Last time, Long Xiao and Luan Jiping went to the capital, acting as her shield. After that, the Luan family no longer mentioned her marriage.
The Luan family had always wanted to rise in status and attach themselves to a prominent family; Long Xiao knew this. The Luan family wanted to use Luan Jiping as a bargaining chip; Long Xiao also knew this.
It was not surprising that the Luan family would find a fiancé for Luan Jiping again. Long Xiao suggested that Luan Jiping call and inquire.
If it were true, it would be up to Luan Jiping herself. If she wanted to marry, Long Xiao would not stop her. If she didn't want to marry, no one could force her.
Luan Jiping called her father and soon confirmed that it was true. After arguing with her father on the phone, she hung up.
This time, the Luan family was forming a marriage alliance with the Nangong family, a martial arts family. The effeminate young man was named Nangong Tianming, the grandson of Nangong Qinyu, the head of the Nangong family.
Long Xiao had interacted with the Nangong family more than once. This family collaborated with the Japanese, opening numerous companies and research institutions in China, essentially serving as a dog for the Japanese in China.
If Luan Jiping could find a suitable husband, Long Xiao would not object. However, Luan Jiping was about to marry someone from the Nangong family, which was a fiery pit. Long Xiao could not stand by and watch her jump into it.
Soon, Luan Jiping called Long Xiao, asking him to meet at a modern coffee shop.
A small table, two cups of coffee, and they sat facing each other.
"Brother, what should I do about this matter?" Luan Jiping asked.
"Sister, if you are willing to marry, I won't stop you. If you are unwilling, no one can force you."
A smile appeared on Luan Jiping's face, and she said, "With your words, I feel much more at ease. The Nangong family is just a dog for the Japanese. If I marry into the Nangong family, I might as well die."
Long Xiao knew that Luan Jiping had a strong and resolute personality. If she were truly forced to marry into the Nangong family, she would choose to commit suicide.
"Sister, don't worry. With me, Long Xiao, around, no one can force you."
Long Xiao agreed to help Luan Jiping, but he was unsure of himself. The Nangong family was a martial arts family, and their patriarch had already reached the Heavenly realm. If Luan Jiping were sent to the Nangong family, his current strength would be insufficient to save her.
To rapidly improve his strength, Long Xiao had to find enough Five Elements Qi.
Wood Qi was the Qi of life, present in all living things, so it was abundant. For Water Qi, there was "Ice Marrow," and Long Xiao could go to that cave at any time to absorb it.
What was currently lacking were Fire, Earth, and Metal Qi. As long as he found these three types of Qi, his strength would at least double, possibly even allowing him to enter the Heavenly realm.
Today was the first day of the lunar month. There were forty days until the tenth of next month. Finding the three types of Qi—Fire, Earth, and Metal—in forty days was harder than climbing to heaven.
Xiao Ming and Luo Tianshui could not help him in his search for Qi. They were not as sensitive to Qi as he was and could not sense the extremely pure Five Elements Qi.
He did not have enough time to do everything himself. He needed to enlist outside help to search for him.
Long Xiao thought and thought but could not come up with anyone who could assist him.
Just as he was feeling frustrated, Lin Wei called.
"Long Xiao, it's the first of the month. We've been waiting for you all morning. Why didn't you come?" Lin Wei said.
Hearing Lin Wei's call, Long Xiao remembered that it was the day for the monthly gathering of people from the Xuanxue world in Donghai.
He hurriedly called Xiao Ming, telling him to drive him to Xiuyu Manor.
Upon arriving at Xiuyu Manor, Lin Wei saw that Long Xiao looked very unhappy.
Yuan Nandou asked, "Long Xiao, were you delayed by something?"
Long Xiao nodded and said, "I've been too busy lately and forgot about it."
After apologizing to everyone, Long Xiao sat in his reserved seat. They discussed Xuan Shu for a while, but Long Xiao's mind was preoccupied with the Five Elements Qi, making him somewhat absent-minded.
"Long Xiao, are you troubled by something?" Lin Wei asked.
Long Xiao nodded and said, "I currently need a large amount of extremely pure Five Elements Qi. Such Qi is rare and cannot be sought after. Where can I find it?"
Seeing Long Xiao's distressed expression, Lin Wei chuckled and said, "Long Xiao, why didn't you say so earlier? I have a few friends in the Xuanxue world of China who specialize in studying Qi. I'll ask them; perhaps they know where to find some."
"Really? That's great! Grandfather, call them now," Long Xiao said happily.
Lin Wei took out his phone and contacted several people. Soon, there was news. Someone knew of an "Ice Marrow" in a cave in Sichuan Province, but it was guarded by a flood dragon, making it difficult to obtain.
After hearing Lin Wei's explanation, Long Xiao's spirits sank. He had been full of hope, only to hear about "Ice Marrow."
"Grandfather, I've seen that 'Ice Marrow.' I can get it anytime. What I need now is Earth, Fire, and Metal Five Elements Qi."
Lin Wei glared at Long Xiao and said, "Why didn't you say so earlier? You made me waste half a day's effort."
To help Long Xiao find the Five Elements Qi, the masters from the Donghai Xuanxue world present took out their phones and contacted Xuan Shu masters from all over China.
Soon, a large amount of information poured in. There were more than ten pieces of news about Earth, Fire, and Metal Qi.
Long Xiao recorded all the information and the names of the informants on his phone, and also obtained their phone numbers.
While there was a lot of information, not all of it was necessarily useful. To verify the truth of the news, one had to personally investigate.
Long Xiao was very touched by the help of so many people, so he decided to teach them how to draw the Heavenly Thunder Talisman as a token of his gratitude.
Xuanxue was inherently mysterious, and masters in the Xuan Shu world would treasure their knowledge, never sharing it with others.
When Long Xiao expressed his willingness to teach them a talisman, everyone became excited. They all promised to continue helping Long Xiao inquire about the Five Elements Qi and to notify him immediately if they found any useful information.
Yuan Nandou brought paper and a brush. Long Xiao explained and drew the talisman. After drawing a spiritual talisman, Long Xiao revealed the key to using the Heavenly Thunder Talisman: Qi.
To use the Heavenly Thunder Talisman, one must communicate their own Qi with the Qi of the Heavenly Thunder Talisman. Only then could one use the talisman's Qi to connect with the Qi of heaven and earth, condensing the power of thunder.
Those who had not cultivated Qi felt disappointed, but having learned to draw the Heavenly Thunder Talisman, they could use it once they developed their own Qi in the future.
Yuan Nandou was very powerful and had cultivated Qi in his youth. He drew a Heavenly Thunder Talisman according to Long Xiao's instructions, lit it, and threw it out.
With a loud bang, a small tree was struck and broken by heavenly thunder. Looking at the broken tree, Yuan Nandou jumped up with joy like a child.
Lin Wei had also cultivated Qi long ago, but he had not tested the Heavenly Thunder Talisman he drew.
He looked at Long Xiao with a strange gaze, thinking that the old fellows were right; Long Xiao's future was limitless. It seemed he would have to pay more attention to him and perhaps use him to destroy the Military Sword Tower.
When leaving Xiuyu Manor, Lin Wei also got into Xiao Ming's car.
On the way, Lin Wei asked, "Long Xiao, what are you in such a hurry to find the Five Elements Qi for?"
He couldn't tell the truth about this matter. Long Xiao looked at Lin Wei and said, "I've encountered some difficulties in my cultivation and need to find some extremely pure Five Elements Qi to resolve them."
Due to differences in cultivation techniques and methods, Lin Wei could not ask further questions about cultivation-related matters and did not press further.