Chapter 121: The Flying Eagle Delivers the Pill, an Early Outbreak

The surface of the spell wall, once smooth and lustrous, was now riddled with pits and craters, as if it had been ravaged by an endless rain of meteors, losing all traces of its original flatness. Moreover, jagged cracks spiderwebbed across the wall, clearly shattered by the terrifying, violent tremors of the spell.

This was Spirit-Suppressing Stone—a miraculous, exotic material rumored to be unbreakable even by the full-force spellcasting of a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator. Yet, under Zhou Changwang’s Lesser Five Elements Thousand Thunder Technique, it had been violently fractured, with the very core of the stone sustaining immense damage.

"This Spirit-Suppressing Stone may have the property of suppressing spell power, but everything has its limits. Clearly, this wall has reached its limit under the assault of the Thousand Thunder Technique," Zhou Changwang mused. He shifted his gaze to his attribute panel and was suddenly taken aback.

Spell: Lesser Five Elements Thousand Thunder Technique (Entry 87/100)

It wasn’t just at the initial stage? Its experience points had already reached 87, nearing the Proficiency level?

"I’ve only just mastered it, and the experience is already this close to the Proficiency level?" Zhou Changwang was stunned. "Could it be because I’ve already cultivated the Thousand Thunder Flash and the Five Elements Thunder Transformation to the Great Perfection level?"

Upon reflection, that was indeed the case. Both spells were originally derived from the Lesser Five Elements Thousand Thunder Technique; the majority of their structural components overlapped. This naturally gave him a massive advantage in learning and casting it. A spell that would normally require at least thirty breaths to cast had been shortened to just over ten. In particular, the spell structures he had already simplified to the extreme were effortless to trace, providing a huge boost and amplification to this new technique.

"At this rate, I should be able to reach the Proficiency level in this spell very soon. It’s just a pity that the cost of casting it is so high. Even with my current level of spiritual energy, I can only cast it twice before being completely drained. I have no power left for a third strike..."

Zhou Changwang analyzed the pros and cons, finding it reasonable. The power of this spell was truly terrifying. Although in absolute strength it didn't yet surpass the Five Elements Thunder Transformation, that spell was at the Great Perfection level and was a single-target attack. The Lesser Five Elements Thousand Thunder Technique, however, was only at the Entry level and, more importantly, it was an area-of-effect crowd-control spell. One strike could cover a radius of several yards, attacking multiple or even dozens of cultivators at once.

"And it is only at the Entry level now. If I reach Proficiency, Small Success, or even Great Perfection... surpassing the Five Elements Thunder Transformation should be no problem at all."

Zhou Changwang was very satisfied. However, seeing the state of the wall, he knew this place was no longer suitable for practice, so he retreated to the backyard. The backyard was relatively open, and since he wasn't growing any spiritual plants there anymore, he had no reservations and began to practice again.

Lesser Five Elements Thousand Thunder Technique +5
Lesser Five Elements Thousand Thunder Technique +7
...

"As expected, because the Thousand Thunder Flash and Five Elements Thunder Transformation are both at Great Perfection, the experience gain for this spell is incredibly fast. One casting is worth five or seven of the original, and in the blink of an eye, I’ve reached the Proficiency level!"

Zhou Changwang blinked. Looking at the scorched, cratered ground that had sunk several feet, he felt the true terror of the spell’s power. He estimated that even a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator would be horrified if they encountered this. This was his first true taste of a high-tier spell. If he reached Proficiency, Small Success, or Great Perfection, could it threaten a Foundation Establishment expert? He indulged in the fantasy, though he knew it wasn't realistic; the terror of a Foundation Establishment cultivator lay not just in attack, but in speed and spiritual sense.

Beyond this, he also practiced the Five Elements Thunder Transformation from time to time. Having reached the late stage of Great Perfection, it was not far from the Consummation stage. He looked forward to seeing what level of power it would reach once perfected.

...

In the East District of the Fengmingwu Market, within a massive manor, there was a courtyard featuring a fishpond. A cultivator stood by the pond, holding a fishing rod. The rod was an ordinary piece of bamboo, and if one looked closely, it had no line, no float, no hook, and no bait. Yet, every so often, as he gently lifted the rod, a fish would leap out of the water, thrashing as if caught by a hook, and land on the shore. Anyone seeing this would be stunned, but the attendant standing nearby remained indifferent, as if used to the sight.

Suddenly, someone entered the manor and hurried over, bowing respectfully. "Patriarch!"

"What is it?" the cultivator asked, back to the visitor.

"The mining area is in chaos. Zhao Hu of the Tiger Shark Gang intends to take advantage of the situation to swallow the Rakshasa Gang. We expect results today; once we send word, he can lead his men over immediately. Additionally, the Tiger and Bear Twins failed to ambush Bai Yufeng. Bai Yufeng has broken through to the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. Despite their own Foundation Establishment status, they are no match for him. The Bear Twin was injured. However, they chased him all the way to the Line-in-the-Sky Valley. That is much further from our market; it will take him at least a day or two to return."

The messenger wore a smile. Everything was going according to plan.

"And the Bai family compound? Any changes?" the 'Patriarch' asked.

"None. For the past six months, the third-tier low-grade grand array has been active, shrouded in mist. Very few people enter or leave. Especially after they lost those carefully nurtured disciples last time and withdrew the rest, almost no one comes out. If they do, they are led by a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Very cautious. Though, the night before last, they suddenly raided the black market on the outskirts—perhaps they discovered the bounty we set in the Green Leaf Alliance. Bai Yuheng fled back to the compound that same night. Since he is a Foundation Establishment cultivator, we didn't dare stop him."

"That's strange," the man said, stopping his fishing and turning around. "We set the bounty last month. With their intelligence channels, they should have known long ago. Why would it erupt only now? And the guards we sent weren't led by a Foundation Establishment cultivator; they couldn't possibly have stopped the true experts in the black market."

"What do you mean, Patriarch?" the messenger asked.

"Has anything else happened in the market recently? Did any powerful strangers enter?"

"Master, I do know one thing," the steward standing by suddenly spoke up. "Half a month ago, Ma Ji of the Qingyuan Sect came to Fengmingwu Market. Bai Yuheng hosted him. However, he left early this morning."

"Ma Ji of the Qingyuan Sect? 'Flying Eagle' Ma Ji? Did you notice if his spirit beast, the flying eagle, was with him?" The Patriarch’s expression changed drastically.

"I... I didn't notice when he arrived, but I did see him leave on the flying eagle. Wait, I recall now—when he arrived, he seemed to be riding a sword..." The steward’s face also paled.

"Damn it. That old dog Bai Dongxian must have obtained the Nine-Turn Life-Returning Pill." The Patriarch stood up, his face grim.

"You mean..." the steward began, his voice trembling. "Ma Ji used his flying eagle to deliver the pill? Is the Qingyuan Sect interfering?"

"The Qingyuan Sect wouldn't care about such things. It must be a private favor. Ma Ji is a fellow disciple of Bai Yufeng; it’s said that when Ma Ji reached Foundation Establishment, Bai Yufeng helped him. That’s why he lent his eagle to Bai Yufeng, so it could deliver the pill once it was refined. I didn't expect their friendship to be this deep. That eagle is a Foundation Establishment demon beast, a soul-bound spirit pet. It’s his right hand. Without it, his own safety is compromised. Being willing to lend it... no wonder Bai Yufeng was forced into the valley; I thought the Tiger and Bear Twins had improved, but they were never in a hurry."

"What should we do now?" the messenger asked, panicked.

"The Nine-Turn Life-Returning Pill is not an ordinary medicine. Even after consuming it, it takes time to refine. A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator needs at least nine days to fully absorb its effects. I, Chen Jiudao, will not let that old dog refine it in peace. Pass the word: all actions move forward. Notify the Feng and Wu families; I want them at the Bai compound within the day. We are launching an all-out attack to break their array."

Chen Jiudao’s eyes gleamed with coldness. He had waited too long for this day. The chaotic night half a year ago was just a trial run; while it failed, it confirmed that the Bai ancestor was severely injured. He had been preparing ever since, slowly devouring the Bai family’s influence. If not for his fear of the ancestor’s desperate last stand, he wouldn't have waited. But now, he wouldn't gamble on the chance that Bai Dongxian would recover.

...

On the third day, Zhou Changwang woke up early. He had packed everything. The courtyard was empty, leaving no trace of his presence save for the damaged spell wall and the scorched earth in the back. He dismantled the mist and sound-dampening arrays.

"Time to go. Leave this place of trouble behind," he thought.

The sun had not yet risen; the mist was heavy due to the high altitude, giving the place an ethereal, fairy-like quality. He locked the gate and stepped out. The streets were quiet. He decided to head straight to the Water Cloud Pavilion to meet Shen Xinyue and Qian Xiaoyue. It was only proper to arrive early.

*BOOM!*

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed, followed by the sounds of intense combat. It wasn't just one place; within moments, violent spell fluctuations erupted all over the market, accompanied by the crashing sounds of arrays shattering.

"This..." Zhou Changwang’s expression shifted. "The chaos started early?"

He was stunned. The melancholy he felt about leaving a place he had lived in for over a decade vanished. In a flash, he cast his protective and speed spells, gripping his flying sword tightly. In his other hand, he held a stack of spirit talismans. "Regardless, I must meet Qian Xiaoyue."

Using his Spirit Sight, he scanned the surroundings and sprinted toward the Water Cloud Pavilion. Many were waking up in a panic; some, recalling the 'carnage' of six months ago, were already attacking shops to loot treasures. The chaos erupted in an instant.

As he ran, a passerby attempted to attack him with a magical artifact. Zhou Changwang’s eyes turned cold. He sidestepped using the Seven-Star Moon-Stepping technique, reappearing instantly beside the man and striking with a single finger.

*Puff!*

With a flash of light, the man’s head was pierced. Zhou Changwang swiftly snatched the man’s storage bag and the fallen artifact, then vanished again. Nearby looters, seeing this, were terrified and dared not move.

"The chaos is spreading too fast," Zhou Changwang noted. He ignored the killing and screaming around him; in such a situation, he could barely save himself, let alone others.

Soon, the Water Cloud Pavilion came into view. Because of its deep background, no one had dared to target it yet, though many eyes were watching. As he approached, he was spotted.

"It's Daoist Zhou. You're here."

The shop’s protective array opened slightly, and he entered.

"Greetings, Shopkeeper Li, greetings, sisters," Zhou Changwang said. He noticed over a dozen people inside, mostly female cultivators, but Shen Xinyue and Qian Xiaoyue were missing. He asked in alarm, "Where are Senior Shen and Qian Xiaoyue?"

"Xinyue went out early to help some people evacuate. She should be back soon, and then we will leave. As for Xiaoyue, she went out early to help her sister carry some belongings," Shopkeeper Li explained patiently.

"She went out?" Zhou Changwang’s face changed. He knew that Qian Xiaoyue’s sister, Lu Wei'er, lived near the Six Directions Pavilion, and that a rogue cultivator named Fang Shitong lived in that same compound. In normal times, rogue cultivators were cautious, but in this chaos, they would be emboldened to kill for treasure.

"I have to go find her," he said, turning back toward the door.

"You..." Li Qianyun tried to stop him, but he was already gone. She looked at his retreating figure with a sense of admiration; few would risk their lives to find someone in such times.

Zhou Changwang didn't think much of it. Qian Xiaoyue had saved his life when he first arrived in this world, and she had been instrumental in his growth, his access to the Water Cloud Pavilion, and his acquisition of the *Pure Yang Five Elements* technique. He believed in repaying kindness tenfold. More importantly, his strength was his confidence; if he were still a weak second or third-level Qi Refinement cultivator, he would have stayed put. But he was stronger now.

He sprinted toward the Six Directions Pavilion. The chaos was intensifying. He used his "Derivation Technique," now at the Consummation level, to sense danger and avoid ambushes. It worked perfectly, warning him of hidden experts and active battlefields.

He arrived near the Six Directions Pavilion to see a dozen cultivators attacking its array. Suddenly, a cold voice rang out: "Do you really think my Six Directions Pavilion is defenseless?"

A flying sword shot from the array, decapitating four or five of the attackers in a few swift movements. The rest fled in terror.

"A late-stage Qi Refinement expert," Zhou Changwang noted. He ducked into a side alley. Deep within the alley lay the residence of Lu Wei'er—the place where Qian Xiaoyue had first lived when she moved into the inner city.