Chapter 70

Feng Yunsheng was accompanied by a powerful expert from Guangcheng Mountain back to the mountain gate.

Considering the recent escalation of conflicts with the Great Sun Holy Sect, to prevent any unforeseen events, some of the powerful experts from Guangcheng Mountain remained to assist Elder Qin in stabilizing the situation in the Eastern Tang and Tian Dong Prefecture, in preparation for any possible retaliation from the Great Sun Holy Sect.

After seeing Feng Yunsheng off, Yan Zhaoge returned to his residence, deep in thought as he walked.

This time, he had seriously offended the Great Sun Holy Sect, and his recent display of strength and potential was quite impressive. The Great Sun Holy Sect would likely keep a close eye on him.

Moreover, Yan Xu was also watching him closely.

Yan Zhaoge had advanced to the mid-stage Outer Gang Master and defeated the late-stage Outer Gang Master Xiao Sheng. The group of black-robed warriors who had been accompanying him were no longer by his side.

As bodyguards, they were no longer able to provide sufficient protection and might even become collateral damage. Who would protect whom then?

However, the group of black-robed warriors did not leave the Eastern Tang Kingdom but stayed behind, ready to be summoned by Yan Zhaoge at any time.

Yan Zhaoge and Elder Qin's group later headed to Linyuan City.

There, Yan Zhaoge and the others saw Lin Yushao's body.

At this moment, it was the first time Yan Zhaoge truly saw Lin Yushao's face, rather than just viewing her through the memories of her original body.

As Yan Xu had said, the injuries on the body were entirely caused by an early-stage Outer Gang Master using the Doulv Palm.

The Doulv Purple Fire Qi was spread throughout the body.

... It also concealed other traces.

"Red beauty, short life..." Yan Zhaoge was silent.

Leaving Lin Yushao's place, Yan Zhaoge looked up at the sky: "Ye Jing, has it really come to this?"

"Hmm, back in that cold pond, he seemed to be injured again. If he continues to use that secret method to heal himself, his mind will be severely affected by the secret method."

"In that case, he might indeed become more irritable and more extreme."

Yan Zhaoge's eyes turned cold: "If you really cut yourself off from the world, then I will personally send you on your last journey."

Back at his residence, Ah Hu, who was by his side, said softly: "Young Master."

Seeing Ah Hu's seemingly simple but actually sly smile, Yan Zhaoge rolled his eyes.

Following Ah Hu's gaze, he saw a graceful young girl standing by the roadside.

"Shi Kong, have you come out of seclusion?" Yan Zhaoge asked. "From your appearance, it seems you have successfully broken through the bottleneck and advanced to the Master realm?"

The girl was indeed Shi Kong Qing, with a cold and aloof demeanor.

She bowed respectfully to Yan Zhaoge: "I owe much to Brother Yan's guidance. After coming out of seclusion, I specially came to thank you."

"I have also heard about what happened to Sister Lin. Please accept my condolences, Brother Yan."

Yan Zhaoge waved his hand: "I am fine, thank you for your concern."

After that, Yan Zhaoge looked her up and down: "Not bad, a sixteen-year-old Master, which is rare in our sect. Sister Shi Kong is indeed ambitious."

"However, don't slack off. You should know that Meng Wan from the Great Sun Holy Sect was already a Master at fifteen."

Shi Kong Qing's expression was calm, her gaze resolute: "Yes, I know."

"Stay humble and composed, that's good." Yan Zhaoge nodded. "You are dedicated to martial arts and have a strong will, so I'm not afraid to discourage you. Besides Meng Wan, the Great Sun Holy Sect has another person who also reached the Master realm before the age of sixteen."

"And now, she has joined our sect."

Shi Kong Qing said quietly: "I hope to have more opportunities to exchange and improve with her. I believe I will benefit greatly."

Yan Zhaoge looked at her and suddenly smiled: "However, both she and Meng Wan are daughters of the Great Yin, and their situations are somewhat special. To achieve success in the Great Yin Trial, the Great Sun Holy Sect has used some expedient methods to cultivate them."

"As a result, their foundations are likely to be unstable, leading to a slower pace of cultivation later on."

"But with the resources of the Great Sun Holy Sect and our sect, even if their cultivation speed slows down, it will still be much faster than most people, and..."

Shi Kong Qing listened to Yan Zhaoge and said calmly: "Moreover, the Great Yin Crown enhances the cultivation of the daughters of the Great Yin."

"After Meng Wan won the first Great Yin Trial and possessed the Great Yin Crown for a year, her cultivation advanced rapidly, far faster than usual."

"After the second Great Yin Trial, the senior sister from Bi Hai City won against Meng Wan and began to possess the Great Yin Crown, her cultivation also surged."

Shi Kong Qing's gaze was resolute, showing no signs of wavering: "Thank you for your advice, Brother Yan. I will not slack off."

Yan Zhaoge smiled: "Very good. You have now reached the early-stage Inner Gang Master level. Next, you need to use your initially refined Gang Qi to open the acupoints throughout your body."

"After achieving this, you will reach the mid-stage Inner Gang Master level, and then use Gang Qi to cleanse your internal organs to further strengthen yourself."

"When you can form a Qi wall within your body using Gang Qi, you will have reached the late-stage Inner Gang Master level, with a significant increase in both offensive and defensive capabilities, and prepare for the Outer Gang Master realm."

"Take it step by step, and I believe you can do it."

Shi Kong Qing nodded: "I will work hard, and I appreciate Brother Yan's concern."

The two bid farewell, and Yan Zhaoge watched Shi Kong Qing's departing back for a long time without speaking.

Ah Hu approached, smiling foolishly: "Young Master, Lin just left, and you're already eyeing Shi Kong? That's a bit unfair..."

Yan Zhaoge said irritably: "Can you stop thinking about such low-level things?"

Ah Hu scratched his head: "Then why did you look at the girl like that, Young Master?"

Yan Zhaoge narrowed his eyes slightly: "Perhaps it's my illusion, but after Shi Kong Qing became a Master, it seems like she has undergone a complete transformation, with a tremendous change in her."

"Although the leap from a body-strengthening martial artist to a Master is a significant hurdle, once crossed, it opens up a new world."

"But Shi Kong Qing's transformation is even greater, though the feeling is quite vague."

Ah Hu looked at Shi Kong Qing's disappearing back for a long time and said puzzledly: "Young Master, apart from advancing to the Master realm, I can't see any other changes in her."

Yan Zhaoge shrugged: "Maybe."

"By the way, did you get any updates on Zhao Hao, whom I asked you to have someone follow?"

Ah Hu replied: "Nothing much for now. He seems much more subdued than what you described."

Yan Zhaoge nodded: "Continue to keep an eye on him, but don't provoke the people of Eastern Tang."

Putting other matters aside for the moment, Yan Zhaoge returned to his residence and took out the Nine Treasures Ice Gourd he had received from Elder Qin.

This item was originally used to preserve other items, especially some spiritual herbs and medicines.

Some spiritual medicines lose their spiritual energy rapidly after being picked, becoming useless. In such cases, having a Nine Treasures Ice Gourd can prevent such a failure.

Yan Zhaoge removed the stopper from the gourd and took out the fine jade containing the Ice Dragon Bone Spirit.

The power of the Ice Dragon Bone Spirit had already been partially absorbed by Yan Zhaoge. Now, he once again absorbed the essence within it.

Under the nourishment of the Ice Dragon Bone Spirit's essence, Yan Zhaoge's Gang Qi continuously circulated, transforming it into his own.

With the help of the Wuji Heavenly Book, Yan Zhaoge was able to achieve this feat, which is difficult for Master martial artists, thus accelerating his martial cultivation.

However, this time, while practicing, Yan Zhaoge kept one hand on the Nine Treasures Ice Gourd.

The Ice Dragon essence circulated between the fine jade, Yan Zhaoge's body, and the gourd.

Gradually, the cold aura emanating from the Nine Treasures Ice Gourd became stronger, and faint dragon roars could be heard from inside the gourd.

Faint white dragon shadows appeared on the surface of the gourd.

Yan Zhaoge smiled: "The Ice Dragon Roar Bullet is complete."