I'm in the Demonic Sect, but my cultivation techniques are being used for palace intrigue!

At this moment, Zhu Jingguang, who was standing at the end of the map, saw a relatively open area, and in the very center of this place stood a courtyard with its doors wide open.

At the entrance to this courtyard, two red lanterns were hanging.

Whenever a gentle breeze blows, the lanterns sway softly.

Clearly, this is the lantern that the Qi Refining Level 2 cultivator mentioned earlier.

However, as he gazed at the two red lanterns, Zhu Jingguang's eyes narrowed slightly, and he became secretly wary.

Zhu Jingguang could tell that the materials used in these two lanterns were not ordinary.

The lantern's frame appeared to be made from the bones of some kind of demonic beast, exuding a chilling aura, while the lampshade was sewn from an unknown red silk, embroidered with eerie runes in gold thread...

Of course, these are not the most important things. The most important thing is that Zhu Jingguang realized... there is a reason why these lanterns are hung here—clearly, these two red lanterns are nodes of some kind of formation!

After staring at the two red lanterns for a while, Zhu Jingguang turned his gaze to the courtyard.

Then, Zhu Jingguang saw a dozen or so cultivators dressed in various colored robes sitting in the courtyard!

Most of these people were shirtless, with various ferocious monster patterns tattooed on their bodies, and were eating meat and drinking wine in Zhao Shigang's courtyard.

Meanwhile, in the main seat, a man who appeared to be quite refined was drinking fine wine with great gusto.

The man was dressed in a moon-white long robe with exquisite cloud patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, and a folding fan was placed beside him.

If he weren't holding that huge wine jar in his hand right now, he would look like a scholar going to the capital for the imperial examination.

However, at this moment, he had one foot on a stool, tilted his head back and gulped down the wine in the jar. The wine dripped down his chin and soaked his clothes, but he didn't care at all. Instead, he let out a hearty laugh.

This person... is none other than Zhao Shigang!

At this moment, Zhu Jingguang, who had already reached the sixth level of Qi Refining, clearly sensed Zhao Shigang's unexpected cultivation level—the fifth level of Qi Refining!

"Um?"

  

When Zhu Jingguang sensed Zhao Shigang's cultivation at the fifth level of Qi Refining, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly. If he remembered correctly, this person's previous cultivation level seemed to be the same as that of Senior Sister Tan, at the fourth level of Qi Refining. However, he did not expect that in just a few days, the other party had actually broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refining!

With such cultivation, even among the outer sect disciples who rarely reach the late stage of Qi Refining or the peak of Qi Refining, he could barely be considered a notable figure.

In addition, the numerous cultivators gathered in his courtyard suggest that his connections and influence in the outer sect are even greater than Zhu Jingguang had previously estimated.

However, for Zhu Jingguang now, although the people in front of him are somewhat troublesome, they are not enough to make him feel afraid.

At the same time, Zhao Shigang, who happened to see Zhu Jingguang's face, was slightly taken aback. Clearly, he did not expect that Zhu Jingguang would come here to find him.

Zhao Shigang put down the wine jar in his hand, casually wiped the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

Zhao Shigang was actually wary of Zhu Jingguang. After all, the fact that someone with only a basic Qi Refining cultivation could kill Senior Sister Tan, who was at the fourth level of Qi Refining, made him seem suspicious.

However... Zhao Shigang had no intention of investigating these matters!

After all, he was very worried that he would follow in Senior Sister Tan's footsteps.

That is why, in his previous dealings with Zhu Jingguang, Zhao Shigang never considered cheating or rigging anything!

But... why did he come to see me today?

Zhao Shigang, who was very puzzled by this, immediately raised his hand to beckon two female cultivators at the third level of Qi Refining who were acting as greeters, and welcomed Zhu Jingguang into the courtyard as an ordinary guest.

These two female cultivators, who were serving as greeters, were only at the third level of Qi Refining, but they were quite beautiful and dressed rather provocatively. Their every move exuded a strong air of worldliness... Clearly, both of them had practiced the "Heavenly Demon Joyful Seal" but had cultivated the technique distorted!

"Please come with us, senior brother."

After bowing to Zhu Jingguang, the two greeters, with charming smiles, led him into the courtyard.

However, as Zhu Jingguang got closer, Zhao Shigang finally sensed that Zhu Jingguang seemed somewhat different now, and immediately stood up in surprise.

Previously, Zhao Shigang had two female cultivators greet Zhu Jingguang to welcome him in, because he didn't want Zhu Jingguang to attract too much attention. After all, no matter what methods Zhu Jingguang possessed, his current strength, that is, his own cultivation level, was simply too weak!

In this situation, if Zhao Shigang were to greet Zhu Jingguang in a high-profile manner, it wouldn't be welcoming him; it would be causing him trouble!

The shrewd and worldly-wise Zhao Shigang would never do something so annoying.

However, now that Zhao Shigang realized he couldn't quite see through Zhu Jingguang's cultivation level, he could no longer remain calm.

As Zhu Jingguang approached step by step, Zhao Shigang keenly sensed that Zhu Jingguang's aura... was becoming increasingly unfathomable!

Even though Zhu Jingguang was standing right in front of Zhao Shigang, he felt as if he were facing not a Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator, but a bottomless, icy pool... making him feel a chill just by looking at him!

This inability to see through the other party's cultivation level set off alarm bells in Zhao Shigang's mind:

"No... what exactly is going on?"

"How could his strength have suddenly increased to such an extent in just a few days?"

Even if he has broken through... he shouldn't be putting so much pressure on me!

"He was previously at the third level of Qi Refining, and even though he broke through these past few days, he's only at the fourth level. So why do I feel... a sense of insurmountable power?"

…………

Upon realizing that Zhu Jingguang was no longer the same person he used to be, Zhao Shigang immediately changed his initial attitude towards Zhu Jingguang.

Previously, he was worried about causing trouble for Zhu Jingguang, so he only sent two female cultivators to greet him. However, now that Zhu Jingguang has shown such strength, Zhao Shigang's attitude towards Zhu Jingguang naturally needs to be adjusted accordingly.

Zhao Shigang, who was the first to stand up, immediately greeted Zhu Jingguang with a loud laugh:

"Hahaha... Bro, what brings you here today?"

"Perfect timing! I'm just about to hold a small exchange auction here today. Since you're here, why don't you stay a little longer?"