Chapter 195: Chapter 164: Beauty Comes at Night

Guh Niqiang furrowed her elegant brows: "In this world, indeed there are secret techniques that can steal, seize, and gather Qi fate, but they are extremely mysterious. Even I... even I have never seen one before. As for elixirs, there are absolutely none; there is no Spirit Pill that can improve your Qi fate and help you acquire opportunities, so don’t fantasize about it anymore, just wait patiently."

Lu Qian sighed: "How long did you wait back then?"

This question piqued everyone’s curiosity. They imagined that someone as exceptionally talented as Guh Niqiang must have an extraordinary Qi fate and is a favored child of the heavens. Did she achieve Qi Cultivation Perfection and immediately succeed in Foundation Establishment?

"Three years." Guh Niqiang’s answer surprised everyone. "Later, I fought with a great enemy, who was at Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment at the time, and he killed me."

Killed?!

Master Xuan Ji was shocked and changed color, Lin Le widened his eyes, doubting if he heard correctly, Zheng Duan stood up abruptly, his face pale: "You... you’re already dead? Are you a Ghost Cultivator?"

Guh Niqiang grew impatient: "Is your mind broken? Where in this realm would you find a Ghost Cultivator?"

At this moment, the room was brightly lit. Although Guh Niqiang’s expression was cold and anger was hinted in her eyes, her appearance was exceptionally stunning, incomparable in beauty. Her Flowing Cloud Immortal Robe sparkled brilliantly, full of vitality, blood qi soaring, indeed a living person, and in an utterly pristine state.

"Stop talking nonsense." Lu Qian said helplessly, already guessing how Guh Niqiang avoided death after being killed, "You must’ve used your Life Substitution Puppet then?"

Previously, when discovering the treasures of Sea Abyss Pavilion, Guh Niqiang had mentioned that she had already used a Life Substitution Puppet and could not use another. It turned out that it was used at that time.

Guh Niqiang nodded: "Yes, I used the Life Substitution Puppet and came back to life. At that very moment of resurrection, my chance arrived, then I found a place to successfully achieve Foundation Establishment, then went back and killed that enemy."

"He didn’t have a Life Substitution Puppet, so he truly died."

Everyone was dumbfounded, and Lu Qian nodded silently, well, this method of achieving Foundation Establishment indeed matched Guh Niqiang.

Guh Niqiang became particularly serious when speaking of this: "Why don’t I kill you once as a trial? Maybe it’ll work."

Lu Qian shook his head repeatedly, jokingly saying, I can’t bear to waste my Life Substitution Puppet.

"Coward." Guh Niqiang looked disdainful, "I have a reasonable point. Perhaps your luck isn’t good now, but if you deceive Celestial Dao with fake death, it’s like exchanging a new life. Once your Qi fate improves, won’t opportunities arrive?"

It seems, there is some logic?

Rebirth as the child of Qi fate?

Come on, avoiding gambling is winning. What if it’s rebirth as a lousy life? Then it’s not losing utterly.

After denying this proposal and refusing Zheng Duan’s talk of marriage for joy, Lu Qian could only announce a pause in discussions, quietly waiting for favorable timing.

Ever since setting the goal to revitalize Yunshan Sect, although mentally and physically taxing, everything still proceeded smoothly. It seems destined by past patriarchs, plus with the hopes and expectations of Yun Mountain, my Qi fate must not be bad.

Perhaps tonight, the opportunity will arrive?

Deep into the night, in the empty meeting room of the Central High Tower in Shuangye Square, only Lu Qian was inside.

The twelfth to fourteenth floors of this tower are Yunshan Sect stationed areas, and others had returned to their rooms on the twelfth and thirteenth floors for rest and cultivation. The entire fourteenth floor left Lu Qian alone.

The matter of Foundation Establishment opportunity made him a bit restless. Lu Qian disliked randomness, waiting, and gambling on luck. He was accustomed to calculating everything, organizing feasible plans, and disliked this feeling of complete loss of control, yet he was helpless.

Therefore, when the hustle in the marketplace slowly diminished, a contemplative Lu Qian simply found himself something to do, starting to arrange the follow-up battles of Yunshan Sect’s three members, securing at least some decent results.

This afternoon, senior sister won a match, and tomorrow morning will be Master Xuan Ji and Zheng Duan’s two battles.

Since entering the sect, Zheng Duan had replaced his main cultivation technique with a better one from Yunshan Sect’s treasury. Over the past two years, he diligently cultivated with vigor, supported by premium elixirs like "Four Treasures Purifying Spirit Pill," successfully advancing to Late-Stage Qi Cultivation and contributing significantly to sect affairs, thus advancing to Inner Sect Yi-Class Disciple and taking the position of Foreign Affairs Steward.

He was refined and courteous, with a gentle temperament, always considerate of others, always leading the Former Zhou Family’s external cultivators. Now as Foreign Affairs Steward, specializing in visiting neighbors, liaising with various sects in Chongming County, and maintaining good relations, he was conscientious and organized, doing a fine job.

However, regarding combat power, he was somewhat unremarkable; even if granted with premium High-Tier Magical Artifact, in the sect’s arena against the exceptionally chosen outstanding disciples from various sects and schools, he seemed inadequate.

According to Lu Qian’s arrangement, Zheng Duan would stop at the top thirty-two.

And the senior sister could at most reach the top sixteen; beyond that point, they’re facing tenth-layer Qi Cultivation and Qi Cultivation Perfection participants—the gap in hard strength was simply too large no matter how opponents were allocated.

Despite being aged, physically weak, and having suffered severe injury three years ago, the sect’s most powerful cultivator, Master Xuan Ji, had exquisite array cultivation abilities. With a piece or two of Spirit Crystal, it was steady for him to enter the top eight. Lu Qian planned to make a push for the top four if seeming hopeful.

But at most, that’s where it ends. The Kong Family, Shouzhuo, Spirit Talisman, and Shahe have all sent their top disciples, who possess extraordinary talent and mysterious methods, plus Divine Flood Dragon Sect’s interference, making reaching the top four the ultimate limit.

Thus, with three Yunshan Sect cultivators participating, this performance wouldn’t diminish the host’s pride as Shuangye Alliance’s leader.

Moreover, tomorrow, when the first round of matches concludes, Shuangye Square’s official betting market will open, and by adjusting participants discreetly and cautiously calculating and setting odds, this betting market will instantly become the most profitable entity in the entire Shuangye Square.

Therefore, from this celebratory event, Yunshan Sect’s profits will reach...

At this moment, Lu Qian suddenly sensed something through his Divine Sense, abruptly raising his head to see a white snake as thick as a child’s arm slowly slide in through the open window of the meeting room.

Lu Qian slowly stood up, his Divine Sense no longer restrained, surging forth like waves, sweeping across in an instant.

In his bosom, five-colored lights began to glow faintly: "What brings Lady Ji here at this hour?"

A delicate laugh suddenly came from within the small white snake.

Then, the entire white snake swiftly enlarged within the meeting room, until each scale was bowl-sized, becoming a giant white-scaled python over ten meters long, coiled within the room, filling half of the meeting room thoroughly.

The white snake raised its head high, reaching the ceiling, its emerald green pupils quietly staring at Lu Qian, Lady Ji’s soft and gentle voice echoed: "The long night is slow, unable to sleep; I thought I was the only one awake, but it turns out Sect Leader Lu, you’re awake too."