397: The Strength of the Righteous Alliance

“Who is the most powerful in the Zhengqi Alliance, and what is their strength?” Qin Shilei asked indifferently.

“The most powerful should be our Zhengqi Alliance’s Grand Elder Nangong Chenyang. It is rumored that he has already reached the cultivation of a Martial Venerable.”

Sun Hongying and her other senior brother, Wan Kangyu, answered in unison.

“What level is a Martial Venerable equivalent to among our Golden, Platinum, Diamond, and Grandmaster ranks?”

“A Martial Venerable is two major levels higher than my current one. Converting it, it should be the Diamond Realm.”

“Why do you say ‘should be’? Does your Zhengqi Alliance have hidden experts?”

“Probably not. It’s just that Nangong Chenyang entered secluded cultivation a hundred years ago, and whether he is alive or dead is unknown.”

“Then who is the most powerful in your Zhengqi Alliance now, and what is their cultivation?”

“Our Alliance Leader, Chu Ye, is at Platinum Peak.”

“How many people in your Zhengqi Alliance are above Platinum, and what are their respective cultivations?”

“There are 31 Platinum Experts on the surface: 21 at Platinum One-Star to Three-Star, 6 at Platinum Four-Star to Six-Star, 3 at Platinum Seven-Star, and 1 at Platinum Peak.”

“What’s going on with the Demonic Sect that appeared in Changzhou City?”

“Thousands of years ago, the Demonic Sect, the Buddhist Sect, and the Zhengqi Alliance simultaneously chose to enter their respective Space Secret Realms for recuperation. Their Space Secret Realms must have only recently reconnected with Blue Star.”

“Do you understand the strength of the Demonic Sect and the Buddhist Sect?”

“Thousands of years ago, our three factions were equally matched in strength, but now we do not know.”

“When will all the people from your Zhengqi Alliance return to Blue Star?”

“Because Blue Star has encountered a great calamity, we three need to investigate the crisis existing on Blue Star before the Alliance Leader and Elders of the Zhengqi Alliance can decide whether to relocate back to Blue Star.”

“Do you have a deadline for your investigation?”

“One month. Today is the fifth day. If we don’t return by then, Platinum Experts will likely be sent back to Blue Star to investigate.”

“Where is the Space Passage to your Space Secret Realm?”

“Fifty kilometers north of Lingquan City.”

Qin Shilei then asked for more information about the Zhengqi Alliance before deactivating his Eye of Illusion Breaking Purple.

“What did you do to us?”

As soon as she woke up, Sun Hongying immediately threatened, “Our Zhengqi Alliance has dozens of Platinum Experts, and even several peerless experts in the Diamond Realm. They can make all of you turn to ashes with a mere wave of their hands. You’d best release us.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Shilei sneered, “Several Diamond Experts? We’re truly trembling with fear.”

Seeing that Sun Hongying still wanted to exaggerate the Zhengqi Alliance’s strength, Tang Yuanlong, who was beside her, couldn’t help but remind her, “Junior Sister Sun, you’ve already revealed all of our Zhengqi Alliance’s secrets to them just now…”

“What are you laughing at?” Sun Hongying said, exasperated, “I’m afraid our Alliance Leader or an Elder could crush you with just one finger.”

Qin Shilei said with a cold face, “You won’t be able to see whether I die or not. But if I just open my mouth, your heads will immediately roll.”

The three’s expressions instantly changed drastically.

Tang Yuanlong quickly spoke, “Qin An King, there’s no great enmity of life and death between us. Why must you completely antagonize the Zhengqi Alliance for the lives of us three? As long as you release us, we will definitely say what you want us to say in front of the Alliance Leader and the Elders. Then you can continue to be your Qin An King, and we will continue to live our lives in the Space Secret Realm. Why not choose such a win-win option?”

Qin Shilei stroked his chin, weighing the pros and cons of killing them.

Currently, the situation in Great Xia was relatively stable, but invaders from the Insect World, the Abyss, and other Other Worlds were constantly eyeing Blue Star. Enemies at Platinum or even Diamond and above could cross the Space Rift and arrive on Blue Star at any time.

With the System in hand, Qin Shilei believed he would definitely become the strongest in all realms.

What Qin Shilei lacked now was time. He was unsure how much longer those Space Rifts could hold.

The Zhengqi Alliance had many experts. If they could be subdued or allied with, they would be a good force.

However, subduing or allying with the Zhengqi Alliance was not something to rush.

Qin Shilei turned to Zhang Qiang and instructed, “Brother Zhang, please go and find Xu Hongyu.”

“Okay.”

Zhang Qiang turned and ran quickly into the distance. Before long, he returned with a teenage girl.

“Big Brother, what can I do for you?” Xu Hongyu stepped forward and asked very obediently.

Xu Hongyu was now also a Golden One-Star expert.

Because all of An Ye and their pets, hundreds of Chasing Wind Eagles, were successfully captured and contracted with the help of Xu Hongyu and her clansmen.

Xu Hongyu, having rendered such a great service, was naturally rewarded with a piece of Enlightenment Tea.

Qin Shilei said, “Do you have any Gu worms that can help me control them or severely weaken their strength, so they cannot escape?”

Upon hearing this, Tang Yuanlong and the other two were terrified and quickly said, “Qin An King, why go to such trouble? We can swear a solemn oath that we will never escape. There’s no need to waste any Gu worms on us.”

Xu Hongyu smiled, “Big Brother, I just happened to cultivate a Gu worm called the Spirit Devouring Gu a few days ago. It can drain all of a person’s vital energy. I think if I drain their vital energy, I can easily control them.”

Qin Shilei nodded, “Then let’s do as you say.”

Seeing that Tang Yuanlong and the other two still wanted to speak, he scowled and said coldly, “If you want to live, obediently let her drain your vital energy. Otherwise, I’ll kill you with one sword strike.”

Xu Hongyu extended her right hand, and a yellow worm the size of a thumb appeared in her palm. “Big Brother, do you want me to drain all of their vital energy, or leave them with some origin?”

Qin Shilei replied, “Leave them with some origin.”

“Okay.” Xu Hongyu lightly tossed it, and the Gu worm jumped onto Tang Yuanlong’s body. “Release your defenses, otherwise, if my Gu worm is harmed, Big Brother won’t be able to control you, and he’ll just have to kill you.”

Tang Yuanlong and the other two smiled helplessly, and could only suppress their urge to retaliate, allowing the Gu worm to devour ninety-nine percent of their vital energy.

Qin Shilei then confiscated the trio’s weapons and storage bracelets, before sending them to the back garden to be guarded by the Willow Tree.

After dealing with Tang Yuanlong and the other two, he once again entered secluded cultivation.

At the latest, in twenty-five days, people from the Zhengqi Alliance would appear. The most urgent task was to raise his cultivation to the Platinum Realm.

So, he didn't wait for the first Crystal Source to fully recover to its optimal state and once again held the Crystal Source to cultivate.

Two days later, Qin Shilei finally advanced to Golden Peak, only needing an opportunity to successfully advance to the Platinum Realm.

To advance from the Golden Realm to the Platinum Realm, there were two conditions.

First, cultivation must reach Golden Peak.

Second, one must completely comprehend their own origin power.

These were the hints given by the System, but it did not mention the specific methods or requirements at all.