This Spirit Nurturing Master isn’t registered with your branch, is he.

A Spirit Nurturing Master without any mandatory duties means he wasn’t trained by any of the surrounding Sects. You should understand the interests at stake here, shouldn’t you?

This is more than the Qu Family can chew."

Hearing this, Qu Qingxian paused for a moment, then retorted sarcastically, "Heh, and a mere branch of the Zhou Family thinks it can?"

Zhou Zhicheng shook his head. "Of course the Zhou Family can’t handle this alone. But why do you think I dare to make a move and apply pressure right here in the city?"

Qu Qingxian’s expression changed, his face instantly turning grim. "The Ji Family from the City Lord’s Mansion..."

Zhou Zhicheng smiled. "It’s an open secret. Why spell it out?

Hand over his contact information and introduce him to our patriarch. The Mastery-Level Tier Two Spirit Nurturing Bead you auctioned off today has made us lose all patience.

I’m the one who came this time because both our patriarch and City Lord Ji wanted to leave some room for negotiation.

If you keep making a scene, next time... heh heh..."

Qu Qingxian’s face turned cold as he said, "I don’t know what you’re talking about!"

With that, Qu Qingxian wasted no more words. A Rune emerged between his eyebrows as a transparent Chi Dragon slowly materialized at his side. It coiled around him, its gaze fixed coldly on Zhou Zhicheng.

The Chi Dragon was composed entirely of water. It had the body of a serpent and the head of a dragon, but no horns. With its clawed feet, it looked like a cross between a dragon and a great serpent.

Zhou Zhicheng shook his head. "Must you do this? You can’t win against overwhelming odds."

’Rune Technique: Chi Dragon - Water’

In response, the Chi Dragon detached from Qu Qingxian. Under his control, it swung its tail and charged toward Zhou Zhicheng.

"Bring it on. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve tested your mettle," Zhou Zhicheng muttered.

He extended his hands to his sides, palms down, and endless Spirit Wind began to surge from all around him.

’Rune Technique: Tornado Wind’

He began to spin rapidly in place. Countless streams of Spirit Wind, like wisps of a tornado, quickly intertwined.

But as they intertwined, the whirlwind began to bend and coil, slowly forming into a serpentine wind dragon. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

The instant the wind dragon appeared, it shot directly toward the Water Dragon.

Their Core Runes, aside from their different elemental Attributes, were surprisingly similar; both had chosen the path of Shaping Techniques available to Mages.

Visually, both were a form of Chi Dragon.

The only difference was that the Water Dragon was complete, while the wind dragon’s lower half—its tail—was connected to the rapidly spinning Zhou Zhicheng.

This connection gave Zhou Zhicheng ample protection, whereas Qu Qingxian had to both control his creation and dodge the wind dragon’s occasional surprise attacks.

Because he was distracted, his Water Dragon was consistently at a disadvantage in the fight.

"Qu Qingxian, it seems you still haven’t improved much!" Amidst the battle, Zhou Zhicheng’s voice came from the wind dragon’s mouth, as if it were the one speaking.

"Is that so?"

Qu Qingxian dodged another Wind Blade, and because of this distraction, the Water Dragon was bitten again.

With that said, Qu Qingxian’s expression turned cold, and he hesitated no longer.

’Rune Technique: Dragon Pearl Water!’

The Water Dragon in the sky turned its head toward Qu Qingxian and spat out a white, bead-like bubble of water.

The bubble instantly enveloped Qu Qingxian. He stopped dodging and sat down cross-legged.

The surrounding Wind Blades shot at the bubble, but didn’t even create the slightest ripple.

"Don’t you get it? Our paths are similar, but for your Tai Chi One Life, you chose pure defense.

I, on the other hand, chose a variant Rune Core with innate defenses. This means that at the Tai Chi stage, you will never be a match for me."

Zhou Zhicheng wasn’t the least bit discouraged that his Wind Blades had no effect. The wind dragon opened its mouth, but it was his mocking words that came out.

’Rune Technique: Dragon Bead - Wind!’

’Rune Technique: Dragon Horn - Wind!’

As Zhou Zhicheng activated his two core techniques, Dragon Horns suddenly sprouted from the wind dragon’s head, and it spat out a Dragon Bead.

The Dragon Bead shot toward the Water Dragon like a cannonball.

Now with Dragon Horns, the wind dragon’s aura surged, and it lunged forward to bite the Water Dragon.

Sitting cross-legged, Qu Qingxian’s lips curled into a slight smile. "Is that so?"

’Rune Technique: Dragon Horn - Water!’

As Qu Qingxian activated his technique, the Water Dragon also grew a single horn, its aura now no weaker than the wind dragon’s.

But the Water Dragon lacked a Dragon Bead. Under the combined assault from the wind dragon and its Dragon Bead, it was being struck repeatedly.

Qu Qingxian, still sitting cross-legged, held out a hand. A vibrant stream of water materialized in his palm.

Zhou Zhicheng frowned as he watched. He was only at the Twin Tai Chi stage, a notch weaker in Cultivation than Qu Qingxian.

’Rune Technique: Spirit Water Technique - Dragon!’

Qu Qingxian tossed the vibrant stream of water into the sky, and it flew directly into the center of the Water Dragon’s brow.

Instantly, the Water Dragon’s vacant eyes lit up with Spirituality, as if it had gained true Wisdom.

"A support technique that grants Spiritual Wisdom? Are you trying to perform a Summoning Spirit and advance to the Duality stage?" Zhou Zhicheng asked with a frown.

"That’s right. In the past, you always went after my Main Body. This time, you’ll get a taste of your own medicine."

After he used the Spirit Water Technique, the Water Dragon gained its own Spirituality.

Qu Qingxian no longer needed to control the Water Dragon. He stood up and ran toward Zhou Zhicheng.

Zhou Zhicheng’s expression turned grim. He looked at the Water Dragon, now acting on its own in the sky, and realized he was helpless against it.

Qu Qingxian charged right up to the spinning form of Zhou Zhicheng, who was obscured by a whirlwind of countless streams of Spirit Wind.

Previously, this pseudo-Human-Dragon Unity state had been quite advantageous, providing defense without the need to waste a Technique.

Because of it, Qu Qingxian had always been at a disadvantage in their fights.

But that disadvantage ended today.

Protected by his water Dragon Pearl Shield, Qu Qingxian plunged directly into the tail of the wind dragon.

Inside the dragon’s tail, Zhou Zhicheng spun rapidly. As Qu Qingxian charged in, newly generated Spirit Wind condensed directly into blades.

They shot toward Qu Qingxian in a torrent.

This managed to stall Qu Qingxian, but the wind dragon’s aura in the sky instantly weakened, allowing the Water Dragon to land several vicious bites.

"Ji Xing, if you’re just going to stand there and watch, I’m done!" Zhou Zhicheng, now at a great disadvantage, suddenly shouted.

Qu Qingxian’s expression changed. A young man dressed in sharp, close-fitting attire slowly materialized.

Ji Xing looked up at the two dragons dueling in the sky, shook his head, and said, "You two... you’re quite the pair of squabbling rivals..."

Clearly unaccustomed to being at a disadvantage, Zhou Zhicheng said with a dark expression, "Cut the crap. Let’s take him down first."

Qu Qizhong had been watching the battle from the rooftop, his expression conflicted. The moment Ji Xing appeared, however, his indecision vanished. His face turned cold, he brought his hands to his chest, and began to chant:

"Infinite Hongmeng, root of all spirits.

Vast Cultivation of Ten Thousand Laws, to manifest my Divine Abilities.

Among the stars of All Heavens, Spirit Nurturing reigns supreme.

Encompassing heaven and earth, nourishing all life.

I hereby beseech the Alliance! With utmost urgency, as if by Law Order!"

His voice was serene and calm, and amplified by his Oratory, it carried clearly over a great distance.

Below, the three combatants’ faces fell in shock. Zhou Zhicheng exclaimed in astonishment, "Is this... a Wish Petition?!!!

Your Qu Family has a Wish Cultivator? Or one of those bald monks?"

Ji Xing shook his head, his expression growing even graver. "I don’t think so. But with an aura like this... I just hope he didn’t summon the Outer Body Incarnation of some powerhouse!"

Qu Qingxian’s expression also changed slightly, and he took a step back.

All three stared nervously at Qu Qizhong. At this moment, no one dared to treat him as mere scenery any longer.

········

「In his Cave Mansion.」

At that moment, Zhang Deming was cultivating (in other words, sleeping).

A strange fluctuation surged out from his Dantian, and Zhang Deming’s eyes snapped open.

His Heart Spirit arrived in the Spirit Nurturing Space. The point of light representing Qu Qizhong was flashing violently.

Zhang Deming made a beckoning gesture with his hand, and through the point of light, he saw the situation at the Blue Sky Branch.

His expression sharpened. After a moment of thought, he raised his hand, summoned a sphere of light—a Mirror Image—and cast an Enhancement Skill on it.

After doing all this, Zhang Deming fused the sphere of light into his consciousness and plunged headfirst into the channel of light before him.

········