Chapter 181: Next Focus


    <span style="font-weight:400">Elder Cao slowly took another sip from her teacup before she finally responded to Li Lang’s exnation of how he had made such rapid progress these past few years.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hmm, likely some ancient artifact that forcibly overloaded your body,” Elder Caomented with a frown. “You’re very lucky to be alive.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Before Li Lang could let out a sigh of relief, the Spirit Grove elder continued.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Even if that is true, can you exin why people I’ve inquired news from all said you three are talented demonic cultivators? I believe orthodox cultivation is permitted over there.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Elder Cao, you’re only partly right. There is one official organization that practices orthodox cultivation there, but they refused to ept us due to our aptitude,” Li Lang exined. “If it is revealed that we are independent orthodox cultivators, we fear that the rogue elements in the area woulde after us for obvious reasons. That’s why I ask that you keep our conversation here a secret.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I am not one to babble to others. You don’t have to worry about that. However, I ask that you allow me to inspect your body. I must confirm whether former disciples of Spirit Grove have practiced demonic techniques or not.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Li Lang rxed upon hearing her words. It meant the elder had chosen to believe his story, and theplicated part of the conversation was nearing its end. Still, he remained focused, as it wasn’t over yet.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He had only exined about himself, and he hoped it stayed that way.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Of course, Elder.”


    <em><span style="font-weight:400">Is there such a technique that allows one to verify if a demonic cultivator or not? Well, it shouldn’t be a surprise, considering the feud between the two factions.</em>


    <span style="font-weight:400">With Li Lang’s consent, the elder proceeded to sit next to the young man and ced a hand on his arm to take his pulse. Li Lang could feel a warm torrent of Qi swerving around his skin. It onlysted a moment before it was over.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Good. It’s your turn,” the elder said, having turned to Long Yi.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Umm, sure thing.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">While she moved on to the next young man, Li Lang couldn’t help but ask about the technique she was employing.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Elder Cao, what is this technique that allows you to determine whether someone is a demonic cultivator? “


    <span style="font-weight:400">Having verified the boys before her were indeed telling the truth, Elder Cao’s expression softened and she generously shared her knowledge.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It’s not any particr Qi art or technique per se. The Qi of those who practice demonic cultivation react differently when exposed to those of the righteous path.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Differently, how exactly?”n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It’s hard to pinpoint precisely. As you should now know, there are numerous demonic cultivation techniques. There is a lot of variance between them. Only the Qi of those who practice the orthodox techniques will not cause a reaction to each other.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">From her words, Li Lang surmised demonic Qi’s reaction to normal Qi was simr to the various afflictions one had to endure as a demonic cultivator. Those who specialized in absorbing energy from Qi beasts full of vitality would have their Qi be unruly, while those who preyed on other humans would try to engulf any foreign Qi it came into contact with. He even theorized this change to their Qi was what made them take on unique characteristics of the things they preyed on for their cultivation.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Nevertheless, it was just Li Lang’s conjectures. He nned to investigate it at ater date.


    <em><span style="font-weight:400">There’s just so much to look into, but so little time. I can’t wait to return to Emberglow and settle in.</em>


    <span style="font-weight:400">Once Elder Cao was finished with Long Yi, she only spared Wei Ping a short nce before returning to her seat. The young man with the wooden mask wasn’t someone she was familiar with, so she decided against examining him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He hadn’t been part of Spirit Grove, so he wasn’t someone she needed to be concerned with.


    <span style="font-weight:400">When Li Lang saw that, he knew any difficulties he may have faced were behind him. The elder hadn’t discovered Wei Ping also had grade one aptitude like him. Even if she did, he had prepared a story to include Wei Ping in it, but he was d it wasn’t needed. The more parties he got involved with his lie, the more variables came into y. He would rather not give a chance to anyone to cross-examine them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Very well, then,” the elder said. “I won’t tell a soul about your secrets, so you may safely remain in your new home. I advise you to move elsewhere, but you kids have grown big enough to make your own decisions.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you, Elder Cao. Despite my past with Spirit Grove, I’m happy that we’re still on good terms.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The middle-aged woman nodded in response.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“As much as I would like to entertain you, I have a duty to carry out. The disciples I brought along are waiting for me to begin our journey back to the sect, so you’ll have to excuse me.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Understood. Just one more thing. Since you’re perhaps the only one who knows of our situation in Yellow Qilin, can wee to you when the need arises? We’re independent orthodox cultivators stranded in hostile territory, so we’ll need to visit to obtain resources and cultivation manuals at some point.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That isn’t a problem. It’s a given the demonic cultivators wouldn’t have anyplete or quality orthodox cultivation methods. Just notify me through one of Spirit Grove’s branch offices when youe.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you, Elder!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Li Lang genuinely smiled upon aplishing his goals. He could now venture back into Yellow Qilin with an Elder vouching for him. Not only could he ess modern techniques, but he could also recruit students in Yellow Qilin next time. It would take some negotiating, but he would much rather do so with a known quantity than strangers.


    <span style="font-weight:400">With the rest of Spirit Grove awaiting her return, Elder Cao quickly took her leave after that. It left the trio alone in the room. Li Lang and Long Yi shared a nce for a few moments before shing a smile.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I guess we should start heading back ourselves, too,” Li Lang muttered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Right. Let’s go back before anything else happens.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Without anything binding them down to Prity City anymore, the trio went to retrieve their students and began their two-Skyrunner journey back to Emberglow City. Numerous other cultivators were doing the same thing, all leaving Prity City for their homes. It was practically a mass exodus.


    <span style="font-weight:400">As they traveled, the young students shared excited stories about what they had seen during their little outing. The trio let them have their fun, as they knew their training would soon officially begin once the journey ended.


    <span style="font-weight:400">While both Li Lang and Long Yi were driving their Skyrunners side-by-side, Wei Ping climbed out to converse with hispanions.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“So, B-Boss, have you decided what kind of ce w-we should be looking for?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“We still have quite the sum, right?” Long Yi asked. “It shouldn’t be a problem to even rent out arge plot ofnd to build an estate as long as it isn’t in the central locations. We’ll need the space with all these kiddos around.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No,” Li Lang interjected. “We won’t be getting anything fancy like that.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What, you want us to live in a dozen rooms at some inn?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Just a modest house on the outskirts will do.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Come on! Manymoners live in the city. We can find a decent estate somewhere with the money we have. Money exists to be spent!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It can also draw trouble to us. Look, we aren’t even in the Foundation Establishment realm yet. We’re mortals. If someone finds out about our wealth, trouble will follow.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“B-Boss is right,” Wei Ping supported. “We should s-start slow.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Li Lang took a moment to observe the children happily conversing off to the other end of the Skyrunner before continuing.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Long Yi, you’ll have to realize that you’re everyone’s protector at this point. You have the highest cultivation and the closest to breaking through. With your aptitude, you shouldn’t have any issues as long as you have enough Foundation Pills. We’ll be relying on you for the foreseeable future.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What? That’s a little too much pressure.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You’ll be fine, but to reiterate, our next focus should be on the three of us all breaking through. After creating thest artifact, I felt my bottleneck loosen. I believe I should reach the ninth stage of Energy Gathering soon. How about you, Wei Ping?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The masked youth hesitated to answer for a few moments, opting to look down at the ground instead.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’m n-not talented like Long Yi, or g-good at crafts like you, Boss. Do you mind if I head off on a t-trip to gain some experience once we get back?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Li Lang blinked nkly at the sudden request. He hadn’t expected his assistant to want to part ways so abruptly. He was troubled by how to respond.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Uhh-maybe?”