18: Green Air

As he turned to leave, Zhang Bingsong reminded him again, "Finding these two 'rats' is also Junior Brother's contribution. The Internal Affairs Hall will reward you with Merit Points later. Let's go."

Zhong Yi and Zhang Bingsong, these two Inner Sect Disciples from Mingjing Peak's Law Enforcement Hall, left very quickly, reaching the horizon in a flash, and in another flash, even their sword light was no longer visible.

"Penetrating Aperture..."

So strong!

He wondered if his Copper Armor Dao Soldiers could withstand the sharp Flying Swords of these two Senior apprentice-brothers?

Lu Chen pondered, estimating it would be a bit difficult.

However, Lu Chen was confident he could take down the hunchbacked old man and the Old Woman, those two old fellows at the Peak of the Spirit Transformation Realm, by relying on his fifteen Copper Armor Dao Soldiers.

The question was, why should he make a move himself?

The Nurturing Soldier Immortal Coffin had no use for these two old fellows, and the Internal Affairs Hall likely wouldn't count it as Merit Points for him, because Lu Chen couldn't clearly explain that these rogue cultivators who wanted to hunt Dongming Sect Disciples weren't innocent, raising suspicion of 'killing innocents for merit', which would be a thankless task.

But sending a message back to the Sect and inviting the Inner Sect Disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall was different.

They were already looking for these rogue cultivators targeting Dongming Sect. After Lu Chen used himself as bait to lure out these two old fellows, Zhong Yi and Zhang Bingsong could directly kill them.

This way, Lu Chen would also be counted for a contribution, receiving some Merit Points, and wouldn't even need to act himself. Why wouldn't he do it!

Finally, what was the biggest advantage of a Sect Disciple?

It was having support behind them. Calling for backup was the most awesome skill every Sect Disciple possessed.

This was the benefit of being a Disciple of a large Sect.

If you beat the young ones, the old ones might not necessarily come. But as long as you explain the situation and call for backup, the Sect can definitely scatter the ashes of those who don't know their place.

Rogue cultivators who live a hard life don't have this treatment. Once they encounter pursuit, they can only continue to be hunted down, which is miserable.

Of course, one's own strength must still come first. If your strength is insufficient, you might not even have the chance to call for backup.

Without disturbing Captain Song's family further, Lu Chen left a sentence: "The demon in Wuguan County has been eliminated. I'm leaving."

By the time Captain Song cautiously walked out of the house again, Lu Chen's figure was long gone from outside the courtyard.

This young Immortal Sect expert seemed to always be able to anticipate the enemy and handle matters flawlessly. Could it be that people from the Immortal Sect were all so extraordinary?

Captain Song looked up at the Night Sky with a hint of melancholy: "Is it true that there is a distinction between Immortals and the Human Realm?!"

The young woman walked out, gently holding Captain Song's drooping hand, and whispered softly, "Old Song, the Immortal Sect expert has left. Go inside and rest!"

"Daddy, did an Immortal really come to our house just now?" The little girl poked her head out of the door, not scared, but seemingly quite curious.

Captain Song looked at his wife beside him and the cute little girl at the door, and suddenly smiled: "Go back inside and sleep."

The Immortal Sect is good, but where in the Human Realm is not good?

...

Under the Night Sky, a sword like a flowing light flashed and disappeared.

Zhang Bingsong, who was riding his sword on the wind, suddenly spoke, "Do you still remember the stone figures Junior Brother Lu used when he was slaying the demon earlier?"

Zhong Yi, who was tall and stout with a bronze complexion, nodded, "It should be Gathering Earth to Form Soldiers from Earth Elemental Spell, but it was excessively strong, truly unbelievable!"

Lu Chen himself was only at Qi Condensation consummation, but the Gathering Earth to Form Soldiers Technique he used could easily crush a Demon Wolf in the Middle Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm!

Zhang Bingsong said, "Junior Brother Lu's Earth Element True Intent might have reached a very deep understanding, at least the third layer, or even the fourth layer!"

If not for this, it would be inexplicable how the stone figures Lu Chen condensed with magic could easily crush a Demon Wolf in the Middle Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

"The third layer, or even the fourth layer of Earth Element True Intent!" Zhong Yi's heart trembled, "This Junior Brother is hiding very deep!"

Even they, Inner Sect Disciples who had already entered the Penetrating Aperture Realm, had not yet comprehended any True Intent to the third layer, let alone the fourth layer.

Generally, comprehending the second layer of True Intent is enough to cultivate Penetrating Aperture to consummation. Comprehending the third layer of True Intent is sufficient to break through into the Mysterious Method Realm, cultivate magic power, and roam the universe starry sky. Yet Lu Chen is still in the Qi Condensation Realm, and has been cultivating for less than two months.

Such foundation and Aptitude are simply astonishing.

"In the future, we can get closer to Junior Brother Lu and try our best to bring him into Mingjing Peak. Perhaps one day we might even need to ask for help from this Junior Brother Lu!" Zhang Bingsong felt somewhat helpless.

The gap between people is sometimes truly larger than the gap between people and dogs!

Actually, the gap isn't that big, because those stone figures weren't condensed by Lu Chen using the Gathering Earth to Form Soldiers Technique at all, but were Copper Armor Dao Soldiers nurtured by the Nurturing Soldier Immortal Coffin. They were born with control over Earth Element and Fire Element, and cannot be measured by which layer of True Intent they've reached.

It's just that Lu Chen's Natal Spirit Treasure, the Nurturing Soldier Immortal Coffin, and the Copper Armor Dao Soldiers are completely unknown to outsiders, so Zhong Yi and Zhang Bingsong naturally couldn't think of this possibility no matter how hard they tried.

............

Captain Song would not know that Lu Chen, this sly old dog, had not actually left Wuguan County yet.

After eliminating the Demon Wolf and the two old fellows who wanted to hunt Dongming Sect Disciples, Lu Chen still wasn't at ease and stayed in Wuguan County for three more days. It was only after confirming that no more demons appeared that he truly left Wuguan County.

Lu Chen did not return to the Sect first, but instead took a turn and went to Donghe County.

This mission was not to slay demons, but to investigate the anomaly at 'Mangniu Mountain' in Donghe County.

According to the report from Donghe County, six days ago, a green mist suddenly began to drift from Mangniu Mountain. Initially, the Qinghe County yamen thought it was demonic energy. However, on the day the green mist drifted, many people who went up the mountain to collect herbs and firewood came into contact with this green mist and experienced no abnormalities, neither benefit nor harm.

But later, this green mist became more and more abundant, and now, it has reached a steaming state.

What Lu Chen needed to do was to investigate the source of this green mist and whether there were any hidden dangers.

It wasn't very difficult, because it was just an investigation. Once the situation was clear, the Sect would provide countermeasures.

It was likely not something remarkable, otherwise the mission wouldn't have been assigned to Lu Chen, an Outer Sect Disciple.

Mangniu Mountain.

The mountain is not high, but it is continuous and winding, almost running through the entire Donghe County and half of Pingliang County, already belonging to a mountain range. It is home to many fierce beasts and strange creatures. Ordinary people, even if they go up the mountain, only dare to collect firewood and herbs on the periphery. To truly enter the depths of the mountain, only cultivators have that ability.

When Lu Chen arrived at Mangniu Mountain from the Donghe County side, it was deserted. Not even insects, beasts, or birds could be seen. The continuous and winding Mangniu Mountain, stretching seemingly endlessly, was almost ten li in area, already enveloped by the unknown green mist.

Standing at the foot of the mountain, Lu Chen's mind flashed through the many ancient texts he had read in the Sect, but he couldn't find any record similar to this green mist.

"Strange!"

He casually drew in a wisp of green mist and tested it with his True Qi, but there was no reaction.

It seemed like just an ordinary gas with color, and he couldn't smell anything.

"An anomaly must indicate something unusual; caution is paramount."

The main principle is stability.

Copper Armor Dao Soldiers, go up and take a look...