After taking Xu Ning to the backyard, the two described their experiences after their last farewell.
Afterwards, the conversation took a long detour before going back to martial arts.
âJunior Brother, you have already cultivated four secret techniques to the ninth level, are you not planning to condense your attribute seeds yet?â
He Mingyeâs tone was curious.
âIâm already preparing to condense them.â
Xu Ning said without hiding anything.
Whether it was condensing attribute seeds or learning void realm secret techniques, Xu Ning could do both at the same time.
The progress between the two was not mutually exclusive.
Xu Ning could condense four attribute seeds first, then learn two new secret techniques, before finally condensing the remaining two attribute seeds.
This was what most half-step dao realm masters were doing.
Take Qiu Renshan, Du Yuan, and other elders of the Yuelan Sect as an example. They had cultivated for more than a hundred years, and they had long condensed attribute seeds to become half-step dao realm masters.
But in order to advance perfectly, meaning to condense the upper limit of the three dao realm seeds of the same attribute, they would deliberately suppress their cultivation and cultivate their new void realm secret technique to the ninth level before attempting to break through.
This was why Feng Xiu said that the top sects had deep roots, and that they were not helpless against the people from State Wansheng
If it was a critical moment, these half-step dao realm masters who suppressed their strength could totally break through in advance. Although the effect of breaking through was slightly worse, they would still be in the dao realm.
âWhat about Senior Brother?â
Xu Ning asked.
âI have already begun.â
He Mingye said, âI plan to condense an attribute seed while also learning a new secret technique. I only want two attribute seeds for each of my water and fire attributes. With this foundation, I can break through to the dao realm.â
âJunior Brother, your talent is higher. So itâs best if you condense six attribute seeds before trying to break through to the dao realm.â
He Mingye said, âThe more attribute seeds you condense, the stronger your foundation will be. After breaking through to the dao realm, your upper limit will be higher, and your combat power will be stronger.â
âI will.â
Xu Ning nodded.
âBy the way, Junior Brother, you should already know that people are coming from State Wansheng.â
He Mingye said, âOver the past few days when you were in seclusion, a large portion of the reclusive sect elders have returned. In a few days, the higher-ups of the three states will truly unite and form an alliance. At that time, we will all be assigned tasks. So before that, you have to deal with all the matters that need to be dealt with, otherwise you may be swamped with tasks.â
âIs that soâŠâ
Xu Ning nodded as he pondered. âI got it, Senior Brother.â
After leaving He Mingyeâs villa, Xu Ning left the sect immediately.
According to He Mingye, he might be assigned tasks soon.
So before that, he had to go to the Fog Night Abyss and inform Gray and Xu Hujun about the upcoming matter, so that they could be prepared.
The people from State Wansheng who were aiming for the Demon Beast Scroll were too dangerous.
After leaving the sect, Xu Ning called Little Gray and asked it to take him to Chu Yeyang.
After flying for a while, Little Gray brought Xu Ning to a giant bird nest on a mountain peak.
Inside the nest, Chu Yeyang was still frozen. Xu Ning gave Chu Yeyang the antidote. âThis isâŠâ
After Chu Yeyang woke up, he found himself being watched by Xu Ning and a demon beast.
âI have been taken out of the mystic realm?â
Chu Yeyang was still a little dizzy.
âSirâŠâ
Chu Yeyang wanted to beg Xu Ning to let him go, but Xu Ning did not give him a chance.
He forced Chu Yeyang to swallow the Heartless Pill.
After swallowing the Heartless Pill, Chu Yeyangâs eyes became a little blank. His eyes lost their luster, as if his consciousness had been erased.
âAccording to the description of the Heartless Pill, this Chu Yeyang is currently digesting the pillâs medicinal power. Once the medicinal power has been completely digested, he will regain his consciousness and retain his memory, but will be obedient to me.â
As he mumbled, Xu Ning began to use the Heartless Pill according to the instructions and started planting seeds of consciousness into Chu Yeyang, in order to have him listen to his orders.
During this process, Chu Yeyang showed some resistance, but under the effect of the pill, he did not succeed.
After about half an hour, Chu Yeyangâs pupils suddenly contracted and he regained his mobility. But compared to before, Chu Yeyang exuded a more chilling vibe. âIs the Heartless Pill working?â
Xu Ning decided to test it out.
He returned the short knife he had gotten from Chu Yeyang. âUse it to pierce your throat.â
Chu Yeyang took it without hesitation and directed it towards him.
âStop!â
After Chu Yeyang slightly pierced his skin with the short knife, Xu Ning quickly stopped him.
Xu Ning knew very well that if he hadnât issued the stop order just now, Chu Yeyang might have already died.
âThe effect of this Heartless Pill is indeed domineering. No wonder the alchemy scroll stated that Heartless Pills are used to train underlings in State Wansheng.â
Xu Ning thought to himself before staring at Chu Yeyang.
âChu Yeyang, take your dao weapon, go to State Feiyun, and protect my family.â
After confirming that Chu Yeyang would completely follow his orders, Xu Ning gave him a new order.
This was Xu Ningâs plan before he decided to give Chu Yeyang the Heartless Pill.
Although the Tao Village was protected by Liu Yijian, Liu Yijian was much weaker than Chu Yeyang. If the situation became more chaotic, Xu Ning would feel more at ease with Chu Yeyang protecting the Tao Village.
The effect of the Heartless Pill is limited. With the quality of this Heartless Pill, the true intent realm Chu Yeyang would be only under the effect of this pill for slightly over five years.
Afterwards, Xu Ning told Chu Yeyang about the Tao Village and his family.
At the same time, Xu Ning also ordered Chu Yeyang to secretly protect his family. He shouldnât disturbed them, or show himself unless they were in danger. After Chu Yeyang received Xu Ningâs instructions, he was sent by Xu Ning to go to State Feiyun.
âChu Yeyang has the strength of a true intent realm master and he also has a dao weapon. As long as he is around, ordinary true domain realm martial artists wonât be able to hurt the Tao Village.â
Xu Ning thought to himself as he watched Chu Yeyang disappearing into the distance.
âNext, I shall go to the Fog Night Abyss to find Gray and Xu Hujun.â
Xu Ning made a plan.
âLittle Gray, letâs go. Take me to the Fog Night Abyss!â
Little Gray lowered its head with Xu Ningâs order.
After Xu Ning sat on Little Grayâs back, Little Gray turned into a black line and flew into the distance.
However, before flying out of the mountain range, Xu Ning noticed a trace of danger lurking in the dark.
âGu Juan, after this incident, I owe you nothing.â
On a mountain, where Xu Ning was heading towards, Gu Juan and a bald old man were lurking in the dark.
The bald old man had a domineering aura. Ordinary void realm martial artists would be overwhelmed by his aura.
âZhang Tong, donât worry. Once we succeed, we wonât owe each other anything in the future. I will also give you my thanks.â
Gu Juan said.
âNo need for that.â
The bald old man named Zhang Tong refused with a serious expression.
Before this, Gu Juan had planned to capture Xu Ning alive to find out about Fang Jie.
If Fang Jie was still alive, he would find Fang Jie, but if anything happened to Fang Jie, he would secretly get rid of Xu Ning for revenge.
However, Gu Juan was cautious. He felt that capturing Xu Ning alone was too difficult, so he found Zhang Tong and asked him to help him.
Zhang Tong was saved by Gu Juan decades ago.
In order to repay Gu Juanâs kindness, he had done many things for Gu Juan against his will.
This time, Gu Juan also asked Zhang Tong to help him. After knowing that he was going to attack Mi Xingyeâs disciple, Zhang Tong wanted to refuse.
But Gu Juan told him that once this matter was done, they would no longer owe each other anything
Thus, Zhang Tong agreed to Gu Juanâs conditions and decided to deal with Xu Ning together with him.
Gu Juan glanced at Zhang Tong. He knew that he was not happy.
But he was not worried. He knew very well that Zhang Tongâs weakness was to use kindness to threaten him.
Even though he disliked what he was about to do, he would do his best.
âHeâs coming out!â
Gu Juan sensed Xu Ningâs aura approaching.
After Xu Ning left the Yuelan Sect, Gu Juan had his eyes on Xu Ning. He was afraid that Xu Ning would discover him and Zhang Tong so they had not only taken a large number of Breath Restraining Pills, but they had also been hiding in the distance, waiting for Xu Ning to arrive.
âWhen he passes by us, we will attack simultaneously and use our full strength to capture him!â
Gu Juan said to Zhang Tong.
âUnderstood.â
Zhang Tong was also prepared.
âHuh?â
However, they suddenly noticed that the speed of the demon beast under Xu Ning was slowing down.
âNot good, he might have noticed us!â Gu Juan frowned. âAttack!â
Gu Juan and Zhang Tong activated their attribute domains at the same time. They each took out their dao weapons and rushed towards Xu Ning. Although Little Gray was flying nearly a hundred meters in the sky, this was not a problem for the two. âSure enough, someone wants to attack me!â
Xu Ning saw two shadows with terrifying auras rushing towards him.
Without hesitation, he instantly activated his bracer and expanded his dual attribute domain. He then activated the Flame Breath Bone Sutra, wrapping himself and Little Gray.
Xu Ningâs attribute domain overlapped with Gu Juanâs and Zhang Tongâs.
âTwo half-step dao realm masters holding dao weapons!â
Xu Ning immediately determined the strength of the enemies. There is a very familiar aura!â
Bang!
Gu Juan and Zhang Tong attacked from both sides. âSword seal!â
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Inside Xu Ningâs domain, there was a rain of swords.
Gu Juan and Zhang Tong also activated countless wind blades and knife rain to resist.
Bang!
The two sides were evenly matched in the first confrontation. Eventually, they were repelled by the force of the collision.
âElder Gu Juan?â After pulling away, Xu Ning recognized Elder Gu Juan.