Chapter 148: Liu Jianjian’s New Skill
Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Liu Jianjian’s New Skill
Zhu Ge wanted elites.
He had no use for those who were merely filling the ranks, those who only cared about feasting and fun, or opportunistic schemers.
What he wanted was a group of people who would strive for a common cause.
For example, liberating the entire Human Race.
Therefore, this time, any recruits would have to pass Hua Liusha’s trial.
In the First Realm, the Lonely Soul Realm, Hua Liusha had hardly been formidable.
She could only use her soul-bewitching ability to construct memories for people, then devour their souls.
Moreover, it only worked on those with a lower cultivation than her own, or on mortals.
But now, Hua Liusha was in the Second Realm.
To avoid becoming a Third Realm Demon and instead become a Third Realm Yin Soul, Hua Liusha had always exclusively devoured the souls of Demon Beasts or other Extraction Realm Ghosts.
Now, Hua Liusha possessed a new ability of sorts—an upgraded version of her soul-bewitching powers, akin to an illusory realm.
When the time came, Zhu Ge could have Hua Liusha borrow the power of the Fungus God Destruction Array to create a large-scale illusory realm and test the character of the Six Paths Palace’s first batch of members.
If they proved suitable, Zhu Ge could accept disciples in droves.
And if they weren’t suitable?
He wouldn’t recruit a single one, if need be.
After all, his goal for this trip was to begin making a name for himself.
’Want to leave your mark on the historical records?’
’Hiding out in a valley every day? You wouldn’t leave a damn thing!’
That was precisely why Zhu Ge had to go out.
Of course, Jianshui City wasn’t his current, ultimate goal.
It was just that he had happened to lure Demon Beasts there before and had also made an enemy of that Yu Rui.
Furthermore, his second brother, True Monarch Minmian, had already made his move in Nanyue Mianhuang, so Zhu Ge had to hurry.
"What? What? The Six Paths Palace?!"
"Huh?! I... I get to be in charge of a palace too?"
"Oh my god! I’m the master of the Demon Dao Palace?!"
At that moment, Hua Liusha was explaining things to Liu Jianjian, causing Jianjian to shriek and shout.
"Master!!!" Liu Jianjian saw that Zhu Ge had finished carving the inscription with the Purgatory Star Rod and rushed over, her face a mask of sorrow.
"Next time you go off to do something like that, you have to take me with you!"
"You and your love for gossip, crowds, and drama," Zhu Ge said, exasperated. "What if the officials all protect each other and I have to fight the Jianshui City Lord? You might not make it out alive."
Hearing this, Mazhu shivered from a short distance away.
"I don’t care," Liu Jianjian said, her eyes full of hope. "I’m very good at self-preservation!"
"Alright, alright. We’ll talk about it next time." Zhu Ge shook his head and chuckled. "You have dozens of Demon Race members under your command now. Try to be a little more composed."
"Right! Dozens of them!" At this, Liu Jianjian’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Master, did you know? I can now use some of the moves from the Demon Hunting Divine Technique."
"Oh?" Zhu Ge’s interest was genuinely piqued. "What kind of moves?"
The Demon Hunting Divine Technique was a cultivation technique of unknown origin that the True Monarch of the Lantern had bestowed upon Liu Jianjian.
Thanks to it, Liu Jianjian had gone from someone who could only fire potshots from a distance to someone who now had a Demon Beast living in each of her quills—an immense transformation.
Her disposition, however, still needed tempering. Otherwise, with her tendency to fly off the handle, how could Liu Jianjian possibly lead the Demon Palace of the Six Paths Palace in the future?
"I can now turn them into arrows, and each one carries some of their power."
Liu Jianjian explained excitedly, "For example, I can fire the quill where the Sword Hero lives, using its metal body to make the quill even harder!"
"Oh?" Zhu Ge was both surprised and impressed. "That’s a pretty good skill indeed. Practice it well and take in more ancient and unusual species. It will benefit you greatly."
"Mm-hm!" Liu Jianjian nodded vigorously.
Zhu Ge could foresee a future where, as Liu Jianjian grew stronger, each of her quills could become a powerful Spirit Level spike, maybe even reaching the fabled True Level.
But that was a matter for the future. The more pressing task was to get ready.
Zhu Ge had been hiding in the Six Paths Valley for a long time. Now that he had achieved some small success, it was time to make a grand show of clearing out the surrounding Demon Beasts.
"Jianjian, have all your Demon Beasts come out. It’s time to clean up and build up our Six Paths Valley!"
...
Late at night, Zhu Ge sat at the mouth of the valley while Liu Jianjian and the others were deeper inside.
Zhu Ge sat right at the valley’s mouth, feeling the strong wind brush against his face.
He was actually cultivating his Great Sun Glaze Body.
He had previously only been able to cultivate inside his small wooden cabin, but to his surprise, after using the Spirit Medicine he bought from Shihu Pavilion, he could now cultivate directly in the wind.
It was only for ten seconds, but this was still a welcome change.
’Spirit Medicine...’
His cultivation session over, Zhu Ge opened his eyes and slowly let out a turbid breath.
The session was over, and his whole body was sore.
But his physical body felt as if it were becoming crystalline and pure.
From his skin and flesh to his tendons, bones, and internal organs, everything was being polished by the Wind Refining, pushing him ever closer to the peak of his realm.
And now, Zhu Ge took out the ointment he’d bought at Shihu Pavilion and slowly applied it to the spot between his eyebrows.
This ointment was a mid-grade Spirit Level item that had cost him dozens of gold coins to buy.
He only needed to apply it between his eyebrows, and the ointment would naturally seep into his skin to nourish his entire body and enhance his defenses.
’Next, it’s just a matter of time before my Wind Refining is complete.’
Zhu Ge looked at his palm, then clenched his fist, feeling the increase in his strength.
Back in the First Realm, he could shatter a seven- or eight-meter-wide slab of bluestone without even activating his Blood Qi.
And now?
Zhu Ge could feel that he could now destroy a mountain like Jianshan Mountain, where Jianshan Village was located, with a single punch.
This was the true power of a Mountain Shattering Martial Artist!
However, a Mountain Shattering Martial Artist normally only possessed such strength after reaching the late-Second Realm.
It was said that in the later stages, a Mountain Shattering Martial Artist could faintly tap into the power of the Upper Yuan Palace, hence the immense power behind their every punch and kick.
But Zhu Ge had reached that same level of power while only in the early stage of the Mountain Shattering Realm. It was safe to say this was entirely due to the strength of his Martial Arts Heart.
This further strengthened Zhu Ge’s resolve to advance one step at a time, not by seeking speed or clever tricks, but by laying a solid foundation for the future.
WHOOSH—
The wind howled, and high above, the Sword and Axe Mantis flew down on beating wings, landing in front of Zhu Ge.
"Great Master, I have already declared this area my territory and have also summoned all Second Realm beings to come here," the Sword and Axe Mantis reported.
"Great Master, when the time comes, do you need me to defeat them all and hand them over for the Master to subjugate?"
"No need," Zhu Ge said with a smile.
After being subjugated by Liu Jianjian, the Sword and Axe Mantis was probably terrified that she might suddenly die.
If she died, they would all perish with her.
That was why the Sword and Axe Mantis was probably eager to protect Liu Jianjian around the clock, and it brought all the other Demon Beasts along for extra insurance.
Unfortunately, the Sword and Axe Mantis’s control over the other strange creatures of this land wasn’t very strong.
They were a disorganized bunch, and after the failure of the siege on Jianshui City, these strange creatures naturally stopped listening to it.
"By the way, did you bring the Ba Yuan Fruit?"
"Also, where did most of the Demon Beasts under your command run off to?"