Myriad Sword Devil Sect, Qi Refining Characteristics

June 20th, thirteen days left!

This day, someone came to report a death early in the morning.

Cheng Yubo is dead!

Ever since Cheng Wanli replaced Sanjiang Gang and established his own Dragon Fang Gang.

Basically, hunting Crocodile Dragons was over.

Sanjiang Gang's old territory was vast, with many lucrative revenue streams. Cheng Wanli no longer had to toil away hunting dragons.

Luo Zhou now had fifty spirit stones from Li Haitian's inheritance, so he wasn't short on money either.

This was the unspoken understanding between adults: no interference, a silent ending.

But unexpectedly, this morning, someone reported a death: Cheng Yubo was dead.

That chubby Cheng Yubo had always taken good care of Luo Zhou.

Luo Zhou had to go!

The coffin was placed in the large mansion where Zhang Meng was killed.

The funeral was being held here...

Luo Zhou frowned. This cursed place, it's unlucky. Why hold a funeral here?

Bowing, offering sacrifices, lighting incense, floral tributes...

Cheng Yubo, who had his eyeballs gouged out but still fought desperately, was now dead, forever lying in the coffin.

Luo Zhou felt a sense of disbelief.

Lu Yue was here, managing the scene and organizing the funeral.

Luo Zhou found him and asked, "How did Uncle Yu die?"

Lu Yue gritted his teeth and said, "Alas, this was originally a place where Sanjiang Gang's Zhang Meng kept his mistress.

The woman was beautiful. After they finished, young Cheng took a liking to her and kept her.

The woman was also strong-willed. To avenge Zhang Meng, she pretended to yield to him. Last night, she poisoned them both, and they died together, a pair of star-crossed lovers!"

"What a passionate woman..."

Luo Zhou was speechless upon hearing this, not knowing what to say!

He could only sigh!

"Xiao Zhou, can we still hunt Crocodile Dragons?"

Lu Yue suddenly asked.

"Brother Lu, I'm always ready!"

Lu Yue shook his head and said:

"Alas, Zhang Chuan and I have both become managers in the Dragon Fang Gang. I have wives and concubines now, and I no longer lack Broken Spirits. We have good wine and meat every day to enjoy.

If I have to crawl in that muddy swamp again, searching for Crocodile Dragons, I'm afraid I can't do it anymore..."

Luo Zhou nodded. People change with their environment.

"Brother Lu, it's better this way. Enjoy life! By the way, where is Commander Cheng?"

"The City Lord summoned him. He's gone to the City Lord's mansion. Oh, right, the Purple Cricket you asked him to find has been contacted in Great Xuan Mountain. A batch of goods will be delivered by noon. I'll send someone to deliver it to your home then."

Purple Cricket, a spirit insect containing spiritual energy, is only found in Great Xuan Mountain. Each one is worth thirty Broken Spirits.

Luo Zhou asked Cheng Wanli to use his connections in Great Xuan Mountain, and he finally got them these days!

This was crucial for him!

From Li Haitian's memories, the Full Moon Devil's pet, the Blood Parrot, belonged to the City Lord's daughter, Fang Ningshuang.

It lived in the City Lord's mansion's backyard, the entire garden being its playground.

Guards kept a far distance from it because it was not to be trifled with.

The City Lord's mansion was heavily guarded, with at least Foundation Establishment true cultivators defending it. Luo Zhou couldn't get in even if he tried to break in.

However, Li Haitian had his own methods.

If he couldn't get in himself, he would lure the Blood Parrot out.

In Li Haitian's memories, the Blood Parrot, except for transforming into a man-eating beast during the full moon on the fifteenth, was usually just an ordinary parrot, albeit a large one, three feet tall.

Parrots loved to eat crickets the most.

The Blood Parrot was no exception, so Luo Zhou specifically hired people to catch spirit insects, Purple Crickets.

Coincidentally, Luo Zhou had the ability of Insect Control. He could control the Purple Crickets to lure the Blood Parrot out of the City Lord's mansion's backyard on its own.

In Li Haitian's memories, outside the backyard, there was a weak point in the defenses, with only a courtyard wall and barrier, no guards on duty.

This was a flaw he had repeatedly observed and studied.

The goal was to annihilate the City Lord's family one day.

Inside the City Lord's mansion, Foundation Establishment cultivators were everywhere. If he, a Qi Refining cultivator, entered, it would be certain death, with no place to be buried.

But a person must have some ideals, right!

There were no guards here, only courtyard walls and barrier defenses. Luo Zhou would not enter. He would lure the Blood Parrot out here and kill it with one Dragon-Slaying Thrust!

No one had seen him yet. The plan was perfectly laid out, flawless!

Finally, the Purple Cricket arrived, and it was time to execute the plan.

As for the fifteenth night, acting as bait to lure the Blood Parrot and then assassinating it was pure suicide.

Every month, during the Devil's time, the Blood Parrot would transform into a terrifying, ferocious Devil.

It was more than ten zhang away from its prey. At a glance, it could absorb the prey's essence, energy, and spirit, killing them with a single glare!

It would never enter Luo Zhou's Dragon-Slaying Thrust range.

Luo Zhou repeatedly calculated and discovered the key points of the Full Moon Devil Blood Parrot's Woodworm Devil ritual.

Time: the fifteenth full moon. Location: a crossroads. Victim: passersby. Method: killing and absorbing essence. Ritual characteristic: regret!

Every person who died by the Full Moon Devil's hand had one last thought: regret.

Why did they come to the crossroads on the night of the full moon, only to be slowly drained to death amidst endless remorse.

After the memorial, Luo Zhou hurried to school.

Arriving at the Daoist Academy, he immediately went to the Dean's office to report the situation.

Dean Zhao saw him approaching and asked, "What Force User?"

Just as Luo Zhou was about to speak, Dean Zhao waved his hand and said, "Wait a moment, let me guess. You've grown taller, you're as thin as a pine tree, you have innate spiritual energy, you're aloof and refined. A Hinoki Force User, slender like bamboo and pine. Congratulations!"

Luo Zhou said, "Teacher, congratulations on what? Hinoki Force User ranks thirty-third out of thirty-six Force Users. My strength hasn't increased much."

"You don't understand the benefits. Girls will scream when they see you. You'll know later. This Hinoki Force User is the best among many Force Users!"

Luo Zhou looked unconvinced.

"Teacher, can I advance to Curse Master?"

"Curse Masters need strong mental power, or dark power, or ghostly energy. They must radiate hatred and death with their whole being. You are too sunny, a silly, goofy person. There's no hope. You're just a hard-working ox or horse Force User, completely unable to advance to Curse Master."

He had already advanced, so he stopped pretending and directly pointed out he was an ox or horse Force User.

"Teacher, is there really no way?"

"Why are you so interested in Curse Master?"

"I want to curse and kill the Crocodile Dragon!"

"There is one way. If you can curse someone of a higher realm to death, you can become a Curse Master easily."

"Curse to death? How is that possible? Someone of a higher realm? If I curse them, they'll just step on me and kill me!"

"Cursing to death isn't possible? Then you should trick and deceive. With your looks, like a straight and tall green pine. Heh heh heh, you're completely a pretty boy, a gigolo, a blank slate. Young ladies will live and die for you!"

"Teacher, although I'm young, I'm not stupid. Just looking good can make girls live and die for me? What a joke?"

"Hahaha, young people, so naive. You don't understand anything. Being a simp knows no gender."

Luo Zhou smiled. Teacher, I actually understand more than you do!

Knowing a woman by her scent, the art of the pure maiden, horsemanship. You've probably never even heard of these. Although I haven't used them, I have the knowledge!

Luo Zhou chatted with Dean Zhao.

Dean Zhao was learned and talented, knowing everything. He taught Luo Zhou here.

He also enjoyed talking with Luo Zhou. Looking at Luo Zhou, he was young, but his words contained both youthful immaturity and a maturity and self-awareness beyond his years, as well as vision.

He wasn't just an ordinary person. With the knowledge of the six great Woodworm Devils, he was certainly not an ordinary youth.

As Luo Zhou chatted, he suddenly remembered something.

He gritted his teeth, took out the Wang Family's treasure, and asked, "Teacher, can you help me see what this is?"

He didn't recognize this treasure and it was useless to keep it on him.

He would ask the teacher to see what it was and what its use was.

If the teacher wanted it, he would give it to him. Given the teacher's personality, he wouldn't accept it for free.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Dean Zhao glanced at it and said:

"The Water Mother Heavenly Palace's Heavy Mix Profound Bead!

I haven't seen this Heavy Mix Profound Bead in many years. It used to be frequently unearthed here and was one of our specialties.

Refining this during the Qi Refining stage can yield Heavy Mix Profound Bead-type heavy water energy!"

Hearing this, Luo Zhou's heart sank.

Qi Refining-type traits, he currently possessed Icy Qi, Water Ripple Qi, Ethereal Qi, Geomagnetic Qi, Water Tide Energy, Heavy Dust Qi, Three Eyes Qi...

That was already seven types. One more wouldn't make any difference.

Still, he thought, Old Wang had been stuck his whole life; what good treasures could he possibly have.

Dean Zhao continued:

"You can sell the Heavy Mix Profound Bead. For Qi Refining stage cultivators, this is a great treasure, fetching a high price, at least eighty spirit stones.

You can also refine it. The heavy water energy can condense water, forming a type of heavy water energy.

It's a very powerful spiritual energy trait, especially when paired with lightning techniques, it's practically invincible."

Sellable, or cultivable?

Seemed not bad!

Dean Zhao began to explain volubly:

"Heavy water energy is one of the Water Mother Heavenly Palace's one hundred and eight Qi Refining traits.

Moreover, it's one of the top twelve water energy types, most suitable for use with lightning techniques.

This spiritual energy can drive various lightning techniques from the Jade Pivot, Purple Mansion, Profound Mechanism, Immortal Capital, Taiyi, and other major lightning technique systems."

Luo Zhou couldn't help but ask:

"Teacher, I know Icy Qi, Water Ripple Qi, and Ethereal Qi are Qi Refining spiritual energy traits. Compared to heavy water energy, which one is better?"

"The Icy Qi, Water Ripple Qi, and Ethereal Qi you mentioned are called Heavenly Water Qi.

'Heavenly' refers to the three states of natural water. Water is the core, and this energy represents the solid, liquid, and gaseous states of water.

Heavenly Water Qi is a unity of the three states, encompassing all forms of water in the world, and is specifically paired with various water techniques. It is also one of the Water Mother Heavenly Palace's top twelve water energy types.

Naturally, it's stronger than this heavy water energy which is specifically for lightning techniques!"

Luo Zhou nodded, gaining knowledge.

"Teacher, what about Water Tide Energy?"

"The water energy mastered by beasts doesn't fall into the Water Mother Heavenly Palace's one hundred and eight Qi Refining traits.

It's meaningless.

However, Water Tide Energy can transform into great tides and evolve into Tidal Qi. The tides of the great sea sweep across all realms!

That is also one of the Water Mother Heavenly Palace's top twelve water energy types.

But it ranks below Heavenly Water Qi and heavy water energy."

"Teacher, then Geomagnetic Qi, Heavy Dust Qi, Three Eyes Qi..."

"Compared to heavy water energy, Heavenly Water Qi, and Tidal Qi, they are several tiers lower.

Three Eyes Qi is equivalent to the Water Mother Heavenly Palace's ninth-tier water energy.

Geomagnetic Qi and Heavy Dust Qi have the potential to evolve into powerful gravity-type and earth-type Qi Refining traits, so they are equivalent to fifth or sixth-tier water energy."

"Teacher, you just mentioned evolution and transformation? How do they transform and evolve?"

"Why are you, a Body Tempering stage cultivator, asking about this!

Talk about it when you reach the Qi Refining stage."

Though he said that, Dean Zhao still taught him!

"The method of evolution generally involves first refining a Qi Refining trait, then using heavenly and earthly spiritual items to guide your Qi Refining trait to evolve.

Transformation is easier; it can be done with personal conviction.

Ultimately, true energy is a part of your own body. If you believe it, you can change it.

'Can,' not 'will.' There's a ten to twenty percent chance. Also, refining this item isn't guaranteed; the success rate is fifty to sixty percent."

"Remember, the immortal cultivation world is constantly changing, renewing itself, and moving forward.

Even mastering the weakest Qi Refining trait can allow you to defeat ten Qi Refining stage cultivators who have no Qi Refining traits!"

"Teacher, I understand!

Teacher, you mentioned the Water Mother Heavenly Palace earlier, what is that?"

Dean Zhao chuckled and said:

"All in the past, ancient dead bones."

He said that, but he couldn't help himself and continued, "Back in the day, the Jellyfish Heavenly Palace ruled the three oceans and four seas, hailed as the foremost sovereign of water magic.

Later, it was destroyed..."

"By whom?"

Dean Zhao quietly examined him before speaking, "Myriad Sword Devil Sect!"

"However, the Myriad Sword Devil Sect is also gone now.

Because it has since abandoned sword cultivation for magic, forsaking Devil to enter the Dao, becoming the current Heaven and Earth Dao Sect!"

"Seventy thousand years ago, the Myriad Sword Devil Sect destroyed the Jellyfish Heavenly Palace. Fifteen thousand sword cultivators ascended, riding their swords to steam the seas, reshaping heaven and earth!

Vast and mighty, sword light obscured the sky for thirty thousand miles; majestic, sword energy pierced the nine heavens.

They split the three oceans, stirred the four seas, unstoppable, who could contend!"

As he spoke, Dean Zhao seemed to enter a state of excitement, gazing into the distance as if yearning for something.

Luo Zhou suddenly understood. No wonder the Monster Wang Family possessed water-lightning, Spiritual Power, and the Overturning Rivers and Seas bloodline, Li Haitian had the "The Azure Waters Flow East to This Return" secret manual, and so many people had water-elemental magic Spirituality.

So, these people were all descendants of the former Jellyfish Heavenly Palace.

Dean Zhao sensed Luo Zhou's thoughts and nodded, saying, "It is said that there is still a group of surviving cultivators from the Jellyfish Heavenly Palace who fantasize about restoring it. They are delusional!"

After a long while, he calmed down and warned, "Also, remember, what I just told you about the Myriad Sword Devil Sect is only for your and my ears.

Forget it once you leave. This is the Heaven and Earth Dao Sect's greatest taboo.

If it gets out, you'll be considered a sect traitor and will be killed. You're dead!"