"What are the chances of two freaks, born once in a thousand years, both showing up at the same time, and to us of all people?!"
The old man Gu grumbled, wanting to spit on the ground, but even though his Yang God body could move like a normal human, he had no saliva to spit.
"There's nothing we can do about it. It's good enough that we're alive. Let's go save Old Seventeen. Qu Tong is dying, and I'm afraid that if that Demoness dies, the Seventeen she controlled will be buried with her. We need to get him under control first."
Zhou Sheng withdrew his gaze from the gradually weakening Qu Tong and pointed at Ruan Feng.
No matter how strong Qu Tong's Dual Hand healing ability was, it still required Qi to sustain.
With two BUG-level Peak Masters attacking simultaneously, even if Duanmu Ying, the creator of Dual Hand, were still alive, they wouldn't be able to withstand it, let alone Qu Tong.
A few minutes later.
Qu Tong finally couldn't take it anymore. Struck by lightning, she was obliterated, leaving no trace, not even a soul. Not even Spirit Control and Summoning could retrieve her spirit body.
To have lasted this long against Qingshui and Old Heavenly Master, Qu Tong had every right to be proud, even if her last few minutes were agonizing.
Even stronger Peak Masters like Zhou Sheng couldn't have endured for such a long time.
The fight between Lu Jin and Ruan Feng had also stopped.
With Zhou Sheng and Gu Jiting, two Peak Master sorcerers, plus Lu Jin, Ruan Feng was indeed very powerful, but he was ultimately not the Old Heavenly Master. While fighting Lu Jin, he was ambushed by two sorcerers of similar level and was captured alive.
"This troublesome matter is finally coming to an end," Lu Jin said, rubbing his lower back while looking at the dozen or so remaining Quansheng experts bound by the Dragon Binding Lock by agents from the national security and military.
He wondered what was going on. Ever since he, the old man, had broken through to become a Peak Master, he seemed to be either getting beaten or on his way to getting beaten.
Now that the biggest problem was solved, he shouldn't have to get beaten again, right?
Some of the Quansheng experts on the ground were begging for mercy, while the more stubborn ones were still cursing. Qingshui found it annoying, so he had someone find something to gag them.
The Yao Xing Society members had decisively chosen suicide after Qu Tong's death, leaving only Ruan Feng and the other Quansheng members.
"Father, are you alright?" Lu Ping and Lu Zhong whispered, helping Lu Ci against a wall while giving him life-saving pills.
Qingshui walked over to Lu Ci, placed a hand on him, and activated a Mystical Palm Technique.
Lu Ci was severely injured. Though not dead, he probably didn't have many days left to live.
After all, he was a hero who had risked his life to kill Japanese devils back in the day. While he had certainly committed many wrongdoings in his life, this alone made Lu Ci worthy of respect.
Qingshui merely used Mystical Palm Technique to briefly treat Lu Ci's injuries, preventing him from dying on the spot, but didn't continue the treatment.
He was too severely wounded, his vitality greatly depleted. At over a hundred years old, he already didn't have many years left to live, and unlike Lu Jin, he didn't possess a super healing ability like Reverse Life Triple. It was already good luck that he hadn't died on the spot.
Moreover, Medical Ninjutsu stimulates cell regeneration for self-healing. Even with the best technique, treating such severe injuries would still impact one's lifespan.
"Professor Zhuo, thank you. This old body of mine, I don't know how many more days it has left, but at least I haven't lived in vain." Lu Ci said, his face looking a bit more ruddy after receiving Qingshui's treatment, as he caught his breath.
"You old dog, you're f*cking done living already?" Lu Jin, bare-chested and cursing, walked over, looking at Lu Ci with complex eyes.
Their relationship wasn't good; their approaches were diametrically opposed, and they had never really gotten along. However, deep down, they both acknowledged each other's abilities.
"No choice, heaven wants to take me. Unlike you, who's so clean it's disgusting. But I've lived a more carefree life than you. I've done beastly things, and I've taken on the little Japanese devils. I repay grudges and seize benefits. My family doesn't have many capable people, but neither do I have Qu Tong as an enemy anymore. Plus, the world is at peace, and with the little I've left behind, they'll manage just fine. Tell me, haven't I lived a more carefree life than you?"
"Damn it, you lived a more carefree life than me? I'm a Peak Master, you useless old man. You've done countless bad deeds in your life, and now you're just going to die like this? I just think it's unfair of heaven."
"Hahahaha! Heaven let me live to this age, how is that fair? That fat Wang did far more unethical things than I did, and didn't he just kick the bucket too?" Lu Ci laughed, pointing at Wang Ai's corpse, which was being collected by two Wang Family descendants in the distance. His eyes grew a little moist.
The two old men had been partners in crime their entire lives, engaging in countless scams, deceptions, and illicit gains. But their century-long friendship was truly unbreakable, forged from their youth as confidantes who could entrust their lives to each other.
"A dog crying over a dead rat, and shedding real tears? I've certainly lived long enough to see everything." Zhang Zhiwei, holding Zhang Chulan's hand, clicked his tongue twice as he watched the scene.
"Alright, let's send the wounded out. As for the opportunities left by the Taoist of Purple Yang… how do you all think we should distribute them?" Qingshui turned around, looking at everyone, and asked for their opinions.
Regardless, the lion's share would definitely be in his, Old Heavenly Master's, and Lu Jin's hands.
"I have a suggestion," Zhou Sheng began.
"Please speak, Elder Zhou."
"We saw the opportunities within the Nine Bends Winding Cave just now. Compared to seventy-odd years ago, they're not even a tenth as much. This blessed land is naturally formed, seizing the essence of nature. From the Taoist of Purple Yang to us when we comprehended the Eight Unique Skills, the accumulated nine hundred years of spiritual energy and Qi within it were completely depleted. Because Wugensheng sought something greater than the Eight Unique Skills, he gained nothing.
But from then until now, only a little over seventy years have passed. When we, the owners of the Eight Unique Skills, repaired this valley, although we intentionally gathered a lot of spiritual energy and Qi, it only amounted to about thirty percent of what it originally was.
If there were only two or three people, it would be enough to share, but there are so many people here. Even if you exclude me and Old Gu, the two losers, it's still not enough. My suggestion is to give all this spiritual energy and Qi to Old Heavenly Master and Professor Zhuo, who have the highest comprehension. For the two of you to share what you gain would be the most beneficial choice. Of course, by doing so, you two should also compensate us more, how about it?"
From a rational perspective, this was the choice that maximized benefits, and it was also the situation Qingshui most hoped to see. The Old Heavenly Master would likely not object either.
After all, whatever was comprehended from it, wouldn't it still be up to them to decide?
Therefore, this was also the most probable outcome.
For Zhou Sheng and Gu Jiting, since they'd already lost their chance, they naturally hoped to maximize their gains.
In any case, they had a fallback. Even if it was a temporary solution and not a fundamental fix, it wasn't unacceptable.
The remaining people were still hesitating.
If Wang Ai hadn't died, and Lu Ci hadn't lost his spirit due to severe, near-fatal injuries, then those two would definitely have stepped forward.
But even then, it would likely have been difficult to snatch this opportunity from Qingshui and the Old Heavenly Master.
With two BUG-level Peak Masters, rarely seen in a thousand years, teaming up, any objections they had would be useless!
Among those present, who among them wasn't morally compromised, apart from Lu Jin, who was known for his impeccable life?
Even Lu Jin, while always acting righteously and honorably, would never abandon any benefits he could possibly secure.
Otherwise, Lu Jin wouldn't have survived until now and still possess such strength.
As for relying on Lu Jin to take the lead...
That wasn't very realistic. Lu Jin was already as close as brothers with the Old Heavenly Master. And now, seeing that Professor Zhuo was also serving as an elder in the Sanyi Sect, it was likely he'd already joined their side. Their relationship couldn't be bad, and these two probably wouldn't shortchange Lu Jin.
As if confirming everyone's thoughts, seeing the silence, Lu Jin immediately waved his hand and declared loudly:
"I have no objections. Professor Zhuo and Old Heavenly Master, I, Lu Jin, am convinced. Not to mention, what I seek is already included in what Professor Zhuo seeks. As for compensation, Professor Zhuo, Old Heavenly Master, if you two don't bring out more good stuff, I, Old Lu, won't be polite with you!"
"I agree."
Feng Zhenghao raised his hand, the second to agree.
He was best at assessing the situation and adapting.
The outcome was already decided; no one could snatch this opportunity from the two Peak Masters. Why would they bother offending them?
The remaining people exchanged glances, as if discussing something among themselves, and finally raised their hands as well.
"I agree too!"
"We trust the reputation of the Old Heavenly Master and Professor Zhuo!"
"Exactly! With their character, they wouldn't let us suffer a loss!"
"That's right!"
...
Qingshui and Zhang Zhiwei exchanged a look, approving the plan.
They weren't losing anything, so why wouldn't they agree?
More than an hour later.
All the injured and deceased in the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley had been moved out. Zhou Sheng and Gu Jiting were also cooperatively invited to consult with several senior generals stationed there, who were overseeing the military exercise.
Inside the Nine Bends Winding Cave.
Qingshui's true form had arrived. He and the Old Heavenly Master were currently in front of the glowing orb, which had expanded from the size of a grain of rice to the size of a human head. Qingshui had extended a hand into it and was meditating with his eyes closed.
Qingshui had set up numerous restrictions and Talismans here, and Lu Jin was guarding the outside, ensuring its safety.
At this moment, Qingshui's consciousness was fully immersed in the glowing orb.
Within this orb, there was a feeling of I am heaven and earth, I am the world.
If Gu Jiting possessed a small fraction of high-dimensional characteristics, with the perspective of an incomplete high-dimensional being, then when using this glowing orb, you could connect with heaven and earth through this valley, which cultivated like a human body.
Except for being unable to directly mobilize the power of this world, you could almost experience this world from the perspective of a Dimensional Demon God.
All the knowledge and rules contained within the entire complete world would be displayed before you, without reservation, one by one, before the power within this glowing orb was completely consumed.
As for how much you gained, that was entirely up to you.
Even the Eight Unique Skills, compared to this all-encompassing world, were merely insignificant tips of the iceberg.
The first thing Qingshui needed to do was complete his human Sage Mode.
With Reverse Life Triple, Breathing Style, and the snake Sage Art inheritance from Ryūchi Cave, he had a wealth of relevant information to reference. With his current research achievements, he was only one step away from success.
It was this most difficult final step that had held him back for quite some time.
Before long, wisps of Natural Energy began to actively gather around Qingshui, circulating and refining within his meridians, imprinted with Qingshui's personal mark, combining with his own Qi to transform into Innate Qi.
Beside him, the Old Heavenly Master was also covered in dazzling golden light, as if a layer of restraint had been broken, his aura growing stronger and stronger, like a ceiling that had always been above him had shattered.
At this time, the glowing orb also dimmed slightly.
Qingshui and Zhang Zhiwei were unaware, continuing to meditate with their eyes closed, seizing this rare and precious opportunity.
With the primary goal of this trip achieved, Qingshui continued to delve deeper into the field of Sage Art, integrating the system, while also strengthening other aspects of himself.
And these were areas that usually had little chance of improvement.
Mind, Space, Reality, Time.
Scenes of his Marvel Universe incarnation studying the four Infinity Stones flowed through his mind at this moment.
Unknowingly, Qingshui spontaneously activated his mental aura, his will continuously soaring.
Space, time, reality—these abstract concepts were incredibly clear in his perception at this very moment.
Space was like a dynamic grid system, or perhaps a nested geometric structure, layer upon layer, with both outer and inner aspects. Whether viewed at the microscopic or macroscopic scale, its hierarchy was distinct. Amidst the chaos, there seemed to be a certain order and pattern, like intricate and complex mathematical problems.
As long as one could deduce mathematical formulas from it, they could use energy to manipulate space, achieving various wondrous effects.
Time was quite similar. If a person was seen as a point, then in the past, there were countless individuals, forming a line when connected.
In the reality that had already occurred, this line was solid, while at its end, there were countless dashed lines.
The closer it got to the present, the clearer the line became, and the more likely future possibilities, or just a few, approached the slope of this line.
Similarly, the further back in the past, the more solid those lines became.
If someone possessed the ability to alter past time, then the more distant the past, the greater the cost required.
This wasn't just about energy, but other costs as well.
Because there wasn't just one timeline in this world; from something as small as an atom to as large as an individual, an organization, or even a nation, each was a major line formed by the entanglement of countless smaller lines.
The fates of people, people and matter, and all things intertwined, forming the entire world's timeline.
If, within an already woven timeline, one strand suddenly changed direction, then the other solid lines would also be affected.
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