Chapter 338 - 189: Murder and Arson! Obtaining a Qi Refining Technique

Chapter 338: Chapter 189: Murder and Arson! Obtaining a Qi Refining Technique

"Is this... Small Seal Script?" Wan Ze studied the characters, taking a moment to identify them.

The strokes were standardized and the structure was rigorous. It wasn’t just casually scribbled; this had to be handwritten by someone with specialized training.

"That’s right. The Cultivation Methods here are basically all written in Small Seal Script. Some of the older ones are even in Oracle Bone Script," Feng Jiuchen explained. "If you can’t read it, I can translate for you. This is a Defense Dharma Seal. You condense Qi in your arms to form the Dharma Seal, enhancing their defensive power. This approach isn’t exactly rare. Many Minor Sects have similar Techniques, they’re all pretty much the same."

Feng Jiuchen’s Talismanic Magic was far more advanced. Both its offensive and defensive capabilities were on a completely different level, so naturally, he looked down on this kind of Beginner Level Defense Dharma Seal.

"No need. I know a bit about Small Seal Script myself," Wan Ze said casually.

He wasn’t lying. Back when he was helping Professor Song organize ancient texts, he had consulted a great deal of reference material. From Oracle Bone Script to bronze inscriptions, Small Seal Script, and clerical script, he had systematically studied every stage of the writing system’s evolution.

He wasn’t an expert, by any means, but he could at least decipher the general content of a Cultivation Technique.

Feng Jiuchen paused, taken aback for a moment.

But he didn’t ask.

In Huangliang Village, not asking what shouldn’t be asked was a basic tenet for survival.

Wan Ze opened the booklet, flipping through it page by page.

Each page featured a diagram of the human body, illustrating the circulation path for Qi and the method for forming the Hand Seal.

Beside the diagrams were textual explanations. The Small Seal Script was densely packed, yet the instructions were clear and methodical. From condensing Qi to forming the Dharma Seal, and finally to its release, every step was explained in detail.

He read quickly, his eyes scanning the Qi circulation paths, the Hand Seal techniques, and the final form of the Dharma Seal.

In his mind, all this information was deconstructed, reassembled, and synthesized, rapidly forming a complete picture.

Content soon appeared in the data frame within his field of vision.

...

[Illustrated Guide: Double Python Seal]

[Skill Beginner Level Requirement: Condense this Dharma Seal by channeling Qi into both arms 50 times.]

...

’It’s a shame this Dharma Seal is only effective in Huangliang. Condensing the Qi requires specific Hand Seals, so I can’t use it in the real world.’

Wan Ze silently calculated.

’The Dharma Seal can only be formed in this world. It relies on Huangliang’s unique Qi and the laws of heaven and earth.’

’Once I return to reality, those laws will no longer apply, and the Dharma Seal will naturally become useless.’

’That means if I want to practice this Magic Technique, I have to do my Cultivation in this world.’

’I’ve never told Feng Jiuchen that my Qi can’t bring me directly to Huangliang... I have to rely on a Spiritual Form. My Qi is more like a signal... it can guide me to a specific location with precision.’

’Maybe my constitution is special.’

’Or maybe the Taiyin Breathing Technique is special.’

Wan Ze couldn’t say for sure.

’But, the more Spiritual Forms I have, the better.’

’Maybe when my Cultivation improves in the future, I won’t need Spiritual Forms anymore.’

Wan Ze took a deep breath. Having made up his mind, he pushed the small booklet back over.

"You don’t want it?" Feng Jiuchen asked, stunned.

Wan Ze shook his head. "A paltry Magic Technique. I don’t want it!"

Feng Jiuchen didn’t say anything in response.

Just then, Wan Ze handed over the items he had looted from the short, skinny man. It was a bundle wrapped in cloth containing a few unidentified blueprints, a small bronze bell, and several letters.

Aside from the small bell, which had triggered Stealing Celestial Secret, the other items were completely ordinary.

The envelopes were old-fashioned yellow paper, sealed with wax. A complex crest was stamped into each seal.

"This guy didn’t have any Cultivation Techniques on him, but he had some letters. See if they’re useful to you."

Feng Jiuchen didn’t stand on ceremony. He casually tossed the Double Python Seal booklet back into his Storage Ring and took the letters from Wan Ze.

He tore open the first letter and glanced at it, his brow furrowing slightly. Then he opened the second...

The more he read, the deeper his frown became, until his face was contorted in a grimace.

"Fuck it, damn!"

"Problem?" Wan Ze asked.

Feng Jiuchen took a deep breath, picked up the letters again, and reread them to make sure he hadn’t been mistaken. "The Li Huo Sect is planning to establish a branch stronghold nearby. Look, these letters were written by one of their Elders. They talk about site selection. They’ve taken a fancy to this area, believing the Qi Meridians here are abundant and suitable for establishing a base."

He looked up at the distant, overlapping mountain ranges.

The light of the Red Moon illuminated the peaks. Behind them lay the very spot where they had discovered the Tomb.

"If they really set up camp here, they’re bound to discover the Tomb. The Li Huo Sect is no joke. Their Perception of Qi is far stronger than ours. Once they establish a foothold in this area, that bronze gate won’t stay hidden for more than a few days. By then, we won’t even get to pick up the scraps."

He paused, sinking into thought. ’If only I could make them give up on this idea...’

This was definitely not good news.

The Tongchen Pavilion was no match for the Li Huo Sect; that much was an undeniable fact.

The Li Huo Sect was a well-established Sect with a legacy spanning hundreds of years. It boasted thousands of disciples, dozens of Elders, abundant resources, and extensive connections.

And the Tongchen Pavilion?

At most, it had less than a hundred members. In the grand scheme of Huangliang Village, it wasn’t even significant enough to be ranked.

At best, Feng Jiuchen could play some minor tricks, spread a few rumors, or cause some trouble to slow them down.

But if he were to truly go head-to-head with a behemoth like the Li Huo Sect, he wouldn’t even know what hit him.

That was the reality of the situation.

When an egg hits a rock, it’s always the egg that breaks.

"I’ll take these letters. They’re a decent piece of intel." Feng Jiuchen stuffed the envelopes into his robes and patted his chest to make sure they were secure.

Then he tossed over the tall, fat man’s Storage Ring. "Take a look at what’s inside. If you see anything useful, just take it."

He was direct, splitting the loot and giving what was due.

Even though he had no use for the dead man’s things, Wan Ze might. Everyone’s needs were different.

Wan Ze caught the Storage Ring and sent his consciousness inside to investigate.

The space inside wasn’t large, about a cubic meter, and was cluttered with miscellaneous items.

He took out each item and examined it carefully, trying to trigger Stealing Celestial Secret, but he failed every time.

It wasn’t until the very last item, a Token, that something caught Wan Ze’s attention.

The Token was made of bronze and was about the size of his palm. The front was engraved with the characters for "Li Huo"...

A thought sparked in Wan Ze’s mind. He took it out and saw a complex pattern engraved on the back—it looked like a raging flame.

The edges of the Token were heavily worn, and a visible patina coated its surface. It had likely passed through countless hands.

The instant Wan Ze’s finger touched the Token, a cool sensation traveled up from his fingertip.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, a smile playing on his lips.

Stealing Celestial Secret... success!

...

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