Recruit black physique to start practice in wasteland

Chapter 2440 Cause and Effect Have Been Formed
Qu Jianlei has many trump cards up his sleeve, and he believes that even if he can't catch up with Qing Ning, he won't be too far behind.

However, the fact that he was able to kill several True Venerables during the Nascent Soul stage was not only due to his trump cards, but also because he had a calm and ordinary mind.

This mindset is crucial during matches. Regardless of whether you're a newcomer or a veteran, confidence is the key to victory.

Moreover, he hates being targeted, especially if the other party can't do anything to him, they might target his teammates.

This kind of thing isn't unprecedented. Qianhuan, that professional con artist, did exactly that.
Qu Jianlei hates this kind of thing the most. If you can't beat me, you go and cause trouble for my companions... Is this something a normal person would do?

However, although Qing Ning didn't say it that way, the meaning she conveyed was basically the same.

Then he doesn't need to hold back anymore. He can just start a life-or-death struggle. Once the result is out, that will be the end of it all.

For a dignified Out-of-Body True Venerable to risk his life like this seems... well, let's not even go "seems," it's just really reckless.

Almost no true venerable beings do this. Isn't a lifespan of six thousand years enough to squander? How desperate would one have to be to do this?

However, this was precisely what Qu Jianlei valued most. He constantly reminded himself that no matter how high his cultivation level was, he could not be delicate and pampered.

Once cultivators leave their physical bodies, they immediately become wary of their own safety and are unwilling to venture out unnecessarily.

Of course, if a great opportunity arises, one should seize it and risk one's life if necessary.

However, for minor matters they encounter, they delegate them to their subordinates, and usually, a reasonably satisfactory result is achieved.

Is there a problem with doing this? Actually, no. Rising social status can lead to changes in how problems are handled.

However, Qu Jianlei felt that that would be a bit too aloof and out of touch with reality.

It's normal for a true master to be out of touch with reality, given their noble status. But is it really a good thing for them to become all self-important and lose their courage and vigor?
Qu Jianlei hadn't figured this out either, but as far as he was concerned, he didn't want to become a cold, emotionless machine.

Just like he could never accept Ling Yun's attitude towards Cangwu—even though he could understand the logic behind it now.

While we still have the will to fight, we should fight to the death, so that we won't be left with many regrets when our will to die.

Most importantly, he encountered this situation right after advancing to the True Venerable realm.

If he cannot fight back against the pressure from the veteran True Venerable, how will he live in the future?
However, before Qu Jianlei could finish stating his conditions, Han Li coughed lightly and said, "Fellow Daoist Qu, let me do it."

Given Han Li's arrogance, Qu Jianlei had no choice but to give him face by elevating him from "young friend" to "fellow Daoist."

He nodded slightly but said nothing.

Han Li then looked at True Venerable Qing Ning, "Fellow Daoist Jin Ge has made it very clear, one fifth-order spiritual vein is not enough..."

"Then what makes you think that you can force Qu Zhenzun to make a deal, or that you are very wealthy?"

Surprisingly, Qing Ning wasn't particularly afraid of the notoriously difficult Han Li.

He shook his head and answered frankly, "My net worth is indeed lacking, and my demands are too much to ask, but I have my reasons."

Everyone knows that the hardest things to price in the cultivation world are cultivation techniques and secret formulas, especially those exclusive secret arts.

On a small scale, it could be a family's means of survival and longevity; on a larger scale, it could change the landscape of the cultivation world.

“Hmm,” Han Li raised his chin slightly, “Tell me about it…”

He was indeed a little curious about what could possibly drive a True Venerable to such a point.

Qing Ning Zhenzun remained silent for three or four minutes, clearly hesitant, before finally letting out a soft sigh.

"I have a friend who urgently needs to break through to the Out-of-Body stage, otherwise there will be no way to save him... Is this reason sufficient?"

Han Li looked at him calmly, and after a pause of four or five breaths, she asked, "A non-human race?"

“Hmm,” Qing Ning hummed reluctantly, paused, and then spoke again, “One Azure Dragon.”

"One...person?" Han Li was also speechless at this unit of measurement. "Female...woman?"

"This isn't important, is it?" Qing Ning Zhenzun became even more troubled, and hesitated for a moment before answering, "Okay, yes."

Han Li nodded slightly, then asked with interest, "Did you come from the outside world with me?"

“Hmm,” Qing Ning Zhenzun nodded, not wanting to say another word.

“Okay, I’ve asked for you,” Han Li said, looking at Qu Jianlei. “You decide for yourself.”

What should I decide? Qu Jianlei listened to their conversation and was also a little amazed: Is there really a hero out of the woods in this world?

However, having seen more of the other world, his ability to accept all sorts of strange things has greatly improved.

The Azure Dragon in the Nascent Soul stage... I don't know if it has taken human form yet, but once it reaches the Out-of-Body stage, it should be able to take human form.

However, there is a problem: Qu Jianlei has always scoffed at the idea that Xing's sexual orientation is abnormal.

As a Nascent Soul True Venerable, wouldn't it be better to find a few female Nascent Soul cultivators from the human race?
He could understand that feelings developed after spending a lot of time together, but that was an anomaly!

He hesitated for a moment before slowly shaking his head. "I'm sorry, the resources required for astral projection are quite large, and I have no interest in helping beings of other species!"

He harbored deep-seated prejudice against other races; those guys were simply not worthy of being compared to humans!

True Venerable Qingning remained silent. In fact, discrimination against those who were different was very common in the cultivation world.

He didn't want to explain further, but he couldn't help but say, "She saved my life...twice!"

"Tsk," Qu Jianlei clicked his tongue upon hearing this, this was truly a headache.

No matter how much he discriminates against other races, those who have saved humanity are obviously treated differently—humans are a race that knows how to be grateful.

Han Li suddenly blurted out another question, exactly what Qu Jianlei wanted to ask: "Have you ever killed anyone?"

"This..." Venerable Qingning thought for a moment before answering, "She kills far fewer than ordinary cultivators; she doesn't like fighting!"

A few seconds later, he made up his mind, and with a thought, a figure appeared beside him.

She was a woman in a blue dress, who looked to be in her early forties. Although she was middle-aged, she still had a certain charm, but she wore her hair in double buns, which was incongruous with her age.

However, the True Venerable present could tell at a glance that the double buns were actually to cover up the small protrusions on both sides of the forehead.

As soon as the woman came out, she instinctively hid behind Qing Ning, cautiously watching the several powerful figures in front of her.

Clearly, she had gained a general understanding of the outside world from inside Qing Ning's cave.

Because the auras of the several True Venerables were too strong, she couldn't perceive any detailed information, and Qing Ning didn't dare to openly transmit information.

However, she could sense the scrutiny and subtle hostility from these immortal venerables.

Dragons have large eyes, and even after transforming, they retain similar features, making them appear even more pitiful under the watchful eyes of several True Venerables.

Han Li frowned slightly, then slowly nodded, "I've never eaten a person."

"I... how could I eat people?" The woman in green seemed to lack courage, but she couldn't tolerate this prejudice.

She mustered her courage and retorted, "I am also a cultivator, just from a different race."

Qu Jianlei also raised his hand to make a calculation, then slowly nodded. The woman's aura was relatively pure, and she had almost no bloodlust.

Her aura was purer than that of most human Nascent Soul cultivators, and her main occupation was probably auxiliary work in the various arts of cultivation.

Furthermore, Qu Jianlei did indeed sense a hint of decay; the woman's age was likely greater than her apparent age.

But after he finished calculating, he regretted it: Why did I have to be so impulsive?
If he doesn't have a calculation to make, he's just an observer and can stay out of such requests.

But if you reach out, that's different; it's equivalent to interfering in the matter and involving related causes and effects.

He didn't have such worries when he was in the Nascent Soul stage. So what if he was a little curious? How much of a problem could it cause?
But after the True Venerable One leaves the body, things are truly different. As soon as one reaches out, there is a subtle sense that cause and effect have been achieved!
Then he glanced at Han Li with lifeless eyes, feeling a bit annoyed. "Your curiosity is one thing, but this has really screwed me over."

Han Li was incredibly perceptive; of course she knew what that glance meant.

He spread his hands, "I want to keep a childlike heart, is that wrong? Anyway, we haven't discussed the price yet."

Qu Jianlei was speechless. He himself was trying to maintain his fighting spirit, so how could he criticize the other party?
He sighed and looked helplessly at Qing Ning, "The cause and effect are already set, let the treasure speak for itself... Also, this must not be leaked!"

"A treasure..." Venerable Qingning hesitated for a moment, then made up her mind, "Then I'll exchange it for a fifth-tier spiritual vein. Nothing else is enough!"

"Wait a moment," the clone of True Venerable Baiqiao spoke up, "Fellow Daoist Qu, may I have a word to say?"

"Go ahead and talk," Qu Jianlei said listlessly. He had lost control of the overall situation, and there was no point in nitpicking the details.

Instead, let's hear what the True Venerable of Lingyun Sect has to say: "We must thank Fellow Daoist Baiqiao for his previous protection."

“The spiritual vein of Qing Ning is located in a relatively chaotic area,” the ascetic slowly said. “You can ask Han Li if you don’t believe me.”

The handsome young man remained silent, but his eyes were clear, as if these things had nothing to do with him.

“Yes,” Qu Jianlei nodded, “I naturally trust what Senior Baiqiao says.”

He felt he couldn't quite define his position yet, as the term "True Venerable" kept changing.

“Your team doesn’t like trouble,” the ascetic continued slowly. “If it’s convenient, we can consider exchanging with Lingyun.”

Lingyun Sect not only has multiple fifth-order spiritual veins, but its main vein is also sixth-order. It is said that there are also hidden sixth-order spiritual veins, but that's hard to say.

Not all of those fifth-order spiritual veins are within the sect; several are located within the sect's control.

There are even two spiritual veins outside the controlled area, which feel a bit like "offices" for sect disciples to rest and recuperate.

That's how it is with large sects. Other True Venerables would find it difficult to obtain even a fifth-order spiritual vein, but Ling Yun can take more and more.

Baiqiao's suggestion sounded like it was for Qu Jianlei's benefit, and it showed a lot of goodwill.

However, if we delve deeper into its meaning, it may not be so simple.

Once the team is relocated, they will be away from the chaotic area, but are they really in the presence of the Lingyun Sect?