Chapter 197: Zixiao Soul Viewing Technique

Li Fan and Zhang Qianmo, having changed their attire, quietly infiltrated Ningyuan City.

"Senior Brother, I think if there are truly ill-intentioned individuals planning to ambush us, the best way would be to catch us by surprise."

"It’s highly likely they’ll be lying in wait near your old flame, Chixia."

Li Fan transmitted his voice.

Zhang Qianmo’s face flushed slightly, and he pondered for a moment: "Junior Brother, what you said makes a lot of sense. Let’s go to the Drunken Immortal Restaurant first to check."

Li Fan followed Zhang Qianmo to the vicinity of the most prosperous and lively restaurant in the city center.

Across from the restaurant was a large entertainment establishment.

At this moment, a play was being performed on the stage. A crowd of Mortals had gathered around to watch the spectacle.

And on the upper floor of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant, the windows were wide open, and the wanton laughter of several women and young men could faintly be heard.

As soon as Zhang Qianmo arrived, his eyes fixed on a valiant woman in a theatrical costume on the stage.

It was as if he was firmly glued, unable to tear his gaze away.

Li Fan, meanwhile, was searching among the crowd for Chu Liang and others who had set up an ambush here.

Perhaps because he thought Zhang Qianmo and Li Fan had not yet arrived, Chu Liang did not conceal his presence much at this time.

He merely hid his aura, lurking among the onlookers.

Li Fan found him without much effort.

"Senior Brother, why does that person look a bit familiar?"

Li Fan roused Zhang Qianmo, who was immersed in Chixia’s performance, and transmitted Chu Liang’s appearance through his Divine Sense.

"Hmm? He does look a bit familiar. Is he…?" It took a long time for Zhang Shixiong to recall who Chu Liang was.

"Chu Liang? Wasn’t he expelled from the Sect long ago because he couldn’t Cultivate? Why would he appear here?" Zhang Qianmo was startled.

Li Fan also took the opportunity to say: "This Chu Liang doesn’t seem to be a Mortal? It seems he has hidden his Cultivation Base?"

Zhang Qianmo nodded secretly: "Indeed. There must be something strange going on here."

He thought for a moment and said: "Junior Brother, let’s encircle him, one in front and one behind. Then, we’ll simultaneously use [Spring Thunder Shock] to subdue him first. After that, we can interrogate him properly."

Information about [Spring Thunder Shock] immediately surfaced in Li Fan’s mind; it was a Divine Sense attack method from the Purple Firmament Thunder Control True Art.

It could cause a mental tremor, like the first spring thunderclap, making the opponent lose control of their body in an instant.

"Compared to this [Purple Firmament Thunder Control True Art], most of the Cultivation Techniques I’ve seen before seem to only serve the purpose of Cultivating and advancing one’s Realm. It’s as if they’ve been deliberately castrated, lacking many such methods."

"This ancient [Purple Firmament Thunder Control True Art] might truly be considered a genuine Cultivation Technique."

After a comparison, Li Fan couldn't help but think this.

It was just a casual thought that popped into his mind, and Li Fan didn't ponder it too much at this moment.

After assenting, he and Zhang Qianmo dispersed into the crowd, encircling Chu Liang.

Chu Liang’s vigilance was a bit too low.

It wasn’t until Li Fan’s Senior Brother and Junior Brother were already close that he vaguely sensed something was amiss.

Seeing Zhang Qianmo suddenly appear before him, Chu Liang’s face immediately showed a look of horror.

However, before he could even react, he was struck by two [Spring Thunder Shocks], one from the front and one from the back.

His eyes lost focus, his body stiffened, and he couldn’t move.

Zhang Qianmo stepped forward, subdued him, and quietly took him to an unoccupied civilian house.

Here, Chu Liang had already regained consciousness. His eyes were full of hatred, staring fixedly at Zhang Qianmo.

"You are Chu Liang? Why are you here?"

"In just over thirty years, you’ve transformed from a Mortal who couldn’t Cultivate into a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"What evil method did you use?"

Zhang Qianmo asked coldly, his face expressionless.

Chu Liang snorted coldly and remained silent.

"Do you think I won’t be able to find out if you don’t speak?" A hint of disdain flashed across Zhang Qianmo’s face.

"How can a side-branch Loose Cultivator know the methods of my reputable Sect!"

With that, Zhang Qianmo formed his five fingers into a claw and grabbed Chu Liang’s head.

In an instant, Chu Liang was as if struck by lightning.

His entire body trembled uncontrollably.

The expression on his face was one of extreme pain, and his eyes gradually lost their luster.

But Zhang Qianmo remained unmoved, still firmly grasping Chu Liang.

Finally, Chu Liang’s pupils dimmed, leaving only his body twitching unconsciously.

"Bang!"

Casually throwing the now useless Chu Liang to the ground, Zhang Qianmo stood rooted to the spot, silent for a long time.

"Senior Brother, what exactly is going on?" Li Fan’s eyes flickered as he watched this scene, which was extremely similar to soul-searching.

However, he didn’t make any reckless moves for now, merely asking aloud.

Zhang Qianmo didn’t answer immediately, but kept muttering something.

"Extracting the essence of heaven and earth…"

"Sacrificing the heaven and earth spirit…"

"Defying the Dao of heaven and earth…"

It seemed his mind was greatly shaken, and he was unable to compose himself for a moment.

"Senior Brother!" Li Fan had to speak again to rouse him.

"Hoo…" Zhang Qianmo let out a long breath, slowly recovering from his shock.

His expression became extremely solemn: "Junior Brother, I’m afraid the seriousness of this matter far exceeds our imagination."

"We need to conclude matters here as soon as possible and return to the Sect to report to Sect Leader Grandmaster."

Li Fan exclaimed in surprise: "What kind of matter is it that would alarm the Grandmaster?"

Zhang Qianmo immediately briefly explained about the Immortal Venerable preaching the Dao, and how the New Law allowed Cultivation without the need for Spiritual Root Aptitude.

"There are three other accomplices in the city, and that Steward Song also Cultivated the New Law; he is now at the Golden Core Cultivation Base. Follow me, and we’ll capture those three Foundation Establishment accomplices first."

"What about that Golden Core Realm Steward Song?" Li Fan couldn't help but ask.

"Don’t worry, leave him to me. He’s nothing but a mere chicken and dog." A hint of disdain appeared on Zhang Qianmo’s face.

Li Fan nodded, not refuting him.

Next, the two of them, without much effort, captured the remaining three Foundation Establishment cultivators who had attempted to ambush them.

"Junior Brother, wait for me here and watch over these few. I’ll come back for you after I’ve captured Steward Song," Zhang Qianmo instructed.

Li Fan checked the knowledge of Li Chen, whom he was possessing, again and did not find the soul-searching technique that Zhang Qianmo had just used.

So he tentatively asked: "Senior Brother, how does this soul-searching technique work? I’m idle anyway, so I’ll see if I can find any other useful information from these people’s minds."

Zhang Qianmo was slightly taken aback, sized up Li Fan for a few moments, and laughed: "Who was it who said this soul-searching technique was too cruel and refused to learn it before?"

"Today, you were almost ambushed and experienced the harshness of the Cultivation World, so your mental block has been released, hasn’t it?"

"Junior Brother, remember this. In the struggle for the Great Dao, not even half a step can be retreated."

"Feminine compassion is simply not permissible!"

"Don’t just talk about mere soul-searching techniques; even more cruel methods like refining Puppets from a Cultivator’s body or forging Magical Artifacts with souls, when they need to be used, they must be used!"

As Zhang Qianmo spoke, he pointed a finger at Li Fan’s glabella, transmitting a text of the Purple Firmament Soul Observation Art.