Free Web NovelChapter 67: Chapter 67: Going Together
This stumped the senior brother. He thought for a moment and said:
"Only an Elder would have the authority to make this kind of decision. Maybe some Foundation Establishment Elder thinks you have potential and decided to bring you along. You’re a lucky kid, getting noticed by a Foundation Establishment Elder. You know, there’s a lot of profit to be made in the Marketplace."
Jiang Xu’s fists clenched, and he nearly ground his molars to dust.
"Then I really have him to thank!"
Clutching the Sound Transmission Talisman, Jiang Xu left the mission office.
It was a done deal, unchangeable.
He couldn’t just sit around cursing his fate; he had to start thinking of a plan.
’Which Elder was it? Could it be Zong Ziqi’s master? Did he not want Zong Ziqi to be alone?
That doesn’t make sense. If that were the case, wouldn’t he have told Zong Ziqi? Why was Ziqi just saying goodbye to me? He looked completely clueless.
Or is it really like that guy said? Some Elder saw my extraordinary talent and just threw my name into the roster?
But the talent I’ve shown isn’t that amazing. I’ve already looked into the promotion speeds of other Talisman Makers.’
Jiang Xu walked into the exchange counter at the Talisman Pavilion and bought Talisman Dao Introduction (Middle Volume), along with a large quantity of talisman paper and ink.
’The Sect has a Sect Protection Array, and I don’t have the authority to come and go as I please. That means I can’t just leave the Sect for good. If I defy the order, the Sect will definitely punish me, and I’ll be a sitting duck. So I can’t just refuse this mission. If I want to slip away, I have to get out of the Grand Array first.’
’But the group heading to the Purple Profound Celestial Marketplace will definitely be led by an Elder. It won’t be easy to slip away on the road. I’ll have to wait until we’re in the Marketplace to think about leaving.’
’I’m definitely going to leave, but supplies are scarce over there. I can buy raw materials cheaply within the Sect, turn them into finished Talismans, and then sell them in the Marketplace to earn some Spirit Stones. That should cover the expenses for cultivating the Ancient Strengthening Method later on.’
If he had the choice, Jiang Xu wouldn’t want to leave the Sect for a place like that at all, no matter how many Spirit Stones he could earn.
Now that he could no longer stay in the Sect, where could he possibly be safe?
...
Jiang Xu felt awkward.
Extremely awkward.
He was standing next to Zong Ziqi, who was practicing his swordsmanship.
He just stood there foolishly for several minutes.
It got to the point that Zong Ziqi couldn’t take it anymore. freewēbnoveℓ.com
"Brother Jiang, we’ve already said our goodbyes, but it’s not like I’ve left yet. If you have something to say, just say it."
Jiang Xu was at a loss. He really couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Just an hour or two ago, they had shared a heartfelt farewell.
And now, a short while later, it turned out they were traveling together after all.
How was Jiang Xu supposed to bring that up?
’So thin-skinned!’
Jiang Xu thought for a moment, then cleared his throat.
"Ahem, after careful consideration and comprehensive deliberation, I have decided to accompany you to the Endless Forest—or rather, the Purple Profound Celestial Marketplace next to it!"
Zong Ziqi was so shocked that the sword nearly slipped from his hand.
"What did you say? You’re going too? Did I mishear you?"
"You heard me right. What do you think? Surprised? Actually, uh..."
Jiang Xu trailed off, unable to continue, because he saw Zong Ziqi turn his head away. Something seemed to be glittering in the corner of his eye.
Jiang Xu panicked. He couldn’t stand seeing people get like that in front of him, so he blurted out the truth:
"No, no, no, it’s not what you think! It wasn’t my choice. The Sect is forcing me to go. It’s not like I volunteered because I was worried about you! Er, why does that sound so weird when I say it out loud..."
"Say no more, Brother Jiang. I understand. I understand everything. I will surely remember your kindness!"
Zong Ziqi clasped his hands in a salute and scurried off, seeming a little embarrassed himself.
"Wait, I was telling the truth! I’m really not going just for you!"
Jiang Xu shouted after him from a distance, but he had no idea if Zong Ziqi heard him or took it to heart.
Seeing Zong Ziqi disappear, Jiang Xu knew there was a misunderstanding but didn’t want to explain further. Let him think whatever he wanted.
This little matter was insignificant to Jiang Xu. What he needed to do was make thorough preparations before leaving the Sect.
’Inside the Sect, I’m relatively safe for now. But once I leave the Sect and enter the Marketplace, or leave the Marketplace for somewhere else, danger will be lurking at every moment.’
Jiang Xu activated the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, and his True Qi manifested externally.
BZZZT!
A transparent barrier of qi abruptly materialized around his body, looking indestructible.
This was the Protective Gang Qi of the True Qi Realm!
He had broken through from the Inner Viscera Realm to the True Qi Realm long ago.
His physical body had already undergone Postnatal Reversing Innate.
However, because his body had already been transformed once when his Cangmu Skill broke through to perfection...
...the effects of Postnatal Reversing Innate weren’t particularly dramatic. It simply converted the Martial Dao Inner Strength in his body into True Qi.
The biggest difference between Inner Strength and True Qi is that Inner Strength can only be spread and conducted through a martial artist’s direct contact, while True Qi can be freely controlled and released from a distance.
Furthermore, it could form Protective Gang Qi for self-defense, making one impervious to blades and spears.
’This Protective Gang Qi is similar to the Golden Light Spell, but it only consumes True Qi, not Magical Power. And the Protective Gang Qi is usually hidden beneath the skin. When danger strikes, it doesn’t need to be cast like the Golden Light Spell; it can directly block attacks.’
Jiang Xu attacked his own Protective Gang Qi with the Small Cotton Needle Technique and found that it could block half of the attack’s power.
The remaining half of the Spirit Needles’ power was no longer fatal to him. He had already achieved mastery in the Skin and Flesh Realm and the Bone Root Realm, and his body was effectively one of Steel Bones and Iron Flesh.
Although it would still injure his skin, flesh, and bones, as soon as he circulated his Cangmu Skill, he would be as good as new.
Jiang Xu’s Small Cotton Needle Technique was roughly on par with the damage of a spell from an ordinary Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer Cultivator.
In other words, if Jiang Xu were to just stand there and let a Qi Cultivation Early Stage Cultivator attack him, they would have a hard time breaking his defense unless they used a Magical Artifact.
He could even tank a spell from a Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer Cultivator.
’But now that I’ve entered the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage, this level of Body Cultivation is a bit lacking. It’s time to switch to a new Cultivation Technique.’
Jiang Xu took out the Ancient Strengthening Method that Zong Ziqi had given him and began to study it.
He had indeed memorized it all before, but he hadn’t actually started cultivating it, which was why it hadn’t appeared on his panel.
Jiang Xu wanted to start switching his Cultivation Technique now.
It had three parts: a Visualization Method, a Breathing Technique, and a Guiding Technique.
The Visualization Method was not something that could be mastered in a short time. It required long periods of visualizing a specific object or concept.
The main problem at the moment was that Jiang Xu still hadn’t decided what he wanted to visualize.
The remaining two parts, the Breathing Technique and the Guiding Technique, could be practiced immediately.
The Breathing Technique was equivalent to a Secret Skill; different breathing techniques provided different enhancements.
For example, the breathing technique in the Ancient Strengthening Method was called the Thunderbolt Breathing Technique.
It strengthened one’s instantaneous explosive power and physical strength.
When cultivated to a high Realm, every move would be imbued with lightning, carrying the momentum of a thunderclap and possessing astonishing power.
