Chapter 121: Chapter 99: Taixuan Holy Land, Chief Disciple of True Transmission, Chu Zheng_2
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Before Chu Zheng entered the mansion, Song Lingqing seldom even spoke.
Song Lingqing glanced at Song Yun, nodded slightly with a touch of coldness, and took a seat by herself.
The term "son-in-law," for some reason, always seemed somewhat grating to the ears.
Song Yun practiced very diligently, and with the help of elixirs, his progress was noticeable within just a few days, almost reaching the Grandmaster realm.
In the Martial Path, he indeed possessed some exceptional talent.
Song Yun consciously stepped forward and began to help Chu Zheng clean up the ingredients with swift movements.
Song Lingqing, on the other side, seemed somewhat hesitant; she had spent a long time in Giant Marsh and often heard rumors of Water Demons eating humans, so she couldn't help feeling a bit resistant now.
"Water Demons eating humans, humans eating all sorts of demons— it's all just part of the natural cycle; there's no need to think too much about it."
In the eyes of Qi Cultivators, whether human or demon, including themselves, they were all just a part of this world.
Just like how cultivators absorb Spiritual Energy into their bodies, on a universal level, it's simply one form of energy flow.
Chu Zheng saw what was on her mind and, without much concern, picked a shrimp nearly the length of an arm from the fire and devoured it in a few bites.
Such a large shrimp would be exceedingly rare elsewhere but was not an uncommon sight in Giant Marsh.
The shrimp was smooth, tender, and filled with a surge of Spiritual Energy.
The flesh of these Water Demons contained substantial Spiritual Energy, and consuming it regularly could benefit one's cultivation.
While eating, Chu Zheng pulled out a slate and glanced at it.
[Name: Chu Zheng]
[Cultivation: Qi Refining: Early Jade Bone Realm, Immortal Path: Late Spirit Spring Realm]
[Cultivation Techniques: Taixuan Divine Fire Scripture (Eighth Order), Great Circulatory Qi Guideline (Sixth Order/Incomplete), Heavenly Star Body Refining Technique (Fifth Order)...]
[Divine Skills: Five Thunder Righteous Law (Sixth Order), Xuan Tian Seal Third Form (Fifth Order), Space Condensing Art (Sixth Order), Heavenly Divination Technique (Second Order), Object Control (Second Order), Transmute Stone to Gold (Second Order), Invisibility Technique (Second Order)...]
[Repair Master: Third Order (170/1000)]
[Remaining Repairs for the Day: 0]
[Currently Repairable: Lower Section of Great Circulatory Qi Guideline (0/2000), Phantom Spirit Technique (0/7000)...]
The upper section of the Great Circulatory Qi Guideline was already enough for Chu Zheng to use for a long time; he used all of the recent repair opportunities on the Nine Thunder Jade Talisman he had purchased from the marketplace.
[Nine Thunder Jade Talisman (Third Order/Incomplete): Crafted by a master of the Talismans Path, capable of severely injuring or even killing Third Order beings. It was smashed before it could be used, repairable (40/50)]
Third Order beings were equivalent to cultivators in the Soul Condensing Realm of the Immortal Path.
In other words, with this talisman, Chu Zheng could, unexpectedly, severely injure or even kill a grandmaster of the Soul Condensing Realm, making it the perfect protective trump card.
Currently lacking means of self-protection, talismans like the Nine Thunder Jade Talisman were the most suitable items for Chu Zheng.
Seeing Chu Zheng thoroughly enjoying the meal, Song Lingqing tentatively took a bite and her eyes instantly brightened.
The moment it reached her mouth, she realized that this food was beneficial for her cultivation.
She observed Chu Zheng cautiously for a moment, then began to eat with restrained movements.
Chu Zheng didn't eat much.
After peeling around a dozen large prawns, grilling a couple hundred-pound silverfish, and consuming half of a millstone-sized ancient softshell turtle, he stopped.
After all, these things contained some impurities; a taste was enough.
Song Lingqing's attention had been on Chu Zheng the whole time. Seeing him cease eating, she somewhat reluctantly put down the half-eaten grilled fish, cleaned her hands quietly, and sat up straight with proper etiquette.
"Have you ever heard of the Hundred Demons Assembly?"
Before she could speak, Chu Zheng asked first.
He remembered the name mentioned earlier by Wu Taiyun and, with a thoughtful expression, had some plans in mind.
"I have heard of it."
After pondering for a moment, Song Lingqing nodded and said,
"Its power surpasses that of the Phantom Spirit Sect. They raise hundreds of demons within their Sect and once had a Demon King that had taken human form. Their cultivators are ordinary in their own techniques, but the Magical Beasts they raise are extremely powerful in combat. It's rumored that they also have some connections to the Northern Region."
"The Northern Region..."
Chu Zheng rubbed his fingertips, lost in thought. The Northern Region was a paradise for the Demon Race. Before the Immortal Alliance reached the Cangyun Realm, there were frequent wars between humans and demons, leaving deep-seated resentment.
The reason why the Immortal Alliance did not completely eradicate the Demon Race within the Cangyun Realm was simply that the Immortal Alliance also included cultivators from the Demon Race.
Demon Immortals are also immortals, and among the leaders of the Immortal Alliance, there are Immortal Kings from the Demon Race.
The arrival of the Immortal Alliance could not directly erase the existing enmity. Associating with the Demon Race was still regarded with contempt by the Cangyun Cultivators.
This could be seen from the fact that even Taixuan, a Holy Land in its own right, had been forced into sealing its Sect Gate and withdrawing from the world.
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And what the Immortal Alliance could do was merely to demarcate territories and govern them, striving to ensure that the two races did not infringe on each other's waters.
Chu Zheng took out the Hidden Dragon List and flipped through it, his gaze sharpening.
[Hidden Dragon List No. 3567: Hundred Demons Assembly, Qiu Shi, bone age seventy-three, cultivation at the early stages of the Entry Dao Realm, demon tamer: Spirit Shadow Lion, late stages of Entry Dao Realm.]
As a sect of demon tamers, the spirit beasts they tamed were also considered part of their own battle power; otherwise, with Qiu Shi's cultivation at the early stages of the Entry Dao Realm, he wouldn't be able to squeeze into the top five thousand of the Hidden Dragon List.
Within a breathing span, Chu Zheng had made his decision and stood up to open a spatial pathway.
"Where are you going?"
Seeing Chu Zheng take out the Hidden Dragon List, Song Lingqing felt something was amiss, and she was momentarily surprised by his actions.
"Looking for someone."
Chu Zheng casually uttered and stepped into the spatial pathway.
The moment he exited the pathway, his Heavenly Divination Technique operated, quickly capturing a trace of Qi.
Fortunately, the distance was not far.
Upon entering the Jade Bone Realm, Chu Zheng's speed in covering distances was incomparable to before; even if he could only display half of the power of Riding the Clouds and Driving the Mist, traveling tens of thousands of miles in a day and night was a mere trifle, especially since he did not have to worry about the consumption.
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More than two hundred thousand miles southwest of Giant Marsh Country.
The moon hung high in the sky.
In the wilderness amongst the desolate woods, a man and a lion lay sprawled across the wilds.
The human figure appeared to be in his early twenties, very young, dressed in green robes.
The lion lying behind him had fur that rippled like water, radiating a lustrous jade-like sheen.
All of a sudden, the jade lion rose to its feet, issuing a low growl from its throat.
The blue-robed cultivator sitting cross-legged in front of it slowly opened his eyes and looked up at the sky.
In the center of the silver moon stood a black-robed figure.
"I heard the Hundred Demons Assembly wants my head."
Chu Zheng looked down at the man and lion below, not in a hurry to make a move. Instead, he revealed his true form and asked:
"Do you want my head?"
Upon seeing Chu Zheng's face clearly, Qiu Shi's eyes narrowed, a frown creasing his forehead, showing impatience, and he muttered:
"Eat him."
Roar—
The Spirit Shadow Lion coiled behind him roared, and amidst the sound of wind and thunder, it opened its gaping maw and charged straight for Chu Zheng.
"Evil beast!"
Cold lightning shot from Chu Zheng's eyes as he let out a fierce shout, his voice thundering across the wilderness, imbued with the majesty of thunder.
The Spirit Shadow Lion shuddered, halting its charge, unable to advance further. It shook its massive head; its mane subtly fluttering, uncertainty flickering within its beastly pupils.
Qi Cultivators refine their bodies with the Yin Yang Dual Qi, naturally resulting in a purer aura, and the Qi within their bodies follows suit.
Those with profound cultivation do not need to lift a finger; their presence alone can subdue Auspicious Beasts and attract spirits of plants and trees.
Majestic beasts have innately keen spiritual perception, and the Spirit Shadow Lion had already sensed a tremendous threat emanating from Chu Zheng, as well as a trace of affinity.
Watching the actions of the Spirit Shadow Lion, a hint of a smile flashed across Chu Zheng's eyes, and he slowly extended his hand:
"Come."
For a moment, the Spirit Shadow Lion hesitated, glancing back at Qiu Shi.
"Bastard, do you know who is your master?!"
Qiu Shi's face underwent a drastic change, sensing that something was amiss, and he shouted urgently, "Eat him!"
The Spirit Shadow Lion looked left and right but ultimately chose to sit down to one side, making no further movements.
"Remember this."
Chu Zheng withdrew his gaze, standing tall above the nine heavens, divine flames billowing behind him, turning the night sky for miles around crimson, as his voice carried far:
"My name is Chu Zheng, Chief Disciple of True Transmission from the current generation of Taixuan Holy Land."
The Taixuan Holy Land had not admitted disciples for ten thousand years, and Chu Zheng considered himself to be a True Disciple now that he possessed the complete Taixuan Divine Fire Scripture, believing that there should not be any issues.
As for Fu Quanliang, at best he could be considered number two.