Chapter 99: What I Researched Two Days Ago!
After several days, Lü Yang’s group of three finally returned to the familiar massive spirit city, the Vast Sea City.
Along the way, Wan Hua had made all sorts of overtures to Lu Qingyang. Seeing this, Ma Liang was sour with envy.
He had proven his Great Vehicle through the path of a rogue cultivator, with no sect behind him. Listening to the two discuss various sect systems and rules, he too felt a great deal of emotion.
As for Lu Qingyang, upon learning that this Great Vehicle Wan was a Grand Elder of the Seven Stars Pavilion, he too felt the desire to forge a connection.
After all, his own sect and the leading sect of the Seven Stars Sea Region shared the same territory.
If he could establish good relations, it would naturally make things much more convenient in the Seven Stars Sea Region in the future.
And while the few of them chatted idly, the Vast Sea City’s enormous spiritual power light gate finally appeared before everyone’s eyes.
“Hoo, after merely several decades, I’ve returned.”
Looking at the still endless, bustling crowd in the distance, Lu Qingyang could not help but sigh.
He still remembered the wretched state he had been in when he first arrived here with Jun Moyan and the others.
In merely several decades, he had returned again. Whether in identity, status, or cultivation, it all felt like a lifetime ago.
“Young Friend Lu, let’s go.”
“Today is your first time at the council. After you’ve checked in, we will naturally host a welcome feast for you.”
“Heh heh, then this junior will respectfully comply.”
Lu Qingyang cupped his hands and followed Ma Liang and the other into the Vast Sea City’s spiritual power light gate.
“Bzz~”
The spiritual power light gate trembled slightly as the three entered.
“Human Race, Human Race, Human Race.”
“Three Human Race cultivators: two at the Great Vehicle stage, one at the Nascent Soul stage.”
“Sect Management Council Elder, city entry fee waived. Please enter. Duration of stay: unlimited.”
Listening to the familiar voice by his ear, Lu Qingyang was slightly stunned.
He still remembered that when he first arrived here, the few of them had been forced to pay twenty-six thousand just to get in.
Now, as an Elder of the Sect Management Council, he entered with ease. It was like the difference between heaven and earth.
But… this Vast Sea City’s gate also seems to be a Spirit Artifact.
Sensing the inexplicable Spirit Artifact aura in his surroundings, Lu Qingyang could not help but think to himself.
Once the few of them entered the city, a Dharma Ship exclusively for the Sect Management Council was already waiting nearby.
Seeing the few approach, the Dharma Ship slowly came to a stop. The Nascent Soul stage driver sized them up, then bowed and said, “Elders, please board.”
“Mm.”
Ma Liang nodded and was the first to step aboard.
Lu Qingyang followed close behind.
As for Wan Hua, he smiled and cupped his hands toward Lu Qingyang, then also walked toward the Dharma Ship.
……
Vast Sea City, Sect Management Council.
It was the headquarters of the Qingnan Shengzhou Sect Management Council.
This place could be called the ceiling of combat power for the entire province.
Within, Great Vehicles were as numerous as clouds. It was said that a Supreme Great Vehicle was also stationed here.
Precisely because of this, it was difficult for the Demon Race to conquer the Human Race’s great province.
“Young Friend Lu, this way please.”
“According to convention, for your first check-in, you need to contribute to the council according to your duties: a technique that can be cultivated to the Dao level, regardless of grade.”
“At the same time, you must also give a lecture once a year, whether on pills or artifacts.”
“So, where would you like to start?”
Within the main hall of the Sect Management Council, Wan Hua asked Lu Qingyang with a smile.
“Mm, the technique won’t be necessary. I have here a fourth-rank Ice-Thunder Cloud Explosion Art that I just researched a couple of days ago.”
“This method was improved from the Minor Rain-Cloud Art plus the Thunder Explosion Art and the Ice Explosion Art. It can be cultivated to the Dao level.”
Lu Qingyang took a jade slip from his storage bag and handed it to Wan Hua.
“This…”
After receiving the jade slip, Wan Hua’s expression immediately froze.
How could creating a technique be this casual?
Just researched a couple of days ago?
And it was even fourth-rank?
It was not just Wan Hua. Ma Liang, off to the side, also had his eyes wide open.
His gaze was fixed dead on the jade slip in Lu Qingyang’s hand, his face filled with shock.
After all, a brand-new fourth-rank Dao-level technique was not cheap even in the Sect Management Council.
Not that it was particularly precious — the main thing was that it was new!
The Human Race’s glory today was built on the reform and innovation of countless sages.
From the most basic breathing technique at the very beginning to the myriad techniques of today.
Each one required the day-and-night accumulation and research of great sages and numerous Spirit Creators.
And now, Lu Qingyang had seemingly casually produced a brand-new fourth-rank technique.
How could Ma Liang not be shocked?
Wan Hua, standing nearby, also wore a strange expression.
“Ahem, since that’s the case, then does Young Friend Lu plan to start lecturing today, or…”
“Mm, today then. The sooner it’s done, the sooner I can go back.”
Lu Qingyang waved his hand, signaling Wan Hua to begin.
“Then Young Friend Lu, please wait a moment. I will notify the council to prepare.”
With that, he raised his hand and formed hand seals, releasing a transmission talisman.
“Swoosh~”
As his hand gestures shifted, the transmission talisman transformed into a streak of red light, vanishing into the void in an instant.
……
Half an hour later.
Within the Sect Management Council’s Lecture Hall.
Inside a great hall as vast as an ancient Roman colosseum, rings of stone steps spiraled outward.
Upon them sat cultivators from various sects affiliated with the Sect Management Council.
Among the high-cultivation ones, there were even Mahayana Venerables.
And Lu Qingyang, standing at the center of the hall, had actually spotted two familiar figures in the crowd.
That’s… the Yun Elder of the Thousand Bamboo Sect?
Lu Qingyang was slightly stunned.
The Thousand Bamboo Sect originally had no right to join the Sect Management Council.
After all, only Great Vehicle sects were qualified to join.
However, because the Thousand Bamboo Sect excelled at refining puppets, which were extremely useful in battle against the Demon Race, they had been specially approved for membership.
But precisely because of this, the Thousand Bamboo Sect’s second and third Elders, Yun Fei and Yun Qi, did not hold the position of Elder within the Sect Management Council.
They only held the position of Deacon.
In truth, when the two of them saw Lu Qingyang in the council, they had to respectfully address him as Elder Lu.
It seems this Sect Management Council gathers the strengths of a hundred schools to help develop the Human Race’s power.
It’s quite conscientious. Under such a model, it truly is selfless dedication to the Human Race’s development.
Lu Qingyang sighed slightly.
He had not expected the Central Region’s cultivation to be so developed that even its spiritual civilization was at such a level.
But it was indeed fitting. If not for a system like the Sect Management Council, selflessly dedicated to the Human Race…
Then several tens of thousands of years ago, these five regions would likely have become a paradise for the Demon Race.
At this thought, Lu Qingyang did not bother with formalities.
After cupping his fists toward the Fellow Daoists on all sides, he took out various materials from the set the Sect Management Council had prepared in advance.
“My name is Lu Qingyang. Today, I will demonstrate the art of puppet refining for my Fellow Daoists.”
“If there are any shortcomings, I hope everyone will be forgiving.”
At these words, many cultivators present turned their gazes toward the Yun brothers of the Thousand Bamboo Sect.
After all, everyone knew that in the Seven Stars Sea Region, only the Thousand Bamboo Sect was renowned for puppet refining.
Seeing this, Yun Qi shifted somewhat unnaturally.
Yun Fei, however, was staring at Lu Qingyang’s movements with full concentration.
He had bought puppets from the Chaotian Sect before, but he had never been able to figure out how the other party made them so exquisite.
And that spirit stone compression technique had truly stunned him.
From the same spirit stone, the Chaotian Sect’s puppets, after compression, could unleash ten times the motive force.
Compared to the Thousand Bamboo Sect’s, it was superior by more than a single level!
“Young Friend Lu, I want to see just how your Chaotian Sect’s puppets can be refined so finely.”
“I hope you don’t disappoint me!”
A burning flame flickered in Yun Fei’s eyes as he stared dead at Lu Qingyang.
Lu Qingyang, meanwhile, wore a smile on his face.
He was not in the least worried that his puppet refining technique would be learned by others.
After all, how could these natives possibly understand the law of conservation of energy and the principles of thermal compression and one hundred percent work output…