Chapter 596: The Art of Disguise |
"All right, follow me."
Li Xinlian nodded, then prepared to leave.
Ning Qi stood to the side, not knowing what to do.
"Lian'er, take Young Master Ning to rest."
Soon Li Xinlian's reminder came again.
"Yes!"
A maid approached with graceful steps.
She respectfully waved lightly at Ning Qi, "Young Master Ning, this way please."
"Okay."
She led Ning Qi through the corridor but did not go up to the pavilion.
Instead, she stopped at the side of the bamboo building.
This was also a chamber made of bamboo.
"Young Master Ning, rest here."
"Master and the others should have gone into the Pocket Dimension."
"In there, time can be controlled."
"With the formation's blessing, their five hours inside will be about one hour out here."
The maid explained to Ning Qi.
"Oh? This is a time-compression formation?"
Hearing her, Ning Qi immediately understood.
"Yes, this formation was set up by my master. It's an outdated formation."
The maid nodded, then continued, "Young Master Ning, just rest. It should be done in about an hour."
"Okay! Thank you."
Ning Qi nodded, then went straight into the chamber.
"Master, this formation is also on our Alchemy Furnace, it was just destroyed by Wei Xian and the others."
The Pill Spirit said helplessly from Ning Qi's dantian, "At the time I hadn't fully awakened, I couldn't stop them."
"Mm, I've heard that alchemists who refine pills also know this formation."
"And master weaponsmiths can also use it."
Ning Qi nodded and added, "Too bad, this formation is usually very difficult to set up."
"Some cultivators who pursue extremes also hire experts to set up this kind of formation space."
"Yes, but it's a pity these formation spaces are too cumbersome to arrange."
The Pill Spirit nodded, then said, "We don't have that necessity."
"Hmm, I wonder how Lei Shan and the others will arrange things tomorrow."
The Pill Spirit suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but say, "We can't have them go confront Miss Xu's people, can we?"
"That depends on the situation."
"If we disguise ourselves, no one will recognize us."
Ning Qi agreed, then looked out through the chamber window.
Night deepened, and now and then the calls of birds and beasts could be heard.
They filled the night with vitality.
"Master, do you think we're betraying Miss Xu by doing this?"
"We clearly said we'd depart with her, now we're leaving with the Demonic Race's people."
The Pill Spirit recalled this and couldn't help but warn.
"It doesn't matter to me."
Ning Qi said carelessly, "As long as it improves my strength. If those people die, that's not my problem."
"Don't forget, we've been hunted by Immortal Realm folks so many times."
"Yeah, I almost forgot."
The Pill Spirit nodded, then continued, "Then we can only warn Miss Xu and protect her."
"As for the others, they can fend for themselves."
"Exactly."
Ning Qi agreed and said nothing more.
He sat on the bed and began to regulate his breath.
After a while, he gradually heard movement from the pavilion.
"Master, they seem to have come down."
The Pill Spirit sensed the movement too, then flashed back into Ning Qi's dantian.
"Yes, it should be finished."
Ning Qi nodded, then pushed the door open.
After some casual chatting and his breathing exercise, an hour passed quickly.
When Ning Qi came into the courtyard, he saw several people coming out of the bamboo building.
"Young Master Ning, it's been refined for you."
Zhao Zhirou came out and walked up to Ning Qi.
"Oh, thank you."
Ning Qi replied hurriedly to express his gratitude.
"Here, keep it safe."
Li Xinlian waved her hand and handed a brocade box to Ning Qi.
"Thank you, senior."
Ning Qi caught it with both hands and examined the soul blood inside.
He found that the soul blood had indeed changed.
"You can fuse with it now. My master is here and can help you adapt."
Zhao Zhirou looked at Ning Qi and smiled as she said this.
"Fine, I'll try."
Ning Qi heard this and directly opened the brocade box.
"Whew."
An immense life force surged out, and a green glow enveloped him.
"This is....."
Ning Qi looked at the light and the drop of soul blood in the brocade box, puzzled.
"Master, why do I feel this is more like a pill?"
The Pill Spirit in his dantian also sensed the power and peculiarity of the soul blood.
"I feel the same."
Ning Qi mentally responded to the Pill Spirit.
"This disguise technique can change a thousand ways. It's actually combined with alchemy."
"This is actually a Thousand-Faced Pill."
Seeing his confusion, Li Xinlian smiled and explained, "Once you take it, you just need to refine it."
"I also have a set of mind-methods. After you refine the pill and combine it with this mind-method, you can change into anyone at will."
"Senior, I'll try it now."
Ning Qi nodded, no longer hesitating, and swallowed the pill in one gulp.
When the pill entered his mouth it immediately merged into his meridians.
It turned into countless stars that fused tightly with every inch of his skin and flesh.
At the same time, Ning Qi could feel the pill's power integrating completely with his organs and soul.
To be precise, it merged into them. When Ning Qi tried to mobilize the medicinal power, with just an intention the starlike medicinal energy began to respond to his control, causing changes inside his body, even his soul started to alter.
"Good, excellent, it fully integrated."
Li Xinlian praised, then continued, "Take this disguise mind-method too and cultivate it well."
"Thank you, senior."
Ning Qi thanked her and carefully stored the mind-method.
"Refine it in this chamber tonight, don't waste time."
Li Xinlian pointed to the adjacent chamber and said to Ning Qi, "If you don't understand something here, I can instruct you a little."
"Then I'll trouble you."
Ning Qi didn't decline and accepted.
"I'll stay too!"
Zhao Zhirou, hearing he'd stay, also planned to remain.
Clearly she wanted to see the pill's power as well.
"Okay, you can stay, but don't disturb him."
Li Xinlian nodded, then reminded sternly.
"Master, don't worry. How would I disturb him?"
Zhao Zhirou shrugged, "I'm just thinking I can guide him tomorrow."
"All right, it's getting late. Hurry and refine!"
Li Xinlian nodded, then gestured for Ning Qi to return.
"Yes, senior!"
Ning Qi replied respectfully, then went back to his chamber.
Once back, he earnestly began studying the disguise mind-method.
"Master, do you think this is useful? I feel something's off!"
The Pill Spirit had come out and sat on Ning Qi's shoulder, also reading the mind-method with him.
"I think it's fine, stop guessing and rest properly."
Ning Qi rolled his eyes at him, then continued studying the mind-method.
Night hours passed quickly.
By morning Ning Qi had fallen into a deep sleep.
"Master, it's not early, get up."
The Pill Spirit came and woke him.
"Oh? So soon? I feel like I just lay down."
Ning Qi yawned and woke from bed.
He looked at the sky outside.
It was indeed daylight, still that hazy morning kind of light, clearly not long after dawn.
"Yes, Master, people outside are already up. I worried they would come to call you."
The Pill Spirit explained after seeing him awake.
"Mm, fine. Let's go out and see."
Ning Qi nodded and went out.
He had just stepped into the courtyard when he saw Zhao Zhirou walking out as well.
"Young Master Ning, how's the mind-method training?"
Zhao Zhirou saw him and came over smiling to ask.
"Pretty good. I can change at will now."
Ning Qi smiled and said casually.
"Oh? So soon? Then change into someone for me to see."
Hearing this, Zhao Zhirou immediately became interested.
"Okay, I'll change into Brother Lei's appearance."
Ning Qi nodded and began altering his looks.
At first the change was slow, but with Ning Qi's control, his figure and appearance shifted.
Zhao Zhirou looked at him as if a different person stood before her and couldn't help clapping.
"How is it?"
When Ning Qi completely became Lei Shan, he smiled and asked.
"Not bad, truly impressive. If I hadn't known, I wouldn't be able to tell who you were."
Zhao Zhirou appraised him and said, "Let me sense your aura."
"All right!"
Ning Qi did not hesitate, and released an aura.
"Nice, even the aura matches Lei Shan's exactly."
"And sensing your soul, they can't detect your original self."
Zhao Zhirou nodded in satisfaction and added, "Really good, you have talent."
"It's not my talent, it's your master's pill that's so powerful."
Ning Qi shook his head and did not attribute it to his own talent.
In truth he did have high talent; an ordinary person couldn't master the mind-method so perfectly in one night.
"Still, it's because you have talent!"
"I've taken her pill too, but not this fast!"
Zhao Zhirou shook her head and continued, "All right, let's find Lei Shan and see what's planned for today."
"Oh? Don't you need to inform your master?"
Ning Qi suddenly remembered and asked.
"No need, she already left early."
Zhao Zhirou shook her head, then gestured to him, "Come with me."
"Left early?"
Hearing this, Ning Qi frowned.
"Yes, she went out with my father."
Zhao Zhirou nodded and called again, "Okay, let's go see what they arranged."
"Okay, let's go."
Hearing she left with Zhao Yunze, Ning Qi relaxed.
Otherwise he would have doubted Li Xinlian's motives.
After he agreed, the two left and headed to the Zhao Family residence.
When they arrived at the residence, they saw Lei Shan waiting in the rear garden.
"Brother Lei!"
Seeing him from a distance, Ning Qi called out.
"Brother Ning, you're back."
Lei Shan turned when he heard his name.
Seeing Ning Qi return, he hurried over and examined him, "Not bad, it's exactly like me."
"Exactly. If you can change at will like this, I'd be suspicious I'm the fake."
"Of course it can."
Ning Qi nodded, then flashed.
He shifted from Lei Shan's appearance back to his own.
Everything returned as if nothing had happened.
"Amazing, Miss, your master is divine!"
Lei Shan praised enthusiastically.
"Of course!"
Zhao Zhirou said proudly, "My master's disguise skill is unmatched in the world."
"By the way, where's your master?"
Lei Shan suddenly remembered and asked.
"She left early with my father."
Zhao Zhirou responded, then added, "You all discuss these two days' actions."
"So no one ends up being watched without knowing."
"Since Brother Ning has taken on my appearance, I should disguise myself too."
"Otherwise if they find two of me, that'll be troublesome."
Lei Shan responded first, "Then you come with me to the entrance and we'll discuss the next strategy."
"Fine, let's depart."
Ning Qi nodded and prepared to leave with him.
"Aren't you in a hurry to act?"
Zhao Zhirou hurriedly asked as they were about to go.
Clearly she wanted to tag along.
"Miss, this operation is dangerous. Be careful and don't go."
"If anything happens, it's hard for our Clan Leader to explain!"
Lei Shan turned and spoke seriously.
"You think I'll hold you back?"
Zhao Zhirou said angrily, "I couldn't care less!"
After saying that she turned and left.
"Ignore her, let's go!"
Lei Shan shook his head, then invited Ning Qi to leave with him.
"Okay!"
Ning Qi agreed and followed.
They took the same route as yesterday toward the formation at the entrance.
Along the way, people occasionally greeted Ning Qi.
Following Lei Shan's advice, Ning Qi greeted them back.
They finally reached the entrance they had used yesterday.
By then a number of people were waiting there.
They were clearly Lei Shan's trusted men.
"Commander Lei, Young Master Ning!"
When the crowd saw them come out, they came over to greet.