27: Chapter 27 Subjugation

Qian Zhong leaned in to look closely at the cluster of spiritual light, then sensed the pure thunder spiritual power fluctuations from Wang Shouren, finally relaxing his face that had been tense for days.

Thunder-attribute spiritual power inherently counteracted the methods of demonic Cultivators. It seemed the Young Master truly hadn't cultivated a Demonic Technique.

"So that was it! Your subordinate was scared to death; I thought Young Master..."

"Thought I had fallen into demonhood?"

Wang Shouren gave a faint smile, sat up from the couch, pulled out a cyan porcelain bottle from his Storage Pouch, and stuffed it into Qian Zhong's hand.

"Uncle Qian, take this Medicinal Pill."

Qian Zhong looked down, his expression changing drastically, and quickly tried to push it back.

"A barrier-breaking pill? Young Master, this is too valuable, I can't accept it."

"Take it."

Wang Shouren shoved the porcelain bottle back into his hands, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

"I observed your cultivation just now; you have been stuck at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer Perfection for many years.

With your Five Spiritual Roots Aptitude, without a barrier-breaking pill, you might never cross this hurdle in your lifetime. You have earned this."

Qian Zhong held the small cyan porcelain bottle in both hands, his fingers trembling slightly.

He was over fifty years old with Five Spiritual Roots, belonging to the lowest tier in the cultivation world.

He had been stuck at the threshold between the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and Seventh Layer for eight whole years, having long abandoned all hopes of making further progress.

And now, the Young Master had thrust a barrier-breaking pill into his hands, just like when the Patriarch had picked him up from the mass grave all those years ago, giving him another chance to start over.

His throat bobbed as he tried to say something, only to find it choked with emotion. In the end, he merely bowed his head, cupped his fists, and choked out in a raspy voice, "Young Master, I..."

"Alright, Uncle Qian. I'm going to rest for a bit." Wang Shouren lay back down on the couch and closed his eyes.

Clutching the porcelain bottle, Qian Zhong backed out, the sound of the stone door closing so soft as to be nearly imperceptible.

Wang Shouren waited a moment to confirm there was no further movement outside before sinking his mind into his Sea of Consciousness.

Within the Sea of Consciousness, a charred black lotus rotated slowly. Beside it hung two complete Divine Thought imprints: Ten Directions Fierce Thunder Transformation and Five Thunders Sword Canon Orthodox Method.

This Five Thunders Sword Canon Orthodox Method was originally just information synchronized through the Lotus Seed, like a copied book inside his Sea of Consciousness.

However, at this moment, the Ten Directions Fierce Thunder Transformation had changed its appearance.

It was no longer a piece of static information, but had transformed into a sky filled with thunderous light, surging endlessly in his Sea of Consciousness.

Within the thunderous light stood an illusory figure. Though it could not compare to the grandeur of the thousand-foot thunder pillar in that world of lightning, its Aura was still majestic and imposing.

It wasn't a dream.

"Ten Directions Fierce Thunder Transformation: using one's own Qi and blood as a guide, and Heaven and Earth's Evil Qi as fuel to draw lightning to temper the body and condense the Fierce Thunder True Body.

Upon reaching Major Achievement, one becomes the ancestor of ten thousand thunders; tribulation thunder and divine lightning are mere child's play. What a domineering Cultivation Technique."

Wang Shouren raised his head, a surge of heroic passion swelling in his chest. What did a weak Family lack the most?

Medicinal Pills? Magical Artifacts? These could all be supplemented with Spirit Stones; at worst, it would just take years of accumulating wealth.

But Cultivation Techniques—especially those leading straight to the grand Dao—were all guarded as fiercely as life itself by various Sects and factions.

If anyone leaked a Cultivation Technique, it was tantamount to exposing their own cultivation weaknesses to others.

Today, not only did he obtain a Cultivation Technique leading straight to the grand Dao of immortal ascension, but he also retained a copy of the Spirit Sword Sect's secret canon.

"Five Thunders Sword Canon Orthodox Method, although far inferior in rank to Ten Directions Fierce Thunder Transformation, has quite a profound method for channeling lightning into the sword, taking an upright and majestic path.

The orthodox method Cultivates life while the fierce thunder Cultivates slaughter. The two Cultivation Techniques—one standard and one unorthodox—complement each other. That Tian Zhen was given such a grand Opportunity yet lacked the courage to Cultivate it; he truly wasted his Thunder Single Spiritual Root."

He slowly lowered his hands, a faint curl forming at the corner of his lips.

As for whether Tian Zhen, having lost the Lotus Seed's control, would reveal Wang Shouren's methods of controlling him?

Wang Shouren wasn't worried. How could a coward who didn't even have the courage to Cultivate the Ten Directions Fierce Thunder Transformation have the guts to speak out about being suspected of being controlled by a Demonic Seed?

With the Spirit Sword Sect's attitude of thoroughly eradicating demonic Cultivators, the moment he spoke out, he would likely be removed from the key talent development list.

At this moment, Wang Shouren's eyes were brighter than ever.

"To switch Cultivation Techniques, the first way is to switch directly, converting the mana cultivated from the Azure Wood Lightning Art into the mana of the Ten Directions Fierce Thunder Transformation. The second way is to cripple one's cultivation and start anew.

Though crippling my cultivation to restart takes a long time, it builds a firmer Foundation. Besides, I am currently only at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. With a large amount of Spirit Pills and Body Refining medicinal herbs to assist me, I can easily Cultivate back to my current Realm within a year."

Then, Wang Shouren frowned again. Reality was far harsher than his ideal.

Spirit Pills and herbs were easy to resolve, but as for the Evil Qi required for cultivation...

Evil Qi, also known in the cultivation world as Earthly Evil Qi.

Unlike Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, Evil Qi was born in places of extreme Yin, extreme ferocity, and extreme death upon the earth.

Ancient battlefields, mass graves, execution grounds, volcanic craters, and abyssal chasms were all places where Evil Qi gathered.

Mundane mortals would fall ill upon contact. If a Cultivator absorbed it with their Physical Body, their Meridians would be damaged at best, and at worst, their sanity would be corroded by the Evil Qi, turning them into a slaughter-crazed demon.

Thus, most Righteous Path Cultivators avoided it like the plague; only demonic Cultivators and a few Body Refining Cultivation Techniques would actively seek out Evil Qi to temper their Physical Body.

Evil Qi did not circulate in the market, making it very difficult to purchase through ordinary channels.

Yet the cultivation of the Ten Directions Fierce Thunder Transformation specifically required Evil Qi as a guide and one's own Qi and blood as fuel to condense the first wisps of Fierce Thunder true intent within the body.

Without Evil Qi, this Cultivation Technique was like a fire without root, impossible to begin cultivating.

"Spirit Pills and herbs are easy to handle. The Body Refining Medicinal Pills and herbs seized during the clearing of the Dadao Sect accounted for most of them, and are currently stored in Lotus Pier's warehouse.

With my contribution merits, taking a batch out wouldn't be an issue, but this Evil Qi won't be so easy."

Wang Shouren rubbed the space between his brows, setting the matter aside for now.

The matter of Evil Qi couldn't be rushed. He could only ask Sixth Grandpa after returning; perhaps the clan had records regarding it.

He stood up from the couch. His clan robes were already damaged and stained with a lot of his own blood, so he pulled out an ordinary Magic Robe from his Storage Pouch, put on a bamboo hat to cover the bandage on his forehead, and pushed open the door.

Qian Zhong was standing guard outside. Seeing him come out, he quickly stepped forward to greet him: "Young Master, your complexion is still a bit pale. Would you like to rest some more?"

"No need." Wang Shouren shook his head and walked toward the front shop with steady steps.

"Uncle Qian, today's matter was thanks to you. Cleanly handle the affairs of those two shop hands. If their families ask, say they went far away to procure goods, and report them missing after some time.

If anyone still investigates, report directly to me, and I will resolve it."

Qian Zhong nodded solemnly.

Wang Shouren walked to the shop door, looked back at the doors that had been shut for several days, pondered for a moment, and instructed, "Reopen for business tomorrow."

"Young Master?" Qian Zhong was slightly taken aback.

"Delaying during the peak spirit fish season loses money every day. If we don't open for business, it will be hard to explain to the clan."

Wang Shouren's expression was calm.

"I have already obtained what I needed this time, so I will return to Lotus Pier tomorrow.

As for the matters here, I will explain them to the clan myself. You don't need to worry."

"Yes." Qian Zhong bowed in acknowledgment.

Just as Wang Shouren was about to step out, he suddenly paused and looked back at the fifty-something shopkeeper.

"Before swallowing the barrier-breaking pill, remember to bathe, change your clothes, calm your mind, and bring your condition to its peak.

You've been stuck at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer for eight years, so your Foundation is thick enough. This Breakthrough won't be too difficult."

Qian Zhong's throat bobbed. He bowed his head and cupped his fists, only speaking in a raspy voice after a long pause.

"...Yes, Young Lord! Ah, Young Master, Wanbao Pavilion is holding an auction today. In previous years, it was always..."