Li Fan and Zhang Qianmo both changed their attire, then slipped quietly into Ningyuan City.
"Senior Brother, if someone truly means us harm and plans an ambush, the best approach would be to catch us by surprise," Li Fan transmitted via divine sense. "They'd likely lie in wait near your old flame, Chi Xia."
Zhang Qianmo's face flushed slightly as he pondered this. "You make a valid point, Junior Brother. Let's first investigate the Drunken Immortal Tavern."
Li Fan followed Zhang Qianmo to the bustling city center, where its most prosperous tavern was located. Across from the establishment stood a large entertainment house, where operatic performances unfolded on stage, surrounded by crowds of ordinary citizens enjoying the spectacle.
The Drunken Immortal Tavern's windows were wide open, and through them came the unmistakable sounds of laughter. Both female and young male voices carried through the air.
The moment they arrived, Zhang Qianmo's gaze locked onto a woman in opera costume on stage. She carried herself with an extraordinary bearing, and his eyes seemed glued to her, unable to look away.
Meanwhile, Li Fan scanned the crowd for Chu Liang and his companions, who might be lying in ambush.
Perhaps believing their targets hadn't arrived yet, Chu Liang made little effort to conceal himself, merely suppressing his aura while hiding among the spectators.
Li Fan located him with minimal effort.
"Senior Brother, that man looks somewhat familiar," Li Fan said, pulling Zhang Qianmo's attention away from Chi Xia's performance. He transmitted Chu Liang's appearance via divine sense.
"Eh? He does seem familiar. Who is he?" After a long moment, Senior Brother Zhang finally recalled Chu Liang's identity. "Chu Liang? Wasn't he expelled from the sect decades ago for being unable to cultivate? What's he doing here?" Zhang Qianmo started in surprise.
Li Fan seized the opportunity to add, "This Chu Liang doesn't appear to be mortal. It seems he's concealing his cultivation level."
Zhang Qianmo nodded subtly. "Indeed. There must be something strange going on here."
After brief consideration, he proposed, "Junior Brother, let's flank him from both sides. Then we'll simultaneously use Spring Thunder Shock to subdue him, before conducting a proper interrogation."
Information about Spring Thunder Shock surfaced in Li Fan's mind. It was a divine sense attack method from the Purple Firmament Thunder Invocation Art. Like the first clap of thunder in spring, it could cause mental reverberations, making opponents momentarily lose control of their bodies.
Compared to this Purple Firmament Thunder Invocation Art, most techniques I've encountered before seem designed solely for cultivation realm advancement. They lack many such practical applications, as if deliberately restricted.
Only those like the Purple Firmament Thunder Invocation Art from the ancient era might truly deserve to be called real techniques.
This passing thought emerged in his mind, but Li Fan didn't dwell on it further.
Acknowledging the plan, he separated from Zhang Qianmo, and both moved through the crowd to flank Chu Liang.
Chu Liang's vigilance proved remarkably low. Only when the two martial brothers closed in did he vaguely sense something amiss.
Seeing Zhang Qianmo suddenly appear before him, a look of sheer terror seized Chu Liang.
But before he could react, two bolts of Spring Thunder Shock struck him from the front and back. His eyes went vacant, and his body turned rigid, completely paralyzed.
Zhang Qianmo stepped forward and subdued him, quietly bringing him to an abandoned civilian residence.
By now, Chu Liang had regained consciousness. His eyes burned with pure hatred as he glared fixedly at Zhang Qianmo.
Zhang Qianmo's face remained expressionless as he questioned coldly. "You are Chu Liang? Why are you here? In just over thirty years, you've transformed from a mortal incapable of cultivation into a Foundation Establishment cultivator. What heretical method did you use?"
Chu Liang snorted disdainfully and remained silent.
"You think keeping silent will stop me from finding out?" A trace of contempt flashed across Zhang Qianmo's face.
"How could a rogue cultivator from a deviant sect like you possibly comprehend the methods of our orthodox school?"
Without another word, Zhang Qianmo’s hand turned clawlike as he clamped onto Chu Liang’s skull.
In that instant, Chu Liang convulsed as if struck by lightning. An expression of extreme agony twisted his features as the light gradually faded from his eyes.
Zhang Qianmo remained utterly unmoved, maintaining his vice grip on Chu Liang.
Finally, Chu Liang's pupils grew dull and lifeless. Yet his body continued to spasm in unconscious twitches.
Thump!
Now that the man was no longer useful, Zhang Qianmo casually tossed Chu Liang to the ground, then stood silently for a long moment.
"Senior Brother, what exactly is happening?" Seeing that this scene closely resembled soul searching, Li Fan's eyes flickered with thought.
For now, he refrained from any abnormal actions, simply posing the question aloud.
Instead of answering immediately, Zhang Qianmo kept muttering something under his breath.
"Extract the marrow of heaven and earth...
"Sacrifice the soul of heaven and earth...
"Defy the principles of heaven and earth...
He seemed profoundly shaken, momentarily unable to compose himself.
"Senior Brother!" Li Fan had to call out again to snap him from his trance.
"Hah..." Zhang Qianmo exhaled deeply, slowly recovering from his shock.
His expression grew extremely grave. "Junior Brother, I'm afraid this matter's severity exceeds both our imaginations.
"We must quickly conclude our affairs here and return to the sect to report to the sect leader."
Li Fan gasped in astonishment. "What matter could possibly require disturbing the sect leader?"
Zhang Qianmo promptly gave a brief explanation about the Immortal Venerable transmitting a new Dao cultivation methodology, one that required no spiritual root aptitude.
“He has three accomplices in the city. Additionally, Manager Song has also cultivated this new methodology and has now reached the Golden Core realm. Follow me, we shall capture those three Foundation Establishment accomplices first."
"What about Manager Song? He’s at the Golden Core realm." Li Fan couldn't help asking.
"Don't worry, leave him to me. He's nothing more than a paper tiger." A hint of disdain appeared on Zhang Qianmo's face.
Li Fan nodded without objection.
Subsequently, the two captured the remaining three Foundation Establishment cultivators, who had attempted to ambush them, with little effort.
"Junior Brother, wait here for me and keep watch over these individuals. After I capture Manager Song, I'll return for you." Zhang Qianmo instructed.
Li Fan examined Li Chen's memories once more but found no trace of the soul-searching technique Zhang Qianmo had just performed.
He tentatively asked, "Senior Brother, what exactly is this soul-searching technique? Since I have nothing better to do, perhaps I can extract some additional useful information from these three."
Zhang Qianmo paused slightly, studying Li Fan for a moment before laughing. "Who was it that previously claimed soul-searching was too cruel and refused to learn it?
"After nearly being ambushed today and witnessing the harsh realities of the cultivation world, I see this obstacle in your mind has been cleared.
"Remember this, Junior Brother: In the struggle for the Great Dao, you cannot retreat even half a step.
"Benevolent mercy is something we simply cannot afford.
"Soul-searching techniques are nothing. When the time comes, you may have to employ even more brutal methods like refining puppets from cultivators' bodies or sacrificing souls to temper artifacts!"
As he spoke, Zhang Qianmo pressed his finger against Li Fan's forehead, transmitting the Purple Firmament Soul Observation Art directly into his mind.