Chapter 2158: News of Luo Qiqi?

"Spirit God?" Patriarch Qixiao's pupils contracted: "Is the ancestor referring to that..."

"Indeed, that one! But... forget it, Emperor-level experts are beyond our comprehension. Just know this and never speak of it, or the entire clan will be implicated..."

Ancestor Qimeng waved his hand.

"This junior understands!" Patriarch Qixiao quickly nodded.

"You may withdraw!" Ancestor Qimeng said no more.

The crowd filed out in unison.

...

"Phew!"

Returning to his residence and sitting down in his room, Zhang Xuan finally let out a sigh of relief.

This trip to the Qi clan had been quite dangerous.

He had thought he could quietly improve his physical body, but instead caused such a commotion, even disturbing their Sealed Divine King.

"Why did this Ancestor Qimeng think I was an Emperor?"

A Sealed Divine King's strength and insight would never be wrong, so why the misidentification?

It didn't make sense!

However, given the situation, he couldn't very well ask.

Even knowing that the other might have information about the Spirit God, he dared not bring it up.

Because once he spoke, his supposed 'Emperor' identity would immediately collapse, arousing suspicion.

"Forget it. Though I didn't dare inquire, Qi Ling'er's status is now much more useful than before. I can completely use her to help me ask around!"

Zhang Xuan smiled.

Although he had nearly died this time, the benefits were considerable. Not only did Ancestor Qimeng's misunderstanding allow Qi Ling'er to act more effectively, but he himself had also made great progress.

Though his true qi cultivation remained unchanged, still at the peak of lower-grade Divine Lord, the improvement in his physical body made his defense comparable to the strongest Divine Artifacts. Now, even if he stood still and let a peak upper-grade Divine Lord attack him, they might not be able to harm him in the slightest.

Especially the golden threads that had appeared in his body, giving him the feeling that even severe injuries could be easily healed.

Turning his wrist, he took out a weapon and lightly slashed his arm.

Crack!

The long sword shattered into several pieces, while his arm didn't even leave a white mark.

"Except for Divine King-level weapons, not even ordinary divine weapons, let alone Divine Artifacts, can harm me anymore..." He looked helpless.

He had thought about testing that feeling by injuring himself, but found that he was too poor now and had no suitable weapon on hand that could pierce his skin.

If he couldn't even break his skin, how could he get injured?

The thought was frustrating.

"It seems I need to get a powerful weapon soon..."

His cultivation had advanced too quickly, and just the matter of weapons alone would cost a fortune, not something ordinary people could afford.

"Let's not worry about that for now. Cultivation is most important. With my physical body strengthened, I need to find a way to advance my soul!"

Weapons were just icing on the cake. The urgent task was to elevate his soul, which would then allow his true qi to break through as well, directly impacting upper-grade Divine Lord, or even... the higher level of Divine King!

Only by becoming a Divine King could he truly stand at the pinnacle of the divine realm, possibly find Luo Ruoxin, and even converse on equal footing with Teacher Kong.

"Teacher Zhang..."

As he walked out of the room, he saw the silver-armored general Zhuo Feng approaching with an apologetic expression: "I'm really sorry. I specially applied, but unfortunately, the Qi clan's Moonfall Pool is never open to outsiders and inconvenient to lend to an outsider. There really is no other way..."

"Thank you for your trouble, but I no longer need it!" Zhang Xuan smiled.

It was this man who had told him about the wonders of the Moonfall Pool and then helped seek connections to repay the favor of saving his son. But after all that effort and countless people contacted, there was no result.

His face flushed red, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to hide.

"Teacher Zhang's great kindness, yet I can't even accomplish this small matter. It's truly embarrassing..." Zhuo Feng said awkwardly, turning his wrist: "This is a Body-Forging Pill I prepared. Though far inferior to the Moonfall Pool, it should be of some help to Teacher Zhang. Consider it compensation..."

"Really, there's no need!" Seeing him produce the item, Zhang Xuan shook his head and told him the truth: "I've already been to the Moonfall Pool and completed my training."

"You've been?"

Zhuo Feng was stunned, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

He had asked around extensively, even disturbing the Qi clan's elders. According to them, that place was forbidden to outsiders—anyone who entered without being a clan member would die. It was impossible to borrow for external use...

Been there? And completed training?

Really?

Hadn't he just learned about the place, had no connections, and was unfamiliar with the area?

"Use all your strength and stab me once!" Zhang Xuan laughed.

Zhuo Feng was full of doubt, but seeing the other insist, he gritted his teeth, drew his longsword, and thrust it straight forward.

This strike used all his strength; the sword aura howled and struck Zhang Xuan's arm squarely.

Crack!

The mid-grade Heavenly God longsword immediately shattered into pieces, yet not a single mark remained on the other's body.

"This..." Zhuo Feng gasped, trembling uncontrollably.

This Teacher Zhang had broken through to the Heavenly God realm, he had seen it with his own eyes, just a few hours ago. He hadn't even found his connections yet, and now not only had he entered the Moon Clear Pool, but he had also tempered his physical body to such a level...

This speed... was he even human?

Even a peak upper-grade Heavenly God's physical strength wasn't this terrifying!

"Pity!" Seeing that even a mid-grade Heavenly God artifact wielded by a mid-grade Heavenly God left no white mark, Zhang Xuan shook his head helplessly again.

To make himself injured now... was really hard!

"Where can I quickly improve my soul power?" Zhang Xuan asked.

The information the other had given about places to train the physical body was very accurate. What he lacked now was a way to rapidly enhance his soul power.

With soul power improved, true qi could be rapidly increased.

"Soul power, in other heavens, it's hard to say, but in Nether Soul Heaven, there is only the Nether Soul Pool!" Zhuo Feng said.

"Nether Soul Pool? You mean the place where wish power gathers?" Zhang Xuan asked curiously.

"Yes. Wish power can nourish the soul and even resurrect the dead. Therefore, the Nether Soul Pool can also strengthen the soul, making it more powerful. Many cultivators rely on the Nether Soul Pool to enhance their soul power. Not to mention others, His Majesty the Emperor, some time ago, found a powerful soul in the Nether Soul Pool. In less than a month of cultivation, it is said to have become comparable to a God King!"

Zhuo Feng relayed the news he had just heard.

"Less than a month, comparable to a God King? What was its strength before?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

He had come to the God Realm, and in the blink of an eye, nearly a month had passed. In all this time, he had only managed to reach the peak of a low-grade Heavenly God... and someone else was faster than him...

Too terrifying!

"I heard it wasn't even a deity before, just a wisp of soul from the lower realm. Somehow, it was accepted by the Nether Soul Pool and came here... Because its obsession was too strong, it devoured wish power everywhere, growing stronger, which caught His Majesty's attention. It is said that His Majesty is even going to forge a body for it!" Zhuo Feng chuckled.

"Lower realm?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fists, and a thought involuntarily emerged: "Could it be... Qiqi?"

Luo Qiqi, according to Luo Xuanqing, was the artifact spirit of the Still Void Pearl. After breaking through the spatial barrier and disappearing, she had never been found again, not even a trace in the High Heavens.

At that time, he had suspected whether she had arrived in the God Realm. Could it be that this was the one the other was talking about?

Unable to contain himself, he asked curiously, "Do you know whether this soul accepted by the Nether Soul Pool is male or female, and what it looks like?"

"How would I know? I only heard this news while inquiring about the Moon Clear Pool!" Zhuo Feng said wryly.

He was just a Silver Armor General, high in status compared to ordinary people, but when it came to matters involving the Emperor and the most core secrets, he had no qualification to investigate.

At most, he could gossip.

"Then... do you know which Nether Soul Pool she is in now?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"The Nether Soul Pool in the Emperor's palace—whether it's still there or not, I don't know. It is said the Emperor is helping forge a body, but whether that has been done is not something a small fry like me can investigate!" Zhuo Feng said.

"Hmm..." Afraid that asking too many questions would arouse suspicion, Zhang Xuan suppressed his curiosity.

Coming from the lower realm, it was highly likely Luo Qiqi.

Although he didn't have strong feelings for this girl, she had done a lot for him. Moreover, he had promised Luo Xuanqing that if he knew where she was, he would definitely find her, no matter the cost.

"You said the Nether Soul Pool can temper the soul, and everyone can go. Do you need to apply in advance, or can you just pay a price..." Zhang Xuan looked over curiously.

Whether or not it was Luo Qiqi, since she was comparable to a God King, it meant she was safe. He himself needed to improve his strength quickly to catch up with her.

Otherwise, if they really met, having too low strength would be very awkward.

After all, he was so indifferent, a complete jerk.

"No application needed, and no price to pay, but... you must have fame, so that people know you exist." Zhuo Feng said.

"Fame?"

"For example, why are titled God Kings stronger than ordinary God Kings? Because they have titles and territories, and can absorb more wish power. If ordinary people want to borrow its power, they must first go to the Nether Soul Pool to leave their soul imprint, then let more people remember and be grateful to them. Only then can they generate a continuous stream of wish power, which transforms into soul power, nourishing the soul and allowing it to progress rapidly!"

Zhuo Feng explained.

"You mean... first make myself a celebrity. The more people who know me and are grateful, the stronger the wish power generated in the Nether Soul Pool, and the faster my soul strengthens?" Zhang Xuan said.

"In theory, yes. Of course, it requires a good reputation, not a bad one. A bad reputation not only yields little wish power but also produces special things that cause inner demons, doing more harm than good!"

Zhuo Feng said: "That's why every city emphasizes rules so much, and every strong person refrains from killing innocents, fearing that their state of mind will be affected, ultimately preventing wish power from appearing and limiting soul cultivation speed."

Zhang Xuan finally understood.

Wish power was truly indispensable in the God Realm.

Becoming a celebrity, having a good reputation, earning gratitude... It seemed he needed to prepare and pull off a big act.

Uh, no, I'm a dignified person, not that show-off clone... I need to do something big!