Big Data Cultivation

Master Hanji's ability to foresee crises was indeed remarkable. After the binding array was activated, he still felt uneasy and raised his hand to seal the opponent's Niwan, finally feeling somewhat secure.

In truth, he still had some misgivings in his heart, but having finally resolved a long-standing worry, he couldn't be bothered with feelings such as guilt anymore.

Only when Yue Qing's entire body erupted with booming sounds and Qi Force surged from all his major acupoints did his expression change dramatically, "The Jiugong Bursting Energy Surge Technique... How is this possible?"

The Jiugong Bursting Energy Surge Technique is a secret technique of the Qinggang Sect. It compresses a large amount of spiritual energy into major acupoints, exploding simultaneously to surge in level. However, this technique is incredibly difficult to master, and after using it to forcibly break through, there is no further possibility of advancement.

Master Hanji didn't believe Yue Qing couldn't learn this technique, but he couldn't understand why he would give up his future cultivation like this.

In the current urgent situation, not fighting with all one's might was indeed not an option, but... were you originally planning to use this move at Mount Zhige?

Isn't this nonsense?

The smarter the person, the more they overthink. This saying turned out to be true. Han Ji really didn't expect Yue Qing to use such a method to break free.

However, his reaction was swift. In the next moment, with a flick of his hand, he threw out an Ice Seal Talisman and turned to flee.

A mid-stage Golden Core Ice Seal Talisman materialized into three feet of profound ice, trapping Yue Qing within.

Why didn't Han Ji use offensive talismans? Because he was all too clear about Yue Qing's strength. Just as Qu Jianlei had said, with absolute defensive strength, even if the spiritual energy was sealed, without sealing the spiritual energy, no attack could cause significant harm.

Then he flew into the air to see if this fellow could break free from the binding array.

A loud shout erupted, shaking the entire house. The Golden Core Peak binding array surprisingly collapsed, and subsequently, the three-foot thick profound ice shattered instantly.

Yue Qing's aura fluctuated incessantly, now at the seventh level of Golden Core, now at the eighth level, indicating an advancing state. Yet, he had the leisure to smile at Master Hanji in the air, "Why aren't you running?"

Master Hanji surprisingly had the mind to respond, "There's plenty of time to run. Right now, I'm a bit curious if you can still fight?"

"My Qi Force is already formed," Yue Qing replied casually, his aura still changing, "Though you might not understand, I'm just telling you that I'm really formidable... I say, if you don't run, the poison will take effect soon."

"Poison?" Master Hanji's face changed instantly at these words. As he circulated spiritual energy within his body, his whole body trembled, and he fell straight out of the sky, "You... you actually used poison? Shameless!"

Yue Qing's aura remained chaotic, but he still walked out of the house, dragging Master Hanji back, and raised his hand to seal the opponent's Niwan, "How rare, you can use poison, but I can't?"

Master Hanji tried to stay calm, his eyes darting around desperately, "Poison in the wine?"

"Trying to buy time, huh? Whatever," Yue Qing's aura began to stabilize as he sat on a chair, regulating his breathing, looking down at his opponent, "The poison's in the wine cup... not on the cup, but inside it, released only when it's shattered."

Master Hanji shook his head, "Never thought, the top Golden Core of Qinggang would use poison to harm others."

While meditating, Yue Qing casually replied, "I never thought that friends spanning two generations of disciples would deceive me like this."

Master Hanji's eyes flickered, "You asked me earlier how I planned to deal with you. Now, do you intend to kill me?"

"Yes, just like you, but not targeting your family," Yue Qing nodded, "I'm a man of honor, but not a naive good person... Since you were willing to chat with me earlier, I'll chat with you too."

Master Hanji pondered for a moment, "No one knows I went with you, this was calculated... You planned to kill me all along?"

"I was always hesitating until you decided to kill me," Yue Qing responded decisively, "You gave me a reason to kill you."

Master Hanji thought for a while and asked, "How do you plan to deal with Feng Yishu?"

Yue Qing hesitated for a moment before answering, "There'll always be a way. I plan to first have a word with Master Duanren to let him know the truth. He won't unconditionally favor Feng Yishu."

He knew that the overseer was genuinely favoring Feng Yishu, but that wasn't just because of the Feng Family's power. More importantly, his mentor was already dead. Would another master die? And he truly didn't have evidence of Feng Yishu actually taking action.

"Don't be naive," Master Hanji said with a mocking smile, "Duanren favoring Feng Yishu is inevitable. Not to mention the Feng Family and his status as a Golden Core Peak, I'll just ask you this: if the Dragon Blood Thornwood Fruit indeed emerged from the Star Initiation Plane... does that necessarily link it to Feng Yishu?"

Yue Qing remained silent at this. He had thought of this question, for which he had no answer yet, but he believed that human determination triumphs over fate.

"That's why you should plot against him," Master Hanji suggested, "Don't mention it to Master Duanren, it won't help."

Yue Qing curled his lips, "I'll consider it... You keep talking nonsense, is there nothing else to say? Then I'll send you on your way."

"No, I have a suggestion," Master Hanji hurriedly spoke, "I have a very good idea, but I want to ask you one thing first... Am I doomed?"

Yue Qing lifted his chin and spoke calmly, "Let's hear your suggestion first."

Master Hanji knew that Master Yue valued promises, and although what the other party said was just rhetoric, even a slight hint of looseness was quite good, so he asked earnestly, "I want to confirm one point, Feng Yishu's nascent soul formation is supposed to be in Qinggang, right?"

The vast majority of Golden Core Peak cultivators from the Four Sects and Wutai choose to form their nascent souls in their own plane, with only a handful choosing to do so in the sect's plane due to various reasons.

"He can only form a nascent soul in Qinggang," Yue Qing said disdainfully, "The Star Initiation Plane would reject him, going there for nascent soul formation is suicide, and he can't reach the sect... It's already a rare exception for people from the Star Initiation Plane to cultivate in Kunhao, and it's fortunate the sect doesn't hold them accountable, let alone let them form a nascent soul. Does he think the sect is his family's business?"

"This makes it simple," Master Hanji spoke freely, "Isn't he resorting to any means necessary just to form a nascent soul? If we destroy his nascent soul formation, wouldn't that be the best revenge?"

"Isn't that nonsense you're spouting?" Master Yue glared at him, irritated, "I also want to ruin his nascent soul formation, but the question is... Is it possible? Are we relying on him being unguarded or Master Duanren's Heart-piercing Nail not working?"

Master Duanren's Heart-piercing Nail is a specialized heavy weapon, even a Golden Core Peak cultivator can't withstand a strike.

Master Hanji quickly interjected, "You don't need to sabotage so obviously, why not secretly set him up?"

"He may not be wary of others, but he's certainly wary of me," Yue Qing looked at him with mixed emotions, "You want me to set him up?"

"Just because you're not good at deceit doesn't mean you can't find help," Master Hanji continued, "For instance, the Mount Zhige Master Feng Jun you mentioned, I've heard he's good at deducing. Have him deduce a little, maybe manipulate some resources, and you've set him up."

Yue Qing's heart was moved; this was indeed a good idea. However... for such a base deed, would anyone be willing to help?

Seeing his hesitation, Master Hanji quickly added fuel to the fire, "If you think he's unreliable, I can introduce you to someone else."

If he lets me introduce someone, I might have a chance to live, at least for now, right?

Yue Qing pondered for a while, finally letting out a long sigh, "It's a disgrace to deceive someone, especially when it's a fellow sect member."

"What kind of disgrace is this?" Master Hanji quickly persuaded with his silver tongue, "It was Feng Yishu who first resorted to deceit, he also initiated internal conflicts. A man should repay blood with blood, tooth for tooth... If he can do something first, why can't you follow suit?"

Yue Qing hesitated, then nodded, "Indeed, if he can act first, why can't I follow suit?"

Then he turned to look at Master Hanji, "Any last words?"

"No way?" Master Hanji was horrified, "Didn't I offer a good suggestion? You said... you would consider sparing me."

"I was lying," Yue Qing smiled faintly, raised his hand and pointed, the wind from his finger pierced the other's forehead, "After all, you deceived me first."

As brain matter sprayed, Master Hanji's consciousness began to blur, vaguely hearing the other say, "You acted first, I followed... Thank you for giving me another reason to kill you."

Yue Qing's ascension continued for a day, then he packed his belongings and returned to Qinggang.

He was quite adept at handling all matters concerning Master Hanji—after all, he had killed more than one Golden Core. The body was incinerated thoroughly, the aura removed cleanly, items from the storage bag were taken out, and the storage bag was directly destroyed.

Master Hanji's residence, made by the Yinsha Sect, was also destroyed, including a precious treasure crafted by the Yinsha Sect.

Yue Qing's wealth wasn't particularly abundant, but he was well aware that killing one of Yinsha Sect's "Nine Golden Core" members would cause a huge stir, so from the beginning, he was very cautious. By now, how could he be swayed by petty gains?

Killing Master Hanji netted him just over five hundred middle spirit stones, around ten thousand ordinary spirit stones, two cultivation technique manuals, several talismans and elixirs... In short, it added up to less than two thousand middle spirits.

According to the standard exchange rate, two thousand middle spirits equaled twenty thousand spirit stones. But for a Golden Core Stage cultivator, carrying this amount wasn't much, not to mention Master Hanji lived in Yinsha Fang City, very close to his sect, so carrying this much was quite safe.

Upon returning to the Qinggang Sect, Yue Qing did not go back to the main division, but stayed in Qinggang Fang Market, rented a Golden Core Cave Mansion, and rested for a full five days before leaving.

Golden Core cultivators of the Qinggang Sect, especially those on the Nine Golden Core roster, all have their own cultivation caves in the sect. Renting a market cave for cultivation like this is extremely rare—is it because he has too many spirit stones to burn?

However, Yue Qing didn't care; all he needed was a witness—to let everyone know that when Master Hanji went missing, he was elsewhere advancing his rank, and he returned to the Qinggang Fang Market to rest for a few days.

Then he released the flying boat and flew straight toward Qiuchen Market.