Chapter 456: Chapter 231: Kings Never Meet! Clash of Two Great Inner Core Techniques

Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance Headquarters.

President’s Office.

The clock hanging on the big white wall ticked away, and the time was almost noon.

The tea in Lou Hechuan’s cup had already gone cold, with not a trace of steam left rising from it.

At this moment, the president of the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance Headquarters no longer had any desire to drink tea. All his attention was focused on the two young people before him from the Divine Power Association.

Song Yunqi casually flipped through the files in his hand.

Ji Haisan sat with an air of calm detachment, eyes closed in repose, as if in this world, except for cultivation, nothing else was worth his effort or the depletion of his vitality.

It had to be said, these two young people from the Divine Power Association were outstanding in the art of qi cultivation, sitting upright, unmoved like a mountain before the wind.

"As expected of talents produced by the Daoist Alliance Headquarters." Lou Hechuan could not help but sigh in admiration.

Even this bearing alone outshined all the other juniors of the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance.

Thinking of this, Lou Hechuan couldn’t help but recall Hua Yanqiu, who had just left. He glanced up at the clock on the wall, then turned to look out the window.

The main gate of the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance was within sight, yet no one entered.

"Elder Lou, are you worried about my junior sister?"

Song Yunqi suddenly spoke, not even lifting his head, as though his attention remained on the file in his hands.

"Zhang Fan is not a suspect, after all, and he is a disciple of Zhenwu Mountain, with many past dealings with our Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance. I just fear that the young ones may act rashly..."

Lou Hechuan spoke softly, but his implication was clear.

Zhang Fan is no ordinary figure. The ones sent from above may be overbearing, and should conflict arise, it would not look well for anyone.

"Elder Lou, do rest assured. So long as he cooperates, my junior sister will know restraint..."

Song Yunqi smiled lightly, placing the file down in front of him, his eyes sharpening as his tone shifted.

"Of course, if he won’t cooperate, you can also rest assured—my junior sister’s hand is measured. She’ll be able to bring Zhang Fan back without harming him."

At these words, Lou Hechuan’s brows lifted. He could naturally sense the quiet confidence in those words.

"You should know..."

"Let alone that Zhang Fan only seems to be at High Skill; even if he truly was High Skill, he is still no match for my junior sister." Song Yunqi’s words allowed no contradiction, each syllable firm as iron.

"Within this generation of disciples at White Crane Temple, my junior sister stands head and shoulders above the rest. At a young age, she’s already realized the High-level Realm, and her awakened divine technique is extraordinary—even Junior Brother Venus has guided her in person."

"Li Changgeng!?" Lou Hechuan’s gaze darkened, instantly catching onto the name.

Much like Zhang Fan, this name remained unremarked in the mundane world of the Daoist sect, but among the higher echelons of every mountain and sect, it was already deeply etched into memory.

They vaguely knew that in this generation at White Crane Temple, a prodigy had emerged—one who, at a young age, mastered Heaven and Earth Stealing Fortune, among the Nine Great Inner Elixir Methods.

"I heard Li Changgeng’s cultivation is only at High Skill, though?" Lou Hechuan said blandly.

His gaze was piercing; he could clearly see that the investigators from the Divine Power Association were no ordinary youths.

Hua Yanqiu had reached the High-level Realm, while Song Yunqi and Ji Haisan had already entered the Mahayana Realm.

Such achievements seemed even more remarkable than the legendary Li Changgeng.

"Elder Lou, you may not understand. Heaven and Earth Stealing Fortune seizes creation itself—no longer a mere mortal profound skill. Because of this, it’s shadowed by heavy tribulation. Every so often, Junior Brother Venus must sever himself."

"Sever himself!?" Lou Hechuan’s expression shifted ever so slightly.

Though he held the esteemed post of Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance President, this legendary Inner Core Technique, Heaven and Earth Stealing Fortune, was something he knew little of. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Heaven’s way is to diminish the surplus and replenish the lacking... The root of the issue is that this Profound Skill is far too domineering, inviting the Heavens’ jealousy. To forcibly grasp the fate of heaven and earth—if one does not sever themselves, Heaven will slay, and Earth will punish..."

"This is the tribulation of cultivating Heaven and Earth Stealing Fortune. Each act of self-severance is a rebirth, treading the same path again, becoming ever stronger."

Hearing this, Lou Hechuan was deeply affected, falling into silence.

Song Yunqi watched Lou Hechuan, who had lapsed into contemplation, a subtle meaning showing in his half-smile.

"Elder Lou may wonder why I would reveal such secrets—this is perhaps Junior Brother Venus’s greatest weakness."

"You speak so recklessly; you truly shouldn’t." Lou Hechuan’s tone was grave.

If someone with ill intent learned of such a weakness, it would spell life-and-death catastrophe for Li Changgeng.

Unexpectedly, Song Yunqi shook his head. "The reason I care so little is because, for Junior Brother Venus, advantages and disadvantages are both tribulation. After great tribulation, there follows great fortune..."

"Only by seizing the fate of heaven and earth can one attain immortality... He actually wishes someone would kill him, would punish him..."

At that, Song Yunqi smiled faintly. "There is no one in this world who can kill him."

"Truly, the younger generation is to be feared."

Lou Hechuan cast a deep glance at the young man before him, unsure whether his words referred to Song Yunqi or Li Changgeng.

"Elder Lou must know, were it not for an unending line of incense and eminent talent, White Crane Temple would not have stood as the head of the Daoist sects till today..."

"The heritage of any temple or sect relies upon the flourishing of many, not a single Optimus Prime propping it up alone..."

"Young man, mind your words."

Lou Hechuan’s aged brows twitched, his voice stern in reminder.

Chu Chaoran, Pure Yang Wuji—reputed as the Optimus Prime of the Daoist sect.

Song Yunqi’s seemingly careless words carried a subtle implication, difficult for people not to let their thoughts wander.

"Elder Lou, please don’t misunderstand. What I mean is, with my junior sister’s abilities, in this Yujing City, there’s no one she cannot reach..."