After they had eaten and drunk their fill, paid the bill, and headed downstairs, they found a massive, multi-person brawl in full swing.

One of them, holding a saber, roared in fury:

"You bastard Chen! My wife went with you to Bamboo Mountain Temple, and she came back pregnant shortly after! How dare you say it has nothing to do with you?"

"Heh..." The other man was handsome and well-built, a cynical, wicked smile playing on his face.

"Bamboo Mountain Temple is a huge place, and it’s not like I’m the only man there. What makes you so sure I’m the one who did it?"

"Even the monks in the temple could get a woman pregnant!"

"Bastard!" The saber sliced through the air as the two men clashed. The people with them were also drawn into the fray.

"I knew there was something wrong with the way you two were looking at each other! You bastard Chen, and to think I treated you like a blood brother."

"It’s because you’re useless." The man named Chen, fighting bare-handed, taunted as he fought:

"You’re just a dog in the manger. Sister-in-law’s been with you for so many years, but it seems she had more fun with me in one night."

The verbal attack was devastating. The large, saber-wielding man’s defenses crumbled, and he began to hack wildly with his weapon in both hands.

"WAAAAAAH..."

"Die!"

"Die!"

"CLANG..."

Saber winds raged, and Powerful Qi surged.

The tavern’s furnishings were immediately devastated. Tables, chairs, and benches shattered one after another, and even the floor became pitted and uneven.

The tavern patrons were clearly used to such scenes. They had already found places to hide before the fighting even started, and some were even peering out from behind tables and chairs to watch the spectacle.

Zhu Ju subconsciously asked:

"Isn’t anyone going to do something about this?"

"Don’t worry, Young Master," Yang Qiu said in a low voice.

"That big fellow with the saber is the third-in-command of the Qingfeng Escort Agency. He’s a righteous man. He’ll pay for anything that gets broken."

’A righteous man?’

’So good men are just supposed to have their wives stolen from them?’

’But this place is truly chaotic. Two groups are brawling in a city tavern in broad daylight, and no one pays them any mind.’

Zhu Ju shook his head speechlessly. His gaze paused for a moment on the figures of the fighters before he moved to avoid the chaos and head outside.

The fighters’ Cultivation and Realms weren’t high, and their techniques weren’t complex, but their control over their strength was exceptional.

Their power was only at the Perfection Level of Entering Strength, but their technique probably surpassed that of an ordinary expert with Inner Qi Cultivation. Still, people like this posed no threat to him.

’It seems Martial Arts aren’t very advanced in this world. Magic is the true path.’

"Young Master."

Yang Qiu hurried to catch up and said in a low voice:

"After extensive inquiries, I’ve learned that three Magicians in the city have recently shown an interest in teaching their Magic."

"It’s just..."

He made a gesture that was universally understood across all realms:

"It’ll cost a bit of money."

"Money?" Zhu Ju paused, a slight smile appearing on his face.

"As expected of the Yidu Omniscient. It seems money talks, getting suitable news this quickly. Have them come see me in a few days. As long as the Cultivation Technique is right, money is no object."

"Yes."

Yang Qiu bowed and agreed.

*

*

*

「Yingxian Residence.」

The largest tavern in Yidu.

In addition to the two-story tavern building facing the street that served regular diners, there were also several secluded courtyards specially designed for the banquets and gatherings of wealthy merchants and nobles.

In one such courtyard, an Eight Immortals table was laden with exquisite wines and delicacies, their various aromas mingling to create an enticing scent.

But more captivating than the aroma of wine and meat were the glittering pieces of gold piled on the table.

Each piece was twenty taels of pure gold, stacked into a pointed mound. The sight made the three people in the courtyard catch their breath, their hearts, usually tranquil from their Cultivation, now rippled with desire.

Zhu Ju held a wine pot, poured himself a full cup, and took a sip. The rich aroma made him narrow his eyes in pleasure.

"Good wine!"

"You three are all famous Magicians in Yidu City, each with extraordinary abilities. I was hoping to ask for a bit of guidance."

He glanced at the three and smiled.

"Rest assured."

"Whether this works out or not, I will not let the three of you make this trip for nothing."

The three exchanged glances, their expressions varied.

Although their strength didn’t rank high in the Cultivation Realm, they still possessed some mysterious abilities. Their status in Yidu City was not low; they were beings that mortals looked up to.

They had only agreed to come because the offered appearance fee was too generous.

Now, with a mountain of gold piled right before them, the wealth of this distinguished client was on full display.

’With so much gold at stake, we can’t leave empty-handed!’

"Young Master Zhu."

Among the three, a sturdy, burly middle-aged man was the first to step forward, clasp his fist, and speak:

"I am Huo Yan. Allow me to make a fool of myself first."

He walked over to a decorative boulder in the courtyard and muttered a few words under his breath. His eyes suddenly focused, and the aura around him underwent a peculiar change.

Courage!

Fearlessness!

...

"OPEN!"

Huo Yan clenched his fists. The muscles in his arms swelled, nearly bursting through his sleeves, as he punched forward with all his might.

"BAM!"

The boulder trembled violently. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The next moment.

Huo Yan’s arms became a blur of afterimages, his fists raining down on the boulder like falling meteors.

The immense power and ferocious explosive force actually caused visible cracks to appear on the man-sized boulder.

Until...

"CRACK!"

The boulder shattered into pieces.

"Excellent!"

Zhu Ju raised his eyebrows and clapped.

"Master Huo, what magnificent Fist Technique and power! May I ask what kind of ability this is?"

He could see clearly that the man had not used any Inner Qi to shatter the stone; it was purely the power of his Physical Body.

Even someone at Outer Refining Fifth Realm Perfection couldn’t achieve this.

Moreover, Huo Yan’s Physical Body was far inferior to someone at the External Training Fifth Realm.

Besides, to strike a boulder with one’s mortal flesh requires not only great strength but also precise control over the force of the punch. Otherwise, the rebound force alone could shatter one’s hand bones. This kind of technique, with its Micro-level control of Strength, was equally terrifying.

’If I could learn this technique, my Cultivation aside, my actual combat strength would definitely increase by another notch.’

"Haha..." Huo Yan laughed heartily as he withdrew his power.

"You flatter me, Young Master Zhu. This is a technique I learned from a Mage many years ago."

"It’s called: the Divine Summoning Skill!"

"The Divine Summoning Skill?" Zhu Ju’s eyes lit up.

"That’s right." Huo Yan nodded and said:

"This skill allows one to nourish a Divine Thought within their mind and transform it into a ’Divine Spirit.’ When it’s time to fight, you can summon this spirit to possess your body, allowing you to do what is normally impossible."

"In close combat, forget about mere Martial Artists who only temper their physical bodies; even a Mage would be in trouble if they were careless."

’Evolve a Divine Spirit and summon it to possess you?’

Zhu Ju was lost in thought. This type of ’Summoning God’ was different from his understanding; it wasn’t about inviting an actual, existing ’Deity’ to possess him.

’It’s more like...’

’...condensing your own will into a ’Divine Spirit’ and, when needed, letting that spirit control your body to unleash power far beyond your normal capabilities.’

"My turn."

The old crone with the walking stick stepped forward with a smile and a nod.

"My surname is Niu. Others call me Granny Niu. As for my real name, I can’t quite remember it anymore."

"TOC!"

She lightly tapped her staff on the ground. The Jade Hairpin holding up her white hair trembled slightly and slowly floated out in front of her.

With no visible support and no fluctuation of Inner Qi.

It just hung there, suspended in silence.

Zhu Ju’s eyes narrowed. If he hadn’t been circulating his Inner Qi to suppress his surging Qi Blood, his expression would have surely changed.

"This is..."

"Controlling Objects!" Granny Niu grinned.

"My ability is Controlling Objects. However, it doesn’t work on ordinary things. They must be Spirituality Objects."

She waved her hand gently, and the several-inch-long Jade Hairpin zipped back and forth within a ten-foot radius, moving with uncanny agility, as fast as lightning.

"SHINK!"

A green light flashed, and an inconspicuous hole appeared on the table.

If that had pierced a person, one could only imagine the consequences.

’Controlling Objects!’

’To ride the sword on the wind, to slay demons between heaven and earth—this is the stuff of legendary Immortal Family techniques!’

"Granny Niu," Zhu Ju couldn’t help but ask.

"What’s the maximum range you can control this object?"

"..." Granny Niu’s expression stiffened slightly. She pursed her lips before answering:

"The higher the Cultivation, the greater the distance. A legendary Sword Immortal can control their sword to kill enemies over a hundred li away."

"Mmm..."

"My power is naturally not as formidable as a Sword Immortal’s, but within a ten-foot radius, I can move it as I please. It moves as I think."

’Ten feet?’

Zhu Ju’s brow furrowed slightly.

"I wonder, can it pierce armor?"

"Well..." Granny Niu lowered her head.

"An Immortal Family’s Treasure cannot be compared to mortal armor. My Jade Hairpin has never even pierced cowhide. Wouldn’t it be heartbreaking if it got chipped or scratched?"

?

A look of disappointment crossed Zhu Ju’s face.

Short range, low sharpness, and high requirements. Though it looked magical, its practical use was actually quite limited.