After leaving Chen Feng's ho, Du Bin took his carriage back to his own house. As the head of the household, he used his private funds to buy a large estate in the southwest corner of Divine Capital. Most of the commoners who served Divine Capital's nobles lived in this area—many poor, few Cultivators.
The next day, following Wang Qi's instructions, he took eight young lads towards the courtyard. This ti, however, a middle-aged man in his fifties followed him. The man had an unremarkable appearance that would likely be overlooked in a crowd. But, with Essence Qi tightly locked within, no Mana leaked out, and he didn't show signs of aging; clearly, he possessed substantial Cultivation.
Along the way, the middle-aged man persistently advised, "Young Master Bin, what you're doing might be quite rash."
"What's there to fear?" Du Bin was unconcerned. "Uncle Zhong, you're just being too cautious."
"Alas, think about it. Who among those who got too close to Modern Cultivation ended up well?" Uncle Zhong lanted, "Young Master Bin, consider for a mont..."
Du Bin sighed, "My friend is not Heterodox; he's a Banished Immortal."
"Even if he's a Banished Immortal, you'd have to wait until he reaches Late Stage Golden Core for his True Nature to show," Old Zhong whispered, continuing worriedly, "If you use Modern thods and your aura becos strange, the clan will likely not take kindly to it. Look at Young Master Wei of the Ran Family... Other than the declining families that have given up on Righteous Skills from Nascent Soul Ancestors to the newest generations, isn't it the sa with each one?"
Du Bin raised his right hand, rolled up the sleeve, revealing a black square mark on his skin with yellow seeping out from underneath. Strange patterns extended around the mark. Du Bin asked, "Uncle Zhong, does this have any Heterodox energy?"
Old Zhong shook his head, "No."
"Then that settles it," Du Bin said. "The Immortal Alliance is reliable in identifying Banished Immortals, at least no Banished Immortal has been able to break through the Heavenly Barrier and beco Primordial Spirit in many years."
"Maybe because the Immortal Alliance's identification process makes those 'Banished Immortals' feel heavy-hearted and crushed in spirit, preventing their advancent."
Old Zhong muttered under his breath, but he couldn't refute it.
For centuries, the Immortal Alliance's reputation had been terrifying. Supervising everything under the heavens, no beasts or plants were permitted to beco sentient, and no Ancient Cultivator was allowed to Transcend Tribulation without permission. Even Yangshen Pavilion would not dare to be absolutely certain about the Banished Immortals' evaluations, yet these Banished Immortals and Ancient Cultivators of Divine Capital took it for granted.
"But no matter what, we must wait until he reaches Golden Core Perfection." Old Zhong insisted, "If it turns out he's using Modern thods, your reputation in the clan will be ruined."
"Can't I tell the difference between Modern and Ancient thods?" Du Bin waved his hand dismissively, "Uncle Zhong, you don't need to worry about this."
"I, Old Zhong, still have to wonder if Young Master Bin has been deceived," Old Zhong said. "You know, Righteous Skills have been passed down for eighty thousand years, and the system is quite complete. Even if those Modern Great Powers are exceptionally talented, they have to explore a different path, abandoning Nascent Soul for Primordial Spirit. If he claims to create sothing new within the confines of Righteous Skills, I, for one, wouldn't believe it."
He was one of the Du Family's House-Born, and his loyalty was unwavering. Because he was dependable, the Du Family had not rushed his Cultivation. This Du Zhong was a true Golden Core Cultivator. In the Immortal Alliance, where Primordial Spirits were commonplace and Golden Cores were seen as nothing, a re Golden Core, especially one of Law Gate Golden Core, naturally could not cause much upheaval. But, in the tightly-regulated Cultivation world of Divine Capital, a Golden Core was a central force. It was exactly because he felt deeply valued by the main family that Du Zhong was, as his na suggested, extrely loyal.
He hadn't attended the Immortal Institute like Du Bin. He didn't know the basic theories and hadn't battled extensively like cultivators from ancient tis, so his knowledge was limited. He didn't understand Cultivation, but he knew how to judge the rits of Cultivation thods.
Du Zhong was suspicious of Wang Qi's thod of implanting a pre-refined Magic Foundation into the body.
Better safe than sorry. I have to guard well for Young Master Bin, prevent this Banished Immortal of unclear allegiance from deceiving us!
At that mont, a bold laugh reached their ears, "Brother Du, this isn't quite what we agreed upon, is it? Your n seem to lack faith in ."
Everyone looked up to see a young man dressed in blue robes lightly touch a rooftop with his foot, facing the rising sun, then glide gracefully in their direction. Against the backdrop of the early morning sun, his figure was dazzlingly bright.
Du Bin hastily nudged Du Zhong, "Uncle Zhong didn't an that... and he's not one of the people I'm loaning to you, Brother Wang. These eight are."
"Du Hong, Du Lv, Du Jin, Du De... you eight, et Mr. Wang!"
"Yes!" The eight responded in unison, obviously well-trained.
Wang Qi pointed to the eight, "Brother Du, are these obedient?"
Du Bin nodded, "Obedient, very obedient! See this?" As he spoke, he beca a bit sheepish, "Brother Wang, as I made clear before, these House-Born are the most loyal, and I trust them entirely. But you can't harm their lives just for proof. Although it won't be decisive, their reputation among the House-Born does sowhat affect our status."
Wang Qi nodded, "Understood."
"I will definitely not damage the flesh, but as for the spirit, that will depend on the circumstances," Wang Qi assessed the eight individuals before him. They were all Magic Cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Stage with frail and inflated mana, obviously the result of rapid cultivation practices. Their ardor for ascending to Immortality was not intense… easy to manipulate, but not necessarily easy to guide.
As Wang Qi scrutinized the eight youths, Old Zhong was also taking Wang Qi's asure. The more he saw, the more unsettled he felt in his heart.
This Banished Immortal... was too young and unreliable.
He bore no aura of accumulated experience, and what's more, he was a pure Modern Cultivator...
As he continued to watch, Du Zhong's brows gradually furrowed.
Suddenly, Wang Qi turned his head, locking eyes squarely with Du Zhong. Du Bin felt as if the other's gaze were electrifying, like steel needles piercing through his own pores and viciously stabbing into his eye sockets!
How strong was Wang Qi's soul power at that mont? A year and a half of Soul Forging Skill "Qujianji" practiced within the Yangshen Pavilion and the previously acquired high growth rate from Holy Light had strengthened Wang Qi's soul far beyond that of his peers, even comparable to the elite of the Yangshen Pavilion. Rising above the lancholy in his heart had cleared his mind, facilitating thoughts as transparent as a mirror, serving as a form of self-suggestion. This sharpened his soul attack ever more.
Wang Qi looked at Du Zhong and said coldly, "Old man, what are you staring at?"
Du Zhong, having suffered a setback, spoke without regard for consequences, "Mr. Wang turns out to be such a domineering person; the servant has truly learned sothing new."
"Hmph," Wang Qi drank coldly, "I suddenly began to borrow people and knew that so under Brother Du might be uncooperative. But what I didn't expect was that you servants would dare show such disdain in my presence, spoiling my mood."
Du Zhong replied icily, "A smooth tongue doesn't an steady work, a saying that holds true for thousands of years. You, as a Modern Cultivator, may not realize that we, who inherit from eighty thousand years of splendor, have many traditions and rules. What you are doing…"
"Shut your mouth!" Wang Qi's palm wind silenced Du Zhong, "Speak plainly, do you look down on because I'm not adept in Ancient thod? Fine, let's have a contest purely with Ancient thod, shall we?"
"That's good," said Du Zhong, his eyes flickering with a sharp light, as if genuinely angered, "If I back down, I would ask Mr. Wang to stop here and not make further demands. And if I lose, I shall certainly keep silent..."
"That's not enough!" Wang Qi declared coldly, "You have to work under , as a living proof!"
"Mr. Wang is perhaps too presumptuous!" Du Zhong responded coldly, "If you used Modern Skill, I might not be able to suppress you. But with Ancient thod..."
"Let's settle it with one move!" Wang Qi swung his sleeve robe and took a stance. His fingers subtly brushed against the ring as he inquired, "Old man, are you sure you can do this?"
"Don't worry, I have eaten more salt than you have eaten rice, and crossed more bridges than you have walked roads..."
"Old man, you seem to practice Fasting; you may not have more days of eating than !"
Zhen Chan roared, "That's the point! I understand the ntality of these descendants of Ancient Cultivators very clearly."
"The more you brutally humiliate them, the more they will grow fond of you!"
Wang Qi exclaid, "Isn't that just masochistic?"
"This is 'admiration for the strong'!"
Yet, this move was preditated.
Considering he might use these fellows for experints of Divine Tao in the future, he needed to imprint an invincible image of himself in their minds, instilling it into their consciousness now. As for this Du Zhong, he was a rare experintal subject! A Golden Core Stage certainly can bear more than a Qi Cultivation Stage!
Their standoff did not last long. With a wave of his sleeve robe, Du Zhong's mana surged out like the eternal wind from Tianya, cleansing the everlasting skies, upholding the tiless bright moon.
Opposite him, Wang Qi drew his sword.
Du Bin watched the scene speechlessly, but in front of him erged the mory of Wang Qi humiliating him for a Half-demon at the Immortal Institute.
This guy had always been overbearing; one to befriend but not to offend!
(To Be Continued. If you enjoy this work, welco to recomnd and vote on Qidian (qidian). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian to read.)
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