Chapter 194 – The Tiger and the Snake’s Trap (1/2)

Smell would always be the aspect that human cultivators missed the most. Li Qingshan possessed a sense of smell that was a hundred times stronger than regular beasts. Combined with his instincts for danger and killing intent, it was impossible for him to be ambushed so easily.

He concealed all of his aura and gripped his Wind-entwining blade firmly. He prepared all of his talismans and approached the Zombie Daoist’s dwelling slowly. He constantly sniffed for the lingering scent in the air and did his best to discern where they were hiding right now.

He had set out for the Sect of Clouds and Rain, so how could he flee right after seeing them? Of course, his battle tactic would be to retreat if there were many people, but if there were only a few, he would kill them. If he worked with Xiao An, he had some confidence in being able to triumph over a ninth layer Qi Practitioner.

When he finally set foot in the dwelling, it was empty inside. All that was left was a lingering scent that slowly dispersed.

Why would these great Qi Practitioners remain in the pitch-black underground, waiting for the arrival of a junior? They only waited for a few days before leaving this place to search for Wei Yingjie’s whereabouts.

Li Qingshan was slightly disappointed. It seemed like it would take him some effort.

In the middle of the night, Li Qingshan climbed up the mountain where the Hawkwolf Guard resided on and arrived before his original residence. As expected, there was an aura inside, but it was much stronger than he had expected, but the smell was right. Qian Rongzhi had actually broken through to the fifth layer. She was even faster than him.

With Xiao An outside keeping an eye out, Li Qingshan climbed up the residence alone and opened the window. He saw Qian Rongzhi meditating in the room and practising qi. She did not seem to be lascivious at all. Instead, she seemed rather solemn.

Qian Rongzhi heard the window open, so she immediately stood up and grabbed her weapon and talismans, assuming a defensive posture. Afterwards, she was surprised. “It’s you?”

Li Qingshan said, “It’s me.”

Qian Rongzhi eased up. She did not even ask why Li Qingshan had become so big. Her eyes lit up as she said, “You’ve reached the third layer. You really are a genius!” The first time she had seen Li Qingshan was only a few months ago. Back then, he was still a first layer Qi Practitioner.

Li Qingshan said, “Your cultivation surprises me more.”

Qian Rongzhi said, “The worthless have their own worthless ways. Unfortunately, it’s still not enough to defeat you.”

Li Qingshan squinted his eyes. “What will you do if you could defeat me?”

Qian Rongzhi smiled thinly. “You’ll know when it happens!”

“Don’t ask me. I was dragged into the matter due to Wei Yingjie’s disappearance. I’ve already been expelled from the Sect of Clouds and Rain. I knelt on the ground and begged the granny for a very long time, but it was all useless. I’ve been tested for all this time, all for nothing. I didn’t even get a single cultivation method. Aren’t I pitiful?” Qian Rongzhi said bitterly and pitifully, as if she had not personally abused Wei Yingjie to death.

“Dragged into the matter?” Li Qingshan sneered. “The same as before. If you can lure the West Gate Granny out alone to a certain place, everything that has to do with the Sect of Clouds and Rain in her hundred treasures pouch will go to you.”

Qian Rongzhi widened her eyes. “You can kill ninth layer Qi Practitioners?” She knew Li Qingshan had a trump card, so he was as powerful as sixth layer Qi Practitioners at the very least. However, she never imagined he would actually reach such a high level.

Originally, she believed that catching up to Li Qingshan was just a matter of time with her cultivation speed. However, her confidence completely evaporated now. The disparity separating her from Li Qingshan was not shrinking. Instead, it was growing exponentially.

She also understood why he did not take her too seriously as a potential threat. He possessed absolute confidence in himself. Before absolute strength, rarely would any schemes or plans be effective. This man was probably different from all of the other men she had seen before. He was surprisingly difficult to deal with.

“That’s why you’d better maintain some fear for me. That’ll do us both good!”

Qian Rongzhi stopped smiling. “I understand. The vice sect master of the Sect of Clouds and Rain, Wei Zhongyuan, and the four grannies found nothing when they went to the Zombie Cave, so they split up to search for you. There are Parlours of Rain and Clouds littered through the lands, and they’re well-connected. As soon as you appear, they’ll discover you.”

Li Qingshan said, “Did you send them to the Zombie Cave?”

Qian Rongzhi said, “I said Wei Yingjie went there in search of you, but I didn’t say that you killed him. You’ve fallen out with the Sect of Clouds and Rain completely anyway, so it’s no difference to you. Don’t tell me you were stupid enough to hide there?”

Li Qingshan felt like he had been slapped across the face. He said boldly, “Of course not. Continue.” She had said that so nonchalantly, so it was not like he could lose his temper over that.

Qian Rongzhi smiled. “The Parlour of Clouds and Rain has lost two parlour masters, one after another, so they haven’t sent anyone new. If you want to deal with the Sect of Clouds and Rain, I’d recommend targeting Wei Zhongyuan. He’s currently going through the sorrow of losing a son. He’s irrational, so he’s easy to control.”

“What’s his cultivation?”

“The tenth layer.”

“I refuse,” Li Qingshan said without a second thought. Tenth layer Qi Practitioners were people who had opened all of their acupoints, along with the twelve standard meridians and eight extraordinary meridians. They were only a step away from Foundation Establishment. Compared to the ninth layer, they were like sixth layer Qi Practitioner to fifth layer Qi Practitioners. He was confident in his own strength, but he had not become blinded by it.