Early in the morning, Lu Qing brought Xiao Yan and Xiao Li to the Halfway House.
They happened to see the Wei family's old ancestor there, while the old doctor was brewing tea under a plum tree.
"Greetings, Senior Wei," Lu Qing saluted.
"Good morning, Grandpa Wei," Xiao Yan also greeted politely.
"Good, good," Wei Shanhai smiled warmly. "By the way, Lu Xiaolangjun, the materials you asked me to find a few days ago have been gathered. I have placed them inside the house. You can check if there is anything missing later."
"All the materials have been gathered?"
Lu Qing was pleasantly surprised.
He went into the house to check and indeed found all the materials.
He hurried out to express his gratitude, "Thank you, Senior Wei, for gathering these materials. Please let me know how much it cost, and I will compensate you."
Lu Qing insisted a little more, but seeing Wei Shanhai's persistence, he had to give up.
"Then I will thick-skinnedly accept them."
"That's the right attitude. But I'm also quite curious, Lu Xiaolangjun, some of the materials you asked for are quite peculiar. What are they for?" Wei Shanhai asked.
"I'm planning to experiment with something. As for the specifics, I hope Senior Wei can allow me to keep it a secret for now. I will explain everything once it's successful."
"Haha, then I will eagerly await it."
Seeing that Lu Qing was not willing to reveal more, Wei Shanhai wasn't angry but became even more expectant.
Last time, Lu Qing asked their Wei family to find materials, which he used to make a mysterious flaming liquid. With that, he forged a rare divine weapon.
This time, the materials Lu Qing requested were even more peculiar, so what he planned to experiment with must be extraordinary.
He was very much looking forward to it.
"Here, Wei Laozhang, have some tea."
At this time, the old doctor had finished brewing tea.
Xiao Yan sensibly took Xiao Li to the study to read.
Lu Qing also sat down to chat with the two elders.
"Good tea!" Wei Shanhai took a sip and praised, "Old doctor, your plum tea always has a unique taste. Your tea-brewing skills are truly remarkable."
"It's just that this plum tree is special. My tea-brewing skills are quite ordinary," the old doctor laughed.
Although Wei Shanhai knew this was modesty, he couldn't help but nod.
He looked at the plum tree behind the old doctor with some envy.
This plum tree had been nourished by the liquid of heaven and earth's spiritual energy and had long mutated into a rare treasure tree.
He regretted that when he reached the Precelestial Realm, he hadn't thought of this.
If he had sought a good tea tree to break through at that time, he would also have a treasure tea now.
However, Wei Shanhai knew he was just daydreaming.
Back then, when he saw the opportunity to break through, he was ecstatic and forgot everything else, only focusing on the breakthrough, afraid of missing the chance.
How could he have thought so far ahead and made such elaborate arrangements?
After drinking several cups of tea, the conversation grew lively.
"By the way, Lu Xiaolangjun, many of the materials you needed were bought from the state capital. Yesterday, the steward who escorted the materials brought some news about recent major events."
"Oh, what interesting news?" Lu Qing asked with interest.
Nowadays, with the changes in heaven and earth imminent, he was very concerned about the world's movements.
"The first major event is from Jizhou. In the past few months, a very powerful demon has appeared there, who likes to hunt down martial arts experts.
This demon seems to practice some kind of demonic skill that can absorb a person's blood and marrow, extremely tyrannical and terrifying.
Every martial artist he kills is drained of blood and marrow, looking like a dried corpse, very frightening.
And this demon seems to specifically target young, talented martial artists.
So far, dozens of young martial artists have fallen victim to him, many of whom are disciples of sects in Jizhou, including some at the Internal Organs Realm.
This matter has caused an uproar in Jizhou, and the major sects have already sent experts to kill this demon to avenge their disciples."
"Is there such a thing?"
The old doctor and Lu Qing were both shocked.
Especially Lu Qing, who thought of some unpleasant things from the description of those martial artists' deaths.
"This matter is absolutely true. Nowadays, people in Jizhou are very fearful, and many young martial artists dare not travel outside, afraid of encountering this demon and becoming his prey," Wei Shanhai said seriously.
Lu Qing thought for a moment, "Senior Wei, I remember your eldest son is learning martial arts in Jizhou. Isn't that..."
"No need to worry. Haor has been traveling in Zhongzhou with a few of his fellow disciples for half a year, not in Jizhou."
Hearing this, Wei Shanhai was also somewhat relieved.
Otherwise, given the demon's cruelty, he wouldn't have been sure that Wei Zihao wouldn't fall victim.
The old doctor pondered and asked, "Can absorb blood and marrow, could that demon be a demonic cultivator at the Precelestial Realm?"
"I don't know, but I think not," Wei Shanhai shook his head.
"For the past thousand years, since the establishment of the Sacred Mountain, demonic cultivation has been in decline. It's been a long time since a Precelestial demonic cultivator appeared. If this demon were really at the Precelestial Realm, the Sacred Mountain would have taken action."
"If not a Precelestial demonic cultivator, the Sacred Mountain won't take action?" Lu Qing asked.
"That's right. The Sacred Mountain's status is so high that it can't possibly manage everything.
Except for some principled prohibitions, it won't intervene in fights below the Precelestial Realm.
Even wars involving hundreds of thousands, it would just observe and remain indifferent.
If that demon hasn't reached the Precelestial Realm, the Sacred Mountain would probably still do nothing.
After all, the world is vast, and martial artists are countless. The deaths of dozens of young martial artists may be a big deal in Jizhou, but looking at the whole world, it's not much."
Lu Qing pondered these words, gaining a deeper understanding of the Sacred Mountain's stance.
"If the demon only wreaks havoc in Jizhou, it's still fine," Wei Shanhai continued.
"I'm worried that now the major sects in Jizhou have sent experts to eliminate the demon. If the demon sees things going badly and flees to our Cangzhou, it will be troublesome.
For instance, Lu Xiaolangjun, you must be extremely careful. The demon likes to target young, talented martial artists and might come for you.
Demonic cultivators have strange skills, very different from our martial arts. You must be extra cautious."
The old doctor also said seriously, "That's right, Ah Qing, you must be careful."
Lu Qing was on the Hidden Dragon List, a true peerless genius.
According to the demon's pattern, if he fled to Cangzhou, Wei Shanhai's worry was not unfounded.
"Yes, I will be careful," Lu Qing replied earnestly.
Although he was confident, he didn't think there was no one in the world who could harm him.
According to Wei Shanhai, if the demon's skills were what he suspected, he really couldn't be careless.
"Besides the matter in Jizhou, there's another major event."
Seeing that Lu Qing had taken the warning to heart, Wei Shanhai continued chatting.
"But this event happened in our Cangzhou, just in the past two days."