Great Heavenly Rank!

After absorbing Li Cunxiao's entire internal strength, Zhu Youning's cultivation realm had actually leaped from the Mid Heavenly Rank to the Great Heavenly Rank.

The Northern Dark Divine Art truly lived up to its reputation as an essential technique for rapid advancement; in just half a month, he had transformed from a Great Star Realm practitioner into a Great Heavenly Rank master.

Though Zhu Youning was only in his twenties, his internal power was already beyond what an ordinary person could achieve in fifty or sixty years!

This was the terrifying power of the Northern Dark Divine Art.

Looking at it this way, as long as he had a sufficient source of internal strength to absorb, given time, Zhu Youning could definitely step into a realm beyond the Great Heavenly Rank!

Having reached the Great Heavenly Rank, Zhu Youning was naturally overjoyed.

Every movement he made brought a brand-new sensation, one that left him intoxicated and deeply satisfied; compared to his former self, the gap in power was immense.

The Underworld Emperor Zhu Yougui had once said that in the eyes of a Great Heavenly Rank master, the Small Star Realm and the Mid Heavenly Rank were no different. Now, Zhu Youning fully understood the meaning of those words.

Upon entering the Great Heavenly Rank, not only had Zhu Youning's internal strength become more pure and thick, but his sensory perception had also improved significantly, and his strength and speed were no longer what they once were.

[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]

[Currently Auto-Cultivating: 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 body's meridians, possessing the miraculous effect of nourishing the origin and solidifying the foundation, while also enabling the external release of Qi. Traits: Tendon-Changing and Bone-Forging, External Qi Release]

[Tiger Roar Art: An internal art compiled from the essence of various Central Plains sects, characterized by fierce and rigid energy. Trait: Rigid True Qi]

[Dragon-Snake Spear Technique: A spear technique developed by Zhu Youning based on battlefield drills, with sharp and swift moves. Trait: Swiftness]

[Cold Heart Art: A basic technique that cultivates cold-natured True Qi, which can be used in conjunction with the Yin Yang Fusion Art. Trait: None]

[Calm Heart Technique: Based on meditation, it controls the flow of True Qi through breath regulation. It is the foundation for practicing higher-level internal arts and has the effect of regulating breathing and strengthening the body. Trait: None]

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

[Northern Dark Divine Art: The supreme martial art of the Xiaoyao Sect. Once mastered, every acupuncture point on the body can absorb the internal strength of others and convert it into Northern Dark True Qi. Traits: True Qi Reversal, Constant Readiness]

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

[Current Status: Full Stamina]

[Items: Cold Steel Sword*12, Cold Steel Spear*12, Horse-Chopping Saber*8, Ring-Pommel Saber*5, Ghost-Head Saber*4, Green Mandala Flower*13, Jade Bee Honey Syrup*26, Tiger Bone*42, Bear Gallbladder*45, Schisandra*28, Velvet Antler*44, Bird's Nest*37, Polygonum Multiflorum*36, Lingzhi Mushroom*42, Trogopterus Dung*]

[Current Cultivation Points: 88]

After reviewing his personal panel once more, Zhu Youning shook his head slightly.

There were gains and losses; although he had obtained the internal strength of Li Cunzhong and Li Cunxiao, he had still spent 20 cultivation points to exchange for the Sadness-Soothing Breeze.

Otherwise, he would have already been able to exchange 100 cultivation points for a second peerless martial art.

Of course, all in all, Zhu Youning had definitely profited. After all, the opportunity to leap into the Great Heavenly Rank was rare in this world.

However, a tree standing taller than the forest would surely be destroyed by the wind; it was better to keep his status as a Great Heavenly Rank master a secret for now.

Wasn't playing the pig to eat the tiger a good strategy?

Cutting the weeds and eliminating the roots, Zhu Youning ultimately ended Li Cunxiao's life.

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

Bang!

An explosion of energy rang out, and a deep pit instantly appeared in the ground.

Zhu Youning quickly buried the bodies of Li Cunzhong and Li Cunxiao, then dug up old soil from afar to cover the top, masking the traces of the fresh earth, before finally heading toward Luoyang City.

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

"Commander, it is truly fortunate that you are unharmed."

"No need for congratulations; I merely escaped Li Cunxiao by luck." Zhu Youning didn't care for such pleasantries and asked directly, "Have the casualties of the soldiers been counted?"

"Reporting to the Commander: 193 dead, 256 seriously injured, and 212 lightly injured."

Zhu Youning sighed, his face filled with sorrow.

It wasn't that he had a deep personal bond with these fallen soldiers, but they had followed him through many battles for years. As long as one was human, it was impossible to be completely heartless.

"Go to the major medical clinics in Luoyang, find the best physicians, and spare no effort in treating our wounded brothers. Once they are in better condition, we will help the fallen brothers return to their homelands. Also, when we return to Bian Prefecture, ensure every single pension is paid out—if even one is missing, I will hold you accountable."

"Yes," Wu Yi said, cupping his hands. "By the way, Commander, I have already sealed off the entire residence of Wang Shifan; they cannot escape."

"Why seal off so many people?"

Zhu Youning shook his head and said, "Take This Seat to see those two maidservants."

Wu Yi tried to guess Zhu Youning's intentions and said, "Is the Commander interested in them? They are currently in Wang Shifan's residence; I will bring them over right away."

"No need, I will go there myself."

With that, Zhu Youning headed toward Wang Shifan's residence, only to encounter a Taoist priest blocking his path.

The priest was filthy, his demeanor and behavior erratic, and he approached Zhu Youning saying, "You possess an extraordinary physiognomy; why not let this old Taoist read your bones and cast a fortune for you?"

With that said, he reached out a grimy hand, moving to touch Zhu Youning.

"Insolence!" Wu Yi immediately stepped forward to block the old Daoist.

"It is fine." Zhu Youning, however, stopped Wu Yi; he had already recognized who this old Daoist was.

Zhang Xuanling!

Zhang Xuanling was the Celestial Master of this generation at the Celestial Master Mansion. After his own son was stolen by Li Siyuan, the Holy Lord of Tongwen Hall, he had fallen into madness, later plunging off a cliff with his life or death unknown.

But why would Zhang Xuanling appear here?

"Daoist, for what reason have you appeared in Luoyang?"

Zhang Xuanling was stunned. "What? You know me?"

"No, I just find you familiar, Daoist." Zhu Youning calculated in his mind, then said politely, "Daoist, why not have a drink with me?"

"No, no." Although Zhang Xuanling craved wine, he hurriedly shook his head. "Fate is a matter of Heaven and man. This place is no good place; if I hadn't observed the subtle movements of the moon and stars last night, I wouldn't have come! Since you won't let me read your bones, we shall meet again if fate allows!"

Having finished, Zhang Xuanling's figure darted away rapidly, vanishing without a trace in an instant, leaving no opportunity for anyone to detain him.

This left Wu Yi quite astonished. "Commander, this mad Daoist's martial arts..."

"His martial arts are very high."

Zhu Youning gazed in the direction Zhang Xuanling had departed, sighed with regret, and said, "Forget it, pay him no more mind. Let us return first."