503: Chapter 13 General Intelligence

Night, dark clouds veiled the moon.

In a canyon near Caomiao Village.

Two figures traded blows, locked in a fierce battle.

After several rounds, realizing neither could gain the upper hand, they tacitly pulled away, each retreating to one side to regulate their Qi and stand in opposition.

One of them appeared to be in his thirties, dressed in coarse hemp clothing.

The other was clad in black, wearing a black hat and a black veil, revealing only his eyes, and holding a strange, wheel-shaped weapon.

A moment later, the one in coarse hemp clothing spoke: "The Seven-Tailed Centipede is a potent poison known throughout the world. May I ask what relationship Your Excellency has with the Blood Refining Hall?"

The man in black did not answer, merely sighing with emotion: "To suffer a sneak attack and then be poisoned, yet still possess such strength. Universal Wisdom of Tianyin Pavilion is truly worthy of his reputation!"

Hearing this praise, the man in coarse hemp clothing, who was none other than Universal Wisdom, felt no joy, only saying in a flat tone: "You flatter me. Since Your Excellency has come for my blood-devouring pearl, you must have an inseparable connection with the Blood Refining Hall. Why bother hiding your identity?"

Upon hearing this, the man in black's eyes flickered, and he brandished his weapon to attack Universal Wisdom.

Universal Wisdom's heart sank, but he met the attack without showing any fear.

Just then, the young Zhang Xiaofan secretly poked his head out from behind a giant rock in the corner, watching the battle below with curiosity, his eyes fixed on the scene.

Having gauged the man in black's unskilled Blood Refining Hall techniques during their previous exchange, Universal Wisdom soon found an opening, striking the man's strange wheel weapon so it flew from his grasp and embedded itself into a distant earthen wall.

Seeing this, a flash of alarm crossed the man in black's face behind the veil, knowing that if he did not use his most profound, signature skills, he would likely fail to achieve his goal.

Therefore, steeling his heart, he found an opportunity to pull back, drew a sword hidden beneath his black robes, and skillfully and rapidly cast a Spell: first laying an invisible protective layer around his body, then using the sword as a conduit to summon lightning from the sky.

In an instant, the wind and clouds shifted, and silvery-white lightning flashed.

Zhang Xiaofan, hiding on the giant rock, saw this scene and his eyes went wide.

Universal Wisdom's expression also changed, and he hurriedly pulled the glowing red blood-devouring pearl from his robes to cast a Spell in response.

As he used the blood-devouring pearl to generate a dark red protective barrier in front of him, the man in black had just channeled the power of the lightning into his sword and thrust forward.

The silvery-white lightning shot out from the tip of the sword, striking the blood-red barrier, but it only caused it to sway slightly, unable to shake it, let alone shatter it.

The man in black refused to accept this, withdrawing his stance to gather power, and thrusting his sword again.

Universal Wisdom saw this, gritted his teeth, and increased his output as well.

The lightning and blood-red light collided again, erupting with terrifying power, the shockwaves scattering and knocking Zhang Xiaofan, who was on the giant rock, unconscious on the spot.

Subsequently, the man in black, unable to keep up, was struck by the blood-red light and sent flying backward.

Universal Wisdom, however, waved his large sleeve, easily blocking the shockwaves, appearing completely composed. Seeing the man in black injured, he made a move as if to activate the blood-devouring pearl to continue the attack.

The man in black was terrified; seeing this, he hurriedly propped himself up with his sword and fled.

Universal Wisdom did not pursue, merely standing expressionless, maintaining the demeanor of an expert until he was certain the man in black would not return. Only then did he open his mouth and spit out a mouthful of fresh blood, his sallow complexion turning pale at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Clearly, he had just been bluffing.

Immediately, Universal Wisdom sat cross-legged on the ground to regulate his Qi.

After stabilizing his injuries, he leaped onto the giant rock, tucked the unconscious Zhang Xiaofan under his arm, and dashed toward the dilapidated temple in Caomiao Village.

Arriving at the dilapidated temple, Universal Wisdom placed the unconscious Zhang Xiaofan side-by-side with the unconscious youth Lin Jingyu on the ground, then channeled his magic power to further heal himself.

A moment later, he finished his cultivation, pulled a black pill from his robes, and muttered distractedly: "To think he was right, I still have to take this Three-Day Death Pill."

After speaking, Universal Wisdom swallowed the pill, and before long, his complexion rapidly improved.

Following that, he looked at Zhang Xiaofan and Lin Jingyu not far away, thinking to himself: "That scoundrel will definitely return to kill everyone to silence them... The only plan now is to find a way to send these two children into Qingyun, so that their lives can be preserved."

At this point, Universal Wisdom's gaze flickered, as if a stray thought had arisen.

The blood-devouring pearl in his robes sensed this, quietly emitting a red light.

Universal Wisdom looked down, his expression changing slightly, and when he looked up again, his pupils were already stained with a layer of red light.

In an instant, that stray thought in his heart rapidly amplified, and his expression became one of struggle, as if he were agonizing over something.

Finally, the red light receded, hidden in the depths of his eyes, and he whispered to himself: "If I pass the Tianyin Cultivation Technique to them, and then send them to Qingyun, perhaps my lifelong wish can be fulfilled."

Then, Universal Wisdom began to size up Lin Jingyu and Zhang Xiaofan.

Upon seeing Lin Jingyu, his eyes first brightened, then he shook his head: "This child has excellent Aptitude and will surely be noticed by his masters in the future; I fear he cannot keep a secret, so it is inappropriate to pass it to him."

In a flash, he looked at Zhang Xiaofan: "This child is more suitable."

Having determined his choice, Universal Wisdom immediately used a method to wake Zhang Xiaofan.

After waking up, Zhang Xiaofan saw Universal Wisdom and was somewhat surprised: "Uncle?"

Universal Wisdom nodded slightly and then asked: "Didn't you leave? Why did you come back?"

Zhang Xiaofan replied: "I saw you were injured, so I brought you some medicine."

As he spoke, he took a porcelain bottle from his robes and handed it to Universal Wisdom, asking at the same time: "Has the bad guy already been driven away by you?"

"That is correct, he was driven away by me."

Universal Wisdom responded, took the porcelain bottle, glanced at it, then set it aside, smiling at the youth: "Thank you for your kindness, but I no longer need it."

Afterward, he said seriously: "Let me ask you, do you want to follow me and learn some skills?"

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaofan was stunned at first, then immediately remembered the scene of Universal Wisdom fighting the man in black earlier, and without hesitation said: "I do, I want to!"

But in an instant, he seemed to remember something, his face showing a troubled expression: "But, my father doesn't let me fight."

Universal Wisdom smiled and explained: "It is not fighting; it is suppressing evil and promoting good, acting with chivalry."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaofan immediately lost his concerns and said happily: "Okay."

Seeing this, Universal Wisdom's gaze shifted, and he said with a solemn face: "I can pass my skills to you, but there is one condition."

"What condition?" Zhang Xiaofan asked.

Universal Wisdom said: "You must not tell anyone about tonight's events, not even your parents. You must never use the skills you learn unless your life is on the line, otherwise, it will bring great disaster. This matter requires an oath as proof; are you willing?"

Zhang Xiaofan nodded: "I am willing."

"Good."

An incense stick's time later, Universal Wisdom left the dilapidated temple, walking toward Caomiao Village with red light in his eyes.

Not long after, someone in the village let out a scream.

"Murder!"

"Help!"

"Don't kill me!"

At the same time, a mysterious carriage was slowly approaching the entrance of Caomiao Village...