The screams of the condenser lasted for a full quarter of an hour before stopping.
It wasn't that Lu Qing was merciful, but rather that Ningjizi couldn't withstand the endless illusion created by Lu Qing's 【Illusion】 divine power.
In boundless agony, his soul completely collapsed and was utterly annihilated.
Because time in the illusion is different from time in reality.
Although only a quarter of an hour had passed in reality, Ningjizi's soul had actually been tormented in the illusion for an unknown amount of time.
In the end, after endless torment, Ningjizi went completely insane, his mind collapsed, and his soul was annihilated.
Looking at Ningjizi, who had lost all life, Lu Qing calmly collected his corpse.
Then he picked up the head of the ruthless bandit leader from the ground and put it away as well.
Without uttering a word or even glancing down again, he flew away.
Even though Lu Qing withdrew the power that had been suppressing them, all the disciples of the Ningyuan Sect, including the few elders who had reached the Golden Core stage, still dared not make any move.
He simply watched Lu Qing leave with a look of awe.
At this moment, they understood that the mysterious person wearing the ghost mask must be a powerful being above the Nascent Soul stage.
Faced with such a powerful figure, they had no chance of resisting. If they tried to fight back, the only outcome would likely be the complete annihilation of their sect.
Therefore, only after Lu Qing's figure disappeared did a disciple ask tremblingly, "Elder, the Sect Master has fallen. What should we do?"
The old man at the head of the group did not look well.
The fact that their sect leader was tortured to death in public will undoubtedly be a huge blow to Ningyuan Sect, no matter what.
But what bothered him even more was whether what the masked man had said was true.
Is the sect leader really connected to the Black Heart Thief?
Instinctively, the old man was unwilling to believe it.
But then I thought of the mysterious person who ran out just now, and the head of Duan Xin, who had been missing for thirty years.
Considering the sect leader's unusual behavior in recent years, and their repeated attempts to eradicate the Black Heart Bandits, which all failed.
Those unscrupulous thieves seemed to have precognitive abilities, always knowing their movements in advance and hiding in underground caves.
Unconsciously, the old man had already begun to have a vague guess in his mind.
But this matter concerns the reputation of Ningyuan Sect, so he naturally couldn't say it directly in front of so many disciples.
In the end, all he could say was, "This person has a mysterious background, and we don't know what grudge he has against our Ningyuan Sect. However, his strength is unfathomable and is beyond our Ningyuan Sect's ability to deal with. I will report this matter to the Holy Alliance and ask the Holy Alliance to take charge of our sect."
Upon hearing that the Supreme Elder had made a decision, all the disciples of the Ningyuan Sect breathed a sigh of relief.
If the Holy Alliance could intervene, that would be the best outcome.
Although the sect leader was killed, that person was simply too terrifying. Even if they wanted revenge, they were powerless to do anything about it.
Seeing the disciples' expressions, the old man knew that the entire sect was completely terrified by that mysterious person. They had no idea who he was or why he was targeting their Ningyuan Sect in this way.
For a moment, the old man felt a gloomy atmosphere descend upon his heart.
Lu Qing had no interest in knowing what the remaining members of the Ningyuan Sect were thinking.
If he hadn't learned during the torture of Ningjizi that the Black Heart Thief only obeyed him and that the other Ningyuan Sect disciples were unaware of this, he would have wiped out the entire sect.
After flying for a while, Lu Qing suddenly stopped, standing in the air high above, gazing at the slowly sinking sunset in the sky, remaining silent.
Xiao Li rested her head on his shoulder, also without saying a word, quietly keeping him company.
After a long while, she said softly, "Ah Qing, are you still unhappy?"
"No." Lu Qing shook his head. "I've known for a long time that the world is unfair and the weak are slaughtered. Isn't the reason we cultivate so hard to escape this fate?"
But seeing the horrific scene inside that cave had filled me with an unusual rage, my killing intent surged, and even the power of my sword energy increased considerably—this was rather unusual.
The sword energy that Lu Qing had casually unleashed earlier was almost completely irresistible to Ning Jizi, a Golden Core cultivator at the ninth level of perfection.
This power was even somewhat beyond his own expectations.
In his anger at the time, he didn't think much about it, but now, looking back, he feels a strange unease.
“I also think that Aqing’s killing intent is particularly strong this time, which is very strange!” Xiao Li said quickly.
It has been with Lu Qing since before he began cultivating.
Xiao Li had seen Lu Qing angry many times before, but this time, Lu Qing's killing intent was particularly strong, which made Xiao Li a little worried.
"Something is not right. Can you protect me while I try to find the cause?"
Lu Qing conjured a cloud of auspiciousness, sat down cross-legged, and Xiao Li squatted earnestly beside him, protecting him.
After calming his mind, Lu Qing activated his supernatural ability and began to examine himself in a state of sudden enlightenment.
He quickly found the reason.
"So that's how it is, it's the effect of the Lesser Heaven-Breaking Sword Qi..."
Indeed, after a series of investigations, Lu Qing identified the reason that had greatly increased his killing intent.
It was the 【Minor Heaven-Breaking Sword Qi】 that he had been using frequently recently.
【Minor Heaven-Breaking Sword Qi】 was comprehended by Lu Qing based on the 【Heaven-Breaking Sword Qi】 inheritance left by the "Heaven-Breaking Daoist" in his hometown world more than 100,000 years ago.
Originally, the 【Heaven-Piercing Sword Qi】 was a profound sword technique that could only be cultivated after reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.
However, Lu Qing, relying on his extraordinary abilities, continuously observed and experienced the sword energy personally unleashed by "Breaking Heaven Daoist" within the inheritance illusion.
He eventually created a technique called 【Minor Heaven-Breaking Sword Qi】 that allowed him to cultivate even when he was in the Golden Core Realm.
During his more than ten years of seclusion, he had already cultivated the 【Minor Heaven-Breaking Sword Qi】 to the limit of the Golden Core Realm.
However, he did not expect that the repeated use of this sword energy would subtly increase his killing intent.
"As expected of the legacy left by a powerful primordial spirit who has survived countless tribulations, even though I was just cultivating the sword energy I created by comprehending its sword intent, my mind was still affected."
Lu Qing couldn't help but be amazed.
At the same time, they became even more wary of those senior Nascent Soul experts who had survived numerous tribulations.
Even a single legacy could subtly influence his mind; one can only imagine how terrifying those ancient monsters of the primordial spirit must be.
"However, this doesn't seem like a bad thing?"
Now that we understand the cause, the solution is much easier.
As Lu Qing recalled the horrific scene in the underground cave, a murderous intent slowly welled up in his heart again.
He infused this killing intent into the 【Minor Heaven-Breaking Sword Qi】, and immediately felt the power of the sword qi increase dramatically.
"So that's how it is. The 【Heaven-Shattering Sword Qi】 is about annihilating heaven and earth and killing everything. It is about using a heart of slaughter to control the sword qi and kill everything in all directions."
Although I created the 【Minor Heaven-Breaking Sword Qi】, I have rarely used this sword qi in combat, and I have never incorporated my true killing intent into it.
Therefore, although this sword energy is powerful, it always lacks a trace of true spirit.
The evil deeds of those ruthless thieves this time ignited the true killing intent within me, which, when integrated into my sword energy, finally made this technique truly complete.
A series of realizations arose in Lu Qing's mind.
In the trial space of the Netherworld Palace, he used 【Minor Heaven-Breaking Sword Qi】 to fight against Cang Jue.
In reality, due to the difference in strength, his killing intent wasn't that strong.
It wasn't until this time, when he saw the horrific scene in the underground cave, that his killing intent was truly ignited.
This was arguably the most furious he had been since his rebirth into this world.
The only time that could be compared to that was when he had only been practicing martial arts for a short time and was still in the Qi and Blood Realm, the night he slaughtered the bandits of Happy Village.
It was on that night that his character underwent a transformation, and he came to understand the principles of enlightenment and upholding one's true nature.
"I never expected that both of these breakthroughs would be related to the robbers."
Lu Qing shook his head, a wisp of sword energy condensing in his hand and coiling around his fingertips.
The sword energy was contained, but when it was activated, it was almost capable of cutting through space, making it incredibly terrifying.
"After my Lesser Heaven-Breaking Sword Qi was infused with killing intent, its power greatly increased and it became truly perfect. I can now drop the word 'lesser' and call it the true Heaven-Breaking Sword Qi."
Originally, the 【Heaven-Shattering Sword Qi】 could only be cultivated after one had achieved the Nascent Soul stage.
But this time, Lu Qing stumbled upon the principle of controlling sword energy with a murderous heart, and thus truly mastered this sword energy technique.
Of course, all of this is because Lu Qing's foundation is too profound. The power of a perfect Golden Core at the ninth level of the Nascent Soul stage is no less than that of an ordinary Nascent Soul stage expert.
In addition, his physical body and soul are also incredibly powerful, far surpassing those of cultivators at the same level.
True strength can even kill a primordial spirit.
Only with such a terrifying foundation can one condense true Heaven-Shattering Sword Qi.
Otherwise, if it were another Golden Core cultivator at the peak of their cultivation, even if they could comprehend the Heaven-Shattering Sword Qi, their physical body would not be able to withstand that terrifying power.
"Mastering the Sky-Piercing Sword Qi has given me another way to fight enemies, and it also allows me to better conceal my identity."
Lu Qing played with the wisp of sword energy at his fingertips, feeling somewhat pleased.
This time, he left the pass to conceal his identity as "Chen Qing".
When he fought against others, he mainly used sword cultivation techniques and almost never exposed his physical strength. Even the Fire Cauldron was concealed and never revealed.
However, without using the Fire Cauldron, a sword cultivator's methods alone are more than enough to deal with a Golden Core cultivator. But if they encounter a Nascent Soul cultivator, they might have to struggle.
Although the Sword Domain technique is powerful, it would be difficult to trap someone in the Nascent Soul Realm if they were on guard.
Now that I've mastered the true Heaven-Shattering Sword Qi, things will be different.
With just this sword energy, Lu Qing was confident that he could fight against a powerful being in the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm without using any other means.
If he gathers enough spirit stones, breaks through the limit, and truly enters the realm above the ninth level...
The power of that sword energy would be even more terrifying. It would be possible to recreate his feat at Tian Shu Divine Mountain and even reverse the primordial spirit.
After a moment of emotional turmoil, Lu Qing sheathed his sword energy and took out a storage magic item.
He stared at it for a while, sighed, and then focused his mind on it.
Then, as expected, he saw that there were many treasures, spirit stones, and pills inside.
This storage magic item was found on Ningjizi's body.
Given this person's selfishness, he naturally carried all the important treasures with him, but now they have all benefited Lu Qing.
However, looking at the treasures inside, Lu Qing did not feel too happy.
Because he knew that many of the treasures inside were probably stolen by unscrupulous thieves as offerings.
Thinking of the merchants who were slaughtered and eaten, Lu Qing's joy at breaking through was somewhat diminished.
He packed his things and stood up.
"Ah Qing, how is it? Have you found out the reason?" Xiao Li asked.
"Yes, it was because of the cultivation technique we practiced, but it's fine now. Let's go, we still have a lot of tasks to complete."
Xiao Li looked at Lu Qing carefully, as if to confirm whether he was really alright.
Lu Qing rubbed its head and smiled, "It's really nothing, don't worry."
"It's good that you're alright. Let's go then."
Feeling the warmth of Lu Qing's palm, Xiao Li knew he was really alright, and only then was she completely relieved.
Lu Qing dispersed the auspicious clouds, transforming into a stream of light, and continued on to the next destination.
Over the next month, Lu Qing traveled to several nearby continents, constantly completing missions.
The tasks he accepted in the Divine Soul Space were all carefully selected by himself.
Only a small portion of these missions are assassination missions; the majority involve searching for rare herbs and artifacts in perilous and dangerous places.
Assassination missions were naturally no challenge for him. He chose those who had committed numerous evil deeds and were wanted by the authorities, so he had no psychological burden when killing them.
As for finding rare elixirs and other unusual items, Xiao Li's extraordinary treasure-hunting abilities ensured that everything was successfully completed.
So, on the twenty-fifth day after he accepted the mission, he entered a small town and went into a small building.
Seeing the old man who had once given him the trial jade talisman still dozing off, Lu Qing shook his head.
He then called out softly, "Senior, I'm here to collect the mission reward."
After a few breaths, the old man opened his cloudy eyes and asked impatiently, "What mission/bounty?"
However, a strange look appeared in his eyes after he saw Lu Qing.
"Kid, is that you?"
"That's right, it is indeed me. I was very grateful to you for bestowing upon me the trial jade talisman that day, otherwise I would not have been able to become an outer member of the Netherworld Palace."
Lu Qing was still wearing a black cloak and a ghost mask, just as he had when he first entered the building.
"You earned the Trial Jade Token through your own abilities, not by my bestowal." The old man wasn't buying it. "I didn't expect you to actually have some skill, surviving the trial and passing it. What were you saying earlier, about accepting the mission bounty?"
“Indeed, I recently took on some missions, which I have just completed and would like to claim the bounty.”
Lu Qing took out his Netherworld Jade Token and handed it over.
Because the Divine Soul Space can only be entered with the power of the Divine Soul, physical objects cannot be transferred in.
Therefore, after completing their missions, the assassins of the Netherworld Palace still need to submit their mission credentials to the various strongholds of the Netherworld Palace.
Only after confirming that everything is correct can you receive the reward and mission points.
"Let me see, what tasks have you completed?"
The old man took Lu Qing's Netherworld Jade Token, cast several hand seals on it, and then examined it with his mind.
Then, the next moment, his eyes widened slightly.
"You completed ten Rank D missions in less than a month?"
