I Can Upgrade Everything Infinitely

Chapter 105: Chapter 104: Shock

Xu Qing and Jiang Qingyang weren’t using their full strength. This was merely a spar, not a life-or-death battle. With each exchange, Jiang Qingyang grew increasingly shocked by the immense power displayed by the old man before him—the one who called himself the Life-taking Elder.

“Sword of Death!”

CLANG!

The sound of a sword rang out.

Xu Qing did not draw the Level 10 Iron Sword or the Level 10 Wandering Dragon Sword from his waist. He simply formed a Sword Pointing with his right hand, using his fingers as a sword to strike at Jiang Qingyang.

“!!!”

Jiang Qingyang’s pupils contracted, and he could no longer hide the shock on his face. From the sword of this self-proclaimed Life-taking Elder, he had faintly detected an almost imperceptible trace of Sword Intent.

But Sword Intent was Sword Intent.

This was a power one could only grasp in the Second Realm of Martial Arts, and even an almost imperceptible trace of it was enough to astound countless people.

“Gale Palm!”

BOOM!

Jiang Qingyang let out a low shout. He mobilized his formidable Gang Qi, stimulating the minor acupoints throughout his body and unleashing an even more terrifying power.

The surrounding Heaven and Earth Energy was drawn in, gathering between his palms.

Jiang Qingyang’s palms descended, seeming to form an endless gale that condensed into a massive Palm Seal, crashing down to annihilate its target.

BANG!

The two attacks collided, creating a massive explosion. The Gale Palm Seal and Xu Qing’s Sword Qi detonated simultaneously, sending shockwaves spreading out in all directions.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Xu Qing and Jiang Qingyang retreated simultaneously, both putting distance between them.

“Truly powerful.”

Jiang Qingyang’s expression was grave, even a little stunned. The strength Xu Qing had displayed had far exceeded his expectations.

After all, during the fight, Jiang Qingyang had discerned that Xu Qing had just entered the Invulnerability Realm, while he himself was at the Peak of Invulnerability. He had even absorbed and refined one-seventh of the Deceitful Flesh Lingzhi, meaning he had one foot in the Second Realm of Martial Arts. A distinct gap in their Cultivation levels still existed.

However, as they fought, Jiang Qingyang found that Xu Qing’s strength was immense. In their exchange so far, Xu Qing hadn’t been at the slightest disadvantage.

By this point, both Xu Qing and Jiang Qingyang had ceased their attacks.

“Hahaha…”

Xu Qing laughed heartily. “As expected of the Jiang Family’s ancestor! Your combat prowess is truly formidable. I failed to gain any advantage at all.”

“The same to you.”

Jiang Qingyang clasped his hands. “Your strength is equally formidable. I gained no advantage in our exchange either. If there’s another opportunity, we can spar again.”

“Absolutely! Absolutely!”

Xu Qing replied, clasping his hands again. “I will take my leave now.”

“Please!”

Jiang Qingyang gestured with his hand.

SWOOSH!

Xu Qing shot through the air, swiftly leaving the Jiang Family estate. A moment later, his figure vanished, and his aura was concealed, his destination unknown.

Jiang Qingyang took a deep breath, his expression turning slightly grave.

“Father, how was it?”

The Jiang Family Patriarch came over and asked.

“He’s incredibly strong.”

Jiang Qingyang said in a low voice, “It’s best not to provoke him recklessly. Go to the family treasury and fetch some Treasure Medicines. Give them to Du Cangying and Du Luan so they can recover from their injuries as quickly as possible, then send him back to the Cangying Martial Arts Hall.”

“Yes.”

The Jiang Family Patriarch nodded. After a moment of contemplation, he added, “But Du Luan… she’s not dead, but she is severely injured. Her face was even skinned off. Even with Treasure Medicines, I’m afraid her appearance can’t be restored…”

“Do your best.”

Jiang Qingyang said, “We were victims here as well, and we knew nothing about the Thousand-Faced Witch. We just need to do what’s required of us.”

“Yes!”

The Jiang Family Patriarch nodded heavily.

After all, Jiang Qingyang had just attacked Xu Qing because Xu Qing had barged into the Jiang Mansion alone, which was indeed arrogant. He had also injured all of the Jiang Mansion’s Household Servants and Private Soldiers, and even Xu Qingfeng was wounded. This had caused the Jiang Family to lose face.

Therefore, Jiang Qingyang’s attack was naturally an attempt to regain that lost face by defeating Xu Qing. But in the end, Xu Qing proved too powerful. Not only did Jiang Qingyang fail to regain face, he nearly lost even more.

「By evening.」

Xu Qing had long since found a deserted place, removed the Evil Ghost Mask, and reverted to his original appearance before returning to the Cangying Martial Arts Hall.

Cangying Martial Arts Hall.

“Who are you?”

At the entrance to the Martial Arts Hall stood two disciples with grim expressions. Seeing Xu Qing walk straight toward them, they immediately questioned him in a low voice.

“Xu Qing.”

Xu Qing stopped and said directly, “An Official Disciple of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall.”

“Senior… Senior Brother Xu?!”

Suddenly, one of the Martial Arts Hall disciples froze for a moment. Upon getting a clear look at Xu Qing, his eyes lit up with immense joy. “It… it really is Senior Brother Xu! Senior Brother Xu is back!!!”

“…”

The other disciple was a new recruit, so he didn’t recognize Xu Qing. He frowned upon seeing his companion’s reaction.

「Half an hour later.」

Cangying Martial Arts Hall.

The Main Hall.

Here, Xu Qing saw a familiar face. Senior Brother Huo Yi, now the acting Hall Master, was sitting in the seat that once belonged to Du Cangying.

Moreover, there were six True Disciples in total. Besides Huo Yi and Du Luan, four remained. But of those four, three were now missing, leaving only Senior Brother Jin Hong.

Xu Qing didn’t recognize anyone else.

Of course, Xu Qing also saw Ye Langtian.

Now, Ye Langtian had an air about him that was a world apart from before.

“Hahaha…”

Huo Yi let out a booming laugh. He stood up, walked over to Xu Qing, and clapped him on the shoulder. “Junior Brother Xu, you’re finally back! I was starting to think something had happened to you.”

“Excellent.”

“It’s wonderful that you’re back!”

“Senior Brother Huo Yi, where are the master’s other True Disciples? Why aren’t they here?”

Xu Qing asked.

“Sigh…”

Huo Yi sighed, his expression a mixture of complexity, sorrow, and anger. He said, “Junior Brother Xu, it’s like this… our other three junior brothers and sisters fell prey to the Blood Demon Sect. They were killed by the Demon Sect’s fiends. By the time I arrived, it was too late.”

“If you don’t believe me, you can ask Senior Brother Jin Hong.”

“The Blood Demon Sect.”

Xu Qing frowned and said in a low voice, “Truly despicable.”

“Indeed!”

Huo Yi’s tone was sorrowful.

“Ahem…”

Just then, Huo Yi gave a slight cough and glanced meaningfully at the others in the room.

“Hall Master, I have some other matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first.”

“Yes, me too!”

“…”

After that, the others stood up.

“Junior Brother Xu, it’s been a while. We’ll have to catch up next time,” Ye Langtian said with a smile.

“Sounds good.”

Xu Qing smiled faintly.

Soon, only Huo Yi and Xu Qing remained in the room.

“Junior Brother Xu.”

Huo Yi’s expression was warm, his tone eager. “What level has your Cultivation reached?”

“Dan Jin,” Xu Qing said.

“Oh.”

Huo Yi’s eyes lit up. He took out a black box from his robes, opened it, and inside lay a single Elixir.

It was the Celestial Bridge Pill.

Furthermore, this was an enhanced version of the Celestial Bridge Pill, with an even more potent effect.

The Celestial Bridge Pill that Huo Yi had taken was of average quality. One had to have already opened the Ren and Du Meridians to take it, and it would then help construct the Bridge of Heaven and Earth, allowing one to step into the Outer Gang Realm.

The enhanced version, however, allowed anyone at the Dan Jin level to consume it and directly break through to the Outer Gang Realm.

Its effects were far stronger, but naturally, the side effects were also much greater.

“Junior Brother Xu, this elixir is called the Celestial Bridge Pill. Taking it can help you open your Ren and Du Meridians, construct the Bridge of Heaven and Earth, and allow you to step directly into the Outer Gang Realm,” Huo Yi said. “This is a Treasure Medicine I went to great lengths to acquire. Since you have already reached the Dan Jin level, Junior Brother Xu, I will give this Treasure Medicine to you.”

“For me?”

Xu Qing waved his hands, a feigned look of alarm on his face. He quickly refused with a forced smile, “How could I possibly accept such a precious Treasure Medicine?”

“Take it.”

Huo Yi pressed the Elixir into Xu Qing’s hand and said with great emotion, “Junior Brother Xu, of all our fellow disciples, you are the one I trust the most!”

“So, just take it.”

“This…”

Xu Qing fell silent for a moment before quietly accepting the Celestial Bridge Pill. “Thank you, Senior Brother!!!”

“Hahaha…”

Huo Yi laughed heartily. “No need for thanks. We are fellow disciples of the same sect. Of course we should help each other. Only by growing stronger can we make the Cangying Martial Arts Hall prosper.”

“Senior Brother is absolutely right,” Xu Qing said.

’If I remember correctly, when I fought Du Cangying, only Jin Hong saw it. That means only Jin Hong knows that I broke through to the Outer Gang Realm long ago. Huo Yi still doesn’t know I’ve reached the Outer Gang Realm, which means Jin Hong never told him.’

’So… is Jin Hong just biding his time and enduring this for now?’

Night fell in the blink of an eye.

Xu Qing didn’t leave the Cangying Martial Arts Hall. Huo Yi insisted he stay, even specially preparing a room for him to rest in.

In reality, Xu Qing had no need to investigate. He had already learned a great deal from the Jiang Family Patriarch—the Cangying Martial Arts Hall had been infiltrated by the Blood Demon Sect.

Nor did Xu Qing need to confirm anything. He just had to wait for his master, Du Cangying, and his senior sister, Du Luan, to return and take back control of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall. When that happened, the members of the Blood Demon Sect would naturally expose themselves.

「Late at night.」

Cangying Martial Arts Hall.

In a secret underground chamber.

“Why is Xu Qing back?”

Ye Langtian frowned.

“I don’t know either.” Huo Yi shrugged. “But it doesn’t matter. I’ve already given the Celestial Bridge Pill to Xu Qing. Faced with the temptation of breaking through to the Outer Gang Realm, he definitely won’t be able to resist taking it.”

“When the time comes, we’ll naturally be able to control him, so it’s a minor issue. After all this time developing our plans and preparing—and after getting rid of our other three junior brothers and sisters…”

“Besides that, most of the Elders in the Cangying Martial Arts Hall have reached the Dan Jin Realm but are stuck there for life, unable to reach the Outer Gang Realm. The Celestial Bridge Pill is their last hope. We’ve already gained control over a third of these Elders. They’ve all taken the Celestial Bridge Pill and reached the Outer Gang Realm.”

“Hahaha…”

Ye Langtian burst out laughing when he heard this. “Excellent, excellent! Well done!”