Breakthrough to Sixth Rank

With that said.

Wei Qing flashed back to his bed and took out the Qi Gathering Pill rewarded by the Heavenly Realm Division.

He poured a white pill from the bottle, tilted his head back, and swallowed it.

The pill entered his stomach and instantly transformed into a scorching torrent of spiritual power, rampaging wildly along the meridians within his body.

At the same time, spiritual power from the surrounding air continuously converged toward him.

"System, learn 'Returning Origin Art.'"

[Command received!]

The next moment.

A golden figure condensed from pale golden light particles materialized in his mind, its body outlined with a clear meridian map.

A golden-yellow cultivation route traced along the meridians, constantly flowing.

Wei Qing's consciousness followed the cultivation route, turning into an invisible hand that guided that fierce spiritual power into his own channels.

When the first thread of spiritual power merged into the Purple Palace Acupoint at his brow, a terrifying suction force erupted, ceaselessly devouring the subsequent torrent of spiritual power.

After a short while.

As the spiritual power torrent was completely consumed, a sense of hunger came from the Purple Palace Acupoint and the connected acupoints.

Wei Qing didn't hesitate—he poured out another Qi Gathering Pill and swallowed it. The pill entered his stomach, turning into a spiritual power torrent that provided the urgently needed replenishment.

However.

Even so, the terrifying suction force from within only weakened slightly.

"I refuse to believe this is impossible."

Over the next two hours.

Wei Qing consumed eleven Qi Gathering Pills in succession before that hunger gradually faded.

Along with it, the Qi Force he had cultivated for years also disappeared.

At this moment, within his Dantian, a single drop of golden True Essence quietly condensed into form.

With the condensation of True Essence, Wei Qing felt his blood and Qi surge within, his strength rising like bamboo shoots after spring rain—steadily climbing.

Seventh-Rank Intermediate... Seventh-Rank Advanced... Seventh-Rank Peak...

At the same time, the mental power orb in his mind burst with a "bang," scattering into countless light particles that rapidly merged with his mental power.

Until, breaking through to Sixth-Rank Primary, the climbing trend gradually slowed.

Wei Qing's lips curled up. With a thought, the data panel appeared:

[Host: Wei Qing]

[Age: 16]

[Realm: Sixth-Rank Martial Artist (Primary)]

[Mental: 739]

[Strength: 703]

[Physique: 689]

[Art: Returning Origin Art (Minor Mastery)]

[Martial Skills: Flowing Cloud Slash (Perfection) - Profound Meaning: Lotus Blossom; Nanke's Dream (Minor Mastery); Ephemeral Art (Minor Mastery)]

By the time Wei Qing exited his cultivation state, the sky outside had already turned pitch black.

He got off the bed.

Wei Qing lit the oil lamp in the inner hall, instantly dispelling much of the darkness.

Just as he was about to arrange the operation for Zhu Huan and the others, a series of light yet somewhat hurried footsteps broke the room's silence.

Jun Wushang's figure appeared at the doorway.

With him came Zhang Zhidong, Zhang Xue, and a middle-aged woman dressed in simple blue robes.

Her steps were steady, and her brow revealed a gentle yet profound temperament.

Wei Qing immediately guessed the woman's identity—Jizhou Prefecture's Yellow-Rank Warden, Shen Yan.

Wardens of the Heavenly Realm Division could arrange their own time—returning home or cultivating at the division—as long as they completed the required demon-slaying tasks each year.

While Wei Qing sized up Shen Yan, Shen Yan was also sizing him up.

Due to the Breath Concealing Pill, the realm Wei Qing displayed externally was a full major realm lower than his true one.

Even so, it still shocked Shen Yan.

A sixteen-year-old Seventh-Rank Martial Artist—with such talent, he could definitely rank among the top three on the Great Zhou's Heavenly Pride Ranking.

"Qingzi, I want to participate in tonight's operation too."

Jun Wushang had gone to the Zhang residence to apologize. During their conversation, he inadvertently learned of tonight's operation and immediately rushed to the government office without stopping.

Zhang Xue followed out, unconvinced.

Shen Yan, worried about her daughter, came along as well.

"And me, I want to join too."

"Miss Zhang, this operation is an internal matter of the Heavenly Realm Division. Your status isn't suitable."

Wei Qing refused Zhang Xue's request without a second thought.

Jun Wushang muttered, "I told you, Qingzi definitely wouldn't agree. You still had to come."

"None of your business."

Zhang Xue shot back in dissatisfaction, then turned her gaze pleadingly to her mother, Shen Yan.

"Wei Qing, let Xue'er go."

As a mother, she knew her daughter's temperament all too well.

Stopping her now might just make her sneak along in secret.

Rather than that, it was better to let her come, so she could keep an eye on her.

"Fine. Wushang, take care of Miss Zhang." Wei Qing's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

"Uh..."

Jun Wushang was momentarily stunned.

"Who needs him to take care of me? I can handle myself just fine."

Seeing Jun Wushang's dazed expression, Zhang Xue snapped in irritation.

At home, her mother Shen Yan, upon learning of their spar, had revealed that Jun Wushang had let her win.

This had subtly shifted Zhang Xue's view of him.

A strange feeling quietly rose in her heart.

When she saw Jun Wushang standing there dumbfounded, for some reason, a sudden surge of inexplicable anger flared within her, and the words burst out before she could stop them.

Wei Qing chuckled inwardly: There's a spark!

Then he rose and walked to the door, where Zhu Huan was already waiting with his men.

"Sir."

Wei Qing asked, "How goes it?"

"Everything is arranged. When Lord Chen from the Jizhou Heavenly Realm Division arrived and saw you were cultivating, he took his men ahead to the assembly point."

"Move out."

"Yes."

Zhu Huan respectfully acknowledged.

Zhang Xue shot Jun Wushang a glare, then followed.

Jun Wushang scratched his head. "What's with her... Hey, wait for me!"

Not long after Wei Qing and the others set out.

A group of black-clad figures arrived at the City God Temple in the west of the city.

"Patriarch, everything is ready. The 'Blood Food' has all been delivered safely and is now securely locked up in the back courtyard," the leading black-clad figure reported in a low voice to Yan Qingshan.

"Mm. Wait a little longer..."

Before he could finish, the mysterious figure appeared like a ghost.

"Master, the Blood Food is arranged in the back courtyard."

"Good. Take me to see it."

The mysterious figure replied curtly, and the group stepped into the shadow-shrouded area of the back courtyard under the moonlight.

Meanwhile, a hundred meters away, Cai Yang of the Jizhou Heavenly Realm Division spoke up. "Brother Chen, should we charge in now?"

The other two men's gazes also fixed on Chen Feng, awaiting orders.

Chen Feng responded calmly, "Don't act rashly. This time we're coordinating. We'll decide after Wei Qing and the others arrive."

"Yes."

The moment the words fell, a faint rustling sound suddenly arose behind them.

Shua shua shua...

The three reacted swiftly, their waist-long blades almost simultaneously leaving their sheaths.

Chen Feng's eyes were quick; he raised a hand and waved lightly, stopping them. "It's one of our own."