Chapter 344: Extreme Speed, Pressing Questions

Chapter 344: Extreme Speed, Pressing Questions

September 17, 2024

At the Half-Mountain Cottage, Lu Qing gazed at the plate of rice seeds before him, brimming with vitality.

Earlier that morning, he had employed the Spirit Infusion Technique, attempting to infuse life into a batch of rice seeds.

The results were promising; even after such a short time, the seeds showed signs of imminent germination.

By tomorrow, they should sprout new shoots.

When the time comes, he will examine them, and if they successfully transform into Spirit Seeds, he can proceed to infuse the remaining rice seeds.

Just as Lu Qing was contemplating whether to include the wheat seeds in the next infusion, a faint ripple of formation energy brushed past his heart.

"Hmm? Why does Elder Wei look so hurried?"

Lu Qing's heart skipped a beat, and he turned around, leaving the meditation chamber. As he stepped into the courtyard, he saw Wei Shanhai hurrying in from outside, his expression anxious.

"Young Master Lu!"

"Elder Wei, what's happened?" Lu Qing asked.

"Just now, I received a letter from the manor. It says that in the county town, assassins from Wuguilou have appeared and are targeting Xinghe and the others."

"Assassins from Wuguilou?" Lu Qing was startled.

"Indeed. Fortunately, Doctor Chen happened to be at the manor, and he managed to subdue those assassins from Wuguilou.

Now, they've sent a message, asking for your opinion on how to deal with the assassins."

"Is Shifu also in the county town?"

Lu Qing was even more surprised. Wasn't Shifu offering free medical services in the nearby village? Why did he go to the county town?

"Yes, it's fortunate that Doctor Chen was visiting the manor. Otherwise, Xinghe and the others might not have escaped unharmed.

The letter mentions that these Wuguilou assassins are extremely powerful.

Xinghe was completely overwhelmed and intimidated in just one encounter, unable to resist."

Wei Shanhai spoke with lingering fear.

"From what you're saying, those assassins are still alive?"

"Yes, Doctor Chen only severely injured them; he didn't kill them. That's why they sent a message, seeking your opinion."

Lu Qing nodded, not surprised.

Given Shifu's character, he wouldn't take a life lightly without understanding the full situation.

"That's good, then. I'll make a trip to the county town. Elder Wei, please stay here and keep an eye on Xiao Yan and the others."

As Lu Qing spoke, he formed hand seals, and Wei Shanhai instantly felt an invisible aura enveloping the entire mountain peak.

The aura didn't seem powerful, but it inexplicably gave him a sense of unease.

"I've activated the formation on the mountain. Even a Primordial Realm cultivator would find it difficult to sneak in unnoticed. Elder Wei, you just need to stay in the courtyard and keep watch."

"Good, go with peace of mind."

Wei Shanhai nodded solemnly.

Although he was concerned about the situation at the manor, he also understood Lu Qing's importance to Xiao Yan.

If no one remained in Ji Li Village to oversee matters, he doubted Lu Qing would feel at ease going to the county town.

"Then I'll head there now."

After mentally reminding Xiao Li once more, Lu Qing's body flickered with green and blue light.

The next moment, his figure transformed into a streak of light, soaring downhill at incredible speed.

This extreme velocity left Wei Shanhai's eyes wide open in astonishment.

He felt that Lu Qing's speed was at least ten times faster than his own.

Such rapidity far exceeded his imagination.

"Young Master, your talisman technique is truly exquisite."

As Lu Qing swiftly approached the county town, Flame praised in his mind.

Watching Lu Qing's agile and swift figure, Flame was genuinely amazed.

Logically, physical cultivators weren't adept at spells.

But this rule seemed to be broken in Lu Qing's case.

Whether it was the Spirit Infusion Technique or the current talisman technique, Lu Qing executed them with effortless mastery.

His skill far surpassed that of ordinary spellcasters.

He completely shattered the stereotype of physical cultivators being inept at spells.

"Elder Wei, you flatter me. I was merely fortunate enough to study a bit of the legacy left by the Divine Talisman Sect, allowing me to gain some insights into the path of talismans." Lu Qing humbly replied.

Currently, he was employing two types of spirit talismans: earth-type and wind-type.

The earth-type talismans reduced his body's weight, while the wind-type made him more agile.

Combined, they naturally resulted in an extraordinary speed boost.

"The legacy of the Divine Talisman Sect is indeed extraordinary." Flame praised sincerely.

The Divine Talisman Sect was an enigmatic sect even during the Ancient Cultivation Era.

Who would've thought that its legacy would enable a physical cultivator to wield spells with such ease?

With this ability, Lu Qing was like a true dual cultivator of both physical and magical prowess, without any apparent weaknesses.

Under the blessing of the spirit talismans, Lu Qing's speed rivaled that of a flying bird.

Before long, he had already reached the county town bathed in moonlight.

The city gates were closed, but this was no obstacle for Lu Qing.

As he approached the city walls, Lu Qing's agile body soared effortlessly, reaching the top of the wall with ease.

With a swift flip, he entered the city without alerting anyone, as light as a feather.

At this moment, the county town was engulfed in an atmosphere of fear and panic.

The recent clash between the Great Doctor and the assassins from Wuguilou was brief, but the overwhelming aura unleashed by the assassins had spread outside.

The aura of the Primordial Realm cultivators was terrifying, especially when multiple cultivators unleashed it simultaneously.

The entire town fell into an eerie silence, as if anticipating the arrival of doomsday.

Although the Wuguilou assassins were eventually subdued by the Great Doctor, the town's residents remained shaken to their core.

Despite their fear, no one dared to venture out to investigate the situation.

Battles involving Primordial Realm cultivators were not to be taken lightly.

One wrong move could bring disaster, and they didn't want to become collateral damage.

On his way to the Wei residence, Lu Qing sensed the palpable fear emanating from the nearby houses, causing his brows to furrow.

However, he didn't stop, swiftly gliding through the air and entering the Wei residence.

Using his Divine Soul perception, Lu Qing directly located the Great Doctor's courtyard.

"Master," he greeted.

"Lu Qing," the Great Doctor turned around.

"Young Master Lu!" Wei Xinghe's body trembled, his eyes filled with shock.

Lu Qing had arrived in the town so quickly after he had sent the eagle messenger.

"Lord Wei," Lu Qing acknowledged Wei Xinghe's surprise with a nod, then turned his attention to the black-clad figures lying on the ground.

"Are these the assassins from Wuguilou?"

"I can't be entirely sure, but their aura matches that of the Wuguilou assassins who attempted to assassinate us in the Holy City," the Great Doctor replied. "There was also a formidable assassin who seemed to possess a powerful treasure, but I couldn't capture him.

I'm not sure if he's still hiding within the city."

"One of them escaped?" Lu Qing closed his eyes upon hearing this, sensing the situation within the city.

The fallen assassins on the ground also observed Lu Qing with keen interest.

From the previous conversation between the Great Doctor and Wei Xinghe, they knew that this young man was likely their primary target for this mission.

He was the one who had recently caused a stir in the Holy City of the Central Province.

When they clearly saw Lu Qing's appearance, the Wuguilou assassins, despite their mental preparation, were still shaken.

Lu Qing's youthful appearance was beyond their expectations.

They couldn't fathom that this young man before them was the very existence that even the Sacred Mountain feared.

"I didn't detect his presence," Lu Qing said, opening his eyes after sensing the surroundings.

With his Divine Soul power now comparable to a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, it was nearly impossible for Primordial Realm cultivators to evade his perception, unless they had profound understanding of domains like the Great Doctor or possessed treasures specifically designed for concealment.

Since the Great Doctor mentioned the assassin carrying a powerful treasure, Lu Qing couldn't be certain if he was still hiding in the city.

However, that wasn't crucial. The assassin, disregarding his companions and prioritizing his escape, likely didn't possess formidable strength.

Lu Qing's gaze returned to the figures on the ground.

Soon, he received the information he sought, and his eyes revealed understanding.

The Wuguilou assassins, on the other hand, felt a chill run down their spines.

For some reason, they sensed an enigmatic power in Lu Qing's eyes, as if their secrets were laid bare before him.

"Master, these are indeed assassins from Wuguilou," Lu Qing affirmed.

The Great Doctor nodded, knowing that Lu Qing possessed a mysterious divination technique that allowed him to effortlessly discern the origins of objects.

If he said these were Wuguilou assassins, it was undoubtedly true.

"Lu Qing, what do you think should be done with them?"

"There's no rush. Let me ask them some questions first," Lu Qing turned to one of the fallen assassins. "Do you want to live or die?"

The assassins were taken aback.

Before they could respond, Lu Qing continued, "If you choose death, I'll grant it to you now.

If you wish to live, answer my questions truthfully.

If your answers satisfy me, I might spare one of you."

The assassins exchanged glances, and after a brief silence, one of them spoke, "Even ants cling to life, and we too desire to live. May we know what the Young Master wishes to ask?"

"Where is the entrance to the secret realm of Hanging Mountain?" Lu Qing asked.

The question left all the assassins stunned.

They had assumed that Lu Qing would inquire about their origins or the purpose of their assassination attempt.

However, they never expected him to directly ask about the location of the Hanging Mountain Secret Realm's entrance.

The one tasked with responding was taken aback but forced a smile, "Young Master, you jest. We are merely ordinary assassins, how could we possibly have any connection to the Hanging Mountain? Not to mention knowing the location of their secret realm."

"What kind of assassin organization can afford such a grand gesture, deploying five Primordial Realm assassins at once?" Lu Qing spoke calmly, "There's no need to put on an act before me.

I know your origins inside out.

Back then, the Wuguilou was jointly eradicated by various sects from across the realm.

It was the Hanging Mountain that sent people to rescue you and hide you in a secret realm.

This allowed you, rats from the gutters, to survive and gradually regain your strength.

Now, tell me, where is the entrance to the Hanging Mountain's secret realm?"

The assassins stared at Lu Qing in a daze.

They hadn't anticipated that Lu Qing not only knew their identities but also had a clear understanding of a secret that had been hidden for over a thousand years.

The events of that time were kept hidden not only from the various sects but also from the Sacred Mountain and several other major secret realms.

Yet, Lu Qing spoke as if he had witnessed it all firsthand.

It was common knowledge that even they had learned about these events through the stories passed down within their clan.

"It seems that if I don't teach you a lesson, you truly won't take my words seriously."

Lu Qing shook his head as he observed the stunned assassins.

He casually released a pulse of energy.

A soft 'chi' sound was heard as the energy pierced through the glabella of one of the assassins.

The Primordial Realm body, tempered through countless trials, was as fragile as tofu, incapable of withstanding Lu Qing's energy in the slightest.

With the glabella acupoint destroyed, the assassin had no chance of survival.

His eyes widened, his body stiffened, and the vitality and divine soul energy within him gradually dissipated.

"Cold-hearted!"

Upon seeing their companion's death, the others couldn't help but cry out in sorrow.

"I'll count to three. If no one answers my question by then, one of you will meet the same fate as him," Lu Qing said coldly.

"We truly don't know, even if you threaten our lives, it won't help," one of the assassins shouted.

"One," Lu Qing said indifferently.

"Are you really going to wipe us all out?"

"Two."

"If there's nothing to tell, how can we inform you?"

"Three."

Lu Qing recited the third count without hesitation and released another pulse of energy, striking the forehead of another assassin.

As expected, this assassin also had his glabella pierced, and he died on the spot.

"Cold-hearted!"

Seeing another companion die, the remaining two assassins glared at Lu Qing with eyes filled with resentment.

"Kid, I didn't expect that at such a young age, your heart would be so cruel. Compared to us, you're more suited to the path of an assassin."

"I think you never intended to spare us; you just wanted an excuse to take our lives."

"There's no need to put on an act before me."

Facing the two assassins brimming with righteous indignation, Lu Qing remained unmoved.

"Before coming here, you must have tormented many others, right?

Denial is futile; the sinful aura on your bodies has already told me everything."

The assassins' faces changed.

Lu Qing continued, "Wuguilou assassins are known for their cold-heartedness, ruthlessness, and boundless scheming.

Even if I kill all of you, it would only be a virtuous deed for the people of the world.

Now, I'm showing great mercy by giving you a chance to live.

If you can't grasp it, don't blame me.

Moreover, I've changed my mind. Only one of you can live now.

Whoever provides the answer before I finish counting to three will have a chance to live.

As for the other, they'll have to join their fallen companions."

Amidst the fluctuating emotions of the two assassins, Lu Qing began counting again, "One."

This time, the assassins reacted differently.

One of them was still hesitating, but the other shouted, "I'll tell you, I'll tell you!"

The hesitant assassin's eyes widened in shock.

He was about to say something, but it was too late.

Before he could speak, Lu Qing's pulse of energy had already struck his glabella.

In the next instant, the assassin's body stiffened, and his eyes began to lose focus.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end