Chapter 57

"Really? You received the Water Light Shield and even spent twenty spirit coins to buy the Twelve Forms of Sword Technique?"

Wei Tianchong stared at Tang Jie with wide eyes.

Tang Jie corrected him, "I received the Twelve Forms of Sword Technique and spent twenty spirit coins to buy the Water Light Shield."

Wei Tianchong was almost driven mad, "Is there a difference?"

Tang Jie shrugged, "At least it's a martial technique book, right?"

"Even you know that the Twelve Forms of Sword Technique is a martial skill, not a technique book?" Wei Tianchong felt like he was going to be driven crazy by Tang Jie's words.

Martial skills are techniques for mortals.

It means that this is something only mortals practice; true cultivators disdain to learn such things.

Tang Jie must have gone mad to actually buy, or rather, receive a martial skill book.

It's like having Yale, Harvard, Tsinghua, and Peking University to choose from, but you insist on attending a third-rate fly-by-night university!

"At least it's something both immortals and mortals can use," Tang Jie smiled.

"But it's still a martial skill!"

Wei Tianchong pounded his chest and stomped his feet, his face showing deep disappointment.

By "both immortals and mortals can use," it means that this martial skill is somewhat special, and cultivators can also make use of it to some extent.

The Twelve Forms of Sword Technique is such a somewhat special martial skill. If not for this, it wouldn't have been included in the Tianyi Pavilion.

The Twelve Forms of Sword Technique is a method for practicing sword slashes, with certain requirements for force application.

For mortals, this force application is their own physical strength, while for cultivators, it can be their own spiritual energy. A sword skill driven by spiritual energy is naturally stronger and faster than one driven by physical strength, but that's all it is. It's ultimately a martial skill that enhances the weapon's power and cannot be made more powerful through spells, nor does it have any variations.

"You don't even have a sword, how can you practice the Twelve Forms of Sword Technique?" Wei Tianchong shook his head and sighed.

Tang Jie smiled, "Then I'll just buy one."

"Can you afford it? Even the cheapest lower-grade magical weapon costs several hundred spirit coins," Wei Tianchong snorted.

Weapons are divided into three major categories: magical weapons, magical treasures, and divine treasures. Weapons correspond to techniques, treasures to spells, and divine treasures to divine powers, each corresponding to three levels of spells, and they are further divided into lower, middle, upper, and supreme grades. It's said that above divine treasures are Dao weapons, which only those who have grasped the Dao can use, but they only exist in legends.

Tang Jie smiled, "I'll just buy a regular iron sword for practice."

"You're here to cultivate, not to practice martial arts!" Wei Tianchong held his head and wailed, "This is truly embarrassing. Don't say you're my servant when you go out."

Tang Jie was speechless, "Do you really have to? I haven't even complained that you haven't opened your spirit eye yet."

Wei Tianchong jumped up, "Who said that? I'm almost there, just another ten days, and you'll only be ten days ahead of me!"

"Is that so? Then congratulations, young master," Tang Jie became interested.

Opening the spirit eye, one month is the high-speed period, two months is the standard period, and three months is the bottom limit.

If Wei Tianchong can open his spirit eye in ten days, then he will definitely be able to transcend the mortal realm, provided he maintains this speed.

The Wei family has high hopes for him, and they must have given him plenty of spirit pills and elixirs. Plus, he has been working hard recently, and he is cultivating a relatively simple Shao Hai Xuan Yuan Technique, so it's normal for him to achieve this.

"That's right," Wei Tianchong said proudly, "When the time comes, I will definitely choose a good spirit spell to learn, unlike you, who chose the Twelve Forms of Sword Technique, and even your Water Light Shield is a piece of trash."

The Water Light Shield is not trash.

It is a genuine spirit spell. Using this spell can form a water shield to protect oneself and weaken attacks.

The problem is, Tang Jie, you're cultivating the Shao Hai Dong Jin Technique!

What is the combat characteristic of the Shao Hai Dong Jin Technique?

Gathering energy!

Quick attacks!

Breaking armor!

It's an offensive cultivation foundation!

You can naturally learn some defensive spells when you reach a higher level, but why are you learning the Water Light Shield now?

You should be learning the Bone-Piercing Needle!

However, in the face of the choice of the Twelve Forms of Sword Technique, Wei Tianchong was too lazy to scold Tang Jie about the Water Light Shield.

How can someone who is usually quite smart be so stupid when it comes to cultivation techniques?

Seeing Wei Tianchong's pained expression, Tang Jie felt somewhat comforted.

Unconsciously, his relationship with the young master had become closer.

The current Wei Tianchong, though still capricious and lazy with many faults, and still orders him around to do servant work, at least now cares about him.

This is a good thing.

Ignoring Wei Tianchong's "anger at his lack of ambition and pity for his misfortune," Tang Jie took the two technique books and went to the market, where he bought an iron sword for three silver coins, then returned to Tao Ran Residence to practice swordsmanship.

The Twelve Forms of Sword Technique, as the name suggests, naturally has twelve sword forms.

Each form has different movements, including strikes, thrusts, slashes, and cuts, but most are simple and direct, focusing on quick and fierce attacks aimed at vital points. It is a quite practical sword technique.

If in the mortal world, this would be considered a high-level martial art.

However, for immortals, even the best mortal martial skills are just mortal techniques. With an immortal's protective aura, no matter how you slash, you can't break through it, and a single finger can make you unable to dodge.

Skills seem so pale and meaningless in the face of powerful immortal techniques that cultivators almost never study combat techniques.

But Tang Jie clearly doesn't think so.

Thus, in the following days, Tang Jie practiced swordsmanship in the courtyard when he had nothing to do, occasionally practicing the Water Light Shield—releasing it once consumes ten drops of spirit liquid, and with his current small circulation speed, it's not enough.

He really doesn't know when he will reach the level of those great cultivators who can complete a full circulation with a single breath.

A few days later, Wei Tianchong completed his spirit eye, and after some time, Shid Meng also entered the spirit eye realm.

Both of them went to the Tianyi Pavilion to receive a spell.

Wei Tianchong learned the Spirit Guidance Technique, which releases a spirit line to entangle an object and make it move as desired.

This was Tang Jie's suggestion.

As a young master of a noble family, Wei Tianchong is destined not to suffer like students from poor families. He has a foundation in carving, and it's suitable for him to focus on puppet techniques and develop in the summoning direction. Having subordinates to do the work is fitting for his status as a wealthy young master. His Shao Hai Xuan Yuan Technique is of the "endless and continuous" type, which is also suitable for this path.

The Spirit Guidance Technique is the most basic method of controlling puppets, which can be used to control small objects, but it must be guided by a spirit line and has a distance limit. However, if practiced well, it can also be used to control a flying sword—tethered by a rope.

Since it's not a combat stage now, start with the basics and practice control.

Moreover, Wei Tianchong is naturally playful. After being serious for a while, he has recently started to revert to his old ways. With the Spirit Guidance Technique, he can have fun by playing with brooms, flying chairs, and accompanying chopsticks on walks, which is both educational and entertaining.

As for Shid Meng, as expected, he learned the Cleaning Spell—freeing him from some of the miscellaneous tasks.

The days of cultivation were simple and peaceful, and before they knew it, another month had passed.

---

Eagle's Nest.

Gu Changqing was writing urgently at his desk when a knock came at the door, "This is Gao Fei, I have something to report to the Eagle Master."

"Come in."

A tall young man walked into the room, first bowing to Gu Changqing, then said, "The Azure Dragon Manor has news about No. 96."

"Go on."

Gu Changqing continued his work without stopping.

"Report from No. 42 of the Wenxin Secret Chamber. After investigation, Tang Jie entered the Wei family three years ago as the adopted son of the Wu Nanfu couple of the Azure Dragon Manor. At that time, he was found unconscious from the cold at the Wu family's gate and was rescued by them."

"When did he become unconscious from the cold?"

"Year 342 of the Tian Shu era, in the twelfth month."

Gu Changqing suddenly stopped writing, looked up at Gao Fei, and his eyes shone with a divine light, "Year 342 of the Tian Shu era?"

"Yes!" Gao Fei replied, "It's the same year!"

Gu Changqing's voice suddenly became cold and stern, "Is there any other information?"

"Yes, it's said that Tang Jie's family lived in the Wild Valley Plain and was ruined by bandits, leading to his family's destruction. He fled to the Azure Dragon Manor."

"Wild Valley Plain? Bandits?" Gu Changqing stood up, his voice rising.

He looked at Gao Fei, who had a smile on his face, "Yes, Eagle Master. A destitute young man from the Wild Valley Plain, named Tang Jie, was found unconscious at the Wu family's gate, just a few months after Tang Jie fled. He was then adopted and entered the Wei family, eventually becoming a servant student and entering the Xiyue Academy..."

Gu Changqing quickly asked, "Is the information reliable? Has it been confirmed, and how secret is it?"

Gao Fei replied, "Absolutely reliable. This information is not a secret. The Wu family is an old family on Big Willow Tree Street, and all the neighbors know them. The news of Tang Jie being rescued and adopted spread almost immediately among the neighbors, and they all know Tang Jie. After Tang Jie became a servant student, the Wu family's status rose, and the news of the Wu family having two cultivation sons spread throughout the neighborhood. No. 42 only took a day to gather all the information, and there's no way it could be wrong."

"What about the Wei family?"

"There's no information there. The Wei family doesn't accept strangers, and there are spirit masters guarding it, making it difficult to infiltrate. Of course, with some time and effort, it might be possible, but it's not worth it, after all..." Gao Fei hesitated and didn't continue.

"After all, this information is enough, right?" Gu Changqing said.

Gao Fei didn't dare to answer.

Gu Changqing smiled, and the previous excitement had vanished.

He sat back in his chair, leaned back, and closed his eyes slightly, as if deep in thought.

Gao Fei was puzzled and waited for a while before softly saying, "Eagle Master?"

"Hmm." Gu Changqing responded softly.

Then he said, "Now it seems that this Tang Jie is indeed very suspicious."

"What will you do, Eagle Master?"

Gu Changqing slowly opened his eyes, "Since that's the case, I really don't understand why Tang Jie shouted that during the enrollment."

"This..." Gao Fei hesitated.

He thought for a while and finally said, "I don't know, but I'm sure it's not for the reason that the more dangerous a place is, the safer it is."

Gu Changqing laughed, "Don't mention that fool. I've thought about the reason for the shout at the academy, and there are four possibilities."

"The first possibility is that this is just a coincidence, and this Tang Jie has nothing to do with the Tang Jie we're looking for. He was just expressing his aspirations."

"The second possibility is that this Tang Jie is still not the real Tang Jie. The real Tang Jie might be hiding among the students under a different name, deliberately paying him to do this to draw our attention."

Hearing these two possibilities, Gao Fei frowned. Honestly, he didn't like these two hypotheses.

Gu Changqing continued, "The third possibility is that he is Tang Jie. The purpose of his shout was to draw our attention."

"Why?" Gao Fei asked.

"Yes, why? That's the key!" Gu Changqing said, "If he is really Tang Jie and did this on purpose, the only explanation I can give is... he's deliberately provoking us."

"Provoking us?" Gao Fei almost couldn't believe his ears, "Provoking the Heavenly Palace?"

"Young and full of righteous spirit, it's not strange for him to do something strange."

"However, no matter how full of righteous spirit, isn't he afraid of us finding him?"

"That's the problem... that's the problem!" Gu Changqing lightly tapped his fingers and asked Gao Fei, "Can we go and arrest him now?"

Gao Fei was taken aback, opened his mouth but couldn't say anything.

Gu Changqing smiled gently, "No, we can't! This is the territory of the Xiyue Sect, and he's at the Xiyue Academy! We can't arrest him, at least not openly."

In the past three years, the Heavenly Palace has been searching for people in the Xiyue Sect, and the number of suspected targets is unknown.

There are some people who, no matter how you look at them, seem like Tang Jie—those who try to join the major families to enter the academy are not just Tang Jie and Ji Ziqian, but many more.

There are also those who, in their haste, have tried to act, capturing and interrogating people.

In the past three years, this has happened twice, and each time the Heavenly Palace had to pay a large sum of money to appease the Xiyue Sect's anger and prevent them from expelling them all.

Of course, whether their anger is real or fake is not important; what's important is that the price to appease their anger is not low!

The price is so high that even the Heavenly Palace has to send people to warn Gu Changqing not to act rashly before confirming the target.

They don't want to give the Xiyue Sect a third chance to extort money from them.

"It seems this is the confidence behind his provocation, but he underestimates the Heavenly Palace. He can't really think that relying on the academy will make him safe forever, right?" Gao Fei snorted.

"No!" To his surprise, Gu Changqing shook his head, "You forgot I said there are four possibilities."

"Eagle Master, your meaning is..."

Gu Changqing rhythmically tapped the table, "A young man who made Xu Muyang take him away at first sight; a young man who, after just half a year of interaction, made Xu Muyang entrust him with a precious treasure; now it seems he is also a young man who, despite the difficulties, successfully entered the Xiyue Academy. Such a person, would he, after enduring for three years, just out of a moment's impulse, expose himself and provoke us? As you said, he's just a small student, can we really not deal with him? No, I don't believe it, I don't believe this kid is that stupid! I'd rather believe the first and second possibilities than the third!"

"But in your first and second possibilities, he's not Tang Jie."

"That's right, so if he is Tang Jie, there must be a fourth possibility..."

"What is it?"

"I don't know." Gu Changqing replied, "This is exactly what I can't understand. If he is Tang Jie, why did he do this? I know there is a fourth possibility, but I don't know what it is. And this answer might be the real answer..." Gu Changqing rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes slightly.

Gao Fei knew this was Gu Changqing's behavior when he was in a dilemma.

Gu Changqing has always been highly confident, believing he can understand the psychological activities of all the targets being hunted.

But this time, when he assumed Tang Jie was Tang Jie, he found himself completely unable to understand the meaning of Tang Jie's actions.

This is the source of his frustration.

To some extent, it is also the source of his unease.

If Tang Jie is really Tang Jie, is there some conspiracy or trap waiting for him behind his actions?

Gu Changqing would inevitably think so.

"Eagle Master, no matter what, Tang Jie is a highly suspicious target. If we can't figure out some things... just do it first," Gao Fei said cautiously.

Hearing this, Gu Changqing's actions paused.

His frown gradually relaxed, and a smile appeared on his face, "Sorry, Gao Fei, I fell into my old habits again. You're right, if we can't figure it out, just do it first. It's laughable to be paralyzed by suspicion..."

Saying this, Gu Changqing took a deep breath and said seriously, "Promote Tang Jie to a Class A target. One: Notify our people in the academy to keep the information about Tang Jie under wraps, and don't let the Xiyue Sect notice him. Two: Send people to approach him and gather more accurate information. Three: Find an opportunity to search his room, and don't overlook the Student Forest. If he is really Tang Jie, the Military Mirror should be nearby. As long as we find it, everything else is unimportant."

"Yes!"