Translator: AnubisTL
"Congratulations to Senior Zhou on advancing to the Late Qi Refining Realm!"
"Senior Zhou, congratulations!"
"Hahaha, Old Zhou, you're truly remarkable! You've actually reached the Late Qi Refining Realm!"
"Congratulations, congratulations!"
With Old Zhou's successful breakthrough, many rogue cultivators in the C-Class District who had some connection to him came to offer their congratulations.
However, they were met only with a cold snort. The eccentric Old Zhou didn't even bother to open his courtyard gate, clearly unwilling to receive them.
"Hmph, not even a gift. No sincerity at all. All of you can go home."
At these words, the rogue cultivators standing outside his gate exchanged helpless glances before reluctantly dispersing.
After a while, a tall, upright young man quietly knocked on the courtyard gate, carrying two spirit fish and a jar of aged wine.
This was Li Qing. But before he could even state his identity and purpose, the gate swung open on its own.
"Come in, you brat. It's rare to see you being generous enough to splurge on spirit fish, isn't it?"
Li Qing followed the voice and saw that Old Zhou, having successfully broken through, finally looked like a true cultivator. He had changed into a brand-new robe, and the gloom that had once clung to his face was completely gone.
"Hehe, Senior Zhou, congratulations on breaking through to the Late Qi Refining Realm!"
Li Qing entered the room, offering his congratulations.
Though the wine remained ordinary Winter Plum Wine, the two spiritual fish roasting over the fire made their meal exceptionally enjoyable.
"Hahaha, have you changed your ways, kid? I've never seen you so generous before," Old Zhou chuckled, eating the grilled spiritual fish.
Li Qing scratched his head sheepishly and replied, "Senior Zhou, you're joking. Before coming to the Liu Clan, I was lucky enough to kill a Rank 1 early-stage bear demon in the mountains. I sold its hide at the trade fair to a Talisman Master."
Hearing this, Zhou Tong shook his head and sighed, "It's better to save your spirit stones. Luxury items like spiritual fish are best avoided by rogue cultivators like us."
This was true. A single spiritual fish cost six spirit stones. While it was a specialty of the Liu Clan, the pure spiritual energy it contained was far less than the same value of spiritual rice!
Calling it a luxury was no exaggeration.
The taste of this spirit fish was truly exceptional. No matter how it was cooked, it was delicious. It didn't even need any seasoning; the simplest cooking methods were enough to bring out its exquisite freshness.
"Senior Zhou," Li Qing said tentatively, "once you complete the task the Liu Clan gave you, you won't be a rogue cultivator anymore. When you become a high-ranking member of the Liu Clan, don't forget about this young one!"
However, upon hearing about the Liu Clan's mission, Old Zhou fell silent for a long moment. He downed several cups of wine in succession before finally sighing deeply.
"Ah, the Flying Eagle Bandits are no easy foe to kill. Even if the other two who took the Spirit Condensation Pill both succeed in their breakthrough, I still wouldn't dare say we can complete this mission with certainty."
Hearing that Old Zhou understood the gravity of the situation, Li Qing breathed a sigh of relief. He spoke up, "I agree, Senior. If the Flying Eagle Bandits dared to rob cultivators in the Heavenly River Sect's market, they must have some kind of backing.
"And after robbing so many rogue cultivators and succeeding time after time, even the other members of their bandit gang will likely be formidable opponents.
"Senior Zhou, please be careful on this mission!"
Li Qing spoke from the heart. Over the past six months, Old Zhou had been kind to him, not only teaching him much about the cultivation world but also allowing Li Qing to quickly befriend the other spirit mine workers by using Old Zhou's name.
With such a senior cultivator leading the way, Li Qing avoided many pitfalls.
Moreover, over the past six months, the two had often gathered to drink together, forging a bond that was somewhere between teacher and friend.
Old Zhou nodded, his voice soft. "Yes, I'm aware of this matter. However, the Liu Clan isn't simply sending us to our deaths this time. They also want this mission to succeed."
"To that end, they've provided us with detailed intelligence on the Flying Eagle Bandits. If the other two cultivators break through successfully, and with the magical artifacts the Liu Clan has given us, our chances of completing the mission are quite high."
After all, the Flying Eagle Bandits only had one cultivator in the Late Qi Refining Realm. Facing a coordinated assault by three fully armed Late Qi Refining cultivators, they would be hard-pressed to escape death.
Li Qing took the intelligence on the Flying Eagle Bandits and glanced through it casually before nodding inwardly.
The document detailed specific information about the bandits: their numbers, the types of magical artifacts they favored, and the approximate cultivation levels of each member.
The leader, known as the Demon Eagle Wanderer, had a Mid Qi Refining Realm demon bird named the Sky-Rending Eagle. This bird possessed a notable bloodline and formidable combat prowess.
However, the Demon Eagle Wanderer's greatest asset was a high-grade magical artifact: the Phantom Wind Feather Blade!
Once activated, this Magic Artifact not only produces illusion techniques but also unleashes a barrage of powerful wind-attribute feather blades. During attacks, it can even weave in illusion techniques, making it incredibly dangerous.
Moreover, the Demon Eagle Wanderer is adept at escape. Possessing a wind-attribute variant spirit root grants him exceptional speed and erratic movement.
Generally, cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm find it difficult to sustain long-term flight using their own mana.
However, the Demon Eagle Wanderer, thanks to various wind-attribute spells, surpasses ordinary Late Qi Refining Realm cultivators in both flight speed and endurance by a significant margin.
After reading this intelligence report, Li Qing couldn't help but open his mouth in surprise.
This Late Qi Refining Realm Demon Eagle Wanderer was undoubtedly formidable. In a one-on-one fight, rogue cultivators like Old Zhou, who worked for the Liu Clan daily, would have little chance of victory.
Still, the report was remarkably detailed. With careful tactical planning, considering various scenarios, and employing targeted countermeasures, there was a chance of completing this mission if they struck when the Demon Eagle Wanderer was unprepared.
"Young one wishes Senior Zhou great success in this mission!" Li Qing clasped his hands in respect.
Old Zhou waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, alright, enough flattery. Is there anything else?"
At this, Li Qing scratched his head sheepishly and chuckled.
"Well, there is something else..."
As he spoke, Li Qing pulled out the Blood Contract Method he had obtained earlier that day.
"I bought this at the market today for fifteen spirit stones, Old Zhou. Could you take a look and see if there's anything wrong with it?"
Old Zhou raised an eyebrow and took the secret technique, which detailed the Blood Contract Method, to examine it.
After a long moment, the old man returned the booklet to Li Qing, shaking his head. "The secret technique itself is fine, but you paid a bit too much for it."
"What do you mean?" Li Qing asked, puzzled.
Old Zhou explained, "Generally, beast tamers use soul contracts to establish Master-Servant Spirit Contracts with Demon beasts."
"By the Mid Qi Refining Realm, a cultivator's spiritual sense begins to develop and strengthen. While it can't yet extend beyond the body, it's perfectly capable of planting a soul contract."
"However, beast tamers who plant too many soul contracts can strain their spiritual sense. This led to the development of various Blood Contract Methods, which use blood to bind a Demon beast to a master, reducing the burden on the tamer's soul."
"But for you, with only one Demon beast, there's really no need for a Blood Contract Method. Once you reach the Mid Qi Refining Realm, you can simply use your spiritual sense to establish a Master-Servant bond with your Demon beast."
So that's how it is!
Li Qing's face darkened slightly. He realized he'd been tricked after all.
But there was nothing he could do. His spiritual sense was still too weak, barely enough for internal observation. It was far too early for him to extend it beyond his body or attempt a soul contract.
Besides, he hadn't even considered this matter before. For years, Fan Tong had been obedient to a fault.
If not for the sake of helping Fan Tong understand his commands better and fight enemies more cooperatively in the future, Li Qing would never have bought this Blood Contract Method.
"So that's how it is... Sigh, my lack of experience cost me fifteen spirit stones for nothing," Li Qing grumbled inwardly.
Fortunately, the wasted spirit stones weren't too many, and the Blood Contract Method itself was indeed worth the price.
As if sensing Li Qing's thoughts, Old Zhou chuckled and waved his hand. "Alright, if there's nothing else, you can leave now. Don't disturb this old man any longer."
With those words, Li Qing rose to his feet with practiced ease, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Then this junior will take his leave!"
He then bid farewell to Old Zhou, who was now in the Late Qi Refining Realm.
(End of the Chapter)
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