Chapter 597

Chapter 597

I Can See Through Everything

Only when the members of the Qiankun Sect vanished into the dense forest did the powerhouses lurking in the shadows finally react.

What followed was a wave of stunned exclamations.

“What did I just witness? That man shattered the head of the Black Wolf Beast with a single punch—killed it on the spot!”

“He fought the Black Wolf Beast barehanded and still managed to kill it?”

“He’s definitely not a disciple of the Qiankun Sect. Who is he really?”

“That’s right. If the Qiankun Sect had such a fierce disciple, they wouldn’t have been outmaneuvered by the Gongshu Clan recently, suffering so many casualties!”

“Investigate immediately. We must uncover this person’s identity and origins!”

In that moment, awe spread through the forest like wildfire.

Countless experts were utterly shaken by the scene of Lu Qing slaying the Black Wolf Beast.

They were all well aware of the beast’s strength.

Though it was only at the early stage of the Golden Core Realm, its body was exceptionally tough, and its vitality nearly unmatched.

Add to that the peculiar nature of this secret realm, which greatly diminished the power of spells and artifacts.

Even cultivators at the late Golden Core stage found it difficult to kill one of those creatures.

Unless it was a fatal blow, no matter how severe the injury, the beasts could recover quickly.

So when they saw Lu Qing kill a Black Wolf Beast in a single strike, the shock was palpable.

“Brother Batian, this person’s physical strength seems formidable. He shattered the Black Wolf Beast’s skull with one punch. How would he compare to you?”

In a corner of the forest, Shen Zangfeng wore a look of amazement as he turned to Batian.

“Hard to say,” Batian replied with a serious expression, shaking his head. “Though the Black Wolf Beast was only early Golden Core, its body was as tough as a magical artifact.

I could kill one with just physical strength too, but not so cleanly.

We’d have to actually fight to know for sure.”

“He’s that powerful?”

Shen Zangfeng was truly surprised now.

He had asked casually, not expecting Batian to be uncertain.

After all, members of the Overlord Clan possessed ancient bloodlines, born with extraordinary physiques and unmatched body strength. They excelled in the Body Cultivation Path.

Batian, the most powerful of the younger generation in the Overlord Clan, had already cultivated their clan’s legacy technique, the

Nine Transformations of the Golden Core Realm

, to the ninth transformation.

Though he had yet to reach the perfected ninth transformation, his body had already reached astonishing levels.

Shen Zangfeng had once fought him—without magical artifacts, even his sword qi barely scratched Batian.

So he knew firsthand how terrifying Batian’s body was.

Now hearing that the stranger’s body might rival Batian’s, how could he not be shocked?

“It's just raw physical power. He likely walks the pure Body Cultivation Path and might have acquired some rare treasures that strengthened his body.”

Batian chuckled. “When it comes to flesh alone, I might not have an edge. But for us of the Overlord Clan, a strong body is only part of the picture.

In real combat, it’s the

Overlord Qi

that truly matters.”

Shen Zangfeng nodded.

The

Overlord Qi

cultivated through the clan’s legacy

Technique

, the

Overlord’s Record

, was famous across the entire Tianyuan Great World—ferocious and difficult to counter.

Only members of the Overlord Clan could cultivate it, and it was this dominant power that had kept their clan among the top three of the Thirty-Six High Clans for countless years.

“Still, that person is no simple figure. I’ve never heard of the Qiankun Sect having someone like that.”

“No matter who he is, he’s just one person,” Batian said. “Even if we count the other Qiankun Sect disciples, they’re not a serious threat to us.

What matters is the opportunity inside the ancient tower.

You know the trials inside, Shen. With our own strength, we may not pass.

What do you say—should the Heavenly Sword Sect join forces with us?”

“I can’t make that decision alone. I’ll need to discuss it with my fellow disciples before I can give you an answer.”

“Then I suggest you hurry. I have a feeling Dao Xu Temple and Bilu Palace might move soon. If they beat us to the prize, we’ll have only ourselves to blame.”

“I’ll respond as soon as I can.”

…

“What an interesting young man. To have such a powerful body—he must be the disciple of one of those old monsters, surely?”

Elsewhere in the forest, someone chuckled lightly.

“It’s just a Black Wolf Beast. Nothing special,” came a cold, indifferent voice. “If not for fear of provoking the deeper beasts, we could have killed it too.”

“True, but it’s rare to see a Golden Core cultivator with such physical prowess. It’s stirred my curiosity.”

“You don’t mean… you want him as your Golden Armored Guard?”

“That thought did cross my mind. Soon, I’ll be competing with my senior brothers for the position of Lesser Temple Master. A guard like that would be quite useful.”

“I doubt it’ll be easy. He doesn’t strike me as someone who bows to others. And didn’t you say he might be one of those old monsters’ disciples? Would you really dare enslave him?”

“We don’t know that for sure. If he’s just a rogue cultivator, joining Dao Xu Temple would be an opportunity few geniuses could dream of.”

“Forget that for now. You mentioned joining forces with our Bilu Palace to seize the treasure in the tower—were you serious?”

“Absolutely. We’ve both entered the ancient tower and know how hard the trial is. Alone, neither of us stands much chance. Together, we might have one.”

The cold voice was silent for a moment, then said, “Very well. But before we enter, we’ll make soul oaths and agree on terms.”

“Naturally.”

…

“Ah Yu, you were right. That man is dangerous.”

Within the ranks of the Gongshu Clan, a woman spoke with shock on her face.

The others were equally astonished.

None had expected that the boy they had dismissed as early Golden Core would unleash such terrifying power.

They had personally experienced the Black Wolf Beast’s strength.

Yet that unassuming youth had killed it with a single punch. Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn’t have believed it.

Some among the Gongshu Clan secretly felt lucky they hadn’t acted against Lu Qing earlier.

If they had, caught off guard by such a blow, only Gongshu Yu might have survived.

“Yes, I didn’t expect that either.”

Gongshu Yu’s expression was grave.

He had suspected Lu Qing and his companion weren’t ordinary.

But he hadn’t thought they were this powerful.

What bothered him more was that such a figure was moving closely with the Qiankun Sect.

Thinking back to Ye Qingzhu and the others, his instincts told him their rapid recovery likely had something to do with Lu Qing.

His eyes narrowed as he began to ponder.

Meanwhile, Lu Qing was oblivious to the stir his actions had caused among the forest’s many factions.

He had already returned to the valley where the Qiankun Sect had been resting.

Soon, the Qiankun Sect disciples and Daoist Wubao arrived as well.

“Fellow Daoist Chen…”

Qin Zheng started to speak, but Lu Qing waved him off.

“Fellow Daoist Qin, I’d like to meditate for a while. Would you mind if I use one of the houses?”

“Are you injured?” Qin Zheng asked, halting mid-sentence.

“Not injured, just drained. I appreciate your understanding.”

Recalling how Lu Qing had spent a lot of spiritual energy healing Ye Qingzhu and the others, and now had just slain a Black Wolf Beast, Qin Zheng quickly said, “Then please rest as you need.”

Lu Qing cupped his hands, then entered a nearby house with Xiaoli, placing a Concealment Array to suppress his aura. He summoned the

Li Huo Cauldron

and began refining the

Witch Bloodline Essence

from the Black Wolf Beast.

The reason he had exposed some of his power in front of so many was precisely for this rare treasure.

Anything that could permanently enhance one’s physical strength and potential was too rare to pass up.

As Lu Qing refined the beast blood inside, the Qiankun Sect disciples, under Qin Zheng’s command, reactivated the defensive array around the valley.

Once finished, the group gathered in a secluded corner.

Qin Zheng looked to Ye Qingzhu and the others.

“Junior Sister Qingzhu, didn’t you say Fellow Daoist Chen was a sword expert whose swordsmanship was divine? Then…”

He trailed off, but the implication was clear.

The other disciples also looked at Ye Qingzhu.

Even now, the image of Lu Qing punching through a Black Wolf Beast’s skull still echoed in their minds.

It was so shocking, they almost wondered if they’d hallucinated.

But amidst the awe, the same question arose:

Wasn’t he a sword cultivator who had slain Li Motian—someone whose strength rivaled late Golden Core—with just a single Sword-Point Technique?

Why then did he just kill a Black Wolf Beast with nothing but his body?

Such explosive, brutal strength was more fitting of a body cultivator than a sword cultivator!

“I don’t know either,” Ye Qingzhu admitted, confused. “When he killed Li Motian, he did use sword techniques.

Even my master was impressed by the sword wounds on Li Motian’s body and praised his mastery.

I had no idea he also practiced such powerful fist techniques or that his body was so strong.”

Ye Qingzhu’s shock was no less than anyone else’s.

She had always believed Lu Qing to be a formidable sword cultivator and a master healer.

She had even asked her master whether there existed any Nascent Soul cultivators who excelled in both medicine and swordsmanship, wondering if Lu Qing’s master could be such a person.

But what had just happened made it clear—she only knew one side of Lu Qing.

His mystery and strength went far deeper than she’d imagined.

Zixiao and Chu Xiaojing also looked dazed.

They couldn’t understand how a sword cultivator like Lu Qing could also be so terrifying in hand-to-hand combat.

“Even you three don’t know?”

Qin Zheng looked at their bewildered faces and realized they genuinely didn’t know.

But if even Elder Mo Xuan had praised Lu Qing’s swordsmanship, then it had to be extraordinary.

So he turned to Daoist Wubao.

The chubby daoist waved his hand. “Don’t look at me. I’m just like you. I met him by chance on the road to Tianxu City, and we hit it off.

But I don’t know him any better than you do.

That punch earlier—first time I’ve seen it too. Still reeling from it myself.”

“Exactly, Second Senior Brother,” said Chu Xiaojing. “Back when Big Brother Chen saved us, he was alone. He only teamed up with Daoist Wubao in Tianxu City.”

Qin Zheng was stunned.

He hadn’t expected that even the daoist who entered the secret realm with Lu Qing knew so little.

He glanced toward the house where Lu Qing was resting, his eyes full of mystery. “This Fellow Daoist Chen… truly unfathomable.”

Daoist Wubao looked at the house too.

But while marveling at Lu Qing’s mystery, he was also thinking of something else.

“He’s probably not meditating in there,” he thought. “He’s refining the Black Wolf Beast’s bloodline.”

Daoist Wubao was well aware of how deep Lu Qing’s spiritual reserves ran.

During their journey, he had to meditate multiple times, but Lu Qing never did once.

So he didn’t believe for a second that the recent punch had drained Lu Qing much.

Thinking of the strange bloodlines in the black rats earlier, Daoist Wubao had a hunch about Lu Qing’s true reason for killing the beast.

It had to be for the bloodline inside.

Of course, these were just guesses.

Since Lu Qing didn’t say it aloud, he wouldn’t expose it either.

As everyone’s thoughts churned in silence, a voice suddenly came from outside the valley.

“Brother Qin Zheng, I’ve come to discuss something.”

Hearing that voice, every Qiankun Sect disciple’s face changed.

Because they all recognized the voice—it was Gongshu Yu.