"The Qingcheng Secret Cave?"
Zhao Rui’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’This is a bit unexpected, but it also makes sense.’
"Allow to report to the Sect Leader. I will then explain the details to you, Benefactor."
Daoist Yu gave a salute, holding his sword and cupping his fist. Facing Zhao Rui now, he felt as if he were standing before their own elderly Sect Leader.
Perhaps it was because he had just finished a great battle; an aura still lingered around him, causing him to unconsciously exude an inexplicable, imposing presence.
"Yes. I’m afraid this Female Demon might have so tricks up her sleeve, so I dare not leave this place for the mont. I’ll have to trouble you, Daoist Yu, to bring the Sect Leader or soone else from the Qingcheng Sword Sect with the authority to speak."
A rare, serious expression appeared on Zhao Rui’s otherwise youthful face.
His gaze shifted slightly toward the strange space behind him, which shimred like the surface of water.
The space seed jarringly out of place. Though transparent, it had a distinct, thick quality, like gel.
It was like looking at sothing through a pane of glass.
’Could it be so kind of spatial folding or distortion?’
Zhao Rui’s mind raced with possibilities, but regardless, he had to stay here for the ti being.
"I’ll go inform them right away!"
Daoist Yu quickly agreed, then turned and used his Lightweight Skill to speed up the mountain.
The other Daoists stood guard at the cave entrance to prevent intruders.
Inside the cave, Zhao Rui stepped into the Crystal Stone Pool and sat cross-legged. He opened his Thirty-Eight Acupoints, began circulating his Magic Technique, and continued to absorb the Misty Qi emanating from the Spirit Stones, channeling it through his body in the Great and Small Circulation.
Nearly half an hour later, a burst of hurried footsteps sounded from outside the cave.
A mont later, Daoist Yu walked in, leading a group of people.
Among them was the old Sect Leader, whose breathing was as faint as a silken thread. He was being carried in on a chair by four Daoists.
Beside the old Sect Leader was Uncle Master Yun Hao, his arms wrapped in bandages, along with the other remaining pillars of the sect.
As they entered, their eyes imdiately fell upon the Female Demon’s body, which lay cut in two on the ground. They all gasped in unison, "Boundless Celestial Venerable!"
They never imagined that the Female Demon would be slain here.
After composing themselves, they turned their attention to Zhao Rui. He was sitting cross-legged, wreathed in Misty Qi, looking like an immortal deity from a painting.
"Your virtue is imasurable, Benefactor, as is your fortune! That Qing City has escaped this great calamity is all thanks to your power!"
The old Sect Leader unsteadily clasped his hands and bowed.
Hearing the voice, Zhao Rui slowly opened his eyes. He exhaled a breath of white air that shot straight forward like a bolt of silk.
It shot forward a full ten feet.
Concluding his ditation, Zhao Rui rose to his feet. He then looked at the group, quickly hopped out of the Crystal Stone Pool, and said with a smile, "Thank you for coming, Sect Leader. I presu Daoist Yu has already explained the situation."
The old Sect Leader grunted in assent and nodded at Daoist Yu.
Taking the cue, Daoist Yu stepped forward and began in a solemn voice, "Twenty years ago, an unusual phenonon occurred on Qingcheng Mountain, which led our sect to discover this place..."
"At first, only a few Crystal Stones erged abruptly. Later, more and more gathered, until the deposit reached its current size."
"Through the research of the Sect Leader and several Elders, we discovered that these Crystal Stones contained a wondrous form of True Qi that could support one’s Cultivation."
"Unfortunately, ordinary techniques were completely unable to absorb it... until one of our Elders discovered a fragnted text of the Thunderbolt Swordsmanship in our archives."
"So, for all these years, the Sword Sect has been trying to train a successor who could cultivate the Thunderbolt Swordsmanship..."
"The Cultivation Technique is incomplete, and its requirents for innate talent are far too high. Even if an ordinary disciple cultivates it, it is no better than a mundane technique. They can never reach Great Success, let alone absorb this power..."
"In those twenty years, no fewer than twenty disciples have lost their lives as a result."
"Unfortunately, our Qingcheng Sect’s lineage is incomplete and our talents are few. To this day, only my Junior Brother Yun Hao has successfully mastered the Thunderbolt Sword Technique!"
Zhao Rui nodded after hearing Daoist Yu’s explanation. It was all straightforward enough.
He then asked about Elder Ge’s connection to Qing City.
"A hundred years ago, Elder Ge was a disciple of Qingcheng. However, due to a difference in ideals, he followed his grandmaster and several dozen others in leaving the mountain..."
"Only a few years after they left, Qingcheng suffered a great catastrophe, and our sect was destroyed..."
"Later, his grandmaster and the others all died in battle, leaving him the sole survivor... It’s a pity that the skills he mastered were mostly learned during warti; they are not Qingcheng’s Ultimate Skill..."
Understanding dawned on Zhao Rui as he listened to Daoist Yu.
No wonder Elder Ge sent one of his chosen "apprentices" up to Qingcheng Mountain every so often.
He was probably acting on old sentint, sending soone up the mountain to stay for a while, learn so of Qingcheng’s skills, and forge a friendly connection.
After listening, Zhao Rui nodded. "By that asure, the ties between us are indeed deep. If the Sect Leader doesn’t mind, I’d like to stay here temporarily..."
"Not at all. With you here, young friend, everyone in Qingcheng can rest a little easier! We will be imposing on you!"
"In a way, we’re all family!"
Zhao Rui smiled. ’We’re both places of Elder Ge’s ’inheritance,’ yet neither of us has learned his true teachings.’
’That old man is so stingy! I have to get a straight answer out of him next ti I see him.’
After so more discussion, the Qingcheng Disciples, led by their old Sect Leader, returned to the grounds of the Qingcheng Sword Sect, which now lay in ruins.
With so many people dead, not even the imperial Court would sit by and do nothing.
Things had clearly blown way out of proportion!
However, that was for the people of Qingcheng to handle. He didn’t need to worry about it.
Right now, Zhao Rui’s main concerns were the strange, rippling space behind him and the Crystal Stones at his feet that were emitting the Misty Qi.
Judging by the Female Demon’s actions right before her death, she had clearly been aiming for that strange space.
Zhao Rui slowly extended his Peach Wood Sword toward the space. He watched as it passed through as smoothly as a normal thrust.
It was completely unaffected.
Zhao Rui then tried other objects, such as a rock and a ditation cushion.
They all passed through the strange space without obstruction.
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