NOVEL WEB Chapter 118: A Small Goal (Please Subscribe)
Pengcheng, slums of the outer city, a dilapidated small courtyard.
Wei Tusu reported the daily intelligence to Zhang Baicun and invited him to send manpower to help him establish a firm foothold in Dongyu District.
To be cautious, they met almost exclusively once every seven days, a very secure arrangement.
"Brother Zhang, just as you expected, Hong Yuan is very wary of me, but fortunately, everything is proceeding smoothly." Wei Tusu's tone shifted. "However, acquiring the shops in the A-level area of Dongyu District for surveilling Hong Yuan has attracted the covetous eyes of other factions, mainly the Long Lake Commerce Guild and the Giant Whale Gang. I need your assistance."
Wei Tusu didn't quite understand why Zhang Baicun insisted on the reward being shops in the A-level area of Dongyu District. In truth, B-level shops would suffice to surveil Hong Yuan and would attract less trouble.
"Hmm!?" Zhang Baicun glanced at Wei Tusu, noticing his confusion. He said, "You are a peak second-order Martial Artist. If your appetite isn't large enough, Hong Yuan will become suspicious. Also, I will send a few helpers to assist you. Don't be too tense."
Zhang Baicun picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for Wei Tusu. This made Wei Tusu extremely excited, and he hastily accepted it.
In Wei Tusu's heart, Zhang Baicun was a prodigy from the Qinglu Taoist Temple, while he himself was merely a mediocre martial artist in Pengcheng. The status difference between them was like heaven and earth. Although he shamelessly claimed to be a disciple of Shanying, in reality, Shanying's only disciple, from start to finish, had always been Zhang Baicun!
"Our bond is like that of fellow sect brothers. We will achieve merits together in Pengcheng. As long as the merits are sufficient, it's possible your descendants might also enter the Qinglu Taoist Temple, just like me."
Zhang Baicun painted a grand picture, completely ignoring Brother Chen Qingshan, who had previously sacrificed himself for him.
"Thank you, Brother Zhang! Thank you!" Wei Tusu felt a surge of new strength well up within him.
At his age, it was impossible for him to enter the Qinglu Taoist Temple, but his descendants might have the chance to fulfill this dream for him. Zhang Baicun was a True Disciple of the Qinglu Taoist Temple; he had no reason to deceive him. If his descendants could enter the Qinglu Taoist Temple, he would die willingly.
...
On another note,
Ever since obtaining the Thunder Sword Tribulation cultivation technique, Hong Yuan had resumed his reclusive study, diligently practicing Thunder Sword Tribulation.
Thunder Sword Tribulation was an extremely powerful third-order offensive thunder-attribute cultivation technique. The philosophy of the technique was to transform the body into thunder and wield thunder as a weapon to obliterate all. It could be said to have a lofty martial concept. After all, thunder and lightning are not forces ordinary people can control, let alone transform them into weapons.
Each practice session consumed nearly five hundred Energy Stones. This made the cost of practicing Thunder Sword Tribulation no less than that of the Qinglu Mountain Moving Skill, and only slightly less than the Myriad Silence Origin Skill. Furthermore, the materials for practicing Thunder Sword Tribulation were extremely scarce. Luckily, Hong Yuan held astonishing influence in the Pengcheng area. He fully benefited from the treatment afforded to a disciple from a holy land and did not lack resources.
An ordinary person, even if they obtained Thunder Sword Tribulation, would find it difficult to practice due to various conditions.
No wonder so many sect disciples sought the opportunity for external experiences. If I were in the sect, just collecting cultivation resources would frustrate me to no end, let alone being able to call upon support and wield great influence, Hong Yuan murmured softly, then his gaze shifted forward.
In front of Hong Yuan, there was a bluestone pool. Above the bluestone pool, thunder flashed and lightning arced. As Energy Stones were continuously consumed within the Energy Array, the intensity of the lightning grew stronger.
The power of thunderbolt... Once the 'Flying Oriole' kill move is fully constructed, my ability to escape will greatly increase, and my life will be secure. Then, I must deepen my cultivation and prepare to plan for the Taoist True Body, Contemplating his strategy, Hong Yuan felt resolute and immediately approached the thunder-imbued pool.
Within the pool of thunder, he practiced his routines, move by move, drawing the lightning into his body.
[Thunder Sword Tribulation+61]
[Thunder Sword Tribulation+61]
[...]
Secluded in the mountains, one loses track of years; immersed in cultivation, one loses track of time.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. Everything progressed smoothly, without the slightest disturbance.
And Hong Yuan had cultivated Thunder Sword Tribulation to the pinnacle of perfection.
[Cultivation Technique: Thunder Sword Tribulation (Great Achievement 7986/8000) → Thunder Sword Tribulation (Pinnacle of Perfection 46/16000)]
"Come out, Thunder Sword Worm," Hong Yuan called out softly, and a Worm suffused with the power of thunder appeared in his hand.
The Thunder Sword Worm resembled a tiny Purple Electric Stoat and was adorable in appearance. Yet its form was highly unstable, constantly morphing into various weapon forms. Sometimes it changed into a thunder whip, sometimes a thunderous greatsword, and sometimes a thunder spear...
Gazing at the Thunder Sword Worm, Hong Yuan breathed out a mouthful of stale air. The heavy stone pressing on his heart was suddenly lifted, and he felt much lighter.
The 'Flying Oriole' kill move is finally about to be completed. Let alone the Wind Cyan Roc Beast King, even the Beast King probably couldn't catch me, Hong Yuan muttered to himself.
With a thought, the Thunder Sword Worm instantly returned to the Energy Sea of the Aperture. Under Hong Yuan's mental guidance, the Thunder Sword Worm actively barged into the group of Worms that comprised the 'Flying Oriole' kill move.
The 'Flying Oriole' Worms were thrown into chaos by the arrival of the Thunder Sword Worm. The Qinglu Anomaly, Flybird Anomaly, Black Smoke Anomaly, and others all rejected its entry. This was because they had already formed a harmonious cycle under Hong Yuan's previous manipulation, functioning like a well-oiled machine. The intrusion of the Thunder Sword Worm disrupted the existing cycle, akin to rebuilding a better machine from scratch.
CRACK. CRACK.
The Sea of True Essence began to fluctuate. Layer upon layer of True Essence was mobilized by Hong Yuan, used to construct the 'Flying Oriole' kill move. At the same time, Hong Yuan took out tens of thousands of Energy Stones from his storage bag. Under the refinement of the Myriad Silence Origin Skill, these Energy Stones continuously transformed into pure Essence Qi, replenishing the True Essence in his body, which had nearly run out.
「Two days later.」
A faint sound echoed within Hong Yuan's body. He opened his eyes, the joy in them intensely rich.
"Haha, hahaha!" Hong Yuan's smile was radiant as he raised his hands high. "I've done it! I've succeeded!"
His laughter sounded somewhat eerie in the practice room.
"'Flying Oriole', activate!"
With a single thought from Hong Yuan, a pair of unremarkable, dusty-gray wings—occasionally flickering with purple thunder—appeared on his back.
Just then, Hong Yuan's gaze fixed on the top of the practice room. With a slight flutter of his wings, he instantly darted onto the crossbeam. His speed was extreme. In another blink, Hong Yuan flashed to the center of the practice room, almost as if teleporting.
This flight speed had already surpassed that of the Wind Cyan Roc Beast King! Not only that, but with the aid of 'Flying Oriole', Hong Yuan's aerial maneuvers also became incredibly fluid and effortless, no longer the clumsy, direct charges of before.
I'll set a small goal for myself: in the future, my escape ability must be at least two levels higher than my current cultivation realm, Hong Yuan thought, letting out a breath and silently encouraging himself.