Chapter 503

Chapter 503: Second Level skill

Feng Yao so adamantly accused Yao Wu precisely because her most trusted master had once told her that while examining her brother’s corpse, he discovered the Gu insects inflicted were exceptionally cunning and sophisticated. This skill was far beyond what that disciple could achieve.

Under these circumstances, the attacker most likely received guidance from someone, obtaining a powerful Gu insect.

At the time, her master explicitly stated he would investigate thoroughly to prevent her from acting rashly.

Yet now, she found herself facing this outcome.

Having followed her master since childhood, Feng Yao trusted him implicitly. She believed his judgment. Moreover, as a Second Level Gu master herself, she recognized the extreme perversity of the Gu insects on her brother’s body—even she couldn’t comprehend them.

Thus, she firmly concluded the sect was sheltering Mountain Master Lieyang, Yao Wu.

The woman opposite her seemed unsure how to explain. "I heard Zhou Changtian insisted on escalating this matter."

"The sect hastily closed the case to protect its reputation," she added.

Upon hearing this, fury washed over Feng Yao’s delicate face.

"I knew it! The sect capitulated! No—I must see Master and demand justice!"

The woman blocked her path: "Yao Yao, Master anticipated this reaction. That’s why he sent me."

"He told me to let this matter rest. Besides, the disciple who harmed your brother was already stripped of his cultivation and died."

"As for Mountain Master Lieyang—you absolutely cannot seek her out. Master will be furious if you do."

"Yao Yao," her voice turned grave, "prioritize the greater good. Don’t subject Master to fallout."

Tears welling in her reddened eyes, Feng Yao clenched her jaw. "Senior sister, does my brother’s death mean nothing?"

She knew perfectly well: if the sect protected Yao Wu, she was powerless. And Master had shown her profound kindness—she absolutely couldn’t implicate him.

Witnessing her distress, the senior sister embraced her and whispered: "Yao Yao, Senior sister’s heart aches for you. But Mountain Master Lieyang and her son Zhou Changtian are both Wan Gu Sect disciples."

"The sect will never allow you to strike them."

Feng Yao shuddered. Fists tightening, she stood silently while thoughts raced—

Zhou Changtian had recently visited Jinyun Immortal City to meet his father.

After a long pause, Feng Yao drew a deep breath. "I understand, Senior sister. I won’t assault them. But I lost family. They will pay."

With that, she tore free and charged out of the room furiously.

Once gone, the senior sister’s compassionate expression instantly faded, replaced by icy indifference as she stared at the doorway.

"Yao Yao, blame not my ruthlessness. Master meticulously wove this trap, only for Zhou Changtian to dismantle it."

"Thus, you must bear this injustice. Go demand… compensation… from his father."

—

At this moment, Zhou Luo remained unknown to the reality: a shadow war among Wan Gu Sect factions had unexpectedly set its sights upon him.

He was busy with dual cultivation with Shu Hongliu.

As the dual cultivation progressed steadily, both of their cultivation realms began to improve.

Especially for Shu Hongliu.

She had been stuck at the mid-level Foundation Establishment stage for many years and, due to the influence of Pure Yang Energy, had been unable to break through.

It was like rain after a long drought; now, with Zhou Luo’s help, her meridians had revived, and her cultivation progressed rapidly, advancing by leaps and bounds.

Though not quite a breakthrough, her weapon refining speed had indeed increased substantially.

One day, just after they finished dual cultivation, a notification sound suddenly rang in Zhou Luo’s ears.

[Congratulations, host. Through diligent effort, you have successfully impregnated your partner. You have been granted one lottery draw opportunity.]

When the notification sounded, Zhou Luo was momentarily stunned.

He hadn’t expected that after being with Shu Hongliu for just over a month, she had already conceived his offspring.

The arrival of this child delighted him.

As his cultivation realm continually improved, his ability to father children had significantly diminished. Furthermore, he had other commitments, which was why, after all these years, his children had yet to reach a hundred in total.

Therefore, every pregnancy among his wives and concubines brought him great joy.

Especially now, since the rewards he drew were exceptionally good, he looked forward to the upcoming lottery draw with immense anticipation.

He calmed his mind and entered the lottery page.

In the void, the red lottery page was almost entirely covered by purple patterns, radiating a red-purple glow.

The seven zones remained unchanged as before.

"Start the lottery," he commanded mentally.

The golden sphere of light began spinning rapidly across the seven zones.

A moment later, the speed of the golden sphere visibly decreased until it finally stopped within the skills zone.

The word "Skills" made Zhou Luo’s heart stir.

Over the years, he had drawn numerous skills. Only four had reached Second Level; the rest were only First Level.

Drawing a skill again now inevitably sparked excitement within him.

Because it was most likely a Second Level skill.

Though what exactly this Second Level skill would be remained unknown.

He hoped it was weapon refining techniques, one of the four major skills. It was the only one still lacking at Second Level.

If this skill also advanced to Second Level, he could mass-produce magical artifacts under Shu Hongliu’s name and could finally pass on the Ten Thousand Refining Spirit Body Technique to his descendants.

Previously, he hadn’t widely taught this technique due to its immense resource consumption.

If he became a weapon refiner himself, this resource expenditure would drastically decrease.

Having personally mastered it, Zhou Luo knew exactly how formidable this Body Refinement Technique was. If his key descendants could master it, their survivability would greatly increase.

Of course, the most crucial benefit was that his business could expand once more.

[Congratulations, host. You have obtained a Second Level Gu refinement technique!]

[The reward has been automatically sent to your inventory. Please check!]

Just as Zhou Luo was contemplating what Second Level skill might appear, the notification sounded in his ears.

"Second Level Gu refinement?" Hearing the voice, Zhou Luo froze for an instant, his heart filled with pleasant surprise.

He hadn’t expected to draw Second Level Gu techniques.

This was a skill he had once poured much effort into studying. But after mastering the First Level Gu techniques, he had largely neglected it due to rising cultivation priorities.

He had nearly forgotten it entirely.

He hadn’t expected to draw its upgraded version.

Did this mean he could refine Second Level Gu insects now?

A flicker of anticipation arose in Zhou Luo’s heart.

He clearly remembered that among Second Level Gu insects, many were suited for relationships, especially one called the Heart Lock Gu. It could make the person implanted with the insect wholeheartedly love only him and obey his commands—a far more potent effect than the Heartfelt Gu.

Wouldn’t this significantly boost his chances of wooing high-quality female cultivators?