Chapter 166: Chapter 113: Harvest (Part 3)

“Yes! We will follow the Steward’s orders!” Everyone answered in unison and went their separate ways. The Fishery soon resumed its orderly operations.

Chen Qing returned to his familiar Quiet Chamber and closed the door.

The tension finally drained from him.

First, he carefully took out the heavy leather pouch and poured out the gold, silver, and jewels within.

The gleam of jewels twinkled in the dim room. A rough estimate put their value at no less than five or six thousand taels of silver—quite a significant windfall.

However, his gaze was soon drawn to an unremarkable, dark piece of metal.

When he had hastily collected it in the underwater cave in Qianchuan Marsh, he had only a gut feeling that this item was unusual. Only now did he have time to examine it closely.

The metal piece was about the size of his palm, with irregular edges. It felt cold and heavy to the touch, its material neither gold nor iron. Its surface was covered with a thick layer of silt and grime, almost completely obscuring its true appearance.

Chen Qing fetched some clean water and carefully wiped it with a cloth.

As the grime was wiped away bit by bit, the metal piece revealed a deep, ink-jade-colored texture.

What made his heart leap was that the surface of the metal was not smooth, but was instead covered with extremely fine engravings.

These engravings were densely packed, their arrangement exuding a sense of the profound and arcane.

’A Secret Technique!’ The thought flashed through Chen Qing’s mind.

He immediately sat down cross-legged to concentrate and calm his mind.

At first, the engravings remained inert, showing no reaction.

But when Chen Qing tried to channel a wisp of Cyan Wood True Qi into the metal piece, a sudden change occurred!

BUZZ—!

The metal piece trembled lightly.

The tadpole-like engravings seemed to come to life, flowing and reorganizing in the light to form a profound and obscure incantation.

As Chen Qing read the incantation, something stirred within him.

It turned out to be a breath-concealing Secret Technique from a Sect called the Guiyuan Sect.

A moment later, a golden light appeared in his mind.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence]

[Origin-Returning Breath-Sealing Art, Entry-level (1/100)]

This was a Secret Technique called the *Origin-Returning Breath-Sealing Art*.

Its core principle was to restrain all of one’s aura fluctuations, including True Qi, vital energy, and even life force!

When cultivated to a deep level, one could become as undetectable as a rock or dead wood, able to move stealthily without being noticed and even perfectly hide one’s Cultivation Realm.

’This saves me a trip to the Tingchao Armory,’ Chen Qing thought.

Martial Arts that concealed one’s aura were extremely precious. Although there were a few on the Third Layer, they were all too rudimentary.

The Secret Techniques that could truly and completely conceal one’s True Qi aura were on the Fourth Layer of the Armory.

They were considered great treasures Within the Sect.

He possessed two True Qi with completely different attributes in his body: Cyan Wood and Geng Metal. If discovered, it would inevitably cause trouble.

Chen Qing immediately followed the Technique and tried to circulate it.

The Cyan Wood True Qi and Geng Metal True Qi in his Dantian Sea of Qi were simultaneously restrained by an intangible Intention.

The restless sharpness and burgeoning life force were forcibly compressed, restrained, and drawn inward.

The fluctuations of Cyan Wood True Qi radiating from Chen Qing’s body began to rapidly disappear like a receding tide.

Although it was only the entry-level, Chen Qing could already clearly feel the miraculous nature of this Secret Technique.

’This Secret Technique is probably more valuable than Song Ming, Wu Yuanhua, and Lin Wei combined,’ Chen Qing mused.

He then carefully put away the metal piece and the jewelry.

He sat cross-legged to regulate his breath, recovering from the exertion of the trip to Qianchuan Marsh while also mentally reviewing the experience.

’Tu Gang is dead!’

That lingering threat was finally dealt with.

For the next few days, Chen Qing lived in seclusion.

On one hand, he focused on his Cultivation of the *Origin-Returning Breath-Sealing Art*, constantly trying to restrain the two streams of True Qi. He strove to achieve a state of seamless harmony where he could conceal his breath with a single thought.

On the other hand, he also repeatedly tried to comprehend and control the Cyan Wood and Geng Metal True Qi within his body.

In his Dantian Sea of Qi, the Cyan Wood True Qi coiled like spring vines, its life force endless; the Geng Metal True Qi was condensed like solid metal, its sharpness contained within.

The two were clearly distinct, each occupying its own space. Chen Qing tried to use his Intention to guide them closer, to make them touch.

As soon as the two streams of True Qi made contact, it was like fire meeting water.

The life force of Cyan Wood was severed and worn down by the sharpness of Geng Metal, while the sharpness of Geng Metal was entangled and slowed by the resilience of Cyan Wood.

It was as if there was a strong sense of repulsion. The circulation of his True Qi instantly became sluggish, and there were even signs of it spiraling out of control into a backlash.

Chen Qing immediately stopped, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

’The Five Elements counteract each other. Metal overcomes Wood… It really isn’t that simple.’

He was not discouraged. ’The Five Elements generate and overcome one another. I’ll try again once I reach the first layer of the *Profound Nether True Water Technique*.’

…

In Yunlin Prefecture City, news spread like wildfire, sending the entire city into an uproar. The Wutai Sect’s Deans, Hong Yuandong and Chu Jinyun, had joined forces with Elder Shi Zhenyue of the Xuanjia Sect. Deep within Qianchuan Marsh, they had engaged in a massive battle of Astral Force with Protector Zuo Feng of the Demon Sect.

“Did you hear? The Demon Sect suffered a huge loss! That old demon Zuo Feng fled with grave injuries, and his three most capable generals—’Ghost Shadow’ Mo San, ’Blood Hand’ Tu Gang, and ’Poison Heart’ Liu Qi—were all killed! All three were at the Mid-stage Embracing Pill Realm!”

“Tu Gang is dead too? He was the leader of the Seven Tigers of Yin Sha, a notoriously vicious Demon! Who killed him? Dean Hong or Elder Shi?”

“No idea! The news only said all three were killed. It didn’t specify who was responsible.”

“But Zuo Feng still got away, didn’t he? I heard the Demon Sect expert who came to his rescue was incredibly powerful, managing to save him right under the noses of the two Deans and Elder Shi! The Wutai Sect’s effort was all thunder and no rain this time. They probably weren’t giving it their all, were they?”

“Shh! Watch your mouth! You can’t just say things like that! It’s rare enough that the Wutai Sect and the Xuanjia Sect joined forces. The Demon Sect is cunning; it’s understandable that the ringleader got away.”

“Exactly! And I heard they found the carcass of a newly adult Ink Armor Turtle at the site of the blood sacrifice! Good heavens, that’s the bloodline of an overlord from the depths of Qianchuan Marsh! The Demon Sect even drained the Essence Blood of an Exotic Beast like that. Who knows what earth-shattering conspiracy they’re plotting? I’m afraid things in the Prefecture City are about to get chaotic…”

Discussions, speculations, exclamations, and worries mingled, fermenting in the streets and alleys of Yunlin Prefecture City.

The news of Tu Gang’s death, mixed in with that of Zuo Feng’s escape, was hardly noteworthy.

「Cold Jade Valley, Ice Soul Hall.」

Inside the hall, the air was bone-chilling. The floor was paved with Profound Ice, smooth as a mirror and reflecting the icicles that hung from the ceiling.

An old woman in a moon-white robe of Ice Silkworm Silk sat cross-legged on a Cold Jade Meditation Mat. This was none other than the Grand Elder of Cold Jade Valley—Granny Ling Shuang.

Her face was gaunt, her wrinkles deep.

Below her stood a young woman, her temperament as cool and pure as a snow lotus.

Her posture was erect and her features delicate, her expression holding a touch of aloof purity, as if untouched by the dust of the mortal world. She was Ye Qingyi: one of the Seven Talents of Yunlin Prefecture, the prodigy of Cold Jade Valley’s younger generation, and the junior of Xiao Bieli, the ’Flowing Cloud Sword’.

Ye Qingyi had just finished delivering a word-for-word report of the detailed intelligence from Yunlin Prefecture City regarding Qianchuan Marsh.

The hall fell silent, the only sound the soft drip of water from a melting icicle.

After a long moment, Granny Ling Shuang sneered, “I’m afraid it’s not that simple.”

A flicker of confusion crossed Ye Qingyi’s cool eyes. She asked respectfully, “Grand Elder, why do you say that? Could there be some hidden circumstance?”

“Hidden circumstance!?”

Granny Ling Shuang’s voice grew grave. “Zuo Feng is a traitor to the Xuanjia Sect and one of the Eight Great Guardians of the Demon Sect’s Yunlin Prefecture Sub-Pavilion. His position is crucial. Those three teamed up against a single Zuo Feng, whose foundation is still unstable. Even if his Demon Skills are perverse and allowed his power to grow rapidly, there’s no way he should have been able to hold out for reinforcements so easily, much less escape unharmed!”

Ye Qingyi frowned slightly. “Elder, you mean… Zuo Feng’s escape was no accident? That the Demon Sect planned it, and… the strength of his rescuer far exceeded their estimates?”

“Precisely!”

Granny Ling Shuang said in a low voice, “That old monster ’Heart Devourer’ has been overseeing Yunlin Prefecture for years. He has always been secretive and ruthless. He must have arranged this long ago. In fact, the strength of the rescuer was likely enough to make Hong, Chu, and Shi wary and unwilling to press the attack too hard!”

She paused, then continued, “Zuo Feng’s escape doesn’t mean the Wutai and Xuanjia Sects are incompetent. On the contrary, it proves that the Demon Sect’s power is deeper and more dangerous than we imagined! The Demon Sect’s counterattack… is likely already brewing! A storm is coming to Yunlin Prefecture.”

A chill ran down Ye Qingyi’s spine, and a grave expression settled on her cool face. “The Elder is right. What should our Cold Jade Valley do, then?”

“We will watch, wait, and remain prepared.”

Granny Ling Shuang declared unequivocally, “The Demon Sect won’t just swallow this defeat. Have the valley’s disciples reduce any unnecessary trips down the mountain for now, especially Core Disciples like you. You must be even more cautious! Inform your Senior Brother Xiao to be extra careful as well. The titles of the ’Five Heroes and Seven Talents’ make for prime targets in the eyes of the Demon Sect.”

A hint of anticipation flashed in her eyes, and her voice dropped. “What we need to do now is wait for the Sect Leader to achieve Perfection in fusing their two types of True Qi! When that time comes, it will be the moment for our Cold Jade Valley to strike like lightning and sweep them away! That ’Heart Devourer,’ those Eight Great Guardians—they will all be reduced to ash!”

“Yes, Qingyi understands!”

Ye Qingyi bowed in acknowledgment and slowly withdrew from the Ice Soul Hall.

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep