Master of Strange Dao

Since Yu Ziqing played the game of hunger marketing and released a bit of sweet rain, more and more people came and went from Almsgiving Town. They were not just there to dispel the Devil Thought but also to seize opportunities.

After recovering from a serious illness and the sword hanging overhead disappeared, they might splash out on any cultivation supplies they saw.

Even things usually deemed useless might find a buyer in Almsgiving Town, as no one could predict whether they might need them in the future.

Simultaneously, within Cece's Despair Abyss, more and more Devil Thoughts were imprisoned in isolated cages.

Moreover, the owners of these Devil Thoughts were no small fry; they were either considerably powerful or held unusual backgrounds.

For Yu Ziqing, each Devil Thought served as the best channel for acquiring intelligence.

And with stronger Devil Thoughts, interrogating them was almost akin to directly questioning their owners, providing firsthand information.

The Devil Thoughts floated there, with chains attached below, resembling black balloons as they babbled about everything they knew.

Thanks to the 'good deeds' of those Yin Devils, diligently sowing seeds in everyone from a young age.

Some Devil Thoughts knew possibly more than humans did.

They constantly observed, never overlooking things or people that many would disregard, for those were their future assets to stir things up.

If a Devil Thought evolved into a Heart Demon, it could be said to know the person better than the person themselves, uncovering what one wouldn't face or couldn't recognize, laying it bare and clear.

For this kind of work, no one was more adept than such Devils.

No one!

As for interrogating these Devil Thoughts and Devils, could one expect them to be some "die-hard" warriors when facing hungry ghosts?

It was ludicrous; in the mindset of Devils, the term "unyielding unto death" didn't exist.

Acting as Devil radios, narrating their host's life, they relished such tasks, just as long as they survived, even if it meant letting other Devils perish entirely without hesitation.

With these Devil Thoughts, Yu Ziqing didn't bother forming a separate intel organization; he had no interest in the deep-rooted intelligence network left behind by the Seventh Floor.

Firstly because those beings were unsavory, each more corrupt than the last.

Secondly, it risked exposure, disadvantages outweighing benefits.

Thirdly, it wasn't crucial, as Yu Ziqing lacked funds to support it.

The approach with sweet rain was more economical, earning money, having people perform almsgiving to hungry ghosts, and inadvertently bringing Devil Thoughts (intelligence) to him.

Currently, the Devil Thought he listened to had been selected by Cece; it had been made somewhat smarter, and this guy rambled daily, sharing both crucial and trivial matters, recounting its host's life in exceptional detail.

It had already reached the point where it mentioned how much money and treasure its host amassed during Dali's disaster relief, which connections were smoothed out, and what matters were handled for various individuals.

This Devil Thought feared concealing any blemish of its host or any inconsistencies with what Cece consumed.

Several Devil Thoughts had been eaten by Cece recently, all trying to play sly, foolish games.

Adding Lou Huai, who had turned from darkness to light, blazing a path that blinded other Devil Thoughts, clearly paved an unprecedented road for these beings.

The choice lay entirely with them.

Yu Ziqing treated it like a radio, switching to a different Devil Thought when bored.

He was not particularly interested in intelligence.

Yu Ziqing cared about something else—security.

His rusty sword hadn't been drawn for a long time.

As he encountered increasingly powerful individuals, someone disturbing was bound to target him eventually.

Yu Ziqing did not know who might strike at him, so he had no choice but to scatter sweet rain, prompting people to send Heart Demons and Devil Thoughts for interrogation and information.

Perhaps among them were individuals who might attack him in the future.

When the time comes, they would receive a surprise.

Regarding when security might overflow, it would be when all targeting him, at their first glance, could be slain by a single draw of his sword.

Learning alongside Yang, acquiring knowledge, was imperative.

He didn't aim to be like Yang, knowing the opponent's Dharma Method and Cultivation Technique by their moves, inferring their origins, thus deducing their identity.

At least he aspired to reach half of Yang's level in the future.

Thus, he needed to study many Dharma Methods even if he didn't practice them.

When necessary, this knowledge would complete information and enhance the success probability of drawing his sword effectively.

A month later, a message came from a hungry ghost, extending an invitation from You Zhen.

Yu Ziqing emerged from the locust forest, finding You Zhen standing outside a small courtyard, gazing northeast.

"His tribulation is approaching."

"King Xiang?"

"Indeed, calculating the time, he has been at the Ninth Tier for many years. The first tribulation should arrive, and it remains unclear if he will survive it."

You Zhen spoke calmly, yet couldn't hide his concern.

As cultivators pursued their cultivation, overcoming obstacles and advancing to the Ninth Tier, Qi Refining cultivators and those in the Third Tribulation Realm faced three major tribulations.

The timing of each tribulation's descent was uncertain; some experienced it shortly after advancing to the Ninth Tier, while others faced it later.