36: Crane sound...surprised!

The atmosphere in the Divine Might Army's tent was heavy and oppressive.

Many people gathered there, looking at the piles of dismembered limbs that had been brought back, their faces grim.

These shredded remains belonged to the powerful individuals who had been pursuing the culprit earlier; after half a day, they were so mangled as to be almost unrecognizable.

Luo Yongnian's face twitched, his cheeks flushed red, clearly on the verge of an outburst.

"Has that expert in hidden weapons been found?"

"Yes, General, we've already investigated. That person's name is Li Qi, and he's just an ordinary member of the Ruyi Gang!"

"Ruyi Gang?"

Luo Yongnian had some impression of that name; the Ruyi Gang was just a small Gang in Chuan Prefecture City.

"So you're saying, an ordinary member of the Ruyi Gang did this? He first killed two of my captains, then five of my True Qi Realm Late Stage experts... and then escaped without a trace?"

Luo Yongnian, enraged, laughed instead, his tone chilling.

He felt his intelligence had been insulted; someone who could kill so many experts in one go... could never be an ordinary member of a second-rate Gang!

Not to mention that Huang Yuanqing of the Ruyi Gang would want to kill these experts, even if Luo Yongnian went personally, he might not be able to kill all of them.

But that person named Li Qi actually did it... that Li Qi must be problematic!

"The state has its laws, and the Jianghu has its rules. To dare to kill someone from my Divine Might Army, the local Gangs are truly impolite."

"Since it's someone from the Ruyi Gang, then bring Huang Yuanqing over. I have something to ask him."

"Yes, your subordinate takes his leave."

A strong soldier quickly departed, while Luo Yongnian's gaze shifted to the people who were collecting the bodies of the five True Qi Realm Late Stage experts.

"Tell me everything you saw and heard... exactly as it happened."

After Li Qi and several experts quickly left the battlefield, there was actually another group of people chasing them from behind, but their speed couldn't compare to Li Qi and the others, creating a significant distance.

These people didn't directly intervene in the battle between Li Qi and the others, nor did they see how Li Qi specifically killed these five personal guards. They could only analyze and reconstruct what happened based on the traces left at the scene.

And after investigating the scene, these people also came to a conclusion.

That is, Li Qi's strength was extremely terrifying!

Killing five True Qi Realm Late Stage experts in an extremely short time, the opponent's strength was very likely at the True Qi Realm Peak!

This was very unbelievable.

It became even more difficult to comprehend when these people learned that Li Qi was just a young man who hadn't even reached adulthood.

Such a young True Qi Realm Peak, even looking across the entire Jianghu, would be enough to stand out among all, undoubtedly an unimaginable Martial Arts Genius, and would surely be welcomed and fought over by various forces.

But such a Martial Arts Genius with astonishing Aptitude... actually ran to this small Chuan Prefecture City and joined a second-rate Gang?

And then killed several officers in the Divine Might Army...

Isn't this absurd?

"You're saying that Li Qi directly and forcefully killed five of my True Qi Realm Late Stage experts in an extremely short time?"

"Yes, the traces left at the scene indicate as much."

"You also said he's at the True Qi Realm Peak?"

"There's a ninety percent certainty."

Luo Yongnian fell silent, speechless for a moment.

If the facts were truly as these people said, then even if he personally went to deal with Li Qi... whether he could take down the opponent was still debatable.

Noticing the strange expressions on the faces of several of his subordinates, as if they wanted to speak but hesitated, Luo Yongnian continued to ask.

"What? Is there something else?"

One of the subordinates spoke: "Reporting to the General, it's like this: when your subordinates were rushing to the scene, we heard several crane calls from afar."

"That sound of crane calls was truly peculiar. Your subordinates suspect... that it was the sound emitted by the special Cultivation Technique Li Qi practices."

Some Martial Arts Cultivation Techniques have relatively obvious external characteristics. For example, there is a Cultivation Technique called the [Tiger Roar Dragon Cry Golden Bell Cover]; when this Martial Art is performed, the Martial Artist's body will emit the sound of a tiger's roar and a Dragon's cry, which can be heard from a great distance.

Another example is the Martial Art [Great Strength Eagle Claw Hand], which also emits an eagle's cry when fully unleashed.

It was precisely because of this that these people made such a judgment.

Luo Yongnian's expression changed to one of surprise, and he slowly said: "The sound of crane calls?"

His body trembled, as if he had thought of something. He flashed to the piles of shattered flesh on the ground, picked up a bloody armguard from among them, and carefully observed the sword marks on the armguard.

A moment later, Luo Yongnian's expression changed, and he exclaimed: "This is... Cloud Crane Sword Dance?"

"Pine Crane Longevity Sect?!!!"

Luo Yongnian had been campaigning for many years, traveling north and south, and his vision and knowledge far surpassed that of ordinary people.

When he heard these subordinates say they heard the sound of crane calls, combined with the traces left on the armguard after Li Qi performed his swordsmanship... he had already recognized the opponent's origin!

The Martial Art used by Li Qi, who killed several experts of his Divine Might Army... was actually the [Cloud Crane Dance Sword]!

This was no ordinary Martial Art!

This swordsmanship has a great history; it is a unique skill of the Pine Crane Longevity Sect, kept secret and not passed on, only its disciples can cultivate it.

And this Pine Crane Longevity Sect is even more extraordinary; not only has it been established for hundreds of years, but it also has a Great Grandmaster overseeing it!

If a True Qi Realm Martial Artist breaks through their limits and condenses Martial Dao True Essence, then they become an Innate Martial Artist.

And if an Innate Martial Artist can break through the limits of the Mental Energy Domain, touch upon that profound Mental Energy, and condense Martial Dao True Meaning... then they are a top expert of the True Intent Realm!

People of that level are also called... Great Grandmaster!

A Great Grandmaster can easily live for over three hundred years. Even many Dynasties in history did not have a lifespan of three hundred years, while a Great Grandmaster can sit and watch the rise and fall of Dynasties and the changes in the world.

No one would offend a Great Grandmaster.

Even if one is the ruler of a country, they would not easily provoke a Great Grandmaster. Once such an existence is angered, and a Great Grandmaster sets their sights on them... the Emperor's position would not be secure.

Luo Yongnian was not an Emperor; he was just a military general, two entire Realms below a Great Grandmaster.

Although he was a True Qi Realm Peak Martial Artist, in the eyes of a Great Grandmaster... he was no different from an ordinary person on the roadside.

They could be extinguished with a flick of a finger.

"Why does Li Qi know Cloud Crane Sword Dance?"

"Could he be from the Pine Crane Longevity Sect?!!!"

Thinking of this, Luo Yongnian's face turned grim.

He was not qualified to contend with the Pine Crane Longevity Sect. The Pine Crane Longevity Sect was not an ordinary Jianghu Gang. If one were to act against a School of this level... even the Great Han Emperor would have to think twice.

Originally, Luo Yongnian had intended to issue a widespread warrant, ordering various government offices to apprehend Li Qi, but now he had to temporarily abandon that idea.

"If Li Qi is truly from the Pine Crane Longevity Sect, then why would he attack my Divine Might Army?"

"Was killing several of my Divine Might Army experts his own intention... or the intention of the Pine Crane Longevity Sect?"

"The Pine Crane Longevity Sect has always acted discreetly, rarely interfering with court affairs..."

"Never mind, let's put the matter of Li Qi aside for now. First, let's ask the Pine Crane Longevity Sect what their intention is."

"No matter what, after killing so many of my men... they owe me an explanation!"

Luo Yongnian's gaze became resolute, and he shouted: "Bring me a pen and ink."

Soon, a secret letter was carried away by a homing pigeon, flying rapidly towards the Pine Crane Longevity Sect's direction...