078: If I Had the Martial Immortal Art, Why Seek a Path Through the Mortal World?

When Chen Dengming returned to the vicinity of his residence, preoccupied with his thoughts, the scene before him almost made him faint, leaving him somewhat astonished.

He immediately hid in a secluded corner and, unusually, uttered a curse.

"Wow!"

The ground in front of the courtyard was covered with fallen leaves and branches, and the soil was turned upside down, looking as if a battle had taken place.

In the arena, Zhu Xun, his face bruised and swollen, viciously pinned a young man, who was on the verge of death, to the ground. Several other cultivators watched from a distance, pointing and whispering amongst themselves.

"What are you looking at? You want to see me make a fool of myself, huh?"

With his face swollen like a pig's head, Zhu Xun roared fiercely at the several cultivators who were watching the commotion.

"Get out, all of you get the hell out!"

The butcher's fearsome reputation was well-deserved, not to mention that now that his strength had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Sixth Level, his intimidation had become even stronger.

Several nearby cultivators who had come to watch the commotion immediately scattered, not daring to get involved, and were also beaten up.

Chen Dengming stared intently at the young man who was being held down on the ground, his expression gradually turning strange and unpleasant.

He realized that the young man Zhu Xun had Zhu Xun to the point of near death was none other than Nangong Yun, whom he hadn't seen for almost two years.

But how did these two suddenly start fighting?

Seeing that there was no one around...

Chen Dengming immediately approached, frowning as he stared at Zhu Xun, "Fellow Daoist Zhu, what's wrong with you?"

Zhu Xun immediately covered his swollen face and said awkwardly, "No, it's nothing. Ouch—I just saw this kid sneaking around your door, saying he was looking for someone, so I questioned him. I didn't expect him to ambush me and beat me up like this, ouch—"

Zhu Xun pointed to his swollen face, then immediately covered it, stood up and kicked Nangong Yun hard, cursing, "You little brat, you tried to sneak up on me!"

"Why!"

Chen Dengming quickly stopped him, frowning as he glanced at Nangong Yun, who was on the verge of unconsciousness, and asked, "So you two just started fighting like that? Did he say what the reason was?"

"Say what?"

Zhu Xun grinned, "No, I didn't say anything, just that I was looking for a Rogue Cultivator named Chen Fei. How did I end up here? Do you know Chen Fei? Are they related?"

Chen Dengming frowned. "I don't recognize him. No, you haven't even figured out who this guy is, and you're already fighting?"

Zhu Xun Zhu Xun pain, "I... I saw this kid acting suspiciously, so I questioned and threatened him. I didn't expect him to be so nervous and suddenly attack me. How could I tolerate that? It's a miracle I didn't kill him."

Chen Dengming glanced at Nangong Yun on the ground. "He's not dead, but he's practically on his last breath. Judging from his appearance, he 'Qi Cultivation Fourth Level."

Zhu Xun's face immediately flushed red with anger. "So what if Qi Cultivation Fourth Level? He ambushed me!"

Chen Dengming's eyes lit up, and he immediately understood.

Old Zhu is so concerned about saving face, he probably didn't tell the truth.

How could someone at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Level dare to launch a sneak attack on a senior at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Level?

It's very likely that Old Zhu took the initiative to attack, but was unexpectedly injured by Nangong Yun. Losing face, he became enraged and decided to fight back, which is why he attacked so ruthlessly.

However, Nangong Yun is quite formidable. In such a short time, he has already reached the Qi Cultivation Fourth Level, and he even managed to injure Old Zhu. Does the sect have such good resources?

"I see, Old Zhu."

Chen Dengming put his arm around Zhu Xun's shoulder. "I just went to the Ming family. The female cultivator there told me that a disciple from the Moon Reflection Sect is searching for someone, and it might just be him."

"What? A disciple of the Moon Reflection Sect? Him?"

"Yes, it's him. Don't panic. The Ming family thought he had already left. What was the name of the Chen guy he was looking for?"

"That bastard Chen Fei!"

"Yes, yes, Chen Fei."

Look, this disciple of the Moon Reflection Sect was looking for Chen Fei, but he hasn't found him and you've beaten him half to death. This..."

"Fellow Daoist Chen, what... what should we do?"

Zhu Xun panicked immediately. "I didn't know he was from the Moon Reflection Sect. This kid didn't say anything and just launched a sneak attack. Ugh, should I take him to the Ming family right now to explain and get him treated?"

"Hey! No rush! We can't go to the Ming family."

Chen Dengming immediately waved his hand, his eyebrows furrowing, "Are you stupid?"

He's a disciple of the Moon Reflection Sect, and you've beaten him half to death. You still went to the Ming family; to avoid offending the Moon Reflection Sect, the Ming family had no choice but to capture you on the spot and hand you over to the Moon Reflection Sect punishment."

"Then this..."

Zhu Xun's face turned ashen. "Brother Dao, what should we do? I... I only intervened because I saw this kid lurking suspiciously at your door."

Chen Dengming patted Zhu Xun on the shoulder and said calmly, "It's alright, Fellow Daoist Zhu. I'll take care of it for you. Don't forget, I know the Withered to Flourishing Art. If I use it a few more times, this kid will naturally come back to life."

"Then, then hurry up and use it."

"No rush! So many people saw you hitting that kid, Old Zhu, you should pack your things and go lay low for a while."

Leave things here to me. I'll let him go after I've healed him. He won't be able to find you, and he won't take his anger out on me, his savior. Once things have calmed down, you can come back, and that'll be the end of it."

Zhu Xun's mind was buzzing. After calming down and thinking carefully, he immediately gave Chen Dengming a thumbs up, filled with respect, "Good, Fellow Daoist Chen, you're righteous! I'll go out and lay low right now. You must cure this kid!"

"Don't worry. Go ahead. This kid only recognizes you, not me. He'll see me as his savior. Go, and remember, during this time, make sure the Ming family doesn't find you."

"Fellow Daoist Chen, rest assured, I, Little Zhu, am more familiar with this area than the Ming family is."

After Zhu Xun hurriedly packed his things and left, Chen Dengming lowered his head and looked at Nangong Yun on the ground, his eyelids slightly drooping and his eyes deep and unsettling.

Why did Nangong Yun leave the Moon Reflection Sect and go through so much trouble to find him?

I'm afraid it's either revenge or some serious trouble.

I know his background and I have a grudge against him, so I absolutely cannot let him live.

However, how to solve it and what methods to use are quite important.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Dengming contacted the Little Array Spirit with his mind and carefully confirmed that no one was secretly observing him from the surroundings before letting out a sigh of relief.

They immediately dragged the dying Nangong Yun into the courtyard and used a Withered to Flourishing Art to save his life.

He then removed the Law Artifact and Storage Bag from her body and hid them in the water tank in the backyard.

A moment later.

Chen Dengming tossed aside a tender branch and began to cast the <Water Yin Wood Lush Poison Gu Art>.

The branch in his hand suddenly exploded, spewing out a large amount of poisonous gas that resembled spores and mycelium. As Chen Dengming channeled his Wood Elemental Spiritual Energy, the gas scattered and landed on Nangong Yun.

Soon, wisps of toxic mycelium penetrated its body through the pores, coming into contact with nerves that were like tiny, transparent fishing lines. The spore-like toxic gas then seeped deep into the Flesh and Blood, taking root and sprouting.

Nangong Yun trembled all over, his face contorted in pain, and he slowly opened his eyes, which were covered with red veins.

Upon seeing Chen Dengming, he was first startled, then looked around, gave a bitter laugh, and said weakly.

"Nanxun Saber King, impressive, impressive! I never expected that I would fall into your hands so soon after finding you? Who is that guy who beat me up like this?"

"This kid, he's definitely figured out my identity..."

Chen Dengming pondered to himself, then calmly said, "Who he is is not important. What's important is why you left the Moon Reflection Sect to come find me? Are you planning to avenge your grandfather, Nangong Shuo?"

"Revenge?"

A complex smile, a mixture of self-deprecation and mockery, appeared on Nangong Yun's face as he lay back in the water vat. "Perhaps," he said, "But more than that, it's a sense of resentment and doubt. I want to find the answers from you."

"I found the answer here?" Chen Dengming looked puzzled.

Nangong Yun's spirits lifted, his bloodshot eyes gleaming with a crazed light as he stared intently at Chen Dengming. "By the way! You, your strength?"

The guy who severely injured me was very strong, but he treated you with great respect, calling you "Brother Dao." Just how strong are you now?

"Within the sect, I was nurtured by the ancestor, trained by Foundation Establishment cultivators, and even guided onto the path of the Martial Immortal of that Sha Star. I also consumed the Qian Yuan Pill, which is why I have my current strength. How could you possibly cultivate faster than me?"

"The Martial Immortal Path of the Sha Star?"

Chen Dengming wondered, who was the Sha Star?

There's nothing strange about it.

He regained his composure and said calmly, "Have you forgotten the Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique? After I used this technique to shorten my lifespan and forcibly enhance my Spirit Root, I had some other fortuitous encounters. It's normal that my cultivation is faster than yours. I traded my lifespan for my cultivation."

"No, no, that's impossible. Even if you have High-grade Spiritual Root, you couldn't possibly be this fast."

Nangong Yun's pupils contracted, then his eyes flashed with a bright light. "You have a secret, you definitely have a secret. Have you already come into contact with the Path of Martial Immortal?"

You are the Nanxun Saber King, with extraordinary martial arts talent, and now you have become so much stronger. You definitely have a better chance than me to reach the path of Martial Immortal.

You tell me the methods, I have my information and connections, we can cooperate, we can turn enemies into friends, and achieve a win-win situation!

Chen Dengming frowned, looking at Nangong Yun, whose emotions were clearly a bit off, and pondered, "What exactly is the Path of Martial Immortal, and who is that Sha Star?"

Nangong Yun spoke quickly, "The Path of Martial Immortal is to use martial arts to manipulate the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, unleashing martial arts power comparable to the Dao, which is called Divine Ability."

The reason why these sects jointly held the Ascension Convention was because that Sha Star had emerged from the Nanxun Kingdom in the past.

That Sha Star is extremely terrifying. It is said that he killed a Nascent Soul when he was in the Golden Core Late Stage, causing a stir and attracting a joint attack from multiple factions. He may be involved in a major event."

At this point, Nangong Yun suddenly stopped, staring intently at Chen Dengming, whose expression had subtly changed, and said, "It seems you also know something? Have you perhaps already come into contact with it? Tell me, tell me what it felt like."

Chen Dengming narrowed his eyes, his expression gradually returning to normal, and he began to cast a spell by making hand seals.

Instantly, Nangong Yun felt as if her body was out of control. Her eyelids closed involuntarily, and her mouth shut involuntarily. She could only manage to make a 'woo woo' sound.

In the end, it couldn't even make a 'woof' sound.

But beneath the pores of his skin, one could see fine, hair-like mycelia.

These toxic mycelia continued to spread, penetrating deep into his entire nervous system, binding him tightly, making him like a puppet controlled by countless threads, unable to control himself.

"High-level Dao techniques are indeed very powerful, but they also consume a lot of Spiritual Qi. Even completely controlling a cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Level still consumed 20% of my Spiritual Qi."

Chen Dengming felt the loss of Spiritual Qi, shook his head inwardly, picked up the water vat lid, closed it, and turned to leave.

After controlling Nangong Yun with the <Water Yin Wood Lush Poison Gu Art>, as long as he doesn't actively remove the poisonous Spiritual Qi deep within the other party's body, the other party will continue to be controlled by him and will not be able to act as he pleases.

However, such methods will naturally deplete his Spiritual Qi at all times.

The amount of waste generated in a day is not insignificant.

In battle, he only needs to control the enemy for a moment to determine the winner.

Normally, this kind of manipulation requires bearing a considerable burden of Spiritual Qi.

Only by cultivating the Daoist arts to a higher level in the future can one reduce the loss of Spiritual Qi, and even directly control the poisonous mycelium, absorbing the power within the controller's body to achieve self-sufficiency.

"Martial Immortal. I once thought this so-called path of cultivation was just a fabrication in online novels. I originally planned to walk this path myself, but I never expected it to actually exist? And there's even someone called 'Sha Star' leading the way? This path is quite valued by sects like the Moon Reflection Sect?"

Chen Dengming paced back and forth in the courtyard, his eyes gradually brightening. "Could that Sha Star who emerged from the Nanxun Kingdom be the same person who forcibly broke through to become a cultivator back then, possessing only the power but lacking any Spiritual Qi, who was once considered the number one person in the world?"

At this moment, the courtyard's Formation was activated, and someone arrived from outside.

Chen Dengming's heart skipped a beat; he had already anticipated this, and he calmly went to Open Door.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, I apologize for disturbing you!"

Standing at the gate outside the courtyard was the graceful female cultivator from the Ming family, flanked by two Ming Family cultivator dressed in patrol robes.

Further away, some cultivators were gathered together, discussing something.

"Fellow Daoist Li?" Chen Dengming asked in surprise.

The Female cultivator surnamed Li, with bright and kind eyes, smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, it's like this, I'm sending people to look for that departing Moon Reflection Sect disciple, to confirm whether he has left."

"So when we got here, we found out that the Moon Reflection Sect disciple seemed to have been fighting with someone."

"Oh?"

Chen Dengming was surprised, then his expression changed to one of realization. He glanced in the direction of the next room and said, "I didn't really understand the situation either. I only heard that Fellow Daoist Zhu next door was fighting someone. I didn't expect it to be that Moon Reflection Sect disciple? What about them?"

They've disappeared.

The Female cultivator surnamed Li smiled and said, "I just sent someone to check Fellow Daoist Zhu's house, but no one was home."

It seems Fellow Daoist Zhu knew he had gotten himself into trouble and avoided it. But that Moon Reflection Sect disciple, could he have been taken away by him as well?

Chen Dengming frowned in thought, then shook his head. "I don't know. I didn't see them after I returned. I only heard people talking about it when I passed by, but I didn't pay much attention. Sigh, I hope they're all alright."

"Very well, I was just asking casually. Since Fellow Daoist Chen doesn't know their whereabouts either, I won't bother you any longer."

"Not at all, Fellow Daoist Zhu and I have a fairly good relationship. Thank you for reminding me, Fellow Daoist Li. If you find Fellow Daoist Zhu and that Moon Reflection Sect disciple is unharmed, please give me some face and don't make things too difficult for Fellow Daoist Zhu."

After sending the female cultivator from the Ming family away.

Chen Dengming returned to the courtyard with a normal expression, calmed his mind, and then instructed the Little Array Spirit to observe the surrounding energy.

"Fellow Daoist, the surrounding energy has dispersed; no one has stayed behind to monitor us."

"Um."

Chen Dengming nodded slightly, relieved.

It seems that the Ming Family cultivator really didn't suspect him.

However, the Ming family acted very quickly.

The battle between Zhu Xun and Nangong Yun had only lasted for less than half an incense stick's time when the Ming Family cultivator arrived to investigate.

Thinking about it, this is actually quite normal.

After all, fighting is forbidden within Bright Moon Workshop.

Although the punishment wouldn't be too severe as long as no one died, the Ming family's patrolling cultivators would definitely arrive at the scene immediately.

This is also why Chen Dengming did not leave with Nangong Yun immediately; he was afraid that they would be caught up by the Ming Family cultivator on the way, and that he would cause trouble instead of getting into trouble.

Now, Zhu Xun has inadvertently helped him solve the problem of Nangong Yun, taken the blame, and escaped.

But he was unharmed.

After all, it wasn't him who hit the person.

As long as Zhu Xun is not found by the Ming Family cultivator, everyone is safe.

Chen Dengming was still very grateful to Zhu Xun.

I usually thought this guy was obsessed with saving face.

In retrospect, it seems that Fellow Daoist Zhu's obsession with saving face actually helped him this time.

Otherwise, if Nangong Yun is allowed to leave and then turns around and asks the Ming family or the Moon Reflection Sect to deal with him, he will be in trouble.

The timing is still very sensitive.

Since no one suspects him, there's no need to panic. It's better to remain calm and wait for an opportunity to leave gracefully.

He already had a detailed and comprehensive plan in mind.

Chen Dengming calmly and slowly rummaged through Nangong Yun's belongings in the room and began to examine them.

They hope to find more clues about the Martial Immortal and that Sha Star.

Why is it that this Martial Immortal Path exists, yet the Cultivation World hasn't heard any widespread news about it?

Could it be that a few major sects have formed an iron net to block the news, allowing a select few to exclusively enjoy the Dao Fruits of the Southern Path?

After a cup of tea, Chen Dengming swept aside a pile of items with a flick of his sleeve, his expression not good.

"What kind of sect disciples are they? A bunch of junk, they only have twenty-odd Low-grade Spirit Stone."

Aside from Low-grade Spirit Stone, some Qi Increasing Pill, and low- to mid-grade talismans, Nangong Yun only had two mid-grade Law Artifact and Storage Bag that were truly valuable.

Overall, the total value of all of Nangong Yun's belongings is probably only about one mid-grade Spirit Stone.

However, most importantly, there was no information about Martial Immortal or Sha Star in the other party's Storage Bag, not even a decent sect Cultivation Method.

But if you think about it calmly, there's nothing wrong with it. Normal people don't have the habit of keeping a diary to record information.

As such an important resource as sect Cultivation Method, the Moon Reflection Sect would definitely require its disciples to learn them within the sect's designated areas, and would not allow disciples to carry the Cultivation Method with them when they go out.

After all, cultivators die tragically in battles every day in the Cultivation World.

If everyone carried their own sect's Cultivation Method with them, the Daoist traditions of various sects would have been spread far and wide long ago. What would be left to attract disciples to join?

The search yielded no results.

Chen Dengming had no choice but to return to the backyard, leaving the somewhat frightened Little Array Spirit in the front yard to keep watch, lest it witness something inappropriate for children.

He prepared to continue interrogating Nangong Yun.

Mercy to the enemy is cruelty to oneself.

Although Chen Dengming is a person with principles and a bottom line, he is not pedantic in his actions.

When ruthless and cruel methods are necessary, we will never hesitate to use them.

In the blink of an eye, two days had passed.

Nangong Yun's mental state was on the verge of collapse, but his body was still healthy enough. After enduring torture every day, he would be healed by Chen Dengming using the Withered to Flourishing Art.

Under such repeated interrogation, this scion of the Aristocratic Clan, who was not exactly a tough guy, revealed almost all the information he knew to Chen Dengming.

On this very day, three newly crafted Golden Silkworm Gu were successfully born.

(Still a little short of monthly votes, but I still managed to write over 10,000 words today! Voting will continue tomorrow.)

The great path is clearly laid out here; who has cast this iron net to cover the east and west?

If one possessed the secrets of Martial Immortal immortality, how could one seek a path to enlightenment in the mortal realm?