Although Zhao Xuanqi’s current realm didn’t allow him to practice the Hundred Dragon Acupoints Method, he still possessed the relevant experience and his body control was more than sufficient. Mastering its fundamentals would be no difficult task.
’An interesting Cultivation Technique. Perhaps at a higher level, after I reopen my Hundred Dragon Acupoints, this technique might still offer some new insights.’
Zhao Xuanqi thought to himself, preparing to first exchange for the information on the Blood Strengthening and Refining the Internal Organs stages of this technique.
’Six Merits?’
The local Celestial Dao quickly displayed the required Merit Points for the exchange, causing Zhao Xuanqi to take a sharp breath.
The required Merit Points were not a small sum, and that was without even exchanging for the cultivation method’s corresponding Techniques. Still, compared to the Spirit Official Dao’s Great Spirit Official Record, it was much cheaper.
’These Merit Points get spent all too quickly...’
Zhao Xuanqi shook his head helplessly. In the blink of an eye, he had already spent a third of the Merit Points he had just obtained.
Soon, the exchange was complete. The local Celestial Dao sent down the information for the Cultivation Technique, which was then translated by the Rebirth Jade into a form Zhao Xuanqi could understand.
’First, I need to heal my internal injuries as quickly as possible, then use this method to conceal my Primordial Qi to deal with the investigation that is likely to come.’
Zhao Xuanqi resolved this internally. He then focused his Spirit and began to mobilize the Life Primordial Qi within the Rebirth Jade to heal his body.
...
...
Early the next morning, Zhao Xuanqi left earlier than usual to dispose of his blood-stained clothes, then proceeded to the Dianmao Office to report for duty on time, as always.
However, the moment he entered the Dianmao Office, he sensed something was different.
Right now, the Dianmao Office was packed with people. Based on past experience, the members of each squad would typically gather at the Dianmao Office, receive their assigned tasks, and then leave. There wouldn’t normally be this many people gathered here.
’As I thought. Did something happen?’
Seeing the scene, Zhao Xuanqi’s heart tensed, but he maintained a placid expression as he walked into the Dianmao Office and heard waves of hushed whispers.
"Is he really that strong? Stronger than Senior Brother Lu and Senior Sister He?"
"Of course! I heard he’s someone who condensed Golden Fire while still in the Blood Strengthening realm! Without that Senior Brother, the disciples from all the sects who got trapped in the Ghost City would have likely been wiped out!"
"The Red Heart Sect really made a name for ourselves this time, outshining all the other sects. It feels so vindicating! Ever since the Guming County incident, our sect has faced so much criticism. But after this, who can say the Red Heart Sect is in decline?"
"But who is that Senior Brother, anyway? Why have none of us ever heard of him?"
"Isn’t it obvious? He must be an expert the sect has been secretly cultivating. With that kind of power, exposing his identity would attract way too much attention. You all understand the logic of ’the tree that stands out in the forest,’ don’t you?"
"That makes sense..."
"..."
As Zhao Xuanqi walked, he noticed that nearly all the conversations revolved around yesterday’s Ghost City operation.
It couldn’t be helped. All the major sects had sent their elite disciples to participate in the operation, so its impact and the attention it received among the Blood Strengthening realm disciples were immense.
However, aside from all the discussion, Zhao Xuanqi also noticed some people with sorrowful expressions. The sect had lost quite a few disciples in the previous night’s operation, and those who knew the fallen were grieving.
Soon, Zhao Xuanqi found fellow New Disciples Peng Lin and Shen Hong in the crowd, greeted them, and went over.
"Zhao Xing, did you hear about the Ghost City incident yesterday?"
Shen Hong asked immediately upon seeing Zhao Xuanqi walk over.
"What?"
Zhao Xuanqi replied nonchalantly.
Seeing that Zhao Xuanqi was unaware, Shen Hong looked as if he had found a brand-new audience. He launched into a detailed and embellished account of the previous night’s events. The faint arrogance he usually carried was gone, replaced by a glint of excitement in his eyes, as if he was putting himself in the shoes of the story’s hero, Senior Brother Zhao Qi.
"That’s who I should strive to be! That Senior Brother Zhao is also a Blood Strengthening realm disciple, yet he was able to do all that. He’s a true role model for our generation! I, Shen Hong, will make him my goal and strive to catch up, so I’m not left behind!"
Shen Hong said with a solemn expression, clenching both his fists.
’Kid, I never realized you were so dramatic...’
Zhao Xuanqi’s expression turned a little strange as he was reminded of a term from his past life on Blue Star. He gave Shen Hong a perfunctory but encouraging look and said, "Work hard. You can do it."
Shen Hong nodded, seemingly wanting to say more, but Zhao Xuanqi had no desire to listen to him ramble and cut him off, "Why are so many of our senior and junior brothers from the Blood Strengthening realm gathered here? Is something going on?"
Having been cut off, Shen Hong seemed to lose the urge to keep talking. He said to Zhao Xuanqi, "Oh, this? The sect Elders sent out a notice. The Ghost City incident is over for now, but the higher-ups are worried there might be some hidden dangers left among the disciples. So they’ve specifically gathered us for a check-up, to make sure no one has any lingering issues."
’So, it’s finally here, just as I expected.’
Zhao Xuanqi’s expression shifted slightly. He didn’t believe for a second this was about "checking for hidden dangers." He figured this was just a method for the sect’s higher-ups to search for him.
Soon, it was time for the roll call, and almost all of the Blood Strengthening realm disciples had arrived.
"Silence!"
A Steward in charge quickly appeared and had everyone form lines. Since Zhao Xuanqi and his group were New Disciples, they were positioned at the very end of the line.
Before long, a group of people emerged from the main hall. The man in the lead, dressed in a plain white robe with his hair in a high topknot and a handlebar mustache, was none other than Red Heart Sect Elder Qiu Qing.
Behind Qiu Qing followed numerous sect Stewards and disciples, a few of whom Zhao Xuanqi knew quite well.
For example, He Xijun and Lu Dong, both acquaintances he had crossed paths with in the Ghost City.
Their expressions were calm, but their eyes swept across the lines of disciples below, as if searching for something.
Yesterday, they had already reviewed the portraits of all the Blood Strengthening realm disciples with the surname Zhao, but they had come up with nothing. After gathering some intelligence, Qiu Qing decided to investigate personally.
Zhao Xuanqi remained silent, keeping his eyes down and his head bowed, doing his best to fade into the background.
"The Ghost City incident from yesterday has concluded. Today, Elder Qiu Qing will personally inspect your physical condition to ensure no hidden dangers remain. When it’s your turn, don’t be nervous. Just relax your mind."
The Steward presiding over the assembly announced to the crowd, then nodded to Qiu Qing and said, "Elder Qiu, we must trouble you to begin."
Qiu Qing nodded and, without saying anything further, took a step forward. He inscribed no Technique, but his body was suddenly covered in a golden light that rose up to form the shape of a flame.
Seeing this, Zhao Xuanqi’s gaze shifted slightly.
’Not a manifestation of Blood Qi, but the direct mobilization and release of Primordial Qi...’
’To be able to do this means he has already broken through the Life and Death Mystic Gate, opening a connection between himself and the outside world. His realm is equivalent to that of a Divine General from my previous life.’
In this world, a being who has reached such a realm is called an Innate Martial Artist.
As one of the Five Sects of Heqing, an existence on the level of a Red Heart Sect Elder would possess the strength of an Innate Martial Artist at minimum.
’A sect Elder is actually conducting the inspection himself?’
Zhao Xuanqi frowned slightly. He had already achieved a basic mastery of the Hundred-Star Pill Battle overnight and had concealed his Primordial Qi. With this technique’s miraculous effects, as long as he didn’t voluntarily reveal himself, it should theoretically be impossible to probe his body’s true condition short of dissecting him.
After all, the probing technique worked by inspecting Primordial Qi, and all of his Primordial Qi was currently withdrawn into his acupoints.
However, the gap between his current self and an Innate Martial Artist was immense. There was no guarantee that something wouldn’t go wrong.
The golden light on Qiu Qing’s body spread out, entering the disciples’ bodies one by one. His inspection was extremely thorough, and he spent at least ten breaths’ time in front of each person.
As he moved down the line, he detected nothing out of the ordinary. His expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, he found it strange.
’Could it be that the mysterious person really isn’t among the Blood Strengthening realm disciples? Or is it possible he’s a disciple from the Refining the Internal Organs realm who mistakenly wandered into the Ghost City?’
Full of doubt, he gradually reached the end of the line and stopped in front of Zhao Xuanqi, Shen Hong, and the others.
He had heard of these few. They were all standouts among the current batch of New Disciples.
"Don’t be nervous. Just relax a bit."
Qiu Qing offered a gentle smile, speaking to reassure Shen Hong and Peng Lin, who looked a little nervous.
Soon, the Primordial Qi on his body spread out and entered each of their bodies in turn.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, his expression flickered. As if he had sensed something, he looked in the direction of Zhao Xuanqi, who had his head bowed.