Great Heavenly Rank!

After absorbing all of Li Cunxiao's internal energy, Zhu Youning's cultivation had leaped from the Mid-Heaven Realm straight to the Great Heavenly Rank.

The Northern Dark Divine Art truly lived up to its reputation as an essential shortcut to power. In just half a month, he had gone from the Great Star Realm to becoming a Great Heavenly Rank expert.

Zhu Youning was only a little over twenty, yet his inner power already surpassed what most people could attain in fifty or sixty years!

That was the power of the Northern Dark Divine Art.

By the looks of it, as long as he had a sufficient source of internal energy to absorb, Zhu Youning could eventually step into a realm above the Great Heavenly Rank!

Naturally, Zhu Youning was delighted to have reached the Great Heavenly Rank.

Every movement of his hands and feet brought a new sensation, one he found even more intoxicating and exhilarating. Compared with before, the difference in power was immense.

The Underworld Emperor Zhu Yougui had once said that in the eyes of a Great Heavenly Rank expert, the Small Star Rank and Mid-Heaven Realm were no different. Now Zhu Youning fully understood what he had meant.

After reaching the Great Heavenly Rank, Zhu Youning's internal energy had grown even purer and more robust, and his senses had become far sharper. His strength and speed were also worlds apart from before.

[Zhu Youning]

[Realm: Great Heavenly Rank]

[Martial Arts: Tiger Roar Art, Dragon-Snake Spear Technique, Calm Heart Technique, Cold Heart Art, Nine Yin: Healing Chapter, Northern Dark Divine Art, Qi Scripture]

[Martial Arts Currently Being Cultivated Automatically: Tiger Roar Art, Northern Dark Divine Art, Qi Scripture, Nine Yin: Healing Chapter]

[Qi Scripture: One of the most profound internal arts in the Central Plains. It can cleanse the meridians throughout the body, not only strengthening one's foundation but also allowing one to project qi outward. Traits: Sinew and Bone Tempering, Projected True Qi]

[Tiger Roar Art: An internal art formed by combining the essential techniques of various Central Plains sects. Its energy is fierce and powerful. Trait: Fierce True Qi]

[Dragon-Snake Spear Technique: A spear technique Zhu Youning developed based on battlefield drills. Its moves are sharp and swift. Trait: Swift]

[Cold Heart Art: A relatively basic technique that cultivates cold-natured true qi. It can be used in conjunction with the Yin Yang Fusion Art. Trait: None]

[Calm Heart Technique: A basic method for practicing more advanced internal arts. Built on seated meditation, it uses controlled breathing to guide the flow of true qi and also helps regulate the breath and strengthen the body. Trait: None]

[Nine Yin: Healing Chapter: The healing chapter of the Nine Yin Manual, highly beneficial for recovering from internal injuries. Trait: None]

[Northern Dark Divine Art: The Xiaoyao Sect's supreme martial art. Once mastered, every acupoint in the body can absorb another's internal energy and transform it into Northern Dark True Qi. Traits: Reversed True Qi, Constant Readiness]

[Talents: Battle-Hardened, Born Savage, Pure Internal Strength]

[Current Status: Full of Energy]

[Items: Cold Steel Swords *12, Cold Steel Spears *12, Horse-Chopping Sabers *8, Ring-Pommel Sabers *5, Ghost-Head Sabers *4, Green Datura Flowers *13, Jade Bee Honey Syrup *26, Tiger Bones *42, Bear Gallbladders *45, Schisandra *28, Velvet Antlers *44, Bird's Nests *37, Polygonum Multiflorum *36, Lingzhi Mushrooms *42, Trogopterus Dung *]

[Current Number of Training Cycles: 88]

After checking his status panel again, Zhu Youning shook his head slightly.

There were gains and losses. Although he had obtained all of Li Cunzhong and Li Cunxiao's internal energy, he had spent twenty training cycles to exchange for the Sadness-Soothing Breeze.

Otherwise, he would have had enough for a hundred training cycles and could have exchanged them for a second peerless martial art.

All things considered, though, Zhu Youning had certainly come out ahead. The chance to leap straight to the Great Heavenly Rank was rare indeed.

But a tree that stood out in the forest was bound to be battered by the wind. He'd do best to keep his breakthrough a secret for now.

Wasn't it better to play the fool and catch his enemies off guard?

To pull up the weeds by the roots and leave no evil unpunished, Zhu Youning ultimately put Li Cunxiao to death.

Then Zhu Youning aimed his palm at the ground and silently circulated the Qi Scripture.

Bang!

A burst of air exploded, and a deep pit appeared in the ground.

Zhu Youning quickly buried Li Cunzhong and Li Cunxiao's bodies, then dug up old soil from farther away and spread it over the fresh earth, concealing all traces of the disturbance. Only then did he set off toward Luoyang.

As soon as he returned to Luoyang, Zhu Youning saw Wu Yi waiting for him at the city gate.

"Military Governor, thank goodness you're safe!"

"No need for congratulations. I was merely lucky to escape Li Cunxiao." Zhu Youning brushed the words aside and modestly replied, then went straight to the point. "Have the casualties among our soldiers been tallied?"

"Reporting to the Military Governor: 193 dead, 256 seriously wounded, and 212 lightly wounded."

Zhu Youning sighed, his face filled with grief.

It wasn't that he had been especially close to the soldiers who had died, but they had followed him through campaigns for years. No one could be completely without feeling.

"Go to every major medical clinic in Luoyang and find the best physicians. Do everything you can to treat our wounded brothers. Once they're well enough, we'll send our fallen brothers' souls home. And when we return to Bian Prefecture, not one of them is to be denied compensation. If even one is missing, I'll hold you responsible."

"Yes." Wu Yi cupped his fists. "By the way, Military Governor, I've already had everyone in Wang Shifan's residence confined. None of them can escape."

"Why confine so many people?"

Zhu Youning shook his head. "Take me to see those two maids."

Wu Yi tried to read Zhu Youning's intentions. "Have you taken a liking to them, Military Governor? They're still in Wang Shifan's residence. I'll bring them over at once."

"No need. I'll go there myself."

So Zhu Youning headed for Wang Shifan's residence, only to run into a Taoist priest blocking the road.

The priest was filthy from head to toe, and his expression and manner were wild and erratic. He came right up to Zhu Youning and said, "You have an extraordinary face. Why not let this old Taoist read your bones and tell your fortune?"

As he spoke, he reached out with a filthy hand toward Zhu Youning.

"Impudent!" Wu Yi stepped forward at once to block the old Taoist.

"It's fine." Zhu Youning stopped Wu Yi. He had already recognized the old Taoist.

Zhang Xuanling!

Zhang Xuanling had once been the Celestial Master of his generation at the Celestial Master Mansion. After the Tongwen Hall's Holy Lord, Li Siyuan, stole his biological son, he lost his mind. Later, he fell off a cliff, and no one knew whether he had survived.

But why had Zhang Xuanling appeared here?

"Daoist, what brings you to Luoyang?"

Zhang Xuanling froze. "What? You know me?"

"No. You just look familiar." Zhu Youning considered the matter, then politely said, "Daoist, why not join me for a drink?"

"No, no." Although Zhang Xuanling was tempted by the thought of wine, he hurriedly shook his head. "One's fortunes depend on both Heaven and man. This place is no good. If I hadn't seen the hidden signs in the moon and stars last night, I wouldn't have come! Since you won't let this old Taoist read your bones, we'll meet again if fate allows!"

With that, Zhang Xuanling darted away and vanished in an instant, leaving no chance to stop him.

Wu Yi was astonished. "Military Governor, that mad Taoist's martial arts..."

"His martial arts are formidable."

Zhu Youning gazed in the direction Zhang Xuanling had gone and sighed regretfully. "Forget it. Leave him be. Let's head back first."