The Sword of the Taoist Priest

"A ghost at the Qi-Condensation stage can only make people sick or weak; it can't do anything else. If it doesn't advance, it will dissipate soon."

"Because I cultivated the Qingyun Technique, I can stabilize my soul. And by dispersing my cultivation and lowering my level, I can avoid detection."

"The most important thing is, my physical body is not dead."

"You can help me return to my physical body."

Changqing took on a reflective look, going over the incantations he had memorized several times.

Dongfang Lan waited quietly for Changqing's response.

After a moment of contemplation, Changqing slowly uttered three words under Dongfang Lan's expectant gaze.

"I can't."

"..."

Dongfang Lan was driven to distraction, grinding her teeth and saying, "You don't need to know how!"

"Then why don't you return to your body yourself?"

"I..."

Dongfang Lan deflated instantly.

After a long while, Dongfang Lan looked at Changqing, "If you're willing to help me, I'll tell you everything."

Changqing nodded immediately, without any hesitation.

Dongfang Lan, on the contrary, hesitated, "Don't you want to think it over carefully?"

"There's no need."

"Do you know what you're going to face?"

"I have a general idea."

Changqing shrugged, "You're no ordinary person. The techniques, sword methods, and footwork you've given me are not ordinary either."

"Your current state is also unusual."

"You mentioned the Grandmaster Zhao Zhen and the Heavenly Realm just now."

"I suppose what you'll face is the highest level of cultivation on the Flowing Cloud Continent, the Heavenly-Man Stage, right?"

Dongfang Lan glanced at Changqing frequently.

"I'm willing to help you, but whether I can succeed is another matter. But I can promise you that if I can't help you within nine years, I'll make sure you leave painlessly at the last moment."

Saying this, Changqing tightened his grip on the wooden stick again.

Dongfang Lan didn't quite understand why Changqing was so insistent on sending her away.

"I am from the Qingyun Kingdom. I am the third princess of the Qingyun Kingdom. I have a cultivation physique, an extremely spiritual body..."

"Grandmaster usurping the throne? Royal family disputes?"

"..." Dongfang Lan looked at Changqing with a strange expression.

What on earth was this guy thinking?

"Although his power is overwhelming, he doesn't seek to usurp the throne. Royal family disputes are even more out of the question."

Speaking of this, Dongfang Lan looked at Changqing with interest, "If it were what you said, how would you help me?"

"Clear the monarch's side."

"What do you mean?"

"Occupy a mountain and become a king, station troops and store grain, wait for the right moment, and rise in rebellion!"

"..."

Dongfang Lan was shocked once again.

This guy looked simple and honest, but he actually had a rebellious bone in his body!

Dongfang Lan quickly extended her hand, "There's no need!"

She now understood that this guy was by no means an ordinary country bumpkin.

"A cultivation physique is a person chosen by heaven. Among those with a physique, one in ten thousand."

"You were able to learn the Qingyun Technique, Qingyun Sword, and Qingyun Step in a very short time, which is already a world-class genius, but this only proves that you have extremely high comprehension. Moreover, in the path of cultivation, no matter how high the comprehension is, it is only fast to enter the door. To truly understand the essence is not something that can be achieved overnight."

"Under the royal city of the Qingyun Kingdom, there is an underground palace, where the remnant soul of a great demon resides."

"Grandmaster Zhao Zhen conspired with the remnant soul of the great demon to help the great demon take over my extremely spiritual body."

"Every ten years, the风云升天 (Fengyun Ascension). The next time the Four Directions Wind and Cloud Tournament takes place and the spiritual energy boils again, it will be the opportunity for the soul to take over."

Dongfang Lan narrated calmly, and Changqing understood the whole story.

If the remnant soul of the great demon succeeded in taking over the body, it would be a disaster for the entire Qingyun Kingdom and even the entire Flowing Cloud Continent.

Previously, Dongfang Lan said she had to die because once her soul died, her extremely spiritual body would be damaged.

Grandmaster Zhao Zhen originally set up an array to confine Dongfang Lan's soul.

But he didn't expect that the Qingyun Technique would also have the ability to disperse cultivation. Therefore, Dongfang Lan lowered her cultivation to the Qi-Condensation stage, avoiding all detection, and followed the spiritual tide to escape to the remote town of Purple Bamboo in the Qingyun Kingdom.

That's also why Changqing could see Dongfang Lan, which made Dongfang Lan so surprised.

"You just need to ascend to the Heavenly-Man Stage within nine years, and you only need to restrain Grandmaster Zhao Zhen and the remnant soul of the great demon. As long as I regain my body and escape, it will be fine."

Dongfang Lan looked at Changqing.

The incantations that Changqing chanted were extraordinary and might have strange effects.

What seemed impossible before might not be impossible with Changqing.

"How strong is the remnant soul of the great demon?" Changqing asked.

"When I was driven out of my soul by Zhao Zhen, he hadn't reached the Heavenly-Man Stage yet. Even after nine years, he would at most be at the Heavenly-Man Stage."

"With the Qingyun Technique, it should not be difficult to fight two at once."

"Perhaps you don't know that the Qingyun Technique is not only the strongest foundational technique, but it also has many mysteries..."

Dongfang Lan was about to explain the Qingyun Technique in detail to Changqing.

Changqing casually said, "You can use this as a foundation, and at the same time, perceive other techniques and integrate them to draw on the strengths of many."

Dongfang Lan's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Changqing.

"How do you know that?"

"Didn't you teach me?"

"..."

Although Dongfang Lan knew that Changqing was a world-class genius and had extremely high comprehension, she didn't expect that Changqing's comprehension would be so high!

Changqing shrugged and smiled faintly.

If Dongfang Lan knew that it took Changqing a hundred years to have such comprehension, would she still think he was a genius?

In Changqing's view, not only the Qingyun Technique, but also the Qingyun Sword and Qingyun Step, have great room for growth.

The Hundred-Year Dream must continue to deepen perception.

Changqing only needs to cultivate according to the results of perception, which is equivalent to not taking any detours at all.

"Have you canceled the Purification Spell?"

Dongfang Lan asked, approaching Changqing.

"What are you doing?" Changqing covered his chest and retreated step by step.

"Although my situation is special, I only have the cultivation of the Qi-Condensation stage. There is no danger in the town of Purple Bamboo, but if you go to other places, even the aftermath of your fight with others could annihilate me. And I can't enhance my power, otherwise, in addition to you, others will also find me."

"Can't you find something else to inhabit?"

"Is there any other choice?"

Dongfang Lan glanced at the wooden stick in Changqing's hand.

"What if I take a bath?"

Changqing rubbed the mud off his body, and with a rub, a handful came off. He had taken a bath just a few days ago.

Dongfang Lan's face was full of disgust as she turned away, "Are you afraid that I will take advantage of you?"

Changqing simply rinsed himself with cold water.

For some reason, Changqing's body was covered with mud, as if all the impurities in his body had been expelled.

"Can this technique also wash the meridians and marrow?"

"No."

Soon Changqing finished washing and lay down on the lounge chair in the courtyard.

Like basking in the sun during the day, bathing in the moonlight at night also made Changqing feel comfortable all over.

Dongfang Lan originally wanted to urge Changqing to cultivate well. Changqing, who had no experience, must not know how hard the top geniuses on the continent work.

But at this glance, she couldn't help but be startled in her heart.

She even rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't mistaken.

Changqing's body was glowing with a faint white light, as if the moonlight had condensed on his clothes.

At the same time, Changqing's breathing was long and gentle, and he seemed to have cultivated some kind of divine technique. It had a bit of the feeling of the Qingyun Technique, but Dongfang Lan was sure that it was definitely not just the Qingyun Technique.

Dongfang Lan's eyes didn't blink. At this moment, a preposterous thought emerged in her mind.

Is Changqing human?

How could he feel like he had become a spirit?

Can a human become a spirit?