We're practicing all martial arts, so why did you switch to easy mode?

Chapter 167 The 'Irrenewable' Cultivation Technique, Public Opinion War

Forest.

A figure moved with ghostly speed through the mountains and forests, the flowers, grass, and trees along the way rushing past and turning into a blur.

Upon seeing the signal, Hong Deqing rushed over at full speed, not daring to delay for a moment.

Half an incense stick later, Hong Deqing arrived near the signal transmission point and, after a search, found Hong Demin and the other man.

"So, did you catch the Moon Worship Thief?"

Upon seeing the two men, Hong Deqing couldn't wait to ask, but seeing their furrowed brows, his heart skipped a beat.

Sure enough, Hong Dexin shook her head in disappointment: "No, he was too fast, we lost him."

"How is that possible?!" Hong Deqing was stunned.

As far as he knew, the strength of the Moon Worshiping Thief was between the first and third levels of the Blood Refining Realm, and at most no more than the fourth level.

With such strength, no matter how fast one moves, it's impossible to surpass a martial artist who has reached the Meridian Opening stage.

“This person must have practiced a special movement technique, which is why his speed is no less than that of a martial artist who has opened the meridians. Moreover, this person is quite skilled and easily got rid of us.” Hong Demin knew what Hong Deqing was thinking and explained.

"Wait, he's moving incredibly fast... I know which way he ran, follow me."

Hong Deqing was suddenly startled, remembering that he had inadvertently spotted a figure when he ran over. He was surprised by the speed of the person at the time, but now it seemed that this person was very likely the Moon Worshiping Thief.

"go!"

Upon hearing this, the two followed without hesitation.

While Hong Deqing and his group were tracking down the Moon Worshiping Thief, Su Chen had already returned to the Qiao family's villa.

Pooh.

After spitting out a mouthful of blood, Su Chen's pale complexion improved slightly, and his breathing became a bit smoother.

"Martial artists who have opened their meridians are truly terrifying!"

That terrifying power did not disappear with the assimilation of the Vajra Force; instead, it remained as fresh as ever within his body, constantly ravaging his internal organs.

Even though Su Chen's internal organs had been tempered many times, he was still tormented to the point of unbearable suffering.

"This power should be the power of heaven and earth that Uncle Qiao mentioned. It is similar to the force of strength, but several times stronger. Ordinary force is no match for it. Even the Vajra Force relies on overwhelming quantity. In terms of quality alone, it is inferior to this."

After calming himself down, Su Chen pondered.

"At present, the Vajra Force can only be suppressed. To completely eradicate it, we need to find another way."

Improving one's strength by using the Vajra Iron Shirt technique is a viable option, as it increases one's power and makes suppression relatively easier.

Having come up with a solution, Su Chen temporarily put the matter aside and decided to first see what he had gained from this trip.

After taking out what he had looted from the corpse and counting it, Su Chen was quite pleasantly surprised.

Besides the "Pure Primordial Scripture" for longevity cultivation, the greatest gain was elixirs.

Su Chen obtained a total of five Blood Strengthening Pills and twelve Blood Nourishing Pills from the two Dragon Guards.

As for the cloaked man, he had already categorized him as one of the poor, who were penniless.

That's normal, though. He's not a normal martial artist, so he naturally doesn't have the pills and manuals that martial artists need.

The two dragon guards, however, were quite wealthy. Not only did they possess Blood Strengthening Pills, but they also had Blood Enhancement Pills.

Su Chen was no longer the novice he once was, and naturally knew that the Blood Strengthening Pill was popular on the market, while the Blood Strengthening Pill had always been the exclusive property of the government.

"It seems their identities are not simple," Su Chen speculated, without paying much attention.

Even if their companions investigated the cause of their deaths, they couldn't find Su Chen, as he had already erased all traces.

Immediately, Su Chen communicated with the panel through his thoughts, and as the panel appeared, the three small characters "Pure Yuan Scripture" were clearly displayed on it.

"Although this exercise is called Longevity Exercise, it is actually more like a health-preserving exercise. It does not increase lifespan, but rather extends lifespan by conditioning the body."

Moreover, the cultivation process is extremely lengthy, requiring continuous cultivation every day. If one misses a day, one must start all over again.

It takes decades to master, and requires immense perseverance and determination.

Furthermore, it has no other use besides health preservation; it cannot improve one's realm or strength.

No wonder that guy could easily memorize it for me. Just as he said, it's useless for the young and inadequate for the old; it's truly a white elephant.

Su Chen had already categorized this technique as a health-preserving exercise in his mind.

Practicing this kind of skill is not about being younger or getting better; the best age range is the middle range.

However, this kind of skill cannot be mastered quickly; it requires continuous practice to possibly succeed.

Even after mastering the skill, one cannot slack off and needs to practice day after day. However, even so, in the end, it is not certain that one can extend one's lifespan by much.

This left Su Chen slightly disappointed, as he had thought it was a technique that simply increased lifespan.

However, upon closer reflection, it becomes acceptable; lifespan is one of the human body's taboos, and it's not something that can be easily broken.

If it can prolong life, that's already quite good.

So after a slight hesitation, Su Chen decided to cultivate the technique. He communicated with the panel: "Recharge 10,000 taels to activate easy mode."

The panel responded quickly:

[Easy Mode Activated: Take 100 breaths to reach the beginner level of the Pure Yuan Scripture.]

Still simple.

Su Chen finished quickly. With the introduction of the Pure Yuan Scripture, Su Chen felt as if his body had become lighter and more ethereal.

"This is?"

Suddenly, he found a surge of pure energy flowing into his body, circulating through his limbs and bones, tempering his body. Not only his internal organs, but even his pores seemed to be tempered.

It seemed to have discovered the suppressed vital energy, and just as it was about to dissipate, it quickly flowed into the vital energy.

The vital energy seemed to be stimulated and surged wildly. Before long, this riot was suppressed.

Su Chen realized that the Yuan Qi had completely transformed into this pure energy, which once again roamed his limbs and bones, bringing him a refreshing and exhilarating experience.

call.

With a light sigh, all fatigue vanished, and Su Chen instantly felt refreshed.

"This pure primordial energy entered my body from the outside world. Could it also be the primordial energy of heaven and earth?"

Su Chen seemed to be deep in thought, unable to make a decision for the time being.

"From now on, let's call it Pure Yuan Power. It's a pity there's so little of it; once it's used up, it's gone."

This technique is not only a "practice until you die" type of technique, but also a "one-time" technique.

Unlike the Vajra Iron Shirt technique, where the body can generate its own power, Pure Yuan Power is more like a 'non-renewable' energy.

Fortunately, the internal injuries have eased, and the feeling of phlegm stuck in my throat when I try to spit it out is gone, making me feel much more relaxed.

Over the next few days, Su Chen was busy refining pills and improving his strength.

This encounter with Hong Deqing made him realize the power of a martial artist who has opened up meridians, and also made him aware of his own shortcomings.

In the past, with his strength at the second level of the Blood Transformation Realm, he would have been able to crush the Hong family of Qinzhou. However, with the influx of forces from the prefectural city, the Blood Transformation Realm was no longer enough.

He got lucky this time, but he might not be so lucky next time.

Moreover, he didn't want to rely on luck every time, and he disliked the feeling of having his fate in the hands of others.

Therefore, he must improve his strength as soon as possible.

While Su Chen was busy, a piece of news caused an undercurrent of turmoil in Dafeng City.

The fact that the Moon Worshiping Thieves had entered Qinzhou territory could not be kept secret in the end, and spread throughout Dafeng City at lightning speed in a very short time.

No one knows where the news came from, but all factions know that Baiyue Dao possesses a secret manual that can prolong life.

Although this secret manual was stolen from the royal family, it was of little importance. Various forces dared not openly compete with it, but secretly they were eager to make a move.

The city of Dafeng, which had just calmed down, was thrown into chaos again by this incident. All forces launched a thorough search to find the trail of the Moon Worshiping Thieves.

On this day, Qiao Qiliang found Su Chen and told him about it.

"The Moon Worship Thief, the Pure Yuan Scripture, the Longevity-Enhancing Secret Manual?" Su Chen was stunned upon hearing this, not expecting that this technique would cause such a huge sensation in Dafeng City.

Qiao Qiliang nodded: "That's right. Right now, all the forces in Dafeng City are looking for the Moon Worship Thief, wanting to seize the secret manual first. Even the city lord has been alarmed and sent people to search for the Moon Worship Thief while suppressing the chaos."

Fengbei City was also implicated. The Luo family now sees everyone as a potential thief, conducting searches throughout the city and deploying spies everywhere. My father was furious about this, and only then did the Luo family calm down.

"Is it really necessary to go to such lengths for a life-extending technique?" Su Chen asked, unaware of his own ignorance.

He was even more knowledgeable about this technique than Baiyue Dao, having already mastered its basics.

Although the Pure Yuan Scripture is indeed extraordinary, it has not reached the level of being earth-shattering. It only nourishes the body and cannot actually prolong life.

"Have you heard what people say? This is a secret manual for prolonging life!" Qiao Qiliang looked at Su Chen with a 'why don't they eat meat porridge' gaze.

Seeing Su Chen remain silent, he continued, "Besides, who would complain about having too long a life? Let alone those old men, even a young talent like me covets this secret manual." Hearing Qiao Qiliang's boastful words, Su Chen felt ashamed, but he also understood.

It's estimated that only he and Bai Yue stole the secret manual and knew the truth in the entire Dafeng City.

Others, unaware that the so-called secret to longevity is actually a health-preserving exercise, naturally coveted it.

This is especially true for powerful forces, since every family has several patriarchs!
Realizing he had underestimated the importance of the Pure Yuan Scripture, Su Chen suddenly asked, "Qi Liang, what do you think would happen if the Moon Worshiping Bandits appeared in Dafeng City?"

“Of course we should attack them all at once!” Qiao Qiliang replied without hesitation.

He paused, noticing the unusual nature of Su Chen's words, and his breathing became rapid: "You don't happen to know where the Moon Worship Thieves are, do you?"

"What are you thinking? How could I possibly know!" Su Chen shook his head decisively.

He really didn't know where the Moon Worship Thief was. Although the Moon Worship Thief was said to live in that house, who knew if it was true or not? He had never gone to verify it.

“However, the Moon Worshiping Bandits wouldn’t be so foolish as to appear in Dafeng City,” Qiao Qiliang said quietly, his expression softening.

Su Chen simply smiled and didn't say anything. The real Moon Worshipper certainly wouldn't do that, but the fake one might be.

He had already figured out how to deal with the Hong family.

However, he did not intend to tell Qiao Qiliang about this, so as not to involve him. After all, it involved the Moon Worship Thieves, and caution was necessary.

After Qiao Qiliang left, Su Chen finished refining the last batch of pills and then left the Qiao residence.

He probably won't be able to return to the Qiao residence for a while.

Two days later, the hype surrounding the Moon Thief has not diminished but has intensified.

Under the intervention of the Lord of the Prefecture, although the various forces dared not openly investigate the Moon Worshiping Thieves, they resorted to all sorts of underhanded tactics.

Every night is the liveliest time in Xinfucheng, and the black market is packed with people.

People from all sides were scattered outside the city, all searching for the Moon Worship Thief. As soon as they heard even the slightest bit of news, they pounced on him like hungry wolves, regardless of whether it was true or false.

Under these circumstances, another piece of news about the Chun Yuan Jing quietly emerged: "The Hong family has apparently captured the Moon Worship Thief."

At first, no one paid attention, because similar messages came in every day.

But as time went on and more and more people heard the news, some gradually began to believe it.

In just three days, the news that the Hong family had captured the Moon Worshiping Thief and obtained the Pure Yuan Scripture spread like wildfire, thanks to someone's instigation.

Upon learning of this, Hong quickly clarified that they had not captured the Moon Worshipper.

This claim was naturally met with disdain from all sides.

But since there was no evidence at the moment, and it was not appropriate to openly demand it from the Hong family, the Hong family's disciples were fortunate.

They secretly bribed powerful figures from all walks of life in the prefectural city to inquire about information, and a few hundred or a thousand taels of silver was nothing to them.

Some well-informed individuals earned tens of thousands of taels of silver in just one day.

Some powerful groups, unafraid of the Hong family, openly poached disciples from the Xuan Shui Sect, offering prices so high that these disciples felt like they were dreaming.

If it weren't for the moral standard of "teachers are like fathers," they probably would have already switched allegiance to other forces.

Even so, faced with such enticing offers from various forces, the entire Hong family was demoralized.

In the end, the three elders of the Hong family had no choice but to forcibly close the mountain gate and prohibit any disciple from contacting other forces.

Fortunately, these forces did not find out any news about the Moon Worshiping Thieves, and with other information interfering, everyone gradually shifted their attention away from the Hong family.

However, just as this matter was coming to a close, another piece of news drew everyone's attention back:

Hong secretly captured the Moon Worshiping Thief and imprisoned him, interrogating him in secret, and was about to obtain the "Pure Yuan Scripture"!
This news immediately caused an uproar.

Even some powerful forces only knew that Baiyue Dao possessed a longevity technique, but they never expected that this news would directly reveal the name of the secret manual.

Some forces that actually knew the name of the secret manual immediately sensed something was wrong and turned their attention to the Hong family.

The Hong family is once again in the spotlight.

Xiahe Town.

A certain courtyard.

Baiyue Dao successfully shook off his pursuers and returned safely.

He changed his clothes, and a smile appeared on his pale face.

"Hahaha, Hong family, your troubles are here." Bai Yuedao was furious at the mention of the Hong family.

Not long after Su Chen left, he planned to leave as well. After all, he wasn't stupid; how could he possibly expose his location?

Unexpectedly, they ran into Hong Demin and his companion when they were leaving.

Because of her attire, she quickly attracted the attention of the two men, who then realized something was amiss.

After a brief exchange, he was no match for the two. Although he managed to escape using various means, he was seriously injured.

After two days of recuperation, I have barely recovered a little.

He was slightly startled to learn that news of his presence in Dafeng City had spread, but he didn't care. Finding him wouldn't be so easy.

When he heard the news that he had been captured by the Hong family, he immediately sensed that something was wrong and felt that someone was deliberately framing the Hong family.

But that suited him perfectly.

He was thinking about how to get revenge on the Hong family, so he simply added fuel to the fire by revealing Shou Gong's name, thus framing the Hong family as well.

Whether they believe it or not, someone will always try to verify it, bringing trouble to the Luo family.

As for whether it's true or false, at this point, it's no longer important.

He had already anticipated the difficult situation the Hong family would face in the near future. Even if the Hong family knew that someone had framed them, they would not be able to resolve it in a short period of time.

Thinking of this, his mood suddenly became a little happier.

Dafeng City, a certain inn.

"Is it the Moon-Worshipping Thief?"

Su Chen received the latest information and, after a moment's thought, listed the Moon Worshiping Thief as the suspect.

He had been waiting for the past two days, and when he thought the time was right, he planned to add fuel to the fire. But unexpectedly, someone else did it for him first.

After much thought, the only option left was for Baiyue Dao to make a move.

Unexpectedly, he also had a grudge against the Hong family.

A smile crept onto Su Chen's lips; things were getting more and more interesting.

Qingxi Mountain, Xuanshui Sect.

Snapped!
The hot-tempered Hong Deqing slammed his hand on the table, smashing it to pieces, but still couldn't vent his anger.

"This is outrageous! They actually dared to target my Hong family and openly demand that we open our gates so they could search us. This is simply too much!" Hong Deqing cursed incessantly.

Although Hong Demin and Hong Dexin, who were standing to the side, did not say anything, their expressions were both very unpleasant.

Given the events of the past few days, it's not hard to guess that there's a mastermind behind the scenes trying to take down the Hong family.

“This matter is not so simple. Now everyone’s eyes are on us, and no matter what we do, they won’t believe us,” Hong Dexin said softly.

"Haven't you found out who spread the rumors yet?" Hong Demin asked upon hearing this.

“There are too many to trace back to the source, but Shadow Killer was also involved.” Hong Dexin shook her head, guessing that Shadow Killer was behind it.

After a moment of silence, Hong Demin said, "Then let's return the favor and frame Ying Sha. Send someone to do it immediately."

"Elder, Hong Lang has something to report."

Just then, a voice came from outside the door.

"Come in."

Hong Lang bowed and entered the room, saying, "Reporting to the elders, the latest news is that someone claims the three elders have obtained the Pure Yuan Scripture and have spread a portion of it. The four major clans, including the Yun clan, wish to meet with the three elders."

"What?" Hong Deqing's eyes widened immediately upon hearing this.

What he cared about wasn't framing them, but rather the content of the leaked secret manual.

"This is the contents of the secret manual." Hong Lang took out the contents of the manual without hesitation, and Hong Deqing snatched it away without saying a word.

Hong Demin also started reading, and after reading it, the three of them frowned.

"Regardless of whether this manual is real or fake, with the spread of this news, I'm afraid the Hong family will become the target of public criticism."

Hong Demin immediately saw through the negative impact this news would have on the Hong family. If there were any forces that were wary of the Hong family before, they would not dare to act rashly.

But with this news spreading, even those forces that were waiting on the sidelines are probably getting restless, and it won't be long before they take action.

By then, the Hong family will have no chance to clear their names.

Just then, a voice came from the doorway: "Three elders, the Lord of the Manor requests an audience."

(End of this chapter)