When not in use, the Seizing Circle looks like a mirror embedded in a wooden board, with nothing special about it. Only when it is activated by a specific person will the Seizing Circle's amazing predictive function appear.
As the Elder Wu spat out a mouthful of blood, five fist-sized bubbles rose from the Seizing Circle, like beautiful soap bubbles.
The bubbles rose slowly, and about a foot above the Seizing Circle, the five bubbles merged into five circles.
The Elder Wu chanted another incantation with difficulty, and faint images appeared in the five circles, like a movie playing. Each circle had an image, but it was extremely faint and flickered very quickly, so that it was impossible to see clearly without paying attention.
This was the first time Li Qiang had seen the predictions from the Seizing Circle, and he couldn't grasp the information immediately.
About a minute later, the five circles suddenly shattered, turning into five wisps of green smoke that shrank back into the Seizing Circle.
Elder Wu's face lit up with joy, and he said, "Thank you for helping us, senior. Now I can rest assured..." Before he could finish speaking, his whole body suddenly began to tremble violently.
Nuosuo quickly took out a black pill and fed it into his mouth.
The Elder Wu painfully waved his hand, closed his eyes, and said nothing more.
Nuosuo explained, "Each time the Elder Wu consults the Seizing Circle, he needs three days to recover; fortune telling is very taxing on the body."
Li Qiang suddenly laughed and said, "If I leave immediately, wouldn't this prediction be inaccurate?"
Elder Wu barely opened his eyes and asked softly, "Senior, will you really leave?"
Li Qiang was speechless. He knew he wasn't going to leave. He said, "Alright, the Seizing Circle is indeed remarkable. Elder Wu, you should rest. I'll handle this."
The Elder Wu closed his eyes and said, "I know."
Nuosuo held up the black jade plate and said, "Senior, please try the Pleasure Pearl. I've already washed it clean; you have to spit out the shell."
The pearls resemble grapes; they are oval-shaped, bright yellow, and clustered together, each only the size of a fingertip, and quite pretty.
Li Qiang picked one up, put it in his mouth, and gently bit down. "Crunch!" A soft sound rang out, releasing a rich, fragrant aroma with a slightly sweet taste. Li Qiang spat out the shell and praised, "It really smells wonderful, not bad."
After consuming a few Joy Pearls, Li Qiang began to cultivate with his eyes closed. His cultivation had already surpassed the Heart of Slaughter realm, a realm that did not have much impact on his mind.
The Azure Emperor Gu Xing to convey the meaning of "moderation" to him, which Li Qiang already understood very well. Only when one's cultivation surpasses a realm can one fully grasp the influence of that realm on oneself. Therefore, Li Qiang has always been careful not to allow himself to immediately enter the next realm. After all, his current strength is high enough that, apart from those from the Immortal Realm, no one in the Cultivation Realm can rival him.
Three days passed quickly. Li Qiang and Elder Wu opened their eyes almost simultaneously and smiled at each other.
The Elder Wu said, "That person has arrived..."
Li Qiang stood up. "I'll go talk to him. Nuosuo, you take me back to the surface."
Nuosuo flew out of the Seizing Circle in response and said, "Senior, please follow me."
Elder Wu, still worried, urged, "Our Chu Witch Clan's hope lies in a peaceful resolution." His wrinkles deepened. "We'll agree to any condition as long as the Chu Witch Clan can be saved. We hope you, senior, will help us fight for it. I will tell you some of my predictions, as this concerns your fate."
Li Qiang had already reached the door when he heard this. He turned back and said, "I will help the Chu Witch Clan, but not for my future fate, but because I ate such a fragrant and delicious Yu Zhu, haha." He then turned and left.
Elder Wu couldn't help but smile wryly; he knew Li Qiang didn't want to be constrained.
Before the hole that Li Qiang had opened in the Chu Witch Clan's square, stood a tall cultivator. He wore bright silver armor, and a silver light circled his waist—his flying sword.
He approached the cave entrance to examine it, seemingly puzzled. He could tell that it was newly discovered, as if it had been forcibly opened with Law Power, a feat he himself admired.
The man looked around for a while, then hesitated for a moment. He planned to set up a killing formation outside the cave entrance before going in. Before he could make a move, a golden light flashed, and two people appeared before him.
The man was greatly surprised. He knew that those who could teleport were all experts in the Cultivation Realm, and he couldn't even face the aura of the person in front of him.
He was a master in the Spirit Severing Realm, and even if his opponent was a master in the Body Integration Realm, he would not feel afraid. The person opposite him exuded a terrifying Sha Qi, and he involuntarily took two steps back, his flying sword transforming into seven silver rays that rapidly circled around him.
Li Qiang realized this person was highly skilled and seemed very wary. Although he didn't attack him, his flying sword defense was already at its maximum. Li Qiang smiled wryly to himself, thinking, "Am I that scary? This guy looks at me like he's seen a ghost. Ugh, what's going on?"
The man asked warily, "Who are you?"
Li Qiang laughed and said, "This is the first time I've seen cultivators treat each other like this, as if we're facing a formidable enemy. Brother, put away your flying sword and let's have a chat?" He extended an invitation.
The man felt embarrassed after Li Qiang's words. He sighed softly and said, "Don't take offense, I just have something on my mind. Okay, let's talk."
Nuosuo rushed forward and flew into a wooden building, saying, "Senior, I'll tidy up a bit." He quickly cleaned the building with Law Technique, then flew out and said, "Senior, please come in."
Li Qiang glanced at the man and smiled, "Please!"
The man darted inside, wanting to show Li Qiang that he could also teleport.
Li Qiang smiled slightly and then moved into the room.
The two sat down, Nuosuo laid out the Joyful Pearl and some rare fruits that grew abundantly underground. After arranging them, she slipped behind Li Qiang and stood there. Li Qiang joked, "Looks like Nuosuo is quite good at managing things, huh? Hehe, if I had a butler like you, I'd have so much less to worry about."
After the man sat down, he said, "I am Feng Dakai, a cultivator from Bada Star. I have come here to find a disciple. Brother, where are you from?" He stared intently at Li Qiang, hoping to get some information from him.
He could tell from Li Qiang's cultivation level that his disciple's affairs had absolutely nothing to do with him. If it were him who made the move, his disciple wouldn't have been able to send any Law Treasure to notify him.
Li Qiang smiled slightly and said, "Brother, I am Li Qiang from Sealed Fate Planet."
Feng Dakai straightened up and exclaimed in a trembling voice, " Li Qiang! Li Qiang of the Chongxuan Sect? The World-Wreaking Demon King?"
Li Qiang touched his face and muttered, "No way, who did this? How come everyone knows I'm called the World-Wreaking Demon King? Brother Feng, it was just a joke back then, but now everyone knows. That's right, I am Li Qiang of the Chongxuan Sect."
Unexpectedly, Feng Dakai bowed respectfully and said, "Dakai greets Martial Uncle."
The address of "Uncle-Master" startled Li Qiang. His first thought was of Hou Pijing, and he couldn't help but wonder, "I've never heard Brother Hou mention the Primordial Beginning Sect before. Could Feng Dakai be a disciple of the Primordial Beginning Sect?"
He hurriedly asked, "Are you a disciple of the Primordial Beginning Sect?"
Feng Dakai said, "No, my master once received guidance from Uncle-Master Hou and respectfully called him Senior Brother. I know you are Uncle-Master Hou's brother, so you are my Uncle-Master."
Li Qiang couldn't help but chuckle. It was truly rare to see a cultivator so adept at building relationships. Now that he had addressed him as "Uncle-Master," he knew he would never make things difficult for him.
Li Qiang said, "Brother Hou and I are close friends despite our age difference. Since you're not a disciple of the Primordial Beginning Sect, there's no need to be so formal with titles. It's better if we just call each other brothers."
Feng Dakai immediately replied, "In that case, junior brother obeys. Greetings, senior brother."
Nuosuo uneasily gathered behind Li Qiang. He wanted to go back and inform Elder Wu, but he didn't know whether he should go or not.
Li Qiang turned to look at him and said, " Nuosuo, what are you nervous about? I'll take care of everything."
Feng Dakai's face turned pale instantly. He understood Li Qiang's meaning; it seemed something must have happened to his disciple. He knew something was wrong the moment he saw Li Qiang. The appearance of such a powerful expert meant that the opponent had been prepared. He had tried his best to build a relationship with Li Qiang to prevent Li Qiang from interfering directly, but now it seemed that Li Qiang was definitely representing the opposing side.
Li Qiang said, "Junior brother, don't worry. Although I haven't seen your disciple, I know where he is, so..."
Before Li Qiang could finish speaking, Feng Dakai hurriedly asked, "Is he still alive?" This was his biggest concern, because his disciple had sent out a life-saving signal. He had been searching here for decades, always suspecting that it was the Chu Witch Clan who were responsible, but after waiting here for decades, no one had appeared.
Nuosuo couldn't help but exclaim, "He's not dead!"
Feng Dakai jumped to his feet and shouted, "What did you do to him? Where is he?"
Li Qiang said calmly, "Why are you in such a hurry? Since I've gotten involved in this matter, I'll give you an explanation eventually. What's the use of being anxious!"
Nuosuo regretted his words as soon as he finished speaking. Hearing Li Qiang's words, he panicked even more. This Feng Dakai was someone with the power to exterminate an entire clan. Even the Elder Wu was terrified of him. Yet Li Qiang had spoken to him so rudely. If he angered him, the consequences would be unimaginable. The more Nuosuo thought about it, the more frightened he became.
To Nuosuo's surprise, Feng Dakai didn't continue his tirade. He sat down dejectedly and said, "As long as my disciple's life is safe, I'll let it go. But if it's him... he... I'll never forgive and forget about everyone here."
Because Li Qiang possessed the Death-Averting Pill, he wasn't afraid of any problems. As long as Feng Dakai's disciple was still alive, he could save him. He had absolute confidence in the Death-Averting Pill.
He said, "If your disciple were still alive, would you really not pursue the matter at all?"
Feng Dakai gritted his teeth and said, "Of course, as long as he and the _Illustrated Book's physical body Nascent Soul are unharmed, I will not pursue anything else." As he spoke, his expression appeared extremely sorrowful.
Li Qiang was somewhat puzzled and couldn't help but ask, "Is he your disciple... or someone else to you?"
Feng Dakai lowered his head and said, "He is the child of a good friend of mine."
Li Qiang said, "My friend? Why didn't he come?"
Feng Dakai sighed, "He was a mortal, long gone. He was a good friend I met during my cultivation. This is his only child, entrusted to me... How could I let him be harmed..."
Li Qiang felt a surge of goodwill towards him and smiled, "As far as I know, your disciple is still alive, but he's barely clinging to life..."
Nuosuo stood helplessly behind Li Qiang. He didn't understand why Li Qiang would say such a thing; wasn't he trying to provoke him?
Sure enough, Feng Dakai was about to explode. His face turned red, and he made a gesture as if he was about to form a magic seal.
Li Qiang laughed, "Since I'm here to mediate, I won't allow you to run wild! Hehe, but I won't let your disciple be left with only a breath left; I'll take responsibility for healing him."
Li Qiang's tone was extremely confident, as if victory was assured. Feng Dakai, however, was self-aware enough to know that he had no chance of winning against Li Qiang, so he said, "Alright, since you're so confident, I'll listen to you."
Li Qiang nodded and said, " Nuosuo, go and inform the Chu Witch Clan to bring the people out, and also bring out the Chu Witch Clan chief."
"The chieftain of the Chu Witch Clan?" Feng Dakai asked curiously, "What happened to the chieftain of the Chu Witch Clan?"
Li Qiang recounted the events, saying, "They both suffered heavy losses. Since I'm here to mediate, well, I must save them both."
Nuosuo disappeared in response, returning underground to deliver the message.
Feng Dakai stood up, feeling uneasy, and paced back and forth in the room. After a long while, he said, "Senior brother, I know you Divine Ability powerful, but this disciple... Alas, he is my only disciple, he is like my child, the Chu Witch Clan! Humph, how dare they bully others like this for a mere Primordial Yang Pill... I..." He was extremely angry, but out of respect for Li Qiang, he could not vent his anger.
Li Qiang said, " The Chu Witch Clan members are innocent. This was done by their clan leader. He, like your disciple, is at the initial stage of Nascent Soul. If he had the Primordial Yang Pill, his cultivation could immediately leap to the next level, which is why he fought so desperately. Junior Brother Feng, don't be impatient. I am confident I can heal them."
Feng Dakai smiled wryly, "I've been searching for decades. Hearing this news makes me uneasy. Why are you so confident in curing him, Senior Brother?"
Li Qiang laughed and said, "Because I have the Death-Averting Pill Rejuvenation Valley, there shouldn't be any problem with treating him."
Feng Dakai's eyes widened in surprise. " The Death-Averting Pill? A top-tier life-saving elixir in the Cultivation Realm? This... you..." He wanted to say, "How could you bear to take it out?" but he stopped himself.
If a cultivator possesses Death-Averting Pill, they would never show it to others. Having one Life -Death-Averting Pill is equivalent to having an extra life, so who would give it away for no reason?
Li Qiang raised an eyebrow and said, "They're out. Let's go take a look. Junior Brother Feng, I hope you can control yourself and follow my instructions." He was afraid that this guy might lose his temper and hurt the Chu Witch Clan members, which would make it difficult for him to act as mediator.
After learning that Li Qiang possessed the Death-Averting Pill, Feng Dakai decided to follow his lead in everything. Given that Li Qiang was willing to offer such a life-saving elixir from the Cultivation Realm, Feng Dakai knew that his disciple's life could certainly be saved.
The two teleported to the plaza, but to their surprise, none of the Chu Witch Clan members came out. Only two black pillars, each over two meters tall and as thick as a person's embrace, stood at the edge of the plaza, with Nuosuo standing beside them. He said somewhat awkwardly, " The Chu Witch Clan members are afraid that Senior Feng will harm them, so they dare not come out. Please forgive them, Senior Feng."
Feng Dakai snorted but didn't say anything.
Li Qiang touched the black pillar and discovered that it was actually an extremely cold block of ice. Strangely, despite the heat in the square, the surface of the black ice remained unchanged, without any condensation or mist. He knew that this was a peculiar substance.
Li Qiang asked, " Nuosuo, how do we break the Witch Ice?"
Nuosuo asked, "Senior, shall we untie it now?"
Feng Dakai said, "Wait, let's move to the room before we untie it."
Unable to discern what was inside the two black Witch Ice, Feng Dakai decided to take them both with him. He used Law Technique to bind the two Witch Ice together, and with a flash of white light, he returned to his room.
Li Qiang and Nuosuo walked towards the wooden building. As they walked, Li Qiang asked, " Nuosuo, where did you get the Witch Ice?"
Nuosuo said, " Witch Ice is a secret treasure of the Chu Witch Clan Chu Witch Clan, crafted using incantations and Extreme Ice Liquid. It can store anything without it spoiling or damaging the contents. Whatever it was like when sealed in Witch Ice Witch Ice will remain exactly the same after it is unsealed."
Li Qiang stepped onto the stairs and said, "This is good. If someone wants to use the Witch Ice slumber, wouldn't this thing be equivalent to freezing time?" As he pushed open the door, he added, "Does the Chu Witch Clan have a lot of Witch Ice?"
Nuosuo followed Li Qiang up the stairs and laughed, " Witch Ice is very rare. Only a small amount can be refined each time, and it dissipates after one use. Therefore, Witch Ice is very precious."
Feng Dakai stared blankly at the two pieces of Witch Ice, unaware that his disciple was sealed inside. Only when Li Qiang entered did he snap out of his daze and ask, "Senior brother, how do we unseal the Witch Ice? Won't it hurt the person inside?" His mind was completely in disarray, and his expression resembled that of a mortal rather than a cultivator. It was truly baffling how he had managed to reach the Spirit Severing Realm.
Li Qiang laughed and said, "Are you confused? Nuosuo could have solved it just now. It was you who wanted to move Witch Ice into the room. Now you're asking how to solve it?" There was a teasing tone in his voice.
Feng Dakai blushed, realizing he had lost his composure; concern can cloud judgment, and that was exactly what he was feeling.
Nuosuo said, "I don't know which of the two pieces of Witch Ice is the senior's disciple. What should I do?"
Li Qiang said, "Untie one first, and then untie the other after I've successfully healed them. Don't untie them at the same time, or it will be too late." He took out two Death-Averting Pill and said, " Nuosuo, begin!"
When Feng Dakai saw the Death-Averting Pill, he was startled. He recognized that the elixir in Li Qiang's hand was indeed the Death-Averting Pill, and his heart immediately calmed down.
Nuosuo took out a Xiaoyu, which was very delicate and looked petite.
Nuosuo carefully untied the lid, softly chanted a spell, and a wisp of white smoke rose from the jade bottle. Nuosuo shouted, "Chirp!" The white smoke, as if alive, enveloped Witch Ice on the left, like a drop of water falling into a pile of charcoal, making a "plop" sound.
The hard outer layer of the Witch Ice rapidly melted away, at a speed that surprised both Li Qiang Feng Dakai. In less than ten seconds, a burly man appeared. Feng Dakai shouted, "This isn't my apprentice!"
Li Qiang said, "Since that's not it, you sit to the side and wait for me to treat him before I come to treat your apprentice."
After waiting a while, the Witch Ice on the Chu Witch Clan chief completely dissipated. Strangely, there wasn't a single drop of water on the ground, as if the ice had never existed. Li Qiang secretly praised it, thinking that the Witch Ice was indeed very magical.
He said, " Nuosuo, quickly help the chieftain up, I will heal him."
Nuosuo immediately floated to the chieftain's side and supported him, saying, "His body is starting to go weak, senior, please act quickly."
Feng Dakai stepped aside, thinking, "Fine, if I can save this chieftain, I can definitely save my apprentice. I can use him as a guinea pig."
Li Qiang suddenly said, "Junior Brother Feng, use your True Essence Power to activate him."
Feng Dakai blurted out, "No way! I don't care if he lives or dies... uh, you..." Suddenly he realized that if he didn't take care of the clan chief, Li Qiang might not take care of his apprentice either. He stomped his foot in anger and had no choice but to step forward and grab the clan chief's shoulder.
Li Qiang said with a half-smile, "Junior Brother Feng, I believe in your cultivation; you won't fail."
With just one sentence, he extinguished Feng Dakai's crooked thoughts.
Feng Dakai said helplessly, "I'll do whatever you say." Although he had no intention of harming the clan leader, he only planned to wake him up and didn't want to worry about anything else.
Feng Dakai's cultivation had reached the Spirit Severing Realm, and his True Essence Power was extremely pure. Soon, the clan leader's vitality returned.
Li Qiang handed him a Death-Averting Pill and said, "Do you know how to use it? Once you've used it once, you'll be much more skilled next time."
Feng Dakai was both amused and exasperated. This Li Qiang was truly strange, insisting on healing his enemy himself. He didn't know that Li Qiang was unable to use his Divine Yi Power to melt the elixir because he had run out of True Essence Power.
Nuosuo watched nervously, while Feng Dakai said impatiently, "I know how to use it! Hey, stand aside, I don't need you to help me, I'll treat you..."
Li Qiang suppressed a laugh and said, "Well, since you know how to treat, I won't say any more. Let's get started."
Feng Dakai was furious, but dared not retaliate. He kept a straight face and began to treat the clan leader. He first activated the clan leader with his True Essence Power, and then used the Death-Averting Pill to heal him. The method was very simple, and in no time, the clan leader was fully awake.
Even with the help of the Death-Averting Pill, the clan leader was extremely weak because he had been Witch Ice for too long.
The clan chief struggled to open his eyes, looked around, and asked, "Where... where am I? Hey, Messenger of the Seizing Circle, what are you doing here? Where's Elder Wu?"
Nuosuo exclaimed happily, "The chieftain has finally woken up! That's wonderful! I'll go inform the Elder Wu and the tribespeople..."
Li Qiang said, " Nuosuo, don't rush, there's still one piece of Witch Ice that hasn't been unwound."
Nuosuo looked up and saw the fierce glint in Feng Dakai's eyes. He hurriedly said, "I'll undo it... hehe, I'll undo it..." Before he could even begin to undo the Witch Ice, he heard the clan chief's weak sigh, "Heavens, my cultivation... alas, it's all over..."
Li Qiang was taken aback. He grabbed the clan leader's arm and probed it with his Divine Sense. After a long while, he shook his head and said, "His life has been saved, but his foundation for cultivation has been completely lost, and his Nascent Soul has dissipated."
The clan chief couldn't bear the shock; his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
Feng Dakai grew anxious and repeatedly said, "Quickly, release the Witch Ice! Hurry!"
Nuosuo became even more nervous. The Seizing Circle) and the Chu Witch Clan were inextricably linked. If the Chu Witch Clan were destroyed, the Seizing Circle would also lose its existence. The Seizing Circle was the final resting place for the souls of the Chu Witch Clan members, the place where their spirits resided after death. Without the support of the deceased souls of the Chu Witch Clan, the Seizing Circle would perish, and as the Seizing Circle's messenger, Nuosuo would ultimately be homeless.
A moment later, Nuosuo removed the Witch Ice, revealing a handsome young man.
Feng Dakai rushed forward to support him and immediately began treatment.
Although the effects of the Death-Averting Pill are remarkable, it is extremely difficult for someone who has been severely injured and is on the verge of death to preserve their cultivation level. Even using the Death-Averting Pill would be of no use.
Feng Dakai called out, " Qi'er, wake up!"
Qi'er's body trembled slightly. She opened her eyes and saw Feng Dakai, a slight smile appearing on her face, "Master... you... you've come... I..."
Feng Dakai felt a pang of sorrow. He knew that his disciple's skills were completely destroyed, and unless he could find the legendary elixir, there was no chance of recovery.
He forced a smile and comforted him, " Qi'er, with your master here... don't worry." With a wave of his hand, a thin layer of azure light enveloped Qi'er, protecting him.
Feng Dakai's gaze grew increasingly sharp, Nuosuo involuntarily drifted backward.
Feng Dakai said bitterly, "If anything happens to my disciple, I..." Li Qiang understood what he meant; this guy still wanted revenge.
Li Qiang thought to himself, "Forcibly suppressing Feng Dakai is useless. Just look at how he's persisted here for decades; he's someone who will never give up until he achieves his goal. I can't possibly stay in the Chu Witch Clan forever; that's completely impossible."
Li Qiang said, "Junior Brother Feng, there's another way we can try."
Feng Dakai asked dejectedly, "What method?"