The words had barely left his mouth.
Wei Qing flashed back to the bed and took out the Qi Gathering Pills awarded by the Heavenly Realm Division.
He poured out a white pill from the bottle, raised his head, and swallowed it.
The pill entered his stomach and instantly transformed into a torrential surge of scalding spiritual power, madly racing along the meridians in his body.
At the same time, the spiritual power in the surrounding air continuously converged toward him.
"System, learn the Returning Origin Art."
[Command accepted!]
The next moment.
A golden humanoid figure formed from pale golden motes of light appeared in his mind. Clear meridian diagrams were outlined within its body.
A golden cultivation route continuously traveled along the meridians.
Wei Qing's consciousness followed the cultivation route, transforming into an invisible hand that guided the fierce spiritual power into his own channels.
When the first wisp of spiritual power entered the Violet Palace acupoint between Wei Qing's brows, a terrifying suction force erupted, continuously devouring the waves of spiritual power that followed.
After a moment.
As the waves of spiritual power were completely devoured, a hunger arose from the Violet Palace acupoint and the acupoints connected to it.
Wei Qing did not hesitate in the slightest. He poured out another Qi Gathering Pill and swallowed it. The pill entered his stomach and transformed into a torrent of spiritual power, providing him with the desperately needed supply.
However.
Even so, the terrifying suction force originating from within his body only weakened slightly.
"I refuse to believe this can beat me."
Over the next two hours.
Wei Qing consumed eleven Qi Gathering Pills in succession before the hunger gradually disappeared.
Disappearing along with it was the inner force he had cultivated for many years.
At that moment, a drop of golden true essence quietly condensed into existence within his dantian.
As the true essence condensed, Wei Qing felt his blood and qi churning throughout his body, while his strength rose steadily like bamboo shoots thrusting upward in spring.
Mid Seventh Rank... High Seventh Rank... Seventh-Rank Peak...
At the same time, the ball of spiritual power in his mind exploded with a "bang," transforming into countless motes of light that rapidly merged with his spiritual power.
Only after he broke through to Low Sixth Rank did the rising momentum gradually slow.
The corners of Wei Qing's mouth lifted. With a thought, the data panel appeared:
[Host: Wei Qing] [Age: 16] [Realm: Sixth Rank Martial Artist (Low)] [Spirit: 739] [Strength: 703] [Constitution: 689] [Technique: Returning Origin Art (Minor Achievement)] [Martial Skills: Flowing Cloud Slash (Perfection) - Ultimate Skill: Lotus Flower; Nanke's Dream (Minor Achievement); Ephemeral Art (Minor Achievement)]
By the time Wei Qing exited his cultivation state, the sky outside had already gone pitch-black.
He got out of bed.
Wei Qing lit the fuel lamp in the inner hall, immediately dispelling much of the darkness.
Just as he was preparing to arrange the actions of Zhu Huan and the others, a string of light yet slightly hurried footsteps shattered the quiet of the room.
Jun Wushang's figure appeared in the doorway.
Zhang Zhidong, Zhang Xue, and a middle-aged woman dressed in a simple blue-green robe had come with him.
Her steps were steady, and a gentle yet profound air suffused her brows.
Wei Qing instantly guessed the woman's identity—the Yellow Grade Garrison Commander of Jizhou Prefecture, Shen Yan.
As long as the Garrison Commanders of the Heavenly Mirror Division completed the required demon-slaying missions each year, they could arrange the rest of their time as they pleased, whether returning home or cultivating at the Heavenly Mirror Division.
While Wei Qing sized up Shen Yan, Shen Yan was also sizing up Wei Qing.
Because of the Breath Concealing Pill, the realm Wei Qing displayed outwardly was one major realm lower than his true realm.
Even so, Shen Yan was still deeply shocked.
A sixteen-year-old Seventh-rank martial artist—such talent could absolutely rank among the top three on the Great Zhou Prodigy Ranking.
"Qingzi, I'm joining tonight's operation too."
Jun Wushang had gone to the Zhang family to apologize. During their conversation, he had learned by chance about tonight's operation and immediately rushed to the government office without stopping.
Zhang Xue had followed him out indignantly.
Shen Yan had not been at ease about her daughter, so she had come along as well.
"And me. I want to participate too."
"Miss Zhang, this operation is an internal operation of the Heavenly Realm Division. Your identity makes it inappropriate."
Wei Qing rejected Zhang Xue's request without even thinking.
Jun Wushang muttered, "I told you Qingzi definitely wouldn't agree, but you still had to come."
"Who asked you?"
Zhang Xue retorted unhappily, then turned toward her mother, Shen Yan, with a pleading look.
"Wei Qing, just let Xue'er go."
As a mother, she understood her daughter's temper all too well.
If they stopped her now, she might sneak after them later.
Rather than that, it would be better to let her go along. At least then, Shen Yan could watch over her from the side.
"All right. Wushang, take good care of Miss Zhang." A meaningful smile curled at the corners of Wei Qing's mouth.
"Uh..."
Jun Wushang could not help but freeze slightly.
"Who needs her to take care of me? I can handle myself perfectly well."
Seeing Jun Wushang's dazed expression, Zhang Xue grew irritated and blurted it out.
When they had been at home, after Shen Yan learned that the two had fought, she had exposed the fact that Jun Wushang had held back against her.
Because of that, her view of Jun Wushang had undergone a subtle change.
A different kind of feeling had quietly risen in her heart.
When she saw Jun Wushang standing there dazed, an inexplicable flame of anger suddenly shot up within her, and the irritated words escaped her lips.
Wei Qing chuckled inwardly: There's hope!
Then he rose and walked to the door. Zhu Huan was already waiting there with his men.
"My lord."
Wei Qing asked, "How is it?"
"Everything has been arranged. When Lord Chen of the Jizhou Heavenly Realm Division brought his people over and saw that you were cultivating, he took them to the assembly point first."
"Set out."
"Yes."
Zhu Huan accepted the order respectfully.
Zhang Xue rolled her eyes at Jun Wushang, then followed after them.
Jun Wushang scratched his head. "What's going on...? Hey, wait for me!"
Not long after Wei Qing and the others set out.
A group of men in black arrived at the City God Temple in the western part of the city.
"Master, everything is ready. The 'blood food' has all been delivered safely and is currently being securely confined in the rear courtyard." The leading man in black reported softly to Yan Qingshan.
"Mm. Wait a little longer..."
Before he finished speaking, the mysterious figure flashed into view like a ghost.
"Master, the blood food has been arranged in the rear courtyard."
"Very good. Take me to see it."
The mysterious man replied briefly. Then, under the moonlight, the group entered the shadow-shrouded area of the rear courtyard.
At the same time, a hundred meters away, Cai Yang of the Jizhou Heavenly Realm Division asked, "Brother Chen, should we charge in now?"
The gazes of the other two people also turned toward Chen Feng in unison as they waited for his instructions.
Chen Feng replied steadily, "We must not act rashly. We're working together in this operation. We'll decide what to do after Wei Qing and the others arrive."
"Yes."
As soon as his words fell, a faint rustling sound suddenly arose behind them.
Swish, swish, swish...
The three reacted with lightning speed, drawing the long blades at their waists almost simultaneously.
Chen Feng's eyes and hands were quick. He raised a hand and waved, stopping the three of them.
"They're our people."