Li Fan and Zhang Qianmo, disguised in new appearances, quietly infiltrated Ningyuan City.
"Senior Brother, I think if someone with ill intentions wants to ambush us, the best way is to catch us off guard. It's very likely that they're lurking near your old favorite, Chixia."
Li Fan transmitted his thoughts.
Zhang Qianmo's face blushed slightly, and after pondering for a moment, he said, "Junior Brother, you make a lot of sense. Let's first go to the Drunken Immortal Tower."
Following Zhang Qianmo, Li Fan arrived near the bustling center of the city.
Across from the Drunken Immortal Tower was a large stage where a theatrical performance was taking place. A crowd of common people gathered to watch, while laughter and singing could be faintly heard from the Drunken Immortal Tower.
Upon reaching this location, Zhang Qianmo's eyes were fixed on a woman on the stage wearing theatrical attire, exuding a noble aura. His gaze seemed to be glued to her, unable to look away.
Meanwhile, Li Fan, in the crowd, searched for the ambush set up by Chu Liang and others.
Perhaps thinking that Zhang Qianmo and Li Fan had not yet arrived, Chu Liang did not conceal his presence much. He merely hid his aura and blended in with the onlookers.
It didn't take much effort for Li Fan to find him.
"Senior Brother, why does that person look a bit familiar?"
Li Fan awakened Zhang Qianmo, who was immersed in Chixia's performance, and transmitted Chu Liang's appearance to him through his spiritual sense.
"Hmm? He seems somewhat familiar. Who is he?" After a long time, Zhang Qianmo finally remembered who Chu Liang was.
"Chu Liang? Wasn't he expelled from the sect a long time ago because he couldn't cultivate? Why would he appear here?" Zhang Qianmo was surprised.
Li Fan added, "This Chu Liang doesn't seem to be an ordinary person. It seems he's hiding his cultivation base."
Zhang Qianmo nodded silently, "Indeed. There must be something strange about this."
After some thought, he said, "Junior Brother, let's surround him—one in the front and one in the back. Then, let's simultaneously use 'Spring Thunder Shock' to subdue him. We can question him later."
Information about 'Spring Thunder Shock' instantly surfaced in Li Fan's mind. It was a technique from the Purple Heaven Royal Thunder Technique, a method of spiritual attack.
It could cause a momentary shock to the opponent's mind, like the first thunder in spring, making them lose control of their body for an instant.
"Compared to the Purple Heaven Royal Thunder Technique, most of the techniques I've seen before seem to be only for cultivation and advancing realms. It's as if they were deliberately truncated, lacking many such methods."
"Perhaps only this ancient Purple Heaven Royal Thunder Technique can be considered a true technique."
After a brief comparison, Li Fan couldn't help but think this way.
Li Fan agreed with the plan, and the two disciples separated in the crowd and approached Chu Liang from different directions.
Chu Liang's vigilance seemed a bit low. It wasn't until Li Fan and Zhang Qianmo were close that he vaguely sensed something was wrong.
Looking at Zhang Qianmo suddenly appearing in front of him, Chu Liang's face showed a look of horror.
However, before he could react, he was hit by 'Spring Thunder Shock' from both sides.
His eyes lost focus, his whole body stiffened, and he couldn't move.
Zhang Qianmo approached and restrained him, quietly taking him to an uninhabited house.
By now, Chu Liang had regained consciousness. His eyes were filled with hatred as he stared fixedly at Zhang Qianmo.
"Are you Chu Liang? Why are you here?"
"In just over thirty years, you've transformed from an untalented ordinary person, unable to cultivate, into a Foundation Establishment cultivator. What kind of evil technique are you using?"
Zhang Qianmo's face remained expressionless as he asked coldly.
Chu Liang snorted but remained silent.
"Do you think if you don't speak, I won't be able to find out?" A trace of disdain appeared on Zhang Qianmo's face.
"As a loose cultivator, how could you possibly know the methods of our orthodox sect?"
Having said that, Zhang Qianmo's five fingers turned into claws, reaching for Chu Liang's head.
In an instant, Chu Liang felt as if he was struck by lightning.
His whole body trembled uncontrollably.
A look of extreme pain appeared on his face, and his eyes gradually lost their luster.
However, Zhang Qianmo remained unmoved, still firmly holding onto Chu Liang.
In the end, Chu Liang's pupils dimmed, and his body spasmed involuntarily.
"Bang!"
Casually tossing Chu Liang, who had lost any use, to the ground, Zhang Qianmo stood there, silent for a long time.
"Senior Brother, what's going on?" Watching this scene that closely resembled soul-searching, Li Fan's gaze flickered.
However, he didn't make any inappropriate moves for the time being; he simply spoke up.
Zhang Qianmo didn't immediately respond but continued to mutter something.
"Extract the essence of heaven and earth..."
"Sacrifice the spirit of heaven and earth..."
"Defy the principles of heaven and earth..."
Seemingly deeply shaken, he seemed unable to control himself for a moment.
"Senior Brother!" Li Fan had to speak again to bring him back to awareness.
"Hoo..." Zhang Qianmo let out a long breath, slowly recovering from the shock.
His expression became extremely serious. "Junior Brother, I'm afraid the seriousness of this matter goes beyond our imagination."
"We need to quickly conclude matters here, return to the sect, and report to the Sect Master."
Li Fan asked in astonishment, "What exactly happened? Why would it be necessary to alert the Sect Master?"
Zhang Qianmo immediately explained the matter about the Immortal Ancestor transmitting a new cultivation method that didn't require spiritual roots.
"There are three more accomplices in the city, and Steward Song Hesong, who has already reached the Golden Core realm, is also practicing the new method. Follow me to capture the three Foundation Establishment cultivators first."
Li Fan couldn't help but ask, "What about the steward at the Golden Core realm?"
"Rest assured, leave it to me. However, he's just a dog in my eyes." Zhang Qianmo revealed a trace of disdain on his face.
Li Fan nodded without refuting.
Next, the two of them easily captured the remaining three Foundation Establishment cultivators with ambushes.
"Junior Brother, wait for me here and keep an eye on these people. I'll go and capture Steward Song; then, I'll find you later." Zhang Qianmo instructed.
Li Fan checked the skills learned by Li Chen again and did not find the soul-searching technique that Zhang Qianmo had just displayed.
So, he asked tentatively, "Senior Brother, how is the soul-searching technique performed? I'm idle, and I want to see if I can extract some useful information from these people's minds."
Zhang Qianmo was slightly surprised, appraised Li Fan for a moment, and chuckled, "Who was it that said the soul-searching technique is too cruel and refused to learn it before?"
"Today, after almost being ambushed, you've seen the cruelty of the cultivation. The knot in your heart has untied, hasn't it?"
"Junior Brother, remember. In the path to immortality, there is no room for half-heartedness."
"Compassion cannot be tolerated."
"Not to mention the soul-searching technique, even more cruel methods, such as refining puppets with a cultivator's body or using souls to refine spiritual treasures, must be used when it is necessary!"
As he spoke, Zhang Qianmo pointed his finger at the center of Li Fan's eyebrows, transmitting a technique called the "Purple Heaven Soul Observation Technique."