Chapter 55

While feeling troubled in his heart, Ding Qi only hoped that he could pick more precious herbs in the mountains in the future, to shorten the ten years of time slightly.

The matter with the Tianquan Sect had been resolved, and Ding Qi took a step forward, preparing to return to Qixia Town.

However, just as he was about to leave, Ding Qi seemed to suddenly think of something. He turned around and looked towards the place where the Tianquan Sect and the Qingyun Sect had clashed, his face showing a thoughtful expression.

"This matter between the Tianquan Sect and the Qingyun Sect has nothing to do with me, but to think that the Qingyun Sect’s escort actually required so many people from the Tianquan Sect, even the Deputy Sect Leader Xing had to personally participate."

With this thought in mind, Ding Qi’s curiosity was unknowingly piqued.

Once this thought popped up, it immediately began to revolve in Ding Qi’s mind, as if it had taken root there, unable to be shaken off. For a moment, Ding Qi’s curiosity was greatly aroused.

"Before returning to Qixia Town, it might be necessary to take a look." Ding Qi thought hesitantly.

Ding Qi pondered for a moment at the spot, then finally turned around and walked towards the valley.

He quickly returned to the valley, glanced at the Qingyun Sect disciples lying unconscious on the ground, and did not pay them much attention. Then, Ding Qi shifted his gaze to the several boxes on the cart.

These boxes were quite tall, the smallest being about half a person’s height, and the largest even exceeding Ding Qi’s height. He looked at the boxes with great interest, and with a curious heart, Ding Qi walked towards the cart. He now wanted to open them and see what was inside these boxes that had caused such a big fuss for the Tianquan Sect.

However, just as Ding Qi approached the cart and was about to open the boxes, a slight sound suddenly came from behind him, causing his expression to change, and his actions to suddenly stop.

"Among the Qingyun Sect disciples who were affected by the解散功散 (Dissolving Power Powder), someone actually woke up." Ding Qi thought in surprise.

Just as Ding Qi was thinking this, the Qingyun Sect disciple who had just woken up was extremely alert.

After waking up, he immediately noticed the situation was wrong when he saw the unconscious Qingyun Sect disciples and the several Tianquan Sect corpses in the distance. After getting up from the ground, he immediately picked up a weapon and pointed it at Ding Qi, the only person still moving in the entire valley.

"Who are you? Please raise your hands. Also, what happened here while we were unconscious?" The person behind him asked Ding Qi cautiously, holding his weapon.

As he spoke, the Qingyun Sect disciple who had just woken up scanned the Tianquan Sect corpses in the distance, his face full of suspicion.

Then, he asked Ding Qi with caution, "What about those Tianquan Sect corpses over there?"

This young Qingyun Sect disciple was one of the last few to fall unconscious. Before he passed out, he clearly remembered that all the people escorting the sect’s goods were affected by the Tianquan Sect’s Dissolving Power Powder. He thought they would surely be captured and tied up by the Tianquan Sect.

However, when he woke up, he was surprised to find himself still in the place where he had fallen unconscious, and he was unharmed. The other disciples were also lying unconscious on the ground, not tied up or injured. Apart from the few Tianquan Sect corpses in the distance, there were no other Tianquan Sect members around.

Everything he saw now was full of mystery. While he was relieved that he had not fallen into the hands of the Tianquan Sect, this strange situation also made him extremely cautious, and he ultimately focused his suspicion on Ding Qi, who appeared suspicious.

Hearing the cautious voice of the Qingyun Sect disciple behind him, Ding Qi had no interest in answering. Instead, he suddenly laughed lightly and said, "Hehe, you were affected by the Dissolving Power Powder but woke up so quickly. It seems your skills are much weaker than those of your fellow disciples."

Based on what Ding Qi knew about the Dissolving Power Powder, the more robust one’s internal energy, the longer the drug’s effects would last. Conversely, those with weaker skills would wake up more easily after being affected by the drug.

Now that this Qingyun Sect disciple had woken up so quickly, Ding Qi guessed that his skills were much weaker than those of his fellow disciples.

"My skill level is none of your concern. But even if my skills are weak, with the short distance between us, do you really think you have a chance against me? I advise you to understand the current situation and answer my previous questions first."

Ding Qi’s words clearly hit a sore spot, making his face change, and he felt quite embarrassed. However, he ultimately frowned and retorted.

The weapon in the young Qingyun Sect disciple’s hand was only a few inches away from Ding Qi, and now Ding Qi was facing away from him. In this situation, an ordinary martial artist would indeed find it difficult to turn the tables.

Ding Qi did not know that the reason this young Qingyun Sect disciple had woken up so quickly was not simply because his skills were much weaker than those of his fellow disciples. According to the effects of the Dissolving Power Powder, even martial artists with weaker skills would remain unconscious for a considerable amount of time. This young Qingyun Sect disciple had woken up so quickly because he had left on a temporary errand before the mission and had hardly eaten the food laced with the Dissolving Power Powder by the traitor. Otherwise, he would still be lying unconscious on the ground like his fellow disciples, needing a long time to wake up.

However, this young Qingyun Sect disciple would not tell Ding Qi about this.

Moreover, even if Ding Qi knew the reason, he would not care.

In this situation, an ordinary person would find it difficult to turn the tables. However, for Ding Qi, subduing the other party was just a matter of raising his hand. He did not think that the suddenly awakened Qingyun Sect disciple could do anything to him.

"Also, the short sword hidden in your sleeve, I advise you to take it out to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings. Although you hid it very well, it’s not enough to fool me. In the current situation, any tricks you try will not benefit you." The person reminded again.

Hearing what the Qingyun Sect disciple said, Ding Qi was slightly taken aback.

"This is indeed a sharp person!"

For a moment, Ding Qi felt quite impressed.

The sharpness of the other person’s eyes was somewhat unexpected.

Ding Qi indeed had a short sword hidden in his sleeve, the one he had been using for the past few years.

He usually hid the short sword in his sleeve using a special technique, making it very difficult to detect. Even the knowledgeable experts from the Tianquan Sect had not noticed it. Ordinary martial artists would be even less likely to notice it. Unexpectedly, a Qingyun Sect disciple, who sounded about the same age as Ding Qi, had noticed it at first glance.

Although with the strength of Ding Qi’s three arts, the short sword in his sleeve had never been used and had no practical use. Now, dealing with this young Qingyun Sect disciple, it was even less necessary. However, the fact that the young Qingyun Sect disciple could detect the short sword in his sleeve still greatly surprised Ding Qi.