Nie Changqing ran around at full speed. The Dragon Slaying Knife in his hand released endless energy. The golden gleam of the knife swept the knife spirit along and almost melted the snow on the ground.
Nie Changqing felt tremendous pressure as if he was slacklining and might fall into the dark abyss if he was careless for a split second.
The disciple of Wudi City in front of him was in the sixth level of the Golden Elixir Realm, possessing extraordinary power.
He had the upper hand over Nie Changqing in speed, strength, and stamina.
The only things Nie Changqing could rely on were the knife spirit and the unbeatable Qi and blood he gained when unlocking the Heavenly Lock.
This sixth-level Golden Elixir disciple’s name was Ye Qianxun. He watched Nie Changqing with intense interest. The Spirit Qi and explosive power of a sixth-level Golden Elixir cultivator were over six times more than those of an ordinary first-level one.
Nie Changqing seemed like a child brandishing a weapon in front of a fully grown adult.
Although he could cause some damage, he wasn’t overly threatening.
“Is this knife called the Dragon Slaying Knife?
“What a wonderful weapon,” Ye Qianxun said.
The two fought outside of the city, snow swirling in the air due to the impact.
The force of the knives deeply gashed several dead trees.
Nie Changqing was an experienced fighter. He achieved the current level through numerous matches and battles.
He knew that he would certainly lose if this fight dragged on any longer.
After all, a sixth-level Golden Elixir cultivator had a much higher Spirit Qi capacity.
Nie Changqing concentrated his mind.
Four magic talismans fell into his hand. He used his Spiritual Sense to activate the magic talismans.
Xie Yunling of the Daoist Pavilion conducted extensive research and compressed the Daoist method into the magic talismans. He gave these valuable tools to Nie Changqing.
It had tremendous power when combined with elemental Spirit Qi.
Nie Changqing used one magic talisman when he was running. However, he still had four left.
Bang!
The four magic talismans were activated.
He applied the Daoist method naturally and smoothly.
There were flaming red, earthy brown, shiny gold, and wooden green…
Four elemental colors exploded around Nie Changqing’s body and transfigured into four elemental beasts.
Nie Changqing lunged forward and pressed in on Ye Qianxun.
Ye Qianxun’s face turned grave.
Nevertheless, Nie Changqing reached him first.
He took out a small metal bead from his inside pocket.
Nie Changqing tossed the metal bead up. The bead blossomed into a gorgeous pear flower, dazzling and drifting in the air.
“What is this?!”
Ye Qianxun was astonished.
He vaguely sensed a hint of menace on the pear flower.
“Magic tool?!”
“Why do you have so many magic tools!”
Ye Qianxun took in a deep breath.
He emitted a ray of golden light as the golden elixir floated around him. The Spirit Qi spun and formed an indistinct shield and revolved around his body.
Nie Changqing remained cold and emotionless.
“This is…Pear Blossom in the Storm, the best hidden weapon!”
Nie Changqing threw a solid punch before his voice faded off. The Qi and blood made a deafening sound.
The punch hit the Spirit Qi shield. Nie Changqing’s fist was bloody and bruised at once, but the rapidly spinning shield of Spirit Qi also stopped moving!
A series of waves rolled in the air.
Heat eaves shimmied off the field and completely melted the snow on the ground.
The delicate pear flower spun at full tilt and threw out countless thin silver needles like a torrential downpour. The needles were all scorched red by the flames.
Ye Qianxun stamped his feet so hard that he dented the ground. He wanted to retreat, but it was too late.
The Pear Blossom in the Storm covered the entire area, leaving no corner out.
In fact, the needles even surrounded Nie Changqing.
Fizz!
The sound of the needles piercing the skin could be heard.
There were also howls of the beats that were transformed from the magic talismans.
When the snow melted only silver needles were left on the ground.
Ye Qianxun’s back was dotted with needles. Every one of them pierced his skin.
Nevertheless, he didn’t die.
He stood up and used the Spirit Qi to blast the silver needles away.
“Pear Blossom in the Storm…”
“What a magic tool made with unmatched workmanship,” Ye Qianxun exclaimed.
He looked at the direction where Nie Changqing disappeared and said, “Hurting yourself to injure me. How ruthless.”
What on earth was behind the Void Gate?
Ye Qianxun was more and more intrigued.
Instead of chasing Nie Changqing, he turned back and walked to the direction of Wudi City. He felt a vibration coming from Wudi City when he was fighting Nie Changqing. It was so strong that he could sense it clearly from so far away.
Something terrible probably happened.
Behind a dead tree.
Nie Changqing leaned against the tree, his eyelashes fluttering. Everything was quiet around him. He could only hear the sound of snow falling on the ground.
His hand and back were bruised and still bleeding. His breathing became faint.
“Master Gongshu dares to challenge the Young Master, as befits his reputation… This Pear Blossom in the Storm is truly potent.”
“But the penetrating ability could be improved. I need to tell Master Gongshu when I’m back.”
Nie Changqing quietly coughed up some blood.
He laughed in a low voice. At least he survived.
The sixth-level Golden Elixir cultivator was very powerful.
A Golden Elixir cultivator could try to move up to the Nascent Soul Realm when he reached the fifth level. Meanwhile, a sixth-level Golden Elixir fighter would have already pushed the limits and shook off the shackles.
The snow was cold, yet Nie Changqing’s heart felt warm.
He held the Dragon Slaying Knife and slowly propped himself up.
All of a sudden.
Nie Changqing jolted as an icy knot began to form in the pit of his stomach.
In the distance.
In the flurrying snow.
A man walked slowly while the falling snow twisted around his body.
The terrifying energy and pressure made Nie Changqing unable to move a finger!
Nie Changqing could only hear his own breathing.
“Amituofo.”
Nie Changqing heard a chanting sound.
Nie Changqing finally saw the man clearly. It was a bald, bare-footed monk in tattered clothes. Each of the Buddhist beads around his neck was the size of a fist.
“I’m Yuanshang from Kufo Temple… Nice to meet you.”
The Buddhist monk held one hand in front of him and bowed lightly at Nie Changqing.
Powerful!
The monk was extremely powerful!
Sweat dripped down Nie Changqing’s forehead.
He was speechless from the pressure this Buddhist monk made him feel.
He was even mightier than the Nascent Soul cultivator Nie Changqing met before!
Nie Changqing bellowed, hoping to break away from the restraint. He didn’t want to die yet. He didn’t want to die here.
He needed to make it back alive!
Nie Changqing was unresigned. He had tempered the first four bones. Now he successfully broke the second-section Heavenly Lock and let out a deep roar while stretching his dragonlike spine.
The restraint brought by the Buddhist monk vanished in an instant.
Nie Changqing moved up to the second level of the Heavenly Lock Realm at the critical moment.
The ground underneath his feet blew up and thrust him backward. He held the Dragon Slaying Knife in his hand and struck at the monk forcefully with a beam of golden light.
“Amituofo, you’re a man with a perverse nature…” the Buddhist monk said.
He flicked his fingers gently.
The force of Nie Changqing’s knife shattered instantaneously, making an exploding sound.
The Buddhist monk stepped forward and appeared behind Nie Changqing.
“You’re in the Nascent Soul Realm. Do you have the nerve to kill me?”
“Young Master said that he will kill you all if you dare to join the fight!”
Nie Changqing clenched his teeth.
“Don’t doubt the Young Master. He will keep his words!”
“Amituofo,” said the monk.
“I never wanted to hurt you. I’m only asking you to take a trip with me.”
Then, before Nie Changqing could answer…
The ascetic monk carried Nie Changqing’s body and sprang upward. He strode in the middle of the air as though he was riding the wind.
******
Beiluo Lake Island.
Lu Fan slowly opened his eyes.
Calm and expressionless, he sat in the wheelchair. His fingers gently tapped the armrest of the chair.
“Slay the Immortals?”
“As I expected, the best cultivators in the world are not stupid. They’re bold and resolute enough to devise a plan to slay the Immortals.”
Lu Fan smiled.
His eyes sparkled. The mist that enshrouded Beiluo Lake Island dissipated.
He stared vacantly at the shimmering surface of the lake.
Would the fighters in the Wuhuang Continent also choose to slay the Immortals one day?
Would they come after him?
Lu Fan ruminated.
Lu Fan smiled after a while.
“I have been earnestly devoting myself to the prosperity and success of this continent.”
All of a sudden.
Lu Fan found out that his Spirit Qi reserves increased a great deal.
He was confused for a moment and then suddenly thought of something.
“It’s very true that pressure can motivate people to move forward. Did Old Nie…just have a breakthrough?”
Lu Fan was immersed in thought.
He recovered from the daze and raised his hand. Numerous lines bounced in his eyes as he triggered off his consciousness.
He could see the lines formed a building on the Spirit Pressure Chessboard placed in front of him.
Lu Fan stretched out his hand, pinched the building, and flung it to the direction of Beiluo Lake.
A building subsequently popped up on Beiluo Lake, enveloped in a misty haze. It wasn’t a lavish pavilion, yet it made people feel calm and peaceful.
The building stored tens of thousands of books that Lu Fan edited and restored using the All Method Furnace.
After reading everything in the Scriptures Depository of Wudi City, Lu Fan thought this could be a tremendous help for the Wuhuang Continent.
Although he provided two ways of cultivation—Golden Elixir and Heavenly Lock…
Lu Fan believed that the Heavenly Lock was a more difficult path that he couldn’t force everyone to follow. Therefore, Lu Fan hoped these books in the Scriptures Depository could help many cultivators who couldn’t go through the Heavenly Lock Realm advance through the Golden Elixir Realm.
Above Beiluo Lake.
A bamboo raft quietly floated on the water. Lv Dongxuan lit the stove and grilled the fish. The little Responsive Dragon was drooling and watching from the other side of the bamboo raft.
Lv Dongxuan kept a weather eye on the little Responsive Dragon, in case it stole the fish.
All of a sudden.
Lv Dongxuan heard Lu Fan’s voice in his head.
“Come to the island.”
Lu Fan’s voice startled Lv Dongxuan. He turned around and looked at the direction of Beiluo Lake Island. “Did the Young Master come out of seclusion?”
Then, Lv Dongxuan seemed to remember something. He turned his head and saw the little Responsive Dragon flying away with the grilled fish in its mouth.
“It stole my fish again!”
Lv Dongxuan was irritated. But there was nothing he could do.
He had no choice but to pole the raft toward Beiluo Lake Island.
The bamboo raft pulled in to shore.
Lv Dongxuan straightened out his clothes and walked toward White Jade City Pavilion with long strides.
He gestured at Lu Fan who was leaning on the railings on the second floor of White Jade City Pavilion.
“Young Master.”
Lu Fan held the bronze wine cup and nodded slightly.
“Do you see the building there?”
Lu Fan raised his hand and pointed somewhere on Beiluo Lake. A pavilion, shrouded in mist, came into sight.
Lv Dongxuan was shocked. Why would there be a pavillion on Beiluo Lake?
He never noticed it before. Did the Young Master just build it?
“It is called the Book House. You take a walk inside and see if you can learn something there,” Lu Fan said.
Lv Dongxuan was puzzled. The Book House?
Was it a place for books?
There was a place to store books on Beiluo Lake now?
Despite the bewilderment, Lv Dongxuan bowed at Lu Fan and rowed the bamboo raft toward the Book House.
He pushed the door of the Book House open. Lv Dongxuan was dazzled the moment he stepped foot inside.
The candles burned and flickered quietly in the Book House and lit up the dim room.
Lv Dongxuan inhaled a deep breath. The number of books here was mind-blowing. He picked one book casually.
“Roaring Tiger Technique, a technique of sound wave in Earth Level Low Grade. Cultivators who master the technique can roar like a tiger and disrupt the enemies’ minds.”
Lv Dongxuan’s hand trembled. Was this…a cultivation technique?
He put the book back and pulled out another one. Lv Dongxuan read it closely and realized that it was another cultivation technique that he had never heard before.
Lv Dongxuan shook his head in silent wonderment.
He kept reading the books as if he just discovered a brand new world.
He even found several cultivation methods!
There were only a few cultivation methods that were circulating in the world.
However, there were so many different kinds of cultivation methods right here in this Book House… Lv Dongxuan held the book as if it was a hot potato. Young Master was ready to do something big!
Lv Dongxuan quickly walked out of the Book House and rowed back to Beiluo Lake Island.
“Young Master…”
Lv Dongxuan bowed.
“Have you looked at it?” Lu Fan asked with a smile.
“What do you think?” Lu Fan asked after taking a sip of the green plum wine.
“I think these books can have a profound influence on the cultivators if they’re circulated in the world. They can organize the cultivators, set a common goal, and help everyone develop rapidly…” Lv Dongxuan said.
His comment was to the point. It was fitting to say the cultivators were currently in a state of disunity.
Besides White Jade City, the cultivator armies of different power groups had been throwing their weight around nowadays.
It was not even close to realizing the Contention of the Hundred Schools of Thought of cultivators.
Lu Fan smiled, sitting in the wheelchair.
He nodded slightly.
He completely agreed with Lv Dongxuan’s opinion.
“Go. Go to West Mountain of Beiluo and summon all of those cultivators who camp at the foot of the mountain back here. They have been staying there for a long time without actually learning anything… The Book House will be open to all cultivators in the following month. It will close after a month. By that time, only accomplished people can enter the Book House,” Lu Fan said.
Lv Dongxuan was surprised.
Open for a month?
“Yes.”
Lv Dongxuan nodded. He was certain that Lu Fan’s decision would be extremely influential in the world of cultivators.
“Young Master, what kind of accomplishment do they have to achieve to enter the Book House after a month?” Lv Dongxuan asked out of curiosity.
“I will tell you when the time comes…”
Lu Fan waved his hand dismissively.
Lv Dongxuan stopped asking. He bowed and went back to the bamboo raft annd then rowed away from Beiluo Lake Island.
Lu Fan stared at Lv Dongxuan’s receding figure.
He gently shook the bronze wine cup in his hand.
All of a sudden.
Lines started to bounce in his eyes again. Lu Fan squinted.
“Em?”
“They captured Old Nie… What do these people want?”
…
