Chapter 195: Purple Cloud Temple Soul 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 method would be a surprise attack."

"It's highly probable they're lying in wait near your old flame, Chixia."

Li Fan transmitted his voice.

Zhang Qianmo's face flushed slightly. After a moment of thought, he said, "Junior Brother, what you said makes a lot of sense. Let's go check out the Drunken Immortal Pavilion first."

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

Opposite the inn was a large performance hall.

On the stage at that moment, an opera was being performed, surrounded by a circle of curious mortal onlookers.

Meanwhile, on an upper floor of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, with windows wide open, the faint sounds of unrestrained laughter from several women and young men could be heard.

As soon as Zhang Qianmo arrived, his eyes fixed on a valiant-looking woman in an opera costume on the stage.

He seemed utterly captivated, unable to tear his gaze away.

Li Fan, meanwhile, was searching the crowd for Chu Liang and others who might be lying in ambush.

Perhaps thinking Zhang Qianmo and Li Fan hadn't arrived yet, Chu Liang hadn't bothered to conceal himself much.

He had merely hidden his aura, blending into the crowd of spectators.

Li Fan found him without much effort.

"Senior Brother, that person looks a bit familiar?"

Li Fan roused Zhang Qianmo, who was engrossed in Chixia's performance, and transmitted Chu Liang's appearance to him using his spiritual sense.

"Hmm? He does look somewhat familiar. Who is he?" It took a long time for Senior Brother Zhang to recall who Chu Liang was.

"Chu Liang? Wasn't he expelled from the sect long ago because he couldn't cultivate? Why is he here?" Zhang Qianmo was surprised.

Li Fan seized the opportunity to add, "This Chu Liang doesn't seem to be a mortal, does he? He appears to be concealing his cultivation."

Zhang Qianmo nodded subtly. "Indeed. There must be something strange going on."

He pondered for a moment, then said, "Junior Brother, let's surround him, one in front and one behind. Then, we'll both use 'Spring Thunder Tremor' simultaneously to subdue him first. After that, we can interrogate him properly."

Information about "Spring Thunder Tremor" immediately surfaced in Li Fan's mind. It was a spiritual attack technique from the *Purple Clouds Lightning Control True Art*.

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

"Compared to this *Purple Clouds Lightning Control True Art*, most of the cultivation methods I've seen before seem to be solely for advancing one's realm. It's as if they've been deliberately incomplete, lacking many techniques like this."

"Perhaps only this ancient *Purple Clouds Lightning Control True Art* can be called a true cultivation art."

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

It was just a fleeting thought that appeared in his mind, and Li Fan didn't dwell on it excessively at the moment.

After assenting, he and Zhang Qianmo dispersed into the crowd and began to encircle Chu Liang.

Chu Liang's vigilance was a bit too low.

He only vaguely sensed something was wrong when Li Fan and his Senior Brother were already close.

Seeing Zhang Qianmo suddenly appear before him, a look of horror instantly appeared on Chu Liang's face.

However, before he could make any move, he was struck by two "Spring Thunder Tremors" from front and back.

His eyes lost their focus, and his entire body stiffened, unable to move.

Zhang Qianmo stepped forward, restrained him, and quietly led him to an unoccupied civilian house.

Here, Chu Liang had regained consciousness, his eyes filled with hatred, glaring intently at Zhang Qianmo.

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

"In just over thirty years, you've transformed from a mortal unable to cultivate into a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"What wicked art did you use?"

Zhang Qianmo asked in a cold, expressionless voice.

Chu Liang snorted coldly, remaining silent.

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

"How could a mere practitioner of minor arts comprehend the methods of a prestigious orthodox sect!"

With that, Zhang Qianmo formed his hand into a claw and seized Chu Liang's head.

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

His entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.

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

Yet, Zhang Qianmo remained completely unfazed, maintaining his firm grip on Chu Liang.

Finally, Chu Liang's pupils dimmed, leaving only his body convulsing unconsciously.

"Thud!"

Casually dropping the now useless Chu Liang to the ground, Zhang Qianmo stood there, silent for a long time.

"Senior Brother, what exactly happened?" Witnessing this scene, which bore a striking resemblance to soul-searching, Li Fan's eyes flickered.

However, he didn't make any rash moves for now, merely speaking up to ask.

Zhang Qianmo didn't answer immediately; instead, he kept muttering something under his breath.

"Extracting the essence of heaven and earth..."

"Sacrificing the spirit of heaven and earth..."

"Defying the laws of heaven and earth..."

It seemed his mind had been greatly shaken, and he found it difficult to compose himself for a moment.

"Senior Brother!" Li Fan had to speak out again to startle him awake.

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

His expression became extremely serious. "Junior Brother, I'm afraid the gravity of this matter exceeds what you and I could imagine."

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

Li Fan exclaimed in astonishment, "What could it be that requires alarming Grandmaster?"

Zhang Qianmo immediately gave a brief account of the Immortal Venerable's teachings, explaining that the new method allowed cultivation without the need for spiritual roots.

"There are three more accomplices in the city, and that Steward Song has also cultivated the new method; he's now a Golden Core cultivator. You'll follow me, and we'll take down those three Foundation Establishment accomplices first."

"What about Steward Song, who's at the Golden Core realm?" Li Fan couldn't help but ask.

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

Li Fan nodded, offering no rebuttal.

Subsequently, the two easily apprehended the remaining three Foundation Establishment cultivators who had attempted to set up an ambush.

"Junior Brother, wait for me here and keep an eye on these people. I'll come back for you after I've dealt with Steward Song," Zhang Qianmo instructed.

Li Fan then reviewed the knowledge absorbed from Li Chen, the body he currently possessed, but found no trace of the soul-searching technique Zhang Qianmo had just used.

So he asked tentatively, "Senior Brother, how does this soul-searching technique work? I'm just sitting idle anyway; I thought I could see if I could find any other useful information from these people's minds."

Zhang Qianmo was slightly taken aback. He glanced at Li Fan, then chuckled, "Who was it earlier who said this soul-searching technique was too cruel and refused to learn it?"

"Today, you were almost ambushed, and you've seen the dangers of the cultivation world. Has your heart knot finally untied?"

"Junior Brother, remember this: In the struggle for the Grand Dao, not even half a step can be conceded."

"Feminine compassion is simply not permissible."

"Forget a mere soul-searching technique; even more cruel methods, like refining cultivators' bodies into puppets or using souls to forge magical artifacts – when they are necessary, they must be used!"

As Zhang Qianmo spoke, he pointed a finger at Li Fan's glabella, transmitting a text called *Purple Clouds Soul Viewing Art*.