Chapter 518: The Meng Family's Attack Methods

"This is the Scripture Pavilion, which contains all the books available on the market. Disciples are free to browse the first floor, but accessing the second floor and above requires completing missions to earn access."

The Five Elements Sect also has a Mission Hall. Unlike the Dao Inquiring Sect, where disciples can freely learn cultivation methods of their current realm once their cultivation level is sufficient, disciples of the Five Elements Sect must complete missions to learn desired cultivation methods. This system was established by the Five Elements Sect from its very beginning, based on the principle that "knowledge should not be lightly transmitted." Content that is too easily acquired tends to be undervalued; only achievements earned through effort are truly cherished.

"However, as guest disciples here to study at our Five Elements Sect, it's naturally not expected for you to contribute for exchanges. According to custom, each of you may choose one cultivation method. Should you desire more, you will then need to complete missions."

"This is the lecture hall. Afterward, an elder will teach you the 'General Principles of Five Elements,' a mandatory introductory course for every disciple of our sect. Of course, we won't force you to agree with our Five Elements Sect's theories; just listen, and feel free to ask the elder any questions you may have."

"This is the Martial Arts Hall, where disciples of our Five Elements Sect usually engage in sparring and contests."

On dozens of large arenas enhanced by formations, disciples in Five Elements Sect robes were performing Five Elements spells. Their fierce battles caused the platforms to tremble slightly, eliciting cheers from the disciples watching below. Even from a distance, Lu Yang could feel the air currents generated by the battles, causing his hair tips to flutter slightly.

The intense fighting on the arena left rubble scattered everywhere. A senior disciple from the Five Elements Sect pointed at the stones on the ground and fiercely commanded, "Turn Stone into Gold!" Each piece of stone transformed into glittering gold. The senior disciple then enveloped all the gold with his spiritual sense and cast another spell: "Spend a Fortune!" The glittering gold transformed into visible power, distorting space as countless golden energies, driven by the spell, surged towards the opponent!

"Is this the legendary spell that converts wealth into attacks?" Tao Yao Ye was greatly surprised, having thought this technique had long been lost. She was astonished to see a senior disciple perform it in the Five Elements Sect.

Bai Ming explained, "'Spend a Fortune' is a secret and immensely powerful spell of the Gold Vein. Senior Disciple Zhang has innovated further, linking the 'Turn Stone into Gold' spell with 'Spend a Fortune' to create a powerful spell combo."

"However, it does have a drawback: gold is, after all, a mundane substance of low value. Senior Disciple Zhang can only achieve the desired attack effect by sacrificing quantity for quality."

"What a clever idea," Lu Yang praised. Witnessing such ingenuity right after arriving at the Five Elements Sect suggested he would learn a great deal during his time there.

"Old Meng, do you want to learn this spell?" Lu Yang thought Meng Jingzhou was the most suitable for learning "Spend a Fortune." Given that gold, silver, jewels, and spirit stones could be converted into attacks, he wondered how powerful Meng Jingzhou would be if he cast it.

Meng Jingzhou frowned and shook his head, "Our Meng family also knows 'Spend a Fortune,' but our ancestral teachings forbid learning this spell; it's considered a forbidden technique."

"Why?" Lu Yang wondered.

"Can you imagine a scenario where a son, arguing fiercely with his father, uses 'Spend a Fortune' to deplete all of his father's spirit stones? That incident was brighter than New Year's fireworks. Imperial City was as bright as day in the middle of the night, and the noise was deafening. No one could sleep, and a crowd surrounded our Meng family home that night."

Usually, the Meng family offended people one by one, but that time, they offended the entire Imperial City in one go. The Meng family couldn't withstand so many people.

Lu Yang was speechless.

"If I ever go to Imperial City again, I'll definitely pretend not to know you, so I don't get beaten up without knowing who struck the blow."

Meng Jingzhou continued, "Besides, our Meng family possesses more sophisticated spells, so there's no need to learn this one."

"More sophisticated spells? What are they?" Lu Yang's curiosity grew. The Meng family's standing in Imperial City was akin to that of the Silent Daoist among all Integration stage cultivators; their enemies were so numerous it would be impossible to count them all. Yet, they had stood firm for a hundred thousand years, earning the title of the 'First Family,' which certainly proved the saying, "A menace endures for a myriad years."

"I don't understand the exact principles of the spell, but I can tell you how to use it. During a battle, you throw a large pile of spirit stones at your opponent. This transfers ownership of the spirit stones from the Meng family to the opponent. Then, you demand that the opponent return the spirit stones immediately. If they refuse, heavenly retribution will descend—a powerful lightning strike—and smite them dead!"

Lu Yang's expression was peculiar; why did this move sound so familiar?

"Oh, right, that heavenly retribution is called 'Debt Repayment Lightning'."

Lu Yang also found the name of this heavenly retribution quite familiar. He looked at Meng Jingzhou, then at Li Haoran, who was still watching the spectacle, completely unaware. Could Qin Haoran have borrowed money from the Meng family back then? Lu Yang ultimately chose not to mention it, so as not to jeopardize the camaraderie among his fellow disciples. This was his responsibility as the senior disciple.

Given that Li Haoran had inherited half of Qin Haoran's memories, either Li Haoran hadn't yet recalled who Qin Haoran had borrowed money from, or the Meng family had used a false identity to engage in illicit lending when the money was originally loaned. Never mind, so much time had passed, and Qin Haoran was already dead. The one who owed money now was Vice-Sect Master Shi. It was best to let the matter drop.

Bai Ming looked at Meng Jingzhou with a strange expression. "No wonder your Meng family has so many enemies," he remarked. "This fighting style alone is unscrupulous enough."

Meng Jingzhou argued convincingly, striving to uphold the Meng family's reputation. "What are you talking about?" he retorted. "This is a reasonable application of heavenly retribution. Is there anything wrong with utilizing natural laws? When has human progress not been about understanding and applying natural rules?"

Bai Ming then led the five to a scorching place. Flames occasionally shot up from the ground, and the temperature was alarmingly high. The earth beneath their feet had turned reddish, and they could feel the heat even through their boots. If they hadn't already reached the Golden Core stage, they would likely be dehydrated by then.

"This is the cultivation ground for the Fire Vein. Various true fires are nurtured beneath, making it ideal for cultivating fire-attribute techniques or for those with a fire spirit root, yielding twice the results with half the effort. Disciples can also comprehend the essence of true fire by observing the true fire flames and thereby master true fire. Fellow Daoist Li should feel this keenly."

Li Haoran felt it most intensely. After standing there for only a short while, his internal spiritual energy showed signs of boiling, and his cultivation method automatically began circulating, initiating his cultivation. As he possessed a fire spirit root, this place was perfectly suited for him.

"Can I cultivate here?" Li Haoran asked, feeling this place was a treasure land tailor-made for him.

Bai Ming wore a troubled expression and hesitantly asked, "Your master is Elder Zhou Xin, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"Does he possess many true fires?"

"Yes, my master's artifact forging room contains sealed true fires of various kinds. He can take them out to use whenever he wants to forge artifacts."

Lu Yang had also witnessed Fifth Elder forging artifacts; he used several types of true fires when refining the Underworld Moon Sword.

"Elder Zhou Xin obtained a few true fires from the Fire Vein elders, but the methods he used weren't entirely honorable. While the Fire Vein elders might not vent their anger on a junior, their disciples might not be so forgiving. I advise you not to cultivate here alone; it's not safe."

Li Haoran was speechless.