22: Chapter 22 Spiritual Energy Storm

He had spent all his previous Sect Master points on the "Use for Me" search function (Use for Me: Searches for people within a certain range and locks onto those with Earth-grade Spiritual Roots or higher), yet he hadn't found a single promising candidate with an Earth-grade Spiritual Root or better.

There was another frustrating matter; ever since the incident where he killed the direct Disciple of the Green Leaf Sect at the foot of Tianyuan Mountain spread, the entire Jiuling City had been giving Tianyuan Mountain a wide berth. Who would dare to join the Moonshadow Sect now?

On the second floor of the Haoran Tower, Ling Hao leaned against the railing and gazed into the distance. This was his residence, and the view was expansive, allowing him to take in the courtyards of his two precious Disciples.

In the Snow Pavilion courtyard to the left, Qin Zhaoxue sat cross-legged, clear Qi circulating around her body with a hint of coldness; clearly, she was circulating the "Dao Canon."

In the Fuqu Courtyard to the right, Spiritual Qi danced lively around Chi Wanhe, with a faint pink glimmer flickering intermittently. Both of their auras were significantly stronger than before.

"Xiao He is at the third level of the Qi Refinement Stage, and Xiao Xue is at the second level. Not bad."

Watching his Disciples improve steadily, Ling Hao's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed a little, and his mood improved significantly.

"However... it still feels a bit slow. Once the Sect upgrades to rank two and opens up the Blessed Land, our cultivation speed should be able to increase even further."

"Damn it, I'm just one Disciple at the Qi Refinement Stage away!"

Ling Hao sighed and took out the scroll of the "Pure World Glazed Body."

As the scroll unfurled, it felt as warm and smooth as jade to the touch, displaying a pure, flawless glazed color. The ancient and profound runes upon it faintly exuded an aura of unyielding tenacity and the heavy weight of purifying everything.

"This Body Refining Cultivation Technique, once mastered, enters the Origin Awakening Stage, which is comparable to the Qi Refinement Stage..."

Ling Hao muttered to himself, then his brows furrowed again, "Unfortunately, the requirement for Mental Energy is too high!"

It wasn't as if Ling Hao hadn't tried before. For the past few days, he had disguised himself as a "Martial Forest expert" among Mortals, wandering around the villages and towns near Tianyuan Mountain, specifically picking out girls without Spiritual Roots who looked physically strong and had stubborn eyes.

"Young lady! I see that your gait is steady, your eyes are bright, and your physique is strong. You are truly a one-in-a-million martial arts prodigy! This old man has a peerless divine skill here called the 'Glazed Jade Maiden Technique.' Once mastered, your body will be like glazed glass, immune to all diseases, and you will have the strength to lift a cauldron. Are you interested?"

Ling Hao caught a sturdy young girl and spouted nonsense with great enthusiasm.

The girl was persuaded and eager to try: "Really? Senior! I want to learn!"

The result? Ling Hao cautiously guided a wisp of tempering power into the girl's body...

"Ah—!!!"

The next moment, the girl screamed as if she were a block of ice thrown into a furnace. She curled up and convulsed uncontrollably, sweat pouring down her face, which had turned deathly pale. It was as if her entire body's muscles and bones were being torn and ground by an invisible, immense force. In less than five breaths, she rolled her eyes and fainted.

Ling Hao: "..."

Similar scenes played out one after another. None of those physically strong girls, who seemed to have tenacious wills, could last more than ten breaths. Ling Hao had no choice but to helplessly give up on this path.

Gazing at the rolling mountain ranges in the distance, Ling Hao was lost in thought. Such a high requirement for Mental Energy. Perhaps... only she... could try?

A stubborn figure flashed inexplicably through Ling Hao's mind. The reason he had thought of a Body Refining Cultivation Technique in the first place was also because of her.

Huh?! Ling Hao's gaze suddenly hardened! The sky in the direction of Liuling Town had darkened at some point! In the distant horizon, a gray-black "Dragon" reaching from heaven to earth was churning crazily!

That was not a dark cloud, but a terrifying storm formed by violent Spiritual Qi swirling with countless specks of dust!

Its scale was massive, almost tearing through the clouds like a gigantic funnel, swallowing everything in its vicinity; the sight was horrifying!

Whoosh! With a flash of jade light, Yu Lingshuang flew on her sword and landed beside Ling Hao. Her cold, clear voice carried a trace of imperceptible fluctuation: "Sect... Ling Hao..."

Ling Hao nodded: "Ling Shuang, you noticed it too?"

Yu Lingshuang looked toward the world-destroying Spiritual Qi storm, a trace of gravity and doubt appearing on her stunningly beautiful face.

"Ling Shuang, what do you think? What caused this Spiritual Qi storm?"

Ling Hao asked. He had actually only heard of this thing and didn't really understand it himself, so it was a good opportunity to probe this knowledgeable Deputy Sect Master.

Yu Lingshuang did not disappoint Ling Hao, analyzing: "There are usually three reasons for a Spiritual Qi storm: abnormal Spiritual Qi tides, drastic changes in a large Spiritual Vein, or... the attraction of anomalies when a powerful Secret Realm or Blessed Land emerges."

Yu Lingshuang carefully observed the storm's form, "Looking at the trajectory of this storm, it seems to be moving from further away, and the source is difficult to determine. Should we get closer to investigate?"

"That is exactly my intention." Ling Hao nodded.

Just as Yu Lingshuang was about to fly on her sword, she felt her waist tighten! A strong arm had wrapped around her! A rich and refreshing masculine scent instantly enveloped her.

Yu Lingshuang's body instantly stiffened, and she subconsciously prepared to use her power to push him away.

"Don't move, I'll take you faster."

Ling Hao's voice rang in her ear, carrying an unquestionable tone.

Yu Lingshuang's movements paused, and a faint blush quietly appeared on her cold, jade-like cheeks.

Ling Hao wrapped his arms around Yu Lingshuang's slender waist, his figure flashed, and they instantly appeared in the high sky about eight miles from Tianyuan Mountain, with the crumbling Liuling Town directly below.

This distance was the limit; any further forward would mean plunging directly into that world-destroying Spiritual Qi storm!

The storm vortex, reaching from heaven to earth, was like a crazed beast of heaven and earth, carrying house-sized boulders and broken ancient trees, raging wildly.

Even more fatal was the violently mixed power of the Five Elements within it.

The sharp Geng Metal Qi turned into invisible blades cutting in all directions; the scorching Fire Qi condensed into explosive fireballs burning everything; the cold water vapor froze all life...

At the same time, the storm was even more crazily churning and gathering the erosion qi between heaven and earth! Thick, scarlet clumps of erosion qi, like viscous, filthy blood, rolled and spread, emitting a nauseating, fishy sweetness and a bone-chilling cold.

Outside Liuling Town, a Cultivator accidentally got touched by a scarlet clump of erosion qi and instantly emitted a scream of extreme misery. His skin cracked, his eyes turned crimson, and in just a few breaths, he completely transformed into an Erosion Demon that only knew destruction!

Under such terrifying heavenly might, a Cultivator at the Qi Refinement Stage was like an ant; struggling was futile.

Ling Hao withdrew his right hand from around Yu Lingshuang, stared at the storm, and furrowed his brows tightly.

Tianyuan Mountain happened to be right on the path of the storm's advance; if it were allowed to continue, Tianyuan Mountain would likely be affected as well.

Suddenly! Ling Hao's eyes hardened as he locked onto a familiar figure on the periphery of the Spiritual Qi storm!

At this moment, Liuling Town had become a slaughterhouse. Houses collapsed, and smoke and dust filled the air. Crying, cursing, and screaming were incessant.

"God! Are you blind?!"

"It's over! We can't escape! We're all going to die!"

"Who is that? A lunatic? Actually rushing into the storm?!"

"There is no fluctuation of Spiritual Qi on her body at all, just a Mortal! Hmph, she must have heard that bullshit rumor that 'a Spiritual Qi storm can allow one to have an Awakening of a Spiritual Root'!"

"An idiot who believes in rumors, she deserves to die!"

On the periphery of the Spiritual Qi storm, Du Yuqing was braving the gale, stubbornly stumbling step by step toward the center of the destructive storm!

The howling gale knocked her to the ground again and again! Sharp gravel and broken wooden splinters cut wounds all over her body, and blood mixed with dirt stained her clothes red.

"Bang!"

She was swept by the airwave of a flying boulder and slammed heavily against a broken wall, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.

"Ugh..."

The intense pain made her grunt, but the fire of determination burning in her eyes did not extinguish in the slightest! She bit her lower lip hard, even drawing blood, and forced herself to prop up her battered body!

If she fell, she would crawl forward on her hands and knees! Even if her knees were ground to a bloody pulp on the gravel! There was only one thought in her mind: the center... I must get to the center!

Strangely, some shallow wounds were actually healing slowly at a speed visible to the naked eye, and a faint halo seemed to circulate beneath her skin. The more the wounds healed, the thinner Du Yuqing's body became.

However, her weak defiance appeared so fragile in the face of the violent Five Elements attacks. New, deeper wounds appeared constantly, instantly covering up that tiny light of healing completely!

Just as Du Yuqing struggled to stand up again, a clump of scarlet erosion qi, as thick as congealed blood, was carried by the gale and suddenly lunged toward her!

The bone-chilling cold and the fishy wind of death instantly enveloped her! Du Yuqing's pupils constricted sharply!

If she got touched by it, she would turn into a walking corpse of an Erosion Demon! It was completely over!

Du Yuqing wanted to dodge, wanted to flee, but her overdrawn body was as heavy as lead, and even moving a single finger was incredibly difficult.

The nauseating aura of the erosion qi clump was already upon her, and the cold sensation felt as if it had already touched her skin.