[Remnant Realm]
[Law Technique automatic update complete. This is a minor version update. Law Technique effects adjusted as follows.] [Basic Sword Qi: increased Sword Qi power, increased Sword Qi quantity, increased casting range, reduced True Qi consumption.]
He had refined the flying sword [Azure Sky] he had borrowed from Zheng Yi.
[Basic Sword Qi] had successfully advanced to version 4.0.
This time, however, no new mechanics had been added. Instead, Basic Sword Qi had received an across-the-board enhancement.
Power, Sword Qi quantity, casting range, and True Qi consumption-all four basic attributes had improved together!
Watching the flying sword in his hand dissolve into ashes, Qi Yun narrowed his eyes, his gaze shifting.
I borrowed this flying sword through my own ability. Why should I return it?
Since I don't have to return it, it's mine. And since it's mine, if it's gone, it's gone.
Thinking this way, Qi Yun immediately felt his thoughts flow freely, with no gloom left in his heart. Raising his chin, he strode outside, ready to test the effects of version 4.0 of [Basic Sword Qi].
A while later.
The once reasonably elegant little courtyard was a complete mess.
The rockery used as a target had been pierced by countless sharp strands of Sword Qi. Densely packed holes covered its surface, like rotten wood ravaged by a violent storm.
Standing amid shattered stone and dust, Qi Yun slowly nodded.
Overwhelming numerical superiority really was more straightforward than mechanics!
Compared with mechanics, pure numerical improvements did indeed produce a more pronounced increase in a Law Technique's power.
After this upgrade, Basic Sword Qi's power had surged, nearly matching the higher-grade [Red Night Sword Qi].
Never mind flesh and blood-it could easily pierce even slightly thinner pig iron.
The number of strands of Sword Qi had increased from one to two. With a thought, he could fire two strands at once!
Its range had increased from three zhang in front of him to ten.
True Qi consumption had noticeably decreased, to just a third of what it had been.
That meant he could use this Law Technique as his basic attack button.
And if he added its wondrous instant-cast and continuous tracking effects.
This version 4.0 of [Basic Sword Qi] already far surpassed that scroll of [Red Night Sword Qi].
The only drawback was that I alone could master this Law Technique.
"And besides all that, [Basic Sword Qi] has another, even stronger advantage..." Forming a sword seal with one hand, Qi Yun recited the incantation and raised his hand to fire a strand of Sword Qi, blasting the already hole-riddled rockery stone to pieces with a crash.
"Although its power has long since undergone a complete transformation, [Basic Sword Qi]'s sword seals and incantations haven't changed.
"When facing an enemy, once they see me using [Basic Sword Qi]'s sword seals and incantations, they'll surely look down on it and let their guard slip. That gives me fifty percent of the initiative.
"After they've experienced [Basic Sword Qi]'s power, I'll open with an instant cast and catch them off guard, gaining another fifty percent of the initiative.
"At the same cultivation realm, there probably won't be many who can walk away unscathed." Nodding thoughtfully, Qi Yun walked over to the screen wall and opened [Wuji Treasure Market].
He still had quite a bit of Sacred Yuan left from his earlier talisman sales, and planned to buy some spiritual objects first to upgrade his Law Techniques' versions.
[Clear Breeze Technique] and [Basic Sword Qi] were sufficient for now. He would spend all his remaining Sacred Yuan on upgrading [Skull Incantation], his protective technique.
Only by staying alive could he have a future!
His mind made up, Qi Yun hesitated no longer. His fingers slid rapidly across the screen wall as he filtered through natural spiritual objects that could accelerate [Skull Incantation]'s automatic update.
"Remnant Realm? What sort of place is that?"
A month and a half later, having received no reply from Qi Yun for a long time, Wu Tao sent a second letter.
And the contents of this letter had changed.
Perhaps he felt that his rash invitation for Qi Yun to cross prefectures and meet him had made his intentions too obvious.
This time, Wu Tao stated that he had lucked into a bargain and accepted a sect mission to visit [Remnant Realm].
The rewards were extremely generous and the danger very low, but he could not manage it alone, so he wanted to invite Qi Yun along.
Seemingly finding Qi Yun's tea leaves too inferior, Zheng Yi had brought some spiritual tea he had grown himself this time.
It had only just begun brewing, yet its rich, refreshing fragrance already drifted throughout the little courtyard. A light sniff alone left one feeling carefree and refreshed.
"Small worlds opened up by ancient cultivators, or those that draw near from beyond our domain, often have ownerless things scattered inside. They're jokingly called places to pick up bargains, which is where the name Remnant Realm comes from.
"If you're lucky, you can even pick up Law Artifacts, technique-transmission jade talismans, or even natural spiritual objects inside.
"But the rules in places like these are chaotic, and they aren't under the Holy Sect's supervision.
"It seems the Flower Moon Hall master is getting impatient and plans to lure you into [Remnant Realm] to make his move. That way, he can evade the Holy Sect's supervision." Zheng Yi took a light sip of the spiritual tea he had brought, glanced at the letter, and leisurely explained.
"Will this Foundation Establishment True Person act personally?" Despite having prepared himself for this already, Qi Yun still felt somewhat grave.
After all, that was a Foundation Establishment True Person, possessing mighty power that reached through heaven and earth. Before him, a minor cultivator at Qi Refining Third Layer truly was no different from dust.
One breath could reduce him to drifting ash.
"Not very likely."
Zheng Yi set down his teacup, its base clinking crisply against the stone table.
"Song Kun may be arrogant, but he's no brainless brute.
"Act personally and leave an opening? He wouldn't do something so foolish.
"He'll most likely send his disciples to do it for him."
Of course, Zheng Yi left one implication unspoken: An ant at Qi Refining Third Layer like you thinks he's worthy of a Foundation Establishment True Person acting personally?
"That's good, then." Qi Yun let out a slight breath of relief. As long as he wasn't facing the Foundation Establishment True Person himself, there was still some room to maneuver.
"What's good about it? Even the Flower Moon Hall master's youngest disciple is at Qi Refining Sixth Layer, and his eldest disciple is at Qi Refining Great Perfection, already preparing to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
"You have no chance of winning against any of them," Zheng Yi said bluntly.
"Huh? It's actually that dangerous..." His expression startled, Qi Yun's eyes shifted slightly, and he immediately said:
"In that case, won't I be unable to complete the task the True Person assigned me?
"What am I supposed to do!"
Slapping his palm in frustration with a smack, Qi Yun tentatively raised his eyes to glance at Zheng Yi before him.
"Unless you could bestow a few more life-saving things on me, senior brother..."
"Stop right there!"
Hearing this, Zheng Yi, who was holding his teacup and about to sip the fragrant tea, nearly swallowed the cup outright. He abruptly put it down and hurriedly waved a hand to stop him.
He had already experienced just how thick this junior brother's hide was.
A few more words, and his meager assets would probably be scraped down another layer!
"You needn't concern yourself with this!" Zheng Yi's tone was firm as severed nails and cut iron, permitting no doubt. "Master has made thorough arrangements!
"You only need to go to that Remnant Realm on time, as agreed in the letter.
"As for the rest, there's no need to ask."
"All right, then."
Seeing how resolute Zheng Yi sounded, Qi Yun could only nod and let it go.
Tsk, how come he'd wised up...