Tracking the Marquis of Weiqi

Although Zhang Xuezhou had planned how he would dominate the world through his cultivation, all of this was based on the premise that everyone's cultivation level was at the same level.

The Realm Technique can intimidate cultivators two levels lower. Zhang Xuezhou used his mental power to shorten the gap by one realm, and could even slightly affect those at the same realm.

With the help of the spirit wood staff from Fangzhang Island, he truly made intimidation of those at the same level a reality.

However, everything Zhang Xuezhou established was based on his own level of understanding and skill.

If Zhang Xuezhou were to face a True Self Realm cultivator right now, his deterrent effect would be very limited; he could only launch a sneak attack by combining the physical destructive force generated by his staff.

Zhang Xuezhou didn't know what techniques the great masters of Kunlun were skilled in, but he was certain that many of them had reached the True Self Realm.

He glanced at the night sky several times, unsure when his opponent would suddenly launch a sneak attack.

As he slowly leaned back, Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but glance at the right-hand wing.

From the room came the sound of Wei Shao'er scolding Huo Qubing, and from the adjacent room came Gongsun Hong reciting with his head swaying.

The two of them were clearly unaware that a powerful cultivator had come to their door.

Zhang Xuezhou didn't mind other people living in his residence, and he welcomed Zhufu Yan to come every day. He was indeed trying to win over his helpers.

"Young Master Wei, stop scolding Xiao Huo! Come down here and take your anger out on me!"

Zhang Xuezhou found an excuse and quietly pulled Wei Shao'er downstairs. Even if Wei Shao'er was useless at the moment, he could at least serve as a shield.

"How could I dare to take my anger out on you!"

Zhang Xuezhou called out, and Wei Shao'er's angry lecturing stopped abruptly. He then responded dejectedly, clearly unwilling to come downstairs to vent his anger on Zhang Xuezhou.

"Come down if you dare!" Zhang Xuezhou shouted.

"I don't have the guts," Wei Shao'er replied with a headache.

"Mother, I am your child!"

"I don't have a disobedient son like you!"

"I just don't want to have to wear ropes while I sleep. A few days ago, they got so tight around my neck that they almost strangled me..."

Wei Shao'er is somewhat like a parent whose mindset becomes unbalanced due to helping their child with homework. No matter how cute the child usually is, they still need to give way to homework and spiritual practice.

After exchanging a few words in the side room, there was the sound of stomping and jumping, accompanied by Wei Shao'er's cursing.

Zhang Xuezhou no longer expected Wei Shao'er to come down and discover that her opponent had become a suitable shield.

"Mr. Gongsun, have you come downstairs to admire the moon?"

Zhang Xuezhou called out in the direction of Gongsun Hong, but Gongsun Hong did not respond, as if the noise outside had nothing to do with him, and only the various Confucian School classics could make him appreciate their profound meaning.

"None of them are reliable!"

If Zhang Xuezhou had anything to be thankful for, it was that the other party hadn't discovered Zhang Xuezhou had brought in helpers.

Moreover, while Zhang Xuezhou was talking, he had already taken out the spirit wood staff from Fangzhang Island.

"Brother, you'd better make something of yourself after you die, or we might just end up sleeping and waiting for our bodies to rot away!"

The life form of the spirit wood staff on Fangzhang Island had undoubtedly been killed once by Zhang Xuezhou and his group; the remaining green light was like a fragment of a dead soul.

This green light had previously been forced into a death-defying state and erupted once. The power it unleashed was far greater than what he had slowly nurtured himself, which made Zhang Xuezhou willing to take advantage of the situation. Zhang Xuezhou hoped that the green light would now be in perfect harmony with him and erupt once more.

By targeting someone who is not paying attention, Zhang Xuezhou felt that the probability of successfully ambushing True Self Realm cultivator was very high.

The eyes darted back and forth in the darkness, perhaps assessing potential adversaries after a move, and thus constantly observing the surrounding environment.

Zhang Xuezhou felt this was an excellent opportunity for him to make his move. The only requirement was that the spiritwood staff must be effective enough; otherwise, his attempt to use his spiritual power to attack True Self Realm cultivator would be a joke.

"Look, the moon has suddenly turned into a blood moon! An ominous sign from the heavens!"

With his right hand gripping the staff tightly, Zhang Xuezhou suddenly raised the staff and shouted.

Shouting during a fight is a foolish and discouraging thing to do, but speaking appropriately can change your opponent's behavior.

For example, if Daojun were to utter the word "seeking death," the opponent would remain highly vigilant, wary of Daojun's flying daggers, and thus switch from offense to defense or even flee.

Zhang Xuezhou's shouts were meant to distract him.

His behavior was unpredictable, but it was certainly very practical.

Zhang Xuezhou raised his staff, and his spiritual power guided the release of his realm pressure in an instant. A streak of blue light flashed across the spirit wood staff, and a 'pop' sound, like the release of air, echoed in the night sky.

"It's working!"

Holding the spirit wood staff, Zhang Xuezhou exhaled a breath of pent-up anger.

Compared to Wei Shao'er's combination, the Spirit Wood Staff's first combination was perfectly effective, proving that Zhang Xuezhou's use of the green light to directly nurture it to the seventh level was worthwhile.

"Which great deity is this...? How come it's an incarnation of Yang Soul?"

Just as Zhang Xuezhou was about to check which Kunlun master was hiding in mid-air, ready to make a move against him, a naked figure appeared in mid-air with continuous 'plop' sounds.

He leaped forward, stepping onto the air to approach. The avatar's body crumbled layer by layer, then transformed into a streak of blood-red light that flew and wobbled for several meters before shooting away like an arrow.

"His blood aura lacks luster, so he probably hasn't reached the True Self Realm. It's not easy to cultivate a Yang Soul Incarnation of this level. Which great Confucian School scholar who practices martial arts is he?"

Zhang Xuezhou levitated and stepped on the ground, quickly catching up as well.

He couldn't catch up with the yang spirit that had escaped and returned to his body, but as long as the opponent's landing point was close enough, Zhang Xuezhou could judge the approximate landing point.

The Yang Soul Incarnation Technique isn't particularly obscure or difficult to understand. The main challenge lies in the enormous amount of resources required for its cultivation. However, with sufficient resources and time, it can be gradually refined to perfection.

To master this technique, one either needs a wealthy family or a place with abundant Spiritual Qi.

Dong Zhongshu had not been able to spread the technique for very long, and Zhang Xuezhou couldn't think of any wealthy martial arts master who had cultivated to this level and would be hostile towards him.

In the distance, a crimson light descended, and Zhang Xuezhou's eyes lit up.

"So it was Marquis of Weiqi!"

The location where the blood fell was not difficult to verify; Zhang Xuezhou only needed to make a slight comparison to determine the owner of the mansion.

Zhang Xuezhou finally remembered an unexpected incident from the past.

At that time, Marquis of Weiqi Dou Ying served as prime minister. Zhang Xuezhou, during his Yangpo tour, made a deception and exchanged goods with Dou Ying.

Dou Ying obtained the Yang Soul Transformation Technique, while Zhang Xuezhou obtained the Nine Cauldrons Technique to evade the Empress Dowager's inspection.

Years later, Zhang Xuezhou only exchanged the Nine Cauldrons Technique for the Peacock Great Wisdom King, while Dou Ying truly cultivated the Yang Soul Transformation Technique to a high level.

Since it could be destroyed by his mental attack, Dou Ying's Yang Soul incarnation must have solidified to a point where it was close to his physical body.

Without techniques like the Southern Bright Fire to counter it, this level of Yang Soul incarnation can do almost anything, making it extremely convenient for spying, theft, or assassination.

"Marquis of Weiqi possesses such abilities in vain!"

Dou Ying lost his position as prime minister due to the power struggle within the Anle Palace, and thereafter Dou Ying largely unknown and kept a low profile.

During these ten years, the palace was filled with many important events, but Dou Ying was nowhere to be seen.

Even when many Venerables and Dharma Masters from the Yedie River Holy Land stormed into Anle Palace, Dou Ying did not make a move, and the new emperor and the Empress Dowager also remained aloof and uninvolved in their power struggle.

This made Zhang Xuezhou sigh.

Thinking back to how amicable Dou Ying had been when they interacted, but tonight he felt hostility and hatred towards her, Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but want to figure out the situation, lest he be constantly targeted by powerful cultivators within Chang'an City before he could even defend against external enemies.