Chapter 32: I'm in a hurry!

"You really dare to make a move against me?!"

Li Jue's speed was astonishingly fast as he stepped back and used his long blade to block.

His eyes were filled with disbelief. How could a mere Outer Disciple at the Qi Refining Fourth Level dare to attack a Condensed Liquid Realm Martial Artist, and in close combat no less? Where did he get such audacity?

However, just as Li Jue's blade connected with the spear, a sudden paralyzing numbness spread through the area between his thumb and forefinger. The tremendous force left him stunned. This kid had been hiding his strength; he was actually at the Late-stage Qi Refining!

But even so, how could the strength of someone at the Late-stage Qi Refining possibly be this terrifying?

Ning Daoran unleashed the Return to Nature Level Silver Dragon Spear Technique. As long as no secret techniques were used, it wouldn't trigger any disturbances from heaven and earth. For a moment, spear radiance whirled wildly as strands of silver Dragon Gang Qi wrapped around the spear tip, completely suppressing the Condensed Liquid Realm Martial Artist, rendering him unable to counterattack.

"What a refined spear technique..."

Li Jue's gaze turned icy as he tried to compose himself, but no matter what, he couldn't calm the turmoil in his heart.

He recognized the Silver Dragon Spear Technique, but seeing it executed to such perfection made it feel completely alien to him.

"Well done!"

Li Jue grimaced ferociously. "Who would've thought a true dragon was hiding in this gutter? It seems the upper half of the secret technique really is with you, kid. You won't live to see another day."

As his blade deflected the spear, he reached into his robes and swallowed a pill from a jade bottle in one gulp.

In an instant, Li Jue's Blood Qi surged, boiling even more intensely. His short blade movements remained precise and methodical, forcing Ning Daoran, with his Return to Nature Level Body Tempering Technique and Silver Dragon Spear Technique, into a defensive position!

The gap in cultivation levels was insurmountable. The opponent was at the Condensed Liquid Realm, while Ning Daoran was only at the Late-stage Qi Refining. That was an entire realm of difference. Adding to that, Li Jue was a battle-hardened veteran Martial Artist; it was only natural Ning Daoran couldn't suppress him.

As Li Jue fought more fervently, Ning Daoran raised his hand, summoning the Qiushui Sword from behind. Endless Evergreen Technique Power surged into it. With a single swing of the sword, he forced Li Jue several steps back.

"Now's the moment!"

With Ning Daoran's sharp cry,

a shadow silently appeared behind Li Jue—it was Big Stupid Deer, transformed into Leopard Form!

Its claws slashed down from midair, instantly leaving crisscrossing gashes on the back of Li Jue's inner armor. Blood splattered everywhere, and the First-tier Lower-grade inner armor was destroyed in just one hit by Big Stupid Deer!

"So, it's you, beast!"

Li Jue's eyes blazed with fury.

Just as he was about to finish Big Stupid Deer with a single strike, a blood-red thread suddenly streaked past. A piece of broken porcelain, smeared in blood, spun wildly through the air.

"You..."

Li Jue's face was filled with confusion. The next moment, his head tumbled from his neck.

...

Ning Daoran quickly looted the corpse, performed a Soul Search, and then shot out a fireball, scattering Li Jue's ashes to the wind.

*Staring at the bodies of Lei Chong and Zhao Yurou, he felt a pang of helplessness.*

"Senior Brother Lei, Junior Sister Zhao, I couldn't save you in time. I'm sorry..."

He decided not to touch their corpses.

Activating the Concealing Breath Technique, Invisibility Technique, and Sound Absorption Technique together, he left quickly with Big Stupid Deer, using the Earth Tunneling Technique.

An hour later, a hundred miles away, Big Stupid Deer dug a deep tunnel dozens of feet underground. Ning Daoran hid within, activating the Perfect Level Concealing Breath Technique, planning to endure this turbulent period first.

Li Jue had carried few treasures. His inner armor was destroyed, and as a Martial Artist without Spiritual Power, he couldn't use a Storage Bag. All he carried were two gold ingots.

The gold ingots were naturally collected. Even a mosquito's leg is meat after all.

The results of the Soul Search, however, were quite surprising. The upper half of the Shape-shifting Technique came from the legendary Five Saints Mountain.

The Five Saints Mountain was under the rule of five Golden Core Demon Kings, who had carved out their own territory within the Qingzhou Human Clan's domain.

These Demon Kings were unimaginably powerful. For hundreds of years, the Qingzhou Government and various Immortal Sects had attempted to take them down, but to no avail.

Even today, some experts stationed in the Court's Zhenxian Tower had colluded with the Five Saints Mountain. Li Jue was one such individual.

Through the Soul Search, Ning Daoran could piece together a rough outline of the truth.

Old Demon Ye wasn't just a master of the Demon Path; he also carried the infamous title of Thief King in the Jianghu. His skills in Concealing Breath, movement techniques, and other arts were unmatched. The upper half of the Shape-shifting Technique had been stolen from a Demon King in Five Saints Mountain!

Li Jue had received a secret order from the Five Saints Mountain to hunt Old Demon Ye and uncover the whereabouts of the secret technique. However, Li Jue himself wasn't entirely clear on the situation.

In summary, this entire series of events stemmed from a bloodbath over the upper half of the Shape-shifting Technique.

Now, Big Stupid Deer had learned the Shape-shifting Technique. Its combat effectiveness was indeed incredible. With just one mid-First-tier claw attack, it had overwhelmed Li Jue's Condensed Liquid Realm physique.

"Old Lu, was that thrilling or what?"

"Awroo~~~"

"Hahaha!"

Ning Daoran wrapped his arms around its massive head, vigorously rubbing it. He laughed, "This Shape-shifting Technique caused all this trouble. You'd better train hard from now on and make today's chaos worth it."

Big Stupid Deer nudged him forcefully in response.

...

Two days later.

"Woooo—"

A horn pierced the mountain wilderness, the signal for Chaotic Sect's assembly.

Ning Daoran and Big Stupid Deer finally climbed out of their makeshift underground hideout, covered in dirt.

Just ten miles away from the Chaotic Sect, in a mountain hollow, numerous disciples had gathered, along with several Foundation Establishment Elders.

Lei Chong and Zhao Yurou's mangled corpses were recovered and sealed inside animal skins.

The expressions of the Foundation Establishment Elders were grim.

"Ning Daoran."

Xu Ning's gaze was icy. "If I'm not mistaken, after we parted ways, you formed a team with Lei Chong and Zhao Yurou. Why are they dead, while you came back unscathed?"

"Uncle Master, you may not know."

Ning Daoran had already prepared his story. "After traveling fifty miles into the Yellow Dragon Mountain Range, Senior Brother Lei felt our search area was too small. He proposed splitting into two groups—he and Junior Sister Zhao in one, and me in another.

After we separated, I never saw them again. Who would've thought that would be the last time we met?"

As he spoke, a look of shock appeared on his face.

Xu Ning exchanged glances with the Elders and said nothing more.

Ning Daoran's account was airtight. Splitting into groups was indeed consistent with Lei Chong's personality—arrogant, aggressive, and overly ambitious.

"Master Ning."

Another Foundation Establishment Elder remarked, "I only recently learned that you're the one on Qiongbi Peak capable of cultivating Second-tier Spirit Rice. It's a relief that you're unharmed; if something had happened to you, it would've been an immense loss for the Chaotic Sect."

A wave of admiration swept through the disciples. None had expected this young man to have mastered Second-order Spirit Plant Skill.

"All of you, return."

Xu Ning's tone was sullen. Not only had they failed to capture Old Demon Ye, but they'd also lost several disciples.

Even Li Jue, a Condensed Liquid Realm expert, had vanished without a trace. This operation was a complete fiasco.

...

Qiongbi Peak.

Ning Daoran stopped several miles away from Spiritual Field Courtyard #77 with Big Stupid Deer. Scanning the memories of the Double-eyed Spider and Mountain Sparrow, he discovered that during his absence, Old Demon Ye had visited again.

Fortunately, the underground Spiritual Medicines had already been stored in the Storage Bag. Otherwise, they would have fallen prey to Old Demon Ye's schemes.

"This is troublesome..."

*He murmured to himself, feeling uneasy. Being targeted by someone like Old Demon Ye, who came and went without a trace, felt akin to having a sword constantly pointed at his back—death could come at any moment.*

"Old Lu..."

He turned to Big Stupid Deer beside him. "There's someone who knows our secret and might ambush us at any time. Can you tolerate that?"

"Yooo~~~"

Dozens of blue veins bulged on Big Stupid Deer's forehead. Hell no! It had to be dealt with immediately!

"Alright."

Ning Daoran nodded. "You'll hide in the Spirit Beast Bag for a few days. I need to act alone to kill this Old Demon Ye. Bear with it for a little while."

"Awrr??"

Big Stupid Deer nudged his arm. Why couldn't he come along?

"I'm going for a sneak attack. Taking you along would lower the chances of success."

Without hesitation, Big Stupid Deer jumped into the Spirit Beast Bag. Though uncomfortable, it preferred this to dragging down its big brother.

...

The sky was overcast as Ning Daoran descended the mountain alone.

After descending, he disguised himself as a middle-aged man in green and headed to Yellow Dragon Square.

In Yellow Dragon Square, there had originally been two grand brothels with ample girls of high quality. One was the Flowers Pavilion; the other, Zuihua Brothel.

Now, Flowers Pavilion had been wiped out, leaving Zuihua Brothel standing alone.

"Oh my, good sir, come have some fun~~~"

A flock of women waved their brocade handkerchiefs, calling out in sweet voices.

Ning Daoran strode into Zuihua Brothel with long steps. It was his first time visiting such a place, and he couldn't deny feeling a little excited.

"What will it be, dear customer? Listening to music, or going straight to the point?" the madam asked with a sly grin.

"I prefer the direct route. Bring out your prettiest girls; I'll pick the one I like best!"

"Sure thing! Girls, come on over."

A crowd of women surrounded him. Ning Daoran quickly chose one—not particularly stunning, but she bore a slight resemblance to his middle school crush, which triggered some nostalgic feelings and added a touch of sentimental filter.

Once inside a private room:

"What would you like to do, sir?"

This particularly bold woman wore only a thin, translucent silk robe. Her curvaceous figure and alluring features were captivating. She placed one delicate hand on Ning Daoran's shoulder and sat gracefully on his lap, smiling, "First time here? You're quite dashing."

"Go take a bath first."

"Oh my, who knew someone so refined could be so impatient!"

As she turned away, Ning Daoran delivered a precise chop to the back of her neck, rendering her unconscious, and immediately conducted a Soul Search!

At the Return to Nature Level, Soul Search inflicted minimal harm to the subject. If he took his time, no damage to the Divine Soul would occur. However, should he wish, he could easily render her an imbecile post-search.

The results did not disappoint him.

Old Demon Ye had indeed been here every day recently. Out of caution, he had disguised himself differently each time, but Ning Daoran easily identified him through her memories.

As the rumors stated, Old Demon Ye was an insatiable womanizer, incapable of abstaining even for a single day.

That made things easier.

He reconstructed the woman's memories, opened the window facing outward, and created the illusion that the customer had sneaked out after their tryst.

Activating Perfect Level Concealing Breath, Invisibility, and Sound Absorption Techniques, he donned a black robe and bamboo hat. Wielding the Big Green Dragon Spear, he climbed to the ceiling beams like a bat, silently moving into position to wait for Old Demon Ye.

...

He waited for three days.

Perhaps Li Jue's disappearance had made Old Demon Ye wary. Sensing that someone other than himself was also watching the situation, Old Demon Ye stayed away from the brothel for the time being.

However, he couldn't bring himself to leave altogether. He was waiting for Ning Daoran to show up.

By the fourth day, he could no longer hold back.

Late at night, Old Demon Ye knocked on the brothel's door, his gaze icy as he tossed a gold ingot at the madam. "I'm in a hurry. Bring me all the girls who are still awake!

Oh, and you come too!"