The Shadow Escape Technique, when used, creates numerous afterimages, confusing the opponent.
However, a Qi Refining cultivator obviously couldn't achieve this.
For Zhou Shu, simply being able to mimic the masked cultivator's blurry form, obscuring the opponent's precise location, was enough.
For the past few days, he had temporarily put aside his talisman-drawing skills to focus solely on practicing the Escape Technique.
Through deduction and calculation, he understood the essence of the Shadow Escape Technique. The blurry afterimages weren't solely due to speed—how fast could a Qi Refining cultivator be?—but also due to the fact that, when using the Escape Technique, various parts of the body simultaneously activated simple incantations similar to the Small Cloud and Rain Technique, generating mists of varying shapes and colors to obscure the form and render the opponent untraceable.
The more ingenious the mists, the less clearly the opponent could discern the true form within. Combined with the increased speed, this created an effect similar to an illusionary array.
After using the incantation, the opponent was enveloped in a cloud of mist, their form completely obscured.
"It's truly a unique spell."
Zhou Shu expressed admiration and even pride at the spell. "It suits me perfectly."
Cultivators can cast spells from various locations, such as the limbs, the center of the eyebrows, and so on. In theory, as long as there are meridians leading to the body that allow spiritual energy to flow, they can cast spells.
In reality, however, few low-level cultivators can do this.
Most low-level cultivators can only cast spells from a few large meridians, such as the Taiyin and Yangming meridians. Other meridians are either too small to handle the spiritual energy or simply haven't been opened.
Zhou Shu, however, is completely different. All of his meridians are open, and the surge of spiritual energy has expanded them to a sufficient size to accommodate the flow.
With proper control, he can cast spells from any part of his body.
It's a hassle, but it's possible.
However, because the meridians themselves are all damaged, the spiritual energy that can pass through is extremely limited, and its power is pitifully low. However, this Shadow Escape Technique doesn't require much power.
Knowing the essence and how to do it better, Zhou Shu's practice was quite smooth.
However, it was extremely difficult. Controlling so many energy channels to cast spells, even the simplest ones, was no easy task.
The key was that those channels were still damaged.
Every route required careful calculation and deduction.
But the more difficult the task, the less likely it was to defeat Zhou Shu. He was resilient and confident.
In the bamboo forest near the market,
Zhou Shu stood firm like a statue.
Suddenly, he moved.
His figure suddenly unfolded, quickly enveloped by a layer of smoke that closely resembled his clothes. At first glance, it looked as if he had grown several times larger.
But if you looked closely, you could see a clear figure within the smoke, vaguely resembling Zhou Shu's.
Could it be that he hadn't used the escape technique properly, revealing his true form?
The figure suddenly leaped up and charged towards a thick bamboo.
Judging from its momentum, the figure in the smoke was headed directly for the bamboo. If it had charged head-on without dodging, it would surely have broken.
However, something strange happened: the figure actually passed through the bamboo, the bamboo like a knife, bisecting the figure.
Something even stranger happened: the separated figures gradually merged, and in a few breaths, they returned to their original form.
Instantly, the smoke dissipated, revealing Zhou Shu, who breathed a sigh of relief.
"Not bad! Aside from the lack of spiritual power and the short duration, everything else is perfect."
He didn't follow the Shadow Escape Technique exactly as instructed, but instead made a slight improvement.
Because of his inherent advantage—his fully activated Qi channels, allowing him to use the techniques throughout his body—the smoke he created could mimic his own form. Therefore, he deliberately created a figure similar to his own, to better confuse the enemy.
That figure wasn't his actual location; his true location was within the cloud of smoke beyond the figure.
This modified technique could be used to surprise and catch the opponent off guard.
He was satisfied, but also had some regrets.
"If the smoke can be combined with light and shadow refraction, the Shadow Escape Technique could even achieve a brief invisibility effect. However, the calculations and deductions would be far too complex for my current spiritual awareness, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it in the future."
After a moment's deliberation, Zhou Shu slowly returned.
The northwest corner outside the market town.
This area is known as the Pavilion District, the residential area surrounding the Qingxia Market Town. Unlike the shantytown area where Zhou Shu lived, this area is upscale and elegant, with residences in individual pavilions. The spiritual energy is far richer, and the security is extremely strict.
However, cultivators who wish to reside here must pay a much higher protection fee to the market town, several mid-grade spirit stones each month.
In a two-story pavilion, Yan Mengchu, like a wilted eggplant, huddled to one side. Opposite him stood the gloomy, gray-robed cultivator. The gray-robed cultivator's
name was Hu Jiasheng, a tenth-level Qi Refining Realm master. He was the sixth hall master of the Liuchu Sect, and the only one to reach the Qi Refining Realm.
Although Liuchu Sect is a sect of immortal cultivation, it acts like a gang in the martial arts world, and its internal structure is also the same.
Its founder was originally the leader of a major force in the martial arts world. Later, by chance, he obtained the secret manual of the immortals, became a cultivator, and established a sect, but the original habits have been preserved to this day.
Hu Jiasheng stared at Yan Mengchu and said sternly, "You are a waste!"
Yan Mengchu shrank back and did not dare to say a word.
"You have the order of the head of the family, but you can't handle such a small matter? What's wrong with you going in alone? With your cultivation and the order of the head of the family, you can't deal with a woman in the eighth level of the Qi Refining Realm? I am really disappointed."
Yan Mengchu whispered, "Yan Yue is very powerful. I... am afraid I can't beat her."
Hu Jiasheng looked at him with disdain, "Waste!"
"Yes, yes, your Excellency is right."
Yan Mengchu looked up at Hu Jiasheng, then quickly lowered his head, "What should we do now?"
"I have a lot of spies around the Yan family shop, always paying attention. As soon as you get a chance, break in!" A cold light flashed in Hu Jiasheng's eyes, "I'll find someone to cooperate with you. As long as you get in, the shop will be yours. You are a member of the Yan family, no one else can say anything, and the market has no reason to intervene."
"Yes, yes, I know."
Yan Mengchu nodded repeatedly, "Then Yan Yue..."
"The opportunity will naturally come when Yan Yue isn't around," Hu Jiasheng said bitterly. "You useless
piece of shit! If you weren't so useless, we'd have solved it right then and there wouldn't be so much trouble." Yan Mengchu showed a hint of joy and wiped his nose. "With Yan Yue away, I guarantee I can break in and take over the shop." Hu Jiasheng
nodded. "I don't need to tell you what to do after we take over the shop, do I?"
Yan Mengchu lowered his head. "I know. Try to buy the surrounding shops and place all the brothers from the Liuchu Sect there. Also, maintain a good relationship with the talisman master. It would be best if we could find his exact location."
Hu Jiasheng nodded. "I don't know why the talisman master wants to cooperate with the Yan family, but I think he'd be very willing to do so. Otherwise..."
He wore a sinister smile, but it quickly disappeared.
"The rest of the time, you stay here and don't leave!"
Yan Mengchu nodded, daring to say nothing.
Hu Jiasheng looked at Yan Mengchu, unconcealed in his disgust. He then called him a piece of shit and went downstairs.
He partnered with Yan Mengchu, hoping not only to seize the Yan family's shop and infiltrate Qingxia Market, but also to obtain the talisman master who created the hydrotherapy talisman, killing two birds with one stone.
The Liuchu Sect values force and has many low-level disciples. A continuous supply of hydrotherapy talismans would undoubtedly be a significant boost to the sect.
And why spend spirit stones on such an item? Why not just rob it?
The Liuchu Sect's survival strategy is simply one word: rob.
The Yan family's Patriarch's token, looted from the ancestor of the Yan family, had been stored in a warehouse. Recently, it was discovered, and it was discovered that this was no ordinary first-tier magical weapon, but rather possessed other remarkable uses.