.

But overall, having an additional means of self-preservation is also good.

Junior Brother Yun, it seems you've gained quite a lot from this secluded cultivation.

Whether it's familiarizing oneself with the changes after Foundation Establishment, practicing some Foundation Establishment-era methods, or switching cultivation techniques, all require considerable time.

He had previously relied on the advantage of the Earth Escape Technique to escape death multiple times.

In the side chamber of the Qingzong Sect's main hall, upon seeing Yunhe, Kong Zhibo's eyes brightened slightly before he spoke.

After the message talisman burned out, Yunhe pondered briefly and then lightly tapped his storage bag.

His body instantly turned into a mass of flowing water and vanished.

Huh?

Outside his cave dwelling, the water swiftly converged, a flash of azure light appeared, and it formed a humanoid figure—indeed, it was Yunhe.

He set off in a boat.

Switching cultivation methods is indeed troublesome; just this single switch took half a year.

This is despite him having just achieved Foundation Establishment and not yet having gathered all five elemental spirit beast essences at once; if he were to specialize in a technique at the Golden Core Stage, even if it were extremely troublesome.

Having now mastered the Water Escape Technique after the Earth Escape Technique, the combination of the two escape methods has further elevated his self-preservation ability.

I don't know why Sect Leader Senior Brother summoned me; what is the matter?

Hmm?

After a long stretch, his body emitted a clear, crisp sound.

This jade slip, junior brother, please take a look at it first.

Alas, we can only take it slow.

His eyebrows twitched slightly as he raised his hand and drew it in.

Not at all, I merely switched cultivation methods; I'd say I gained a little.

Yunhe smiled, lifted his teacup, took a sip, and said modestly.

However, after the adjustment period ends, one must undertake tasks or handle affairs according to the sect's needs; most will not exceed one's capabilities, and although at most one per year, in reality they usually occur every two or three years.

Yunhe went straight to the point.

Yunhe took a deep breath and formed a seal with one hand.

Since you, Junior Brother, have come, then this matter shall be entrusted to you, Junior Brother Yun.

After Yunhe infused his divine sense and scanned it, he roughly understood what he needed to do, as well as some background.

Swift!

"That's right." Kong Zhibo adjusted his sitting posture, "I sent message talismans to you, Junior Brother Huang, and Junior Brother Liu, thinking you wouldn't finish your seclusion so soon, but I didn't expect you to arrive before Junior Brothers Huang and Liu."

Thus, most Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Qingzong Sect have a three- to five-year adjustment period during which they need not bear any affairs or tasks.

Water Escape Technique, not bad.

Regarding that, Kong Zhibo merely smiled, neither affirming nor denying.

As it turns out.

About half a month ago, the Qingzong Sect received news that in a village outside Honghe City there were signs of haunting, presumably some kind of dark evil entity, which had turned the entire village into a ghost village with no survivors.

Therefore, the sect's Affairs Hall issued a 'Eliminate Yin Evil' task.

Several inner disciples of the sect jointly accepted it.

But, half a month has passed.

Not only did the sect not receive any feedback of task completion, but instead it received a distress talisman.

Thus, Kong Zhibo prepared to find a Foundation Establishment cultivator to go rescue, while also checking the situation.

According to the information the sect had obtained at that time, that yin evil entity should not be formidable; otherwise, it would not have been assigned to disciples.

Therefore, his speculation is that this entity likely possesses a rather special ability.

If it were truly powerful, those disciples would not even be able to send out a distress talisman.

Moreover, in the sect's Spirit Lamp Pavilion, the spirit lamps representing several inner disciples, though dim, were relatively stable and showed no sign of extinguishing.

As an important 'seed' of the sect, inner disciples must leave their spirit lamps in the Spirit Lamp Pavilion so the sect can always verify their safety.

Like Yunhe, who was merely a menial disciple at first, he did not receive this treatment.

"Understood."

Yunhe slowly set down the Jade Slip and nodded.

"What does Junior Brother Yunhe mean?"

Although Foundation Establishment cultivators must occasionally undertake sect tasks, it is not mandatory; if one feels unsuitable or lacks time, they can decline and have another Foundation Establishment cultivator take over.

After all, Foundation Establishment cultivators deserve a certain respect.

Of course, such refusals are generally assumed to be allowed three times.

After three times, no task can be refused any further.

Otherwise, one would be regarded as a 'leper,' with all resource supplies cut off, including the reclamation of one's cave dwelling.

"Since this is the first matter assigned by the Sect Leader Senior Brother, Junior Brother Yunhe naturally cannot refuse." Yunhe said with a smile.

Likewise, accepting the mission, Yunhe's words made Kong Zhibo feel much more at ease.

In fact, even without this mission from Kong Zhibo, he was prepared to leave the sect for a trip.

Since achieving Foundation Establishment, he has remained in the Qingzong Sect, unable to accomplish many things.

For example, purchasing or customizing Spiritual Artifacts, and likewise buying some Elixirs or prescriptions.

As for asking the sect's artifact refiners to customize a Spiritual Artifact, that is not impossible, but since he has never left the sect after Foundation Establishment, the source of materials from Second-tier Beasts would be hard to explain.

Moreover, if the opportunity arises, he also wishes to see whether he can trade a Foundation Establishment Elixir for some cultivation resources.

"Alas, troubled times; recently, nefarious occurrences have been frequent within the sect's domain—this cannot be a good omen."

Perhaps because his conversation with Yunhe was somewhat agreeable, Kong Zhibo sighed with apparent depth.

"Oh? Nefarious occurrences are frequent?"

After achieving Foundation Establishment, he mostly cultivates in his cave dwelling and truly knows little about what happens outside.

"I have already sent someone to investigate the source; Junior Brother Yunhe need not worry."

But seeing his calm and composed demeanor, the matter should still be within controllable limits.

Just like the rat plague years ago, although it swept across most of the Qingyu Domain, it was eventually brought under control.

Honghe City lies at the northeastern corner of the Qingyu Domain.

It is relatively far from the Tianling Mountain Range and inhabited by many mortals.

A distance of several hundred li poses no concern for Yunhe now, as long as there are no demonic beasts, he can reach it quickly.

"The Windriding Vessel ultimately falls a bit short."

Although the Windriding Vessel is a decent high-grade Magical Artifact flyer, in his hands it feels like an adult steering a small boat—hardly satisfying.

When Yunhe disembarked from the Windriding Vessel, he had already arrived outside a remote, dilapidated village.

The Wang clan village was his destination for this trip.

In the mortal world, groups formed around families are not uncommon, ranging from royal nobility to small surname villages.

He furrowed his brows.

"Indeed, the yin and evil qi is very heavy."

Looking toward the village, the entire settlement seemed shrouded in thick mist, with not a single person in sight.

"There is no scent of blood."

Yunhe did not rush in recklessly.

Instead, he first circled the village to observe and gain a rough understanding of the situation.

Although he accepted this task from Kong Zhibo, if he felt it too dangerous or beyond his capabilities, he would not hesitate to abandon it.

During this period, he repeatedly slapped his spirit-bee pouch, releasing dozens of Red Pattern Spirit Bees into the village.

After a quarter of an hour.

"The Red Pattern Spirit Bees are safe."

Only then did Yunhe finally sweep his sleeve and stride into the Wang clan village.

A rush of spiritual qi carrying threads of yin and evil assailed him, as if some force had confined it within the village's bounds, preventing it from escaping.

In the thick mist, scattered farming tools, vegetables, and even moldy steamed buns on the steamers could be seen along the streets.

"It appears the villagers vanished quite suddenly, and it happened during the day."

"Huh?"

Yunhe raised his eyebrows, formed a hand seal with one hand, and his body "whoosh" vanished from the spot.

When he reappeared, he was already before the ancestral hall of the Wang village.

This place is also where the mist is thickest.

Before the somewhat ancient, decrepit hall's door, a Red Pattern Spirit Bee fluttered about in the air like a headless fly.

"A bewildering formation?"

Yunhe's face showed surprise.

But he quickly dismissed it.

"No, it is merely the bewildering effect inherent to the nefarious qi of this place, mixed with some."

As he spoke, he lightly rubbed his two fingers together, and a thread of extremely feeble magical power rose from his fingertips.

But as soon as it touched the thick mist outside the hall, it emitted a faint 'hiss' sound.

As if two forces were colliding and wearing each other out.

However, although Yunhe had released only a tiny thread of magical power, being Foundation Establishment-level power, it did not vanish instantly.

Such an effect reminded him of a magical artifact in his storage bag.

「Black Water Banner? 」

No wonder the Red Pattern Spirit Bees, once inside, act like headless flies, with a bewildering effect plus corrosion of spiritual power; even a mid‑Qi Condensation cultivator entering would lose themselves.

「Interesting. 」

Hum—

Centering on Yunhe, a domineering divine sense spread out.

A divine sense spanning a hundred zhang easily enveloped this shrine.

However, when the divine sense swept over the shrine's rear hall, it seemed as if a force was blocking the divine sense.

And whenever the divine sense passed over, a thicker mist rose.

「So the source of everything comes from the shrine's rear hall. 」

He put away the spirit bees and flashed inside.

That bewildering mist had little effect on him.

He had come all the way to the front hall before stopping.

He saw three ragged cultivators with their backs to each other in the corner, holding magical artifacts and guarding the surroundings, but under the corrosion of the mist, the artifacts' efficacy was obviously greatly reduced.

Moreover, a layer of mist covered each of their eyes, preventing them from seeing the true situation around them, and they mistakenly thought they were still in danger.

「Wake up! 」

Yunhe gave a low shout, his voice hinting with thunder.

The three in the corner jolted, the mist before their eyes gradually dissipated, and their vision cleared.

Bang bang bang—

The three fell to a sitting position on the ground.

Only then did they see the situation before them clearly.

Especially, when they saw the young cultivator before them wearing Qingzong Sect attire and standing with hands behind his back, their excitement showed plainly.

「Disciple Zhao Youwei, thank you, Martial Uncle, for the rescue! 」

The leading disciple immediately performed a salute.

The other two reacted a beat slower, but hurriedly followed with salutations and thanks.

「Thank you, Martial Uncle, for the rescue! 」

(End of chapter)