Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy-Chapter 477 - 421: Buff Stacked! _2

Shaking his head, which felt significantly heavier, Qi Xiu forced a smile and said, "Never have I enjoyed such an exhilarating exploration of the Dao. I was momentarily lost in it. Thank you, Sect Master, for the rescue."

"Magic Immortal Gu has truly been good to you, personally guiding you to the source of the Thunder Path and helping you comprehend the laws. Even I, as Sect Master, have never enjoyed such treatment."

Teasing Qi Xiu with a smile, Dongfang Qing lifted his wrist, and the kaleidoscopic, fantastical surface of the lake before them suddenly rippled.

"Where’s my grandmaster? It seems I’m out..."

After Dongfang Qing’s remark, Qi Xiu realized he had indeed left the Hall of Myriad Laws. His heart stirred as he faintly sensed Shi Eryue resting within his body.

"A small incident occurred in the Hall of Myriad Laws, but it’s been resolved. How do you feel? The Dao insights gained this time should be quite remarkable, right?"

"It’s decent, I suppose..."

Looking downward, Qi Xiu gazed at the proficiency panel below his line of sight. The original "Hidden Thunder Heavy Pupil" had disappeared. In its place was a new technique, "Innate Thunder Dao Treasure Strategy."

With the help of his grandmaster, Magic Immortal Gu, he successfully obtained the blessings of innumerable Thunder Path sources. Using the Hidden Thunder Heavy Pupil as a guide, he then reverse-engineered and reconstructed this cultivation technique, ultimately cultivating this new true scripture.

Compared to the original mystical and marvelous "Hidden Thunder Heavy Pupil," the "Innate Thunder Dao Treasure Strategy" was closer to the Shenxiao Sect’s "Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Scripture." This true scripture could also be cultivated as a personal core technique, its efficacy similar to his other Dharma Gate, the "Boundless Fire Emperor." Both aimed to wield the thunder of the heavens for personal use.

However, unlike the "Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Scripture" and "Boundless Fire Emperor," this "Innate Thunder Dao Treasure Strategy" had very high cultivation requirements, necessitating at least the Dao Body Realm to practice. Many of its divine and wondrous techniques would only be revealed after cultivation.

This revision and enhancement had notably raised the level of the "Innate Thunder Dao Treasure Strategy," allowing it to break free from the Great Five Elements Path. It became a cultivation technique that could independently be used for Dao Embodiment.

It’s just that now I’ll need to find another Metal-attribute Dharma Gate to fulfill the requirements for Dao Embodiment within the Five Elements.

Thinking this, Qi Xiu wasn’t in a rush. After all, he had already promised his grandmaster, Magic Immortal Gu, that the first Great Dao he would achieve Dao Embodiment with would be the Great Dao of Thunder Law. The matter of achieving Dao Embodiment with the Great Five Elements Path could wait; there was plenty of time.

"Hehe, improvement is always a good thing. You’ve just entered the Dao Body Realm, and although you have many trump cards, remember that Dao Embodiment is the most formidable technique in the Dao Body Realm. Stay at Sect Master Peak for the time being and don’t venture out. If there’s anything you don’t understand about cultivating, you can always ask me. Feel free to request anything you need," Dongfang Qing advised.

Upon hearing this, Qi Xiu’s expression grew serious; he sensed that something was imminent.

"No need to look at me like that. You guessed right. In a while, you will indeed need to run an errand, together with your master. This mission is no safer than when you were in the Valley of Deceased Gods, so you should strive to improve yourself during this time."

Dongfang Qing’s gaze settled on the flawlessly luminous surface of the lake, and he candidly revealed the mission to travel to the Southern Ming Wasteland to Qi Xiu.

Southern Ming Wasteland?

Recalling the ancient texts he had read, Qi Xiu found no records of such a place. This place must not be within the territory of the Great Xuan Dynasty.

"Yes, not only is the Southern Ming Wasteland not within Great Xuan territory, it isn’t even on this continent. It’s a roaming continent adrift upon the Guixu Sea. It was once a Central Ancient Battlefield. Due to a world-shattering war during the Late Middle Ages, this landmass was fractured and broke away, falling into the Guixu Sea and thereafter becoming a wandering continent. That landmass is known as a Life Forbidden Zone because some very special entities that survived that ancient war lie dormant there, and even experts at the Primordial Spirit Realm cannot set foot on it. Thus, for this mission, participants have been drawn from various major sects, ancient orthodoxies, and prominent families—all of them True Monarchs of the Dao Body. Two from each. By that count, there should be several hundred people."

Several hundred True Monarchs of the Dao Body?

Even though he was mentally prepared, this number still startled Qi Xiu. Several hundred Dao Experts. That number was enough to overturn a dynasty and establish a new regime. Yet now, they were being mobilized merely to undertake a mission to a place called the Southern Ming Wasteland. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Sect Master, what exactly is this matter that requires the deployment of so many True Monarchs of the Dao Body?" Qi Xiu asked, his expression turning serious.

"Do you remember the sword that flew away from the Valley of Deceased Gods?" Dongfang Qing’s fishing rod trembled slightly, as if something had taken the bait beneath the water’s surface.

"I remember. Could it be..." Recalling the eerie sword that countless Great Demons had sacrificed themselves to release, Qi Xiu felt a sense of profound unease. That sword must be entangled with immense karma.

"Mm, your mission this time is to retrieve that sword. If my predictions are correct, people from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains will also be sent. When the two sides encounter each other, a great battle will be inevitable. And that is why I am having your master accompany you."

"Actually, I can handle this mission alone..." Upon learning the details of the mission, Qi Xiu’s brows furrowed. He instinctively didn’t want his master to accompany him. Although Daoist Yunxiong was one of the top True Monarchs of the Dao Body in the sect in terms of combat strength, it was clear from Dongfang Qing’s words that on this mission, the fall of a True Monarch of the Dao Body would be an entirely normal occurrence. If his master was going on this mission primarily to protect him, then he would rather go alone.