Free Web NovelChapter 671: Chapter 369: The Ancestral Grandmaster’s Arrangements (Part 2)
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As Su Que immersed himself in cultivation, the ancestral grandmaster and others had already arrived in Xianming City.
The ancestral grandmaster first sought out Lu Ziran, the vice city lord of Xianming City, instructing him to arrange a residence rich in spiritual qi for himself and Daoist Gu Yue.
Then, he began to give orders to Daoist Gu Yue.
The ancestral grandmaster considered that the cultivation of the person practicing his Heart Scripture of Myriad Poisons might be around the Third-Layer of the Realm of Creation.
Therefore, he let Daoist Gu Yue search through Xianming City according to this level of cultivation.
At the same time, the ancestral grandmaster instructed Luo Qigong to begin setting up an array around Xianming City.
After giving orders to the two, the ancestral grandmaster entered the closed cultivation room to practice on his own.
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Daoist Gu Yue, following the ancestral grandmaster’s instructions, used the Concealing Breath Skill to suppress his aura, all to hide his true strength.
His strength was at the Eighteenth-Layer of the Realm of Merging.
In the Upper Realm, he was considered strong.
In the eyes of other cultivators, if he released his full pressure, he would present a daunting presence hard to ignore.
He used the Concealing Breath Skill to lower his aura to the Third-Layer of the Realm of Merging before releasing his spirit.
His spiritual sensing skill was also specially refined.
Once his spirit was released, it blended into the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
He had tested it with other cultivators in the Celestial Sect.
He had released his spirit and sensed cultivators at the Fifth-Layer of the Realm of Creation.
And those cultivators could not detect that they were being sensed.
This was how Daoist Gu Yue operated, simultaneously using the Concealing Breath Skill and sensing skill, while walking through the streets and alleys of Xianming City.
Though searching this way was slow, rushing through the streets and alleys would surely alert the target.
Daoist Gu Yue’s spirit dispersed like air.
Sensing the cultivation level of every cultivator within the residences.
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At the same time, Luo Qigong carried array flags painted with red patterns on yellow surfaces, flying around the perimeter of Xianming City.
He first circled around Xianming City.
Determining the area, position, and surrounding water and soil, then pondering how to set up the array.
After pondering for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Luo Qigong had a plan.
First, he planted a yellow array flag in an inconspicuous shrub in the southwest area of Xianming City.
Then, he took out a jade bottle from his storage bag.
The jade bottle had a stopper.
He flicked off the stopper with his thumb, then poured out the contents of the jade bottle.
The contents were viscous, crimson, and emanated a stench.
This was the blood of a fierce beast.
He poured the beast blood while mumbling words.
The beast blood transformed into a red mist that adhered to the array flag.
The array he intended to set up was the "Five Spirits Array."
Setting up this array required the blood of five fierce beasts.
He believed that once the array was set, even a cultivator at the Third-Layer of the Realm of Creation would need to strike with full force to break through.
Thus, when the ancestral grandmaster’s target tried to break out of the array, it would cause a commotion.
The ancestral grandmaster would have ample time to respond and intercept the person breaking out.
After pouring out a third of the blood in the bottle, Luo Qigong uprighted the bottle.
The array flag was completely enveloped in blood mist.
After doing this, Luo Qigong made a hand technique towards the array flag shrouded in blood mist, muttering words.
Soon, the scenery around the array flag twisted.
Like mercury, it wrapped around the array flag.
Before long, the array flag disappeared completely.
This was the blinding technique he employed.
After all, after setting up the array, he still had to wait for the ancestral grandmaster’s arrangements to activate it.
Therefore, he could not let anyone passing by break the array flag.
After arranging this array flag, Luo Qigong moved to other locations.
The "Five Spirits Array" required a total of thirty-six array flags.
Luo Qigong walked around Xianming City, setting them up slowly.
Ensuring not a single mistake.
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In Xianming City, Daoist Gu Yue’s pace gradually quickened, feeling somewhat impatient.
He had already traversed twenty percent of Xianming City yet discovered nothing.
He even suspected that the person the ancestral grandmaster sought might no longer be in Xianming City.
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After more than half a day, night had descended.
Luo Qigong returned to the residence, stating to the ancestral grandmaster that he had fulfilled his mission.
He had set up all thirty-six array flags in inconspicuous places around Xianming City.
And had applied the blinding technique to conceal them one by one.
Shortly after Luo Qigong returned, Daoist Gu Yue also returned.
His expression was a little unsightly.
But with the ancestral grandmaster present, he merely stiffened his face slightly.
"How did it go?"
The ancestral grandmaster sat on a chair drinking spirit tea, asked Daoist Gu Yue.
Daoist Gu Yue smiled bitterly, "So far, no results. I plan to rest for a bit before continuing the search."
Slap!
The ancestral grandmaster suddenly swung a slap in the air.
Daoist Gu Yue was instantly flung, spinning in the air before crashing to the ground.
His neatly groomed beard and hair were disheveled from the blow.
On his face was a distinct red palm print.
"You, at the Eighteenth-Layer of the Realm of Merging, would get tired?"
The ancestral grandmaster looked down at Daoist Gu Yue, snorting:
"This person is extremely important to me. If he were to leave Xianming City now."
"I would kill you."
Daoist Gu Yue couldn’t help but cover his face, thinking that continuously using the Concealing Breath Skill and sensing skill drained a significant amount of mana, indeed requiring rest.
If he didn’t rest, he would have to consume elixirs to replenish mana.
These elixirs were not cheap.
He certainly didn’t want to deplete most of his elixirs just to help the ancestral grandmaster find that troublesome person.
"Why are you hesitating, get out and continue searching?"
The ancestral grandmaster hadn’t practiced telepathy or similar magic, unaware of what Daoist Gu Yue was thinking.
Seeing Daoist Gu Yue dazing, he ignored the old Daoist’s thoughts.
After shouting, he ordered Daoist Gu Yue to continue searching.
He intended for Daoist Gu Yue to conduct a secret search first.
If Daoist Gu Yue couldn’t find anything still.
He’d have Lu Ziran, the vice city lord, and the Celestial Sect in Xianming City take control of the entire city.
Then let Luo Qigong activate the "Five Spirits Array."
Thereafter, he’d use the most brutal method, namely slaughter, to search through the city’s inhabitants.
He didn’t believe the target would deliberately hide their strength under the threat of death.
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Daoist Gu Yue dared not defy the ancestral grandmaster’s orders.
Rubbing his still aching face, he also resumed the search for traces of cultivators in the Realm of Creation.
Despite the preciousness of mana-replenishing elixirs, he had no choice but to take them.
After all, the ancestral grandmaster was notorious for ruthlessness in the Celestial Sect.
The ancestral grandmaster was highly powerful and sometimes, if displeased, might swipe a finger in the air, releasing a sword qi to decapitate someone.
Daoist Gu Yue dared not risk his life over some elixirs.
Having reached this situation, he could only consider himself unfortunate.
Unluckily for him, he had to encounter such a matter.
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In no time, five days had passed.
Daoist Gu Yue purchased a mount, increasing his speed significantly while searched every corner of Xianming City.
His spirit sensed every residence’s cultivators in Xianming City.
He had sensed no cultivators beyond the Realm of Creation.
Daoist Gu Yue could only return to the residence to inform the ancestral grandmaster of the situation.
After listening, the ancestral grandmaster frowned, his white eyebrows tightening.
He thought that such a result pointed to two possibilities.
One being that the person he sought was also proficient in concealment magic.
Another was that his target had already left Xianming City.
The ancestral grandmaster contemplated briefly before making a decision.
He first instructed Daoist Gu Yue: "Summon Lu Ziran, would you?"
Unwillingly, Daoist Gu Yue took out a talisman, used mana to burn it, sending the message to Vice City Lord Lu Ziran.
Soon, Lu Ziran arrived.
The ancestral grandmaster ordered Lu Ziran to guard all the city gates and have his men control all the city’s cultivators.
Then directed Luo Qigong to activate the grand array.
