Entering the Instrument Control Realm, Ming Qi's Yuanli and spiritual awareness increased considerably. When he carefully studied the Ancient Spiritual Mirror again, in less than a quarter of an hour, he made a significant discovery!
The Ancient Spiritual Mirror actually contained a hidden technique!
Perhaps his previous strength had prevented him from seeing it, but now that his power had increased significantly, he easily discovered its secrets.
The Great Ancient Mirror Sutra!
This technique, called the Great Ancient Mirror Sutra, relates entirely to mirrors. Ming Qi also vaguely sensed that all of its magical powers were deeply connected to mirror images.
After thoroughly studying the technique, he unknowingly realized that it was already getting dark.
Standing up, Ming Qi waved his hand, and the Ancient Spiritual Mirror flew out. A cool, clear light emanated from it, illuminating Ming Qi's form. The next moment, a figure identical to Ming Qi appeared beside him.
The first magical power in the Great Ancient Mirror Sutra: Mirror Image!
Using the mysterious ancient mirror, one can create an identical mirror image. However, initially, the mirror image possesses no offensive power; it simply looks identical to the original. Upon attack, it completely disappears.
Although this mirror image power may seem insignificant, Ming Qi does not underestimate it. He believes that as his strength grows and he continues to comprehend the Great Ancient Mirror Sutra, the mirror image will develop into something truly terrifying. Of course, Ming Qi's current abilities are still beyond his capabilities.
After performing the mirror image technique several more times, Ming Qi mastered it and put the ancient mirror away.
His research on the ancient spiritual mirror has come to a temporary halt. With the mastery of the Great Ancient Mirror Sutra, the mirror becomes a medium for performing magical powers, and his focus will shift to the sutra itself.
Standing still, Ming Qi extended his finger, and the Soul Stealing Sword flew towards him.
Reaching the Controlling Artifact realm meant being able to fly with the aid of magical instruments. While there wasn't a specific technique, Ming Qi had some understanding of the technique, and now he wanted to use the Soul-Stealing Sword to experience the feeling of flying.
Of course, flying was nothing new to Ming Qi. His Vermillion Bird Divine Wings were faster than most other magical instruments, but the energy they consumed was also quite significant.
As for flying with instruments, most cultivators could replenish their energy by absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy. It could be said that flying with instruments was essentially energy-free.
Comparing the two, flying with instruments was naturally superior. Unless one's life was at stake, using an instrument was generally a good option.
Stepping onto the sword, he silently activated his energy, rapidly gathering the five elements of spiritual energy from the surrounding heaven and earth around the flying sword. With a shaky start, Ming Qi finally took flight on the flying sword.
Although the posture looked a bit awkward, at least it was still flying with a flying weapon.
"This speed is truly disappointing."
After flying for a while, feeling he had roughly mastered the basics of flying with a flying weapon, Ming Qi maneuvered his flying sword to land.
Flying with a flying weapon, if it were simply the most basic manipulation of the five elements' spiritual energy, would be incredibly slow. Although Ming Qi had mastered flying with a flying weapon, he was genuinely dissatisfied with the speed.
"Well, I'll find an opportunity to ask Su Yuan for some sword skills someday."
Su Yuan was proficient in Western Immortal swordsmanship, and Ming Qi had seen her flying at remarkable speeds before, so he assumed she must be using some kind of sword-controlling technique.
That night, Ming Qi went to the outskirts of the valley and caught some game. He built a bonfire in a sheltered area inside the valley, roasted the game, and ate it alone with some strong liquor.
The appointed date was not far away. If the old friends from Tianqi Academy were to come, it would be in the next few days.
After eating, Ming Qi practiced for another hour before falling asleep by the campfire.
Sleep is the best way to recover at any time, even for innate cultivators.
In the middle of the night, the earth shook, startling Ming Qi awake. He quickly stood up and saw Dabai and Dahei, both looking in one direction as if facing a formidable enemy. Ming Qi also unconsciously looked in that direction, and was shocked!
The sparse starlight cast a shadow, and Ming Qi saw that the jungle between the valleys looked like a vast army clashing and running. Countless huge, blurry black shadows moved swiftly, and the roars of demonic beasts mingled with the vibrations.
"What's going on?"
Ming Qi vaguely remembered encountering something similar during his first visit to the Valley of Despair. At that time, an unknown demonic beast had undergone a tribulation, driving a large number of innate demonic beasts from the depths of the valley. What was going on now? A horde of demonic beasts scurried about, but no tribulation thunder appeared. Clearly, the situation this time was different from the last.
If it wasn't a demonic beast undergoing a tribulation, then what was it?
"Dabai, do you know what's going on here?"
At a loss for a moment, Ming Qi hid in the nearby bushes and began telepathically communicating with Dabai, trying to see if he knew. Both of them looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy, clearly sensing something.
"Someone has intruded deep into this valley, seemingly engaged in a battle with a powerful demonic beast. These creatures, fearing they might be affected, have all fled."
Dabai, somehow already knowing the general situation, relayed the story to Ming Qi via telepathic communication.
"Has someone ventured deep into the Valley of Despair? Who has the audacity to do this? Deep within the Valley of Despair, there's a very real possibility of a Heavenly Spirit Beast, a powerful being equivalent to a human cultivator at the ninth level of the Innate Realm."
Ming Qi pondered for a while, but couldn't come up with a clear answer. The signs of the demonic beast's tribulation that day clearly indicated that a Heavenly Spirit Realm demonic beast would be born within the Valley of Despair. But who was going there now? Could they truly be unaware of the existence of Heavenly Spirit Realm demonic beasts, or were they specifically targeting one?
Thinking over this, Ming Qi's curiosity piqued, and he quietly and swiftly flew deeper into the valley.
Surrounding the torrent of demonic beasts, he soon reached the depths of the valley.
This was his first time here. Although the view was unclear in the night, the blur revealed towering trees and overgrown weeds. A person in the midst of it couldn't be seen, and he wondered if anyone was hiding there.
Ming Qi stopped and spread his spiritual awareness, carefully scattering it in all directions.
Sure enough, the presence of numerous cultivators could be detected within a few miles!
It seemed quite a few had infiltrated the Valley of Despair this time, but why had they come?
These people weren't just here to enjoy the scenery; something within the Valley of Despair must have drawn them.
Ming Qi quietly crept a distance further, about a mile from the position of the two men hiding ahead. He then crouched quietly, restraining his aura and donning his Great Destruction Battle Suit beneath his outer robe. This way, as long as he didn't release his energy, no one could detect his presence.
His spiritual awareness extended to the location of the two men ahead, and their whispered conversation immediately became audible.
"Old Zhao, do you think our Palace Master can suppress this Di Kui Demon Wolf?"
Another person said, "You're kidding! The Palace Master is a tenth-level Xiantian cultivator, and the Di Kui Demon Fox is just a minor demon that failed its tribulation."
"What kind of talisman is the Palace Master trying to refine? Does he need the demon core of a level six demon beast?"
"I don't know. It's a very powerful talisman, prepared for the upcoming conflict among the seven prefectures. The Arbitration Hall has been under the Palace Master's control for twenty years, and the other six families are probably envious."
...
After listening to the two men's conversation, Ming Qi was secretly shocked. He had never expected the person who came was the Palace Master of Dongling Chi Mansion!
Currently, the Palace Master controls the Arbitration Hall of Xilan Prefecture, and it is none other than Dongling Chi Mansion, one of the seven prefectures in Xilan Prefecture. Dongling Chi Mansion specializes in talisman making. Its Palace Master, Yan Dongliu, is known as the One Talisman that Can Achieve Heaven. Not only is he formidable, but his talisman-making skills are truly astonishing.
Taking advantage of the concealed aura of the Great Destruction Battle Suit, Ming Qi quietly crept deeper. Since Yan Dongliu had come to subdue the Dikui Demon Fox, which had failed its tribulation, the battle here was clear.
He wanted to go over and see what kind of person Yan Dongliu really was.
Most of the people hiding on the periphery were cultivators of the first and second levels of the Xiantian Realm. Ming Qi easily bypassed them, then picked up speed. Within half an hour, he saw waves of Yuanli pulsing through the dense forest ahead. Many towering trees were completely destroyed, creating a clearing.
"Hmm? Why are there two people?"
Ming Qi scanned the area and immediately noticed that there wasn't just one person on the battlefield in the distance, but two figures clashing back and forth.
"Could they be Yan Dongliu's helpers?"
Just as this thought occurred, he saw the two figures suddenly unleash a magical power and violently collide with each other.
The two men exchanged blows, clearly not working together. Seeing this, Ming Qi marveled at how lively the Valley of Despair had become. Not only had Yan Dongliu arrived, but there was also someone capable of rivaling him.
Since someone could rival Yan Dongliu of Dongling Chifu, this individual must be quite extraordinary. Perhaps a master from one of the Seven Great Prefectures, or perhaps even from the Chief Consul, Xiongfeng City.
In the distance, while the two men battled, they also fiercely attacked a silver-white shadow.
This silver-white shadow was clearly the Dikui Demon Fox that had failed its tribulation.
This time, Ming Qi didn't rush forward, but crouched and observed carefully. The other party were all tenth-level Xiantian powerhouses, bordering on the Martial King level. Once discovered, their escape would be difficult.