Chapter 387: Unveiling the Qi Refiners

Zhai Jia couldn’t help but stare. “Whoa, that powerful? Doesn’t that make the Five Elders Association a bunch of local emperors? Damn, that’s sweet… How do you even join the Five Elders Association? If the three of us got in, wouldn’t we be ruling our own turf in minutes?”

Zhai Yu fought the urge to roll his eyes at him. “You’re not even a Qi Refiner. Keep dreaming.”

“Just thinking, it’s not like it’s against the law. Who knows, maybe we’ll get the chance someday,” Zhai Jia chuckled.

Zhai Yu had no time to entertain his jokes. He looked at Wan Ze and asked seriously, “This business about them hunting down those in the know… Do they have their own intelligence network?”

“…I’m not sure what methods they have, either. Whether they use special means in Huangliang or… have intelligence channels in the real world. As far as I know, most Qi Refiners in the real world hide their identities…” Wan Ze’s voice dropped. “So what we’ve talked about tonight, you absolutely, under no circumstances, can tell anyone. Don’t say a word. Keep it buried in your hearts. I’m telling you this just so you’re mentally prepared. Of course, if you two don’t plan on entering this world, I’ll never bring it up again after tonight.”

“Bullshit! There’s no way Brother Yu and I would just sit back and do nothing,” Zhai Jia said, then chuckled lightly. “Qi Refiners are human, too, not some immortal gods. Otherwise, this world would’ve been fucking taken over by them ages ago. We’re in the startup phase, so we’ve got to lay low a bit. Don’t worry, Brother Yu and I know what we’re doing.”

Zhai Yu also nodded. “Ah Ze, you can rest assured on that point. Don’t have any reservations. We’re your martial brothers; we’d never just stand by and watch.”

The car fell silent.

Wan Ze nodded and said earnestly, “Thanks, Brother Yu, Brother Jia.”

“Thanks for what? We’re brothers; no need to be so polite. But Ah Ze… if there’s really a way to live longer, you have to teach me.”

Zhai Jia laughed, then shot him an eager look.

Wan Ze nodded. “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t keep it to myself.”

Zhai Jia started chuckling. “Immortality might be out of reach, but if I can really live for a thousand years or so, I’d call that a win.”

“What are you trying to be, an old monster?” Zhai Yu said, exasperated.

“Who wants to die young? If I can live a long life, I’m gonna take it,” Zhai Jia said with a shameless grin.

After about five seconds, Zhai Yu spoke again. “Ah Ze, are you a Qi Refiner now?”

Wan Ze slowly nodded. “Sort of.”

He paused, then gave a wry smile. “My situation is complicated right now… I’m basically a Loose Cultivator. The lineage behind me is likely broken; in any case, I’m the only one left. In Huangliang, being a Loose Cultivator means you have the lowest possible status. In Huangliang, with no Sect, no backing, and no resources, you have to rely on yourself for everything… It’s hard to go it alone. You never know when you might get targeted, killed, and robbed.”

Zhai Jia was stunned to hear this.

‘In his mind, Ah Ze’s talent and strength in the Martial Dao were already top-tier among his peers. If even someone like him had the “lowest status” in Huangliang, then just what kind of people were in there?’

But then…

“Loose Cultivators are cool! There are no restrictions. Weren’t all the founding patriarchs Loose Cultivators? Ah Ze, I believe in you. Let’s start our own Sect! We’ll swallow up the Five Elders Association eventually!”

Wan Ze didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Zhai Yu became thoughtful. “So it’s not easy for you in there right now.”

Wan Ze nodded with a smile, but added, “I’ve gotten to know an older guy in there, and I’m running with him for now. He’s a pretty cautious person, so I haven’t mentioned you two to him yet. I’m waiting for the right time to see if the Sect behind him might offer an opportunity.”

Zhai Jia jolted slightly.

Unable to contain himself, he blurted out, “Holy shit. Ah Ze, are you serious?”

Wan Ze nodded. “It’s true. But this path… is much harder than the Martial Dao. So it wouldn’t be bad to join that older brother’s faction. We’d all be on the same side, and some things would be easier to talk about and arrange.”

“But Ah Ze, don’t you plan on joining the Sect behind that guy?” Zhai Jia asked curiously.

Wan Ze shook his head. “I asked. To join their Sect, you have to use the Dissipation Skill… Otherwise, I would have passed my Breathing Technique on to you two long ago.”

Zhai Jia opened his mouth, then closed it. ‘I might as well just stick with Wan Ze,’ he thought. ‘Good brothers have to stick together.’

‘But one wrong step in a godforsaken place like Huangliang could lead to a miserable death. He knew he couldn’t just act on impulse.’

“Don’t worry,” Zhai Yu said with a nod. “If there’s anything you need us to do, just say the word.”

Wan Ze smiled and took the initiative to explain, “The reason I’m so interested in antiques is because I have a way to use them to determine which ones are related to Huangliang.”

It suddenly dawned on Zhai Jia. No wonder Ah Ze kept bringing it up. He was investigating in secret.

Wan Ze looked at the two of them and suddenly said, “I wonder if you’ve noticed a certain detail.”

“What is it?”

“Magic from Huangliang can’t be cast in the real world. But in the real world, I’m able to perceive a special kind of fluctuation from some antiques.”

Zhai Yu fell into thought.

Zhai Jia got excited. “Holy shit! You’re right! Doesn’t that mean the two worlds are still connected? It’s just that for some unknown reason, you can’t use Magic in reality right now… but what about later? What if that restriction is lifted?”

His words came faster and faster as he suddenly looked at Wan Ze. “What if—and I’m just saying what if—one day, the Elegant Scholars can use their Magic in the real world? Wouldn’t that mean our path as Martial Artists would be completely trampled into the dirt?!”

Zhai Yu’s expression also grew solemn.

‘If that day really comes, you could practice your Fist Technique for thirty years, only for someone to immobilize you with a single spell.’

‘What would be the point of practicing then?’

He agreed with Zhai Jia’s assessment.

However, he wasn’t as worked up as Zhai Jia.