Having said all that, Li Guanqi asked with some curiosity, "Brother Sun, why does it seem to me that the cultivation methods of your Ancient Clans... circulate in such a violent manner?"
Sun Zhen smiled at the question. It was hardly a secret; anyone who had fought a few times with cultivators of the Ancient Clans could basically sense it.
"Our Ancient Clans' cultivation methods are just like that. The techniques created in the past weren't refined; in fact, they were rather crude.
"That's why most cultivators of the Ancient Clans practice dual cultivation of spirit and martial paths. Only when their physical bodies reach a certain realm can they withstand that kind of violent circulation."
Li Guanqi fell into deep, contemplative thought upon hearing this.
Though their method demanded extraordinary resilience from one's meridians, this way of circulating primal energy could drastically accelerate its flow, making it far swifter and far more violent.
On second thought, Li Guanqi knew his own physical constitution went without saying, and the meridians within him were exceptionally tough.
If he could alter the circulation method of the Primordial Void Refinement Art, wouldn't he be able to channel his primal energy even faster?
Sun Zhen evidently guessed what Li Guanqi was thinking, and he actually proceeded to lay out the key precautions one by one.
"You've told me so much. Won't your clan elders blame you?"
Sun Zhen chuckled. "Then aren't you going to share a cup of wine with me?"
"Hahahaha, of course! Drink we shall!"
*Clink.*
Sun Zhen's low voice sounded slowly. "Actually, sometimes I really envy you."
"Oh? Why do you say that?"
The young man slowly lifted his head, gazing out the window at the low-hanging clouds as he laughed self-deprecatingly.
"Take the matter of the Liu clan. If it were me...
"I couldn't have done it. My family would have weighed the pros and cons until the matter was swept under the rug, or used it to squeeze the greatest possible benefit for the clan."
At this point, he glanced at Li Guanqi and said with utter sincerity, "You see, there's not a shred of freedom in living like that.
"As a sword cultivator, I can't even speak of drawing my sword without cowering and hesitating."
Perhaps reminded of something, Sun Zhen kept his head down and drank in moody silence.
Li Guanqi smiled. "Simple. Sever your ties with your clan and roam freely between heaven and earth on your own.
"Since the clan gives you nothing but constraints, cut through those shackles and soar through the Great Void."
Sun Zhen's eyes lit up brilliantly as he looked at Li Guanqi, but immediately afterward, the light in them dimmed again.
"We'll see... Drink."
That night, the two drank a great deal of wine. Li Guanqi listened as he rambled on about many vexing troubles, and also learned several things about the Ancient Clans from him.
Ancient Clan, Ancient Recluse, Brahma Recluse...
These three designations corresponded to a rigid hierarchy within the Ancient Clans, from bottom to top.
If what Sun Zhen said was true, the lofty Brahma Recluse-level clans were utterly mysterious and wielded unfathomable power.
Factions of that caliber were entities Li Guanqi had never even heard of.
Yet, while Li Guanqi and Sun Zhen were drinking, inside a blood-red hall in the Seventh Domain...
A man whose entire body was pierced through by dozens of chains was submerged in a pool of blood.
The blood pool churned, gurgling and bubbling.
Youming gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot!
His flesh was ulcerated all over, and even his divine soul suffered the relentless agony of soul-devouring torment every passing moment!
Beside the blood pool, in the gloom of the dark hall, stood seven figures of varying heights and builds.
Long Hou, clad in golden armor, leaned against a stone pillar. Beneath his golden helmet was a resolute face.
Watching Youming tremble and let out low, ceaseless growls, Long Hou sneered.
"You brought this on yourself. Knowing full well how much the Domain Lord dotes on his grandson, you still dared to pull a stunt like this."
With that, he raised a hand and sent a ray of golden light shooting into the pool of blood.
"Aaargh! *Cough, cough!*"
As the golden light poured in, the pool instantly boiled violently, bursting blood bubbles splattering in all directions.
Youming's agonizing screams echoed throughout the hall.
The other six figures watched coldly, and someone even let out a sneer.
"My, my, how did our Youming Blood Venerable end up so pathetic?"
A man's mocking voice drifted over, dripping with schadenfreude.
Youming snapped his head up to glare at him. The man curled his lip and sneered.
"Keep looking at me like that, and I'm afraid I won't be able to resist killing you..."
Nearby, sensing the murderous intent surging from the man, Long Hou furrowed his brows slightly.
Turning toward the figure in the darkness, he barked in a deep voice, "Enough, Chankongzi!"
A cold glint flashed in the handsome man's eyes as he looked at Youming, yet upon hearing Long Hou's words, he reined in his murderous aura.
Cupping his hands toward Long Hou, he bowed his head and murmured, "Understood, Long Hou."
The others remained concealed in the shadows, their features obscured, yet it was obvious they all feared the golden-armored man.
Long Hou stepped slowly toward the pool of blood. The vast pool parted on its own down the middle, as if shrinking back.
Walking up to Youming, Long Hou looked coldly upon the tortured, barely human figure and spoke in an even voice.
"Remember this: if there is a next time... I won't hesitate to kill you with my own hands."
His calm tone made it sound as though he were discussing something of utter insignificance.
Youming's pupils trembled, and he nodded in submission.
Afterward, Long Hou led the other six out of Youming's quarters.
Along the way, Long Hou said in a deep voice, "Regarding the Sha organization, the six of you will each take charge of one domain!"
Dressed in a white robe, Chankongzi held one hand behind his back while lightly fanning a folding fan with the other, the corners of his lips curving upward.
"That organization... doesn't seem simple. To what extent should we take it?"
A glint of cold light flashed in Long Hou's eyes, and he spat out two heavy words:
"Purge them!"
At these words, the expressions of the figures beside him stiffened. One after another, they bowed to Long Hou before vanishing into the shadows.
Inside the pitch-black hall, only the ceaseless popping of blood bubbles could be heard.
His hair disheveled, a manic gleam flickered in Youming's eyes.
With inexplicable excitement rising in his heart, he whispered, "Fun... this is so much fun!"
"Lord Domain Lord... just why do you value him so much?"
Gradually, only Youming's pained, low growls remained in the dark, gloomy hall.
In truth, Li Guanqi had suspected that matter himself, for he felt too many details were suspicious.
After all, such affairs were usually kept under wraps, yet back then, Liu Yunxuan in the shadow-casting stone had appeared on the verge of madness.
It was as though he had been deliberately displaying something for the world to see, or rather...
Deliberately displaying it for him to see.
Looking at Sun Zhen before him, Li Guanqi suddenly curled his lips into a genial smile.
"Brother Sun, do you happen to have any decent swords on you?"
His eyes bleary with drink, Sun Zhen looked at Li Guanqi and promptly dumped every dharma artifact longsword from his storage ring.
A full six or seven longswords appeared, gleaming with vibrant light.
"Got 'em! More than enough! They're all right here, Brother Li—take your pick!
"I fucking admire you so much!
"Admire..."
*Thud!*
Li Guanqi curled his lip and swept all the swords away. Even though none caught his fancy...
Still, only an idiot would pass up a free handout.
"Tsk, can't hold his liquor at all."
Chapter 657