Chapter 92: Victory Report
The soul was dragged into the Soul Banner, and the corpse was not wasted either.
As baleful blood energy condensed, the corpse immediately turned into dust, dissipating like smoke.
With the replenishment from this sixth-layer Qi Refining soul, Tu Shanjun immediately broke through to the seventh layer of Qi Refining.
This was also thanks to the large number of low-tier ghosts he had already acquired from the battlefield as a foundation; otherwise, a single sixth-layer Qi Refining soul truly wouldn't have been enough to push Tu Shanjun to this level.
Wen Yue plopped down on the ground, his previously taut nerves relaxing considerably.
He had many wounds on his body, the most severe being the penetrating injury on his left shoulder, where the crimson longsword had pierced through.
Excessive blood loss left Wen Yue's face pale and his body weak.
Now, without any constraints, Wen Yue could finally use his spiritual power to control the blood vessels in his wound and stop the bleeding.
He then proceeded to search Zhu Lin's storage talisman.
This person's storage talisman was quite exquisite, and it required less spiritual power to open.
Upon opening the storage talisman, he found two cultivation manuals, twelve spirit stones, and several dozens of low-tier Yin Pearls.
There was also a sound transmission talisman, two fireball talismans, and one swiftness talisman.
There were four bottles of unknown pills and some healing pills.
Wen Yue could tell if they were healing pills by testing them with his spiritual power.
Since the variety was complete, he swallowed them, then pulled out the crimson longsword that had pierced his shoulder.
Although the longsword was a low-grade magical tool, it looked very refined and should be quite excellent.
Zhu Lin's robes, however, were slightly inferior.
Because the "Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts" had first shattered the artifact's protective light shield, Tu Shanjun's surprise attack directly passed through the robe, piercing Zhu Lin's chest.
Originally, Tu Shanjun had intended to smash Zhu Lin's head.
It was just that the position he attacked from was too poor; only this move could completely incapacitate him, allowing him to kill Zhu Lin.
'Cannot linger here.' Tu Shanjun returned to the Soul Banner.
Three words condensed from the black mist on the banner's surface.
"But there's still a lot of baleful energy and Yin souls that haven't been collected."
'Abandon them.'
Tu Shanjun directly advised Wen Yue to abandon these external possessions.
Having killed a cultivator from the Primordial Spirit Sect, and with the sect's blood curse on him, their people would surely arrive quickly. Lingering here would only mean running into them.
Not to mention his injuries, even if he were at full strength, he might not be a match for a sect cultivator.
Moreover, Wen Yue's spiritual power was now less than twenty percent, and he was severely wounded.
If he clung to resources, he would lose his life.
As long as he was alive, what resources couldn't he collect in the future?
It truly wasn't worth losing his life over Yin souls and baleful energy.
Wen Yue looked at the vast baleful energy and the Yin souls still moving within it, gritted his teeth, his face etched with struggle.
Not collecting so many resources was truly heartbreaking.
He really wanted to take all of them.
But his teacher was right, it was not advisable to stay here long.
Having killed one of their people, how could he calmly continue harvesting baleful energy and Yin souls?
Wen Yue finally let out a long sigh. After cleaning up the traces, he turned and fled.
"Soul Inquiry."
[Extract:]
[Three Rainbow Sword Art]
[Primordial Spirit Technique (Comprehensive Qi Refining Chapter)]
[Blood Curse]
The Primordial Spirit Technique had a total of eleven layers, completely filling Tu Shanjun's knowledge gaps regarding the middle and late stages of Qi Refining.
The cultivation method was complete and could support a cultivator all the way to the eleventh layer of Qi Refining.
Thus, Wen Yue's subsequent cultivation methods were settled. He could abandon the Blood Fiend Grand Method and switch to the Primordial Spirit Technique.
However, switching cultivation methods would require a long time and considerable cost.
The Three Rainbow Sword Art contained the incantations, hand seals, and sword moves for wielding flying swords, making it a powerful offensive sword art.
What interested Tu Shanjun most was this Blood Curse.
It was a spell that used incantations to condense a cultivator's essence blood, forming a curse that attached to an enemy. Fellow disciples could then use a Blood Curse Compass to pinpoint the location of the cursed individual.
There was also a distance limit; beyond two hundred li, the compass couldn't locate them.
If too much time passed, the Blood Curse effect would fade, and it would no longer be detectable.
Of course, if a cultivator's strength was formidable, they could also break this curse with an unbinding spell.
Unfortunately, Wen Yue's strength was not only weak, but he couldn't even compare to the caster of the spell.
Vast night, lonely moonlight.
A short while later.
Two figures riding swords appeared before the great city of Tong Pass.
"Senior Brother, Junior Brother Zhu's blood curse points in this direction."
One of them held a crimson compass, its needle pointing directly at the great city of Tong Pass before them.
"Senior Brother, should we enter the city and slay Junior Brother Zhu's enemy?"
The leading tall man shook his head: "Tong Pass City is the territory of the Five Spirits Sect. This cultivator might be a loose cultivator from Southern Liang, or perhaps a Five Spirits Sect cultivator."
"Judging by the traces of his movement, his identity as a heterodox practitioner should be less than twenty percent."
"If we forcefully enter the great city of Tong Pass, it would mean breaking ties and starting a war with the Five Spirits Sect."
"They certainly wouldn't let it go."
"Given the Sect Master's great plan, we cannot let the Five Spirits Sect discover our scheme in Mount Nanyue too early."
The two had first arrived at Feihong Stream, then came to the great city of Tong Pass.
The place where Zhu Lin died was actually Feihong Stream.
Feihong Stream was littered with corpses and filled with baleful energy. From this, it could probably be understood that Zhu Lin and that person had encountered each other due to this matter.
It was unknown what conflict arose, ultimately leading to a fight.
Zhu Lin was defeated and could only use the Blood Curse, hoping his fellow disciples could avenge him.
"Senior Brother, are we just going to watch Junior Brother Zhu die tragically?"
"Not openly starting a war doesn't mean we can't kill people."
"Come, let's first probe his true strength."
...
Another half month had passed since the last impeachment and attack.
In the Imperial Study.
Although Zheng Zhong appeared subservient, a fierce ruthlessness was hidden deep in his eyes.
The attempt to impeach Gao Quan had failed.
Initially, the procedure had been flawless. Even within Gao Quan's own faction, there were defectors who delivered an additional blow, using a single point to generalize and produce more than a dozen charges to impeach Gao Quan, who held the position of Chief Eunuch.
Once Gao Quan stepped down, he could ascend to the position of Chief Eunuch.
The Internal Rectitude Office would fall under his sole command, truly consolidating great power.
However, because the news of Wen Yue's great victory, slaying Tuoba Bao and crushing three thousand cavalry had reached the capital, the rumors targeting Gao Quan in the imperial court instantly subsided significantly.
Most importantly, His Majesty's attitude also became intriguing.
Originally, Zheng Zhong had been fearless.
He believed that Gao Quan was old, and His Majesty now favored him.
Therefore, as long as he could bring down Gao Quan, he could rise to power and become the new Grand Eunuch.
No matter how long he would be in power, he had to experience that position.
If he didn't sit in that seat, he wouldn't be at peace for the rest of his life.
If he couldn't even reach the highest position as an eunuch, then what was the suffering he had endured for so many years truly for?
So, after enduring for half a month, Zheng Zhong felt the time was ripe again.
He didn't know if Wen Yue would achieve more merits at Tong Pass, but he had to remove Gao Quan before that happened.
Gao Quan, on the other hand, was much calmer. He didn't need to do anything now; as long as he could restrain Zheng Zhong and prevent him from making petty moves, he would remain undefeated.
His Majesty looked at whose value was higher, whose methods were more brilliant, and whoever could get things done was capable.
The Deputy Commander of the Military Affairs Office he recommended, now the vanguard of Tong Pass, had crushed three thousand cavalry and beheaded an enemy general. Wen Yue's performance directly raised Gao Quan's standing by a significant margin.
When the battle report arrived.
Emperor Liang burst into hearty laughter, his exhilaration evident.
This was a meritorious official, this was someone capable.
How could Emperor Liang not try to win over such a beloved minister?
The great city of Liang.
A minor official at the city gate yawned, thinking about heading to his paramour's place for a drink after his shift.
Suddenly, he heard fast horses galloping in the distance.
Three riders abreast.
"Report!"
"Great victory at Tong Pass!"
"General Wen flooded Tuoba Hong, utterly defeating fifteen legions of the Wei army..."
The city gates opened, and the cavalry carrying the victory report charged in.
Shouting of a great victory.
The news of the victory immediately spread throughout Liang City.
"Report—!"
"What disturbs me?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, a great victory at Tong Pass! One hundred fifty thousand enemy troops defeated."
Emperor Liang, who was reviewing memorials in the Imperial Study, suddenly stood up, greatly astonished.
He then looked at Gao Quan, who had just entered.
An expression of disbelief appeared on his face, and he sharply asked: "Is this true?"
"Your Majesty, the battle report has arrived."
Gao Quan also found it hard to believe, but it was true, and he was still trembling with excitement.
"Prepare the main hall; summon the three Grand Chancellors to the palace for a discussion."
Emperor Liang hastily exited the Imperial Study, and Gao Quan quickly followed.
Within the room, Zheng Zhong stood frozen, muttering: "Is Heaven truly set on my destruction?"
"Is this fate?"
Zheng Zhong gritted his teeth, thin trickles of blood flowing from the corners of his mouth: "I refuse to believe in fate!"
(Chapter End)