Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Qi Cultivation Second Layer and a Substitute Flying Sword
BOOM!
At that moment, Zhang Chi used his Divine Thought to channel the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, operating his Cultivation Technique at full power. His body jolted as his Spiritual Power and Blood Flame simultaneously underwent a transformation.
The capacity of his Qi Sea and his body’s functions took a qualitative leap in that instant.
His Divine Sense also expanded, doubling in range.
"Excellent!"
Zhang Chi was overjoyed.
Exactly two months after he had officially begun his Cultivation, he had finally broken through to the Qi Cultivation Second Layer.
With the help of his Middle Grade Spirit Root, the Demon Technique, and the mine tunnels that served as a Spiritual Vein, such a minor breakthrough was no challenge at all.
Next, he stabilized his Cultivation, adapted to the changes in his body, and immediately began to practice his Magic.
He discovered that the effects of all his Magic had improved significantly.
He then went through the Bright Jade Body Refining Technique once more and found that many previously strenuous movements had become easy. His Body Refining progress would surely speed up a little because of this.
When he tried refining Middle Grade ore again, he found that he was faster and could last much longer.
Before, it would take him a full hour to refine a single fist-sized piece of Middle Grade ore.
Now, it only took him a little less than half an hour.
However, he didn’t let it go to his head.
He had acquired quite a few Low Grade Magic techniques during this time and had chosen some to practice.
Meanwhile, his Spirit Beast, the Four-legged Snake, had also grown to half its adult size.
His Body Refining Technique had also progressed considerably.
Combined with this breakthrough in his Cultivation, his Combat Power had skyrocketed.
But it was still far from enough to escape.
Therefore, he had to keep working hard.
’This should be enough Cold Iron!’
He placed the freshly refined Cold Iron with the rest he had accumulated. Seeing that he now had an egg-sized lump, he could no longer hold back.
He immediately took out several molds he had prepared from mud and water, placed all the Cold Iron inside, and began to smelt it with magical flames.
With his improved Cultivation, the magical flames were hotter, and the smelting process was completed quickly and smoothly.
Once the Cold Iron cooled, he shattered the molds, polished the shaped metal, and was soon left with a palm-length Small Sword and nine half-foot-long Cold Iron Needles.
WHOOSH WHOOSH...
Then, he used the Exorcism Technique, which he had been diligently practicing and had achieved Minor Success in. With a point of his finger, the Cold Iron Small Sword shot into the air, flying out like a bolt of lightning.
CRACK!
A large, hard boulder not far away was instantly sliced apart as if it were tofu.
He then used the Cold Iron Needles, which were just as sharp and easily pierced through the large boulder.
"Haha. I guess these are my budget versions of a Flying Sword and Flying Needles, huh? Even though my Cultivation is limited and I can’t use the sword and all the needles at once, they’re still pretty great!"
Zhang Chi laughed, unable to put down the Flying Needles and Flying Sword. He played with them for a while before cleaning up the area and carefully putting them away.
Compared to true Magical Artifacts, their Mighty Power was far inferior.
But if used to catch someone off guard, they could definitely pose a significant threat to Cultivators of the Same Tier.
Afterward, Zhang Chi continued with his other Cultivation practices before finally going to sleep.
Although he slept for only a short time, cultivators experience deep sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and invigorated.
With a higher Cultivation, one could even go without sleep entirely.
Then, Zhang Chi went to the usual spot to wait for Xiao Yunhong.
But the mine’s bell had been ringing for a while, and the man still hadn’t appeared.
"Fellow Daoist, help me!"
Just as he was about to go investigate, he suddenly heard a cry for help, followed by the sound of footsteps.
SWISH!
He immediately moved to hide and soon saw five people.
One person was fleeing in front—it was Xiao Yunhong. Four people were chasing him from behind, all of them Brother Zhou’s subordinates.
He even recognized two of them: the Shi Family Brothers.
Xiao Yunhong was stumbling and in a wretched state, shouting for help as he ran.
Brother Zhou’s subordinates, however, wore vicious smiles and followed him at a leisurely pace.
"No wonder we couldn’t find you or your accomplice these past few days. So you’ve been hiding here!"
"But he probably doesn’t dare to show himself, right? You’d better just tell us who he is. If you do, maybe we’ll go a little easier on you!"
Brother Zhou’s men jeered.
"In your dreams! Even if I knew who he was, which I don’t, I wouldn’t tell you."
"And don’t get too cocky! When he shows up, you’re all dead!"
Xiao Yunhong shouted in fury.
At this moment, he wasn’t afraid. He believed Zhang Chi could definitely kill these people.
"Heh, is that so? Then we’ll wait for him!" the Shi Family Brothers and the others sneered.
They even stopped and began to look around.
’Why hasn’t that Fellow Daoist shown up yet?’
Xiao Yunhong was filled with anticipation.
But soon, he began to panic.
The surroundings were silent, without a single soul in sight!
’He hasn’t actually abandoned me, has he?’
The uneasy thought struck Xiao Yunhong, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
The other party had already gotten plenty of Cultivation Techniques and Magic from him. Now that Brother Zhou’s men were dealing with him, his partner could use them to get rid of him. That way, he wouldn’t have to fulfill his promise, and he wouldn’t expose himself.
The risk would be much lower than using the Blood Curse Technique to kill him.
After all, using the Blood Curse Technique would certainly alert the Mine Guards.
Besides, he had learned recently that the Four-legged Snakes hadn’t been killed by his partner, but by the Guard Captain himself.
Furthermore, many of the questions the person had asked him lately were very basic.
Therefore, the true extent of his partner’s strength was a complete unknown.
Perhaps he couldn’t even defeat a few of Brother Zhou’s subordinates, let alone kill Brother Zhou himself.
If that was the case, it was even more unlikely that he would show up!
"Stop wasting time. Drag him back. Hand him over to the Guards; they’ll have ways to make him talk!"
Just then, another figure emerged from the darkness in the distance.
His voice boomed like a great bell, and he was built like an iron pagoda. It was Brother Zhou.
So, he had followed them as well.
He had only held back at first, worried he might scare off the unknown person.
’The one surnamed Zhou is here too?’
Seeing him, Xiao Yunhong fell into complete despair.
’Now that Brother Zhou is here, even if that Fellow Daoist wanted to help, he’d probably change his mind, right?’
"Yes, Boss!"
The Shi Family Brothers and the others nodded and lunged menacingly toward Xiao Yunhong.
Xiao Yunhong, however, didn’t move an inch.
He knew that resistance was futile.
He had many companions who had been helping him stand against Brother Zhou. That was why Brother Zhou had never made a move against him before.
But it wasn’t because Brother Zhou feared them; it was because he didn’t want a mutually destructive fight and was afraid of being punished by the Guards.
This time, however, Brother Zhou had discovered that he was secretly collecting Secret Techniques.
With a legitimate reason, he wouldn’t get in trouble even if the Guards found out. He might even be rewarded.
That was why Brother Zhou and his men had all come out in force this time.
His companions were all tied up by Brother Zhou’s people and couldn’t come to his aid.
As for him, he was already exhausted and couldn’t run anymore. He had reached the end of this mine tunnel and could only resign himself to his fate.
’Am I, a Young Master, really going to die at the hands of these insignificant ants?’
Xiao Yunhong’s heart was filled with resentment and indignation.
WHOOSH, WHOOSH...
But just then, several stones suddenly shot out from the darkness, whistling through the air.
"Not good!"
"He’s here! It’s a sneak attack!"
The faces of the Shi Family Brothers and the others changed drastically.
They had been hoping the man would appear.
But his strength seemed far greater than they had anticipated.
Because the stones came at them with ferocious speed.
They had no time to dodge and were all hit, immediately spitting up blood and collapsing to the ground.
Moreover, their attacker was extremely cautious. Even though they were heavily injured, they hadn’t even caught a glimpse of his shadow.
"Stop skulking in the shadows! Get out here!"
Brother Zhou, however, was an exception.
He shattered the incoming stone with a single punch, then stomped on the ground and charged like a fierce tiger in the direction the stones had come from.
