《Mission: Seduce the Master!》 Chapter 1: Mission received: Seduce the Master The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Wise words about how every path starts with the first step ¨C anyrger andplex task begins with one small step that leads us towards our goals. For many, these words served as support, guiding them on the cultivation path. "On the long road, there is no light luggage." These words emphasize that in life, hardships are inevitable, and everyone must strengthen their spirit and keep moving forward, but... "What the fuck!" a disappointed voice echoed. The ce was in the high mountains, where a luxurious city with numerous pavilions was situated. The scene was incredibly beautiful, making hearts tremble. On top of the mountain, the city was surrounded by clouds, and only a few spiritual beasts could reach such heights. It was the Heavenly Sword Sect. The earlier cry came from this city, which was, in fact, the sect''s territory. In one of the pavilions surrounded by a mysterious formation, a young man sat in a small room, covering his face with his hands. Only his long ck hair and dazzling white hanfu were visible. "How irritating! I''ve spent so much time here in vain and haven''t learned a single technique! They''ll kill me if they find out I''m just loafing around here," eximed the young man with horror. His name was Xie Qing ¨C a young master from the wealthy Xie family on the Northern continent, far from the Heavenly Sword Sect, located on the Eastern continent. "Aaargh!" The endless cries of the youth''s regret and despair were perplexing. After some time, he removed his hands, revealing his face. Truly, he was beautiful ¨C neat and cute features, thin dense eyebrows, a small and tidy nose, cherry-like lips, and ck eyes that shimmered as if stars were in them. The reason for his despair was simple ¨C he joined the sect a four year ago, but at that time, he only reached the 3rd stage of Enlightenment, which was the lowest level among the cultivation stages. "It''s over. It''s over. It''s over! This way, they''ll kick me out of the sect, and they won''t even let me return home! I''ll have to seduce a wealthy mature woman, preferably beautiful, and ride on her coattails for the rest of my life... wait, is that not a bad idea?... Of course, it''s not!" Ignoring his strange behavior and chaotic thoughts, it could be said that his fate was not enviable. Although Xie Qing possessed impressive beauty, charisma, and other qualities, he was weak! He wasn''t talented! "Why was I born beautiful but talentless?! If not for that witch taking me in, the female disciples would have torn my body apart, used my beautiful body, and then forced me to be their husband!" ...Well, he was a narcissist, but it couldn''t be said that he was wrong about his fate. The first days in the sect were just horrible. He had to run away from a crowd of hungry girls who were his sect sisters. The worst part was that many elders and inner-court disciples didn''t hesitate to chase him, wanting to drag him into bed! "What the heck, again?! I deserve better conditions!" he shouted, standing up with determination, clenching his fist in front of him. "What are you yelling there, foolish disciple?! Don''t you know I''m sleeping at this time?!" "Oops..." Xie Qing turned his head and saw a beautiful girl in the doorway, resembling an immortal fairy. She had long, silky ck hair and blue eyes that sparkled with anger. Her body was well-developed in all the right ces. The woman''s hair was disheveled, and her pink hanfu was worn haphazardly as if she were in a hurry. But Xie Qing knew that this was her usual appearance. "Master..." Despite being noisy just a few minutes ago, he had to fall silent in her presence. Her name was Xu Mei, and despite her youthful appearance, she was an ancient monster who had lived longer than all of Xie Qing''s ancestorsbined. She was an elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect but did not enjoy particr poprity, and her reputation was not the best. Xu Mei was a devilish drunkard who drank more than she spoke. In her free time, she spent days on alcohol, even forcing Xie Qing to drink with her, leading him to develop a habit of drinking! "Horror... under the influence of this woman, I be a useless idiot, only capable of spending my parents'' money," thought Xie Qing, squeezing his neck and sighing, thinking of his mother. While Xie Qing was lost in his thoughts, Xu Mei looked at him with irritation, then waved her hand and loudly said, pulling him out of his thoughts, "Follow me. I need a massage." "Yes..." Xie Qing could only nod politely, not daring to refuse her. Although this woman was a drunkard and a societal mistake, she had tremendous power that immediately silenced everyone. Being under her protection was a blessing for Xie Qing ¨C he gained protection and decent cultivation techniques. Xu Mei even asionally gave him gifts. However, in return, he had to perform servant-like tasks! This made him angry; he was a proud man and wanted to be the strongest cultivator. "Do you enjoy it, Master?" "Uuf... How pleasant..." However, it seemed that even the future strongest cultivator had to yield in some ces. Nevertheless, Xie Qing didn''tin, as having the protection of an elder was something ordinary disciples couldn''t even dream of. Although he was still an outer disciple, he lived better than his peers. Now, he was in the massage room, gently massaging Xu Mei''s slender and delicate body, asionally hearing her soft sighs. "Gulp... damn, this witch is bad in character, but her appearance..." Xie Qing couldn''t help but swallow when he felt the softness of her body again, although he could only touch her shoulder. Lying on her stomach, Xu Mei revealed her slender and beautiful buttocks, which, although covered by the pink hanfu, still stood out. Among the disciples, her reputation was bad, but she had many male admirers. But her character... "Ah, foolish disciple, you''re squeezing your master''s shoulders too hard. Do you want to lose your dinner today?" "How terrible... your skills are really bad. What a disappointment." "Hmm, not bad already. Although it''s only by 0.0000001%, you''ve improved. Continue." "..." Xie Qing trembled in anger and clenched his fist, barely restraining his intention to strike her in the face, but he held back not because he didn''t want to hit a woman, but simply because he would be killed immediately. And as he finished the massage, ready to lead the sleeping Xu Mei to her room, a gentle sound of bells echoed in his mind. Then, a semi-transparent panel appeared before him. [System is impressed by the user''s will and reveals itself in all its glory!] Ding! [Mission received: Seduce the Master] [Description: Xu Mei ¨C a beautiful woman with immense power. But there''s a problem... she''s a drunkard, and she has a foul mouth! So, as a true man, your task is to seduce her! Good luck... if you survive, that is.] [Reward: random talent (x1), random physique (x1)] "What?!" Xie Qing was stunned, and after reading all the details, he froze in ce. "Are you telling me that... the mission is to seduce the Master?!" Chapter 2: Master Xu Mei Xie Qing''s expression twisted when he saw something strange in front of him. It seemed he had awakened the "Goldfinger" within himself! Now, he possessed a peculiar power, which, judging by everything, was cynical. "What does this mean, ''if you survive, of course''? Are you mocking me?" Xie Qing was disappointed. He had envisioned that someday a special power would awaken within him, but who would have thought that this power would mock him without restraint? "And what''s this strange mission?! Seduce this witch? It''s easier for me to fuck a tree, man!" Xie Qing muttered to himself. One couldn''t be deceived by Xu Mei''s appearance ¨C she was a devilish sadist and had made Xie Qing scream in pain multiple times during her "training" sessions. This crazy woman would undoubtedly kill him if she noticed his intentions. "I refuse! I don''t want to die a virgin, forgive me!" Xie Qing shook his head, carrying Xu Mei into the room. Ding! [Additional information: If you fail the mission, your heart will stop. You have one week.] "What the heck?!" Xie Qing almost dropped Xu Mei in surprise but managed to hold her in his arms in time. "So, I''ll die anyway?" he shouted in his mind and then sighed, "No, since the cost of refusal is so high, I''ll have to ept my fate and die at the hands of the Master. Either way, I''m confident in my appearance, so she won''t just kill me easily! Probably..." As he headed to Xu Mei''s room toy her on the bed, he tried toe up with a seduction n. However, the only possible oue for him seemed to be death... and a painful one at that. Yet, even in such a situation, Xie Qing didn''t give up. He had a goal ¨C to be the King of all cultivators... that is, the strongest cultivator! And most importantly... "A harem! I want a damn harem! I so wanted a harem for myself, like the main character in the books I cursed for their luck!" Xie Qing admitted to himself. Leaving behind his dark past with curses, his long-standing desire was to have a harem. Every night before sleeping, he fantasized about lying on the bed, embraced by beautiful fairies on each side. It happened that one night in his dream, he saw his Master. She was dressed in a revealing outfit, showcasing her nipples and arge are. She gently hugged him, removing his clothes, saying, "I love you, foolish disciple"... "Ahem... I got distracted," Xie Qing blushed with embarrassment as lustful thoughts crossed his mind. However, he couldn''t help but look at his Master again. Despite all her ws, it had to be admitted that Xu Mei was a first-ss beauty. She had everything Xie Qing dreamed of. "But... can I seduce her?" Xie Qing strongly doubted that. *** The next morning, Xu Mei woke up in a good mood. Her foolish disciple had given her a nice shoulder massage the previous evening, so she had slept soundly. "But... these things are so irritating," she suddenly said, lifting her breasts. "Master, I brought you breakfast..." Xie Qing, who entered the room without knocking out of habit, was stunned by the sight before him. The disheveled pink hanfu revealed a lot of Xu Mei''s skin, including her slender waist. But that wasn''t the main thing. Xie Qing stared wide-eyed as he saw her lifting her breasts with her hands. Their eyes met ¨C silence ensued. "Don''t be shy, Master, it''s normal for people to self-indulge from time to time. I''ll visit youter..." said Xie Qing and smoothly closed the door ¨C it looked as if someone had pressed the rewind button. And when the click sounded, Xu Mei finally came to her senses. She trembled all over and lowered her head, not allowing her face to be seen, but judging by her shaking shoulders... trouble was brewing. And then, in the very next second... "XIE QING!" A loud scream echoed, shaking the entire pavilion. Monstrous Qi threatened to burst out, but protective barriers timely stopped the Qi outburst. Somewhere in the sect''s pavilion, a pretty green-haired woman with red eyes froze when she felt that Qi. She turned her head to the pavilion to the south and shook her head. "She messed up again... poor boy, this Xie Qing. He won''t make it out of that hellish pavilion alive." The sect master decided to light a candle in respect for the brave disciple, then pray... although not that they believed in God. *** Miraculously escaping the grip of the wild tigress, Xie Qing managed to reach the Medicine Pavilion and receive swift treatment. "Here, disciple Xie Qing, the bill for the treatment." Xie Qing sat at the Medicine Pavilion, and after being treated with medicinal pills and having a few bones set, the young disciple in a green robe with a pill insignia on his left chest handed him a receipt. "When you arrived here, your Qi waspletely depleted," the surprised disciple said to him. He had short ck hair, brown eyes, and freckles on his face. He looked generally ordinary, at the Foundation Building cultivation level: 5th stage. "That witch chased me like crazy... whose fault is it that she can''t find a man, and now she unloads her frustration on me?" Xie Qing said with a tired voice, taking the receipt. He whispered thest words, fearing they might be overheard. "Well... it''s your own fault. How else do you exin Elder Xu getting angry with you so often?" the disciple seized the opportunity to mock, then added, "It''s amazing that you''re still in one piece." "Hehe, Lu Piao... killing such a handsome guy like me would be a crime." "Get the fuck out of here, asshole". Xie Qing was expelled from the pavilion, standing on the street with an awkward expression, holding the receipt. Looking at the treatment cost... "Maybe I should really find a wealthy milf and let her be my sugar mommy?" Xie Qing thought with a serious face. It seems he hasn''t forgotten about that n. "Alright, I''ll take a stroll for now. Master confined me to her ''prison,'' and I can only wander when I have a few bones broken." *** Evening approached. Xu Mei sat on the balcony of the highest floor, where there was an open tform. There was a table with a half-empty bottle of Baijiu. Standing close to the railing, she looked at the Heavenly Sword Sect. This time, her appearance was much neater... at least her pink hanfu was neatly tucked in. "..." The wind gently tousled her long silky hair, and the bright moonlight illuminated her beautiful, blushing face. "He... saw me in such a disgraceful state!" Xu Mei nervously bit her lower lip, then covered her face, feeling the burning sensation. Even the slightly cool air couldn''t relieve the burning feeling on her beautiful face. Remembering how Xie Qing saw her and his words, she almost fainted from embarrassment and shock. She had never embarrassed herself like this before, excluding her drunken antics, of course. However, besides embarrassment, she was also worried. Xu Mei feared that Xie Qing might run away this time, as shepletely forgot to attach a tracking mark to him! Considering the guy''s attractiveness, she was sure he would get into trouble. So, using the spiritual technique "Thousand Gaze," she began to survey the entire sect. Her vision changed, and the whole sect in front of her looked as if she were flying in the sky and watching from above. It was like the "Gaze of God." Thanks to memorizing Xie Qing''s Qi, Xu Mei could easily track his location even without the mark. And then... "..." "..." "You slut! How dare you reach out to him?!" A strong gust of wind appeared, and Xu Mei disappeared from her ce. Chapter 3: Elder Lian, Masters jealousy Ten minutes earlier. Xie Qing strolled through the sect, using his spare money to buy himself sweets. Fortunately, there were stalls in the sect selling various kinds of food - the sect master allowedmoners to conduct business to maintain the standard of living in this area. "Here you go, young sir. Here''s your caramel-coated apple." The old vendor handed Xie Qing an apple coated in caramel, pierced with a stick. After paying the old man, Xie Qing began to walk through the sect, savoring the food. "Darn, it feels like I''ve been reborn. In the pavilion, I ate nothing but seafood and drank alcohol all the time. I missed normal food," thought Xie Qing, gently smiling. The observing disciples immediately felt a strange change in their hearts. They were captivated by his smile. "Oh, he''s so handsome! Is he the legendary junior ''disciple White''? He''s so gorgeous!" eximed a young female disciple in admiration. "What the heck... why did he appear here during my date?! Hey, Liu Xiang, let''s get out of here... Liu Xiang? Hey, where are you looking?" "Ah? Oh, listen, Shan Tu, I thought about it and decided that we''re not reallypatible. Let''s break up, okay?" "What?!" ...Xie Qing''s arrival in the outer courtyard also brought unpleasantness for male disciples who wept in sorrow. At the same time, for the female disciples, this day became sacred, each trying to approach and talk to Xie Qing. Soon, a crowd formed around him. "Younger brother! Don''t you want to go to this older sister''s chambers? I assure you, I''ll give you a wonderful night... ahem, I mean, I''ll help you with cultivation advice!" "Haaa?! Dream on, harlot! Don''t listen to her, younger brother. I excel in sword art; let me teach you. I''m sure under my guidance, you''ll quickly reach the Foundation Building stage!" "Ah?! Am I the harlot here? Oh, sure, believed you right away, ''teach you how to handle a sword.'' Did you perhaps aim for his ''sword,'' you bitch?!" "S-Shut up! And anyway, Xian Jin, you have a boyfriend!" "Not anymore, we broke up!" Xie Qing didn''t rush to respond; he simply stood in ce with an innocent expression on his face, savoring the caramel apple. His innocent look and beautiful appearance stirred a maternal instinct in many girls... and a desire to seduce him. Very soon, more than twenty girls fought for his attention while Xie Qing finished his apple. The only thing he realized during this time was that he just needed to stay silent in such situations, letting them fight among themselves and diverting attention away from him. After that, all he needed to do was run away from this ce, and no one would even notice. It always worked. However, it seemed luck wasn''t on his side today. "Hey, disperse, disciples! Stop crowding in one ce; you''re bothering others!" "Elder!" "Elder Lian!" Soon, the female disciples stepped aside, parting like water, and the elder walking straight towards Xie Qing was Moisei. "Darn..." Xie Qing could sense trouble from ten li away. Standing in front of him was Elder Lian Xin, influential in the sect. The mentioned woman had short wheat-colored hair down to her shoulders, and bright blue eyes. She had arge bust and a very attractive body that couldn''t be concealed by the elder''s robe. Overall, she was known for her generous and kind nature. There were no shady dealings behind her back, and in general, Lian Xin was famous among the disciples. However... "Disciple Xie Qing, once again, you''re causing trouble. Though, considering how handsome you are, it''s not surprising," Lian Xin said with embarrassment, like a young girl in love, with a gentle voice. "I recently studied some documents and saw something rted to you. Would you like to apany me to the Pavilion Restaurant?" "E-eh..." ...she was in love with Xie Qing! This love began when he joined the sect. Since then, she fought for the right to be his teacher and almost won thepetition until Xu Mei intervened, who "politely" asked Elder Lian to step aside. Although Elder Lian was furious, she could only bow her head and allow Xie Qing to enter the tiger''s den. But it didn''t mean she forgot her obsession with him. "Disciple Xie Qing onlyes out once a month, so this is my chance to invite him to dinner! While that crazy one sleeps, I can spend time with him!" Elder Lian Xin barely restrained herself from jumping in joy. While in her thoughts, she trembled with happiness, externally Lian Xin maintained a "normal" expression. ...she definitely needed to learn how to hide her intentions. "Ugh..." Xie Qing faced a strange dilemma. He couldn''t refuse the elder, as she significantly influenced his entry into the sect, so refusing her would be foolish. Moreover... The guy quickly nced at her body and averted his gaze. He couldn''t deny that Elder Lian Xin had a lot to be proud of. "Alright." Although in his thoughts, Xie Qingined about his misfortune, he still nodded affirmatively, showing a gentle smile on his face. "Ah..." All the girls in the vicinity were charmed by his smile, including Elder Lian, who blushed profusely and fidgeted, rubbing her thighs against each other. "How I desire to ''consume'' him..." Feeling her body bing hotter and hotter, Lian Xin passionately grabbed Xie Qing''s hand, squeezing his right hand against her soft chest. "..." The young man barely maintained his usual expression. This softness was otherworldly, and his mind felt as if he were floating on clouds! But before they could even take ten steps, a sudden cold voice echoed, instantly wiping away Elder Lian''s excitement and lowering the temperature by several degrees. "Elder Lian, what are you doing with my disciple?" Upon hearing her name spoken with such coldness, Lian Xin turned her head as if she were a rusty robot. And seeing the devil... she began to sweat profusely. "It''s over for me! This witch caught me!" Lian Xin thought in despair, quickly releasing Xie Qing''s hand and creating a distance of ten meters, albeit reluctantly. Standing aside, Xie Qing pretended to be a nt. "I am a tree. A tree cannot think, a tree sees nothing..." "Disciple." "Y-yes?!" However, Xu Mei''s cold voice was powerful enough to ignore her. "Follow me." "Yes..." Xu Mei used ''Intimidation''. It proved to be effective! *** Already in his room, Xie Qing sat before Xu Mei, awkwardly silent. His master looked like a wife who had caught her husband with a lover. "I don''t understand this woman... she clearly doesn''t love me, but she continues to bother. Can''t she let me build rtionships?" Xie Qing thought with dismay. At this rate, he would have to die alone! "Foolish disciple, haven''t I told you to stay away from other women?" Xu Mei asked irritably, narrowing her eyes. "You did, but..." "But?!" Xie Qing sighed heavily, feeling suffocated. Xu Mei was angry, and her Qi was starting to get out of control. He suddenly began to scrutinize her face, as if looking for something. Xu Mei was surprised by this action, and her anger started to subside. "Why are you looking at me like that, foolish disciple?" Xu Mei asked, drinking wine straight from the bottle. "Master, maybe you''re jealous?" "Ugh! Cough, cough, cough..." At his unexpected words, Xu Mei suddenly coughed and spilled wine on her hanfu. She blushed and looked at Xie Qing, who had a calm expression. "W-what are you even saying, you foolish disciple!" "Hmm?" Chapter 4: Mission completed... wait, what? Xie Qing raised an eyebrow in surprise when he saw Xu Mei''s face turning red¡ªit looked exactly like Lian Xin''s face. He was left speechless. "Is she just drunk, right? Yeah, her face must be red because of alcohol, or maybe she choked on something." He couldn''t believe for a moment that this woman was in love with him. Xie Qing couldn''t even imagine that Xu Mei, a crazy woman, would show affection to a man! However, his Master''s reaction was suspicious. She started rolling her eyes, avoiding prolonged eye contact, and her face remained red. "What? Was I right, Master?" Suddenly, Xie Qing began to speak, getting up from his seat and approaching her. "W-what are you doing? Sit down..." "Hehe." Xie Qingughed cheerfully when he saw his Master''s panicking expression. Now she looked quite cute and resembled an innocent girl in love. Xu Mei''s appearance struck some chords in Xie Qing''s mind. "I''ll still die if I don''tplete the task, so I''ll try my luck," he thought. Meanwhile, Xu Mei''s mind was in chaos. She felt heat on her face, and her heart was pounding. Xie Qing''s handsome face was too close, making her breath catch. "Foolish disciple... what are you doing?" she murmured with a soft and stuttering voice as if she were a weak maiden facing a hungry wolf. Her hand gently rested on Xie Qing''s chest, and she lightly pushed him away. "Step away from your master. I''m still mad at you." Xie Qing was left speechless, seeing his Master in such a fragile state. Suddenly, it felt like the North became the South, and the West turned into the East. "She... is so beautiful," Xie Qing thought and involuntarily reached for her face. "Oh..." "W-what are you doing... st-stop." With a blushing face, Xu Mei tried to push him away, but her body didn''t obey her owner. Her push was more of a formality, and she closed her eyes, feeling Xie Qing''s slightly cold fingers on her cheek. "Ah... what a strange feeling." Xu Mei opened her eyes, with teardrops visible, and she looked at Xie Qing''s red face as if he couldn''t believe what was happening. However, his fingers were gently caressing her cheek, and Xu Mei felt a shiver through her entire body. His touch was incredible¡ªshe felt protected, though with her strength only a few could leave a scratch on her. "Ugh... st-stop, step back." Initially, her voice was breathless, but after gathering enough air, Xu Mei finally pushed Xie Qing back. She stood up so abruptly that the chair shook and rushed out of the room, leaving a stunned Xie Qing, who was staring at his right hand as if it contained the power of the Dark Dragon. "I can''t believe it... did I behave so boldly with my master?" But after some contemtion, he turned pale. "Fuck, she''ll really kill me!" Ding! [Mission Completed!] "Huh?" *** Somewhere in the mountains, not far from the Heavenly Sword sect, there was a vige under the mountain called Jingsha, where ordinary mortals lived. It was just a regr working evening. However, soon the vige trembled, and the residents started panicking. They thought that the immortals, to whom the territory within a radius of 4000 li belonged, were angry with them. But after twenty minutes, the shaking stopped. Mortals could only tremble in fear, hoping that the immortal''s anger had been appeased. And then, in the depths of the mountain range, one of the peaks lost its summit. There were no cities or viges nearby, so Xu Mei was calm. She sat on the mountain, whose peak was precisely cut, creating a t tform. Her face was red, and her body periodically trembled. "How embarrassing! What a shame!" Every time Xu Mei closed her eyes, she recalled the scene of Xie Qing''s gentle fingers touching her delicate, snowy-white cheeks. And most importantly, she didn''t resist at all. It was terrible! "Why does my heart beat so fast?" Xu Mei wondered,ing to her senses thanks to the cold air. She felt like she was sick because she couldn''t exin the elerated heartbeat with any other method. "I need to find out the reason, or it could be an obstacle to my cultivation." Xu Mei summoned her flying sword, stepped on the de, and flew back to the sect. *** Xie Qing, having narrowly escaped the clutches of death, was now in his room, rubbing his hands quite satisfied, like a roon from inte memes. He smiled brightly and looked content. "Darn, now I can cultivate properly!" he thought, and his smile widened, almost reaching his ears. [Reward: random talent (x1), random physique (x1)] [ept?] "What a silly question! Of course, ept!" shouted Xie Qing, sitting in a lotus position. Suddenly, the panel in front of him lit up, and soon Xie Qing felt a pleasant coolness in his body as if the heat of summer had eaten ice cream. "Hm? So... did anything change?" Xie Qing was embarrassed because he didn''t feel any changes, but this confusionsted until his first breath. "W-what?" After the first breath, an overwhelming amount of Qi entered his body, instantly propelling him to the 5th stage of Enlightenment! It was amazing! Xie Qing looked at his hand in shock, feeling it stronger than usual. With one breath, he raised his cultivation by two levels, which was nonsense! "D-darn, Qi keeps flowing into my body without stopping. I need to start purifying it, or it will affect my cultivation!" Xie Qing darkened, realizing the crucial problem. Immediately, Xie Qing closed his eyes and focused on purifying the Qi from impurities, not forgetting to concentrate on his spiritual veins. A single cold sweatdrop rolled down Xie Qing''s forehead. His body was tense because it couldn''t cope with the iing Qi. The cultivation technique was too weak! *** "Elder Xu, there are no issues with your health. The same goes for your Qi." "What? Are you sure about that, Elder Qin?" At the moment, Xu Mei was in the Medicine Pavilion. She was on the top floor, where the quarters of the head of the Medicine Pavilion, Qin Zhui, were located. Qin Zhui was a top-ss healer. Xu Mei sought her help, suspecting that she was unwell, but after examination, Qin Zhui found nothing. "Well, believe it or not, but it''s true." Elder Qin shrugged and withdrew her hand from Xu Mei''s abdomen, which was exposed for examination. Qin Zhui was a beautiful woman with chestnut hair and brown eyes, fair skin, and a sharp face. "Then... what could be the cause of my issue? Lately, I can''t concentrate properly on cultivation," Xu Mei said with concern, furrowing her beautiful brows. "Psychological state also has a significant impact. Perhaps you''ve been emotional in recent days, causing your Qi to be disorderly, and your blood to boil. It''s normal for cultivators who have just started their journey, but... um..." "..." Xu Mei fell silent and helplessly rubbed her forehead, sighing heavily. She understood what Elder Qin wanted to convey to her. Losing control of her emotions, causing her Qi to be chaotic. It was a mistake of a beginner, an inexperienced one at that! In simpler terms, Xu Mei made a very foolish mistake. "I-I... lost control of my Qi because of emotions?" Chapter 5: The Masters regret, a step away from a breakthrough Xu Mei soon returned to her pavilion after ensuring that she had no health issues. However, Elder Qin''s assumption made her tremble with embarrassment. Nevertheless, she didn''t dwell on it and headed home. Passing by Xie Qing''s room, located on the third floor of the pavilion, just one floor below hers, she suddenly stopped. "Hm? The Qi fluctuations in his room are significant. Did something happen?" Xu Mei cracked open the door and through the opening, she saw Xie Qing sitting in a lotus position, diligently cultivating. His eyes were closed, while a Qi vortex circled around him. "This... " Of course, as a high-level cultivator, she immediately noticed something amiss. Xie Qing''s cultivation level had changed significantly, and they had only been apart for nine hours! "Pinnacle of Enlightenment... he''s preparing to break through to the next level!" Xu Mei was excited. Suddenly, Xie Qing disyed strong talent and leaped six levels in just nine hours, reaching the breakthrough. She was shocked for two reasons. Firstly, such a level of cultivation was unheard of, and secondly, Xie Qing had never shown strong talent before! That''s why she gave up trying to teach him advanced techniques. "Darn... if I had known, I would have changed his cultivation technique to something better!" Every external disciple practiced the "Basic Qi Cultivation" technique, the most fundamental cultivation technique. It is given to external disciples without strong talent, and Xie Qing couldn''t escape this fate. And, seemingly, let him cultivate and break through on his own, but... it was a dead end. Foundation Building, as its name implied, was a crucial stage of cultivation. Here, the body and soul are strengthened with the cultivation technique the cultivator uses when breaking through to Foundation Building. If the cultivation technique was too simple and straightforward, the cultivator''s potential would be limited! "What the heck am I doing..." Xu Mei began to suffer from her own mistake. She didn''t want to giveplex cultivation techniques because cultivating with them without even basic talent was extremely difficult. So, she gave him amon technique. "Damn it..." *** Xie Qing was preparing to break through to a new cultivation level when a bad premonition struck him. Due to the abundance of Qi, he had to focus all his attention on purifying impurities and only snapped out of it when he reached the wall. The wall was a barrier, hindering progress to the next levels. If you don''t meet the requirements, the wall would be as sturdy as Divine Metal for you. But if you were prepared, the wall would be as soft as paper, making it easy to break through. "I meet the requirements for the breakthrough, but... I''ll postpone it," thought Xie Qing and sighed. The vortex of spiritual energy began to subside, and soon it disappeared altogether. Xie Qing opened his eyes, which shone brightly. "Phew..." He took a deep breath, and steam emerged from his mouth ¨C remnants of impurities. Taking advantage of the moment, Xie Qing evaluated his body after so many breakthroughs and smiled. "My Qi has be more substantial and of higher quality, and my body has strengthened a bit. If I hadn''t held back, I could have easily broken through to the Foundation Building level, but... I don''t want to build my foundation with such a mediocre cultivation technique." The basic cultivation technique was trash, which he could get from his family for a small sum. It only helped gather spiritual energy and purify it but was very weak and inefficient. If not for the fact that Xie Qing acquired a new physique and talent, he would have had a tough time. "I wonder what physique and talent I have..." he wondered. Ding! [Name: Xie Qing Age: 18/157 years Cultivation: Enlightenment (9th stage) Talent: Divine Physique: Golden Dragon Body Cultivation Technique: Basic Cultivation Technique (low efficiency)] "Oh... stop, what? Divine talent?!" Xie Qing opened his eyes in astonishment. Suddenly, more than a hundred messages popped up with the words "Golden Finger." There were only five levels of talents: 1. Mortal 2. Earthly 3. Heavenly 4. Superior 5. Divine. And thest, fifth level, was divine. Such talent hadn''t appeared in over ten thousand years! Xie Qing stared at the screen in front of him in disbelief. His attention was also drawn to the physique. [Golden Dragon Body] [Divine-level physique. Information iplete] "Ugh..." Behind the door... Xu Mei, after seeing that Xie Qing''s breakthrough was interrupted, was almost jumping with joy. She used the "Eye of Truth" technique, which helped her determine the level of talent, and... "This... " Even with her abilities, the woman couldn''t urately assess her disciple''s talent. She couldn''t believe her eyes! "I need to bring him to the sect leader''s pavilion. There will be the necessary equipment, and the result will be urate. I must find him a good cultivation technique!" Her eyes lit up, and she smiled brightly, disappearing from her ce. Xie Qing, after finishing cultivation, stood up and headed to the dining hall. In the Master''s Pavilion, Xu Mei had a separate dining area where food for three meals a day was delivered. Although Master Xu had no need to eat at all, she enjoyed indulging in worldly life from time to time. Besides, Xie Qing was still at the "Enlightenment" cultivation stage, considered the lowest. Only upon reaching the "Core Formation" stage, Xie Qing could acquire a body that needed only Qi for sustenance, though there would still be a need to asionally drink water and replenish energy with food, perhaps once a week. Cultivatorspletely free themselves from the need for food at the "Soul Nascent" stage, which is a crucial step before entering a new realm. Before the "Soul Nascent" stage, it is considered the Mortal Realm, and beyond that is the Semi-Immortal Realm. Of course, these names were given by cultivators themselves, and it''s not certain if the division into these two realms holds any true significance. "How hungry I am!" echoed a loud cry. In the dining hall, Xie Qing ced over ten tes filled to the brim with food in front of him. He ate voraciously, seemingly famished for a hundred thousand years. He devoured the food so quickly and efficiently that participants in hotdog eating contests would have to concede the throne to him. The reason for such hunger was his breakthrough and improvement in lineage/physique. The stronger the cultivator, the greater the need for energy. In this case, the need manifested in the form of food. "Phew..." Finally, after twenty minutes of active eating, Xie Qing finished and leaned back in his chair, contentedly rubbing his stomach. "Darn, I''ve never done something with such enthusiasm, except maybe seducing the senior sister in the sect until the Master caught me and confined me to the pavilion, locking me up for a month..." Satisfied, Xie Qing stood up from the chair and decided to find the Master first, asking her to find a new cultivation technique for him. However, upon leaving the dining hall, he realized one problem. "Wait a minute... if I approach her and say I suddenly became very talented, won''t she look at me like an idiot? And if she asks why it happened, my answer would be, ''Tsk, tsk, tsk. Mortal, in reality, I''m the Immortal Harem from the Superior World and out of boredom decided to reincarnate into the mortal world to savor the taste of unripe fruits''... she won''t believe me!" Xie Qing released his head, sighing wearily. Suddenly, it seemed to him that along with a good reward, he got an extra headache. However, imagining his own future where he stands in the heavens, on a sword, holding his Master by the waist while mortals bow beneath him... he shivered with pleasure! "That''s it! I just have to be a cool character and capture the world''s attention! With my handsome face and appearance, I''m simply perfect!" ...Well, he was arrogant. ==== Note: "Spiritual energy" is the same as Qi in the setting of my book. I will sometimes write "spiritual energy" instead of Qi to diversify word choice. Chapter 6: Zhang Mei The cultivation world, since ancient times, has been divided into two factions: righteous sects and devilish sects. Each side sought to annihte the other across the barricades, leading to a prolonged and ongoing war. However, the world is ever-changing. In the past millennium, over twenty devilish sects were eradicated. All thanks to extraordinary individuals acimed as the greatest geniuses in a hundred thousand years. There were four cultivator geniuses, and all of them belonged to the righteous sects. It seemed as if the great deities, holding the fate of the Mortal Realm in their hands, saw the plight of the righteous cultivators and extended a helping hand. Thus, these four cultivators forced the devilish sects to dwindle to just two, leading a concealed existence that made them hard to find. Currently, the activity of devilish cultivators has significantly diminished. At present, there exist six major sects, including the devilish ones: - Sect of Heavenly Sword - Sect of Nine Pills - Sect of Resting Eagle - Sect of Starry Stream - Sect of Shadowed des - Sect of Bone Circle Thest two were devilish sects. The positions of these sects have remained unchanged for a thousand years. And now... On the western continent, there was a sect located near the capital of the human dynasty ¨C the Huanglun Dynasty. The sect was massive, almost the size of two megacities merged into one. It was surrounded by high mountain peaks, giving the impression that it was protected on the left, right, and rear by a mountain range shaped like a crescent moon, adding to its mysterious aura. This was the Sect of Starry Stream. Due to being one of the four great sects, gaining entry into this sect was extremely challenging. They had a total of 200,000 sect disciples, with 160,000 in the outer court, 25,000 in the inner court, and 10,000 in the main court. The sect focused on cultivating Qi and using it as the primary method of battle. Combat arts were not taught; instead, it was a sect of schrs. The sect leader was Zhang Mei, one of the four cultivators who managed to defeat the devilish sects and push them off the victor''s throne. And so... "No means no, Xu Mei. Even if we''ve known each other for over a hundred years, I refuse to pass on this cultivation technique to you. It could bring harm not only to the outside world but also to your disciple," suddenly echoed a cold female voice. "Enough of this nonsense. Just give it to me; you don''t need it anyway!" retorted an irritated female voice in response, sounding very familiar. It was Xu Mei. The scene unfolded in a small room, decorated quite modestly with only a bed and a small table stacked with books. Standing before Xu Mei was a woman with a mature appearance. She had long gray hair tied in a high ponytail, violet eyes that emitted a cold light, and a sharp face with longshes, presenting a beautiful countenance. "I don''t care about your reasons and such. I received this cultivation technique from my predecessors and swore not to give it to anyone but the fateful person who would be the greatest genius!" sharply stated the gray-haired woman, shaking her head. "It''s just a whimsical prophecy. Come on, we wererades, haven''t you forgotten?" said Xu Mei, covering her ears with her fingers, unwilling to listen to her interlocutor. "No, and no again!" "Stubborn fool! That''s why you don''t have a man!" taunted Xu Mei, irritated, and snorted. At Xu Mei''s words, veins bulged on Zhang Mei''s forehead. She frowned, clearly angered. "Pff, you don''t have a man either, so what''s the point of that remark? Besides, I''ve already started gradually delegating my responsibilities to the elders to focus on my own life. I have more suitors than you, you crazy witch!" retorted Zhang Mei in response, coldly smirking. "Ah, you..." Very quickly, it turned into a battle. The elders observing through a small hole in the door lost their ability to speak and quickly retreated from the scene to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. *** Meanwhile, while his master was outside the sect, Xie Qing had an exclusive chance to roam freely. Although he couldn''t venture outside the sect due to the presence of dangerous monsters, he could still stroll within the sect. The Sect of Heavenly Sword was influential, and despite a slight decline in ranking over thest ten years, dropping to third ce, it still stood as one of the greatest sects opposing devilish cultivators, earning a good reputation. Every year, various talents gathered here in hopes of joining the sect, but only a few could make it, and a handful managed to break into the inner court. Well, Xie Qing had been in the sect for four years, so he had a reputation... as a pretty ornament. It was clear that many female disciples liked him, but that didn''t mean he had any influence. He was more of a talisman. His distinctive feature was the white attire that adorned his handsome face. He looked like an immortal descended from the heavens. Because of this, he was given the nickname "Disciple White," which Xie Qing didn''t particrly like. "Why the hell do they call me that? I have a name!" heined inwardly but could only resign himself to this silly nickname. Though the basis for his nickname might have been the meaning of his name, which signified "pure" or "clear," he was still dissatisfied. Either way, he strolled through the sect for a few minutes and already caused a stir. He attracted an incredible number of nces, mostly from fellow male disciples who looked at him as if Xie Qing had insulted their entire families. "Guys, if you''re ugly from birth, it''s not my fault. Fate just chooses the best," Xie Qing arrogantly thought and then sighed, putting away his cynical behavior. "Well, their talent is better than mine... at least, that was the case until today." Although his charming face could captivate young female disciples from the outer court and some elders, there were few disciples in the inner court and none among the main court who paid him any attention. "If I want to achieve my dream harem, I must be strong," thought Xie Qing, then remembered a girl who was the girl of his dreams: "Lu Yin from the Sect of Nine Pills..." She was the heiress of the Sect of Nine Pills, who once came to the Se family for a rare medicine that only they possessed. That''s how Xie Qing managed to see her once. At that time, Lu Yin was just beginning to gain poprity, showcasing her charm. The head of the Se family, Xie Qing''s father, offered her a lucrative deal ¨C the Xie family would support her with all resources in exchange for her marrying the eldest son of the Xiefamily, Xie Qing''s older brother. In the end... This woman beat both Xie Qing''s father and his older brother, who looked at her with lust! "I liked her immediately, and when she beat that arrogant duo, I decided she''s my ideal!" thought Xie Qing, nodding in satisfaction. ==== *Deities ¨C beings referred to as cultivators who, in exchange for less freedom and power, can control thews of nature. They are often worshipped by cultivators. Chapter 7: A study of the techniques... in five seconds! Before you read, I would like to ask you to support the book with a review and power stones, this will help promote the book. Thank you === At that time, Lu Yin was just beginning to gain poprity, showcasing her charm. The head of the Xie family, Xie Qing''s father, offered her a lucrative deal ¨C the Xie family would support her with all resources in exchange for her marrying the eldest son of the Xie family, Xie Qing''s older brother. In the end... This woman beat both Xie Qing''s father and his older brother, who looked at her with lust! "I liked her immediately, and when she beat that arrogant duo, I decided she''s my ideal!" thought Xie Qing, nodding in satisfaction. In his current state, he could only bury this sympathy deep in his soul. He needed to think much more productively. She is the heir to the sect, and most importantly, her cultivation level is at Core Formation, very close to being considered a high-ranking cultivator. In his current state, Xie Qing couldn''tpare to her, so he could only postpone it for a better time. "Ah... I haven''t felt this good in a long time. I haven''t fulfilled my duties as a servant... I mean, disciple, for a few days. So, I got a bit out of practice," Xie Qing thought, shrugging and looking around. "Well, let''s see what can be done. I''m dying of boredom." Usually, sect disciples were upied with cultivation, which was evident. At other times, they practiced the path of the sword, so there were arenas and training grounds here, amodating over a thousand disciples. However, even with such conditions, all the ces were upied. Entering the training ground, Xie Qing was taken aback. All rooms were taken, and a thousand disciples were waiting. As he entered the training ground, the majority of people suddenly focused their gaze on him. Some looked surprised, while others were indifferent. Two disciples approached him suddenly. "It''s Disciple White! Why are you here?" "Young one, have youe to train? Want your little sister to teach you everything?" "Uh..." Xie Qing wasn''t even surprised that two predators approached him immediately. He just nodded with a smile, exciting the two girls. "Senior sisters, I dide here for training, but apparently, all the spots are taken. I think I''ll leave," Xie Qing said with a gentle smile, turning towards the entrance. "Wait, wait!" However, two disciples suddenly stopped him, seizing his hand. They smiled at him. "Disciple White, we reserved training ground No. 258, and a disciple is about to leave now. We can go in. Come with us, alright?" the girl said. "Well, if I won''t disturb you, of course." "You won''t disturb, be assured!" The two disciples were named Li Yue and Mei Lin. Li Yue had long ck hair braided into a pigtail. She had brown eyes, and her height was around 160 cm; she had a slender figure. The other was Mei Lin, with short dark chestnut hair and bright green eyes. She had a petite body. These two were disciples of the outer court,cking any special talent but having a rich family background, not umon for most disciples. Of course, the definition of "special talent" in the eyes of this sect was annoyingly high, so they were considered talented in their own right. They didn''t have to wait as long as Xie Qing initially thought. The room became avable after just five minutes, and a disciple with an aura filled with depression emerged. The spiritual energy around him was in disarray, and he was at the Enlightenment - 9th stage. "He couldn''t break through," thought Xie Qing, narrowing his eyes. To bepletely honest, he also felt a bit anxious before the breakthrough. Doubts filled his mind: "What if it doesn''t work?" "What if this is all a dream?" These thoughts seemed to emerge from the depths of his heart, the Heart Demons. Before each breakthrough, practitioners suffer from their influence. Although these Heart Demons are weak, they can shake you if you''re not resolute enough. Soon, the trio entered their room, and the doors closed. Some disciples envied Xie Qing, while others envied the other two. *** "Disciple White, you can practice as you like! We just need to train in martial arts together, so we won''t disturb you," Mei Lin said, brightly smiling. Together with Li Yue, they moved to the other end of the room, which looked muchrger than it appeared externally, thanks to a special formation. Looking around, Xie Qing surveyed the area. It was an ordinary but enormous room with iron walls and a solid stone floor. The youth stood near racks with weapons and even armor, but since he had no opponent, he simply took out a Jian (Chinese sword). Although he hadn''t deeply studied the art of the sword, he still had a basic set of skills. Putting his hand into his pocket, Xie Qing pulled out five books concentrated on sword techniques. "The first technique... Crescent Strike. Apply spiritual energy to the sword, then swing with full force to create a crescent-shaped arc," thought Xie Qing, continuing to read. Before he could even open the first page, a sound rang in his head. Ding! [Sword Technique Learning... sess!] "Huh?" [Crescent Strike] | [Rank: Common] | [Description: A simple sword technique. Even a fool can learn it] Xie Qing was speechless, upon seeing the description. For some reason, it seemed like the system was mocking him indirectly because he couldn''t learn this technique, no matter how much he read. "Disappointing," thought Xie Qing but decided to learn other techniques. And, as expected, the pattern repeated. Time after time, even without flipping to the third page, the system issued a message that the skill was learned. Ding! [de Strengthening] | [Rank: Common] | [Description: A basic technique to strengthen the de, preventing it from identally breaking during the battle; otherwise, you''ll have to collect it in pieces] Ding! [Sword Aura Imitation] | [Rank: Common] | [Description: A basic technique for imitating Sword Aura. Stupid technique suitable only to scare children or courtyard kittens] Ding! [Ten Steps of the Swordsman] | [Rank: Common] | [Description: Basic movement technique, helps better control the body in swordbat. This nonsense looks like a clown''s dance] Ding! [Heavenly Sword] | [Rank: Common] | [Description: Basic body-strengthening technique, that helps reinforce the body by absorbing spiritual energy. A shred of the true ''Heavenly Sword'' technique. Suitable for weaklings] "Wow..." Xie Qing selectively ignored the sarcasticments from the system and focused on his loot. It could be said that he learned all this in... five seconds. Unheard of. Feeling excited, Xie Qing tightly grasped his sword and began to try out his techniques. The first was the "Crescent Strike." "Ha-a-a!" Xie Qing shouted ¨C his de shone, and soon a crescent arc burst out, flying twenty meters and then crashing into a mannequin. The mannequin shook a bit and then turned a bright green color. "Weak strike... well, these are just techniques for practice," thought Xie Qing, sighing. The mannequin was not simple. Disciples could hit it with all their might, and unless the disciple surpassed the Core Formation level, these mannequins wouldn''t break. So, the mannequin could show the level of the strike, indicating the damage it would inflict on the opponent. Light green: weak, a small scratch. Dark green: a minor wound. Light yellow: deep wound. Dark yellow: serious injury. Light orange: almost fatal wound. Dark orange: fatal wound. Further is only dark red, which only means one thing: instant death! But, of course, achieving such a strike level required hard work, and the sword techniques themselves were equally important. What they provided upon joining the sect was only for understanding andying the foundation for future Sword Aura formation. Shaking his head, Xie Qing turned away to look at other weapons. But he didn''t notice that the mannequin, while externally intact, had deep cracks inside. Chapter 8: Master, you have changed your perfume..... and whats that dripping down your thigh? Don''t forget to vote for the book using power stones. It will help promote the book, thank you! ==== Xie Qing practiced with various weapons such as a spear, axe, mace, and the like. Unfortunately, he didn''t have the necessary techniques to aid his learning. Moreover, he had no mentor. Two friends focused on sword techniques and spiritual energy. However, their techniques were more of abination of basic skills and offered no benefit to him. As a result, he had to repeatedly use basic techniques to strengthen himself and improve his understanding. Soon, his mind rified, mastering all the techniques to create a foundation that wouldter help form the Sword Aura. Sword Aura is a special force different from Qi, not limited by the cultivation stage. It could be used to strengthen the body and enhance sword techniques. With proper training, Sword Aura could break through thick defenses and inflict serious injuries, both external and internal. That''s why swordsmen were feared. Even if you heal the wound, getting rid of Sword Aura prating the body is extremely difficult. Since there was no more sense in practicing, Xie Qing bid farewell to the two disciples and left the room. "Sigh..." The two disciples sighed mournfully. Suddenly, their motivation seemed to vanish. *** Xie Qing returned to the pavilion and headed to the backyard, adorned with various spiritual nts and beautiful flowers. Everything here was precious, and alchemists would drool over them. However, for Xie Qing, it was just decoration. Even if he knew the value of these herbs, he couldn''t use them ¨C he simplycked the knowledge. Besides... "If Master finds out I stole her spiritual nts, I''ll have to personally rece the trees," Xie Qing thought with a distorted expression. Each nt in the garden cost a fortune. Elder Xu was renowned for her strength... the strength of money! "Even my Xiefamily couldn''t gather so many herbs in one ce, even if they collected for a hundred years," Xie Qing thought and sighed. He envied a bit. Such vast resources were something distant for him, but he didn''t despair. If Xie Qing became a strong cultivator, he could gain funding and, most importantly, influence! Sitting in the garden, he assumed the lotus position and breathed in the pure air. Thanks to the spiritual nts, the air was filled with Qi, and as he breathed it in, his body improved on its own. "What bliss. Before, I couldn''t appreciate the beauty of this ce because my sensitivity to Qi was severely limited." "Every creature had spiritual roots responsible for the natural Qi attribute and how sensitive a cultivator would be to Qi¡ªdetermining cultivation speed and partially linked to talent. Although Xie Qing didn''t feel significant changes with the change in physique, his body was transforming, albeit slowly. Gradually, his spiritual veins improved and took on a golden hue. But, of course, he was unaware of this. In the Sect of Starry Stream... Zhang Mei stood in the center of a destroyed room¡ªonly the floor remained. The walls and ceiling were shattered. "Xu Mei..." she growled the name of her acquaintance, and suddenly her Qi burst out, causing all sect disciples to fall to the ground. "Bitch!" As soon as Zhang Mei averted her gaze, this crazy girl swiftly attacked her, destroying everything around her and forcing Zhang Mei to exert all her strength to withstand Xu Mei''s powerful Qi. Realizing she had been set up, and the technique was stolen, Zhang Mei clenched her teeth in anger¡ªapanied by the sound of grinding. She roared, "Xu Mei! I''ll drag you out from underground!" Soon, the elders rushed to the explosion site, shocked by what had be of the sect leader''s residence. They intended to inquire about their leader, but seeing her enraged expression, which differed significantly from her usual indifference, the sect elders decided to remain silent and focus on restoration. *** Xie Qing stood, holding a jade scroll containing cultivation techniques. He looked at Xu Mei, who stood before him, grinning from ear to ear. "Master, correct me if I''m wrong, but... as far as I know, this technique is called ''Nine Golden Dragons,'' right? If I''m not mistaken, this technique was inherited by the Sect of Starry Stream, which even fought in a battle against the Huanglun Dynasty to prove its right... am I wrong?" Xie Qing asked with a voice trembling with shock, holding the technique in his hand. "Hehehe... you''re right, no mistakes! Good intuition, foolish disciple!" Xie Qing bitterly smiled, but his eyes gleamed brightly. A system panel appeared before him, disying information about this technique. [Nine Golden Dragons Technique] | [Rank: Supreme] | [Description: In ancient times, seeing a dragon was as easy as hiring a prostitute for an hour at attractive prices now. They possessed power capable of overturning the heavens, feared even by Immortals. But someone thought challenging the Heavenly Emperor would be a good idea, and the entire race was wiped out in exchange for a hundred billion lives of cultivators. Sigh...] Xie Qing chose to selectively ignore the peculiar description of the cultivation technique. He was shocked when he saw the rank of this technique. "Supreme! This is the peak level of assessment for techniques, items, and the like in the system!" Xie Qing thought, astounded. Ordinary, Unique, Elite, Legendary, Mythical, Ancient, Supreme¡ªthese were all the levels he knew. Information about ranks appeared in his mind when he learned his first technique. It was simply incredible! Xie Qing couldn''t even imagine receiving such a cultivation technique, and on top of that... his bloodline* responded to this jade scroll! "This... is amazing! Thank you, Master!" Xie Qing eximed loudly and suddenly hugged Xu Mei. "Eh?!" Xu Mei blushed deeply when she felt the strong body of Xie Qing pressing against her. Moreover, she couldn''t help but blush when she realized that her nose as if gaining consciousness, began to sniff her disciple! "S-Stop, let go! Release your master, foolish disciple!" eximed Xu Mei with embarrassment, pushing away Xie Qing, who barely maintained bnce to avoid falling. Catching her breath, Xu Mei looked at Xie Qing with a strange expression that the young man couldn''t decipher. Her face was as red as a tomato, and her breath was slightly heavy. And for some reason, Xie Qing sensed a strange floral scent. He sniffed, then looked puzzled at Xu Mei, asking, "Master, you have changed your perfume?" "!!!" At first, Xu Mei didn''t understand and tilted her head (which looked very cute), then her eyes widened in shock as she looked down, feeling a suspicious liquid flowing down her thighs. Before Xie Qing could react, a whirlwind of Qi suddenly appeared, and Xu Mei disappeared. Perplexed, Xie Qing scratched his head. ...Someone, call Casanova here. === Bloodline or build is the same term in the setting of my book. I realize this can be misleading, but it is nheless true. Chapter 9: W-why are you undressing, Master?! Crossing his legs in the lotus position, Xie Qing moved to a vacant room and began meditation. His mind was exploding with pleasure, reacting like his bloodline to this scroll too excitedly, as if a virgin entering a brothel for the first time. Not wanting to endure the difort any longer, Xie Qing focused his mind on learning the cultivation technique. This time, it took him ten seconds to grasp the technique. Ding! [Attempt to learn cultivation technique... sess!] In a few seconds, Xie Qing entered a state of enlightenment. He had prepared for this day for a long time, yet he was still nervous as he was about to confront his Demon of the Heart. He frowned. "I''m a bit anxious about this... but as a cultivator, I must not shy away from dangers on my path!" he thought with a determined tone and then immersed himself in cultivation. He entered his mental world, limited only by a door in front of him. The door looked as if it were printed on paper, so cing his hand on it, Xie Qing easily broke through it and passed through the "door." The space around him sparkled, and Xie Qing felt his Qi reaching a new level. A pleasant feeling of coolness enveloped him as if he had tasted ice cream on a hot day. Initially, the Qi resembled a quiet stream slowly flowing into the sea, but very soon it turned into a raging waterfall! "Ugh..." The Nine Golden Dragons cultivation technique was not as ordinary as what he had practiced before. With this technique, his efficiency increased tenfold or even a hundredfold! Xie Qing could barely withstand the pressure on his mind. Spiritual energy was like a furious stream flowing into his Dantian, which struggled to purify it and transform it into pure Qi. With the help of his new cultivation technique, Xie Qing barely coped with the task, gradually breaking through to a new stage of cultivation. And after ten minutes... Boom! His spiritual energy burst out of his body and began to envelop him, forming a small dome! His body absorbed this spiritual energy, rapidly strengthening. "Aaaa!" Xie Qing gritted his teeth and furrowed his brow, feeling the unpleasant itching all over his body and his brain exploding with intense pain as if struck with a hammer right on his head! Although this feeling was ufortable, Xie Qing also felt himself getting stronger. "After years of effort... after an endless amount of suffering, I have achieved what I sought! Power!" The youth smiled brightly and opened his eyes, but then froze in shock. "M-Master?" Xie Qing''s voice trembled slightly. If it were just Xu Mei, his reaction wouldn''t have been so exaggerated, but... but! "W-why are you undressing, Master?!" *** Xu Mei locked herself in her room after the unfortunate incident with the "perfume." She felt ashamed ¨C with each passing day, she believed her reputation was being destroyed by her foolish disciple! "Hate... hate... shameful! How embarrassed I am!" Xu Mei eximed loudly into her pillow, lying on her stomach. Her legs kicked against the mattress, and she looked like an offended girl who caught her boyfriend cheating and was now crying into her pillow. Recalling those awkward moments with Xie Qing, Xu Mei couldn''t help but blush. Every day, her disciple became more and more absurd, even allowing himself to hug her! Without permission! "But... this is a bit strange. Lately, he has be much more confident, and his gaze towards me has been somewhat unusual. Is it rted to his awakened talent?" she pondered aloud, then clenched her teeth. "Damn! Does he think his master will fall for a pretty face and talent?... Of course not... um, no..." Xu Mei shook her head in shame and buried her face deeper into the pillow, feeling guilty for such thoughts. Since the first day she took Xie Qing as her disciple, she had some impure thoughts. She simply liked the handsome face of the young man, and she thought it wouldn''t hurt to have some fun for a while. Initially, he fulfilled duties like cleaning her clothes and cooking, and then they progressed to massages. "Well, I admit, sometimes it excited me, b-but... I didn''t think of him in that way! Of course not!... probably." Xu Mei bit her lower lip, recalling the brief yet desire-filled gaze Xie Qing gave her during the first session of massage. At that time, he was only fourteen, so she ignored such a reaction, understanding that he was seeing such a luxurious body of a woman up close for the first time and even touching it. She had a little secret... she enjoyed watching his facial expressions when he massaged her, and it brought her pleasure. Especially, her body trembled every time, releasing juices, when she saw his gaze, full of thirst. In one of the sessions, he even got aroused, and that night Xu Mei was so excited that even after two hours of "y" with herself, she couldn''t rid herself of her arousal. Finally, a brief silence ensued. Xu Mei stopped kicking her legs against the mattress and deep in thought. "I am over two thousand years old. By cultivator standards, I am still a young woman, full of vitality, but all my peers, except for those two olddies, have lovers. Even my disciple, the current sect leader of the Sect of Heavenly Sword, has someone, though she still refuses to introduce me to him," Xu Mei thought and frowned. "Hey, am I a failure then? Even that cursed Feng Gu, a dumb pig thinking only with his muscles, has been married for a long time, and he even has six sons... this..." Xu Mei lost her speech. Disregarding her two acquaintances who simply had no interest in men and rtionships in general, focusing on their sect, she ¨C Xu Mei, was different! Even in the generation of geniuses, she was the greatest genius! Her cultivation level was at the pinnacle of the world, and the only one who could rival her was the ruler of the Huanglun Dynasty. "Damn! How frustrating!" she thought, furrowing her brow, and then remembered her disciple. "Right! Lian Lin must know some tricks; I''ll consult with her!" Xu Mei quickly got up and flew out of the window. *** Meanwhile, Xie Qing found himself in aplicated situation. It seemed that everything happening before him was a test of his Demon of Heart, which chose an extremely frightening ordeal. "Foolish disciple... let Master teach you about love," Xu Mei said in a tender voice, untying her hanfu, letting it fall to the floor, allowing him to fall to the ground, and then sensually licked her lips, slowly approaching Xie Qing, who was tied to the bed. With each passing second, their lips drew closer and closer until they met in a kiss. Initially, Xie Qing''s mind went nk for a moment, and then he raised an eyebrow in bewilderment. He looked at his Demon of Heart and asked, "What the hell, I don''t feel anything?" The Demon of Heart remained speechless. "Dude, do you think I know how to kiss? I''m a damn simtion!" Chapter 11: Rich Lady Liu is looking for a lover... wait, what? Don''t forget to vote for the book using power stones. It will help promote the book, thank you! ==== If someone wants to buy something within the sect, they need to spend Contribution Points, which can be earned bypleting tasks. A very simple but effective system. "Although, the wealthy can just obtain techniques from the external world," Xie Qing thought, rolling his eyes again. "In this way, the gap between the rich and the poor was enormous." In the case of Xie Qing, he could simply write to his family, informing them of his breakthrough, and then seek assistance. And so, he sent a message yesterday. Knock-knock. "Looks like it''s here," Xie Qing thought, turning to the window and seeing a beautiful snowy bird gazing at him with intelligent eyes. The young man approached the window, opened it, petted the bird, and then opened a small bag on the bird''s back, pulling out a letter. Once he confirmed everything was fine, the bird chirped and flew away. Closing the window, Xie Qing sat at the table and opened the envelope with the letter, which had no distinctive features. It surprised him a little. "They didn''t even format the letter ording to official standards... What if it had been intercepted?" Xie Qing was speechless at his family''s carelessness but shrugged, taking out the letter. He was a bit excited ¨C he hadn''t written anything since leaving his family. And now, reading the reply, Xie Qing... was stunned. "WHAT?!" His loud cry drew the attention of the staff delivering dinner to Elder Xu''s Pavilion, but they just nced at each other and shrugged, returning to their work. Meanwhile, Xie Qing stood ¨C the chair was on the floor, and his facial expression distorted with anger and disappointment. "What does this mean: ''Enough of lying. We won''t give you a single Huang*''? Are you mocking me, bastards?" Xie Qing was angry, but at the same time, he felt despondent. Without his family''s support, it would be difficult for him to even acquire basic sword techniques, let alone something better. However, even if he sits down right now and wallows in his pathetic life, it won''t change anything. So, there was only one option: "I''ll find a sugar mommy!" Xie Qing said seriously. ...No, you will perform sect missions. *** Today was the most ordinary and boring day for Elder Lian Xin. She worked as the manager in the Task Pavilion, which usually assigned various tasks to disciples and distributed rewards, including the monthly quota of spiritual stones. Normally, she didn''t have to strain at all, as rarely anything happened that required attention. Today, as always, she went to work and was stunned to see a crowd in the Pavilion. "Why are there so many people here? Did someone release a level five importance mission?" Elder Lian wondered. Tasks were divided into five levels of importance. The higher the level, the greater the reward and, consequently, the danger. Level five importance missions were usually released extremely rarely due to the significant costs involved. "Hey, what''s going on here?" Elder Lian called out to another elder who stood with a tired face. "Elder Lian... it''s again Disciple White. He came to take a mission, and others approached him with offers to form a group. Then a battle started over who deserves to form a group with him. Now it has escted into a seriouspetition, and whoever wins can take Disciple White into their team," the elder exined in one breath ¨C his old face looked tired, and he wrinkled his face, muttering quietly: "Why didn''t I have such looks in my time? Tsk, tsk, tsk... The heavens are unjust." Ignoring the elder''s grumbling, Lian Xin noticed something else. Disciple White was the nickname given to Xie Qing by fellow disciples, and it was his official moniker. "Disciple Xie Qing is here?" she thought, shing a bright smile, feeling excitement. "What luck! I''ve seen him twice in a month! Could this crazy one finally show some kindness to the poor young man?" Although Lian Xin doubted that Xu Mei would ever change, she was still pleased with the current situation. Recalling that Xie Qing seemed to want to take on a mission, her eyes sparkled, and an imaginary light bulb appeared above her head. Pushing through the crowd and ignoring the disgruntled disciples, she reached the epicenter of it all - Xie Qing, who stood at the task reception counter with a strange expression on his face. In front of him, disciples formed a circle, leaving a space for two girls who were preparing for battle. "What are you doing in the Task Pavilion?! Scatter, all of you!" suddenly, a stern female voice echoed. "Eh?! Oh, it''s Elder Lian! Disperse, disperse!" As soon as Lian Xin shouted, the crowd of disciples dispersed, and the two girls who were preparing for battle could only sigh heavily and leave. It was no secret to everyone that Elder Lian Xin harbored a fondness for Xie Qing. Although some were dissatisfied, disrespecting the sect elder and disobeying her would be excessive. At the very least, their lives would turn into a nightmare. Even though themotion in the Task Pavilion diminished, there were still disciples observing Xie Qing''s actions, who had lost the ability to speak. "Can''t I just mind my own business?" he thought and shook his head, sighing and shrugging, "What a misfortune to be this beautiful... sigh. You wouldn''t wish it even on your enemy... or your loved ones. Being beautiful is tough." Well, he was arrogant. While Xie Qing was lost in his thoughts, Elder Lian approached him with an excited face. She didn''t immediately start a dialogue and just squinted her eyes at the elder who stood behind the counter. He immediately understood the hint and left, allowing Elder Lian to take his ce. "Disciple Xie Qing, what mission would you like to undertake?" Elder Lian asked with a bright smile. "Elder Lian," Xie Qing greeted her with a smile, then added, nudging the task sheet, "Here it is." "I''ll check it now..." Elder Lian nodded with slightly flushed cheeks and took the sheet in her hand, starting to read. As she read, she squinted more and more, and her face became as cold as ice ¨C the temperature in the surroundings dropped by several degrees. "Disciple Xie Qing... are you sure you were given the right sheet?" she asked, looking at him with an offended look - Xie Qing was puzzled. He suddenly grabbed the sheet in her hand and brought it to his face. "Oh..." [Mission ¨C third level of importance Description: A Lady from the rich Liu family in the city of Liuyan is looking for a potential lover. Requirements: be handsome, have a good physique, and be a cultivator at least at the Foundation Building stage. Reward: financial support from the Liu family, other details will be discussed face to face] "Ahem... Elder Lian, I think there''s a misunderstanding here. I decided to pick random tasks for outer court disciples, and it seems I identally grabbed the wrong one... let me take it back," Xie Qing said, fake coughing and blushing slightly. In reality, he deliberately took this mission but didn''t n to submit it for Elder Lian''s review and confused it with two other tasks in his hand. Elder Lian, who had been watching him, narrowed her eyes and shook her head. Then she smiled brightly and snatched the mission with questionable content from Xie Qing''s hands, nodding with a smile. "Of course, coincidences happen. And for now, allow me to burn this mission and put some people on the cklisted clients..." Elder Lian said with a smile. Xie Qing lost the ability to speak and raised an eyebrow. "Woman, can''t you let your disciples unleash their potential?" === *Huang is the money of the Huanglun Dynasty. Chapter 11: Rich Lady Liu is looking for a lover... wait, what? Don''t forget to vote for the book using power stones. It will help promote the book, thank you! ==== If someone wants to buy something within the sect, they need to spend Contribution Points, which can be earned bypleting tasks. A very simple but effective system. "Although, the wealthy can just obtain techniques from the external world," Xie Qing thought, rolling his eyes again. "In this way, the gap between the rich and the poor was enormous." In the case of Xie Qing, he could simply write to his family, informing them of his breakthrough, and then seek assistance. And so, he sent a message yesterday. Knock-knock. "Looks like it''s here," Xie Qing thought, turning to the window and seeing a beautiful snowy bird gazing at him with intelligent eyes. The young man approached the window, opened it, petted the bird, and then opened a small bag on the bird''s back, pulling out a letter. Once he confirmed everything was fine, the bird chirped and flew away. Closing the window, Xie Qing sat at the table and opened the envelope with the letter, which had no distinctive features. It surprised him a little. "They didn''t even format the letter ording to official standards... What if it had been intercepted?" Xie Qing was speechless at his family''s carelessness but shrugged, taking out the letter. He was a bit excited ¨C he hadn''t written anything since leaving his family. And now, reading the reply, Xie Qing... was stunned. "WHAT?!" His loud cry drew the attention of the staff delivering dinner to Elder Xu''s Pavilion, but they just nced at each other and shrugged, returning to their work. Meanwhile, Xie Qing stood ¨C the chair was on the floor, and his facial expression distorted with anger and disappointment. "What does this mean: ''Enough of lying. We won''t give you a single Huang*''? Are you mocking me, bastards?" Xie Qing was angry, but at the same time, he felt despondent. Without his family''s support, it would be difficult for him to even acquire basic sword techniques, let alone something better. However, even if he sits down right now and wallows in his pathetic life, it won''t change anything. So, there was only one option: "I''ll find a sugar mommy!" Xie Qing said seriously. ...No, you will perform sect missions. *** Today was the most ordinary and boring day for Elder Lian Xin. She worked as the manager in the Task Pavilion, which usually assigned various tasks to disciples and distributed rewards, including the monthly quota of spiritual stones. Normally, she didn''t have to strain at all, as rarely anything happened that required attention. Today, as always, she went to work and was stunned to see a crowd in the Pavilion. "Why are there so many people here? Did someone release a level five importance mission?" Elder Lian wondered. Tasks were divided into five levels of importance. The higher the level, the greater the reward and, consequently, the danger. Level five importance missions were usually released extremely rarely due to the significant costs involved. "Hey, what''s going on here?" Elder Lian called out to another elder who stood with a tired face. "Elder Lian... it''s again Disciple White. He came to take a mission, and others approached him with offers to form a group. Then a battle started over who deserves to form a group with him. Now it has escted into a seriouspetition, and whoever wins can take Disciple White into their team," the elder exined in one breath ¨C his old face looked tired, and he wrinkled his face, muttering quietly: "Why didn''t I have such looks in my time? Tsk, tsk, tsk... The heavens are unjust." Ignoring the elder''s grumbling, Lian Xin noticed something else. Disciple White was the nickname given to Xie Qing by fellow disciples, and it was his official moniker. "Disciple Xie Qing is here?" she thought, shing a bright smile, feeling excitement. "What luck! I''ve seen him twice in a month! Could this crazy one finally show some kindness to the poor young man?" Although Lian Xin doubted that Xu Mei would ever change, she was still pleased with the current situation. Recalling that Xie Qing seemed to want to take on a mission, her eyes sparkled, and an imaginary light bulb appeared above her head. Pushing through the crowd and ignoring the disgruntled disciples, she reached the epicenter of it all - Xie Qing, who stood at the task reception counter with a strange expression on his face. In front of him, disciples formed a circle, leaving a space for two girls who were preparing for battle. "What are you doing in the Task Pavilion?! Scatter, all of you!" suddenly, a stern female voice echoed. "Eh?! Oh, it''s Elder Lian! Disperse, disperse!" As soon as Lian Xin shouted, the crowd of disciples dispersed, and the two girls who were preparing for battle could only sigh heavily and leave. It was no secret to everyone that Elder Lian Xin harbored a fondness for Xie Qing. Although some were dissatisfied, disrespecting the sect elder and disobeying her would be excessive. At the very least, their lives would turn into a nightmare. Even though themotion in the Task Pavilion diminished, there were still disciples observing Xie Qing''s actions, who had lost the ability to speak. "Can''t I just mind my own business?" he thought and shook his head, sighing and shrugging, "What a misfortune to be this beautiful... sigh. You wouldn''t wish it even on your enemy... or your loved ones. Being beautiful is tough." Well, he was arrogant. While Xie Qing was lost in his thoughts, Elder Lian approached him with an excited face. She didn''t immediately start a dialogue and just squinted her eyes at the elder who stood behind the counter. He immediately understood the hint and left, allowing Elder Lian to take his ce. "Disciple Xie Qing, what mission would you like to undertake?" Elder Lian asked with a bright smile. "Elder Lian," Xie Qing greeted her with a smile, then added, nudging the task sheet, "Here it is." "I''ll check it now..." Elder Lian nodded with slightly flushed cheeks and took the sheet in her hand, starting to read. As she read, she squinted more and more, and her face became as cold as ice ¨C the temperature in the surroundings dropped by several degrees. "Disciple Xie Qing... are you sure you were given the right sheet?" she asked, looking at him with an offended look - Xie Qing was puzzled. He suddenly grabbed the sheet in her hand and brought it to his face. "Oh..." [Mission ¨C third level of importance Description: A Lady from the rich Liu family in the city of Liuyan is looking for a potential lover. Requirements: be handsome, have a good physique, and be a cultivator at least at the Foundation Building stage. Reward: financial support from the Liu family, other details will be discussed face to face] "Ahem... Elder Lian, I think there''s a misunderstanding here. I decided to pick random tasks for outer court disciples, and it seems I identally grabbed the wrong one... let me take it back," Xie Qing said, fake coughing and blushing slightly. In reality, he deliberately took this mission but didn''t n to submit it for Elder Lian''s review and confused it with two other tasks in his hand. Elder Lian, who had been watching him, narrowed her eyes and shook her head. Then she smiled brightly and snatched the mission with questionable content from Xie Qing''s hands, nodding with a smile. "Of course, coincidences happen. And for now, allow me to burn this mission and put some people on the cklisted clients..." Elder Lian said with a smile. Xie Qing lost the ability to speak and raised an eyebrow. "Woman, can''t you let your disciples unleash their potential?" === *Huang is the money of the Huanglun Dynasty. Chapter 12: Too weak to complete the task? Hold my beer! Despite the awkward situation when Xie Qing was taken by the hand while attempting to ept a dubious task, Elder Lian decided not to mention it. She reviewed two tasks that were not particrly dangerous and simply required obtaining some resource, whether monster cores or spiritual nts. "These two tasks require a cultivator at the Foundation Building level. Are you sure you can handle them?" Elder Lian asked with concern ¨C it was evident that she was more worried about Xie Qing''s safety. "Yes. I am fully prepared," said Xie Qing with a smile, then released his Qi. "Second stage of Foundation Building!" Elder Lian eximed in astonishment with clear surprise on her face. Nervously, she asked, "Did you break through the barrier? Moreover... your Qi is so pure! It''sparable to the intermediate stage of Foundation Building!" Lian Xin experienced a strong shock along with joy. Xie Qing had shown no signs of advancing to a new level in four years, and now he miraculously broke through to Foundation Building, which could be a small but solid step toward his future. Moreover, as Elder Lian had already mentioned, the purity of Xie Qing''s Qi reached the intermediate stage of the Foundation Building, which was incredible and unheard of. "Okay, with your level at the second stage of Foundation Building, these missions won''t be as challenging... these tasks were created and sent from the city of Xinjiang, under the control of the Huanglun Dynasty," Lian Xin informed, adding, "The road is slightly dangerous as it is mostly infested with petty bandits. By the way, if you kill them, you''ll receive a reward from the chief of the Xinjiang city." "Bandits..." Xie Qing thought, recalling those small gangs. The bandit problem was not new ¨C it spread across all continents like worms, and onlynds upied by sects and major cities could exist without these worms. In the vicinity, within 10,000 Li, there was not a single bandit because here, in the mountains, was the Sect of Heavenly Sword, which with its presence scared off bandits. And those who were bolder were simply killed by the inner disciples for the sect''s tasks. And the road to Xinjiang City was also somewhat dangerous because of the bandits. But this was for mortals... for cultivators at the peak of Foundation Building, these bandits were like infants. "If I encounter them, I should capture a few alive... it will be more profitable for me since the reward for a live bandit is higher," Xie Qing thought and smiled, saying aloud, "Then I must set out on the task. Thank you for your help, Elder Lian." "Always wee, Disciple Xie Qing," Lian Xin said with a smile, her cheeks blushing. After a brief pause, she suddenly reached into her cleavage and pulled out a small pouch, handing it to Xie Qing with a red face. "Um... this... take it! It will help you on your journey!" "Huh? Uh, thanks..." Xie Qing thanked Lian Xin, looking puzzled and raising an eyebrow. "Woman, do you have a spatial pocket in your cleavage?" *** Xie Qing had to write a short letter and leave it in his room before embarking on the task. He would have liked to personally notify his Master of his departure, but he couldn''t find her anywhere. Then one of the workers said that Xu Mei and the Sect Master had gone to some meeting, so he could only shrug and leave, leaving the letter. Standing at the exit, in front of the massive gates, Xie Qing became a little nervous. Thest time he saw these gates was when he entered the sect, and it brought back not the best memories. "I came to this ce with fear and depression, but I''m leaving with new hopes and determination," Xie Qing thought, and reflecting on the past helped him calm down a bit. He thought, "Anyway, if I want to be strong, I need stimtion... and what can stimte me more than the red-light district?... Uh, I mean, battles, yes!" Xie Qing blushed a bit at his thoughts and interrupted his imagination, which was working at full power. After a while, he gathered courage and headed towards the gates. Two elders guarded the gates ¨C they were men who looked to be 40-45 years old, but in reality, they were old farts. "Elders," Xie Qing greeted them, folding his hands in front of him. Then he straightened his back and presented the permission he obtained at the Task Pavilion: "I would like to leave the sect toplete missions. Here''s the permission." "Hm." One of the elders, named Zhang Wei, had short ck hair and gray eyes, with a mustached face. After ncing at the permission, which looked like a disciple''s token but rhombus-shaped, he infused his Qi into it, obtaining the details. "Hm? You''re Disciple Xie Qing, right? ording to thetest records, your cultivation level is at Enlightenment, which is an extremely low indicator, and usually, such disciples cannot get permission to undertake most missions. Moreover, there are strict requirements for a cultivator at the Foundation Building level, not less than the second stage." Elder Zhang looked at Xie Qing with obvious disdain on his face. He thought Xie Qing was one of those disciples who overestimated their abilities and tried to take on missions beyond their level. "What were the Task Pavilion elders even thinking?" the elder muttered dissatisfiedly, then turned to Xie Qing and said sternly, "Outer court disciple, we can give you permission to leave, but you''ll have to first hand over the token and ask to be relieved of these missions to avoid penalties for missing the deadline." "Elder Yu is right, Disciple Xie Qing. The outside world is dangerous for those who haven''t reached the Foundation Building level. We wouldn''t want our sect disciple to die so pitifully," Elder Zhang said with a cold face, then handed the token to Xie Qing, who had been silent, listening to them. "Here''s your mission token." "..." However, Xie Qing did not take the token and continued to stare at the two elders, who were already getting annoyed. In their opinion, this outer court disciple was too arrogant and seemed to not value the advice of his seniors, and even more, did not value his own life! And just as Elder Zhang was ready to reprimand Xie Qing, the young man suddenly spoke. "So, if I reach the Foundation Building level, I can leave and undertake this mission?" Xie Qing asked with an impassive face ¨C his facial muscles were rxed, and his eyes showed no emotions. It was impossible to understand what he was feeling. "...Hm? Uh, yes, you''re right," Elder Zhang replied, his anger disappearing because of Xie Qing''s words. He hastily added, "But I doubt you can reach that level so quickly... ording to the information on your token, you have Mortal-grade talent." Discrimination based on talents was even more reinforced in the four main sects, as each disciple was strictly evaluated in the entrance exams. Xie Qing could only pass because he was supported by the Xie family, which funded some sect tasks. They had the right to admit someone from their family into the sect, and it was legal, though one shouldn''t expect any special treatment. Despite being handsome and undoubtedly attracting a lot of attention, Xie Qing''s talent was very poor. Therefore, he was not as interesting, and many disciples felt contempt for him, including the elders, mostly out of envy. "So, you need to..." Elder Zhang was talking, trying to lecture Xie Qing, until he froze in shock. His breath caught, and Elder Zhang stared at Xie Qing with an open mouth. The young man, with an indifferent expression, released his aura, which had a pale golden color. "Ugh..." For a fraction of a second, just for a fraction of a second, Elder Zhang felt danger, but before he could react, that feeling vanished. "W-what was that?" Chapter 13: Xu Meis return, meeting with the enemy Elder Zhang was a cultivator at the Qi Condensation ¨C 5th stage, considered a decent level for holding the position of an elder, although their advantages would be limited. Hence, they were left guarding the gate, more akin to the duties of a sentry or a Swiss guard. In his youth, he possessed Earthly-level talent, which was not very impressive but still decent in a way. However, due to the difference in talent, his peers had long surpassed him in status. Even so, he was confident. Rarely did Elder Zhang have to experience fear, and yet... Today was different. His spine tingled from the aura released by Xie Qing. It felt as if he had returned to his disciple days when he secretly watched the beloved of a main court disciple, only to be beaten in front of everyone. ...Well, his past wasn''t enviable. "F-Foundation Building second stage... alright, you meet the requirements. Good luck," Elder Yu quickly said, noticing that Elder Zhang remained silent. Elder Yu was afraid that Zhang Wei would be angry with Xie Qing, who concealed his cultivation level and spent time with both of them... though it wasn''t an excuse for such actions; Elder Zhang had a nasty temper. Xie Qing nodded and didn''t continue the argument, passing through the open gate after a few minutes. His back disappeared from the two elders. Sighing, Elder Yu waved his hand and activated his Qi formation responsible for opening and closing the doors. When the characteristic creak sounded, the elder turned to his colleague. "Who would have thought this kid is at the Foundation Building level... ah, I wasted my breath trying to educate him. How embarrassing," Elder Yu said and sighed. "..." "Hm? Zhang Wei, why are you silent?" Elder Yu raised an eyebrow in surprise when, even after five minutes, his friend didn''t respond. To bring Zhang Wei back to his senses, he reached out and... Thud! A dull sound echoed. Elder Yu was stunned when he saw his colleague fall to the floor with foaming out of his mouth. "Call the disciples of the Medicine Pavilion!" *** Meanwhile, Xie Qing, who was leisurely walking along the road, suddenly received a notification. Ding! [Spiritual Roots have been improved... current improvement: 2%]. "Hmm?" Xie Qing suddenly stopped and raised an eyebrow in surprise. The notification in front of him made the young man slightly puzzled. He couldn''t understand why his spiritual roots had been improved. "Don''t understand..." he thought, then shrugged: "Well, never mind. I need to hurry to the city, and meanwhile, I''ll have some fun..." The young man nodded and clenched his fists ¨C suddenly his gaze filled with determination as he recalled some details about the city of Xinjiang. Although this city wasn''t famous per se, as it was located in the wilderness, Xie Qing already had some information about this ce. "The red-light district there is quite developed... besides, there''s a rumor that the influential Yang family manages this district, opposing the Yin family..." Xie Qing thought, and his face took on a strange expression: "Yin and Yang opposed to each other... if members of these two families get married, then their union will be called Yin-Yang?" Xie Qing chuckled, then shook his head. Suddenly, he felt like this joke dulled his wit and cost him a few dozen IQ points. Then he continued his way. Thanks to his cultivator''s body, he could walk for two days without stopping and not get tired. All thanks to Qi, which absorbed into his body, thereby filling it with energy. Sometimeter... It was already evening. Xie Qing stopped on a deserted road surrounded by a forest. This ce was the shortest route on the map. "By the way, when I was walking towards this road, I caught many pity-filled nces. Why is that?" Xie Qing pondered and suddenly jumped. "Ha-a!" Boom! The ground under his feet exploded, causing him to react just in time and jump aside. Seeing a crater two meters in diameter where he stood, Xie Qing''s face turned dark. He drew his sword, resting in the sheath on his belt. Almost immediately, he activated the "Heavenly Sword" technique, which helped strengthen his body. "Tsk, tsk, tsk... dodged it, you scoundrel," sounded a cold and rough voice filled with murderous intent. Xie Qing couldn''t help but narrow his eyes; his face turned cold, and his aura became as sharp as a sword. He knew this person''s voice very well. "You..." *** Meanwhile, Xu Mei returned to the sect and first decided to visit Xie Qing, wishing to check his progress. It seemed he should have broken through to a new level by now. "I wonder if he seeded. This cultivation technique was extremely difficult, and even I couldn''t understand it. Moreover, I couldn''t even read it as it was in some strange ancientnguage!" Xu Mei thought and sighed, reminiscing about her youth. "But I''m sure he''s fine. After all, his body reacted to this scroll, which means they arepatible." Xu Mei was very pleased with herself. She managed to somehow snatch this technique from Zhang Mei, who still gives her trouble, trying to find out to whom Xu Mei passed the technique. "Although I returned the scroll to her, this fool still hasn''t calmed down," Xu Mei thought, rolling her eyes. "What''s her problem? Now she even wants to meet my disciple, probably to recruit him into her sect to keep the secret... ha, she''s delusional! Xie Qing is mine only!" Shaking her head, she quickly returned to her Pavilion. Not wanting to waste time wandering through the rooms, she activated the "Gaze of God" technique. "Hmm? He''s not in the Pavilion," Xu Mei thought, frowning. She expanded the influence of the technique, covering the entire sect with it, but even so, she couldn''t find Xie Qing. "Hmmm? Is he not in the sect? Did he go somewhere?" Xu Mei was surprised. Even when she suggested Xie Qing leave the sect, he would simply refuse, as if she sent him to his death. And now, without any escort, he dared to leave on his own? "Weird. He''s not so arrogant to think that he broke through and is now invincible," Xu Mei pondered. Then her technique sensed changes in Xie Qing''s room, where a lettery on the table. "Ah, there it is... probably a clue." A vortex of blue Qi appeared around her, and then she disappeared. In the next second, she appeared in Xie Qing''s room and already held the letter in her hand. After reading it, she was puzzled. "Toplete sect missions? Why? As far as I know, he has never been interested in this. Maybe he went to test his strength?" she wondered, and then she noticed an open envelope, from which another letter peeked out. "This is not for me... but as a master, I am obliged to check my disciple''s letters, right?" ..., no, but her logic was a bit strange, so whatever. And now, after reading the letter, Xu Mei''s face turned cold. She was angry. "The Xie Family... these worms seemed to support the Task Pavilion with funding? Come to think of it, I never checked my disciple''s past and biography," she pondered, frowning. Holding her golden token made of pure gold, she directed her Qi inside, and then a voice echoed. "Do you need something, Master?" A voice came from the token, Lian Lin''s voice, sounding a bit sleepy. It seems she had only recently woken up. "Gather all the information about Xie Qing for me, anything. Investigate his past." "Hmm?" Chapter 14: Massage for the Master! (R-18, extra) Extra. Tells about Xie Qing giving a massage to Xu Mei. Not relevant to the main story. Contains erotic content (18+) ==== Xie Qing was having a normal day. As a disciple of the sect, he was supposed to spend most of his time cultivating, but he found it a waste of time. Not because he waszy or bored, but because he couldn''t improve any further! He had reached the limit of his talent, which was a pity for a member of the Xie family. In the early days of being a disciple, he was an inexperienced young man who didn''t know what to do next. Several elders, who were all women for some reason, had a fierce fight over the right to be his master. When Elder Lian was about to use her Sword Aura for an attack, Xu Mei appeared and suppressed all the elders in five seconds, then took Xie Qing to her pavilion. Since then, he had to work. One of his duties was to give Xu Mei a massage. "Master... are you sure?" Xie Qing asked, raising his eyebrows. He looked at her and saw only a thin robe that clung to her skin in some ces, as she had juste out of the bath. Although her "important ces" were covered, the young man had to rely on his imagination. "Come on, get started," Xu Mei said casually. "Alright..." Xie Qing felt a little offended and confused. Usually, women were very sensitive about showing their skin to a man, while Xu Mei was casual, which could only mean one thing... she didn''t see him as a man! Not that Xie Qing was particrly surprised by this, as there was a big age difference. Xu Mei was old enough to be his great-grandmother, although he still felt ufortable when she was so indifferent. "Hm..." suddenly a thought came to his mind, and he smiled: "Why not, ordingly? I could try..." This was the second massage session, and Xie Qing was prepared. He had even read several massage books from the free library, so he was skilled. "Then get started, foolish disciple. Your skills were terriblest time, and I almost hit you, so try harder," Xu Mei said, yawning and lying down on the couch face down. Xie Qing''s eyes flickered when he saw her slender body and tempting buttocks. Xu Mei''s body was a work of art, with some parts of her body developed in the right ce and asionally making the young man stare. The massage process began. At first, Xie Qing''s movements were clumsy and did not bring pleasure, but with each second, he improved, which surprised Xu Mei a little. "Judging by this, her sensitive point... is here!" Xie Qing smiled and pressed on Xu Mei''s left shoulder de, and she suddenly shuddered. This technique he learned from the books, which surprisingly helped and even needed to use Qi to increase pleasure. And that''s what he did. The reaction was immediate. Xu Mei''s eyes trembled and filled with tears, and her teeth bit her lower lip continuously. A thin and barely noticeable floral scent appeared in the room, which puzzled Xie Qing a little. However, he continued his action, and this time Xu Mei let out a soft moan that echoed in the room. Xie Qing was astonished. "Aah!" His jaw almost dropped to the floor when he saw the embarrassment on his master''s face and her blurry blue eyes. He was stunned. This sight... was very attractive. Xie Qing couldn''t help but get excited, seeing her current state. Something inside him clicked, as if a switch had been flipped, and he continued the massage, using his Qi to the fullest, which was rapidly depleting. However, the result was that the floral scent intensified, while Xu Mei arched her back and made a strange "pssss" sound, but before Xie Qing could react, his master disappeared. Looking at the couch, he saw arge stain. "This...?" Xie Qing shook his head in shock. He was not an innocent boy and knew what it was, so his embarrassment grew. And feeling his jade rod inbat readiness, he could only sigh. --- On one of the following days, Xu Mei went to the massage room. The young man was already there, waiting for her. He was holding a small book with massage techniques in his hand, and his face was expressionless. Xu Mei looked at his face and couldn''t help but blush. No matter how much she looked, her heart still beat faster, like a young girl. "Good morning," she said, restoring her usual strictness and indifference to her face and voice. "Good morning, Master," Xie Qing greeted her, standing up from his seat and pointing to the couch: "Here, lie down." Xu Mei looked at his face, ncing briefly at Xie Qing, and not noticing any embarrassment or unnaturalness on his face, she was a little disappointed. This time, she was prepared and had worn appropriate clothing that allowed her to feel Xie Qing''s touches more subtly. Although she didn''t want to admit it, every time he massaged her, she couldn''t help but get aroused. Although the young man didn''t touch her intimate areas and only massaged her back and calves, the flows of Qi were like an electric current running through her entire body. "You can start," she said and stuck her face into the appropriate hole in the couch. She had bought it at the market from some merchant, and as it turned out, not in vain. It was convenient for her to put her face in and hide it just in case. What if she made a strange moan and showed a strange expression on her face? "I''m not ready for such shame," Xu Mei thought, ignoring the fact that her thoughts were not the purest. In any case, Xie Qing did not hesitate, and his hands began to rub Xu Mei''s back, who moaned softly, encouraging him. "She''s so slender," Xie Qing thought, and his eyes narrowed at her buttocks: "Damn... what a figure she has. Although her character needs to be corrected, one cannot deny that she is a beauty." "H-hey?! W-where are you touching me, foolish disciple?!" Xu Mei squeaked and looked at his hand, which was rubbing her butt. The young man came to his senses after Xu Mei''s squeak, and with a serious face, he said: "I thought your treasure was too tense. It''s bad for your health and can lead to bad consequences." "D-did it?" Xu Mei blinked and decided to pretend to believe his exnation, andy down again. She did not ask him to remove his hand from her butt because... "Damn it... I''m getting turned on! I feel a liquid flowing down my thighs." Thin, semi-transparent droplets flowed down her thighs. And although it was shameful... she didn''t want to stop it. It turned out that Xie Qing, like a selfless warrior, was rubbing her butt, taking care of this ce more than anything else. Not hearing any objections from Xu Mei, he decided to help her with noble intentions. "How supple..." Xie Qing thought, and then his hand slid down her left buttock to her thighs. Then he made a surprised sound: "Hm?" "What?" Xu Mei asked nervously. "Nothing," Xie Qing replied, shaking his head. He looked at his finger, which was covered in liquid. It smelled like flowers, and he was not a naive boy who didn''t understand anything. His gaze at Xu Mei became strange. "She... is she thinking of me in that way?" the young man wondered. Continuing to touch her body, even through clothing, he felt all her softness. And with each second, the floral scent became stronger and stronger. At one point, Xie Qing identally touched her forbidden button, and a reaction came from Xu Mei. "Aaaaah!" Xie Qing heard only a loud moan, and then a white veil appeared before his eyes. When he came to his senses, Xu Mei was gone, and there was arge stain on the couch, while a floral scent hung in the air. "Erm..." Chapter 15: Guan Baichi "Tsk, tsk, tsk... dodged it, you scoundrel," sounded a cold and rough voice filled with murderous intent. Xie Qing couldn''t help but narrow his eyes; his face turned cold, and his aura became as sharp as a sword. He knew this person''s voice very well. "You..." Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, feeling the cold grasp on every cell in his heart. Nervousness made his eyes tremble. "It seems you''ve recognized me. Hehehe, I guess such a sweet life hasn''t rotted your brain," the man in front of him said, emerging from the shadows, and revealing himself in all his glory. "Guan Baichi..." The man before him looked extremely hideous - Guan Baichi was tall, with a shining bald head and gray eyes that sparkled with cunning and malice. A scar ran from his forehead to his chin, as if someone had attempted to split him in two but unfortunately failed. Guan Baichi was towering at two meters in height, only eight centimeters taller than Xie Qing, yet his muscr appearance alone made Xie Qing wary. What''s more... "Ugh... he''s as hairy as a monkey," Xie Qing thought, his face contorting with disgust. Nevertheless, no matter how repulsed he felt, Xie Qing had to be cautious. After all, this grotesque figure was... subordinate to his elder brother, XieHui! Guan Baichi, in the past, was a murderer and criminal wanted in several cities and viges. His list of crimes was filled with all sorts of atrocities, causing Xie Qing extreme aversion to this man. However, his elder brother, Xie Hui, helped this monster hide under his protection, and even the head of the Xie family showed no reaction, silently giving consent. The cultivation of this man was at the peak Foundation Building stage, just one step away from Qi Condensation. Hence, Xie Qing was on guard. "What do you want?" Xie Qing asked, pretending to be indifferent. "Hehehe... young Master Qing has grown up; now he can talk to this servant without fear," Guan Baichi said, smirking. His voice carried undisguised mockery and disdain as he continued, "I''ve been standing here for two years, waiting for you to stick your head out of the sect, but little did I think you were so cowardly." "Hm?" Xie Qing frowned. This tone made him wary. Over twenty different thoughts crossed his mind, ultimately forming one word: "Assassination!" Raising an eyebrow, Xie Qing finally grasped what had happened. Soon, there would be elections for the next family leader, or more precisely, the heir. Although unofficially it was Xie Hui, ording to thews of the Xie family, one had to show and prove their suitability for this task. Anything goes, from personal strength to connections and wealth. If your advantages surpass those of your opponent, chances of victory are likely, and you''ll be the official heir. "Hmm... thest son of the Xie family will turn eighteen in a year, activating thepetition. This means... Xie Xui has taken action!" Xie Qing''s face darkened; he understood his elder brother''s thoughts very well. It would be much easier to eliminatepetitors than to diligently and honestly fight in the battle. This greatly disappointed him. "Fratricide is not the most surprising thing in families like the Xie family. I was prepared for this from day one and nned to stay in the sect until they forget about me," thought Xie Qing, then clenched his fists, his gaze filled with determination. "But hell, I won''t give up without a fight. Acquiring talent, I must use it to seize influence in the Xie family. That way, I''ll get rid of thebel of insignificance." Xie Qing gradually calmed down, and spiritual energy with a slightly golden hue emanated from his body. "Oh? Do you want to fight? Sure about that?" sneered Guan Baichi, pulling out a sledgehammer from his belt and striking the ground. Boom! A roar echoed, and the Qi released from the sledgehammer prated the earth, causing it to shake as if in an earthquake. New cracks appeared, and Xie Qing had to exert himself to avoid falling from the sudden tremor. By the time he recovered, the sledgehammer was already two meters from his face. "!!!" Widening his eyes, Xie Qing directed Qi to his legs and then used reinforcement to retreat. Boom! Boom! Where Xie Qing stood moments ago, a pit formed from Guan Baichi''s powerful strike. The man looked at Xie Qing with slight surprise. "I admit, you''ve indeed improved. I no longer see fear in your movements, and your strength has undergone pleasant changes," praised Guan Baichi but then grinned. "But that''s not enough, boy. I''m much stronger than you, and most importantly, more experienced." "Hmph..." Xie Qing frowned when his weak point was pointed out. The downsides of his lifestyle were evident, as he had gained nobat experience during this time, a significant disadvantage for a cultivator that could only be remedied through prolonged training. After Guan Baichi said nothing more, he directed his power to the next strike. Boom! "Stop dodging!" Boom! "Fight like a man!" Boom! "Ugh... annoying worm! Stop squirming!" Guan Baichi''s sessive strikes missed their target ¨C Xie Qing evaded them, though it was incredibly challenging. At this moment, the young man had the advantage in speed, but this advantage could disappear if the battle dragged on. "I''m starting to get tired, and my Qi is depleting... besides, the ''Heavenly Sword'' technique is weakening," thought Xie Qing, frowning. What terrified him was that he knew no techniques beyond the basics, which could only be useful at the Enlightenment stage. Yet, this was a battle of cultivators at the Foundation Building stage! "Darn!" Xie Qing felt irritation and fear simultaneously. The sledgehammer passed five centimeters from his face, and the power he felt from it made Xie Qing alert ¨C if he had been even a secondte, he would have been scattered into pieces! "You''re so irritating," grumbled Guan Baichi, disying impatience, affecting the precision of his strikes. "Hehehe... boy, you''ll have to try hard if you want to catch this uncle. Although what can I say, your name speaks for itself," smirked Xie Qing, mocking his opponent. "You..." Offended, Guan Baichi frowned, then shook his head and jumped back, creating a distance of ten meters. "Fine, then I won''t hold back. Who would have thought that such a weakling like you could pose any threat to me," said Guan Baichi, then pped his hands loudly, shouting, "Tiger''s Battle Mastery!" Xie Qing felt something amiss, and his sixth sense screamed of danger. So, he turned around and started running, ignoring Guan Baichi''s mockery. However, in the next second, Xie Qing shockingly discovered that he was running in ce and couldn''t escape! Moreover, his Qi was in disarray; something was blocking it! Looking back at Guan Baichi, Xie Qing saw a smirk on his face, and even more ¨C a malicious grin. "You won''t escape from here. Tiger''s Battle Mastery is a restricting technique that consumes Qi and blood, making it very powerful... it can only be broken when your level surpasses mine, which is impossible for you... hahaha!" Xie Qing was left speechless. "Why are you even telling me about the weakness of your technique? Are you an idiot?" === *The name Baichi means idiot. Chapter 16: Kill! "You won''t escape from here. Tiger''s Battle Mastery is a restricting technique that consumes Qi and blood, making it very powerful... it can only be broken when your level surpasses mine, which is impossible for you... hahaha!" Xie Qing lost the ability to speak, but he couldn''t deny that he was indeed in a difficult situation. His body was constrained, and he couldn''t even move a finger, which greatly frustrated him. Any attempt to activate Qi ended in piercing pain and a feeling as if something was blocking the flow of Qi. This was extremely ufortable for a cultivator. "Hahaha! Now I need to figure out how to kill you... Honestly, Mr. Xie Xui didn''t give specific instructions about this, apparently considering you a mere insignificant being, leaving the rest to my shoulders. What an honor to have such trust in myself!" Guan Baichi spoke to himself, licking his lips. Under the influence of Xie Qing''s technique, which limited him, he suddenly smirked and then startedughing as if he heard the funniest joke. "Hm?" Naturally, this made Guan Baichi raise an eyebrow. Xie Qing could read surprise in his eyes, which amused him even more. Due to Xie Qing''s prolongedughter, Guan Baichi began to get irritated. He angrily shouted, seemingly trying to intimidate the youth. "What''s so funny, idiot?! Do you want to die?" Guan Baichi asked irritably, snorting. "Hehehe... cough, okay, okay. I''ve calmed down... pfff!" Xie Qing put on a serious expression, then burst intoughter again. It only stopped after two minutes. When he saw Guan Baichi''s angry face, he exined, "I''mughing at your statement about Xie Xui''s trust in you... haha! Do you believe that yourself?" "What?" Guan Baichi frowned. It was evident that he was trying to understand something, but he couldn''t. So, Xie Qing, like a patient teacher, began to exin to him. "If you didn''t know, I am the biological son of Xie Meiling. So... figure the rest out yourself," Xie Qing said with a smirk, then added, "In simpler terms, you''re just a pawn... my dear, hehehe." "..." Guan Baichi lost his ability to speak. Finally, the puzzle in his mind came together, and he understood everything. Naturally, he couldn''t be unaware of Xie Meiling, who became the reason why the current head of the Xie family could attain this position. Although nominally Xie Hai is considered the head, in reality, it''s Xie Meiling whorgely manages the family. She simply handles only important matters, so not many have heard of her. Xie Hai remains the representative of the Xie family. Even an idiot like Guan Baichi knew what would happen if Xie Meiling found out about Xie Qing''s death. After all, he was her only biological son, while the other brothers were from different mothers. "Damn! Mr. Xie Xui wants to use me as a scapegoat! If I kill him, they''ll immediately destroy me when I arrive at the Xie family, and if I don''t kill him, Xie Xui will kill me!" Guan Baichi faced a serious dilemma. Although he was confident he could escape from Xie Xui, he didn''t even consider attempting to run from Xie Meiling. This woman had connections across all continents. His life would turn into that of a rat, constantly running through sewers to avoid encountering people! It was a dreadful fate he didn''t desire at all. Xie Qing observed the confusion on Guan Baichi''s face and silently rejoiced that he managed to deceive him. The fact that Xie Meiling would seek revenge for him was true, but he didn''t expect it to work as a form of intimidation. "But it seems he got a bit scared... while this blockhead thinks about what to do, I need toe up with something," thought Xie Qing, then sighed. "But I can''t do anything! I won''t be able to break through to Qi Condensation so quickly, as it''s impossible in such a short time, and besides, I don''t have a strong foundation." And while he pondered, Guan Baichi suddenly burst intoughter. Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, looking at him. "You almost seeded in scaring me. Fortunately, I remembered that Lady Xie hasn''t been seen for a long time, and her subordinates have gradually been eliminated to avoid getting in the way," said Guan Baichi, smirking, and added, "It''s quite possible that this arrogant bitch died somewhere. Oh well, I would have liked to make use of her... at least once! She has such a fantastic and sexy body..." Guan Baichi licked his lips, looking extremely repulsive. The aura of perversion emanated from him, causing Xie Qing to freeze, and then his face turned cold. And while Guan Baichi was lost in his thoughts, a strong murderous intent interrupted him. Raising his head, he saw Xie Qing looking at him with coldness in his gaze. "Uh-huh? The aura of this brat is stronger than I thought... judging by this, he has killed quite a few," Guan Baichi thought, frowning. "But I know that this kid can''t even chop down a tree, let alone take a life." But then something unbelievable happened. The Battle Tiger technique, which he boasted about so much, began to show signs of deterioration ¨C numerous cracks started spreading from where Xie Qing stood. "Kha-a-ah!" Bound by his technique, Guan Baichi coughed and spat out a clot of blood. His face turned pale, and Qi and blood began to deplete rapidly for reconstruction. However, even this didn''t help the situation because after two seconds... Crack. Crack. Crack. Countless cracks spread from Xie Qing, and soon the incredible happened... Boom! His technique was nullified! Xie Qing escaped the dangerous situation and stood before Guan Baichi. "What?" The ugly man was not pleased that Xie Qing managed to escape the clutches of death. This rmed him. "Wait a minute, they only mentioned his abilities as ''insignificant.'' So why did he manage to break free from the influence of my technique?!" Guan Baichi thought in shock, then trembled. "My Qi... is depleted?! Damn!" Xie Qing stomped on the ground and drew his sword, immediately reinforcing it with basic technique to prevent the de from cracking. Then, taking a step back, he assumed a stance with his right foot forward and left foot behind the right one, twenty centimeters apart. The sword was raised in the air, lying horizontally in his hand ¨C the de directed straight at the weakened Guan Baichi. "This..." Guan Baichi showed a shocked expression, of course. Because the sword technique Xie Qing used was the same one used by the sessor of the Sect of Nine Pills, Lu Yin! Everything happened in an instant. The sword de seemed to disappear, leaving only the hilt held by Xie Qing. Guan Baichi''s reaction was severely reduced due to Qi and blood exhaustion, so he didn''t have time to react. "Eh?" Suddenly, Guan Baichi touched his neck, and blood began to flow from his mouth. His eyes widened in shock. The technique Xie Qing used... managed to cut Guan Baichi''s neck in half. It was a power that even Xie Qing himself didn''t expect, as he learned this technique during a moment of anger for some reason, many years ago. Ding! [Knowledge has been acquired... technique analysis!] Ding! [...] Xie Qing didn''t bother to read the second notification and quickly approached Guan Baichi, who was lying on the ground, clutching his neck. Without waiting for his opponent''s reaction, Xie Qing gripped the hilt and swung with all his strength. ...! A silent scream came from Guan Baichi, who couldn''t shout because his vocal cords were severed. The de, along with the entire sword, deeply prated Guan Baichi''s body and pierced his heart! "Ugh..." Xie Qing frowned, feeling resistance from Guan Baichi''s body, but he applied more force. Eventually, after five seconds, the man stopped resisting. He froze with wide-open eyes, showing fear and despair. "Ha-a..." Xie Qing breathed heavily and copsed on the ground. His forehead was covered in sweat, as was his back, while his body trembled. Ding! [Congrattions! You have killed Guan Baichi (Foundation Building ¨C Stage 9)!] [You have killed an opponent stronger than you... data analysis] [Congrattions on obtaining the item: Nameless Sword] Chapter 17: Xinjiang City The flurry of notifications made Xie Qing narrow his eyes in irritation. At this moment, he felt terrible, both physically and mentally. It was the first time he had killed someone. Although the feeling was unpleasant, he quickly epted the fact that his hands were now stained with blood. "There''s no other way. What kind of cultivator am I if killing a bandit affects me?" he thought, sighing as the disgust gradually faded. He pondered, "My future path may be adorned with corpses. So, I need to get used to bloody scenes." While resting, allowing his cultivation technique to replenish his Qi on its own, he shifted his attention to a notification he hadn''t read due to a crucial moment in the battle. [True Yin Technique] | [Rank: Unique] | [Description: This technique is designed for the use of True Yin, possessed only by virgins or powerful cultivators who have enhanced their Yin through various spiritual herbs. Thanks to a special Yin element, the sword movements will be concealed, making it impossible to track the de. By the way, men cannot use it, so don''t use it unless you want trouble...] "This..." Xie Qing shockingly opened his eyes, and upon reading thest line, fear gripped his heart. He understood well that techniques based on the Yin element were dangerous for men. "I won''t die, right? This looks dangerous," Xie Qing pondered but felt no difort. This greatly puzzled him. In essence, he should be writhing in severe pain right now, but all he felt was fatigue after the battle. As they say, ignorance is bliss. His cultivation technique was so powerful that it effortlessly absorbed the Yin formed due to the use of the True Yin Technique. Thus, he began to recover gradually. *** Xie Qing left the ce after finishing his rest. Staying there any longer would be dangerous, as the surrounding area was open, and their battle could attract beasts. At the spot where the unburied corpsey, a beautiful woman in an elegant pink dress appeared, covering her entire body from prying eyes. It was Xu Mei! "Hmm? I distinctly feel his Qi in this ce... only who is this wretch? A strong aura of death emanates from him... it seems his karma is tainted," Xu Mei thought, then looked at the sword thrust into Guan Baichi''s chest. She was surprised, "Did my foolish disciple do this? How amazing... approaching a peak Foundation Building cultivator is not an easy task. How did he manage it?" Despite Xu Mei seeing this battle as if two children were fighting, she never forgot to analyze the situation. Her spiritual sense touched the bloodstains, and her face suddenly distorted in anger. One of the blood droplets belonged to Xie Qing. "This bastard... if he were alive, I would torture him until he begged for death!" she muttered coldly. Narrowing her eyes over Guan Baichi''s body, she memorized his face. Then, using a token, she connected with Lian Lin. "Master..." came a sleepy voice. "Wake up," Xu Mei said irritably, then added sternly, "I need you to find information about one scoundrel. I''m sending details about his appearance to your consciousness, so release your spiritual sense through the token." "Eh? Ugh, fine..." Lian Lin sounded as if she were given anotherplicated task, but despite that, she obeyed her master. After receiving information about the man''s appearance, she disconnected to gather intel on him. Meanwhile, Xu Mei activated the "Gaze of God" and began following Xie Qing''s somewhat blurred tracks. *** The city of Xinjiang looked like an ordinary trading town, with many stalls and shops open every day. Usually, an entrance fee was required, but Xie Qing''s status as a disciple of the Sect of Heavenly Sword made the guards freeze in fear, and he passed without payment. Xie Qing''s appearance was a bit dirty, and there were bloodstains on his hanfu that didn''t wash off even after a thorough cleaning. So, he hastened and quickly reached the city of Xinjiang. "Finally, I''m in this damn ce. I need to rest andplete tasks the next day," Xie Qing thought, taking out a pouch from his pockets, given to him by Elder Lian. Inside it was 150,000 Huang, the currency of the Huanglun Dynasty. Such a sum of money would be enough for an ordinary family to live carefree for one and a half months, but for cultivators, it barely covered essential expenses. Of course, Xie Qing intended to use this money. Although it seemed more like Elder Lian was his sugar mommy... who said he was against that? "I need to thank Elder Lian," Xie Qing thought, smiling. Stopping one of the residents, who happened to be a girl, he asked her about inns. Although the girl was embarrassed, she pointed to arge and luxurious building. "Thank you..." Xie Qing said, suddenly taking her hand and kissing the back of it. Ignoring the fact that the girl''s face turned red and steam rose from her head, he started walking towards the inn. Throughout his time in the city of Xinjiang, Xie Qing attracted numerous nces, ranging from envy to admiration. Of course, he didn''t miss the chance to flirt. Since bing a true cultivator, his confidence had soared, so he didn''t hold back. "Kyaah!" Loud girlish screams echoed as Xie Qing smiled at the crowd of girls, and they all vied for his attention. At the entrance of the inn, two guards silently observed the situation. "Hey... he''s just at the Foundation Building stage, but he grabs attention as if he''s reached Transcendence,"ined one guard with evident envy in his voice. "Of course. A handsome cultivator attracts twice as much attention, even if he''s just an Enlightenment stage cultivator," replied the other guard, rolling his eyes. Hemented, "Oh, Heavens, as if being born ugly wasn''t enough, I have to endure seeing him? What am I being punished for?" Ignoring the guards, Xie Qing opened the door and entered. The first floor of the inn was beautifully decorated, with small tables and sofas on both sides, and there was even a bar in the corner. At the registration desk stood a girl with a cute appearance. "H-hello..." she greeted Xie Qing with a soft, almost mosquito-like voice. "Hello. I would like to rent a room... for two days," Xie Qing said with a smile, then added, "Also, I need three meals a day. How much do I have to pay?" "Uh, um..., cultivators can stay for free for up to a week, but you need to pay for meals. For three days... it will be 150 Huang!" The girl, though shy, answered the question quite clearly. Xie Qing nodded and handed over the specified amount, cing it on the registration desk. At that moment, a group of people descended from the upper floor. They were cultivators simr to Xie Qing. Their appearance caught the young man''s attention. "Three at the Qi Condensation stage, one at the Core Formation stage, and another at the fifth stage of Foundation Building..." he thought, roughly analyzing their strength, then looked away to avoid seeming rude. "An unusual group. I dare say these are some influential individuals who came to rx in Xinjiang." The group of cultivators stopped at the sofas, discussing something. Thanks to his acute hearing, Xie Qing caught some keywords that made him raise an eyebrow in surprise. "Guys, have you heard about the recent strange activity of demonic beasts in the area? Presumably, it could be the work of evil cultivators," suddenly said the young man at the Foundation Building stage. He had short ck hair and deep chestnut eyes. "Young master, I''m amazed at how smart you are!" eximed the Core Formation stage cultivator in admiration. Xie Qing, who was eavesdropping on them, was left speechless. "Smart? He just made a guess that might not even be true... besides, what would devilish cultivators be doing on the Eastern Continent? This ce is beyond their sphere of influence!" Chapter 18: Red-light district Despite Xie Qing losing the gift of speech due to such tant ttery, all he could do was shake his head and eavesdrop. During their conversation, filtering out foolish assumptions and the like, the only thing he learned was that there were far more beasts than usual. Although it might not be rted to devilish cultivators, it may be caused by some external factor. "Beasts are attracted to impure Qi, which is usually found in spiritual stones that appear in ces polluted with blood and other impurities. They call it the Evil Spiritual Stone," thought Xie Qing, narrowing his eyes. Even knowing this, he couldn''t say if it was indeed the truth. Either way, his job was toplete tasks as quickly as possible and buy cultivation techniques... although, who is he fooling? Settling into his room, he surveyed it and nodded, deciding to cultivate until evening. Time passed very quickly. After five hours, it was already night outside; it was around one in the morning. While in ordinary cities, it would be dark at this time, like the anus of a Devil Beast, for the city of Xinjiang, the night was the most active stage. "It''s time," thought Xie Qing with a determined look. He appeared like a warrior about to engage in a deadly battle against a horde of enraged enemies. He stood up and left the inn, which was still filled with people. At the exit, he encountered someone. Wrapped in a thick cloak, the person''s face was concealed in darkness. "The hydrangea flowers bloom," began Xie Qing. "...and their beauty illuminates the world," the other person added. It seemed that after this exchange, they understood each other and quietly started walking to a secluded area. They traversed secret passages and corners, finally reaching a steel door. Knock-knock. The person in the cloak knocked on the door, and suddenly a small window opened, revealing someone in a mask. "Password?" "The red rose shines brightly in the moonlit night," confidently answered the cloaked person. "Wrong. You have two more attempts." "Huh?" The person in the cloak was stunned, then began to mentally go through codes, finally saying: "Only a person of culture can appreciate the greatness of dragon caves." "Correct. Come in." "Hehehe..." The person in the cloak chuckled and turned to Xie Qing, who looked as if he had swallowed a fat fly. "Let''s go inside... why are you looking at me so strangely?" "Nothing, let''s go..." Xie Qing shook his head and entered, ignoring the surprised look of the cloaked person. After they entered, the steel door was tightly closed, and a formation activated, turning the door into an ordinary wall. Inside, Xie Qing took a breath and immediately sensed a variety of perfume scents blending into a smoothie. "Disgusting," he thought, curling his lips. The smell was as if he was sitting in a minibus, and next to him sat an elderlydy who had sprayed herself with ten different types of strong-smelling perfumes. It was a nuclear mix! However, very soon, Xie Qing ignored the smell and focused his gaze on the brightnterns and tall buildings. "The Red-light district! I''m finally here!" ...there were indeed other methods of entry, but Xie Qing wanted to avoid having his identity deciphered. So, he had changed his clothes beforehand. Finally, when they arrived, the masked person bid farewell to Xie Qing and left on his own. *** The Red-light district. All cultured individuals know what this ce represents. It''s a treasure trove of various entertainments, and people visit these ces every day. Prostitution, as such, was prohibited in the Dynasty, so the Red-light district was exclusively for entertainment. Various girls only used their dancing and singing skills to entertain the public. But, as the saying goes, if the worker falls in love with the client, thew doesn''t consider it prostitution. Although the question remained whether a person could truly seduce,... we''re talking about the handsome Xie Qing, whom even the elders desire. So, he had no problems with that. "So... this is the Pavilion of a Thousand Fairies," thought Xie Qing. Before him stood a tall pavilion brightly lit with red lights. This ce exclusively offered high-ss services, and many girls here were talented in various arts. Xie Qing had only heard about this ce from his second brother, who ended up here by chance. He praised the quality of services here for a long time, but when Xie Qing asked about whether he seeded in "that," he was promptly kicked out of the room. Approaching the entrance, where a crowd had already gathered, he joined the queue. Despite Xie Qing not trying to dress too conspicuously, his face alone attracted too much attention. As a result, he was even allowed to move to the middle of the queue. "Thank you," Xie Qing said with a smile. Ahead of him was a group of five people. Four of them were unremarkable, and only one deserved attention. "This pressure is the same as Xie Hai''s," thought Xie Qing, and then concluded, "Core Formation cultivator." He immediately became alert, though he understood that trouble was unlikely. His gaze fell on their attire, and Xie Qing''s expression became strange. "Disciples of the Resting Eagle Sect? Um..." Xie Qing was speechless. In his imagination, disciples of such sects should avoid ces like this to maintain their reputation. ...It seems he forgets that he is a disciple of one of the four great sects. Anyway, the people in front had already started entering when suddenly the Core Formation cultivator turned to Xie Qing, making eye contact. "Hm?" the cultivator made a snorting sound, raising an eyebrow. When this person turned around, Xie Qing could see his appearance ¨C short ck hair and yellow eyes. His body was slender, and he looked fragile, although Xie Qing was sure that he was very strong. After analyzing his appearance, Xie Qing suddenly realized the identity of this person and lost his speech. "Huang Jing... the heir of the Resting Eagle Sect," Xie Qing remembered, then nodded at the man, thinking, "Well, if it''s him, then maybe it''s normal for him to go to such ces." The thing was, this person''s reputation was extremely... peculiar. Everyone knew him as a libertine who, instead of training, liked to spend time with women. Although he wasn''t as handsome as Xie Qing, his talent and strength attracted many women. This was the influence that the strongest wielded. Moreover, his status as an heir was very influential, so most intelligent families funded them. "As far as I know, Xie Hai also wanted to fund him, but he was refused... well, not surprising, my family doesn''t have that much money after my father started using funds to increase our power," thought Xie Qing. The only reason he was sent to the Sect of Heavenly Sword was because Xie Hai wanted to create an impressive background for all his children and then use it for his purposes. And he was somewhat sessful in that. The eldest son, Xie Xui, was indeed in the Resting Eagle Sect, while the second and fourth sons were in the Sect of Nine Pills. While Xie Qing was lost in his thoughts, someone suddenly addressed him. "Hey, brotha, want to have some fun with us?" Lifting his head, Xie Qing saw him... Huang Jing, who was smiling cheerfully. "Hm?" Chapter 19: Huang Jing Huang Jing spoke amiably and smiled; there were no malicious intentions behind his smile. "Greetings?..." he looked at them and weing, not understanding why he addressed him."Hello, hello!" Huang Jing greeted in response, then repeated, "I wanted to ask if you want to hang out with us. We were about to go inside, so one more person would add to our funpany." "Hey, Senior Huang, there''s no need to call him..." one of the disciples said, looking displeased. "Brother Huang, don''t be impulsive. We shouldn''t bother this person," another disciple said. "Hmm?" Huang Jing ignored them and just waved his hand, signaling them to be quiet. He only smiled at Xie Qing, clearly awaiting his response. "Alright," the young man nodded and shrugged. "Great! Let''s go, then! Today, we''ll have a st!" Huang Jing eximed with a smile, putting his arm around Xie Qing''s shoulder as they entered the pavilion. He added, "Today, a specialdy is performing... she has exquisite skills in ying the zither! Many stop ande here just for her!" "Zither, huh? I''m not really into music, is that okay?" Xie Qing asked. "Haha, I don''t understand either. But if the musician is good enough, she''ll immediately transport you to heaven with the beauty of her music! Besides, let me tell you a secret, but I only look at her appearance... this girl has such a beautiful body, hehe..." Xie Qing was speechless, then raised hisrge finger, saying, "Brother Huang, you''re an even bigger pervert than I am." To which Huang Jing proudly smirked. Surprisingly for Xie Qing, they arrived directly on the ninth, the highest floor essible to visitors. Sitting at a round table near the main stage, Huang Jing ordered wine and snacks. When the table was set, Huang Jing raised a porcin cup of wine, saying, "To your health, Brother Xu!" "To your health, Brother Huang!" Xie Qing and Huang Jing clinked sses and then drank leisurely, savoring the taste of the wine. Although its quality was not on par with what Xie Qing had with Xu Mei, it was still enjoyable. By the way, "Xu" was a fabricated alias, as Xie Qing didn''t want to reveal his real name. After they both finished, one of the disciples poured them another ss, though it was evident he didn''t want to serve Xie Qing. "Brother Xu, may I know which city you''re from? Though, if you don''t want to answer, I, Huang Jing, won''t insist!" Huang Jing said, smiling and friendly. "Brother Huang is too modest. I''m just a youth from the city of Jinhuan in the Southern Continent," Xie Qing said with a gentle smile. In his thoughts, he added, "The Resting Eagle Sect is located in the Southern Continent, and the city of Jinhuan is under its control." "Oh! Brother Xu, you''re from my hometown. What a coincidence, isn''t it?" Huang Jing said withughter, then added, "Everyone there knows my name by heart. If anyone dares to offend you, mention my name, and no one will dare to touch you!" "Well, what can I say, Brother Huang..." "No, no, I won''t ept any refusals! From this day forward, we''re sworn brothers, so feel free to use my name to protect your family, even in business!" Huang Jing said, smiling cheerfully. He added, "I, Huang Jing, never refuse to help my brothers!" Xie Qing simply nodded with a smile. Although the conversation was lively, the young man was secretly cautious. He couldn''t believe that someone like Huang Jing would easily befriend strangers. Moreover, Xie Qing strongly doubted that Huang Jing approached him solely out of curiosity. However, as they were building good rtions, it wouldn''t hurt Xie Qing anyway. "I can use the fact of our friendship during thepetition for the inheritance," Xie Qing thought. In the two hours that Xie Qing and Huang Jing spent chatting, they learned a lot about each other and realized that, in a way, they were very simr. They quickly became as close as brothers. This fact didn''t sit well with the disciples who came with Huang Jing. They hoped to improve their rtionship with the heir of their family but ended up being mere servants, pouring wine and serving dishes. And it was not just serving Huang Jing; they had to give a face to Xie Qing, who was younger and lower in cultivation level! Despite their disappointment, no one said anything. They had already epted the fact that Huang Jing had epted Xie Qing as his brother. By the way, Xie Qing''s concerns were unfounded, as Huang Jing had nothing against him and harbored no ill intentions. For Huang Jing, Xie Qing was a person with a pleasant appearance and a good character. "Oh, Brother Xu, look at the stage... she''s here!" Huang Jing eximed, then added in a low voice, "You''ll be stunned!" Xie Qing nodded, shifting his gaze to the stage. As expected, everyone immediately fell silent. A beautiful young girl stepped onto the stage, her body slim and graceful. She had a medium-sized chest and long, snowy-white legs. She was dressed in a beautiful white dress that flowed along her body, and ribbons twirled around her. She had beautiful turquoise hair and blue eyes, resembling a sea creature, captivating the audience with her beauty. Her thin eyebrows and delicate pink lips were enticing. She was the best Song Maiden. Song Maidens were staff who only yed music and didn''t provide any sexual services or other things. They purely yed music. Bowing to the audience, she sat on a prepared stool and took out a zither. cing it on her knees, she waited for a moment, then began ying. Ting~. The first note immediately delighted the audience. They experienced immense pleasure, and their vision blurred. "Wow..." Xie Qing was captivated by this song. Her graceful hands skillfully yed the zither, and each note sent shivers down his spine. He felt like standing under the moon, with a beautiful water surface in front of him, reflecting the moonlight. (A/N: The link to the song is avable on my Discord channel. I took it from YouTube to allow readers to listen and immerse themselves more. Respect to the artist who yed this song.) Her song was beautiful, making his soul rx. Xie Qing''s eyelids became heavy, and he gradually closed his eyes, like many spectators. Ding! [You are experiencing a strange state... analyzing... it does not pose a danger to you] [The "Heavenly Sound" effect helps your Qi flow faster and more efficiently. You enter a state of deep concentration] The entire audience was immersed in sleep ¨C although it would be more urate to say that they entered the world of illusions caused by this song. Only Huang Jing remained conscious, drooling as he gazed at the beautiful girl. "Ugh... she''s so beautiful!" he thought, then raised an eyebrow, sensing a surge of Qi. "Hm? Someone is cultivating?" Then he turned his head towards the source of Qi and widened his eyes. His eyebrows almost touched his scalp. A miniature dragon, the size of a pinkie finger, was swimming near Xie Qing. It was semi-transparent and barely visible, but... the fact was, it was there! Huang Jing was stunned. "His Qi is so rich and pure! Moreover, manifesting a dragon in cultivation requires ancient techniques! Even I don''t possess such a skill!" he thought in amazement, then became curious: "Who is this Brother Xu? He refused to answer my questions and diverted my attention. He must be an important person." Huang Jing snapped his fingers, and a miniature sphere flew out of his pockets. It lit up and enveloped Xie Qing in a golden barrier. "My ''Portable Cultivation Room'' should help him avoid unnecessary disturbances. It seems he''s on the verge of a breakthrough." ==== Want more chapters? Add the book to your collection and write a review. For every 100 Power Stone you get +2 to daily chapters Chapter 20: Discussing art with the Song Maiden Throughout her ying experience, a young girl named Lyu Lyu kept an eye on the audience. Her beautiful blue eyes shone brightly, but not seeing any reaction to her song, she was somewhat disappointed. It was true that being a beauty, everyone initially focused on her face, and her skills on the zither were ignored, understandable since few could grasp the beauty of the music. The audience began to awaken from their state and showered her with apuse, but their attention was not on her performance, only on her. Huang Jing, who was sitting in the distance, was somewhat puzzled that even after so much time, Xie Qing had not awakened. The only thing Huang knew was that he was breaking through a level, but he couldn''t understand which one exactly. Soon it became too noisy, and Huang Jing looked at the golden dome. Fortunately, he had set up the item in time so as not to be disturbed during his breakthrough. The party continued, and the revelry was at its peak. Lyu Lyu did not leave the stage and sat there, asionally ying something, but the other performances were not as bright as the first, as if she had lost the motivation to do anything. It was nearing three in the morning when Xie Qing opened his eyes. He looked around and saw the golden dome around him, slightly surprised. "Oh? Hmm... a protective dome for cultivators. Who used it on me?" Xie Qing wondered. Such items were sold inrge quantities, and there were several quality levels. What surrounded him could absorb noises and even redirect Qi to one point. It was a very expensive item! Ding! [Analysis... status report] [Name: Xie Qing Age: 18/380 Cultivation: Foundation Building (5th stage) Talent: Divine Physique: Golden Dragon Body Cultivation Technique: Basic cultivation technique (low efficiency), Nine Golden Dragons Technique (perfectpatibility)] "Ugh... straight to the fifth stage? That was incredible," Xie Qing thought, then looked at the notification that appeared when he closed his eyes. He raised an eyebrow, "Hm? Heavenly melody? Is it because of that girl''s performance?" Xie Qing was pleasantly surprised. Coincidentally, the dome disappeared after hepleted the breakthrough. Huang Jing revealed his face, looking at the young man as if he were a monster. "Darn... your talent is just amazing. You broke through three stages in one sitting... darn monster!" "Hehehe..." Xie Qing didn''t say anything, just chuckled and grinned. Huang Jing didn''t press further either. Upon seeing this spectacle, the other disciples were also stunned. Suddenly, they grabbed their sses and raised them, saying, "To your talent, Brother Xu!" ...Needless to say, they quickly changed their opinion, amon urrence in the cultivation world. Talent and strength decided everything, so harboring enmity towards someone with a bright future was a foolish choice. "Of course. Let''s drink to brotherhood!" Xie Qing raised his ss in response, smiling brightly. He didn''t bother reminding the disciples of their earlier behavior; it didn''t make much sense. It was better to earn their respect and establish good rtions, which would undoubtedly help him in the future. After they drank, Huang Jing patted Xie Qing on the shoulder in surprise. "Listen, Brother Xu, if you don''t mind, have you managed to grasp the depth of the Song Maiden''s music?" Huang Jing asked with a serious face, adding, "By the way, she performs only for high-ss guests, and her musical instrument is a spiritual item, so it has a special property that helps rx and provides incredible efficiency for cultivators." "Oh? Indeed... the Song Maiden is truly amazing. Her music was so beautiful that I immersed myself in a mysterious state. I remember there was a sea in front of me, it was night, and the moon was shining brightly in the sky." "Hm?" Huang Jing and the others suddenly froze in ce, as did some guests in the room. Xie Qing''s words were loud enough to attract the attention of others, who stood still as if they had heard nonsense. Even the Song Maiden, Lyu Lyu, showed genuine surprise on her face. "What? Why are you all looking at me like that?" Xie Qing tilted his head, asking, "Didn''t you feel the same?" "N-no, listen... the miraculous effect was just a rumor. Few could experience that state, and I''ve never heard of such cases in my experience. If you''re curious, falling into such a state is only granted to talented individuals. And even I didn''t have the fortune to fall into that category," Huang Jing said, stuttering. He added, looking at Xie Qing with admiration, "And you, it seems, managed to grasp that special effect. It''s incredible." "He-eh?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, now understanding the reason for their shock. If there was such an effect, it seemed that few could fully utilize it; otherwise, the listener would only fall into a slight stupor, and that''s it. It was worth noting that the power of the spiritual item was no joke, and many would fight to the death for its possession, tearing each other''s throats out. "Amazing..." "He looks so young, beautiful, and so talented... Heavens, are you punishing me for betraying my wife? I need to spend my honeymoon with her immediately and go purify my karma..." Ignoring the shocked looks of the audience, Xie Qing poured himself another ss of wine. Although he didn''t want to admit it, he had developed a slight taste for alcohol due to his interactions with his master. While he was drinking, a smallmotion erupted, sounding much louder than usual. Xie Qing suddenly turned his head, sensing a presence beside him, and saw the Song Maiden. "How may I assist you, esteemed fairy?" Xie Qing asked, smiling and friendly. He had a good impression of this girl who helped him break through three stages, so he was very respectful and friendly towards her. The Song Maiden Lyu Lyu looked excited, her delicate hands trembling slightly, and her voice so soft that it couldn''t be heard. "I... would like to discuss art with you. Alone, if possible," said the Song Maiden, blushing. "Huh?" Huang Jing made a strange sound and then turned to Xie Qing, who looked like he didn''t understand the meaning of Lyu Lyu''s words. "Sigh..." tapping his forehead, Huang Jing whispered to Xie Qing, "It means she wants to give you her virginity. Act!" Xie Qing was rendered speechless, then turned his gaze to the embarrassed Lyu Lyu, who, despite blushing, remained determined. "Could it be that I will finally attain enlightenment?" thought Xie Qing and stood up, taking Lyu Lyu''s hands and gently saying, "Of course. I''ll be delighted to discuss your art with you." "O-o-oh...!" Enthusiastic cheers erupted behind them as they left the floor and headed to another. *** Xie Qingy in his bedroom, enjoying the sight of thevishly decorated room. Compared to his room, this ce looked ten times more luxurious and richer. Lyu Lyu had asked him to wait in the room while she changed into suitable attire. The act of giving away one''s virginity was an important stage in the life of the Song Maiden. It was optional, but if a girl found the right person, she might choose to give herself. In a sense, it was the only positive aspect of the red-light district. "Ugh... I remember trying to get into such a ce, but the Xie family''s guard caught me and forced me to return home, telling my father everything... hehe, but then that guard had diarrhea for a week. I slipped him some good stuff in Baijiu," thought Xie Qing, smiling. While lost in thought, a creaking sound interrupted him, and she appeared in the doorway. "Oh..." Her body was covered by a thin robe that clung to her figure, barely hiding anything. Lyu Lyu''s nipples pressed against the fabric, and her face was red, emitting a pleasant fragrance. With makeup washed away, her natural beauty only improved. Her face was cute ¨C round, with small cheeks and bright eyes. The pleasant blush on her face created a beautiful picture. She looked like a fairy descended from heaven. "I would like to talk with you a bit before starting the ceremony," she suddenly said, approaching and sitting on the bed next to Xie Qing. She added, blushing, "Of course, if it doesn''t bother you." "No, not at all," replied Xie Qing, standing up and then smiling at her. "I''m very curious to talk with such a professional like you." "D-do you think so?" the girl said with eyes sparkling with happiness. "Yes. I''m sincere. Your music was mythical and allowed me to enter a state of enlightenment. I was stunned by it. Moreover, the way you yed and the passion in your eyes conquered my heart as a listener. The way your fingers delicately moved, leaving phantom traces behind, made me admire your art, and every note made my heart beat faster..." His words didn''t stop there, and Xie Qing continued to praise her. Not because he wanted to win her attention with ttery, but because he spoke from the heart. In Xie Qing''s life, there was no more enjoyable music than this. He was amazed and in love. Every word seemed to hit Lyu Lyu''s heart directly, and at some point, the sweet feeling made her tremble, and tears began to fall from her eyes. "And now... huh? Why are you crying?" Xie Qing eximed in surprise, inadvertently touching her shoulder. "N-no, I..." Although Lyu Lyu wanted to exin that everything was fine, she was too emotional and just leaned against Xie Qing''s chest, who was first stunned and then hugged her shoulder, pulling her closer. And so, after five minutes, Lyu Lyu calmed down. Suddenly breaking free from his embrace, she pushed Xie Qing onto the bed, crawled onto him, and smiled gently. "My name is Lyu Lyu... and yours?" "My name is... Xie Qing." Lyu Lyu smiled gently and repeated his name several times, looking very cute. Then she leaned in for a kiss. ==== Do you want more chapters? Add to the collection and write a review. For every hundred Power Stones, you will receive an additional +2 chapters! Chapter 21: Dragons Dive into the Spiritual Cave (R-18) Xie Qing felt a shiver throughout his body as Lyu Lyu''s gentle kiss turned into a passionate one. It was evident that she was inexperienced in this matter, so Xie Qing took the responsibility upon himself. "Mmm?!" Lyu Lyu eximed in shock as Xie Qing suddenly transitioned to a passionate French kiss, catching her tongue in Xie Qing''s trap. She was shocked to realize that the younger man was more advanced in this aspect! And she was right... In his youth, Xie Qing once seduced over ten maids, and with each of them, he spent delightful evenings. Although it all ended with ordinary kisses and handwork, a beautiful romance developed between them. However, they had to stop itter to prevent the maids from being expelled from the family... Xie Qing''s tongue made her body tremble with excitement ¨C it was a delightful sensation. Sometimes, Xie Qing''s tongue touched her sensitive areas, further stimting her arousal. They kissed for a long time, about twenty minutes. Both of them were cultivators, so they could hold their breath for a long time. And when they parted, a bridge had formed between their tongues. They breathed heavily, looking at each other with passion, clearly captivated by desire. "Are you sure?" he asked with a teasing smile. "Don''t mock me. When I learned about your opinion of my zither-ying skills, I immediately understood... I want to give myself to youpletely," Lyu Lyu said, gently smiling at him and caressing his cheek. She kissed him again, then continued, "And I hope you won''t doubt my determination." Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, then flipped Lyu Lyu, changing positions ¨C now he stood over her. With a teasing smile, he stroked her cheek and then began to descend towards her delicate robe. He brought his mouth close to her ear and whispered, "Lyu Lyu, may I?" "Umm..." Lyu Lyu shivered and blushed, nodding. Her ears were a sensitive spot, and Xie Qing bit the lobe of her ear while his hand, like a snake, began to untie the threads on her robe, gradually freeing her body from the embrace of the fabric. Stepping back a bit, Xie Qing let out an admiring sigh when he saw the beautiful sight before him. Although Lyu Lyu was not as "mature" as Xu Mei, her body was very slender and beautiful. Thin, delicate lips (the upper ones), slender legs, and a medium-sized chest that fit perfectly in his hand. "Mmm... although my body may not be as enticing as others, I hope it will bring you pleasure," Lyu Lyu said with a flushed face, avoiding eye contact. "Heh... you don''t need to worry about that," Xie Qing said and suddenly leaned in to kiss her lips, making Lyu Lyu close her eyes and focus on the pleasant sensation on her lips. Breaking the kiss, Xie Qing touched her lower lip. "Aaah!" Xie Qing whispered, "You are very beautiful, so be confident," and kissed her neck, making the girl tremble. He added, "I really like you." "Mmm!" Letting out a soft moan, Lyu Lyu closed her eyes, deciding to focus on the sensations in her lower region. Although it was Xie Qing''s first time, he could only gently caress her as described in books. Besides, he had some practice with maids in the mansion. "Aaaah!" As a result, Lyu Lyu''s body arched like a bow, and she emitted a prolonged moan. Xie Qing didn''t stop and began to stimte her clitoris, intensifying the effect. Soon, a milky-white liquid began to flow from her "dragon''s gate," dripping onto Xie Qing''s fingers. He just smiled, waiting for Lyu Lyu to regainposure. The girl felt as if she were floating on clouds. Her eyes blurred from the extremely strong pleasure, and for the first time, she felt so good. It seemed that her cultivator''s endurance was nothingpared to Xie Qing''s finger skills. Feeling his caring touches that made her tremble while her younger sister drooled, she thought, "How wonderful..." and smiled. Even more pleasing was the fact that she went through this ceremony with someone who genuinely appreciated her music. Every note she yed was heard by him and reached his heart. It made her smile like a silly, love-struck girl. "I trained so hard, and it was all for this day... I found someone who appreciates my music." Lyu Lyu''s happiness knew no bounds. After a short rest, she stood up from her ce and approached Xie Qing, helping him undress. Very soon, they both found themselves naked. Lyu Lyu gasped, surveying Xie Qing''s body. "He looked thin, but under the clothes, there is such a muscr body... and..." Lyu Lyu blushed and lowered her gaze to his "dragon," which, sensing a worthy opponent, decided to participate in the legendary battle. Without realizing it herself, she grabbed his jade rod. "Hmph..." Xie Qing hummed as he felt the touch of her gentle and warm hands. He looked at Lyu Lyu. The girl with the appearance of a fairy was looking at his dick like there would never be a tomorrow. It made him feel proud. He wanted to shout out to everyone, telling them about his achievement, but he was interrupted by a pleasant sensation. Lyu Lyu suddenly started jerking him off, raising and lowering her hand. Although her movements were rough and sometimes caused him pain, Xie Qing enjoyed the feeling of her sweaty palms and lust-filled gaze. The dignified fairy who was admired by hundreds of people, who had a majestic and otherworldly appearance now in front of him was like a newlywed wife on her first night. And that alone excited him. "Eh?" eximed Lyu Lyu in surprise. She was a little surprised when Xie Qing''s jade rod twitched in her hands and looking at the fact that there was no change, a thought suddenly urred to her. And before Xie Qing could react, his dick head felt the wetness and warm breath of Lyu Lyu. He watched in amazement as her delicate lips tightened around the head of his cock, as if she was trying to eat a scoop of ice cream in one sitting. "Ugh..." The young man shuddered - stimtion of this sort was familiar to him from his younger days, but it seemed so much more pleasurable now. Lyu Lyu was inexperienced at this and it was felt, but her passion for her work made Xie Qing feel satisfied. He ced his hand on the top of her head and gently stroked her hair, causing the girl to open her eyes wide, and then with an obvious smile in her eyes, she began to move her head vigorously. "Uhhh... Lyu Lyu..." called out Xie Qing to her. He squinted his eyes, feeling a pleasant feeling of wetness and warmth overpowering him and under the influence of the moment, he trembled. "Ummph..." Lyu Lyu opened her eyes wide as she felt a stream of Xie Qing''s milk start shooting straight down her throat. She closed her eyes and began to diligently swallow everything and although it was a bit difficult, she swallowed everything without spilling out a single drop. "Ahem... Ahem..." Of course, it wasn''t easy for a virgin and she coughed. Xie Qing immediately poured water into a mug and held it up to her. "T-thank you..." Lyu Lyu smiled gently at him and drank the water, which helped her catch her breath and rest. While she was resting, Xie Qing took a breath and took out the wine he had bought for 10,000 Huang from a small cab. He also took out two sses and poured the wine, holding it out to Lyu Lyu. "Here you go. I specially bought this wine, it helps to enhance the sensation during the ceremony and also revitalizes." "T-thank you..." Lyu Lyu epted the ss and smiled gently at him while looking at the floor. She was confused by all the events and couldn''t believe what was happening. However, remembering the taste of Xie Qing''s ''milk'', liquid flowed out from her pussy. Chapter 22: 20,000,000 Huang, Lyu Lyu (R-18) Lyu Lyu, after drinking a ss of wine, stepped over to continue their night. She sucked on the head of his cock and nipped the head with her soft lips, sucking on it. She was inexperienced, true, but her skills got better and better with each passing second until eventually they reached a level where Xie Qing himself couldn''t stand it. He once again came down her throat and Lyu Lyu only had to swallow, which she did with obvious pleasure. That viscous sweetish taste of his semen made her smile from ear to ear while love juice flowed out of her cherished spot. Lyu Lyu climbed over to the bed and stood on all fours, shaking her booty as if she wanted to lure Xie Qing into her. "Use my body as you wish," she said and added with a teasing voice: "Daddy..." "..." Xie Qing was speechless at this way of addressing him, but he decided to just ignore it and continue their action. Being five centimeters away from her tantalizing pussy, he rubbed the head of his cock against her entrance, thus moistening his cock. After this unusual ritual, he finally went inside, and along with a loud moan: "Aaaah!", Lyu Lyu arched her back. After prolonged sex, her body was bing more and more sensitive. p! p! Every movement of Xie Qing was apanied by the sound of spanking. All because of the amount of liquid that Lyu Lyu''s pussy was releasing as if suffocating in drool. One could imagine how horny she was. "Aah! Harder, Daddy, harder!" Lyu Lyu begged. Her voice filled with lust and pleading as Viagra worked on Xie Qing, who began to move much faster and fuck her harder, reaching her depths. His face was drenched in sweat as he didn''t forget to stimte her sensitive areas. "Aaah! It feels so good... I''m going craaaazy!" Her eyes rolled back as her slender body owed a debt, preceding the epilogue. Taking this chance, under Lyu Lyu''s melodious moans, Xie Qing prated to the very depths of her vagina and then released his seed there. "Aaah! Your cum fills me!" lustfully screamed Lyu Lyu, putting aside elegance and other restrictions. Very soon, she cummed again, reaching climax. Their sex continued until the morning and during this time they tried all kinds of positions, finally satisfying themselves to the fullest. The next morning, Xie Qing found a naked Lyu Lyu sleeping next to him, sleeping soundly with his semen waterfalling out of her pussy. "Oh... I''m a bit tired" he thought with a wry smile. For a cultivator to be tired from sex even sounded funny considering how hardy they were. But the fact of the matter was that they were having sex to the best of their abilities, for which they were getting a pretty good amount of pleasure in return for being tired. And while he was in his thoughts. Ding! [A hidden requirement has been detected... analyzed]. [Analysisplete. You have obtained the "Dual Cultivation" technique] [Dual Cultivation] | [Rank: Unique] | [Description: A cultivation technique that has been lost in the annals of history. In ancient times, there was a Spiritual Prosperity Sect that was very influential. Its specialty was full cultivation, in which a man and a woman must exchange Yang and Yin energy respectively, thus increasing their level. When using the skill, one could increase their body strength, as well as a +10% buff to Qi assimtion for three days]. "Wow..." Xie Qing didn''t even know what to be surprised about ¨C the absence of sarcastic remarks from the system or the fact that he had obtained such a technique. In reality, dual cultivation was not unknown to the world, and there are still records about the Spirit Prosperity Sect. In the capital of the Dynasty, there are the Yin and Yang families, who are essentially the main heirs of this sect, possessing a total of 2/3 of the dual cultivation technique, which was already prepared for Xie Qing. If he sold it to someone from these two families, a good future and strong cooperation would be guaranteed for him. "But this is a bit of a dangerous matter. The Yang and Yin families have always been closed. One is a patriarchate, the other a matriarchate, so there is an obvious difference of opinions between them. I need to choose wisely." With his current strength, iming to have such a technique would be foolish. However, if he were, for example, a cultivator at the Core Formation stage, it''s quite possible that he could gain favor from one of these two families. "I''ll postpone this matter for better times," he thought, turning his attention to the naked Lyu Lyu, who was still sweetly asleep. A strange feeling arose in his chest, and he sighed, "Ah... this is why I wanted to lose my virginity differently. Because of all this and having a vague idea of her past, I don''t want to leave her here." What was true was inevitable ¨C Xie Qing was a man with a possessive nature, and he couldn''t ept the fact that his woman would be here. "The only option is to buy her out or wait until the end of the contract. Buying her out will be difficult, as the price is simply astronomical, but the second option is more realistic," Xie Qing thought and sighed. *** Lyu Lyu woke up closer to noon. Her long eyshes fluttered, and after a few seconds, she opened her beautiful blue eyes. "Hmm?" She was a bit surprised to find herself not in her bedroom. Although initially confused, after a few minutes, she finally remembered. "Oh, right... I went through the ritual," Lyu Lyu thought with a smile. Memories from yesterday rushed over her like a waterfall. She touched her abdomen, and the feeling of fullness disappeared, indicating that someone had helped her clean up. Feeling the emptiness instead of the familiar fullness, she was slightly disappointed. Shick. Shick. Creaky sounds echoed. Turning around, Lyu Lyu saw Xie Qing, who was impassively writing a letter. After a brief gaze from the girl, Xie Qing turned and locked eyes with her, as if sensing her gaze. "Oh... g-good morning," Lyu Lyu could barely greet him properly. Just one look into Xie Qing''s ck eyes made her enter a trance-like state as if there was an illusionary power in his pupils. She was captivated by his eyes, shining as if they held stars. "You woke up. Good day, technically. Sleepyhead," Xie Qing said with a smirk, pointing at the time. "Eh?! Day?!" Lyu Lyu was stunned. She looked at the clock, and indeed, it was two in the afternoon. She couldn''t help but break into a nervous sweat. "I missed the zither rehearsal!" she eximed and began to dress, but suddenly stopped halfway when she smelled an unmistakable scent. Blushing, she rushed out of the room and headed to her bedroom. Meanwhile, Xie Qing shrugged and continued writing the letter. This letter was for Xie Hai. As Xie Qing had recently turned eighteen, he was obliged to officially inform about it through this letter and then confirm his participation in the inheritance battle. It was a formality and not necessary to write, but his father valued such formalities too much. So, he had to deal with such things. After sealing the letter with the emblem, he asked a staff member to take it to the post and mentioned the code name. With that, his business was concluded. All that remained was to talk to Lyu Lyu and then startpleting tasks. By the time he was about to leave the room, Xie Qing met a servant who greeted him and handed him an envelope with a letter. "From whom is this?" Xie Qing asked, raising an eyebrow. "You drank with this person yesterday, calling him ''Brother Huang''...," the servant exined and then left after receiving permission. Xie Qing opened the envelope and read the letter. In essence, Huang Jing congratted him and praised his achievement, then asked him to visit the sect when there was time. "What a good guy. Should be friends with such people," Xie Qing thought, and then read thest line, his face immediately turned serious. [Brother Xu, I would hope for you to reach the Qi Condensation peak. Then, you''ll greatly help me with a task that brings benefits. Surely, you''ve heard of the Ancestral Cave?] The letter was intentionally cut off, indicating that Huang Jing wanted to pique Xie Qing''s interest in the matter. Of course, Xie Qing knew about the Ancestral Cave. It was a mysterious ce near the capital of the Huanglun Dynasty, representing a space where one could gain pleasant bonuses. However, the spots were limited, and entry was only possible with an impressive background or being a sect heir. There were only twenty spots. Heirs had the right to choose two assistants, and Huang Jing decided to offer one of those spots to Xie Qing. "He may look like a naive guy, but in reality, Huang Jing is very clever. I think he immediately sensed the aura of my cultivation technique and, seeing my breakthrough, decided to get close to me, securing a good start for himself in six months." The Ancestral Cave opened every ten years, and in six months, the ten-year period would begin. That''s when it would open its doors. Xie Qing eagerly clenched his fists. His task was to elevate his cultivation level until the main event began. So, first, he needed to address the fundamental issues. *** "Go with you?" Lyu Lyu was very surprised when Xie Qing suddenly suggested that she follow him. Although she was initially very happy, it was soon reced by sadness and then disappointment. She shook her head negatively. "Sorry, but I can''t. My contract will only end in five years, and the penalty for breaking it is over 20,000,000 Huang... I want to go with you, but..." Xie Qing gasped, realizing the magnitude of the situation. The penalty amount was incredibly high, and even if he sold his father into very, he wouldn''t get the required sum. Although disappointed, Xie Qing decided not to show it on his face. He kissed Lyu Lyu and said, "If you change your mind by the end of the contract, you can always find me." After a brief conversation, they bid farewell and went their separate ways. Although Xie Qing was upset, the truth was that not everything goes the way you want. During this time, he came up with a third option and then bitterly smiled. "So, all paths lead to increasing my strength... indeed, it gives a lot of motivation." While he was contemting, Xie Qing had already left the city, heading for a hunt. Chapter 23: Sister, where did you even get the legacy of that sexy woman? Lyu Lyu watched Xie Qing with a hint of sadness in her eyes as he left. She, too, wished to apany him, but a contract she had signed in her youth, during a time of despair, bound her to a life devoted to music. Letting out a heavy sigh, she squinted, and a determined glint appeared in her eyes. *** Leaving the city, Xie Qing headed towards the forest, teeming with devilish beasts. There, he needed to gather ten jing spiritual herbs and obtain a monster core at the Foundation Building ¨C 4th stage level. He managed the second task within half a day. Finding a beast capable of forming its core was extremely challenging, leading him to y over a hundred creatures. To his relief, theycked developed intellect, making the battles rtively trouble-free. The key was to avoid confrontation. Around noon, he decided to take a break. "It''s exhausting... these beasts move in groups, making it exceptionally difficult to kill them," thought Xie Qing, sighing heavily and surveying the hundreds of wolf corpses around him. They all resembled two-meter wolves with red fur. He pondered, "But it''s strange that the sect issued a task to hunt these beasts. They usually don''t show up at this time of year." It was autumn, with winter approaching soon. Normally, wolves with the horrifying name "Bloody Wolf" hibernated during winter, staying away from human settlements. This behavior was exceptionally peculiar. "Could it be devil cultivators? But that''s impossible... even if they wanted to emerge, they couldn''t escape the control of the Resting Eagle Sect, representing the Huanglun Dynasty on the entire continent," thought Xie Qing. Then he chuckled, rising from a makeshift stool formed by ten wolf corpses. "Well, the antics of these lunatics have nothing to do with me. Better find those damn herbs." He took out arge book from the pouch given to him by the elder Lian. If you''re curious about how such arge item fits into a small pouch, it''s quite simple... It''s a spatial pouch, a fairly popr item that, admittedly, cost Xie Qing a hefty 780,000 Huang, significantly denting his pockets. Hence, he was surprised to receive it from Elder Lian. "Wonder how I can thank her?" pondered Xie Qing, smirking slightly. "A foolish question." He was aware of Lian Xin''s love, but he avoided interacting with her to avoid unnecessaryplications for both of them. Entering the inner court started with the Qi Condensation cultivation stage, which wasn''t too far for Xie Qing. He pondered for a moment. "But there''s a small issue... even if Elder Lian is okay with it, I''m not entirely sure her family would approve," he thought, shaking his head with a wry smile. The Lian family held a prominent position in the Sect of Heavenly Sword, primarily because Sect Master Lian Lin hailed from that family. Although they were mostly friendly, they wouldn''t allow weak suitors. "It alles back to leveling up," thought Xie Qing, quirking the corners of his mouth. However, he then smiled, rubbing his hands together. "But I have a solution to this challenge..." *** With nothing else to do, Xie Qing waited for the next day to return to the sect and enter closed cultivation to progress in his development. Approaching the inn, he suddenly turned around. "Hm? I felt like I missed something," thought Xie Qing then shrugged and returned to his usual position. But seeing someone in front of him, he froze in shock. "M-Master..." "Hm-m-m? So, you remember the name of this olddy, huh? I thought you had amnesia, leaving without telling me," said Xu Mei, narrowing her eyes disapprovingly. She puffed her cheeks, looking very cute. Xie Qing felt his heart race when he saw Xu Mei''s offended expression. Unconsciously, he started to approach her, and when face to face, he suddenly hugged her. "W-w-w-w-w... What are you doing, foolish disciple?!" Xu Mei eximed in surprise, blushing as she could only lean her cheek against Xie Qing''s chest. She hit him and said in a mosquito-like voice, "R-Release your Master, foolish disciple. There are so many people around; I feel their eyes on us." "They''re looking because they''ve never seen such a beautiful girl like you, Master," said Xie Qing with a smile, then whispered into Xu Mei''s ear, "I missed you so much, Master. And you...?" "!!!!" Xu Mei trembled in his embrace, blushing even more. Now she resembled a red tomato. She shook her head and sternly added, but still with a face reddened by embarrassment, "No, foolish disciple. This Master just wanted to see if those beasts didn''t eat your corpse!" "Oh? Is that so? Then, shall we go to the bedroom, and I''ll undress, allowing you to inspect this foolish disciple''s body? It''s quite possible that I got bitten by the beasts, and I didn''t notice! Oh dear... my chest is hurting!" teased Xie Qing. "..." Xu Mei lost her speech due to such impudence, but she could only blush more and shake her head. Since she realized her feelings for him, it had been challenging even to look at Xie Qing. Moreover, the once gloomy youth had transformed into a brighter and more cheerful person. It greatly pleased her. "Hmph... let''s return to the sect. I''ll take care of your training," suddenly said Xu Mei in a serious tone, pushing Xie Qing away. She then stepped back five paces, saying with a serious expression, "I''ve neglected you for too long. It''s time to correct my mistakes." "Alright, I''m just d for that," said Xie Qing with a smile, then grinned, looking like an old pervert, pointing to his body. "So, are you going to inspect? I''ll let you look at my naked torso... or do you want a full examination?" "Go to hell!" *** Initially, Xie Qing was nervous that the Master might find out about his visits to the red-light district, but remembering that tracking the loss of virginity for Yang energy practitioners was impossible, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Stop, why am I acting as if I cheated on her?" he thought, raising his eyebrows in puzzlement. "I''m a free person, so I can do whatever I want..." However, he was quickly interrupted by a strong punch to the stomach, which almost made Xie Qing initiate a PowerPoint presentation with illustrations of what he ate today. "Stop getting distracted! I want to check yourbat skills, so give it your all!" said Xu Mei with a stern voice, holding a wooden training sword in her hand. While it couldn''t cause serious injury, it struck very hard! "Alright..." Xie Qing began muttering in response, stepping back. Then an idea popped into his head, and he smirked, saying, "Listen, Master, what if I meet and even surpass your expectations? Will there be a reward for me?" Xu Mei paused for a second, her face showingplete iprehension at Xie Qing''s words. However, after thinking for a moment, she nodded and said, adding with a smirk, "Of course, I''ll do whatever you want." As Xie Qing triumphantly clenched his fists, directing them towards the sky, she added, snapping her fingers with a sly expression, "But you must understand... I am very strict on this matter. Surprising me won''t be easy." However, Xie Qing wasn''t listening to her anymore. He looked as if he had been told that "No Game No Life" had a continuation. "..." Xu Mei smiled and decided not to spoil his joy. He understood that surprising someone like her was extremely difficult. Throughout her life, she met many geniuses, and with some of them, she even became friends (like Zhang Mei and the Sect Master of the Sect of Nine Pills). Although she saw that Xie Qing''s cultivation level was progressing rapidly, as if he were skipping steps, Xu Mei believed it wasn''t enough. A strong foundation was needed. And now, as she returned from her thoughts, pressure suddenly appeared. "Hm?" Xu Mei was stunned. The sense of pressure appeared and disappeared within a millisecond. However, the feeling it evoked was terrifying, as if you were caught while jerking off... cough... as if a hare found itself two centimeters away from a tiger''s mouth! She looked at Xie Qing, from whom the pressure presumably emanated, but even after prolonged observation, she found nothing. "Did I imagine it?" she thought, feeling embarrassed. And then, after five seconds, Xie Qing prepared for battle. He suddenly tightened his grip on the training sword and assumed a familiar stance, which Xu Mei recognized! "Oh... I fought him with this stance just five minutes ago. Did he learn it?" Xu Mei thought, stunned. "But I showed him this stance only once, and he already remembered it?! Moreover, itsted only a fraction of a second!" At the same time, a bell-like sound rang in Xie Qing''s ears. Ding! [You have learned 1/4 of the technique called "Will of the Empress of Swords"] Ding-ding! [Will of the Empress of Swords (1/4 part)] | [Rank: Ancient] | [Description: The Empress of Swords¡ªa familiar figure in ancient times. Just her name made swordsmen bow their heads, and Sword Masters admit their inexperience. It is said that by learning this technique, personally created by the Empress of Swords, one can master all her techniques. Unfortunately, you only have one of the four parts, so it will only help enhance your strikes in battle... sigh!] "Will of the Empress of Swords..." Xie Qing read the name of the technique in his mind, then looked at Xu Mei. "Sister, where did you even get the legacy of that sexy woman?" Chapter 24: Attack on Xie Qing The Empress of Swords. Her real name is Mei Feng, a globally renowned figure in cultivation history. She was one of the few who reached the pinnacle of cultivation in the mortal realm andter earned the title "Immortal Fairy" for her beauty. Undoubtedly, she was beautiful. Even Xie Qing, who woke up every morning to the sight of two towering mountains, could attest to that if you catch my drift. Her portrait hung above his bed, and every morning he woke up to her sight. It''s safe to say that she enabled swordsmen to gain the power they possess now. Most sword techniques were inherited thanks to her efforts. Currently, there is no information about her. ording to ancient rumors, dating back to the times before even Xu Mei was born, she ascended to the Higher Realm, presumably where legendary immortals resided. However, there were no living souls or people with convincing arguments, making it extremely difficult to uncover the whole truth. All that remained was to specte on the whereabouts of this legendary figure. "Master, I''m attacking." Though Xie Qing was surprised by Xu Mei''s possession of such powerful cultivation techniques, he could tell it was within the norm. Cultivators like Xu Mei undoubtedly deserved to inherit the legacy of the Empress of Swords, considering their strength. Thanks to the newly acquired skill, or rather, a quarter of it, Xie Qing could temporarily enhance his attacks. Ding! [Your attacks for the next 15 seconds will have +10% strength, +5% chance to inflict {Shock} effect...] Brushing aside the notification blocking his field of vision, Xie Qing swung his sword following the movements Xu Mei demonstrated during their fight! Ding! Ding! Ding! Consecutive notifications indicated that Xie Qing had learned new techniques, although they were mere fragments of the real ones. He quickly regained focus on executing the attack. "Ha-a-ah!" A sigh escaped his lips as he concentrated on the attack approaching Xu Mei''s side. Surprisingly, she didn''t bother lifting her sword to parry. However, not disappointed, Xie Qing hurriedly activated the recently learned skill. True Yin Technique! Although this technique caused Yin energy to manifest in his body, which was the primary energy for activation, halfway through its use, he stopped employing this technique. Ding! [The "True Yin Technique" has been interrupted... +10% to sword strength, -10% to health level] Time seemed to freeze. Xie Qing swallowed hard as the sword was just two centimeters away from striking Xu Mei''s side, and then, at thest moment... "You were genuinely surprised," Xu Mei''s voice echoed. Xie Qing widened his eyes as her hand moved at a speed he couldn''t perceive, and the wooden sword parried Xie Qing''s strike! Boom! A sound of explosion echoed as Xie Qing''s force, enhanced by sword techniques, shed with Xu Mei''s sword, appearing intact, while Xie Qing''s sword showed signs of destruction with each passing second. Finally... Crack! Due to the excessive physical force applied, the wooden sword shattered into pieces, and splinters flew in all directions. One of them narrowly missed Xie Qing''s eyes, causing him to sigh. Looking at his trembling hand, not just trembling but broken, he sighed. He had strained too much, and his body couldn''t withstand all the kic energy, instantly transferring it to his internal organs. Even now, he felt a slight dizziness. However, when he thought he had lost, a deep dent appeared on Xu Mei''s wooden sword. "Congrattions. I defended my sword with my Qi, but you managed to break through that defense and deliver a powerful blow. This means you have exceeded my expectations," Xu Mei began speaking in a calm voice, with a hint of excitement. She added, "Moreover, you demonstrated impressive strength. Among Qi Condensation cultivators, there won''t be opponents for you if you can maintain this level in the future." As Xu Mei continued to exin, Xie Qing tried to listen attentively, ignoring the excruciating pain from his broken bones. Only after five minutes did the excited woman notice the problem. "And this is how you''ll reach a high level... Huh?! Y-your hand... Oh my, it''s horrifying!" Xu Mei eximed in horror. "This? Just a mosquito bite, don''t worry," Xie Qing replied, smiling carefreely. "Yeah, tell that to the kids. Wait, I''ll get some pills now..." "No need..." Before Xie Qing could say anything, Xu Mei reached into a pocket, suddenly producing a bottle of pills, then brought it to Xie Qing''s mouth, making him swallow. The effect was instantaneous. His wounds healed, and spiritual energy within him concentrated on restoring the broken bones. In ten seconds, he returned to normal. "Thank you, Master," Xie Qing said with a smile, though his smile was strained. He looked at Xu Mei, who seemed to have experienced immense relief seeing his bones return to their normal state. Xie Qing thought, "Do all women have a spatial item there?" *** After the injury, Xu Mei didn''t allow Xie Qing to continue training, so she sent him to rest. With nothing else to do, he wandered around the sect. In the meantime, he decided toplete some tasks. The Task Pavilion today was as lively as ever. He was greeted as usual... "Disciple White! I heard you went on a mission. What if your handsome face got injured?" "Aaah... sister, don''t remind me! I can''t bear it..." He grimaced, feeling that these girlsplicated everything. Why should they care about the condition of his face? And who was he in their eyes? A phone screen without a protective film? Why should he be so easily scratched? To his great relief, the elders forced the disciples to step aside and not crowd in one ce. "Thank you, Elder. You saved me," Xie Qing said with relief. "Hmph..." However, to his great surprise, the elder just snorted, turned on his heel, and walked away to his post. Xie Qing raised an eyebrow. Not that he was unfamiliar with such an attitude towards himself. Although some elders were friendly, most of them, mostly men, didn''t like Xie Qing and once even wanted to expel him from the sect. But he was beaten by Xu Mei, and then she robbed him. They had no choice but to keep quiet and not provoke the youth further. But this didn''t free Xie Qing from being disliked. So, he could only shake his head at their idiotic behavior. Approaching the task registration counter, he handed over his token and took out a little bag given for missions involving collecting various things. "So... as indicated. I collected some herbs, and ended up with twenty jing," Xie Qing said and asked, "Will I be paid extra for this?" "Well, we don''t know if the client will agree. So, let''s do it this way: I''ll reward you for the basicpletion of the mission, and when we receive a response from the client, I''ll pass you the remaining Contribution Points. Does that suit you?" Behind the registration counter was a friendly girl who exined all the intricacies of the process with a sweet smile. Of course, for a few extra Contribution Points, Xie Qing wouldn''t start a scandal, so he nodded. "May I have your disciple token?" the girl asked. "Of course. Here." Xie Qing took out his disciple token, clearly showing his status as an outer disciple. The girl at the registration counter nced at the token and sighed, looking away. She thought. "If he were at least an inner disciple, I would have asked my family to recruit him... but s! In this world, talent is more important than beauty." In the eyes of others, Xie Qing was a beautiful decoration that could be ced somewhere in the corner of the room just for appearance. However, they didn''t know the insane story that this person would leave behind. *** A piercing sound of an explosion echoed on the training ground. Boom! The disciples on the training ground were stunned when they saw two disciples attacking Xie Qing, who was calmly waiting his turn. They used a smoke screen that hindered seeing Xie Qing''s condition. When one of the disciples used a sword attack to dispel the smoke, they were greatly shocked by the scene that unfolded. Xie Qing stood in the center, while one of the disciplesy on the ground, his neck twisted at an impossible angle, his life energy undetectable... he was dead! On the other hand, the surviving disciple was not in a good condition... Xie Qing held him by the throat. "How amazing. Who would have thought that someone would attack me in broad daylight?" said Xie Qing, and each of the disciples shivered, feeling a chill running down their spine. Ignoring the others, he continued, narrowing his eyes, "You must give me a good reason to spare your life. Sectws do not apply in self-preservation, so don''t hope for that." "K-kh... I won''t tell you anything!" The disciple seemed to refuse to speak. Xie Qing suddenly smiled and released the disciple''s throat, who fell to the ground in surprise. He fell in such a way that his back was turned to Xie Qing, and he could only see the crowd staring at him. The attacker''s face darkened. "Darn! I couldn''t kill that bastard, and I also revealed my face... I''m in big trouble now!" thought the disciple, frowning, and then he smirked, "Well, this brat Xie Qing is an idiot. He thinks that by sparing my life, he can get me to confess! Alright then, I''ll make him target other people toplicate his life..." The disciple looked at the crowd and saw that their gazes were filled with shock. While he was thinking about the reason for their surprise... "Since you don''t want to talk, you can die peacefully." Xie Qing''s cold voice was thest thing he heard before his neck was severed. Before dying thoroughly, he saw Xie Qing''s cold face holding a bloodied sword. Boom! The head rolled on the floor. Everyone stood in shock. Chapter 25: Master, spend the night with me! Pum! The head rolled on the floor. Everyone stood in shock. All they could do was watch as Xie Qing tore apart the disciple''s clothes on the lifeless body, then used the fabric as a makeshift cloth to wipe the de. The disciples took in a cold breath. It suddenly seemed to them that Xie Qing had grown a second head. "He... killed a disciple? Moreover, this disciple was at the peak of Foundation Building!" The disciples on the training ground were shocked because they knew Xie Qing''s true level, which barely reached the peak of Enlightenment. And now, he easily killed someone stronger than him! Each of them knew that Xie Qing had gone on a task, but... how did he be so powerful? "Dude, what mushrooms did you eat? Give us some too!" ...and although they asked sincerely, instead of that, Xie Qing would give them fly agarics. *** Elders'' Hall. It was the ce where elders from the entire sect gathered. In terms of size, it was extremely spacious, easily amodating more than five hundred people without any strain. And today, this ce was filled to the brim with elders. There were about 250 of them in the sect, and although this might seem like a small numberpared to the total number of disciples, it was more than enough. Most disciples came from wealthy families and didn''t cause trouble, while the elders'' work involved checking documents and simr tasks, with some overseeing the pavilions. In short, they had enough. Their numbers increased every year thanks to talents flowing into the sect. Today''s assembly was important, at least ording to the male elders who were once suppressed by Xu Mei. "This is the Sect of Heavenly Sword, a sacred ce! How does a disciple like him dare to openly kill fellow disciples without any reason?!" shouted an enraged male voice. "Without reason? Let me remind you, Elder Sun, that you need to remember to take your pills. You seem to have memory gaps, or you''re just mentally backward," retorted a female elder in response to the angry voice and then added with a snort, "You''re just trying to avenge the actions of Elder Xu in the past! Shame on you!" "Y-you..." Such disputes continued for two hours. There were only two sides ¨C some wanted to punish Xie Qing, while others defended him. The majority of women were in the defenders'' camp, while almost all men were on the side of punishment. "Ha-a-ah..." Most elders had already started to get tired, and they silently prayed for it to end quickly. Although killing disciples was strictly prohibited, there was another rule that allowed bypassing the firstw. If someone attacked you with the intent to kill, you could defend yourself. This self-defense also included killing the attacker. Some witnesses spoke about the two disciples attacking Xie Qing with the intent to kill, so everyone understood that this issue couldn''t go far. Probably, Xie Qing would just be given a warning, and then they would pat him on the head. In the end, all voices turned to the main elder. "Main Elder Su!" Su Hai ¨C that was the name of the main elder. He looked like a hunched old man. The poor grandfather was sleeping when the cries of the other elders woke him up. "Hm... mmm? Who the hell is screaming?" heined, then wiped the drool from the corners of his mouth, making the verdict: "This matter should have been closed long ago. It''s clear that it was self-defense, and besides, disciple Xie was attacked with obvious intent to kill. If you want to kill someone, be ready to be killed, that''s the in truth." "Ehhh..." Those who were in favor of punishing Xie Qing sighed heavily, their faces turning sour. They lost their chance to voice their opinion from the moment the main elder spoke. Su Hai waved his hand and added: "You all have much more important matters to attend to. Internal strife is serious, but these are just two useless disciples with questionable pasts," said Su Hai, then continued with a serious expression: "You need to focus on the Ancestral Cave. It''s set to open in the next six months." The elders immediately fell silent, then nodded. The words of the main elder made sense, as the Ancestral Cave was a great opportunity. Spaces were limited, and it was nned to allocate them in advance among the disciples of the four great sects that had used this method for centuries. In the Ancestral Cave, one could enter an illusory realm where, depending on their potential, they could obtain some technique, and with great talent, inherit the legacy of an ancient cultivator. Anything rted to antiquity was an object of admiration for cultivators. An example of this was Xu Mei... uh... I mean, the cultivation technique that Xie Qing obtained. Nine Golden Dragons Technique. It came directly from the Dragon Cave of Zhang Mei, who was one of the four main geniuses at that time. Having fallen into the hands of the Sect of Starry Stream, this cultivation technique had been gathering dust for a long time in a secret ce known only to Zhang Mei... well, and Xu Mei, who simply destroyed everything, thereby revealing a small cab hidden behind a thousand formations. "Alright. Let''s discuss then the disciples we should send. I believe Li Tian should earn his ce." "Hmm, in my opinion, Suen Suen has good talent, and she just recently moved to the main court." "Ah, you cunning old folks! You''re pushing your rtives forward!" In this way, everyone forgot about the main topic of today. In the corner, the main elder wiped sweat from his forehead and turned his gaze to the girl standing in the darkness. "Mi... Miss Xu Mei, are you satisfied?" "Quite. Write me the names of those who shouted the loudest," Xu Mei coldly replied and disappeared. Finally, after her disappearance, the main elder could breathe a sigh of relief. All this time, Xu Mei was here to make sure others didn''t cause trouble. She "politely" asked the main elder for help, and he "selflessly" agreed. A few minutester, Xu Mei appeared in the pavilion, informing everything to Xie Qing. "Oh..." Xie Qing sighed in relief when Xu Mei reported that the elders had decided to hush up the matter and leave him unpunished. Anyway, he didn''t regret his actions and was ready to kill those two again. "Thank you, Master," Xie Qing said with a smile, then used movement technique to shorten the distance and approached Xu Mei from behind. He embraced her slender waist. "Your disciple was so scared... wouldn''t the esteemed Masterfort me? We can go to my room..." "G-Get off!" *** The training went well. Xie Qing sat in the backyard of the pavilion, surrounded by a vortex. Boom! Suddenly, Qi exploded and rose into the air, and thunderous sounds echoed from the sky. It seemed like lightning was about to strike, but fortunately for Xie Qing, nothing happened. Ding! Ding! Consecutive notification sounds reached his ears, and the youth opened his eyes, which for a moment turned golden but then returned to their ck color with countless stars in the pupils. "Phew..." Xie Qing exhaled, and steam came out of his mouth. His body felt stronger than ever. Qi was boiling in his veins, which was normal for someone who had just broken through. Although he was excited, the most crucial step was to first calm his Qi and deal with the consequences of the breakthrough. It took another two hours for this. While he was warming up, Xie Qing checked the notifications. [Status analysis... You have reached the Foundation Building stage ¨C 6th stage... 7th stage... 8th stage... 9th stage!] [Congrattions! You have broken through to the "Qi Condensation ¨C 1st stage" cultivation stage! From this moment, the true cultivator''s path begins.] [Under the influence of the breakthrough, the doors to a bright future open for you...] [You gained the skill "Analysis (system skill)," and you acquired the following techniques]: >>>> [Rising Legend (1/4)] | [Rank: Unusual?] | [Description: A technique that enhances the body''s permeability, eliminating restrictions and allowing one to reach a new level of power. Boosts strength and Qi for 15 seconds. Who knows, if you don''t die at the hands of your lovers, you might trulyprehend this technique... hehe] [Sword Aura] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: More rted to body reinforcement technique but can also be used forbat. Attacks infused with this type of energy be more dangerous.] "Why does this damn system leave such sarcasticments?" frowned Xie Qing, but upon seeing another reward, he grinned from ear to ear. "Hehe... Sword Aura! Moreover, I also got a strange technique that will help me increase my strength!" Excited about his breakthrough, Xie Qing visited Xu Mei. Upon hearing the news, she was very pleased and then, recalling something, tilted her head and asked, "Right. You exceeded my expectations in that battle. What do you want? I promised to give you anything you wish!" confidently said Xu Mei, looking assured. After a brief thought, Xie Qing smirked and said, "Master, spend the night with me!" "Hm?" Chapter 26: White-eyed wolf?! No, Im just a man of culture! After a brief thought, Xie Qing smirked and said, "Master, spend the night with me!" "Hm?" Xu Mei froze in ce, not understanding what Xie Qing had just said to her. She thought her ears were ying tricks on her and asked again, "What-what do you want?" "Hm? Spend the night with you, that''s what I asked for," said Xie Qing with a carefree expression on his face. "You..." Xu Mei was on the verge of exploding with embarrassment. Pointing an using finger at Xie Qing, she shook with embarrassment, her face turning red. "Shameless! Aren''t you ashamed to ask your Master for something like that?! We haven''t even held hands!" "Oh, then let''s hold hands," suddenly said Xie Qing, smiling. He took her hand and then brought his mouth close to her ear, whispering, "But... it seems you misunderstood me." "Hm?" Xu Mei emitted an embarrassed chuckle, feeling the touch of Xie Qing''s hands. She blushed, feeling like a silly eighteen-year-old who had just gone to the beach, where a predatory wolf tried to hit on her. Xie Qing smirked, sensing her delicate body trembling with embarrassment. Her red face was incredibly cute, making him want to tease her even more. "I meant... by spending the night, taking a walk, not what you thought," he said and chuckled softly, stroking her cheek. "My Master is so naughty..." "!!!" Xu Mei rolled her eyes and almost fainted. With Xie Qing''s gentle touch and his tender tone, she melted, feeling like she had returned to her youth, surrounded by her parents. And after a few seconds... she fainted. "Uh... cultivator fainting from shock? This is nonsense..." muttered Xie Qing, smirking. *** While Xie Qing was busy trying to wake up his Master, a group of people gathered in a dimly lit room. They all wore cloaks. "No. 2 and No. 4 are dead. What should we do?" a hoarse voice filled with anger was heard. "What can we do? Although they tried to kill this guy, it turned out he was stronger than we thought. Plus, our actions attracted the attention of the elders," added another. "That arrogant bastard will be displeased. Again, hearing hisints... sigh!" "It''s our collective fault. We underestimated this guy; he hid his talent. It will be difficult for our employer in the uing heirpetitions." "Ask No. 9 and No. 10 to track his movements. As soon as he leaves the sect by ten li, kill him immediately!" After a brief and heated conversation, they left the room. Who were these mysterious people... well, who knows? *** Xu Mei woke up an hourter, and after some difficulty exining everything to her, she finally calmed down. "So, you just wanted to take a walk with me, right?" Xu Mei said with a strange tone that even sounded disappointed. "Of course. What did you think?" Xie Qing grinned audaciously, crossing his arms on his chest. It was clear that he was enjoying the situation, not forgetting to tease his Master. The time he spent with her was wonderful. "Hmph... you don''t know how to choose your words, that''s the problem," said Xu Mei with a barely noticeable blush on her face. Then she added, "But I would have agreed even if you hadn''t asked me like that. Are you sure you won''t regret it?" "Regret? My beloved Master, such a word doesn''t exist in your disciple''s dictionary," said Xie Qing with a smile, proudly puffing out his chest. "Hehe..." Xu Mei chuckled merrily and then said something that almost made Xie Qing lose consciousness: "Your confident look is much more attractive, you know? I like you much more this way." "Ugh..." Xie Qing squeezed his heart, feeling an invisible arrow hit him right in the center of his heart. He couldn''t believe that his always cheeky Master said such a thing to him. He almost died of diabetes from her sweet words. "M-Master, you''re turning your disciple into a wolf," said Xie Qing with a feigned intive tone. "Hmph. You''re already quite the wolf, a white-eyed one at that," said Xu Mei, snorting and rolling her eyes. "Why a white-eyed wolf?" protested Xie Qing, adopting a mournful expression. He sighed, "Ah, so this is what you think of me, Master. It hurts so much..." "T-this... I didn''t mean to offend you." "Yeah, yeah... but the disciple''s heart hurts so much... maybe I should undress, and you can massage my chest?" "Go to hell!" And ten minutester... Xu Mei gave in and decided to go for a walk with Xie Qing after all. He set a condition that she would let him lead their date today, causing Xu Mei to blush heavily. And so... They were in a city controlled by the sect. It had a too-long name, so Xie Qing didn''t remember it. The city was celebrating today. It was the day the city''s hero was born, so all the streets were festively decorated, and stalls sold various candies and other street food. Overall, the atmosphere was very lively and beautiful. Bright lights illuminated the city, and theughter of the townspeople adorned the festive evening. "Here, Master," Xie Qing said with a smile, handing her a dragon made of caramel that sparkled brightly from thenterns. "I was told it''s delicious, but I don''t know if it''s true..." "Are you treating me like a guinea pig?" Xu Mei said, scrunching her mouth, but still took the caramel and licked it. Her eyes widened, "Oh, sweet!" "Yeah?" "..." Xu Mei decided to simply ignore Xie Qing''s flirtatious behavior. She chuckled and started eating her caramel dragon while Xie Qing led her through the streets filled with an atmosphere of joy and merriment. Even just walking, without entering restaurants or other ces, Xu Mei was very happy. After reaching her current level of cultivation, which became a bottleneck for her, she spent days in boredom. These days, when she felt so happy, were incredible. She looked at Xie Qing, who was trying to haggle for some special decoration and smiled. "Heh... it''s good that I listened to you and covered him from prying eyes, Mei-Mei," Xu Mei thought, looking at the person who had turned her life 360 degrees. Her eyes gleamed with determination, "I need to try hard... to make our rtionship even stronger. I can''t let him go for anything." Xie Qing, who sessfully managed to buy the decoration at a low price, suddenly felt a shiver down his spine. He looked around but only saw Xu Mei smiling affectionately, whose eyes, for some reason, seemed much deeper than before. "Did I imagine it? It felt like I wanted to sneeze, but after a long struggle, couldn''t... an unpleasant feeling." ...Knowing too much is harmful to your health, my dear friend. The time was approaching deep night, but the city still didn''t sleep. The city was still active, so Xie Qing decided to sit in a restaurant with Xu Mei. "Here, Master," Xie Qing said with a smile, pulling out the chair for Xu Mei to sit. "What a polite boy," Xu Mei said with a smirk, then sat on the chair, saying, "Hmm, not bad. As expected from my disciple." Xie Qing, who had already sat at the table, could only smirk and remain silent. The only thing he learned from her was how to understand alcohol and seafood. Only recently did she start teaching him about the sword. However, Xie Qing was smart. He knew that if he pointed it out, he would get a free training session where the Master would "take good care" of him. The waiter came, and Xie Qing allowed Xu Mei to ce the order. She didn''t hold back, ordering everything that came to her mind. Sitting on the opposite side, Xie Qing sighed in relief. Before going on this date, he exchanged all his Contribution Points for real currency, as his Master taught him, so buying things in the sect made no sense. Although his heart bled when he calcted how much the dinner would cost, he didn''t mind spending it on his Master. "How can I, the future head of the Xie family, be so stingy?" he thought proudly, ignoring the fact that he could have chosen not to be the family head. As he watched Xu Mei devouring her food, Xie Qing pondered about his family. The recent attack by two disciples was certainly not simple. The timing was too suspicious. Xie Hui began to worry after the death of Guan Baichi. It was too suspicious that he died near the sect, so Xie Hui decided to send two more cultivators to the Qi Condensation stage who could kill him. "How cruel... I never liked that bastard," thought Xie Qing, a cold gleam appearing in his eyes. "I remember he was hostile to everyone." Xie Hui ¨C his first senior brother. Although they weren''t blood brothers, there was still a family connection through their father. This person''s character was very rotten. He pursued only one goal ¨C to gain benefits regardless of the losses. "I''m not the only one targeted by this scumbag. I guess some of my brothers are already dead... well, that''s life. The weak won''t see tomorrow''s light," thought Xie Qing, then smiled, locking eyes with Xu Mei. Wiping cream from the corners of his Master''s mouth, he thought, "And I want to live. So, for my... our future and my goals, you''ll have to die, Se Hui." Beingpassionate to enemies meant being cruel to oneself. That was an unchanging truth. Xie Qing wouldn''t allow their rtionship to affect his future. In the war for inheritance... "...pulling out the weeds so they don''t interfere with the future harvest is a normal thing." At least, that''s what Xie Qing believed. He smiled gently when he saw Xu Mei''s flushed face, transforming from his touches into a young girl. In Xie Qing''s eyes, there was both love and determination. "And I''ll pull out all the weeds that get in my way." ====== This is the author. Thank you for reading this chapter. If you''ve enjoyed the book so far, I would appreciate getting a review ¨C it would greatly help me. Also, don''t forget to vote with Power Stones, which also adds support to the book. 100 PS = +2 chapters! Chapter 27: Mission received: Kiss the Master! "Ah! I haven''t rxed like this in a long time!" a beautiful female voice echoed. Xu Mei entered her pavilion with a smile, her steps almost skipping, and her smile from ear to ear. Xie Qing, of course, was charmed by the sweet demeanor of his ever-yful Master, and it seemed that in this short time, they had gotten to know each other much better than in four years. Partly, it might have been because of him. Back then, he wasn''t thrilled about his position, understanding he was in the sect to build a good background first and foremost, and secondly, to hide from his brothers who would undoubtedly want to eliminatepetitors. So, the days passed in fear, and everything around him was not so interesting; he was indifferent. On that day, which was just like any other, he received an unknown power... one he still didn''t fully trust. System ¨C what is it? How did it form? Is it a natural force, or someone else''s trickery? Unknown. Is it harmful to him? Does it pose a potential threat? Unknown. What was clear was that this power had a vast database and could evaluate even such marvelous and otherworldly techniques as the Nine Golden Dragons, which, for a moment, couldn''t reveal the true history of this technique. Zhang Mei was known for finding many ancient secret techniques. Her reputation as a researcher was not an empty sound, and she was considered a very intelligent woman. And then, one day... Ding! [Missionunched... analysis... ready!] [Mission received: Kiss the Master] [Description: It seems you''ve achieved impressive things and, after so many trials, won the heart of Xu Mei. But is it enough? Hehe, of course not... holding hands and cuddling is nice, but you can''t let your JJ gather dust! Requirement: Kiss] [Reward: the opportunity to develop one technique, random item (x2), technique "Dragon''s Gaze"] "Kha-kha..." Xie Qing choked on the wine he was drinking, sitting on the open tform on top of Xu Mei''s pavilion. He stared in astonishment at the mission and felt his spine covered in sweat. "Fucking hell... you want me to die?" Teasing the Master, holding hands, and touching her face was one thing, but a kiss... he was sure that such persistence would make Xu Mei explode with embarrassment, and her spiritual energy would wipe him into dust! However, it seemed the system had already found an effective way to motivate him. [Punishment: death!] "Well, I never doubted it. Anyway, I''m lucky that I built good rtions with her," he thought, then looked at the ss of wine in his hand and sighed: "Looks like I''ll have to drink..." *** Xu Mei sat in her room, engrossed in crafting. She was attempting to knit a scarf for Xie Qing, but... "Why can''t I get this right?!" she eximed, despairingly grabbing her head. She bought a knitting book, confident she could learn, but unfortunately, nothing seemed to work out for her! All her works looked as if someone had torn them from aplete garment. "It''s frustrating! Frustrating! Frustrating!" She kicked her feet on the floor like a little child. She felt too upset that, being one of the greatest geniuses of the century, she couldn''t handle simple knitting! "What a shame!" Xu Mei grumbled irritably, and tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. She genuinely almost cried because of her failure. Initially, she was in a good mood, deciding to make a scarf for Xie Qing, who had made her happy a few days earlier! At first, everything was fine, but halfway through, it became challenging. While she was annoyed, there was a knock on the door. Knock-knock. "Hmm? Xie Qing? What does he want?" the girl wondered and then smiled, approaching the door. As she opened it, she immediately sensed the smell of wine and then saw Xie Qing grinning foolishly, waving at her. "Yo, Master." "What''s with the ''yo''?! Why are you so drunk?" Xu Mei eximed, rushing to him and supporting his shoulder so that Xie Qing wouldn''t copse on the floor. She helped him sit on the bed and asked, "What happened? I know you don''t like to drink. Are you okay?" She asked with concern ¨C her emotions were sincere, and she feared something might have happened to him. Shrugging, the young man, with a wide smile on his face, said, "No, why should anything happen? I was in a good mood, so I decided to have a little drink." "I don''t believe you. You''ve never had a strong love for alcohol, and you drank enough not to get drunk," Xu Mei sharply interrupted him, crossing her arms on her ample chest. She snorted and added, "How many years do you think I''ve known you?" "Heheh..." Xie Qing smiled and shook his head. He couldn''t understand if this woman deliberately spoke this way or if she genuinely believed in what she was saying. Every word of hers hit him right in the heart. "Hmm... the Master''s scent lingers in this room. It''s so rxing," Xie Qing said and suddenly fell backward onto the bed, smiling at Xu Mei and saying, "Come on, Master, let''s lie down together." "No way, thanks," Xu Mei retorted, then approached him, grabbing his hand to help him up, but... "Kyaa!" With a cute girl-like scream, she fell directly onto Xie Qing''s chest, who immediately hugged her and pulled her close. His nose touched her crown, and he took a breath, savoring the pleasant scent reminiscent of flowers. "Phew... let go of me!" Xu Mei "attempted" to break free, but Xie Qing held her tightly, not letting go. Of course, he could only do this because Xu Mei didn''t try to resist. After two minutes, she quieted down and fell silent. Xie Qing felt a tickle on his corbone and heard a soft snorting sound. "If you like my scent so much, Master, I can hug you more often," he said with a smirk, his cheeks reddened by the influence of alcohol, and his eyes slightly unfocused. "N-no, I don''t need that at all!" "What? Who was just sniffing me?" "W-w-w-w... wait, it was just to avoid suffocating due to ack of oxygen!" "As a cultivator at your peak, you can live without breathing at all," Xie Qing said, rolling his eyes. He couldn''t be fooled by her excuses. While Xu Mei sought justifications, a gentle touch suddenly visited her hair. Xie Qing spoke in a soft voice. "I like your scent too. It''s so calming... makes you forget all the problems," he said, then added, "And your hair feels very pleasant to the touch. So soft..." "Ugh..." Xu Mei blushed deeply. Xie Qing''spliments indeed made her happy, but she felt too embarrassed. In terms of age, this boy could be her son, if not her grandson, yet being in his embrace and acting like lovers... "T-this is so embarrassing, but... so nice. His touch, sweet words... I missed this," she thought, and a tender smile appeared on her face. While she was lost in thought, Xie Qing suddenly shifted and slightly raised himself, sitting on the bed. It happened that Xu Mei''s position ended up on his knees. "Huh?" The woman was surprised by such a sudden turn of events, but before she could react, her lips felt a soft touch. "This... this..." Xu Mei''s mind was empty. She surrendered to the soft sensation on her lips and fully felt all the love Xie Qing poured into this kiss. She was ashamed and embarrassed, but... her hands never pushed Xie Qing away. She simply epted her fate. Their kiss wasn''t as passionate as it might have seemed. A simple peck, yet it made both of them feel as if they were in heaven. And again, they fell onto the bed. Xie Qing held her tightly and pressed his nose against her crown, while Xu Mei, lost in the sudden kiss, nestled into his chest. "He won''t remember this anyway," she thought and rxed, falling asleep. ...Let''s not tell her. Ding! [Taskpleted! The ringing of your steel balls shook the entire cultivation world!] [Rewards will be kept until you decide to im them] Chapter 28: Lustful Dragon Belt and Drunken Dragon Bracelet... what is this horrible set? On the morning of tomorrow, Xie Qing found himself lying on the floor. He immediately realized it was his room. "It seems she wasn''t very considerate of me," he thought, smirking as he got up and brushed off the dust. He raised an eyebrow, "Hm? Wait a moment, I don''t usually wear my hanfu like this..." This surprised him greatly, as it could only mean one thing ¨C Xu Mei undressed him? It sounded somewhat absurd. "Oh well, if she wanted to see my body, why not just say so? I would have thrown everything off immediately and then undressedpletely," he thought,pletely forgetting about the sense of shame. In reality, there was nothing for him to be embarrassed about. His body was well-developed, and he looked handsome. On the contrary, those who looked at him should be the embarrassed ones! In short, he was arrogant, but unfortunately, he had a reason for it. Anyway, Xie Qing wasn''t foolish enough to mention this fact to Xu Mei. Although he liked to tease her, he understood that too much teasing could make the entire pavilion explode. The first thing he did was to cultivate a bit of calm down. Yesterday, he had drunk too much, and now he was suffering from a hangover, but would he be a cultivator if that could harm him? Cultivation would help him set aside some concerns. This mainly concerned his future as a member of the Xie family and his rtionship with the Sect Master. Being a man with ambitions and goals, of course, he couldn''t be satisfied with just one woman. Moreover, a harem was his dream, so he definitely wouldn''t give up on that goal. Therefore, talking to Xu Mei was an option, but it was too early for that; after all, they weren''t even a couple. "Okay, let''s stop thinking about this. Let''s focus on cultivation now." Qi Condensation. The stage of cultivation is where the cultivator''s body bes saturated with Qi, and they have to gradually increase the limits of their capacity, affecting their physical health. This stage is a curse for some and a blessing for others. Mortals feel a significant difference here, which represents talent and, most importantly, cultivation technique! In this matter, Xie Qing was lucky from all sides, and he was able to obtain a good cultivation technique, so at the Qi Condensation stage, he would be like a fish in water. For him, increasing his Qi and purifying it would be an easy task, even if he didn''t cultivate it. The main problem was the body tempering method, which was expensive, but... Xie Qing had a Master who would agree to give him some technique. ...It seems that on that night, the stars aligned in the heavens and smiled at him, causing the rest of nature''s children to lose their luck. What a sinful person. Given his situation, when inner demons forced him to confront deep emotions, Xie Qing found it a bit challenging, but he dealt with it quite well. Mostly, these heart demons tried to stimte him by arousing worldly desires, but they made a deep mistake... they didn''t know what sex and the like were! So, Xie Qing easily killed them and then continued cultivation. By the way, destroying inner demons positively influences cultivation. Your mind bes stronger. In a game format, it would look like this: [You defeated a Heart Demon. Gain +50 to Soul Power] It took two hours to cultivate. Xie Qing opened his eyes and exhaled, hot steam escaping from his mouth. He didn''t break through to a new level, although he could have. There was no point, as it would only harm his foundation. After all, there was a saying, "Haste makes waste." The Qi Condensation stage was crucial for creating a future foundation, and the longer you stayed at one level, purifying your Qi from impurities, the better for you in the future. "It''s time." Xie Qing''s gaze was filled with determination. Before him shed four years of memories, starting from hopelessness and uncertainty about the future, and now ending with self-confidence and a bright future. Today was the day when applications for entry into the inner court were epted! It was a decisive moment for every disciple. Leaving the pavilion, Xie Qing made sure to take his sword. He understood what awaited him. "After checking skills and cultivation level, it will go from bad to worse... a battle with an inner court disciple, randomly selected. Here, victory and defeat don''t matter; you just need to show a good level." And Xie Qing did not doubt his victory. He was confident that he could demonstrate a good level, even if he ultimately lost. The range of inner court disciples varied from Qi Condensation to Core Formation. Although it was just a one-level difference, if Xie Qing encountered a Core Formation opponent, it would be very challenging for him. "Since the cultivator forms the core, the use of techniques bes much deeper," he thought, but then smiled, "Of course, I have an advantage in the form of the system." Before him were four system windows. [Dragon''s Gaze] | [Rank: Legendary] | [Description: A stunning technique from the dragon n. If you read books, you might know that dragons have a special pressure ¨C the pressure of a superior life form. And now, they''ve learned to use this pressure as a technique. You can apply this ability in exchange for 2/4 of your Qi to intimidate the opponent. They won''t be able to move for 20 seconds, but the stronger they arepared to you, the less effective... well, in your current state, 2 seconds are not bad either.] [You sessfully enhanced the cultivation technique "Nine Golden Dragons"... analysis ongoing... acquired property: passive. Your body will absorb Qi just like during active cultivation.] [Drunken Dragon Bracelet] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: A bracelet made from the bones of the Drunken Dragon. In exchange for the need for alcohol, you can get a decent increase in strength, agility, and defense. But you''ll have to empty more than ten bottles of wine a day... although it''s not even a punishment for such a drunkard like you. Ah...] [Lustful Dragon Belt] | [Rank: Legendary] | [Description: The most absurd type of dragon. Although this is not their true name, this subspecies of true dragons has all the screws loose in its head, and instead of a brain, only the JJ functions. The wonderful effect of the belt is that you get a fivefold stamina boost, although... you''ll be standing like Mount Everest in the mornings.] "..." Although Xie Qing was speechless by the items he received, especially their names, the fact was that they were very useful. In any case, he put them on and immediately felt the effects. "Indeed. I feel much stronger, but..." Xie Qing frowned, then looked at Xie Qing junior, "Where are you going, bro? Now is not the time for that. Do you think during the battle with an inner court disciple, I''ll use you instead of a sword? Ugh..." And as if that weren''t enough, he also felt a sharp desire for a drink. These were truly cursed items. "Dragons'' perception is crumbling right before my eyes!" Xu Mei carefully observed from the window as Xie Qing left the pavilion, looking upset. Worry appeared on her face. "Maybe I was too harsh? I think it''s normal to wake up together in the morning... although I was too embarrassed to look at his face," Xu Mei thought, her cheeks turning red. She bit her lip and sighed, "Ah... I need to quickly resolve the issue of our rtionship. I can''t hide my feelings, and it''s clear that I''m not indifferent to him either." Xu Mei had long been preparing for this. She expected and agreed to close contact with Xie Qing to verify if her feelings were true, not just a misconception. She didn''t want to y with his feelings, first saying she loved him and then cooling off, realizing her true feelings. So she was very cautious about this matter. And during this time, she understood. "I really love him. I want him to be mine..." Xu Mei blushed, and her lips stretched into a tender smile. However, seeing Elder Lian Xin greet him with a shy smile, the Master''s face turned cold. "I always knew he was a womanizer, and I can ept the idea that I won''t be the only one... but why do I feel like women are throwing themselves at him?" The truth was such... Xie Qing showed no activity at all, but more than ten girls a day found a way to approach him and flirt. Xu Mei was speechless. "In my old days, even the most handsome men desperately chased after women, but now women are chasing after men... I''m getting old, it seems," her lips began to tremble with a desire tough, and then she remembered something, "Recording and assessment will take two or three hours. During this time, I need to finally meet with Zhang Mei;st time, she chased me all over the Eastern Continent." Thus, Xu Mei disappeared in a bright sh. *** "Disciple Xie Qing, congrattions on reaching the Qi Condensation stage. I was amazed to see how quickly you raised your level. You are undoubtedly a genius!" eximed Lian Xin excitedly, her face reddening with excitement. "I''m d to know that the elder supports me so much," Xie Qing said with a smile, then added, "You can just call me Xie Qing." "N-no, how can I?..." "I insist," Xie Qing said firmly, taking Lian Xin''s hand. He gently smiled at her and added, "Please, it will be easier for me." Lian Xin froze in ce, looking as if she had fallen under the spell of the Gorgon''s Medusa. She began to stutter and stammer as if you hadunched a 2024 game on your oldputer from 2007 on ultra settings, causing a blue screen of death. That characteristic sound during a crash was exactly what Lian Xin was reproducing. Xie Qing began to pat her on the head as if searching for something, and Lian Xin asked a question, emerging from her embarrassment. "What are you doing?" "Looking for the restart button," Xie Qing carelessly replied. "..." Lian Xin looked at him in puzzlement. "What do you even mean, bro?" Chapter 29: Maids (Extra), (R-18) Extra Chapter. Doesn''t rte to the current timeline, just reveals a bit about Xie Qing''s youth and his rtionship with the maids. 18+ warning, though it''s more like a message from heaven for my readers. Either way, enjoy. ==== In the mansion, the day for the young Xie Qing was as dull as ever. Most of the time, his brothers were outside the Xie family, leaving him alone with another younger brother with whom he was forbidden to interact. Even in his youth, his beauty was irresistible. For his age, he was tall, around 170 cm. Most importantly, he was actively involved in sports, giving him a well-built physique. "Hello, young master!" Numerous maids greeted him with bright smiles, expressing respect and adoration. Xie Qing nodded at them with a smile, earning enthusiastic cheers. But in his thoughts, fear trembled within. "Try to hide your predatory looks! Being born beautiful is a sin. That''s probably why I have lower talent," he thought with a serious expression, then pondered, "Maybe I should seduce a beautiful mature woman in the future and live off her? I''ll provide her with my love and attention, and she''ll give me treasures, money, and the like... Well, it sounds like a n." Young Xie Qing assessed his options wisely, knowing that the path of cultivation was too narrow for him, and he didn''t harbor hopes in that direction. He contemted how to use his appearance, and there were many options! How many women would be willing to reject him? Exactly, none (so he thought)! Even his mother, sister, and other women in the mansion treated him much more kindly than others. ...Of course, this did not extend to men. Although his brothers didn''t try toplicate his life too much for unknown reasons, they still harbored unfriendliness toward him. "Well, of course, the uglies will envy the beauty of the SSS+++ level. I think it''s natural," thought Xie Qing, shrugging his shoulders and sighing, looking like a tormented soul. "Oh, how sinful I am." ...It was worth admitting that in his youth, he was much more arrogant than he is now. However, surprisingly, such behavior was very much liked by the maids. They very much... liked it. "Ugh..." Xie Qing let out a soft sigh as the maid kneeling in front of him passionately sucked him off. Her tender lips touched the base of his JJ, she took a deep swallow, and every movement of her head made the young man shiver with excitement. The maid appeared to be around twenty years old, and she was a neer who had joined the group of servants two days ago. In these two days, she had tried to take on any tasks rted to Xie Qing and even volunteered to wake him up in the mornings. And so, early in the morning, around five o''clock... She had helped him wake up originally. Xie Qing lost the power of speech. "Although girls have clung to me before, who would have thought it woulde to this?" heined, although Xie Qing had no intention of denying that he enjoyed it. Letting out a satisfied sigh, Xie Qing released all his seed straight into the maid''s throat. She was, of course, very surprised, but refused to let the jade rod out of her mouth. After some sequential swallowing sounds, she sighed as if she had drunk a cold beer on a hot day and released the exhausted dragon from her mouth. "Ha-a-ah... young master, good morning," she said, then licked her lips, causing a reaction in Xie Qing, awakening the sleeping dragon from a second ago. The maid gasped, "Oh, you''re still aroused? How amazing..." It seemed that this only excited her more. The girl smiled and began to undress, then without waiting for Xie Qing''s permission, tried to impale herself on the iron rod, but... "I think you should stop that right now," a cold female voice sounded behind her. "Eh?!" Of course, the young maid was shocked and immediately pushed away from Xie Qing. Turning her head with a creak, she saw behind her... her headmaid! "Madam Yu..." Yu Yang - she was the head maid in the Xie family estate. She had long gray hair tied in a braid. She wore sses that gave her a serious look. She had a well-developed body and fit the definition of "MILF." Her beautiful gray eyes burned with displeasure. "I-I''m sorry... I''ll leave right now!" Of course, under such a fierce gaze from Yu Yang, the young maid could only panic, get dressed, and then rush out of Xie Qing''s room. He watched the situation with a somewhat disappointed look. "Are you alright, young master?" Yu Yang asked in an indifferent tone, approaching him. "..." Xie Qing just nodded, but in his thoughts, he was displeased. "Woman! Can''t you let my young dragon plunge into the gates of evolution?" And while he was lost in thought, he was suddenly distracted by a gentle touch on the aforementioned dragon. Xie Qing looked at the head maid and then shifted his gaze to Xie Qing Jr. "...I don''t think you must do this," said Xie Qing, twisting the corners of his mouth. "You may not be aware, but I am responsible for ensuring your safety andfort, so I must take care of such things... From today on, I will be more attentive to you, as the young master is currently going through a difficult period." As she spoke, her hand was rubbing him vigorously. Xie Qing could tell that she was a bit inexperienced in this matter, but with each second, she was getting better and better. "Ugh..." During the friction, Yu Yang suddenly undid a button and released Mount Tai. Looking at the plump breasts of the mature woman, Xie Qing felt his mind explode with excitement. He immediately attached himself to her nipples, as if trying to lick up thest drop of ketchup (after all, you paid for all the ketchup). "Ah..." Yu Yang''s reaction was captivating and arousing. Xie Qing had to make a great effort to keep his bibijon from bursting out in a frenzy. In the end, each of them tried to make the other feel pleasure. In turn, Yu Yang was more diligent, and her hand moved gently, and her fingers asionally touched the head, massaging it, which again stimted Xie Qing''s lust. He, not wasting time, began to suck her breasts as passionately as possible, and as a result, Yu Yang moaned loudly. "Aaaah! Y-young master, don''t be so insistent..." The young Xie Qing was an obedient boy... sometimes, so he didn''t agree and used his tongue to stimte her nipples to the fullest. "Aaaah!" "Ugh..." It so happened that these two simultaneously moaned - Xie Qing loaded his gun and then confidently fired, while Yu Yang rolled her eyes, and her body shook. A generous amount of "magic milk" shot into Yu Yang''s outstretched palm, which surrounded Xie Qing''s head like a dome. In turn, the young man felt a sweet floral scent. "Does Yu Yang have new perfume?" he wondered. ...I will notment on this. After a while, Yu Yang got up from her ce and looked at her palm, and then did what Xie Qing never expected... she started licking it! "Um... what are you doing, Yu Yang?" he asked in amazement. "This is the seed that you released, young master. Wiping it off would be rude to you," Yu Yang replied during breaks between licking with a serious face. Xie Qing lost the power of speech. "When did this rulee into effect?" Nevertheless, he could not deny that the sight of Yu Yang licking his sperm with an indifferent expression on her face was arousing. But... even for him, it would be hard to reload so often. After that day, Yu Yang was a frequent visitor to his bedroom. Although they could only meet in the evenings when the woman''s work was over, these evenings were unforgettable for Xie Qing. Unfortunately, after his mother stopped appearing in public, Yu Yang disappeared as well. Therefore, Xie Qing was left at the mercy of hungry tigresses. However, those days were still unforgettable for him. ...Well, of course, it''s not a struggle under the nket for you. Chapter 30: Bro, youre too cool! Ill name my son after you! Admission to the inner court works as follows - you go to the registration area, they check your level there, and then give you a ticket with the time when you need to show up for all the tests to decide if you are worthy of entering the inner court. Of course, thew was written for everyone, so Xie Qing also had to go through this. "Xie Qing, now we will go inside, and you need to go to the registration desk. There, you need to say that you are applying for the test for the inner court, and then provide the token, with which they will create the necessary resume," said Lian Xin and added with a smile: "Of course, you can be sure that you will pass the exam. It''s not difficult, you just need to show the skills of an inner court disciple level and prove it in battle. Compared to the exam for the main court disciple, this is nothing." "Well, you''re right..." said Xie Qing, and then he smiled, feeling countless gazes on him: "It seems that not everyone here is happy about my presence. Most likely, they think that I came to have fun." "Just a bunch of idiots. Don''t think about them, Xie Qing, they''re just fools," Lian Xin replied with a smirk. The disciples who looked at Xie Qing with hostility looked at Lian Xin, losing their speech. They thought: "You are an elder of the sect. Do you need to insult ordinary disciples like that?" They felt bitter. Rumors about Elder Lian''s love have been popr since the first day of Xie Qing''s entry into the sect, so no one was surprised by Lian Xin''s behavior. Many of them secretly envied Xie Qing. To possess the love of an elder was the same as getting a ticket to a happy life. Many disciples tried to build rtionships with elders, but it failed. They felt bitter! "Oh, heavens, do I deserve such punishment? My karma is cleaner than a baby''s butt!" "I envy him so much... I want a girlfriend too!" "I don''t envy him. I don''t envy him. I don''t envy him. I don''t envy him. I don''t envy him. I don''t envy him. I don''t envy him. I don''t envy him. I don''t envy him. I don''t envy him. I don''t envy him. I don''t envy him. I don''t envy him." Xie Qing was silent. This time there were many gazes on him, and for some reason, he felt a bad premonition. Sometimes his luck failed him in the most awkward moments. And now, it was his turn. Under Lian Xin''s encouraging smile, he approached the registration desk, where he was greeted by an elder who was watching this scene with a smile. "Hello. Are you here to register for the inner disciple exam?" said the woman elder standing behind the desk. Seeing that Xie Qing nodded, she pushed two sheets of paper on the table, took one for herself, and gave the other to Xie Qing. "What''s this?" he was puzzled and looked at Lian Xin, who also didn''t understand the purpose of this paper. But the elder quickly exined. Xie Qing lost his speech. "No, I just need your autograph. If you don''t mind, of course," the elder said with a smirk. "Um... I don''t know why you need it, but okay," Xie Qing replied submissively and wrote his name, and then at the elder''s request, he wrote her name and drew a heart above it: "Here..." "Ehehe... thank you very much." The elder gently smiled and sent an air kiss to Xie Qing, ignoring Lian Xin''s angry gaze. She asked for his disciple token and reviewed the information, then wrote it in the form. "Everything is ready. I have registered you; the exam is in an hour. Please, don''t bete," she said, and then handed him the ticket, warning: "Don''t lose the ticket, or there will be problems. And also, thank you for the autograph." "Yes... thank you too." Xie Qing nodded and returned to Lian Xin, who was looking at the elder at the registration desk for a long time and then turned her gaze, looking at Xie Qing with a smile. "???" Xie Qing also smiled back, but he couldn''t understand why he suddenly felt a chill down his spine. *** To pass the time until the exam starts, Lian Xin and Xie Qing went to a restaurant where they ordered a separate room. "You will have only tea? Are you sure?" Lian Xin asked in surprise. "Yes,tely I haven''t felt hungry," said Xie Qing, and then added: "Besides... I''m very picky about food." "You wanted to say, spoiled?" Elder Lian added with a smirk and then giggled: "Well, okay, I can understand your logic. I don''t like to eat, as Qi is enough for me, but sometimes it''s nice to chew something." Xie Qing nodded, but his mind was upied with other thoughts. "Away with dirty thoughts. I am pure and innocent, like yellow snow... no, I mean, like spring water." One way or another, Lian Xin could not understand his thoughts and decided to just talk on various topics. It was evident that she was trying her best to cheer him up and chat with him on various subjects. "Elder Lian, how are you?" Xie Qing asked with a smile, sipping his tea. He added: "I am a little interested in your personality. I think we don''t know much about each other." "Eh?" Lian Xin gave a surprised exmation. Apparently, she did not expect him to ask such a question, but then she regained herposure and smiled brightly. "Of course!" Xie Qing didn''t even need to encourage her, as Lian Xin very selflessly told him about her past. If briefly, she was a descendant of the Lian family, who were influential in the capital of the Huanglun Dynasty. This Xie Qing knew. But Lian Xin did not limit herself to this and even told him about her childhood. Listening to her cheerful stories, Xie Qing also immersed himself in them. When it was his turn, he hesitated a little about whether to tell more about himself but still decided to open up a little. Upon hearing about how his brothers treated him, Lian Xin sighed heavily. "Indeed, the fate of the offspring of rich and influential families is never easy. Even your rtives can be your enemy or a stepping stone," she said with a sigh but then added with a smile: "But with your current skills and how quickly you have raised your level, you can be called a genius. Thest time the Qi Condensation stage was achieved at 18 years old was only by Elder Xu Mei." "Hm?" When the conversation turned to Xu Mei''s past, Xie Qing showed great interest. He didn''t know much about his master''s past; she was not talkative, and she did not want to raise this topic, so Xie Qing did not insist. "Can you tell me more?" Xie Qing asked, but in response, he received only a bitter smile from Lian Xin and her refusal. "I''m sorry, but I can''t. She forbids any mention of her past, so you can ask her personally," Lian Xin said and added: "I''m really sorry. I''m not trying to hide anything from you, but..." "No, it''s okay," Xie Qing interrupted her and added with aforting smile: "I know my Master''s character. She definitely would not have left you unscathed if she found out that you were digging into her past." "Thank you..." Lian Xin sighed in relief. She was afraid of disappointing Xie Qing, but she could not tell him about Xu Mei''s past, as it was quite possible that the next day she woulde knocking on her door. After that, the conversation flowed much better. Their rtionship became much closer. *** The inner disciple exam began. The entrance to the closed testing room was strictly distributed, and no ticket, no entry. Xie Qing, like the others, was calmly waiting for his turn. The other disciples were either cultivating or gathering in groups, and he... "Disciple White, why don''t we celebrate after this exam? I will pay all the expenses!" "D-Disciple White, don''t listen to them... I would like to discuss dao with you after the exam..." "Discuss dao? Sister, can''t you just call it by the human word: ''sex'', huh?" "What shamelessness... I also want to." Xie Qing watched with a bitter smile as he was surrounded by ten girls. He couldn''t drive them away because he didn''t want to seem rude... and besides, he liked the attention. The lone disciples with gaping mouths watched this scene, and their faces looked as if they had swallowed a fat fly. Each of them thought: "Brother, can''t you go just one day without showing off your skills? We''ve already acknowledged your status as a gigolo!" But some of them admired him. "No wonder he''s called the sect''s main yboy! Brother Xie Qing, I will name my son after you!" Chapter 31: Oh, brother, forgive me for my sharp tongue! "Passing the first stages of the exams didn''t require much effort. "And so, disciple Xie Qing. You will need to use any sword technique and show us your skills," said one of the judges, adding with a smile: "Any will do. You just need to prove that you are a capable disciple." "Alright." A minute earlier, it was Xie Qing''s turn, and upon entering the room, he met with three judges, one of whom was a woman, and the others were men. There were no biased looks towards him, and they only evaluated his skills. And so, Xie Qing decided to use the technique that his Master taught him. [Demon yer] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: A good sword technique that allows you to elerate attacks, and your de easily passes through the thick skin of demons. Moreover, this technique can create several semi-real attacks based on Sword Aura, which can severely injure the opponent.] Swinging his sword, Xie Qing attacked the training dummy. Following the main de, four semi-transparent projections appeared, which, together with the main sword, pierced the dummy. Immediately, the dummy turned red, indicating that the wound was fatal. Looking at each other, the judges saw hopelessness in each other''s eyes. "This young man... why is he even stuck in the outer court? With his strength, he could be at the top of the inner court now?" one of the judges Zhang Xu mentally asked. "How should I know? It''s all Xu Mei''s tricks, who has sawdust instead of a brain," the woman judge reacted with obvious jealousy in her head, clenching her teeth and adding: "I know this young man well. His talent was evaluated as insignificant, but he was very handsome, and I wanted to take him as my disciple to train him as my daopanion, but Xu Mei took him away from me! And now I''ve lost such a good talent!" The two male judges looked at each other and lost their speech. "Is that what you were thinking?! I asked you, or rather hinted, that we should transfer him to the inner court as soon as possible, and you''re thinking about yourself!" "Ah... I wanted to hook her up." Standing on the stage, Xie Qing was silent, awaiting the judge''s verdict. He did not doubt at all that he would pass this exam, because it was doubtful that there would be a situation where he would lose to others with his current talent. And so, the judges delivered their verdict. "You have passed the first stage. Congrattions." "Passed." "Passed." Without false words, Xie Qing nodded to them and thanked them, and then his Qi was checked, which once again shocked the judges. "Qiparable to a peak Qi Condensation cultivator! This is amazing!" Each of them felt awe before this young man. He not only reached Qi Condensation at the age of eighteen, but he was also so strong that he could cause a stir among peak cultivators if it came topetition in Qi quality. Of course, there was a gap inbat skills and experience. After they fell silent for a long time, one of them sighed deeply. "You have passed. It seems that our sect has been blessed by the Heavens. Now we can win a good ce in the sectpetition," said one of them. "That''s right. We have been giving in to the other sects for too long, and although there is friendship between us, we should not forget that we were once the strongest sect. Our founder would be unhappy if he lived to see our days." The next stage of the exam was a battle with an inner court disciple. By chance, his opponent was chosen to be Zhao Zhao, who was in the 2nd stage of Qi Condensation. "Zhao Zhao, Qi Condensation - 2nd stage? Good, this time the Goddess of Luck allowed me to touch her breasts," thought Xie Qing, sighing with relief. At the very least, he was confident that he could show a good level in battle if there was someone at this level in front of him. Five minutester, Zhao Zhao arrived. He looked ordinary and had ck hair and gray eyes. He was thin and carried an ordinary, sometimes battered scabbard from which he pulled out a scratched sword. "My name is Zhao Zhao. Inner court disciple," he introduced himself without any respect, rather sounding as if he had been forced toe here. "Xie Qing, outer court disciple... and future inner court disciple," introduced himself Xie Qing with a smile. "Hahaha... you''ll have to prove it. So don''t throw around words, kid," said Zhao Zhao with a contemptuous smile. "As you say." Xie Qing decided not to continue arguing and just smiled. This made Zhao Zhao get a little angry. There has always been a problem of discrimination between the outer court and the inner court. The outer court disciples were always despised by the inner court, which was already considered normal. The sect did not intend to fight against this, as it was more beneficial for them to createpetition that could create potential talents. And those who just feel despair... why should they even care about them? The world of cultivation was a cruel ce. If not at every step, then at every second step, there was a danger that could pose a potential threat even to life. Joining the inner sect would allow Xie Qing to gain more influence, and most importantly, connections. And when it came to self-affirmation, he was not averse to using the weak. Moreover, Zhao Zhao was initially rude, so Xie Qing would not feel pity. After a little preparation, Xie Qing drew his sword. Iron. [Nameless Sword] | [Rank: Ordinary (Developing)] | [Description: The sword makes a "tick"] This was the item he received after defeating Guan Baichi. Outwardly, it looked like an ordinary Chinese sword, but the difference was that it was stronger and dealt more damage. By the "developing" inscription, it could be understood that over time, it could be stronger and reveal itself, and until then, Xie Qing needed to use it for its intended purpose. A p sounded from the side, and that meant that the battle had begun. Zhao Zhao did not waste time and immediately began running toward Xie Qing, using a sword technique that made the de glow. "Dangerous." Xie Qing felt danger and before the de was about to cut his neck, he dodged and struck his opponent''s legs with all his might. "Agh!" Zhao Zhao screamed in pain and clenched his teeth, barely holding on to his ce from the force that came to his supporting leg. Thus, his sword technique was deactivated. By the time he regained his bnce, Xie Qing had already increased the distance and was looking at Zhao Zhao with an examining look. "Vibrating de. A pretty good sword technique that requires the right stance and leg cement so that the channels of spiritual energy intersect in the right form. It is considered a technique of the Earth level, and if not for the limitation in the form of a stance, it would be considered Heaven level," Xie Qing thought to himself and then smiled: "Knowing its weaknesses, it''s easy to defeat an opponent. You just need to deprive him of bnce." Having run away to a sufficient distance, this sword technique lost its value. "Damn, brother, do you need to talk about it so loudly?" Zhao Zhao thought with annoyance. This sword technique was given to him in full. And he understood its weaknesses, but when they were pointed out, his heart ached with resentment. "I sold my collection of Huang Xiaoshi''s works about immortal fairies." ...Huang Xiaoshi was an artist, but not a simple one, but a porn artist. Learning about this, Xie Qing almost cried. "Oh, brother, forgive me for my sharp tongue! I didn''t know that your soul was covered in wounds! Your determination deserves respect!" Chapter 32: Throw from the jackals mouth into the tigers cave Despite some problems, the exam was still ongoing. Zhao Zhao''s attacks were swift, and he moved very nimbly, which again corresponded to a person from the inner court. Zhao Zhao was a swordsman oriented towards speed and agility, so his techniques did not deal heavy damage. "Shadow Moon Strike!" Zhao Zhao shouted and struck vertically towards Xie Qing, who failed to dodge.And so, the sword approached Xie Qing''s neck, who remained still and did not even draw his sword to counterattack. Zhao Zhao sneered contemptuously. "Scared, bastard. He''s still too weak to face me," thought Zhao Zhao. But... "Good enough. I think I''ve tested your strength enough. I don''t think you have any more tricks up your sleeve," Xie Qing''s voice rang out, and then... ng! A powerful force collided with Zhao Zhao''s de, causing him to freeze in shock. Before his eyes, Xie Qing managed to instantly block the strike in a split second, raising his sword and blocking the attack that Zhao Zhao had put all his strength into. Therefore, Zhao Zhao immediately felt a sharp pain in his wrist after his sword was blocked and knocked backward. "Agh..." Zhao Zhao gritted his teeth in disappointment but could only focus on not losing his bnce and falling, thus opening a gap in his defense. And when he was ready for the next attack... "!!!!!" Fear. Coming from the depths of your heart, your soul, and consuming you from within. As if you had encountered something... that was hundreds of timesrger than you. "Heh." Xie Qing smiled. His eyes shone with a golden light as he looked at Zhao Zhao. There was a notification in front of him. Ding! [Based on the opponent''s assessment, including his Qi and cultivation level... "Dragon''s Gaze" will be active for 15 seconds.] Dragon''s Gaze. A damn overpowered ability that can make an opponent freeze in ce, even if they are stronger than you. If even for a second, in an active battle, you gain a huge advantage. While Zhao Zhao tried to break free, he was suddenly struck by a sh of Sword Aura that struck his neck, leaving a shallow cut before stopping short of disaster. "Aaaa!" "S-stop! The exam is over! Disciple Xie Qing, you have passed!" The referee immediately ended the battle, and a group of medics rushed to the bleeding Zhao Zhao, who was still under the effect of Xie Qing''s technique. Looking at his opponent, the young man could only shrug. Ifparing their techniques, Xie Qing had fewer, but they were of much higher quality. *** The exam was over. With three positive evaluations, Xie Qing was honored to be a disciple of the inner court. "Here is your disciple clothing and 500 Spiritual Stones. Congrattions." At the registration counter, where there were now fewer people, the elder handed him the orange-colored inner court disciple clothing and Spiritual Stones with a smile. Each court has its uniform, distinguished by color. The outer court is green, the inner court is orange, and the main court is red. The elders wore ck robes. Spiritual Stones, on the other hand, were a special type of resource that contained Qi. They are created in a natural environment due to the abundance of Qi in a particr ce. They are usually used as currency or for cultivation, more often for thetter. "Thank you," Xie Qing thanked the elder and, ignoring the red faces of the women around him, took the uniform and the bag of Spiritual Stones. He wanted to return and relieve the tension as soon as possible. Xie Qing couldn''t help but look at Xie Qing Jr., who was clearly showing signs of awakening. He frowned. "I need to remove these stupid bracelets if I''m not going anywhere," he thought and did so - he took off the bracelets, but the effect did not disappear. He sighed slightly. Did he have to relieve tension and drink every time?! This was... ideal! Cough, cough... I mean, very bad. At this time, he took out two tokens that were securely hidden inside his hanfu. One was gold with an engraving of a sword with roses, and the other... a snowke. "..." Xie Qing frowned, looking at the second token. This token... belonged to his mother. "I can''t contact her. This is not normal. In my early days in the sect, she called me almost every day, then started calling less and her voice sounded suppressed as if she was ill," he thought, and his expression became darker and darker. He decided to try. Infusing his Qi into the token, Xie Qing attempted to establish contact with his mother, but even after twenty minutes, there was no response. This was not normal. BOOM! The surrounding disciples froze in shock as a dangerous aura began to emanate from Xie Qing. His eyes became sharp as thorns, while his teeth creaked as he clenched them tightly in anger. He couldn''t help but worry. His mother''s status in the Xie family was high, but in recent years, due to his uselessness, she had begun to lose support from the family''s elders. "Kill... kill!" Xie Qing clenched the Spiritual Stones in his hand, and they began to crack, and abundant Qi flowed out, which, though it felt like freedom for a second, was quickly drawn into Xie Qing''s body and processed by the technique. Whoosh! The Qi around him swirled into a vortex and was instantly absorbed. He had broken through to the second stage of Qi Condensation! "All because of me... it''s my fault, isn''t it?" he thought and restrained his anger, his eyes colder than ice. He snorted in annoyance: "I suspected something was wrong when my father suddenly gained strong support from the elders and investments were made." Turning around, Xie Qing began to walk towards the exit of the sect. *** "What? He left?" Lian Xin let out a surprised sound when she learned that, ording to the sect''s records, Xie Qing had left immediately after the exam ended. Moreover, the disciples reported that he seemed angry, and she couldn''t understand why. "Everything seemed to be fine with him. What could be the reason?" Lian Xin began to worry. She entered the examination building and started questioning the elders, but they all said that before leaving the sect, the young man had been in a normal mood. This greatly puzzled her. "What happened to him? I haven''t heard of him getting angry in so many years," Lian Xin thought and then took out a token. She waited a little, and after a minute, a familiar voice rang out. "Lian Xin, what is it?" It was Xu Mei! "It''s about your disciple..." *** "No information?" Xie Qing shouted angrily, looking at the hooded man in front of him. He twisted his mouth and, barely restraining his anger, asked through clenched teeth: "Then what the hell are you doing?! Why can''t I even find out such simple news?!" "Y-young master, calm down..." The man in the mask was named Bao Xia. He was a cultivator at the Qi Condensation stage - 3rd stage. In the Xie family, he held the position of an ordinary assistant. His task was to assist the heirs and inform them of the Xie family''s orders. Years ago, he was assigned to Xie Qing, for which he greatly regretted. No one personally dealt with the young man, and even Bao Xia felt contempt for him. However, today he discovered something shocking... "H-he''s at the Qi Condensation stage! Only one stage below me! H-how is this possible?! He''s only eighteen!" Bao Xia felt his world crumbling before his eyes. He couldn''t even believe it. Anyone who could reach such a level at the age of eighteen was considered the greatest genius, and no one in the family, even if including past achievements, had been able to achieve this! "Oh... Lord Xie Xui will have a hard time," Bao Xia thought. Xie Xui had bribed him to report on all of Xie Qing''s movements, but now... "Yeah, fuck what I''m gonna tell you! You want me dead?!" Xie Qing''s Qi was so overwhelming that he even forgot to breathe. In response to Xie Qing''s questions, where he pointed out his uselessness, Bao Xia could only lower his head and remain silent, not daring to utter a word. "Tsk! I''m talking to him, and this idiot lowers his head!" Xie Qing snorted in annoyance and, to calm his nerves drank some wine. Then he asked again: "Now, are you telling me that there has been no information from Xie Meiling?" "Th-that... I''m telling the truth! She disappeared half a year ago or something like that when Xie Hai suddenly received absolute support from all the elders!" "Shit! Fucking asshole!" Bang! Xie Qing clenched his teeth and struck him, creating a dent in the wooden table. The man sitting at the table felt his balls shrink. "Fuck! This table was made of sturdy wood that even I can''t scratch! Abnormal! Why did they pull me out of the jaws of a jackal to throw me into a tiger''s den?!" Chapter 33: Rat is always a rat Xie Qing was helpless. No matter how much he shouted and scolded Bao Xia, the truth remained the truth. He could not ess the information regarding the whereabouts of his mother. "How annoying. I can''t do anything and all I can do is ask for Master''s help. Although I don''t want to drag her into my family''s affairs..." However, even if he abandoned this idea, wouldn''t he just be digging himself into an even deeper hole? Xie Qing immediately darkened. An involuntary thirst for killing began to emerge from him, which was too weak because he had only killed three people, but... along with his Qi, it had a strong effect. "Why are you scaring the juniors, uncle? I can acknowledge you as my father, so stop scaring Xiao Xia!" Bao Xiained in his thoughts. To his great fortune, Xie Qing left after muttering something. And when Bao Xia took out the token to contact Xie Xui, he suddenly froze. "Huh?" When the de sliced through the air, it made a barely audible whistle. With one swift and precise movement, the sword descended upon Bao Xia''s neck, separating his head from his body. The force of the blow was so great that the head rolled back several feet, stopping with a dull thud. "I-I... died?" Bao Xia''s body copsed to the ground, shaking and convulsing for a few moments before finally bing still. Blood spread around the lifeless form, staining the ground a deep red. "Ah..." Several onlookers gasped in shock and horror at the brutal sight, but no one dared to intervene. How could they? They were mortals, and... who would approach a killer who had just killed a cultivator? Xie Qing stood over the body, his gaze cold and ruthless. He looked at Bao Xia''s severed head with disgust and disdain. "As I said, a rat is always a rat. Die in the dirty gutters where you belong, you son of a bitch." Then Xie Qing turned and left, leaving behind a grim scene. The onlookers could only stare in stupor as Bao Xia''s bodyy in a pool of blood. *** The cold night wind brushed against Xie Qing''s cheeks as he left the city. He sat on a rock near the city gates and soaked a cloth in the river, then began to clean the de of the blood. "Hm... it''s good that I got rid of that bastard son. Of course, he would have tried to contact that scumbag Xie Xui," Xie Qing muttered, looking at the reflection of his face in the river: "Oh, I can have such an expression on my face? Amazing." The man in the reflection was neither smiling nor frowning. His face had an expression of true indifference, and his gleaming eyes had be dark like the gloomy night sky. Xie Qing sighed. After killing Bao Xia, he felt a little better. At the very least, he had eliminated the most obvious spies. "It''s good that I killed him in time, otherwise the information about my cultivation level would have been leaked to the Xie family," Xie Qing thought. Before he reached the Qi Condensation - 9th stage, he did not want to reveal himself. He nned to present a little surprise to his family, and then take control of the family, eliminating all the worms. "The elders, yes... a lot of money from the family goes to their maintenance, and ording to my knowledge, they severely restrict the head of the family, ostensibly to prevent him from doing something stupid," Xie Qing thought and sneered: "Of course, when I take control of the Xie family, they won''t have a chance. I''ll kill them and not feel sorry, those evil bitches." When a cancerous tumor appears, it must be destroyed at an early stage. Unfortunately, the cancerous tumor in the form of the elders of the Xie family had settled in too deeply, and it would be difficult to remove them from a political point of view, but... "I am a cultivator. If I gain many connections and possess formidable power myself, who can stop me?" he thought and smiled, shaking his head. Xie Qing hurried to calm himself: "Alright, let''s not rush. First, I need to take care of the matter of my development. He closed his eyes, inhaling the pure cold air. Xie Qing''s mind was somewhat shocked, but he gradually calmed down, enjoying the silence and tranquility. He needed this moment of rest to gather his thoughts and calm his heart. And just as he was about to return to the sect, a gentle voice sounded behind him. It was a voice that had apanied him for four years of his life in the sect, a voice that was always there for him in difficult times. "There you are, foolish disciple." Xie Qing slowly turned around and saw her - his Master, Xu Mei. There was a smile on her face, as usual, but her eyes betrayed concern. She pretended to be sarcastic and behaved as usual, but she was worried about him. "Master," Xie Qing whispered, looking into her face, and then smiled, but this smile was too forced: "How are you? It''s cold today, dress warmer, okay?" "Huh?" Xu Mei raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding Xie Qing''s words. "I wouldn''t freeze even if I went into a refrigerator naked, what are you talking about?" her gaze seemed to say. To which Xie Qing merely shrugged. Silence fell between them. Xie Qing averted his gaze and looked at the starry sky, while Xu Mei slowly approached him, and after a small stream of doubts... "Hm?" Xie Qing was distracted, feeling softness on his chest. He looked at Xu Mei and his lips trembled when he saw that she had pressed herself against him and was looking at him with puppy dog eyes. "M-master?" Xie Qing stammered, not quite expecting this and being charmed, looking at her face. "You need to rest. You''re like some kind of book hero today," she muttered, gently stroking his cheek. She smiled and patted his chest: "And also, I found out that you almost killed your opponent. Now he''s locked himself in his room and can''t cultivate because of fear. I barely calmed down the elders." "Hm? Zhao Zhao was scared?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, highlighting Xu Mei''s words, and then smiled, adding: "I don''t care, he didn''t hold back in the first ce, so I decided to do the same." "Cruel, but quite fair. In the world of cultivation, those who do not possess sufficient power will never see tomorrow," Xu Mei coldly noted, brushing her hair behind her ear. She suddenly noted: "By the way, Lian Xin was very worried about you... hm, are you two close?" "Huh?" Xie Qing let out a surprised sigh and then smiled. He could imagine Lian Xin''s puzzled and worried face, and it looked very cute. However, under his Master''s jealous gaze, he returned to reality. "Are you jealous, Master?" he noted with a sarcastic smile, and then took her by the waist, pulling her close. His lips approached her ear, and he muttered: "There will always be room in the disciple''s heart for my Xu Mei..." "!!!!" Puff! Steam began to rise from the top of Xu Mei''s head. She overheated from his words, and her face turned red. "Heh..." Xie Qing smiled gently, and his brows rxed, as did the corners of his eyes, which had been twitching earlier with anger. Now he felt a little more confident. "..." As Xu Meiy in his arms, blushing, Xie Qing thought for a moment, and then sighed and said, "Master, I have a request." "Hm... m?! W-what request?" Xu Mei replied, stuttering. Her face turned red, and her heart was filled with anticipation. But Xie Qing''s words were not what she expected. "My mother... I can''t contact her," Xie Qing said with a grim expression, and then added, "I suspect she may have been eliminated. Xie Hai has shown great impatience in recent years and is eager to seize power in the family." "What?" Xu Mei immediately became serious. "I doubt that your mother could be easily neutralized..." Xu Mei began to say, and without paying attention to Xie Qing''s surprise, she added: "So... there can only be one method." "Are you saying that... my mother was first weakened?" "Correct." Xie Qing narrowed his eyes and a chill emanated from him. His mother was a strong woman who held the Xie family in a firm grip, and the only thing that could stop her was the weakening of her power as a cultivator, as well as the head of the family. "I don''t like this..." Chapter 39: Stun Zhang Mei with your beauty and talent? Pfft, easy! Before the start of the chapter, I would like to sincerely congratte all women on March 8th. This is an important day for all of us. I''m not sure if any girls read me, but at least I congratte you. And my characters too. You can congratte the characters on March 8th below this paragraph if you want. It''s all up to you. Enjoy reading. ==== Xie Qing looked out the window attentively. He was a bit worried that their meeting with Zhang Mei might not go as well as he would like. "After all, the master stole her technique, for which this woman did not even hesitate to challenge the Dynasty..." thought Xie Qing, sipping wine. Then he shrugged, deciding to just forget about it: "Even if I worry about it, I won''t get anything." *** Xu Mei walked with Zhang Mei with a smile. They walked along the busy street, while disciples and elders stared at them. It was clear that the arrival of the leader of the Starry Stream Sect made many people wary. There has always beenpetition between the four sects. Each of them was like a hungry lion ready to devour each other if they gave a weakness. Suchpetition was natural for cultivators who were used to using each other as a stepping stone. "See what a good sect I have created?" Xu Mei asked with a smirk, proudly puffing out her chest. Of course, no one could hear their conversation because of a special sound-hiding technique. "Not particrly impressive. The results of your sect in recent years have been poor because you have not updated the old cultivation techniques," said Zhang Mei, casually yawning. There was still the same static expression on her face that could not be read. She said, "Moreover, you still allow disciples to be given such a low cultivation technique as the basic technique? That''s too disdainful an attitude." "What can I do? Few techniques are suitable for the Sword Path, and those that are too valuable for ordinary cultivators," replied Xu Mei with an indifferent expression. "From that point of view, it makes sense," nodded Zhang Mei. The cultivation world was strict in terms ofpliance with the rules, so those who did not have outstanding talent were forced to rest at the bottom. This was an absolutew. This was the case in most sects. Only small sects cared about the level of their disciples because the number was limited and instead of increasing the disciples, they preferred to increase the quality. Zhang Mei carefully observed the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect and could say that their level was rtively good. From the point of view of the outside world, most of them could be important people. "Xu Mei has achieved this in such a short time... damn, the hated genius of all time," thought Zhang Mei with a sour face. Although she was also considered a genius, in her time Xu Mei upied all the poprity of their group. This woman was not from a rich family, but from ordinary people and did not even join sects. Her luck was so suffocating that she found a first-ss cultivation technique that was only one stage behind what Xie Qing had. Moreover, she independently founded a sect in connection with which she was recognized as a great personality. Since a lot of time has passed, the world does not remember her achievements, but Zhang Mei and the other sect leaders were witnesses to her history and power. In the past... Xu Mei was not so lively and cheerful. She exuded a cold atmosphere as if the whole world was contemptible to her. Zhang Mei sighed, remembering the old times. Since then, many years have passed. Now they have changed. Zhang Mei became colder and more serious, and Xu Mei, on the contrary, became more cheerful and open. "However, you really can boast of creating a good sect," said Zhang Mei, and there was a barely noticeable smile on her face that disappeared very quickly: "However, you won''t continue to distract me from the meeting with your famous disciple, right? You at least have to show me the one who has enough talent to learn that mysterious cultivation technique." "Oh, you got me," Xu Mei said gloomily and waved her hand: "All right, follow me. But I warn you - don''t fall in love with him, okay?!" "Hmph, have you finally be stupid with age? It seems that people do be stupid with age," Zhang Mei said coldly. "Well, well, let''s see how you behave at a personal meeting." Xu Mei waved her hand and, not wanting to continue the conversation, asked her to follow her. Although Zhang Mei pretended to be indifferent, she was very interested in seeing that talent who was able to learn the cultivation technique that even she and Xu Mei could not understand. *** "Oh, so you live here? Quite modestly, considering that you once built a fifty-story pavilion right on the border between righteous cultivators and devilish cultivators to provoke thetter. It still exists, by the way," said Zhang Mei, shaking her head. "Bah. Bah. I''m not interested in all this crap because I''m no longer interested in such uptight ces. It''s better to live in a hut with your loved one than alone in a huge pavilion." "..." Zhang Mei fell silent. She could not understand her feelings, because she had never experienced love. In her youth, she was too naive and trusting, so she was protected from men as carefully as from the gue. By the way, she was from the ancient Zhang family, which no longer exists. Unfortunately, the genealogy stopped at her. Entering the territory of the pavilion, they headed to the back, from where Xie Qing''s Qi was felt. When they turned the corner, they saw a young man sitting with his back to them. He was in the lotus position and Qi was emanating from him, indicating that he was meditating. "There he is," Xu Mei said with a smile, looking at Xie Qing with admiring eyes. "Th-this..." Zhang Mei lost her voice when she saw how much Qi he inhaled in one breath and the minimal amount of effort he spent on cleansing the Qi. He absorbed Qi so quickly that a small vortex of spiritual energy appeared around him. Within two kilometers, there was a strong drop in Qi concentration. The reason was sitting in front of them. Even with her rich experience, Zhang Mei could not help but be surprised by such talent. One thing was the cultivation technique, it was powerful and even an idiot could be the strongest cultivator with its help. She saw that this young man had a special bloodline. "Strange. I checked his past and he is from the Xie family, which, although famous for its wealth, has not so much talent among them. The most talented of them is only the first son Xie Hui, but in my eyes he is mediocrity," thought Zhang Mei and muttered his name under her nose: "Xie Qing..." Boom! And suddenly, as if hearing her voice, the vortex suddenly intensified and Xie Qing''s body disappeared in the vortex of spiritual energy. After a few seconds, the sound of an explosion and a crack in the earth could be heard. Xie Qing''s aura had strengthened! "H-he..." Zhang Mei stared in astonishment at the ce where Xie Qing was sitting. She felt how he was able to take a step in his development and reached the sixth stage of Qi Condensation! "How many years has he been at this cultivation stage?" asked Zhang Mei with a slightly trembling voice. "Hm? How many years?" Xu Mei repeated the question with a smile and, seeing Zhang Mei''s expectant look, she proudly puffed out her chest and said: "It took less than a month! He rose from the level of Enlightenment to Qi Condensation in less than a month!" "Th-th-this..." Zhang Mei lost her voice again. She could not imagine such talent. Compared to him, even Xu Mei had to politely give up the title of the greatest genius. To reach such a level at the age of 18 was already considered a very rare case and there were only two people in history who achieved this - Xu Mei and Xie Qing! One of them got stuck at this level for a year and reached the sixth stage only at the age of 21, while Xie Qing not only reached this level at the age of eighteen but also in less than a month! "..." Zhang Mei''s face became serious. She could no longer underestimate him. Most likely, her disciple would have to face a serious obstacle on her path in the form of Xie Qing, who was such a big boulder in the garden that no one could move. She could already imagine the future. With his appearance in the cultivation world, every genius would be considered garbage, while only he would shine, taking the spotlight from hispetitors. "Oh... it seems that my heir is not so lucky with talent. After all, she was considered a genius, reaching the Core Formation level at the age of 27, which is already considered a good result." As in the case of Xu Mei, when such geniuses as him appear, the entire cultivation world simultaneously experiences difficult times and good times at the same time. "You need to be careful. There will be many people who will want to cut off his head. Don''t forget about the Empress of the Huanglun Dynasty, she will be on guard and will not tolerate his existence just like that," warned Zhang Mei, watching as Xie Qing finishes his breakthrough. "Yes, I''ve thought about that too. But don''t worry, he''s not that easy to kill. As long as I''m alive, no one will dare touch him with a finger." Xu Mei snorted coldly. How could she not know about the Empress of the Huanglun Dynasty? In her time, she had many conflicts of interest with this woman, as this woman could not tolerate too much power from the sects. Although Xu Mei was not closely acquainted with this woman, she could not help but be dissatisfied with her. After all, the Empress in the past prevented her from creating a sect. "She will pay attention to him. We are equal in strength, so I don''t think I need to worry about it." ==== *Do I need to make extra chapters about the past of these guys? For example, Zhang Mei and Xu Mei. Write in thements. Chapter 40: Sister Fang Lan Thank you for supporting the book with power stones: Swcowboy (a regr reader who has been supporting me for a long time) KRPL (your votes help me a lot. Thank you!) Sekirryutei, krish523, Spirit\\_Immortal, Reading\\_Venerable, kevyn\\_br, Tepes. Of course, there are many others. You can see them on the book page. I express my sincere gratitude to these people. Enjoy reading! === Xie Qing took a deep breath and exhaled, releasing a cloud of steam from his mouth. He stood up from his spot and turned his head. His eyes shone brightly as he saw two charming women in front of him. His beautiful long hair was tied into a neat ponytail that swayed slightly in the wind. There was a gentle and caring smile on his face, and with his handsome features, he looked stunning. Zhang Mei was stunned for a moment, lost in her world of dreams. She was amazed by his beauty and couldn''t help but feel envious of Xu Mei. "You''ve made another breakthrough. As expected of my disciple, you''re still so genius!" Xu Mei said with a satisfied smile. "Of course. The heavens have blessed me with such a perfect Master," Xie Qing said politely with a smile, and then politely greeted Zhang Mei: "Greetings, Sect Leader Zhang." "Greetings..." Zhang Mei''s voice was slightly subdued, as she was still in shock. The speed at which Xie Qing was developing could not be exined in words. He was like an anomaly in the cultivation world, and she didn''t know whether it was a good or bad thing. She turned her gaze to Xu Mei and asked, "Are you going to send him to the Ancestral Cave?" "Of course," she confidently dered, and with a smirk, she exined, "I''ve been insisting on this from the beginning, but many elders have called for choosing disciples from the main courtyard. I got so angry that I made them shut up and ept my position. Lian Lin also insisted on my choice, so everyone agreed." "Hm... Lian Lin is unlucky to have such a carefree Master," Zhang Mei said with a snort, curling her lips. She looked at Xie Qing, who was standing and watching them, and suddenly asked, "Boy, don''t you want to join my sect? I''ll immediately give you a ce in the main courtyard." "Eh?" "Hm?" Almost simultaneously, Xu Mei and Xie Qing made a strange sound and looked at Zhang Mei. The young man was puzzled, and Xu Mei was furious. "Hey! I didn''t introduce him to you so that you could try to recruit him to your sect, got it?!" "Hmph. Naturally, I have to try. He surpasses even you in talent, so I can''t give up without trying," Zhang Mei coldly replied, and resolutely looked at Xie Qing: "My sect will support you with resources, and in the end, you can even enter some rich family as the head of the family. What do you say?" Xie Qing became serious upon hearing such a tempting offer. Although it all sounded very beautiful and tempting, he could not agree to these terms. "I''m sorry, but I don''t want to change sects," he politely declined, not crossing the line and showing that he was showing enough respect to Zhang Mei. "I see. It''s a shame that I couldn''t recruit you, but I won''t insist," Zhang Mei said, waving her hand. Then she asked, "But I would still like you to visit my sect once. Although I don''t want to admit it, I would like to study the cultivation technique you received." "...I can''t promise." Xie Qing shook his head and sighed. He was a little worried that Zhang Mei might be offended, but he held a firm position. "Hmph." Zhang Mei was a little disappointed, but she didn''t insist. She looked at Xu Mei, who was smirking and snorting. "What''s the matter? Already happy? Why is your disciple so devoted?" she said disappointedly. "Hehe, because he knows that he won''t find anyone more genius than his Master. So he''s all mine, old witch," Xu Mei said with a smile, proudly puffing out her chest. "..." Zhang Mei narrowed her eyes, looking at the tworge hills, and involuntarilypared them with hers... and nodded. But her face did not reflect this. She just shrugged and started talking to Xie Qing. She mainly asked not the most personal questions, and it was clear that she was trying to probe Xie Qing''s personality. In the end, she nodded satisfactorily and thought, "It seems that Xie Qing is an exemry cultivator. He is not naive, not too kind, not too cruel. He has a good enough foundation instilled in him, and he knows how to behave in tense situations, and with his talent, he has an open road to a good future." The righteous path had long been in a lull. Although some incidents made cultivators anxious, it was mostly calm. And this worldcked noise. Too peaceful times give birth to weak cultivators, which Zhang Mei had long been convinced of. The threat of devilish cultivators had passed. They were locked up on the Southern Continent, and their movements were strictly monitored. Therefore, many cultivators grew up in greenhouse conditions, which was bad for personal strength. The world needed either danger or a bright light. Xie Qing could act as a bright light, which would cause a wave ofpetition. Although at first, it might be a little chaotic, the whole cultivation world would enter an era of development. "I will wait for your achievements, Xie Qing," Zhang Mei said with the same indifferent face, but her eyes were shining. *** Day by day, the Heavenly Sword Sect developed as it should. Considering that Zhang Mei came to the sect, the disciples became excited and even trained harder, so as not to shame themselves. Moreover, recently, the idea of creating a list of the best disciples in both the entire sect and in certain courtyards was put forward. This list was supposed to be based on contribution and cultivation level. A schrship was given for the first three ces. There was also such a thing in the inner courtyard. Xie Qing looked at his rating and saw that he was in 25th ce in terms of cultivation level and 100th ce in terms of contribution, which was the lowest score. But this was because he had only recently joined the sect. To get contribution points, you need toplete tasks. In each courtyard, there was its own Task Pavilion for convenience, and from there, missions could already be taken. Xie Qing decided to take on the tasks, and in his hands was a task from a disciple of the main courtyard. "A person with good drawing skills is needed. That''s what I need." Although it was not noticeable, in his youth, Xie Qing was fond of drawing, and most often he made portraits. He mainly drew servant girls or his mother, who kept all his works in a reliable safe, guarding them as a treasure, which was a little strange for young Xie Qing. The task was to draw several people. It was an ordinary portrait, and such tasks were amon sight in reality. At the Task Pavilion, the young man received a token. It was rhombus-shaped and had a red color with an engraving of a sword surrounded by clouds. This was a one-time pass to the main courtyard. "Well, it''s time to go," Xie Qing thought. He gathered everything he needed and headed to the gates of the main courtyard, where two elders stood motionless. Xie Qing approached them and, after greeting them, exined. "Hello, elders. I need to enter the main courtyard toplete tasks," Xie Qing said, and then showed the token. "Hm. The token is not fake, you can enter. I warn you, don''t cause any problems there and don''t stay until evening. Agreed?" "All right." Xie Qing nodded nonchntly. He had no reason to leave a nest there, as he had no acquaintances among the disciples of the main courtyard. On the way to the house indicated in the task, many disciples threw curious nces at him. It was clear that disciples of the inner courtyard were not amon sight here. And even though, ording to the cliche, there should have been two or three arrogant young masters, no one approached him, because every disciple understood - if an inner courtyard disciple was allowed to enter here, then he had permission. Simple and effective logic that saved Xie Qing from any problems. He approached the house numbered No. 16. Knock-knock. Xie Qing knocked. After a few seconds, footsteps were heard behind the door, and the door opened, revealing a carelessly dressed disciple who was tiredly rubbing her eyes. She looked sleepy. Seeing Xie Qing at the door, dressed in the clothes of an inner courtyard disciple, she asked without opening her eyes. The girl looked about twenty years old. She had short ck hair and green eyes, and there was a cute freckle on her nose. Her chest was small, and her body was slender. "What can I help you with, younger brother?" "Hello, Sister Fang Lan. I came toplete the task." "Hm?" Hearing this, Fang Lan opened her eyes and then froze in shock. Her face blushed a little as she looked at Xie Qing, and her heartbeat quickened. She was stunned by his beauty. "O-oh... uh... this... is it about the drawing task?" Fang Lan was a little nervous, as it was the first time she had met someone with such an appearance. After they exchanged a few words, Xie Qing entered inside, and Fang Lan closed the door behind him. The disciples who were nearby fell silent, turning their gaze to the man who looked grim. "B-Brother Bai Bai..." The other disciples looked as if they were about to cry. They had just been discussing that Fang Lan would be Bai Bai''s woman, and then Xie Qing appeared. Chapter 41: Seduce a main court disciple? Pfft, easy! Thank you to the readers for reaching 100 Power Stones! As promised, I will release +2 additional chapters today. So, there will be 4 chapters for today. Enjoy! Moreover, the book will soon be under contract. This means that the lifespan of the book will increase. Any support will help me and my book. All of this was achieved thanks to your help! Thank you! === Fang Lan had been a disciple of the main court for ten years already. Her talent was evaluated as good, which in the eyes of the outside world could be considered a "genius." She had an unconstrained character. In her speech, she was carefree, without unnecessary twists, and a cheerful smile never left her face. Moreover, as far as Xie Qing could see, she didn''t care how people looked at her. Otherwise, there were no other exnations for why she was lounging around in a rather... negligent outfit. "It seems she is one of those carefree girls," Xie Qing thought and averted his gaze from her nipples, which were showing through the semi-transparent clothing. Then, to avoid embarrassing the girl further, he said aloud: "Sister... for the portrait, you need to choose good clothes. I will wait for you here, in the living room." "Hm? Oh, that''s right! You''re right! I just bought a dress the other day that would be suitable for a portrait!" Fang Lan said and added: "I''ll be right there! In the meantime, sit on the couch and wait for me!" And after that, she ran inside. Xie Qing smiled and sat on the couch and after a few seconds... "Kyayaya!" "Ay-ay-ay... my ears" heined, but remembering her nipples, which were visible through the semi-transparent clothing, he thought with a serious expression: "One way or another, I''ll consider thispensation." ...Well, he was a bit shameless in such situations. Fortunately for him, Fang Lan returned in an elegant red dress. She stood before him in all her beauty, but her face was flushed, and she looked away, not daring to meet Xie Qing''s gaze. "You look very beautiful, Sister Fang," Xie Qingplimented her with a calm expression, and then smiled, pointing to the chair: "I think you need to sit on the chair so I can draw you, okay?" "A-alright..." Fang Lan blushed again, but this time the reason was that Xie Qing had given her such apliment. She sat in front of him, and after some time, while the young man set up the equipment, she was already calm. "All right. You will have to stay still for about twenty minutes. I hope you understand," Xie Qing said and picked up the brush. "All right." Fang Lan nodded. She was prepared for this, as drawing a portrait was a difficult task, especially when it was necessary to draw beautifully and with high quality. Therefore, she mentally prepared herself to sit in one ce. Xie Qing, meanwhile, did not waste time and began to draw her. Although at first, it was not clear what woulde of it, with each minute, he almost perfectly depicted all the features of her face, and even her dress was conveyed on the canvas with perfect uracy. This was the great skill of Master Xie Qing, "The Brush of Ten Thousand Colors," which allowed him to draw women with 100% uracy. Unfortunately, it did not work on men. Once, Xie Qing''s father asked him to draw him so that he could hang the portrait in his office, but in the end, no matter how hard the young man tried, the result was one... Xie Hai turned into a stickman! After that, Xie Hai became even more convinced that his son was abnormal. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why they did not get along. By the way, an important fact was that most often, maids approached Xie Qing and asked him to draw them... naked. Yes, you understood correctly. They undressedpletely and sat in the most varied provocative poses, waiting for the young man to draw them. This was a strange fetish that appeared at some point in time, and many even paid Xie Qing for it. To his great regret, his mother, Xie Meiling, found out about this and immediately stopped the actions of the maids, considering them too shameful. And he was scolded for it. And so, after twenty minutes, half of the portrait was ready. The approximate appearance of Fang Lan was already visible, so Xie Qing had only to focus on her face. But at that moment, they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Knock-knock-knock! "Hm?" Xie Qing shuddered at this loud sound and almost smeared the canvas. He immediately frowned, being unhappy. The same reaction was from Fang Lan. "What is this pig trying to break down my door?!" Fang Lan angrily shouted, jumped up from her ce, and opened the door. "Ay!" Since the door opened outward, the person standing behind the door yelled in pain when the door hit him right in the face with all its might. Fang Lan looked at the intruder and frowned. "Bai Bai. How can you exin your piggish behavior?! Are you trying to break my door? Watch out, or I''ll break your face!" Fang Lan shouted, and her voice was so piercing that many disciples of the main court heard her. "Y-you..." Bai Bai lost the power of speech. He ignored the pain in his nose and looked at Fang Lan. He noticed her beautiful appearance and blushed, but remembering his goal, he straightened up. "Sister Fang, why don''t we calm down? I know I''m to me for disturbing your peace," Bai Bai said with a polite smile, but one could see a spark of anger in his eyes. Then he asked curiously: "You look so beautiful that I almost thought that an Immortal Fairy had finally descended from the Heavens. Are you going somewhere?" "Hmph, what business is it of yours about my personal life? If you don''t have anything important, then get lost!" Fang Lan rudely replied and was already beginning to close the door. "No, wait." However, she could not close itpletely, as the door was held by Bai Bai, whose face showed a hint of anger. He could not help but be annoyed by this woman who insulted him over and over again. "Fang Lan, I''ll get to the point. Who is that bastard who came to you recently?" he asked, immediately revealing his goal. "Hm?" Fang Lan, of course, was somewhat surprised by such a question. She expected that this annoying worm would continue to try to invite her on a date, while she would refuse him. "What business is it of yours? I don''t remember that you yed an important role in my life to allow yourself to be so curious," Fang Lan rudely replied and released her Qi, already beginning to get annoyed: "Now get out!!" A loud explosion sounded in the main court when a strong stream of Qi burst out of her body and hit Bai Bai, pushing him away and making him roll on the dirty ground. "..." The door mmed shut with a loud bang. Bai Bai had a shocked expression on his face, as Fang Lan had never dared to do such a thing before, even if she was very annoyed. However, the shock on his face quickly turned into anger, and his face turned red with shame. He felt countless gazes of disdain and mockery from the disciples. "Damn! Slut! You''ll pay for this..." he began to mutter, but remembering her family, he could only fall silent. However, very soon, his anger moved to Xie Qing. Although he did not know this disciple, finding out about someone from the inner sect was easy for him. Bai Bai maliciously smiled. He did not intend to leave this disgrace. Although Xie Qing had not done anything like this to him, he wanted to get rid of thepetitor. "I''ll see if this bastard can ignore the fact that his family is in the shit!" he thought and quickly left, avoiding the gazes of the disciples. ...But he could not even think about what consequences there would be in the future. *** "Are you done?" Xie Qing asked, who had almost finished making the portrait. Since he had already fixed Fang Lan''s appearance in his head. "Yes. He was just an annoying bastard who didn''t know his limits. Because of his family, he thinks he''s above everyone else. How disgusting," Fang Lan answered his question, her voice sounding disappointed and annoyed. She cursed Bai Bai relentlessly: "This bastard didn''t calm down even after I refused him more than a hundred times! Still wants to see me as his wife? Pfft, dream on!" "Hmm-m-m? Well, that''s natural." "Eh?" Fang Lan made a surprised sound and looked at Xie Qing, not understanding what he meant. So the young man decided to correct his words. "I meant that Sister Fang is very beautiful, so she will get a lot of attention. And considering that you are talented, one can say that you have a good future," Xie Qing answered, not looking away from the canvas. All this time he did not look at her and only drew the portrait: "You have a first-ss appearance. I looked at your body and face for a whole twenty minutes, so I can say that you are the winner of life." "D-did you?" Fang Lan stammered and looked at Xie Qing in amazement. Her face turned red, making her quickly forget about her anger. "I wouldn''t lie," Xie Qing said with a charming smile, finally looking into her eyes. "Th-this..." Fang Lan blushed deeply and hid her face behind her hands. She could not believe that the young man, who was twenty years younger than her, was trying to flirt with her! However... The girl could not deny the fact that she was very sweet from Xie Qing''s words. Compared to other men, she felt that he spoke very sincerely. This made her go crazy with embarrassment! Meanwhile, Xie Qing bitterly smiled, realizing that he had overdone it a bit. "I didn''t mean to flirt with her, but it still turned out that way... Sigh, Heavens! Who asked you to endow me with such a beautiful appearance? Tsk, tsk, tsk" he shook his head, heavily sighing. ...Someone strangle him, please. Chapter 37: My lover is my disciple! Of all his brothers, he most wanted to get rid of Xie Qing, who had almost equal power with him. Since his birth mother was Xie Meiling, he had impressive chances of sess. "ording to my father, she managed to hide, but very soon she should be caught. But I suspect that he will hardly be able to do anything," Xie Hui thought and angrily rubbed his nose: "Xie Meiling has not been holding my father on a leash for nothing. If it weren''t for the fact that with the help of some people, I was able to make him believe in himself, he would not have taken such a step." Xie Hai was a decent family head, but he was too afraid of his wife, Xie Meilin. Their rtionship was quite unusual¡ªnot the best, but not the worst either. After their first wedding night, Xie Meiling became pregnant and had to step back from family affairs. Her pregnancysted for five years, an extremely abnormal duration. During this time, Xie Hai took advantage and partially seized control, leading to a cold atmosphere in their rtionship On the one hand, the Xie Meiling faction was d that the true heir was finally born, but upon learning of his talent... many were disappointed. This also affected her power. And it was at this moment that Xie Hui, who was the son of Xie Hai''s brother, persuaded the family head to use one of the most terrible types of poison... The Venom of the Cursed Dragon. ...although there was the grandiose name "dragon," in reality, it was the venom of a poisonous lizard that stood out because the venom acted over time. With the addition of certainponents, the venom became stronger and even more hidden. All that remained was to bribe some of the maids in charge of Xie Meiling''s food, and the deed was done. Unfortunately, when she was already at death''s door, a rescue item that had been passed down through the Xie family for generations took effect. Thus, her trail was lost. "Well, anyway, I''ve already warmed up a ce for myself. I doubt that among my father''s and other uncles'' offspring, there is anyone more talented than me... except perhaps the daughter of the first elder, Xie Yu." Xie Yu... She was the youngest among the offspring of the Xie family. In just a year, she would turn eighteen, marking the beginning of the war for the heir. She was an important trigger. Her talent was even higher than that of Xie Hui. She was a dangerous opponent, and Xie Hui feared her. "Moreover, this madwoman is close to Xie Qing. What if she wants to help him?" thought Xie Hui, narrowing his eyes: "Hmph... I can''t put spies on her and quietly kill her because her status is too sensitive. Now is not the time to quarrel with the elders." *** While clouds gathered over the clouds, Xie Qing wiped his hands and began to look at his rewards. The first was a token in the shape of a pentagon. It had a dragon engraving on it and that was all. But the description was something with something... [Tender Dragon Token] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: Long ago, there was a dragon... the most ordinary-looking one. His scales were crystal clear, white. All the female dragons admired him and... he had a harem of a thousand dragonesses! Can you imagine? A thousand! His balls must have been the size of a! One way or another, he invented this item to mark his main wives and track their location. Also, a spiritual connection is created that helpsmunicate, even if you are somewhere in the ass of the world. +5% to spiritual protection of mark targets] | [0/5] "The description is absurd again... but the effects are good," muttered Xie Qing with sparkling eyes. Thus, he could establish two-waymunication between himself and his partners, which would help in dangerous situations! Moreover, his partners would receive a bonus for protection. "By the way, I wonder who this dragon brother is? I feel like we''ll get along" thought Xie Qing, feeling admiration for the iron eggs of his brother in interest. However, his attention was soon drawn to another function. It was something like an online store. "Hm? Currency... spiritual stones?!" Xie Qing inhaled the cold air. How could he not know what this was? Spiritual Stones were the main currency in the world of cultivators, and they were very valuable. 1 Spiritual Stone was worth 10,000 Huang. And the items in the store, in most cases, started at 10! That was 100,000 Huang! "My pockets are crying... I don''t even have enough money for this," thought Xie Qing and sighed, but the items in the store motivated him. There were not only protective items and the like but there were even swords and armor. Moreover.... [Minor Talent Enhancement] | [Price: 25 Spiritual Stones] | [Description: Increases the cultivator''s talent. For example, a Mortal lower-level talent bes a Mortal upper-level talent] [Major Talent Enhancement] | [Price: 250 Spiritual Stones] | [Description: Increases talent by one realm. That is, from Mortal level to Earthly] "Th-this..." Xie Qing shuddered. He couldn''t help but imagine what would happen if he used this on himself! Damn it, he would be a monster! "Although, I doubt there is a talent stronger than mine right now. I have a Divine-level, peak talent. So this will be more useful for the Master." This was a good thing. If he nned to develop his family to increase his power and live with a song, he needed to first attract talents. And with such items... he could simply create talents! "Damn, that''s a good idea! If I also find an item that will allow me to restrict all these talents, it will be even better!" Ding! [Oath me] | [Price: 25,000 Spiritual Stones] | [Description: A special type of technique that affects the soul and allows you to make a contract between souls. The voiced conditions will be fixed at a deep level, and the one who vites the contract will be destroyed by the soul] "Oh... oh... 250,000,000 Huang, or I need to find a vein of spiritual stones, otherwise collecting such an amount will be as difficult as finding a devilish cultivator without spikes on his ass..." All the items in the store were amazing. But they were expensive! The only conclusion: seduce a rich milf! "Khe... the... well, if I be a strong cultivator, then people who want to give me money in exchange for services wille to me like a river. And who am I to refuse?" thought Xie Qing with a smile. He immediately headed to his room to start cultivation. The acquisition of the Store function excited him. *** Xu Mei yawned, looking at the indifferent Zhang Mei, who was filling out some papers. She tiredly said, "Aren''t you tired of these papers? That''s why I handed over my powers to my disciple." "Compared to you, I am more responsible. I was personally given the position of sect master by my Master, and I am obliged to take care of the sect until I realize that it is time to give time to the young," Zhang Mei indifferently replied, spreading out the papers on the table. "I don''t understand you... We are already over a thousand years old, and you are still chasing after things like work. It''s time to rest finally," said Xu Mei, snorting. She clenched her hands to her chest and arrogantly said, "You haven''t experienced a man''s embrace yet?" "...How is that even rted to our conversation?" Zhang Mei''s tone cooled. This was her weak spot, as most men were not interested in her for some reason, and those who were interested were afraid of her! She was unhappy! "Besides," Zhang Mei began, not giving in to Xu Mei, "you are still a virgin. So don''t use me." "Hmhmhm... that''s debatable..." Xu Mei said in a mysterious tone and smiled. "Eh?" Zhang Mei was distracted from the papers and looked in shock at Xu Mei''s mischievous face, then narrowed her eyes and said, "You''re lying. Who would be crazy enough to fall in love with you? The chance of that is 0.00001%." Xu Mei lost her voice. Sometimes it seemed to her that this woman was too sharp-tongued. She clenched her teeth and shouted, "I''m not lying! I have someone!" "Hmph! Maybe you rented a gigolo? That''s popr among perverts now," Zhang Mei said with disgust. "Be-be-be. Are you envious, that''s why you''re making up such nonsense. Oh, poor virgin Zhang Mei." "..." The head of the Starry Stream Sect clenched her fists and barely restrained herself from hitting Xu Mei in the face. She was annoyed. Knowing Xu Mei''s character, she would never go for such a step as a gigolo. Most likely, this woman had someone close to her heart. Zhang Mei secretly envied her. "Why does such a carefree and useless woman like you have a man, and I don''t? I even started taking care of my appearance, but they ran away from me as if I''m some kind of monster," Zhang Mei thought, but her face was still indifferent. ...her status and cultivation level, in general, affected such behavior in men. No one had such steel balls to dare to try to hit on such an unusual person as the head of the Starry Stream Sect. Nevertheless, Zhang Mei was curious about who this madman was. "So who became your partner?" she asked, taking a cup of tea and starting to drink. "Hm? It''s my disciple..." "Pfffffft!" "..." Xu Mei used Qi to cover her body with protection to hide from the sudden rain of tea. She angrily looked at Zhang Mei, who began to cough. She looked as if she had seen her great-grandmother. "Kha... kha... what the hell did you say?" Chapter 43: Meeting Lian Lin The goal of 100 PS has been achieved. As promised, I am releasing two additional chapters. 1/2 === After Xie Qing finished his task, the elder guarding the gate of the main courtyard told him the news. "Hm? The sect leader is calling for me?" Xie Qing asked with a puzzled expression. "Yes. I don''t know why, but I was asked to pass this on to you," the elder replied with an unnatural expression. His mind was in chaos: "Why is the sect leader calling for such a mediocre disciple? Has she also been seduced by his appearance?" As an elder, of course, he knew Xie Qing, although he pretended to be unfamiliar with him. This disciple''s name had resounded many times during meetings, and he was even present on the day when there was a battle for the right to be his Master. He still remembered how his female colleagues seemed to have gone crazy and tried to tear him away, biting the throats of their rivals without regret. Then all he had to do was close his eyes and hide in the corner of the meeting hall, afraid that he would be killed by a stray wave of Qi. And to his great surprise, in the end, Xu Mei came, and everyone had to be silent. Although most of the novices did not know about her, those who had lived for more than a hundred years and had a high position remembered her history. She was the founder of the Heavenly Sword Sect, the most genius cultivator of all time, and one of the strongest cultivators in the Mortal World! The elder was also afraid of her. He watched as Xie Qing walked back to the main courtyard in amazement, where the Nine Swords Pavilion was located in the very center. This was nine pavilions connected, and each of them exuded a majestic aura. In the very center was the Pavilion called the Pavilion of Grandeur, where the leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Lian Lin, lived. Her face could only be seen during important events, and there were few of them in the sect. So Xie Qing did not know what she looked like. Recently, he found out that she was his older sister. Xu Mei somehow managed to get her as a disciple. "Master is not an ordinary person. I tried to dig up information about her, but all my sources of information gave me one answer: ''we want to live a little longer'' and refused to answer anything. She must be an important figure," Xie Qing thought, and instead of getting nervous, he felt pride: "So I immersed my dragon in the divine cave of such an important person? Damn, I''m cool!" ...well, his thinking was not too wrong, but apparently, he was trying to boast of rather unusual things. And so, approaching the entrance to the Nine Swords Pavilion, he was stopped by an elder. "Inner court disciple, what do you need? Entrance is allowed either by invitation or for particrly important reasons," the elder said, narrowing his eyes. "The sect leader called for me, elder," Xie Qing replied, and seeing doubt on the elder''s face, he added: "I was informed of this by the elder guarding the gate of the main courtyard." "Hm-m? Then it shouldn''t be a lie..." the elder muttered, and then said: "But still, it needs to be confirmed. Wait here." "All right." Xie Qing nodded. Either way, it was just a matter of a few minutes. The elder moved away from him and contacted the sect leader. "Sect Leader Lian, this is Elder Bao Jian," he said, activating themunication token. "Xr-r-r-..." In response, there was snoring. Elder Bao was not surprised and just continued to repeat this until there was a sound as if someone had fallen out of bed. Then a sleepy female voice was heard. "Who?" "Um... his name is Xie Qing. He is the disciple of the Great Founder," the elder replied in a respectful tone. "Hm-m? Why did hee to me? Ah... that''s right, I called him. I forgotpletely..." Lian Lin mumbled sleepily, and then briefly said: "Invite him inside, and better yet, escort him to me. Otherwise, he might get lost. End of transmission... psh-sh-sh..." "..." The corners of Elder Bao''s mouth twitched when he heard this excuse in the form of "interference" to end the conversation quickly, but he had alreadye to terms with such strange behavior. He turned and approached the waiting Xie Qing. Casting a short nce at the young man, Elder Bao said: "Follow me." "All right." Xie Qing nodded briefly and followed the elder, who was walking as if he was on drugs. The young man raised an eyebrow. "Is he rushing to the toilet or something?" At the same time, Elder Bao Jian raised an eyebrow in surprise. They were walking at a speed of 60 km/h, but Xie Qing didn''t even show a hint of fatigue. A Qi Condensation cultivator was strong in terms of Qi, but his physique should still be insufficiently developed. So why was Xie Qing keeping up with Elder Bao? It''s simple. Thanks to the divine skill of "Dual Cultivation," Xie Qing developed not only Qi but also his body. Moreover, the cultivation technique in his possession was also responsible for 90% of the improvements. As a result, he improved faster than his peers and colleagues at the same level. His existence was an anomaly. In the end, at such a speed, they reached the sect leader''s resting ce in five minutes, although it would have taken about twenty minutes at a normal walking pace. "...We''ve arrived. I won''t go in," Elder Bao Jian said in a depressed voice, and after saying a few words, he turned and left with a bowed head. "What''s wrong with him?" Xie Qing wondered, but then waved his hand: "Strange uncle. I had to walk a little faster. It seems that old people have a lot of energy." And so, in the end, Xie Qing entered the room. The first thing he saw... this ce was too messy. He couldn''t help but look at the chaotic arrangement of clothes on the floor, on the chairs, and the table. Only the working desk, on which there were papers, was clean, but the rest... was in chaos! As a person who loves order, Xie Qing felt as if his heart was being torn out by the roots and crushed! "Hm? Thongs?" he thought, and the corners of his eyes twitched: "All right, I won''t look... oh, red underwear withce! She has taste!" Since the clothes were scattered on the floor... Xie Qing could notice some things, but to not seem rude, he looked for only two seconds and then turned his gaze away. Moreover, he had to walk in ces where there was no clothing. All this reminded him of a minefield. And so, he finally approached the bed. There, a girl with a cute face was sleeping. She had long green hair and long eyshes. Her skin was fair, and her body was slender. Although the breast size was not outstanding, it fit perfectly in the hand. "A big breast warms the hand, but a small one warms the heart," Xie Qing remembered the wise quote and nodded satisfactorily. ...Lian Lin was not in the most appropriate attire for meetings. She put on a white bathrobe that clung to her skin. Since it was untied, Xie Qing could see her underwear. "What views, what beauty... but wait, I''m not here for that," he thought, and his face became serious. The question before him was how to wake her up. He tried to call her by name. No answer. He tried to shake the bed, no answer. Xie Qing''s face darkened. This woman reminded him of himself in the mornings! He also woke up with difficulty, and not even a nuclear explosion could wake him up, so Xu Mei had to activate her Killing Intent, because of which he almost had a heart attack. Sighing, he reached for her cheek and then began to gently stroke it. This led to a reaction from Lian Lin, but not the one that Xie Qing wanted. "Hm?" An incredible gravitational force descended on his body, and Xie Qing was unable to control his body. When he came to his senses, he suddenly found himself on the bed, and Lian Lin was hugging him like a ko. "What the hell? She used ''Expert Control'' just to pull me towards her. This is absurd..." he thought, and his face distorted. Expert Control - a Dao technique that allowed the application of Qi to control objects, even if it was a person. This Dao technique can be obtained by reaching the cultivation level of Spiritual Ascension. It uses a gravitational field that is powered by Qi to move objects in space. Therger the object, the heavier it is to move, and the greater the consumption of Qi. It''s like trying to run thetest games with ray tracing on maximum graphics on a PC with an Nvidia NV1. At first, there will be a high load, and then severe damage... In short, this technique can be used to fly on a sword. That''s all you need to know. "Sigh, my poor fate. It seems that even without opening their eyes, they will be struck by my beauty... well, I''ve already overdone it," Xie Qing thought, but he could only entertain himself with this method... because Lian Lin had been sleeping for five hours already! For five whole hours, hey motionless, allowing himself to be used as a hugging pillow. It was torture worthy of regret! Regret for being born into this world! "Hm, and her skin is nice to the touch," Xie Qing thought, touching Lian Lin''s waist: "Not every day you can touch the body of the sect leader. This is all for research purposes. And not because I want to touch her." Despite his justifications, Xie Qing only touched her waist briefly. And it seemed to have an effect. "M-m-m..." Lian Lin let out a sleepy moan and, pushing away from Xie Qing''s chest, which almost made him lose his breath from the force applied, she stood up and sat down. "..." Xie Qing fell silent. Everyone fell silent. The world fell silent. I fell silent. You fell silent. Her pose... was too dangerous! Xie Qing felt as if his dragon was trying to dere its presence, sensing a target right on itself! Their crotches touched each other. If it weren''t for the clothes, Xie Qing would have heard the following in his head: "Pration!" Chapter 39: Stun Zhang Mei with your beauty and talent? Pfft, easy! Before the start of the chapter, I would like to sincerely congratte all women on March 8th. This is an important day for all of us. I''m not sure if any girls read me, but at least I congratte you. And my characters too. You can congratte the characters on March 8th below this paragraph if you want. It''s all up to you. Enjoy reading. ==== Xie Qing looked out the window attentively. He was a bit worried that their meeting with Zhang Mei might not go as well as he would like. "After all, the master stole her technique, for which this woman did not even hesitate to challenge the Dynasty..." thought Xie Qing, sipping wine. Then he shrugged, deciding to just forget about it: "Even if I worry about it, I won''t get anything." *** Xu Mei walked with Zhang Mei with a smile. They walked along the busy street, while disciples and elders stared at them. It was clear that the arrival of the leader of the Starry Stream Sect made many people wary. There has always beenpetition between the four sects. Each of them was like a hungry lion ready to devour each other if they gave a weakness. Suchpetition was natural for cultivators who were used to using each other as a stepping stone. "See what a good sect I have created?" Xu Mei asked with a smirk, proudly puffing out her chest. Of course, no one could hear their conversation because of a special sound-hiding technique. "Not particrly impressive. The results of your sect in recent years have been poor because you have not updated the old cultivation techniques," said Zhang Mei, casually yawning. There was still the same static expression on her face that could not be read. She said, "Moreover, you still allow disciples to be given such a low cultivation technique as the basic technique? That''s too disdainful an attitude." "What can I do? Few techniques are suitable for the Sword Path, and those that are too valuable for ordinary cultivators," replied Xu Mei with an indifferent expression. "From that point of view, it makes sense," nodded Zhang Mei. The cultivation world was strict in terms ofpliance with the rules, so those who did not have outstanding talent were forced to rest at the bottom. This was an absolutew. This was the case in most sects. Only small sects cared about the level of their disciples because the number was limited and instead of increasing the disciples, they preferred to increase the quality. Zhang Mei carefully observed the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect and could say that their level was rtively good. From the point of view of the outside world, most of them could be important people. "Xu Mei has achieved this in such a short time... damn, the hated genius of all time," thought Zhang Mei with a sour face. Although she was also considered a genius, in her time Xu Mei upied all the poprity of their group. This woman was not from a rich family, but from ordinary people and did not even join sects. Her luck was so suffocating that she found a first-ss cultivation technique that was only one stage behind what Xie Qing had. Moreover, she independently founded a sect in connection with which she was recognized as a great personality. Since a lot of time has passed, the world does not remember her achievements, but Zhang Mei and the other sect leaders were witnesses to her history and power. In the past... Xu Mei was not so lively and cheerful. She exuded a cold atmosphere as if the whole world was contemptible to her. Zhang Mei sighed, remembering the old times. Since then, many years have passed. Now they have changed. Zhang Mei became colder and more serious, and Xu Mei, on the contrary, became more cheerful and open. "However, you really can boast of creating a good sect," said Zhang Mei, and there was a barely noticeable smile on her face that disappeared very quickly: "However, you won''t continue to distract me from the meeting with your famous disciple, right? You at least have to show me the one who has enough talent to learn that mysterious cultivation technique." "Oh, you got me," Xu Mei said gloomily and waved her hand: "All right, follow me. But I warn you - don''t fall in love with him, okay?!" "Hmph, have you finally be stupid with age? It seems that people do be stupid with age," Zhang Mei said coldly. "Well, well, let''s see how you behave at a personal meeting." Xu Mei waved her hand and, not wanting to continue the conversation, asked her to follow her. Although Zhang Mei pretended to be indifferent, she was very interested in seeing that talent who was able to learn the cultivation technique that even she and Xu Mei could not understand. *** "Oh, so you live here? Quite modestly, considering that you once built a fifty-story pavilion right on the border between righteous cultivators and devilish cultivators to provoke thetter. It still exists, by the way," said Zhang Mei, shaking her head. "Bah. Bah. I''m not interested in all this crap because I''m no longer interested in such uptight ces. It''s better to live in a hut with your loved one than alone in a huge pavilion." "..." Zhang Mei fell silent. She could not understand her feelings, because she had never experienced love. In her youth, she was too naive and trusting, so she was protected from men as carefully as from the gue. By the way, she was from the ancient Zhang family, which no longer exists. Unfortunately, the genealogy stopped at her. Entering the territory of the pavilion, they headed to the back, from where Xie Qing''s Qi was felt. When they turned the corner, they saw a young man sitting with his back to them. He was in the lotus position and Qi was emanating from him, indicating that he was meditating. "There he is," Xu Mei said with a smile, looking at Xie Qing with admiring eyes. "Th-this..." Zhang Mei lost her voice when she saw how much Qi he inhaled in one breath and the minimal amount of effort he spent on cleansing the Qi. He absorbed Qi so quickly that a small vortex of spiritual energy appeared around him. Within two kilometers, there was a strong drop in Qi concentration. The reason was sitting in front of them. Even with her rich experience, Zhang Mei could not help but be surprised by such talent. One thing was the cultivation technique, it was powerful and even an idiot could be the strongest cultivator with its help. She saw that this young man had a special bloodline. "Strange. I checked his past and he is from the Xie family, which, although famous for its wealth, has not so much talent among them. The most talented of them is only the first son Xie Hui, but in my eyes he is mediocrity," thought Zhang Mei and muttered his name under her nose: "Xie Qing..." Boom! And suddenly, as if hearing her voice, the vortex suddenly intensified and Xie Qing''s body disappeared in the vortex of spiritual energy. After a few seconds, the sound of an explosion and a crack in the earth could be heard. Xie Qing''s aura had strengthened! "H-he..." Zhang Mei stared in astonishment at the ce where Xie Qing was sitting. She felt how he was able to take a step in his development and reached the sixth stage of Qi Condensation! "How many years has he been at this cultivation stage?" asked Zhang Mei with a slightly trembling voice. "Hm? How many years?" Xu Mei repeated the question with a smile and, seeing Zhang Mei''s expectant look, she proudly puffed out her chest and said: "It took less than a month! He rose from the level of Enlightenment to Qi Condensation in less than a month!" "Th-th-this..." Zhang Mei lost her voice again. She could not imagine such talent. Compared to him, even Xu Mei had to politely give up the title of the greatest genius. To reach such a level at the age of 18 was already considered a very rare case and there were only two people in history who achieved this - Xu Mei and Xie Qing! One of them got stuck at this level for a year and reached the sixth stage only at the age of 21, while Xie Qing not only reached this level at the age of eighteen but also in less than a month! "..." Zhang Mei''s face became serious. She could no longer underestimate him. Most likely, her disciple would have to face a serious obstacle on her path in the form of Xie Qing, who was such a big boulder in the garden that no one could move. She could already imagine the future. With his appearance in the cultivation world, every genius would be considered garbage, while only he would shine, taking the spotlight from hispetitors. "Oh... it seems that my heir is not so lucky with talent. After all, she was considered a genius, reaching the Core Formation level at the age of 27, which is already considered a good result." As in the case of Xu Mei, when such geniuses as him appear, the entire cultivation world simultaneously experiences difficult times and good times at the same time. "You need to be careful. There will be many people who will want to cut off his head. Don''t forget about the Empress of the Huanglun Dynasty, she will be on guard and will not tolerate his existence just like that," warned Zhang Mei, watching as Xie Qing finishes his breakthrough. "Yes, I''ve thought about that too. But don''t worry, he''s not that easy to kill. As long as I''m alive, no one will dare touch him with a finger." Xu Mei snorted coldly. How could she not know about the Empress of the Huanglun Dynasty? In her time, she had many conflicts of interest with this woman, as this woman could not tolerate too much power from the sects. Although Xu Mei was not closely acquainted with this woman, she could not help but be dissatisfied with her. After all, the Empress in the past prevented her from creating a sect. "She will pay attention to him. We are equal in strength, so I don''t think I need to worry about it." ==== *Do I need to make extra chapters about the past of these guys? For example, Zhang Mei and Xu Mei. Write in thements. Chapter 40: Sister Fang Lan Thank you for supporting the book with power stones: Swcowboy (a regr reader who has been supporting me for a long time) KRPL (your votes help me a lot. Thank you!) Sekirryutei, krish523, Spirit\\_Immortal, Reading\\_Venerable, kevyn\\_br, Tepes. Of course, there are many others. You can see them on the book page. I express my sincere gratitude to these people. Enjoy reading! === Xie Qing took a deep breath and exhaled, releasing a cloud of steam from his mouth. He stood up from his spot and turned his head. His eyes shone brightly as he saw two charming women in front of him. His beautiful long hair was tied into a neat ponytail that swayed slightly in the wind. There was a gentle and caring smile on his face, and with his handsome features, he looked stunning. Zhang Mei was stunned for a moment, lost in her world of dreams. She was amazed by his beauty and couldn''t help but feel envious of Xu Mei. "You''ve made another breakthrough. As expected of my disciple, you''re still so genius!" Xu Mei said with a satisfied smile. "Of course. The heavens have blessed me with such a perfect Master," Xie Qing said politely with a smile, and then politely greeted Zhang Mei: "Greetings, Sect Leader Zhang." "Greetings..." Zhang Mei''s voice was slightly subdued, as she was still in shock. The speed at which Xie Qing was developing could not be exined in words. He was like an anomaly in the cultivation world, and she didn''t know whether it was a good or bad thing. She turned her gaze to Xu Mei and asked, "Are you going to send him to the Ancestral Cave?" "Of course," she confidently dered, and with a smirk, she exined, "I''ve been insisting on this from the beginning, but many elders have called for choosing disciples from the main courtyard. I got so angry that I made them shut up and ept my position. Lian Lin also insisted on my choice, so everyone agreed." "Hm... Lian Lin is unlucky to have such a carefree Master," Zhang Mei said with a snort, curling her lips. She looked at Xie Qing, who was standing and watching them, and suddenly asked, "Boy, don''t you want to join my sect? I''ll immediately give you a ce in the main courtyard." "Eh?" "Hm?" Almost simultaneously, Xu Mei and Xie Qing made a strange sound and looked at Zhang Mei. The young man was puzzled, and Xu Mei was furious. "Hey! I didn''t introduce him to you so that you could try to recruit him to your sect, got it?!" "Hmph. Naturally, I have to try. He surpasses even you in talent, so I can''t give up without trying," Zhang Mei coldly replied, and resolutely looked at Xie Qing: "My sect will support you with resources, and in the end, you can even enter some rich family as the head of the family. What do you say?" Xie Qing became serious upon hearing such a tempting offer. Although it all sounded very beautiful and tempting, he could not agree to these terms. "I''m sorry, but I don''t want to change sects," he politely declined, not crossing the line and showing that he was showing enough respect to Zhang Mei. "I see. It''s a shame that I couldn''t recruit you, but I won''t insist," Zhang Mei said, waving her hand. Then she asked, "But I would still like you to visit my sect once. Although I don''t want to admit it, I would like to study the cultivation technique you received." "...I can''t promise." Xie Qing shook his head and sighed. He was a little worried that Zhang Mei might be offended, but he held a firm position. "Hmph." Zhang Mei was a little disappointed, but she didn''t insist. She looked at Xu Mei, who was smirking and snorting. "What''s the matter? Already happy? Why is your disciple so devoted?" she said disappointedly. "Hehe, because he knows that he won''t find anyone more genius than his Master. So he''s all mine, old witch," Xu Mei said with a smile, proudly puffing out her chest. "..." Zhang Mei narrowed her eyes, looking at the tworge hills, and involuntarilypared them with hers... and nodded. But her face did not reflect this. She just shrugged and started talking to Xie Qing. She mainly asked not the most personal questions, and it was clear that she was trying to probe Xie Qing''s personality. In the end, she nodded satisfactorily and thought, "It seems that Xie Qing is an exemry cultivator. He is not naive, not too kind, not too cruel. He has a good enough foundation instilled in him, and he knows how to behave in tense situations, and with his talent, he has an open road to a good future." The righteous path had long been in a lull. Although some incidents made cultivators anxious, it was mostly calm. And this worldcked noise. Too peaceful times give birth to weak cultivators, which Zhang Mei had long been convinced of. The threat of devilish cultivators had passed. They were locked up on the Southern Continent, and their movements were strictly monitored. Therefore, many cultivators grew up in greenhouse conditions, which was bad for personal strength. The world needed either danger or a bright light. Xie Qing could act as a bright light, which would cause a wave ofpetition. Although at first, it might be a little chaotic, the whole cultivation world would enter an era of development. "I will wait for your achievements, Xie Qing," Zhang Mei said with the same indifferent face, but her eyes were shining. *** Day by day, the Heavenly Sword Sect developed as it should. Considering that Zhang Mei came to the sect, the disciples became excited and even trained harder, so as not to shame themselves. Moreover, recently, the idea of creating a list of the best disciples in both the entire sect and in certain courtyards was put forward. This list was supposed to be based on contribution and cultivation level. A schrship was given for the first three ces. There was also such a thing in the inner courtyard. Xie Qing looked at his rating and saw that he was in 25th ce in terms of cultivation level and 100th ce in terms of contribution, which was the lowest score. But this was because he had only recently joined the sect. To get contribution points, you need toplete tasks. In each courtyard, there was its own Task Pavilion for convenience, and from there, missions could already be taken. Xie Qing decided to take on the tasks, and in his hands was a task from a disciple of the main courtyard. "A person with good drawing skills is needed. That''s what I need." Although it was not noticeable, in his youth, Xie Qing was fond of drawing, and most often he made portraits. He mainly drew servant girls or his mother, who kept all his works in a reliable safe, guarding them as a treasure, which was a little strange for young Xie Qing. The task was to draw several people. It was an ordinary portrait, and such tasks were amon sight in reality. At the Task Pavilion, the young man received a token. It was rhombus-shaped and had a red color with an engraving of a sword surrounded by clouds. This was a one-time pass to the main courtyard. "Well, it''s time to go," Xie Qing thought. He gathered everything he needed and headed to the gates of the main courtyard, where two elders stood motionless. Xie Qing approached them and, after greeting them, exined. "Hello, elders. I need to enter the main courtyard toplete tasks," Xie Qing said, and then showed the token. "Hm. The token is not fake, you can enter. I warn you, don''t cause any problems there and don''t stay until evening. Agreed?" "All right." Xie Qing nodded nonchntly. He had no reason to leave a nest there, as he had no acquaintances among the disciples of the main courtyard. On the way to the house indicated in the task, many disciples threw curious nces at him. It was clear that disciples of the inner courtyard were not amon sight here. And even though, ording to the cliche, there should have been two or three arrogant young masters, no one approached him, because every disciple understood - if an inner courtyard disciple was allowed to enter here, then he had permission. Simple and effective logic that saved Xie Qing from any problems. He approached the house numbered No. 16. Knock-knock. Xie Qing knocked. After a few seconds, footsteps were heard behind the door, and the door opened, revealing a carelessly dressed disciple who was tiredly rubbing her eyes. She looked sleepy. Seeing Xie Qing at the door, dressed in the clothes of an inner courtyard disciple, she asked without opening her eyes. The girl looked about twenty years old. She had short ck hair and green eyes, and there was a cute freckle on her nose. Her chest was small, and her body was slender. "What can I help you with, younger brother?" "Hello, Sister Fang Lan. I came toplete the task." "Hm?" Hearing this, Fang Lan opened her eyes and then froze in shock. Her face blushed a little as she looked at Xie Qing, and her heartbeat quickened. She was stunned by his beauty. "O-oh... uh... this... is it about the drawing task?" Fang Lan was a little nervous, as it was the first time she had met someone with such an appearance. After they exchanged a few words, Xie Qing entered inside, and Fang Lan closed the door behind him. The disciples who were nearby fell silent, turning their gaze to the man who looked grim. "B-Brother Bai Bai..." The other disciples looked as if they were about to cry. They had just been discussing that Fang Lan would be Bai Bai''s woman, and then Xie Qing appeared. Chapter 41: Seduce a main court disciple? Pfft, easy! Thank you to the readers for reaching 100 Power Stones! As promised, I will release +2 additional chapters today. So, there will be 4 chapters for today. Enjoy! Moreover, the book will soon be under contract. This means that the lifespan of the book will increase. Any support will help me and my book. All of this was achieved thanks to your help! Thank you! === Fang Lan had been a disciple of the main court for ten years already. Her talent was evaluated as good, which in the eyes of the outside world could be considered a "genius." She had an unconstrained character. In her speech, she was carefree, without unnecessary twists, and a cheerful smile never left her face. Moreover, as far as Xie Qing could see, she didn''t care how people looked at her. Otherwise, there were no other exnations for why she was lounging around in a rather... negligent outfit. "It seems she is one of those carefree girls," Xie Qing thought and averted his gaze from her nipples, which were showing through the semi-transparent clothing. Then, to avoid embarrassing the girl further, he said aloud: "Sister... for the portrait, you need to choose good clothes. I will wait for you here, in the living room." "Hm? Oh, that''s right! You''re right! I just bought a dress the other day that would be suitable for a portrait!" Fang Lan said and added: "I''ll be right there! In the meantime, sit on the couch and wait for me!" And after that, she ran inside. Xie Qing smiled and sat on the couch and after a few seconds... "Kyayaya!" "Ay-ay-ay... my ears" heined, but remembering her nipples, which were visible through the semi-transparent clothing, he thought with a serious expression: "One way or another, I''ll consider thispensation." ...Well, he was a bit shameless in such situations. Fortunately for him, Fang Lan returned in an elegant red dress. She stood before him in all her beauty, but her face was flushed, and she looked away, not daring to meet Xie Qing''s gaze. "You look very beautiful, Sister Fang," Xie Qingplimented her with a calm expression, and then smiled, pointing to the chair: "I think you need to sit on the chair so I can draw you, okay?" "A-alright..." Fang Lan blushed again, but this time the reason was that Xie Qing had given her such apliment. She sat in front of him, and after some time, while the young man set up the equipment, she was already calm. "All right. You will have to stay still for about twenty minutes. I hope you understand," Xie Qing said and picked up the brush. "All right." Fang Lan nodded. She was prepared for this, as drawing a portrait was a difficult task, especially when it was necessary to draw beautifully and with high quality. Therefore, she mentally prepared herself to sit in one ce. Xie Qing, meanwhile, did not waste time and began to draw her. Although at first, it was not clear what woulde of it, with each minute, he almost perfectly depicted all the features of her face, and even her dress was conveyed on the canvas with perfect uracy. This was the great skill of Master Xie Qing, "The Brush of Ten Thousand Colors," which allowed him to draw women with 100% uracy. Unfortunately, it did not work on men. Once, Xie Qing''s father asked him to draw him so that he could hang the portrait in his office, but in the end, no matter how hard the young man tried, the result was one... Xie Hai turned into a stickman! After that, Xie Hai became even more convinced that his son was abnormal. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why they did not get along. By the way, an important fact was that most often, maids approached Xie Qing and asked him to draw them... naked. Yes, you understood correctly. They undressedpletely and sat in the most varied provocative poses, waiting for the young man to draw them. This was a strange fetish that appeared at some point in time, and many even paid Xie Qing for it. To his great regret, his mother, Xie Meiling, found out about this and immediately stopped the actions of the maids, considering them too shameful. And he was scolded for it. And so, after twenty minutes, half of the portrait was ready. The approximate appearance of Fang Lan was already visible, so Xie Qing had only to focus on her face. But at that moment, they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Knock-knock-knock! "Hm?" Xie Qing shuddered at this loud sound and almost smeared the canvas. He immediately frowned, being unhappy. The same reaction was from Fang Lan. "What is this pig trying to break down my door?!" Fang Lan angrily shouted, jumped up from her ce, and opened the door. "Ay!" Since the door opened outward, the person standing behind the door yelled in pain when the door hit him right in the face with all its might. Fang Lan looked at the intruder and frowned. "Bai Bai. How can you exin your piggish behavior?! Are you trying to break my door? Watch out, or I''ll break your face!" Fang Lan shouted, and her voice was so piercing that many disciples of the main court heard her. "Y-you..." Bai Bai lost the power of speech. He ignored the pain in his nose and looked at Fang Lan. He noticed her beautiful appearance and blushed, but remembering his goal, he straightened up. "Sister Fang, why don''t we calm down? I know I''m to me for disturbing your peace," Bai Bai said with a polite smile, but one could see a spark of anger in his eyes. Then he asked curiously: "You look so beautiful that I almost thought that an Immortal Fairy had finally descended from the Heavens. Are you going somewhere?" "Hmph, what business is it of yours about my personal life? If you don''t have anything important, then get lost!" Fang Lan rudely replied and was already beginning to close the door. "No, wait." However, she could not close itpletely, as the door was held by Bai Bai, whose face showed a hint of anger. He could not help but be annoyed by this woman who insulted him over and over again. "Fang Lan, I''ll get to the point. Who is that bastard who came to you recently?" he asked, immediately revealing his goal. "Hm?" Fang Lan, of course, was somewhat surprised by such a question. She expected that this annoying worm would continue to try to invite her on a date, while she would refuse him. "What business is it of yours? I don''t remember that you yed an important role in my life to allow yourself to be so curious," Fang Lan rudely replied and released her Qi, already beginning to get annoyed: "Now get out!!" A loud explosion sounded in the main court when a strong stream of Qi burst out of her body and hit Bai Bai, pushing him away and making him roll on the dirty ground. "..." The door mmed shut with a loud bang. Bai Bai had a shocked expression on his face, as Fang Lan had never dared to do such a thing before, even if she was very annoyed. However, the shock on his face quickly turned into anger, and his face turned red with shame. He felt countless gazes of disdain and mockery from the disciples. "Damn! Slut! You''ll pay for this..." he began to mutter, but remembering her family, he could only fall silent. However, very soon, his anger moved to Xie Qing. Although he did not know this disciple, finding out about someone from the inner sect was easy for him. Bai Bai maliciously smiled. He did not intend to leave this disgrace. Although Xie Qing had not done anything like this to him, he wanted to get rid of thepetitor. "I''ll see if this bastard can ignore the fact that his family is in the shit!" he thought and quickly left, avoiding the gazes of the disciples. ...But he could not even think about what consequences there would be in the future. *** "Are you done?" Xie Qing asked, who had almost finished making the portrait. Since he had already fixed Fang Lan''s appearance in his head. "Yes. He was just an annoying bastard who didn''t know his limits. Because of his family, he thinks he''s above everyone else. How disgusting," Fang Lan answered his question, her voice sounding disappointed and annoyed. She cursed Bai Bai relentlessly: "This bastard didn''t calm down even after I refused him more than a hundred times! Still wants to see me as his wife? Pfft, dream on!" "Hmm-m-m? Well, that''s natural." "Eh?" Fang Lan made a surprised sound and looked at Xie Qing, not understanding what he meant. So the young man decided to correct his words. "I meant that Sister Fang is very beautiful, so she will get a lot of attention. And considering that you are talented, one can say that you have a good future," Xie Qing answered, not looking away from the canvas. All this time he did not look at her and only drew the portrait: "You have a first-ss appearance. I looked at your body and face for a whole twenty minutes, so I can say that you are the winner of life." "D-did you?" Fang Lan stammered and looked at Xie Qing in amazement. Her face turned red, making her quickly forget about her anger. "I wouldn''t lie," Xie Qing said with a charming smile, finally looking into her eyes. "Th-this..." Fang Lan blushed deeply and hid her face behind her hands. She could not believe that the young man, who was twenty years younger than her, was trying to flirt with her! However... The girl could not deny the fact that she was very sweet from Xie Qing''s words. Compared to other men, she felt that he spoke very sincerely. This made her go crazy with embarrassment! Meanwhile, Xie Qing bitterly smiled, realizing that he had overdone it a bit. "I didn''t mean to flirt with her, but it still turned out that way... Sigh, Heavens! Who asked you to endow me with such a beautiful appearance? Tsk, tsk, tsk" he shook his head, heavily sighing. ...Someone strangle him, please. Chapter 42: Use a rock to break an egg The morning in the Xie family starts with the awakening of the heir Xie Hui. He was mostly popr here, but this poprity was negative. Almost all the servants did not like him because many times he tried to harass them, and most of them were clearly against it. It was saved by the fact that many servants did not have a casual past, so even Xie Hui did not dare to touch them. And so, his morning should have started as usual, but... "Wh-what? You''re saying that the Bai family from the capital supported ourpetitors, and our businesses are starting to lose profit?!" eximed Xie Hui and looked astonished at the man in front of him: "Is that true, uncle?" "Mgm... unfortunately, it''s true. But I can''t understand their reason," the man answered. This was Xie Hai, the head of the Xie family. He had a rough and ugly appearance, he was skinny. His eyes were gray, and the color of his hair was chestnut. He was the biological father of Xie Qing, although it was hard to believe, as they differed greatly in appearance. His son did not inherit anything from his father! "P-why did they even take such a step..." muttered Xie Hui dejectedly, sweat running down his forehead: "Did you send them a letter?" "Yes. But I haven''t received an answer yet. We need to wait a little longer, and in the meantime, we need to deal with staying afloat. The pressure is too strong," muttered Xie Hai, and then sighed: "Sigh, I still can''t manage as well as Xie Meilin." "Again with the old stuff? Stop mentioning that snake already," said Xie Hui angrily, hitting the table. He looked angry and evil: "You already know that to strengthen your power, you had to get rid of her. Fortunately, we were able to convince the elders. In this, there is a contribution of that trash Xie Qing, who became the reason why they decided to support me in this matter. Have you forgotten our deal?!" "No, I haven''t forgotten," Xie Hai replied in a calm voice: "I''m helping you be the official heir, and you give me another thirty years of rule. After I hand over the position of head of the family, you will give me the position of chief elder." "That''s right! Think about it! The people I''m coborating with can bring us a ton of money, you understand?!" Xie Hui enthusiastically told with a terrifying smile: "They have a damn cultivator at the Soul Integration level. With such partners, our Xie family can be great!" Xie Hui looked excited, and when he spoke, he identally sprayed his saliva, which flew out of his mouth like a machine gun. It could be said by this how excited he was. Xie Hai''s reaction was more calm. "Hm... I''m still worried," Xie Hai said, frowning, which made him look even uglier: "You said they are reliable people, but I don''t believe it much. If it weren''t for the fact that you are acting as a guarantor, as well as my brother, I wouldn''t have agreed." "Stop doubting already. We can give them that mysterious cultivation technique of our family in exchange for great power in the capital! Then even the Bai family won''t be able to stand against us!" insisted Xie Hui and eventually made Xie Hai nod. "All right, you''re right. I shouldn''t have doubted you." Hearing that Xie Hai agreed with his words, Xie Hui made a ttering smile and praised the head of the sect for his foresight, and mentally cursed him. "Old bastard! Do you want to spoil my whole n with your doubts?!" Five years ago, Xie Hui was able to meet with a mysterious personality who introduced himself as the "Red Wolf". He said that he was interested in the cultivation technique that was under the highest protection of the Xie family. This technique was iprehensible to anyone, but apparently, it was extremely ancient and valuable, so it was guarded like the apple of the eye. However, for Xie Hui, it was just a book that was gathering dust in the safe. Therefore, he agreed to exchange it for the political and financial support of the mysterious person. Although at first, he doubted it, Xie Hui very soon became convinced that the mysterious person was not lying to him. The help that he provided to the Xie family was amazing. In one fell swoop, they overtook all theirpetitors! Even the poison that was injected into Xie Meilin''s body through food was passed on by the "Red Wolf". Since that day, Xie Hui has been actively cooperating with them, and today a meeting was scheduled. He looked at Xie Hai''s back, who was leaving the room, and Xie Hui''s eyes showed contempt. *** "Wow!" A loud female scream filled with admiration was heard. Fang Lan looked admiringly at her portrait, and her eyes sparkled. "How did you do it?! I look exactly like I''m looking in the mirror!" she marveled. "Hehe. Sister Fang, I''m not an amateur. For me, such a thing is a piece of cake," Xie Qing replied, proudly puffing out his chest and smiling. "You''re right! Damn, what a genius you are! Younger brother, I admit, you''re cool!" Fang Lan eximed loudly. She was in a good mood. Xie Qing smiled and folded his arms behind his back, looking like an old Daoist. He enjoyed being praised and shamelessly epted it, without even thinking of being modest. He worked a little on the portrait and made Fang Lan''s facial features look much more beautiful. ...At the moment, it can be said that he used the magic of filters. "Can I advertise you to my sisters? They will be d to use your services! I''m in shock at how you can draw something so good?!" Fang Lan enthusiastically said, not forgetting to tter him,pletely forgetting that Xie Qing was her younger brother by sect. "Hehe, if you do that, I''m even ready to draw for free once! It doesn''t matter if it''s a portrait or a full body!" "Hooray!" Fang Lan joyfully eximed and barely restrained herself from hugging Xie Qing! This young man was too pleasant to the eyes! Looking at her portrait, Fang Lan felt satisfied. She decided that she would put it in her room. After a few minutes, the girl transferred 2500 Contribution Points to Xie Qing and paid 150,000 Huang. "Sister Fang," Xie Qing said, who was allowed to call her that. He looked a little surprised, pointing to the bag of money: "This wasn''t written in the task." "Hm? Are you talking about this tip?" Fang Lan asked in response, puzzled, and waved her hand: "It''s nothing. Your portrait is worth millions of Huang, but since I don''t have that much money because of the recently acquired artifact, I can''t pay you... I''m sorry." Xie Qing briefly lost his speech. She so easily brushed off such an amount of money, which would be enough for a family of ordinary people to live carefree for a month... this was indeed the aura of a rich mommy! "Sister Fang Lan, your beauty was already enough payment for me..." Xie Qing said with a smile took the bag of money from her hands, and then added, not paying attention to the girl''s embarrassment: "But since you decided to give me such a gift, who am I to refuse?" "...Pff" Fang Lan smiled and felt that this young man was very funny. He was not only handsome but acting so shamelessly, he looked even more handsome and cute. "Of course. I insist," she yed along with him with a smile. *** Bai Bai, with bloodshot eyes, watched as Xie Qing smiled and walked out of Fang Lan''s house, and the girl waved goodbye to him. Her face looked happy. "She should have smiled only at me... this son of a bitch," he growled, clenching his teeth. But then a smile appeared on his face ¨C his emotions were such that he seemed to be a psycho: "But your family will feel my wrath. And let them not me me, Bai Bai, for breaking the egg with a stone." After he found out about Xie Qing''s family, his first step was to find out potential weak points, of which this family had many. One of them was theirpetitor, who was currently suppressed because the Xie family took away their businesses. And so, as soon as Bai Bai asked his family to help with this issue, they responded and arranged things so that the Xie family had a bellyful of bitter cucumbers. "me your bastard offspring, who set his sights on the future wife of this young master," Bai Bai thought with a smile, not understanding that he was only helping Xie Qing. *** Xie Hui was panicking and walking around the whole room. Xie Hai held an envelope with a letter in his hand, where there was only one word: "war"! "Psychos... they''re psychos!" eximed Xie Hui after a long silence. His face was pale: "Why are these freaks targeting us? The Bai family shouldn''t give a damn about such small businessmen like us!" "..." Xie Hai said nothing. He was also shocked by the determination of the Bai family to put pressure on them. They were already beginning to feel how money was flowing out of their pocket. It was too terrible. Many partners and allied families were breaking agreements as if a lizard was getting rid of its tail to avoid danger. The bridge, which served as their alliance with other partners, was over an abyss. And their allies cut all the ropes, leaving their lives hanging over the abyss, from where only hopeless darkness stretched. Most of their businesses were in decline. Many enterprises were simply attacked by robbers, and Xie Hai could swear that they were experts from the Bai family! But even if they knew about it, they couldn''t do anything as a result! It was terrible! "Who is this bastard who doomed us to such a fate?"ined Xie Hai. *** "Apchoo! I''m starting to sneeze a lottely," muttered Xie Qing, wiping his nose with a napkin. "Did you catch a cold, disciple Xie?" a female voice sounded. The young man smiled and shook his head, looking at the beautiful woman in front of him. "Of course not, Sect Master Lian." Chapter 43: Meeting Lian Lin The goal of 100 PS has been achieved. As promised, I am releasing two additional chapters. 1/2 === After Xie Qing finished his task, the elder guarding the gate of the main courtyard told him the news. "Hm? The sect leader is calling for me?" Xie Qing asked with a puzzled expression. "Yes. I don''t know why, but I was asked to pass this on to you," the elder replied with an unnatural expression. His mind was in chaos: "Why is the sect leader calling for such a mediocre disciple? Has she also been seduced by his appearance?" As an elder, of course, he knew Xie Qing, although he pretended to be unfamiliar with him. This disciple''s name had resounded many times during meetings, and he was even present on the day when there was a battle for the right to be his Master. He still remembered how his female colleagues seemed to have gone crazy and tried to tear him away, biting the throats of their rivals without regret. Then all he had to do was close his eyes and hide in the corner of the meeting hall, afraid that he would be killed by a stray wave of Qi. And to his great surprise, in the end, Xu Mei came, and everyone had to be silent. Although most of the novices did not know about her, those who had lived for more than a hundred years and had a high position remembered her history. She was the founder of the Heavenly Sword Sect, the most genius cultivator of all time, and one of the strongest cultivators in the Mortal World! The elder was also afraid of her. He watched as Xie Qing walked back to the main courtyard in amazement, where the Nine Swords Pavilion was located in the very center. This was nine pavilions connected, and each of them exuded a majestic aura. In the very center was the Pavilion called the Pavilion of Grandeur, where the leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Lian Lin, lived. Her face could only be seen during important events, and there were few of them in the sect. So Xie Qing did not know what she looked like. Recently, he found out that she was his older sister. Xu Mei somehow managed to get her as a disciple. "Master is not an ordinary person. I tried to dig up information about her, but all my sources of information gave me one answer: ''we want to live a little longer'' and refused to answer anything. She must be an important figure," Xie Qing thought, and instead of getting nervous, he felt pride: "So I immersed my dragon in the divine cave of such an important person? Damn, I''m cool!" ...well, his thinking was not too wrong, but apparently, he was trying to boast of rather unusual things. And so, approaching the entrance to the Nine Swords Pavilion, he was stopped by an elder. "Inner court disciple, what do you need? Entrance is allowed either by invitation or for particrly important reasons," the elder said, narrowing his eyes. "The sect leader called for me, elder," Xie Qing replied, and seeing doubt on the elder''s face, he added: "I was informed of this by the elder guarding the gate of the main courtyard." "Hm-m? Then it shouldn''t be a lie..." the elder muttered, and then said: "But still, it needs to be confirmed. Wait here." "All right." Xie Qing nodded. Either way, it was just a matter of a few minutes. The elder moved away from him and contacted the sect leader. "Sect Leader Lian, this is Elder Bao Jian," he said, activating themunication token. "Xr-r-r-..." In response, there was snoring. Elder Bao was not surprised and just continued to repeat this until there was a sound as if someone had fallen out of bed. Then a sleepy female voice was heard. "Who?" "Um... his name is Xie Qing. He is the disciple of the Great Founder," the elder replied in a respectful tone. "Hm-m? Why did hee to me? Ah... that''s right, I called him. I forgotpletely..." Lian Lin mumbled sleepily, and then briefly said: "Invite him inside, and better yet, escort him to me. Otherwise, he might get lost. End of transmission... psh-sh-sh..." "..." The corners of Elder Bao''s mouth twitched when he heard this excuse in the form of "interference" to end the conversation quickly, but he had alreadye to terms with such strange behavior. He turned and approached the waiting Xie Qing. Casting a short nce at the young man, Elder Bao said: "Follow me." "All right." Xie Qing nodded briefly and followed the elder, who was walking as if he was on drugs. The young man raised an eyebrow. "Is he rushing to the toilet or something?" At the same time, Elder Bao Jian raised an eyebrow in surprise. They were walking at a speed of 60 km/h, but Xie Qing didn''t even show a hint of fatigue. A Qi Condensation cultivator was strong in terms of Qi, but his physique should still be insufficiently developed. So why was Xie Qing keeping up with Elder Bao? It''s simple. Thanks to the divine skill of "Dual Cultivation," Xie Qing developed not only Qi but also his body. Moreover, the cultivation technique in his possession was also responsible for 90% of the improvements. As a result, he improved faster than his peers and colleagues at the same level. His existence was an anomaly. In the end, at such a speed, they reached the sect leader''s resting ce in five minutes, although it would have taken about twenty minutes at a normal walking pace. "...We''ve arrived. I won''t go in," Elder Bao Jian said in a depressed voice, and after saying a few words, he turned and left with a bowed head. "What''s wrong with him?" Xie Qing wondered, but then waved his hand: "Strange uncle. I had to walk a little faster. It seems that old people have a lot of energy." And so, in the end, Xie Qing entered the room. The first thing he saw... this ce was too messy. He couldn''t help but look at the chaotic arrangement of clothes on the floor, on the chairs, and the table. Only the working desk, on which there were papers, was clean, but the rest... was in chaos! As a person who loves order, Xie Qing felt as if his heart was being torn out by the roots and crushed! "Hm? Thongs?" he thought, and the corners of his eyes twitched: "All right, I won''t look... oh, red underwear withce! She has taste!" Since the clothes were scattered on the floor... Xie Qing could notice some things, but to not seem rude, he looked for only two seconds and then turned his gaze away. Moreover, he had to walk in ces where there was no clothing. All this reminded him of a minefield. And so, he finally approached the bed. There, a girl with a cute face was sleeping. She had long green hair and long eyshes. Her skin was fair, and her body was slender. Although the breast size was not outstanding, it fit perfectly in the hand. "A big breast warms the hand, but a small one warms the heart," Xie Qing remembered the wise quote and nodded satisfactorily. ...Lian Lin was not in the most appropriate attire for meetings. She put on a white bathrobe that clung to her skin. Since it was untied, Xie Qing could see her underwear. "What views, what beauty... but wait, I''m not here for that," he thought, and his face became serious. The question before him was how to wake her up. He tried to call her by name. No answer. He tried to shake the bed, no answer. Xie Qing''s face darkened. This woman reminded him of himself in the mornings! He also woke up with difficulty, and not even a nuclear explosion could wake him up, so Xu Mei had to activate her Killing Intent, because of which he almost had a heart attack. Sighing, he reached for her cheek and then began to gently stroke it. This led to a reaction from Lian Lin, but not the one that Xie Qing wanted. "Hm?" An incredible gravitational force descended on his body, and Xie Qing was unable to control his body. When he came to his senses, he suddenly found himself on the bed, and Lian Lin was hugging him like a ko. "What the hell? She used ''Expert Control'' just to pull me towards her. This is absurd..." he thought, and his face distorted. Expert Control - a Dao technique that allowed the application of Qi to control objects, even if it was a person. This Dao technique can be obtained by reaching the cultivation level of Spiritual Ascension. It uses a gravitational field that is powered by Qi to move objects in space. Therger the object, the heavier it is to move, and the greater the consumption of Qi. It''s like trying to run thetest games with ray tracing on maximum graphics on a PC with an Nvidia NV1. At first, there will be a high load, and then severe damage... In short, this technique can be used to fly on a sword. That''s all you need to know. "Sigh, my poor fate. It seems that even without opening their eyes, they will be struck by my beauty... well, I''ve already overdone it," Xie Qing thought, but he could only entertain himself with this method... because Lian Lin had been sleeping for five hours already! For five whole hours, hey motionless, allowing himself to be used as a hugging pillow. It was torture worthy of regret! Regret for being born into this world! "Hm, and her skin is nice to the touch," Xie Qing thought, touching Lian Lin''s waist: "Not every day you can touch the body of the sect leader. This is all for research purposes. And not because I want to touch her." Despite his justifications, Xie Qing only touched her waist briefly. And it seemed to have an effect. "M-m-m..." Lian Lin let out a sleepy moan and, pushing away from Xie Qing''s chest, which almost made him lose his breath from the force applied, she stood up and sat down. "..." Xie Qing fell silent. Everyone fell silent. The world fell silent. I fell silent. You fell silent. Her pose... was too dangerous! Xie Qing felt as if his dragon was trying to dere its presence, sensing a target right on itself! Their crotches touched each other. If it weren''t for the clothes, Xie Qing would have heard the following in his head: "Pration!" Chapter 44: Masters Jealousy, Immortal Cave The goal of 100 PS has been achieved. As promised, I am releasing two additional chapters. 2/2 === Although Xie Qing was already preparing to start exining that he was not to me, that the world was to me, and so on, Lian Lin did not react at all to their strange pose and got off him. "I overslept, it seems. Well, sit down somewhere where there is no trash, I''ll change clothes first," her listless voice was heard. "All right..." Xie Qing''s face took on a strange expression. He could not understand what was happening but decided to ignore this situation as well. "It seems she doesn''t care. As expected of the sect leader!" Xie Qing admired her cold-bloodedness. However, he did not notice the very faint, but still redness on the tips of Lian Lin''s ears. *** "Here, younger brother. Do you drink tea?" Lian Lin asked, cing a cup of tea in front of Xie Qing. Then she added: "By the way, I am also a disciple of Xu Mei, so... I am your older sister. In personal meetings, you can call me that, in front of people I am the ''sect leader'', okay?" "Understood, older sister," Xie Qing nodded seriously. "Hm-hm-hm... that sounds nice," Lian Lin purred with barely noticeable activity in her voice. She changed into her sect leader uniform and looked much more majestic than before, if not for her listless behavior. She looked as if she was ready to fall asleep at any second. Xie Qing expected that the sect leader would be incredibly powerful and authoritative but in the end... "I was ready to immerse myself in the tiger''s den, but instead, I ran into a tree with a sloth," he thought with a strange expression on his face. Nevertheless, it was even easier for him. Considering her rxed character, Xie Qing wouldn''t have to worry about being too careful not to mess up, as from the point of view of rtionships, they were close, if one considers that for disciples, the Master is like a father or mother, that is, logically, they are brother and sister. "Stop, if for me the Master is the mother, then I... well, let''s not talk about it." Xie Qing chose to simply forget about it and not think too carefully. Who cares, anyway? The main thing is that they werefortable. Nevertheless, Xie Qing still had to behave modestly. Since Lian Lin was his older sister, he had to behave ordingly. "In short, I called you for this... Master strictly ordered to give you a chance in the Ancestral Cave. It''s a ce where you can get a lot of good stuff, and I even got a cool sword technique, which unfortunately can''t be circted within the sect because it''s too powerful," Lian Lin began to exin, and gradually her voice became more cheerful, showing that she was beginning to wake up: "In fact, there were many voices ''against'' it, since you have never shown impressive achievements, and judging only by your cultivation level would be somewhat foolish... if not for the fact that you achieved it in such a short time. But this is confidential information." "Confidential?" "Yes, in short, only you, Master, Lian Xin, and... "Lian Lin pointed to herself, propping up her chin with her other hand: "Me. In short, you are protected. This had to be done to protect you from annoying people who think they can control the lives of geniuses." "I understand..." Xie Qing nodded. He understood that his existence as a whole could change the world, and most likely, he would even be the leader of the era. There would be many bonuses, but also many minuses. Facing the envy of so many people would be very dangerous, and in such a situation, the price for his head on the ck market would grow, and those who wanted to kill the still-unripe sprout could fill the entire continent. Moreover, a separate topic of mention would be the Dynasty. Although it presented itself as a neutral force, it was impossible to count on the fingers of one hand how many geniuses they had killed because they posed a threat. Most likely, if Xie Qing did not agree to make concessions or cooperate with them, he would face the same fate. But the difference was that Xu Mei was behind him, and would not let him die. In general, Lian Lin summarized for him what had been discussed at the meeting, and in the end, expressed her opinion. "I also agree with giving you a ce in the Ancestral Cave. Although your power is not yet very impressive, you possess potential and are an uncut diamond," Lian Lin said, finally restoring her authoritative aura as the sect leader. She looked at Xie Qing with all seriousness: "Younger brother, you need to be careful in your actions. Moreover, when that dayes, I hope that you will remain a disciple of this sect, or maybe even an elder." "..." Xie Qing fell silent. This question required serious thought, and he could not answer "All right," as these words determined his future. The Heavenly Sword Sect was the best ce for development, moreover, he was familiar with this ce. However, some many other sects and organizations were ready to snatch him away, offering better conditions. When ites to perfection, one must think about the benefits, not about personal rtionships. Only this way can one be a great cultivator. "Heh..." Lian Lin smiled, seeing that Xie Qing did not give her a direct answer, but was not particrly surprised. Geniuses were always in demand, and it was impossible to keep them in one ce. She did not hope that Xie Qing would want to stay here just because of Xu Mei. Therefore, she was ready to offer him favorable conditions. "The sect is ready to provide you with any help. Do you need money? No problem. Do you need resources? No problem. Do you need women? No problem. Do you need power? No problem," Lian Lin listed one by one, and then added: "Of course, there will be some restrictions on you, but basically, you are free." "Older sister, you are insightful in such matters," Xie Qing said with a smile, and then finally gave an answer: "All right, I agree." "Excellent." Lian Lin finally smiled. She was pleased with her younger brother and could not help but praise Xu Mei for such foresight. "Master found the greatest talent. The Heavenly Sword Sect will surge forward!" Lian Lin celebrated in her soul and then thought: "But then there will be more work. But until then, I will pass my status as sect leader to someone else." Dumping the work on someone else... how cunning... I mean, noble! The signature of Xu Mei is immediately felt! *** "Hm..." Xu Mei let out a satisfied grunt, seeing that Xie Qing answered as she wanted. She also understood that it was impossible to keep this man in one ce. She was very pleased. "Xu Mei," Zhang Mei''s voice sounded, still without emotions. "What?" Xu Mei replied without turning around. "You are squeezing the chair too hard. It will break now," Zhang Mei reported. "..." Crack! "Eh..." Zhang Mei sighed pityingly. She felt sorry for the chair, from which the armrest had broken off. Xu Mei had been watching them from the beginning, and now she was enraged. "Lian Lin! Oh, you little cunning girl! Because of her stupid habit of hugging something while sleeping, they got into such an awkward situation!" Xu Mei thought. She was jealous! Although she was d that Xie Qing stayed in the sect, she was very jealous! But she was d! But she was jealous! ...In short, her emotions were unstable. *** Xie Qing felt a chill run down his spine. He looked around, but could not understand the reason for such a feeling. "I just felt as if I had avoided death. Hmm... I must have imagined it." He shrugged and entered the Trade Pavilion. Here was a store where disciples could exchange their Contribution Points for something useful. In Xie Qing''s case, he needed to exchange Contribution Points for pills that would help him in cultivation. "I would like ten bottles of ''Qi Condensation'' pills..." Xie Qing told the seller his order. "All right, just a moment..." the disciple replied and moved away from the counter. He rummaged in the box took out ten bottles and put them on the table: "That will be 3000 Contribution Points." "All right..." Xie Qing''s heart was bleeding. He clenched his teeth handed over his silver token paid, and then grabbed the bottles of pills as if afraid someone would steal them. What money is to the rich, life is to the poor! And at the moment, Xie Qing was poor! Instead of returning to the pavilion where he lived, Xie Qing decided to try the special cave where the concentration of Qi was at its peak. Each disciple of the inner court could try this service once a year. Since Xie Qing had nothing to lose, he decided to take advantage of it. After five minutes of walking, he finally reached the ce. This ce was at the very edge of the inner court, and the entrance was into a cave. Entering inside, there he was met by a door, at which an elder was sitting and ying cards with another elder. Noticing Xie Qing, they did not even bother to stand up and only pointed with their chins to the door, where there was a recess just for his disciple token. Since the elders did not bother to greet him, Xie Qing also limited himself to a polite nod. Inserting the disciple token into the recess, the door trembled and opened, and information appeared on the token. [Immortal Cave Annual Quota: 0] Without hesitation, Xie Qing went inside, and the door closed behind him. The two elders exchanged nces and then continued ying. The door was supposed to open by itself in a day, so they had nothing to worry about. They were standing here just in case, to make sure that everything worked properly. And so... Entering inside, Xie Qing looked around. This was a narrow ce of five square meters, where there were only stone walls. It seemed like an ordinary cave, but the concentration of Qi here was even higher than in the pavilion. "With this, I will be able to break through another stage!" Xie Qing was pleased. Chapter 45: Let him f-k Fang Lan in front of your eyes! Two elders, who were supposed to guard the Immortal Cave, were just cking off. They were named Elder Zhao and Xiao, and they were famous for once falling asleep while guarding an important object, allowing a disciple to sneak in. Although the disciple was killed and the stolen item was retrieved, this incident greatly affected the well-being of these two. Thus, they were no longer entrusted with such important tasks. The Immortal Cave was a structure that had its protection. The door, enchanted by ancient formation specialists from the Sect of Starry Stream, could only be opened with a disciple''s token. The token worked as a trigger and sent a code that provided information about the disciple. If, for example, the variable cave. quota = 0, then the door would not open. A simple but effective security measure, considering that it was impossible to forge disciple tokens, and the door could only be broken by experts at the Spiritual Ascension level, who would not even be given this ce for free. "Old Zhao, you''ve lost again," Elder Xiao proudly announced, taking the win once more. "Tsk... tsk... tsk... I''m losing my touch! Sigh!" Elder Zhao grumbled reluctantly and unwillingly brought his token close to Elder Xiao''s token, exchanging Contribution Points. For elders, the sect''s currency was even avable, so ying gambling games, these two used this currency. They were about to start ying again when suddenly Elder Zhao shivered and looked doubtfully at the door. Elder Xiao followed his gaze but saw nothing wrong. "What''s wrong?" "No, nothing... I just thought I felt a draft in my back," Elder Zhao said, shaking his head. "Hahaha, old man, your old bones can''t even handle a slight breeze!" "Shut up! Enough, this time I''ll beat you so badly your mother won''t recognize you!" "Toote, my mother has been dead for a long time!" *** Xie Qing opened his eyes just in time to leave. He got up from the lotus position, and his Qi whirled around him, showing that he had achieved some improvements. "I''m already at the 7th stage of Qi Condensation... although I could have reached the ninth stage right away. However, this way, my foundation would be extremely unreliable, which would affect my future," he thought and began to warm up, although it was not required for a cultivator of his level. After five minutes, when he finally finished warming up, the young man approached the door and pressed the button. Pfah~. Making a strange sound, the door opened, revealing the back of Elder Zhao, who was lying on the table and sobbing, and his hands, holding the token, were shaking. "Bastard... you cheated me again!" "Hehehe... buddy, your luck can only bepared to the luck of the Furious Monkey*... although this monster will be luckier than you!" "S-shut up!" Xie Qing, who was in a good mood from the breakthrough, could not help but lose his speech. "Are you ying gambling games? That''s what old age does to people..." he thought and shook his head. Ignoring Xie Qing, the two elders argued about something, so the young man did not bother and left without saying goodbye. It was already evening. He had stayed in the Cave of Immortality for about a day or so. During this time, he gained many bonuses. All his techniques became stronger. "Ah, that''s right, someone tried to contact me through mymunication token... few people know about it," Xie Qing thought and narrowed his eyes. He had only one idea of who could have ess to hismunication token: "The Xie family... what do they want?" *** Since the ce for conversation was inconvenient, Xie Qing moved to a restaurant. As a disciple of the inner court, he had a discount and could easily ess a private room. Ordering wine and something sweet, he took out themunication token and poured his Qi into it. After five minutes, the person on the other end of the line picked up. "Young master." It was an elderly voice. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes; he knew very well who the voice belonged to. His face darkened. "...Main Elder. I assume I made you wait. How can I help?" Xie Qing asked, clenching his teeth and barely restraining his anger. Main Elder Xie Jin was over two hundred years old and was a cultivator at the peak of Qi Condensation, but his influence came not from his strength, but from his lineage. He was the maternal grandfather of Xie Hui. Initially... he supported his mother and carried out only her orders, but after his birth, he took the side of Xie Hai. This made Xie Meiling lose a significant part of her power, which ultimately caused severe damage. "Good to hear that you''re well," the old man''s emotionless voice was heard, and he continued his speech without paying attention to the tone of anger in the young man''s voice: "I called because the Bai family recently put pressure on us, and after some investigation, we found out that there is an offspring of their family in the Sect of Heavenly Sword. Have you had any conflicts with him?" "Hm?" Xie Qing snorted in surprise. He expected any questions, but not about this one. Although he was curious about whether his family was beaten up well, the Chief Elder''s question could not be ignored. Xie Qing felt that he was being suspected. "The Bai family? Let me think, did I take someone away from their offspring..." Xie Qing thought, assuming that envious people wanted to take revenge on him. And after some minutes of reflection, he remembered his trip to the main court. Then, putting the puzzle together one by one and remembering that annoying guy who came to Fang Lan''s house... "He-e-e?" Xie Qing slyly smiled, finally understanding why the Bai family targeted the Xie family. Most likely, this young master was offended that Xie Qing wasmunicating with Fang Lan and decided to take revenge on him in this way. In a normal situation, he would be worried, but... "Brother Bai, you generously made this junior lose his speech! Who would have thought that you would decide to help me weaken the foundation of the Xie family!" Xie Qing admired Brother Bai''s sharp mind. Of course, it was all jokes, and he still had to deal with these problemster, but he was confident that by that time, the Bai family would not dare to reach out to the bear trap. "Hm... no, Main Elder, I have no idea. I can''t even get into the inner court, so it''s impossible to meet someone from the Bai family," Xie Qing humbly answered, lying and not even blushing. "Hm-m-m..." A grunt was heard from the token. It seemed that the Main Elder was somewhat doubtful about Xie Qing''s words, but remembering that the young man had terrible talent and was timid, he understood that the chance of confrontation with the offspring of the Bai family was impossible. "Alright. Then I''m forced to end the call; I have some business to attend to," the Main Elder said and hung up without waiting for Xie Qing''s answer. "Heh..." Xie Qing could only smile. Of course, he knew that it was because of him that all the problems had arisen, but this was a chance. "Brother Bai, since you are such a generous man, don''t me this younger one for using your head to break the boulder!" *** "Xie Qing! You''vee to see your elder sister again?" Fang Lan greeted him at the door with a smile, dressed in beautiful clothes. "Elder Sister Fang, you look as beautiful as ever. To be honest, I almost fell in love," Xie Qing said with a smile and then showed the canvas in his hand: "Do you mind if I paint at your ce? For some reason, it''s much easier for me to paint in yourpany." "O-of course! Come in,e in!" Fang Lan said excitedly, her face turning red. m. The door closed, and the two went inside. Watching all this from the side, Bai Bai scowled. His face was gloomy as if he were trying to frame a beautiful cosyer girl, only to realize that she was not a sister Daoist... but a brother Daoist! "Bastard... it didn''t affect him at all?!" Bai Bai roared, and his followers clenched their necks, not daring to say anything. They were afraid of bing the scapegoat. For several days now, Xie Qing had been visiting Fang Lan, and with each day, they became closer and closer. This annoyed Bai Bai, who was burning with jealousy. The fact was that he envied Xie Qing''s appearance, and besides... Fang Lan smiled so brightly at him! And this smile was only for Xie Qing. And when he tried to talk to her, he met only a cold, icy face. Creak... A creaking sound was heard. It was Bai Bai, who clenched his teeth and then took out his family''smunication token. Pouring his Qi into it, without waiting for his interlocutor to greet him, he shouted: "Increase the pressure on this family of bastards right now! I want all their businesses to be in decline! Hire bandits, mercenaries, or even our family''s cultivators! Just make the Xie family bleed!" "E-e-eh... o-okay, I understand, young master." "Hmph!" Immediately after that, Bai Bai threw the token into his pocket and turned to his followers, shouting: "As soon as this bastard leaves her house, follow him and beat him up! Understood?!" "Y-yes, young master!" "Pf!" Bai Bai snorted angrily and walked away quickly, burning with anger, and the disciples left on the spot looked at each other and spat angrily on the ground. "He''s the one who put the horns on you, but we''re the ones suffering!" "That''s what you get! Let him fuck Fang Lan in front of your eyes, you bastard!" *** "Hm... yes, you''re on the right track. Slightly lift your leg to show your foot and press the other leg firmly to the ground. Hands-on your knees to hold the hem of your skirt, and slightly rx your facial muscles so that emotions cannot be read," Xie Qing instructed. "Okay." Fang Lan nodded excitedly and did as he asked. Today she wore a white blouse and skirt, with white stockings. Although such attire was considered something belonging to the mortal world, she was excited! Moreover, all this clothing suited her. Fang Lan had never felt so happy! "Younger Brother Xie Qing is so talented! I should invite my sisters to have him paint them too!" Fang Lan was pleased. After two hours, Xie Qing had already presented her with a finished painting, which made the girl''s body tremble with embarrassment and joy. Looking at the drawing of herself, she lost her speech for a moment and looked at the proud Xie Qing. "Brother, I admit that I indulge your desires, but who would have thought that you are a pervert!" "But I like it!" ==== * Furious Monkey ¨C a monster living on the Southern Continent, known for being extremely unlucky. There is a strong aura of misfortune around it, and its karma is tainted. Chapter 46: Do you think Im a cleaner? Fang Lan''s visit in recent days was not a coincidence or a simple desire of Xie Qing! It was all part of Aizen''s... no, Xie Qing''s brilliant n! Through jealousy, he could only increase the pressure on the Xie family, thus inflicting a wound that would be hard to heal without powerful support. No matter how the Xie family tried to attract new allies, few would be willing to help them during this period. "Brother, do you want us to take up the sword of justice with you and stand against the Bai family? There are other ways to die without having to go naked into the predator''sir!" Of course, all proposals for alliances or mutually beneficial assistance received one answer: "Get lost!", which could hardly be called unexpected. Xie Hai and Xie Hui were in shock and barely restrained themselves from crying, while Xie Hui was now at the meeting. "Y-y-y-ou... you say you will no longer help our family?!" Xie Hui shouted in shock. "Wow, young master Xie has good hearing. You heard correctly," the envoy replied sarcastically. "B-but... what about the agreement?! Didn''t you need this technique?!" "We do need it, so you can give it to us right now. Then we will consider continuing our cooperation," the envoy said shamelessly, and seeing Xie Hui''s anger, tried to fort" him: "Don''t worry, we will resume support when the dust settles from the incident with the Bai family." "Pfft!" Xie Hui snorted angrily. Of course, he had no intention of giving his n''s technique now, or he would simply be deceived. He was even angrier that his ally had abandoned him at such an important moment. When everything is settled, Xie Hui will no longer trust them enough to resume cooperation! Even naivety has its limits! After a brief conversation, the envoy left very quickly, leaving an angry Xie Hui alone. "Damn! Damn! I swear, I''ll find the bastard who arranged all this and cut his throat!" Xie Hui said angrily, clenching his teeth. "Apchoo!" Xie Qing sneezed loudly and barely managed to hold the teacup to avoid spilling it on himself. In front of him sat Fang Lan, who was pouring tea. "Hm? Did you catch a cold?" she asked. "How could that be? If I caught a cold at this level, I would be recorded as the most useless cultivator in the world," Xie Qing said with a bitter smile, but he was already beginning to believe it. The young man thought: "Lately, I''ve been sneezing a lot. Could it be that I''m cursed?" However, even after deep reflection, he could not find a reason why such a noble person as himself could be cursed. Most likely, he did catch a cold. *** "See you tomorrow, Brother Xie Qing," Fang Lan said goodbye to him with a bright smile and added: "Tomorrow I will bring my sisters for you to draw as well. Just on this day, I will pay you for all your debts." "Sister Fang, do not offend the noble and innocent heart of this artist. You can simply pay with a kiss on the cheek," Xie Qing said with a serious face and without a drop of shame. "..." Fang Lan lost her voice and began to quickly look around to make sure no one was watching... Smack. Before Xie Qing could react, Fang Lan''s figure disappeared, leaving him alone, puzzled. He touched his cheek, where he could still feel the slight warmth and the scent of Fang Lan''s lipstick. "I was joking..." While Xie Qing stood there, slightly surprised by the sudden kiss, Bai Bai, who was watching all this with a spiritual item, popped his eyes out. Boom! The disciples who were sitting in the restaurant pavilion looked in his direction and saw that Bai Bai had mercilessly broken the table. "Bastard!" his enraged voice rang out. Bai Bai did not wait forpensation to be paid and immediately left, leaving the disciples in shock. "Brother, do you think that because you''re from an influential family, you can break tables whenever you want? And... you''re right! Let''s not provoke him, guys." Meanwhile, Bai Bai had already sent a message to his subordinates to begin the attack on Xie Qing. His eyes gleamed with anger. "You''re dead, bastard. You''re dead! I have a lot of authority among the elders, so cleaning up after you will be easy! Count thest minutes of your life, piece of shit!" *** "The boss has given the order. This time we are allowed to beat him up good and then ''identally'' kill him. Got it?" "Yes... sigh, another innocent soul perishes. Sniff-sniff." "Stop sniffling, it''s disgusting." A group of five people hiding in the shadows watched Xie Qing, who was casually returning home. In this group, there were two cultivators at the Core Formation stage ¨C 3rd level and three cultivators at the same stage, but at the first level. Theirbined power could easily kill a cultivator at the peak of the Core Formation, so they thought that killing a weakling like Xie Qing would be an easy task. And when Xie Qing entered the zone where there were no disciples and no guards, two of them appeared right in front of Xie Qing. "Hm?" "Halt, cowboy!" one of them eximed and grinned predatorily, pulling out a hammer: "How about this... I saw that you, younger brother, are having trouble developing, and as an older brother, I want to help you!" "Jian Liu... you could havee up with something cooler," the other disciple muttered. Xie Qing lost his voice, looking at this "well-meaning" older brother. Then the young man sniffed the terrible smell, as if his head had been stuck in a sewer, and wrinkled his nose, saying: "Older brother, let this younger brother teach you what it means to wash." "..." the smelly disciple lost his voice and thought: "You used my own words, but why does it sound so offensive?!" However, after the surprise came anger. The disciple clenched the hammer in his hand and suddenly rushed forward. The speed of a cultivator at the Core Formation stage was no joke ¨C they could reduce the distance to their opponent in one movement. Xie Qing sighed, realizing that he had overdone it a bit and mocked the jackal, so he drew his sword. His hand bent and the de neatly blocked the strike. Boom! In Xie Qing''s ears, there was a muffled sound from their collision, and he felt a slight tremor in his wrist. He was slightly inferior in strength. "Body cultivator, huh?" Xie Qing muttered, and then smiled: "I have a little trick for you." Focusing his mind, Xie Qing activated the strengthening technique he had acquired in the past: "Rising Legend!" Immediately, Xie Qing felt a significant increase in his strength and Qi. The de of his sword sparked, and in the end, with a crash, the disciple''s weapon broke! "Wh-what?!" Jian Liuy shouted in shock, and his hand trembled with pain. The strength of Xie Qing''s sword, which he obtained after killing Guan Baichi, was worth a separate mention. Although this sword had no special characteristics, it was also as hard as bedrock... that is, divine metal! The attackers were stunned. They felt that Xie Qing was only at the Qi Condensation stage ¨C 7th level, but hisbat power was questionable, and no one considered him a dangerous opponent. But now, with his bare physical strength, he broke Jian Liuy''s weapon, which was at the third stage of Core Formation! This was a sensation! "Tsk... guys, let''s not hold back, he''s dangerous!" After Jian Liuy came to his senses, he quickly shouted and called his buddies. They, although stunned, joined the battle, not wanting to stand aside. Very soon, they engaged in battle. Xie Qing was under great pressure, and although he could resist, from time to time he let through blows that did not cause serious injuries but were painful. "Ha-a-a!" A powerful blow hit Xie Qing''s chest, pushing him back. It so happened that all five of them stood in front of him like bandits, and he smiled. "Finally, the whole gang is here," he muttered, and then his eyes shed gold: "Dragon''s Gaze!" "!!!!" The disciples froze in shock, feeling that they could not move. The world around them darkened, and the only thing they saw was two huge golden eyes, like the eyes of a lizard, staring at them unceasingly. In these eyes was majesty, coldness, and a thirst for killing. Many of them who were weak in spirit immediately lost their minds and some lost consciousness. The stronger Xie Qing bes the stronger his techniques. Thus, now he could put his opponents into an illusion, thereby not allowing them to move. And so, in consciousness, only Jian Liuy remained, who felt as if the ground was slipping out from under his feet. When he was already beginning to lose consciousness, a piercing pain struck him in the chest area, where his heart was located. Immediately, the darkness subsided. He looked shockingly at the ground, seeing that it had turned red. The pungent smell of blood reached him, and Jian Liuy began to feel a piercing pain. Raising his eyes, he saw the de that had fully entered his body, and then Xie Qing, who was looking at him with a cold smile. "Y-you..." Jian Liuy was shocked. He did not expect that a cultivator weaker than him could inflict such a serious wound on him. In his mind, a thought appeared that began to fill his thoughts with each second. "I''m done for!" *** Xie Qing casually wiped the blood from his de, tearing the clothes on Jian Liuy''s body. After he carefully walked along the sword, it was as clean as before the battle. "Excellent!" Xie Qing admired and then turned his gaze to the five corpses: "Ah, what a pity. But who asked them to attack me?" He casually wiped off the drops of blood that began to flow from the corners of his mouth. Although there were no serious injuries, Xie Qing still did not get off without wounds. Butpared to his opponents, he was as lively as ever. "Now I need to deal with this problem," Xie Qing thought, and then took out amunication token. Pouring Qi into it, he waited a few seconds, and feeling the vibration, realized that the connection was established. "Hm-m-m? It''s rare for you to contact me through the token, foolish disciple," Xu Mei''s excited voice sounded. "Hehe... I''m so happy to hear your beautiful voice, Master," Xie Qing said with a smile, and then became serious: "I have some minor problems. Can youe to me?" "Hm? Okay, wait for me there. I''ll be right there," Xu Mei immediately realized that something was wrong and, using her spiritual sense, found Xie Qing. After that, she moved through space and appeared in a ce next to the young man. Surveying the area, she lost her voice and turned to look at Xie Qing. "Do you think I''m a cleaner? What''s this bloody mess?!" Chapter 47: Six months, breakthrough to the Core Formation stage The book is finally in contract! Hooray! === Although Xu Mei was slightly offended that Xie Qing had used her as a cleaner, she still waved her hand and a spark of ck me appeared on the corpses, which soon engulfed them all. In just a minute, the fresh boys had turned into fertilizer for the earth. "It''s done. Now can you exin what''s going on? I don''t think I need to tell you that killing fellow disciples is not the best way to earn a reputation," Xu Mei said with a frown. Although she was his lover, she was still his Master and the founder of the sect. Even if he was her disciple, she did not want him to use it to his advantage. "Master, I did not kill them on a whim," Xie Qing said, sheathing his sword. He smiled and stepped on what was left of the disciples: "They wanted to kill me on the orders of some bastard. And I had to... overdo it a little." "..." Xu Mei pursed her lips and looked at Xie Qing with a gaze that did not suit a person who willingly believed in this story. "Silly boy, do you think I was born yesterday? When I was doing such tricks, your ancestors were not even born yet!" With her piercing gaze and cultivator experience, she saw that Xie Qing''s Qi was almost depleted and there were some internal injuries that, although not serious, couldplicate matters if not treated in time. "Tsk... you cause a lot of trouble. Although, I would have liked to praise you for this... you''re a real hero," Xu Mei said with a smile: "Although it was difficult, you defeated cultivators at the Core Formation level. I can praise you for goodbat power." "Thank you, but it was hard," Xie Qing said with a smile, then took out a bottle and pulled out a pill, swallowing it. When the pill touched his tongue, it immediately dissolved and turned into condensed Qi, which flowed into the young man''s body. These were effective pills that supplied him with Qi in a critical moment. Sitting in the lotus position, the young man focused on restoring his wounds. Fortunately, there was plenty of Qi after taking the pill, so restoring the wounds was a matter of time. By that time, Xu Mei had already finished getting rid of all suspicious things that could indicate a battle. She held five tokens in her hand and, examining them, she smiled. "Hehe... these five are registered as subordinate vassals of the Bai family. How interesting," Xu Mei muttered, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at Xie Qing with a clear smile in her eyes: "Hey, boy, when did you have time to offend such a big shot? Do you know that the Bai family holds the title of one of the most influential families in the Dynasty?" Xie Qing got up from the ground and brushed the dirt off himself, then looked at his hands: "I... my hands are now covered in blood up to my elbows..." "Hey, stop being dramatic, I know you don''t care. I shouldn''t have asked..." "Hahaha." Xu Mei twisted the corners of her mouth, looking at Xie Qing, who wasughing happily. He looked like he didn''t care, which was true. Although the Bai family was now trying to pressure him, in the end, only his family would suffer, and no more. But with him, they would have to wait a bit, because behind his back was Xu Mei, who, although not famous in general, in narrow circles, almost everyone knew about her reputation as a terrifying genius. The Bai family was no exception. *** "Wh-what? Do you mean all five of them disappeared? How is that possible?!" Bai Bai''s scream was the only thing that could be heard in the dimly lit room. Around him were three disciples who were telling about the recent disappearance of five disciples under Bai Bai''s supervision. "Young master, we tried to contact them, but their token seems to have been destroyed," said one of the disciples, and his forehead was covered with sweat ¨C he was very nervous, afraid to offend Bai Bai. "Are you kidding me?! How can five adult men disappear in one day?!" shouted Bai Bai. His face was distorted with anger, and his hands were shaking. He could not believe that sending five strong men on such an easy task, instead of returning with victory... they did not return at all! "Tsk... I don''t believe that this boy can kill them. A Qi Condensation cultivator cannot kill a Core Formation cultivator, no matter how genius he is," thought Bai Bai. He strongly doubted that Xie Qing had such power that would allow him to easily deal with a group of men. Unless... "He has secret support! I knew it! How could such a pathetic, but still rich Xie family release their heirs without any protection? I must have been stupid to underestimate them!" Bai Bai was surprised by his conclusion and clenched his teeth: "The Xie family... I thought I could break you with an ordinary stone, but I realized that it wouldn''t be enough! Besides, they don''t seem to be trying to pressure this bastard who continues to visit Fang Lan!" Bai Bai''s logic was frighteningly simple. He believed that most likely the Xie family should have notified Xie Qing that someone was putting pressure on their family, and after some things, this young man should have understood the hint and left. Then Bai Bai would allow the Xie family to live a little longer. However, instead, he got what he got! These two not only did not stopmunicating but, it seemed, even became closer! Fang Lan even kissed him on the cheek! "Well, very well! It seems that I cannot attack you in the sect and kill you here, but... what if I kill someone from your family?!" Bai Bai thought with a smile and pulled out a stack of papers. Here were all the members of the Xie family. He looked a little and thought about who could be killed in such a way as to cause a big reaction from Xie Qing. And after some time... "Xie Hai! His father must be this fool''s weak spot! Let''s see how you react to his death!" thought Bai Bai with a wicked smile: "Don''t me this young master for cruelty! You deserved it!" ...As expected, young Master Bai was very wise! *** Unaware of Mr. Bai''s genius n, Xie Qing sat on his bed and looked at the gloomy weather outside the window. It was raining now, all the disciples who were still walking on the street activated their Qi to avoid getting wet, and some less prim and proper ones simply opened umbres. The weather was romantic, but Xie Qing was sad. He tried to flirt with his Master some time ago, but they were interrupted by Zhang Mei, who was already nning to leave. Looking at the slowly dripping raindrops on the window, Xie Qingid out 500 Huang on the table and said in a resolute voice: "Come on, drop number 5! You will win!" ...he was very bored. Since his cultivation technique was already quite OP, and he had recently had a breakthrough... Xie Qing was bored! He had almost no friends in the sect, as the girls instead of friendship wanted to jump into his bed, and most of the guys could hardly restrain their desire to strangle him. In short, he was lonely! "Eeh... being handsome and charismatic is very hard," Xie Qing sighed, shaking his head, and then, seeing that his drop had been absorbed by another drop, clenched his teeth in annoyance: "Drop number 5... you let me down! Pff, well, the weather still won''t be able to y with me, so the money stays..." He turned to the table with a smile, where his 500 Huang SHOULD have been, but... "Eh?! Where did they go?!" For some reason, the rain stopped, and it became very bright. Magic! The days flew by as quickly as summer for students. Xie Qing spent his time not on cultivation, but on building his rtionship with Xu Mei, and they even had a close contact. A month passed... two months passed. In the end... Six months passed. *** "Aah!" A loud, almost unbridled moan echoed through the beautifully decorated room, where posters of a young man with a beautiful face were hung. The bed creaked, and with it came pping sounds. You got it, gentlemen, you understand what''s going on. "Mei-Mei..." From the other side came a male voice, familiar with disgust. It was Xie Qing, and on the bed ¨C Xu Mei. He was prating her in a doggy pose, and Xu Mei could only moan loudly and drool from her mouth. As a high-level cultivator, she sometimes had to suppress her level of cultivation to fully experience the beauty of sex. Today was such a day. "Aaaah! I''m cuming!" From Xu Mei''s side came a loud moan, and her beautiful body trembled, and Xie Qing, grabbing her by the waist, began to elerate, and in the end, plunged his jade stick deeper into her. "Ugh..." Xie Qing swallowed his saliva and groaned, feeling how the walls of her vagina squeezed his dragon in a tight grip, almost wringing out all the juices from him. Unable to withstand such pressure, the dragon released "fire breath" directly into Xu Mei''s womb. "Aah..." A satisfied sigh came from her lips. Xie Qing waited a little longer inside before deciding to pull out Xie Qing Junior from the embrace of Xu Mei Junior. As soon as his divine rod came out with the sound of "pop", divine nectar flowed from the cave, pouring onto the sheet. It was like a waterfall. As a true nature lover, Xie Qing enjoyed this moment, and if he had a phone, he would have already filled all his memories with photos of this sight. In half a year, he and Xu Mei had be very close, and it seemed that their rtionship had finally been fully established. He started calling Xu Mei "Mey-Mey" in private chat, and she called him "Qing''er", which at first embarrassed Xie Qing for two reasons: First, it sounds embarrassing for someone his age. Second... that''s what Xie Qing''s mom called him. And it made his eyes twitch, but over time, he got used to it. And so, loving each other both directly and metaphorically, they spent these six months on "Dual Cultivation", which ultimately helped the young man strengthen his body and break through to the Peak of Qi Condensation. Anyone who learned about such a method would smile and strangle this lucky bastard. In principle, they would be right to do so. One way or another, the fact remains a fact. In a week, the Ancestor''s Cave opens, while he... has to break through to the Core Formation level! Chapter 48: Empress and the Ancestral Cave A quick question for you. Do I need to increase the length of the chapters to, say, 2000 words or more? I hope for your activity ==== To sessfully break through to the Core Formation stage, two important conditions must be met: being physically strong and having a suitable level of Qi. These conditions may seem easy, but in reality, they are very strict and eliminate those who cannot use a good cultivation technique or are physically very weak, which ismon for most low-quality cultivation techniques that focus on developing Qi. These are the two basic and important conditions, while others such as having a good cultivation technique, a good set ofbat techniques, etc. are not official but rather rmended to survive the qualitative changes after the breakthrough. Fortunately for Xie Qing, he did not need any of this. He was confident that he would break through. Over the months, he did not worry about it at all. He just spent his days flirting with his Master, visiting Fang Lan, and annoying Bai Bai. After that attack, there were no more simr incidents. Although Xie Qing deliberately chose the quietest route to provoke them, he only felt gazes on him, and that was all. He was being watched, but not attacked. Therefore, these six months passed very quickly. *** "Everything is ready. I bought the necessary pills for you and set up devices to increase the concentration of Qi for five hours. This should be enough," Xu Mei stood in front of Xie Qing. She was dressed in a white dress that was very casual and revealed her slender figure. They were in the backyard of her pavilion, where no one dared to enter, and over time, Xu Mei had quickly transitioned from an ancient person (in terms of fashion) to a modern one. However, Xie Qing still could not persuade her to wear her qipao, to his great disappointment. "Okay. Then I''ll start now," Xie Qing said with a smile. Such treatment was only received by the offspring of wealthy families. Around him were Qi stabilization devices, which were considered so expensive that they could not be bought on the market. Moreover, he was given very valuable pills that could permanently strengthen the cultivator. Although he was a little embarrassed by the amount of gifts, Xu Mei insisted. "Then that''s just great. I hope you can break through to the Core Formation level and surprise the world," Xu Mei said with a smile, and her heart beat wildly with excitement. No matter how hard she tried, she could not calm down. The thought that her disciple and lover would be the first in the history of cultivation to reach the Core Formation level at the age of 18 made her smile from ear to ear! Moreover, it seemed that the young man nned to go out into the world after this. Although it was a little dangerous, Xu Mei did not want to prevent him from bing an adult. "Only by seeing the danger of the outside world will he be able to understand the right path. And the right path will always be my strong embrace," she thought, and her cheeks blushed, and memories of their passionate nights appeared in her head. Every night... they apanied each other. First, they "hugged," and then fell asleep together. Moreover, at night they cooed like lovers, calling each other sweet names. This made Xu Mei jump for joy like a silly girl in love! "Cough... Xu Mei, focus! This is an important moment!" she thought, and her face returned to normal. She looked at Xie Qing, who had already swallowed the pills and sat in the lotus position. Around him was a vortex of Qi, which showed how abnormally fast and efficiently he absorbed spiritual energy. His dantian was working overtime, and gradually cracks began to appear on it. With each influx of Qi into the dantian, Xie Qing felt terrible pain, and finally, the dantian waspletely covered with cracks and... Crack! A quiet sound was heard, but for Xie Qing, it was a direct ticket to hell! After the dantian cracked, he felt a terrible pain! As if someone hit him in the balls several times and then punched him in the stomach with all their might, only ten times stronger and with the sensation of swallowingva. Dealing with the pain was not easy. Xie Qing could only clench his teeth and focus on his cultivation technique. An hour passed... two hours passed. The spiritual energy rushing out of his dantian formed a semi-transparent sphere that now moved to the area of Xie Qing''s forehead. This was the core of the Core Formation cultivator ¨C the Qi Core! This core wouldpletely rece the dantian in the future and would also grow the soul to break through to the Soul Nascent cultivation stage! And so... another three hours passed. The terrible pain subsided, and a small golden sphere formed in the area of the forehead, which was even smaller than a ping-pong ball. However, the Qi in this small sphere was off the charts! It exceeded the Qi of almost ten peak Qi Condensation cultivators, which was abnormal. Xu Mei also noticed these changes and supported her jaw with her hand, as if it would fall to the ground if she did not. She was shocked! Although she was already prepared for something abnormal to happen, she did not foresee it to be this abnormal! "Why is his Qi so rich and powerful? For the first stage, this is too abnormal..." Xu Mei thought and then smiled: "Well, whatever. The more I think about it, the more my head hurts." ...she decided to just ignore it! Which was rtively a good choice. For the breakthrough to be sessful, it took another two hours, as Xie Qing initially had a hard time controlling his Qi, which broke free from any of his movements. Finally... "Gulp..." Xu Mei nervously swallowed, watching as Xie Qing got up from the lotus position. His face was expressionless, and his eyes piercingly scanned everything around him. An aura of "alpha" and "predator" emanated from him. "I-I... got a little ''hot'' down there..." Meanwhile, Xie Qing turned his gaze to the notification that appeared before him. [Superior Aura of the Ultimate Being (1/2)] | [Rank: Legendary] | [Description: In the world of spiritual beasts, the one who possesses superior strength is considered the leader. Dragons were the pinnacle of evolution, they represented the Heavens! And when a dragon is present, what creature dares to raise its head high? The skill effect is to instill fear in enemies. Oh, and this skill works even better on females, so... be careful there, alpha... hehe. The skill is of passive type] "...what a good technique!" Xie Qing smiled satisfactorily. Although the part about females was intriguing, he liked the effect that the skill caused even more. This was an intimidation ability that could be turned off if necessary. Ideal! Great! Wonderful! Especially the effect on females... as expected of dragons! *** Xie Qing looked back and saw the sect gates that were tightly closed. On the observation tower stood Xu Mei, and with a smile, she waved to him. It was clear that she was a little sad. "Sigh... although this trip is only for two weeks, it''s still too bitter to jump out of the warm embrace of my Master! Moreover, I won''t be able to squeeze her breasts at night... what a waste!" And while he was dreaming about all sorts of things, Xu Mei took out a dustymunication token with a golden dragon engraving. She poured her Qi into it, and after five minutes, the token vibrated. "You don''t call me often, Xu Mei," a majestic indifferent female voice came from the token. "Yeah, thest time was a thousand years ago," Xu Mei said indifferently, and then got to the point: "Empress, I need you to make sure that your dogs don''t interfere with my disciple, as you like to do." "Hm-m? Do you have a new disciple? Interesting..." Xu Mei frowned when she heard that the other side deliberately avoided answering and did not give her consent, but instead asked her question to steer the conversation in the right direction. "Yes. But his identity should not concern you," Xu Mei said coldly and released her pressure, from which clouds appeared in the sky, and many cultivators who were meditating at that moment almost destroyed their dantian from fear: "I warn you. If a single hair falls from his head, I will find you and destroy everything you have achieved." "..." The person on the other side of the token fell silent, saying nothing. Only after several minutes, when Xu Mei was already ready to explode, an answer came: "It will depend on the actions of your disciple, Xu Mei. I am not one of those who intimidate juniors, so your reaction is iprehensible to me," the person on the other side of the token said coldly. "Hmph, I am confident in him, but not in your rationality, Empress." "Heh..." A quietugh was heard. Xu Mei twisted her lips in annoyance and helplessness. This woman was too unpredictable in such moments. After a short pause, the Empress''s voice was heard again. "I will not kill him. Why would I do that at all? I was engaged in killing geniuses when my throne was unstable, but now I don''t care," the Empress said indifferently, and then said: "One way or another, I''m too busy. Goodbye." Another vibration appeared, and the token calmed down. This meant that the Empress had "hung up." Xu Mei, who stood with an indifferent face, could only shake her head. "If this were an ordinary case, do you think I would warn you like this? With her methods, this bitch will want to either recruit him to the Dynasty or dere a hunt for Qing-er." How could Xu Mei not know about the character of thisdy? Although she seemed indifferent on the surface, her power was always on her mind in line. Although they had stopped at neutral rtions, there was still animosity between them. "There are two options... either I will have to kill her, or this guy will seduce her... which is a rather difficult task," Xu Mei twisted her lips. *** On a shining golden throne adorned with dragons, sat a woman. Her face and appearance could not be seen, as she sat behind a curtain, and only her figure gave a hint of her gender. She suddenly giggled. "Who would have thought that I would hear her voice after all this time? Little Mei-Mei hasn''t changed at all, still so annoying and arrogant," the woman said, and her giggle echoed through the empty throne room: "How cute... she worries about her disciples. Much has changed since then, so I''m no longer interested. The only thing that can make me move is a genius at the level of Xu Mei or even surpassing her... which is impossible, probably." Chapter 49: Tale of the Past (Part 1) [extra] Thanks, swcowboy for supporting the book with a gift and 4 GTs! Thanks to young_master27 for supporting the book with 1 GT! Thanks to Egoist_Panda for the gift (Pizza) Extra Chapter: Tale of the Past (Part 1) ==== Thousands of years ago, the cultivation world looked much scarier than it does now. All sorts of skirmishes broke out everywhere, bringing disaster to the world, and countless mortals died in agony. There was a war. A war between the side of righteous cultivators and devilish cultivators. In this affair, there was no mercy. Everyone fought for their interests. Hundreds of sects disappeared and appeared all over the world, but most of themsted only a short time before they copsed. However, three main sects held the entire defense of the world. The Three Sacred Sects ¨C this was an alliance of the three strongest sects, formed during the Great Righteous-Devilish War. In the current realities, it is difficult to give any records about the events of those times, as most of them have been changed to favor the righteous cultivators. Although the cultivation world was divided into good and evil, the "good" cultivators were not good. It was even hard to imagine, as everyone who walked the path of cultivation was obliged to step even on theirrade if there was an opportunity to rise in power level. Therefore, behind the scenes, a conflict also red up in the internal affairs of the righteous sects, which was suppressed only because of the war. "Tsk..." A sound was heard as if someone clicked their tongue. The ce was deep in the mountains. High green mountain peaks pierced the sky, and waterfalls fell to the ground, mercilessly killing young trees with their flow. It was simultaneously a beautiful and horrific sight. In one of the countless caves located deep in the mountains, a young woman stood. She appeared to be no older than twenty. She had rosy cheeks, tender and fair skin, long curly ck hair, and youthful and resolute blue eyes. "Why has the battle reached my hideout? I was just about to break through to the Core Formation level!" the girl raged, and the cave shuddered, and a few droplets fell from the ceiling. Her Qi level was off the charts and was already making its way to the Core Formation level, while in the area of her forehead, a golden ball had formed, but it was semi-transparent and barely visible. The girl''s name was Xu Mei. She was a cultivator from an ordinary family. And although one might think that she was mediocre, she was not... "I''m already twenty-three... Sigh! I need to reach the Core Formation level soon, or else how will I be different from the mediocre idiots who think themselves geniuses?" Xu Mei thought and, snorting, returned to her cave. She was abnormal! She was a monstrous genius! Reaching the Qi Condensation level at 18, in five years, she had managed to reach the peak and was now one step away from reaching the Core Formation level. Anyone who heard of herbat records would want tomit suicide, and the geniuses who boasted of their achievements would lock themselves in their rooms, not wanting to exist at the same time as such a monster. Her name was known in narrow circles, as Xu Mei spent most of her time either on the battlefield or in a secluded area to cultivate in solitude. This girl''s lifestyle was not the most suitable for girls her age, but it could be considered exemry for cultivators. Sitting in the lotus position, Xu Mei began to meditate. Slowly and confidently, a golden ball began to form in her head, and she smiled satisfactorily, feeling herself bing stronger, when suddenly... Babaaaah! "AAAAAAA!!" Xu Mei screamed in pain as cracks appeared in the Golden Ball, which was the Core of Qi, as she was distracted by the tremor and the loud sound of the explosion. Fortunately for her, she came to her senses in time and did everything to keep the core intact and barely managed to close the crack, leaving only a small crack. "Damn! Damn! I''ll kick the ass of whoever dared to interfere with me! Don''t they know that this mountain is upied by me?!" Xu Mei roared angrily and, grabbing the sword lying half next to her, she took a step forward and soon appeared at the peak of the mountain. Her piercing gaze, like that of an eagle looking for its prey, scanned all the mountains, and then she saw that a crowd had gathered at the foot of the mountain. There were four people. Three of them were dressed in questionable red clothing with various bone iys, and the fourth was a disciple who belonged to a famous sect. Not just any sect, but the Sect of Starry Stream. "Hm? What are the bastards from the Sect of Bone Circle doing here?" Xu Mei wondered, and seeing that they had surrounded a wounded disciple, she clicked her tongue: "Damn, as if I didn''t have enough problems in my life, the Heavens have shat on me with some crap! Why can''t these bastards kill her somewhere else?!" ...her tongue was too sharp, but the fact was the fact. Xu Mei did not have to think long, and considering that she was still angry because of the recent tremor, she used a movement technique and quickly descended from the mountain. *** "You can''t escape, a disciple of the Sect of Starry Stream! Your damned disciples from the sect have bitten the devilish cultivators hard. It''s time to know the measure!" eximed the devilish cultivator with a malicious face. He giggled ¨C it sounded disgusting, as if someone had farted, and then belched simultaneously: "But... it would be a sin to let such a pretty girl go without a good way, wouldn''t it, guys?" "Heh, Liu Bai, you know how to have fun" another disciple replied with a smile. "...I don''t care, as long as I kill this bitch" the woman withrge "eyes" replied, crossing her arms over her chest, causing the male disciples to stare at her, but she did not pay attention to this, apparently ustomed to it. The situation was this: two men and one woman from the Sect of Bone something or other had surrounded a girl from one of the Three Sacred Sects. The disciple from the Sect of Starry Stream looked quite unusual. Both in terms of beauty and terms of charisma, she was stunning. Her gray hair reached her shoulders, and her brightly shining purple eyes made men''s souls tremble. There was fear and despair on the girl''s face, and her body trembled uncontrobly. Near this ce was a hideout of devilish cultivators, and she, deciding on such an adventure, was determined to get a few Contribution Points and receive praise from her Master. But... "I''m done for," she thought, and her face contorted with unwillingness to die, but this only caused excitedughter from her opponents. The enemies knew no mercy. She was sure that she had no good future ahead of her. She was only a cultivator at the fifth stage of Qi Condensation, her weapon was broken, and her pills were spent. There was only one option left ¨C suicide. She did not want to give herself alive to this group, as she knew that nothing good awaited her, especially from these two men. Her body trembled at these thoughts, and she looked frail and helpless. And so, when the girl was about to bite her tongue tomit suicide, suddenly... Boom! Cold. An astonishing cold passed through the bodies of this quartet, making them feel for a second... for a fraction of a second as if a beast was squeezing their throats. As if they were within an inch of a tiger''s mouth. Synchronously, they raised their gazes to the mountain. Along the almost perfectly even cut, which had turned one mountain into two mountains, someone was descending along the left part of this "cut mountain." Because of the dust, it was impossible to see who it was, but the closer this someone came to them, the stronger they felt fear. The girl with gray hair fell to her knees in fear. She was now even more afraid than before with the devilish cultivators. The devilish cultivators, who were on the verge of Core Formation, swallowed their saliva nervously. And then... before them appeared the one who was descending from the mountain. When the dust settled, everyone saw the face of this monster... eh? What kind of monster on earth could be so beautiful? Apparently, this is what the devilish disciples thought and froze in ce ¨C first out of surprise, and then out of fear. "Bastards... so that''s who you are, huh? Dogs from the Sect of Bone Circle. A bunch of bitches with a dagger up their asses, not knowing their ce," Xu Mei shouted angrily, and her Qi burst out of her body, causing the ground around her to deform: "I''ll break your necks, bitches!" Her anger was suffocating ¨C that''s what this trio thought. They swallowed their saliva in fear. "I have to run away! This monster will kill me!" thought the female disciple and, turning around, began to run, but... Plop. A quiet sound of something dripping was heard, and then everyone felt the smell of iron... the smell of blood! "Eh?" The head of the female disciple from the devilish sect disappeared! Her body fell heavily to the ground with a thud. With a creak, as if they were unsmeared doors, they turned their heads and discovered the following sight: Xu Mei stood behind them, her de was painted red with blood, and in some ces, pieces of flesh could be seen. At her feety the severed head of the woman, an expression of pure fear frozen on her face. Everything happened too fast. No one had time to react. As if a moon shadow, she appeared just as quickly, just as beautifully, and just as powerfully, killing the enemy. They were at the same level of cultivation, but... Xu Mei showed who could be called a true genius. "E-e..." Everyone was shocked. Especially in shock were the disciples of the Sect of Bone Circle, who could not believe their eyes. "Th-th-this... s-s-s-such a sh-sh-short time... she killed Disciple Lu?! Impossible!" one of the disciples eximed in shock and then turned around and began to run. Tears streamed from his eyes, and snot ran from his nose: "N-n-no! I don''t want to die! Fuck! Fuck!" "I-idiot! Stop!" The other disciple panicked and, feeling a gust of wind, unconsciously blinked. And in that short moment when he blinked... "AAAAA!" Hisrade let out a long, agonizing scream. And in the next second, his body was neatly cut in half. "I-I-I..." Bah! *** The gray-haired disciple looked in shock at the current situation. Three disciples from the devilish sect, who could have decided the oue of her life or death just five minutes earlier, nowy dead. One had his neck cut off, one was cut in half, and one was turned into cubes of flesh. "Bu-u-u-e..." Of course, not everyone opens their appetite at such a sight. Some close it, and in addition, there is an emergency evacuation of everything that you ate during the day. This happened to the gray-haired girl as well. Xu Mei, who was sitting on a small boulder and cleaning her de with a piece of cloth torn from the disciples'' clothes, looked puzzled at the gray-haired girl and then twisted her mouth. "Well, yes, disciples of the Sect of Starry Stream are indeed soft-hearted. Did it scare you so much because of such a trifle?" asked Xu Mei rhetorically, and then snorted: "Tsk. I had to get into such a situation. If it weren''t for these weaklings, I would have broken through to the new level long ago." A dark aura emanated from her. It was clear that Xu Mei was not at all satisfied with the current state of affairs, but even so, she could not vent her anger on anyone. The trio was dead, and the girl from the righteous sect was essentially not to me. And so, when the gray-haired girl came to her senses, she noticed that a human shadow was falling on her. Looking up, she saw Xu Mei, who looked neat even after such a tense battle. "What''s your name, girl?" Xu Mei asked. The gray-haired girl shivered all over with fear, and in her gaze, there was both admiration and fear. But she clenched her teeth and, without looking away, answered. "My name is Zhang Mei." Chapter 50: Tale of the Past (Part 2) [extra] Extra Chapter: Tale of the Past (Part 2) ==== "i-is this your dwelling?" asked Zhang Mei with surprise and some nervousness. "What''s wrong? It''s a convenient ce," Xu Mei replied nonchntly. After they introduced themselves to each other, Xu Mei decided to invite Zhang Mei to her cave to rest. Besides, another fact hade to light. "By the way, I didn''t think you were five years older than me," Xu Mei looked at her interlocutor with a strange expression on her face. "Th-that''s... I was also surprised," Zhang Mei replied with embarrassment on her face, and then blushed with shame, remembering her presentation of today''s breakfast and lunch: "I-I''m sorry for that sight... it must have been unpleasant." "No, I had a simr reaction when I first killed a person, so it''s normal," Xu Mei replied without a drop of contempt or emotion. It was clear that she was not concerned about this topic. Xu Mei was still a little surprised that Zhang Mei was 28 years old, although she probably looked no older than eighteen. Asking Zhang Mei to wait a little, Xu Mei plunged into meditation to finally achieve a breakthrough. The girl saw her actions and was very shocked. "She decided to trust me? But what if I decide to attack?" thought Zhang Mei, and then sighed, shaking her head: "Of course, she doesn''t worry. She killed peak cultivators at the Qi Condensation level without any problems, and here I am... a weakling without strength." The girl sighed heavily, and her face was filled with dejection. She was very proud of the fact that she had reached the Qi Condensation level at the age of 22, but then she met someone who had reached the same level at the age of eighteen... it was nonsense! Zhang Mei''s world had undergone serious changes, and she was no longer as confident as before. As a disciple of the current head of the Starry Stream Sect, she was very proud and talented, but after meeting Xu Mei, she realized that there were other Heavens above the Heavens. The boundless cultivation world was too big for her, but being a frog in a well, Zhang Mei could only see the sky, not the expanses around her. Nevertheless, she was very excited by how Xu Mei dealt with her enemies, and she admired her, wanting to be just as strong. *** Two hours had passed since Xu Mei began meditating, but Zhang Mei didn''t even think ofining. She followed the flow of Qi to gain an understanding of how to break through to the Core Formation level. Only by reaching this level could one step into the light and begin the path to immortality. Therefore, this was a turning point for every cultivator. Finally, a semi-transparent vortex of Qi appeared around Xu Mei, which was formed more because her body was working at 99% power to satisfy the necessary amount of spiritual energy to form the Golden Core. Another five hours passed. The spectacle was not as cool and interesting as at Xu Mei''s, but it was quite smooth and effective. Zhang Mei watched everything from beginning to end and nodded satisfactorily. She was pleased with what she had gained today. This was not only an experience on the brink of death but also an experience of how to reach the next stage of a cultivator''s life. And so, after another half hour, Xu Mei finally opened her eyes. The first thing she said was... "I want to drink something strong..." *** "I-its... are you sure? I don''t want to pressure you," said Zhang Mei nervously. "Hm? It doesn''t matter, let''s drink. I don''t care," Xu Mei replied indifferently. In front of her were five bottles of strong alcohol, while Zhang Mei had a ss of spiritual wine, which could make even a cultivator swell up, so it was very popr. Soon Xu Mei began to drink, downing one bottle after another, making Zhang Mei stare at her in amazement. From Xu Mei''s side, she looked like an independent, carefree, and sometimes cold personality who could kill anyone without blinking an eye. However, now she had turned into aplete drunkard in Zhang Mei''s eyes, who couldn''t decide whether to drink or not. There was silence between them. These two were strangers to each other. Xu Mei had saved her only because she could get a big reward from the Starry Stream Sect. After two hours, they both left the bar. This town was located not far from Xu Mei''s dwelling and was also under the control of the Starry Stream Sect. Together with Xu Mei, Zhang Mei headed to the sect''s branch to help Xu Mei get the reward. Very soon, they reached this ce, and at the gates, they were recognized. "Oh! Youngdy, please don''t disappear so suddenly! We almost lost our heads for letting you go outside!" the guard, who was at the Core Formation level ¨C the third stage, said, almost crying. "Ugh..." Zhang Mei smiled awkwardly and then turned to Xu Mei, saying: "Please, follow me. I will ask the Master to reward you." "Yeah." Xu Mei nodded indifferently and, together with Zhang Mei, entered the sect''s branch. In the end, they reached a small room where the only furniture was a table and a chair. And at the table sat a beautiful woman. "Master..." Zhang Mei''s voice was filled with nervousness and fear. And not without reason... "ZHANG. MEI! FOOL!" The voice of the head of the Starry Stream Sect, whom Zhang Mei called Master, was so deafening that it made her ears ring. "So, this is what the head of the Starry Stream Sect, Bai Lin, looks like..." thought Xu Mei, looking at the woman. She was a young-looking woman. She had long red hair and blue eyes that piercingly looked at Zhang Mei in anger. "I-I''m sorry..." Zhang Mei blushed with shame and lowered her head, clearly feeling her Master''s anger. Bai Lin gritted her teeth and then mmed her hand on the table several times. "You are aware that it is extremely dangerous in the outside world! Stick your head out, and more than a hundred devilish bastards will want to cut off your neck! But you still insisted on leaving?!" Bai Lin roared angrily and finally summed up all her discontent in one word: "Fool!!" Bai Lin was angry and worried at the same time. She had returned no more than five minutes ago, and when she asked everyone about Zhang Mei''s whereabouts, the answer was the same ¨C "We don''t know." Because of this, she became even angrier. The ipetence of her subordinates made her disappointed, and she was about to start arge-scale search mission when Zhang Mei returned. And now, even if she begs her, Bai Lin will never let her go outside again! Five minutes passed, and Bai Lin began to calm down. She looked at Zhang Mei, who was trembling with fear, her eyes filled with tears, and felt a pang in her heart. She panicked. "D-don''t cry! I''m saying this for your good, okay? I didn''t want to offend you..." Bai Lin got up from her seat and, approaching Zhang Mei, hugged her and pressed her to herself. Her heart was filled with blood when she felt how fragile her disciple''s body was and how strongly she was trembling. Standing in the corner of the room, Xu Mei (she had left there because she didn''t want to spoil the drama) fell silent. Her face showed nothing. And then, as if the spotlights had fallen on her body, Bai Lin finally noticed the girl and frowned. "And who are you? I don''t remember you among the disciples of my sect." At first nce, Bai Lin understood Xu Mei''s cultivation level and, searching her memory, did not find any confirmation that she was a disciple of this sect. "Because I''m not a disciple of this sect," Xu Mei replied indifferently and then said: "I need a reward. I saved her life, and it''s not for free. Besides, she attracted devilish cultivators to my dwelling, interfering with my breakthrough, which almost cost me my life." "Em..." Bai Lin took on a strange expression. Although she could understand the reason and even approve of such an approach from one side, she did not expect that Xu Mei would announce it so directly. However, hearing that her disciple had interrupted the cultivation and breakthrough of another cultivator, she felt a little ufortable. Among cultivators, there was a taboo that one should not interrupt those who cultivate and those who break through. Of course, not everyone adhered to this, but still... Since Bai Lin valued her reputation and the reputation of her disciple, she nodded and said: "Okay, I''ll give you a reward of 150,000 Spiritual Stones." "Excellent." Only after that did Xu Mei smile and satisfactorily rub her hands. She even thought about provoking devilish cultivators to attack Zhang Mei again to save her and earn money again. ...in this behavior, she was very simr to Xie Qing. When the girl received the reward, she left immediately. Zhang Mei saw her off with a look full of admiration and gratitude. "I want to be like her," thought the girl. *** The years went by. Xu Mei was 38 years old when she reached the level of Soul Nascent, once again breaking all records. Her name became a household name. She waspared with the well-known figure at that time ¨C the Empress of Swords. And by coincidence, on the battlefield, filled with the bodies of cultivators, these two women met. "What a coincidence. A genius, and also in the field of the Sword Path," said the Sword Empress with a smile. Compared to the cold Xu Mei, the Sword Empress gave the impression of a calm, bnced, and friendly woman. Suddenly, in response to her question, Xu Mei clicked her tongue and looked unhappily at the woman''s chest. "Why do you have such big breasts? Mine haven''t grown in twenty years!" "..." The Sword Empress named Mei Feng fell silent, and her smile threatened to disappear. Mei Feng was indeed an outstanding woman. She had long, very long ¨C down to her knees, bright silver hair, and eyes of the same color. Her smile was tender and seductive, and she exuded a "mommy" aura, and her breasts... wererge. Moreover... her stomach! There were six, damn, squares! Her abs were a ma for nces. Very soon, these two began to fight. It was a duel to determine each other''s level and in two minutes... "Kha!" Xu Mei lost. Chapter 51: Ancestral Cave (Part 1) The world I see before me is tainted with dark colors. "You... have no talent." I was only two years old when it was discovered that I... had no talent. Not in the sense that I couldn''t cultivate. I was just so insignificant that no talent ranks could match me. Did the attitude towards me change? Of course. Suddenly, from a potential heir, I became an outcast. Although no one dared to touch me or make fun of me, I could hear their dirty whispers. "Sigh... this child''s talent is insignificant. It''s a shame to our family." The talk behind my back became louder and louder every day. Eventually, I grew up and realized what a disgrace I was. While my cousins were able to feel Qi at the age of five or six, I felt it only when I was ten. And then, as if in the blink of an eye, I turned twelve. And... for some reason, the whispers stopped. I was no longer condemned by the servants but looked at with admiration. And the reason was... "What the hell am I so handsome!" My beauty made even married women ignore their husbands. I gained power that my father never dreamed of... the power of beauty. Which was useless in fights, of course. One way or another... I''m very curious. Those images in my head, where I stand above the heavens... where I embrace someone''s body... where I smile brightly, despite being betrayed... where I bleed... Are they real? *** "Ugh..." Xie Qing groaned in pain as he felt a terrible headache. His sleeping position was ufortable... because he was sleeping on a tree. "I shouldn''t have taken the shorter path... there were cities with inns there!" the young man thought in despair. There were two main roads to the capital - one long and safe, the other ufortable and dangerous. The young man looked down and saw that a crowd of demonic beasts was waiting for him under the tree with "kind smiles." They licked their lips as if they had seen a juicy barbecue. "Tsk... what are you looking at, bastards?! Haven''t you ever seen a handsome guy, you motherfuckers?!" Xie Qing angrily shouted. His heart was bleeding at the thought that he would have to lose the opportunity to wake up in bed with the Master for some time. So he was angry. And anger needs to be released. So- BOOM! "Die, bitches!" ...I didn''t finish. One way or another, Xie Qing skillfully swung his sword, and with the first blow in flight, he cut off the head of a demonic monster resembling a bear. They were all at the level of a Qi Condensation cultivator, which was a mere joke for the current Xie Qing. Although he had to sacrifice efficient leveling for training over the past six months, he had acquired many new techniques during that time. [Princess Sword Style] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: This sword stylebines all the experience of the Sword Princess, which she passed on to you directly into your mouth... eh! Here are over a hundred sword techniques and one movement technique. Mastering this skill to the fullest will allow you to increase its rank. Try it, hehe...] "RIIIIIIIIIIIYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" A piercing sound rang out as Xie Qing cut the body of a demonic monster in the shape of an eagle in half. ck blood sttered on the young man''s face, and he felt his face burning. This was a natural poison. "Disgusting... a disgusting smell," he muttered coldly, his face contorted in disgust. And when he saw that one demonic monster in the shape of a boar was trying to escape, his foot quickly reacted and crushed its head, making the boar give a final grunt... or something like that. Looking at his foot, Xie Qing''s face became gloomy. "Why did I have to step on it with my foot... I just bought them yesterday... damn it!" he shouted in despair, and then looked at his appearance and sighed: "All bloody. Although, it must be said that despite the extreme cruelty, this sword technique is terrifying." This technique was taught to him by Xu Mei. She was very knowledgeable about the details of this technique, and therefore the young man was able to master it very quickly... in ten seconds. Upon learning of this legendary technique, Xie Qing was thrilled. The Sword Princess did not bear such a title for anything and was rightfully considered the legitimate owner. Her name was simr to that of the Sword Empress, and the difference in their appearance was only a thousand years. They once fought, and the Sword Princess lost with a crash. After that, they traveled together until the Sword Empress disappeared. Xie Qing didn''t even ask where Xu Mei got this technique from because ording to the records, the Sword Princess never had disciples. And although he had his suspicions, he understood that it was better not to delve into this topic, but to wait until the Master herself wanted to talk about it. *** Three damn days. That''s how long it took Xie Qing to reach at least one city. "Ugh... I''ll pay for it now. After so many days, I''ve seen nothing but countless beasts, and every morning started not with coffee, but with the stench of rotting corpses!" Xie Qing was touched and was about to cry. Although it was fun to kill monsters, it would undoubtedly be much better to spend time over a cup of coffee or hugging the Master. ...and it was precisely because of such a thought process that Xu Mei made him go to the capital alone to gain experience. Entering the city and not even needing to pay because of his cultivator status, Xie Qing sighed with relief. The air here was normal, there were no dangers, and instead of a crowd of hungry beasts, there were people. This made him very happy. Ordering a bath service, he washed up a bit and then went to the edge of the city to use the teleportation portal. "This will cost only 570,000 Huang, young master," the portal manager said with a ttering smile. "My money..." Although Xie Qing''s heart was bleeding, he had umted a little stockpile from those visits to Fang Lan, so he quickly paid and stood in the center of the formation. After a few seconds, the formation activated, and he disappeared in a bright sh. Traveling through formations was a kind of method of transporting people and goods that was widely used. Although the price was not cheap, it still justified itself. After the dizziness, Xie Qing came to his senses and found that he was in a secluded room. Beep! A beeping sound was heard, and then the door opened, and the crystal above the door lit up green. These were teleportation rooms, which were used when the teleported person was alone. "Ugh... teleportation is such a weird thing. I''m gonna puke..." The after-effects of teleportation through the formation were amon urrence for those who used them for the first time, so Xie Qing''s reaction was normal. *** Ancestral Cave. An event that even death does not bypass, because during these days the capital is full of various famous and influential people who havee for power. There were also disciples of the main sects. But there was no one among them from the number of heirs, as they had received their inheritance long ago, and you could only enter the Ancestral Cave once. Among the important disciples was Huang Jing. Next to him were two more disciples from the Sect of the Resting Eagle. "Eh, herees the time for boring things. I''ll have topete again to find a good technique for myself," Huang Jing muttered regretfully. "Young master... don''t start. Last time you said the same thing and disappeared. This time you will have to enter the Ancestral Cave," one of the disciples warned with a helpless look on his face. "Bah. Bah. Don''t remind me, I''ve already agreed," Huang Jing grumbled, waving his hand. However, the other two disciples did not believe him at all. Every time, Huang Jing ran away from the ce to enter the Red Light District, thus adding to their work. This time, the head of the Huang family strictly ordered Huang Jing to enter the Ancestral Cave. However, Huang Jing himself did not want to. He was ufortable with the thought of dealing with a bunch of wandering cultivators whose principles were not right. Most likely, he would have to kill disciples from other sects to get the best technique for himself. This was a cruel battlefield. And so, Huang Jing''s group approached the reserve gates, and there was already a big line there. But as disciples of the main sects, they could pass without a line. As Huang Jing passed through the crowds of people, he suddenly remembered a familiar face. "Hm? That''s... that guy I met." *** Xie Qing looked with boredom at the group in front of him. They were cultivators from the Starry Stream Sect, and there were three of them. "Listen, guard, we need to understand how your armor works! Sell it to us!" "..." The people from this sect were famous for being entrics and people obsessed with science. As guards of the capital, they had first-ss armor with formations, which these Core Formation cultivators wanted to study. And when their argument dragged on... "Hey..." Xie Qing couldn''t stand it. "Hm?" The trio turned and looked puzzled at Xie Qing, whose eyes were cold and full of annoyance. "You''re in the way. Either move on or get the hell out," Xie Qing said rudely. "What?" The trio exchanged nces, and then their faces showed disbelief. They couldn''t believe that they were spoken to so rudely, and they were already ready to curse Xie Qing, but seeing his cloak... they changed their minds. "Tsk, a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect. All the people from there are crazy monsters, they''ll kill you for a crooked look. Let''s go, guys, let''s not get involved with him." "..." Xie Qing fell silent. Although he was pleased that these bastards finally left, his face contorted at their words. "What the hell do you mean? I''m the most rational person! Don''t confuse me with the crowd!" The guard, whom they finally left alone, finally sighed with relief. He looked at Xie Qing with gratitude. "Thank you, sir! You helped me out!" "It''s okay. Good job. If you meet such idiots again, threaten them with the status of a gate guard, and they''ll leave. No one wants to take responsibility for tarnishing the reputation of the sect," Xie Qing said with a smile and, without waiting for the guard''s response, walked through the gates. The guard could only think... "Brother, you look so cool! But... why did you cut the clothes of those disciples?" The Starry Stream Sect disciples walking ahead to the Ancestral Cave suddenly felt a strange lightness and a slight chill. They looked puzzled at their bodies and froze. "Hey, why are we naked? And why is our clothing torn?!" *** "Brother Xu!" "Hm?" Xie Qing raised his eyebrows in surprise when he heard a familiar voice. He turned and found that it was a smiling Huang Jing. "Oh, it''s you, Brother Huang," Xie Qing reacted with a smile. Huang Jing finally caught up with Xie Qing with two disciples and thenughed happily. "We finally meet! I was hoping you would send me a letter, and I was already disappointed that my Eyes of Destiny were wrong. You turned out to be a person connected to me by destiny!" "Um..." Xie Qing forced a smile. "Brother, stop saying such ambiguous things, or I''ll break your face!" Chapter 52: Ancestral Cave (Part 2) "Brother Xu!" "Hm?" Xie Qing raised his eyebrows in surprise when he heard a familiar voice. He turned and found that it was a smiling Huang Jing. "Oh, it''s you, Brother Huang," Xie Qing reacted with a smile. Huang Jing finally caught up with Xie Qing with two disciples and thenughed happily. "We finally meet! I was hoping you would send me a letter, and I was already disappointed that my Eyes of Destiny were wrong. You turned out to be a person connected to me by destiny!" "Um..." Xie Qing forced a smile. He knew about Huang Jing''s ability, as it was not particrly hidden. The Huang family had a special gift where they could see the threads of destiny and had strong intuition. Although at first, this made Xie Qing regain confidence that Huang Jing had some intentions, after analyzing this person''s personality, he realized that he deserved trust. However, it wouldn''t hurt to be careful, so Xie Qing did not reveal his real name. "Oh, that letter, right... I was a bit busy with my breakthrough, so I had to go into closed cultivation," Xie Qing said with an apologetic look on his face. "I''m sorry, that was rude of me." "No-no, bro, don''t apologize! I understand everything." Huang Jing smiled and secretly checked Xie Qing''s Qi, only to be shocked. He couldn''t establish exactly which sub-realm he was in, but one thing was clear... "He''s a Core Formation cultivator!" The two other cultivators behind Huang Jing immediately recognized the interlocutor as a cultivator of their level, so they were not surprised, but Huang Jing knew that at theirst meeting, Xie Qing was at the Foundation Establishment stage! "It hasn''t been more than six months since then... how could he jump over levels like that?" Huang Jing thought in shock. In the cultivation world, a cultivator who could ovee one sub-realm every two or three years was considered talented, but... six months was too short a time for this! Moreover, it was an improvement of three levels at once! Huang Jing felt a chill run down his scalp. He couldn''t help but imagine what would happen if the world learned about this talent. There would be a war just to possess him. With such potential, Huang Jing did not doubt that if Xie Qing were in the hands of a devilish sect, he would easily be the strongest cultivator and destroy those who did not obey him. "Brother Xu, it''s good that you''re on the side of the righteous cultivators," Huang Jing said with relief in his voice, patting Xie Qing on the shoulder. "Hm?" The young man tilted his head to the side, not understanding what was being talked about. "I guess his frequent trips to the red-light district havepletely rotted this guy''s brain," Xie Qing thought. *** Since they were acquainted, Xie Qing decided to go with Huang Jing to the Ancestral Cave, as he had nothing to lose. To quickly reach the designated ce, you had to make a lot of effort, but... why make an effort when there''s transportation? "..." Xie Qing swallowed hard and looked under his feet. He was standing on arge sword that was a vehicle endowed with a formation. Although Xie Qing''s expression was indifferent, in his thoughts, he already wanted to go home. He was at a height of twenty meters, which was too much for someone who was riding a sword for the first time! And although it was hard to ovee his fear, Xie Qing still held on and after a few minutes, he began to feel good. They flew at a speed of 80 km/h, and it was not felt because the sword was equipped with formations... in short, the service "We will make youfortable for your money!" Buying such swords cost 5,000,000 Huang, by the way. Just saying. At this speed, they quickly reached their destination, and a significant factor was that they did not have to go through forests, cross rivers, and encounter dangerous monsters. Landing, Huang Jing, and Xie Qing looked around. There was already arge crowd of strong cultivators here, and most of them were at the Core Formation level. Each of the cultivators emitted a special aura. Of course, when theynded, they attracted many nces. What was worth that sword they were riding on? A real eye-catcher. Although many wanted to rob them... the robes they were wearing gave an understanding that it would not be so easy, so many abandoned such dubious thoughts. Xie Qing looked around and saw several disciples from his sect in the distance. They were unfamiliar to him, so he didn''t even think about greeting them. And it was clear that these disciples didn''t rush forward either. There was silence between them. No one wanted to waste energy on unnecessary conversations, so there was a terrible silence. Xie Qing decided to use this to secretly analyze his opponents, and each time, he realized that it would not be so easy. The strongest was a wandering cultivator who was at the peak of Core Formation, and the weakest was someone at the peak of Qi Condensation, half-forming a core, equal in strength to an ordinary cultivator at the first stage. Each of these cultivators, even his brothers from the sect, could be potential opponents, and most likely, Xie Qing''s hands would be covered in a thickyer of blood by the time he returned to the sect. However, this was necessary for his future. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. There were only two hours left. In this short time, even more cultivators came, and of course... BOOM! You also had to fight for the entrance! Various attacks flew through the ce where it was calm just a second ago. Xie Qing nimbly dodged the attack aimed at his neck and drew his sword, beheading a wandering cultivator who was in the third stage of Core Formation. Xie Qing''s eyes lit up with ruthlessness when he saw three more guys running at him, already from some unfamiliar sects to him. "You won''t be able to sit in one ce, boys. Then don''t me this uncle for teaching you humility," Xie Qing said with a smile and took a stance, snorting. This snort served as a signal for Xie Qing to begin his attack, and the trio tried to block the impending attack in a panic, but they were left only to ept the fact that they would soon die. Squeak! Xie Qing sessfully pierced the chest of one of the disciples who couldn''t escape, and the other two, who used theirrades as a meat shield, were already trembling with fear on the ground. "S-senior brother, don''t kill us, please!" the disciple begged, and then in a panic, he began to take out his spatial ring, extending it to Xie Qing with both hands: "P-please, here''s all my wealth, just don''t touch me!" "Hm?" Shuuu! "Hiaaaaaa!!!" Xie Qing brightly smiled, stopping his de, which was now just a centimeter from the disciple''s neck, which was extending his spatial ring to him. "All right. You convinced me," Xie Qing eximed with a smile and reached for the ring. "Excellent!" the disciple, whose name was Ju Min, rejoiced, and then politely smiled, but in his thoughts, he cursed Xie Qing: "Bastard! You won''t get away with it, I promise you!" At the same time, Ju Min winked at hisrade, "De Xian, do it!" who got up from his ce and made a sharp lunge with his sword, but... "I knew you''d do something. So be it, I''ll send you to your friends earlier than nned," Xie Qing''s cold voice rang out. "Eh?" Thest thing De Xian could see in his life was the cold glow of his head in the reflection of Xie Qing''s de. p! The disciple''s head rolled on the ground, and blood began to gush from his neck. Ju Min shivered all over, and when he met Xie Qing''s gaze, he froze and lost consciousness. And in the next second, he was killed. *** "250,000 Huang from both of them and two useless spiritual items that you wouldn''t even give to children as a toy... sigh, pitiful trash," Xie Qing thought, curling his lips. For him, such an amount was too insignificant, because, with each time, his need for money grew. Even the most basic pills cost 500,000 Huang. Moreover, Xie Qing actively used the advantage of the System Store, so... for him, such an amount was insignificant. "Although I unnecessarily dirtied my de, at least I got rid of annoying bugs that think they have a chance against me... how funny," Xie Qing thought, looking around. Anyone who met his gaze either turned away or pretended to be dead. Everyone had already recognized his power and did not want to get under his feet. As a result, there were only about two hundred and fifty people left, and no more than fifty remained. There were ten wandering cultivators left, the rest were from sects. Huang Jing with his group, of course, survived and even killed many annoying worms who wanted to attack them. "Brother Xu, you''re amazing. Your talents make me feel insignificant in front of you, but even more, I feel admiration," Huang Jing said with a smile,pletely sincerely. He patted Xie Qing on the shoulder, although for this, he had to rise slightly on his tiptoes: "You''re a cool guy. I''ll soon have a War of Heirs, can you help me with this question?" "Oh?" Xie Qing raised his eyebrows in surprise and then smiled. "Regarding this... I also have a certain proposal. Let''s discuss it after we finish today''s main dish. What do you say?" Xie Qing smiled. "Yes, of course!" Huang Jing excitedly replied, nodding. He was only too happy to help Xie Qing, as with him, he could get a good and reliable partner! Although Huang Jing had no shortage of cultivators of the same level as his subordinates and friends, he could say thatpared to them, Xie Qing was too powerful! Their strengths were iparable! "I''m so lucky!" And Xie Qing, waiting for the Ancestral Cave to open, smirked wickedly. "If I bring Huang Jing to the threshold of my family and say that he agreed to support me... won''t my status soar to the Heavens? Moreover... I need to pour a little salt on the main elder''s wounds," the young man thought and smirked wickedly. *** The Ancestral Cave opened, and each of those present ran inside, including Xie Qing. He had not yet crossed the threshold when a terrible Qi at the peak of Core Formation rushed into his back. "Damn it... can''t do without problems?" the young man thought. Shuuu! His legs made a small crunch as he used all his strength and focused on his legs to nimbly dodge the attack, sessfully avoiding it. He turned and narrowed his eyes, looking at the wandering cultivator who clicked his tongue, seeing that he couldn''t kill Xie Qing. "You," said Xie Qing in an annoyed voice, pointing a finger at him and then making a ''you''re dead'' gesture: "I''ll fucking kill you, I''ll fucking disembowel you. Don''t let me see you, son of a fucking bitch." "..." Everyone fell silent. Although they agreed that it was too low to do so, but... Xie Qing''s words were too dirty. Some of the wandering cultivators raised their big thumbs. "Brother, your tongue is sharper than our swords! You are worthy of respect!" Chapter 53: Sword Empress Thank you Daoist_Iveyme for the 10 GT! Your help helps the book continue to exist! Also, I''ll try to maintain a word count per chapter of 2000+ so that it''s much higher quality, though I still can''t promise I''ll be able to maintain that for long. ===== Xie Qing was filled with rage, and a bloodthirsty aura mixed with his Qi pressure emerged, causing the aggressive cultivators to silence and quickly enter the cave. A roaming cultivator at the peak of Core Formation narrowed his eyes, sensing this overwhelming Qi, and was secretly shocked. "How is this possible? His Qi isparable to mine... but there''s an eight-realm difference between us!" The cultivator was astonished, and then quickly tilted his head to the side. Boom! A powerful strike hit the cave wall, causing a tremor, but despite the force, there was no damage to the wall. This didn''t surprise anyone, as they all knew about the astonishing features of the Ancestral Cave. What surprised them more was that Xie Qing''s attack could make a peak Core Formation cultivator bleed! A small cut appeared on the roaming cultivator''s cheek, from which blood began to flow. "Hmph..." The roaming cultivator snorted and, without paying attention to Xie Qing, who also didn''t pursue him, began to enter the cave step by step. Xie Qing rxed his brows and looked at Huang Jing. "Let''s go. Let''s not fall behind them." "Alright..." Huang Jing and his group were a little shocked by Xie Qing''s disy of strength, but they understood that asking about the powers of another person would be somewhat rude, even if they were acquaintances. The Ancestral Cave had a quite mysterious structure. From the outside, it appeared straight and led deep inside, but in reality, depending on your talent, you could be transported to a random part of the inner cave, where you could find various techniques and even encounter a legacy. The Ancestral Cave was the tomb of ancient cultivators. Noble cultivators, driven by the desire to continue the greatness of cultivators and pass on their knowledge to descendants, created this ce so that every young talent would receive their reward. This was an act of pure nobility, not based on any gain. Giving away what they had received throughout their lives... Xie Qing genuinely admired these people, but... "I can''t understand them. Maybe I''m just not as generous as they are," thought Xie Qing. If he had a choice back in the days when he was on the brink of death, Xie Qing would have preferred to leave all his possessions to a narrow circle of people - his family and friends. But to give away what he had worked on all his life to strangers... he couldn''t do that. "I think I need to thank these seniors for their help," thought the young man, and he smiled. ...when it came to gaining benefits, he was the most excited. *** "Hm?" Xie Qing squinted, feeling his body bing lighter, and he turned around to see that Huang Jing and his group had disappeared. "I see... I''ve already been transported." The Ancestral Cave worked randomly, and the time of transportation was unpredictable. Looking around, Xie Qing found himself in a throne room. Although it exuded an atmosphere of majesty... he saw only moss-covered stones, a tattered red carpet, and a rusted, decayed throne. This scene perfectly described what people could understand when it came to "the power of time." Xie Qing was sure that in the old days, a magnificent ruler had sat on this throne. This was evidenced by the still-present, albeit somewhat weak, aura of majesty. "An interesting ce..." muttered Xie Qing. "The flow of time has always been ruthless to all cultivators," a weary female voice sounded. "Hm?" The young man began to look around, but couldn''t find the source of the voice. He was surprised. "I was one of those who fought in ancient times and witnessed the peak of the cultivation world. Those were wonderful times." "Heh... seems like this is the story of another old monster," muttered Xie Qing, excitedly waiting for the continuation. However, the voice fell silent, which surprised him. "..." The sound of footsteps was heard. From behind the throne, a beautifully dressed woman appeared, looking at Xie Qing as if he were an idiot. Her lips twisted, and her brows were furrowed. "Who are you calling an old monster?!" she roared. "...why were you hiding there?" "Cough... that... I wanted to look cool," the woman said with a blushing face. "Oh, I see..." Xie Qing tried to make out the woman''s face, but it seemed to be covered in fog, and the only thing he could see was her long silver hair. His mind raced, but he couldn''t remember anyone like her. But when his gaze fell on the woman''s breasts, Xie Qing suddenly shouted, "Sword Empress?!" "...Did you guess my identity by the size of my breasts?" the Sword Empress asked, clearly shocked, and then her voice sounded disappointed as she sat on her haunches and spun her fingers in circles, looking dejected. "Fine, if you had guessed my identity by the special color of my magnificent hair, but my breasts... just the curse of being sexy and the most beautiful woman in the world haunt me even after so many years?" "I understand you. My fate is the same. No matter how I try to hide my identity, because of my magnificent ck hair and super-duper-mega handsome face, everyone recognizes me immediately!" Xie Qing replied with sadness in his voice. "Oh, so you''re just like me... sigh! The curse of being beautiful and sexy is truly terrible for us... we don''t deserve such a fate, but what can we do, we have to endure this fate..." "Yes, yes... how generous we are!" ...I think it''s best not toment on how absurd these two were. However, it seemed that they had foundmon ground. The Sword Empress cleared her throat and then straightened her back, speaking in a mysterious and majestic tone. "Oh, my descendant, I have waited here for too long in search of the one who can inherit my techniques... are you ready for this?" "...this official tone doesn''t suit you at all, you know." "Shut up! Don''t ruin my cool image!" Xie Qing was speechless and shook his head. Then, Mei Feng shrugged and, with a wave of her hand, created a thick book, which she sent flying into Xie Qing''s hands. He immediately opened it and began to read. Mei Feng giggled. "Boy, do you think my techniques are so easy to learn? You know, even the greatest genius in history needed a month to..." she trailed off, looking at Xie Qing, who wasn''t listening to her words because he was engrossed in studying the technique. "...did you say something?" Xie Qing asked, tilting his head to the side in confusion. "..." Mei Feng froze in shock. She felt that this boy''s Sword Aura had increased tenfold, and she also sensed a part of her technique in this increase, which was enough for her to understand one thing - this monster had learned it in one nce! "Eeh... my life''s work... learned by some brat in one nce!" Mei Feng said disappointedly and helplessly copsed onto the floor, barely holding back her tears. Xie Qing rolled his eyes at such a strange reaction and then turned his gaze to the notification. [Will of the Empress of Swords (4/4 part)] | [Rank: Ancient] | [Description: The Sword Empress - a familiar figure in ancient times. Her name alone made swordsmen bow their heads, and Sword Masters acknowledged their inexperience. It is said that by learning this technique, created personally by the Sword Empress, one can learn all her techniques. You have learned this entire technique, which means you are a cursed lucky bastard. But... it seems that there is something deeper in this technique]. "Heh... I had one part of this technique, and it already gave me an advantage in battle. And now I have a whole treasure trove of it!" thought Xie Qing, and he suddenly noticed that this technique vaguely resembled what the Sword Princess had, but there were differences: "Hm? The Sword Empress has moreplex and profound techniques, while the Sword Princess has lighter and more efficient, as well as fierce ones. I counted five techniques that are simr to each other if youpare these two." However, he was not particrly surprised. The Sword Princess and the Sword Empress were disciple and master, respectively. Most of the Sword Princess''s techniques were original, but some belonged to the Sword Empress, slightly modified. Xie Qing, out of interest, decided to test these techniques after all, and time and time again, he demonstrated various stances, strikes, and sword techniques in general. "M-my... my life''s work... learned... in one nce!" Mei Feng was still in shock that some random young man had learned this technique, but she was also happy about it. But... she was shocked! But happy! Shocked! But happy! ...her emotions were unstable. Hm, wait a minute, I seem to have deja vu. After fifteen minutes, Xie Qing finished testing this technique, and he still needed to practice, but at least the knowledge of the technique had been absorbed into his mind, and the need to train from scratch was eliminated. This was an advantage of the system... "Or it was his genius and beauty" thought Xie Qing, not thinking at all about the fact that breaking the fourth wall was forbidden. Seeing that Xie Qing had finished showing off, Mei Feng sighed, and her body began to disappear. "I havepleted the task, so now you can consider yourself my heir. Congrattions," she said with a happy voice, and Xie Qing could imagine that she was smiling. "Thank you, Master," said Xie Qing, and then he thumped his chest, saying with a smile: "Don''t worry, I will fully spread the greatness of your sword techniques... oops, I mean, your techniques! You can rest in peace!" "...Hey, are you talking about my breasts again?!" The Sword Empress was enraged, but then she added with a strangeugh: "And why do you think I''m dead?" "Huh?" Xie Qing tilted his head to the side in confusion, not understanding what she meant. "I never died," said Mei Feng, and she giggled. "I just decided to leave my legacy for fun and go into secluded cultivation. I''m still alive, and this is just a spiritual projection." "What? Eh? Nani?" "...I didn''t understand what you said in thest word, but whatever," Mei Feng reacted: "Anyway, I''m probably in secluded cultivation right now. When you get out of here, I''ll probably notice it... and... um... how should I put it?" The Sword Empress sounded a little embarrassed as if she didn''t know how to choose the right words, but then she just said everything. She was as straightforward as a railroad track. "In short, if you tell my real body about your antics, she will kidnap you and then train you for a thousand years until you be as strong as me, and then force you to fight with me," Mei Feng began to exin and suddenlyughed: "And then, if you lose, you will be my husband and will have to obey me in everything, but if you win... I will obey you and be obedient. I can even give a blow job in the morning." "..." Xie Qing was speechless, and while he was thinking about how to respond to such a confession, the Sword Empress''s body began to disappear. In the end, she left the following words: "I''ll be waiting for you, the genius of the current generation. I''m sure that the arrogant Mei''er will be surprised if she meets you." "Hey..." But before Xie Qin could form his words, Mei Feng disappeared. He thoughtfully tilted his head to the side. "...Mei''er is Xu Mei?" *** After receiving the heritage of the Sword Empress, Xie Qing began to travel throughout the inner side of the cave and found a lot of useful techniques. Moreover, there was something that Xu Mei might like. [Sword Breathing Technique] | [Rank: Legendary] | [Description: An ancient cultivation technique that helps people talented in the path of the sword form a solid foundation. The cultivation technique "Sword Breathing Technique" allows you to use Sword Aura to temper your body and Qi to cultivate Sword Aura. The more sword techniques you know, the more effective this technique is for you]. "Howplicated," Xie Qin mentallyined, but his mouth was already ready to burst from a bright smile. In short. The Sword Aura is strengthened with each sword technique. The cultivation technique uses Sword Auras for tempering, and for greater efficiency, the Sword Aura is powered by Qi. This cultivation technique is clever enough that even a not-so-talented cultivator can use it. It simply adapts! With this, Xie Qin was confident that he could increase the average level of the disciples. Not for free, of course. "I will ask Lian Lin to pay me a tiny bit of Spiritual Stones... she won''t refuse a kind junior, will she?" Xie Qin smiled and then looked at the other sword techniques. They were all at least at the "Elite" rank and could be useful in the future. He would also sell them to the sect. "What a kind heart I have..." sighing, Xie Qin thought, marveling at how generous he was. However, he was distracted by a rustle that came from behind him. Turning his head, he saw that it was a group of roaming cultivators. "Hm? Tsk, we''rete..." They looked disappointed and scared, seeing Xie Qin, and drew their swords, although they knew they would die. The only reason they didn''t beg for mercy was that... "Heh, you''ve found quite a few techniques. How about sharing?" Xie Qing said with a smile. The roaming cultivators lost their ability to speak and almost cried. "Bastard, stop making sarcastic remarks! You''re hurting us!" Chapter 54: How dare you touch my leek..... I mean... friend! Xie Qing left the group of disciples with a smile, their faces marred beyond recognition. He had sessfully robbed them... ahem, politely asked to borrow their umted wealth for an indefinite period. "Ah, there are still such generous people in this world! I am amazed!" Xie Qing marveled at their kindness as he wiped the blood from his bones. Although his methods were questionable in terms of righteousness, as a result, he had umted many techniques, most of which he could simply sell because they did not suit his style. Among the seized techniques were sinister techniques. Xie Qing burned these without hesitation. What are sinister techniques? They are murky practices that require you to immerse yourself in bloodshed, perform rituals, and other devilish things to gain this power. Even on the ck market, they are hard to sell, and if you are caught selling them, you will be killed without trial. Therefore, Xie Qing did not take the risk, and he felt repulsed by such techniques. It is best to burn them when theye into view, to reduce the number of madmen who willter get in the way. "Ah... Daoist brothers, I thought you were generous, but it turns out you are very greedy. Understand this junior, I was forced to take these techniques from you for the sake of the Heavens!" Xie Qing said in a righteous voice, sighing as if he were a great hero who had taken on the burden of responsibility for the whole world. One way or another, Xie Qing continued to stroll around the inner part of the cave and came across techniques lying on the ground and groups of noble Daoist brothers and sisters who, with great pleasure, handed over their loot to him. "Thank you for your generosity," Xie Qing said with a bright smile, forgetting to wipe the blood off his face. This blood, of course, belonged to the killed disciples. "D-do, y-y-you mean... c-can we go now?" a disciple stammered. "Hm? Of course! I said you are free to do what you want," Xie Qing replied with a gentle smile. Shkriek. The sound of someone tearing fabric was heard. Xie Qing tore the robe of the killed disciple and wiped his face with it, regaining his handsome and innocent appearance. The disciples watching this could only swallow hard. They were injured, and their wounds worsened with each second due to the Sword Aura, so they had to swallow this insult and get out of there as quickly as possible before the devil chased after them. Xie Qing smiled as he watched the group of five disciples run away in an unknown direction. One of them turned around and looked at Xie Qing with hatred and turned away. The eyes of the handsome and talented cultivator shed. And so, two minutester... "AAAAAAA!" The young man grimaced when he felt that his technique had worked. He shook his head. "What kind of people... first they try to kill you and insult you, and then they beg for mercy. I am not that generous," he muttered coldly: "Well, they will die for this. Rest in peace, Daoist friends," [Sword Aura Mark] | [Rank: Unique] | [Description: Although the technique''s rank is not that outstanding,parable to almost toilet paper, its value is akin to gold if used by a strong cultivator. In principle, to kill weaklings - it''s normal. Can be activated at a distance] And here is the technique that allowed him to kill those disciples from a distant range. Although the rank was not the most outstanding, its usefulness was incredible. Xie Qing checked that if the target moves 10 Li and further away, the effectiveness will decrease. Moreover, cultivators who possess much stronger Qi can easily get rid of the influence of this technique, but as long as Xie Qing is stronger than his targets in terms of the quality and strength of Qi, this is not a problem for him. The technique was good, there was no doubt about that. Its use is based onplex calctions, but in short, it is activated using the Sword Aura, which then merges with the user''s Qi, which in turn imperceptibly applies it to the target''s body upon contact. The Sword Aura begins to be fed from the internal mechanism of the technique, and the feeding goes directly from the Qi of the target. The more umtion, the stronger the explosion. If it doesn''t kill, it will make you lose your cultivation. "Awesome! Cultivators from antiquity were sadists!" Xie Qing thought excitedly, feeling the highest respect for these old sadistic lovers. ...well, I''m sure those cultivators would turn over in their graves if they heard such words. *** Huang Jing''s group was also actively exploring the legacies and had already found ten techniques that could suit the Sect of the Resting Eagle. Moreover, thanks to the robbery of other disciples, they received a lot of resources. "Phew! I wonder if Brother Xu found anything for himself?" Huang Jing said with interest. "I do not doubt that he received a lot of useful things. Judging by everything, he looked very young, and he had such power. Considering his talent, the Ancestral Cave should lead him directly to the goal," said another disciple, pulling out a sk of water. "Damn... I''ve never seen such a monster. Even a cultivator at the peak of Core Formation is nothing in front of him," another disciple muttered with obvious fear. "Aha..." Huang Jing nodded briefly. He could understand what these guys were feeling. Even he felt white envy towards Xie Qing. Such talent was abnormal, but considering that he was on the side of the righteous cultivators, the world would be much better off because of it. "I don''t even know if I should ask him to intervene in the Heir War of the Huang family," Huang Jing thought. He had a lot of helpers who gave him confidence in his victory. However, Huang Jing himself wanted to invite Xie Qing as a backup, in case something happened and he could help him. However, with the current conditions, there will be many nces at Xie Qing. Not all cultivators approved of the appearance of geniuses; many wanted to kill them even in the bud to maintain their dominance. The Huang family, especially its main part, was located in the capital. This was a rule for allrge families, otherwise, they would face many problems. The Heir War would also take ce in the capital, where there were many hungry predators. There will be those who will want to kill Xie Qing at any cost. "I don''t think I have the right to involve him in this story... but still, I will ask him and exin all the risks so as not to seem cunning," Huang Jing thought and nodded. While they were resting, two disciples suddenly stood up, covering Huang Jing with their bodies, who was surprised by such unexpectedness. Boom! There was an explosion. The two disciples gritted their teeth, feeling how the bones in their arms broke from that powerful blow that hit their hands. "S-strong!" The two disciples were stunned by such power but managed to stay on their feet. They looked at the enemy and gritted their teeth. "Core Formation cultivator at the peak! Damn, they say, call a dog by name, pick up a stick in your hands!" Before them stood a wandering cultivator who was the one who tried to kill Xie Qing at the entrance. He narrowed his eyes and looked at these three, and then clicked his tongue. "What luck. I found young master Huang. I think your family won''t mind giving away some Spiritual Stones for me to let you go unharmed," he said andughed. "Hmph..." Huang Jing snorted and said nothing. He looked at his bodyguards and gritted his teeth. These two were valuable subordinates and close people with whom he had good rtionships! Their pitiful state made him annoyed. The man stood up took a sword in his hand, and then threw a spiritual object that served as a barrier. This barrier also had the property of healing. "Tao Bao, Tao Liu, be careful. The difference between us is too great," Huang Jing said quietly, warily looking at the cultivator. "Hey, I can hear everything. We cultivators, after all, have ears like dogs, just as sharp," the wandering cultivator said with a smile on his face, and then continued with a look full of murderous intent: "Come on. You give me your loot, and I, so be it, will save your young master''s life." "..." Huang Jing did not answer, and the two disciples narrowed their eyes. It was clear that this bastard was trying to bribe the man, moreover, to sow discord between him and his subordinates. Not hearing an answer, the wandering cultivator just smiled, and then there was a crack. This was Huang Jing''s barrier, which could not withstand the hidden blow and cracked. "Tsk... a cultivator using the ''Qi Style''. It will be difficult..." Huang Jing thought. Cultivators with this fighting style could use Qi for long-range attacks. They were like mages from video games, so fighting them was unprofitable. "The weakness of this style is high Qi consumption! I just need to exhaust him!" thought the two disciples and gritted their teeth, rushing forward. Watching their actions, the wandering cultivator disappointedly shook his head. "Too bad you chose to die. You could have at least saved your master''s life. Well, since that''s the case... you will all die." Before the two disciples, a ball of Qi appeared, which exploded as soon as they approached fast enough. Since they could not stop in time, since the ball appeared very suddenly... "Aaaagh!" "Ch-damn!" They were thrown back. The explosion was not too strong, but not too weak. It was enough to inflict superficial wounds on them and break several bones, which already put into question their ability to protect Huang Jing. Seeing that there was nothing impressive in this group, the wandering cultivator disdainfully smiled, but then froze. "Hm? What is this strange feeling?" The wandering cultivator felt a strange prick in his chest, and then his face turned pale. He fell to his knees and coughed up blood. "Wh-what is this? I don''t remember getting hurt..." he thought in bewilderment and looked at Huang Jing, who looked just as pale: "This bastard... it was he who did this to me?" He was in disbelief. A second ago he had the advantage, and now he was injured... "Damn! Do you want to die faster or something, huh?!" he angrily shouted. Huang Jing turned even paler. This was his special technique, which could transfer the wounds of one person to another person, but the stronger the opponent, the weaker the effect. And when the wandering cultivator was about to kill Huang Jing with his attack, he suddenly felt danger behind his back. "!!!!!" Having run to the side, the wandering cultivator barely dodged the attack, and a deep cut one meter long appeared in the ce where he was standing, and the cut in the floor was filled with Sword Aura. Turning his head to the right, everyone saw him. "Tsk-tsk-tsk. Do you want to kill my acquaintance? I''m sorry, but not on my watch." Xie Qing smiled and waved his hand, his eyes narrowing, and the wandering cultivator sweated, remembering that attack that almost cost him his arm. "This monster..." *** Five minutes earlier... Xie Qing was just walking around the cave, asking kind Daoist friends to help him find the cultivation technique that his grandmother had once lost, and surprisingly, so many generous Daoists helped him! "Their faces were distorted by strange emotions... they must be overflowing with a sense of duty since they gave me techniques with such fervor!" Xie Qing thought with a smile, and then stopped and squinted: "Hm... familiar Qi trail. Moreover, the floor is shaking a little. Is someone fighting?" He was very curious, so he followed the flow of Qi and approached a secluded area where there was enough space. There he saw two disciples lying on the ground with serious injuries and Huang Jing, who was preparing to die at the hands of some scrawny bastard. "This is my leek... I mean, I wanted to say¨Cprecious Daoist friend!" Xie Qing squinted and drew his sword from its scabbard. Of course, the situation was clear, and he would not have restrained himself. Recalling one technique from the legacy of the Empress of Swords, he took a stance where his legs began to resemble the letter "L" (that is, the right leg behind, the left leg slightly shifted to the left), then he leaned his torso forward and focused, enveloping his sword in Sword Aura. Then his body red up, disappearing from the spot. The enemy felt danger and managed to dodge, and the blow passed through the ground. Restoring bnce, Xie Qing smiled at his opponent. This was a middle-aged man with short ck hair, tired pale pink eyes, and a thin body. "So that''s what you look like, you scum. I''ve been looking for you for a long time, couldn''t find you anywhere. Now I''ll stretch your ass on the tip of my sword, you son of a bitch." "..." The wandering cultivator lost the power of speech from such insults in his direction. "Couldn''t you... at least not ruin such a cool moment?!" he cried to himself. Chapter 55: Tongue that can make a Buddha statue cough up blood This is one of the additional chapters for the 100 PS. One more extra wille out tomorrow 1/2 ==== Huang Jing breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Xie Qing rush to help. He finally managed to run away from the dangerous area and run to his subordinates, saving their lives with medicinal pills and ointment. "Thank you, Brother Xu!" Huang Jing eximed, feeling grateful. "Of course, no problem. Just wait in safety for a while, I''ll quickly clean up the trash from the floor and be back. After all, it''s very uncultured to leave all kinds of garbage in such a sacred ce," Xie Qing said with a smile, waving his hand without taking his eyes off his opponent. He suddenly smiled and asked, "Don''t you think so scumbag?" "..." The wandering cultivator fell silent, feeling that he had provoked this monster for nothing. His tongue alone could make a statue of Buddhae to life and cough up blood. He was ruthless! However, oveing his desire to cry, he stood in a stance and drew his sword. Because his opponent was almost on par with him, he had to abandon his usual fighting style. "Hm? So you''re a swordsman? I thought you were only willing to attack from afar, but it turns out you have balls too... you surprise me more and more! Now you''re not just trash, but bio-waste!" Xie Qing eximed excitedly, and then with a serious face, he shouted, "Since you''re a swordsman, even if you''re a scumbag, let me know your name. At least the dogs will know which grave to piss on." "...my name is Xian Wei," the cultivator reluctantly answered. Xie Qing''s words were so sharp that he lost the power of speech and no longer wanted to take these words to heart, or he could have a heart attack. "Hm... Xian Wei, huh? You have a pretty good name, but as a person, you''re rotten, the worst scum. Listen, why did you attack me at the entrance? Don''t you know that swordsmen are a vengeful group of people?" Xie Qing asked in bewilderment. "I won''t answer you," Xian Wei said coldly, his eyes trembling with anger. He clenched his teeth and hissed through clenched teeth, "Fight, or get lost!" "As you wish," Xie Qing rolled his eyes. He had already vented some of his anger from that vile attack in which he had been disgraced, but now it would be better to finish this quickly. They both stood instances, and this alone made Xian Wei frown. It was clear that Xie Qing had much more first-ss techniques, which was probably rted to his origin. "Damn sect cultivators! Born in a greenhouse, good for nothing!" Xian Wei shouted in resentment, starting his attack on Xie Qing. Thetter just smiled. Then, not wanting to dy, Xie Qing activated the technique, and the floor under his feet was covered with cracks, and his boots deformed the stone floor. Crack! Crack! Then, meeting Xian Wei''s attack, Xie Qing swung his sword, and the blow fell on the weak spot of the opponent''s de, making him feel a tremor running from his hand to his shoulder. "What a strong blow!" Xian Wei thought in shock and quickly lowered his head, avoiding Xie Qing''s attack. Then he tried to run away but found that his body was firmly attached to the floor. Xie Qing cunningly smiled, and then swung his sword again, imbuing his de with Qi Aura. Smack! A muffled sound was heard, and two fingers from Xian Wei''s hands fell to the floor. At the veryst moment, he managed to get out of the awkward position. Ignoring the pain in his hand, Xian Wei used his Qi to create a barrier that blocked Xie Qing''s sudden attack, who, in response to Xian Wei''s counterattack, sat on his haunches and, as if performing a breakdance, with a powerful blow to the opponent''s left leg in the ankle area, knocked him off his feet. "Ugh..." Xian Wei felt a strong pain and felt how his bones cracked from such a strong blow. While he tried to get up, he suddenly felt a gust of wind and with horror all over his body, he jumped up, avoiding the sharp de that passed the ce where his neck was. "Tsk... missed". Xie Qing smiled. He had long since regained his bnce. Although his attack failed, he did not look disappointed. On the contrary... he looked rather happy. "What?" Xian Wei felt a strange chill in his neck, and then with horror, he discovered that a wound had appeared! Although the wound was not deep, this was not so important... the important thing was the presence of Sword Aura in this wound. "Damn!" Xian Wei tried to direct Qi to get rid of the Sword Aura, but he was distracted by Xie Qing''s sudden attack, who deliberately did not give him a chance to rest. And while they fought, Xian Wei''s situation became worse and worse. The Sword Aura had already prated deep into his body, and his internal organs were now in chaos. He coughed up blood, and in a moment of weakness, Xie Qing smiled, striking a blow. "Kha! B-be damned!" Xian Wei roared angrily and suddenly smiled: "Since death is inevitable, let''s die together!" "Hm?" Xie Qing frowned and tried to step back, but was suddenly pinned to the ground by Xian Wei. The young man darkened... not because of the danger, but because he was hugged by a man, and so tightly! "Bitch, do you want to suffer before death?" Xie Qing growled and then strengthened his body with the "Rising Legend" technique, and the "Dragon''s Gaze" helped him plunge Xian Wei into an illusion. Without hesitation, Xie Qing struck a precise blow and pierced the enemy''s heart, and then his sword slid down, passing through Xian Wei''s body, breaking bones and tearing internal organs. The de slid like through butter! Soon, Xian Wei''s body was cut in half, and only the head remained intact, and the expression on the face of the wandering cultivator froze in shock and fear. The sight was not of the most pleasant. Xie Qing quickly robbed his spatial ring, and then took out a potion and poured it on the body. In an instant, a me appeared that engulfed the body and burned it. "I said, the trash needs to be cleaned up. Well, what aw-abiding citizen I am," he loudly said and shook his head. The rest fell silent, turning away. They would have liked to roll their eyes at such a speech, but they were afraid that they would repeat Xian Wei''s fate. *** Ding! "Hm?" Xie Qing was sitting on a rock and examining his loot when suddenly a notification sounded. He turned his gaze from the ring to the left, where a notification appeared. [Dragon Tendon Resin Band] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: The name speaks for itself. The effect is that it increases how fast you absorb and assimte Qi two times.] "O-o-oh... I guess they want to turn me into a Qi pump," Xie Qing thought with a strange expression on his face. He thought about this item, and it fell into his hands. The resin was red, there was no strange smell, and it was very durable. Xie Qing shrugged and tied his hair in a high ponytail. "Oh!" Instantly, he felt how the Qi furiously rushed into his body, and he felt how he broke through to the second stage of Core Formation, and the Golden Core grew in size! He raised his brow in surprise and then smiled. "It seems I''ve got something good..." Xie Qing turned his gaze to Xian Wei''s ring and began to examine it. There were 2500 Spiritual Stones, 250 techniques of various types, and personal items such as spare clothes and the like, which the young man took out and burned. Among the personal items was also a diary, which Xie Qing read and then burned. There was a story about how Xian Wei lived. At first, he was from an ordinary family and hoped to get into a sect, but he was refused, and then mocked and beaten. In the end, he developed a hatred for cultivators and left home to seek adventure. He went through one danger after another and eventually became so strong... in about two hundred years. This was a very bad, very, very bad result. This guy''s starting point was too bad. The cultivation technique was of poor quality, which more than once put his life in danger, but his talent helped him barely reach this level. Unfortunately or fortunately, he will not be able to break through. The cultivation technique provided a breakthrough only up to the level of Core Formation, which was too insignificant for the world of cultivation. Xie Qing mourned him for one millisecond and then transferred all this wealth to his spatial ring for charity... there were already five thousand different techniques there. In Sun Wei''s ring, he put the most important techniques that he would keep for himself. This included what he nned to sell to Lian Lin. "Well, we''ve dealt with the loot. I think in an hour we''ll already be kicked out of the Ancestral Cave," Xie Qing thought. They had been here for a day or two. Soon the Ancestral Cave would close again, but for some reason, Xie Qing felt that this ce would be empty for the next centuries. "Interesting, maybe it''s because I stole everything? Well, no, it can''t be." *** Xie Qing said goodbye to Huang Jing. They discussed their n, and in half a year, Xie Qing would help Huang Jing and Huang Jing would help Xie Qing. Moreover, when they be heads of their families, they will strengthen the alliance between the two families through marriage. And for some reason, Xie Qing had a feeling that the hopes were on him. One way or another, he was satisfied with his loot. While he was thinking, two disciples from the Heavenly Sword Sect came to him. "Brother disciple, we are going to return to the sect. Are you with us?" asked the main sect disciple, tteringly smiling. "Hm?" Xie Qing raised his brow, not expecting such kindness from his senior brother in the sect, but then remembering that he spread his fame over the victory of the strong cultivator, it was clear. "Of course, I''m only too happy. I apologize in advance for the trouble, senior brother," Xie Qing said with a smile. "Oh, no, no, what kind of ''senior brother''? Let''s not be like strangers, you can call me younger brother Cao, I don''t mind!" "How can I? Let''s settle on ''brother Cao.'' What do you think?" "Good, good. Senior brother is too insistent, so I don''t dare refuse." Cao Xiao just smiled and rubbed his hands together, addressing himself in a humiliating form, which was clear. Xie Qing demonstrated strength that even some of the strongest disciples of the main courtyard could not demonstrate. Although Xie Qing was in the inner courtyard, who could think that he was a simpleton? A hidden expert! *** Meanwhile, the Xie family took a small break. They managed to grab onto their businesses and stay afloat. The Bai family eased the pressure at some point, giving them a breather. Xie Hai and Xie Hui wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads. They met each other''s eyes and smiled at each other. "Damn, we finally caught our breath! The Bai family is truly merciless!" Xie Hui shouted, plopping down in a chair. "Yeah... I didn''t expect them to ease their pressure after that. I think they''ve weakened us enough..." Xie Hai''s heart was bleeding. They had lost billions of Huang during this period, and in the long term, dark times awaited them. He could not understand why such a giant as the Bai family had bared its teeth at their family. *** At the same time, Bai Bai was smiling quite a bit. He noticed that for the past week, that bastard Xie Qing had not visited Fang Lan. This made him think that he had finally realized his strength and decided to abandon the idea of pursuing her. "Good that you understood in time. Well, then I''ll give your family a break, and then I''ll increase the pressure again. And so, until you die!" Bai Bai cunninglyughed, and the disciples behind his back exchanged nces with strange expressions on their faces. They were hiding in the bushes and watching Fang Lan''s house. This had been happening for the past week, and although they found their boss an idiot without brains, these disciples could not say ''no.'' And while Bai Bai wasughing loudly, suddenly someone approached Fang Lan''s house. "Hm? This... damn, this beast has returned!" Bai Bai''s face darkened, and he clenched his teeth. In his hand, amunication token immediately appeared, and he dialed his acquaintance. "Yes?" "Destroy this miserable family right now!" "Well... we can''t destroy, but we''ll start putting pressure on them again..." an annoyed voice was heard. "That''ll do! But let them suffer!" Bai Bai''s eyes filled with blood as he watched Xie Qing smile and greet Fang Lan, and then enter her house. From this sight, Bai Bai''s heart was wildly pounding with anger. He clenched his teeth, but could not find the strength to stand up and approach these two. After all, Fang Lan was not from a second-rate family, and she also had a big influence behind her back, Xie Qing was a disciple of the famous Elder Xu Mei. "How pathetic he is," the disciples thought simultaneously. Chapter 56: Fang Lan (R-18), (Part 1) "Brother Xie Qing!" Fang Lan was pleasantly surprised to find Xie Qing at her doorstep, carrying his painting supplies. "Sister Fang, it''s been a while," Xie Qing said with a smile. "Indeed, it has... you haven''t visited me for a week. I thought you weren''t getting paid enough," Fang Lan said with a grin, then let the young man into her home. Xie Qing set down his belongings and took a seat on the couch as usual, while Fang Lan went to prepare some tea. They had grown friendly enough with each other that such things required no special agreement. Xie Qing began setting up his canvas and paints with his easel. And while he was doing this, Fang Lan brought over the tea and sweets. "Here, enjoy, Brother Xie," she said with a smile. "Thank you." Xie Qing happily partook of the tea and sweets. Afterward, he began painting Fang Lan once more. This time, the woman was dressed in rather provocative clothing. It was a red qipao with a long slit on the leg and a heart-shaped cutout on the chest. Only the boldest of women would wear such attire, and among cultivators, it was certainly not well-regarded. But Fang Lan didn''t care. She had no intention of letting anyone see the portrait, so her heart was at ease. Xie Qing studied her carefully, and Fang Lan felt a slight thrill in her lower belly as she noticed the way the young man was looking at her. Although it was only for the sake of painting, she couldn''t help but feel a little excited. From her lower body, clear droplets of sweat began to trickle down. She grew a little damp in that area. In truth, she had been aroused by this situation for some time. Day by day, she wore more and more revealing clothing, allowing Xie Qing to look at her. It excited her, and... today, Fang Lan decided to try on the qipao she had bought for fun a while back. In the end, it came in handy for today''s session. "His gaze... makes me feel tingling all over," thought Fang Lan, blushing slightly at her thoughts. As a disciple of the Inner Court and a woman of the Fang family, known for its wealth and influence, she had a certain standard of conduct to uphold. This included avoiding such shameful acts. But... the forbidden fruit is always the sweetest. Of course, this did not diminish the effect, and now Fang Lan found herself ensnared by this forbidden feeling. Soon, Xie Qing finished painting and handed the portrait to the somewhat peculiar-acting woman. She looked at the painting and gasped in admiration, then blushed when she noticed how seductive she looked. Xie Qing raised an eyebrow at the struggle in her expression, but then she seemed toe to a decision. And... "This... will you paint me... in my underwear?" she asked timidly, but did not avert her gaze from Xie Qing. "Hm?" The young man thought his hearing had gone out after hearing so much ttery from the Inner Court disciple as they returned to the sect, so he cleared his ear and asked again. "What, pardon? I must have misheard," he said in an innocent voice. "I-I... want you to paint me in my underwear..." Fang Lan said in a small voice. "Em-m..." Xie Qing was a little taken aback, and his gaze unconsciously roamed over the woman''s body, stopping at the two slender "hills" that immediately made him nod his head. "Why not, in principle," he shrugged, nodding affirmatively. "W-well... then I''ll go change and be right back," Fang Lan said, blushing, but her eyes looked excited. She ran to her room. The young man watched her go, paying particr attention to her slender rear, then looked away and prepared a new canvas. It wasn''t as if it was his first time. He knew that some of the maidservants who asked him to photograph them loved it when he looked at them while he painted. It excited them. Some of the more shameless ones even masturbated while Xie Qing painted. Not that he was against it. In the end, he only waited five minutes before Fang Lan returned. Xie Qing looked away from the canvas and whistled in surprise. "Sister, you''re a real fairy." "...Thank you." Fang Lan blushed at Xie Qing''s frankment, but as a thank-you, she twirled around, giving the young man a good look at her from all angles. As the woman had expected, he stared at her, not even trying to look away, making her lower belly tingle. It was safe to say that her arousal knew no bounds. Fang Lan had put on a poprce bustier and thong today. Usually, she wore quite traditional underwear, but today was different. She sat down on the couch and deliberately took a position that showed off her lower belly to its best advantage. One leg was ced on the couch, the other spread wide. Thus, she revealed all her charms to Xie Qing, who gazed at her with a lustful eye. Fang Lan grew aroused, and an indecent smile threatened to appear on her face, which she suppressed. Finally, Xie Qing began to paint. His gaze was piercing as if the alpha were looking at his mate. From Fang Lan''s cave, fluid sometimes seeped out, which was blocked by a special Qi barrier that Fang Lan had put in ce. One thing was to show off her body, but another was to show off her arousal. She didn''t want to be thought of as a perverted slut. On the other hand, Xie Qing also became a little aroused, as evidenced by his friend poking out from under his robe. He helplessly smiled, but continued painting. Although blue balls were not a good thing, Xie Qing wanted to first make Fang Lan ask him for it herself. Soon, Xie Qing began to speed up, and his painting became more and more active. He threw many nces, and the most detailed was, of course, Fang Lan''s cave. Although the woman tried to get rid of the drops of "sweat," Xie Qing captured the moment and drew them on the painting to tease her. In the end, it took an hour. The young man smiled and beckoned Fang Lan, who did not hesitate to rx her body and run over to him. She took the canvas in her hands and gasped in astonishment as she looked at herself. Her eyes narrowed and her cheeks flushed - it was too sexy and lewd! Fang Lan was about to thank the young man for such a gift, but suddenly her gaze fell on his crotch, and she lost her voice. It was clear that Xie Qing had be aroused watching her. Fang Lan felt both joy and panic. She didn''t know what to do in such a situation. Xie Qing, it seemed, noticed her gaze and said in an apologetic voice: "I''m sorry, Sister Fang, it''s just that you were too beautiful..." "E-eh... n-no, it''s all right." Fang Lan could only nod stupidly, then bit her lower lip. In her head, a struggle ensued, and she sighed, finally cing her hand on Xie Qing''s crotch. "Eh?" Ignoring the young man''s surprised exmation, Fang Lan began to feel his bulge, and her eyes grew hazy with arousal. She felt that hardness with her own hands, and her mouth began to water. Xie Qing did not hesitate, and his hand approached her luxurious hair. He stroked her on the back of the head, then his hand began to move down, down, and so on to her waist. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him. "Ah?" Fang Lan was a little surprised and looked at Xie Qing, but suddenly met the young man''s soft lips. She widened her eyes, then narrowed them, feeling a pleasant sensation in her mouth. Xie Qing''s tongue moved in her mouth, touching her gums and taking control of her tongue. Fang Lan could only helplessly moan as her lower belly generated a new stage of love juice. "Aah!" Fang Lan suddenly gasped, tearing herself away from the kiss, and her eyes widened in surprise when a sudden feeling of freedom took hold of her. Very quickly, she realized that she was nowpletely naked. "N-no... w-wait..." she tried to say, but Xie Qing covered her mouth with his lips: "Mmm...!" The woman was a little disgruntled and tried to resist, but realizing that it would do her no good, she merely resigned herself to her fate and hugged Xie Qing around the back, caressing his shoulder de and moving down to his abs. Meanwhile, Xie Qing was busy with her passionate buttocks, squeezing them in his hands and ying with them like dough. "Mmmh... ah, w-wait, don''t squeeze them like that... ah!" Fang Lan tried to remark but soon had to fall silent, and her voice broke into moans. She bit her lower lip, and saliva dripped from the corners of her mouth. But before she coulde to her senses, her body trembled. "Aaaah... c-cumming..." Xie Qing was surprised to remove two fingers from her cave when he realized that was enough to make the woman cum. She was very sensitive. However, even that did not make him stop. He moved down, and despite Fang Lan''s surprised look, his tongue quickly reached her pussy. "Aaaah... s-strange sensations... but... I like it!" Fang Lan eximed, satisfied moaning, and her hands grabbed Xie Qing''s head, pressing it to her crotch: "AAAAH!" A loud moan rang out, a note higher than usual, and her already weak body trembled. She came for the second time. Xie Qing picked her up like a princess and took her to the couch, allowing her to catch her breath. Although a cultivator''s body was very resilient, this was the woman''s first time, and she was not psychologically prepared for it. "Heh... how do you feel, Sister Fang?" Xie Qing asked with a smile. "C-ss... just amazing. You''re a monster," Fang Lan replied, catching her breath. Then she bitterly smiled, looking at the energetic Xie Qing: "Brother Xie Qing, you must be very experienced, huh? Sigh, you''re younger than me, but your life is more varied." "If Sister Fang asks me nicely enough," Xie Qing began, sitting down on the couch. He lifted Fang Lan''s head and ced it on his right knee, then looked into her eyes and said with a sly smile: "I''ll teach you everything... I''ll help you explore every inch of your body... and give you unforgettable nights." "Oooh..." Fang Lan made a strange sound of pleasure, and her eyes sparkled. She hesitated for only a second, then bit her lower lip, stood up, and knelt on the couch. Her hands reached for Xie Qing, or rather, for his clothes. "Hm? Do you want to undress me? Did you get permission?" Xie Qing said with a smile. "What? Eh..." Fang Lan tilted her head in confusion, looking embarrassed. But seeing Xie Qing''s teasing smile, she blushed, then timidly said: "...undress... you..." "What? I can''t hear you, sorry... my hearing is a little damaged," Xie Qing said with a pained expression, but his eyes were smiling. "..." The woman lost her voice and was at a loss, not understanding how such a thick-skinned person could exist in the world. But in the end, after a brief struggle, she gritted her teeth and said: "Allow me to undress you... please." "Now that''s the spirit! I''ll let you if you kiss me," Xie Qing said, pping his hands with a smile. "Eee..." Fang Lan pouted indignantly, but then smiled, crawling on her knees to Xie Qing. Then her lips touched Xie Qing''s lips, and she tried to remember what Xie Qing had done to her. She opened her mouth, and Xie Qing, of course, did not refuse. He smiled, allowing her tongue to enter his mouth. Fang Lan tried to find his tongue, which kept eluding her, but in the end, Xie Qing let her do what she wanted. "Mmmmmgm..." She moaned passionately. Her tongue finally caught Xie Qing''s tongue, and she aggressively kissed him. Xie Qing did not waste time and helped her undress him as quickly as possible. In the end, he was left naked. His gaze roamed over Fang Lan''s body, and the woman''s gaze also did not bypass his body. "Now... what do you want?" Xie Qing asked with a smile, getting up from his seat. Fang Lan looked eagerly at the awakened dragon and without hesitation said: "I want to suck it." "Em? All right." Xie Qing casually nodded and stood in front of her, folding his arms on his waist. She heavily swallowed her saliva, then lowered her body to his majestic beast. Then her soft lips touched the head of his meat stick, and then she opened her mouth and carefully, so as not to touch her teeth, put this monster in her mouth. Her head moved slowly forward and back. Ayer of saliva enveloped Xie Qing''s dragon. Fang Lan felt all this hardness on her tongue, and a feeling of lust consumed her. Juice squirted out of her pussy. In the end, Xie Qing got tired of standing like that and, grabbing her by the head, began to help her. "Ugm... ugm..." Chapter 57: Fang Lan (R-18), (Part 2) 2/2 ==== Fang Lan could only take the movements in her mouth. She made suppressed gulping sounds, and her face turned red. With her beautiful eyes, she looked at Xie Qing, not taking her gaze off him. The young man felt wild lust and sped up, eventually reaching climax. Before finishing, Xie Qing pulled out his member and aimed at Fang Lan''s face, who, realizing what was happening, opened her mouth wide. And after... "Ah!" Sperm shot into her face. Several of themnded in her mouth, and Fang Lan tasted them, feeling a slight sweetness along with a bitter aftertaste. She began to scoop up the sperm with her fingers and then suck on what she had gathered. Soon, they moved to the bedroom. Xie Qing covered Fang Lan''s body with his own as she writhed beneath his caresses. Then, feeling that the right time hade, Xie Qing whispered, "Can I enter you?" Fang Lan shivered at his whisper but, after thinking for a moment, she nodded. She was still confident in her desire, so there was no reason to stop. Xie Qing smiled brightly and then, with one movement, lifted her legs onto his shoulders and entered her. "AAAAH!" From this insane stimtion, Fang Lan cried out loudly. She was unfamiliar with the sensation of something sorge entering her vagina. She clenched her teeth, not wanting to show even more pitiful behavior, but it didn''t help. Xie Qing began to move, and with each movement, the feeling of pleasure intensified. The young man felt how the walls of her vagina squeezed his penis as if wanting to wring out all the juices from it. This was the narrowest pussy in the Wild West... the narrowest of those he had tried. His face wrinkled slightly with pleasure as he found Fang Lan''s weak spot and began attacking it. The effect was magnificent. "AAAAAAAH!" Fang Lan''s long, loud moan was apanied by a fierce squirt. She closed her eyes in shame, unable to control her body. Xie Qing simply shrugged, not surprised by this. Sometimes, with very good technique, such a result could be achieved, although it didn''t work with all women. After some time, Xie Qing began to move again. His pelvis actively moved up and down. Fang Lan was unable to respond to his movements due to her inexperience, so she could only lie there and take his attacks. Her face was red with arousal, and her eyes were unfocused. After so many times that she had climaxed, her head felt empty, and it was even difficult to form thoughts. Xie Qing saw that she was starting to lose consciousness and almost rolled his eyes. In the end, after making the girl climax once more, he also ejacted inside her, getting rid of an important element in advance that could make women pregnant. What-what, but he didn''t want children right now. First, Xie Qing wanted to be one of the strongest people, and besides, if he had children, it would be difficult to give his wives his time, and vice versa. "Haaah... haa..." Fang Lan breathed heavily, covering her eyes with her hand. She felt a little psychologically tired. All this pleasure was weighing on her, and she was going crazy. And while her mind was turned off, she suddenly felt herself on all fours. And when she tried to call out to Xie Qing... "Aah! P-please wait, I just cummed!" the girl panicked and then rolled her eyes, crying out loudly: "Aaaah!" Her body was very sensitive after so many times, and she lost control of her body, falling onto the bed with her chest down, sticking out her butt. Saliva flowed from her mouth, and she could only moan under Xie Qing''s merciless attacks. Fang Lan rolled her eyes with pleasure, feeling Xie Qing''s hard member painting her insides. At that moment, she could admit that he was indeed a great artist. In the end, they had sex for eight hours. Thanks to their cultivator bodies, this was a piece of cake. Already at night, Fang Lan lost consciousness, and Xie Qing had to stop. He sighed regretfully. Currently, only the Master had enough power to fight him in battle. The rest were not as well developed in this regard. Covering Fang Lan with a nket, Xie Qingy down next to her and fell asleep. One way or another, the Master had left the sect for a week for some reason. *** In a distant ce, far from human settlements andnds controlled by sects, there was an inconspicuous wooden house. It looked ordinary ¨C surrounded by trees, with a small garden and pots of flowers. Next to the house was an entrance leading somewhere downstairs; otherwise, everything was normal. However, now, in this house, two powerful beings of this world were sitting. They were Xu Mei and... Mei Feng. "Master... why did you call me?" asked Xu Mei, narrowing her eyes. She carefully watched the woman sitting in front of her. Her name was Mei Feng, the Sword Empress. She had sparkling silver hair, deep silver eyes, arge chest, and long, slender legs. She wore a sports bra, so her abs were showing. Hearing Xu Mei''s question, she smiled, turning her gaze away from the window. "Why not? We haven''t seen each other for a thousand years. A lot of water has flowed since then," she said with a carefree smile. "That''s exactly why I asked. You wouldn''t call me without some important reason," thought Xu Mei, rolling her eyes, but she didn''t say it out loud. Seeing that her disciple did not believe the words of her Master, Mei Feng only smiled friendly. Then she ced a teacup on the wooden table. There was a clink. Mei Feng wiped the smile from her face and asked, "Xu Mei, who is that boy you took as your disciple?" "Huh?" Xu Mei darkened a little when she saw the seriousness on her Master''s face. She could read impatience and excitement in the woman''s eyes, which caused Xu Mei a headache. "I don''t know what you''re talking about," Xu Mei lied, not even blushing. "Hey, are you trying to hide something like that from your Master? You know, I could get angry," Mei Feng said with a smile. "...what''s it to you?" Xu Mei asked in response, narrowing her eyes. "Why not? I want to make sure he''s good enough to be your disciple and... a man." "Go to hell, you old hag! I know you''re just waiting for him to grow up so you can fuck him!" Xu Mei thought angrily, snorting and turning away. She did not want to allow Xie Qing toe into contact with this crazy woman. Although she was her respected Master, when it came to matters concerning Xie Qing, Xu Mei was strict. This woman... the Sword Empress. In the eyes of others, she was a proud and great woman, but Xu Mei knew that she was just a bitch in heat! Because of her character, she could not find a suitable man, which is why she was an old virgin! An old fossil and a virgin. It sounds like the beginning of a dad joke, but it was reality. Mei Feng had never been interested in other men, and the fact that she suddenly paid attention to Xie Qing could only mean that she was interested in him. "The Ancestral Cave... she left her clone there, and that clone passed on the information to the main body. How annoying," thought Xu Mei and darkened. In any case, she did not intend to speak. Mei Feng sighed disappointedly. She could not understand where she had gone wrong, making her disciple so disobedient. "Alright, calm down. Anyway, he''s too weak for me to pay close attention to him. I''m just surprised that he reached this level at such a young age," said the Sword Empress, leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs: "But, to be honest, I''m amazed by his beauty. Finally, a worthy opponent has appeared..." "For some reason, I think you''ll get along," muttered Xu Mei, rolling her eyes. Her Master was a narcissistic personality. Self-love was the main drawback of this woman, and if someone else were in her ce, one could even smile, but in Mei Feng''s case, it was hard to argue with this. "Alright, I see that you don''t like talking about this topic. Let''s postpone it indefinitely," said Mei Feng and got up, narrowing her eyes: "Now run after me. I will check if you have be stupid during the time you spent living carefree." "Alright..." Xu Mei could only twist her mouth and agree. *** Xie Qing was just returning home. He had already entered the pavilion and gone up to his room. "How tired I am..." In the morning, Fang Lan woke up with renewed energy, and they spent time until noon rolling around in bed. The girl reminded him of a subus from books who had sucked out all his energy. "By the way, that trash Bai Bai was following me... it seems that he has lost the gift of speech again, discovering my fearlessness," thought the young man with a smile. He turned his head and looked at the ss sphere that showed the number "5". That was how many months were left until the War of Heirs. Xie Qing had been inactive for a long time, gaining strength, and now he was confident in himself. Moreover, thanks to the fact that he was able to use Huang Jing''s prediction power, he found several interesting fragments. "My mother is in the capital. At least, that''s what the prediction said," thought Xie Qing and his eyes narrowed: "But how will I find her in such a big city?" However, this was a secondary question. He was more than happy that he hade across her traces and was convinced that she was alive. Lately, his luck had been blinding. News that the Xie family had weakened to the extreme had already reached his ears. Moreover... there was another strange piece of news or rather a rumor. They say that Xie Hai was crippled. Someone forcibly destroyed his golden core, depriving him of cultivation. This was a cruel step, and Xie Qing did not expect it. He assumed that the Bai family was trying to get back at him this way. They couldn''t attack Xie Qing; he was protected by Xu Mei''s side, but his father was an easy target. Xie Qing felt strong despair. He wanted to destroy his father himself and deprive him of faith, but someone had taken care of it for him. Of course, this rumor needed to be checked. However, the young man was pleased. At this rate, taking control of the family would be an easy task. True, he needed someone to perform the head of the family''s tasks for him. "I''m still young, so let someone much more responsible take on this task!" thought Xie Qing. He waszy. He didn''t want to deal with papers, and besides, work would deprive him of the opportunity to roll around in bed with women. And that was already a big "NO!". *** The next day, Xie Qing wrote a letter and left it in the Master''s room, then left the sect. His goal was to reach the capital. Fortunately, he had earned a lot of money after robbing the disciples in the Ancestral Cave. And the sale of techniques had also significantly increased his wealth. Arriving in the nearest city with a teleportation function, he named the coordinates and paid a sum that made his heart bleed. In the end, he teleported to the capital. This time, there was no need for training, so Xie Qing could use cheat codes with a peaceful mind. Arriving in the capital, Xie Qing began to walk around. He tried to visually find people simr to his memories, but could not do so. He wanted to find at least his mother''s maid. But even she was nowhere to be seen. Xie Qing was disappointed. But the search continued. He walked all over the capital, and even the guards stopped him, thinking he was too suspicious. But Xie Qing managed to get out of it; his status as a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect saved him. In the end, even after searching every corner, Xie Qing found nothing. He was a little tired psychologically, so he decided to stop by a small bar. "Wee!" "Pour me some wine." Xie Qing casually ced his order and sat on a barstool, propping his chin on his fist. Then he turned his head to the side and noticed a woman next to him. She sat, wrapped in a cloak, and in her hand was a ss of strong alcohol. She twirled the liquid in her hand, apparently lost in thought. Her face was covered by a veil. Xie Qing somehow felt that this female figure was very familiar, and this name came out of his mouth by itself. "Yu Yang?" "Hm?" Thedy turned her head in surprise, and her eyes widened. "Y-young master?" Xie Qing was speechless. "I''ve been looking for you all over the city, but you were in the most obvious ce?!" Chapter 58: Xie Meiling (Part 1) Yu Yang. She was the head maid of the Xie family estate and also the trusted aide of Xie Qing''s mother. She looked like a milf, with long gray hair tied in braid, ash-colored eyes, and a stern face with strict sses. And also... her chest wasrge. In his younger days, Yu Yang was the woman who took care of his needs. The young man spent his nighttime with her, and although nothing like losing his virginity happened, they had a small romance. To say that Xie Qing loved her... would be wrong. It was just a fondness, and at that time he did not understand the subtleties of rtionships. So love for him was something foreign and unfamiliar. Like: "Huh? This is tasty?" However, it was with her that Xie Qing had the most memories. After a long period of pregnancy, Xie Meiling''s body was weakened and she could only go out asionally, and then only with apaniment. Xie Qing met her once a week, until one day they stopped seeing each other. He was about thirteen years old at the time. At the same time, Yu Yang also disappeared, Xie Hai exined her disappearance as a simple dismissal. And Xie Qing believed it. He had a small grudge against Yu Yang and his mother at that time, but now, knowing the truth, his heart was torn with pain and anger. The meeting ce was a bar. They looked at each other in surprise, and although Xie Qing barely restrained his excitement to hug her and start asking about everything in the world, he kept a static expression on his face and cleared his throat. "Let''s rent a room, okay?" he said, and then threw 7,000 Huang on the table, telling the bartender: "For two hours." "As you wish, young master." Receiving the keys to the room, Xie Qing and Yu Yang began to walk up to the second floor. To prevent information leakage, they did not talk. Being on the second floor, Xie Qing clenched his neck, clearly hearing the sounds... moans of pleasure. Yes, you understood correctly. On the second floor, rooms are usually rented for sex. Whether it''s a prostitute or just an acquaintances. Either way, the smell and sounds were loud, enough to affect the nerves of a virgin. But Xie Qing was not a virgin. The skin on his face was five meters thick. Yu Yang also did not show a reaction - although she was embarrassed by such an atmosphere. Reaching the farthest door at the very end of the corridor, Xie Qing casually opened the door and stood to the side. "Ladies first." "..." Yu Yang smiled behind the veil and entered the room, followed by Xie Qing. He closed the room and knocked on the wall with his fingers, activating the built-in soundproofing function. "Seems like those people were those same perverts" thought Xie Qing, raising his thumb: "Proud of you, guys!" Finally, making sure that the soundproofing was working properly, Xie Qing looked around. There was already a familiar Yu Yang sitting there, without any disguise. The veil was removed from her face and the young man noticed a huge difference. Previously, Yu Yang''s face was stern and indifferent. Even when she moved her hand, satisfying his rod, she kept a static expression on her face. However, now she looked tired. Her Qi was exhausted and barely reached the level of Qi Condensation''s fifth stage. There were bags under her eyes, probably fromck of sleep and fatigue. The body looked exhausted and she had noticeably lost weight... although the two mountains of Tai were still powerful. "Yu Yang" called her by name Xie Qing, his voice read various emotions - joy, doubt, sadness, and anger: "I don''t want to pressure you, because I see that you''re not doing very well... but can you exin to me what happened?" "Young master..." Yu Yang sighed heavily and looked a little hesitant as if she didn''t know whether to tell about it or not. But seeing that Xie Qing was genuinely saddened and concerned, she clenched her teeth. "The mistress was against me having contact with you until she recovers" began Yu Yang: "Therefore, I have no right to tell about it. She wants to appear before you strong, without a hint of weakness. But..." The head maid bitterly smiled and then looked at Xie Qing, who sat down next to him. She took his hand and in a quiet voice said: "You''re already an adult. Although I don''t want to involve you and thus involve you in the cycle of hatred, I can''t leave you aside" said Yu Yang, and then sighed heavily: "The mistress... is now very unwell." "Hm?" Xie Qing felt his breath catch. He frowned and looked at Yu Yang, his gaze demanding a continuation. "It all started after you were born, young master. One of the people close to the mistress, the former head maid who trained me, suddenly betrayed her. As it turned out, she was pouring an extremely inconspicuous poison, slowly poisoning her body. The poison manifested itself only after ten years, and after two years her health deteriorated, and the level of cultivation began to fall." The young man fell silent. He could easilypare the events from his side and what Yu Yang told him. All her words were true, the dates matched. Xie Qing''s face was distorted with anger. "The marriage of the Mistress and Xie Hai was an ordinary marriage by agreement between two families formon development," said Yu Yang, gently squeezing Xie Qing''s hand, which felt cold as ice. Her gentle fingers stroked the young man''s palm, as if soothing: "Therefore, she was not particrly surprised by the betrayal on the part of your father, but was shocked that her longtime acquaintance betrayed her. In the end, one day the henchmen of Xie Hai attacked us and we were forced to go on the run." "...I understand," Xie Qing felt depressed. He could roughly understand that the time when he stopped seeing these two was when they were being hunted. Of course, after that, you feel insignificant. What reaction should a person who did not have the power to help his loved one have? In more or less emotional people, there would be a feeling of anger, despair, and self-getion. Xie Qing clenched his right hand into a fist. If it weren''t for the fact that he received the System, he wouldn''t even know about his mother''s situation now. However, with Xie Qing''s current strength, he could do a lot. For example, buy a pill to cure poison. "Yu Yang... I-I... c-can I... meet her?" asked Xie Qing, stammering a little. He was embarrassed when he heard his voice. "Hehe... you are so weak in front of your mother, aren''t you?" Yu Yang replied with a giggle and then returned to a static expression: "Okay. Although the Mistress will be angry with me, my conscience will be clear. She is currently in a protected ce, several people from her circle of acquaintances have provided temporary shelter." "..." Xie Qing narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Of course, he knew that his mother was influential in her time and she had many business acquaintances. However, at the moment of her fall, most of them pretended to be blind, deaf, and mute, ignoring the situation. What could he feel for them? Only vignce and irritation. As if reading his thoughts, Yu Yang calmly answered his thoughts, slightly dispersing the suspicions. "They can be trusted. These two apanied the Mistress when she was very young" said Yu Yang, and then began to put on a cloak and after that a veil. She added: "One of them you should know. This is a famous businessdy from Commerce ''Silver Moon'', which is run by Wang Feifei." "Oh?" Silver Moon. Of course, Xie Qing knew about such an organization. This was arge organization through which most of the trading operations passed. They act as curators, as well as business owners. Countless auction houses, luxury stores, military enterprises. All this was theirs. The influence of this organization could cover almost all corners of the Huanglun Dynasty. Considering that the Xie family was rich, they could at least somewhat contact this organization. But Xie Qing was surprised that his mother had such an acquaintance. "Mistress Xie Meiling once saved Wang Feifei''s younger brother, who wanted to be killed bypetitors to take revenge on her. But in the end, their n failed" exined Yu Yang. She also named another woman, but Xie Qing did not know this woman. Judging by everything, she was a strong cultivator, but her connection with Xie Meiling was based on a simple acquaintance. This time this woman did a favor and helped them fight off strong thugs. In the end, deciding to be silent for a while, they continued on their way. Xie Qing was on guard, so he put on all his bracelets (which would torture him at night) and then activated all his senses to the maximum. In the darkness hid several small pickpockets, who were scared off by Xie Qing''s bloodthirsty aura. Either way, they made it to the designated ce. Xie Qing squinted, discovering that this ce was located in the slums. Although the outside of the building looked dirty, as soon as they entered inside, everything changed. The interior inside looked as if it was brand new! "I''m not even surprised, to be honest. You are incredibly clean and even ordinary dust can annoy you" said Xie Qing, looking at Yu Yang, who had already removed her disguise. "I hate dirt and disorder," said Yu Yang in a stern tone, putting on sses. "Of course, how could it be otherwise?" Xie Qing smiled and nodded. The atmosphere of this ce reminded him of his childhood, and Yu Yang''s strict sses adorned her. However, the time was not very suitable for flirting. They went up to the second floor. There were only three rooms on the second floor. One was Yu Yang''s bedroom, the other was a warehouse, and the other... his mother''s room. The young man was very nervous. This was a reunion after such a long time and his heart was beating fast. He wanted to see his mother as soon as possible, but his legs seemed to be stuck to the floor. "Hah... I easily kill cultivators, but in such moments I be helpless" he thought and sighed, amazed at his cowardice. Then his eyes shed and he pushed the door, entering inside. The room was clean and tidy. There was little furniture, a bookshelf, and a table with a chair, as well as a bed, next to which was a bedside table. Slowly Xie Qing''s gaze fell on the woman who was peacefully sleeping on the bed. His heart ached with pain, and his eyes filled with blood. He clearly remembered his mother. Her appearance was firmly imprinted on Xie Qing''s head and he could see that she had lost a lot of weight, almost resembling a skeleton, and her face seemed to have aged. From a cultivator at the Core Formation stage, she turned into an ordinary mortal with a small piece of Qi. Moreover, her beautiful and gentle hands, which once stroked his head with love, turned into hard, scarred hands. In some ces, there were deep cuts. Her beauty was gone. Her aura was gone. She seemed to have turned into a mummy. Nevertheless, Xie Qing could still recognize her. Her long ck hair, her beautiful ck eyes, which at some point opened, and a birthmark under her right eye. She reminded him of the female version of Xie Qing, just more adult. This was his beloved mother. "Xie Hai, Xie Xui!" Xie Qing remembered the culprits of Xie Meiling''s condition and clenched his teeth - a crunch was heard. His fist clenched until it turned white. Nails dug into the skin, blood slowly flowed from his clenched fist. He was angry. His Qi turned into boiling water, and the Golden Core trembled. Due to emotions, he began to lose control over his energy, as a result, releasing the pressure of a Core Formation cultivator outward. "H-how... how can this be?" Yu Yang gasped in shock, covering her mouth with her hand. Her eyes were filled with disbelief: "He''s only eighteen!" Core Formation cultivator. For the Xie family, such cultivators were on par with gold, almost an irreceable part of the ruling ecosystem. Achieving this level, you get infinite wealth and respect. Yu Yang herself was at this level, but it took her 45 years to reach this level. And her talent was still considered not bad. While Xie Qing was restoring control over his Qi, and Yu Yang wasing to her senses from the shock, a tired and at the same time gentle voice was heard. "Qing''er..." Xie Qing''s body shuddered, and his eyes widened. He turned and saw that his mother was already awake and looking at him with narrowed eyes. For a moment, the young man felt as if he had returned to childhood. These eyes... they were filled with concern, irritation, and happiness. It was with such eyes that Xie Meilingst looked at Xie Qing when he beat one of his older brothers to a pulp for insulting his mother. Unconsciously, the word "Mom" came out of Xie Qing''s mouth. Chapter 59: Xie Meiling (Part 2) additional chap for 200 PS Enjoy 1/2 ==== Xie Meiling spent most of her time on the run after being poisoned and escaping from the Xie family. She was able to find shelter with a business acquaintance named Wang Feifei. Although the ce was in the slums, it was the best option for hiding from her pursuers. The building was also protected by formations and other measures to prevent sudden attacks. Wang Feifei tried to find an antidote, but it was useless. There was no cure for the poison that Xie Meiling had been given, and it was already toote to do anything. Despite this, Xie Meiling refused to give up and tried to heal herself, but to no avail. She gradually became weaker and lost control of her body. She also sustained many injuries during her escape, which further damaged her health. Feeling hopeless, Xie Meiling spent her days in darkness. One day, she woke up feeling a strange sensation, as if someone had released their Qi. She saw an unfamiliar young man in front of her. At first, she didn''t recognize him, but the longer she looked, the more certain she became of his identity. "Qing''er..." she called out to him affectionately. Although the boy had grown into a strong young man, Xie Meiling couldn''t help but feel that he was still the same child. His expression was the same as when she scolded him for being reckless. "Silly boy..." Xie Meiling felt conflicted. She had deliberately avoided contacting Xie Qing to protect him and spare him the sight of her weakened state. It was a matter of pride for her. But this foolish boy was disobedient and found her when she was at her most vulnerable. Xie Meiling felt depressed, as she wanted to remain strong and beautiful in her son''s memory. But despite her feelings, a gentle smile appeared on her face. Her lips cracked slightly from the unfamiliar movement, as it had been a long time since she had smiled. Her hand, hard and covered in scars, reached out to touch her son. Xie Qing quickly moved to her side. Her hand rested on his head as he bit his lip and looked at her with a stoic expression. Seeing this, Xie Meiling couldn''t help but chuckle softly. "Your face looks indifferent, but your eyes are still bright... I can read your emotions like a book, my son," she said, stroking his cheek. "Mom..." Xie Qing covered her hand with his own. He looked at her with eyes full of tenderness and love. His heart was filled with bitterness at the sight of her weakened state and anger at the realization that he had not been there for her in her time of need. Xie Meiling could easily read all of these emotions. To her, Xie Qing was like an open book. His beautiful, shining, and attractive ck eyes, which others might find cold, were full of emotions. Only Xie Meiling could see these emotions, and only in front of his mother did Xie Qing reveal his soul without hiding his feelings. It was a natural reaction for him, as he was still his mother''s son. Xie Meiling felt her heart melting at the sight of him. The many years spent away from her precious son had caused her great anxiety. She wondered if he was doing well if anyone was hurting him if Xu Mei had taken good care of him. "You''ve reached the Core Formation stage, and your Qi is so pure and powerful... Oh, heavens," Xie Meiling smiled and chuckled, pinching Xie Qing''s cheek. "And you''ve grown so handsome. Do I have any fianc¨¦es yet?" "Of course, mom. I''ll introduce you to them. But even though I''m handsome, you''re still more beautiful than me," Xie Qing replied with a smile. "Little tterer. But I appreciate yourpliment, good boy. Now mommy is happy," Xie Meilingughed. "Heh." Xie Qing closed his eyes and rested his head on her hard and cold hand, feelingforted. He felt protected in her presence. ...Coincidentally, the girls with whom Xie Qing has close rtionships also feel this way. Yu Yang had already left the room by that point. She decided not to interrupt the mother and son''s reunion. She wiped away her tears and smiled happily. "It''s good that I brought the young master here after all." *** Xie Qing told her about his life in the sect and in general. Xie Meiling listened attentively, asionally asking questions. By the end of the story, she was speechless. "Y-you seduced Xu Mei? Unbelievable..." Xie Meiling couldn''t believe her ears, but knowing her son, he wouldn''t lie to her. Hearing this news, she clenched her teeth and a bitter feeling arose in her chest, as if something had been taken from her. "Fox! I thought that by entrusting him to you, you would protect my Qing''er from danger, but instead, you jumped into his bed. Shameless!" Xie Meiling thought angrily. Her emotions were a bit strange, but Xie Qing didn''t notice them, as Xie Meiling didn''t show anything outwardly. After Xie Qing finished his story, he looked silently into Xie Meiling''s eyes, which did not waver. There was silence between them. The first one to break this silence was Xie Meiling herself. She sighed bitterly and shook her head. "You already know about my situation. Your father poisoned me and now I''m like this," Xie Meiling said, shrugging and shaking her hand. "He''s not my father. He''s just a bastard who deserves to die," Xie Qing reacted sharply with a cold face and then continued: "Moreover... I have good news for you." "Hm?" Xie Meiling tilted her head and looked questioningly at the young man. He smiled and began to tell her about the current state of the Xie family and his ns. Xie Meiling fell silent for a moment and thenughed loudly. "Hahaha! That''s what he deserves, that bastard! And who would have thought that Xie Xui would also have a hand in this? Although, I''m not surprised, to be honest..." Xie Meiling began to speak and narrowed her eyes, squeezing Xie Qing''s hand: "There''s only one thing that matters to me. Are you sure you can take over the leadership of the Xie family?" "A hundred percent. I''ve gained two reliable guys who will help me in the future," Xie Qing said, and then confidently and gently squeezed Xie Meiling''s hand: "Mom, I will seed. I will make everyone who was involved in your assassination bleed. I will torture them to death until all their blood is drained from their bodies." "..." Xie Meiling fell silent, and then wickedly smiled. She stood up and lovingly kissed Xie Qing''s forehead, supporting his face with her hands. "Good boy. I''m proud of you. Although I don''t want to put you in danger, I won''t doubt your confidence," she said and kissed him again, this time on the cheek, and then hugged him tightly to her frail body, gently stroking his hair: "My boy is already so grown up that mom doesn''t have to worry, right?" Xie Qing smiled, hearing the encouraging tone of Xie Meiling''s voice. He raised his head and lovingly kissed her forehead, and then her crown. Then he moved away and confidently dered: "I swear by the heavens. If I don''t take revenge on everyone who harmed my mother, then let the Heavenly Punishment fall on me and grind my soul to dust." "S-stop..." Xie Meiling tried to stop him, but suddenly there was a rumble outside the window, and the sky filled with clouds. There were shes in the clouds, and somewhere lightning struck. The woman looked in shock at her son and for the first time in a long time was convinced that he had truly grown up. His face was no longer innocent. Every word he spoke was full of confidence, his posture was straight, and his eyes were piercing. "My Qing''er..." Xie Meiling''s breathing became heavy, and her cheeks turned red. She lovingly looked at her son, who was still smiling brightly. What Xie Qing did was none other than the "Heavenly Oath." It had tremendous power, and if you didn''t fulfill your oath, the Heavenly Punishment would fall on you. That''s why few people use it. However, Xie Qing did it. His confidence and anger awakened in him a determination to see the matter through to the end. Until all the guilty were killed, his soul would not rest for a single moment. "I''ve been too passive for too long. It''s time to start the hunt." *** Somewhere in the Xie family estate... Xie Hai and Xie Xui were in the head of the family''s room. Xie Hai was lying on the bed, covered in wounds, and Xie Xui was watching him. They were discussing something when suddenly chills ran through their bodies. Moreover, there was lightning in the courtyard. "Heavenly Lightning?!" Xie Xui eximed in astonishment, jumping up from his seat. His soul trembled before such a powerful force. He could only shiver with fear, not understanding why the Heavenly Lightning had appeared. Moreover, he felt as if something had intruded into his fate. Xie Xui felt some kind of gaze on him,ing from somewhere very far away. And it scared him. It wasn''t just these two. The elders of the family, the guards, the old chief maid. Everyone shuddered, and a primal fear invaded their souls, making them feel as if they were being watched. Their hearts grew cold. No one understood what was happening. Unnoticed, a scythe appeared behind each of them, just one centimeter away from depriving them of their heads. *** Xie Qing closed his pulsating eyes, feeling them hurt. Moreover, he also gained certain advantages. The oath guided him. He felt many people were somewhere far away. One of them was even in the capital. "How much I want to kill this person... he''s just within reach, so close. But... that can wait. I need to take care of my mother''s condition," he thought and shook his head. Although anger tore him apart from the inside, there was no one more important to him now than Xie Meiling. Moving to a free room, he sat on the bed and opened the Shop. There, his gaze was attracted by one item. [Phoenix Healing Ointment] | [Price: 30,000 Spiritual Stones] | [Description: A wonderful ointment that will heal all wounds, and scars, and remove poisons and curses. Made from the blood of a phoenix. Of course, the effect won''t be immediate, you need to apply it for a week] "30,000 Spiritual Stones!" Xie Qing almost fainted. From his savings, he had a maximum of 2700 Spiritual Stones. It was too little. Xie Qing''s mind was in disarray, and he clenched his teeth, not knowing what to do. In desperation, he took out themunication token and sent a message to Qing''er. This was Xu Mei''smunication token. Although he was ufortable asking her for such an amount of money, the situation forced him to. Money could be earned, but life could not be returned. And so, the waiting began. A minute, five minutes, ten minutes... silence. Xie Qing frowned and began to worry. But when he was already on the verge of going crazy with nerves, Xu Mei''s voice sounded, a little tired. "Foolish disciple?" "Master... I need your help," Xie Qing said in a helpless voice, sighing with relief. "What? Em, wait... Hey, bitch, can''t you see I''m talking? Get lost, don''t bother me!" "..." Xie Qing lost his voice. It seemed that Xu Mei was talking to someone else, not him. He was even a little confused. After that, Xu Mei spoke again, but this time in a serious tone. "What happened... h-hubby." Xie Qing''s face almost cracked from the smile when he heard her call him that. But remembering the situation they were in, he sighed. "Master, I..." What followed was a summary of events that would have taken several more paragraphs, but Xie Qing managed to exin everything quickly. Xu Mei fell silent for a moment and then replied: "I don''t have any money with me right now... I used it all to buy myself an alcohol collection." She said with shame in her voice but then added: "But you can call Zhang Mei. She''s rich and will lend you the money. I''ll connect you." "Em?" Xie Qing, who had already begun to lose hope, was very pleased to hear this. Soon there were interferences, and another female voice sounded, cold and without a drop of emotion. "What do you want, fool?" "Hey, don''t insult me!" Xu Mei shouted angrily, and then quickly exined the situation: "Zhang Mei, the situation is serious. Can you lend me 40,000 Spiritual Stones?" "Ha? Do you hear yourself? You still owe me the 10,000 that you borrowed a hundred years ago," Zhang Mei coldly reacted. "Zhang Mei, I''m serious," came Xu Mei''s grim voice. "Eh?!" On the other side, Zhang Mei almost spat out the tea she was drinking. She knew that when Xu Mei started talking in that tone, it was already very serious. She immediately stopped teasing her. "...What happened?" "I won''t exin to you, but whether you lend me the money or not will determine the fate of an important person," Xu Mei said in a cold voice: "Don''t worry, I will return..." "Wait, Master," Xie Qing finally spoke up. "Hm? Are you also there, Xu Mei''s disciple?" Chapter 60: Massage for mother (Part 1) "Wait, Master," said Xie Qing''s voice, finally deciding to intervene in the conversation: "I will take responsibility for this debt. Sect Master Zhang, this is indeed a serious matter. I promise that I will return the debt to you in full as soon as possible." "Hm?" Zhang Mei let out a surprised sigh, sensing suppression and seriousness in Xie Qing''s voice, and then, after thinking for a moment, replied: "Alright, I don''t mind. Having a talented person owe me is beneficial, so I will lend you this amount." "Thank you..." "But!" Zhang Mei interrupted Xie Qing. She said in a serious tone: "After you finish dealing with your matters, you must visit my sect and allow me to examine your body." "Hm?" Xie Qing and Xu Mei simultaneously let out a surprised sound. Zhang Mei, who was holding amunication token in her hand, did not understand their reaction and then corrected herself. "I meant that you will allow me to look at your spiritual veins and help me understand something about that cultivation technique. What were you thinking?!" Zhang Mei shouted, and her ears turned red. "Oh, nothing," Xie Qing said nonchntly, smiling. "Hmph..." Xu Mei rolled her eyes and skillfully dodged the blow that Mei Feng made. She did not hear their conversation because of the barrier that Xu Mei had set up to prevent her Master from hearing Xie Qing''s voice. Meanwhile, next to Xie Qing, who had given his coordinates, a small crack appeared and began to grow in size, eventually taking the form of a portal. From the portal flew out a spatial ring, which fell directly into Xie Qing''s palm. "Here, exactly 40,000 Spiritual Stones. Don''t forget your promise," Zhang Mei said and ended the call. "Thank you." Xie Qing smiled brightly, and the darkness in his heart finally disappeared. Then he thanked Xu Mei. "Thank you, my love. Now I can help my mother," he said with a gentle smile. "You''re wee. We were once acquaintances, she gave me several rare types of alcohol, so I was kind of in debt," Xu Mei said andughed: "Bring her to the sect. She can live with us." "Alright." After saying goodbye, Xu Mei was busy training, and Xie Qing was eager to buy this ointment. Entering the store, he clicked on the [Buy] button, and the spatial ring in his pocket flew out, and the Spiritual Stones inside began to appear and disappear, being pulled into the system window. After the Spiritual Stones disappeared, a 0.5ml bottle fell into Xie Qing''s hand. Inside was a dark red ointment with a spicy and rose aroma. A peculiar smell. However, he did not care about this. Quickly leaving the room, Xie Qing tried to find Yu Yang, but she had disappeared somewhere. He waited for two hours until his mother woke up. He entered her room. "Mom, how are you feeling?" Xie Qing asked. "Hm? Is that you, Qing''er?" Xie Meiling said with a gentle smile and then sighed: "Feeling tired. My Qi is exhausted, and the Golden Core is covered in cracks. I might never be able to restore my cultivation," "..." Xie Qing fell silent. This was a serious problem, as the disappearance of cultivation could lead to a series of problems. The cultivator''s health could be at risk and even death, and in the future, they would never be able to cultivate again. This was a curse for a cultivator. To be a cripple without the ability to cultivate in a world where danger was everywhere was almost a death sentence. Many took their own lives, just to avoid living through this nightmare. After a brief silence, Xie Qing took out the ointment. He decided not to wait for Yu Yang and apply the ointment himself. "Mom, I found something that might help you," he said, opening the bottle lid: "This is a healing ointment. It can deal with wounds." "Thank you, my dear. But... I don''t think it will help," Xie Meiling said with a bitter smile, gently stroking the young man''s hand: "I know you''re worried about me, but don''t think too much. Even if I die, my soul will be at peace, that-". "You won''t die," Xie Qing said sternly, interrupting Xie Meiling''s speech. He looked a little angry: "Mom, as long as I''m with you, you won''t die." "..." Xie Meiling fell silent and turned away. She felt a strange shiver when Xie Qing spoke to her in that tone. Although she was a little offended. "Hmph, have you grown up so much that you no longer respect your mother?" Xie Meiling said with puffed cheeks. "N-no, of course, I respect you," Xie Qing eximed in surprise, but seeing the smile on the woman''s face, he shook his head: "Don''t tease me like that, please." "Hehehe... but I will tease you!" Xie Meilingughed happily, and her wrinkles smoothed out a little. Xie Qing silently watched her and could see that she was trying to change the subject. It was clear that Xie Meiling did not believe much in the effectiveness of the ointment. However, he did not want to give up. "Mom, let me try. I''m sure it won''t get worse," Xie Qing said, gently stroking Xie Meiling''s palm. "Sigh... alright," Xie Meiling replied and rolled her eyes: "What can I do?" "Nothing. I will help you lie on your stomach, and then I will start applying the ointment to the wounds," Xie Qing said, warning his mother, turned her over, andid her on her stomach. Then he began to undress her top. Soon, a bareback appeared, on which there were countless small andrge scars. Xie Qing''s heart was bleeding. "These bastards..." There was not a single unharmed spot on Xie Meiling''s body. He could not help but clench his teeth, and his teeth grinding distracted the woman, who was a little embarrassed. She sighed heavily, realizing that because of her uselessness, too much pressure had fallen on her beloved son. Although, to some extent, her situation was because of Xie Qing, she would never me him for this. On the contrary, she believed that his birth was the only thing she could be proud of. For a devoted woman, at this moment, only he was the light that kept her life''sntern burning. Soon, Xie Qing, following the instructions that appeared in his head after buying it, lightly touched the ointment and then began to slowly rub it into the scars. "Aah?!" Xie Meiling let out a strange moan and immediately closed her lips. Her cheeks turned red. She had already expected that Xie Qing would tease her, but he worked seriously to heal her wounds. "..." Xie Meiling''s heart was filled with love and warmth, and her eyes reflected tenderness and care. It was clear that Xie Qing treated this matter as if his life depended on it. His fingers pressed into the scars, applying the ointment, and his forehead was sweating. "A strange feeling," Xie Meiling thought, feeling heat all over her body. Meanwhile, Xie Qing wiped away the sweat, having taken care of all the small scars. The ointment was too powerful, and even a small drop could heal fatal wounds, not to mention these were only superficial scars. Then he applied another thinyer of ointment and began to slowly take care of therger scars. Xie Meiling clenched her teeth, feeling the heat increasing. She was already finding it difficult to suppress her moans, and her face turned red with shame. "He''s just healing me, but I have such strange feelings... damn, damn! How can I think about this?!" Xie Meiling thought dejectedly, rolling her eyes from the strong flow of pleasure caused by the rapid healing of her wounds along with Xie Qing''s massage: "Aah... ugh!" To her great fortune, Xie Qing was so focused that he did not hear her moans. He had to use his Qi to increase the effect and distribute the ointment correctly so that all the scars and wounds would heal as soon as possible. Thanks to this, the ointment prated the scars, healed them, and then entered the body through the skin, entering the bloodstream and stimting natural regeneration, which was enhanced by the ointment. Since there was a phoenix in the name, Xie Qing expected that something good woulde of this. And so it did. After twenty minutes of hard work, he tore his hands away from Xie Meiling''s back, causing the woman to let out a strange cry. He wiped the sweat that was flowing from his forehead and then looked at Xie Meiling''s back, feeling pride. "Not a single scar," Xie Qing thought, smiling brightly. In front of him was Xie Meiling''s neat and tender back, which was devoid of any scars. The skin was light and looked healthy. "How are you feeling, Mom? Do you feel any changes?" "..." "Mom?" Xie Qing raised his brow and leaned to the right to look at the woman and was surprised to find that she was biting into the pillow, and her face was red. "The effect of the ointment, I suppose. Her body is currently undergoing healing, and the old blood is being reced by new and strong blood. So I think it''s normal that she''s a little hot." Xie Meiling''s blood before the treatment was frail, with traces of poison. They were the main cause of her weakness. When the Qi can no longer absorb the poison, it passes into the blood. This was a deadly trap. However, the ointment caused a strong reaction, and now the old blood was being absorbed by the new blood, which contained healing power. This would help her body restore its former strength, possibly even restore the Golden Core. The young man waited a little while for Xie Meiling toe to her senses, and then began to apply the ointment to her arm. "Aah..." "Uugh..." "Aahn~!" Xie Meiling made quite lustful sounds, feeling her body burning from a strange arousal. She breathed heavily. But at the same time, the woman felt how the poison began to leave her body from all her openings. Even from the skin, dark green drops came out. And when I say from all the openings... It means even one very sensitive ce. "U-u-uh..." Xie Meiling almost cried from shame, feeling how liquid flowed from her divine cave. This was a poison that harmed her vagina, making her feel as if she was being burned from the inside. It was painful, but the woman endured. She felt how her old blood and poison left her body, and instead of the usual weakness, some energy appeared. She sighed in relief. Before, she could barely walk and resembled an invalid, but now she had enough energy to take a few steps. This was already a good result. Meanwhile, Xie Qing finished rubbing her arms, healing the scars. He also saw how the old blood and poison came out of her body, and he rejoiced. "30,000 Spiritual Stones didn''t go to waste!" he thought with a bright smile. He was about to turn Xie Meiling''s body over to continue applying the ointment, but she stopped him. "S-stop... let''s continue a littleter, o-okay? I don''t feel very well," she said, and her voice trembled. Xie Qing noticed the shame on her face and tilted his head to the side, not quite understanding, but still nodded. Only then could Xie Meiling breathe a sigh of relief. She did not want to show her pitiful state to her son, and he was still a man. How could she, as a woman, show her naked body? After a few minutes, Yu Yang, who had finished shopping, entered the room. Sensing the stench in the room, she was very surprised. "...What happened here?" "Yu Yang, you''re back," Xie Qing nodded and said, and then exined: "With the help of acquaintances, I bought some ointment that will help my mother recover. There is an effect already, I have removed the scars and extracted some of the poison from her blood. Six more sessions will be needed, each divided by the days of the week, and she can be said to be cured." "Hm?" The chief maid looked puzzled at Xie Qing, and then her eyes lit up with hope. She ran up to him and hugged him tightly ¨C the previous strict expression on her face gave way to joy, and her eyes filled with tears. "Th-thank you, young master... you are a miracle sent by Heaven..." Yu Yang said, sobbing. "Uh..." Xie Qing smiled awkwardly, gently squeezing Yu Yang''s plump body in his arms. He stroked her slender back, withstanding his mother''s burning gaze directed at his back. However, Xie Meiling soon smiled too, but she did not decide to get up from her ce, feeling how her younger sister burned with pain. Soon, Xie Qing was kicked out of the room, and he wanted to go out to freshen up. As soon as he closed the door, he coughed. "Kha-khak... ugh..." He covered his mouth with his hand and coughed, removing his hand, on which there were traces of blood. Healing the poison was not easy ¨C it had a strange consistency, and most of the poison had seeped into his body. Although it could not harm him, most likely, due to his special physique, it still brought suffering. Compared to Xie Meiling, he just needed to take a shower and meditate to get rid of the poison. "What an unpleasant poison..." he thought, wiping the blood from his hand. Chapter 61: Massage for mother (Part 2) Yu Yang looked at her mistress''s body with embarrassment. On the one hand, she was d that she was okay, but on the other hand... "How amazing, your body does look much better," Yu Yang said, examining Xie Meiling''s body. She had long removed the poison and other fluids to prevent infection and had cleaned the room using special protection. Carefully examining Xie Meiling''s body, she could see the difference. The ces that Xie Qing had not touched were still covered in scars, and in these ces, Xie Meiling felt bad, but her back was light. The contrast between these two sides was too strong. Moreover, the ointment still needed to be applied for six days to fully heal the body. This was good news, but... "M-mistress, are you ready for this?" Yu Yang asked with embarrassment on her face. "What can I do? To effectively apply the ointment to the body, you need Qi, and you can''t exhaust yourself, or your wounds will get worse," Xie Meiling said with bitterness in her voice, covering her face, which had turned red with embarrassment: "Although I''m embarrassed to show my body to my son, I think there''s nothing wrong with it." "...I wouldn''t be so sure," Yu Yang replied, making Xie Meiling fall silent. Even if they were mother and son, they were still a man and a woman. Showing her skin and allowing herself to be touched was too embarrassing. And the fact that it was her son only increased Xie Meiling''s embarrassment and another strange feeling. However, for the sake of treatment, she could allow this to happen. ording to Xie Qing''s exnation, the ointment needed to be applied with Qi to fully cover all the wounds and sessfully enter the body, enhancing regeneration. Considering Xie Qing''s level, this was not too difficult, but Yu Yang could not repeat it because her Golden Core was also slightly damaged. Therefore, they had to put up with it. "But... I haven''t seen my skin this healthy in a long time," Xie Meiling said with a smile, examining her hands, which had returned to their normal state, even looking better. She was very pleased. For a woman, beauty was an important part of her image, and she was very proud of her appearance. Gradually, she regained her natural beauty. Realizing this, Xie Meiling was very happy. She felt grateful to the heavens and to her son, who was able to obtain something so good. "My son is amazing. Everyone took him for a harmlessmb, but he turned out to be a dragon soaring among the clouds. Even that bastard Xie Hai and Xie Hui are no match for him," Xie Meiling thought and giggled. Meanwhile, Xie Qing had finished bathing, getting rid of the poison in his body. He took care to make sure that the poison was gone forever, destroying it with his Qi. After getting rid of the poison, he came out of the bathroom and raised his eyebrows, seeing a woman in front of him. "Yu Yang." "Young master," Yu Yang nodded without emotion and adjusted her sses, saying: "Can I help you get dressed?" "Hm? I think I can myself... although, I won''t refuse. It''s been a long time since your gentle hands touched me," the young man said with a smile. "As you wish." Yu Yang nodded briefly and took a clean white hanfu, helping Xie Qing get dressed. Soon, she tied his long hair into a ponytail on the back of his head. He looked excellent. "You look great, young master," Yu Yang said with a stern face, but her eyes sparkled, and her heart beat faster. She could not believe that the boy from the past had be so... magnificent. Well, I don''t think I need to exin which part of his body was magnificent. In any case, after getting dressed, Yu Yang and Xie Qing went downstairs to have dinner. Xie Meiling was already asleep; she was exhausted, and sleep would help her recover faster. Dinner was not toovish, as Xie Qing was used to ¨C rice and pieces of pork in spicy sauce. However, he did notin and ate with appetite. Although he could not eat for a month at his current level of cultivation, food was something that helped him maintain his connection with the mortal world. And besides, as long as it was tasty, Xie Qing would happily eat it. Yu Yang''s cooking was good. It even surpassed the head chef who worked in the Xie family''s mansion. However, due to limited financial resources, they had to save money. Xie Qing took out 350,000 Huang and handed it to Yu Yang. "This is a small amount of money, but at least it will help provide us with good food. I don''t need to eat. Spend part of it on yourself, and save the other part for nutritious substances for mom." Xie Qing began to exin which herbs and which fruits and vegetables needed to be bought. He had studied the books a little and saw a recipe for medicinal soup. After studying the list, Yu Yang was able to roughly understand that most of the funds Xie Qing had given her would have to be spent, as all these products were expensive. However, she did not hesitate and nodded. "Alright. I''ll go buy these products tomorrow morning." "No need. I''ll buy them myself; I''ll also be able to visit an acquaintance." "Eh..." Yu Yang wanted to refuse, but seeing that Xie Qing was serious, she could only sigh and agree. The next morning, Xie Qing went shopping. It was six o''clock in the morning, the beginning of the working day. With the help of passersby, he found the right store and began to buy products for the medicinal soup. In the end, all this cost him 25,000 Huang. With six more servings, it would be quite a lot, but for his mother, he was willing to make such expenses. After finishing the shopping, he put everything in the spatial ring. Then his eyes gleamed coldly. It was time for revenge. *** In a small, dpidated bar sat a man. His name was Du Bai. If he had a brother, he would be called Shang Hai. He was bald, his eyes were dull brown, his skin was pale as a corpse''s, and next to his eye was a hook-shaped tattoo. His nickname was ''Bloody de,'' a famous mercenary of the dark market. His name had be a byword, and this man was quite well-known. Du Bai was hired by the Xie family about ten years ago. At first, he acts as an ordinary protector, but Xie Hui pays him extra, and he agreed to kill Xie Meiling but fails. In the end, to avoid a bad reputation, he decided to follow this woman and make sure she was dead. The trail led him to the capital, and then there was silence. Only the heavens knew how many hours, days, and months he spent searching, but the result was only silence and several fake pieces of evidence. Today was no different from other days. He was drinking in a bar, and at night, he was looking for Xie Meiling. His mood was gloomy. "This bitch... where is she hiding? If I can''t kill her, I''ll lose the fee, and I''ll have to pay a fine," Du Bai thought, gritting his teeth. The past few years had been a stain on his reputation. Despite trying to strive and show results, it was all in vain. "By the way," he thought suddenly, looking around: "Why is the bar empty today? That''s unusual. Even in the morning, there''s a crowd of gawkers here." Du Bai felt a strange premonition. He got up from the bar and handed the money to the bartender, who raised his head and dazzlingly smiled. "Thank you for your visit~." "Hm? Are you a newbie?" Du Bai was surprised, to see that the bartender had been reced. He narrowed his eyes, feeling his sixth sense tremble, announcing danger: "Where''s De Yan?" "Heh? That bartender guy? Well, how shall I put it¡­" the stranger muttered in surprise, rubbing his lips. Then he said with a bright smile: "I remembered! I just killed him an hour ago!" "!!!" Du Bai looked astonished at the bartender, and then he quickly jumped back. Bam! In the ce where Du Bai was before, a cut appeared, which cut through the earth for two meters. The floor, the bar, the chairs, and the like were cut. It was a perfect cut. Du Bai''s heart darkened. He could not believe what he saw in front of him. An overwhelming amount of Sword Aura created a real visual effect, turning into a dark silver me. This meant that in front of him was not an ordinary swordsman¡­ this was a Sword Master! Who are the Sword Masters? No, no, these are not the guys who are stuck in the game. They were powerful Dao Sword cultivators who were maximally close to the sword. They were strong and dangerous opponents. Du Bai did not dare to treat the enemy carelessly and immediately used a body enhancement technique. Of course, the man who attacked Du Bai was Xie Qing. He did not waste time and was able to disguise himself as a bartender, and then with the help of gentle words, he convinced the bar owner to help him with one task. He did not kill the previous bartender; he just knocked him out. These words were said only to intimidate Du Bai. Looking at the man in front of him, Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, and a chill emanated from him. Meeting his enemy, he could not help but feel anger. However, he restrained himself from quickly killing his opponent. Du Bai began to attack. He was a cultivator who had tempered his body. With agile movements, Xie Qing disarmed him and then grabbed his arm and pulled him towards him. The result was immediate. "AAAAAAAA!" A scream filled with pain and suffering. Xie Qing predatorily smiled, looking at Du Bai, who was suffering from pain. His arm was bent at a strange angle, and the wound was covered with a thickyer of Qi Aura, which prevented regeneration. Then, step by step, Xie Qing began to torture him. Du Bai''s body was securely attached to the floor. Next was a description of an extremely cruel scene, but we will not describe it in detail. In the end, Du Bai began to resemble a crumpled piece of flesh. Seeing his pitiful state and feeling how the life of this trash was fading, Xie Qing coldly smiled and then burned him alive. There were no screams; Xie Qing took care to cut the vocal cords. Soon the mepletely engulfed Du Bai''s body, turning him into ashes. Watching this, Xie Qing''s heart was filled with a pleasant feeling. "You will be the first step," he muttered, smiling brightly. Revenge was sweet. Xie Qing cleaned his clothes of dirt and blood and then returned home. The frightened bar owner did not dare to say anything or report it to the guards. He knew that this cultivator would kill him as soon as it became known. Moreover, an unknown man had died, so the bar owner was calm. He escorted Xie Qing with a look, mentally praying to the heavens that he would not return. *** Xie Qing returned home and saw that Yu Yang was in the kitchen. She turned around and nodded. "Good morning, Yu Yang," Xie Qing said, taking out the products for the medicinal soup from the spatial ring: "This will be enough for three servings. Mom needs to take it in the morning, noon, and evening without fail." "Alright, young master. I was just about to make breakfast. Would you like to have breakfast?" "No, I''ll pass," Xie Qing refused, shrugging: "You''d better eat more often. You''ve be too thin since ourst meeting. This won''t do." Yu Yang smiled silently, not paying attention to Xie Qing, who was looking at her with a somewhat lustful gaze. She even shook her butt, increasing the temperature in the room. However, Xie Qing restrained himself and did not attack her, as the situation did not allow it. He went up to his mother''s room. Xie Meiling was half-lying, leaning against the bed''s headboard. She was holding a book in her hand. Hearing the sound of Xie Qing''s footsteps, she tore herself away from the book and smiled at him, waving her hand. "Yo." "...where did you learn to talk like that?" Xie Qing smiled. "In this book, teenagers greet each other like this. I thought it was normal," Xie Meiling replied casually. Xie Qingughed, shaking his head. His mother, who always had elegant manners, used such informal speech. This was something new for him. However, their conversation did notst long. Xie Qing asked Xie Meiling to undress. "Herees that moment," Xie Meiling thought, heavily sighing. Her fingers touched the hem of the shirt she was wearing, and swallowing, she began to pull it up. Immediately, bare skin was exposed. Xie Meiling was not wearing a bra because it could only harm her. Xie Qing saw D-cup size breasts and red nipples presented to the light. Xie Qing did not stare for long, although his gaze, unbeknownst to himself, sometimes returned to her breasts. Thanks to the fact that he had sufficient self-control, the young man soon came to his senses and, ignoring his mother''s embarrassed gaze, applied ointment to his finger and began to heal the small scars. "Mm-m..." The young man fell silent when he heard a gentle moan next to his ear and the heavy breathing of Xie Meiling. "I don''t even know how to react." Chapter 62: Massage for mother (Part 2) (R-16) Xie Qing gently slid his hands over Xie Meiling''s stomach, covering her breasts with her hands, concealing the sight of her delicate nipples. Xie Qing also tried not to stare at her body and focused on his work. He managed to handle it quite well. All the minor and insignificant scars were taken care of. "The small scars are done. Now let''s move on to the deeper ones," he mumbled to himself. He applied more ointment to his finger and began to treat therger scars. "Aah~" a seductive moan escaped Xie Meiling''s lips, and she sighed heavily. Xie Qing sighed when a hot breath hit his ear, causing his ears to turn slightly red. He covered them with his free hand, feeling a little embarrassed. "I got chills down my spine," he thought, rolling his eyes. His ears were his weak spot, so he was very sensitive there. Fortunately, he had strong self-control and a thick skin on his face, which allowed him to handle the task without any problems ¨C to heal her wounds. Meanwhile, Xie Meiling held her breath and stifled her moans, biting her lip. The healing ointment had a strange effect on her, and her body was burning with a strange sensation. She almost lost consciousness. Moreover, she was extremely hot. This was a normal body reaction when it went through regeneration, which was several times stronger than usual, hence the reaction. The heat was due to the poison slowly but surely leaving her body. Old blood was reced by new blood, and her immune system fought the infection in the form of poison. Furthermore, little by little, her golden core returned to its shape, and the cracks healed. The surface of Xie Meiling''s Golden Core became smooth and bright, regaining its former glory. "Aaaah!" Suddenly, Xie Qing was distracted by a loud moan, and he felt a strange tremor in the lower part of Xie Meiling''s body, where he had ced his knee to reach her stomach. He fell silent for a moment and saw out of the corner of his eye that his mother looked shocked. So, he made the only right decision in such a situation... Pretend to be clueless! Xie Meiling, havinge out of her euphoria, blushed deeply, and her eyes trembled. She looked at Xie Qing but noticed that he was seriously dealing with the scars on her stomach. She exhaled in relief. "How shameful... it''s good that he didn''t notice it, otherwise I would havepletely lost my pride," thought Xie Meiling, pushing away the nket to cover her lower body. Having finished with the scars on her stomach, Xie Qing moved back and pulled back the nket, revealing Xie Meiling''s slender legs. She looked shocked and then bit her lip, feeling a shiver as the young man began to touch her thighs to heal the scars. A strange feeling of excitement appeared in the woman''s thoughts, but she blushed and felt ashamed of such thoughts. "What nonsense! Xie Meiling, have you lost your mind?! He''s your son!" she thought and clenched her teeth, disappointed in herself. However, her gaze involuntarily fell on Xie Qing. The young man examined every corner of her body with a serious expression, not allowing a single scar to remain. From his touch, Xie Meiling felt strange as if she wanted to ask him not to hold her like that, but she couldn''t object. Soon, Xie Qing moved on to the other thigh. One of the scars was maximally close to her groin area, so when Xie Qing''s finger touched this area, Xie Meiling screamed. "Oooh!" Xie Qing ignored Xie Meiling''s moans, justifying it by the fact that she was simply ufortable with the treatment process. Step by step, he applied the ointment, eventually finishing with her thighs. Then he moved on to her legs. Thanks to the fact that Xie Meiling could now eat normal food, her body regained its former greatness and beauty. It remained only to remove the scars and heal her, vo, a beauty appears! Xie Qing was determined, so he didn''t even perceive the refusal. Since there were many scars on her legs, most of which were small scars from cuts. Perhaps this was caused by someone with the "Qi Style." After applying the ointment to three fingers, he rubbed them on his palm, evenly distributing it. Every drop of ointment was important, so he had to be economical, but even drops were enough to treat serious wounds. And so, having finished covering his palm with ointment, Xie Qing suddenly grabbed Xie Meiling''s ankle and then ced it on his shoulder. "Eeeh?! Xie Meiling blushed deeply when she realized what an awkward position she was in. "S-stop, son... this is a little wrong," she said in a nervous voice. "What are you talking about? This way it will be easier for me to get to all the scars," replied Xie Qing, tilting his head in confusion. "Ehh..." Xie Meiling couldn''t object, so she only sighed bitterly. She turned her gaze away, not wanting to watch this process, although, in fact, she sometimes nced. Xie Qing didn''t wait for her permission and began to slowly move from her thighs to her ankles, applying the ointment. He carefully passed through every corner, and his hand caressed Xie Meiling''s legs, who restrained her moans of pleasure... yes! She felt pleasure from his touch, moreover, the position she was in made her aroused. From such thoughts, she felt disgust for herself, but she couldn''t do anything about it. Her thoughts became dirty, which was partly stimted by the ointment. And what about Xie Qing? Well, this young man was seriously tuned in. For him, healing Xie Meiling''s body was like a mission from God, so he took this matter very seriously. Realizing this, Xie Meiling felt even more disgusted with herself, but in her chest, nevertheless, a seed of a mysterious feeling was born. Having finished with one leg, Xie Qing moved on to the other. Soon, under Xie Meiling''s seductive moans, all the scars on her leg were removed. "Fuuuuh..." Xie Qing fell onto the bed with his back, breathing heavily. His Qi was expended like crazy, and considering that he also stimted her spiritual veins to help them maintain their shape and not disperse, it made him very tired. However, thanks to the "blood transfusion," which in cultivator terms can be called "Qi transfusion," he achieved good results. Since they were son and mother, there were no problems. "This... my Qi! It broke through to the peak of Enlightenment!" Xie Meiling eximed suddenly, and her red face was painted with a bright smile. Xie Qing just smiled and then his eyes trembled when he saw Xie Meiling''s newly exposed chest again. He looked for a while and then turned his gaze away. While the woman admired her power, Xie Qing quickly turned her over onto her stomach. When Xie Meiling realized this, her face was distorted with embarrassment. Meanwhile, Xie Qing''s mouth dropped open. In front of his eyes appeared the slender and neat, symmetrical with each other buttocks of his mother, reminiscent of a peach. Although she was still thin and this was not her "peak state," it was still seductive. Having looked a little, he came to his senses, realizing that it was very rude on his part. Xie Qing''s face turned slightly red with shame... wait a minute... Perhaps tomorrow the world will be destroyed. Even the thick-skinned Xie Qing felt ufortable with his thoughts. It is rightly said by the sages that even a finger shoots once in a hundred years. One way or another, there was little left to do. There were no scars on Xie Meiling''s buttocks, but... the problem was not in this ce. "What to do," thought Xie Qing, and his expression became imprable. He could immediately notice that there was something wrong with Xie Meiling''s younger sister. Although the poison was removed, there were still traces of it. It was like acid that harmed her. Thinking a little, he knocked on his temple, and a strange feeling of calm enveloped his body. This was a basic technique for calming the mind. "Son?" Xie Meiling called him, not understanding why he had stopped. She, without realizing it, craved his touch. But then...: "Hii-ii-ii-ii!" A strange cry escaped her mouth when she felt the cold ointment touch herbia. She immediately turned and saw that Xie Qing was applying ointment to this ce. "S-stop, son, I... Aaaaah!~". Xie Meiling''s body suddenly twitched, and she began to tremble, and liquid flowed out of her cave. She came! Her head became empty, and she felt a pleasant shiver throughout her body. Xie Qing''s Qi was maximally effectively entering her body, plunging into the spiritual channels, and rapidly healing the Golden Core. But as a side effect, it was a strong pleasure, as if from sex. Although Xie Qing did not insert his finger deeper, since he still knew his limits. The ointment flowed into her vagina, and thanks to Xie Qing''s Qi, it spread evenly, healing internal wounds. By the time the young man finished healing his mother''s body, he noticed that she had lost consciousness. "Um..." *** "Do you understand what you''ve done? Do you understand your mistake?" Xie Meiling''s strict voice was heard. Xie Qing remained silent, averting his gaze. Although he understood that what he had done was not what should have happened between mother and son, there was no other context in his actions, except for the goal of healing her. Therefore, Xie Meiling was not very angry with him, but she was still shocked by Xie Qing''s bold actions. "You could have called Yu Yang!" Xie Meiling said strictly, blushing with shame. "Yu Yang''s Golden Core is one step away from destruction. She cannot use Qi, otherwise, her condition will worsen," Xie Qing immediately rejected, shaking his head. He met Xie Meiling''s embarrassed and watery eyes and said resolutely: "If I hadn''t done this, you would have continued to suffer from pain, which could even lead to infertility, as well as to the loss of the possibility of cultivation in the future." "Eh?" Xie Meiling blinked in surprise, and her face turned pale when she heard about this. Although infertility worried her, the loss of the possibility of cultivation worried her more. Thinking about this and recalling Xie Qing''s arguments, she could only sigh. Turning away, she said: "Next time... warn me, okay?" "As you say, madam," Xie Qing replied with a smile. The woman blushed and covered her face in shame. She still couldn''t believe that she had released her fluids while her son watched her. "Eh?" However, she was suddenly interrupted by a strange feeling. Her back was pressed against a body, and it was Xie Qing. He tightly hugged her around the waist, kissing her on the crown of her head. "There are only five days left, and you will bepletely healed. Maybe you''ll even get something useful out of it. The healing ointment brings the body to its peak state," he exined, while his chin gently scratched Xie Meiling''s crown. "Here it is..." Xie Meiling was amazed, and her hands gently stroked Xie Qing''s hands. She shyly smiled and felt joy. Her boy had grown up. Now she could lean on his back, not worrying about anything. She remembered those days when she was pregnant. Her pregnancysted abnormally long, and many members of the Xie family thought that a genius was about to be born, but upon discovering Xie Qing''s weak, almost non-existent talent, everyone abandoned him. However, Xie Meiling was still happy that he was born. Although she worried about his future, it seemed that now she didn''t have to worry. Turning around, Xie Meiling hugged her son and brought her lips close to kiss him on the cheek, but the door suddenly opened, and Xie Qing identally turned. So it happened that Xie Meiling''s kissnded on Xie Qing''s lips. Yu Yang, who was holding a nutritious soup in her hand, pretended not to notice anything. "Madam, the soup is ready," she said, looking at the floor. "..." Xie Meiling almost died of embarrassment. *** Xie Qing went outside to get some fresh air. At the same time, he looked at the ointment and saw that there was still 85% left, even after he finished treating his mother. "Interesting... I think it wille in handy for me in the future. After I finish healing my mom, I''ll heal Yu Yang too," thought the young man, sitting in the living room. Yu Yang''s Golden Core was maintained solely by her willpower. Otherwise, it could copse at any moment, ending her career as a cultivator. It was serious. Since this maid was not a stranger to him, Xie Qing would help her. Lying on the bed, he involuntarily remembered the feeling of his hands touching his mother''sbia. He felt a little aroused, but then he hit himself hard on the cheek toe to his senses. "What am I thinking about? Bad mind, bad!" he shouted in his thoughts, but his gaze fell on the staff that was ready to pierce the heavens: "Damn... what kind of pervert am I, after all." And while he was lost in thought... Knock-knock. There was a knock on the door. Then a voice was heard. "Young master, may Ie in?" "Yu Yang?" Chapter 63: Time with Yu Yang (Part 1) Additional chapters due to the giveaway will be posted tomorrow due to unforeseen circumstances. Apologies. ==== Minutes earlier... Xie Qing wearily rubbed his eyes and pulled out a cloth to wipe the sweat from his brow. Controlling Qi to apply ointment and simultaneously attempting to heal his mother''s Golden Core was no easy task, and it left him feeling immense pressure. If anyone else at his level tried to repeat such a venture, their Golden Core would likely be damaged. Fortunately, Xie Qing''s Qi purity was high,parable to the peak of the Core Formation. cing the cloth on the nightstand, Xie Qing copsed onto the bed and looked out the window, furrowing his brow. His head was pounding as countless thin red lines appeared before him, leading toward the Northern continent. He immediately understood that the Heavens were guiding him to fulfill a predestined mission under their watch. But this was somewhat strange. "Could it be... that others have experienced something simr?" the young man wondered, puzzled. Records of the Heavenly Oath were scarce, as few resolute individuals were willing to sacrifice themselves for a mission. Therefore, Xie Qing was unsure if this system was functioning correctly... yet he felt as if the Heavens were directing him to fulfill his oath. It was strange. "Well, I shouldn''t think too much about it. My head is pounding as it is," Xie Qingined, turning his head towards the door. There, he sensed someone''s presence: "Hm?" Just as he noticed, there was a knock on the door. "Young master, may Ie in?" a soft and mature woman''s voice asked. "Yu Yang? Of course,e in." Xie Qing got up from his seat, thinking it would be impolite to be lying on the bed when someone came to see him. The door opened, and Yu Yang entered. She was dressed in maid''s attire, but this time her hair was let down. "Wow! You look great with your hair down, actually" Xie Qing praised with a smile, then touched the ends of her hair, bringing them to his nose and inhaling: "And they smell nice too." "...Thank you for thepliment, young master," Yu Yang replied, averting her gaze. Xie Qing stepped back from her, noticing that Yu Yang seemed somewhat ufortable with his behavior. In reality, Yu Yang was simply embarrassed by such sudden closeness, as she was unustomed to Xie Qing''s dominance, who in her memory remained the same boy she loved to tease. And now that this boy had grown into a man and could tease her, of course, Yu Yang felt both shame and... excitement. "Ahem... actually, I came here to thank you," Yu Yang finally announced, regaining her usual tone. She looked at Xie Qing and said, rxing her face, allowing emotions to slip into her gentle eyes - they were filled with joy and gratitude: "You saved thedy''s life. Moreover, you took such a heavy burden upon your shoulders... I''m sure it must be very hard for you. Are you tired?" "Hm?" Xie Qing was slightly surprised by Yu Yang''s tone. He saw sincerity and attachment in her eyes, and her words: "Are you tired?", proved her concern. After a moment of silence, Xie Qing sighed and shook his head. "I''m not tired. On the contrary, I''m quite energetic. I need to take control of the Xie family, manage affairs, and live happily with my wives, together heading towards immortality. This dad has a lot of work to do," Xie Qing said with a smile, then pulled Yu Yang into his embrace. "Kya?!" Letting out a cute girlish scream, Yu Yang wrinkled her nose. She didn''t understand what had happened... and when Xie Qing''s teasing smile-filled face came into her view, she couldn''t help but blush. "Y-young master..." she muttered shyly. Xie Qing picked her up, holding her in a princess carry. For the chief maid who had forsaken her personal life for her Mistress, this was incredibly touching and romantic, causing her heart to race wildly. Looking at her beautiful features and soft cheeks, which had turned red, Xie Qing smiled carefreely. A sense of pride surged within him, as he had essentially avenged those years of Yu Yang''s teasing. "What''s the matter, are you embarrassed? Hehe, how unexpected," Xie Qing teased her, and Yu Yang turned her gaze away from shame, not wanting to meet Xie Qing''s eyes, who sat on the bed and ced the maid on hisp. His hand gently touched her right cheek, and as he caressed it, he made the woman turn to face him. Looking into Yu Yang''s gray eyes, which held tears of embarrassment, the young man gently kissed her eyshes. "Uuuuh..." Yu Yang let out a strange sound, closing her eyes. A vibration ran through her body, and she blushed, resembling a cute little tomato. She had nothing left to do but hide her face on Xie Qing''s chest. "Cute," Xie Qing mumbled, his heart nearly melting from such a scene. When you make a mature woman blush, you can already consider yourself a great man... probably. Gently stroking her hair, Xie Qing treated her like a hedgehog that had hidden, fearing to be eaten. His fingers ran through her hair as he fixed it, and kisses on her crown made the woman''s body tremble. Silence fell between them. Yu Yang was too embarrassed by being treated like a little child, and Xie Qing was lost in thought as he caressed her soft hair. Time passed. For half an hour, Xie Qing had been continuously stroking Yu Yang''s hair, and at one moment, he came to his senses when he felt a gentle breath on his chest. Looking down, he smiled. "Fell asleep? Well, she deserves a good rest. She''s suffered too much, both her and my mother," Xie Qing thought with a gentle smile, continuing to stroke her hair, because when he stopped, the woman let out a displeased sound. Xie Qing''s gaze turned to the window. The daylight did not reach the eternally dark slums, the cancerous growth of any civilization. His eyes could easily prate the darkness and notice the many rotten people. However, he did not go out and act heroically. Even if someone was being beaten in front of his eyes, helping them was not necessary. The cultivation world... and the world in general was too cruel. If you moved a pebble from the ground, what effect would it have on the world? That''s right, none. "The world is so diverse... and cruel," Xie Qing thought, suddenly delving into some philosophy. Feeling the gentle breath of the sleeping Yu Yang on his chest, feeling her warmth and softness... Xie Qing''s face became gentle, and his eyes filled with a dangerous hue. His gaze turned back to the threads, and his eyes narrowed. *** As evening approached, Yu Yang gently moaned, opening her beautiful eyes. For several seconds, she remained puzzled, not understanding why there was emptiness before her, and she felt stroking on her head. Then... memories flooded her mind. The color of her face gradually turned red, showing her embarrassment. "I-I... I fell asleep?! How shameful... young master must have felt awkward holding such an old woman like me in his arms," Yu Yang thought and pulled away from Xie Qing''s chest, turning her gaze upwards. There she noticed the young man who was gently stroking her hair. His gaze was fixed on the window, where darkness had already fallen. There was no emotion in his gaze, the muscles of his face were rxed, and his lips were tightly pressed together. Apathy. The absence of any emotions on the face, how unexpected, but it suited Xie Qing very well, making him more attractive. "He... is so handsome," Yu Yang thought, admiringly sighing. Although such a reaction usually belonged to men who saw her, this time she was genuinely admiring Xie Qing''s appearance. One could say a lot about how handsome, refined, and so on he was, but the description did not allow a real picture to beposed. Moreover, until recently, Yu Yang still saw a little boy in him, as those times left a strong impression on her. However, today Xie Qing showed that he had grown up. He showed how reliable his chest could be, how strong his arms could be, and how resolute his heart could be. Looking at Xie Qing''s manly appearance, which was the only thing that fell into Yu Yang''s field of vision. Unknowingly, her gaze resembled that of a girl in love. She didn''t even try to hide it. Xie Qing, feeling a staring gaze on himself, came to his senses from his thoughts and turned his head towards the woman. "Hm?" His face was painted with a gentle smile when he approached and kissed Yu Yang''s lips, who was charmedly looking at him. Stroking her ears with his fingers, Xie Qing whispered in her ear: "You''re so carefree, cute. What if I took advantage of you in your sleep? Or do you trust me that much?" "Uuuuh.." Yu Yang blushed,ing to her senses only after Xie Qing''s words. She looked offended at him, pouting her lips and making a strange sound. Her charming and beautiful face was filled with embarrassment. However, then she nodded. "I know I can trust you, young master," Yu Yang said through her embarrassment. "Oh? Your words please me greatly," Xie Qing replied, then kissed Yu Yang again, leaving her in a daze: "Here''s your reward. Did you like it?" "S-s-stop, d-don''t tease me, young master..." Yu Yang passively responded. She wanted to break free from his embrace but realized she couldn''t, so she could only "helplessly" ept this fate... Although, who am I kidding? She simply didn''t want to get out of his arms, it was toofortable! So much so that Yu Yang managed to fall asleep so soundly for the first time in so many years. An atmosphere of romance and love filled the room as Xie Qing teased Yu Yang and kissed her, making the woman''s heart fill with joy and embarrassment. After an hour of flirting, Yu Yang''s face took on a bright hue, and her eyes filled with tears of happiness. Xie Qing''s caresses were too powerful! The young manughed, looking at the state of the maid. Her satisfied face looked very cute and funny. Although to be honest, Xie Qing was a little tired too. After his Qi was restored, he used it again to heal Yu Yang''s Golden Core. It turned out that the core was already 97% healed, and only a little remained, but these wounds would heal themselves. In the end, Xie Qing still released Yu Yang from his embrace, who sat down next to him with a red face. She was burning with shame, unable to believe that a man younger than her in age had teased her like a little girl. Catching her breath, Yu Yang fell silent for a moment, then spoke. "Xie Qing, what do you feel for me?" she asked, not raising her eyes from the floor. "Heh, by name, yes..." Xie Qing thought, understanding that in this way Yu Yang wanted to denote their rtionship. He didn''t need to think much, he already knew the answer. But following a little logic, he needed to think first and then answer, otherwise, it would give the impression of someone carefree. For him, Yu Yang was a close person, although not a love interest. At least, that was the case until he learned that she had been protecting his mother for so many years, taking care of her. Even if you''re the most cold-hearted idiot who doesn''t know the word "thank you," you''ll feel touched when someone selflessly takes care of your loved one. Therefore, Xie Qing was very impressed and wanted to repay Yu Yang. But, of course, repaying with "love" sounded a bit strange, as Yu Yang would think that his attitude towards her was built only out of a sense of duty, which would be a burden of emotions for her. Therefore, Xie Qing decided to simply answer, sincerely. "Actually... I don''t know myself. It all depends on me and you. You should have already known that I don''t have just one beloved girl, and my dream has always been to have a harem," Xie Qing said and scratched his cheek, feeling a little awkward, revealing such a dream: "And you are a woman who is strict in such matters. So, I''m not sure if you''ll want to go with me... but, I''ll always be ready to wee you into my heart." He smiled and took her hand, gently stroking her palm. Yu Yang finally tore her gaze away from the floor and looked at the young man. "I will respect any decision you make. My feelings for you are attachment and endless gratitude, but there is no love or sympathy. However, that doesn''t mean it can''t change." Time was on everyone''s side. Perhaps not now, but in a moment in time, Xie Qing mighte to love her, and their rtionship would develop. Yu Yang understood this, and therefore she fell silent, contemting for a moment. Finally, she spoke. "I... don''t mind you having other women. As a powerful cultivator, you have every right to do so. Besides, I don''t want you to change your worldview orpromise for my sake," Yu Yang said, and then resolutely added: "In any case, I want you to give me a chance." "Of course," Xie Qing replied, pulling Yu Yang closer to him. He smiled: "There''s always a ce in my heart for my dear Yu Yang. Well, have you thought about how you''ll seduce me? I''m a little excited." "Eh-eh..." Yu Yang blushed when she realized that she didn''t have any ideas at all. However, Xie Qing just smiled kindly. Chapter 64: Time with Yu Yang (Part 2) (R-18) Night. Xie Qing was preparing to meditate when suddenly the door to his room opened. A shadow crept in and embraced him from behind. "Yu Yang?" he called out her name in surprise. "Young master," Yu Yang whispered in his ear, pressing herself against his back. She brought her lips close to his ear and whispered, "I... am ready." "Hah..." Xie Qing smiled and his eyes gleamed in the darkness. He could feel Yu Yang''s warm skin and her breasts pressing against his back. She was wearing lingerie, he could tell from his experience. Turning around, Xie Qing grabbed her and pulled her into his embrace. The difference in their heights was such that her head barely reached his shoulders. She leaned against his chest, inhaling his scent and smiling excitedly. After much contemtion, she realized that the best method for getting closer would be dual cultivation. After all, she was a woman and he was a man - the fire of passion burned between them, and Yu Yang was not opposed to pouring gasoline on this fire. "Please make me yours... young master~" Yu Yang whispered in an excited voice, looking like a subus. "Hah," Xie Qing chuckled, then grabbed the woman by her buttocks. "Uuh..." Yu Yang''s eyes widened in surprise, and then excitement and joy appeared in them. Xie Qing''s hands slid over herrge and soft buttocks as if kneading dough. Then, gently lowering his finger down her spine, sending thin streams of Qi, he slowly approached the forbidden ce - her younger sister. "Mmmm..." Yu Yang moaned seductively, sexily biting her lower lip. She had never felt anything like this and her face reflected ecstasy. Xie Qing''s finger stopped near her thighs and unconsciously Yu Yang clenched her thighs, blocking Xie Qing''s hand. "I-I''m sorry... I got a little excited," Yu Yang mumbled, rxing her thighs and taking Xie Qing''s hand, she brought it straight to her younger sister: "Here... please, take care of me." "Of course," the young man replied with a smile, then touched Yu Yang''sbia. "Ah..." The woman let out a heavy sigh and moaned in pleasure. Unfamiliar sensations washed over her, making her moan. "Well, well. I see you''re very aroused," Xie Qing said with a teasing smile, raising and showing two fingers that were soaked with love juice. "Ee..." Even if Yu Yang seemed mature and experienced at first nce, it was not so. Seeing how much she "sweated," made her blush with shame. "It''s just... you''re too good, young master," Yu Yang said, oveing her embarrassment. She took off all her clothes and then began to rub her younger sister against Xie Qing''s hard leg. She breathed heavily in his ear. "Ah, you... temptress." Xie Qing, realizing the extent of her arousal, picked her up and, ignoring the woman''s cute cry, threw her on the bed, pressing his leg against her cave, slowly rubbing it. "Ah! Young master~" Yu Yang moaned, then grabbed his hand, looking at him with desire: "Please, please... enter me..." "Hm? Oh, I''m sorry, I didn''t understand what you meant," Xie Qing said, bringing his ear to her mouth, then added: "Repeat, please." "Please, enter me..." "Oh, I can''t hear! What is it? Say it again..." Yu Yang blushed and repeated several times, but Xie Qing pretended to be stupid. Then, realizing what he wanted, the woman blushed and clenched her teeth, saying. "Please, fuck me..." "Oh, it seems my hearing has returned!" "..." Yu Yang lost her speech and was about to scold him for such shamelessness, but did not have time, as Xie Qing had already entered her. "Aaaah!" A loud cry of pleasure came from Yu Yang''s mouth as she was suddenly filled with a feeling of hardness and fullness. Xie Qing''s foreign objectplemented her to the brim, immersing the woman in a mysterious feeling of unknown pleasure until now. Feeling a strong tremor throughout her body, as if she had been struck by lightning, Yu Yang breathed heavily, her eyes scattered looking at Xie Qing, who waited a few seconds for the woman to rest, then continued his movement. "Ah~... Yu-young master..." Yu Yang''s sweet and seductive moans brought pleasure to Xie Qing as if he were listening to a masterpiece of art. Xie Qing prated her in the missionary position, plunging his spear into her heavens. Yu Yang bit her lip and hugged Xie Qing, holding onto his shoulder des. Unconsciously, she began to grab him harder and scratches appeared on the young man''s back. Like a wild lioness, during a strong ecstasy, Yu Yang scratched his back, leaving marks from her nails. However, these marks quickly healed due to Xie Qing''s natural regeneration. "Aah!" A victorious moan of pleasure came from Yu Yang''s soft lips. Her voice became louder and louder as if she didn''t care at all that they could be heard by Xie Meiling. Or she was so focused on the new sensations that shepletely forgot about it. Inhaling, Xie Qing made a powerful thrust and deeply entered inside, his jade spear touching the wall of Yu Yang''s uterus. She opened her eyes wide, then rolled them back and came. Her hands rxed and her lips stretched forward. Xie Qing, not wasting time, embraced her head and kissed her on the lips. Soon their kiss turned into a battle of tongues. This time Yu Yang showed strong activity and her soft lips bit Xie Qing''s lip, and her naughty tongue tried to tangle the young man''s tongue. "Muahh..." Yu Yang let out a seductive moan and stretched her neck, allowing Xie Qing''s lips to kiss her. Her eyes became watery from the pleasure she felt. Gently stroking Xie Qing''s hair, her soft lips moaned. The young man made a thrust and Yu Yang came, unable to withstand the onught. Already a few secondster, Xie Qing also finished. "I''ming, Yu Yang!" Xie Qing said, speeding up his movements. "Aaaah!" Yu Yang clenched her teeth and hearts seemed to appear in her eyes, and tears stood in the corners of her eyes. Shuddering and tightly hugging her young master by the neck, she puckered her lips, hiding her face on Xie Qing''s chest. For a while, Yu Yang was silent, trying to recover from her condition. Her eyes looked vacantly straight ahead and her breathing was heavy and hot. Noticing her condition, the young man pulled his sword out of her sheath and then helped her lie down straight. Gently removing the excess liquid with his Qi, Xie Qing, without wasting time, began to apply ointment all over Yu Yang''s body to increase the effect. The technique of "Dual Cultivation". Its influence was positive for both partners, so it was a great cultivation technique that worked most effectively with cultivators who trained Yan or Yin. For Xie Qing and Yu Yang, this simply gave an increase in Qi, which was also not bad, especially in Yu Yang''s situation, whocked precisely the umtion of Qi, since Xie Qing had already tried to restore her Golden Core! "Good technique," Xie Qing thought and was slightly tempted: "Maybe I should try to capture the Yin family? There are many cool techniques for women there." However, for now, he put this idea in a deep ck box. Shaking his head, Xie Qing applied ointment to the woman''s forehead and navel area, allowing her spiritual channels to recover, as well as the Golden Core. All this took an hour. Since there was a lot of Qi, considering that Xie Qing acted as a walking battery, Yu Yang quickly woke up and was surprised to discover. "I''m back at the Core Formation level!" And what was even better, there were no bad consequences for her. Holding her breath while she fully restored her Qi, discovering the effect, Yu Yang''s face turned red with excitement. Turning her gaze to Xie Qing, who was sitting next to her and helping her in terms of Qi intake, she smiled and approached him, gently hugging and rubbing her cheek against his neck like a kitten. "Thank you, young master. Without your help, I would have had to spend many years just to heal. You are my savior!" she said in a grateful voice, and her eyes lit up with love and attachment, in which a small hesitation could also be seen. So many times the young man had given her gifts, and she could not understand how to repay him. Although Xie Qing said that she had already repaid him enough by saving Xie Meiling''s life, Yu Yang initially considered it her duty. Looking at the young man with aplicated expression, all her words turned into a long passionate kiss. Her hands grabbed Xie Qing''s hands and forcibly made him grab her breast. Massaging herrge breast and squeezing her hard nipples between his fingers, Xie Qing caressed her with his tongue, pressing her to him, his free hand grabbing her ass. His hands did not miss a single corner of Yu Yang''s seductive body, who moaned in response, as if trying to encourage Xie Qing not to stop, which he did with great sess. "Uuh..." Gently moaning right in his ear, Yu Yang breathed heavily and steam came out of her mouth. Her arousal reached new heights and simple caresses could no longer satisfy her. She squeezed Xie Qing''s hands and, as if begging, looked at him with her beautiful eyes, in which arousal was visible. "Please~" she begged, and her ass twirled on Xie Qing''s jade spear, inviting him to enter inside. However, Xie Qing only smiled and bit her earlobe. "Ah... y-young master..." Yu Yang shuddered with arousal and liquid flowed from her mysterious cave, which got on Xie Qing''s jade spear, gradually lubricating it. The woman seductively licked her lips and moved her butt so that her buns tightly squeezed Xie Qing''s dragon. "Ugh..." Of course, the young man got aroused. Yu Yang giggled and moved her butt up and down as if doing a pussy grind but with her butt. "Ah... well, young master... are you going to make a woman wait for you?~" Yu Yang seductively moaned. "Hm? Yes, you''re right, that''s really bad manners," Xie Qing said and seriously nodded, instilling hope in the heart of the aroused Yu Yang, but then he boldly smiled: "But... don''t you have to say the magic word first?" "Ah..." Xie Qing teased with his meat stick, moving it along Yu Yang''sbia, but not entering. The woman, who was sitting on hisp, hugged him by the neck and bit her lip, looking him in the eye. "P-please, young master... fuck your servant~" she begged and her breathing became heavy. For some reason, she liked it when Xie Qing made her say such dirty words. "Ding-dong! Correct answer!" Xie Qing joyfullyughed and not waiting for an answer from Yu Yang, plunged his rod into her, making the woman roll her eyes and stick out her tongue. Her back arched in an arc, while her soft hands tightly grabbed the young man''s neck, so as not to fall. "AAAAAH!" Another loud moan came from her beautiful lips. She looked at Xie Qing with desire, and her lips kissed his neck, Adam''s apple, and cheek. p! p! Xie Qing pped her passionate butt, while actively moving his hips to fuck her. Moans of pleasure, which sounded a little muffled because Yu Yang covered her lips with his vicle, sounded, like wanting to leave a hickey. Although Xie Qing did not care about this, for Yu Yang it was of great importance. She wanted to mark her young master, to show her love, her thirst! Well, Xie Qing felt a little ticklish from this. Seeing her actions, he only stroked her hair, not forgetting to move his hips. Soon they both reached climax. Xie Qing squeezed Yu Yang''s ass, then picked her up and, pressing her against the wall, began to move actively. "Aaaah!" Having finished leaving a hickey on Xie Qing''s vicle, Yu Yang screamed and her moans sometimes stopped and her voice vibrated. Clenching her teeth, Yu Yang rolled her eyes and her eyes rolled back with pleasure, and tears appeared in the corners of her eyes. Taking advantage of the moment while she was experiencing her climax, Xie Qing nted it as deep as possible, then, unable to hold back, poured his divine nectar into her heavenly jug. "Ooh..." The exhausted Yu Yang fell into Xie Qing''s arms, who, fortunately, caught her and hugged her tightly. Feeling warm breath on his shoulder, he smiled and shook his head. *** Night. Xie Meiling suddenly woke up due to thirst. Lately, her body had been rapidly recovering, which required energy - not Qi, as one might think, but various nutrients. ording to Xie Qing''s exnation, although Qi could be used to nourish the body, it would be much more beneficial for her to simply eat various nutritious soups, and drink water or fresh juice. This would allow her to save Qi from fighting the poison. Such a simple, but not bad idea. And as soon as Xie Meiling left the room, she stopped at the threshold, hearing a strange sound. "Hm? Are these two still not asleep?" Chapter 65: Jealousy Swcowboy gave a Luxury car, worth 1000 coins, which is equivalent to +3 chapters. Thank you very much, this helps the book live longer¡­ and me less. Haha Anyway, today 3 chapters will be released, two of which are bonus chapters from the gift. Tomorrow will be 1 from the gift, 1 bonus from PS, and the day after tomorrow another one from PS. Enjoy your reading. And now I''m going to make myself some coffee. 1/3 ==== And as soon as Xie Meiling left the room, she stopped at the threshold, hearing a strange sound. "Hm? Are these two still not asleep?" Xie Meiling suspiciously narrowed her eyes. She didn''t like the fact that these two spent so much time together. Even in the past, when she didn''t have such serious problems, Yu Yang was a frequent guest in her son''s room And since many girls in the mansion also flocked to his room, Xie Meiling was beside herself with anger. She even found out that these shameless women were making her beloved son draw lewd pictures, wasting his talent on such terrible things! ...not to mention that she had thought of asking for such a thing, but she was too emarrassed. Approaching Xie Qing''s room, she gently pushed the door and was surprised when it seeded. The door was not locked! Trying to make as little noise as possible, Xie Meiling peeked through a small hole and was stunned. "Th-this¡­" She clenched her teeth and her heartfelt annoyed. She couldn''t believe that thest person she could trust would do such a thing! "Smack¡­ young master, how do you like this servant''s mouth?" "Very good. You are really talented," Xie Qing replied with a smile, stroking Yu Yang''s head, who was sitting in the "dogeza" position and leaning her head forward, passionately licking Xie Qing''s jade rod. Xie Meiling unconsciously held her breath and her beautiful ck eyes were fixed on her own son''s body. Now she was convinced that he had "grown up". "W-what¡­" The woman couldn''t believe her eyes and felt offended. Her trusted face was doing such a thing behind her back and with her son! "I thought you were a dove, but you turned out to be a crow in white!" Xie Meilingined. Gritting her teeth, Xie Meiling turned around and closed the door. When the characteristic click sounded, Xie Qing looked towards the door and shook his head. "Yu Yang, good luck." "Mmph?" *** The next morning, Xie Meiling looked as usual, but her tone was a bit colder, and her piercing gaze at Yu Yang made the maid feel ufortable. Even if Xie Meiling didn''t say anything, it was clear that she was unhappy¡­ although one could say that she was jealous, but she didn''t realize it. Xie Qing, who understood everything, could only sigh and shake his head. Because of this, the morning passed somewhat gloomily. It was already closer to the day when it was time for Xie Meiling''s second meal. She hesitated a little but still ate the nutritious soup. "Thank you¡­" she whispered, then burrowed into the bed, refusing toe out. Seeing her state, even if Yu Yang was inattentive, she realized that Xie Meiling had learned about their interaction the previous night. Standing outside Xie Meiling''s room, Yu Yang said in a low voice, not wanting Xie Meiling to hear them. "It seems that thedy has learned about our rtionship¡­ she has been acting like this since the morning," Yu Yang said, and her voice sounded a little worried. Looking at the carefree Xie Qing, she asked: "What should we do? I-I¡­ don''t want to upset the Lady¡­" "Hmmm¡­" Xie Qing hummed and began to think. Although this was the first time he had encountered such behavior from his mother, considering that Xu Mei also had a jealous nature, he was somewhat used to it. Therefore, in such a situation, it would be right to simply spend a little more time with her and pay attention to her. In most cases, this worked. "I''ll talk to her. Don''t worry," Xie Qing said calmly, and his words were enough to reassure Yu Yang. She trusted him very much. "Thank you¡­" Yu Yang muttered, then blushed. Memories of the previous night flooded her mind when she also said "thank you," but this time to thank Xie Qing for filling her. Shaking her head, Yu Yang ran to the kitchen, disappearing on the stairs. Xie Qing watched her and smiled carelessly, but his head hurt a little. "Here''s the main problem of the harem¡­" he thought and sighed. Being a man who pursued his dreams, how could he not understand all the pros and cons? He did not exclude the possibility of conflict between women, as some of them would fight for his attention. And since Xie Qing was in a single copy, and there would probably be many girls, he could only reconcile himself with the fact that there might be conflicts in the future. But how else? They are all living people who have their own emotions. It''s extremely difficult to achieve harmony in rtionships, and if he doesn''t pay attention to each of them, it will affect them. "Well, I''m already ready for this," Xie Qing thought and looked at the door. His gaze instantly becameplicated. He was not sure what Xie Meiling could feel towards him now. He did not deny the possibility of simple jealousy and non-eptance of the fact that someone was trying to take away her son, the one she had raised since childhood. This was a somewhat exaggerated, but within-normal reaction. However, Xie Qing''s intuition told him about a few other things. "Haaah¡­" He sighed heavily and entered the room, feeling a headache. ¡­here''s a p in the face from reality, you lucky bastard! Entering Xie Meiling''s room, the young man saw that she was peacefully lying on her bed and pretending to be asleep. Most likely, hearing his footsteps, she changed her breathing, as if she was sleeping. Watching this, Xie Qing could not help but smile. His mother in his eyes was always resolute, with a gentle adult smile and sometimes cold, when it came to work. And now such cute behavior was very different. For some reason, he wanted to pamper her. Sitting on the bed, next to her feet, Xie Qing did not strive to expose her, but simply looked out the window, which faced the wall. The area was ugly, almost unfit for living. The houses were built as if someone had opened Minecraft and, disregarding architectural rules and symmetry, began to build houses. Some where boxes, some where more or less attractive, and some where even rhomboid in shape. For Xie Qing, who loved neatness, this ce was hell. He stayed here only because he needed to finish the treatment first and then return to the sect. "Ah, right. Ipletely forgot, soon there will be an exam for admission to the main court," the young man suddenly remembered, and his eyes flickered: "In half a year, right? What a symbolic number¡­" He silentlyughed, and his eyes sparkled. In exactly half a year, the youngest offspring of the Xie family would turn eighteen. And it was then that he would begin the conquest of the Xie family. A lot of blood would be shed. Anyone who was connected with the current leaders of the family would be punished. And while he was thinking, some movements appeared on the side of Xie Meiling. She suddenly stopped pretending to be asleep and, getting up, looked at the young man with aplicated expression. "Oh, you woke up. Did I wake you?" Xie Qing asked with a smile, but it was clear that he was teasing his mother. "¡­Yes," Xie Meiling replied with a stiff face. She didn''t have skin as thick as Xie Qing''s, so she couldn''t lie so easily in his presence. "Well, that''s too bad. You looked so cute when you were sleeping," Xie Qing disappointedly replied and then fell silent. Xie Meiling also did not rush to speak. She looked at him with the sameplicated expression. She was confused in her emotions, and all this turned into one single sigh. "Haaah¡­" Looking at her son, who had already grown into a real man and already had his rtionships, Xie Meiling felt a slight disappointment and pride. However, being his mother, she thought that she should support him. "You and Yu Yang¡­ are you serious?" she finally spoke. "Heh? Are you asking about what you already know, right?" Xie Qing asked with a smile, confusing Xie Meiling, but then answered in a calm tone: "Yes, that''s right. She confessed her love to me, and I thought there was no problem with giving her a chance. She is sympathetic to me, she has a good character, moreover, she is very devoted. You should know this." "Of course I know¡­" Xie Meiling sighed. How could she not know about Yu Yang''s character? She was very diligent and devoted. Not afraid to die, she saved Xie Meiling''s life, and instead of pretending to be stupid and leaving the woman with problems, she went with her to take the risk. All these facts made Xie Meiling think about it a little, and she just nodded, saying. "Good. Although you are already an adult and you don''t need my approval, I will still say that I bless your rtionship." "Haha, how sentimental you are, Mom. You wouldn''t think you''re so cunning," Xie Qing suddenly said with a smile, leaning his head on Xie Meiling''s knees. "Eh?" Xie Meiling made a surprised sound, stroking her son''s hair, and then¡­ "You were peeking at us yesterday, right? I saw your eyes," Xie Qing said with a smile andughed. "¡­" Xie Meiling lost her speech, and her face began to turn red. Her hands froze in the air, and her mouth opened in surprise. Seeing such a state of his mother, Xie Qing was pleased and, kissing her on the cheek said goodbye and left. When the door closed with a click, Xie Meiling rubbed the ce where Xie Qing had kissed her and then snorted. "Ungrateful son! Teasing his mother¡­" ¡­woman, before saying this, you should remove the smile from your face. *** The following days flew by like a moment. Xie Qing was engaged in the treatment of Xie Meiling, who, even if she was not as hot as in the first days, still loudly moaned. Although it was a little awkward for him, he still finished the treatment. "There, it''s done." His hands finished massaging his mother''s big butt, where most of the internal damage was. "T-thank you¡­" Xie Meiling helplessly moaned and pulled her red face out of the pillow. She looked at her son with an using gaze but then sighed heavily. "Someday your hands will lead you to trouble," Xie Meiling muttered, imagining how many women would fight for the young man to just touch them. It should be noted that Xie Qing''s hands were divine! One touch could bring the highest pleasure. [Jade Hands] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: Of all the useful Dao techniques that can be developed, you surprisingly developed one of the most useless and useful at the same time. This skill allows you to help people get the highest pleasure with the help of your hands. The technique is activated with the help of Qi and will be activated as long as energy is supplied. Congrattions, your massage skills have reached unprecedented heights. You are a ssified pervert masseur] "Well¡­ the system is still so crude. Why am I a pervert? My hands were created to bring pleasure to women, and for me, this is a great mission!" Xie Qing thought, feeling offended. However, he understood that arguing with a stupid system was foolishness. He just snorted and turned away, not wanting to mess with his head with all this nonsense. He was now worried about the feeling of a breakthrough. It seemed to him that he was about to break through to the next small realm, to the third stage of Core Formation! Sitting on the floor, the young man focused his mind and began to read the cultivation technique. Soon a vortex appeared around him, which quickly began to spin, absorbing energy into itself. Feeling the excitement of the uing harvest, Xie Qing smiled. After five minutes, he sessfully broke through to the third stage of Core Formation! Deeply exhaling, steam came out of his mouth, and his eyes gleamed with gold. "Wow¡­ the difference is so huge!" Xie Qing was shocked. Each stage of Core Formation was majestic and brought qualitative changes. Feeling his all-epassing energy, he rejoiced. Clenching his fists, Xie Qing felt that he had be stronger, but, of course,pared to body cultivators, he was still a little inferior. Just a little bit. Finishing the breakthrough, he stood up and began to stretch by habit. Looking out the window, it was already evening. All day he was busy massaging Xie Meiling, bringing her healing to an end. "Congrattions on the breakthrough. Your cultivation speed surpasses all geniuses," Xie Meiling said with praise. "Thank you. And that dress suits you. Very beautiful," Xie Qing said, praising her dress. "Heh, thank you." Xie Meiling confidently smiled. She was wearing an ordinary ck dress that didn''t emphasize her beautiful figure too much but didn''t diminish it either. Looking at the chest area, where even the fabric could not restrain this weapon of mass destruction, the young man smiled. "I need to ask Yu Yang to lie on her breasts tonight." ¡­And you still say that you are not a pervert? Ah, right. Not a pervert, but a man of culture! Chapter 66: Returning to the sect The next morning, Xie Qing, Yu Yang, and Xie Meiling packed up all their belongings and ced them in their spatial ring before leaving. They had no problems leaving. The guards let them pass when the young man showed his disciple token. "Disciple of the Heavenly Sect? Alright, you can leave," the guard said, returning the token, and then ordered the gates to be opened: "Have a good journey!" "Of course. Thank you very much." Xie Qing smiled and thanked the guard, then left the capital with the two women. The guards watched this and gritted their teeth, finally spewing out their envy. "Damn, two beauties! And with such figures! I''m so envious..." "As if it wasn''t enough that I was born ugly, now this curse has fallen on my head. The heavens are unfair!!" "...you''d better work!" *** The journey home took a day, as in thest hundred years, the sects and the Dynasty had spent a lot of money to build various teleportation formations. Although not everyone could use these conveniences, for Xie Qing, who was rich, this was not a problem. Inhaling the cold evening air, Xie Qing looked around, ignoring the slight nausea from the teleportation. His gaze swept over the high and green mountains, which were like peaks reaching to the heavens. He was in a small vige where the nearest teleportation formation was located. Xie Qing''s expression changed when he first heard about this. "I... wasted time oveing the long road to get to the city?" he thought then, and his downcast face looked funny. This vige was located at the foot of the mountain range where the Heavenly Sword Sect was located. They were protected by the sect, as they were within their territory. Many mortals from this vige came to work in the sect, and this had been going on for generations. Looking at the seemingly simple vige, Xie Qing found nothing interesting here, except for the beautiful mountain scenery. Turning to Yu Yang and Xie Meiling, he smiled and said, "Wee. If we go up the bridge, we can reach the Heavenly Sword Sect. But for the inner court disciples, there is a special elevator," Xie Qing said, and then told them to follow him. "Good." These two nodded and curiously looked around. Xie Meiling had been here before, but she had gone directly to the sect without having to ovee the mountain. Looking around, Xie Qing, together with the two women, approached the mountain, and from a distance, they could see a tform that, with the help of the formation, would allow them to fly up. Two main courtyard disciples were on guard. They wore red clothing and looked arrogant and proud. Protecting the formation was respected work, so they happily did this work, and the pay and benefits were incredible. When the two disciples saw Xie Qing, dressed in inner court disciple clothing, and noticed the two women apanying him, they frowned. When Xie Qing approached close enough, one of them drew his sword and aimed it at the young man, who did not like it. "Halt! Inner court disciple, why have you brought strangers with you?" the disciple asked arrogantly, not even wanting to lower his sword. The sword de gleamed dangerously in the rising sun. "Hm-m-m?" Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, feeling dissatisfaction with the behavior of the main courtyard disciple. ording to the sect rules, a disciple did not have the right to act so radically, let alone point a sword at a fellow disciple - this was punishable by a strict reprimand and a fine, and for repetition, one could end up in prison. Moreover, Xie Qing was not an outer court disciple, who was considered almost disposable. He was an inner court disciple and a potential main courtyard disciple! "Hahah..." Xie Qing involuntarilyughed and shook his head, making the two disciples in front of him think that this inner court disciple was mocking them. Of course, this caused a strong reaction. "Laughing, freak?!" shouted the disciple who had previously pointed the sword at Xie Qing. "Freak? Where do you see a freak here?" Xie Qing calmly reacted and then cracked his neck. His eyes lit up with a golden glow, and the disciple''s sword began to be covered with cracks, eventually turning to dust. "W-what?!" The disciple was stunned and looked at the hilt. This was all that remained of his beautiful spiritual sword, which he had bought for 100 Spiritual Stones! His heart bled with pain. "Oh? What happened... how tragic! Maybe the Heavens were offended that you used your power incorrectly and punished you? Oh, how tragic!" Xie Qing said with a pretentiously disappointed tone and smiled, adding: "Ah, yes, pointing a sword at sect disciples is punishable by a reprimand, but if I try, I can also ensure you a good fine. What do you say? A good idea!" The two disciples looked angrily at Xie Qing, but now there was caution in their gaze. This was not because of his threats, but because the sword had turned to dust! Such power was not avable to everyone. "Who are you? You can''t be an inner court disciple," the disciple whose sword had been turned to dust finally spoke. "You only now realized that you should check my identity? The first word that shoulde out of your mouth is to ask me to provide the disciple token, and you pointed a sword at me," Xie Qing analyzed the disciple''s behavior with a calm face, tilting his head to the side: "And you pointed a sword at me. How stupid." "Y-you... how dare you insult a main courtyard disciple?!" the disciple shouted in anger and looked as if he wanted to attack, but in fact, he was already pouring Qi into themunication token. "You look like you''re ready to fight to the death, but you''re already pouring Qi into themunication token... a pitiful sight for a main courtyard disciple. I was excited when I thought I would soon be part of the elite," Xie Qing muttered disappointedly and shook his head: "I think it''s the fault of the elder sister that she allowed the existence of such lowly worms. The sect has been too passive for a long time. It''s time to get up off our knees." Xie Qing urately analyzed the situation of the sect and could say that it was in decline. The only thing that kept it in the position of the four main sects was the respect of the cultivation world for the founder, who was Xu Mei. This fact Xie Qing had understood long ago. One did not have to be stupid to solve the "1+1" problem. And while the two disciples tried to call the elders, he without hesitation released his aura and stunning the two disciples, stood on the tform. "Let''s go. I think I need to discuss the sect''s problem with my elder sister," Xie Qing said, looking at the two disciples who had copsed in a shameful pose. Picking up the sword hilt thaty on the tform, Xie Qing made several strikes, as if it were a ball, and then, like a true football yer, kicked the hilt and sent it into the goal. "GAAAAGH!" Of course, the goal was the disciple''s testicles, who had pointed the sword at him. In such matters, Xie Qing was a very petty person, so he took revenge when there was an opportunity. "Hehe... he will suffer for a month," Xie Qing thought with an evil smile. He had put Sword Aura into this strike, so if the disciple was not treated as soon as possible, he would lose his offspring. "..." The two women exchanged nces, losing their speech. They did not know that their son/young master was such a petty person! But they liked it! "Cool!" thought Yu Yang, raising her thumb. "Petty, like his grandfather," thought Xie Meiling with a neutral expression. *** Xu Mei rolled her eyes. She appeared in the air as soon as Xie Qing used the teleportation formation. Her face became strange when she heard his words. In essence, they criticized her, and this made the woman''s heart sour. "You''re criticizing your Master? Damn, that sounds even more offensive considering that it''s true! I am toozy!" "...and my younger brother is a cruel person," a slightly sleepy voice sounded, and in the air next to Xu Mei, Lian Lin appeared, whose face was displeased and embarrassed at the same time: "But his words are true. Our sect has been insignificant for a long time due to theck of the necessary cultivation technique, which you refused to find because of yourziness and preupation with your own life, Master," "Ugh... now you''re criticizing me too? I created the sect to rob rich investors. I didn''t have enough pills..." Xu Meiined. "Any of the elders, hearing your words, will lose their respect for you, Master," Lian Lin said and yawned, then arched her back, watching Xie Qing. She suddenly muttered: "Lian Xin? Ah, right... this girl is hovering around my younger brother, a foolish girl in love. How cute." "Pf! Another leech who wants to suck the energy out of my disciple!" Xu Mei disapprovinglymented with a sour voice. It was clear that she was jealous. "Oh? "My disciple," you say? I thought you would say "my hubby"... ugh! M-master, don''t squeeze my head, it hurts!" Ignoring Lian Lin, who was writhing in the air, Xu Mei coldly looked at her disciple, and her eyes shed with anger. "Lately, you have been very disrespectful. How about I show you the meaning of the word "filial piety"? What do you say? Hmm, I think it''s an excellent idea. Hehehe..." Lian Lin lowered her head and submitted to her fate. When the Master is angry, she suffers! "But you called him that yourself," Lian Lin wanted to say, but thought better of it, not wanting to worsen her position. *** "Disciple Xie Qing!" As soon as the young man appeared at the entrance to the sect, a joyful female voice approached him. Raising his head and distracting himself from the mountains of the two women, he saw Lian Xin in front of him. "Elder Lian!" Xie Qing eximed with a smile: "You came when you heard I was back? I''m so happy... do you want a hug?" "E-eh... w-what are you saying, disciple Xie Qing. You''re such a joker, ha-ha-ha-ha..." Lian Xin drylyughed and blushed, and her back was covered in cold sweat. She could feel the intense gaze on herself, and of course, it was the witch Xu Mei! However, she could not fail to admit that this was a profitable offer. And while she was thinking, a sudden feeling of warmth distracted her. No, it''s not what you thought. Xie Qing hugged her in a friendly way, not lowering his hands, as a very jealous kitten was watching him. "I missed you so much, Elder Lian Xin. Did you miss me?" Xie Qing said with a smile, teasing the woman. She blushed to her ears and could not say anything, looking like a broken robot. "I-I-I... this... um..." The woman blushed and could not understand how to answer. Smoke appeared from her wheat-colored hair, and Xie Qing could not help butugh, ignoring the three piercing jealous gazes on him. Lately, he had realized that teasing jealous women in this way was fun. Although he had to restrain himself, in case he woke up and found the inscription in front of him: "You have died, and the Nexus has imprisoned your soul. You cannot escape the Nexus". One way or another, he finished teasing Lian Xin and released her from his embrace. Xie Qing patted her on the head, pressing the reset button, and only then did the womane to her senses. "E-em... let''s first register the twodies to avoid problems," Lian Xin said with red cheeks, avoiding the gazes of these two women, who looked at her with suspicion. She coughed and said: "W-we''re heading to the Administration Pavilion." "Of course." Xie Qing smiled carelessly and did not change his expression, even when his mother pinched his waist. "Mom, it hurts." "What?" "No, nothing..." The young man shook his head and smiled. He enjoyed teasing these women! ...At this rate, you really will die. *** Thanks to Lian Xin''s help, Yu Yang and Xie Meiling quickly and without any headaches registered. If Xie Meiling received a guest token, then Yu Yang asked to register her as Xie Qing''s servant. "Servant? Are you sure?" Lian Xin asked and narrowed her eyes, looking at Yu Yang with appraisal. Seeing her chest, the woman thought that she had finally found a worthy opponent. "Yes. I want to serve the young master in the sect, as always," Yu Yang answered with a working expression on her face, emphasizing the word "always." "Here it is..." Lian Xin smiled friendly, but between these two, a spark appeared. Xie Qing, who was watching this, thought that he had overdone it a bit, but... He liked it! Since there was no hatred between them, everything was fine, as long as it was simply jealousy. He would just pamper them until they forgot about their jealousy. Noticing the smile on Xie Qing''s face, Xie Meiling shook her head, wondering why her son had be like this. "You remind me of my father. Although he was not as handsome as you, he had a simr character," Xie Meiling said with annoyance, suppressing her jealousy. "Oh? Grandpa? What are we simr in?" Xie Qing was interested, his eyes sparkling. His grandfather was a legendary figure. He was a talented cultivator. Seeing Xie Qing''s interest, Xie Meiling looked at him from bottom to top and then answered: "He also had the same libido as you. He was called the chief pervert of the Northern Continent!" Xie Qing admiringly exhaled, and then dreamily looked at the sky. "So my grandpa was also a man of culture." "No, I''m telling you, he was a pervert" Ignoring Xie Meiling''s correction, Xie Qing prayed for his grandfather''s soul. He was sure that in heaven, an old face appeared, which winked at him with a smile. Chapter 67: MY disciple, MY son After registering the two women in the sect, Xie Qing returned to the pavilion where he lived with Xu Mei. As it turned out, Master was waiting for them right at the gate and looked indifferent, ncing at the two women. Xie Meiling also adopted a neutral expression, which was unusual for Xie Qing. "Greetings, Lady Xu. I must say, it has been many years since ourst meeting, and you are still as energetic and agile as ever," Xie Meiling politely nodded in greeting. "What are you saying, what are you saying? You tter me, Lady Xie Meiling," Xu Mei replied in a neutral voice and looked at Xie Qing, who was smiling brightly, and snorted: "It seems that MY disciple has caused you some inconvenience, hasn''t he? Well, forgive him, he''s a bit mischievous with ME." "Ha ha ha, what are you talking about, Lady? MY and BELOVED son would never cause me any trouble," Xie Meiling replied with a dryugh, shaking her head. Watching this, Xie Qing lost his speech, seeing how these two jealous women met. Even Yu Yan, who was jealous of Elder Lian Xin, had already calmed down and decided to step aside, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire. Fortunately, Xie Qing did not have to intervene, as these two knew their limits and decided not to cause unnecessary problems. After a short conversation, Xie Meiling and Yu Yan were sent to their rooms, and Xie Qing was dragged into the master''s room. Sitting on a chair, Xie Qing looked at the girl in front of him with a smile. His beloved master always looked cute and young, like a twenty-year-old girl, and her behavior, which was sometimes cute, charmed him. And now she pouted, looking offended. Her gaze asionally fell on Xie Qing''s face, but seeing his calm smile, she blushed and turned away, not wanting to meet his eyes. There was a small silence between them. Xie Qing sat, admiring her face, and Xu Mei gradually forgot about her jealousy, which was reced by a strange embarrassment. "Master..." Xie Qing was the first to break the silence, finally getting up from his ce. With slow steps, he approached Xu Mei, who was sitting on the bed, showing her slender waist. The young man sat down next to her and touched her waist, and his mischievous hand slipped under her hanfu, touching her bare and warm skin. "Ch-ch-what are you doing? D-don''te near me, stupid disciple..." Xu Mei whimpered from his touch and puffed up her cheeks, looking like a cute little chipmunk. "Ha ha ha." Xie Qing gently smiled andughed at her expression, then kissed her on the cheek, and then on the eyshes. His chin rested on her shoulder, while his hands caressed her soft belly. "M-m-m... s-s-stop..." Xu Mei blushed with shame, and her eyes filled with tears from strange sensations. She looked at Xie Qing with resentment, and when she saw that his face was turned towards her, she kissed him on the lips. "Ummm..." With a soft moan, Xu Mei tried to struggle and break free from his strong embrace and kiss, but Xie Qing resolutely pressed her to him, kissing her. "Mmmh..." There was shyness and helplessness in Xu Mei''s eyes when she stopped resisting and helplessly fell into his arms, allowing herself to be kissed. Soon, Xie Qing''s tongue entered her mouth, and began to lick her gums and tease her tongue. Xu Mei''s face turned red, and her breathing became heavy. Her eyes rolled back with pleasure, and tears appeared in the corners of her eyes. When Xie Qing stopped kissing her, the girl helplessly fell on his chest. "Haaa... haaa... haa...." Her breathing was heavy, and sometimes Xu Mei paused toe to her senses. Her head was buzzing, and her thoughts could not form a coherent sentence. She looked at her man with resentment and love, while her gentle lips kissed his vicle. "Haaah.... Stupid disciple," her offended voice sounded, full of loneliness. "Mei-Mei... I love you," the young man whispered in her ear, and Xu Mei shivered, and the tips of her ears turned red. Seeing this, Xie Qing could not help but smile. He suddenly wanted to tease her, and in the next moment, he showered her withpliments and whispered sweet words. "I love you so much. You''re my flower." "You''re so beautiful. Can I kiss you?" "My Xu Mei... I love you so much, you know? You''re my fairy..." In the end, Xu Mei, out of shame, hid her face on his chest, not wanting to show her expression, which had a stupid smile, and her cheeks were filled with redness from excitement. Her ears werepletely red, and her heartbeat was elerated. Each sweet word of Xie Qing sounded to Xu Mei like a divine message, and she enjoyed it, and her jealousy began to disappear. She rubbed her forehead against his chest and hit him as if expressing her discontent. From such cute behavior, Xie Qing''s heart melted. "Sweetie..." he thought and pinched Xu Mei''s cheeks, then lifted her head by them, leaning in and kissing her. "Mmm..." This time, Xu Mei did not resist, but on the contrary - she was very active. Her tongue slipped into Xie Qing''s mouth, and she actively explored his mouth, passing over his gums, over his pte, and intertwining her tongue with the tongue of the young man. Her hands tightly gripped Xie Qing''s neck, and she, like a queen, sat on Xie Qing''s knees and because of this kissed him when Xie Qing''s head was a little lower than hers. After five minutes, she finally calmed down and looked satisfied. Shey in Xie Qing''s arms, gently hugging his back and pressing her cheek to his chest, inhaling the scent of his body. "My dear Master is so jealous, isn''t she?" Xie Qing whispered with a smile, stroking Xu Mei''s long hair. "Hmph! I expected all kinds of things from you, but who would have thought that by saving your mother, you would hook up with another girl!" Xu Mei said angrily, again showing a jealous look, and then cunningly smiled: "But, if you think about it, I am the main wife, so I am still above them. Hehehe..." "What a sly one, you''re like a cute fox, huh? I think I need to treat you," Xie Qingughed at her cute and cunning words. Although they were not yet married, Xu Mei was already sure that the position of the main woman would be taken by her. Xie Qing also did not object, as he had spent the most time with her and was closest to her not including Yu Yan and Xie Meiling, but with them it was a different case. "Although personally for me, there is not much difference," Xie Qing thought, but did not voice his thoughts aloud. Looking at the happy Master, who had already forgotten about her jealousy, Xie Qing sighed with relief. It was not easy to calm down a hungry tigress. If she lost control of her Qi, it would be a disaster. After Xie Qing calmed down Xu Mei, he decided to check on his mother, who was also another jealous woman. Finding her was not difficult. She was settled in the room where Xie Qing had lived for a long time. There were several posters with his favorite cultivators of the cultivation world, such as Lu Yin (heiress of the Sect of Nine Pills), the Sword Empress, and two paintings - in one of them, he was with Xie Meiling and holding flowers in his hand. In this painting, he was six years old, and at that time, with the help of Yu Yan, he bought flowers and prepared a surprise for his mother''s birthday. That day was very fun, and Xie Meiling even cried, her mask of indifference and coldness disappeared, allowing young Xie Qing to see his mother''s beautiful smile. And in the other painting, there was him and Xu Mei. It was his birthday, he was fifteen, and the Master could note up with a better solution than to give him the famous white hanfu, which fit the size of the user and protected him from attacks. There he stood, still young, but insanely handsome, dressed in that same hanfu, and next to him was Xu Mei with a strict face. Entering the room, Xie Qing saw that Xie Meiling was looking at these photos and was distracted when he came. "Are you done?" she asked, nodding and putting the photo with her on the nightstand, covering the photo with Xu Mei. "Yes..." Xie Qing bitterly smiled, seeing her behavior. Noticing this expression on his face, Xie Meiling felt awkward and returned everything as it was. "Cough..." Coughing to change the subject gracefully, Xie Meiling moved away from the nightstand and approached him. "Thank you. I wanted to say this since we came here, but I didn''t find the right moment," Xie Meiling whispered, and her eyes sparkled with tenderness when her gentle hands embraced Xie Qing''s back, and she pressed herself against him with her whole body. Her embrace was full of care and warmth. Xie Qing involuntarily rxed and weakly smiled, stroking her hair. "This young gentleman has not yetpleted his mission,dy. When I personally make the walls of the Xie family estate turn red... Only then can you thank me," Xie Qingughed, but hisughter was a little cold. Hearing his words, Xie Meiling raised her head and hungrily smiled. She squeezed his cheeks and then kissed him on the nose. "Of course, my boy. I believe in you." The next day, Xie Qing decided to finally start taking his improvement more seriously. He grabbed a sword and stood in a stance in the middle of a beautiful and elegant garden, filled with flowers of different species and different price categories. However, they were previously protected with the help of formations, as each nt here cost countless money, and some were something that could not be bought for any money - a rarity of ancient times. Each of his swings was filled with a special aura. Even though he used an ordinary wooden sword, his movements were filled with sharpness and danger. As if a predator, ready to erase its prey into dust. In the distance, several women watched this - Xie Meiling, Xu Mei, and Yu Yan. They watched as Xie Qing gracefully swung his sword. "Wow..." Yu Yan admired, captivated by the movements of Xie Qing''s legs and body: "This... it looks like a dance." "Of course, for you, it looks like a dance," Xu Mei replied and smiled, her eyes gleaming with pleasure: "But I see a series of ruthless blows that could turn even a Core Formation cultivator into dust." "Hm, although I am not a Sword Master, I do have some knowledge in this area. Moreover, my eyes are very insightful," Xie Meiling said and with a neutral face began to make an analysis: "His Sword Aura is very unusual, I''ve never seen anything like it. It''s not so noticeable, rather almost hidden, and you can only detect it when it has already hit you, which in some moments can be toote." "I praise you for your insightfulness," Xu Mei said, and when she saw Xie Meiling''s proud nod, she cunningly added: "However, you are not entirely correct - at least, you are not entirely correct." "Hm? I''m interested in your words. Please enlighten me." Xie Meiling was a little saddened by the fact that she was wrong, but realizing that next to her stood a legendary figure and one of the strongest swordsmen in the world - the Sword Princess, she fell silent and began to listen. "Of course. Although it seems to you that his Sword Aura is very hidden... I am forced to correct this remark," Xu Mei said and narrowed her eyes, adding: "His Sword Aura... is very aggressive." In the eyes of the others, Xie Qing did not even release his Sword Aura but fought purely with his bare physical strength. However, this was fundamentally wrong, because in Xu Mei''s eyes... His sword was surrounded by a thickyer of Sword Aura. Not only his sword but his body. Like a thickyer of armor, if someone came closer than five meters, their body would be torn to pieces. This was terrifying but within Xu Mei''s expectations. She understood that his Sword Aura would develop to such a level, and considering the legacy of the Sword Empress, Xie Qing was currently the most promising swordsman. He was just inexperienced. "Time... time will tell," Xu Mei thought and cracked her neck, watching his training: "I need to ask Lian Lin to prepare a smart person to rece the manager of the Xie family, and then fully engage in his training. Damn, how I''ve sweated..." Xu Mei licked her lips, and her previous innocent girlish feeling disappeared, reced by a seductive and adult aura. The girls around her just watched this, losing their speech. "She''s definitely crazy. Guys, let''s not mess with her." Chapter 68: Lian Xin (Part 1) 3/3 Pleasant Reading ==== After training, Xie Qing was quite exhausted. His body was drenched in sweat due to the frequent use of Qi Aura, which drained him. Afterpleting several sets, Xie Qing finally came to his senses and, using a Dao technique, washed away all the sweat and cleansed himself, presenting himself to the girls in his perfect form. As evening approached, the question of dinner arose. Traditionally, Xu Mei and Xie Qing ate regr food, but Xie Meiling still needed to eat nutritious soups. However, no one wanted to burden Yu Yang. "Alright, I''ll go prepare dinner. Come on, Yu Yang, you can help me too," said Xie Qing, donning an apron that looked too feminine for him. However, there was no other choice, as the other aprons looked the same. In the world of cultivation, where stereotypical thinking still prevailed, men were not allowed to cook, so Xie Meiling was surprised that her son knew how to cook. When she asked, "Who taught you?", the young man simply pointed to Yu Yang, who politely bowed. "I see... so your beloved maid taught you, right?" said Xu Mei with narrowed eyes and a smile. "Heh." Xie Qing just rolled his eyes and went to cook. He wasn''t particrly good at cooking, as one might think. Anyone can boil rice, and cooking pork isn''t that difficult either. But as he did all this, he began to forget how to cook properly. As a result, while helping Yu Yang, Xie Qing set the table. Everything on the table was made of spiritual something or other. Spiritual rice, spiritual pork (the pig doesn''t fly, it''s just fed Qi from infancy to make it tastier and more beneficial), spiritual greens, and so on. Even the tea was spiritual! Well, these were the perks of being rich. After that time, Xu Mei sold her collection of expensive wine, paid off her debt to Zhang Mei (which she had owed for a thousand years), and then began spending the rest on useful things. Recently, for example, she bought special pills for Xie Qing that would stimte the growth of the soul seed. The soul seed is a thing that forms in the Golden Core at the peak of Core Formation. If your cultivation technique isn''t pulled out of the trash, it will form this soul seed on its own. But if it doesn''t, you need to buy it, nt it in the Golden Core, and try not to die from rejection. This pill greatly helped Xie Qing, who had already begun to take steps toward the next stage of cultivation. Although it was very rushed, and it would take six months of diligent training to reach the peak of Core Formation and build a solid foundation, the result would be worth it. For example, Xie Qing was not sure that he could easily kill a Soul Nascent cultivator, as thetter could attack his not yet fully manifested soul, turning him into dust. But for such tricks, some artifacts protect the soul. They are expensive as oranges in the summer but quite affordable to acquire. *** Having finished his business, Xie Qing finally extricated himself from the trap of his mother''s embrace. She had fallen asleep after drinking with Xu Mei. After putting her to bed, he shook his head and left the pavilion. It was already dark. He wanted to breathe in the fresh night air and gaze at the stars. The sect was empty. Although the disciples liked to be idle, it would be much more efficient to spend their time cultivating. In a year, there would be an exam for an inner court disciple, so all the outer court disciples were diligently cultivating at this time. Not everyone was a cultivation monster like Xie Qing and Xu Mei. For an ordinary person, and even a genius, breaking through to the ministerial level within six months or even a year of training was considered a good result. The earlier they started training, the more beneficial it was for the disciples. The exam for the main disciple was in half a year, but registration had to be done well in advance, which Lian Xin had done for Xie Qing. "She is trying to please me a lot," thought Xie Qing, and his eyes gleamed with tenderness. More than anything else in the world, he valued sincerity in people and could see that her behavior was primarily aimed at taking care of him. She didn''t even bother to tell the young man about this, and did everything quietly and carefully, as always. Thinking about such caution andparing it to her fervor in the early days, Xie Qingughed. After he ascended to the heavens, Lian Xin felt awkward around him and could no longer use her charms to charm him. But considering that there were too many dangerous women around him, Lian Xin could only remain silent. However, who was Xie Qing? Of course, he was an insatiable lecher... I mean, a respected gentleman who couldn''t abandon a girl in trouble. And so he found himself in the Elders'' Pavilion, where the elders mostly lived. Something like a dormitory. Entering inside after showing a special guest pass (the Elders'' Pavilion guest token is mandatory if there is no apaniment) and entering the dormitory. There was a grave silence. Well, the reason was quite understandable - it was now two o''clock in the morning, and few of the elders showed such nightly activity as to make noise instead of cultivating. Finding the right door, Xie Qing knocked, and after two seconds, the door opened, revealing Lian Xin dressed in a robe in front of him. "U-Udisciple Xie Qing?" Lian Xin eximed in surprise, her cheeks sweetly blushing. "Good evening, Elder Lian. I havee to visit you, and not empty-handed!" said Xie Qing, lowering his voice when he felt that his voice had awakened some of the elders. He showed the wine, chocte, and flowers in his hand. "E-e... k-of course,e in". "Thank you," Xie Qing entered, and Lian Xin closed the door. The elder in the room in front of them coughed up blood. "Kha-kha... this scoundrel..." The elder with a bald head and long white beard, resembling a tendon, coughed up blood. His eyes were dark brown. His name was Bai Ju. He was from the Bai family - Bai Bai was the son of his brother. For some time, he had been asked to look after this disciple, and so far, Bai Ju had treated it with disdain. However, recently he learned that this disciple was the very scoundrel to whom Lian Xin had shown sympathy! Bai Ju was enraged; his heart was broken. Lian Xin had been his love since his youth when he joined the sect as a disciple. Falling in love with this girl, he tried to get her attention, but in return, he saw only coldness and indifference. He despaired and wanted to pressure her with the power of his family, but then what happened happened. Lian Xin was not from an ordinary family; her older sister was the sect leader herself. So Bai Ju''s hopes for the future were grim. However, even after bing an elder, he never gave up hope and tried to court Lian Xin, but to no avail. And learning that she had someone she was fond of, his brain exploded with jealousy. Despite countless warnings from other elders, he wanted to harm the disciple. As a result, he was beaten to a pulp by Xu Mei, who learned of this. He was left to live a miserable life until suddenly one night, this scoundrel showed up at the Elders'' Pavilion! Moreover, when he tried to eavesdrop, a sudden Qi attack disrupted his spiritual sense, causing him to cough up blood from the damage. "I tried to suppress this hatred inside me, but you came to my door yourself. And you even dared toe to a woman in the middle of the night..." Bai Ju clenched his teeth, and there was a crunch. His heart was bleeding. He didn''t care about the wound from the spiritual attack; he was tormented by hatred and thoughts of what was happening behind Elder Lian''s door. He was not a naive boy and hardly thought that Xie Qing hade here just to talk heart to heart. He had some motive. Although the sect did not forbid rtionships between an elder and a disciple, it was still considered a controversial issue, given that filial piety was still present. However, it was unnecessary to waste time on this, so no one paid attention, and among the elders, several men had rtionships with disciples, but mostly with disciples of the main court. Clenching his teeth, Bai Ju looked at Elder Lian''s door. *** "Here''s a gift for you, Elder Lian," said Xie Qing, handing Lian Xin a bouquet of fragrant flowers. "T-thank you very much," Lian Xin''s face turned red with excitement, and she brightly smiled, her beauty making the flowers merely a background. Xie Qing admired her smile and smiled back. "You are very nice," he said, making the woman blush sweetly. Lian Xin ced the bouquet on her bed and then moved the table. Xie Qing adjusted the chairs, and after pushing back a chair, the young man helped Lian Xin sit like a true gentleman. He then took two sses, one of which he ced in front of the woman. Elegantly pouring the wine, he handed it to Lian Xin and smiled. Then he poured himself a ss and sat down in his ce. "What a beautiful view from here," said Xie Qing, looking out the window. "True. I love to sit alone in the evenings and look at the stars," Lian Xin agreed. "Hehe... maybe I should apany my beloved elder to make our star gazing even better?" "E-e..." Lian Xin was taken aback by such frankness and then shyly smiled: "I would be very happy about that..." "Of course. From this day on, I wille to visit my dear Elder Lian," Xie Qing dered with a smile. Lian Xin gently smiled at him, epting hispliments and courtship. Of course, she was not against it; on the contrary, she was very excited. For her, there was nothing better than spending time with her beloved. At some point, she got rid of her shyness and talked to Xie Qing normally, without stuttering and showing initiative in the conversation. "I learned about your intention to be the head of the Xie family. I would like to support you," said Lian Xin seriously, her voice slightly agitated. She took a sip of wine and then said: "I conducted several investigations and found out that there are conflicts among the heirs within the Xie family. Two of the potential heirs are dead. Many are unhappy with Xie Hai''s management." "Hm? Two have been eliminated, huh? It seems Xie Xui is not idle, working as best he can," Xie Qingmented with a smile, showing no interest in mourning his brothers. He thought about Lian Xin''s proposal for a moment and then nodded: "Alright, this is an offer that would be a sin to refuse. I''m just worried about causing you inconvenience." "You will never cause me inconvenience," Lian Xin resolutely replied. "Well then..." Xie Qing crookedly smiled, feeling as if someone had stolen his role. However, he could not deny that her words made the young man feel satisfied. So he stood up and picked up Lian Xin, carrying her like a princess. "Eeek?!" With a surprised cry, Lian Xin blushed. No matter how resolute she was, lying in his arms was too awkward! However, Xie Qing did not hear her and twirled around the room, making Lian Xin smile. Although it was too frivolous, she enjoyed spending time this way. She looked at the stars and saw that they were shining brighter than usual. "Watching the stars with him..." Lian Xin blushed with excitement. Meanwhile, Xie Qing finally stopped, and his gaze fell on Lian Xin''s smile, which was shy and happy. He thought for a moment before kissing her. "Aah?!" Lian Xin made a surprised sound and looked at Xie Qing in disbelief, who smiled at her. She put her hands to her lips and opened her eyes in disbelief, from which tears then began to flow. "U-u-u..." "..." Xie Qing lost the power of speech and already began to feel guilty, although he did not understand what he had done wrong. But soon, Lian Xin herself kissed him and exined the reason for her tears. "I... I''m just very happy." Only then could the young man breathe a sigh of relief? It seemed to him that he had done something wrong, so as punishment, he twirled Lian Xin around the room, making the woman giggle. After that, Xie Qing sat on the bed and then hugged Lian Xin, whofortably settled on his chest, curling up like a kitten. Her cuteness reached 9000 levels, so Xie Qing could not help but stroke her head. The woman purred contentedly and, snuggling up to her beloved''s chest, forgot about all her problems and coquettishly responded to his courtship. Feeling rxed, Xie Qing kissed her on the cheek, then on the eyshes, and then on the forehead. He stroked her soft cheeks. "Unfair..." murmured Lian Xin,pletely red from the kisses, her heart sweet. Chapter 69: Kill with a borrowed knife Xie Qing and Lian Xiny on the bed, with Xie Qing still embracing Lian Xin''s waist and holding her close. She, in turn, snuggled up to his chest, feeling a sense of safety andfort. It got to the point where Lian Xin identally fell asleep. Xie Qing, who witnessed this, couldn''t help but lose his words. "Sigh... and how am I supposed to proceed with building our rtionship now?" the young man thought, then shook his head, "Alright, I won''t rush it. One way or another, I''ve already confirmed that she''s ready, and that''s enough for me today." Looking at the mature woman''s peaceful sleeping face, a gentle smile appeared on his face, and he held back from kissing her, not wanting to wake her up. Carefully cing her on the bed and covering her with a nket, Xie Qing admired her face for a bit longer, then jumped out the window. A light night breeze blew against his face, sweeping the bangs off his forehead and pushing them back. His beautiful, long hair freely flowed in the air, and his stunning, crystal-clear eyes reflected the night sky. His white clothes fluttered in the wind, with the long sleeves acting like wings, helping Xie Qingnd skillfully on the ground without any issues. Turning his gaze towards the moon, he smiled and cracked his neck. "Ah, what a pleasant evening." Raising his hand, the young man caught a sword falling from the heavens, its de reflecting the star-filled sky above. This was his "Nameless Sword"! After Xie Qing grew stronger, it too evolved. Its status read: [Nameless Sword] | [Rank: Unique (Evolving)] | [Description: An extremely sturdy sword. Can return to its owner by consuming Qi.] Xie Qing was satisfied with this sword, and it had be his favorite weapon. On this de was a hundred liters of blood, and its bright, sharp edge could even cut through a boulder. And with its ability to return, it was like a lightning god from German-Scandinavian mythology. Shuu! "Oops!" Xie Qing leaped to the side, dodging an attack filled with killing intent and Sword Aura. Hended on top of a streemp, crouching and looking at his enemy with a smirk. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he saw his opponent, his hair fluttering in the wind with the moon behind him. "Elder Brother Bai, what are you doing?" Xie Qing asked with a gentle, friendly smile as if greeting a friend. "Hmpf!" In front of him was his old, kind-hearted acquaintance, Bai Bai. Hearing Xie Qing''s words, he didn''t even bother reacting and merely prepared for his next attack. "How rude," Xie Qing muttered, shaking his head and jumping to dodge the crescent-shaped attack aimed at him. Landing on the ground and spinning around, he evaded several of Bai Bai''s strikes, looking as if he were dancing. "Damn it!" Bai Bai gritted his teeth and began attacking even more fiercely. However, Xie Qing possessed a strange agility and evaded all the blows, bncing on one foot and making circr movements, countering with kicks that eithernded on Bai Bai''s back or his groin area. "Ugh!" These kicks didn''t cause Bai Bai much pain, but rather filled him with shame! He couldn''t believe an inner court disciple was ying with him like this! However, no matter how hard he tried, Xie Qing didn''t show him enough respect and merely dodged, only asionallynding a counterattack! This greatly irritated him. "Trying to distract me and exhaust me while your aplice kills me? Ha, dream on!" thought Xie Qing, feeling a piercing gaze on him. Murder. That''s all these two had in mind. The Bai family was too troublesome and inconvenient as an enemy, so Xie Qing could only sigh, not wanting to act too carelessly. At the very least, he needed to eliminate any witnesses. And at best, try to kill Bai Bai without anyone noticing. "Each heir has a special mark on them, ced at birth. If you kill them, the mark records the killer''s Qi and sends it to the family head, and then the hunt for you begins, as they already have all your information," Xie Qing thought, rolling his eyes, "How inconvenient..." He too had a simr mark, but instead of sending information about his death to Xie Hai, it went to Xie Meiling. She simply didn''t trust her former husband in this matter. Dodging attacks and avoiding using too much Qi, Xie Qing was doing quite well at provoking his opponents. So, they had to change their n and try to attack him without any "gentleness." "Die!" A loud shout came from somewhere behind him, and a serious strike hit Xie Qing in the back. "Why are you shouting?" Xie Qing thought, but his face was serious. They had attacked him not with a cultivator''s technique, but with an artifact. He felt the breath of death behind him, meaning this attack could kill him! So, he analyzed the battlefield and, realizing there was no chance to dodge, the young man decided to use his one-time-use artifact. However, Xie Qing didn''t do this right away. "Hahaha! This is your end, bastard! I''ve let you off the hook for too long, it''s time to die!" Bai Bai shouted angrily and maniacallyughed, stepping back. But did he ask Xie Qing''s permission before leaving? "Elder Brother Bai is so noble. You''ve been very helpful to metely, you know? This younger brother is touched," Xie Qing''s voice suddenly rang out. "Eh?!" Bai Bai froze ¨C not because of Xie Qing''s words, but because of a technique that plunged everything around him into darkness, filling his heart with fear. He looked into those terrifying amber eyes and trembled before the higher being. On the other hand, Bai Ju was shocked, realizing that his attack was heading straight for Bai Bai! While his opponent was frozen, Xie Qing, not wasting any time, moved Bai Bai closer to him and then stood behind him. "S-stop... damn it, damn it, damn it!" Bai Ju desperately cried out, trying to stop the attack, but his attempts to order the artifact to stop only resulted in him tearing out the remaining clumps of his hair. And so... BOOM! The entire sect trembled. Cultivators and elders immersed in cultivation almost spat out blood when they were so rudely interrupted. Even Xu Mei, who had fallen asleep after drinking, was surprised and woke up, sensing a strange surge of energy and earth-shaking. She narrowed her blue eyes, which now held a hint of anger, and disappeared from her spot. The next second, Xu Mei appeared in the air, and with a snap of her fingers, she blew away the dust that had risen after the impact. "This... " Xu Mei clicked her tongue in annoyance and looked at the situation. The pieces of flesh that were once Bai Bai were scattered all around, and Bai Ju knelt on the ground with a pale, shocked face. Somewhere in the distance, about five hundred meters away, stood Xie Qing, eating chips and watching the surrounding situation. "Damn, that felt good! But... " his eyes gleamed with mischief as he turned his gaze to Bai Ju, on whom a mark had appeared, the "Mark of Vengeance." "How will you deal with this problem? And the real answer will be even worse than saying you killed Bai Bai..." Xie Qing cheerfullyughed, and his chest began to shake, but after a few seconds, he started coughing because a popcorn kernel had gotten stuck in his throat. "Khe-khe..." However, fortunately, someone soon patted him on the back, helping him regain hisposure. Turning around, he saw his Master, whose usual smile had vanished. She looked at him coldly and with annoyance. Forcing a smile, Xie Qing averted his gaze. However, Xu Mei''s cold gaze didn''t waver, and in the end, he had to sigh. "I''m sorry, Master. I shouldn''t have used the situation on the battlefield so poorly. Next time, I''ll feed him his own attack," Xie Qing said shamefully. "Enough joking around," Xu Mei coldly replied, and seeing that Xie Qing was awkwardly smiling, she couldn''t help but let out a tired sigh, "Oh, foolish disciple, can''t you go just one day without causing trouble?" "I can, but they can''t. I ask that you punish them for attempting to murder your disciple, Master," Xie Qing shamelessly said, cing a hand on his chest and feigning pain. "You... ha-ha..." Xu Mei couldn''t help butugh. Herughter was elegant and beautiful. "..." Xie Qing merely smiled and nced at Bai Ju, who looked as if he''d lost his soul. He didn''t need to worry about him ¨C the Bai family would deal with this themselves. No matter how much Bai Ju tried to shift the me onto Xie Qing and even if he managed to turn the Bai family against him, in the end, he would only face suffering. The punishment for killing a member of the Bai family was worse than death. So, Xie Qing could only smile and not finish off the already dead horse. As expected, the noise was too loud. Considering it was near the Elders'' Pavilion, more than a hundred elders soon rushed over. Seeing therge crater and the torn-apart corpse of a disciple, as well as the helpless Elder Bai Ju, they were greatly puzzled. Some of them even trembled in disbelief ¨C mostly elders associated with the Bai family. The elders'' gaze immediately shifted to the other two people present. Many recognized them as Elder Xu and her disciple, Xie Qing, who was sitting on the ground with his chest exposed, revealing a deep wound that almost reached his bones. "Xie Qing!" A loud female cry came from the side, and a beautiful elder rushed over ¨C Lian Xin. Her face paled, and her hands shook as she saw the young man''s condition. Chaotically pulling out bottles of pills from her pockets, some even fell to the ground but didn''t break, thanks to their sturdiness. "T-this is the Soul Revival Pill, it will help you heal your wounds," Lian Xin said with a trembling voice, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. "..." Xie Qing, observing this, couldn''t help but feel guilty. He leaned forward and pretended to take the pills from the elder''s hands, hiding his view as he whispered, "I''m fine. This is just for show. I''ll exinter." "Eh?" Letting out a surprised sound, Lian Xin looked at Xie Qing''s face and saw that he was confidently smiling. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Picking up the bottles from the ground, she furrowed her brow and looked at Elder Bai Ju. "Elder Bai, what''s the meaning of this? What happened?" Lian Xin asked in a voice that could freeze water. "Indeed... I was a bit stunned and didn''t have time to ask. Bai Ju, what happened?" "What''s going on here?!" Lian Xin''s voice was like a bucket of cold water poured on the stunned elders. They all looked at Bai Ju, and he, feeling the pressure of their gazes, clenched his teeth and looked at the young man with hatred. "It''s all his fault! The bastard who killed Young Master Bai! He''s to me for everything!" Bai Ju shouted, his voice full of hatred. Even the saliva flying out of the old man''s mouth revealed his anger. "What? Have you gone mad? How could an inner court disciple kill Bai Bai?" one elder responded, and the others also expressed this doubt. "Pfft! Don''t look down on this bastard, he''s a Core Formation cultivator! He''s the one who lured Young Master Bai into a trap and then cruelly killed him!" Bai Ju clenched his teeth and shouted, tears streaming down his face, not bothering to wipe them away. All the elders fell silent and examined Xie Qing, but they could only see a Qi Condensation cultivator at the fifth stage. After examining the used disciple''s cultivation level, they looked displeased at Bai Ju. "Have youpletely lost your shame, Bai Ju?! How can you lie to our faces, using an innocent, wounded disciple? He''s just a Qi Condensation cultivator!" Lian Xin cried out in response, perfectly ying along with the act. "W-what?" Bai Ju didn''t believe their words and examined Xie Qing himself, but no matter how hard he tried, the young man''s previous aura had disappeared, reced by a Qi Condensation cultivator at the fifth stage! His face paled, and he looked at Xie Qing in horror. "Y-you..." Around him, everything darkened, and the elders began to be shrouded in darkness, with only their eyes remaining in this darkness. They looked at Bai Ju with their amber eyes, instilling fear in his mind. "N-no! I-I''m not guilty..." he mumbled, then switched to shouting, "I-it''s him! It''s all because of him!" However, even after his words, nothing changed. On the contrary, a huge amber eye with a serpentine pupil appeared, coldly staring at him. Under the influence of this aura that instilled fear, Bai Ju''s eyes filled with tears, and snot flowed from his nose ¨C it looked disgusting. "I-I... n-not guilty... I..." But the more he denied it, the more the darkness grew. In the end, the darkness swallowed him, and Bai Ju''s mind began to sink into despair. He maniacallyughed and covered his face with his hands. "Hahahaha!" Chapter 70: Leglock from Lian Lin? Additional chap for 100 PS. 1/2 ==== Everyone looked in confusion at Bai Ju, who seemed to have gone mad. Heughed and covered his face with his hands as if trying to avoid reality, but all he met was endless darkness. Watching this, Xie Qing merely smiled, then dispelled the influence of the technique, as his Qi was almost exhausted. Ignoring the nagging pain in his Golden Core, he began to observe the spectacle. Eventually, people from the Medicine Pavilion arrived. Some of them started collecting Bai Bai''s torn flesh, while the others rushed to Xie Qing to heal his wound. "Oh, how terrible... what a deep wound. It matches the shape of Bai Bai''s sword. What a scumbag, he must havepletely forgotten that the sect''s rules apply even to disciples of the main court, even if they are from an influential family," one of the disciples muttered angrily as he quickly patched up Xie Qing''s wound. Fortunately, some advanced potions and pills allowed the wound to be healed within five minutes. Although it hadn''tpletely closed, it no longer posed a threat to Xie Qing''s life. Leaving Xie Qing in the care of Elder Lian Xin, the Medicine Pavilion disciples helped their colleagues collect Bai Bai''s flesh and then carried him away. By the next morning, the incident had caused much controversy and unrest. Representatives of the Bai family arrived at the sect, looking furious. They were now in the Sect Master''s Pavilion. "Sect Master Lian, we demand that you hand over Elder Bai Ju and disciple Xie Qing for further investigation!" shouted a middle-aged man, then lowered his voice when he noticed that Lian Lin had be distracted from her papers, "...We ask for your cooperation. The Bai family will not refuse you in the future if you need anything." "Hah..." Lian Lin smiled and shook her head, looking disappointed. The man in front of her was named Bai Yi Xian, and he was one of the former talents of the Bai family, now acting as a negotiator. After yesterday''s events, the Bai family quickly learned everything and realized that an elder from their family had killed one of the potentially valuable offspring! They couldn''t help but be angry. Like bees disturbed by the sudden actions of a beekeeper, they decided to sting Elder Bai Ju as quickly as possible and also eliminate disciple Xie Qing, who was likely not innocent either. However, they encountered a firm refusal from Lian Lin and were forced to go for a personal meeting to show their position and try to negotiate. "Bai Yi Xian... I think you overestimate your Bai family a bit too much. Let''s start our conversation from this point," Lian Lin finally decided to respond, setting aside her papers. She coldly looked at Bai Yi Xian, who looked displeased, "I see discontent in your eyes. How amusing. Do you consider the Heavenly Sword Sect your subordinates? Perhaps I should tell Madam Xu Mei about this news? I''m sure she''ll enjoy such a thing." "Eh... n-no, I didn''t mean that. I apologize for leaving such an impression," Bai Yi Xian immediately paled and bowed. "Is that so? Then I''ll forget about your words, as I am a very magnanimous person," Lian Lin nodded and said, her gaze emanating coldness. She adjusted her sses in their round frame, then continued, "Following your logic, I should hand over an elder of my sect to you, and then also a disciple, right? Doesn''t that sound a bit funny? I think so too." "Sect Master Lian, I can understand your dissatisfaction, and I am also a bit confused by the current mood in the Bai family, but I very much hope for your understanding. There are now many people who want to get their hands on Bai Ju to punish him," Bai Yi Xian began speaking in a much calmer and more polite tone when he was brought down from the heavens to the ground. He sped his hands together and said, "If I can''t return with him to the Bai family, it will at leastplicate the current situation, understand?" Lian Lin did not respond and merely tapped her fingers on the table, looking at Bai Yi Xian with an unreadable expression. Bai Yi Xian also did not rush to continue his speech, understanding that Lian Lin intended to think about it for a while. No matter how brilliant and prestigious he was in the Bai family, here his status wasparable to that of a simple outer court disciple. Seconds turned into minutes, and only after five minutes did Lian Lin open her mouth to give a short but decisive answer. "The sect will deal with this and answer the Bai family." "What?" Bai Yi Xian frowned when he heard her words. This was a polite "no" that tore away all possibilities for negotiations from the roots. He couldn''t help but feel anger, sensing that his family was being ignored, but this anger he could only suppress within himself. Standing up and coldly looking at Lian Lin, he said goodbye: "Alright, I''ll pass on your answer to the Bai family. I apologize for wasting your time." "Yes, indeed, you wasted my time in vain, so I won''t see you off," Lian Lin casually replied, making Bai Yi Xian almost stumble as he passed through the threshold. "Hmph!" Turning her gaze away from the angry Bai Yi Xian, Lian Lin looked at the window through which Xie Qing had entered. "I missed you, sister," he said with a smile andnded on the floor, brushing off the dust. "Did you? Maybe you brought me some new techniques?" Lian Lin asked with gleaming eyes, regaining her usualzy appearance. "...No. Do you think they grow on bushes for me?" Xie Qing replied, rolling his eyes. He found a chair and sat down, pulling out a bottle of spiritual wine from inside his robe and raising it into the air to Lian Lin''s apuse: "I stole this from Bai Bai''s cer! I still have twenty more bottles like this, each worth 500 Spiritual Stones, and the most expensive one is 5000! Since I can''t sell it, let''s drink it!" "Hooray," came theckluster response from Lian Lin. He couldn''t sell the wine because it was numbered and bought directly from the store, which, upon order, issued spiritual wine. It was easy to find out the identity of the buyer, and this would bring a bunch of problems. For the sake of short-term profit, it was not worth turning the Bai family into enemies. Although they suspected him, the "Mark of Vengeance" indicated that the killer was Bai Ju, so he was only suspected. Since it wasn''t very good to throw away the wine like that, Xie Qing decided to have fun and visited Lian Lin. Xu Mei and Lian Xin were busy at the elders'' meeting, and his mother couldn''t drink due to a hangover. Xu Mei''s spiritual wine could make even a Soul Nascent cultivator drunk, not to mention such wine that could make even Xu Mei drunk. It was decided to visit his older sister Lian Lin, who resolutely shielded him from various attentive nces. Pouring the wine into sses, they clinked them together and began to drink. Lian Lin''s facial muscles rxed, and she began to look half-asleep. "Aah... such a sweet aftertaste and a hint of bitterness, plus there''s so much rich Qi in this wine that it only enhances the taste. Fantastic!" Lian Lin praised the wine. "Hehe, what did you think? Robbing a rich kid is no joke!" Xie Qing boasted as if he had acquired this wine and not stolen it. They spent time drinking wine. After emptying a bottle of wine, Xie Qing wearily rubbed his eyes. Drinking too much spiritual wine could easily get you drunk, and his head was already empty. Lian Lin was already snoring on the table. Looking at her, Xie Qing shook his head. "What an ufortable position. How can she even sleep on this hard table and chair?" he wondered, then approached and picked her up, carrying her like a princess. The table was made of strong wood that even a Soul Nascent cultivator couldn''t break. This table held important documents, and it was impossible to break into it due to the many formations. All of this was a real pain, so Xie Qing didn''t want to deal with it. However, he knew that breaking the table would be a difficult task. And sleeping on it was masochism. So, he carried Lian Lin to the bedroom. Avoiding the elders in the corridor, he reached her bedroom, opened the door with his elbow, and then pushed it open with his foot. And there he saw Lian Lin''s messy room. He couldn''t help but shake his head, even his requests couldn''t teach his older sister to fold things instead of scattering them around the room. Closing the door behind him so that Lian Lin wouldn''t lose her reputation as the sect master, he put her on the bed and, admiring her sleeping face, took off her sses and ced them on the nightstand. "By the way, why does she wear sses at all? She doesn''t have any vision problems," he thought, then put on the sses for fun: "Eh?" Immediately, the world before his eyes changed, and it seemed to be darker. All the colors faded and became much less expressive, and he could see countless lines and geometric figures around the room. "Is this... a formation and Qi?" Xie Qing wondered. It seemed that these sses also possessed a special power. However, he didn''t understand how Lian Lin could live with such terrible lighting; he couldn''t see anything in front of him. Therefore, he decided to take off the sses and ce them on the nightstand. Then, looking around the room and seeing that underwear and clothes were scattered all over the floor, he decided, as a younger brother, to help her and clean up, and at the same time, he would sober up a bit from the alcohol. First, he arranged the clothes and put them in the closet, and then he moved on to the underwear. Thongs, ordinary panties, and brasy on the floor, and it looked unsightly. Examining all of this, Xie Qing roughly understood her sizes, somewhere around a C-cup, which was also not bad. Although Lian Lin still felt insecure about her size. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Big breasts are good, but who said small breasts are bad?" Shaking his head, as if Xie Qing was disappointed by such stereotypical thinking, he, as a true gentleman, began to touch her thongs and picked them up, examining them. "Damn. She wears such bold thongs under her clothes. As expected of the sect master!" he thought admiringly. Of course, after that, he put them away and didn''t do anything strange. He was a pervert, not a horny animal... probably. Having arranged everything in the wardrobes and superficially gotten rid of the dust, Xie Qing wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead. "Finally, order and cleanliness. Now it doesn''t look like a minefield," he thought, satisfied with himself. Since childhood, his mother had taught him to be neat and clean. Therefore, he still adhered to this teaching. Since the deed was done, he decided to go outside and breathe some air, but before that, he decided to cover Lian Lin with a nket. And this was a fatal mistake. "Eh?" Xie Qing felt the world before his eyes spin, and then an unusual sensation of warmth and softness touched his cheek. With his peripheral vision, he saw that he was pressing his cheek against Lian Lin''s chest, while her legs were wrapped around his waist. He had fallen into a trap! "Leglock?" Xie Qing thought, as always, thinking about perversions, "Tempting... but how do I get out of this situation? It''s easier to destroy the world than to wake up Lian Lin..." No matter how he tried, Lian Lin didn''t want to wake up, and he could only sigh, epting his fate. One way or another, there was nothing to do. He pped Lian Lin''s butt. "Mm..." Through her sleep, Lian Lin moaned and frowned, and her legs only tightened more around Xie Qing''s waist. Now he really couldn''t escape. "Oh, damn it, I''m in trouble," Xie Qing thought, forgetting to wipe that disgusting satisfied smile from his face. Although he pretended to be a helpless sheep, his hands couldn''t help but caress his older sister''s body. He behaved shamelessly and calmed down only after examining all the parts of her body avable to him at the moment. "The rest of the DLC is blocked by clothing," Xie Qing sadly thought. However, he was able to conduct an examination and realized that Lian Lin''s body was very slender, and although she didn''t look that adult, she had her charm. Although it was very interesting why he, under the pretext of checking her merits, groped the body of a defenseless woman, one could only assume that he was a shameless bastard. "I''m only worried about whether she''s eating well," Xie Qing defended himself from the strange usations that sounded against him from his inner voice and offendedly rolled his eyes, "I''m just a caring younger brother." And this "caring younger brother" didn''t forget to pat Lian Lin''s buttocks while she slept. He took it as payment for cleaning the room. Chapter 71: Zhang Meis call Additional chapter for 100 PS 2/2 ==== Xie Qing was getting a bit restless, but then he got bored and decided to calm down his passion. Inhaling the gentle scent of Lian Lin''s body, he also dozed off unintentionally. Two hourster, Lian Lin woke up from a strange sensation in her groin area. She raised an eyebrow and opened her eyes. "AAAA!" A scream rang out, instantly waking up Xie Qing. He opened his eyes and saw that his little brother was poking a stick at the dragon''s nose. By then, the leglock had been released, and he saw that Lian Lin was holding her eyes, from which blood was flowing. He panicked a little and, taking the sses, put them on Lian Lin. Only then was she able to open her eyes, which were stained with blood. "Are you alright?" asked Xie Qing, concerned. "...little brother? Hm... yes, I''m fine now," muttered Lian Lin, activating her Qi to get rid of the blood, and her regeneration restored everything to its original state. She looked at him and said, "My eyes are a bit special, and I see the world much brighter than ordinary people... so don''t take off my sses again, okay?" "Okay... I''m sorry, I didn''t know about this," apologized Xie Qing, feeling guilty for what he had done, although it was not intentional. "It''s okay. You were just worried about me, right?" said Lian Lin with a gentle and mature smile, patting Xie Qing''s head, who looked at her with sparkling eyes. Then her smile became stern when she grabbed Xie Qing by the hair and pulled it up: "By the way, who gave you the right to touch me?" "I''m sorry..." Xie Qing awkwardly smiled, and Lian Lin loosened her grip, removing her hand. The young man took advantage of this moment to kiss her hand and said, "I''m sorry, big sister, it won''t happen again." "Hmph, now I understand why Master is so fond of you. You have a devilishly sweet mouth," said Lian Lin with a smile, and then she casuallyy down on the bed, adjusting her sses: "Oh well. You''re my little brother, so I can only ept your perverted nature." "I''m not a pervert, I just like to give affection and warmth to my loved ones," said Xie Qing, unashamedly rolling his eyes. "That''s what being a pervert is. Anyway, just don''t do it without permission, you''re not a degenerate after all," said Lian Lin, rolling her eyes. "Hm?" Xie Qing suddenly felt that something was wrong, and he raised an eyebrow, rifying: "So if I ask, you''ll allow it?" "If you have useful sword techniques or make a significant contribution to the sect, then yes," said Lian Lin with a sly smile, and then she waved her hand: "I''ve forgiven your actions, so take them as payment for that time." Xie Qing tilted his head to the side and smiled. Although it was kind of Lian Lin to say so, who was he? That''s right, a smart pervert! "Sect Master, I don''t think that''s a Xutable price-to-payment ratio," said Xie Qing with a serious tone. "Hm?" Lian Lin looked puzzledly at him, not understanding what he was talking about. Xie Qing decided to exin everything with a polite smile. "I mean... I gave the sect a new life, which is worth a lot of money," said Xie Qing without shame and casually rubbed his hands: "And that means the reward should be much more valuable." Lian Lin cast a disinterested look at the young man and rolled her eyes, realizing his implications. She waved her hand and said, "I''ll think about it." Xie Qing could only shrug. He stood up and flew out the window... for some reason, he had forgotten about the existence of a door. However, in flight, he put his hair in a ponytail and lightened his fall with Qi, ignoring the shocked looks of the elders, and then began to stroll around the sect with a carefree gait. As always, it was deserted in the main courtyard, with only a little activity in the inner courtyard. The most active ce was still the outer courtyard. "Recently, outstanding disciples have had the opportunity to receive apletely new cultivation technique that I brought from the Ancestral Cave. This has increased the requirements for the exams, but at least it will filter out all the trash," thought Xie Qing, observing how the aura of the outer courtyard disciples had changed. For the inner courtyard disciples and those who were already at the Foundation Building, the new cultivation technique was useless, and it would only create a host of problems. This caused a wave of dissatisfaction, but what could anyone do? Ignoring all the shameless looks of the disciples at him, Xie Qing tried not to pay attention to it. His eyes sparkled as he looked at the high heavens. *** The days flew by unnoticed. After a week of diligent cultivation, Xie Qing was able to break through to the fourth stage of Core Formation, and his energy was still just as rich. Inhaling the cool night air, Xie Qing recovered from the breakthrough, and his eyes shone gold when he opened them. The Nine Golden Dragons Cultivation Technique was something incredible. It purified Qi so that it left not even 0.0001% impurity, which was good for a cultivator. At the same time, it helped the young man temper his body, so his physical strength did notg behind his Qi. Standing up from his ce, Xie Qing''s bones creaked as they began to rebuild and be stronger. "Hm? It feels like I''ve gotten taller," he muttered, raising an eyebrow. Before this, his height was 192 cm, and now his height was 195 cm. The difference was not that big, but he had grown. Brushing the dust off himself, Xie Qing looked at the sky and saw that it was already deep night. Most likely, the others were already asleep. "Son?" Behind him, a woman''s voice sounded. Turning his head, Xie Qing saw his mother, Xie Meiling, who was dressed in a simple white dress and white stockings. This appearance was both seductive and cute at the same time. "You''re not asleep, Mom? You need to sleep a lot to restore your body," said the young man with a smile, approaching her. "Hmph. Don''t take me for a weak woman, my body is strong enough to go without sleep for months," said Xie Meiling, rolling her eyes, and examining Xie Qing''s body for wounds, she smiled and nodded: "Congrattions on the breakthrough. You''re getting stronger so fast. This talent is terrifying." "Thank you." Xie Qing just smiled gently at his mother''s words and hugged her, pulling her to him. Xie Meiling''s face was a little strange, and her breath on the young man''s neck was hot. She shook her head, as if trying to get rid of something, and gently smiled, stroking her son with strange emotions reflected in her eyes. Xie Qing didn''t notice anything and felt only a little ufortable because his mother was hugging him too tightly with her chest and breathing hotly on his neck. However, after they finished hugging, the young man and his mother began to return to the pavilion. Xu Mei had gone to some meeting of rulers, in which the cultivators at their peak of existence participated, so she would not be there for several days. In the pavilion, there were only Yu Yang, Xie Qing, and Xie Meiling. It was an idyll. What Xie Qing had been seeking for so many years. To settle in one ce, live together, and enjoy the warmth of each other. It was wonderful, but... the idyll was always something illusory. Behind his back was the exam of the main disciple and the heir of the family. There would be many problems, many schemes, and traps. The undercurrents that flowed into the Northern Continent were already palpable. Spies who had circled the sect and tried to analyze Xie Qing''s status ¨C whether he was alive or not ¨C quickly returned home. It was clear that there was now a serious shortage of personnel in the Xie family. Why was this happening? It''s simple. Xie Qing was able to find a trusted person of Xie Meiling in the family who, on that fateful night, could not help her because of how covertly the operation was conducted. By leveraging their guilt, he gained their support. Although he did not trust these people, because an unreliable ally was worse than a prepared enemy, he used this to temporarily reduce the number of possible personnel in the Xie family. "If you want to build something, you have to destroy it first," thought Xie Qing, and his eyes narrowed, taking Xie Meiling''s hand, who turned her gaze to her son. His gaze was directed forward, looking resolute. "..." Xie Meiling fell silent, and her cheeks flushed slightly, probably from the cold air. She turned her gaze and looked at the stars. Tonight, the stars were shining brighter than ever. *** Two weeks had passed. Xie Qing put on his equipment... although it was still that white hanfu, his Nameless Sword, and bracelets. A week ago, he received a message from Zhang Mei, asking him to visit her sect to fulfill part of his promise. The young man could not refuse ¨C he was in debt and had to pay it off. "There, now you''re ready," said Xu Mei, adjusting Xie Qing''s clothes. She patted his cheek and stepped back, looking at him with a smile: "Handsome. As expected of my hubby." "Thank you, Master... I mean, Mei-Mei," said Xie Qing with a smile, correcting himself halfway through. Hearing such a tender name, Xu Mei could not resist and kissed Xie Qing again. Between them, there was silence, and their tongues intertwined in a battle. Unfortunately, no matter how much the Master tried, Xie Qing ultimately dominated her. "Aah..." Loudly moaning from the naughty hands of Xie Qing, which squeezed her nipples and pressed on her clitoris, Xu Mei looked at the young man with a flushed face. "Pervert~," she said in her sweet voice, which sounded like an invitation. "You''re lucky that I''m in a hurry, or I would have punished you," muttered Xie Qing, abandoning his disciple status and authoritatively taking Xu Mei by the waist, and groping her buttocks. "S-sorry, hubby..." muttered Xu Mei, and her face turned red with excitement. Xie Qing smiled and nodded, but in his thoughts, his mind was a little in chaos: "I think... unexpectedly discovering that such a strong woman has a fetish for being dominated." Xu Mei loved it when Xie Qing dominated her. This revtion he had suspected for a long time, but only now realized that it was true. One way or another, he was not particrly against it, on the contrary, he was pleased with it. Since this was a rtively normal fetish, he also enjoyed it and looked forward to returning to the sect. "I''ll visit you in two days, as soon as I help your mother break through to the new level," said Xu Mei, and, patting the young man on the cheek, she ran out of his embrace. "Heh." Watching as Xu Mei returned home, running like a girl, Xie Qing could not help but shake his head. "Mom is breaking through to the Soul Nascent level... amazing," thought Xie Qing, and a gentle smile appeared on his face. It seemed that after a series of misfortunes, a bright sun appeared, signifying the golden age of Xie Meiling''s cultivation. She had recovered and regained consciousness and then soared into the heavens like a phoenix. Xie Qing was also involved in this and bought her a talent enhancement. Xie Meiling''s talent was at Earthly ¨C Upper level, and now it was at Superior ¨C Upper level. The following items were used: [Minor Talent Enhancement] | [Price: 25 Spiritual Stones] | [Description: Increases the cultivator''s talent. For example, a Mortal lower-level talent bes a Mortal Highest-level talent] [Major Talent Enhancement] | [Price: 250 Spiritual Stones] | [Description: Increases talent by one realm. That is, from Mortal level to Earthly] For Xie Qing and Xu Mei, it was useless. For the second, it was useless because her body blocked any intervention, and trying to rebuild her talent with potential was dangerous and unreliable. And for Xie Qing... how can you enhance what is already enhanced to the limit? And so, with such simple methods, the young man helped his mother, not forgetting about Yu Yang, who now had a talent at the Heavenly ¨C Upper level. Thus, he was able to help them reach higher levels and go with him in search of immortality. Otherwise, what''s the point if you''re ultimately left alone? "Even if I''m brave and can fight without fear of death, I''m still afraid of loneliness. I don''t know if that''s pathetic or not," thought Xie Qing and sighed. Despite his reluctance to leave, the young man still entered the teleportation formation and then disappeared into the light. *** Starry Stream Sect. A ce where the main minds of cultivators were concentrated. Many cultivation techniques, formations, recipes for spiritual items, and even the construction of high castles. It was on their shoulders. Therefore, their reputation among the world of cultivators was great. Located in a favorable ce where forests thrived and beautiful nature, the sect was rich in views, and the market flourished. In the Sect Master''s pavilion, Zhang Mei turned her gaze to two disciples. One of them was a disciple with long pink hair, her eyes were closed. Her body was slender and petite, and she was short (154 cm), looking beautiful and charming. There was a mole under the right corner of her mouth. The other disciple was a young-looking girl with ck hair that reached the back of her shoulders and pink eyes. She was slender, with medium-sized breasts, and her expression was indifferent. The first disciple was named Li Yun, and the second... Xie Yu. Chapter 72: Li Yuilan Looking at the two disciples in front of her, Zhang Mei crossed her arms over her chest, emphasizing them, and then said with a cold face and stern voice: "Li Yun, Xie Yu. An important guest ising to us and I need you to meet him in the city of Xianyu." Zhang Mei said in her usual cold-apathetic voice: "I need him to get to the sect without any problems. Is that clear?" "Yes, Master," Li Yun replied submissively, bowing. "Yes, respected Master," Xie Yu nodded and lowered her head. "Good. He has already arrived, go now." Zhang Mei nodded and threw out these words, returning to her work. Li Yun and Xie Yu exchanged nces and then left the office. Closing the door, they began to walk along the long corridors. "Listen, older sister, do you know who this important person is? Could it be Lady Xu Mei?" Xie Yu asked curiously. "I don''t know," Li Yun answered and gently smiled, still keeping her eyes closed. Her posture was straight, and she was dressed in traditional restrained white garments. The dress was long, hiding her legs, and except for her arms and neck, no more skin could be seen. She wore long beige boots that covered her slender legs, and in her hand, she held a folded umbre. "Well... I don''t want to wee someone boring. If it''s another rich merchant who can''t control his lustful gaze, I wonder if I should kill him?" Xie Yu grumbled in annoyance, looking unhappy. "Violence begets violence, and this cycle can only be broken by a union that will stop the bloodshed. Isn''t it wonderful to live in peace, so that our descendants can grow up surrounded by virgin nature?" Li Yun answered with a smile, fixing her hair behind her ear. "Older sister, your words are true, but you are too kind. This world does not deserve such a kind girl like you. It''s no wonder they call you a Saint." Xie Yu chuckled. "That nickname is too exaggerated. I am also human, and I am not as kind as I may seem," Li Yun replied, shaking her head. Xie Yu did not know how to respond, so she remained silent. The girl in front of her was the future heir of the Starry Stream Sect, and many envied her - in terms of her background in the influential Li family, in terms of beauty, and status. Although several ill-wishers tried to tarnish her name, her kindness and actions always covered up opportunities for this. Everyone was forced to admit that she was kind and fair to all, regardless of their status. And today, Li Yun was indeed excited. Ever since Zhang Mei said that someone important wasing to their sect, the fate around her had been chaotic. She felt excitement, the threads of fate trembled with joy and happiness. This was something unusual. She had never noticed such a reaction before, even when she met Xu Mei, whose aura made the threads of fate avoid her, not daring to touch. And as they approached the city, Li Yun noticed that the air felt somehow different, a little heavier. And the threads of fate shone brightly, standing out like a beacon in the endless darkness. Somewhere in the distance, about five kilometers away from them, there was something so bright that it reced the sun in the sky. "This... is the teleportation formation there, isn''t it? Could this radiance being from this guest?!" Li Yun was excited. Xie Yu also felt the excitement in the city, and her family token, which allowed her to detect members of her family, was trembling. She looked suspiciously in the direction that Li Yun was looking. "It could only be Uncle Xie Hai, but... is he able to leave the estate right now?" Xie Yu wondered. The option with her father was also ruled out - he was busy on military service at the border of the Dynasty, and her brother Xie Xui was too busy with management schemes to ease his rise to power. "Hm, it can''t be my ugly brother. Then who could it be?" Their curiosity was piqued, and these two headed towards the teleportation formation. They arrived there five minutester, taking into ount that they used swords to fly. Stopping right in front of the crowd, Li Yun and Xie Yu looked at each other in bewilderment. "What''s going on here? Why isn''t the guard dispersing the people? The operation of the formation will be suspended," Xie Yu muttered. "There''s... someone''s presence here. Very strong, most likely a cultivator at the peak of Core Formation or higher," Li Yun muttered. Very soon, their presence was noticed by the crowd of onlookers, who began to move aside, clearing a path for them. No matter how great the people here were, in the presence of Li Yun, they were all like vigers. And so, when the crowd had parted, Li Yun was able to sense that someone with a powerful presence was standing in front of her, and his aura was all-consuming. "This... "Aaaa?! Elder Brother Xie Qing is that you?!" came the loud cry of Xie Yu. "Hm?" Li Yun raised an eyebrow in surprise, and Xie Qing, hearing his name, turned towards the two girls and froze in ce. "Ghe... Xie Yu..." "What''s this ''ghe''?! Aren''t you happy to see me?" Xie Yu said with a pretend-angry face, leaving Li Yun in ce and running towards Xie Qing, freely opening her arms and running towards the young man. He could not help but sigh and pray to the heavens. A secondter, Xie Yu crashed into him, and he felt like vomiting blood from how hard she was hugging him. "I missed you so much, big brother!" "D-damn... let go of me, I... can''t breathe..." Xie Qing looked away and could not help butment his fate. Of all the people he had to meet, it was this annoying girl. Why annoying? Well... let''s look at a shback. *** "Big brotheeeer!" Behind the young Xie Qing, who was reading, came a loud childish cry. Immediately, Xie Qing''s face changed, and he threw aside the book and began to run. "Stoooop! Brother, where are you running?! Stop right there!" "If I stop, I won''t be able to run away from you! Get lost!" Xie Qing shouted in response and only ran faster. "I''ll catch up to you eventually!" In the end, the estate was not infinite, so Xie Qing ended up in a dead end, and at the moment when he tried to run into a room, he was suddenly pinned to the wall by a girl''s body. "Brother, bad brother! Why are you running away from Yu''er?!" the girl pouted and asked Xie Qing with her pink eyes. "...I want to die..." Xie Qing snorted and turned away, embracing the girl''s body. This was his cousin, Xie Yu, who was too attached to him. Every day, she would catch up to him and hug him, not letting go for the entire day, so he had to run away from her. Every damn day! *** Helplessly lying on the stone floor, Xie Qing patted Xie Yu''s back, hinting for her to let go. But it didn''t work, and the girl was still hugging him, her nose nuzzling against his neck. So Xie Qing could only stand up, like a vampire rising from a coffin, and then, embracing Xie Yu, who was hanging on him like a ko, he walked over to Li Yun. "Greetings, young miss. I am Xie Qing, here at the invitation of Sect Master Zhang Mei," he politely introduced himself, although, with Xie Yu hanging on him, it lookedical. "It''s nice to meet you, young master Xie Qing. I am Li Yun, of the Li family and a disciple of Sect Master Zhang Mei. I came here to escort you," Li Yun said with a gentle and friendly smile, and then curiously asked: "Are you Xie Yu''s older brother? She often talks about how handsome and charismatic you are." "Uh... you tter me, young miss Li. I have a perfectly ordinary face," Xie Qing replied. "Pfft! If you have an ordinary face, then all other men are dirt!" Xie Yu finally finished sniffing Xie Qing''s body and slid off him, standing next to Li Yun. She proudly puffed out her chest and said, "Older sister Li, my brother is the most handsome man in the world! Don''t believe his words." "There it is..." Li Yun gently giggled and smiled, nodding. Then she tilted her head to the side and said a little embarrassedly: "But... I am really curious. Would you allow me to touch your face?" "What? Uh, sure, no problem," Xie Qing answered and nodded, not quite understanding the problem with just opening his eyes. "Thank you." Li Yun nodded and moved closer to Xie Qing, who had to lean forward because of the height difference. Feeling the young man''s face, Li Yun began to move her hands around his face, touching his nose, mouth, eyebrows, and eyes. Then she exhaled in surprise. "You are very handsome. Although I cannot see your face, only by touch and analyzing your Qi, I can say that you are an unmatched man," Li Yun said with a smile and took two steps back. "You can''t see my face?" Xie Qing asked in confusion. "Yes. You don''t know me, so you don''t know, but I am blind," Li Yun said with a light smile and opened her eyelids, revealing empty eyes. Despite this, they looked very beautiful: "I gained my ability to predict the future at the age of ten, and then five yearster, I went blind in my left eye, and then in my right eye. But instead, I can see threads of fate and predict what may happen in the future." "This..." Xie Qing, who was enchanted by her eyes for a second, came to his senses when he heard these words. He looked at Li Yun with sympathy. "I can''t imagine how unlucky you are that you can''t see my beauty," Xie Qing was about to say, but remembered that it was not the time for such jokes, and only replied: "You must have suffered a lot." "Eh? Well, it can''t be helped. The heavens punished me for my curiosity, but now I have the power to see the future and the threads of fate," Li Yun replied in a peaceful voice, and her hand rested on Xie Qing''s cheek, gently stroking it: "And I am a little surprised. I can''t seem to read your fate at all, young master Xie Qing. And the threads of fate around you are so beautiful and happy. You must be a great person." "A great person..." Xie Qing did not understand most of Li Yun''s words, but he could understand why fate loved him so much. Dragons were creatures of nature, and his bloodline belonged to dragons, although it had not yet fully awakened (that is, he had not yet be half-dragon), his aura was close to it. Perhaps that was why the threads of fate were so excited. After all, they had encountered the aura of a superior being. "Are they flirting?" Xie Yu, who was watching their conversation, could not help but lose her voice. Li Yun was looking at Xie Qing with a strange excitement, and her eyes remained open despite being shy about showing them. Even to her, who was her younger sister, Li Yun showed her eyes only after a year. "My older brother just asked her about her vision, but she immediately showed her eyes! This... as expected of my brother! I knew he would grow up to be adies'' man!" Xie Yu thought proudly, but she was a little jealous. In the end, feeling her younger sister''s gaze on her, Li Yun blushed and let go of her hand. Only then did she realize that her actions had been very intimate. "I-I''m sorry... I was rude," she muttered, blushing with shame. "Don''t worry about it. Your hands are very pleasant and soft," Xie Qing replied with a smile. "Eh..." Li Yun weakly smiled and hid her face with her hands, still blushing. Xie Yu fell silent, the onlookers fell silent. "Kha-kha... I-I... think I''ve got diabetes!" someone in the crowd muttered. Well, the atmosphere here was sweet. A pink aura surrounded these two. *** Finally, after ten minutes on the road, Xie Qing, Li Yun, and Xie Yu reached the entrance to the sect. "Saint Li!" two guards greeted Li Yun, and then nodded: "Miss Xie Yu and... who is he?" "This is young master Xie Qing, he is the guest that the Master summoned," Li Yun exined, responding to the greetings of the elders with the gesture "Gongshou". "Young master?" the elders repeated Li Yun''s words and looked at Xie Qing, then nodded doubtfully: "Since you are escorting him, Saint Li, we will not require further proof." "Here, young man, take the guest token. Don''t lose it, or the sect''s formation will alert the elders of your presence and they may attack you," one of the elders said, handing over the token. "Thank you for your help, elders!" Xie Qing thanked them, clenching his fist and bowing forward. ==== * Gongshou or Fist-and-palm is a gesture that you have probably seen in kung fu movies or martial artspetitions. It is a traditional Chinese greeting used to show respect and friendship. Chapter 73: Ive restricted my cultivation. Now you can use your technique again Additional chapter for 200 PS. 1/2 ==== "Young master Xie Qing, this is the ce where disciples can buy knowledge and exchange their inventions for contribution points, which can then be used to purchase equipment, items, and other useful things!" exined Li Yun, acting as a guide. She pointed to a tall pavilion and said, "That is the Pavilion of Achievements. It records the achievements of the Starry Stream Sect and its disciples. If your contribution to the sect is significant enough, you can earn the right to leave a mark on the tablets inside the pavilion." "How amazing. I can see why the Starry Stream Sect hassted until now and remains one of the greatest," murmured Xie Qing, shaking his head. "Here, everyone is focused on inventing rather than relying on the achievements of the previous generation." "Of course. I also admire how the Master uses the minds of her disciples. She encourages them to invent rather than rely on the achievements of the past generation. To quote her words," said Li Yun, imitating Zhang Mei''s indifferent face and emotionless tone: "We must respect the work of the previous generation and build something new on that foundation. If we cannot change the soil, then we will change the fruits." "Ahaha... that sounds just like her," Xie Qingughed when he heard Li Yun imitating Zhang Mei. "T-thank you..." Li Yun smiled shyly. "I guess you forgot about me..." thought Xie Yu, but seeing her older sisterughing and smiling more frequently, she remained silent. Although she was jealous, Xie Yu was happy to see that there was someone else, other than the Master and herself, with whom Li Yun couldmunicate freely. And so, while exining the sect to Xie Qing, Li Yun led him to the Pavilion of Wisdom, which served as the residence of the sect leader. After his token was checked, they entered and climbed up the floors until they reached the tenth floor, where Zhang Mei''s office was located. "We are not allowed to enter, as the Master wants to discuss something privately with you," said Li Yun, and then shyly added, avoiding eye contact with Xie Qing: "W-when you''re done, I''ll take you to the guest room. Call me in your mind by pouring Qi into the guest token and I''lle to you." "Of course. Thank you for your help, young Miss Li," Xie Qing said with a gentle smile. "Yup..." Li Yun nodded absentmindedly and smiled shyly, then left with Xie Yu, leaving Xie Qing in front of the door. He pushed the door open and walked inside. "You''ve arrived," came a cold female voice. "Greetings, Sect Leader Zhang," Xie Qing greeted her with a friendly smile. "Sit down somewhere, I''ll finish up my paperwork." Xie Qing nodded and sat down on a chair, resting his chin in his hand as he looked at Zhang Mei. He couldn''t help but notice how beautiful her face was - expressionless and emotionless, cold and mature. Her features were neat, with sharp purple eyes and beautiful gray hair tied back in a bun. Her longshes fluttered as she read the text on the papers, and her breath was calm. Her thin and delicate lips were devoid of lipstick. Despite theck of makeup, Zhang Mei''s beauty was undeniable. Xie Qing observed her for a moment, then looked away, thinking he had stared at her enough. Of course, Zhang Mei noticed this gaze on her and felt a little ufortable, but she was used to the attention paid to her appearance. It was strange, but today''s work was progressing much more efficiently. Zhang Mei couldn''t help but remember her youthful days with Xu Mei when she worked as an ountant and was apanied by a restless girl who helped her with her work. "Well... they are master and disciple. I guess their auras should be almost the same," Zhang Mei thought, and then her expression became strange as she remembered Xu Mei''s words: "And if I''m being more precise, they''re lovers. Seriously, I don''t understand what she''s thinking. It''s a taboo, one of the worst ones." Rtionships between masters and disciples were considered sacred, especially in ancient times when wars were fought every day and yesterday could be thest day of a cultivator''s life. The one who was noble enough to pass on their knowledge to the next generation created the holy image of a master who gave part of their soul. Zhang Mei also believed in the purity of such rtionships. However, now Xu Mei had dered her love for her disciple. As a woman with strict boundaries, Zhang Mei did not approve, but she did not act aggressively to try to prevent it. She could only sigh. If Xu Mei had gone so far, she must have had her reasons. "And besides... she found a lover before me... tsk!" Inside, Zhang Mei was burning with jealousy and anger. "Why doesn''t anyone approach me? Am I that scary? What, just because I have a cold expression on my face? I''ve had it since I was young!" Struggling with her emotions, Zhang Mei nevertheless managed to maintain her apathy on her face. She did not want to show her inner world to Xu Mei''s disciple, not wanting to be teasedter. When all the documents were half finished, ten minutes had already passed. Zhang Mei tried to finish as quickly as possible, but this task was too tedious and required a lot of attention. "Sect Leader Zhang, would you like me to help you? I had many lessons in paperwork as a child, so I''m good at it," suddenly a voice sounded behind her, right next to her ear. "Eek!" "Huh?" Zhang Mei let out a loud shriek and clutched her left ear, where the sound hade from. She red angrily at Xie Qing, who was smiling awkwardly at her. Hiding her red ear, she looked him up and down, then nodded. "Alright. I''m sorry for making you wait, but this is important work. Here, there are three stacks of papers that just need to be stamped." "As you wish~" Xie Qing said with a teasing smile, remembering her cute shriek, but in response, he met only her cold purple eyes. Shaking his head, he sat down at a table in the corner and began stamping the papers. Zhang Mei finally turned away, feeling her face grow a little warm. "What was that ''eek''? How embarrassing!" Zhang Mei felt ashamed, but the work was more important. Thus, very soon the room was plunged into silence, and only the sound of a goose feather pen scratching against paper and the stamping could be heard. Twenty minutes passed. Zhang Mei read through the papers rxed, and those that required answers, she wrote letters for. All of this was a formality, and the rest could have been done by passing the work on to the elders, but Zhang Mei preferred to take on all the work herself to ensure that everything was going well. This was her character - to work hard and rely only on herself. Ironically, this was rted to the fact that her group members in the past were so unreliable that all the work was done by Zhang Mei. One way or another, Xie Qing finished his work after twenty minutes, and Zhang Mei only ten minutester. She neatly arranged all the documents and ced them in a drawer, then nodded to the young man. "Thank you, and once again I apologize for burdening you so rudely with work," Zhang Mei said, fixing her hair behind her ear. "No problem. I was just looking for something to do, and it turned out to be helpful," Xie Qing replied nonchntly, waving his hand. Then he started a new topic: "In your message, you asked me toe here and finally fulfill part of my promise. Are you referring to wanting to examine my body? Do I need to undress?" "...no, there''s no need to undress, juste over here and let me check your spiritual channels," Zhang Mei said with a stern face and cold voice. "What a shame..." Xie Qing sighed and did not pay attention to Zhang Mei''s cold gaze. Approaching Zhang Mei, Xie Qing extended his arm and exposed his wrist. Just like with ordinary veins, there were also spiritual veins here, so Zhang Mei touched his wrist without hesitation and closed her eyes, pouring in her Qi. When her Qi entered through the skin and touched the walls of the spiritual channels, she immediately opened her eyes in shock. Even her Qi dispersed because she lost control over it. "S-such pure Qi! No impurities!" she made a shocking discovery for herself. "Ugu," Xie Qing simply nodded, not knowing what to say in this situation. However, Zhang Mei did not pay attention to him and decided to check his spiritual channels again, this time maintaining control over her emotions. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she sensed several factors: Xie Qing''s spiritual veins were very strong, twice as strong as usual. The Qi flowing in the spiritual channels was extremely pure and powerful, and his strength reached the peak of Core Formation and was one step away from Soul Nascent. "Amazing! This cultivation technique truly deserves to be legendary!" Zhang Mei thought, and her mind was filled with envy, but then she shook her head: "Never mind, it''s toote when I found this cultivation technique. It''s probably for the better that Xu Mei''s disciple was able to use it to its full potential." The Nine Golden Dragons Technique. An ancient technique obtained from the Ancestral Caves with the help of Li Yun. She shook her head. "You truly are an outstanding cultivator. You were able to unlock the full potential of the cultivation technique you received. I won''t lie if I say that you are the greatest genius of all time," Zhang Mei praised Xie Qing, who felt a little strange. Zhang Mei also noticed this: "What''s with that expression: ''You can praise too?''... wipe it off." "Hahah... no, I knew you were a very good person, just not good at expressing your thoughts," Xie Qing said casually with a smile. "Hmph!" Zhang Mei snorted and released the young man''s wrist, stepping back. She did not exin anything and simply sat back down in her seat, then said, "I need you to reveal a little about the technique. I tried to decipher it and even found a fragment of the dragonnguage, trying to learn theirnguage, but even so, I couldn''t read the technique." "Eh? Well, I don''t even know how to exin it. In fact, I learned this technique by just looking at a few pages," Xie Qing answered, scratching his head. He thought for a moment and replied, "If I had to summarize, the description of this technique was only a few words: ''Conquer the Heavens, Subdue Chaos.'' What it means, I don''t know." "Hmmm?" Zhang Mei raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. How could so many pages of text be reduced to just these words? She narrowed her eyes, but then understanding came to her. "So it''s just a trick... the cultivation technique chooses its own master. This is rare, but not impossible. So that''s how it is..." She began muttering something to herself, and Xie Qing remained silent. He also pondered these words, and although he understood what was meant by conquering the heavens, what was chaos? And every time he tried to figure it out, his head exploded with pain. He frowned and shook his head. "I think it''s best not to think about it right now. I''ll just be wasting my nerves." *** After that, they discussed the Nine Golden Dragons Technique, and Xie Qing demonstrated his power and achievements. He also showed skills rted to the cultivation technique, which surprised Zhang Mei. "Dragon''s Gaze? Well, this is indeed an existing Dao technique, but it has never been used by a human. It''s because of the limitation of race, and dragons do not spread this technique to other people." "I''m not sure what to say, Leader Zhang. I gained this knowledge in one day when I broke through to the Core Formation stage," Xie Qing replied, hiding the fact that the technique was obtained from the system. "Well... that''s logical. Considering the rarity and difficulty of the cultivation technique, it has bonuses for its owner," Zhang Mei epted Xie Qing''s exnation and nodded: "Alright, I think I''ve gained some knowledge about this. I''m curious to see how this technique works... demonstrate it." "Do you want me to activate the Dragon''s Gaze on you, correct?" "Yes." Seeing Zhang Mei''s nod, Xie Qing did not object and simply used the technique. On her end, Zhang Mei saw only that Xie Qing''s eyes turned golden, and then darkness began to thicken around her. But before the darkness could fully take shape, it shattered under the influence of her Qi. "Hm... it seems I''m too strong for this," Zhang Mei mused and looked at Xie Qing, who was suffering from the bacsh of the skill. She became a little worried: "Are you alright?" "Huh? Yeah, I''m fine... I just instinctively poured in too much Qi, and it caused pain." Zhang Mei nodded and thought for a moment before doing something. Her cold and detached aura disappeared, and she seemed to descend from the heavens to the earth. "I''ve temporarily restricted my cultivation. Now you can use your technique again." Chapter 74: Soul Mark Thank you, Daoist_Culture for Magic Castle! This adds +10 chapters, which I will distribute over ten days, meaning after Iplete the quota for rewards for PS, I will release two chapters a day. Thank you for your support! ==== "Have you restricted your cultivation? Oh, indeed, I don''t sense any Qi from you," muttered Xie Qingg then looked at Zhang Mei and said, "Sect Leader Zhang, I''m not sure what effect this will have on those who don''t have Qi. I think it''s dangerous." "I''m fine," Zhang Mei replied, brushing her hair back. She confidently said, "Although I have restricted my cultivation, I still have a strong body and mind. It won''t harm me, it will just allow me to experience the effect for longer." "Oh, alright, then I won''t waste any more breath," Xie Qingg nodded with smile. He rested for a bit and gathered his Qi, then directed it towards his eye, activating the technique. This time, there were no problems, and Zhang Mei quickly fell under the influence of the technique. "Hm, how interesting. Darkness is enshrouding my vision, and a yellow dragon eye is gradually forming," she muttered, her eyes bing empty. After a few seconds, she fell silent. *** "Interesting. The technique affects the mind, rather than the body. So, everything I see is an illusion. However, it''s unusual that there''s a certain feeling and a special rule that could turn this into reality," Zhang Mei thought, looking around calmly. "But it''s dark here." Although the technique might work on ordinary cultivators, inducing despair and fear, Zhang Mei''s mind had been strengthened by many techniques, and her soul was also very strong. Xie Qingg simply couldn''t harm her. However, this might change if he bes stronger. "Amazing... what an incredible technique! And most importantly, it can be turned into a Dao technique that can be used without the need for a bloodline," Zhang Mei thought, feeling the thin streams of Qi trying to touch her soul to induce despair. "I feel a slight fear stimted by this technique. This is very interesting!" A satisfied smile appeared on her face, which surprisingly looked very bright and innocent. It was as if a young girl had revealed her beauty to the world, and she was as beautiful as a fairy. However, she soon returned to her usual expression when she realized it was a bit difficult to dispel the technique. "The technique isn''t strong enough to harm me, but it''s good enough to hold me, right?" Zhang Mei thought and shook her head. "What a terrible technique. Should I ask Xie Qing to let me take a look at it? But it will cost me more than a million spiritual stones..." Although the amount might seemrge, it was still not enough for a technique of this kind. Therefore, Zhang Mei was doubtful whether she could afford it. "Even if I sell all my assets, buying it will be expensive... the market price for such techniques starts at a hundred million. Even the richest person cannot afford to pay such an amount," Zhang Mei thought, her eyes narrowing as she bit her lower lip. "What a pity. I should try to negotiate for the purchase, but what can I offer him?" Zhang Mei was in a state of prostration for a few seconds before shaking her head. She removed the seal on her cultivation, and soon her Qi shattered the technique. The darkness began to dissipate, and when Zhang Mei saw Xie Qing, she discovered something surprising. "Hmm?! Soul mark?!" Xie Qing was also surprised when he realized that a thin, semi-transparent thread had emerged from his forehead and entered Zhang Mei''s forehead. As he was about to ask about it, he heard a surprised shout in his head with a bathroom-like effect. "Eh?" "Sect Leader Zhang?" Xie Qing was surprised and found that he was speaking without opening his mouth, and the semi-transparent thread between their foreheads was glowing brightly. "What happened?" "Wait, I''m trying to make sense of it all..." Zhang Mei''s neutral voice sounded with notes of shock. Xie Qing raised his eyebrows in bewilderment, not quite understanding what was happening. However, from Zhang Mei''s expression, he could tell that it was something serious. Fortunately, he didn''t have to wait long, and Zhang Mei soon came to her senses and exined it to him. "Soul Mark. Your Dao technique was able to leave this mark on my soul, which is difficult to erase without harming the souls of both beings," Zhang Mei said, frowning and looking unhappy. "The mark allows you to know the location of the two connected souls, and at any time, they can exchange information as long as the distance does not exceed a thousand miles." "Sounds... like a good thing!" "Maybe for you, but not for me. Since you established the connection, the control of the mark is mainly on you. So, please remove it," Zhang Mei said, furrowing her brow. "Alright." Xie Qing didn''t object and tried to break the mark''s effect, but no matter how hard he tried, there was no result. His face became a little strange as he said, "I can''t." "What do you mean? You just need to direct your Qi to your soul, and then... Ugh, right. Your soul is not even formed" Zhang Mei sighed in frustration, pping herself on the forehead. She hadpletely forgotten that the young man in front of her hadn''t even formed his soul yet. Now everything had be much worse. "Alright, listen. Let''s agree on some things. You must not activate this mark without good reason. You must not connect this link during your ''sessions'' with Xu Mei..." Zhang Mei said in a strange voice and looked at Xie Qing, her cheeks flushing slightly, but it wasn''t noticeable. "Do you understand?" "Of course! So, I should activate this link during my sessions with the Master, right?" Xie Qing asked with a smile. "No! Have you reflected on everything I said?!" "Heh, I just don''t understand what sessions you''re talking about," the young man genuinely wondered, looking at Zhang Mei and smiling awkwardly. "Please exin" "Y-you..." Even the eternally cold Zhang Mei couldn''t help but lose herposure at Xie Qing''s shamelessness. He had obviously understood what she meant but pretended to be stupid to tease her. "Perv! Just like his Master! Two peas in a pod!" Zhang Mei was indignant in her thoughts, then shook her head and snorted, thinking, "Of course, I''m talking about your sex. I''m sure you''re fucking like rabbits every day! Given the age of that fool, she''s a horny bitch!" She didn''t say these words out loud. Even though her face was thick enough as a sect leader, she was not shameless enough to speak so directly about it. Xie Qing walked out of Zhang Mei''s office, shaking his head. He had wanted to tease her, but the ice on the woman''s face was too thick and couldn''t be melted by his words. "Elder Brother?" "Hm?" Beside him, he heard Xie Yu''s voice, who looked sleepy. She blinked her almond-shaped eyes and then opened her arms and threw herself at Xie Qing. "Are you done?" she asked with a smile, hanging on his neck. "...Yes. And you''ll be eighteen years old soon, Xie Yu. Stop acting like a little girl," Xie Qing said, shaking his head. "Bu-bu-bu. I''m only like this with my elder brother," the girl replied, sticking out her tongue. Xie Qing rolled his eyes, not wanting to continue the discussion. Although he liked it when people treated him with such proprietary behavior, Xie Yu''s clinginess was too much. "Get off me. Where is Miss Li?" "Hmph!" Xie Yu let go of Xie Qing''s neck and looked unhappy. "You must have be quite close to her, huh? Sigh! Elder Sister was called away by the Li family for some matters, so she can''t apany you." "That''s too bad, it was fun with her," Xie Qing muttered, sighing. "Do you want to hook up with her, brother?" Xie Yu asked. "...do you think I''ll hit on every girl I meet?" "I don''t think so," Xie Yu said with a smile and then nodded. "I''m sure of it." "Eeh..." Xie Qing could only shake his head in amazement, not understanding how someone with such a clean reputation could be mistaken for a yboy. After chatting for a while, Xie Yu offered to show him his temporary living quarters. And it was suspiciously located... "Are you saying that I have to live in the same room as you?" Xie Qing asked in a neutral tone, ncing at Xie Yu, who had enough shame to look away. "W-why not? We haven''t seen each other for a long time, and I''m used to sleeping alone..." she muttered, then grabbed the sleeve of Xie Qing''s robe with her fingers and looked at him with puppy dog eyes. "Can''t you sleep with me?" "I can, that''s not a problem," Xie Qing replied with a smile, and then... "Nya-a-a!" "But you probably can''t." He smiled at Xie Yu, who blushed because of young master grabbed her butt. Xie Qing decided to tease her a little. Xie Yu blushed and turned her head away, but her eyes gleamed with a strange light - Xie Qing didn''t notice. After changing into lighter clothing, which consisted of an ordinary robe that revealed his chest and reached down to his knees, he returned to the room and saw Xie Yu wiping away two streaks of blood that had flowed from her nose. "You''re back," she said in a strange voice. "Yep." Without thinking too much, Xie Qingy down on the bed, which wasrge enough to amodate two people, and patted the space next to him. "Come on, lie down next to me." "Gulp... Heavens, has my soul left the mortal world and gone to the immortals?" Xie Yu suddenly said out of nowhere, and drool was flowing from the corners of her mouth, her eyes fixed on Xie Qing''s bare chest. "You''re even more of a pervert than I am," the young manmented. "I''m not a pervert, I''m a woman of culture!" Xie Yu said in a stern voice. Shrugging, Xie Qing just smiled. When Xie Yu finallyy down, he put his arm around her waist and pulled her close. "Uuuh..." Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "What are you mumbling about?" but then he felt a strange wetness on his knees. "...seriously?" Xie Yu also noticed the small leak and wiped away the traces of her Qi, drying her clothes. She pretended that nothing had happened and used Xie Qing''s arm as a pillow, sighing contentedly. "Eeh! I''ve missed you so much, Brother Xie Qing..." she murmured sleepily. "...I''ve missed you too." Xie Qing gently stroked her hair, and Xie Yu closed her eyes in pleasure. Although her character was a bit strange, she was a good girl who had always supported him. Despite Xie Yu being clingy, clingy, and clingy, as well as clingy, Xie Qing loved his younger sister. "Although she''s clingy," Xie Qing thought. Xie Yu fell asleep very quickly, which surprised Xie Qing. Judging by her active behavior, she should have been bothering him untilte at night, but it seemed she had rxed too much. "This girl... hahaha." Xie Qing smiled and chuckled at her cute behavior. He remembered their childhood, when Xie Yu was afraid of the dark and woulde to him, then hug him like a ko and fall asleep, every night. Although he was now sure that she was doing it intentionally, Xie Qing couldn''t help but smile. It seemed that after so many years, his cousin was still the same. "Although we''re not blood rtives, she''s the closest person to me after my mother," he thought and sighed. "I don''t know how she''ll react when the struggle for inheritance affects her family. Many people will definitely die." Although Xie Qing didn''t want to make her sad, his path to power and revenge was already set in blood. Everything was nned, and nothing could stop it. "Xie Hai, Xie Hui, and the others... you only face death. Despair, pain. I''ll let you experience the same pain as my mother," Xie Qing thought, his eyes gleaming in the darkness. "The oath has been made, and the Heavens have ced a double-edged sword in my hands. My task is to ignore my wounds to defeat the group of jackals." Step by step, blood for blood. To build a good life and transcend the shackles of mortality, Xie Qing was willing to make such sacrifices. And at this moment... [Mission: Seize the Xie Family] [Description: The evil deeds of Xie Hai and Xie Hui led to Xie Meiling nearly dying. Why not stick the de in the asses of these bastards and then take control of the family? Raise your ass, cultivator, it''s time for a bloody party] [Reward: Any item in the store up to 10,000 Spirit Stones, Taboo Dragon Token] The young man''s face became strange as he read through the entire text and came across one peculiar item. "Taboo Dragon Token? What are you hinting at, system?" Chapter 75: Naughty Xie Yu (R-18) "What is this strange item?" Xie Qing thought to himself, his face contorting in confusion as he looked at the task: "The first reward is good, but this... it''s absurd. Why do I always get something so strange?" Even though he felt like he was being toyed with, Xie Qing couldn''t help but be curious about the item, so he clicked on the name and a second window popped up, disying the item''s attributes. [Dragon Taboo Token] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: Dragon Taboo was a famous dragon, belonging to the bloodline of true dragons - the Golden Dragons. It was known that he seduced his mother and sisters, and then founded his n, where entry was only allowed for his bloodline. If you engage in dual cultivation with someone of your blood, you can pass on your techniques and help strengthen your partner... tsk, another item for perverts] "I... what are you implying, system?" Xie Qing thought angrily, but at least now he was sure that this wasn''t a bad item: "Although I don''t know when I''ll get it or when I''ll use it, it''s not bad to have it on hand... and I''m not interested in that." Denying reality, Xie Qing rolled his eyes, feeling a little annoyed. For some reason, it seemed like the system thought he was some kind of pervert, and that''s why it was giving him all these strange items. Ding! [The system distributes items randomly] "Right, right. I believe you," Xie Qing said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. Then he froze, his face taking on aical expression of shock: "T-you... can you respond?" "..." However, there was no response. Xie Qing was a little surprised that his rhetorical question had been answered, but he quickly calmed down. "I think if I ask the right questions, I can sometimes catch a glimpse of the inner workings of certain functions," the young man thought, tilting his head to avoid suddenly moving and waking up his cousin, Xie Yu: "She still has that terrible habit of moving in her sleep..." Looking at his cousin''s behavior, Xie Qing decided to get some sleep. His body cultivated on its own, so he could spend this time sleeping and having fun. "Besides, I need to check the sect''s library tomorrow. I''ll have to ask Zhang Mei, I''m sure there will be some information there that will be useful to me for my breakthroughs," Xie Qing thought. You might be wondering: "Why doesn''t Xu Mei teach him? Why does he need to read some books?" The answer is simple... "Master... can''t exin things that aren''t rted to the path of the sword. Plus, everyone''s breakthrough method depends on their cultivation technique," the young man thought and sighed heavily. His path from Enlightenment to Core Formation had been like a calm and gentle stream, but now he had reached the second, real wall of cultivators. Countless cultivators had been unable to break through to the next stage of cultivation and had regretted it until their dying day. The key role is yed by the cultivation technique, which is supposed to help form the Soul Seed, which will then grow like a flower into aplete soul and ignite. When the soul is created, you will break through to the Soul Integration stage. At this stage of cultivation, you need to merge your chaoticallyrge soul with your physical body. It sounds difficult, but just imagine that the body is a bottle, and you need to put ydough into the bottle and spread it over the entire surface. Next are the stages where you need to work on your Qi, but that was still far away and required a lot of work. "I think I can handle the task," Xie Qing thought and fell asleep. *** The night sky was covered with clouds, and every disciple was either cultivating or sleeping. The ce where Xie Qing had stopped was near the sect master''s pavilion, it was a two-story house where two of Zhang Mei''s disciples lived. Xie Yu''s room was on the second floor, at the end of the hallway. There was no real luxury in the girl''s room - a chair, a table, a bed, and a wardrobe with clothes, that was all. The bed was next to the window - it was positioned so that the moonlight shone into the room, so Xie Yu didn''t need lighting at night. However, tonight the weather was cloudy and the moonlight was blocked by the clouds. Shuffle. Shuffle. There were rustling sounds as if someone was moving a nket or something made of fabric. Finally, when the moonlight thinly broke through into the room and fell on the bed, a young man could be seen there. The young man, of course, was Xie Qing. He was sound asleep, his eyebrows rxed and his lips pursed. He was lying in a snow angel pose. What was strange was that the nket over him was raised. About a meter and a half, which was strange - the morning had not yete. And it was from this ce, under the nket, that strange sounds wereing. As if someone was breathing heavily. "Ha-aa... this day has finallye," a very quiet whisper was heard. For the readers, the light suddenly turned on. Under the nket was the cunning Xie Yu, who was wearing pajamas and wiping her saliva, looking at Xie Qing''s python, which hade out for a walk. Although the python was not awake - it was asleep, Xie Yu was already impressed by the size. Her small hands grabbed the python by the throat, which reacted - it twitched slightly. "Ugh!" Xie Yu was a little scared by this reaction - she was a virgin and had only seen a man''s penis in illustrations, but in reality, it was different not only in size but also in new functions. "It... um, it''s getting bigger?" Following thews of physics, feeling the warmth of Xie Yu''s hands, the size becamerger, until it finally resembled a leaning tower. And it was leaning because the girl was holding the python as if it were a leash. When Xie Yu finally came to her senses, her face turned red, and her eyes took on a look of excitement. Although she was flirtatious, in some ways she was innocent. Seeing the real jade stick, Xie Yu felt enlightened. If she had been a dual cultivator, she would probably be experiencing a breakthrough in cultivation right now. "Oh... so hard..." Xie Yu thought, and unconsciously her mouth began to produce saliva, and she swallowed, feeling her body temperature rise: "My brother hid such a wonder? Unfair..." Xie Yu was inexperienced, so the only thing she did was run her hand up and down. With her fingers, she felt the veins and hardness of the jade stick. "What strange sensations," Xie Yu thought, biting her lip and feeling a burning in her younger sister''s area: "Uuu..." Her eyes lit up with lust, and she looked at the head of the jade stick and brought her lips closer, kissing the head, and then opening her lips and wrapping them around the head, sucking on it like a lollipop. "Mmm..." Breathing through her nose, Xie Yu was surprised by the strange sensations in her mouth, and although she felt a little embarrassed, the fact that Xie Qing was asleep saved her from shame. So she, like a predator that had broken free from its chain, began to gnaw on her prey... metaphorically speaking, of course. Otherwise, a candle could be put out. "Smack... smack... mmm..." Xie Yu made smacking sounds every time her saliva umted in her mouth and she moved her tongue along the urethra, sucking on the pre-ejacte, which tasted sweet and fragrant. "Strange," Xie Yu thought, raising an eyebrow: "One of my sister''s friends in the sect said that it tastes salty and smells unpleasant..." But Xie Yu only felt a slightly sweet and cherry-like taste, and moving her tongue, she couldn''t help but feel her tongue receptors burn with sweetness. Finally, she began to get tired, and her jaw ached. Taking a break and releasing the jade stick from her mouth with a "pop" sound, she switched her breathing and calmed down a little. After that, she thought for a moment. "In books, it was said that a blowjob should be done neatly by the girl, so as not to touch the teeth..." Xie Yu thought, and her eyes looked unblinkingly at the jade stick. Despite the darkness, Xie Yu had enhanced vision, like all cultivators. She thought for a moment and took a deep breath-exhale. Then, carefully bringing her lips to the head, she sucked on it, and then slowly opened her teeth and began to lower her head. Although her teeth slightly touched the skin, it was not critical. "Ugh..." Xie Yu made a choking sound, suppressing her gag reflex. Then, calming down, she began to move her head up and down. "Mmm... mmm..." With strange sounds, she gave Xie Qing a blowjob - it wasn''t very skillful, but she was still learning. Sometimes she still touched the jade stick with her teeth. It was for this reason that Xie Qing woke up. *** Just a few minutes earlier, Xie Qing was having an exciting dream where his Master had finally agreed to give him a blowjob, and he was already happy when suddenly a slight pain brought him back to consciousness. He was a little confused because of his drowsiness, not understanding where he was, but the memories before sleep began to appear in his head, and he remembered everything. But what puzzled him even more was that in the lower part of his body, firstly, it was warm, and secondly, it was wet. "I don''t have wet dreams," Xie Qing thought, and unconsciously raised the nket and saw the scene under it, then closed it again: "Holy shit." Raising the nket again and seeing the same scene, he closed the nket and looked out the window with a philosophical expression on his face. "What beautiful weather..." He was denying reality! Well, it was understandable, considering that he didn''t quite expect such a step from Xie Yu, although, thinking about it and remembering her obsession with him, it was a matter of time. "I don''t know how to react to this," Xie Qing thought, and after thinking for a moment, he just shrugged: "Although, when did I care about this? One way or another, my rtionship with my Master is already taboo." Being a slippery type... cough, I mean, a carefree person, Xie Qing quickly got used to the reality. After that, his first reaction was surprise. "And she... is not bad," he thought, raising an eyebrow. The pleasant feeling of warmth and caressing with Xie Yu''s tongue was a pleasant thing, and he couldn''t help but praise his cousin. "Mmm..." She suddenly made a surprised sound, and Xie Qing winced when his dragon twitched and divine nectar spurted out right into Xie Yu''s mouth. "Ugh..." "Uumm..." Xie Yu opened her eyes wide and tears appeared in the corners of her eyes, but she pushed her head forward, and thus the jade rod entered her throat. Although for the young and inexperienced Xie Yu, these were not the most pleasant sensations, she was a cultivator and had restraint to pain. So when Xie Qing finished ejacting his liquid... Xie Yu finally managed to swallow and switch her breathing. Breathing heavily, with drops of white liquid at the corners of her mouth, she clutched her throat. "It hurts..." she thought, and winced. Fortunately, the pain passed after a few seconds, and she was able to taste Xie Qing''s milk. It was not bitter but rather had a strange cherry and berry aroma. ...Well, a kind of smoothie. *** The next morning, Xie Qing woke up to find that he was lying in bed alone. After he released his milk, Xie Yu went for a walk and did not return until the morning. "Ah, what a lustful girl," he thought, shamelessly shaking his head. Of course, such a method of stimtion was not enough for him, so he was already going to take the wheel into his own hands, but by that time Xie Yu had already run out of the room. He regretted it a little. "Ah, I can''t wait to return to my Master''s embrace and spank her slender ass," Xie Yu thought mncholically, looking as if she had lost her soul. One way or another. He had a lot of work ahead of him. With the help of some disciples and a rough idea of where he needed to go. In the end, he reached Zhang Mei''s office. After knocking on the door, he waited for an answer. "Come in," a female voice was heard after a few seconds. Opening the door, Xie Qing greeted Zhang Mei with a smile, who had been busy since the morning. "Good morning, Head Zhang," he greeted her, and noticing that she was busy, he asked: "Can I visit the sect''s library? I also need to find out some information that requires an elder''s pass." "Hm? I thought you came for more important reasons," Zhang Mei muttered, and then shook her head: "I can give ess to the main library, but if you''re talking about giving ess to the level of knowledge with an elder''s pass... heh, everything has its price, young man." Xie Qing nodded and did not show a drop of dissatisfaction on his face. Of course, he didn''t expect that he would simply be allowed to view important information - it would be strange if they allowed him. "What do you want?" he asked directly, not wanting to waste time on meaningless talk. "Hmm... how about your belt?" Zhang Mei asked and then added: "Of course, I''ll pay you extra. After all, it looks like a very expensive and powerful item, since I can''t decipher the formation on it." "Em..." Xie Qing looked at her with a little surprise, and then coughed, averting his eyes. "Are you sure?" Chapter 76: Cute girl! Xie Qing looked at Zhang Mei''s confused face with a strange expression. Of course, he was aware of the effects of this belt and could say that it was a good auxiliary item. However, the consequences were serious, especially for ady like Zhang Mei. He just didn''t know how to exin it. But in the end, he decided toy it all out. "This item is worth a lot, I found it in my travels. But it has serious consequences," said Xie Qing, cracking his neck. There was a faint smile on his face as he saw Zhang Mei''s confusion. "After you''ve been with it for a day, you''ll have a strong reaction... you''ll feel unbearable lust, and it will increase if you don''t satisfy it." "..." Zhang Mei fell silent, her mouth opening in shock, and her cheeks flushed slightly. Finally, Xie Qing noticed this fact and couldn''t help but smile at her cute behavior. "I-I... w-what about your bracelet?" Zhang Mei asked, clearing her throat and changing the subject. "Bracelet? Hm, after using it for a day, there will be a strong desire... um... to drink," Xie Qing said with a smile. "Not the worst consequences. The effect will wear off after ten liters of spiritual wine." Even if Zhang Mei always kept a cold face, at this moment, she couldn''t help but show a slightly shocked expression. She looked at Xie Qing and raised her eyebrows,ically asking, "Are all your items so abnormal?" "No..." the young man wanted to object, but then he remembered his items and looked away. "Um... well, almost." "Good grief..." Zhang Mei shook her head in disappointment, and Xie Qing just smiled. Although the items were strange, and the price for their use was abnormal, they were bonuses to personal strength. However, even if that was the case, Zhang Mei was most interested in the unusual symbols and formations on these items. Ordinary human eyes couldn''t see them ¨C it required at least pouring Qi into one''s eyes. "One way or another... I think I''ll take the bracelet, I guess," Zhang Mei muttered, looking at Xie Qing and naming the price. "At an auction, such an item would sell for 1 million Spiritual Stones. I''ll take it for 1.5 million." "Heheh... now I''m interested." Xie Qing smiled and nodded. He was starting to like where the conversation was going. He didn''t want to sell the belt ¨C it was still effective. The bracelet, on the other hand, had begun to lose its effect since he became stronger. So selling it to Zhang Mei would be a good choice. She was also a reliable person and an acquaintance of his Master. "Alright, it''s a deal," Xie Qing said, nodding. Zhang Mei didn''t say anything more and, opening the lock on the box took out a spatial ring, which she then threw into Xie Qing''s hands. He, of course, easily caught the ring and, pouring his Qi into it, nearly choked on his saliva when he saw the number of spiritual stones. "This is enough for me to livefortably for a hundred years!" he thought and smiled. "Hah, for your information, this amount wouldn''t be enough for a Divine Soul cultivator to even break through one minor realm," Zhang Mei''s voice suddenly rang out. She shook her head, seeing the young man''s joy. "You should start getting used to such sums. In the future, your heart will bleed from the prices of resources." Xie Qing awkwardly smiled and nodded, epting Zhang Mei''s advice. He knew that although a million spiritual stones were arge sum for him at the moment, his future expenses would exceed what he had earned today. Each cultivation stage was special, and to show one''s maximum potential without useful pills and even spiritual items, one needed resources. "But... Master said that she achieved everything without using pills?" Xie Qing thought, recalling his experience. Apart from a few pills that helped him control his Qi, he didn''t take anything else. "It seems we are two abnormal people... hehe, we are finger and thumb." *** The Knowledge Library was not an exaggeration to say that it was one of the most guarded ces in the sect and the most protected. Each person at the entrance was strictly checked, there was a limited amount of time, and books could not be taken out of the library, which had ten floors. However, the space inside was voluminous and felt more extensive. "Here is my token," Xie Qing said, standing before two elders. "Hm... a guest, huh? And... not a simple guest, as I can understand," the elder muttered when he saw the ess level higher than usual. He looked the young man up and down and then nodded. "The token is fine. Do you know the rules?" "A little. But I would prefer you to repeat them to me, just in case," Xie Qing replied. "Very well. Then listen, young man," the elder began to speak in a strict tone. "In the library, it is forbidden to use Qi, to take books with you, to copy, to exchange books, to fight, to make noise..." And the elder''s speech did not end there. The rules in the library were very strict, and even talking and transmitting information were not allowed. Xie Qing just nodded, showing that he understood, although his mind was already in the Heavenly Sword Sect, where he lovingly embraced his Master. However, the elder himself realized that he had been talking for too long and, blushing slightly, wished the young man good luck. "Thank you for your help." Xie Qing bowed and entered, and when the door closed, he sighed in relief. "I almost went crazy... how can someone talk so much?" Xie Qing wondered, frowning. "I hate chatterboxes... wait, I''m also a chatterbox on one side? So, do I hate myself? No, that''s impossible." Ignoring his self-centered speech, it was worth mentioning the grandeur of the library. Inside, it was enormous. Just enormous! Bookshelves were set up around the perimeter of the floor, reaching the ceiling. Each shelf had an infinite number of books, and this was not yet the entire collection. There were even more on the second and third floors. The higher the floor, the more space increased. This was thanks to formations that erged the room. It was tooplicated to exin everything. In the end, with the help of advice from other students (although it was forbidden to talk, many girls could not resist and spoke with him), he reached the sixth floor. However, he encountered an obstacle. "Halt. You are not wearing a sect student uniform. Who are you?" A guard in ssic armor stopped him. He was here alone ¨C just standing in front of the door. Although Xie Qing couldn''t sense Qi from this man, he felt his intuition screaming about danger. "Good day. I am a guest who has received elder-level permission," Xie Qing said and showed his token. "Hm..." The guard took the token and, checking it for authenticity, nodded, returning it to Xie Qing''s hand. "Very well, enjoy your time." He said nothing more and opened the door, stepping aside. Xie Qing nodded in gratitude but couldn''t help but roll his eyes at such pomp. It was worth admitting one thing ¨C the library was indeed outstanding. On each floor at the entrance, there was a crystal where you could pour your Qi and think about the desired book. "Cultivator advancement methods," Xie Qing thought, and in his head, the physical location of the book lit up. "Damn... it''s on the very top shelf!" Xie Qing looked at all the shelves with books, which on this floor were so many that they had to be arranged one after another to fit all the books. And the book he needed was in the central zone, on the second bookshelf. Fortunately, there was adder, and he was able to reach and take the book. When Xie Qing finished studying the information he needed, he was a little disappointed. The further cultivation stages were peculiar and required various variables. In the end, everything came down to one thing ¨C relying on the cultivation technique. "Although I didn''t learn anything particrly new, I got a small idea of the next cultivation stages," the young man thought and shook his head. "In principle, I am satisfied." Since all the necessary information for today had been studied, all that remained was to leave the library. When he went outside, he was surprised to find that it was already evening. "Did I sit for so long?" he thought. And when he was about to leave, there was a cry behind him. "Young Master Xie Qing!" Surprised, Xie Qing turned 180 degrees and saw Li Yun running towards him. "Miss, don''t run like that," Xie Qing said with a smile and approached her. "Haaa... haaa... I-I''m sorry for... haaa... my unpresentable appearance!" Li Yun said, pausing between words. "I heard that you came to the library and rushed to meet you!" "How kind of you, Miss," Xie Qing nodded and said. "I have already finished my business. Are you busy for the next two hours?" "Eh? N-no, actually," Li Yun said with a pleasant blush on her cheeks. "Excellent. I very much wanted to walk around the sect, but it turned out that I have no one to help me with this," Xie Qing said with a smile, taking the girl by the hand. "And you are just well acquainted with the sect. Will you help me with this?" "C-certainly!" Li Yun brightened up after his words, and a bright smile appeared on her face, and her face turned red with excitement. Observing such bright emotions, Xie Qing couldn''t help but feel a little embarrassed. With bright emotions, he had not yet encountered. Either it was his restrained, slightly passive love affairs Master, or it was girls who did not hide their feelings and were mature enough. "Does she love me?" Xie Qing wondered, not quite understanding her emotions. "No, not love. Rather, sympathy, I guess. I think it''s because of her special ability." *** Li Yun was very active. Moreover, she told a little about herself. "How do I know where to go? Master Zhang developed a special technique for me that allows me to feel everything within ten meters, so I kind of draw an uratendscape in my head." "What are my three sizes? Uh, I''m sorry, I don''t know what you mean..." "My cultivation level? I am at the third stage of Core Formation." Xie Qing learned a little about her and also shared about himself. Li Yun listened to his stories with all her attention and did not miss a single piece of information. This made the young man smile. *** The Starry Stream Sect was indeed an interesting ce, oriented towards strictness and science. Although the atmosphere was much calmer than in the Heavenly Sword Sect, the true spirit of cultivators was felt here. After two hours, Li Yun was a little tired, and she had to turn off the technique that allowed her to roughly draw thendscape. So Xie Qing offered his help. "You can lean on me," Xie Qing said, offering his hand. "Eh... n-no, I don''t want to bother you..." Li Yun said with embarrassment and a blush on her face. "You are not bothering me, not at all," Xie Qing said with a smile. Li Yun refused for a few more minutes before Xie Qing convinced her. And so, leaning on Xie Qing''s arm, they walked together. Were there many nces at these two? You''re asking. Of course, many were shocked that their desired flower, moreover, the famous saint, could lean on a man like this, and even more so, a stranger to them! However, even if many of them were jealous, they could not help but admit the fact that Xie Qing''s face was smug and much more handsome than theirs, which could not help but be a reason for envy for some guys. And the girls? Well, they looked like they were about to die from the brightness of these two. Two beautiful people always attract a lot of attention and love, especially when standing together. Were there students who, out of jealousy, wanted to approach them? Yes, there were such people, but Xie Qing scared them off so that Li Yun would not find out. Their walk was quite calm and quiet. Although it was not something special for the eternally active Xie Qing, he felt a calmness of the soul. The impatience and warmth that he felt from Li Yun were exceptional. Xie Qing felt the smell of her body, felt her touches, and listening to her gentleughter, he felt like a teenager. For her age (27 years old), Li Yun looked very young. Perhaps this was also due to her height. She barely reached the young man''s shoulders with the top of her head. "She''s so cute," the young man thought, seeing that she was trying to stand on tiptoe to seem taller. Although he wanted tough at this fact, he was a gentleman. Even though some time ago he asked about her three sizes. Chapter 77: Who is the winner in life? Its me Additional chapter for 200 PS. 2/2 === Under the gray clouds, the moon was visible. Li Yun and Xie Qing walked together to the residence where he was staying temporarily. "Oh, you live here?" Li Yun was surprised. "Um... well, sect master Zhang Mei wanted to assign me to another ce, but it turned out that Xie Yu persuaded me to stay with her," Xie Qing replied, scratching the back of his head. He looked up and rolled his eyes, seeing Xie Yu waving at them: "And there she is." "Eh?" Li Yun looked up in surprise and blushed when she saw Xie Yu waving at them. She immediately let go of Xie Qing''s hand and created a small distance between them. "Sigh! What a shame!" Xie Qing sighed in disappointment. *** For the next two days, Xie Qing was busy either walking with Li Yun and Xie Yu or practicing cultivation. Time passed so quickly that he didn''t even notice. Finally, it was time to return home. "Li Yun, Xie Yu. Thank you for helping me during these three days," Xie Qing said and smiled. Xie Yu was in his arms ¨C the girl did not want to let go of him, but when she heard some of the young man''s ns, she had to admit ¨C that now was not the time for flirting. Li Yun showed a much more restrained reaction, just standing to the side and smiling awkwardly, although it was clear that she was a little upset. Xie Yu understood her emotions, so she let go of her brother, and Xie Qing finally got his freedom. "Li Yun," he said, touching her hands and leaning forward, bringing them to his face: "Thank you. I had a lot of fun thanks to you. Moreover, you turned out to be a very pleasant and cheerful person." "I-I''m d to hear that, Xie Qing," Li Yun said, finally smiling. She touched the young man''s face, trying to remember it forever, blushed, and giggled: "You have such nice skin to the touch. I can only envy your gics." "Heh, your skin is also very soft and pleasant, Li Yun," Xie Qing said with a smile, stroking the girl''s cheeks and making her blush. Xie Yu, who was standing to the side, lost her voice. She could not believe that these two were flirting with each other in broad daylight. "Hey, hey, hey! Think about the other people, two students have worked hard here!" Xie Yu thought with a strange smile. However, she did not interrupt them. Her gaze softened when she saw that Li Yun had been cheerful for the past three days. Unfortunately for both girls, this moment could notst forever. Xie Qing said goodbye to them and disappeared behind the gates. They waved goodbye to him and smiled. And when Xie Qing disappeared from sight, Xie Yu asked without looking away. "Sister Li... do you like him?" "Eh?! W-what?!" Li Yun screamed, and she even involuntarily opened her eyes, and then covered them: "N-no, why do you think so?" "You just confirmed everything with your reaction," Xie Yu replied, rolling her eyes: "First of all, you never opened your eyes because you were embarrassed to show them, but in my brother''spany, you always kept them open." "Th-that''s because Xie Qing said they were beautiful," Li Yun muttered under her nose: "So I didn''t hide them." "Secondly, you always blush in his presence." "Ugh... I''m just not used to boys..." "Thirdly, you always joyfully smile when you lean on his arm. Moreover, during these three days, you did not use your technique once," Xie Yu noticed and narrowed her eyes, giggling: "Oh, you little fox." "Uuuh..." Li Yun whined intively and closed her eyes, covering her red face, but her reddened earlobes gave her awaypletely. "B-but... I''m not sure if it''s love. Although Xie Qing is a good guy, polite, has a nice voice, and his presence calms me down, we are not familiar with each other," Li Yun mumbled. "I''m not saying it''s love. Sympathy will do, you know, huh?" Xie Yu said, shaking her head: "I think your ability also influences your sympathy, right?" "Y-yes..." Li Yun nodded and opened her face, thoughtfully saying: "The threads of fate always joyfully surround him, like a nket, and it feels like they protect him. I''ve never seen anything like it." "Huh? Seriously?" Xie Yu was surprised. Although she did not quite understand the meaning of fate as such, she knew that the threads of fate were always something special in the life of any person. If someone could cut these threads or control them, then the lives of millions of people, or even more, would be in danger. And judging by Li Yun''s words, the threads of fate, intended to maintain the flow of individual souls'' fate, now surrounded one person. "I can''t believe it..." *** After two hours, Xie Qing was already twenty minutes'' walk from the sect. "Ah, a familiar smell! This is my home!" Xie Qing thought, looking at the high and beautiful mountains, filled with greenery. Ignoring one mountain that was neatly cut off, the whole area looked simply beautiful. As if a Minecraft yer''s dream who runs 20,000 blocks to find a ce for a house. "Maybe I should build a house outside the sect?" the young man thought, tilting his head to the side. Xu Mei''s pavilion was initially not suitable for arge number of people, so now there was an inconvenience. Although the location was convenient, Xie Qing wanted much more privacy. "Decided! I''m buying a house... I still have a few million left from the deal with Fang Lan!" Xie Qing thought: "I won''t personally go to meetings and arrangements... why when there are outer court disciples? They will do any task for money!" ...outer court disciples were poor, so if they were offered a good price, they would do everything in the highest quality. Although inner court disciples were not allowed to publish any tasks, but... "Lian Xin!" *** "You''re already back?" Xu Mei was surprised, to see Xie Qing in the backyard. She looked him up and down and then looked around. "What are you doing, Master?" Xie Qing did not understand. However, soon Xu Mei disappeared from her ce and appeared in front of him, tightly hugging him. The young man was a little surprised, but then he smiled. "Ah, my dear Master missed me? How about this humble disciple kisses his Master on the cheek?" And without waiting for Xu Mei''s answer, the young man kissed her on the cheek, and then on the eyshes. His handsy on her slender back, and he pressed her to himself, inhaling her scent. "Haaa... I missed you so much, Mei-Mei," Xie Qing mumbled, resting his chin on Xu Mei''s head. "Mmm..." Xu Mei mumbled something in response, but he could not hear her, as he was too busy hugging and kissing her face. "Uff... s-stop, I''m embarrassed," Xu Mei said with a red face and turned away from him, but her lips stretched into a happy smile. "Hmm?" Xie Qing smiled and shook his head. After a few minutes, Yu Yang and Xie Meiling also arrived in the backyard. "Heh." "Hah." These two suspiciously smiled, and Xie Qing could swear that he felt their jealousy. He awkwardly smiled and beckoned them. Although the women were embarrassed, they missed this flirtatious boy too much, and they hugged him. Thus, these four stood and hugged each other. "Aah..." someone moaned. Xie Qing awkwardly removed his hand from his mother''s butt ¨C he wanted to pat Yu Yang, but because of the limited field of view, he aimed wrong. Turning away from the embarrassed and slightly angry Xie Meiling, he was the first to stop hugging. "Let''s have lunch," he suggested. The women had no reason to refuse. *** "Girls, I''m back!" Xie Qing shouted loudly, entering the dining room with Yu Yang. They were carrying food and setting the table. Today was an ordinary, but still special dinner. These were spicy chicken wings and a snack reminiscent of chips. Since they were cultivators, they automatically had a cheat code that allowed them to eat everything and not get fat ¨C all the food turned into energy and was distributed throughout the body. Considering that during meditation they spend a lot of energy, they can afford to eat fatty and not very healthy food. "Master, I looked through the books and manuals in the library and learned some useful information," Xie Qing said, simultaneously drinking freshly squeezed citrus juice: "Everything turned out to be simpler than I thought, to be honest. Again, I have to rely on the ssic method ¨C trust the cultivation method." Xu Mei snorted and wiped her mouth with a napkin, and then said. "Of course, this is the easiest and most reliable method of all. But it is dangerous for people who do not have a cultivation technique as such because it is not a fact that they will be able to make a breakthrough," Xu Mei exined, trying to reassure the young man: "You are too worried about this, I told you." "His character has always been like that. Worried about trifles, and as for important questions, he is carefree, like his grandfather," Xie Meiling said, rolling her eyes and drinking wine, looking out the window: "Son, as Xu Mei said, you just need to follow the instructions, and everything will be fine." Xie Qing shrugged and could not but agree with his mother''s words. Although he was confident that everything would work out, he was just too nervous. At this stage of cultivation, many faced an insurmountable wall that screened out many cultivators ¨C including talented ones. However, under the encouraging words of the girls, he soon came to his senses, and they began to have fun. "Master, what about the sectpetitions?" Xie Qing asked, tilting his head to the side. "They will take ce in half a year. They were postponed due to some problems caused by the activity of devilish cultivators," Xu Mei replied, who was sittingzily on a chair: "These bastards think they have a chance to get out of control. Pfft, sewer rats want to be immortal emperors?" "Even if so..." Xie Meiling began to say with a serious face: "You need to carefully monitor them, no matter how insignificant they seem." "W-well... I know, okay?" Xu Mei embarrassedly replied, waving her hands: "I meant that they do not have superior power, as far as I know, so they pose only a limited danger." Xie Qing was silent and narrowed his eyes. He suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine for some reason. *** After Xie Qing finished his business, he visited Lian Xin. "Disciple Xie Qing! You''re back?" the woman greeted with a smile. "Elder Lian, I missed you," the young man replied, hugging her waist and pressing her to himself, bringing his nose to her neck. He inhaled her scent and gently bit: "And did you miss me?" "Uuh..." Lian Xin shivered from the strange current that ran through her body when Xie Qing gently bit her neck. She blushed and hearing his question, embarrassedly replied: "Y-yes..." "There you go," Xie Qing smiled. They were in her private chambers. The young man was teasing her, feeling pleasure from the fact that a mature woman was blushing like a young girl. Lian Xin felt as if she was in paradise. Her body was so light and warm, surrounded by the embrace of her beloved, it felt like melting, like ice cream from the heat. She stupidly smiled ¨C it was cute. Her hands hugged Xie Qing''s back, and her nose pressed against his chest, inhaling the young man''s scent, which was pleasant and calming. "How are you?" Xie Qing asked. "Eh? Well... due to the death of a member of the Bai family, there was some pressure on the sects, but we dealt with everything," Lian Xin said and smiled, her smile was bold and arrogant: "These idiots think that the world revolves around us. Let them find out that the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Lian family are not afraid of jackals pretending to be tigers." "Hahaha!" Xie Qingughed heartily, and then picked up Lian Xin, putting his hands under her buttocks. Heughed and began to spin. "That''s Elder Lian!" "E-e... l-let me go, Xie Qing..." Lian Xin blushed and clung to Xie Qing''s neck with her hands, hugging him so as not to fall. She embarrassedly smiled. In the end, Xie Qing stopped spinning her on the spot and fell onto the bed with her. Hey on his back, and Lian Xin curled up on his chest. Although the woman was embarrassed... She enjoyed it! "Shame? What is it? Is it edible?" Lian Xin thought, while Xie Qing stroked her cheek: "What shame?! Envy me! Hmph!" Lian Xin proudly smiled, remembering her colleagues, most of whom did not even have partners. And she had one ¨C moreover, not an ordinary one, but a very handsome and talented one. "Who is the winner in life? It''s me! Hmpf" Lian Xin thought at that moment. Chapter 78: Lian Xin (R-18) (Part 1) Xie Qing and Lian Xin were lying in bed together, and Lian Xin was feeling like she was in heaven. She had a satisfied smile on her face and was gently embracing Xie Qing''s back. She felt only happiness and peace when she was close to him, and it seemed like all of her fatigue from being a sect elder had disappeared the moment she hugged him. These emotions were foreign to Lian Xin, as she didn''t have much experience with men. As the daughter of the Lian family, she was a desirable target for many men, but none of them had caught her eye. That is until she saw Xie Qing. One day, when she saw the handsome young man standing in line to register, she made up her mind to win his favor. It took many steps, and in the end, Xu Mei took him away from her, but Lian Xin didn''t give up hope. As she breathed in his calming scent, she couldn''t help but smile. "Haha... I''ve surpassed my older sister in this!" she thought to herself, giggling. Her sister was Lian Lin, and because of her status as a sect leader and her unfriendly personality, not many men dared to approach her. Lian Xin proudly snuggled up to Xie Qing''s chest and closed her eyes. *** Eventually, Xie Qing fell asleep. He didn''t know why, but he suddenly felt drowsy, which was unusual for a cultivator. Lian Xin watched him with sparkling eyes and a smile on her face. "These aromatic sticks are amazing!" she thought, whistling in admiration. The idea to make Xie Qing fall asleep hade to her spontaneously. At first, she nned to create a romantic atmosphere and then lead him to the main event: losing her virginity. As an almost 80-year-old virgin, it was torturous for her. Especially since she had a friend who was a sect elder and was practically drowning in her sex life, Lian Xin couldn''t help but feel envious. Every time she felt the hardness of Xie Qing''s body against her uncovered breasts, her body would shiver with desire. But she held back, not wanting to seem too eager or perverted. However, she couldn''t wait any longer. There were always many women around Xie Qing, and she didn''t want to miss her chance. "It''s time to start!" Lian Xin thought, looking hurried. "This aromatic candle only works for a few minutes!" She didn''t n on doing anything while Xie Qing was asleep, as that wouldn''t be enjoyable. Her goal was to ovee her initial shyness and get herself in the mood. And so, she began to slowly undress Xie Qing, admiring his muscles as she did so. She couldn''t help but swallow when she saw his toned abs, and she felt a heat building in her lower body. "Oooh..." she moaned, running her finger over his abs. As she looked at Xie Qing with the eyes of a predator, she seemed hungry. She leaned in and kissed his corbone, making a soft sound as her lips pressed against his skin. Her hand began to move lower, slipping under the waistband of both their pants. Eventually, as she slowly kissed his body, she sessfully undressed both herself and Xie Qing. "K-kako big..." she thought, cing her hand next to Xie Qing''s sleeping dragon. Even though it was still asleep, it took up almost the entire length of her palm. She couldn''t help but gasp in surprise. But then, panic set in. "Eh... will it even fit inside me?" she worried, looking at her wet entrance. She felt a pang of shame when she saw the state of her "little sister" and blushed. "Horror... I''m like some kind of pervert." Even though she wasn''t entirely wrong about that, let''s not ruin her hopes. One way or another, Lian Xin''s hand soon found its way to Xie Qing''s sleeping dragon, and she couldn''t help but let out a surprised gasp. "Strange feeling. So this is what a man''s genitals feel like? I thought... it would be harder," Lian Xin mused. But as she rxed, the dragon began to stir. "EEK!" she cried out in surprise, watching as the dragon in her hand grewrger andrger until she could barely wrap her hand around it. If there had been any light in the room, a shadow would have fallen over her face from the enraged dragon. "O-oh... it''s so big," Lian Xin thought, looking at the dragon in her hand, which stood proudly as if challenging her. Her eyes sparkled with fear and excitement. "This... I''m not sure if it will fit inside me." Despite her worries, Lian Xin couldn''t help but swallow her saliva. She hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering around the room, but in the end, she leaned forward and kissed the head of the dragon. Feeling a slightly hard and warm sensation on her lips, she was surprised, but then she smelled a strange floral scent and shivered with excitement. A liquid gushed out of her "little sister," and she rolled her eyes back. It was a mini-orgasm. "This scent... it''s so enticing," Lian Xin thought. Like pheromones, they acted on her mind and made her extremely aroused. She yfully stuck out her tongue and touched the head of the jade pir, then began to circle it around. Lian Xin''s eyes clouded over with desire. She couldn''t help but get aroused, and all of her insides clenched with thirst. Soon, in a fit of arousal, she boldly took the jade dragon into her mouth. First, she wrapped her lips around the head, and then she began to lower her head until she felt that she couldn''t go any further. "Uum..." She made a slightly strange sound as if she had choked, and Lian Xin raised her head a little so that Xie Qing''s dragon would leave at least a little room for breathing. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes - she wasn''t used to such sensations, and it was a little ufortable. Saliva began to collect in the woman''s mouth, and in this natural way, she lubricated the young man''s jade rod. When the difort disappeared, or rather, when Lian Xin got used to it, she began to rock her head - first up, then down. However, this could notst long. Xie Qing''s dragon was angry at Lian Xin''s disrespectful behavior, and in the end, he released his white breath... "Uuum?!" Lian Xin''s first reaction was to reflexively release the dragon from her mouth. She coughed, spitting out the white milk - not out of disgust, but simply because it was unexpected. Because of this, the bedsheet became a little dirty. "Cough... cough... ugh..." Lian Xin coughed a little, still feeling the unfamiliar viscous liquid in her mouth. However, when she came to her senses, she was visited by a sweet and pleasant taste. "Em... it seems to be like strawberry," Lian Xin thought with a puzzled expression: "Strange..." Although she was inexperienced, ording to her acquaintance, the taste of male sperm was mostly not very tasty, although it was a matter of taste. "Well, never mind," Lian Xin thought and licked her lips, on which there was still a little milk. When she finished licking her lips, her gaze fell on the still-active dragon. "Ooh..." *** (The action is from the point of view of the main character, Xie Qing. The R-18 scene is described in a testing method.) At some point, I felt a strange sense of drowsiness, and unable to resist, I fell asleep. It was a bit strange, as I usually have trouble falling asleep. Well, you know, all those thoughts about how to spend tomorrow with beautiful fairies... consume a lot of my mental energy! Speaking of fairies, I came to Lian Xin today, right? Why did I even fall asleep? "Mmm..." I heard a suspiciously familiar moan. Familiar not in the sense of the voice, but because of its origin. With obvious doubt in my thoughts, I opened my eyes, which were a little blurry from having just woken up. And when the light entered my eyes and I could see what was happening... My eyebrows roseically. "Uumm..." Before my eyes was the naked body of Elder Lian Xin. I couldn''t help but look at her beautiful figure, herrge but firm breasts, slender legs, and waist. Her body was like a work of art, soft and tender. "Ughmam..." And now she was passionately sucking on my JJ. I squinted, feeling how the head of my dragon was being caressed by her soft tongue, and her warm breath only increased my arousal. The movements of her head, which first went down and then up, were beautiful, and her trembling breasts were like hypnosis for me. In the end, under such diligent work with Lian Xin''s mouth, I couldn''t hold back and released my milk into her mouth. "Uuum!" Lian Xin made a strange sound and happily squinted her eyes as I uncontrobly released my divine nectar. Although I was embarrassed by the situation I found myself in, when did that ever bother me? That''s right, never. After my orgasm was over, Lian Xin contentedly pulled my jade rod out of her mouth and smacked her lips. With a satisfied and aroused moan, she raised her head and froze when she saw my gaze on her. "Xie Qing?!" She cried out in shock and blushed. Her ears, her face, and even her cute little nose turned red, making her look like a tomato. "Hello," I greeted her with a teasing smile. "Uugh... this... I..." She immediately began to try to justify herself. Her eyes frantically moved around the room, as if she was trying to find a ce to hide. But how could I let her go? "Hyaa!" The woman cried out in surprise as my hands gently grabbed her waist. Releasing my left hand, I squeezed her breast, gently rubbing her nipple. "Aah..." From her shiny lips came moans. Lian Xin''s eyes filled with water - from pleasure, her mind was clouded. Of course, the main reason for this reaction was that I used my massage knowledge to give her pleasure. Thin streams of Qi, which were on the tips of my fingers, drew her into a whirlpool of pleasure. Laying her on her back, I lowered my free hand to her "little sister" and, feeling her softbia, rubbed them with my index finger. "Ooh..." She made an oh-ing sound with her eyes rolling back from pleasure, helplessly sticking out her tongue and gasping for air. I looked at her beautiful face, consumed by lust, and plunged into these emotions myself. My younger brother stood at attention, ready to pierce the heavens. However, I didn''t want to rush. What''s the point of starting without a prelude? I''ve been too inactive all this time, so why not show Lian Xin my power? "Aaaah!" From her lips came a loud, almost piercing moan of pleasure. Her back arched, and a liquid flowed from her "little sister." All I had to do was send a little Qi to my fingertips and massage her clitoris, and it immediately bore fruit. "What a cute reaction," I muttered and showed my fingers to the panting woman, who was not taking her eyes off me. "Uu..." From her mouth came a whining sound. She was ashamed when she saw her love juices on my fingers. "Please... stop teasing me..." Lian Xin begged me, looking at me with puppy eyes. Although it was difficult to resist such a look, especially when it came from a beloved woman, I am who I am. That is a sadist... uh, I mean, a person who loves fun. "Eh? Excuse me, dear, I recently became deaf in my left and right ears, unfortunately, I can''t hear you correctly. Can you repeat that?" "Please... stop teasing me..." "Ugh... there it is again!" I looked at her with a smile, and Lian Xin shivered and blushed, understanding what I was trying to get from her. She hesitated - it was evident in her eyes. As a woman from a traditional family where everything was strict with etiquette, she was quite selective in her speech. But feeling the heat in her lower body, which had been tormenting her for a long time, she couldn''t help but clench her teeth and mutter. "Please... fuck me... fuck me as hard as you can!" "Oh! It seems I''ve restored my hearing!" I said to her, repeating the trick. Lian Xin blushed and looked away in shame, or at least tried to. But I didn''t let her. "Eh?" She looked at me in surprise when I grabbed her cheeks and turned them towards me with a smile - so that our gazes met. And while Lian Xin was puzzled, I plunged my sword into her scabbard. "Aaaah! H-heavens... ooh..." Her face twisted in pleasure, and she rolled her eyes, sticking out her seductive tongue. This is exactly what I wanted. To see her face, painted with pleasure. I had achieved what I wanted - I made Lian Xin show her face, painted with lust and pleasure. She was helpless under my numerous thrusts. Her breasts swayed as my jade rod pierced her insides. Wet sounds filled the air, and the bed creaked. "Aaaah!" Soft moans escaped her lips, full of thirst and desire. I couldn''t help but enjoy the sight of her tears streaming down her face - she was partly happy, partly overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sensation of pleasure and fullness. The walls of her vagina were like a juicer, trying to suck everything out of me. They clenched around my jade rod, squeezing it tightly. "Xie Qing! Xie Qing!" she cried out, begging for more. Chapter 79: Lian Xin (R-18) (Part 2) An additional chapter for the magical castle. 1/10 === Lian Xin cried out my name, her hands searching for me, and I embraced her as she pressed her head against my shoulder. "Aaaah~! Y-y-yes! Your dick is so hard... fuck me! Fuck me!" Her lips moved closer to my ear, and she bit my earlobe, exhaling warm breath into my ear. I shivered slightly - a shiver ran down my spine, making my skin tingle. After all, my ears were my sensitive spot. Holding Lian Xin tightly around her waist, I kissed her on the forehead as I moved inside her. Finally, Lian Xin came, and I decided not to wait any longer. "Ugh..." "AAAAAH!" With a cry, Lian Xin began to tremble and came, and I released my liquid into her. I wasn''t afraid that she might get pregnant - I controlled my sperm. Although I liked her, as well as my other women, I wasn''t ready for children yet. I still had a lot to do. I was still inside her, gently stroking Lian Xin''s slender back as she tried to catch her breath after her orgasm. It was normal, as it was her first time. I patiently waited, stroking her back andforting her. She moaned softly and rubbed her cheek against mine. Finally, I pulled my sword out of her scabbard and moved away. Sperm began to leak out of her divine cave, and Lian Xin let out a satisfied sigh. There were drops of sweat on her forehead. "That was great..." she muttered, and her gaze happened to fall on my dragon. She blushed, seeing that my little brother was still full of energy. Fortunately, Lian Xin was a cultivator, so she was able to restore her energy after five seconds. However, we didn''t start the second round right away. This was because Lian Xin sensed the possibility of a breakthrough. She sat in the lotus position, still naked, and my nectar was still flowing out of her little sister. Of course, she didn''t care about that. She looked happy to have discovered the chance for a breakthrough and immediately closed her eyes. "Hm... she''ll break through to the peak of Core Formation?" I thought and smiled. I was happy for her. Breaking through levels was a difficult task, but it turned out that I had a suitable cultivation technique that benefited both me and me. I also felt that I was on the verge of a breakthrough. However, I didn''t n to break through right now; I thought I''d wait until after our rendezvous. An hour passed. When Lian Xin opened her eyes, there was a satisfied smile on her face. The breakthrough was sessful. Noticing me casually looking out the window, she jumped onto myp without hesitation. "Now we can continue!" she said with a bright smile, rubbing her sex lips against my erect penis. I nodded. It was only possible to refuse sweets if your uncle with a strange-looking iron carriage offered them to you. The next position was the rider position. Lian Xin skillfully sat on my dragon, which prated her without hesitation. "Aaaah!" I felt the walls of her vagina squeezing me from the inside. She looked excited and wrapped her arms around my neck, and I grabbed her by the buttocks. Moving my hips, I prated her over and over again. My handsy on her back and gently stroked her, sending Qi that made her moan loudly. "Aaaah! It feels so good!" Her eyes became cloudy, and she smiled in satisfaction. However, soon I sped up so much that she was no longer able to move her body. "Uuuuu..." She could only take my attacks and her mouth was wide open, her tongue sticking out. She rolled her eyes and arched her back, unable to resist my blows. I, without stopping, brought her to orgasm. "AAAAAH!" Without waiting for the full end of her orgasm, I stood up and, holding her by the buttocks and back, pressed her against the wall. My hips moved actively, and I fucked her with all my might. She could only moan, her body bing even more sensitive after her orgasm. With each thrust, with each of my attacks, she lost herself in pleasure. Finally, I released my milk inside her. Then, crying out in pleasure, Elder Lian couldn''t help but lose consciousness with a stupid smile on her face. All I had to do was smile and shake my head. Iid her down on the bed and, using a household technique, wiped her body clean of sweat and fluids, then reced the sheet so that it would be clean. In the end, after putting her to sleep, I covered her with a nket so that Lian Xin wouldn''t get cold... which was impossible in any case. And I, sitting in the corner, began to meditate. *** Xie Qing opened his beautiful eyes and sighed in satisfaction. Around him, there were still swirling vortexes of Qi that dissipated only after several seconds. " The fifth level of Core Formation. Although I can speed up my development, it will damage the foundation," the young man thought and shook his head: "There''s no point. It will be much more useful and efficient to progress slowly and surely. There''s no need to rush." Although he was confident that he would need a lot of strength in the future to raise the Xie family to the level of the higher families in the Dynasty, Xie Qing knew that he was not alone. Xu Mei, Xie Meiling, Yu Yang, and others. They were always by his side. Although the young man tended to do everything himself, in the end, the abilities of one person were limited. "I remember that Master has already found a useful person who could help me with managing the family," Xie Qing thought, recalling Xu Mei''s words. Like her, who didn''t want her very talented disciple to waste his time on such things as politics, Xu Mei took care of this issue. With her status and connections, it was not difficult to find a person who could be trusted. This was one of her acquaintances from ancient times who loved power and dealt with financial matters and the like. Xie Qing also didn''t want to waste time on such boring work. His business was to raise the Xie family to the highest level, which could be achieved through his strength and talents in the family, but managing all this... Laziness! He was toozy! Although one could p him for this, as it was too carefree, Xie Qing could be understood and forgiven. Having finished with the breakthrough, he waited for the morning. Since he had warned Xu Mei and the others, there was no need to rush. As the sun rose brightly, Xie Qing immersed himself in his thoughts. His face showed nothing. *** When Lian Xin woke up, she felt the smell of freshly prepared soup. She opened her eyes in confusion and rubbed them toe to her senses. Then, following her nose straight to the smell, she ran into something hard. And no, it wasn''t what you might think. The hard thing was Xie Qing''s back, who at that moment had finished pouring out spiritual vegetables with spiritual meat. "Did you wake up?" he asked without turning around and thenughed: "I was bored and decided to run to the store to buy groceries to make a nutritious soup. After such ''strain'' and breakthrough, your body is a little weak, so you need to eat right." "Ugh... uh, yes..." Lian Xin blushed when she remembered what had happened the night before. Although she was embarrassed, she was still happy that she had decided to take such a step. The night before, she had experienced such pleasure that she hadn''t experienced in a long time. Her body still trembled when she remembered it. Soon the soup was ready, and Xie Qing poured it into a bowl and, not allowing Lian Xin to eat it herself, fed her with a spoon. Although the woman was embarrassed - she was such an adult, she was being fed with a spoon, who said that she refused? On the contrary, she was excited, and her heart was filled with tenderness and embarrassment. Now she felt like those couples among the disciples who, sitting in a cafe, fed each other. "Have you been awake for a long time?" she asked between breaks in feeding. "I didn''t sleep at all," Xie Qing replied, scooping up soup and holding the spoon out to Lian Xin: "Here, open your mouth." "Aaaa~". Opening her mouth wide, Lian Xin, with a blush on her cheek, ate the soup. *** After saying goodbye to Lian Xin, who had to go to work, Xie Qing returned to the pavilion. There, to his surprise, there was no Xu Mei and Yu Yang. Only Xie Meiling, who was sitting in the garden surrounded by flowers and meditating. She had broken through to the first stage of Soul Nascent, and her Qi was dense and strong, although it was not as pure as in Xie Qing''s case. Although Xie Qing wanted to greet her, he began to wait until she finished cultivating. This happened only after five minutes. Xie Meiling opened her beautiful eyes and looked in the direction of Xie Qing. "You''re back. Hm, did you like hugging that woman?" asked Xie Meiling, narrowing her eyes. "Heh". Xie Qing didn''t answer her question and only smiled embarrassedly. Xie Meiling only snorted, seeing such a reaction from the young man. They entered the house. Xie Meiling noticed the changes in Xie Qing''s Qi along the way. "Son, did you break through?" she was surprised and then clicked her tongue: "Tsk. Too fast, you''re a monster." "Rude to call your handsome and charismatic son a monster, my dear mother," Xie Qing rolled his eyes and said offendedly: "Am I to me for having such monstrous talent?" "Alright, enough pretending to be something you''re not." Xie Meiling smiled and patted Xie Qing on the back, shaking her head. The young man could only shrug - he was just telling the truth. Entering Xie Qing''s room, they sat down at the table, which Xie Meilingter covered with tea and sweets. "Delicious. It doesn''t taste store-bought. Did Yu Yang make it?" Xie Qing asked in surprise. "No," Xie Meiling answered, averting her gaze. She muttered: "I made it." "Oh?" Xie Qing raised his eyebrows in surprise and tried it again. "It really is delicious." "Thank you." Xie Meiling nodded with a static expression on her face, but Xie Qing could notice the joy on her face. He shook his head. He was a little surprised that his mother could bake. Although, considering that she was quite close to Yu Yang, it was not impossible that the maid had taught her mistress some tricks. "You''re talented," Xie Qing praised her, enjoying the delicious pastry with strawberry filling: "I thought you were bad at cooking, let alone baking." "I don''t cook only because Yu Yang refuses to let me," Xie Meiling rolled her eyes and said: "I studied cooking ten years ago because I sometimes wanted to try something with my own hands." "Well, I can only praise you in this matter, Mom." Xie Qing was surprised by such a taste. Although it was a little unexpected. Watching as Xie Qing eagerly ate her pastry, Xie Meiling smiled but hid her smile as soon as the young man''s eyes were distracted from the pastry. "Hm?" Xie Qing felt as if he had lost something. **** Since they were both bored, Xie Qing and Xie Meiling went to a nearby town. It was just as lively there, with streets full of people. "How lively. Althoughpared to the capital, it''s nothing," said Xie Qing, who felt like a fish in water. "You''reparingpletely different things," Xie Meiling rolled her eyes and said: "There are interesting ces here, I read about it in magazines." Xie Meiling pointed with her chin at one building. It was a bar, quite expensively decorated. There was a big line. "Alright." Xie Qing nodded. They approached together, and they didn''t even have to stand in line. Cultivators had priority over everything, so ordinary mortals had to grit their teeth and humbly give way to them. There were disgruntled people no one liked that. But no one dared to say anything, it was too risky to offend cultivators. So Xie Qing and Xie Meiling easily passed through the line. At the entrance, they were met by the owner of the bar with a ttering smile, wiping his sweaty palms. "Hello, esteemed cultivators! This humble servant will consider it an honor to help you find a suitable table!" "Hm!" Xie Qing nodded and waved his hand: "Old man, we need the best drinks, understand? Don''t worry about the price, I''ll pay in full." "Hehehe... this servant will do his best to satisfy you!" Xie Meiling just rolled her eyes at her son''s pretentiously pompous behavior, but seeing that he was having fun, she kept quiet. Soon, the bar owner set their table and brought them alcohol, as well as some snacks to go with it - these were spicy nuts. Raising a ss of strong alcohol that resembled whiskey, they clinked sses. "For love!" said Xie Qing. Xie Meiling rolled her eyes again. "Xu Mei is teaching you strange things!" she said. Chapter 80: On the eve of chaos... and Xu Mei (R-18) Looking at all the alcohol on the table, Xie Meiling could only twist her mouth and look at the carefree Xie Qing. "Hmpfh! Son, you really are a drunkard. Although a cultivator''s body is strong enough, you shouldn''t burden yourself with alcohol," she said, wrinkling her nose and looking disapprovingly at him. "Did Xu Mei teach you this?" "Oh,e on, Mom. I''m a grown man, it''s about time I got married, you know?" Xie Qing said, rolling his eyes and looking away from his mother''s sharp gaze. "Today is a beautiful day! Let''s drink!" "Hmph!" Although Xie Meiling was displeased, she couldn''t deny that her boy had grown into a man and could now keep herpany in drinking. As she watched Xie Qing''s graceful movements as he raised his ss, a faint smile appeared on her lips as they clinked sses together. The time passed in merriment. It had been a long time since they had been so alone, and now that they had found time for entertainment, these two happily chatted, sharing stories. Although mostly Xie Qing spoke - he was a chatterbox by nature, especially when he was in thepany of familiar people. No matter what the topic of conversation was, Xie Meiling listened to him with pleasure and smiled when she saw that he was having fun. In recent times, Xie Meiling had been feeling much better, and she spent her days enjoying every second. Due to her deteriorating health in her early years, she was unable to spend much time with her son. Every memory was engraved in her consciousness. As she looked at the handsome face of the young man, her eyes sparkled with strange emotions. "My son... my dear son..." *** The undercurrents of the Dynasty were always unceasing, and many sewer rats came out to profit from other people''s misfortunes. Yuanguan, located on the Northern Continent, was always an active ce for conspiracies and cunning tactics. As a major business city where a considerable amount of wealth flowed, many wealthy families set up their headquarters there to profit from the constant flow of wealth. The Xie family was also located there. Compared to other families, they were in the top 50 in the past, which could also be considered influential. Their wealth was not too small, but it couldn''t be calledrge either. However, in recent days, the Xie family has been facing a serious crisis. They were barely staying afloat and were forced to suffer under the pressure of theirpetitors. Although the Bai family had stopped interfering in the war between the families, it couldn''t be ignored that the grave had already been dug by the Bai family, and theirpetitors from the Xi family had the opportunity to kick them in the back and push them into the grave. Xie Hai''s health in recent days has been poor. During a business deal aimed at gaining new allies, he was attacked. Although rumors of his death had spread, it seemed that fate had blessed this man, and he had survived. The doctors were shocked. The wound was fatal, and the chances of survival were virtually zero, but like a phoenix, Xie Hai rose again, and although he still looked weak, the fact that he had survived was undeniable! That night, Xie Hai prayed to the heavens, thinking that it was thanks to the great Dao that he had been saved. Although he never found out the main reason. Xie Hui was both pleased and saddened. On the one hand, Xie Hai''s death would have brought him a lot of trouble, as it was his uncle who was his main support. However, the death of the current head of the family could also have helped him seize power under the pretext of preserving the family''s integrity. Either way, there was no time to cry over spilled milk. Xie Hui has been working for three. "Damn it! Damn it!" In a dimly lit office filled with books and documents, Xie Hui sat at the desk. This was the head of the family''s office. Xie Hui was furious about the despicable behavior of hispetitors, who wanted to drive the final nail into the coffin of the Xie family. "And these damn bastards... out of six potential heirs, only three are left. One of them has refused, and those two... Xie Qing and Xie Yu." The man frowned, his eyes filled with darkness. Although in Xie Yu''s case, the chance of her inheriting was small, as in the Dynasty it was mostly men who inherited the status of their family... But now Xie Qing was a serious problem. Thest time he sent his subordinate to kill this guy, he didn''t return and was most likely dead. This greatly rmed Xie Hai, making him realize that this time he had no information and was looking into the void. The chance that Xie Qing would fight for the leadership of the family was not too small, but not too high either. And the chance that he would win was not great. "I can''t send any more spies, all forces must be concentrated in the estate, or we won''t be able to withstand the pressure," Xie Hui thought and furrowed his brow. "Xie Meiling... it''s unknown if this woman is still alive. Her return could be dangerous for us." Although the council of elders was on Xie Hui''s side, the elders themselves were slippery snakes who could move between camps as easily as changing their underwear. Therefore, Xie Hui never trusted thempletely. Considering Xie Qing''s status as the only legitimate heir in terms of closeness. "He must be eliminated. I need to find more allies," Xie Hui thought, but looking at the mountains of paperwork, he sighed. "Um... after I finish with these matters." Not only was there turmoil in the Xie family over the inheritance. The Huang family was also shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere, as were the other families. This was a time when heirs had to be chosen who would be the support of the Dynasty in the future. All military power was returning to the families to begin preparations. Xie Qing was also not wasting time. Among his acquaintances were potential heirs to the Huang and Fang families, whom he also actively called upon to help each other. These three allied. They were obligated to help each other until they ascended to the throne. In Fang Lian''s case, it was both more difficult and easier at the same time. Although her family had nothing that would allow a woman to be the head of the family, she was in a difficult situation. Her family was not as easy to conquer as the Xie family. Fang was a family located in the capital, and they were in the top 10 influential families in the entire dynasty. And that meant that the potential heirs also had impressive power. Speaking of this trio, Huang Jing, Fang Lian, and Xie Qing lived in a neutral city located on the Eastern Continent, far from the sects and the Dynasty. They had rented a house for a week and were already discussing their actions there. The girl was the first to start the dialogue. "My brother, Fang Xe, is a cultivator at the eighth stage of Core Formation," Fang Lian reported, looking at her allies with a serious expression. "No matter how hard I try, it will be very difficult to knock him off his solid tform as a winner." "Why?" Huang Jing asked, raising an eyebrow. "Strength! Subordinates! Reputation! Wealth!" Fang Lian began to list her brother''s outstanding qualities with obvious despair. She bit her lip and muttered, "And... he has gained the support of a cultivator at the peak of Soul Nascent." "Ooh..." The two men sighed. Of course, they were not babies and already knew that a Soul Nascent cultivator could crush hundreds of Core Formation cultivators into splinters. The difference in power was too overwhelming! Xie Qing thought for a moment. The trio was silent, lost in thought. "A Soul Nascent cultivator... I wonder if I can kill him?" Xie Qing thought but then shook his head. "No... it''s hard to go against a cultivator who has already formed a soul. The amount of Qi is too different; it''s likeparing ake and an ocean." In addition to the fact that a Soul Nascent cultivator had much more Qi, it was also much more powerful. There was also a difference in techniques, physical strength, and so on. "This is a serious obstacle," Xie Qing said, furrowing his brow. "Even if we can somehow manage to get you to the top, your brother is a brick wall." In such a serious game, Xie Qing and these two were still just beginners. The young man was not very familiar with tactics and cunning. Although these things were not very important for a cultivator when it came to politics, they were indispensable for the head of a family. "Haah..." Xie Qing could only sigh sadly. He nned to help Fang Lian so that she could be the head of the family without any problems and in the future so that she could help him, but... "Hm? Wait, if I be a Soul Nascent cultivator in half a year, won''t the problem be solved?" the young man thought. A strange smile then appeared on his face. *** The time of the war for the inheritance continued. During these days, Xie Qing was extremely busy, as was Xu Mei. Together, they trained, or rather, Xu Mei trained him. "Your stance has improved, that''s good. However, you sometimes use too much force," Xu Mei said, poking her fingers into his tense muscles. "Your physical strength is good, but you need to control it properly." "Huh? Oh, right... is it because I spanked you too hard yesterday?" Xie Qing said with a smile. "Cough, cough... y-you... shameless!" Xu Mei blushed with shame and snorted, angrily moving away from the young man who wasughing happily. For a week, Xu Mei spent every minute helping Xie Qing progress. This bore fruit - he had already broken through to the sixth stage of Core Formation and was on the verge of the seventh stage. "Thank you for your help, Master," Xie Qing said with a bright smile. "Hmph!" Xu Mei snorted and shook her head. The young man could only smile, and then using his movement technique, he was instantly next to her. Then his arms hugged her and pulled her close. Feeling the softness of her belly and the fragrant scent of her hair, the young man brought his lips to her cheek and gently kissed it. "Mm... you sly tterer," Xu Mei said, pouting her lips, but there was no trace of her previous annoyance. The young man only smiled, gently stroking his master''s belly. The woman did not object, but on the contrary, invited his hand to move a little lower. Feeling the young man''s fingers near her cave, which was under ayer of clothing and underwear, Xu Mei felt her body temperature rise. She looked at Xie Qing with enchanted eyes and stretched her lips forward, asking for a kiss. "Master..." Xie Qing did not refuse and gently kissed her on the lips. During the kiss, Xu Mei twisted her hips, clearly trying to stimte her lover''s arousal. And she seeded. After a few seconds, something hard poked her right in the butt, and Xu Mei blushed - both from embarrassment and from arousal. They were in the backyard, away from prying eyes. Their bodies were slightly sweaty from the bright sun, and their breathing became heavy. And now, Xu Mei, who was intertwining her tongue with Xie Qing''s tongue, excitedly snorted, feeling the young man''s erection in a dangerous ce. She hugged his hands, which were on her younger sister, and pushed them forward. Understanding the signal, the young man plunged his hands under herplex clothing. However, he had done this many times before and was already used to it. "Aah..." A soft, full of pleasure-moan escaped Xu Mei''s lips. She looked at him with sparkling eyes and stopped the kiss. "Silly disciple... aah..." she moaned, looking at him with her seductive and bright blue eyes. Feeling how her younger sister could not stand the caress of Xie Qing''s fingers, she bit her lip and clenched her hand on the young man''s hand, and finished. "Aaaaah!" The woman was ashamed of her loud moan, but her body was devoid of all strength, and she could only uncontrobly flow with love juices. Xie Qing''s fingers were soaked with her nectar, and he smiled, gently rubbing her wet cave and lightly pping it before beginning to undress Xu Mei. "W-wait... I..." Xu Mei hesitated a little. They were in a protected ce, but what if someone from the pavilion came and saw her? However, under the young man''s caresses, she soon forgot about all the problems in the world. Lying on her back on the grass, she looked at Xie Qing with tear-filled eyes. She was naked. Her eyes sparkled, and her hands reached out to him. "Come on..." she begged. Chapter 81: Xu Mei (R-18) Xie Qingy on the grass, admiring the unparalleled beauty of Xu Mei, who was naked. As he gazed upon her shapely figure, long legs, and delicate curves, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of desire. He leaned in to kiss her, his hands exploring her body, causing her to moan with pleasure. As Xie Qing''s fingers made contact with Xu Mei''s clitoris, she let out a gasp of excitement, her body trembling uncontrobly. Every touch, whether intentional or idental, filled her with lust. (From Xie Qing''s perspective) My tongue intertwined with Master''s, my right hand gently caressing her bud, making her moan into my mouth. Her skin was soft and warm, her eyes sparkling with tears of pleasure as she looked at me with excitement and love. I stopped kissing her and moved lower. Xu Mei didn''t understand at first, but as she felt a sudden surge of pleasure, she let out a loud moan. "AHHH! Xie Qing...~" My tongue made contact with her bud, and involuntarily, her hands grabbed my head, pressing it against her mound. Sliding my tongue along her clitoris, I stimted her sensitive spots, making her moan loudly. After just a few seconds, when my tongue touched her G-spot, Xu Mei couldn''t hold back and climaxed with a loud, sensual moan. Fluid gushed out of her bud, and I felt like I was in the rain. "Haa...haa..." As I pulled away from her and wiped my mouth, I could see how aroused she was. It seemed that even after climaxing, her desire hadn''t lessened at all. "Master... sweet Master" I called out to her. "Foolish... uhh... disciple... don''t make me... ah... wait!" Hearing her plea, and seeing the expression on her flushed face, I couldn''t help but smile. Soon, I entered her without hesitation. "AHHH! OH YES!" With a satisfied sigh, she cried out, encouraging me. Under her sensual moans, my hips moved actively, and I prated her in the missionary position. My head spun with excitement, and we locked eyes. It seemed as if her pupils had turned into hearts. My hands touched her aroused nipples, and I gently rubbed them. "Ah... ooh" Under my relentless attacks and all-around caresses that drove Xu Mei crazy, she could only moan. Saliva dripped from the corners of her mouth, and she covered her face with her hands, hiding her expression of arousal. "Master, why are you hiding your face?" I whispered, leaning forward and prating her deeper. I bit her earlobe and added, "I want to see your beautiful face...can I?" My gentle words, my tender caresses, made Xu Mei hesitate a little, and she reluctantly showed her face, revealing her tear-filled eyes and slightly disheveled hair. "You''re so beautiful, Master," I whispered, pressing my nose against hers and closing my eyes. "I love you so much." "Mmm..." The woman let out a soft, embarrassed moan, in which one could hear joy and embarrassment. Like an innocent spring flower, she blossomed in all her glory, her satisfied and embarrassed smile more beautiful than the sunset, brighter than the sun, and more beautiful than the moon. I felt as if I had a mortal fairy in my hands, descended from the heavens to give my life new meaning. Looking into her sparkling eyes, I found her G-spot and then began to "strike" continuously. In the end, she couldn''t take it anymore. "AHHH!" She began to tremble, and her vaginal walls clenched my dragon. I grimaced - such power could kill, but what surprised me the most was how passionately she tried to squeeze me out. Under such urging, I couldn''t hold back. In the end, I climaxed inside her. "AHHH!" Perhaps this was one of my most interesting experiences. *** (Back to third person) Under the bright sun, the night turned into day. One could see semi-transparent mystical creatures flying in the sky as if bringing dawn with them. The sun peeked out from behind the horizon, hiding behind the mountain range surrounding the Heavenly Sword Sect. In the blink of an eye, a month had passed. The Elder Xu Pavilion, always a mysterious and quiet ce, was now bustling with activity. "Congrattions on breaking through to the ninth stage of Core Formation!" a woman''s excited voice rang out, belonging to the sweet maidservant Yu Yang. Compared to her usual static and stern expression, she was excited today. Her cultivation level had reached the fifth stage of Core Formation. Xie Meiling was still at the first stage of Soul Nascent, while Xu Mei...well, there was no change in her. Today was March 1st. The girls were celebrating both Xie Qing''s breakthrough and his birthday. "You''re neen years old," thought Xie Meiling, feeling a little emotional. "You''ve grown into such a handsome and strong young man. I seem to be getting old..." In her eyes, the image of the happily smiling adult Xie Qing changed for a moment into that of a tiny child who couldn''t even take two steps. She felt a little sentimental. Xu Mei and Yu Yang, on the other hand, happily celebrated. The atmosphere was lively and festive. The master even brought out a few bottles of expensive wine from her collection - these were some of thest ones. She happily poured wine for Xie Qing, acting as a wife, and proudly snorted, feeling the envious gazes of the two women...wait, two? "Eh?" Xu Mei narrowed her eyes and looked at Xie Meiling, whose expressionless face had narrowed eyes that looked dangerous. "Why is she looking at me like that?" wondered Xu Mei, noticing Xie Meiling''s jealousy. "She doesn''t like her son being so close to women? Why?" Looking into Xie Meiling''s cold ck eyes, Xu Mei suddenly realized that her gaze was the same as hers when other women approached Xie Qing. "She..." Xu Mei was speechless, realizing something. She managed to control her emotions as a long-lived woman, and the party continued as usual. Xie Qing was very happy, feelingfortable surrounded by the important women in his life. They drank, ate, and chatted happily. For him, his birthday was nothing special, just another day. This was amon view among cultivators who distanced themselves from the daily life of mortals. For them, instead of celebrating, many chose to simply meditate and achieve new stages of cultivation. Xie Qing shared their view, but since Yu Yang insisted on celebrating and Xie Meiling supported the servant''s idea, the young man had no choice but to agree. Upon learning about the uing party, Xu Mei also offered to cover the alcohol expenses and brought the best wine. "Thank you, Master," he mumbled and smiled, seeing the girls arguing about something unimportant. One way or another, the days flew by unnoticed for him. A month was not enough for ordinary people to break through the cultivation stages. However, for him, a genius, it was as easy as taking candy from a baby. Thus, the peak of Core Formation was easily ovee. Since a solid foundation had beenid, there was no need to hold back anymore. "I think it''s time to take the Soul Seed Pill," thought Xie Qing. The Soul Seed is something that only appears during the breakthrough to Soul Nascent. It will bloom like a flower and eventually form a soul...or rather, manifest it. But some pills speed up this process. One of them is the Soul Seed Pill. It''s very valuable, very expensive. It can only be taken at the peak of Core Formation, but it allows one to immediately pass through the first stage mission, where one needs to form the Soul Seed. It''s extremely difficult to obtain, but Xu Mei easily obtained two, giving one to Xie Meiling and hiding one for Xie Qing. Tonight, after the party, Xie Qing and Xu Mei moved to the backyard, watched by Xie Meiling and Yu Yang. "You need to swallow the pill and then nourish it with your Qi, understand? It will move to your stomach and won''t dissolve until it''s touched by Qi," began Xu Mei with a stern expression. "You need to dissolve it within five minutes, or there will be serious damage." "Understood," nodded Xie Qing, then asked, "What should I do after dissolving it?" "The pill will do everything, but...for greater effect, still meditate and rx your mind," said Xu Mei, then took out a bottle with a single pill. Taking the bottle in his hand, Xie Qing looked at the pill. The pill was five centimeters in diameter and had a light blue color, and dark gray patterns. Opening the bottle, he swallowed the pill without hesitation and, ignoring Yu Yang''s gasping sounds, closed his eyes and followed Xu Mei''s advice. Very quickly, he found that the pill was already in his stomach. He directed his Qi there. As soon as the Qi touched the pill, which didn''t waver even under the influence of the cultivator''s much stronger metabolism, it began to dissolve. The gray patterns began to flow, seeping into the stomach walls, and the light blue coating soon changed to something gray. In the end, like ice cream on a hot day, it melted and seeped into the stomach walls. The next second, Xie Qing felt as if he was on fire. His limbs suddenly became heavy, and even moving his little finger was not easy. His body seemed paralyzed, sticking to the ground, and he couldn''t move. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. In his inner world, something light blue appeared in the alreadyrge golden core. It was a sphere resembling a peach seed. Soon, the Qi in the golden core began to flow toward the seed, nourishing it and allowing it to take on a more realistic appearance. Finally, after an hour during which Xie Qing''s physical body underwent a test of endurance, he got what he wanted - a soul seed. However, he couldn''t speak. His Qi was exhausted, and his mind was sinking into darkness. This was natural, as it took a lot of Qi to nourish the soul seed. And a Core Formation cultivator wasn''t quite up to the task. However, Xu Mei was by his side and helped him,ying him down on the grass. She wiped the sweat from his forehead and then took care of healing his internal injuries. After examining the young man''s body, she sighed in relief and turned to the two women who were concerned about Xie Qing''s condition. "He''s fine, he just passed out from Qi and mental exhaustion," reassured Xu Mei, then added, "Moreover, the soul seed has taken on the best possible form. I''m sure he''ll do well when he breaks through." Only after these words could the two women breathe a sigh of relief. Chapter 82: Traces of the devils Qi and... a f***ing scorpion?! Xie Qing opened his eyes and the first person he saw was Xu Mei smiling at him. "Master," he nodded and smiled, "I did it." "Well done!" Xu Meiughed loudly with a bright smile - she did not doubt for a moment that he would be able to form a soul seed, so she was not worried at all. But the two women who were worried about his physical condition were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. "Well done, my boy," praised Xie Meiling with a rare smile on her face. "You are truly talented, young master," said Yu Yang with her usual strictness, but with a hint of approval in her eyes behind her sses. Xie Qing crookedly smiled and nodded, epting their congrattions. He looked at his body and although there were no external changes, he felt that his six senses had sharpened to such an extent that he could even feel the exact direction of the wind and hear the pping of a fly''s wings. And although this was a bit unsettling, as he was not used to such acute hearing, sight, and the like, it gave him another bonus - an even stronger perception of Qi. "I can feel something dense and powerful floating in the air... is this Qi?" thought the young man. Although cultivators could feel Qi, it was more like something illusory, but now Xie Qing felt and sensed Qi as if it were real. *** For the next month, Xie Qing tried to achieve a breakthrough, but could not do it, as if something was blocking his way. No matter how hard he tried, there seemed to be a wall in front of him that would not let him go any further. Although Xie Qing had the thought of breaking through this wall, he could not do anything. So he turned to Xu Mei for advice. "What should I do?" he asked, looking at Xu Mei in her underwear, who had thrown her leg over the young man''s thigh. Stroking her slender legs, he asked, "I seem to have hit a wall and can''t go any further." His eyebrows furrowed and his eyes narrowed - he was angry, then disappointed. Xu Mei, noticing the spectrum of his emotions, shook her head. "This state happens to everyone, don''t worry. You will have to be stuck at this level for a while, at least until a variable appears," exined Xu Mei, approvingly moaning when Xie Qing''s hands touched her bud: "So... aah... just keep meditating or fighting on the battlefield to improve your skills." "Hm?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, sending Qi to his index finger. "Aah...!" Xu Mei moaned loudly and her back arched, her hands clinging to the sheets. Her younger sister flowed with love juice - she had finished from the pleasure brought by Xie Qing''s hands. The young man, on the other hand, wiped his hands andy back casually, continuing to stroke his master''s slender legs. He looked out the window, lost in thought. So the days passed. In the end, one day he decided to leave the sect, as sitting in one ce for too long had made him toozy. This time he was not alone - Xie Meiling was with him. "Are you sure you want toe with me?" asked Xie Qing, buying a few pills. He threw a puzzled look at his mother and added, "For your information, I am heading to the Western Continent, it will take a month to get there, taking into ount the formations." "No problem," Meiling replied expressionlessly, brushing her hair behind her ear: "In fact, when I was your age, I traveled carefree to all the continents and knew the locations by heart. So don''t worry." "As you say, traveler," added Xie Qing with a smile. "Hmph." Xie Meiling just snorted when she heard her son''s teasing and muttered something discontentedly. The young man did not pay attention to this and counted that he had taken enough things and after some walking, he left the city. In advance, he said goodbye to Xu Mei, Yu Yang, and Lian Xin. Although he did not want to leave them, time was pressing. Just two months, more or less. Reach the Soul Nascent level - now Xie Qing''s main goal. Just imagine - a family leader at such a level would be quite apetition. Moreover, this leader is a member of the Heavenly Sword Sect. "As soon as I break through to the Soul Nascent level, I will shake things up in the sect," thought Xie Qing. Few people knew of his existence at the moment. The outer court and a little of the inner court. From the main court, no more than ten people knew about him, most of whom were Fang Lan''s girlfriends. Reputation. He needed a reputation! *** Day one. "We are approaching the trading town of Jiafei, it is not very developed, rather in decline. But the taxes are sky-high," Meiling suddenly said, pinching her nose to block out the pungent smell of manure. "Hm..." Xie Qing surveyed the town and then said with a serious expression as if his life depended on it: "It smells like horse, bull, and human shit here. I''m going to die from this smell." "..." Xie Meiling rolled her eyes. The town was half-ruined, more like a poor vige. The cracked road and gloomy houses made of stone and sand. There were no more than ten people - Xie Qing saw no more, although he could feel the gazes directed at them from the windows. "Hm... a strange ce," muttered Xie Qing, furrowing his brow: "Even if it''s a damn poor town, the Dynasty wouldn''t have allowed such degradation. What the hell happened in the end?" They stood in front of the gates... or rather, what was left of the gates. The broken gatesy quietly, broken in two. The break mark was not from a sword and not even from a fist, as if time was to me. "Strange. Very strange," muttered Xie Qing, frowning, his sixth sense telling him something. But he could not understand what. "The gates are made of spiritual stone," Meiling suddenly said, poking her foot at the broken gates: "And they willst more than ten thousand years without being affected by time." "Hooo? What a wonderful material... maybe I could chip off a little?" muttered Xie Qing. "Useless, this special feature has already run its course, so the gates are broken forever," Meiling sharply dashed Xie Qing''s hopes, the woman smiled and rubbed the stone: "All that remains is to bitterly sigh at the loss of such a valuable resource. "Oh well..." Xie Qing shook his head. Then he also touched the gates and raised an eyebrow. "Hm? What kind of smell is this? It''s like the smell of blood and sewer stench..." The young man wrinkled his nose. The smell was disgusting and appeared only when he touched the gates, which made him wary. Moreover, there was something like Qi inside the gates, but much darker and more sinister. That''s what Xie Qing felt. Since he was not sure what he was dealing with, he asked Meiling about it, who immediately changed her expression. "Devilish cultivators! You felt devilish Qi!" Meiling whispered in shock, frowning and looking around. She immediately analyzed the town with her Qi and widened her eyes. "How could I not notice? There are traces of devilish Qi here..." "Oh..." Xie Qing sighed and pped himself on the forehead. Why was the first ce he visited after starting his journey a ce where there were traces of a bunch of annoying people? However, since the situation was serious, they had to stop for a while and search the entire vige. More than ten vital buildings were found that had "aged" and special spiritual stones with formation engravings. All of this was an important part of the city''s defense. And if they were not restored, the city''s residents could be in danger. "Although, who cares about the residents, the main thing is that the trail of devilish cultivators was noticed beyond the Southern Continent," the young man mused, furrowing his brow and muttering to himself: "The trail is not very fresh, by a rough estimate - two months or even more." "That''s right. And that means that the devilish cultivators were able to bypass the sight of Xu Mei and the others by using an unfamiliar method," said Meiling, rubbing her brows: "There are no more clues here. First, tell Xu Mei about this." "Understood." Xie Qing sighed, not wanting to get bogged down in this mess called "devilish cultivators". Everything rted to these guys was covered in ayer of horse and stinking shit. However, Xu Mei was considered one of the most responsible people, so he wanted to warn her. Moving aside and erecting a thin barrier of Qi that prevented the dialogue from being overheard, Xie Qing directed his Qi into themunication token. After five seconds, the call was picked up. "Xie Qing?" came Xu Mei''s happy voice. "Master, a small problem has arisen," said Xie Qing, even abandoning his usual flirtation: "We found traces of some unpleasant guys. These are devilish cultivators." "Hm?" Xu Mei, who was lyingzily on the bed and enjoying herzy state, suddenly sat up. "More details," she demanded in a strict tone. "All right." Xie Qing was a little surprised by Xu Mei''s serious and strict tone, but the matter required attention. He briefly told her what had happened. Xu Mei listened to all this in silence and when the young man finished his story, she began to swear with obvious irritation. "Bitches! Fucking assholes! Fucking Feng Gu, you bitch, what are you doing? I knew I couldn''t trust this musclehead!" Xie Qing smiled when he heard Xu Mei return to her natural character and shook his head. Allowing her to continue insulting the leader of the Resting Eagle, he carefully observed the residents, who at some point had disappeared from the streets and gathered in one ce. He turned his gaze to Xie Meiling and saw that she was also watching the residents. And while Xu Mei was cursing Feng Gu... Rumble! Rumble! "Hm?" Xie Qing furrowed his brow, feeling the ground give way beneath his feet. He quickly jumped to the side. "Gra-a-a-a-a!" A shrill roar sounded as changes appeared where Xie Qing was standing. A sharp, glowing-tipped spike burst from the ground, and then the road the young man was standing on began to crumble. Brushing off stones, earth, and the like from himself, a boss... or rather, a monster resembling a scorpion appeared from under the ground. "Oh fuck..." swore Xie Qing and said to Xu Mei: "Master, a fucking scorpion has appeared here! I''ll call you back!" Without listening to Xu Mei''s speech, the young man hung up and drew his Nameless Sword. He furrowed his brow and, jumping away from the endless blows of the scorpion''s stinger, ran back to Xie Meiling. "Mom, I''ll distract him and deal damage, and you use Qi techniques," said Xie Qing, getting into a stance. "All right!" Xie Meiling ran back and stretched her hands forward, gathering Qi. Her main style was Qi style, so she used ranged attacks. Meanwhile, Xie Qing narrowed his eyes and when he noticed the movement of the scorpion''s tail, he drew his sword from its scabbard at the moment when the stinger was one meter away from him. Then, urately calcting the location of the strike, he parried the scorpion''s stinger. "Oh... you''re so strong, bug!" he shouted in surprise, feeling a tremor run down his arm, and then puzzledly tilted his head: "No, wait, you''re more like a big arachnid? Uh, never mind..." Shaking his head, Xie Qing prepared to deliver a counterattack. Pouring all his strength into his hands, he sessfully pushed the stinger away from him and, using this moment when the scorpion was "unarmed," Xie Qing enveloped his de in Sword Aura. Then, dodging the w attacks that split the earth, the man made his way and, swinging his sword, struck the scorpion''s eyes. ng! "Fuck!" However, he was met with an unexpected obstacle - the tail, which managed to block the attack. And when the scorpion was already preparing to attack Xie Qing, suddenly the whole body of the scorpion was covered with semi-transparent chains. "Faster!" Meiling shouted at him. It was thanks to her help that the scorpion was immobilized. Xie Qing nodded and activated his Sword Aura to the fullest, and then plunged into the scorpion''s eyes. "And now... let''s pour in a little Qi!" he thought with a smile. The scorpion made an iprehensible sound - whether it was screaming or something else, it was too quiet and unclear. However, Xie Qing did not stop the flow of Qi for a second, and in the end, he caused a battle of three energies to rage inside the scorpion''s body. Moving aside, he heroically stood with his back to the swelling body of the scorpion, which finally exploded. ...of course, it was not safe, so Xie Qing and Xie Meiling activated protective items received even before setting off on their journey. But it was heroic! Chapter 83: Divine Peacock... pfft, what?! Setting aside all trivialities and jokes, it could be assumed that the scorpion was most likely a prepared trap. As soon as these two entered the city, the mysterious residents disappeared, and then a boss appeared... this was a conspiracy! "I''m not sure if it was aimed at us, more likely it''s just bad luck for someone," he thought, furrowing his brow: "If an ordinary Core Formation cultivator, even if he is at the ninth stage, were to encounter this, he would not be able to avoid death." The scorpion''s stinger was coated with a thick and denseyer of venom, so powerful that it could allegedly dissolve the highest quality armor. Moreover, its one-body defense could be an obstacle for cultivators whose attack power is at least not at the Soul Nascent level. This could be thest journey for many. And I don''t know how else to exin it, but the fact that Xie Qing was attacked by the scorpion was already a hidden blessing for other cultivators. "In other words, I''m a saint," Xie Qing thought, smiling unabashedly at his arrogance. However, beneath his confident exterior, sharp, cunning eyes caught the panicked city residents, from whom an unconcealed devilish Qi was already being felt. This meant that these idiots no longer wanted to hide - simply couldn''t, seeing the strength of their opponents. "Strange. Mom, how did the devilish cultivators manage to escape from the Southern Continent? The teleportation formations there are so strict that they can only be found in the territory of the Sect of the Resting Eagle," Xie Qing puzzledly tilted his head to the side and asked, then pped the ground: "Dao Technique - Earth Shake." Boom! Roar! Roar! The earth began to tremble, and the fleeing crowd fell to the ground. When some of them tried to escape, Xie Meiling simply waved her hand, and chains appeared that instantly restrained them. With a carefree gait, Xie Qing approached these guys and sat on his haunches, looking in surprise at one of them in the eyes. "Wow! Red, how dangerous... is this the consequence of using devilish Qi?" Xie Qing mused aloud, then smiled, patting the middle-aged man who angrily looked at him on the head: "Wow, what a dangerous look. Be careful, or I''ll gouge out your eyes." "...Why are you talking like a gangster now?" Xie Meiling shook her head. "Well, I thought it would look cool," Xie Qing casually replied. He got up from his haunches and kicked the man in the stomach. To be honest, Xie Qing was a little upset about their sudden attack. They ruined his wonderful mood, and the first day of their journey started with some crap! He was upset! However, nheless, it was even good - if you think about the safety of the world. It was possible to detect traces of devilish cultivators. "Hm... Master said she would deal with it, so I have no problem," Xie Qing casually said, cracking his neck and pointing his chin at the crowd of bound residents - they were the only ones left afloat: "What to do with them? Interrogate?" "Hm," Xie Meiling grunted and shook her head: "Their minds are washed, they are just ves without the ability to think beyond what the devilish cultivator has endowed them with. All these people are mortals without a single Qi." "Can. They. Be. Burned?" raising an eyebrow, Xie Qing said, and seeing his mother''s indifferent face, he sighed: "I don''t want to kill either, but you know that it''s impossible to remove the devilish Qi from them until someone with special Qi control power is with us. And there are no more than a hundred such people in the whole world." "I doubt they would agree to spend time on ordinary mortals," Xie Meiling shook her head, then said: "Kill them, but painlessly." "Understood." Xie Qing did not hesitate for a second, and in the next second, he put his hand on the scabbard, then slightly pulled it out, and a bright glow appeared. Like moonlight, it pierced the heads of the bound victims of the situation, and they died, not even realizing what had happened. They did not feel pain - their eyes were blinded by the silver glow of Xie Qing''s sword. In one blow. The Qi aura shattered their minds, finishing them off. This is a fairly gentle method because usually such mortals are simply burned. Waving her hand, Xie Meiling raised a fire, and soon the bodies turned to ashes. *** The second day they were passed without problems, as before. At sunset, Xu Mei contacted them, reporting that devilish cultivators had indeed been detected during the investigation. "It''s unthinkable. It''s as if I was pped in the face," sheined, looking at Xie Qing with puppy eyes: "Imagine, husband, that rude Zhang Mei even scolded me... but I''m not to me here!" "Hehe... it seems you said something wrong again, so they scolded you. Which is very likely," "Pf! What if I called her an old woman? She''s older than me if you think about it!" Xu Mei parried with puffed cheeks. Xie Qing just smiled piously, notmenting on it in any way. Although he wanted to tease Xu Mei, reminding her of her age, but... The first rule of the Fight Club... that is, the first rule of dealing with women - don''t ask their age. So... Xie Qing chooses [Silence]... it turned out to be effective! After they flirted a little, Xie Qing broke the connection and turned his gaze to his mother. "Hm, lovebirds..." Xie Meiling snorted, rolling her eyes. She was dressed in strict nightwear that did not reveal her skin - the fabric was not semi-transparent, like Xu Mei''s - closed and too ordinary. Although Xie Qing had already seen many ces on Xie Meiling''s body, the woman believed that she should not show her skin to her son... or rather, she was embarrassed. The young man did not insist. He knew that it would be ufortable for Xie Meiling, so he calmed his mind. They stopped in a small town located ten thousand li from the borders of the Eastern Continent. The Dynasty influenced most of the continents but ruled only two continents - Eastern and Western, partially also Northern. The rest were either under the control of sects or under the control of small kingdoms. No one touched them - and did not want to. Except for the Southern Continent, the other continents were not so profitable and tasty-looking for the dragon in the form of the Huanglun Dynasty. The Northern Continent - the homnd of Xie Qing, however, there were only a few dozen notable ces there, the rest of the ces were mostly wastnds, which in some months were painted white with snow. By the way, the Northern Continent was the only ce where snow has ever been seen. In other ces, it was warm all year round, like in spring. It is unknown what is associated with such an anomaly. ording to legends, two immortals fought together with each other, and then someone tragically died, in the end, he was a cultivator of yin energy, because of which everything was plunged into cold for centuries. Did Xie Qing believe in this? He treated it with skepticism. "Immortals? I don''t think I can believe the legends. As one wise man said, until your eyes see a naked female breast, you will never know its real size!" Of course, there was no such wise man. He made it up just now, and although one could be surprised at his perverted mind for about ten paragraphs. He needed to meditate. Sitting in the lotus position while Xie Meiling fell asleep, the young man meditated. Thin energy trails of Qi swayed around him, looking mysterious and powerful. Xie Qing himself breathed evenly and calmly, inspiring confidence in all who looked at him. A powerful aura emanated from him - this was most likely connected with his cultivation technique. Over time, his superior aura of the ultimate being began to take on a more distinct form, making it easier to intimidate enemies. "No..." Xie Qing muttered and opened his eyes, in which disappointment was read: "There is progress, but it is tiny, almost imperceptible." He was upset - this brought him a lot of suffering. The inability to break through to the next level was like chains binding him to the ground when his heart wanted to be in the Heavens. Moreover, his breakthrough directly decided the further fate of his ns... a n for a carefree life and bing the greatest cultivator with the greatest harem! Although it was a somewhat absurd dream, if he could bring it to life, then why not? Brushing the ends of his hair off his face, Xie Qing looked out the window - it was already deep night. Behind him, he heard the calm and even breathing of his mother, she had long been asleep. "Ah... I wonder if someone wille and kill me? I want to break through as soon as possible..." thought Xie Qing, raising a red g. From his research, one could learn that when a cultivator''s life is in mortal danger, his potential awakens. This was the easiest and at the same time the most dangerous method of breakthrough. However, it was used either by strongly desperate people or by madmen. Or those who were toozy to spend their time on careful meditation, which would take several years - Xie Qing also included himself in their number. And so, the next morning... The red g worked. *** Boom! Beyond the not-so-developed city, a loud explosion was heard. The city''s residents turned in that direction, frightened by the Qi emanating from there. Chaos began. At the same time, twelve people met a hundred miles from the city walls. Ten of them were bandits dressed in funny multi-colored outfits with swords, on the other side - Xie Meiling and Xie Qing. Someone from the crowd of colorful guys came forward, then threateningly raised his sword into the air, pointing the tip of the sword directly at Xie Qing, from whom no Qi was felt. "Boy, you''re new to these parts. You can''t leave here without paying the tribute, understand?" the bandit said threateningly with a menacing smile: "So that you understand, no one has escaped from the ws of the bandits of the ''Divine Peacock''... "Pff..." "...yet. Hey, why are youughing?!" The bandit looked angrily at Xie Qing, who didn''t even try to hide hisughter. With a smile on his face that only added +5% to his beauty, he wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and smiled. "Sorry, you can continue," the young man replied with an obvious carefree tone. "You... guys, attack him!" The nine colorfully dressed guys standing behind the bandit drew their swords, making a metallic sound. They looked threateningly at Xie Qing, and at Xie Meiling - with lust. "Hmph!" No matter how thick-skinned Xie Qing was, he definitely would not tolerate such disrespect to his mother. He drew his sword and narrowed his eyes. "The strongest - the one who represented their gang, a cultivator at the third stage of Core Formation, the rest are at Foundation Building. A bunch of trash." He contemptuously snorted and put back his sword, considering it rude to smear the de with the blood of various riffraff. Seeing such a movement, of course, the bandits were provoked. How else? They were not taken seriously. So, as if performing in a choir, they simultaneously shouted: "You''re done for!" Chapter 84: Cultivator tent... Wait, suitable for an orgy? Additional chapter for the magic castle. 2/10 Enjoy reading! === Looking at how ten muscr men, dressed in ridiculous outfits, were running towards him headfirst, Xie Qing wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Scum." He stretched out his hands in front of him. Xie Qing had recently learned a Dao technique that did not require proximity. "Blood Snake Vortex," he whispered, curling his lips in distaste. "What a stupid name..." In the next second, half of his Qi reserves were depleted, and a cloud of Qi flew out of his hand, quickly turning into a vortex. "AAAAAA!" If one were to listen closely... ah! What a beautiful and melodic singing! "Ugh... so much blood..." Xie Qing grimaced at the sight - the vortex had shredded the bodies of the bandits, sparing no flesh. In the end, after five minutes, all that remained of the group of active bandits were bones with small pieces of meat. Here is what the technique card looked like: [Blood Snake Vortex] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: A Dao technique that allows you to create a vortex with Qi that will shred the bodies of enemies, turning them into mush. Consumes half of Qi, but the spectacle is epic... don''t forget the salt!] "I got this when I kindly asked a fellow Daoist to lend me his techniques. Who would have thought I''d find gold?" Xie Qing thought with a smile. On the way, he did not forget to rob the arrogant cultivators. He suppressed his Qi, as did Xie Meiling. From the outside, they looked like a couple of mortals traveling across the continent. Therefore, for the not-so-smart and observant guys, they became a tasty morsel. Of course, they were attacked - not once or twice. Xie Qing easily defeated each of them. "I''ve made a little progress in this feeling," he thought with a smile: "That''s why I''m walking around like this, to look carefree." Defenseless, unarmed, at first nce, a mortal. And also handsome. "Damn handsome," Xie Qing tried to parry, but we won''t listen to his opinion. The ve traders, seeing a carefree handsome man, considered this their absolute victory. And this became their fatal mistake. Now they are buried under the ground, and Xie Qing is still walking around. Just like that. Surveying the skeletons of the bandits, Xie Qing shook his head. There were no spatial items with them from the beginning - apparently, they specifically came without them just in case. So the only thing Xie Qing got was just bare bones. However, he did not have such a strange fetish of collecting the corpses of his enemies. Therefore, he simply crushed the skeletons and went on. After two hours, they entered a dense forest. "Wow, the air is so clean here!" Xie Meiling was genuinely surprised and took a deep breath. "Moreover, it smells pleasant and fresh. How unusual." "Really? But I feel the smell of shit..." Xie Qing wrinkled his nose and said. "..." Xie Meiling rolled her eyes and only slightly giggled at Xie Qing''s stupid joke. Although he was not joking - because of his heightened charm, he clearly felt this pungent smell. Soon they found a ce to wait out the night - it was not necessary for cultivators, but Xie Qing preferred to travel during the day, so it was easy to orientate and also to admire the beauties of the world. Then, finding a suitable ce that was not in an open space and was hidden by the natural generation of the world. "Is this it?" Xie Qing asked, taking out a tent resembling a toy from the spatial ring. "Yes, it was expensive, 650 Spiritual Stones," Xie Meiling replied, raising an eyebrow. "Although I am used to such figures, I dare to assume that even for me it would be a little expensive." "Fuck it, in principle. I don''t have a severeck of money at the moment," Xie Qing replied, shrugging. From the sale of Zhang Mei''s bracelet, he earned a million spiritual stones. This was enough to live a hundred years without problems, so he spent money on useful things. He bought this item from the system store but told Xie Meiling that it was from the market. She believed without question. Setting up the tent on the ground, it grew to the size of an ordinary tent. And then, entering inside, they saw that the space was noticeablyrger than in the outside world. "Oh... the size of the inner space is 800 square meters," Xie Meiling was surprised and then added: "I take back my words. This is too cheap for such an item with such space. Moreover, there is furniture here!" Indeed. The inside was equipped with all conveniences, divided into rooms, and looked more like the inner space of a mansion. There were many rooms, warehouses, a kitchen, and so on. More than a hundred people could fitfortably. This item bore a rather modest name - Cultivator''s Tent, although Xie Qing expected the following options: Immortal Phoenix Tent under the Crescent Moon... or Heavenly Dragon Tent, looking down on the mortal world. And the item card looked like this: [Cultivator''s Tent] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: Cultivator''s tent. Lots of space, lots of luxury. Suitable for an orgy] "The description is absurd. Keep it up, system!" Xie Qing thought, raising an eyebrow. One way or another, he first dealt with protective formations - there were many of them. He set up a concealment formation, barrier formation, sound absorption, and so on. Anyone who approaches the tent will be deceived by the illusion and think that they have wandered off and left. That was a wonderful property. "Well, I''m done with everything," Xie Qing thought and then looked out the window... yes, there were windows. It was dark outside, the stars were twinkling, and the bright moon was hidden behind the clouds. "Hm. There''s something magical about being away from home and spending the night in a cozy ce," Xie Qing thought and smiled: "Cozy andfortable!" Xie Meiling had already prepared a modest dinner by that time - spiritual tea with strawberry-filled pastries. "Thank you," Xie Qing thanked her, and then bit into a bun and licked his lips in pleasure: "Finally, some good fucking food!" "Language," Xie Meiling scolded him, but there was a satisfied smile on her face: "Eat slowly, the food won''t run away from you." "That''s for sure, ma''am!" *** Third day. "Do you even know who I am? I am the young master of the-" "Not interested!" "GHA!" Xie Qing looked with boredom at the expensively dressed cultivator, whom his servants were helping to get up - there was only boredom and annoyance on the young man''s face. After they left the forest, fifty miles away was a city, quiterge and worth stopping there for some time. Xie Meiling and he were sitting in a restaurant, quite expensive, when suddenly this conceited turkey came and tried to flirt with Xie Meiling. And what about Xie Qing? He''s a simple man. Sees a target - hits the red target, which was the nose of the young master, nobly lying on the ground among the dirt. "You''d better restrain yourself, scumbag. You''re a fucking nothing, but your speech is so pompous that my ears are ringing," he said without restraint. Xie Qing was inflicting emotional damage on the young master lying on the ground and even digging in his ears. "Y-you..." Although the guards wanted to stand up to Xie Qing, otherwise they would be scolded for uselessness, they could not - their legs were shaking with fear. Because Xie Qing was a cultivator who wasparable to the first stage of the Soul Nascent. Who couldpare with him in this backwater? Few. "I''ll remember this!" the young master cried arrogantly, as they dragged him away like a sack of potatoes. "Ha ha! Next time I''ll break your balls, bastard!" Xie Qing shouted in response, and the sudden noise from the conceited turkey subsided. Xie Meiling watched all this, and she lost her speech at how dirty her son''snguage was. However, she did not have to go far - she immediately understood where he had picked up the dirtynguage from. "Xu Mei..." Xie Meiling helplessly hit her forehead. Although this woman was amazing and had good qualities, but her mouth was poisonous and dirty, almost uncultured. This was passed on to her son. Xie Meiling felt the same as those mothers who raised their sons and made them decent people, and he joined a gang of bandits. Nevertheless, she was touched. With her strength in the past, she dealt with such situations herself, but it was pleasant to her that someone stood up for her. Especially if it was her son. She felt proud to have raised a real man. Very soon they returned to the restaurant and continued to spend time together. Did that young master try to bother them? The answer is no. He was afraid for his life, which is not surprising - Xie Qing''s power surpassed what this small town could allow. "Hm?" On the contrary, in the evening, expensively dressed beautiful maidservants came to him with tribute - these were heavy chests. "Sir, this is a gift from the city lord as an apology for the rudeness of his son!" one of them said and blushed, helplessly looking into Xie Qing''s boundless and deep eyes. "Khm-khm!" However, her cough from Xie Meiling brought her to her senses, and the young woman, blushing, disappeared down the hotel corridors. Xie Qing twisted the corners of his mouth, looking at his mother. "Mom, if you''re jealous, just tell me, and I''ll hug you until you forget about it." "Eh? I''m not jealous, not at all!" Xie Meiling was human enough to blush and look away, but thinking a little, she whispered in his ear: "Massage me tonight, okay?" "No problem." Xie Qing casually covered his blushing ears - they were his weak spot, so even though he didn''t show any reaction, it was too powerful an attack. "Ha ha ha..." Xie Meilingughed heartily when she saw that her prank had seeded. Then, turning around, she entered her room. Seeing this, Xie Qing could only shake his head. For a while, they changed ces, because usually, it was he who teased the girls. "But this is not bad either!" he thought. *** As promised, he came to his mother''s room at night, who was already lying on her stomach, exposing her slender back. She hadpletely bared her torso and as soon as she turned around, Xie Qing could see her two beautiful arguments. "I brought massage oil, the reviews are good, they say the product helps even cultivators rx," Xie Qing said, entering the room with the oil. He opened the lid, and a pleasant floral scent filled the room. "And it also makes the skin healthy and soft, allowing you to stay young." "What a wonderful product!" Of course, Xie Meiling was excited - she was a woman who took care of her beauty and considered it her pride. In this, they were simr to Xie Qing. And the oil? He just bought it from the store, it cost only 5 Spiritual Stones. It really did help to rejuvenate the skin, and make it young and soft. Such miracles! Xie Qing''s fingers sank into Xie Meiling''s soft skin, and she approvingly moaned, feeling the gentle coolness of the ointment and a sensation of lightness on her back. Xie Qing was diligent - he applied the ointment carefully and without stinginess. He carefully rubbed every part of Xie Meiling''s back. Eventually, he reached her armpits, and then the area a little lower. He felt the softness of her breasts from the side and did not focus his attention on this area. Chapter 85: Do you want to die? "Ah... what a wonderful remedy!" Xie Meiling eximed in surprise, pleasantly surprised: "I feel so rxed as if I finally got a good night''s sleep." "Of course," Xie Qing replied, sniffing haughtily: "This young master''s hands have the ability to bring beauties to... um... oh, right! They can rxdies!" "Heh... that''s for sure," Xie Meiling said with a pleased sigh. Xie Qing, meanwhile, crookedly smiled. He had almost said "orgasm," but managed to correct himself in time. Either way, Xie Meiling paid no attention and moaned carefree, her body rxing under his hands. Although hearing his mother''s moans was something that Xie Qing found a little strange, he was still a professional masseur! And as the saying goes, a masseur should not ogle his client! "What a professional I am!" Xie Qing thought, mistakenly believing that we could not see how he nced at Xie Meiling''s protruding breasts. Ignoring this pervert''s self-satisfied behavior, it could not be denied that his hands were indeed miraculous. Soon, Xie Meilingpletely rxed from her tense state and eventually fell asleep. The young man, looking at his mother''s exposed back, shook his head. He covered her with a nket and left the room. *** The fourth day began spontaneously - Xie Qing woke up to the noise and when his Qi scanned the surroundings, he noticed traces of several cultivators. "Interesting... they are all at the peak of Foundation Building," the young man marveled and then sneered: "Idiots. It seems that this young master cannote to terms with the fact that I beat him up." Xie Meiling was still asleep - she looked rxed, not feeling the presence of danger at all, which was not untrue. For her, these idiots wereparable to ants. Therefore, Xie Qing decided to do everything quickly and without unnecessary screams. Although, he still wanted to have a little fun. Leaving the room, he pretended not to notice these cultivators, who were apparently confident in their disguise and suspected nothing. As soon as Xie Qing left the building, five people followed him. They merged with the crowd, but the young man had long ago recorded their Qi mark, so he easily trailed them. They were five men - each of them concealed their aura and was dressed as a simple worker. They followed as if they were simply going to work, even splitting up into groups and pretending to discuss something important. Xie Qing did not rush to expose them - why to interfere with the actor''s performance in the theater? Besides, simply killing them would be boring. "Let''s stir up some trouble!" Xie Qing thought with a disgustingly malicious grin, disying his sadism. ...one of his not-so-good character traits was that he was also a proud and arrogant man, and when encountering enemies, he was ruthless. Which, of course, was partly very good. Either way, Xie Qing was an actor worthy of a golden statuette. He acted as if he were inspecting the city''s sights. The cultivators following him also began to show impatience - they could not find a chance to kill Xie Qing, as he deliberately went to public ces where there were many crowds. Sometimes the assassins even lost sight of him, and found him two miles away, eating something from a stall. Some even had veins bulging on their foreheads - the group''s irritation reached its limit. "Damn! This bastard is walking such routes that it will be difficult to kill him!" one of themined, wrinkling his nose: "We need to lure him out of the city, otherwise the city lord will find out about it and punish the young master." "How will you get him out of the city, you idiot?!" someone angrily hissed in response and pointed to Xie Qing with his chin: "He is a Core Formation cultivator who single-handedly defeated the strongest bandits in the area, depriving the young master of ie. We need to use the element of surprise!" "Ha, my ass is surprising! Even with a spiritual concealment item, he will detect us and then we will die like dogs in the cold!" The group included smart people. Initially, at the hotel, they nned to start the attack, but as if on purpose, today important figures with guards had gathered there. There was a n to lead him to a remote part of the city, but it also failed - Xie Qing behaved arrogantly and only looked disdainfully at the ttering assassin in disguise. In the end, they were forced to watch as a crowd of beautiful and not-so-beautiful girls gathered around this guy, who happily giggled and squealed when he told stories and jokes. "I envy." "I envy!" "Damn, I envy!" "Hehe, but I have a wife..." "Drop dead!" Well, these assassins sincerely cursed Xie Qing andined about their fate for such bad luck. Such scenes were repeated not once or twice, Xie Qing seemed to deliberately tease them. In the end, this drove some people out of their minds and they barely restrained themselves from anger. *** "D-damn... I''m already tired..." One of the assassins sat tiredly on a stone and wiped the sweat from his brow. They had been running all over the city after Xie Qing, trying to find a convenient moment, but this guy seemed to be deliberately going to ces where there were more people. Moreover, as if mocking them, he lived a full life with beauties and flirted with them! However, at one point, the assassins lost sight of him. Afterbing through the entire city, they found no trace of the young man. "We''re done for if we don''t find him..." said one of the assassins and narrowed his eyes, looking towards the gate, noticing someone there: "Oh! Guys, he''s leaving the city!" "What?" They immediately jumped up and smiled, watching as Xie Qing left the city under the respectful gaze of the guards. The guards knew this young man by reputation. They say that he single-handedly destroyed the surrounding gangs of bandits, saved the captured people and returned them to their families, and also distributed wealth to the poor. He was called "Noble Xie Qing" for his actions, and many respected him for it. Moreover, he himself was a strong cultivator, so the guard did not want to offend him in any way. During this time, the young man gained a reputation as a noble and honest man. However, in fact, he destroyed the bandits because he was bored. And the wealth of these guys was so meager that they didn''t even qualify as change. Therefore, Xie Qing decided to give it to the poor, one way or another, and let this money make someone''s life better. *** And so, the moment X! Xie Qing casually strolled across the dried-upnd, which is what the territory looked like ten miles from the city walls. Here it was dry due to prolonged battles and soil pollution. Therefore, the ce was unsuitable for life and devoid of any beauty. "It''s a pity. Gardens could have been built here and the like," Xie Qing thought, shaking his head: "They say it was on this very spot that a great battle took ce between two powerful cultivators." Well, legends were wonderful, they could be talked about for a long time, but there was another problem. Boom! A swift sound of an explosion headed toward Xie Qing. The young man casually turned his head towards the sound and tiredly, as if in protest,zily raised his left hand. Jin! The sound of something metallic touching each other was heard. It was Xie Qing''s de and the enemy''s de. "Hm, a strange way to distract attention, to be honest," Xie Qing said somewhat annoyedly,zily turning towards the enemy, who was dressed as a builder: "A Foundation Building cultivator, fourth stage. Do you want to die?" "Tsk..." The cultivator clicked his tongue and looked in horror at his hand. He had broken his wrist due to the overly strong recoil caused by Xie Qing''s counterattack. It was difficult for him to hold the sword in his hand, let alone fight. Therefore, the rest had already begun their series of attacks. Xie Qing was hit with four threatening attacks - either a powerful stream of Qi or illusory sword attacks. However, instead of blocking everything at once, or attack after attack, Xie Qing stood still. "Idiot!" "Your arrogance will lead you to the grave!" The assassins sneered maliciously when they saw that they were underestimated - in such a situation, this was good news for them. And so... Boom! "AAAAAAA!" A loud human scream was heard, screaming in pain. The assassins sneered maliciously and began tough, holding their stomachs. "Hahaha! Idiot! Did you think we were attacking you with ordinary attacks? Try the power of spiritual items on for size!" "Pfff! Seriously, what an arrogant guy... thinks that bing a Core Formation cultivator means he''s on top of the world?" a jealous voice was heard from the side. "Agreed. Does he think he can withstand the attack of so many cultivators with his strength?" a deep and handsome male voice was heard from the side. "Haha, yeah, right... eh?" The assassins turned around in confusion when they heard a new and unfamiliar voice and then froze in shock. Two of the assassins rolled their eyes, losing consciousness. And Xie Qing casually smiled. "What? I thought you agreed that yourrade was too arrogant, taking on the attack of so many cultivators." And as if a mechanism that had not been oiled, their heads turned to the ce of impact, where the dust was already settling and revealed a mutted corpse of theirrade there. "Damn..." one of them cursed. Then, a whistle was heard, as if something had pierced the air. A silver glow appeared and two perfectly severed heads rose into the air. There was no blood, the strike was so sudden that the blood did not have time to gush out. In thest moment, two assassins were engulfed in furious mes, and they disappeared, dying forever. And Xie Qing stood casually and poured potion over the two assassins who had lost consciousness. "AAA! It burns, it burns!" "It hurts!" They began to scream and try to get up, but Xie Qing ruthlessly stood on their stomachs, as if standing on two trucks like a movie hero and then casually poured acid on their faces, which prated through the pores of the skin and helped them get rid of life. "Bye-bye~" Xie Qing bid farewell to them, looking into their bloodshot eyes, which had already lost their shine of life. He threw the empty bottle to the ground, and it broke, and the shards flew into the faces of the two corpses. Surveying the mess caused by this battle, Xie Qing shook his head. "Why can''t some people live a day without any adventures?" he thought, and then turned his gaze towards the city - his eyes cooled: "Well, I guess being good isn''t for me. It''s time to finish off some arrogant rat." *** The young master who sent the assassins was called... well, I won''t burden you with unnecessary information, let''s call him Mr. Turkey. So, Mr. Turkey was pacing around his room, he was very nervous. His hands clenched into a fist, he was sweating profusely. "Damn! If only they killed that bastard!" he thought. Mr. Turkey was an arrogant man with an extremely unpleasant character and a shitty reputation. Everyone behind his back called him Turkey because of his long nose that reached his lips. His pride would not allow him to forgive Xie Qing''s actions. Mr. Turkey considered himself a great man, he was the son of the city lord and thought that no one in the entire cultivation world would dare touch him! Hm, obviously, he had certain problems with his brain. However, the city lord loved his only son too much, so he let everything slide. Chapter 86: Lazy Xie Meiling! Additional chapter for the magic castle. 3/10 Enjoy your reading! === Mr. Turkey spent his day watching to see if his subordinates had returned or not. As evening approached, there was still no news. "Strange. They should have killed him by now. It''s not a problem with spiritual items," Mr. Turkey thought, furrowing his brow in confusion. At that moment, someone knocked on his door. Knock-knock-knock. The knock was quiet, Mr. Turkey raised an eyebrow and opened the door. "It''s you!" he cried out happily, seeing the assassin captain in the doorway. "Young master," the assassin nodded respectfully in greeting, and then said, "The task isplete... should I show you his head?" "Hahaha, well done, good job!" Mr. Turkey rejoiced and looked around, then asked the captain toe inside. Then, excitedly, Mr. Turkey took a bag in his hand and opened it. BOOM! A loud explosion sounded, and a blinding sh flew out of the bag. "Aaaa! My eyes!" Mr. Turkey fell to the ground, clutching his eyes, which were bleeding. The assassin captain watched all this coldly, not changing his expression. "Did you like my gift, young master?" the captain asked, and cruelly smiled: "Enjoy." Fifteen minutester, a group of guards rushed in at the screams and broke down the door to the young master''s bedroom. "Heavens!" They opened their eyes in shock, seeing that the prince''s body had been dismembered, and the following words were written in blood: [The Bai family does not forget insults] *** Fifth day The next day, Xie Qing and Xie Meiling left the city with a smile. "Son. Last night, the city lord''s son was brutally murdered. They say it was the Bai family," Xie Meiling said when they had moved five miles from the city gates. She narrowed her eyes and looked at his back: "Do you think so too?" "Oh? Yes, the Bai family is indeed cruel. I shuddered at the thought that they would punish a poor and foolish young man so harshly! I cried all the tears when I heard about it," Xie Qing said in a gloomy tone, wiping away non-existent tears with a handkerchief: "Oh, what a misfortune!" "Yes..." Xie Meiling rolled her eyes, not believing this story for a second. She was not stupid ¨C when Xie Qing returned to the hotel, he emanated dangerous energy and a faint smell of blood. Although he washed it off, it was toote, and his actions were noticed by Xie Meiling. She did not attach importance to it then. But this morning, the news of Mr. Turkey''s death spread throughout the city. Many residents considered it a blessing from the heavens but pretended to be bitter. It is said that the city lord almost lost himself in anger, but fearing the power of the Bai family, he remained silent. *** Twenty-first day. After Xie Qing generously distributed 100,000 Huang to the poor, he received this amount by destroying several more gangs. Finally, they reached the only working teleportation formation that allowed them to travel to the next continent. It was a fortress city built in the desert. Here lived many different poisonous monsters, and the level of death was high. The air was polluted, and the city was inhabited only by cruel and strict cultivators who were former military of the Dynasty. "So, one of you is a disciple of the Sect of Heavenly Sword, and you are hispanion," said the city guard chief, looking at these two in the eyes, and then returned the disciple token to Xie Qing: "Traveling to the continent is not the cheapest pleasure. Do you have money?" "Of course." Xie Qing nodded at such a strange question. If he came here, he had money. However, the chief exined. "Some cultivators think that it will be free for them, and I am already tired of exining that the maintenance of the formation costs a lot of money." Teleportation cost 1000 Spiritual Stones, as the distance covered was a full six thousand miles. Either way, with the avability of money, they easily moved, although this time the teleportation took more than twenty minutes. Leaving the formation, they sat down a little on the benches that stood nearby and rested. "My head is spinning," Xie Qing sighed. "Ugh... I''ll never get used to this," Xie Meiling muttered. Teleportation made them feel dizzy and nauseous as if they had seasickness. This was a natural reaction, so none of the passers-byughed at them. On the contrary, many people were surprised at how calmly they took it. Because usually people either vomited or lost consciousness. *** They arrived on the Western Continent earlier than expected. Settling into a hotel, Xie Qing bought a map of the Western Continent. It was slightly smaller in size than the Eastern Continent, but in terms of nature, it was much more developed. Everything here was clean, the air was pleasant and fresh. At night, a view of bright stars appeared, greeting travelers and leading them on the road to immortality. Xie Meiling sat on the bed and looked at Xie Qing''s back, who leaned against the window and looked at the sky. She was a little charmed by his expression, which was deep and inexpressive. When the young man stopped behaving frivolously, he acquired an extraordinarily beautiful appearance. He exuded a strong charm. Xie Meiling, even if she was used to the beauty of her son, who surpassed her, could not help but be charmed by his beautiful ck eyes, which resembled the night sky. Her eyes became tender. Seeing her adult son, who protected her so that she did not have to make any effort, she felt pride and love. Perhaps, in this world, except for Yu Yang, she loved her arrogant but confident son the most. Without realizing it, her emotions from the usual motherly love for her son turned into something else. The feeling of protection that the young man gave her was enough to touch her heart. Her hands reached out, she hugged her son, and pressed against his tall and strong back. Standing behind his back, she felt protected, as if she held a tower shield in front of her. "Hm?" The young man was a little surprised by Xie Meiling''s embrace, but he only smiled and said nothing, only gently stroking her soft hands that hugged his waist. *** Xie Qing did not sleep all night, spent in thoughts and reflections, and then meditated. Thanks to his physique, he looked just as lively, not showing any sign of weakness or fatigue. Stars shone in his eyes ¨C he observed the lively picture of the city, the name of which was too long for Xie Qing to remember. On the bustling street, there were many people, here on both sides of the long street were located trading stalls, in which local food was sold. Mostly, these were either unusual wheat products, which here were called pasta, or meat. Xie Qing, together with Xie Meiling, tried all this and could make a verdict that the Western Continent was indeed rich in cuisine. "Delicious!" he thought, biting into a steak. He liked the meat, cooked on the fire with spicy spices and sauce. This was a satisfying and unusual food because, on the Eastern Continent, seaweed dishes and mainly vegetables and fruits were popr. Xie Meiling, on the other hand, was not surprised at all ¨C she had visited all the continents in her life and was familiar with the local cuisine. However, even this experienced woman was pleased with the diverse taste of the food. Of course, it was not only worth paying attention to the food. They were looking for books and something interesting, mainly the whim of Xie Qing looking for something new for research. In the end, such a walk did notst long ¨C they left closer to the evening and set off for the next city. The road took them a week ¨C it''s no wonder because, on the Western Continent, teleportation formations are located only in thergest cities. The city of Weijian ¨C a ce of concentration of one of thergest trading ces. However, Xie Qing did not stay there for longer than three hours, and with the help of the teleportation formation, he went to the next city. "It can be said that half the road has been traveled," Xie Qing thought, tilting his head to the side: "My goal was to gain experience and get closer to the Sect of Nine Pills, to try my luck and find pills that will help me in the future." Of course, he could ask Xu Mei for this, and he would not be ashamed, but... Xie Qing wanted to gain experience, go a long way, and finally join society, to create a reputation for himself. So far, he has been a disciple of the Sect of Heavenly Sword, which was also an honorable title, but for him, it was more important that his affiliation with the sect was mentionedst. He had already been given the nickname of the benefactor, moreover, his strength was known in the eastern part of the Eastern Continent. Considering that the eastern part of the continent was rtively sparsely popted, this was not something to boast about. But the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. *** The Western Continent did not differ much in climate and it was warm, like spring, sometimes there were rains... like now. Xie Qingy on the bed inside the tent, in his handsy Xie Meiling softly hummed. "Lately she''s been sozy," the young man thought and smiled. Recently, Xie Meiling''s favorite pastime has been sleeping on Xie Qing''s chest. I don''t know how else to describe it, but for her, this also became a method of increasing her strength. "Judging by her words, she is making great strides when I am next to her," Xie Qing thought, recalling her words ¨C he was puzzled: "How does it work? Have I be a battery?" One of the assumptions he made was that due to the impossibility of a breakthrough in connection with the wall, Qi sometimes flowed out. But the chance of this was small, so Xie Qing thought that it was because of his aura, which calmed her. Either way, he was d, as long as it brought benefits. Looking out the window, Xie Qing watched the rain. They settled far from the cities, in the thicket of the forest, through the dense trees, drops of rain fell. It was two o''clock in the afternoon. At some point, the rain intensified. "Mm..." From the side of Xie Meiling, a muffled moan was heard. She raised her head and sleepily looked out the window. "Rain?" "Yes," Xie Qing nodded and kissed her on the crown of her head, stroking her hair: "Good morning... or rather, good afternoon, heh." "Yeah..." Xie Meiling sleepily nodded andfortably settled on Xie Qing''s chest, pressing her head against his chin: "Uaah..." She softly yawned, and it sounded very cute. When she heard Xie Qing''sughter, the sleepiness began to fade from her eyes, and she blushed a little. "Cough..." The woman left his embrace with a red face, and then changed the subject: "Have you eaten?" "No," Xie Qing answered, continuing to smile: "Although, I am already full, seeing the cute behavior of my mother." "Ugh... forget about it..." Xie Meiling blushed with shame, covering her eyes. She shook her head from side to side, and then looked at the young man: "What are your ns for today?" "Laze around in bed with my mom," Xie Qing answered casually. "Heh..." Xie Meiling fake smiled and shook her head. Sometimes it seemed to her that this guy was mocking her. But it can''t be said that she was not happy. Thest month for her was like a miracle, she felt younger than her years and could lie in bed carefree, and not work in the sweat of her brow until she lost consciousness. At some point, she realized that her emotions were not as pure as one might think at first nce. Chapter 87: Damn capitalism! Xie Meiling''s shining ck eyes gazed into Xie Qing''s confident face, who casually smiled, holding her hand. At some point, her gaze on her son differed from ordinary motherly love. However, Xie Meiling still did not realize this, brushing it off as ordinary motherly love. Perhaps deep down in her mind, the thought stood, but she deliberately ignored it to avoid breaking the current rtionships and creating unnecessary awkwardness. Moreover, her main barrier was taboo. Incest was condemned among the aristocracy, although cultivators saw it as normal, as it even allowed the preservation of blood purity in some ces. Among mortals, incest could lead to mutations or diseases, as well as weakness, but cultivators were different and more resilient. Therefore, they did not have such problems. Xie Meiling was lost in thought. While Xie Qing was spending his time traveling in the Western Continent, a cold war broke out on the Northern Continent. The Xie family was being suppressed from all sides by enemies who wanted to eliminate thepetition and thus create advantageous positions for themselves and make more money. However, the Xie family gained a patron at some point, a mysterious group of people led by a cultivator at the peak of Core Formation who was able to silence the dissatisfied rich who had failed. Since then, although the pressure on the Xie family continued, they were able to take a breather and not worry about their safety, at least temporarily. Meanwhile, an arena was being prepared forpetitions and family heirs were being summoned. At one point, Xie Hui even thought that he could use the situation to his advantage, but... "No," came a rough elderly voice. "What?" Xie Hui sat at a round table with several other elders, including the chief elder, who responded to the man''s proposal. "Why, Chief Elder? I think it is quite logical to temporarily transfer control of the family to me, as no one else is better suited in the current situation," said Xie Hui, adding, "We also need to postpone the inheritancepetition because of the family''s unstable situation!" "Again, young master, the answer is just one word - ''no,'' do you understand?" replied the chief elder, looking indifferently at Xie Hui and exining, seeing the man''s dissatisfaction: "If you are interested, the answer to the question is simple - we do not want to change traditions." "Chief Elder, the situation is different from what it was until recently! This is a matter of preserving the status of the Xie family!" retorted Xie Hui. "I understand and fully realize all this. However, I have sworn to uphold the family''s traditions, and we have no right to vite them," the elder firmly disagreed: "This is my final decision, as well as the decision of the elders. And for now, I ask you to leave us." "You..." Xie Hui was angry and unhappy with the situation. He gritted his teeth and snorted, getting up from his seat and knocking over the chair he was sitting on. The elders watched him leave, and when he left the room, they just sighed and shook their heads. It was clear to them that Xie Hui was trying to take control of the family, but even if the elders supported him, they had sworn before the Heavens to uphold the family''s traditions and not vite them. Supporting Xie Hui instead of the rightful heir Xie Qing was already partially considered a vition of tradition, but they had not given their oath on this matter - this was the only thing saving Xie Hui from an awkward situation. "Damn!" Meanwhile, Xie Hui himself was passionately breaking furniture in his room, as if he had found the most beautiful woman waiting for him naked on his bed. "Damn! Damn! Damn!" The sound of breaking ss echoed in his room, and Xie Hui''s face turned red with embarrassment and anger. "These two-faced bastards! What kind of preservation of traditions is this? They just don''t want to give power into my hands, afraid that in the end, they will also suffer!" The head of the family. On the one hand, it seemed like a distinguished title, but in the Xie family, his power was limited, and his free time was even less. The Council of Elders was a form of influential power that kept the head of the family from making strange decisions. A simple and functional system that seemed correct on the surface, but in reality, it was just a way to cover their backs! "Damn elders. They know that I will deal with them as soon as I be the head of the family, so they are afraid," thought Xie Hui, frowning and sitting on a broken cab. The elders were a danger to his position, and although he shamelessly used their position to gain some power for himself, Xie Hui would not hesitate to get rid of them at the first opportunity. Looking at the cloudy sky, Xie Hui darkened. "The letter will be delivered to these two in a week, and from then on, two months will be counted until they arrive here. I must mobilize all my forces and crush these two, whether quietly or in an honest battle!" Xie Hui licked his chapped lips, which had already begun to crack. He looked at his hands with an inscrutable expression. "I have already killed several of my brothers, even secretly killing my brother from my father. I will not hesitate, even if it is my sister," he thought. His heart had long cooled towards family rtions. He didn''t care about blood; he only wanted to climb to the top of the corpses, even if they belonged to his rtives. Not only was the Xie family immersed in an atmosphere of preparation. The Huang family was also in the same situation, but everything was much easier for them. "Brother Jing, I do not want to fight for the right to inherit, but I will have to enter this battle because of certain circumstances," said a middle-aged man with a tired and sad voice, raising a ss of wine: "To your health!" "To your health, Brother Li!" Huang Jing raised his ss of wine and clinked it with his older brother. There was a friendly smile on his face. In the Huang family, Huang Jing held a high position, and if it were not for the fact that thepetition for the right to inherit was a tradition, he would have been given the status of head of the family without any problems after the current head of the family handed over the reins. He was respected by his brothers, and his status in the family was as strong as a mountain. He was a member of the powerful Sect of the Resting Eagle, was a disciple of the main court, and was third in strength and contribution. His name was known to everyone, and the disciples called him the "Fate Killer." He was feared and respected. In the Huang family, three brothers were fighting for the inheritance - Huang Jing, Huang Li, and Huang Bei. Thetter was the strongest rival. However, now everything depended on Xie Qing. If he could be a Soul Nascent cultivator, then it would only be a matter of time before he won. Days passed unnoticed. Xie Qing found himself in front of the gates of the Nine Pills Sect. Even from here, he could feel the smell of herbs and the powerful flow of Qi. Compared to what Xie Qing had expected, the Nine Pills Sect did not look as ancient and majestic, but rather a strict ce with symmetrically arranged buildings. The tallest building was only fifty meters high, as higher was not allowed. The gates were high and strong, made of expensive and sturdy spiritual stone. Ten cultivators guarded the entrance. However, only two of them were visible. The rest were following the movements of Xie Qing and Xie Meiling. "Greetings," greeted Xie Qing, and seeing caution on their faces, he took out his disciple token and handed it to them: "I am from the Heavenly Sword Sect, and I havee to visit the Nine Pills Sect and buy some medicine." "Oh..." As soon as Xie Qing mentioned his affiliation with the Heavenly Sword Sect, the wrinkles on the faces of the two guards immediately smoothed out, and they began to behave much more respectfully. The four great sects represented the power of the cultivation world, and if you were a member of such a sect, no one would dare to treat you rudely or with the slightest disrespect. After checking the token''s authenticity with a special device, it was returned to its rightful owner. "Here. I will apany you to help you register. This is a mandatory measure for all guests, please understand." "Of course." Xie Qing nodded, and Xie Meiling also had no problem with this. This was amon practice, and usually, guests had to find out where to register on their own. However, since Xie Qing''s status was from a great sect, the guard volunteered to personally apany him. On the one hand, this was a way to express respect, and on the other hand, to make sure that the young man did not cause any trouble. Xie Qing''s cultivation level in the token was updated, and everyone could see that he was a Core Formation cultivator. The stage was not specified, and no one could see your exact information until you allowed it. Xie Qing did not particrly care about this, but Xu Mei insisted that he not openly disclose this information to avoid problems. The guard turned out to be talkative. As soon as Xie Qing showed his good intentions, coupled with the young man''s charisma, it was easy to be friends. Of course, the guard only shared publicly avable information. No matter how pleasant Xie Qing seemed, he was still a stranger. In any case, Xie Qing was only interested in information about the surrounding area, and he could always learn about any secrets from Xu Mei. Soon, with the help of the responsive guard, they were registered without waiting in line and received a temporary token. "Young Master Xie, this token will serve as your identification in the sect. If anyone asks about your status, just show the token, and no one will bother you," the guard said and then pointed to a tall pavilion: "This is the guest pavilion, where you can get a room for a daily fee. Please note that with the current token, you can stay for a maximum of three days, but you can extend your stay at any time for 10 Spiritual Stones." "Oh..." Xie Qing smiled crookedly, hearing the guard''s words. The only thing he thought at that moment was, "Damn capitalism!" Chapter 88: Elder Wei As he looked at the tall pavilion of the inn, Xie Qing thought for a moment and then thanked the guard with five Spiritual Stones. He said goodbye and went with his mother to rent a room. "Hm, it looks luxurious,"mented Xie Meiling, raising an eyebrow. "Last time I couldn''t stay here, there were too many people." "Yeah, there are still a lot of people here, I don''t even see the end of the line,"mented Xie Qing, whistling. In front of him was a line that stretched from the entrance. It was clear that the Nine Pills Sect,pared to other sects, was much more popr and open. This was not surprising, as the sect was focused on trade. "Looking at this crowd, I''m already starting to feel tired... ugh!" muttered the young man, dejectedly sighing. "I don''t want to spend the night outside the sect''s territory." At one point, the crowd dispersed, and the people in line began to murmur. From the upper floor, a stunningly beautiful girl was descending the stairs. She wore a light green dress, her eyes were green, and her hair was blue. Her chest was not very prominent, she was a slender girl. The girl had a pleasant and gentle smile on her face, and she was surrounded by several elders who behaved respectfully and acted as her bodyguards. Xie Qing, watching this scene, raised an eyebrow. He recognized this girl. It was Lu Yin, the girl who once beat his cousin and father. She was from the influential Lu family and was the heir to the Nine Pills Sect. Moreover, legends were told about her alchemy skills. Xie Qing had seen the pills she prepared with his own eyes - they were all high-quality and highly effective. The disciples affectionately called her "Healer Lu" and respected and admired her skills. "Hm, this girl... oh, I remember. Lu Yin from the Lu family, heir to the Nine Pills Sect," said Xie Meiling''s voice, sounding surprised. "She visited my family, the Xie family when I went on a business trip. Because of the bastard Xie Hai, we left a bad impression and went a whole year without valuable pills." "Heh." Xie Qing casually smiled and turned his gaze away from the beautiful girl. While the line was focused on Lu Yin, they quickly registered and moved forward, unnoticed by anyone. "Healer Lu!" human voices rang out. Everyone unanimously greeted her and respectfully bowed to the alchemy genius. At the young age, of 29, she was a Core Formation cultivator of the fourth stage, and among the main disciples of the great sects, she was the strongest. Well, this title belonged to her until Xie Qing announced his existence. Until then, she was considered the strongest. Responding to the people''s greetings without any arrogance, Lu Yin greeted them in return. "Good day." Her voice was gentle, full of kindness and friendliness, but it also had a mysterious aura that seemed to make you calm down. Xie Qing and Xie Meiling were passing by her at that moment, and the young man felt a distinct scent of herbs. The elders standing nearby looked at Xie Qing, and one of them stepped forward, blocking the young man''s path. "Hm?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow and then looked the elder up and down, asking, "Can I help you?" "The inn is temporarily closed, brat," the elder said in a calm voice, then snorted with notes of contempt. "Get lost ande back only tomorrow, then you can stay." "Hee..." Xie Qing made a strange sound and tilted his head to the side. Everyone could see that his smile was strained and not the most friendly, but no one expected him to argue. "Indeed, I didn''t know that," agreed Xie Qing, then smiled. "But I ask you not to be rude to me, old man. I can break your jaw." "Eh..." There were surprised gasps in the crowd. Many looked at Xie Qing with iprehension - why was this young man rude to the elder of the sect? "Oh..." Xie Meiling covered her face with her hands. She knew that her son had a strange pride that sometimes led to problems. Moreover, he was deliberately provoking the elder into a fight, as he wanted to fight a strong opponent. "Although, I would also break this bastard''s legs. How dare he call my son a brat?" thought Xie Meiling, and her eyes dangerously gleamed. Lu Yin also raised an eyebrow in surprise and looked at the elder with narrowed eyes. She was not blind and saw that he was the first to be rude to Xie Qing. "Elder Wei... stop it." However, Elder Wei was no longer paying attention to Lu Yin''s nces and warnings. He released his Qi as a Soul Nascent cultivator and dangerously narrowed his eyes. "What did you say, bastard?" Feeling how the opponent''s Qi suppresses him, Xie Qing smiled without a hint of fear. He felt only impatience - after so long, he finally found a cultivator stronger than him. At that moment, something clicked in his head, and the words "logic," "caution," and "vignce" were erased from his dictionary. He hungrily smiled and released his Qi, which, although inferior to Elder Wei''s, was not far from the Soul Nascent stage. "Hm? A cultivator on the verge of the Soul Nascent stage?" Elder Wei was surprised and then narrowed his eyes. "But that''s not enough to stand against me!" Ignoring the displeased looks of the other elders, Wei Jia strengthened his Qi and used a soul technique, unleashing it on Xie Qing. The young man, who encountered a sudden attack, felt death breathing down his neck. He narrowed his eyes and directed his energy to protect his soul. And he did the right thing. His Golden Core was subjected to a powerful attack, and mysterious dense energy uncontrobly flowed through his spiritual channels, trying to break through the body''s defense. At one point, struggling with the sudden attack, Xie Qing activated his cultivation technique, and his eyes turned gold. At that moment, Elder Wei felt his attack being erased, and he opened his eyes in shock. "My attack... couldn''t kill him?" he wondered. For reference, Elder Wei was a Soul Nascent cultivator in the third stage. He had rich experience, and only a month ago, he managed to obtain the status of an elder. So now, he was using Xie Qing to assert himself. However, it didn''t work out for him! Instead of demonstrating his strength, Elder Wei could not even leave a scratch on the young man. Then, the next attack was supposed to happen, but Lu Yin''s voice rang out - it was the girl. "Elder Wei, I think that''s enough." "Eh..." Elder Wei finally came to his senses after his anger and looked at Lu Yin, whose eyes were cold. "Get back in line and don''t interfere with the young man entering his room. I have finished my business in the inn, so the guests can settle into their rooms." After that, Elder Wei, no matter how displeased he was, did not dare to disobey Lady Lu Yin. "Eeh..." Xie Qing disappointedly sighed and shook his head. He was already expecting a battle, but at the critical moment, this girl interfered. Lu Yin, looking at Xie Qing, shook her head and left the inn without saying anything, and the young man went upstairs and began to look for his room. The people on the first floor lost their speech, seeing how reckless the young man was. They were visited by one question... What the hell? "You''re too reckless," said Xie Meiling, narrowing her eyes. "I know you were excited about the prospect of breaking through to the next cultivation stage, but this was too much. Provoking an elder of the sect is not the best solution." "What''s wrong with that?" asked Xie Qing, popping a grape into his mouth. "Cultivators should solve their problems precisely this way. Besides, I''m not to me - I was just defending myself." "You... ugh!" Xie Meiling shook her head, not understanding why her son was so impulsive. Compared to her cold and calcting behavior, Xie Qing was more straightforward and solved his problems with the sword. Although this was a fast and reliable method, it did not always suit all situations. However, who could convince him otherwise? One way or another, Xie Meiling was partly d that the young man was able to stand up for himself and not let Elder Wei shove his face in the dirt. "Lady Lu, we cannot allow such a ruffian to run wild on sect territory! He threatens our safety!"ined Elder Wei. "Threatens what? He behaved carelessly and did not release his Qi until you did it yourself," countered Lu Yin. "Yes, I admit I acted impulsively, but I did it for your protection!" said Elder Wei and thumped his chest. "And he! His eyes were burning intending to kill an elder, right in the sect! Outrageous!" "Enough already, Elder. Just admit that you brought this upon yourself." Lu Yin shook her head, clearly not wanting to listen to Elder Wei. She insisted that the elder was to me, but he did not agree. "Enough already, Elder Wei. You are disying behavior unworthy of your status. Why argue with a young man? He is young and hot-blooded, and that''s why he was rude to an elder," one of the apanying elders said. "And you - an adult, be polite, you represent the Nine Pills Sect." "Pf!" Elder Wei did not want to listen to him, so he just snorted and turned away. The others shook their heads. The reason for the elder''s high-handedness was his origin - he was from the Wei family, one of the major families in the capital. His status had been high since birth, and therefore he was arrogant. He did not want there to be people who would be rude to him. Meanwhile, Lu Yin thought for a moment and remembered the woman apanying the young man. "That''s Lady Xie Meiling, right?" she recalled. Her impression of this woman was positive; she respected her for her wisdom and calmness. After the incident in the Xie family, Xie Meiling personally visited her and apologized for the behavior of the members of her family. Lu Yin was not vindictive, so she reduced the punishment from a lifetime ban on purchases to just one year. She did not expect to see her again. "Who is that young man, by the way? He had the energy of a cultivator who was on the verge of the Soul Nascent stage. It seems like another old monster." Lu Yin did not believe that Xie Qing was young. She considered him an old master who had preserved his appearance. Chapter 89: Potential genius! Xie Qing was slightly intrigued by the new guest. She asked one of the elders to conduct an investigation and report back to her. Later in the evening, she received a brief report that revealed this young man was a disciple of the inner court of the Sect of Heavenly Sword. "Hm? Surprising, I thought he was at least a disciple of the main court or even an elder," mused Xie Qing. A dangerous and powerful aura emanated from Xie Qin, making it difficult for her to breathe in his presence. She was extremely curious. If he was a disciple, he was no older than a hundred years old, which indicated his rtively young age. So, he was less than a hundred years old, which was already an astonishing fact. To have such power at such a young age was undoubtedly a rare talent, and Xie Qing was impressed. "There aren''t many cultivators at the Soul Nascent stage in the Sect of Heavenly Sword," pondered Xie Qing, surprised: "And he''s not an elder, but just a disciple of the inner court? How fascinating..." She wanted to get to know this genius better. *** The next day, Xie Qing set out to explore the sect alone. He couldn''t wake up Xie Meiling, despite his efforts, leaving him with no choice but to sigh sadly. His main reason foring to the Sect of Nine Pills was to learn a bit about this business. At the very least, he wanted to learn about different types of herbs and maybe even alchemy. The sect taught for a fee, which was good news. Of course, they only taught the basics, but even that was valuable in the outside world. Many major sects had a monopoly on training alchemists, and if you wanted to be someone significant, you would first have to join their exclusive circle. This was a time-consuming and tedious process, so the existence of the Sect of Nine Pills was a lifesaver. The training took ce in the Pavilion of Knowledge, which had ten floors. Apart from the first floor, the rest were divided into categories. For example, on the second floor, they taught how to identify and select herbs, on the third floor, they taught how to evaluate pills and detect poisons, on the fourth floor, they conducted basic alchemy lessons, and on the fifth floor, they taught advanced alchemy. The remaining four floors served as warehouses and personal rooms for the staff. "I would like lessons in basic alchemy, pill evaluation... in short, everything that''s avable," said Xie Qing to the girl sitting at the registration desk. "Yes, of course," she smiled and then quoted the price: "All four courses will cost 150 Spiritual Stones. The lessons willst a week, and until then, you will receive a student token for the Pavilion of Knowledge." "Alright." Xie Qing handed over 150 Spiritual Stones in the form of onerge spiritual stone and the remaining amount in a spiritual stone the size of a ping-pong ball. The girl carefully took the payment, counted it, and nodded. She pulled out a token temte from a cab and activated it with swift movements. "Please infuse your Qi into it," she said and smiled. Xie Qing nodded and infused his Qi, activating the token, which glowed blue for a moment and then faded. "That''s all. With this token, you can enter floors up to the fourth," said the girl, smiling friendly: "You can go to the lessons on the second and fourth floors right now, whichst until the evening." "Thank you very much." After thanking the girl, Xie Qing took the token and put it in his pocket. He then climbed the stairs, entering the second floor, where he had to insert the token into a slot on the door to gain entry. Click. The door unlocked, allowing the young man to enter. Immediately, he sensed a sharp smell of herbs and paper. At first, when he opened the door, many people turned their attention to him, and some of the girls in the room, who were also students like him, let out a surprised gasp. "Ahem! Students, pay attention to the assignment!" interrupted the male elder, who looked at Xie Qing and pointed to an empty spot: "And you, you must be the new student. Sit down and open the textbook. Read up to page ten, and then I''ll help you." "Understood." Xie Qing nodded briefly and sat down at the desk, picking up the encyclopedia and beginning to study. It was even interesting because it helped the young man gain an understanding of the world and learn things that might be useful to him in the future. If he didn''t have enough pills to heal after a tough battle, he could make a few pills for himself at any time or find spiritual herbs that would speed up the healing of his wounds. Xie Qing was attentive and had already absorbed the information up to page ten within ten seconds. However, since the instructor was still busy with other students, he continued reading. After ten minutes, the elder responsible for teaching the students finally finished his tasks and approached Xie Qing, who was by then on the penultimate page. Seeing this, the elder thought the young man was fooling around and remarked. "Young man, I understand your enthusiasm, but first, read what I assigned to you, alright?" he said, addressing Xie Qing himself. "Eh? Elder, with all due respect, I''ve already finished reading what you assigned," replied Xie Qing, blinking and looking at the instructor with a smile: "So, I decided to keep reading until you were free." "Hm?!" The elder let out a surprised grunt when Xie Qing said he had finished reading what was assigned. "How is that possible?" The elder frowned again, clearly not believing Xie Qing''s words. Although it was only ten pages, the information there was so vast that it would take an ordinary person with average reading speed half an hour to read everything. Therefore, the instructor, although doubting Xie Qing''s words, decided to test his knowledge. "Alright, then, to make sure of your knowledge, let me ask you a few questions," said the elder, taking the encyclopedia from Xie Qing''s hands and asking: "Ready?" "Of course." Xie Qing nodded casually ¨C he had memorized everything in the book, so it was no problem for him to answer a few questions. "Good. Moon Silver Grass, name five uses," the instructor asked without hesitation. "Moon Silver Grass has an unusual healing property, so the first method is to cut its stems and squeeze out the juice, which is applied to the wound," answered Xie Qing, and the elder nodded: "The second method is even simpler: cut the petals and crush them, then mix with the juice from the stems. Heat it so they blend and apply to the wound, which will be twice as effective." "Very good. You''re right," nodded the instructor. Xie Qing then provided three more methods, and the elder was pleased. The following questions were also answered correctly. "Blood Snake ¨C a nt with the Yin attribute, used to create colorless poison..." "Silver-winged Poisonous Lily..." "Gray Gunpowder Rose..." With each correct answer, the elder''s expression became stranger and stranger, and upon discovering that Xie Qing had answered all the questions correctly, even those that came after what he had assigned ¨C the man was shocked! "C-correct..." His voice stammered as Xie Qing gave a detailed answer to a question considered difficult even by novice standards. Most importantly, the young man could only answer topics covered in the encyclopedia, so the instructor did not doubt that he had indeed learned everything. "You... you haven''t been here before?" the elder finally asked the question that bothered him, frowning: "Your knowledge is perfect, but I doubt it''s possible to learn the entire book in such a short time!" The other students, who at some point also paid attention to this situation, also expressed obvious skepticism. Some even frowned in annoyance. Many thought that this young man hade here to show off and was now pretending to be foolish. However, Xie Qing gave only a brief answer to all the questions. "I registered only today, and I''ve only heard a little about alchemy," he said and handed over the token: "Here." This was a student token. There was detailed information on it that only instructors and elders could see, and without wasting time, the elder examined the token. In the end, his face showed shock. Indeed, Xie Qing had registered only today, and there was not even a chance that he had simply registered again... because there would have been information about it! The elder had shown a somewhat exaggerated reaction, but it was understandable. If Xie Qing turned out to be not a fraud and a deceiver, but a potential genius, then he would not only receive a promotion... "I''ll be able to establish a connection with a potential talent!" thought the elder. Chapter 90: Basic Alchemical Flame Awakening Technique! Additional chapter for the magical castle. 5/10 ==== The previous instructor who taught Lu Yin had at some point managed to be her direct assistant and ended up gaining power! Alchemists on the continent were respected figures, and great alchemists even more so! "Khm... it''s time to calm down. It seems that being stuck in this hole for twenty years is starting to affect me," thought the elder, and his eyes twitched with tension. He was excited. All these years, the students had been more or less normal, but this was still not good enough. And now, someone had appeared who could learn so many things in such a short time! The elder coughed slightly, obviously fake, and then said to Xie Qing with a smile. "Well done, young man, who would have thought you have such a good memory? Nevertheless, I strongly advise you to stay in my sses and learn new things." The elder introduced himself: "My name is Elder Bai. If you need anything, you can alwayse to me for help." "Thank you... um, are you from the Bai family, Elder?" asked Xie Qing with a strange expression on his face. "Heh, yes, you''re right. If you can prove yourself well, it''s quite possible that I can rmend you as an alchemist to our family! You will gain great status and wealth." "Ooo..." Xie Qing and several students let out an admiring gasp. Although the other students were sincere in their emotions, Xie Qing was just pretending. He didn''t care about the reputation of the Bai family, and besides, he had a small conflict of interest with them; they had even put pressure on his family. After the incident with Bai Bai, although there were attempts to contact him and find out everything, his status as Xu Mei''s disciple worked at full capacity and prevented the Bai family from touching him. Besides, all the evidence pointed to the fact that Bai Bai had attacked him, and although voices were suggesting killing Xie Qing, many supported the decision to temporarily do nothing. However, he just smiled politely. "Hehe..." *** The lecture ended an hourter, and Elder Bai exchanged a few words and promised to bring even more books. "Thank you." Xie Qing sincerely thanked the elder and, watching him nod and leave with his head held high, shook his head. "Are all members of the Bai family so arrogant?" he thought. The next lesson was a basic alchemy lesson. This time, it was not just about studying herbs but interacting with them. Of course, you wouldn''t be put in front of a cauldron right away; you would first have to show your level of knowledge and awaken your alchemical me. Alchemical me - Qi-fed me used for alchemy. Each person''s alchemical me is different, but it can be bought and merged with one''s body. Xie Qing looked at the system store for this and found arge number of different alchemical mes there. However, the cheapest one was a me for 750,000 called: "Burgundy Tiger me!" Although the name sounded impressive, it was only slightly stronger than an ordinary alchemical me and had a function to increase sess when concocting pills, but this bonus was small. The most expensive one, however, was a terrifying alchemical me. [Golden Dragon me] | [Price: 250,000,000 Spiritual Stones] | [Description: A high-quality alchemical me that will make even Immortals fight tooth and nail for its acquisition. Allows you to concoct pills with a 70% sess rate, and all pills will be of perfect quality!] Xie Qing took a deep breath and calmed his heart when he saw this amazing me... and the amazing, absolutely killing price! 250 million Spiritual Stones... that''s 2,500,000,000,000 Huang in the currency of the Dynasty... please sit down if you''re standing. Even the Bai family could earn that much in ten years. They would need at least a hundred years if not more! Such an amount of money... Xie Qing once again felt what it was like to be poor! "And I was happy with a million..." he sighed a little and then shook his head: "No, calm down, just calm down. Even if I had the money, buying an alchemical me for myself would be nonsense, considering I don''t know if I''ll be doing this." Xie Qing was a swordsman and wanted to develop in that direction, so such activities as alchemy were somewhat useless to him. It would be easier for him to simply seduce Lu Yin and allow her to travel with him. That way, he would get two benefits at once - a beautiful woman by his side and an alchemist nearby. "Alright, enough dreaming, it''s time for the second lesson," thought Xie Qing and began to climb the floors. Eventually, he found himself on the fourth floor, where the lesson had not yet begun. He was a little surprised to see the person who was leading this lesson. "Lu Yin?" the young man raised an eyebrow. However, it was not customary to speak first, so Xie Qing simply sat down on the floor like the other students. In front of him was a cauldron, and to the right was a box with the necessary nts. "Hm?" Of course, Lu Yin with her foresight easily noticed Xie Qing, and considering that he stood out with his special aura and beauty, it was an easy task. Looking at his beautiful facial features, Lu Yin was a little surprised. "Does he have a talent for alchemy?" Usually, those who register for such lessons have a certain talent for alchemy. The entrance fee was not small, so only a few could afford it. As for the rich... well, guy... they could simply sign a contract with some elder alchemist and allow their offspring to be taught at home. "Alright, sit in your ces and get ready to listen to the lecture. Do not do anything without my instruction." Lu Yin pped her hands and began the lesson. Although Xie Qing''s personality and everything rted to him interested the girl, she was still responsible for conducting the lesson and could not postpone the beginning. Seeing that the noise had subsided and the students'' attention was on her, she ignored the admiring nces of the male students and the awestruck nces of the female students, starting the lesson. "As we know, alchemy is an indispensable part of the cultivation world. Many ordinary cultivators rely on pills for their development and healing." She began to exin, and a kind smile appeared on her face: "Alchemy is also rted to the path of immortality, so you should not forget about increasing your cultivation level. The purer and more powerful you are, the more it can help your path as an alchemist." She was right. If you were talented but your cultivation level was, for example, at the Foundation Building stage, your Qi could be depleted during pill concocting, and everything would go up in mes. The alchemical me must be activated from beginning to end toplete the pill-concocting process. This was a delicate, jewelry-like question that required all the attention. Moreover, the purity of Qi also determined how well you could control your alchemical me. Therefore, Lu Yin spent five minutes of her time exining this and hammering it into the students'' heads about the importance of their cultivation. Xie Qing, propping up his chin with his hand, listened to all this and restrained himself from yawning. Apart from the sword, women, and alcohol, not much else interested him. Although he sometimes had bursts of curiosity, he still considered himself a restrained person with a narrow range of interests. Some students noticed the young man''s nonchnce and were secretly angered. For them, this was like disrespecting the path of alchemy and, most importantly, the instructor - Lu Yin! Although the girl also noticed this, she did not show it and continued the lesson. In the end, she finished exining the rules and methodology and then moved on to the most important part. "Without exception, an alchemist directly depends on their alchemical me. How you develop it determines whether you will be a great alchemist," said Lu Yin. She stretched her hand forward, and a burgundy-red me ignited on her slender fingers. She looked at the amazed students and said, "My alchemical me is unique and is called the ''Red Dragon me''... I have had it since birth. But you can also change your alchemical me by simply buying it!" Immediately after these words, the students who were amazed by her me acquired a bitter expression - at least, this was almost half of all the students. Not everyone had rich parents, and even if they did, the alchemical me was unbearably expensive, and it was extremely difficult to control without proper technique. Lu Yin shook her head and was not at all surprised by such a reaction. The world of alchemy was extremely cruel to those who were poor. To get rich, you first had to empty your pockets! Then, ignoring the gloom hanging in the air, she began to speak: "Before you awaken your alchemical me, you will not be able to practice alchemy," said Lu Yin, and then snapped her fingers: "Therefore, pay attention to your tokens. I have sent you the basic alchemical me awakening technique. I strongly advise you not to try to sell this technique, as the punishment can be as severe as death." Some students who had such thoughts were shocked and, under the gaze of some people, stumbled and blushed with shame. Xie Qing, on the other hand, raised his eyebrows in surprise when he read the technique. It was mysterious and iplete. "There is an ancient touch, which means this is part of an ancient technique... I think it has been edited so that even worthless people can awaken their me." The technique itself did not increase the chances of awakening an incredible alchemical me. Therefore, Xie Qing saw no point in trying to buy another technique in the store. By infusing his Qi into the token, he was able to learn this technique in a second. There were no notifications - this technique was not rted to the system ranking, so it was not counted. The name of the technique was simple: "Basic Alchemical me Awakening Technique!" Chapter 91: Ah, the Heavens have blessed this young master too much! Additional chapter for the magical castle. 6/10 Enjoy your reading! ==== The lecture hall fell silent as more than fifty students immersed themselves in meditation. Not everyone was as abnormal as Xie Qing, who could learn something in just one second. They had to meditate and master this technique. Xie Qing, on the other hand, cracked his bones and entered meditation to begin awakening his alchemical me. The method was simple - clear your mind, then use your Qi to materialize it on your palm, and then use this technique to feed Qi into it until a me appears. It took the young man only ten seconds. A bright milky-white me appeared on his hand, and he was a little disappointed. "Ordinary alchemical me... well, at least it''s of the highest ss." Alchemical mes were divided into nine levels, which were the same as talent levels. There was a simr rating system. Unfortunately, Xie Qing had an ordinary me, albeit of the highest level. However, Lu Yin was not surprised by this and was only shocked by how quickly Xie Qing was able to awaken his me. As a side note, even she had to struggle for ten minutes, and with the help of several mentors, to awaken her me. "What an interesting person! Even if the me is ordinary, he can simply buy itter. He is talented!" Even Lu Yin, who was usually quite calm, could not help but envy the young man''s talent for mastering techniques. If her cultivation talent had been as strong as her alchemy talent, she would have reached the Soul Nascent stage long ago. In any case, she could not pay too much attention to one student. Lu Yin watched to make sure the students were using the awakening technique correctly. Two hours passed. Xie Qing, who had already fallen asleep, woke up to the rising noise. Many students were trying hard to awaken their me, and half of them had seeded. "I''m going to die of boredom," thought the young man, and he sighed wearily. These students were too slow! It took them an hour to master the cultivation technique and another hour to awaken their me, considering that some of them still had not shown any sess. Xie Qing was annoyed, but Lu Yin diligently helped the students who were having trouble. "It''s okay, don''t worry. Not everyone seeds on the first try. Keep trying until you feel like your shoulders have rxed," said Lu Yin in her usual gentle voice, and then she nodded toward the students who had already awakened their alchemical me: "In the chest, there is theoretical knowledge on how to use the me. Read them for now." The students nodded and looked at the girl with respect. They had just experienced how to awaken their me, and they all knew that the girl had seeded in ten minutes, which was considered a record! ...well, I think these guys just didn''t know that the handsome young man with the beautiful appearance and carefree exterior was the one who had set a new record two hours ago. In any case, time dragged on endlessly, and Xie Qing, who had read the book on the theory of using alchemical mes in ten minutes, fell asleep. "O-he..." "He fell asleep?!" Some students heard the soft snoring and were shocked to discover that Xie Qing had fallen asleep! He was lying on the floor, sleeping carefree and looking damn attractive! "Die, handsome!" Lu Yin just chuckled softly, helping the students awaken their me. She had already noticed that Xie Qing had read that book a long time ago and therefore said nothing. However for many other students, this was disrespectful to the lecture itself, and they felt displeased. However, who would dare make a sound if Lady Lu said nothing? "Self-satisfied bastard! Your behavior is an insult to all alchemists!" thought the students. For many, every second of this ss wasparable to gold, and they valued everything they received, expressing their diligence as a sign of respect for alchemy. Therefore, Xie Qing, by falling asleep, made them feel bitter. Another hour passed, and Xie Qing was still asleep. Some students wanted to roughly wake him up, but they were afraid that this young man with a dangerous aura would kill them. Almost all the students had finished awakening their alchemical me, so Lu Yin approached Xie Qing. "Young man," called Lu Yin, but seeing no reaction, she awkwardly smiled and shook his shoulder: "Wake up. We''re continuing the lecture." "Hmmm?" Xie Qing suddenly opened his eyes, which glowed gold. Lu Yin stammered and fell silent, feeling an overwhelming aura. She couldn''t breathe; her face turned red fromck of oxygen, and fear crept into her heart. However, she held on and did not show a pitiful look, only looking into his beautiful golden eyes with seriousness. "It''s you..." Xie Qing finally rxed, and his eyes returned to their usual color, and the dangerous aura disappeared. "Haah..." Lu Yin was finally able to take a deep breath, and she stepped back five steps. The other students lost their voices. From their perspective, they saw only that the young man opened his eyes, and Lu Yin blushed. Therefore, they clearly understood something different! "Healer Lu... blushed?!" For many, today the clouds had fallen from the high heavens. *** The lecture continued as usual, with Lu Yin returning to her usual expression and continuing to exin how to control the me. "Many of you have already read this, but I will repeat and show by example how to control the me," said Lu Yin, and she smiled, waving her hand: "The me appears only after you think about making it appear. And that''s not all. The me will go out if you don''t feed it Qi, so don''t lose concentration. Now, please try to summon it again." After this, the lecture hall was filled with abundant Qi. Everyone tried to summon the me again, and most seeded after the tenth attempt, while some even tried for half an hour. "Boring..." Xie Qing, on the other hand, was able to do this in the first insignificant attempt. He didn''t even have to concentrate, as Lu Yin had said. He just wanted it, and the me appeared; it burned as long as he wanted. Lu Yin noticed this and sighed, shaking her head. She was no longer surprised by his abilities and decided to simply get used to it. With her gentle voice, she instructed the students on how to properly and without unnecessary expense use their alchemical me. The girl taught well, and even the dumbest student was able to easily learn it. Xie Qing, on the other hand, was out of the students'' attention, as they were too focused on maintaining the influence of their me. "Here''s your task - try to maintain the me for five minutes. If you can do this, then we can move on to pill concocting!" "Yes, Healer Lu!" The students excitedly nodded like chickens pecking at the grain and then began to restore their Qi. Xie Qing, on the other hand, slightly raised an eyebrow, noticing Lu Yin''s gaze on him. "What?" Once, this girl had been his idol, and of course, he had felt sympathy for her, but now meeting her gaze was not as exciting as it used to be. "It seems that this year someone very talented has appeared," the girl''s voice sounded in his head, although her mouth was closed. "I suppose so," a smile appeared on Xie Qing''s face. This was amon "Telepathy" technique that Xie Qing himself possessed. Only Core Formation cultivators could use it. Lu Yin was silent for a moment and then said, "I''ll give you another task. Try to maintain the fire at its most aggressive level for half an hour. If you can do this, then I''ll talk about giving you ess to advanced alchemy lessons." "Oh?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow in surprise. Even for him, this reward sounded tempting. Advanced alchemy lessons could be obtained only by a limited circle of people, regardless of how wealthy they were. Therefore, Xie Qing was a little excited. He nodded and channeled more Qi, making his me more aggressive. Soon, the students around him had difficulty sitting, so Lu Yin waved her hand and erected a barrier so that Xie Qing would not disturb the other students. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Xie Qing and nodded approvingly. "Aggressive me and the Qi consumption is very urate, no random bursts!" It was at this level of me control that one could be considered a true alchemist. It was important to maintain the same level of me from beginning to end so that the pill would not turn into charcoal in case of an ident. "I''m not experiencing any difficulties," thought Xie Qing. His cultivation technique easily handled the Qi consumption, so he didn''t even have to strain himself. Looking at the crowd of students, Xie Qing sighed. "Ah, the Heavens have blessed this young master too much! Look at these guys; they can''t evenpare to one-tenth of my talent!" Chapter 92: Lu Yins request Additional chapter for the magical castle. 7/10 Here''s thest chapter for today. I''m tired as a dog. Enjoy guys. ==== Although Xie Qing seemed like a high and mighty asshole, which he was, he truly outshone all these students by a mile. Many of them were either from influential families or children of officials from the capital. For Lu Yin, it was amon urrence to teach such individuals. Thanks to this, by the way, her power in the capital was also not insignificant, and even the infamous Bai family addressed her as "Respected Lu." The power of a great alchemist was just that - they were respected even more than high-ranking cultivators because alchemists, especially talented ones and pioneers in certain areas, opened up a new horizon for the rest. They, like the first group of miners, pave the way for future generations. Therefore, treating them rudely and disrespectfully is taboo! Xie Qing mainly tested his luck - if he could be an alchemist, he would have a chance to gain wealth, power, and respect. At the same time, he could make pills for himself without having to pay exorbitant fees for an alchemist''s work. *** It took another hour for the students toplete the task. Xie Qing also handled everything perfectly and received an approving nod from Lu Yin. "Well done. Although some of you did notplete the task, I ask you not to be discouraged and to realize one truth - the path of an alchemist is paved with countless trials and errors!" said Lu Yin, brightly smiling to encourage the unsessful ones: "Only you answer the question - to be an alchemist or not." "Thank you for the lecture, Healer Lu!" All the students, as one, stood up and bowed in Lu Yin''s direction, but Xie Qing refrained from doing so. He bows only to two people - his Master and his mother. Lu Yin, however, was not so arrogant and self-satisfied as to reproach Xie Qing for this. On the contrary, she would feel awkward if such a genius as him behaved humbly. When all the students left the lecture hall, Lu Yin approached Xie Qing and smiled friendly. "You showed excellent results, student Xie Qing. Moreover, youpleted the task I gave you, so I will keep my promise," she said in her soft and beautiful voice, and then asked for his token: "Give me your token; I will give you ess to the advanced alchemy lectures." "Thank you." Xie Qing casually smiled and handed the token to Lu Yin, his fingers identally touching the girl''s palm. Lu Yin shivered - she felt an inexplicable current run through her body, and goosebumps ran down her spine. She blushed slightly and turned away, taking the token in her hand. Then, bringing her token close to Xie Qing''s token, she channeled her Qi and gave him permission to attend the advanced alchemy lectures, which she taught. "Here, take it," said the girl, turning toward him and handing Xie Qing the token. She smiled weakly: "You are very talented in alchemy. Since you came to study, you must want to be an alchemist, right? I can help you with that." "Help me?" Xie Qing''s first reaction was surprise, and his second reaction was obvious doubt. He did not believe that Lu Yin was helping him out of the goodness of her heart. Therefore, he asked a simple question. "What do you want in return?" In response, a bold smile appeared on the girl''s face. "Heh... it''s simple, young talent. I want you to help me get an audience with the Sword Princess," said Lu Yin. "Hm?" For a moment, Xie Qing''s eyes turned cold, and his sword shed brightly, making a hissing sound as the de was aimed at the girl''s neck. "I think you have enough time to try to justify the fact that you were digging into my personal life." "Heh..." Although Lu Yin looked surprised, she was not afraid at all. She grabbed the de and squeezed it, her beautiful fingers began to bleed, but the gentle smile did not leave her face. "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean anything bad. My Master and your Master are close friends, so I thought I could ask you for help," said Lu Yin, not paying attention to the fact that her fingers were bleeding. "Interesting. If my Master is so close to the sect leader Liu Yang, then why don''t you ask her for help with this matter?" asked Xie Qing, his eyes dangerously gleaming: "Whye to me? You should understand, that I''m quite the reckless guy." "Of course, I will exin everything. But for now, put away your sword, okay? You don''t want me to call the guards, do you?" "Pfft..." Xie Qing just snorted at such a threat. His sword was also aimed at her neck. Lu Yin shook her head, seeing such stubbornness, but she understood that she had acted unbingly. Digging into a cultivator''s past, especially one from another sect, was considered disrespectful behavior. It''s likeing home from work and seeing a thief stealing your TV. "Forgive me, okay? You attracted me, so I wanted to know who you are," replied Lu Yin. Xie Qing rolled his eyes when he saw that his threats didn''t work against this girl at all. He loosened his grip, and the sword returned to its sheath. Seeing the girl''s fingers, which were covered in blood, he narrowed his eyes. "Why did you even grab the de?" Lu Yin sweetly giggled and looked at her fingers, only then answering. "I was fascinated by the Sword Aura that enveloped the sword. I am also a swordswoman, you know. That''s why I wanted to meet with the legendary Sword Princess and ask her to teach me." "Huh!" Xie Qing rolled his eyes. The Sword Princess, Xu Mei, was indeed a legendary figure in the cultivation world, and every swordsman worshipped her. "An alchemist studying the path of the sword - that''s something new." Xie Qing put away his sword and grabbed Lu Yin''s hand, then took healing ointment out of his spatial ring. With careful movements, in less than five seconds, he applied the ointment, and then, seeing that the wounds had healed and no scars remained, put away the ointment. "You should have started the dialogue on such topics not so harshly. You should understand that the Sword Princess does not want to interfere in the outside world, so she is not inclined to contact unknown people," said Xie Qing with a calm expression on his face: "Besides, you should turn to your master; maybe the chances will be greater." "I tried," said Lu Yin with a bitter expression and added: "However, my Master said that she had run out of spiritual wine." "Eh?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow in surprise and thenughed out loud. Now he could see his Master''s behavior in this - she wouldn''t lift a finger unless she was satisfied. In matters that did not concern the protection of the sect, evil cultivators, wine, and Xie Qing, she was indifferent and wouldn''t move a finger until she was paid. And her help was expensive. Therefore, even the master of the Nine Pills sect could not afford such a luxury. Xie Qing looked at Lu Yin with a teasing smile and asked, "If even your Master couldn''t ask the Sword Princess, what do you expect from me?" "I''m sure you can do it!" Lu Yin confidently dered and added in a whisper, her face turning red: "M-Master said that you are currently the closest person to Lady Xu Mei... so..." Xie Qing''s face became funny when he saw Lu Yin''s expression. This girl knew about the fact that his dragon had not spared even his Master! "Liu Yangg!" *** At first, Xie Qing did not agree, but when he was offered a million spiritual stones, he casually agreed. Well, it''s useless to me him; the young man needed arge amount of money, so Xie Qing was able to agree. Already that evening, he called his Master and flirted with her a little before telling her about Lu Yin. "Hm? The girl of olddy Liu Yangg? Yes, I remember that she asked me to teach her, but Liu Yang did not agree to my price," said Xu Mei, and then asked: "What connects you to her?" Xie Qing smiled when he heard the unconcealed jealousy in her voice. "I am currently in the Nine Pills sect, and it seems that I have a talent for alchemy. Lu Yin offered to help me develop my talent in alchemy," said Xie Qing, and then added: "Well, and paid a million spiritual stones." "Tsk, tsk, tsk. These damn alchemists are too rich!" Xu Meiined to the heavens and then added: "Alright since you''re asking me for this, I''ll help her. But don''t forget to buy me spiritual wine!" "Of course, Master." Of course, they were bribed! Chapter 93: Shocking the students (Part 1) Thanks to the readers for supporting the book with power stones. Special thanks to Sekirryutei, who has been supporting for a long time. Enjoy reading! ==== Xie Qing was doubtful that the sect leader, Liu Yang, would want to spend her precious time teaching him alchemy. She spent most of her time in closed cultivation and did not have a high opinion of men, which was the main factor preventing the young man from visiting her to ask for instruction in alchemy. Lu Yin was the best choice in the current situation, although Xie Qing''s rude reaction may have affected their rtionship, the girl pretended that nothing had happened, so the young man remained silent. "Alchemy? You have talent in that too?" Xie Meiling was surprised to see Xie Qing summon an alchemical fire. "Yes!" Xie Qing smiled, seeing the surprise on his mother''s face. He showed her what he had learned, and the woman was pleasantly surprised. "It seems that you are a monster," Xie Meiling said with a nod as if she had finally achieved enlightenment on some issue. "How rude." Xie Qingughed loudly, hearing his mother''s words, but he was not displeased. If you surpassed even geniuses, then you were either a monster or a messenger from Heaven. Most often, you were perceived as a monster. Because geniuses were always lonely. Xie Meiling fell silent. Every day, her son presented her with more and more surprises. If the Xie family had a potential great alchemist, even the imperial family would pay attention to them. It was possible that her boy could receive a high status from the Empress and thus the status of the family would be strengthened. "I don''t deserve such a good son," Xie Meiling thought with a bitter smile. "How can I thank him? He has done so much for me and my family..." Xie Meiling valued her family and wanted it to prosper, but she knew that Xie Qing was not interested in this, and restoring the status of the Xie family was more of a whim for him, to please her. He was doing it for her, and the woman was touched. Looking at her carefree son''s face, she thought, her eyes shining. *** The next day, Xie Qing attended another ss, which was mainly for beginners, but he listened to and absorbed any information. Although he had been given the right to attend advanced alchemy sses, he nned to go there only after he had sessfully learned all the basics, as this helped create a solid foundation. In the evening, Lu Yin''s ss began again. This time, the lecture hall was even more crowded. Many had heard that Lu Yin was temporarily teaching basic alchemy to students, and many, regardless of the cost, paid to get there. "What a crowd," Xie Qing thought, narrowing his eyes. There were more than a hundred people here, and each of them was of different ages - from very young to old, all came here to receive a lecture from the legendary young alchemist - Miss Lu Yin. Due to her modest behavior, one might mistakenly think that she was very down-to-earth and just a beautiful girl, but when one heard the story of this girl, one understood one thing: "Genius!" Among the young generation, no one could rival her, and her pills sold out in less than ten minutes! Every self-respecting family leader had to show politeness and do everything to satisfy her needs. There was one truth - never offend a doctor, and most importantly, an alchemist! By the way, although this girl did not wear the most expensive clothes, her wealth was terrifying. I think she had more than a hundred million spiritual stones in her pockets every year. Most of this ie went to cover expenses and investments in the Lu family, but even so, arge sum remained, considering all the costs. "How long will I have to stand here?" Returning to our sheep, Xie Qing was still standing in line at the entrance, there were still forty people in front of him, trying to squeeze through the narrow door and move forward. Due to the mandatory system of verification and authentication, there was a crush and arge queue, so Xie Qing had already begun to doze off. Fortunately, the elders arrived, who divided the queue into two sides checked the tokens manually, and let them pass. So they were able to process 40 people in ten minutes. "Here," Xie Qing handed his token to the elder, who took it and checked. "Hm?" The elder made a surprised sound and looked at Xie Qing with narrowed eyes, in which shock could be seen. "So you''re a talented alchemist? Tsk, tsk... good,e in." The man shook his head, his face showed envy. Although Xie Qing reflexively wanted to tease him, he restrained himself. The elder noticed that he had ess to advanced alchemy sses, which only the most talented or very close people to Lu Yin could ess. The second way was simple - if you supported her long enough, Lu Yin would give her consent to give ess to advanced alchemy sses. Many wealthy masters did not spare money, because it was always possible to recoup the costs spent if their candidate could be an alchemist. One way or another, the ss was already approaching the beginning. Entering the lecture hall, Xie Qing noticed changes. "As if the room has be bigger..." he thought but was no longer surprised. Formations were always miracles for those who did not understand them. Xie Qing was among them. Lu Yin had already arrived and was standing on a tform with arge cauldron and a chest of ingredients on it. The same picture could be seen among the students. It was clear that today there would not only be theory but also practice - the first attempt to brew a pill. Xie Qing prayed to the Heavens that his first attempt would not end in the death of some poor fellow. With his character, the young man did not doubt that if there were too many failures, he would bury someone with this cauldron. It took another twenty minutes for everyone to gather, and although there were dissatisfied people, who could say anything? After all, Lu Yin or the other elders were not to me for this, it was just that most people were in a hurry to take their seats. Some could not take their seats, so they left with regret. "Well, sit in your ces, listen carefully, and do not make noise. Until I ask a question, conversations are forbidden," Lu Yin said, and this time she was more serious, as there were more people. "Let''s start the ss!" Of course, no one made noise, and everyone listened carefully as if their lives depended on it. Lu Yin, having looked over the lecture hall, nodded and showed her me. "Many of you were not at yesterday''s ss, but I am sure that most of you have already awakened your alchemical me and havepleted the task that I gave. Please raise your hand if you do not have an awakened alchemical me," she said in a calm voice. Immediately, more than fifty hands went up, and Lu Yin nodded, snapping her fingers, and then continued: "I have sent the technique for awakening the alchemical me. Try to cope within two hours. And now, please raise your hand if you still cannot maintain the alchemical me for longer than one or two minutes." After that, more than a hundred hands went up. Xie Qing clicked his tongue, realizing that now it would be another boring evening. On the other hand, Lu Yin was patient enough, so she exined for some time how to properly control the me, and then showed it in practice, and in the end gave them a task. After that, she asked thest question, which would separate the students into groups. "Please raise your hand if you can control the alchemical me. Raise your second hand if you can maintain the me for more than twenty-five minutes," Lu Yin said, and this time she noticed that the rest could control the alchemical me, but only twenty people could maintain it for more than twenty-five minutes. She was a little disappointed but did not react. Waving her hand, she made the chests open, and from there, the necessary herbs and a book flew to those students who could not maintain the me for more than twenty-five minutes. "Here are the recipes for ten basic pills that are used to train beginners. I strongly rmend that you read carefully and follow the instructions to avoid problems," Lu Yin said, and then added, seeing that many of them were nervous: "Usually they are prepared in ten to fifteen minutes, so do your best." After that, some of them rxed. Basic pills were rtively useless for cultivators, but for mortals, they were almost divine medicine. Of course, no one would produce such cheap pills, especially if it concerned an alchemist with a great future, so usually, the students used these recipes for training. And sessful pills, Lu Yin collected and distributed to mortals as help. Therefore, she was respected. Having finished distributing the students into groups, Lu Yin already turned to the twenty people, including Xie Qing, who could already prepare something more difficult. "First, you also try to prepare basic pills, and then we will move on to more difficult ones. For a pill to be considered ready, its purity must be at least 60%, so keep this in mind," Lu Yin said, and nodded to Xie Qing, noticing his gaze, and then added: "I will personally check the quality, so do your best. And now, begin!" Chapter 94: Shocking the students (Part 2) Additional chapter for the magical castle. 7/10 ==== Purity of the pill. It mainly determined how well the pill was prepared and purified. The purity is evaluated in percentages, and if 50% and below was no more than poison for the body, then 60% and above were already used in everyday life. 100% purity was the rarest and belonged to the legendary. If the pill was not pure enough, the cultivator could harm himself, and his strength would weaken, he would be a cripple. Therefore, it was important to purify the pill in such a way that there were no harmful impurities left. Xie Qing took the book with basic recipes and studied it. There were more than a hundred pill recipes there, which would be useful only to mortals, cultivators would get no benefit from them. The pills included Healing Pill, Strength Pill, Endurance Pill, and the like. Each such pill would cost no more than 1,000 Huang, which was expensive for mortals, but cheap for cultivators. Their names clearly showed what they were, so there was no point in exining. Xie Qing thought for a bit and decided to start with the Strength Pill. It was made from two herbs, one herb was easily essible, and its name was Emerald Grass. It was no different from ordinary tall grass, except for the presence of qi, which would feed the pill and act as oil, if analogous to cooking. And the other herb was Bull Grass. It was simr to mint, only red and with a sharp smell, simr to the smell of iodine. Everything in this herb was edible, of course, only after you boiled it to get rid of the poison. However, alchemists simply heated it in the oven. Emerald Grass itself had the function of releasing Qi from itself, and at the same time strengthening the properties of other herbs, but this only worked with weak herbs that were not rted to spiritual ones as such. "So... you need to heat the oven with alchemical me, and then use fire to dissolve the Emerald Grass first and then throw in the Bull Grass... okay, got it!" Xie Qing quickly figured everything out, and the first thing he did was heat the oven. Considering his excellent control over the me, this did not take long. Five minutester, he threw in the Emerald Grass and processed it in two seconds, then threw in the Bull Grass, and then thest ingredient - the Bowley Sphere. This was an edible nk to put the prepared mixture inside. Just pour the prepared medicine into the pill mold and it''s done. Xie Qing began to cook, and after five minutes, he made his first pill. "Oh... what a strange texture, different from other pills I''ve held. It''s like it''s made of iron," thought Xie Qing, raising an eyebrow, and then realized the reason: "Ah, I didn''t process it! That''s why the pill didn''t harden!" Processing the pill was thest step to activate the Bowley Sphere and finish with the pill. All you had to do was embrace the pill with your Qi and press it, and vo - it''s done! After a few seconds, Xie Qing was already holding a ready and hard pill, from which a fresh herbal aroma still emanated. He put it in a bottle and closed it to preserve the property of the pill even after an hour. Then, choosing the next pill, he prepared the Healing Pill, and after ten minutes, two more Strength Pills. With each prepared pill, he practiced so that he could cook them with his eyes closed. Strength Pills were prepared in two minutes, and the rest in five minutes. Finally, all twenty bottles were filled to the brim. In total, he prepared almost forty pills of different types. "This guy..." "Forty pills in less than an hour?! Monster!" The other disciples, of course, could not help but notice the horrifying speed of the young man in preparing the pills, they were horrified by his talent. Some of the more advanced disciples just snorted, thinking that Xie Qing had decided to win by quantity, not quality, and eagerly awaited the evaluation. After another twenty minutes, the time was up, and the twenty disciples stopped cooking, even if they were in the process. "Everyone, stop cooking and extinguish the alchemical me," Lu Yin''s voice rang out, they looked at their group and said, "Rest for ten minutes and restore your strength, and in the meantime, I''ll check the other disciples." Twenty people nodded and began to meditate, except for Xie Qin, who did not need it. He watched as Lu Yin leaned forward to better exin to the disciple about his mistakes in cooking. Were there any other guys who repeated after Xie Qin? Of course, there were, but they didn''t have time to see anything and with horror turned around, feeling a strong pressure and a thirst for murder themselves. It was Xie Qin. He could not help but get annoyed when these rude disciples showed such rudeness to alchemy, and most importantly - to the girl, shamelessly staring at her butt! ...of course, our young gentleman forgot how he slept during the lectures and how he looked at her slender butt a minute ago. One way or another, it should be noted that Lu Yin exined everything very well and had strong nerves, despite the presence of many stupid disciples. Xie Qin imagined himself in her ce and shook his head, interrupting the image of himself breaking some disciple''s skull for failing to awaken his me for the hundredth time. "No violence. Why did I even imagine that?" *** Fortunately, after the time announced by the girl, she began to check the pills. "Ten pills - 65% purity, five pills - failed. Passed." "Five pills - 61% purity, five pills - failed. Failed." "Six pills 67% purity, two pills - failed. Passed." "Seven pills 62% purity, ten pills - failed. Passed." "Twenty pills..." One by one, she checked their prepared pills, and in the end, she rendered a verdict. Out of neen disciples, only ten passed, and the other nine failed. Last was the young man Xie Qing, and there was a lot of attention on him. Many alchemists eagerly awaited the scene where all his pills would be failures. Lu Yin, noticing the number of pills on the table, was surprised. She also thought that Xie Qing wanted topensate for quality with quantity, but she said nothing. Pill by pill, she studied their purity, and each time her face became stranger and stranger. Many thought that the young man had failed in everything and already gleefully giggled. But they were waiting for Lu Yin''s reaction. The girl looked at Xie Qin, and then, with a twitching left eye, she rendered the verdict. "Twenty pills - 87% purity, ten pills - 80% purity, 3 pills - 92% purity, 3 pills 89% purity, and... 4 pills 98% purity." Shock! Everyone was in shock, each of them checked and pinched themselves on the cheek, hoping that they were asleep. But no, reality hit them and dealt a divine p to their cheek! Many doubted their hearing. "Ha ha, it seems I''m getting old. Oh well, I''m already twelve, and my hearing is not what it used to be... remind me, what was his pill purity?" "Comrade Daoist, what a coincidence. My hearing is also mumbling, probably old age has also struck my head." "Eeh..." Many did not believe it, but seeing the seriousness on Lu Yin''s face and remembering her authority, no one doubted it anymore. On many faces could be read envy and admiration. Talents in alchemy were not somon, and therefore many were pleasantly surprised. Lu Yin, who evaluated the pills, was also shocked, and she admired the abilities of this young man. She looked at him with aplex expression and then asked: "Can you provide these pills to me? I can even pay" said the girl. The pills were so pure that they could help young cultivators, so it was a pity to leave them. "You don''t have to pay, take them for free," replied Xie Qing. From the sale, he would have earned only 10 Spiritual Stones in any case, so for him, it was normal to show such generosity. "Thank you very much!" Lu Yin smiled brightly. In the sect, and the whole world of cultivation, there was a problem that for beginning cultivators from poor families, there were no avable pills left. Such cheap pills could be a hope for them. Lu Yin also produced batches of such pills from time to time, but she could not do it all the time, so there was a big shortage. She thought for a bit and decided that she would ask Xie Qing to help with this issue. She, like her Master, became an alchemist to bring more benefit to the world and help cultivators who for some reason cannot move forward. Moreover, an important task was also the preservation of the mortal poption, from which good cultivators could emerge, and simply the protection of the ordinary poption was also a loud question for thest decade. *** The lesson continued as usual, and except for the fact that there were many nces at Xie Qing, everything went calmly. Xie Qing prepared another twenty pills with a purity of 80%, which he handed over to Lu Yin, as they were not needed anyway. In return, he received a bright smile from the girl, who thanked him from the bottom of her heart. Xie Qing, in turn, smiled generously. "So, except for the group of twenty disciples, you can leave. Today''s lecture is over, and I hope you will continue to strive and study alchemy!" said Lu Yin. "Thank you for the lecture!" "Thank you!" The disciples stood up and bowed, and then began to leave the hall one by one. When there were only twenty people left in the lecture hall, Lu Yin nodded to them. "Now we can start training on how to evaluate your pills." Chapter 95: Golden Dragon Pill... price... 250.000.000 Spirit Stones?! The lecture went on for another two hours, during which Xie Qing and the other students learned how to properly evaluate their pills and avoid selling poor-quality products. Despite thete hour, none of the neen students looked unhappy or tired, and they all had satisfied smiles on their faces as if they had eaten swan meat and were happy. Before leaving, each student made sure to bow and thank Lu Yin for her guidance. "Thank you, Healer Lu, for the invaluable knowledge!" they said. "You''re wee. I wish you luck on your path," she modestly replied to them. She saw off each student with a smile, treating them fairly and equally, without giving anyone more attention than necessary. When the lecture hall was empty, only Xie Qing and Lu Yin remained. The room began to shrink, and soon they found themselves in a much smaller room. "Excellent work, Xie Qing. Your skills have shaken my understanding of alchemy and given me a strong kick in the butt to keep me from gettingcent," said Lu Yin with a friendly smile, and then regretfully added, "Although it''s a pity that your alchemical me is not of the highest quality. Otherwise, your potential would be fully realized." "Indeed, but I am not rich enough to be able to buy an alchemical me," Xie Qing said with a bitter smile and continued, changing the subject, "You look excited. Has something happened?" "Ah, so you noticed!" Lu Yin awkwardly smiled and began to exin that the next day there would be a gathering of the righteous path, where the main disciples of the sects would discuss the cultivation world, share knowledge, and so on. "In other words, a gathering for people with nothing better to do," Xie Qing said in a whisper. "Ha ha... yes, partly so. But I see it as a meeting with friends, as we rarely have the opportunity to meet due to our obligations in the sect and our families," Lu Yin replied with a ringingugh like a skrk, covering her cherry lips, and her shoulders shook withughter. "But your characterization is indeed funny. I think from the outside our meetings do leave that impression." "Otherwise, I don''t see the point," Xie Qing agreed with a smile and noted, "By the way, you have a beautifulugh. And your smile has be much more sincere." "Uh..." Lu Yin was taken aback and blushed slightly. "Well, thank you for thepliment," she replied with a slightly stammering voice, and then the color of her face returned to normal. She looked at the young man and said, "The day after tomorrow there will be an advanced alchemy lecture in the morning. I strongly urge you to arrive on time, as you are in the first group this month." "Of course, I would not dare to put you in an awkward position," Xie Qing said with an understanding expression. *** It was already one o''clock in the morning when Xie Qing returned to his hotel room. He opened the door and raised his eyebrows when he saw that Xie Meiling was sitting next to the door reading something. "Why are you sitting in this cold ce?" he asked, taking off his guest clothes. "I was waiting for you," Xie Meiling said. Xie Meiling looked at the young man and saw that he looked a little tired, and she raised her eyebrows, her expression reminiscent of her son. "Why do you look so tired? Did you pick up another girl on the road?" "Eh?" Xie Qing couldn''t help but make a strange sound, and seeing the jealousy in his mother''s eyes, he smiled mischievously and then shook his head. "Of course not. I don''t have time to spend on youngdies when my mother is spending time alone here." "Uh..." Xie Meiling snorted, but her face became much softer, and her eyes showed joy. The young man was silent but inwardly shook his head. "She''s jealous? Hmm, it seems our rtionship isn''t as ordinary as it might seem... is this the curse of being handsome?" he thought, once again putting on a haughty look. After he finished undressing, the young man changed into a robe and sat on the bed. Xie Meiling put her head on hisp and purred softly as the young man stroked her long hair. "How is your cultivation going?" the young man asked with a smile, looking at her cute behavior. "Not everyone is a monster like you and Xu Mei," Xie Meiling replied, stretching the young man''s cheeks andughing when she saw how funny his face looked. "Hihi. You''re so cute." "..." Xie Qing raised his eyebrows. "Cute? I haven''t been called cute since I was five years old," the young man thought, distorting the corners of his mouth. So he decided to tease his mother a little. He secretly lowered his hands to her butt and then pped it. p! The sound was muffled because she was wearing a fairly thickyer of clothing, so the force of the blow was dampened. However, it was enough to make Xie Meiling feel a strange vibration inside her body, and her face turned red with shame. The hands stretching Xie Qing''s cheeks fell, and she involuntarily let out a moan: "Mmm~... uh!" It took two seconds for her to realize what had happened, and in panic, she closed her eyes. But it was toote - Xie Qing had heard and was looking at her with narrowed eyes that showed amusement. Like a frightened cat, Xie Meiling suddenly disappeared. Even with his keen eyes, the young man could barely follow her and found that she had fled to the second room. "Ooh... if it weren''t for thisyer of clothing..." Xie Qing thought, shaking his head regretfully. Young Master Xie Qing was that pervert who didn''t even spare his mother. Seeing Xie Meiling, he always felt the urge to protect her and keep her close to him. Not allowing anyone to touch her ore within a centimeter. This was even reminiscent of dragons guarding everything that belonged to them and not allowing people to even approach their treasures. "Could the bloodline be influencing me this way?" the young man thought, tilting his head to the side: "Strange..." And it could very well be because of his perverted nature, who knows about this bastard? Xie Qing cast a reproachful nce somewhere behind him but saw no one. "Hm? I distinctly felt someone cursing me," the young man thought in bewilderment. The next day, Xie Qing had no sses because Lu Yin was leaving for the gathering, and he had mastered the basic lessonspletely. "Boring..." the young man thought. Xie Meiling also shared his boredom, and she was always sighing. Not knowing what to do, the young man entered a store. He had umted wealth and now had slightly less than two million Spirit Stones. He didn''t need anything at the moment, but he could buy something for his loved ones. There were many goods, many of them very expensive, but the young man was now interested in the "pills" section. "Ah, this..." he eximed in admiration. A road to another world opened up before him. Countless pills that looked as if they had been produced by a great alchemist... no, a legendary alchemist! [Soul Growth Pill] | [Price: 170,000 Spirit Stones] | [Description: Helps strengthen the soul and slightly elerate soul growth] [Phoenix Rebirth Pill] | [Price: 750,000 Spirit Stones] | [Description: A pill made from the blood of a phoenix chick. Can help survive death, but only works once] [Instant Cultivation Pill] | [Price: 1,500,000 Spirit Stones] | [Description: A pill that helps raise a realm. There are risks of death]. [Golden Dragon Pill] | [Price: 250,000,000 Spirit Stones] | [Description: Allows you to strengthen your physique and also acquire the bloodline of the Golden Dragon]. The prices were simply insane, especially for thest pill. Xie Qing raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Golden Dragon? I''ve seen this name before... it''s almost present in all items and always very expensive," Xie Qing thought. Golden Dragon. It seemed to be some kind of high-ss dragon bloodline because the cultivation world always called gold what was powerful. At least, Xie Qing understood this from the names of the techniques, which sounded as if they had been produced in the same factory. Most of the pills were indeed something that an ordinary person could not obtain. Especially the Phoenix Rebirth Pill. "The ability to be reborn after death... for this pill, people would give not some 750,000 Spirit Stones, but hundreds of millions," Xie Qing thought. For a second, he was ovee with greed - to buy the pill and sell it, but... "No, that would be stupid. If the cultivation world were so humane and polite, then hundreds of millions of lives would not have been lost in vain," the young man concluded and narrowed his eyes: "If this pill appeared on the shelf, then hundreds of millions of cultivators would fight for possession of it. Even I could not escape the danger." Realizing these facts, which could threaten his safety, Xie Qing overcame his greed and, sighing, continued to flip through the catalog. There were simply an unbearable number of pills and various items. Each of them cost more than ten million and had incredible effects, for which even immortals would fight. Xie Qing sighed a little. He wanted toe up with some kind of business and make a lot of money to buy and arm himself, bing as bright as a peacock. However, he had to bite his lip and close the store. There was nothing he needed right now, so this was more of a way to pass the time. And identally missing, he entered a strange category called ''Other.'' "What..." "It..." "Is...!?" Chapter 96: Assembly of Light (Part 1) Xie Qing was speechless when he saw the catalog in front of him, which did not contain any incredible immortal items, but... "What is this pervert set?!" he thought, losing his speech: "A whip? Eh... what is this even? A mask with a ball?" What the young man saw in front of him was nothing but apact sex shop. On the first pages with the heading "Rmended" BDSM products appeared, but he did not know about it. His perverted... or rather, cultured intuition suggested that these things were not for battles, although they could be attributed to the category of "fight", but only in bed. "Well... you see all kinds of nonsense in your life," thought the young man and closed the store, having previously reviewed the entire assortment. ...it seems you should hide your interest if you pretend to be innocent. Despite such a sudden offer, Xie Qing kept his stately expression and looked out the window. "Hm, what shameful items are being sold! Not a drop of honor in this damned system!" he thought, snorting. ...dude, what are you clenching in your hand there? Hey, that''s a whip! **** At sunrise, the darkness retreated under the bright beams of the sunlit pavilion, which created a sense of power and majesty, and was filled with people. "Greetings, young master..." "Long live the Wei family!" "Oh, and you''re here, Mr. Bai!" There was no hustle and bustle, each of the visitors to this pavilion was a person of high position - either the heir of a great family or the heir of an entire sect. It was notable that each of them had an aura of at least at the peak of Qi Condensation. This was the day of the gathering of cultivators from all over the world to discuss worldly affairs, decide the future of some aspects of the lives of young cultivators, and also discuss cultivation. In its early years, this gathering yed an important role for the entire cultivation world, where questions about the future were decided and nails were hammered into the coffin of devil cultivators. The founders of this gathering were four cultivators - Xu Mei, Zhang Mei, Liu Yan, and Feng Gu. Their names were still known, and each of them had a respected title. Xu Mei - Sword Princess. Zhang Mei - Ice Princess. Liu Yan - Spring Flower. Feng Gu - Mountain King. Once upon a time, these four, in this pavilion located in the very center of the capital, made an important decision that helped them destroy the forces of devil cultivators. If one looked closely, one could see that the aura of that day was still preserved - majestic, oppressive, and full of fearlessness. But times have changed. Centuries have passed, and in the end, the pavilion was still used as a ce for gatherings, but the gatherings themselves and their participants were no more than ordinary people. Their decisions could not influence the strengthened and static cultivation world, and what they discussed was so unimportant that soon the reputation of the "Assembly of Light" becameparable to a simple party. A great shame for the ancient cultivators, but not the most significant event for the new generation. "Li Yun!" a gentle and friendly voice came from the entrance. Li Yun, turning to the source of the sound, feeling the familiar qi and the smell of medicinal herbs, gently smiled and hugged her friend - Lu Yin. "Lu Yin! It''s been a long time!" "Yes, it''s been a long time... how are you? Feeling well?" Lu Yin began asking about her health, examining Li Yun''s body. "Eh... y-yes, everything is fine, don''t worry!" Li Yun answered embarrassedly. Every time they met, Lu Yin examined any wounds and diseases. Although Li Yun was grateful for this, she was embarrassed by such attention. Well, as soon as these two beauties were together, the young lords immediately stared at them with their eyes wide open, looking like a dog in heat. Of course, no one dared to approach these two. A year ago at the gathering, when someone tried to stick to Li Yun, Lu Yin mercilessly beat this young master. ...although this girl looks friendly, with a gentle smile always on her face, in some moments she turns into a real sadist who can crush your bones without any problems for an insult. That''s why, no matter how much some men wanted to approach them to talk, their eggs and buns shrank at the mere memory of Lu Yin''s cruelty. Apart from this, the gathering was going on as usual. At one point, even Huang Jing arrived, who was here to get to know influential people better. "Oh, who else but young master Huang? Greetings, greetings!" a voice full of contempt and mockery came from the side. Turning his head, Huang Jing looked indifferently at the man who came out of his entourage. His head was a mess as if a chicken had shat on it. "I didn''t know that even despised worms could speak. The heavens have truly surprised me," Huang Jing replied to the contemptuous tone of some master''s subordinate. "Who are you to talk about worms, Huang Jing," a rough male voice came from afar. The subordinate who first started mocking Huang Jing was all red with shame and anger, but when he saw and heard the voice of the man, he quickly ran back like a dog whose tail had been stepped on. "Hey..." "It''s him..." "His Qi is still powerful and oppressive..." A man walked out of the crowd, emitting a high and proud aura. His long hair was tied in a high ponytail, his cold and emotionless dark brown eyes looked at Huang Jing, his face was not so much handsome as it was ugly. The man was tall, 197 cm. He looked muscr, and by his appearance, one might think that he was no more than thirty years old. "So you''re here too, Bai He," Huang Jing nodded, and his gaze became wary when he saw the appearance of this man: "It seems that you still haven''t been able to teach your dogs how to speak humannguage properly." "Heh." Hearing the obvious sarcasm in Huang Jing''s voice, Bai He just smiled, and his aura soared to the skies. "Oh-oh... damn!" "This monster has broken through again!" Bai He''s aura grew like yeast. Starting from the peak of Core Formation, he broke through the wall of Soul Nascent''s first stage, then the second stage, the third stage... fourth stage... Fifth stage! The fifth stage of Soul Nascent! Everyone felt their breath catch, the air in the pavilion became heavy, and it was difficult to find a few streams of air to breathe in greedily. Bai He was a genius among the young generation thirty years ago, reaching Core Formation at the age of 23 and Soul Nascent at the age of 42. This was considered a high cultivation speed, and his main strength was his body, not Qi. It was as if he was woven from divine metal, he was strong, emitting an aura of power and invincibility! If any young man happened to meet his gaze, their hearts would sink into their heels, as if hiding from a terrifying master! Huang Jing felt the tension. Compared to Bai He, he was nothing. Twenty years ago, Huang Jing personally saw how his sect''s elder brother killed more than ten Core Formation cultivators while being a Qi Condensation cultivator. A powerful, no doubt, master! "Hmph. I thought you had learned something from your brother, but it seems you still like to hang out with all sorts of scum!" Bai He snorted disdainfully, looking at Huang Jing''s subordinates. His eyes gleamed with mockery: "Do you think you can defeat Huang Baizhi this way? Tsk, tsk! Zero chances! Zero!" "Hmph..." Huang Jing narrowed his eyes, this was his sore point. Huang Baizhi was his elder brother, who initially had no interest in inheritance and the struggle for it, but a month ago he announced his participation. This was serious. His brother was at the fourth stage of Soul Nascent. Moreover, there were many Core Formation cultivators in his entourage. However, Huang Jing decided not to argue and left Bai He with an indifferent expression, which did not stop him. Silence crept into the pavilion, which was still lively a minute ago. Many were afraid to speak loudly, not wanting to provoke Bai He. Fortunately, the man left after looking at Huang Jing, who was walking up the stairs. The atmosphere of joy returned to the pavilion, despite the still lingering tension in the air. The ce where geniuses gather has always been a dangerous ce. If someone lit a match, the whole pavilion would explode. In the distance, Li Yun and Lu Yin silently observed what was happening. They were not personally acquainted with Huang Jing, so they did not rush to help him. "That Bai He again... always causing trouble," Lu Yin muttered, frowning her beautiful brows: "One of the few people I hate with all my soul. He is arrogant and his character is terrible!" "I agree. He emits a bloody aura, obviously killed more than a dozen people. The threads of fate around him are always colored with blood," Li Yun muttered, twisting her mouth: "But that young man''s threads of fate were light. It seems that he is a good person." "I am not personally acquainted with him, but I have heard of his noble character. He helps the poor and wandering cultivators, Huang Jing is known as the most generous person in the Huang family," Lu Yin began to exin: "They say he was the closest to the status of the next head of the family, if not for the appearance of Huang Baizhi." "What a misfortune... but I am sure that fate will help him. Good people and pure karma are always loved by the Heavens," Li Yun said with a kind smile. Lu Yin only sighed and fell silent. She was not in as positive a mood as Li Yun. In any case, the gathering continued, even despite some unpleasantness. After the party, it would be appropriate to discuss something important. "Recently, news has been received... the devil cultivators have managed to break free from control!" The whole hall fell silent! Chapter 97: Assembly of Light (Part 2) Additional chapter for the magic castle. 8/10 ==== "The devil cultivators have returned!" Bai He''s voice rang out, he was currently the strongest and acting as the speaker for today''s meeting. "Wh-what?!" "How is that possible¡­" "Whisper... whisper..." The sudden announcement of the devil cultivators'' appearance was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. Many thought that this meeting would be as ordinary as usual, but... It turned out that there was such news! Li Yun and Lu Yin did not look surprised, which was understandable - their Masters had warned them. However, this did not mean that they were not concerned. "The world is changing," Li Yun felt the threads of fate intertwining and chaos beginning: "Cultivators will meet their enemies again... devils hiding in the darkness!" Bai He twisted the corners of his mouth as his gaze swept over all the cultivators in the room - he felt disgusted at their frightened faces. Although he was a scoundrel by nature, there was still pride in him as a righteous cultivator. He remembered the power of his ancestors who broke the devil cultivators and was not afraid of them, but rather, he was excited. "Turbulent times will help me build a foundation of reputation and gather subordinates. Then the Bai family will belong to me alone!" Some thought the same, but in most cases, people panicked. For them, these two words "devil cultivator" were a nightmare hanging over their heads. Everyone knew and remembered the reputation of these evil people who were more like monsters. Their power was cruel, their methods were cruel, and every appearance of a devil cultivator was apanied by deaths and hordes of undead. An atmosphere of fear and tension hung in the air, gradually recing the once dominant and fearless aura that had been preserved since ancient times. Once upon a time, countless righteous cultivators stood on this spot, holding the leash that bound the necks of the devil cultivators. But now, this leash has disappeared, and the once quiet and hiding in the dark forests enemy has risen, baring its sharp teeth. They had the motivation to develop, and the righteous cultivators did not. The world had undergone degradation. Who among the current cultivators would want to cultivate instead of drinking and women? Of course, a small percentage. In theirfortable conditions, no one wanted to leave their warm nest. And this was the cancer of the current generation. *** "Pathetic. Pathetic! What a pathetic behavior, unworthy of cultivators! Shameful!" In a small dimly lit room sat three people. The speaker was Xu Mei, looking at the projection of the cultivators'' meeting. Next to her sat two women - Zhang Mei and Liu Yang. On their faces, one could also see a hint of disappointment. Xu Mei was the most angered, believing that her honor and dignity as a righteous cultivator had been affected. "A generation of pigs! What is there to fear from the enemy?! This way, you will show yourself to be nothing more than prey in the eyes of the predator, scumbags!" Xu Mei scolded and crossed her arms over her chest: "Pf! They are not even worth the dirt under my disciple''s nails! Shameful!" "Eh... stop saying such dirty words, Xu Mei. It doesn''t suit your status and age," said Liu Yang with an awkward smile. Liu Yang, the head of the Nine Pills Sect, looked very attractive, which wasmon for cultivators of her level. She had long dark silver hair, bright yellow eyes, and no less bright breasts... cough... her chest was of medium size. She was a slender woman. Notable were her hips, which seemed to beg you to dive face down into them. Her butt was also good, in short, a dream for any culture connoisseur! "Pf! Whatever, I haven''t even started cursing these sons of cheap sluts! There will be a handful of people who won''t shit their pants when they see a devil cultivator in front of them!" Xu Mei said angrily, and then slyly giggled: "But my disciple was the first to detect the appearance of these scumbags and thwarted the enemy''s n! Now that''s what I call a real man!" Zhang Mei rolled her eyes, and Liu Yang looked surprised, staring at her old friend. They had known each other for more than a thousand years, had gone through fire and water together, and she saw for the first time how this woman said something positive about any of the men. "What is your disciple''s name? Although I have known about him for so long from my disciple''s words, I was busy preparing pills and sect affairs," Liu Yang asked with a gentle smile, emanating an aura of spring and kindness, which became the first reason for her nickname: "May I know his name?" "Hehe, of course! My disciple''s name is Xie Qing!" Xu Mei proudly thumped her chest and said: "He is very talented! Old woman Zhang Mei can confirm it!" "Pf!" Zhang Mei only snorted in disapproval but did not deny it. Liu Yang looked surprised and then repeated his name with a smile: "Xie... Qing? Hm, interesting... isn''t he the brother of your disciple, Xie Yu?" she asked Zhang Mei, who nodded. Thinking for a moment, the head of the Nine Pills Sect nodded: "So that''s it. From the Xie family, yes... hm, recently they had an incident and they even asked me to give them pills on credit, but I refused." "The family of my disciple is currently in disorder, but this is temporary. In a few months, the Xie family will meet a good head of the family," Xu Mei replied proudly. "Pf, sure... I can just imagine how this boy will manage the family. He will ask all the women in the estate to serve him in turn," Zhang Mei rolled her eyes andmented. "Oh? So he''s a womanizer?" Liu Yang asked with a smile that looked somewhat dangerous: "He''s just close with my disciple..." "Hehe. So he has reached your disciple. Prepare a dowry, Sister Yan, your disciple is getting married soon," Zhang Mei rolled her eyes and said, ignoring Xu Mei''s sharp gaze. She unhappilymented: "This boy has somehow bewitched my disciple. Just mention the name of this scumbag, and her face turns red!" Liu Yang gentlyughed, but from thisughter, Xu Mei and Zhang Mei''s backs were covered in goosebumps. "What an interesting boy. It seems he''s very charming, isn''t he?" Liu Yang murmured and looked at Xu Mei with an unreadable smile: "Sweetie, please let your disciple be a little more restrained." "Eh...?" Xu Mei was covered in goosebumps and although she wanted to say: "Huh? Why the fuck should my disciple hold back! Let your disciple not throw herself at him like a bitch in heat!" However, Liu Yang''s smile was too scary. Although Xu Mei was the strongest among them in terms of power, the woman with a gentle smile was much older in terms of seniority. Moreover, for everyone in their group, Liu Yang was the older sister who had saved them many times in difficult situations. So, the Sword Princess just snorted and turned away. *** The meeting discussed some possible methods to deal with the devil cultivators, but nothing useful was devised. Some suggested using mortals as bait, and some asked to ensure the safety of noble-blooded people from the bloodthirsty gazes of devil cultivators. No one wanted to stick their necks out, which was understandable - everyone valued their lives. But there were also brave ones who fiercely dered the need to fight to protect the cultivation world. Mostly everyone nodded and supported, but in reality, they considered such people foolish. Lu Yin and Li Yun left the meeting with grim faces. What they saw throughout the meeting were only ttering and fat faces of cultivators who should have united in a moment of danger. "What a disgrace..." Li Yun muttered with a sigh and slightly opened her empty eyes, narrowing them, and closing them again: "I see that disaster is approaching. With such a mood, the cultivation world is doomed." Lu Yin silently nodded. She was also not in a positive mood. Unless a beacon appeared in the world that would lead all cultivators, the world would be doomed. Xu Mei was the beacon at that time. An incredible genius who put all previous record-holders to shame and, making her way through the bodies of geniuses, acquired the title of the greatest genius. However, unfortunately, even Bai He, who was considered one of the brilliant geniuses, could not show himself as Xu Mei did and even more so attracted people. The character of a hero. That''s what the mancked, besides being weak. For a good ten minutes, gloom hung between them. The two girls were the main geniuses of the current generation, and there were many hopes for them. Lu Yin, and Li Yun were so far the only outstanding geniuses. The Resting Eagle Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect had not yet produced a genius worthy of attention. "I wonder when the hero who will light our way will appear?" Lu Yin thought. ... hey, don''t make me rush. *** Meanwhile, the genius who was supposed to save the worldy on his bed and cultivated. Next to him sat Xie Meiling with a red face. The thing was this: five minutes ago, the young man offered to massage her, and the woman was not against it. During the massage, he kept touching her sensitive spot. And Xie Meiling, unable to hold back, finished. However, that was not all. The young man first froze, and then quickly sat in the lotus position. His gaze seemed to clear, Qi flowed out of the window, and a vortex formed around him. The aura emanating from him began to strengthen, and clouds gathered over the Sect of Nine Pills. Heavenly Tribtion! Panic immediately began in the sect. Many experienced cultivators looked in amazement as evil clouds formed in the sky, and the world of the sect plunged into darkness. A few seconds passed in silence, and then... Boom! A sh lit up the heavens, and a fierce lightning bolt struck directly at the inn, bypassing obstacles in the form of walls, and pierced the young man''s body. "S-s-ss...!" Xie Qing inhaled the cold air, and his eyes rolled back from the pain. However, he clenched his teeth and continued to meditate. Following his cultivation technique, he directed his Qi and emitted an aura, presenting himself as a cultivator one step away from Soul Nascent. The people from the inn had long been evacuated, and the sect''s elders activated a protective mechanism that fenced off the inn. "Who is this master... decided to break through right in the sect?!" dissatisfied voices were heard. Several elders were angry. Heavenly Lightning could kill those who were nearby! It was very dangerous. When some of the stronger, more confident elders wanted to enter, a shout sounded behind their backs. "Stop!" The people turned and saw an old man with a long beard standing behind their backs. His face looked wrinkled, his back hunched, and his body thin and emaciated. He wore a dark golden robe. "Head Elder!" The other elders, seeing this man, bowed. Chapter 98: Head Elder Yan "Head Elder Yan!" The other elders, seeing this man, bowed. "We wee you!" As one, each elder in fear and respect greeted the great alchemist who was already over a thousand years old. He grimly nodded, looking at the inn where the heavenly lightning was striking. The old gentleman felt fear. "The energy of these lightning bolts is terrifying. There must be a terrifying talent hidden in the inn, for the Heavens want to test him," the old man thought, and his already wrinkled face wrinkled in pain. Yan Zui was the name of the Head Elder. In his youth, he was a genius of alchemy, invented modern medicine, and gave the world recipes for miraculous pills that could heal even the most severe wounds. His nickname was "Master of Medicines." Everyone in the Nine Pills Sect revered this old man no less than the sect leader. "Head Elder, what should we do with this person? He vited the sect''sws..." began an elder with a concerned look. "Do not worry. Sometimes the Heavenly Triales too suddenly, so a cultivator does not always have time to choose the right time," said the elder and narrowed his eyes: "Besides, it seems that this is his first time. Youth makes all mistakes forgivable..." "H-hmm..." Although some elders did not agree with Yan Zui''s decision, who would dare to contradict the famous master? They could only swallow their dissatisfaction and watch the Heavenly Trial closely. An hourter, the hail of lightning ended. The gray clouds were swept away by the wind, and the bright sun illuminated the Nine Pills Sect. The disciples, frightened by this spectacle, finally managed to catch their breath, and the elders began to enter the inn and check the rooms to find the one who had made the breakthrough. Soon they came across thest unexplored room. Head Elder Yan knocked on the door. "Come in," a deep and beautiful female voice sounded. Yan Zui pushed the door and entered the room. To his surprise, he found a beautiful woman with ck hair and a young man who surpassed her in beauty. "Oh... my Heavens..." muttered Yan Zui, feeling weakness in his knees. He felt apletely new, slightly scorching Qi of the Nascent Soul. This meant that the young man had just made a breakthrough. Yan Zui''s eyes widened in disbelief. As a healer, he could determine the age of his patients by their bones and blood, and what he discovered amazed him. "He''s no more than twenty years old! How young!" Time seemed to stand still, and in his memory, Yan Zui had never heard of anyone under twenty bing a Nascent Soul cultivator. Even the legendary Sword Princess paled inparison to this man! "Y-young man... w-what''s your name?" asked Yan Zui in a trembling voice. "S-sir?" Ignoring the surprised elders, Yan Zui looked only at Xie Qing, who by this time had opened his eyes. "Oh..." Yan Zui felt his heart stop for a whole second. Looking into the bottomless golden eyes, the old man felt the pressure of a superior being. A predator. A feeling as if he had returned to his youth and once again found himself before a terrifying monster that surpassed him in level. And when Xie Qing blinked, his eyes returned to their usual appearance - ck bottomless eyes, like the night sky. Standing up from the bed, the young man showed himself in full. His hair flowed down his back, his aura was majestic, and because of his tall stature, he looked imposing. "My name is Xie Qing, sir," the young man answered the old man''s question and smiled friendly: "I am a guest in the sect, the Heavenly Trial came too quickly, and I put the sect''s safety at risk. For which I repent and apologize." "Oh... yes, indeed..." Yan Zui came to his senses as soon as Xie Qing spoke. The old man felt ashamed for losing his bnce of mind in front of the young man and the other elders. Clearing his throat, although it was fake, the old man looked at the young man and began the dialogue. "I am the Head elder of the Nine Pills Sect, Yan Zui. You should have heard the name of this humble servant at least once," said Yan Zui, and his eyes sparkled as he looked at Xie Qing: "Young man, allow an old man to ask one more question, do you belong to any sect? Or perhaps to a great family?" "Of course, I have heard of it. This junior admires your achievements. Moreover, the elder has a keen eye," said Xie Qing, nodding: "I am from the Heavenly Sword Sect, and my family is not worth mentioning yet." "Heavenly Sword, yes... it seems it''s time for the sect to rise again!" In the eyes of the Head elder, one could see amazement and admiration. For many years, the progress of the Heavenly Sword Sect had stagnated, and many had begun to forget about its former greatness. Fortunately, now among their disciples, there appeared one who would lead a new generation! "Genius! Surpasses even Celestial Healer Lu! Amazing!" Head Elder Yan Zui breathed in admiration. Geniuses always aroused admiration in people, especially if they were swordsmen. Yan Zui was a genius in alchemy, but in cultivation. He had been stuck at the fourth stage of Soul Integration for more than five hundred years. Due to internal injuries, Yan Zui could no longer maintain a youthful appearance and age. The elders standing behind Yan Zui fell silent, looking at each other. They saw for the first time that their famous Head elder praised someone else besides Celestial Healer Lu and sect leader Zhang Mei. Many of those who wanted to use the young man of viting the rules fell silent and said nothing more. If Yan Zui remained silent, who would dare to raise this issue? For some time, Yan Zui talked with Xie Qing and was pleasantly surprised. Despite his young age and genius status, the young manmunicated very politely and calmly. There was no arrogance or anything else that was inherent in geniuses. Even Yan Zui felt ashamed, for in his youth, he was very proud and arrogant, did not respect adults and more experienced people, and considered himself the top of the world. "What a noble young man! Are you also talented in alchemy? The Heavens have rewarded this mortal world with a genius who defies allws!" said Yan Zui with a loudugh and smiled, looking at the young man: "Have you registered for our sses?" "Yes, just recently..." Xie Qing talked about his experience, still having the same calm and friendly appearance as a junior. Although he was proud, he had heard about the reputation of the old man in front of him - he was a genius whoid the foundation for modern medicine! A hero! No matter how proud he was, no matter how much arrogance there was, Xie Qing respected pioneers. *** The next day, the lessons resumed. Xie Qing was already awake at dawn and was in the lecture hall by five o''clock in the morning. One might think that he was one of the first, but four students were already sitting there and did not even deign to look at him. No one spoke, only silently meditated, waiting for Lu Yin''s arrival. The officially appointed time for the lesson was six o''clock in the morning, but each of them arrived earlier to prepare their workbench. In advanced alchemy, you have to set up your workbench yourself, so arranging herbs and the like is your task. This is not done out ofziness, but simply to teach future alchemists how to properly allocate their time in any situation. Xie Qing, as a beginner, did not have a particr style, so he just repeated what he had in his basic alchemy sses. Of the four students, only one of them deigned to look at him, and there was open mockery in his gaze. "What are you staring at, freak?" Xie Qing conveyed with his gaze and cheekily smiled, releasing his aura for a split second and focusing it on the student. "Hii!" The student let out a strange cry and turned away in fear. Xie Qing slightly scared him and did it so covertly that no one understood. "Tsk..." a clicking sound of the tongue was heard. The students looked at the student who cried out with obvious annoyance. He hid from shame. Twenty minutester, Lu Yin arrived. She was dressed in a ssic green hanfu, and her hands were adorned with white gloves. "Good morning," the woman greeted with a gentle smile. "Good morning, Celestial Healer Lu!" A moment earlier, the arrogant students hid their pride and stood up, bowing. Lu Yin nodded and turned her gaze to Xie Qing, who was also sitting as usual. "Hello," she conveyed her voice to his mind: "How have you been spending your days?" "Normally," Xie Qing replied in the same way and smiled: "I missed you very much. How was the meeting?" "Eh? The meeting went... unusually. I''ll tell youter." Lu Yin smiled shyly and then looked away. She always found it difficult with this young man who seemed to know no shame. After all the preparations werepleted, the lesson began. Xie Qing noticeably felt theplexity increase in the material. They were already discussing much more advanced alchemy techniques, and if it weren''t for the fact that he had crammed basic alchemy and other subjects, it would have been much harder to grasp the new knowledge. "So, the alchemical me can be used in different ways, but in most cases, many highly qualified alchemists use this technique..." Lu Yin said and waved her hand. Immediately, a new technique appeared on the tokens of all five, and they eagerly began to study it. The technique was called "Advanced Alchemical me Control." "Could it be that I finally met a technique that has a normal and practical name?" Xie Qing thought in disbelief, and his eyebrows twitched. However, time was running out. He narrowed his eyes and was able to master this technique in one second and apply it in five seconds, causing surprised gasps from his ssmates. "N-no way..." someone eximed. "He knew about this technique before, right? Otherwise, how could he learn it so quickly? It''s impossible!" someone denied. "Heavens..." And only Lu Yin understood the whole truth. Xie Qing had been showing his talents since the first day, unashamed of anyone or anything. This was the first time he saw this technique. "Terrifying talent..." she thought and remembered the recent meeting. Her face smoothed into its usual gentle smile: "So the world will indeed get its beacon. What a blessing..." Chapter 99: Rise of a Legend (Part 1) Additional chapter for the magic castle. 9/10 ==== The manifestation of Xie Qing''s talents made many disciples swallow their pride. They decided to focus on learning alchemy techniques first. "I''ve finished studying. Is there anything else I need to do?" Xie Qing asked, propping up his chin with his hand and resting his elbow on his thigh. He sat in a lotus position and looked bored. "Nurse Lu?" Lu Yin came to her senses after she caught Xie Qing''s carefree gaze and thought for a moment before snapping her fingers. "I''ve sent you the recipes that will be studied today. Work on studying them for now," she said and turned to the other disciples, narrowing her eyes. "And you, instead of eavesdropping, should hurry up and study. I don''t want to waste my time on games, got it?" "Y-yes, ma''am!" The disciples who were sneakily eavesdropping a moment ago quickly returned to their tasks and began studying the technique. But many of them still couldn''t calm down, as they had just caught a hint that this young man had indeed learned it on the first try! This was nonsense! The speed of learning techniques was also determined by talent, so this could only mean one thing... he was a freaking genius! "And I looked down on him?" thought one of the disciples who had been intimidated by Xie Qing''s strength at first. His face turned red with shame. Fortunately for him, Xie Qing paid no attention to him and considered such actions to be simple mischief. "Let''s see what''s in here," the young man thought, retrieving his token and directing his Qi towards it. Soon, he discovered new material containing ten recipes. As he began studying, Xie Qing was amazed to find that these pills were twice asplex, and preparing them was no easy task. If it weren''t for his powerful cultivation technique and the fact that he was a cultivator at the Soul Nascent stage, his Qi might not have been enough! Each pill took anywhere from one to five hours to prepare! This was a short amount of time for advanced alchemists, but impressive enough for a beginner. There were ten pills in total, with names such as: Silver Lizard Pill - a pill that could strengthen Qi absorption during meditation by 0.2 times. Spring Flower Pill - a pill created by Liu Yang herself. This was a weak version that could heal superficial wounds. Shining Eagle Pill - a pill that could enhance vision for twenty seconds. Weak version. Blood... Light... The pills were diverse and belonged to one level above novice, and could already be sold on the market for 5 to 15 spiritual stones. Not bad, but for Xie Qing, such an amount was not worth mentioning. Therefore, he nned to give them to Lu Yin, as it would help establish good rtions between them. He then began to arrange the herbs for the first pill, but Lu Yin''s voice sounded in his mind. "Wait, Xie Qing," she said, making the young man look up and meet her gaze. "What?" he asked, raising his eyebrow in silence. He looked at the beautiful girl who stood straight and smiled her usual gentle smile. She resembled a spring flower, like a distant and unattainable first love. Seeing his puzzled expression, Lu Yin softly giggled, and it looked very cute. She looked at him with tears in the corners of her eyes. "Don''t rush, please. These pills must be prepared strictly ording to my instructions, or there may be an explosion. All theponents of the pills are explosive," she said, politely instructing him. "Oh, right..." Xie Qing nodded and set aside the herbs, enveloping them with Qi to prevent any reaction. Lu Yin nodded and began to observe the other disciples. Half an hour. That''s how long it took these kids to learn the alchemy technique. They looked tired, clearly unhappy with their results. Compared to cultivation techniques of Daoism, Buddhism, and the like, alchemy techniques were much easier to learn. Therefore, half an hour was a good time, but Xie Qing had set the bar so high that no one was satisfied with themselves. "Sigh! We''re far from being a genius!" the disciples thought, admiring Xie Qing''s talent. Although some envied him maliciously, one couldn''t help but acknowledge that it was the geniuses who should lead the world, not the other way around. So, no matter how many were unhappy, there would always be just as many who were satisfied. *** In the pitch-ck darkness, hidden from view, a whisper could be heard. There, in a small inn, sat five people. They wore no cloaks, had the usual appearance of cultivators, and possessed a maximum cultivation level of Qi Condensation. But there was one problem. Theyughed like crazed psychopaths, their eyes sunken, darkened, and filled with an ominous redness. Their backs were hunched forward, as if another sharp bone was growing from their shoulder des, lifting their clothing upwards, creating a spear-like shape. A dark and ominous aura emanated from them, as if they were not humans, but ordinary magical beasts. Theirughter echoed throughout the inn. Passersby gave them strange looks as if they were looking at madmen. The inn was a district of entertainment. Bars, brothels, casinos, and the like, a ce that never sleeps. This ce was located in a remote city on the Western Continent, with a poption of a hundred thousand people, which was considered very small, almost nothingpared to other cities in the Dynasty. And these five were not the only ones with such strange bodies. There were simr cases with the same physique. A squeak... a rat-like squeak sounded in the dark alley in the slum area. "Haa... haaa... ugh... haaa!" Footsteps could be heard - someone was desperately running away. The person''s breathing was heavy, interrupted by coughing. "Hr-r-r..." A strange creaking sound was heard... as if a door was creaking. However, it came from a human-like shadow. Suddenly, the person running stopped - there was a wall in front of them. "Oh no!" The bright moonlight illuminated the face of the person running. It was a mortal woman without a drop of Qi in her body. Her eyes widened, looking at the approaching demonic figure. "Hehehe..." "N-no..." "Hahahaha..." "N-noooo!" Blood spattered, and soon the screams were drowned out by the monster''s madughter. *** DING! A loud, annoying sound rang out as Xie Qing peacefully slept on his bed. His eyes opened slightly, and he saw that the token of the Sect of Heavenly Sword was floating in the air, glowing with a red light. Immediately, the young man woke up from his drowsiness and took the token in his hand, channeling his Qi into it. Then, the voice of the sect master sounded in his head. [All disciples of the inner and main courts who have received this notification, head to Beizi City on the southern part of the Western Continent immediately!]. "It seems that things are very bad!" Xie Qing thought and jumped up from his spot. He easily changed into his white hanfu with impressive protection and then found his mother. "Mom, I have to go on a sect mission. Let Lu Yin know that I won''t be attending her sses for some time," the young man shouted, and then opened the window and jumped out of the room. "Eh?!" Poor Xie Meiling, who had been awakened by his shout, heard the young man''s words but didn''t even have time to react before he disappeared into the sunset. "It seems that something serious has happened..." Xie Meiling thought, and in the next second, her token rang. It was Xu Mei. "Xie Meiling, stay in the Sect of Nine Pills and help them if necessary," Xu Mei''s grim voice sounded as if she had returned to her younger years - just as cold and fearless. "Devilish cultivators... have infected more than a million mortals. And the number is increasing every second!" *** A disgrace to the cultivation world. That''s what this incident would be called in the future. The devilish cultivators, as it turned out, were not fooling around but plotting. Xie Qing arrived at the city in an hour and already saw that it was destroyed, and terrifying creatures that resembled humans were flying in the sky. "Damn it!" Xie Qing cursed and gritted his teeth, looking at the monsters in the sky. "These are freaking Jiangshi, and they''ve even mutated and grown wings!" The situation was dire. There were over a hundred thousand Jiangshi in the sky, each with the strength of a peak Qi Condensation cultivator, which was enough for a world disaster. So, without paying attention to the newly arrived cultivators, Xie Qing took a stance and quickly drew his sword. "Will of the Empress of Swords - Heavenly Punishment!" ng! A loud metallic sound rang out, and a bright golden light in the shape of a crescent moon headed toward the creatures flying in the sky. "Kiiii!" The Jiangshi let out disgusting screams, but they were unable to resist Xie Qing''s attack and were soon cut in half, their bodies torn apart by Qi Aura. A total of ten thousand died, but Xie Qing''s face was dark. He turned to the crowd and released his Qi. "C-cultivator at the Soul Nascent stage!" the crowd gasped. Looking at how Xie Qing raised his sword to the sky, they held their breath. In the next second, the sky darkened. "Kii?!" The confused Jiangshi came to their senses at the sight of the clouds and began to panic. Their minds were limited, but they could understand that these clouds did not bode well. But it was toote to escape. The clouds covered the entire city and dozens of miles beyond the city walls. "You have nowhere to run! Will of the Empress of Swords - Sword Deity''s Punishment!" Boom! A piercing thunderous sound rang out in the clouds, and lightning in the form of sharp golden swords began to descend from the heavens. There were over a million swords, and although they struck the city chaotically, they managed to kill an impressive number of Jiangshi. "Kiiii!" The heavens were filled with the cries of the disgusting monsters, and the crowd of cultivators standing behind Xie Qing watched the scene with their mouths open in the shape of an "O." In their eyes, the lone figure of the young man holding an ordinary-looking sword was like a scene from legend. Turning to the crowd, Xie Qing narrowed his eyes and stamped his foot on the ground, summoning a stone wall that protected him from the surviving Jiangshi''s attack. Surveying the crowd, Xie Qing shouted, "I am Xie Qing! Using the authority of a disciple of the Sect of Heavenly Sword, I ask all my fellow Daoists to participate in the battle against evil!" His voice wasmanding, his gaze filled with coldness, and his posture straight. As an immortal descended from the heavens, he looked down at the crowd of unskilled young people who had lost the power of speech. His beautiful ck hair fluttered in the wind, and his deep ck eyes shone brightly. "Charge!" came one voice. "Let''s kill the beasts!" came a second voice. "For the glory of righteous cultivators!" came a third voice. Fourth... Fifth... Sixth... A crowd of a hundred cultivators flew over the high wall and then began the battle against the Jiangshi. Blood filled the sky. The massacre had begun! Chapter 100: Rise of a Legend (Part 2) We have finally reached the hundredth chapter. Thank you to all who supported me. Golden Tickets: MochiFeelings, Zhs, Chongky, Xeco, Sumit\\_Kt, Irkos, kanderson2084, Anitimesc, Anakin\\_Lost, Handel\\_14, Tesseis, rajib200423, Theresa\\_Fatorma\\_2992 There were also many users who helped me PS. I know about your support and see your nicknames. Thank you! === It seemed that a frenzied crowd of cultivators was shing and using techniques to kill the jiangshi. The sky was filled with colors and shes, the ground was stained with blood - both human and jiangshi. It was difficult to fight these monsters. They could fly, had an annoying ability to escape with jumps, and were agile and slippery. Xie Qing stood on the ruined city wall. His eyes slid over the ruined houses, countless corpses and skeletons, and his eyes darkened. "What a horror... even if I am not that kind-hearted, it still makes me feel sympathetic," he thought, and then looked up at the sky - it was covered with countless jiangshi: "I can kill only a hundred thousand and a little more. These bastards have bred too fast, someone has obviously been preparing this for a long time." Devilish cultivators. Xie Qing was on guard when he learned that they were still active and had managed to escape from the cage of the Sect of the Resting Eagle. The first thought was that the famous Mountain King was a traitor and allowed the devil''s spawn to prate other continents. However, Xu Mei rejected this idea, as they had left a heavenly oath to protect the cultivation world and never joined the devils. "Suspicious. Although Master trusts him, I don''t particrly. But there''s no rush, I guess I''ll deal with this crowd first." Xie Qing''s eyes lit up with gold and the technique "Dragon''s Gaze" was activated. Now he could use it on several people at once, and if used to the fullest, a hundred would be directly hit and another thousand around would feel the pressure. "Dragon''s Gaze!" Changes appeared in the crowd of jiangshi. The monsters froze in the air and lucky cultivators witnessed the moment with ease and killed them. This was repeated with about two hundred jiangshi, and several thousand of them began to fall to the ground. "Oh! Brothers, they are weakening, let''s kill them!" someone shouted in the crowd. This was followed by a battle cry and the cultivators began to kill the monsters even more fiercely. Xie Qing also did not waste time and did not spare his Qi, using various sword techniques that were aimed at killing several enemies at once. "Princess Sword Style - Sigh of a Thousand des!" A bright light shone and some cultivators were blinded. They turned in shock to Xie Qing, who stood on the city wall, above him rose thousands of des in the shape of a shell. "Forward!" cried the young man, causing a shiver down the spine of every cultivator. "This is..." "A sword genius!" Many held their breath. The Sword Aura of this technique was stunning and dangerous, leaving a small wound, and you would have to struggle not to die. "Amazing!" many admired. Thousands of shining golden des, equipped with Sword Aura, flew fiercely towards the panicking jiangshi in the air. "Kiiii!" Pitiful cries were heard, and the jiangshi fell to the ground, helplessly screaming. Their bodies were torn apart by the fierce Sword Aura, and soon the "bombs" in the form of corpses began to destroy everything around them, causing damage to the monsters. "Everyone, retreat!" shouted Xie Qing. No one dared to stay in the same ce, they immediately ran towards the city gates and jumped over them, standing behind the young man. He was the target of many admiring nces. Most were also amazed that after so long, the Heavenly Sword Sect finally had a worthy sessor. For a long time, the swordsmen had maintained silence, development had stagnated, and now there was one who would lead the crowd, who would shine with light - a pioneer! Many experienced cultivators sensed his bone age and were amazed so much that their legs buckled. One of the oldest cultivators looked fearfully at the young man. "S-senior? What''s wrong with you?" worried the disciples. It seemed that this senior was from some minor sect. His cultivation level reached the peak of Core Formation. "H-he... he!" However, the senior could not give a normal answer, his finger pointing at Xie Qing trembling. His eyes filled with tears, and he muttered: "This young man... the future Sovereign!" "Wh-what?!" Many in the crowd froze in shock and their gaze on the young man changed with fear and admiration. There were also those who envied him. "Holy shi-!" Sovereign - the title of cultivators who have reached the level of Transcendence, on par with Xu Mei, Zhang Mei, and others. It was not easy to find them, but at some point, the threads of fate would form a character that would mean this word: "Sovereign"! The senior, who weakly fell to the ground in shock, was a man from the Li family, albeit a distant bloodline. He could see threads of fate from time to time if they were strong enough. "This young man... a genius!" "Sovereign? Well, for me, this will not be difficult, hehe," thought Xie Qing, eavesdropping on their dialogue. Of course, he did not doubt his abilities for a second and was confident that reaching the peak of cultivation in the mortal world would be an easy task for him. "But... is this the end of the cultivation path? Hmm..." the young man wondered and then shook his head: "No time to think about it. Now there is a battle." Well, since we mentioned the battle, the situation was in favor of the cultivators. The jiangshi had noticeably decreased in number, but there were still many of them left. Although Xie Qing could quickly restore his Qi, this could notst long. However, luckily, after half an hour, the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect arrived. Among them was Fang Lan. "Xie Qing!" her beautiful and sweet voice sounded. "Hm?" The young man waved his sword and killed another ten jiangshi in the air, only then did he turn towards the girl. "Hello," he waved his hand with a carefree smile and with the big finger of his right hand pointed to the crowd of jiangshi: "And I''m just cleaning up the trash. It would be great if you helped me." "Huh? Um, yes, of course..." Fang Lan bitterly smiled, discovering that his cultivation level had increased again, but her eyes lit up with hope. However, conversations about this could be postponed to better times. She looked at the more than a thousand disciples of the main court and five thousand of the inner court. "Brothers and sisters, let''s kill the monsters!" The response was the sound of weapons and countless dao techniques aimed at the monsters. Xie Qing sighed loudly and inhaled the qi to restore his expenditures. His gaze extended over the battlefield and seeing that his brothers and sisters from the sect were already actively killing monsters, he smiled. "It seems that I have finally found a moment to show off..." thought the young man and smiled, remembering a cultivation technique that Xu Mei gave him: "Heavenly Cage!" Boom! There was a sound of an explosion, and in the next second, from beginning to end, the city was enclosed in a square cage. "Wh-what is this?!" some panicked. "Another trick of the devilish cultivators?" someone said angrily, trying to attack the cage, but in response, he only received a wound: "Ay!" Seeing this barbaric crowd, Xie Qing rolled his eyes and turning around, released his qi to attract attention. "This is my dao technique. While we are in this space, the monsters will not get out, and you will receive a boost to your strength. Act!" After the young man''s words, many sighed in relief and looking closely, indeed discovered an increase in their strength. They thanked the young master and ran back to the battlefield. This is what the skill card looked like: [Heavenly Cage] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: Heavenly Cage - a technique with an unknown origin. Depending on the amount of Qi, the cage differs in size. It can suppress unrighteous energy, and those whom the user considers allies will receive an increase in spiritual energy. It is strongly not rmended to use for sexual entertainment, although it blocks sounds... ugh, why did I say that?] "..." Xie Qing shook his head, amazed at this stupid description. It seemed to him that since the system had not written stupidments for a long time, everything had been fixed. "As expected! Still the same stupidments!" thought the young man, raising his finger up. After an hour, most of the cultivators were already tired. Xie Qing frowned and stood up from his ce. He had spent a lot of Qi on maintaining this cage, and now, seeing that the others could not handle the task, he decided to take action himself. "But... this Sword Empress technique is too dangerous... it will drain almost all my Qi," thought Xie Qing and darkened, looking around, he found Fang Lan in the crowd. Thinking for a moment, he sent her his words. "Fang Lan, I am going to use arge-scale technique. Ask the others to retreat so as not to be affected," said Xie Qing, and ignoring Fang Lan''s surprised cry, continued: "After that, I hope you will take care of me." "O-okay." Although the girl did not understand what the young man meant, she nodded and carried out the order. Although many main disciples were unhappy, they had to retreat, because Fang Lan was from an influential family. Then, under the gaze of all the cultivators, Xie Qing flew into the air - this was thanks to a one-time item that he bought in the store. Then, Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, and then drew his sword, holding the handle with both hands and pointing the tip at the crowd of jiangshi. "Will of the Empress of Swords... World of des!" His voice was deafening in the crowd of cultivators. Many held their breath, for they already knew what this young man was capable of. But even after five seconds, nothing happened. "Eh?" "Was it a bluff?" "What the... bastard, get down and don''t interfere!" Immediately, dissatisfied voices were heard, and there were cultivators from the Heavenly Sword Sect who jumped forward, but... "Eh?" The one who suddenly jumped from the city wall was instantly chopped into thousands of pieces! The blood did not even have time to gush out! Shock! Everyone lost their speech. And when someone was about toment on this case, something incredible happened. "KIIIIIIIIIIII!" BOOOOOOOOOOOOM! Chapter 101: Rise of a Legend (Part 3) Silence and tranquility... what a wonderful feeling. Bright sunrays shone on the ground, causing the earth to glitter, and the temperature in the air began to rise. Dawn! "Kii? Kii!" The cultivators looked around in confusion and saw their hands beginning to melt under the influence of the temperature. "Oh, heavens!" someone eximed and pointed to the sky: "Look! It''s... a second sun!" "Wh-what... the hell?!" The heavens were lit by two suns. Many with good eyesight froze in fear when they realized that this sun was made up of tiny des charged with Sword Aura! And then, as if the master of this tiny world, the voice of a young man echoed in everyone''s head. "Sword world... Destruction!" cried Xie Qing and his eyes gleamed with a golden me. BOOM! Countless des flew out of the second sun. Each de was norger than five centimeters but possessed terrifying power. "Wh-what!?" The cultivators stood in shock, watching as the ground beneath their feet trembled and the gloomy heavens grew brighter. Many fell to their knees and clutched their throats, looking at Xie Qing as he floated in the air, his slender and powerful back shielding them from danger. "Hahaha..." Xie Qingughed in satisfaction and spread his arms, feeling the admiring gazes upon him. This was a dangerous technique that did not distinguish between friend and foe, so he had asked Fang Lan to move everyone back before using it. And now, as the moment arrived, he used this technique. Instantly, countless cultivators in the sky fell to the ground, mutted. "Kiiii!" Their screams echoed in the eerie silence. The bright glow of the swords did not stop. They suddenly began to merge into a uniform mass and transformed into a magnificent sword with a de two meters high. "Time to shred the monsters!" cried Xie Qing, a confident smile on his face. "Oh..." Gripping the hilt of the de with both hands, he rose even higher into the air and then, with a devilish grin, raised the sword and... shed! "Kii?" BOOM! The monsters'' bewildered cries were answered only by a loud explosion and a bright light that blinded everyone, friend or foe. "Aaah! My eyes..." "It hurts..." The cultivators screamed in pain and immediately covered their faces, avoiding the bright light as if they were vampires. Meanwhile, the earth shook under the pressure of the sword strike, shaking the ground. The bright light pierced the earth for twenty meters and headed straight for the monsters. "Kiiii! Kiiiiii!" Many of the monsters tried to escape, but in the end, they were caught by the light. With each second, their numbers dwindled. Watching this, Xie Qing proudly smiled and ignored the dizziness. This technique consumed too much qi, but it looked effective and was useful for a mass attack. His main goal had been achieved... he wanted to show off! The mass attack left the spectators unable to observe for a while, but when they opened their eyes, they saw something that made their mouths hang open and some even fall to their knees in shock. "Heavens..." "T-the city..." "Cut in half?!" Indeed, dear cultivators, you have correctlymented on the emergency. The ruined city was aze, causing many to squint. Moreover, in the center was a gaping hole twenty meters deep and forty meters in diameter! "Oh... monster..." someone muttered, helplessly falling to the ground. Xie Qing returned his face to its former indifference and brushed the dust from his face, then tied his hair back in a long ponytail. Ding! "Hm?" The young man raised an eyebrow and looked at the notification. His eyes widened. [Skill improved...] [Showing character card...] [Rising Legend (2/4)] | [Rank: Elite?] | [Description: A technique that increases the body''s throughput, removing limitations and allowing you to reach a new level of power. Bonus to strength and Qi, and also creates pressure for those below your cultivation stage. It seems that you have not yet died at the hands of your lovers, but that does not mean it will not change in the future... kakaka] "Ooo..." Xie Qing smiled, pleasantly surprised. He had discovered this skill long ago but had never used it because there was no need. However, it seemed that now this skill had improved. "Create pressure on those below me, huh? Not bad," thought the young man, dismissing the notification with a smile. He looked at the crowd of cultivators who stood frozen, staring at him with fear and awe. Even Fang Lan could not help but feel fear as she looked at him with admiration and some trepidation. The young man narrowed his eyes, and his aura became cold and unreadable. As he descended to the ground, his feet touched the earth and... Crack. The earth cracked under his pressure, and a spiderweb-like crack spread straight toward the frightened crowd. "Oops," the young man thought with an inscrutable expression: "I forgot to limit my qi..." Realizing this, Xie Qing limited his qi and now looked like an ordinary person. Even the most experienced cultivators could not determine their cultivation level. "Devil..." thought some, but did not dare to say it aloud. In the view of ordinary cultivators, there are three types of talent: First - good talent. Second - the genius of a generation. And... Third. "Monster." "Beast." "Immortal..." Many had seen scenes like this before. But... this power came from one young man who was not yet twenty! And while the crowd was in shock, the sound of footsteps could be heard. Soon, another thousand people from various sects appeared. "Where are the monsters?!" they cried, seeing the crowd of cultivators. "Dead..." came the beautiful, velvety voice. This voice belonged to Xie Qing, who, with Fang Lan''s support, sat down on a chair and took pills to restore his qi. "Hm?" Two thousand yearster... The cultivators were shocked when they learned of everything. How was it possible? One man had stood against an order of monsters. As if from the immortal world, Xie Qing possessed a powerful and mysterious aura. No one dared approach him - all feared disturbing the peacefully cultivating young man. "Well, let''s check first, in case the Elder didn''t kill them all and a few are hiding?" someone suggested. "Agreed, let''s hurry. We can''t let them escape." They divided into groups and began searching the city for any remaining enemies. "Ugh... I can''t breathe properly. The air here is so heavy and hot," muttered a cultivator, fanning himself. "They say that young-looking cultivator did it. With one blow, he cut the city in half," said a middle-aged man with gray hair. There was fear in his eyes: "The elder of my sect is still shocked by that scene. He says he has never seen such divine power." "Many secretly call him a monster, but I don''t agree!" eximed a girl, her cheeks flushing as she remembered Xie Qing''s handsome face: "He''s so handsome! Plus, he''s very polite and calm. How can such a person be a monster?" "Pfft, fool! We understand that, it''s just that such talent, besides calling him a monster - would be an insult to him," said one of the cultivators, jumping up and down: "OUCH! I almost stepped on a sword soaked with Sword Aura." "Be careful, or you''ll end up without a foot. Hahaha!" For about two hours, the cultivators searched for surviving monsters but found only cold corpses. Some had been cut into thousands of tiny pieces, with small des sticking out of their flesh. Some of the smarter ones had special nephrite tokens with an inner space. They had ced swords inside to protect themselves in case of danger. Despite the tedious work, there was a benefit. Especially for the swordsmen. "Heavens, what a wonderful understanding of the sword! I admire this man!" Their eyes shone with excitement. For them, this ce had be a gold mine. *** News of the grand victory over the monsters and the n of the devilish cultivators spread across all continents, reaching even the most remote caves. People marveled at how a cultivator named Xie Qing from the Sect of Heavenly Sword had single-handedly defeated all the monsters and cut the city in half with one blow. The news reached the imperial court. "Your Majesty..." A well-groomed maiden entered the divine garden and, folding her hands, bowed to the woman sitting on the ground. The woman was as beautiful as a lily and seemed as fragile as crystal. Her long wavy silver hair flowed down her slender back, and her silver phoenix eyes and light makeupbined strength and beauty. She was dressed in a golden hanfu, with a bright golden ribbon flowing above her head. Her slender and long legs were naked, exposing her snow-white skin, and nearbyy neatly folded white stockings with gold patterns. "What is it, Yu?" asked the woman. The maid came to her senses, finishing being enchanted by the woman''s beauty. She lowered her head and exined: "Your Majesty, signs of devilish cultivators have been discovered on the Western Continent." "I know... and?" "And... all the monsters have been exterminated," reported the maid, her face bing strange. "As expected. So many cultivators were sent, and even my imperial guard went there," the woman elegantly nodded, looking at the lotus in the water and continuing: "Is there anything else? I sense your emotions..." "Your Majesty is as wise as ever!" The maid awkwardly smiled, then reported what she had learned from the captain of the imperial guard. "The honorable Mr. Bai Bian, captain of the guard, reported that all the monsters... were exterminated by one person," reported the maid, her breath catching: "His one strike created a perfect cut twenty meters deep, and even after two days, the Sword Aura there remains just as dangerous." "Oh?" The woman gave a surprised sigh and finally turned her beautiful and elegant face. Her long silver eyshes fluttered as she looked at her maid. "What is that young man''s name? His actions have saved many lives. I would like to reward him properly." The maid wrinkled her brow slightly, but under the attentive gaze of her empress, she sighed and reported. "His name... is Xie Qing!" Chapter 102: Destroying Blade (Part 1) "Xie Qing..." murmured the empress, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth: "How wonderful. It seems that this time, little Xu Mei has found someone good." The empress had heard of the existence of this young man. Once, Xu Mei had even warned her not toy her hands on this guy. "I thought at the time that little Mei-Mei was joking, but who would have thought that this guy was really that talented? Hah." The empress narrowed her phoenix eyes, emitting a mysterious aura. What she was thinking was unknown. *** "Elder, we have checked all the surrounding areas, and there are no more traces of the beasts'' existence. We found only a few dozen monsters, but they were injured by your attack and were easily killed" reported one of the cultivators, respectfully bowing. The ce was near the destroyed city. Xie Qing sat on arge, t boulder and meditated. Qi whirls surrounded him in an elegant dance, but no one dared to approach too close, no matter how beautiful the sight. A few days ago, a cultivator wanted to interrupt the young man''s cultivation because he wanted to challenge him, but he was sliced into thousands of pieces by this whirl. "Hm..." Xie Qing''s deep voice sounded. He opened his eyes, which shone with a golden light, causing the cultivators surrounding him to feel fear: "Good, well done." The young man cracked his neck and stood on the boulder. He looked around and, seeing that there was indeed nothing suspicious or requiring attention, nodded and stepped down from the boulder. Crack. Crack. Crack. The sound of something cracking was heard. "Hm?" Fan Lan, who arrived at the scene, saw Xie Qing step down from the boulder and then, almost instantly, the boulder began to crack and eventually exploded, turning into dust. "Ah!" Some pieces of stone pierced the skin of the surrounding cultivators, but thanks to their cultivation level, the wounds healed very quickly. Xie Qing shook his head. "My power is getting out of control. This cannot be ignored" thought the young man and clenched his fists. Immediately, a clear cracking sound was heard. "Hii!" "..." Xie Qing twisted the corners of his eyes when he saw the people around him activate protective items. "Am I that dangerous in your eyes?" thought the young man with resentment and rolled his eyes: "Although, the power that cannot be controlled can indeed only be described as something dangerous. I think I should consider the people around me." Although he did it not on purpose, just still not used to his power after almost exhausting all his Qi, which seemed endless from the side. "Yesterday I reached the second stage of Soul Nascent... and my Qi isparable to the fifth stage," thought the young man and narrowed his eyes, focusing on the distant figure standing alone and practicing the sword: "I wonder if I can defeat that guy?" The man was tall and looked like a mountain. His hair was golden and extended over his powerful back, and his eyes were like the sea''s surface, just as pure and beautiful. He looked forty years old, but still maintained his beauty. He could not be overlooked. Moreover, what was special was that Xie Qing could not detect what level of cultivation he was at, which could either testify to strong concealment skills or that he surpassed the young man by two ranks. "No... I shouldn''t be so arrogant just because I defeated some trash. I can''t defeat him now" thought Xie Qing and looked away. His opponent was most likely at least at the Spiritual Ascension level, which was already considered a very strong opponent who could erase you from the face of the earth. "Ah, by the way... we have simr nicknames in some way," thought Xie Qing and smiled, recalling the nickname given to him by the cultivation world: "Destroying de..." Although it sounded extremely corny, as if it was invented by an eighth-grader, it perfectly described hisbat achievement. Who on all the continents did not know that he was able to cut a city in half at only the Soul Nascent level? This made many people be alert and inspired swordsmen. As soon as it became known that there was an abundance of Sword Aura here, thousands of swordsmen flocked to this ce like males to females during spring mating season. They greedily studied even the tiniest trace of Sword Aura. They were so desperate. The Sword Princess and the Sword Empress were the pride of the past, but their techniques were never passed down as an inheritance, as both women regarded this as a treasure. Although Xie Qing did not agree with such a way of doing things, he understood that everyone has a different opinion. "For me... it would be good toe up with my cultivation technique," thought the young man, narrowing his eyes: "Although it''s still far away, I can''t rely on the Master''s techniques and... um... the great master''s." Xie Qing narrowed his eyes and looked at the sky, illuminated by bright sun rays. Lately, he had been enjoying every second of his fame. "What could be better than feeling admiring and frightened looks on yourself?" thought the young man, and the corners of his mouth turned up, and his eyes sparkled with pleasure: "Ha, what a great person I am. Tsk, tsk, tsk... The heavens have indeed not stinted on this young master!" ...although one might think that his self-satisfaction would give way to majestic behavior for a while, Xie Qing stuck to his character. "I wonder how the Master will react to this?" he thought. *** "Bitch, where do you want to go? Stay the fuck where you are!" "Hahaha, fuck you, you damned bitch! Why does such azy bitch have such a talented disciple? I''m taking him for myself! "Fuck you! That''s my disciple, you stupid bitch!" "Hahahahaha! He''s my great disciple, so what''s the problem? I''ll just suck the... cough... help him reach new peaks!" "I heard your reservation, bitch!" ...Well, answering the question of what Xu Mei thought about this question, she was too busy holding back her Master, the Sword Queen, who already wanted to go for the young man. "Pf! Greedy bitch! Is that what you taught me?!" "Fuck you, fool! The only thing you taught me is how to stick a sword in the asses of devilish cultivators and drink alcohol!" Xu Mei was outraged and used her Qi to strengthen herself: "So shut the fuck up and don''te near my disciple by even a centimeter!" "Ugh... stupid gori!" Mei Feng pouted offensively but stopped her attempts to pierce the space and head straight to where Xie Qing was located. The scene she saw struck even her. Even though she considered her sword techniques the pinnacle of sword power, she could not help but admire how perfectly and powerfully Xie Qing applied them. Moreover, this was on his modest cultivation level. It was something bordering on madness. In addition, the fact that the young man had a strong understanding of the sword was also satisfying information for Mei Feng. Although Xie Qing was not her direct disciple, she did not want to allow a talentless person to be Xu Mei''s disciple. "And now I am convinced that if not him, then no one deserves to be Xu Mei''s disciple," thought Mei Feng and hungrily smiled: "By talent... perhaps even surpasses me and Xu Meibined! A true genius!" The woman brushed off her extra clothes and was left in a simple white dress that revealed her abs and covered sensitive areas. Her legs were slender and long, although they should have looked muscr. But, considering that a cultivator of her level can easily control her appearance... most likely it''s even better for her. "Phew... finally this crazy woman has calmed down," thought Xu Mei, relieved. She moved her gaze to the bright sphere, disying the scene that happened then: "You... amazing..." Her eyes filled with admiration and love. At his age, she could not achieve such sess, so what Xie Qing did was even beyond her expectations. Initially, she asked Lian Lin to send an order to test his skills and give him a chance for a real battle. The result surpassed all indicators. When Lian Lin saw this scene, her eyes sparkled, and the gloomy sleeping look instantly disappeared. "Hehe, now there will be motivation for thiszy ass to strive for his development and not lie in bed all day instead of cultivating," thought Xu Mei with a sly smile. She moved her gaze to Mei Feng and rolled her eyes, seeing the suspicious liquid flowing down her thigh: "Bitch. What, you wanna take my precious diamond? Fuck you!" ...such thoughts were disrespectful to a person who is your Master, you know? Although, what can you exin, trying to cover up the dirty mouth of Xu Mei is as difficult as notughing when your friend slips on the ice and falls. *** Destroying de. The nickname honored to Xie Qing wasing out of every hole... hey, I don''t mean what you think. Many admired, many feared, but there was a fact - finally, after a long time of silence and tranquility, the cultivation world is waking up from a long sleep. From the shadows came out sleeping geniuses and stepped onto the path of perfection, to try to prove their qualifications, and many cultivators received motivation to resist devilish cultivators. Fame. That''s what spins everyone''s head. Even Xie Qing could not restrain a smile from being recognized and respectfully greeted. Even a yard dog will stand on its hind legs and greet like an exemry citizen. Along with this, the Heavenly Sword Sect was also drawn into this whirlwind of adventures. Chapter 103: Destroying Blade (Part 2) Additional chapter for the magical castle. 10/10 ==== Waking up from sleep, the disciples found that the world of cultivation had suddenly begun to show active attention to their sect. The Heavenly Sword Sect had overnight turned from a dreary and uninteresting ce into a crowd of people wanting to join the sect, or those who were interested in the personality of Destroying de. It was not easy to resist this crowd, but two sisters - Lian Lin and Lian Xin were able to calm down the lively crowd and answer some questions. "Yes, Xie Qing is a disciple of our sect and is registered for the main disciple exam," Lian Lin answered with an indifferent face, sitting at a long rectangr table. She looked neat and beautiful, a mysterious aura emanated from her, and her clothing was a ck hanfu with golden patterns, belonging to the wardrobe of the sect leader. Leaving out the details, now more than a hundred people were gathered in the conference room, and this was only because this hall could not amodate more people. Since it was impossible to hide the existence of Xie Qing, and there was no need to do so, Lian Lin agreed to reveal some details, of course, with the permission of Xu Mei. "Sect Master, with all due respect, but can you keep this young man like this? You didn''t even let us meet him!" eximed someone from the crowd, he was wearing rich and baggy clothes with iys of precious stones. Lian Lin turned her gaze to the speaker, and she narrowed her eyes, seeing that it was someone from the trade union, who was considered famous in the expanses of the Dynasty. She, thinking a little, decided to give a brief answer to this question. "Disciple Xie Qing is currently not in the sect, moreover, he is under the care of the Sword Princess. With all due respect, even I cannot ask the Master to give us this young man," Lian Lin answered, shifting everything to Xu Mei. "This young man... a disciple of the Sword Princess?" the people were surprised, but could not quite ept this fact. Although the Sword Princess did not appear in public, many knew that she was alive and healthy, just in closed cultivation. Those harboring evil intentions and wanting to make the young man defect to their side bitterly swallowed their saliva, feeling despair. If the Sword Princess was already considered his Master, was there the slightest chance of turning him out of the sect? Even the heroes of Japanese romanticedies from robe novels recognized their feelings more easily than what they were about to do. Soon, although it was not easy, Lian Lin drove away the intrusive guests and said that if they wanted to discuss something about Xie Qing, then let them contact the Sword Princess directly. Thus, she weeded out small people who did not have enough status, saving Xie Qing from unnecessary troubles. Standing up, the girl cracked her back and looked at the tired Lian Xin, who was holding a sphere in her hand, intended for ying recorded fragments. "You''re watching this for the third time," the corners of Lian Lin''s mouth twisted when she noticed admiration and love in the eyes of her younger sister: "Isn''t it time to take a break?" "Hehe, sister, when you have a lover, you will understand my feelings. I can''t help but admire his skills and beauty," Lian Xin said with obsession and love, constantly looking at the sphere. Even when she answered her sister, she did not look away, so fascinated by this scene. What is this scene? Well, someone decided to sell a recording of how the young man uses his skill. As a result, the whole world was able to see the power of the Destroying de, who with one blow cut the city in half and destroyed countless monsters. Information about this has already spread across allworks, causing many to admire and hold their breath in awe. Most experts praised the young man for his talent, for his skills and obvious diligence. Many old swordsmen also noted that they were equally fascinated by the possibilities of this guy, and most of them envied him with white envy, striving to meet this person in person. However, Xie Qing seemed to have evaporated, and nothing could be learned about his whereabouts. Therefore, many began to dig under him and learned about his affiliation with the Xie family. And here begins the fun. *** Yuguang City. Since the news of Xie Qing''s achievements spread across all continents, many families felt a huge and insurmountable figure looming behind them, holding a scythe in their hands. All pressure on the Xie family has fallen away. No one wanted to provoke a potential genius, to whom many gave the second nickname "future Sovereign." Although, from the point of view of the other families, the Xie family should have stripped naked and waved their pants in the air from joy, there was surprisingly no news from them. "What''s wrong with them? Don''t they want to use an obvious advantage?" people thought. However, the situation was much moreplicated than one might think. Xie Hui, upon learning of this, was in such shock that he lost consciousness. Not to mention Xie Hai, who was shaking with fear and had not left the room for the second day. Those who were involved in the attack on Xie Meiling also trembled with fear, feeling that their death was approaching. Today the weather was gloomy, which fully embodied the situation of the Xie family. Especially this affected the council of elders. For the first thirty minutes from the beginning of the meeting, they were silent, not knowing what to say. In the end, the chief elder sighed and announced: "We are doomed." Of course, there was no need to exin the reason to the elders. They understood that before they had neglected this heir and even supported the candidacy of Xie Hui. The attack on a legitimate member of the family in the person of Xie Meiling was also ignored. These old men behaved as if they had sclerosis and hadpletely forgotten about this woman. And now, at the moment when they rxed, the grim reaper raised his scythe and brought them closer to the well-fed throats of the elders. Each felt a shiver run down their spine, and the cheerful and ominousughter of the young man sounded in their ears. Every night they slept and saw nightmares, and demons of the heart appeared to those guilty of attacking Xie Meiling. Trembling. Fear. Despair. What magnificent and diverse feelings. When these old men, eating first-ss rice and well-fed pork, while hundreds of cultivators pursued Xie Meiling, enjoyed life... They never expected that in the end, they would be well-fed pigs. And now the question ripened "What to do?" "How can we keep our position... no, our lives?" "Is there a chance... that we will survive?" No. No. No. You will not survive. For above your heads stands an executioner with an evil smile. Don''t you see how the sword de gleams? Don''t you see your reflection in the de? You... don''t hear how the de is slowly and maliciously sharpened, which will pierce your neck? *** "Garbage..." Late at night, Xie Qing went for a walk. He felt that he was being followed for some time, and in the end, decided to go beyond the city limits, allegedly into the forest for berries, and the weather was good, and flowers could also be collected. He just killed the cultivators who were following him at the second stage of the Nascent Soul, who wanted to find out more about him. When he finished wiping his de on their bodies, a notification came, which he ignored because he discovered something interesting. "Token... hm, Viper emblem? This is the fucking Wei family!" The Wei family. They are known for managing the underworld, and in principle, governing the ns of assassins. However, this did not prevent them from wearing the status of a noble family and staying in the capital. Most of these people also traded information, and it seemed, they were interested in him. "Why did these people take the token with them? Did they think that my power would not be enough? Well, an ordinary cultivator at the first stage of the Nascent Soul is indeed in danger..." muttered Xie Qing and smiled, shaking his head, and his gaze stretched into the distance. "!!!" The shadows watching him instantly shuddered and disappeared. A carefree smile appeared on the young man''s face. "I''ll gut your guts out and shove them deep down your throats, you sons of bitches." His voice reached the fleeing cultivators, who, although they were provoked by this, did not stop. Their main goal was just surveince, not battle. Moreover, this madman did not hesitate to kill even the reconnaissance of the Wei family, so what could be said? "Tsk". Xie Qing shook his head, annoyedly clicking his tongue. He hoped that these people would be very kind and help him earn a little and kill them. However, it seemed that not everyone was so careless and ran away at the first danger. Xie Qing threw a nce at the two mutted corpses and shook his head, sighing. "Guys, you were too careless. And I hate it the most when I''m being followed." Xie Qing loved attention to himself... but it was unpleasant when every step was followed. He was on guard and, of course, did not rx. "This is the price for fame. There will be a hunt for you," a beautiful female voice sounded. "Well, I expected this, so I''m just a little annoyed," Xie Qing answered, rolling his eyes. He looked back and saw that a woman in snow-white hanfu, which was covered in blood, came out of the shadow, and in her hand was a sword, on which two human heads were impaled. Xie Meiling looked indifferently in the direction where the other stalkers had fled and shook her head. With a light wave of her hand, she cut the heads in half, and then, tossing the sword into the air, used the Qi technique to make the sword levitate. "Dao Technique - Cleansing," she whispered. Then, drop by drop, the de began to be covered with silver liquid, and in the end, became clean. The blood disappeared. "Well, the one who came up with this technique can make cultivators spit blood," Xie Qing thought and rolled his eyes: "Seriously, using Dao techniques to create a cleaning technique? The heavens..." Then, while Xie Meiling was busy cleaning, he stomped on the ground and created an impulse, grabbing the handle of the de. Then the young man looked at the notification. [Nameless Sword has been upgraded]. Chapter 104: Do you want to become stronger? [The Nameless sword has been upgraded] [Item card disyed] [Nameless Sword] | [Rank: Elite (Evolving)] | [Description: An extremely sturdy sword. Can return to its owner by consuming Qi. Can split into ten copies]. "Oh? It seems that the sword has absorbed so many enemies that it has evolved to this extent," thought Xie Qing, taking the sword in his hand: "Split." With one simplemand, the sword shed, and ten copies appeared, identical in appearance and seemingly possessing the same abilities, which was good. Xie Qing tried out the sword and gutted the corpse, then whistled in surprise. "The armor on this guy is spiritual and damn strong. I guess my sword has be sharper and stronger," Xie Qing thought: "Moreover, the copies seem to retain their strength. This is great." Themotion about the devilish cultivators and their disrupted n was still ongoing. However, Xie Qing was not worried about it. *** "Wow, there are so many different recipes, and they all lookplex," he thought as he browsed through today''s lesson material. There were still four people with him who, for some reason, were shyly avoiding him, as if the young man was not some attractive embodiment of immortality, but a devil from the Yellow River. "Rude," Xie Qing thought, clicking his tongue: "I''m restraining my aura, so what are they afraid of?" In the world, there is the concept of karma, which is divided into many subcategories, but people mainly know about the karma of good and the karma of killing. And Xie Qing''s karma of killing was off the charts. If he didn''t restrain himself, his opponent felt as if they were in the mouth of a lion. However, they were not afraid of him because of this. Although many did not know what this Xie Qing looked like, it was no trouble for rich and influential people to obtain his portrait... which was being printed like crazy by some hidden group called "The Dawn." They, like some kind of cult, distributed his photographs and even gave out recordings of what had happened, trying to increase Xie Qing''s fame. It was mainly because of them that the young man received so much attention. "Ugh... another strange group. Xu Mei says she has no information about their leader, and they look harmless, so she didn''t touch them," Xie Qing recalled, then suspiciously narrowed his eyes: "And she was hiding something behind her back. Some kind of photo frame." He sighed and decided to ignore the whispering students. Either way, it was more advantageous for him, there would be fewer people who would want to bother Xie Qing. "And so, today''s lesson is over. I ask you to be careful in these days, as the activity of devilish cultivators has be the main topic of discussion," said Lu Yin with her usual gentle smile, refining her refined and caring aura: "Take care of your safety. Good luck." "Thank you for the lesson, Healer Lu!" the students eximed in chorus. Xie Qing also began to gather and put aside a hundred bottles of pills of various kinds. Either way, he always left what he did for the Nine Pills Sect, because he didn''t need them. "Xie Qing..." Lu Yin''s gentle voice sounded, and Xie Qing came to his senses. He raised his head and looked at the girl who was politely smiling at him with half-closed eyes. Her eyes brightly shone when she looked at him, making even the usually audacious Xie Qing feel ufortable. "What?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "The whole cultivation world is talking about your achievement! It seems that you have achieved something great, you were able to make the devilish cultivators lose their leverage!" the girl said with a smile, then added: "I was also asked to contact you, so could youe with me to the Lu family in your free time? I promise that no one will harm you!" "Huh? I''m not against it... but I don''t understand why I need the Lu family," Xie Qing was puzzled and narrowed his eyes: "If it''s about joining your family, I can''t because I have my own family that I n to develop." "Ah, you guessed it, yes... in fact, there were voices that shouted about the need to get you into their hands," Lu Yin said with a smile, but there was embarrassment on her face. She fake cleared her throat and continued: "Cough... but, um, the status of the Sword Princess''s disciple itself makes you equal to the major families, so my family is now in a stupor." "You say they''re in a stupor," Xie Qing repeated and thought for a moment, then put forward one idea: "Soon I will enter the struggle for the status of the heir, and after that, I want to usurp the status of the family head. There will be a lot of blood, and I would like to secure reliable allies. If your Lu family is willing to assist me, then I will consider it a favor and help you in the future." "Oh..." Lu Yin thoughtfully looked at Xie Qing, considering his words. At the moment, his power at the Soul Formation level was not good enough for the Lu family to try to please him, however, his status as a disciple of the Sword Princess increased his value. Moreover, Lu Yin sincerely believed that the Soul Formation for Xie Qing would be just the beginning and that in the future, he would be several times stronger. "I''m sorry, I can''t give a definite answer, as it''s not within my power to decide everything for the Lu family. But I will answer as soon as possible," said Lu Yin with a regretful expression added: "But don''t worry, even if the Lu family doesn''t agree, I will be only too happy to help you, I also have quite a bit of influence." "I will be grateful, Miss Lu," Xie Qing said with a smile, and his eyes narrowed. *** ng! ng! ng! Loud sounds of metal colliding made the blood in the veins of passing people freeze. The backyard of the inn located inside the Nine Pills Sect was always empty, as respected guests liked to spend their time either studying alchemy or meditating. However, today it was noisy, making some unable to meditate properly. ng! "Mom, you''re holding the strike poorly. Is that how you should strike? I didn''t even feel a tremor in my wrist, you understand?" Xie Qing scolded his mother and looked maximally serious when he easily blocked the sword strike of Xie Meiling with one hand. "Ugh... son, you should know that my fighting style is different. I treat the sword only as an additional weapon," Xie Meilingined, and her hands were trembling. In her mind, she was shocked: "I''m at the third stage of Soul Formation, and my power should be greater, but I can''t even make his wrist tremble. Is this the difference between a genius and an ordinary person?" Xie Qing smiled and, applying a little more force, easily pushed the sword he was blocking into the air, then with the help of the Sword Aura and Qi, he gained control of the sword and made it float behind Xie Meiling''s head, directing the de of her sword at her. And he put the de closer to her throat and smiled triumphantly. "There you go. You see? This is our difference, you use your power too clumsily and incorrectly distribute pressure, so this happens!" exined Xie Qing, and he felt self-satisfied, highly raising his nose: "But don''t worry, Mom, I''m a noble person, I''ll teach you everything." "Hmph..." Xie Meiling snorted and grabbed the sword floating in the air, not paying attention to the sharp and overwhelming energy of the Sword Aura, which miraculously disappeared as soon as she reached out her hand. "Be careful," Xie Qing warned and rolled his eyes: "If I hadn''t removed the Sword Aura, you could have burned yourself. How would I feel if your beautiful white skin was covered with a terrible burn?" "Really?" Xie Meiling frowned and, taking a step forward, found herself next to Xie Qing and stretched out her hands, stretching his cheeks in both directions: "And who is behaving so arrogantly?" "Ugh... your grip is as strong as steel. That''s how you should learn! Hahaha!" Xie Qing reacted withughter. Although this grip of Xie Meiling could tear an ordinary person''s face in two, Xie Qing''s skin was thick from birth, especially thick it was in the face area, since he could say nonsense without blushing. While Xie Qing was smiling andughing with his mother, for some reason he felt as if an illusory arrow had pierced him. Two dayster... "Miss Lu, I must continue my journey and return to the Northern Continent," said the young man, gently squeezing her hands, not paying attention to the jealous look of Xu Mei and the red face of the healer. "Ah, yes... o-okay," Lu Yin smiled awkwardly and nodded, then added: "My family has refused your offer, but I am willing to help you with this matter. Don''t worry, I''m doing this as a thank you for helping the cultivation world." "I''m ttered. Thank you for the lessons, I will return to the Western Continent when I finish my business," the young man smiled. "I was happy to help." Xie Qing waved goodbye to Lu Yin, who was seeing them off, standing in front of the gates of the sect, and finally turned to Xie Meiling, who was burning a hole in him with her gaze. "What?" he asked with a bright smile. "Hmph!" Xie Meiling snorted and shook her head, turning away from him. Xie Qing only smiled, looking out the window of the carriage. "She''s jealous, yes..." the young man thought and looked at his mother out of the corner of his eye, who was sweetly dozing. He narrowed his eyes and looked to the left, where his oath, made to the Heavens, was calling him. For just one second... almost a moment... his eyes filled with a golden glow. And everyone who was the target of the oath... They felt their soul tremble. Xie Qing smiled, but his smile did not look kind at all, simr to a demonic one - distorted and filled with malice. "You''re looking forward to it, aren''t you? Xie Hui and Xie Hai... you don''t have long to live. I will... gut you, bastards." *** A weekter. Northern Continent, Yuanguan City, Xie Family Estate. There was a mess in the head of the family''s room. Various books were scattered on the floor, making the room look like a tsunami had passed through it. Helplessly on the table of the head of the familyy a middle-aged man - Xie Hui. His eyes were filled with darkness, and his heart was beating loudly. Fear. That''s what he felt. His six senses were screaming that death was near. Since the name of Xie Qing had spread across all continents, gloomy weather had not left the city of Yuanguan. It was always raining, and thunder was rumbling as if the Heavens were cursing this ce, which was once considered one of the most fertilends. Although there was no pressure frompetitors, Xie Hui was not happy at all. His former allies were silent, there was no benefit for them in supporting Xie Hui, so he was left alone. "Even... the ancient treasure doesn''t attract them. And we''ve kept it for centuries..." thought Xie Hui, heavily sighing. He waspletely exhausted, all gloomy and dark: "Xie Qing... the curse of our family... the freak who has always interfered with me..." And then... Dead silence. At one point, there was a sound... a creak. And a calm, seductive voice. "Do you want to be stronger?" Chapter 105: Monster "Wh-what?" Xie Hui was genuinely frightened when he suddenly heard an unfamiliar and eerie voice. Looking around, the man was surprised to find that someone was standing in the corner, leaning against the wall, and the room was gradually plunging into darkness, sinking into a strange ck liquid that stuck Xie Hui to the floor. "W-who are you? What are you doing in the Xie family''s mansion?" asked Xie Hui, looking as if he was about to build a house of bricks beneath himself. His pupils narrowed, and he looked pale. The man was dressed in dark clothing, wearing a long cloak with a hood that covered his face. Only pale hands, covered in blisters, could be seen. "Ho-o-o... so this is what you''re like, Xie Hui," the voice replied, but the strange thing was that the man in the room did not open his mouth. And the voice came from... "Behind you!" Xie Hui was startled and looked around, turning deathly pale. "What are you so scared of, rabbit? Hahaha, haven''t you ever seen such a handsome man?!" The voice... came from a creature that could be called nothing other than a Frankenstein of different monsters. A human head, spider limbs, a red lizard''s torso, the eyes of a demonic eagle, and instead of a human mouth, a proboscis. "Ugh..." Disgust. That''s what a person would feel upon seeing this mistake of nature. It seemed as if someone had taken on the task of gathering the ugliest creature. And the worst part was that this "thing" could also speak. "Hey, is it normal for you to pretend to be disgusted like that? Pfft, scumbag!" "N-no, I..." Xie Hui tried to justify himself, but couldn''t find the words. This spider-like monster was indeed something horrifying. It made you want to spit on it and burn it in hellish mes. However, Xie Hui realized with horror that this monster''s power was at the peak of the Soul Nascent stage. Moreover... "D-devilish qi... you''re a devilish cultivator!" Xie Hui shouted at the top of his lungs, his eyes filled with fear, and his legs began to tremble. If he hadn''t been stuck to the floor, he would have already run away. "Good eyesight, kid! Hahahahaha!" The devilish cultivator with the monstrous body seemed not to be offended at all and onlyughed carelessly, making him look even uglier. The voice of this Frankenstein was as disgusting as his appearance. Imagine a creaking door and a sharp baby''s cry at the same time. That''s how this scumbag''s voice sounded. And so, the man standing in the corner finally raised his head, revealing a cold glow in his eyes. He threw back his hood. "Ooh..." A monster appeared... no, the monster was too derogatory a name for this person. "Devil..." Xie Hui whimpered, and his head shook, and he lost consciousness. Before him stood a creature from legends. A demon covered in red blisters, with horns and, most importantly, pure devilish qi. The demon shook his head, seeing that Xie Hui had lost consciousness, and looked at hispanion, who was already trying with all his might to swallow the unconscious man''s body. "Stop, Jia Bian. We still need to use this guy," the man scolded hispanion, and then carefully examined Xie Hui''s body and raised his eyebrows in surprise: "Curse of the Heavens. He has be the target of someone''s oath? It seems he has offended someone. Moreover, this guy''s mental state was on the verge of copse, it seems someone wanted to kill him." "Aaa? Don''t tell me you want to help him. Why?" Jia Bian grumbled, tilting his head to the side and maliciously looking at Xie Hui, licking his lips and touching his face with his proboscis: "I think he would make a good meal, although he would only be a snack." "Nonsense. I just want to make the righteous cultivators feel the bitterness of sealing us away a hundred million years ago," the demon said, rolling his eyes, "And we''ll start by cultivating devilish nature in them." "Hehehe..." *** Xie Qing looked indifferently at the crowd of people blocking his path. There were a total of 60 animals and 0 humans. "Haha, young man, hurry up and hand over your belongings and give us the woman behind you... wow, what a sexy one!" "Hehehe... boss, can I use her after you? She''s so sexy and beautiful. And her cold gaze turns me on even more." "Huhuhuh..." Xie Qing looked back and saw that Xie Meiling''s face was so cold that you could leave fruits and vegetables next to her and they wouldn''t spoil. Seeing this, the young man just shook his head and looked at the bandits in front of him. This was amon scene in ces where there were few cities andwlessness reigned. So Xie Qing didn''t even get angry. He just drew his sword, which then began to levitate in front of him. Looking at the bewildered bandits, Xie Qing said indifferently: "Split." Swoosh! A bright light blinded the bandits for a second and cost them their eyesight, and when they opened them, they saw that there were eleven swords! "What''s going on here? Do you think you can scare me with this pathetic spiritual item, you sleepyhead? You won''t get away with... I!" Xie Qing didn''t even bother to look at how his sword killed them, cutting them into pieces. It was too boring. "Come on, Mom. I want to drink something strong. They say there''s a good city with delicious wine twenty miles away," said Xie Qing, smiling as he looked at his mother, who looked displeased. His eyebrows rxed, and his eyes narrowed as he pulled her closer with his right hand, pressing her against him, and his right hand gently rested on her slender back. "EEH??!" Ignoring the surprised and blushing woman, Xie Qing inhaled the scent of her hair and kissed her on the crown of her head, and then his eyes gleamed. And after... "AAAAAAAAAAAGH!" The screams intensified. Xie Qing ordered the sword to kill them but to torture them severely first. Moreover, he did not finish off those who writhed on the ground and only gavemands to activate the Sword Aura, which prated through the wounds. The result was that more than thirty people writhed on the ground, crying out for help and howling pitifully. "Heh..." Hearing these sounds, Xie Meiling''s gloomy face finally smoothed out, reced by a sadistic smile. "You''re so cruel, Mom," Xie Qing joked with a smile, tilting his head slightly to the side: "Should I peel their skin off centimeter by centimeter? Or will this do?" "I think this is enough, no need," Xie Meiling replied, pushing Xie Qing away and freeing herself from his embrace with a red face. She added: "I don''t want to waste time on all this garbage. Let''s go faster." Xie Meiling, without waiting for an answer from Xie Qing, ran forward in a leap. Watching his mother''s satisfied state, Xie Qing couldn''t help but roll his eyes. "I''m afraid of what will happen to Xie Hai when Mom gets her hands on him," the young man thought with a smile. He already had a rough n in his head. Although Xie Qing wanted to wipe out the entire family and build a new one on their ruins, he needed to maintain his reputation on the surface. Destroying de. Although this nickname weeded out the crazy fools, it was still a bit malicious, so Xie Qing didn''t want to reinforce it. "But, of course, if there''s an emergency," Xie Qing thought and looked puzzled at his feet, finding a red g there: "Who left a red g here? How strange..." *** In the city with the strange and long name "City of Spiritual Flowering and Life," there was a lively atmosphere. Around the city were fields nted with spiritual flowers. A ce full of beauty and tranquility! And also, one of Xie Qing''s favorite brands of wine was produced here. He was eagerly looking forward to buying more than a hundred bottles. However... "I-I''m sorry... young master. All the goods have been sold out, and the next shipment is only in a year!" A young woman dressed in a red cheongsam bowed with panic on her face. She looked as if she was about to pay the price. Ah, yes... the reason was that she recognized Xie Qing and, well, refusing him... was not very beneficial for her life. The woman thought that this man, although he was an executioner for devilish cultivators, posed no less danger to cultivators of the righteous path. However, to her great surprise, the young man just nodded. "All right, then can I make a reservation for the next shipment? If it''s not too much trouble, of course." "Wh-what? Um... y-yes, no problem! Thank you for choosing our store!" The woman blushed and asked the young man to follow her. "Don''t rush, you''ll fall," Xie Qing said with a pleasantugh, making the saleswoman blush. "I-I''m sorry..." The woman hid her face and approached the shop window, taking out a jade scroll from the lower drawer to which a goose feather was attached. "H-here, young master, you need to leave your name and, preferably, a trusted person to contact when the goods are avable," the woman exined, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Xie Qing. The woman thought: "I was so scared that I didn''t notice how handsome he was! Heavens!" Xie Qing tilted his head to the side, feeling Xie Meiling''s jealous gaze, which made a satisfied smile appear on his face, making the saleswoman blush and stammer awkwardly. "Of course... I''ll do it now." Five minutester, they left the store under the loving gaze of the saleswoman. There was silence between them until Xie Meiling sighed. "And who are you such adies'' man for?" "Who else? My legendary grandfather!" Xie Qing said proudly, clenching his fists together and looking up at the sky with admiration: "I''ve never seen such a cultured person in my young life. Truly, may his memory be a light!" "Tsk..." Chapter 106: Fun morning After two days, Xie Qing and Xie Meiling finally arrived at their hometown. As they passed through the gates, they noticed something strange. "It seems... rather gloomy. And there are fewer people, even though it used to be crowded," Xie Qing muttered, raising his eyebrows in surprise and looking around. "Did someone die here? Maybe the old man from the Si family?" "If that greedy bastard had died, we wouldn''t be seeing this gloomy atmosphere, but fireworks instead," Xie Meiling denied, narrowing her eyes. "I wonder what happened?" Xie Qing shrugged and, together with Xie Meiling, began making their way to the Xie family estate. The path was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Each step seemed toe with an eerie lightness as if their hearts were whispering that revenge was just around the corner. Xie Meiling''s hands clenched into fists, her gaze filled with a thirst for vengeance. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, looking towards the estate where he could sense more than fifty auras. He remained silent. *** Today, despite its long decline, the Xie family was once again in motion. Traditionally, it was on this day that most families decided who would be the rightful heir. Huang Jing and Fang Lan had arrived in town the day before, and Xie Qing had personally received food aid and two letters. One was official, to confirm his close rtionship with Lu Yin, and the other was informal. The official letter was to be opened only during the grand meeting of heirs, but the letter addressed to Xie Qing was read as soon as he stored all the provisions in his spatial ring. "Let''s go have a drink and then head to the estate. We need to make an appearance and participate in the meeting," Xie Qing said with a light smile, looking at his two friends. "I''m counting on your help, guys. Of course, I''ll help you in return." "What are you saying, Brother Xie? It''s my pleasure to help you. Don''t worry, I''ll do my best," Huang Jing replied, patting himself on the chest and smiling confidently. "I brought a little spiritual wine with me. Although I''m ashamed to show such a small amount of wine, I hope Brother Xie won''t be offended." "Of course not. What''s the big deal about some wine among friends, Brother Huang?" Xie Qing replied with a pleasantugh. "Then I''m relieved!" Huang Jing alsoughed, while Fang Lan, who was watching them, could only roll her eyes. "Then I''ll go discuss some things with Auntie," Fang Lan said, approaching the young man with Xie Meiling. "Huh? Lan, aren''t youing with us?" Xie Qing asked in surprise, then smiled at his mother. "Of course, no problem. Have a good time." "Th-thank you..." Fang Lan felt awkward under his smile and quickly left with Xie Meiling, who didn''t understand the young woman''s agitation. But Xie Qing just smiled and waved, ignoring Huang Jing''s envious gaze. *** Huang Jing and Xie Qing sat down at a table in a bar and ordered some snacks. They had brought their wine, even though it was against the establishment''s rules. But how could the poor waitress refuse them? Even the owner wagged his tail like a puppy before them, not daring to object. "Ah, Brother Xie, I raise this ss to your health. Know that Huang Jing will stand by your side, even in the face of a tiger''s jaws!" Huang Jing raised his ss and made a toast, smiling as he drank the wine and mmed the ss on the table. "Your words touch me, Brother Huang! From this moment on, we are brothers, and nothing else!" Xie Qing added with a smile, raising his ss. "I''ll punish myself with this ss for lying to Brother Huang before! I hope my brother will forgive me generously!" "May you have it!" Huang Jingughed heartily but still did not refuse. Xie Qing drank the wine and sighed contentedly, feeling a pleasant and refreshing chill run through his body. The wine that Huang Jing had brought was of high quality and had been stored for thousands of years, nourished by abundant spiritual energy. After several sses, the conversation took a somewhat strange turn. "Ah, Brother Xie, you''re popr with thedies, even to the point of envy sometimes! White envy, of course!" Huang Jing said with a gloomy expression, then added dejectedly, clutching his head. "But I only end up with hypocritical women who want my wealth and status. Although it''s easier to deal with them in a way, I want a sincere and loving woman!" "I understand you, Brother Huang. But don''t despair, with your character, you''ll find a girl who suits you and you''ll bepanions on the path of Dao!" Xie Qing said with a bright smile, patting his friend on the back. "You''re quite the handsome guy, and your character is worthy of special respect. Who wouldn''t want to be with Brother Huang?" "Ah... Brother Xie, your words give me hope. Let''s drink to your health!" "Let''s drink!" And they drank until evening. Many drunkards even lost the power of speech, so much had these two drunk. It was already seven in the evening, and Xie Qing''s face was slightly flushed from the alcohol. "Damn, I got some good wine. It''s not easy to get rid of the drunkenness effect, even with my cultivation technique. Brother Huang is so good!" he thought, then looked at Huang Jing, who had long since fallen asleep. "Strangely, his face is redder than mine, even though he drank less than I did." Xie Qing shook his head and, helping Huang Jing to lean on his shoulder, they left the bar together. The bar''s patrons watched them leave and shook their heads, sighing bitterly. "Rich men! They drank such first-ss wine like it was nothing! You can get drunk just from the smell!" Many collectors of wealthy backgrounds also couldn''t help but shed their crocodile tears when they saw how easily these two drank such a rare wine! "Ah, my heart... call a doctor!" *** Xie Qing returned to the estate they had rented for a week. Since neither he nor Xie Meiling wanted to live in the Xie family estate, they harbored a clear animosity towards them and wanted to be cautious. "Young Master Xie Qing... oh, I''m sorry for bothering you!" eximed Huang Jing''s subordinates when they saw the young man approaching the gates, helping a drunken man. "It''s all right, Brother Huang drank a little too much and I would appreciate it if you took care of him," the young man said, carefully handing Huang Jing over to his subordinates. "Don''t worry! And you should rest too!" "Yah, take care," Xie Qing said, waving his hand. Dragging his body, he began to climb to the second floor. It must be said that he had underestimated the effect of the spiritual wine, and now he felt like he was about to fall asleep. "What strong wine!" thought Xie Qing and sighed. His mind was turned off, so he entered the first room he came across and, ignoring the strange noise, flopped down on the bed and fell asleep. *** "Um..." Fang Lan blushed and held her breath as Xie Qing''s somewhat heavy body pressed against her slender and beautiful form. She was sitting on the bed, lost in thought when Xie Qing entered with a red face and drunken gaze. He then knocked her down onto the bed, pressing his nose against her corbone. "I-I-I..." The girl was embarrassed and excited at the same time, feeling Xie Qing''s firm muscles and how possessively he pressed against her. But... "How do I... get out of this?" The girl was in a difficult situation. Just a few hours earlier, she had been persistently trying to win over Xie Qing''s mother, wanting to show her intentions and secure a wedding. But then she met Xie Meiling''s strange gaze. "Was she jealous?" Fang Lan wondered. Fang Lan was not a foolish girl, and although her romantic experience was limited, she had dealt with Bai Bai for a long time. The look of jealousy in Xie Meiling''s eyes was simr to the way that disgusting guy had looked at her, although the woman''s jealousy was much calmer and did not cause revulsion. "But... they''re mother and son... is that allowed? It''s taboo..." Fang Lan thought, and her gaze becameplicated as she looked at Xie Qing. "This guy didn''t even spare his mother? Oh..." However, Fang Lan did not feel disgusted or anything simr. In the cultivation world, incest was not unheard of; it was just practiced in closed families. So although she was a little taken aback, her first reaction was to win over Xie Meiling''s recognition first, and then solve the problem of her betrothal to Xie Qing - an easy task. "Although... now that I think about it, this guy probably has a hundred girls..." Fang Lan thought and snorted. "Thepetition is probably even more aggressive than in the cultivation world." But... "What a pleasant scent he has... it makes you rx," Fang Lan said in surprise, raising an eyebrow. And while he slept, she gently kissed him on the top of his head. Then, hugging him from behind, the girl pressed against him and fell asleep with a satisfied smile. The next morning... "Hah..." Xie Qing felt a chill run down his spine and then turned his head towards the door. "Um... Mom?" he mumbled through his drowsiness and asked, "What time is it? Did I oversleep?" "..." Xie Meiling narrowed her eyes and pointed her chin at Fang Lan, who had long since woken up and was hiding her face in a pillow. "Now I understand why she was trying so hard to please me!" Xie Meiling thought and snorted. "This girl has her sights set on my son! Why do I feel like it''s not him seducing them, but them seducing him?!" ...Well, you''re not far from the truth. Chapter 107: The Inheritance War (Part 1) "Uuu..." Fan Lan covered her red face and hid behind Xie Qing, who was casually drinking tea. "How embarrassing!" the girl thought, feeling Xie Meiling''s gaze full of annoyance on her: "She must have understood that I was deliberately ttering her because of our rtionship with that scumbag Xie Qing!" Fan Lan was a girl from a traditional family, and she was taught to first leave a good impression on her mother-inw for her future married life to go smoothly. The same was true on the part of the husband. However, Xie Qing had not yet met her parents, but the meeting with Xie Qing''s mother had failed! "Mom, don''t re at her like that, she''s not to me. It''s my fault," Xie Qing said calmly, raising his eyebrows: "If I weren''t so drunk and carefree, I wouldn''t have put Fan Lan in such an awkward situation." "This... no, I''m not angry. I was just surprised," Xie Meiling added, and finally, her gaze softened, and she turned her head away. At the same time, Xie Qing and Fan Lan rolled their eyes. "Surprised? Is that what you call your jealousy, woman?" they thought. *** Although one could argue forever, Xie Meiling preferred to spend this time visiting the Xie family estate. No matter how unpleasant the feeling of returning after a long time was, she was determined. "Mom, I''ll be by your side," Xie Qing said and took Xie Meiling''s hand, who, although she didn''t show it, was very nervous: "Everything will end here... on the ruins of the Xie family, we will build a magnificent world." "Heh..." the woman smiled gently and squeezed her son''s hand, and her charming ck eyes sparkled with love as she looked at the young man: "Thank you. I think my suffering has paid off since the Heavens have endowed you with such talent. You''ve helped me a lot." "A lot? Oh, Mom, I haven''t even started yet!" Xie Qing proudly smiled, patting himself on the chest and saying with an enthusiastic look: "This young master will protect you like the apple of his eye, and together we will ride dragons to ascend to the Heavens!" "Really?" Xie Meiling''s smile became wider, and she asked with narrowed eyes: "Are you sure there will be enough dragons? I somehow doubt it." "Hahaha!" Xie Qing awkwardlyughed and scratched the back of his head, and Xie Meiling just snorted but did not let go of her son''s hand. Silence reigned between them until they reached the gates of the estate. Immediately, Xie Qing''s eyes narrowed when he felt someone in the estate looking at him. "This... a strong cultivator!" the young man was surprised: "I can''t determine his cultivation level!" Xie Qing''s gaze became wary, and he conveyed this information to Xie Meiling, who was also surprised. They approached the guards, who, seeing them from afar, opened their mouths wide and looked in shock at the two approaching people. "Y-young master and... um... L-Lady Xie Meiling..." The guard looked ufortable, his movements were wooden, and his face was distorted with fear and shock. Of course, he was surprised to find that the woman, who had been openly hunted by her own family, was unharmed and even emitting an aura of danger. "Heh. We don''t have much time, so let''s go, open the gates. I''ve missed Brother Hui and the respected family head very much. And especially, I''ve missed... "Xie Qing smiled widely and added in such a voice that a shiver ran down the guards'' spines: "...Xiao Yui." "Ugh..." The guards shivered with fear, and their teeth chattered as they felt the killing intent in Xie Qing''s words. They were not fools and knew about the situation within the family. Exnation - the name that Xie Qing mentioned belonged to the former head maid who was once Xie Meiling''s close right hand. On that fateful night, she betrayed her mistress and stabbed her in the back with a knife in exchange for wealth and eptance into the Xie family as a legitimate member. In the end, Xie Meiling survived, and Xiao Yui was not smart enough to leave the estate. She bathed in luxury and enjoyed the respect of the servants. Returning to our sheep, the guards turned pale with fear and looked as if they had bathed in milk. Trembling all over, they opened the gates and bowed ny degrees, lowering their heads, not wanting to meet Xie Qing''s gaze. "P-please,e in..." finally, one of the guards mustered up the courage to say. "How generous of you~" Xie Qingughed and slowly ran his hand from the guard''s head to his neck, then squeezed a little. "Hiii!" The young man''s fingers were as cold and sharp as death, so the guard screamed and lost consciousness, helplessly falling to the ground. "Oops... I overdid it," Xie Qing twisted the corners of his mouth. Xie Meiling remained silent during this time and did not pay attention to the guards, leaving these questions to her son. She, like an eagle searching for its prey, fixed her gaze on the main estate. Many memories of that fateful night shed through her head as if it had happened just yesterday. "I hate... this disgrace I will wash away with your damned blood. I won''t spare the bastards!" Xie Meiling thought and clenched her teeth, looking angry: "I''ll kill them all!" She was filled with anger, remembering those days when she had to run from one corner to another, hiding from pitiful cultivators at the Foundation Building stage. Every second could have been the end of her life, but she restrained herself and did everything possible to prolong just one day. In thest days, when she was already feeling bad, even moving her little finger was difficult, she only dreamed of seeing a miracle, the light of her life - her beloved son. And as if a bright star sent from the Heavens, his beautiful face appeared at the moment when she had despaired. "You lit my way..." He gave her light. "You helped me survive..." He gave her life. "You helped me realize..." Realize? "That only you deserve my love and care!" ...Oh. *** Wisdom of the Heavens Square. That''s what the location is called, located in the underground part of the estate, where today''s meeting was supposed to take ce. Here were all the legitimate members of the Xie family, including Xie Yu, who was sitting far away from Xie Hai and Xie Hui, and behind her back were five disciples from the Starry Stream Sect. "Boring..." she thought, yawning. Xie Yu was not interested in the family war or anything like that, but she was more interested in whether her cousin, Xie Qing, woulde. And while they were silent, someone spoke up. "Xie Qing iste. What kind of guy, having gained a little fame, can now ignore us and bete?! Pfft!" The grave silence was broken by an elder who looked like an apple that had been left for a hundred years and hadpletely rotted and dried up. The others did not pay attention to him and simply ignored him. The fact was that the legitimate heir, Xie Qing, had the power and reputation to ignore everyone gathered in this square. Even Xie Hai and Xie Hui, who usually excelled in their foulnguage, were silent and looked gloomy. Next to Xie Hui was Xiao Yui, who put her hand to her heart and felt her heartbeat slowing down. "I... I''m not feeling well. What''s going on?" the woman wondered. Let me describe her appearance. Although many cultivators were able to maintain their appearance, this woman in the past was a cultivator with weak talent who was only able to reach the third stage of Foundation Building, and then during an attempt to break through, injured herself. Her appearance forever remained old. She looked unremarkable, her skin was wrinkled, her eyes sunken, and her hair cut to her ears and turned gray. Her eyes had lost all their youthful energy, and her back was hunched. Her legs trembled with any wind. She was about three hundred and something years old. The old witch had even seen Xie Qing''s grandfather and served as the head maid when one day she realized that even with such a status, she could not have a good life. However, she humbly served Xie Meiling, and when Xie Hai resolutely swore to give her the status of a member of the Xie family, Xiao Yui was so happy that she immediately abandoned her previous loyalty to Xie Meiling. She thought it was better to betray her and gain the status of a legitimate member of the Xie family than to die without status. Did she regret it? No, of course not. For her, it was most important to allow herself a luxurious and carefree life. She was opportunistic. However, in thest month, her sixth sense had been screaming about impending danger, and memories of that fateful night returned to her as a nightmare every night. "What''s happening..." Xiao Yui thought. And when someone else also wanted to express their dissatisfaction with Xie Qing''s absence, soft footsteps were heard, which echoed in the ears of every person in this hall. For some reason, from the sound of these two footsteps, Xie Hui felt a shiver, and Xie Hai''s eyes filled with disbelief. In the only passage from which one could enter here, two people appeared, very simr to each other if one looked closely. A woman and a man. If everything was normal with the man - Xie Qing''s appearance was not new to everyone present, then the appearance of the woman - Xie Meiling was like a coffin in the clear sky. "This..." "Isn''t she..." "Lady Xie Meiling is alive? I thought she was struck by illness..." Everyone whispered, but the leaders of the Xie family were silent as if they had been struck by lightning. They looked at the woman in disbelief. The most surprised was Xie Hai, whose eyes trembled with fear, and his knees knocked against the armrests of the chair. "Xie Meiling..." Xie Hai muttered in horror. He stood up from his seat and looked as if he was about to kneel, but he was interrupted by Xie Hui: "You''re alive?!" The man shouted in shock: "How is that possible?!" Xie Meiling''s eyes, who was watching this circus, brightly shed. She bared her white teeth, and a cold smile appeared on her face. "How harmoniously you''ve gathered here. A real circus of freaks." Silence fell! Chapter 108: The Inheritance War (Part 2) Deathly silence fell over the gathering hall where the direct members of the Xie family were present. Each of them felt as if they had seen their deceased ancestor emerge from the grave and begin to dance the belly dance. In principle, the shock they felt wasparable to what they felt now. "Xie Meiling!" several people whispered simultaneously. Many people, including the chief elder, Xie Hai, Xie Hui, and others, had dirty hands in the vicious attempt on the poor woman''s life. Xiao Yui was paler than anyone else, feeling as if she was being strangled by the neck. Her legs trembled, and all the strength within her dissipated in an instant, causing her to fall to her knees and tremble silently. No one dared tough at her, as many involved in the conspiracy felt simr emotions. Xie Meiling''s status in their eyes was terrifying, and although her cultivation level had not improved for a long time, it did not diminish her danger. Only Xie Hai, who was at the first stage of Core Formation, was the strongest, and even he, like a rabbit ready for ughter, trembled with fear. Xie Qingg watched their faces with a rxed smile and enjoyed every second. Their fear was like food to him, and he ate and ate, still feeling hungry. Xie Meiling was no less pleased than him. Although she wanted to appear at thest moment and kill them all, she preferred to stand beside her son and provide him with her support until then. The silence was excruciating, even for the mischievous Xie Qing, who had already begun to feel bored. "Hey, let''s start the gathering, shall we? I''m too tired from the road, and I don''t have time, so I hope for your understanding," the young man said, smiling mockingly as he looked into the eyes of the crowd. "Or are you worried about something?" "Go to hell!" almost everyone thought simultaneously. However, the words he spoke were correct, dying the start of the gathering just because of Xie Meiling would only cause unnecessary panic in the family, which already had a significant problem. The chief elder, blushing with shame at being frozen like a rabbit before a predator''s jaws, began his speech. He spoke of something extremely wise, and grand, and sounded so confident and authoritative... or so it seemed, but Xie Qing, and everyone in this hall, did not listen to him a drop, which made the old bastard sweat like a pig. Xie Qing and Xie Meiling sat at a round table, not far from the rectangr table where the rest of the family members were seated. They drank wine and looked extremely carefree against the backdrop of the nervous elders. However, this could not go on for long, so after they fell silent for a while, the discussion began. "Thus, the war for inheritance has always been an important event for our family. It so happens that this time, there are only three contenders," the elder suddenly said, standing up and drawing all eyes to him. He wiped away the cold sweat and began introducing the candidates: "The first candidate... is the young master Xie Hui. His ability and intelligence can be talked about for a long time. He is a potential cultivator at the Core Formation stage, moreover, he has good connections. Nickname... em... not yet, however, he is a promising young man." Xie Hui''s supporters looked away. The part about the nickname was painful for the man, as he had never received a nickname before, even within the sect, despite his age and efforts. He sighed heavily, and his gaze was filled with darkness and irritation. This irritation intensified, especially when he looked at Xie Qing, who was casually drinking wine with a light smile. Next, the elder cleared his throat, and his speech became much moreposed. "Xie Yu. Xie Hui''s younger sister. She possesses a high level of talent, and her cultivation level is not yet impressive, but that is due to her young age," the elder began introducing the girl and then continued: "Behind her back is the legendary figure, the head of the Starry Stream Sect - Zhang Mei. She is supported by Li Yun, who was given the nickname ''Little Star Wonder'' within the sect, which testifies to her high intellectual abilities and achievements in the field of science..." From the moment Xie Yu was introduced, the gazes on Xie Hui became even more piercing, causing the man to wince in pain. This time, he was surpassed by his sister, and even if her cultivation level was small, everything would be resolved over time. Next, everyone held their breath and swallowed their saliva. Even the elder, who was about to introduce Xie Qing, felt a lump in his throat and swallowed with difficulty, beginning to introduce him. "Em... next... young master Xie Qing. He is the son of Xie Meiling, who is considered... the true legitimate representative of the main bloodline of the Xie family..." The elder sweated when he felt the disbelieving gazes of the other elders on him, but he was even more afraid of the piercing gaze of the young monster, who looked as if he would incinerate him if he said something wrong. "The young master has earned the nickname ''Disciple White'' from the first day in the sect, which has grown into ''Master White''. Then he received the title ''Destroying de'', showing his strength to the cultivation world, and in the cultivator society, he is called ''Future Sovereign''..." The elder sweated and looked as if he had been doused with a bucket of water. The same reaction was shown by the other members of the Xie family, who were not very informed about this. But that was not all. "Also... young master Xie has secured the support of the potential heir of the Huang family, Huang Jing. Also, the potential heiress Fang Lan... moreover, Lady Healer Lu has expressed her good intentions and full support, and the Sect of Heavenly Sword appointed him as a candidate for the next sect master the day before yesterday." Silence. Everyone fell silent at that moment. Although it was not surprising that with his achievements, he would gain the status of a candidate for sect master, it was still an amazing fact. Many elders sighed heavily. Xie Qing was not like Xie Hui, who could be controlled due to the man''s limited influence. "This young man will be the sharp ws that will carve out our hearts. One way or another, we will not be able to suppress him with any pitiful threats..." the chief elder thought, and his eyes filled with regret as he looked at Xie Meiling: "If only I had been much more patient... oh well!" Tsk, tsk, tsk. The chief elder. From regret... No medicine! *** ording to the rules of the gathering... after the candidates are introduced, they must describe their abilities and convince the family members that they are worthy of this position. However, even after five minutes, none of the three of them stood up. Xie Qing was only smiling casually, secretly groping Xie Meiling''s thigh under the table, while Xie Yu was yawning. Xie Hui... looked as if a sparrow had shit in his mouth. However, after a long time, Xie Yu was the first to stand up. Finally, a worthy opponent had appeared... "I refuse to participate in the war of heirs in favor of my cousin Xie Qing. Moreover, I express my intention to be part of his forces and give my vote for him as the future member of the Xie family!" "..." Everyone was silent. Even Xie Hui, ustomed to his sour face, could not help but look at his sister with shock, but then he just shook his head. "What else can you expect from a woman? Were you seduced by his handsome face?" the man muttered with a smile. "Hmph! Stop acting like someone important. You have already disgraced yourself enough when you decided to confront Xie Qing''s brother with your pitiful strength and influence!" Xie Yu snorted and wrinkled her nose as if she had seen something disgusting. "Ugh..." Xie Hui frowned when he heard his sister''s words, and some of the family members chuckled, suppressing theirughter. The man blushed and angrily looked at Xie Yu, but she was too busy doing nothing to pay attention to him. "Heh." Xie Qing smiled casually, crossing one leg over the other and watching the whole process closely. Fortunately, the elder turned out to be smart enough to stop this awkward silence and then announce something. "S-since young miss Xie Yu refuses to participate and gives her vote for young master Xie Qing, then... em... Xie Hui and Xie Qing remain the only candidates and can talk about their strengths." Of course, the elder could barely maintain his calm voice. Everyone already knew that it would be difficult for Xie Hui to tip one cup of the scales in his favor, and he sweated like a pig, trying toe up with something to do. And while he was thinking, someone stood up. It was Xie Qing. Standing at his full height, he seemed even more imposing than when he was sitting, and his straight back and sharp, dangerous aura made everyone feel pressure as if they were facing a dragon. Cracking his neck, Xie Qing said only a few words: "The Xie family belongs to me. Anyone who disagrees will be killed." "..." And no one dared to object. Since the rumors about the new power of the young master from the Xie family began to spread, the future of everyone had been predetermined from that very second. Many darkened, and some even cried. However, Xie Qing''s gaze was still as cold and calm, and his face was painted with his usual carefree smile. *** Two hourster... The arena was prepared for the battle. Many approached Xie Hui and ttered him, trying to instill a few strengthening pills, and he epted them on the spot. It was evident that people doubted Xie Hui''s potential strength, but that was inevitable in the face of superior power. "What a disappointment..." Xie Qing thought, ncing indifferently at all the present members of the Xie family: "For a long time, I fantasized about showing my greatness and crushing them into powder, but... I don''t feel any pleasure. Just a sense of duty." His eyes turned to Xie Meiling, who was cleaning her sword. He sighed, clearly understanding that he could not back down. "Alright, I''ll just do the job, and then I''ll return and lounge around with women and drink wine..." Chapter 109: The Inheritance War (Part 3) Xie Meiling watched indifferently as three people - Xie Hai, Xie Hui, and an old maidservant who was once her confidant - entered the room. Her eyes were filled with anger and a desire to kill. The only thing that restrained her was that Xie Qing wanted to demonstrate his power to everyone and intimidate those members of the Xie family who, although innocent, still deserved punishment. Completely wiping out the entire family was not an option. Even Xie Meiling understood this. There were innocent people, and there were those who simply did nothing on that fateful night. Even if Xu Mei agreed to help them provide a few talented people, it was still not enough. At some point, without realizing it, Xie Meiling looked at her son, and her eyes filled with tenderness. His straight posture, his beautiful and carefree smile, his hair fluttering in the wind, tied back in a ponytail. And the calm voice of a man with a soothing bass. "Reward..." *** After some chatter, Xie Hui himself came out on stage. In the first round, it was necessary to prove one''s qualifications directly to the candidates, and only then could allied forces perform. Xie Hui''s face was filled with nervousness. Xie Qing raised an eyebrow and turned to the left, feeling a strange cold Qi from there. "Strange..." the young man thought and narrowed his eyes, unable to detect anything: "There was something there... close to devilish Qi." For just a moment... this Qi appeared and disappeared. However, Xie Qing was very sensitive to changes in Qi, so he noticed it. He turned his gaze and looked at Xie Hui, who looked a little strange. "Hm..." *** Far away in the mountains, about two hundred miles from the Xie family estate, two cultivators with a strange appearance exchanged nces. "He seems to have sensed my Qi. Amazing perception, just like the Devilish Three-legged Dog," said the man who looked like a demon. Now he looked even more terrifying, with dark gray skin covered in blisters, horns resembling those of a goat, eyes that were dark yellow and resembled a goat''s, and instead of two arms, he had four. The standing nearby ugly monster... well, he didn''t need an introduction. His terrifying appearance was not something that could be endured. "A spark of talent has ignited in a pile of garbage. He was born toote, oh sote," the demon muttered, shaking his head and looking sentimental: "If he had been able to be born a thousand years earlier, he could have caused us a lot of trouble, but... his power is now insufficient." "Just a piece of trash cultivator from the righteous path," the monster snorted. However, the demon did not think so. He had lived for more than ten thousand years and was once an opponent of Xu Mei, but he was cornered and almost killed. Fortunately, his bloodline awakened in time, and he was able to resist and then escape. In the end, he took refuge in a cave and stumbled upon what the devilish cultivators had been searching for. It was... *** Silence. Xie Qing watched with narrowed eyes as Xie Hui''s power grew before his eyes. This was not because the young man was suddenly so talented. No, it was something foreign, something that should not have existed. Devilish Qi. "Hm-m-m..." The first reaction might be to think that Xie Hui had sumbed to fear and learned devilish Qi, but Xie Qing was sure that the former had enough brains to understand the negative consequences. "Is someone using him? I felt a thin signal in the form of devilish Qi. It seems that someone activated the devil seed in him from afar... damn, this name sounds terrible, who came up with it?!" Xie Qing twisted the corners of his mouth and then looked at his opponent, who was now at the Soul Nascent stage - the third stage. "This..." "What? Xie Hui was hiding his power?" "I-Incredible..." The members of the Xie family were frightened and excited at the same time, feeling that they were about to escape certain death. However, no one noticed the strange behavior of the main elder and Xie Hai. "This is..." thought Xie Hai and darkened, looking as if he had eaten horse manure: "Devilish Qi... this bastard dared to ept this unholy energy and be a devil? How horrible..." "Our Xie family will be doomed if it falls into the hands of Xie Hai..." thought the main elder. The study of devilish techniques is taboo in the world of cultivation, and anyone who touches such techniques is automatically considered a sinner, and the Heavens will punish him. The main elder preferred that half of his family be wiped out by Xie Qing''s hands rather than by the hands of enraged cultivators because then no one would be left alive. "It seems that the Heavens are punishing me too, sending such a trial... which I certainly cannot pass," thought the helpless old man. Run away? There were thoughts about it, but every time he saw Xie Meiling''s cold face, he understood that the chances were infinitely close to zero. So all he had left was to wait for death. *** In the arena, the two participants looked at each other. Of course, Xie Hui''s gaze was as strange as possible - filled with anger and hatred, and Xie Qing smiled lightly. "How pitiful. You have sumbed to the evil art," Xie Qing muttered so that only Xie Hui could hear, and seeing his opponent''s growing anger, he added with a haughty look and already loud voice: "Your existence is an eternal shame to the Xie family." "Oh..." Xie Meiling narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists, making a cracking sound. These words were said to Xie Qing throughout his youth. Mockery from his brothers, from family members. Although he was loved by the servants, some hated and despised this talentless boy. And most of all, he was harassed by Xie Hui, who constantly emphasized the young man''s weakness andck of talent. But now he can easily smile under the gaze of a hundred people and fearlessly call the former main genius a piece of trash. Xie Hui, without thinking for long, clenched his sword, and his eyes lit up with a silver light, and the de was enveloped in a strange dark gray me. "Oh?" Xie Qing narrowed his eyes when he saw a dangerous de suddenly appear in front of him, ready to cut his face. BOOM! A loud explosion sounded, and the arena shook. Xie Qing was thrown backward. It was unclear where, but a sword appeared in his hand, which blocked Xie Hui''s attack, which was as fast as lightning. "Interesting... your power has increased so much that it''s even a little hard for me to keep track of your movements," Xie Qing muttered and narrowed his eyes, then straightened his back and smiled: "Then, brother, I won''t hold back either." "Hmm..." Xie Hui made a strange sound and wanted to approach him, but... BOOOOOOM! A bright dark-golden energy surrounded Xie Qing like a halo and continued to spread, shrouding the arena. Soon, the space was sealed by this golden aura, which formed a barrier. And when everyone already thought that everything was over, then... BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Three consecutive explosions sounded, and Xie Qing rxed his face and got rid of his smile, and his posture straightened. Then, the floor under his feet began to be covered with cracks, from which the bright glow of the Sword Aura could be seen, which began to quickly approach Xie Hui. "What?!" Xie Hui shouted in shock as if that allowed him to regain his sanity for a second, but then he was taken back under control. Xie Qing cracked his neck and coldly looked towards the mountains. Now he felt the energy of devilish Qi as if the one who was hiding had decided that there was no point in hiding anymore. "Interesting..." Xie Hui jumped away from the crack that had almost reached his feet and retreated backward. However, no matter what he did, three consecutive cracks with a bright glow inside pursued him, as if wanting to swallow him up. And when Xie Hui jumped again, dodging the crack, Xie Qing snorted. Then... BOOM! "AAAAAAA!" A bright glow burst out of the crack. As it turned out, Xie Qing could control the Sword Aura in them, which allowed him to inflict damage on Xie Hui! Watching as the man writhed in pain, Xie Qing did not hesitate and, taking two steps forward, was able to appear right in front of his opponent. Then, without paying attention to Xie Hui''s chaotic sword swing, Xie Qing clenched the sword in his hand and ruthlessly swung it. "Pha!" Xie Hui made a strange sound, and although Xie Qing expected that the sword would cut him and cause him to receive a wound, he found that after the de entered the man''s body, there was not even blood. "So that''s how it is... your body has been rebuilt. That''s why I felt such difort," Xie Qing muttered, raising an eyebrow and dodging an attack that barely missed him. "Grr..." It seemed that Xie Hui was not even listening to him. Xie Qing clicked his tongue in annoyance, cursing the idiot who decided that such a development of events was a smart solution. Then, Xie Qing was forced to retreat, as Xie Hui''s attacks became much more dangerous and agile. He barely managed to dodge. Swing! Xie Qing swung his sword and collided with a parry of the attack, forced to restrain the tremor in his wrist. "This power... it''s terrifying. Amazing," Xie Qing thought, and then his eyes darkened: "However, it''s disappointing that it was achieved by dishonest means... I think you should stop pretending that you can''t control yourself at all, Xie Hui." "Ha ha..." Surprisingly, to the audience who had already begun to think that Xie Hui had lost his mind, he reacted to Xie Qing''s words withughter. "So you noticed..." Xie Hui muttered and looked into Xie Qing''s eyes, in which there were no emotions. This scared the man a little, but it also angered him even more: "You... no matter how much you change, your gaze is still the same. Indifference, coldness, carelessness... we could never get along with you." "True. I can''t get along with a lower worm," Xie Qing sneered and applied a little more force, pushing Xie Hui back five meters. He stood in a stance and smirked: "You expected that I would endure your insults, like other trash from the Xie family. But you knocked on the wrong door, brat." Xie Qing looked indifferently at Xie Hui, who was trembling with anger and disappointment and then snorted. In his beautiful ck eyes, one could see the reflection of his opponent. "I will never allow anyone to mock me," said Xie Qing and cracked his neck. Boom! The sound of an explosion was heard as Xie Qing moved his right foot back ten centimeters, then grabbed the sword, raised it to shoulder level, and pointed the de vertically. "Will of the Empress of Swords... Cursed Sword." Chapter 110: Welcome to the world of suffering "Will of the Empress of Swords... Cursed Sword." Xie Qing''s words echoed in the ears of those present, creating an unknown pressure that seemed to grip their hearts, causing tension. Xie Hui was covered in cold sweat and froze, but after two seconds, he looked around in confusion when he felt no changes. "What? Nothing happened?" "Was that a bluff? Seriously, man, I was a little scared..." "Pfft, this bastard made me tense up!" Xie Qing just coldly watched Xie Hui''s every move as he regained hisposure. "Haha... so you were bluffing! I was indeed scared when you mentioned the Empress of Swords, but who would have thought it was a fake!" Xie Huiughed loudly, ignoring Xie Qing''s cold gaze. Then he sneered, "Enough games. You''ve talked too much, now it''s time to die." However, Xie Qing only faintly smiled at this provocation. Afterward, Xie Hui took a step forward and... "Huh?" Suddenly, he let out a surprised gasp, as if his soul was torn from his chest. His eyes widened dramatically, filled with endless ck terror. Everyone present froze, not understanding what was happening. His body, which until this moment seemed solid and unyielding, began to tremble and sway as if it was made of small cubes that were now starting to scatter in different directions. It seemed that an invisible force was tearing him apart, and he was helpless against it. The cubes of his body, which initially seemed dense and hard, now turned into something soft and gel-like. They deformed and flowed, merging and forming disgusting patterns. Some of them fell to the floor with a dull sound, leaving trails of slime behind. His screams turned into a hoarse groan, and he began to fall to the floor, his body continuing to disintegrate and deform. Everyone watched in horror, unable to believe what was happening before their eyes. "Eh?!" The crowd gasped in surprise when they discovered that some people were also showing a simr reaction. And strangely enough, these were the ones who had an indirect or direct connection to that fateful night. "AAA!" "Heavens... how horrible!" "Mom... save me, Mom..." Chaos ensued due to the cruel and surreal death of the potential heir and family members of the Xie family of varying importance. Even the elders could not survive. The only survivors were those who had no direct connection to the incident with Xie Meiling. However, there was an exception. Of the listed culprits, only Xie Hai, Xiao Yui, and the chief elder remained. The trio was frozen in shock, their knees trembling, and their bodies weakened, as if poisoned. In stark contrast, the young man standing on stage showed apletely different reaction, which under normal circumstances would have seemed attractive, but... "An amusing spectacle,"mented Xie Qing. He casually smiled. During this time, he had not uttered a single word, yet he managed to kill his opponent so easily, which undoubtedly looked impressive and cool. The surviving members of the Xie family, with deep horror in their hearts, slowly knelt and bowed, lowering their faces to the ground. This was a very humiliating pose, but no one at this moment was thinking about honor. What pride? What honor? Faced with the superior power of the young man, whose strength wasparable to that of a monster, they preferred to be ves rather than die in agony. "M-mercy, master!" "Spare our lives!" "Master, oh great master, my child is innocent... kill me, but spare this child''s life!" A pitiful sight, isn''t it? That''s what happened to the once-proud people. Just five minutes ago, they were cheering for Xie Hui to defeat the monster in human form, and now they were bowing to him in deep fear, like devoted ves. However, Xie Qing did not show any reaction, only smiling ¨C an attractive and sweet smile, but considering the context of the events, it seemed creepy and scary. There was not a drop of blood on his face, his sword gleamed as if it had just been cleaned, andthe air was clean ¨C there was no smell of blood. However, there was a deep sense of horror. Mercy... don''t kill. Great master... don''t kill. Respected immortal... don''t kill. Where are your smiles, friends? Let''s support Mr. Xie Hui! You were... very worried about him, weren''t you? *** "They''re yours. I don''t care how you deal with them, feel free to do whatever you want," replied Xie Qing, and his eyes coldly flickered as he met Xie Hai''s gaze, who was kneeling and silent. Then, looking at Xie Meiling, the young man raised the corners of his mouth, seeing her face: "You''re so beautiful, Xie Meiling." "Huh?" Xie Meiling raised her eyebrows in surprise, which,bined with her wide smile, looked scary. However, Xie Qing only faintly smiled and returned to his business, fulfilling his promise. As soon as the monster left, Xiao Yui''s mouth was untied. The old maid fell to her knees, begged for mercy, cried, andughed, trying to evoke pity from Xie Meiling. "Mistress Xie Meiling, do you remember when I bought you your first stuffed bear as a child? And when the old master scolded you and you cried, Iforted you?" Xiao Yui spoke incoherently as if trying to grab onto a thin thread while being submerged in a deep well. No matter how thin and unreliable this thread was, for Xiao Yui, it was herst chance for survival. She lowered her head, not wanting to meet Xie Meiling''s gaze ¨C whether out of shame or fear. "..." Xie Hai shuddered, seeing the gaze of his former wife, and a terrifying smell of urine began to emanate from him... hey, man, you''re an adult! Xiao Yui continued to speak and recount, clearly pressing on Xie Meiling''s conscience. All the moments from childhood where the old maid helped her mistress ¨C she listed them all. However, Xie Meiling looked at her with a cold gaze from the very beginning, as if made of ice ¨C which does not melt under fierce fire, which repels light and turns you into an ice statue upon contact. "Mistress... please... I beg you... spare me!" cried Xiao Yui, feeling the cold. Her eyes were filled with horror, discovering that her fingers had turned into ice, but she only raised her head and tearfully begged: "Please, spare this old woman! I made a mistake... a very serious mistake! But I have always loved you and treated you like my own daughter! I swear by the Heavens, I will never make this mistake again!" Xie Hai slowly turned away and clenched his teeth, trying to somehow stop the trembling. He was afraid, terribly afraid. From the very beginning, he was not brave, especially when it came to his wife, who resembled a devil when angry. In the end, Xiao Yui''s pleas led to some results. Xie Meiling opened her mouth and sighed. "Mistress..." Xiao Yui whimpered intively, feeling a shiver. This sigh... she would recognize it from a thousand sighs in a crowd. "P-please... spare me..." The old woman''s eyes filled with tears, and she could not see anything in front of her because of the tears. Her face was as pale as snow, and her old body trembled helplessly. And only when Xiao Yui blinked and the tears were wiped away, didshe see the cold face of her mistress. "M-mistress..." Emotions... seemed to have left Xie Meiling. And only coldness remained. "P-please... I beg you... I swear... by the Heavens!" However, Xie Meiling remained silent. Xiao Yui trembled with fear and finally closed her mouth, whimpering on the dirty ground. Her expensive dress was covered with a thickyer of dirt, and insects crawled on her, but the old woman no longer cared. She knew... Xie Meiling''s silence was the worst answer. "Are you begging me? Swearing by the Heavens?" Xie Meiling finally spoke. "Y-yes... please!" eximed Xiao Yui, seemingly finding hope, and raised her gaze, but froze, seeing Xie Meiling''s piercing gaze: "M-mistress..." "All this time, I thought it was someone else. That it wasn''t you who poisoned my food. My mind said ''yes,'' but my heart denied it. However, I could no longer deceive myself, especially when on thest day, you no longer hid it," Xie Meiling began to speak coldly, and her hands clenched into fists, and the aura of a Soul Nascent cultivator began to be released: "Loved me like your own daughter? How funny." "N-no... I was telling the truth..." Xiao Yui whimpered pitifully, writhing on the ground, and trying to persuade Xie Meiling, but at some point, she froze and fell silent. Her pupils widened, and her breathing became heavy. "Telling the truth? What nonsense. But I am a very fair person. How about this..." said Xie Meiling and waved her hand, taking out a vial of poison: "While you were writhing on the ground, I injected this poison into you, which was still in me for several months. However, this is not just poison... but poison enhanced by the Qi of a cultivator at the Transcendence level. Which makes it ten times more dangerous and deadly." Xie Hai shuddered with fear, and his lips turned blue, his face as pale as a sheet of paper. He could no longer resist his fear. Who, if not him, knew the effect of the poison? This poison was a curse for cultivators and could easily kill a cultivator. And being strengthened tenfold... "Crazy!" Xie Hai shuddered and lost consciousness from fear. But Xiao Yui could not do so. She fought against the horrifying pain as if she were being torn apart from the inside into hundreds of thousands of pieces. Moreover, with each second she was alive, her aura weakened, her life drained away, and she aged rapidly. In thest moment of her life, she discovered that time had slowed down. What was a second for the outside world was a year for her. Soon, the old maid was covered in ice, and she turned into a statue. Xie Meiling coldly snorted and brushed the hair from her face. "In this circle of suffering, you will spend a hundred thousand years without the possibility of dying." Wee to the world of suffering, Xiao Yui. Chapter 111: Fair Xu Mei! Meanwhile, as Xie Meiling was torturing her victims, Xie Qing was heading to the main hall. "Brother!" Behind him, a girlish and sweet cry rang out. He turned around and saw Xie Yu running towards him, apanied by the disciples of the Starry Stream Sect, who looked at him with admiration and blushed, turning away. "Xie Yu," the young man smiled and caught this excited girl who jumped into his arms and buried herself in his chest, rubbing her head againsthim,while her gentle hands clung to his back. Today,the girl was dressedbeautifully and magnificently. She was wearing a light blue one-piece dress with a chest cutout.The cor was sewnwith golden patterns. The skirt hem covered her buttocks. The girl did not skimp on her white stockings, which hada lotus flower pattern.Xie Yu wore blue high-heeled shoes with an ankle strap. *** Xie Qing ordered to gather everyone in the main hall of the estate. Everyone without exception - from the lowest ves to direct members of the Xie family, including children, infants, and the elderly. The only ones ignored were seriously ill people. And so, in the mainhallgathered all the remaining members of the Xie family, including servants and ves. Their total number was exactly 53 people. Initially,therewere 151 people in the family, of whom 51 were direct members of the Xie family. Unfortunately...perhaps even fortunately,their number had been reduced. Too many people were involved in that fateful night. Although it was wasteful to kill so many people, Xie Qing did not know mercy when it came to his enmity. Moreover, he had sworn a Heavenly Oath,which further strengthenedhis resolve. Speaking of the oath, when he finally fulfilled his promise, the strange pressure disappeared. And so, as he pondered... Ding! [The task "Capture the Xie family" has beenpleted. Receive rewards?] [Yes] | [No] "Oh, that''s right," Xie Qing raised his eyebrows: "Reward. There was such a thing, wasn''t there? I''ve already forgotten." Although he was a little excited, the young man knew that first, he needed to deal with this crowd, who were kneeling in fear, waiting for his words. And so, putting aside the system screen, he looked at this crowd. 15direct members of the Xie family were kneeling, their faces filled with horror. The remaining 38 were servants and ves who had no rtion to that fateful night. All the guilty had been killed.The path had been cleared, allthat remained was to hang a new g on the ruins and begin repairs. "..." As Xie Qing said nothing, the servants became frightened and nervous. Even the most steadfast member of the Xie family could not help but sweat from nervousness. And so... "I don''t think I need an introduction. I don''t like to talk too much, so I''ll say right away - the Xie family is now in my possession," the young man began to speak and propped his chin with his hand, looking uninterestedly at the servants who were afraid to raise their eyes. He narrowed his eyes: "Soon, a person wille here who will help me govern. And if I hear that you are interfering with the work, I will kill you and your entire family to the fifth generation. Do you understand?" "Y-yes!" "Yes, master!" Xie Qing snorted and stood up from his ce, although in histhoughtshe admired how cool he looked. However, constantly intimidating was not beneficial for the long-term development of the family. Therefore, he said that forgoodachievements, one could receive a reward and even gain the status of a legitimate member of the Xie family. Thisslightly cheeredupthe crowd, who were d ofthis,but were afraid to make too much noise. *** "He is an amazing cultivator. He must be one of the best geniuses of the righteous path. That attack was so amazing," the demon muttered, narrowing his eyes: "And this technique... Damned Sword. I must say, I didn''t expect to see the legacy of the Empress of Swords with my own eyes. When I fought in the war against the righteous path, she didn''t even pay attention to this war. Now I understand why." For everyone else who couldn''t keep up with Xie Qing''s movements, it might seem that hesimplyattacked quickly and sliced the opponent into cubes. However, this was very far from the truth. "Sword Aura... he was able to make it hidden, and then controlling more than a hundred swords in an instant, he cut all the opponents into pieces. And all this while just standing in ce. An amazing sword technique..." Even he, who had renounced his human nature and be a demon, awakening his bloodline, could not help but shiver at the power of this technique. Althoughwith his power,he could block this attack, the young man from the righteous path had his whole life ahead of him and could improve his techniques, and then even with all his desire, it would not be sweet for the devilish cultivators. "Huhuhu... Jia, are you afraid of this guy?" a loud and vileugh rang out. It was the devilish cultivator Jia Bian. The demon was called Jia. He turned to his partner and snorted. "Of course not. I''m afraid of the power that stands behindhim. I still don''t understand why Hao Shen and Ma Lu decided to act. They even set traps that would harm the reputation of the righteous cultivators," Jia muttered and cracked his neck, looking at the Xie family estate, which was surprisingly very quiet: "Strange. A second ago, I heard that it was still noisy there. You think sotoo, Jia Bian?" Jia snorted and looked intently at theestate,but then puzzledly raised his eyebrows when his partner did not answer. "Jia Bian?" he repeated, and his eyes suddenly widened. Swoosh! A sharp gust of wind passed by Jia''s cheek, forcing him to fall to his knees and helplessly roll to the side. He was stunned. "Tsk. To think that a worm dared to resist," a female voice rang out, filled with mockery. "Y-you... it''s you..." The demon was very frightened, clearly recognizing the owner of the voice. In front of him stood a woman in an elegant pink hanfu with phoenix patterns. Her hair fluttered in the wind, and her eyes were like a sea of calm. "You are... X-Xu Mei!" Jia felt his heart sink. He got up and released his Qi cultivator at Divine Transformation. The ground beneath them began to crack, but when the cracks approached the mountain ledge, they suddenly stopped. "Barrier! Damn, I''m trapped!" the demon panicked and looked at the woman in front of him, who drew her sword. His eyes narrowed, and his body ignited, disappearing. His movements were fast, and his trail was hidden by aspecialtechnique.He moved so fast that an ordinary viewer wouldn''t even see him in the air. However, Xu Mei didn''t even bother to look at him. "Hmph!" BOOM! A single snort hadan amazingeffect. Jia''s body was cut in half, leaving the demon shocked and frightened. "Y-you... your power has grown! Monster!" he shouted, and the two halves of his body beganto slowly heal, merging into one: "Monster!" "Oh?Thisis the famous demon regeneration? Thest time a demonwas seenwas a hundred million years ago, whowould have thought that you would inherit their bloodline," Xu Mei said in surprise, not paying attention to Jia''s fear: "But don''t be too proud. Your stupid regeneration is not what can withstand my de. Pfff!" Xu Mei snorted, and Jia''s bodywas once again cutin half. She didn''t have to attack again, as the Sword Aura inside him had already taken deep root andeasilyinflicted new wounds. "AAAAAAAA!" Even the most powerful demon regeneration was not perfect. In a sense, it even became a curse for the poor demon, whowas forcedto endure horrific pain. His body was torn apart and healed. Whether it was the first or the second - these actions brought too much pain, and itwasdifficultto maintain reason. His spirit began to weaken, and even if his soul was powerful, it was not easy to withstand Xu Mei''s Sword Aura! Her Sword Aura could destroy even the soul! And the realization of this fact made Jia panic. Initially, he nned to secretly test the new development, which could increase power and turn a righteous cultivator into a devilish one. Butsuddenlyhe met a cultivator who was too sensitive, who discovered him and, it seemed, summoned Xu Mei! Xu Mei narrowed her eyes. "It seems that you are not in the mood for conversation. But don''t worry, Iam a fair person," Xu Mei began to speak and proudly smiled: "I just bought an interesting artifact... they say it helps to extract all the information from the soul, but then the victim''s soul bursts and loses the chance for reincarnation!" "AAAAAAAA!" ...Of course, Jia was not particrly pleased. But who asked him? *** "I have studied his soul and found some information. It seems that two scumbags have decided to show themselves again," Xu Mei reported, lookingserious. In the room wereFang Lan, Xie Yu, and Xie Meiling, including Xie Qing.The girls looked expressionlessly at Xu Mei. The reason was simple...she was sitting on Xie Qing''sp,who wascasually smiling and stroking her stomach (this was a kind of request from the woman). If Fang Lan and Xie Yu were shocked that there were SUCH rtions between these two, then Xie Meiling was simply jealous. It was moreplicated with her - she could not allow herself to be intimate whenthere were too many peoplearound.In other words, she was shy. And Xu Mei? I think it''s clear from the fact that Xie Qing is a self-satisfied and carefree guy who does what he wants thatit was she whoinstilled these qualities in him. The woman casually told about what she hadlearned,whilenot forgetting to kiss her lover and rub against him, kissing him on the cheek. And what about Xie Qing? He was only too happy. However, the news he heard made him worry. "The two mentioned people are the leaders of the remaining devilish sects. They pose a danger, and it seems that these people have found a way to break free from the control of the Sect of the Resting Eagle." Xie Meiling, who was boiling with jealousy, asked a question: "And what about the Sect of the Resting Eagle? They can quite fairlybe usedof failing to do their job." "In half an hour, a meeting of the four great sects hasbeen scheduled, so I came to see my disciple and at the same time attend the meeting," Xu Mei said with a smile and teased her lover by wiggling her butt on his sensitive spot, and then added: "Lian Lin is also with me, but she decided to go straight to the meeting ce." Xie Qing rolled his eyes. This older sister didn''t want to run intohim,because she owed him for the techniques he brought from the Ancestral Cave. "I came up with something..." a sly smile appeared on the young man''s face. Chapter 112: Gentle gaze Xie Qing had expected the gathering tobe heldin a sect, but instead, they headed southeast. The journey took only five minutes thanks to Xu Mei''sspecibilities, whowas able tocover a great distance in just a few steps.Thiswas the miracle of a cultivator at the Transcendence level. Xie Meiling and Xie Yu stayed behind to meet the people sent by Xu Mei''s good friend. They were talented andwere taskedwith managing the family''s affairs. Xie Qing had no interest in managing the family and found ittooboring. He believedthat spendingtime on love affairs was much more important than managing the family. Of course, if there were gatherings, he would have to attend, but only the most important ones whereimportant matters were discussed. Xie Qing and Xu Meinded on a t tform with adiameter offivethousand miles. There, theywere greetedby a man dressed in white robes with the character "righteous" embroidered on them. He had an ordinary face, a straight nose, thin lips, and was about 170 cm tall. "Hm. Lead the way," Xu Mei said, not wasting any words on polite formalities and giving the order directly. The servant did not show any displeasure and led the way. He did not look Xu Mei in the eye, seemingly afraid of her wrath.Xu Mei''s character was knownin certain circles as chaotic, and few could imagine what would happen if they stared at her for more than one second. Xie Qing received a lot of attention as he was essentially a neer. His appearance was known because some people had spread images from that day. If one were to describe the opinion formed about him, it would be neutral but leaning towards caution. Most people believedthat hispower would beextremely dangerousif not controlled, while othersbelievedthat as Xu Mei''s disciple, he would show good results and be the hope of the righteous path. "It seems you''re popr," Xu Mei said with a teasing smile, noticing all the looks on her disciple. She proudly puffed out her chest and giggled, "That''s how it should be. My disciple cannot be mediocre. One dayyouwill surpass me." "Master tters this disciple too much... Ijustwant to be with my Master," Xie Qing replied and smiled, looking into Xu Mei''s eyes. "Hah..." Xu Mei rolled her eyes,clearlyunderstanding his perverted hint, but she did not object. This guy was just too shameless! Regarding the gathering, there were indeed many people here. It seemed that the influence of this unusual gathering was muchgreaterthan that of the Gathering of Light. "How many people... the lowest level here is the fifth stage of Core Formation," Xie Qing thought and wrinkled his nose, "They''re showing off?Releasing their aura at full power, it''s makingme feel sick." Fortunately, in front of them was arge pavilion that upied 50 hectares of space. Itwas madeof precious details and immortal stone. "My Qi is being suppressed. It seems there is a special formation here," the young man thought, tilting his head to the side and looking at Xu Mei, who walked ahead indifferently, looking like an immortal goddess from the Heavens, "Unusual... I''ve never seen her like this." He smiled andalsodecided to match the current atmosphere of solemnity and importance. His posture straightened, and the muscles on his face rxed, making him look cold and indifferent. With his straight back, he was a head taller than Xu Mei. His aura also strangely changed - from seductive and attractive, making you rx and want to chat...Too cold, oppressive, and authoritative, as if you were standing before a deity who could decide whether you lived or died. It was hard to be arrogant in front of the current Xie Qing. "Oh?" Xu Mei raised her eyebrows in surprise, sensing the changes in her disciple''s aura. He now looked more like a powerful cultivator who decided the life and death of those around him with aflick of his finger. "Hehe..." The woman smiledsatisfied, pleased. Thiswasexactlyhow her disciple should behave - proud and never lowering his head. Although this guy was usually very flirtatious and cute, in suchseriousmomentshe took on the demeanor of a cultivator. Others also noticed this change and could not help but praise him. As it turned out, entry into the pavilion was only allowed for a cultivatorat the Transcendence levnd one person with them. Of course, for Xu Mei, this person was Xie Qing, who was currently looking at the surrounding beauties with curiosity. The aura of grandeur in this pavilion wasamazing. It felt like the great immortals who predetermined the future of the mortal world lived here. The name of the pavilion was "Heavenly Pantheon." The young man clicked his tongue, "What the hell is the door so huge for?" "Grandeur and all that," Xu Mei repliedand clickedher tongue. "Now I''m sure he''s your disciple, Mei-Mei," a soft voice sounded behind them. Xie Qing was startled, as he was too engrossed in his thoughts and did not notice anyone approaching. Fortunately, he was able to maintain a carefree expression on his face. Turning around, the young man saw a woman in front of him. She had long, dark silver hair, like the glow of the moon, deep yellow eyes that resembled a dragon''s, and a slender, willowy figure. Her chest was medium-sized, but she had a well-developed lower body. She was almost two heads shorter than Xie Qing. The woman had a soft, soothing voice, and a pleasant floral scent emanatedfrom her. "This is..." "Sister," Xu Mei awkwardly smiled and ced her hand on Xie Qing''s shoulder, introducing him, "Meet my disciple, Xie Qing. An unparalleled genius." "Mei-Mei, your disciple is indeed a genius. He''s aplete copy of you in your youth," Liu Yang said with her usual gentle smile, looking Xie Qing up and down, and then narrowed her eyes, addressing the girl next to you, "Yin-er, is this the young man you taught alchemy to?" "Huh? Um, yes...it''s young master Xie Qing!" Lu Yin smiled and nodded to the young man, greeting him. "There it is... I''ve heard a lot about you, young man. You really are...an outstanding man." "Um?" Xie Qing raised his eyebrows in confusion. It seemed to him that this woman was talking about somethingpletely different. The proof was the slightly flushed face of Xu Mei and the nervousness on Lu Yin''s face. "Was that apliment? How should I react to this?Plus,she''s smiling gently, but I''m getting chills down my spine..." Forthe first time in his life,Xie Qing was facedwith such a situation.It seemed that they didn''t want to kill him, but it seemed that Liu Yang didn''t like him. "I suspect she thinks I want to seduce her disciple," Xie Qing thought and met Liu Yang''s gentle yellow eyes, "And it seems I''m right. Could it be that Master said something while drunk again? I''mpletely innocent!" There was a short pause filledwith awkwardness, but Xu Mei interrupted him. "Alright,stop burning my disciple with your ''gentle'' gaze, Liu Yang.Who''s to me that your disciple wants to hang on his neck?" Xu Mei saidwith an indignant voiceand snorted, "Just look at her! When I trained your girl, she asked me about Xie Qingevery day, wanting to learn something new about him!" "Th-this... Mistress Xu Mei..." Lu Yin awkwardly smiledandher cheeks turned slightly red. The young man standing to the side just rolled his eyes. "Woman, your reaction is making the situation worse." But it seemed that Liu Yang was not angry for long.Her gentle smile disappeared, and sheughed -herughter was beautiful and clear. "Don''t worry, Mei-Mei. I wasjustteasing the handsome young man. You know me." Liu Yang sweetly smiled, and she changed the subject, looking at the young man, "I''ve heard about your talent for alchemy. Do you really not want to focus on it?" "Thank you for the offer, Mistress..." Xie Qing bowed and, noticing the unnatural distortion of Liu Yang''s smile, corrected himself, "Miss... my heart belongs to the path of the sword." "Oh, what a pity... but I won''t insist. However, I still have hopes that such a handsome young man will pay attention to alchemy training. Perhaps with your intellect, the world of alchemy will receive new inventions."Liu Yang saidwith a kindface,and thenadded, pointing to her disciple, "If you have any questions, ask Yin-er.She''s a very good girl and will always help you." "Thank you. Young Miss Lu Yin really does help me," Xie Qing added with a smile, ncing at Lu Yin, who gently smiled and nodded. Liu Yang nodded and turned her attention to Xu Mei, noticing her abnormal expression. "What''s wrong? You''re looking at me like I''ve done something wrong." "That''s right! Stop flirting with my disciple!" "..." *** "Lu Yin!" Xie Qing, along withXu Mei, Liu Yang, and Lu Yin,entered.Immediately after,a girl''s voice was heard. "Oh... it''s Li Yun!" Lu Yin said and smiled, looking at her friend and ran up to her. The two girls hugged each other with bright smiles and startedchatting,while Xie Qingwas leftin thepany of two silentold women.It seemed that assoon as they entered this room, they put aside their childishness and becameserious. Xie Qing also decided toputaside his carefree behavior. Liu Yang noticed this and nodded with a smile. "Mei-Mei has taken a good disciple." Chapter 113: Feng Gu The room was a vast space that had a round table with four chairs in the center. There were a total of eight people in the room: Lian Lin, the head of the Heavenly Sword Sect Liu Yang, the head of the Nine Pills Sect Feng Gu, the head of the Resting Eagle Sect Zhang Mei, the head of the Starry Stream Sect Xu Mei, the founder of the Heavenly Sword Sect Each sect leader, except for Lian Lin, was apanied by their main disciples, who had the highest chance of inheriting the status of sect leader. Xie Qing only knew Li Yun, and Lu Yin, and not the remaining boy. The sect leader Feng Gu disciple was a short man with a serious look, his aura was at the fifth stage of Core Formation. "Xu Mei, Sister Liu Yan. You''ve finally arrived!" the man nodded and smiled at them. This man was Feng Gu. He was a tall man with bright blue eyes and dark chestnut hair. His posture was straight, and his build was muscr. He emitted a crushing and imposing atmosphere, as if one were standing in front of a mountain. Even Lu Yin and Li Yun could barely breathe. "What a show-off! I won''t stand for anypetition!" thought Xie Qing, rolling his eyes and releasing his Qi, enveloping the dome for the two girls. "T-thank you..." Lu Yin breathed deeply and thanked him. "Phew... Thank you so much!" Li Yun smiled charmingly - her smile was innocent and very cute, and looking at the dimples formed by her smile, Xie Qing subconsciously wanted to pinch her. However, he did not do so, feeling Zhang Mei''s gaze on him. The young man smiled faintly at the corners of his mouth, then sent his thought with the Soul Mark: "Sect Leader Zhang seems unhappy. Can I help with anything?" "You would be helping me a lot if you removed this annoying mark!" Zhang Mei''s annoyed voice sounded, which was a bit unusual, considering her usually cold behavior. "I would be happy to, but I can''t. The mark is unyielding, so I have to leave it," Xie Qing said sadly and sighed: "Who would have thought that such a misfortune would happen to me..." "You..." Zhang Mei lost her voice, seeing the audacity of this guy. Fine, if he pretended that he couldn''t remove the mark, but why was he posing as a victim?! "Bastard! Just as arrogant as his Master! Two peas in a pod!" Zhang Mei snorted and cut off the connection. Xie Qing merely smiled and looked away. Of course, he could remove the mark at any time, but he found it amusing and decided to leave it. In any case, if he needed to ask Zhang Mei for something, this method was quite effective. To his great regret, it seemed that Zhang Mei could interrupt the connection. "By the way, I''ve only recently figured out how to open and close the connection normally. So..." The young man thought about something, and his face looked strange, Zhang Mei was puzzled as to why Xie Qing was looking at her as if she were something dangerous. *** "You say you''ve found a demon? That''s a serious matter; after all, they haven''t been around for so many years. A real danger worthy of attention," Feng Gu muttered, his face bing awkward when he felt the gaze of so many people on him: "What? Why are you all looking at me like that?" Zhang Mei snorted, and Liu Yan smiled kindly, but Xu Mei wouldn''t be Xu Mei if she hadn''tmented on this moment. "Because you screwed up big time. Because your thoughts are preupied with all sorts of nonsense, the devilish cultivators now have some path outside the continent," Xu Meimented, opening a bottle of wine and pouring herself a ss, then casually snorted: "That''s why everyone is looking at you like an idiot. You''re acting as if nothing happened." "Uh... your tongue... still so sharp." Feng Gu smiled awkwardly, but he understood that he was indeed to me here. Although the entire continent was sealed with a special formation, the devilish cultivators still found a loophole, and the me for thisy with him. That''s why he hasn''t been able to focus on cultivation for a month now. This issue has severely affected his reputation and the reputation of the sect. There were even mass riots among mortals who doubted that the righteous sect could protect them. Xie Qing genuinely sympathized with this man. If it were him, the continent would have long since be a wastnd. "It''s funny that cultivators at the peak of cultivation can''t use their power to its fullest... ording to Master, this is due to the Heavenly Restriction," Xie Qing remembered and narrowed his eyes: "Is the world protecting itself? Or is it rted to other beings? Could the Immortal World really exist?" However, these were just spections. But the problem of devilish cultivators was real, and Xie Qing didn''t quite understand how to deal with it. "I''m just an ordinary guy who knows how to kill and lie in bed with girls. I was barely stronger than a mortal a year ago," he thought and sighed: "How am I supposed to get involved in such things? Better just keep quiet." Unfortunately... he had no experience in leading suchrge-scale wars. Moreover,ing up with a strategy, let alone a smart and effective one, was no easy task, and he had very little experience. "So, the best tactic is to keep quiet!" ...and you quickly gave up. However, the righteous path wouldn''t be the strongest if it made one panic. Countermeasures were quickly devised, which included the mass gathering of forces and the creation of formations. Moreover, devilish Qi was very noticeable, and Xu Mei had some things from the past that could detect them. Although the detection radius was limited, it could be said that they could be improved. In this matter, the Starry Stream Sect was the best. The meeting continued, and when the orders were formed, the conversation turned to a more rxed channel. "Xu Mei, I''ve heard a lot about your disciple. They say he''s the third in the generation of great swordsmen," Feng Gu changed the subject and looked at Xie Qing. The man met the indifferent eyes of the young man and raised his eyebrow: "Straight posture, indifference in the eyes reminds you of you in your youth. If I weren''t a cultivator at the level of Transcendence, I would have thought he was an ordinary mortal." Xie Qing raised his eyebrow, and the light began to return to his eyes. In fact, he had fallen asleep, but he could still hear their conversation. When he felt that he had be the center of attention, he nodded. "Pfft, as if! He currently has the best talent for the sword. In a few hundred years, he''ll be even better than that upstart Sword Empress!" Zhang Mei remained silent, but in her thoughts, she couldn''t help but roll her eyes, hearing such an unfriendly reference from Xu Mei to the great historical figure who was recognized as the strongest swordsman in history. Liu Yan, on the other hand, maintained her usual carefree appearance, smiling gently and even brewing tea at one point. Lu Yin, on the other hand, took out sweets from her spatial ring (although it''s unclear why she kept them there) and ced them on the table. "Are you on a pic or something?" Xie Qing and Xu Mei thought simultaneously. However, they did not voice it. Xie Qing did not want to be rude to a person whom even Xu Mei respected, and the Master simply did not want to miss out on the sweets. What strange people! *** "Li Yun, are you tired? Master and the others have been talking for two days, and you''ve been using your Qi all this time to help them," Xie Qing said and extended his hand: "Let me help you?" "Uh... I''m not tired, but thank you very much," the girl was touched by the kindness of the young man and extended her hand, cing it in the palm of the wolf. Xie Qing smiled casually, ignoring the intense gaze on his back. "Miss Lu Yin won''t join us?" the young man asked, noticing Li Yun''s difort. "Huh? No, Lu Yin is running a littlete; she needs to discuss the necessary materials for the pills," Li Yun answered and sighed: "I also have a lot of work to do. I need to work on improving the charm for detecting devilish Qi and creating signal tokens. In short, the workload will be heavy." "Huh? It seems I have the easiest task..." Xie Qing replied, wrinkling his nose: "I feel bad about it. It''s as if I''m a useless vase." Li Yun didn''t know how to react to this, but she wanted tofort him. So she pulled on the young man''s sleeve and said with an embarrassed face: "You''re also an important part of the n. Your strength deserves attention, and you need to respond quickly to signals, which is also not an easy task!" "Ooh... your words make my heart melt!" Xie Qing smiled. "Melt?" the girl blushed, seemingly misunderstanding him. Xie Qing merely shrugged. Although killing was fun on one hand, on the other, he didn''t want to ck off too much when even Xu Mei was actively participating in joint work. He thought for a moment, then tilted his head: "I have a small talent for alchemy. If I reinforce my knowledge and learn, I can help Miss Lu Yin. Miss Li Yun, does your sect have an elder who will allow me to take up some of his time? I want to study formations and charms, as well as basic knowledge of creating items." "Oh?" Li Yun was surprised and thoughtful. The Starry Stream Sect''s technologies were in formations, charms, studying techniques, and creating items. Their technique was very rare, and only disciples could study it. Therefore, Xie Qing hoped to learn a little, as it could help in the future. It''s just that he didn''t know who he could turn to for help. As for whether they would agree or not, he could simply ask Zhang Mei. It was unlikely that he would be refused. "Well... why not? Although the technique is spread only within the sect, I think the Master won''t refuse to let you study. After all, you are a talent and a disciple of the Sword Princess," Li Yun answered, poking her finger into her cheek and smiling innocently: "Besides, you''re a good person, so I trust you!" "Miss Li Yun, you''re so charming," Xie Qing suddenly said with a surprised face. "Huh?!" Chapter 114: Lu Yins Lessons! [extra] Extra. Lu Yin''s Lessons! Note: This is an additional chapter that covers the moments that I could not fit into the content. In terms of the plotline, this chapter follows the events after Xie Qing helped Lu Yin teach Xu Mei the way of the sword. Enjoy reading. === The private lessons that Lu Yin had promised were indeed implemented. Lu Yin did this on the very next day, closer to the day. She invited the young man to her private quarters. "What a huge building," thought Xie Qing, looking up at the tall red pavilion. "Moreover, there is a smell of herbsing from here. I guess that''s to be expected from her?" It seemed a bit unusual to him that this girl had invited him to her private quarters, as most of his peers could misunderstand this and harbor strange hopes. However, considering Xie Qing''s personality, Lu Yin had invited a wolf into her house. Standing briefly in front of the fence, the young man approached the main entrance, where two cultivators at the Soul Nascent stage were standing guard. Their eyes were closed, and they were dressed in ssic outer court disciple clothing. As soon as he crossed the fence, these two suddenly opened their eyes and stared intently at him, releasing a killing intent as a method of intimidation. "I havee to meet with Miss Lu Yin at her personal invitation," dered Xie Qing when he was five steps away from the main entrance. The guards looked like dwarfspared to him, which was a bitical. However, the strength of these two could not be underestimated. Since Xie Qing himself was not sure if... he could defeat them with one blow. He thought that in three blows, he could kill them... wait, why was he evaluating the strength of cultivators based on how many blows it would take for them to die? "Hm? And you..." The guard frowned and looked displeased, seeing that Xie Qing was looking down on him (both literally and figuratively): "Miss? I think your parents should have taught you manners, but apparently, not everyone is so lucky." "Young man, who do you think you are, addressing Healer Lu so informally?" eximed the other guard, releasing his aura to intimidate the young man. "Get lost! Who let such an ill-mannered brat like you in here?" "Hmm..." Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, puzzled. For some reason, it seemed to him that men in his presence suddenly lost their IQ to 0. Otherwise, how could this behavior be exined? "How should I calm them down... without crippling them?" thought Xie Qing, narrowing his eyes. This action alone made the guards shudder, but they were too proud to show fear. Soon, two powerful auras were released, and this even pushed Xie Qing back two steps. "Eeeh... why are you, stubborn beasts, unable to do the math? Can''t you see that I was being polite?" Xie Qingined and sighed, releasing his aura. "!!!" The two guards held their breath and felt as if they were in front of the mouth of an enraged lion. "Ooh... he''s a... monster!" For these two, difficult times hade, considering that the pressure on their bodies was so powerful that it was barely possible to breathe. Fortunately, after teasing them a bit, Xie Qing eased the pressure, as he noticed Lu Yin''s aura descending. "What''s going on here?" The girl was dressed in her usual elegant hanfu and was greatly surprised to find two guards kneeling, breathing heavily. Moreover, Xie Qing was also here, whom she was waiting for. The girl was pouring tea when she suddenly felt an overwhelming aura and went outside to check what had happened. "Miss Lu..." The guards began to whine like childrenining to their mother about the neighbor boy who had offended them. To their great surprise and disappointment, Lu Yin only frowned and said nothing. On the contrary, she looked at the "neighbor boy" and smiled at him. "I''m sorry for this scene. Pleasee in. I''ve prepared tea." Xie Qing also smiled and dispersed his aura so skillfully that he began to resemble an ordinary mortal without Qi. When they went inside, Lu Yin asked about what had happened between these three. "Did you have a conflict with them?" the girl inquired, looking surprised. "Usually, these two are not rude to anyone. Did you provoke them?" "Me?" Xie Qing pointed to himself in offense and sighed disappointedly ¨C this was so natural that he could confidently be awarded the prize for the best acting: "I''m just an ordinary city guy, but these two have made my young heart bleed with indignation." "Hahaha..." Lu Yinughed, covering her mouth, her slender shoulders shaking, and her eyes narrowing into a crescent moon. "You really do have a unique sense of humor. But I''m genuinely curious." "If seriously, then I just called you ''miss,'' which is why they got angry. The real reason is probably that they were jealous of my handsome looks," replied Xie Qing, brushing off nonexistent dust from himself. "That''s all." "Hm? Maybe so. I am very respected in the sect and treated like an idol," replied Lu Yin with a bitter smile, which, together with her face, looked very charming. "I just happened to be born talented." "Talented, yes..." Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, recalling their first meeting. Although he had never mentioned it, and it seemed that the girl herself did not remember, at that time, he had indeed admired her and even swore to make her his woman. Now... well, he would just go with the flow. "Mm? The tea smells simply wonderful, although we haven''t even reached the room yet," Xie Qing marveled, looking at Lu Yin. "Is this... Buxiu spiritual tea? It''s quite expensive." "That''s right. I often drink it because it helps concentrate on alchemy and gives invigoration!" Lu Yin eximed happily when Xie Qing spoke on topics of interest to her. She narrowed her eyes with a smile and said, "I''ll give you five boxes. They''re very tasty; you have to try them!" "Since you offer..." Xie Qing nodded, and after thinking for a moment, a box with unknown contents appeared in his hand. "ept this as a reciprocal gift." "You shouldn''t have... but... what''s in the box?" Lu Yin asked in surprise, sniffing, her eyes widening. "This is..." She abandoned the rules of decency and snatched the box, then carefully opened it. Her eyes sparkled, reminiscent of a starry sky reflected on the water''s surface. Xie Qing merely smiled casually, allowing her to enjoy the moment. What Xie Qing gave was a nt from the system that cost about 1,000 spiritual stones. It was very difficult to find in the mortal world, as they grew for two hundred thousand years. This nt was called the "Red Dragon Flower," which was the main ingredient for brewing the "Red Dragon Awakening Pill," allowing one to greatly increase the power of the soul. Although the price wasughably low, Xie Qing understood that in the system''s assessment, the incredible techniques and nts of this world could seem like a useless trinket, no better than toilet paper. And so, when Lu Yin, after the tenth check, discovered that this was indeed a Red Dragon Flower, moreover, fully matured, her eyes shone so brightly that Xie Qing was blinded. "This..." Lu Yin wanted to say something but, remembering that she had not closed the box, she carefully closed it and only thenpleted her thought. "...is too expensive a gift. I''m afraid I''ll feel ufortable if I ept it just like that," she replied and reluctantly extended the box back, although it was clear that she wanted to keep it for herself. "I don''t want to take advantage of your kindness. My tea can''t be a subject for equal exchange..." The young man raised an eyebrow in puzzlement, but he still could not help but praise Lu Yin''s self-control in his thoughts. Even when she was given an expensive gift without any derations, she soberly assessed everything and did not agree immediately. However, Xie Qing was indeed sincere. The price was too small to excite him, so the young man could only insist. "If Miss Lu Yin does not want to ept this gift in exchange for tea, then why don''t you kiss me on the cheek as payment for it?" Xie Qing shamelessly dered. "Eeh?" Lu Yin blushed deeply when she heard these words, and she could not find the words to answer such a shameless request. Seeing such a cute reaction, Xie Qing faintly smiled and shook his head. He enjoyed teasing such girls! "Just kidding. Consider it payment for your beautiful smile and kindness," said the young man, seeing that Lu Yin pursed her lips and made a strange sound, her face turning red even more. He smiled and added, "And don''t refuse the kindness of a gentleman. It hurts my heart." "Hurts your heart?" Lu Yin thought and twisted her lips. "I don''t even know how to react. He looks like this flower is a blemish on his eyes." Fortunately, after these words, Lu Yin only nodded and epted the gift, although she still felt ufortable. Xie Qing was satisfied with her reaction. Besides, why not establish good rtions with a genius alchemist? He was sure that in the future, he would still have to turn to Lu Yin for help. *** "Excellent tea,"mented Xie Qing, pleasantly surprised. "I must say, I''m very impressed... it invigorates better than the Master''s cooking." "Ah, I can understand you..." Lu Yin smiled bitterly when the conversation turned to Xu Mei''s cooking. Xie Qing had once tried what she had prepared, and it had almost made him vomit. Then Xu Mei was very upset, so the young man had to make a great effort. And it seemed that the woman had not lost her fervor. "Maybe it''s because I once said that I like women who can cook well?" Xie Qing pondered, raising an eyebrow. An involuntary satisfied smile appeared on his face. "What a cutie. Maybe I should spend a little more time with her after all these things. Chapter 115: Red Song of Lust "You''re too rough... do it more gently..." "Hmm? Like this?" "Correct... and now slowly pull out..." Although the words from above couldbe misinterpreted, Li Yun and Xie Qing weresimplytrying to create a spiritual item. More urately, the girl was teaching the young man. And the only thing they understoodinall this time was that Xie Qing, although he turned out to be talented in formations, could not make various items. Therefore, they focused on engraving formations, which wereplex geometric figures that had to be superimposed on each other to form a normally functioning formation. "This is difficult. For example, here I can''t figure out how to merge the ''detection'' and ''sh'' formations, as they have different coding!" said Xie Qing, raising his eyebrows in puzzlement and looking at Lu Yin, who was sitting to his right and making pills: "Lu Yin, when can I start making pills?" "Hehe..." Lu Yin smiled gently andughed, ncing at the young man who looked gloomy: "You need to help our Yun. Besides, you haven''t learned everything you need for advanced pills yet. We don''t want to waste expensive herbs, do we?" "Ugh..." Li Yun,who wassitting to his left,ughed, covering her mouth with her hand. She smiled when she saw that Xie Qing was already getting tired. "Formations are aplex thing. Although you easily remember everything, you still have a basic level. For example, you are trying to merge two formations with different coding into one without using a key, which can lead to anexplosion" "Uh, who is this key of yours?" raising his eyebrows, Xie Qing asked, looking at the spiritual item in the shape of a pentagon in his hands: "I tried to connect them with the key ''Fan'',but they don''t listen." "The key ''Fan'' is used only for formations of the ''spirit'' and ''qi'' type, but here we have the ''protection'' and ''signal'' type, which is already a different category. For merging, you need to use the key ''Yuan''.It looks like this." Li Yun smiled gently and waved her hand, drawing the hieroglyph in the air withthehelpof Qiwhichwas supposed to be the key to the merging of two formations. Xie Qing looked at this hieroglyph and, thinking for a moment, perfectly repeated it. Finally, the two formations lit up and merged into one - a moreplex formation. "Yes! Finally!" The young man smiled happilyandthe two girls pped their hands, which made Xie Qing feel strange. "Why do I feel like they''reforting me like a child?" The rtionship between these three developedquitequickly, considering that they were from the same generation of cultivators and their Masters were friends. Therefore, Xie Qinggot rid ofunnecessary formalities and stopped behaving too seriously or "cool".Thishelped him rx. "Thank you, Yun. Without your help, I wouldn''t have been able to learn everything soquickly" Xie Qing sincerely thanked, looking at the girl who only nodded shyly. "It''s okay. I''m d I can helpyou" Li Yun replied, and then continued: "But I must admit, I was surprised by how quickly you learned. One hour and you already know the basic formations of the basic levndalthough I haven''t taught you many keys yet, youwere able tolearn this while I was applying the formations." Xie Qing, whowas praised, couldn''t help but show a proud smile, which made the two girls giggle. Of course, they werejusthaving fun with each other. Xie Qing finally felt what it was like to be innormalrtionships with almost all peers...although Li Yun was eight years older than him, and Lu Yin was even ten. The trio continued to study, asionally telling each other something and teasing each other. This scenewas watchedby three Masters - Zhang Mei, Liu Yang, and Xu Mei. It was unusual that these three had a gentle expression on their faces.Especiallythis wassurprising for Zhang Mei, who usually behaved coldly and distantly. "Lu Yin always smiled, but it was hard for herto find friends.It seems that your disciple is outstanding, XuMei" Liu Yang suddenly said, and her gentle smile was sincere, like a mother watching her child grow: "He was able to get along with them so quickly. Oh, a first-ss charmer, isn''t he?" "Pfft!" Xu Mei snorted and sternly looked at Liu Yan: "Aren''t you tired, old rag, of looking at the young?" "Shut up. The fact that you''re younger than me doesn''t make you young. You''re also an old woman, just a littleluckier" Liu Yan replied with unusual sharpness in her voice.Her eyes were closed, andthere was a gentle smileon her face. Zhang Mei rolled her eyes when she sawthat these two werearguing again. Shedidn''t pay attention tothem and looked at Li Yun, who was smiling brightly. "How cute.Sheused to smile, but nowshe''smore sincere. I must say, this guy has somemunicationskills" Zhang Mei thought and narrowed her eyes, unhappily distorting the corners of her mouth: "But this bastard still won''t remove the Soul Mark. And I can''t tell Xu Mei about it, she''llstart teasing me. How annoying!" At that moment, the guy who wasbeing cursedsneezed. "Did you catch a cold?" Lu Yin was surprised, taking a pill out of the alchemical furnace. "What cold? I would be ashamed if anyone heard aboutit" Xie Qing replied in a gloomy tone,and then added: "Probably some beauty is thinking about me again." "You are shameless," Lu Yin said with a smile,ughing. *** "I did it! Look, Yun!" At some point, when Lu Yin was finishing cleaning the alchemical furnace, Xie Qing''s voice was heard, full of joy. Li Yun finished arranging the created tokens andwent up tothe young man. "Y-you... created an enhanced version with acoverage offivehundred miles?"Li Yun shouted in surprise, and her eyes involuntarily opened, showing empty but beautiful eyes: "Amazing!" "Seriously... is there anythingin the world thatyou''re not good at?"Lu Yin muttered gloomily. Xie Qing just rolled his eyes. He suffered for two days with these formations and studied them, finallymanaging to createan enhanced token. It cost countless attempts and suffering, as merging twoplex formations into one could not be done without a dozen keys, and choosing them was alsodifficult. When two ordinary formationsare mergedinto one with the help of a key, theybine and acquire a single form. The problem was that although the merging was sessful, the inner part of the formation was still chaotic. Since the coding was different, the moreplex formations that needed to bebined,the more keys were needed. Moreover,some expensive resources were required. Thiswasdifficultand long work, butafter countless attempts,Xie Qingbined all the formations into one. "Youbined a second-level formation into a third-level formation, whichat the same timeconsists of ten second-level formations.Thisis a very advanced level!" Li Yun was surprised and pped her hands, adelighted smile appeared on her face: "You''re so amazing! Even I find it hard to do that!" "Thank you, Li Yun. Your help was alsoimportant. Without your guidance, I hardly would have reachedthis" Xie Qing sincerely said, gently squeezing the girl''s soft hands and looking at her: "Please, ask for anything.I want tothank you for your help, so name me anything you wantandI will give it to you." "Eh? N-no, it''s okay. We''re friends, so don''t worry about it!" Li Yun was embarrassed and shook her head. Xie Qing frowned, and Lu Yin smiled carelessly andwent up to Xie Qing, who wassitting in the lotus position.She put her hands on his shoulder and leaned forward. "Li Yun, just ask for something. This guy gave me a gift of gratitude for my help. As he said, it was a matter of a gentleman''sdignity" LuYin giggled and patted the young man on the shoulder: "Right?" "That''s right. If I don''t give something, I will feelbad" Nodding, Xie Qing said and smiled, gently squeezing Li Yun''s hands and looking at her: "Please, ask for anything. I don''t like to take and not give something in return." "I-I understand, but... I don''t even know what I want." Li Yun looked embarrassed andpuzzled,butinsomemomentsalso happy.The girl feltawarmfeelingin her chest, which was foreign to her. Lu Yin just smiled, watching these two. Her hands were still on the young man''s shoulders, which looked very intimate from the side. Thinking for a moment, Li Yun looked a little awkward but still asked for something. "Actually... you don''t have to do this, but... I wanted to create a certain itemandI needed one more. If you can find its location, that would beenough" the girl said and, hesitating a little, muttered the name of the ore: "This ore is called... um... Red Song...of Lust..." "Hmm?" Chapter 116: Letter from Her Majesty the Empress "Red Song... of Lust?" Xie Qing repeated, raising an eyebrow. He had never heard of anything like that, but Lu Yin had a surprised look on her face along with embarrassment. "What? Why do you have that reaction?" asked Xie Qing. The two girls exchanged nces, and they didn''t know how to exin to him about this ore until a cold voice sounded from behind. "This ore has healing properties, and if an itemis createdfrom it, it can heal even the most severe wounds in an emergency situation. However, refining the ore is very dangerous because, at a certain melting temperature, it releases steam that has aphrodisiac properties." The young man turned around and saw that theowner of the voicewas Zhang Mei, who seemed to have finished her business. Uponhearing her exnation,nowthe young man understood why Li Yun couldn''t exin itproperly.Considering that there is such an ore, Xie Qing was somewhat surprised. "Is it rare?" he asked Zhang Mei. "Yes.In ancient times, itwas mostly usedas an aphrodisiac,anditwas popr among the rich, so now it''sextremely difficultto find the ore.Even with my connections, I haven''t been able to find it," replied Zhang Mei, and she sighed, looking at Li Yun: "It seems that you still haven''t given up. That''s good." "¡­" The girl remained silent and didn''t respond, but it was clear that her mood had changed andbedarker. Xie Qing could guessthatmost likely, the girl was trying to heal her eyes and restore her vision in this way.He thoughtfor a momentand decided to check ifthere was this orein the system store. And, surprisingly, it existed. However, the price for it was not cheap. "They''re asking for 100,000 Spiritual Stones per kilogram... I can afford it.Besides, Li Yun and I will interact in the future,andwe''vebe friends." In such moments,a sharp unwillingness and stinginess arise, but Xie Qing overcame it.He had many spiritual stonesandearning some more in the future was not a problem. If he needed money, there were still many items that, over time, lost their necessity due to the increase in his cultivation. At the moment, he often wore the Belt of the Lustful Dragon, the Tender Dragon Token, and the Dragon Tendon Ring. The first helped strengthen endurance - both ordinary and male. The second helped mark his loved ones, helping to increase the protection of their souls. And the third was the most valuable, enhancing his absorption of Qi. As for the Taboo Dragon Token...well...hehadn''t needed it yet. Pondering this, Xie Qing showed a thoughtful expression on his face, and then, after being silent for a moment, he said, "I have some information about this ore. I can deliver it to you within three days." Xie Qing''s words greatly pleased Li Yun, who looked pleasantly surprised: "I hope that before that, you will agree to wait." "Not a problem at all! In fact, it''s me who should be thanking you..." Li Yun''s facewas tingedwith light shades - she looked happy and excited. Xie Qing could only smile at such enthusiasm. However, he was not sure if this ore would help. With his current cultivation, he could sense the subtle flows of the Heavenly Curse,which werepreventing Li Yun''s eyes from healing. Zhang Mei also knew about this. "Sect Master Zhang Mei is not one to stay silent about such things. I think Li Yunjustdoesn''t want to let go of the ore," thought the young man, narrowing his eyes: "I wonder howthis curse can be removed?" *** After almost a week of staying on the tform in the sky, Xie Qing and the others had to return to their sects to prepare their disciples. At that moment, Xie Qing had said goodbye to Lu Yin and Li Yun, promising to visit them when he had time. And now... "Elder Sister, it''s been a long time since we''ve seen each other," came the seductive voice of Xie Qing, who was brightly smiling as he walked alongside Lian Lin, who was averting her gaze. "Um... yes..." All these days, this girl had deliberately avoided him. It seemed that she was confused about the question of the reward for those techniques. "Lian Lin, you should have paid for these giftsalongtimeago.You should understandthat my foolish disciple never does anything for free," said Xu Mei, who waswalkingin front of them, rolling her eyes. They were walking directly through the air. Xie Qing was able to do this with the help of Xu Mei. And although it seemedthat theywere moving slowly, if you looked down, you could see only quickly changingndscapes. Returning to Lian Lin, she did feel ufortable, and her usually sleepy face was much more lively. She scratched the back of her head and sighed dejectedly. "I don''t know what to give him. Everything in our sect has no value for this young monster."Sighing,Lian Linsaid,and lookedat Xu Mei with hope: "Master, could it be..." "No," came the cold reply from the woman, who instantly interrupted her disciple and added: "Solve these problems between the two of you." "Eh..." Lian Lin could only dejectedly purse her lips and look at Xie Qing, who was still faintly smiling, looking at her. The girl could only shake her head. "Elder Sister, don''t worry," said Xie Qing, seeing her dejection. He added: "If youe up with something interesting, I''ll agree and consider the debt closed." ...in fact, he wasjustteasing her. Although spiritual stones were nowimportantfor his development, the young man could not afford to take money from the sect, as this was now animportantmoment for development. "Hmm..." However, it seemed that Lian Lin thought of something and looked thoughtful. Xie Qing twisted the corners of his mouth and ignored it. "We''ve arrived," came the voice of Xu Mei. Theynded right in front of the entrance to the Xie family estate. Compared to what it was before, the ce was now in order, the number of servants had increased, andthe style had been slightly changed. There were signs of repair, as well aplex formations of protection and counterattack, whichhad been appliedjust in case. And seeing this, Xie Qing was pleased. He had provided more than two hundred thousand for the development of the family a month ago, but this money wasin a frozen stateuntil he became the head of the family. "Immortals!" came a loud, shocked cry. In general, only cultivators at the level of Spiritual Ascension could fly, so the surprise of the mortal servants was understandable. But most importantly, the servant girls excitedly squealed when they noticed the manwho waswith the two beautiful women. It was their new family head, Xie Qing! Although at first his reputation was negative and the young man was feared,however,learning about hisheroics,and a little propaganda with good conditions for the servants made many change their minds. One way or another, the cultivation world wasa cewhere many two-faced people had gathered. Besides, it was better to adapt to the conditions thanto tryto resist such a powerful master - that''s what the servants thought. "Respected Master!" Within two minutes, the newly appointed head maid and head butler had already rushedoverto him. And yes, Iknow,this may shock you, but the butler was not named Sebastian, and noteven Alfred.His name was Xie Kai, and the head maid was a former ve under the control of the Xie family, who had a not-bad talent for cultivation. "Hm. I''ve heard about you. Work hard, and bing a legitimate member of the Xie family will be far from a dream!" nodded Xie Qing with a charming smile. "Y-yes, thank you, Master!" The butler was impressed by Xie Qing''s kindness, and the head maid blushed at the handsomeness of the new family head. The young man, however, just smiled kindly, ignoring Xu Mei''s disgruntled look and Lian Lin''s giggling. Entering inside, apanied by the two current heads of the servants, Xie Qing attracted attention. Many servants who had learned about him from the recent battle bowed and almost fell to their knees. The new servants,on the other hand, reacted much more calmly, maintaining elegance and deeply bowing to greet the new family head. "These maids were selected by my mother," thought Xie Qing, noticing the disciplined behavior of the women. Xie Qing wasvery pleased. Although it was funny to watch the exaggerated reaction of the girls to his handsomeness, it eventually got annoyingand attractedtoo much attention from mature women who had not felt the warmth of a man for a long time. ...although, of course, it was very ttering to him. Also worth noting was that the interior decoration had also changed. Before,the walls were poorly decorated, but now first-ss decorations were used here, which seemedto befor beauty but served as protection. This estate could be considered themainestate of the Xie family, so Xie Qing did not skimp on protective measures. And so, they approached the most important room - the head of the family''s office. A month ago, this office belonged to Xie Hai, but now it was Xie Qing''s workspace. ...although, most likely, it would be empty all year round. Pushing open the door, Xie Qing enteredinsideand found that Xie Meiling, Xie Yu, and two other women were in the room. "Hm?" Xie Meiling turned her attention to the door and was pleasantly surprised to see Xie Qing and the two women. "You''re back," she nodded, looking a littledetached,butinfacthidingher joy: "Son, these two women - Lian Yui and Lian Liu will manage the Xie family in your absence." "Young Master." "We greet you." The two women elegantlybowed,andthen were verysurprised to see the sleepy Lian Lin. They exchanged nces and bowed again, this time even lower. However, Lian Lin only waved her hand, saying: "Get to work." Xie Qing rolled his eyes at such high-handed behavior, but he could understand the reason for the nervousness of the two women. "So these two are from the Lian family? It seems that Master really didn''t skimp on helping me!" thought Xie Qing with a smile. "What are you smiling about?" came the voice of Xie Meiling. The woman twisted the corners of hermouth,and then changed the subject, seeing that Xie Qing was smiling carefreely. She looked serious as she took out and handed over an envelope with a seal. "We received a letter... from Her Majesty the Empress." Chapter 117: In a flying carriage, en route to the capital (Part 1) (R-18) "Her Majesty the Empress?" Xie Qingically raised his eyebrows, surprised by Xie Meiling''s words. Although it looked funny, Xu Mei and Lian Lin''s reactions werenot anybetter. If Lian Lin just frowned in annoyance, Xu Mei looked like she was ready to kill. She clenched her teeth, making a creaking sound. "This bitch..." Although thecontents of the envelopewere unknown, Lian Lin and Xu Mei always hada negativeopinion of the Empress.It could be saidthat this wasrted to the woman''s peculiar policy. The Empress always wanted to control unbridled forces, and Xu Mei was simply a synonym for this word. Therefore, in the prime of their youth, a conflict arose between them, as a result of which Xu Mei even destroyed a small detachment of imperial knights. Although more than two thousand years have passed since then, Xu Mei still had a negative attitude towards the Empress, while Lian Lin,asthemasterof the Heavenly Sword Sect, encountered some obstacles in doing business. Unlike them, Xie Qing had noformedopinion about the Empress, so he curiously opened the envelope and studied its contents. Then he looked at Xu Mei with a raised eyebrow and handed her the letter. "Well, what did this old bitch write here?" Xu Mei grumbled in annoyance, and having read it, she raised her eyebrows and passed it to Lian Lin. The girl also read the letter and was surprised, raising her eyebrows.Finally, she handed the letter to Xie Meiling,whothistimedid not raise her eyebrows,but just looked puzzled at Xu Mei and Lian Lin. "I can''t understand what''s wrong with this letter.Shejustinviteshimto the castle for anaward" said Xie Meiling, puzzled by the exaggerated reactions of the two women. Indeed, Xu Mei was confused, as the contents of the letter were surprisingly formal and did not cross the line, moreover, the Empresssimplythanked Xie Qing for his achievements, which were able to stop the plot of the devilish cultivators. In addition, the Empress emphasizedthe factthat the Dynasty would never skimp on rewards for heroes, so she invited him to the castlewith the intention of rewarding him and bestowinga title. No matter how you look at it, it didn''t look like the Empress had any dirty ns.Rather, it sounded as if she was a wise and friendly woman. However, it was this that confused Xu Mei and Lian Lin. "If you''re interested, then the first letter she sent me was short andclear" Xu Mei began to say, twisting the corners of her mouth and quoting the Empress''s words: "Submit to the Dynasty or be my enemy." "Eh?" Xie Meiling was surprised. Such a high-handed letter...considering Xu Mei''s character, it''s no wonder they ended up in such enmity. Lian Lin also told me something from her past. "The Empress''s letter to me was that she wanted to invite me as an imperial censor. But I refused her, and she took revenge with quite harsh sanctions against the Heavenly Sword Sect." "Is she so petty?" Xie Meiling and Xie Qing exchanged nces. Nowtheywere puzzledas towhy she had such a calm and polite attitude towards him. There were noorders,but a polite request. Although Xie Qing wasnot surewhat would happen if he refused, he did not think about this option for now. After all, getting a reward is not so important, but the title isvery important. "If I want to turn the Xie family into a profitable business, then I need to enter high society," thought Xie Qing, and thinking about how much money he could make, his eyes turned into images of spiritual stones. Families in the capital earned more than a million spiritual stones annually. Thanks to their power and status, they had acertainmonopoly on acertaincategory of goods. Although from the point of view of honest business, this was unprofitable, the Dynasty strictly controlled the families and received taxes, which mostly ended with 12 zeros at the end of the year. Thinking a little, Xie Qing looked at Xu Mei. "Master, can you apany me to the capital? I am sure that in youpanyI will becalmer" said the young man and calmly looked at the puzzled woman: "If I can get the title, it will also help the sect. And most importantly...do you remember our dream?" "Our dream?" Xu Mei''s eyes lit up when Xie Qing mentioned this. At the beginning of their rtionship, Xie Qing shared agrandiosedream, and the woman was impressed. Since then, she has alsobeen full ofintentions to participate in this n. Thinking a little, she nodded. *** Sincemost things in the Xie family werepleted, the rest couldbe leftto the two women from the Lian family, moreover, with the help of themunication token,orders could be givenin case of something. Xie Meiling preferred to wait for the young man in the sect, as hewas going toreturn to the capital immediately after it to gain a reputation and rise in the ranking. In the sect, even though he achieved a lot in the outside world, there were also dissenting voices who imed and even directly pointed to the fact that the young man had too few achievements in the sect. Although he passed on new techniques,this fact was not yet publicized, and only the chief elder and a few trusted people knew about it. Xie Qing decided to leave this trump card in case of anything. Speaking of hissmachievements, apart from the fact that he brought new techniques, this was true. Since Xu Mei took care of his safety, she did not allow him to take onplex tasks during the days of powerlessness. However, with his strength, was there a problem in earning a few achievements for the sect?It''s just thatdue to the somewhat tangled events,Xie Qing did not have time for this. And now, having gained impressive cultivation for his age, he could proudly take the exam of themaindisciple and then honestlypete for the status of the sect leader. One could always ask Xu Mei for help, but Xie Qing preferred to achieve thishimself,otherwise his reputation would be too insignificant and most likely would cause disorder. The road to the capital was much more leisurely.Xu Mei provided a transportation vehicle in the form of a realistic phoenix, whichinside was equipped quitefortably. There was a kitchen, two bedrooms,anda living room with bookcases, a firece, and a long sofa. In the corner stood a rocking chair. And on the sofa... "Mmh... foolish disciple... you... ah..." Ah, here it is. Soundswere heardthat could onlybe attributedto an 18+ rating. Xie Qing sat on thesofa,while Xu Mei sat on hisp. Her clothes looked crumpled, and the upper part of her hanfuwas pulled down, revealing two ''weighty arguments''. The woman''s nipples had long hardened from arousal. Her delicate pink areswere moistenedfrom Xie Qing''s mouth, which sucked them like a child. "Ah... d-damn!" Thiswas Xu Mei''s secret fetish, and although she initially did not want to admit it, step by stepXieQing achieved her admission while the woman was in ecstasy. After that, she breathed heavily on him for a long time. However, thanks to the fact that the young man discovered her fetish, he paidspecittention to her cute nipples, which made the woman moan wildly. Her cave had longbeen moistened, and it felt like Xie Qing was bathing in his clothes. Why did I say that? Well, his pants were damn wet! Against SUCH a flood, even Noah was powerless. Xie Qing was also surprised by the passion of his belovedMaster, but he did not stop moving his tongue. In the end, under such pressure, Xu Mei could not hold back and, loudly moaning, trembled in ecstasy and finished. Her body weakened for a few seconds, and she helplessly fell into the arms of her man. "Well? How do you like it?" Xie Qing asked weakly with a smile, whispering in her ear. He bit Xu Mei''s earlobe, and she shivered. Another stream of liquid flowed from her sacred ce. TheMaster''sface was red as a ripe tomato as if she had a fever. "How shameful!" she muttered, covering her beautiful face - her gesture was so cute that Xie Qing could not help it: "Aah?!" The woman was surprised when she suddenly felt dizzy and found herself in the bedroom, lying naked on the bed! "What the?! I''ve never seen a cultivator use their speed...for this!" Of course, for a cultivator of her level, shewas able to trace the movement of her manfrom beginning to end, but she did not stop him for one simple reason - her body was burning and needed ''help''! It seems that Xie Qing himself could not hold back for a long time, and, shing, he was already naked, and the next secondheroughly entered her cave. "Aah~!" Xu Meilet out an excited moanand rolled her eyes, sticking out her cute tongue.She loved it most when Xie Qing entered her so roughly. As soon as the young man''s jade stick prated inside, he immediately felt how the walls of her vagina tightly mped his younger brother. "Ugh..." Xie Qing let out a low moan. Xu Mei''s younger sister was very tight and wet, which gave him incredible sensations. It was as ifaftera long and tense cultivation, he felt enlightenment. Immediately, out of habit, he put his hands on her breasts and began to massage these two hills, with pleasure listening to Xu Mei''s singing. "Aah... h-hubby..." Her face was red - either from shame or from arousal.The young man struggled for a long time, trying to persuade her to call him ''hubby''during their dual cultivation. And, by the way, this excited him very much.Thiscould prove Xu Mei''s surprised reaction when she discovered that Xie Qing''s jade stick suddenly increased in size and touched her cervix. "Aaaah!" What could bring unbearable pain to an ordinary woman was a pleasure for a cultivator of her level. (To be continued in the next chapter) Chapter 118: In a flying carriage, en route to the capital (Part 2) (R-18) Additional chapter Inspiration capsule (1/3). Thank you JiuYang for your support. 1/3 === Xu Mei''s seductive body was soaked in sweat, and her breathing was rapid. To feel the full range of emotions and sensations during their intercourse, she deliberately lowered her cultivation to Xie Qing''s level. And this was the best decision of her life. "Aaaah!" It didn''t take long for Xu Mei toe to life. On the second round, she made Xie Qing lie on the bed, and she straddled his jade stick and fiercely jumped on his younger brother, and the walls of her vagina squeezed him, trying to milk him to thest drop. "Give me your semen!" she cried out with a moan, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face when another wave of ecstasy passed through her body. Surprisingly, the wave continued, and Xu Mei could no longer hold back and arched her back. "AAAAAH!" Perhaps this was the loudest moan since the beginning of their dual cultivation. She helplessly fell on the other side of the bed, while her younger sister gushed out liquid. This was the legendary immortal squirt! "Are you okay?" Xie Qing asked in surprise, noticing that Xu Mei''s face was red, as if she had a fever, and her body was shaking uncontrobly. "Y-yes... I... aah... am fine..." Her breathing was heavy, and the words were spoken with such heaviness as if she had juste out of aa. Perhaps this orgasm was the strongest in a long time, which for a while knocked Xu Mei off track. She caught her breath, drank a little wine, and then seductively licked her lips and kissed Xie Qing. "Mmm..." The woman moaned in his mouth, feeling the strong grip of Xie Qing on her passionate buttocks. There was a fierce war for dominance between their tongues, but in the end, Xu Mei lost the war to Xie Qing and found herself in his power. After the young man dered his dominance... um... it sounds strange. Anyway, his left hand supported her by the buttocks, and the other - by the back. He lifted her slender body, and Xu Mei wrapped her legs around his waist. And then... "Aaaah!" The woman interrupted the kiss with a loud moan and wantonly stuck out her tongue, rolling her eyes. A thinyer of saliva flowed from the corner of her mouth. "Ugh... you''re so naughty, Mei-Mei," Xie Qing whispered, pping the woman on the butt. "Ah... I''m sorry..." Xu Mei''s ears were red, and she was embarrassed to say these words, but for some reason, it turned her on a lot. "You''re a bad girl... and what should be done with bad girls?" Xie Qing asked, looking like a devil tempting his victims. "P-punish..." Xu Mei whispered very quietly, and if it weren''t for the cultivator''s hearing, Xie Qing wouldn''t have heard her. "What? I can''t hear you. Repeat, please." Of course, he pretended to be deaf. How could Xie Qing miss the chance to tease Xu Mei? "Uuu..." The woman let out an unfamiliar whiny whine and made puppy eyes, looking at her beloved, but met only a smiling face. Finally, biting her lower lip, she shivered and said: "Please... punish me! Punish your bitch! I was a bad girl!" Immediately after that, there was an immediate reaction. Xie Qing approached her breasts and bit her nipple, moving his tongue and arousing her. "Aaaah!" At the same time, his jade rod explored the entire depth of the woman''s body. His pelvis moved quickly, and all the physical strength was involved. Thanks to the fact that their bodies were so powerful, they could not restrain their impulses and give their all. Bless the Heavens for this spiritual item, which worthy held up against their passionate "cultivation". Although, if you look closely, cracks appeared on the wall where Xie Qing pressed Xu Mei and fiercely fucked her. Moreover, almost all the walls were covered with liquid, and it looked peculiar. When they arrived in the capital, a week had passed. And only then did these two stop kissing and engaging in couple cultivation. A whole week without breaks. Perhaps if the cultivation world knew about such achievements of our young hero, they would change his nickname to "Destroying Balls"! *** Before arriving in the capital, Xie Qing sent a reply letter saying that he would be in the capital in a week. So they were ready for their arrival. A group of eunuchs from the pce stood at the gates and waited for the young head of the Xie family. Many passers-by whispered, as among those who met the young man was the chief eunuch. Although his condition below was painful, his power was significant and could bepared to officials of the first level. And so, while the eunuchs were waiting for the guest to arrive, someone in the crowd shouted and pointed to the sky. "Look... what''s that in the sky?!" More attentive people noticed that this huge shadow in the sky was a phoenix! "It''s a phoenix!" some were surprised. The eunuch kept a carefree expression on his face, but his eyes could not hide the shock he felt. Although there was nothing unusual about the flying item, he was familiar with this spiritual item! He managed to see it in antiquity at one of the Light Gatherings. "And if my memory serves me right, then this flying item belongs to the Sword Princess!" the chief eunuch was surprised. Soon the phoenix began tond, which made people run to the side, and even the eunuchs had to step back. The imperial guard was on alert, but seeing that the chief eunuch personally met these people, they retreated to their posts. Soon, the phoenixnded on the ground, and many onlookers saw that it was a simple item. However, this simple item was not so unknown. "It''s... the Sword Princess''s flying item!" some influential people immediately recognized the owner. Although for most onlookers the Sword Princess was a person from legends, for the higher society this title was synonymous with the word "powerful"! Even the Empress gave way to her in some moments. Soon, two people came out of the beak - a man and a woman. The man was very handsome, and tall, and radiated an aura of respect. The woman, on the other hand, looked like an ordinary person, except that she was very beautiful. Many men in the crowd could not help but nce at her, especially at her long and slender legs. However, they immediately turned away when they felt their sixth sense screaming about the danger. It was clear that these two were not ordinary people. "Greetings, Lord Xie Qing and esteemeddy" "Hm?" Xie Qing raised his eyebrows, hearing a male voice addressing him. He looked at the old man approaching him. This old man was of short stature, his cultivation was at the peak of Soul Nascent, and he was dressed elegantly. Behind him were about twenty people. They bowed, greeting the young man. "Forgive this old man for his rudeness, young master. My name is Eunuch Xian, I would be grateful if you would address me simply by name" said Eunuch Xian, and then added: "I know that you have ovee a difficult path, so allow me to escort you to the Phoenix Pavilion. Of course, with your consent." The eunuch was polite, not pushy, and chose his words. He left a good impression on Xie Qing, and since the young man had principles to answer kindness with kindness, he also did not forget about politeness. "It must be the famous Mr. Xian. I have heard of your wisdom" said Xie Qing and smiled, making a slight bow, and then added: "We will be only too happy to have yourpany. However, I am worried, will this not trouble you?" "Not at all, of course!" replied the eunuch with much more cordiality. There was a faint smile on his usually stern face: "The young master has just proven to me that rumors are nothing more than entertainment for themon people. Your character is a hundred times better than in rumors. ept my apologies for allowing casual conversations to influence my impression of you!" "No apologies are needed, Mr. Xian! It is supposed that if there is a rumor, there must be some truth behind it" replied Xie Qing with his usual light smile: "So the me can only be on me for leaving such an impression". "The young master is indeed wise". Eunuch Xian nodded in satisfaction. He was pleased that this rumored ruthless and shameless young man turned out to be such a well-mannered person. Moreover, he was also an unparalleled genius and reached the level of Soul Nascent at the age of neen, which was an absolute record. "They say not to judge a book by its cover. This young man turned out to be more well-mannered than the wealthy heirs of the capital!" thought Eunuch Xian and nodded in satisfaction: "It is precisely for such young people as young master Xie Qing that the future of the cultivation world is worth it!" Xu Mei, who had been silently following Xie Qing since their arrival, was silent and said nothing. She felt disgust for the capital and had been here for a very long time. Eunuch Xian, on the other hand, was afraid to talk to her, as he had heard about her negative reputation. He just politely greeted her at the beginning, without mentioning Xu Mei''s identity. This was enough to make the woman nod, but not shake her. During this time, her gaze was focused only on Xie Qing. She was proud of how dignified he behaved. It can be said that in this aspect, he surpassed her in her youth. "I remember, I was very brazen and arrogant in my youth, so it was hard for me to get along with people" Xu Mei recalled and twisted the corner of her mouth: "Maybe it''s because I was born a genius, our upbringing is so different". Xu Mei''s parents were from an ordinary family, and they mostly did not pay attention to her. She endured many insults in her childhood, but in the end, she taught everyone a lesson. At the same time, Xie Qing had Xie Meiling, who, although she could not take care of his upbringing for a long time due to poisoning, always protected him from the shadows. And while the woman was lost in thought, she realized that they had reached the Phoenix Pavilion. Chapter 119: Indeed, it is huge Additional chapter Inspiration capsule (2/3). Thank youJiuYangforyour support. 2/3 === The Phoenix Pavilion was a twenty-story pavilion made of white gold. It lookedvery expensiveand was considered the most protected ce in the capital.It was mainly inhabited by members of the imperial family, but since the Empress had refused to marry and bear heirs for a long time, the ce was empty.And now, after two thousand years,the Phoenix Pavilion was openedagain. The interior wasvery expensiveand luxurious. A eunuch was telling them about the different functions of the pavilion and also informed them that the Empress would be free from her work tomorrow. "Then I won''t bother you any longer. You can always ask the maids for help, and if you want to contact me, here is amunication token." Eunuch Xian handed over the token and politely smiled. Hethensaid goodbye and left, leaving Xie Qing and Xu Mei in this spacious pavilion. It could be saidthat the Phoenix Pavilion deserved its name and reputation as a ce of luxury and pleasure. The maidservants alone were beautiful with well-developed bodies. However, Xie Qing was not so bold as to take advantage of their services, especially with Xu Mei by his side. He preferred to spend time with hisMaster. Speaking of the Master,it seemed thatas soon as she arrived in the capital, her mood immediately fendshe looked irritated, as if she had entered a dirty anddpidatedhouse with only a rotten bed and time-eaten furniture.It seemed that herdislike of the capitalwas99% due to the Empress, with whom she had no good rtionship. "Master, I''m going out for a walk," said Xie Qing, opening the bedroom door andgoing inside. "Hm?" At this time, Xu Mei was changing clothes and holding two sets of hanfu in her hand. One of them was cute and looked like an everyday outfit, while the other was just the opposite - solemn and emphasizing her sexual body. Xie Qing hesitatedfor a momentand then said, "The second one is better." "Alright." Xu Mei and Xie Qing were not a new couple to be embarrassed by nudity. And this is not a hentai, so there was no such clich¨¦. After changing clothes, the woman looked reluctant but still decided togo for awalk with Xie Qing. She would have been bitter if they had not spent time together, although she had received a long-awaited chance. "Look, Master... Mei-Mei." Xie Qing looked at his beloved with a smile and changedthe wayhe addressed her in the middle of the conversation. Mei-Mei''s face became much happierandher behavior more lively.It seemed that this small andnot very significant moment helped toreturn the mood to the disheartened woman, and they walked together in the capital. It must be saidthat although Xie Qing had been in the capital before, he had never paid so much attention to the surrounding environment due to his haste. Moreover, heretheatmosphere was especially solemn. Ifpared with other cities, the capital was like a paradise. Every other passerby was a cultivator, and there were even cultivators at the Divine Transformation level - thislevel of cultivationwas only one step weaker than Transcendence. "It seems that the capital is much more protected than I thought," thought Xie Qing, gently squeezing the hand of Xu Mei, who was dragging him to buy some sweets. He looked at the pce and then shook his head. "TodayIam neither the Destroying de nor the young head of the Xie family, but Xu Mei is just my girlfriend." Moments of happiness are short, but memories are eternal. *** The Imperial Pce was a kind of city within a city.Surrounded by high walls made of durable immortal metal and decorated with symbols and drawings of dragons, it seemed defenseless.But this was only the first impression. Each drawing on the walls was a formation, and the airspace above the pce city was closed by a dense invisible barrier that even a cultivator of Xu Mei''s level could not break with one blow. And most importantly, there were the 12 Holy Dragons, an elite squad of Divine Transformation cultivators who protected the Empress and carried out her orders.Thiswas one of the reasons why the Dynasty still existed despite the passage of so many years. And all this pce was owned by only one person - the Great Empress.She had many titles,butshe was mostoften called the "Golden Empress."It was saidthat in her body was the bloodline of dragons, and although this bloodline was only one-fourth dragon blood, it was alreadyvery powerful. She wasparable in strength to Xu Mei. She was considered themainbeauty of the cultivation world, the wisest and mostpowerful. Of course, most of this was propaganda, but she was indeedvery beautiful. And now... "How intriguing..." A seductive and powerful female voice sounded slightly muffled.Thiswas due to the hum of the fountain from which the koi carpwere jumpingout.The garden was adornedwith countless spiritual flowers, and cherry treeswere growing. The smell waswonderful. In the center of the garden was a pond dividing the garden into two parts. Above the pond was a short bridge on which stood two women. One of them was incredibly beautiful. Like an immortal maiden descended into the mortal world to y with the hearts of young men. Shehad shining silver hair falling on her slender, willow-like back. Her beautiful face was more refined, like the work of a great artist.A neat face, a small nose, and thin eyebrows.Her skin was pale and pleasant, hereyes were memorable. A feature was that one eye was silver, like the moon, while the other was ck as the night sky, in which stars shone. If you looked closely, even the tips of her hair at some point acquired a cktint,but soon returned to their normal state, like her beautiful eyes.Softand long silvereyshes fluttered as she looked at the maidwho wasreporting something.Her cherry lips were pursed. Thiswas the Golden Empress. Todayshewas dressed inhergolden clothes, and on her head was a phoenix crown made of first-ss precious stones.There was light makeup on her face, emphasizing her gentle phoenixeyes,and light lipstick.The rest was natural beauty. This seemingly fragile woman ruled an entire dynasty formore thantwo thousand years. In addition to being an influential figure, she was also considered one of the strongest cultivators. "Well, how... something, and the arrival of little Mei-Mei I did not expect," the seductive and calm voice of the Empress sounded again.She looked cold, butin fact,her eyes gleamed: "Who would have thought that this woman would visit my capital? It must be that tomorrowtheend of the world wille." The maid could not understand how to react to such words of the Empress, so shesimplybowed even lower so that her face was not visible. Finally, after some silence, the Empress spoke. "At sunrise, at the first rays of the sun, let the feet of these two enter my imperial pce. Until then, they willbe apaniedby the chief eunuch.Thiswill be his task." "As youmand, Your Majesty." "Good, now you are free." The maid bowed again and quickly left, fearing to spoil the mood of the Golden Empress with her presence. The woman, approaching therailing of the bridge, looked at how the carp frolicked in the water. Her ck eye gradually returned to its natural silver color. It was unclear what the Empresswas thinkingas she looked at her reflection in the water. *** "Indeed, it is huge," Xie Qingmented, raising his eyebrows as he looked at thehugepce. "I wonder if the Empress is lonely living here?" "Ehh..." Eunuch Xian smiled awkwardly, not knowing how to answer this question. If it were not for the fact that this young man had made a good impression on him, he would have already scolded him for disrespect to the Empress. But understanding that the interlocutor was simply an honest personwho wascurious about everything, Eunuch Xiansimplylet it pass. "Please follow me, young master Xie Qing and respecteddy. Her Majesty the Empress is already waiting for us," said Eunuch Xian sincerely and bowed. "Of course, Mr. Xian. I apologize for making you get up so early," Xie Qing said a few polite words. "Youngmasteris too polite. For me, it is an honor to serve Her Majesty." Eunuch Xian replied with polite words and led them to the pce. The character of thisold manwas good.Xie Qing had already figured outduring their acquaintancehow to get along with him, and as long as they did not touch on the affairs of the Dynasty or something like that, Eunuch Xian was a pleasant interlocutor.And since it is not worth making extra enemies, Xie Qingalsobehaved politely and did not talk nonsense. For this, he earned a high rating from Xu Mei. "Youngmaster, do you see this painting? It is called ''Dragon Calling to the Heavens.''If you believe the legends,then in the bloodline of HerMajestythere is a trace of dragon blood.Based on this legend,the artist named LuoGongliu painted this magnificent painting," Eunuch Xian said enthusiastically. "Truly a magnificent painting," Xie Qing nodded and said, and thenwithobviouscuriosityasked: "I don''t want to seem rude, but can you tell me about this legend of the dragon bloodline?I must admit,I am very interested." "Youngmasteris indeed too polite. Of course, this legend is very famous!" the old man answered with a friendly smile. From this point on,a few things should be noted. Xie Qing''s bloodline was a dragon, and although this helped him gain much faster cultivation, it did not mean that the young manwas able totransform his body into a dragon.Thiswas impossible in his current cultivation. "My bloodline alsoes from dragons, but I must admitthat Ihave not mastered even 1%. Judging by my feelings, the first transformation will be at the Spiritual Ascension level - the ninth stage," Xie Qing recalled and wrinkled his funny nose, just thinking about how much time it would take: "With each level, it bes harder and harder for me to break through. If it were not for my talent, I would have to be content with raising one realm per year." Chapter 120: Empress Yu Longfeng Returning to Eunuch Xian''s tale, he was very excited and proud.It seemed thatthe imperial family of the Dynastyindeed hadsomeinterestingroots. But what was interesting was whether the Empress had dragon blood. Xie Qing could also be considered asort ofcarrier of dragon blood, and although there was very little of it left, some still existed. And so, after a long chat, Eunuch Xian led them straight to the audience hall. He bid them farewell and left, looking pleased. "How interesting.Healways distracted me during the conversation, not allowing me to remember the path we took, and it seems that many restrictions and formations in the castle made the map of the castle I remembered in my head useless," thought Xie Qing, looking curious: "It seems that I really underestimated the castle''s defenses. No matter how brightly the old man smiled, he couldn''t hide the foul smell from his mouth." While Xie Qingwas lostin thought, a loud explosion sounded. As it turned out, it was XuMei,who had kicked open the door to the audience hall. "..." Even a person like Xie Qing, who had inherited some audacity and a carefree attitude from his Master, could not help but lose his speech at such rude behavior from Xu Mei. And at the same time, the woman sitting behind the curtain covering her throne was also somewhat surprised. "It seems that you haven''t changed, Mei-Mei," a cold and authoritative female voice rang out, which was also gentle and conveyed a sense of omnipotence. The young man recovered from his surprise, although he was still amazed at his Master''s behavior. "Maybe I can enter like that too if I be stronger?" he seriously thought. Hey, stop, that''s enough! Spare the door! Fortunately,the future door breaker was interrupted byXu Mei loudly shouting in displeasure. "Little Mei-Mei? You old hag, you''ve turned yourself into a wise old grandmother? You''re only 400 years older than me!" "It doesn''t matter. Your behavior is still childish, from which I conclude - you haven''t grown up a bit," the empress replied nonchntly. "Pf! And you''ve grown up, have you? Should I remind you of your annoying behavior?" "...That was two thousand years ago. I was young," followed the answer with a somewhat strange tone. Xie Qing was too puzzled by their dialogue, so he did not interfere. Hesimplycould not conclude - were they enemies or best friends? Judging by what he saw, they were like close friends! It seemed that the Empress wasmuch more patient than Xu Mei, so she interrupted the dialogue. "Alright, enough childishness. Allow me to introduce you to our young genius,"herauthoritative voice sounded, which regained its coldness and grandeur. At that moment, Xie Qing felt a little strange - his right hand trembled and turned red as if there was a seal of the ck Dragon in it...! "Hm?" "Hm?" These two simultaneously uttered a puzzled grunt. If the Empress could not understandthe reasonwhy her hand was pulsating, then Xie Qing saw a message in front of him. Ding! [The body of the Golden Dragon reacts to the bloodline of the Silver Dragon...!] Ding! [Mission received: Merge with the bloodline of the Silver Dragon] [Description: The Silver Dragons were lords of cold and iron, possessing supreme power and second only to the Golden Dragons. Considered a subordinate race, the Silver Dragonswere forcedto serve and obey. If a Golden Dragon merges with a Silver Dragon, it will be able to increase its power] [Reward: Raising cultivation by two sub-realms, Dao technique "Starfall - Majesty of the Golden Dragon," Dao technique "Dual Cultivation - edited version for dragons"] "Hmmm?! Xie Qing could not hide his shock. He had a little information about the dragon race,and theyweremostlydividedinto various types. Themost famous were theGolden Dragons, Silver Dragons, and Copper Dragons.Thetter were the mostmon, while the first two were considered thestrongestbloodlines. The Golden Dragon, however, was considered the progenitor of the dragon race. Meanwhile, the Empress also had a strange reaction. Her body screamed of a strange thirst and pulled towards the young man who stood puzzled, apparently still amazed by their dialogue. "What is this with me?" she wondered and, furrowing her beautiful brows, suppressed this feeling: "Annoying heat... as if a fever." Remembering the Silver Dragons, they had an eternal curse of servitude. If a female Silver Dragon is with a male Golden Dragon, they willfeel a naturaldesire to "merge" with him. Of course, theonly reason the Empress couldsuppress this sensation in her bodywasbecause her bloodwas dilutedandthere was little of it. Although this incident was not the most pleasant, the Empress had not sat on the throne for several days but had ruled the entire Dynasty for many years. Her self-control quickly returned to its formerstate,while her posture straightened, and she spoke again. "Young Master Xie, your achievements aretalked aboutthroughout the cultivation world.I must admit,this is the second time I have seen such impressive young talent," the Empress began her speech in a bnced and calm tone: "You have defeated countless jiangshi, thwarted the ns of devilish cultivators, thus saving countless inhabitants of the Dynasty." "...Ah, yes..." Xie Qing returned to reality, hearing the Empress''s voice. He looked at her, waiting for further words. "It seems that you are also wary of me," she continued, her voice sounding somewhat cold: "I think Mei-Mei has filled your head with something foolish. After all, people growpared to her." "Yes, yes, tell us more, webelieve you wholeheartedly," Xu Mei muttered sarcastically, unhappily twisting the corners of her mouth. "However, I must admit that your talent truly shook my perception. That''s why I would like to offer you the position of a first-level official in the imperial pce," the Empress said, ignoring Xu Mei. "What?!" Firstof all, Xu Mei wassurprised,and looked at the Empress''s offer with obvious suspicion, while Xie Qing did not know how to react to this. "I think you don''t realize the value you bring to the world, so I''ll exin," the Empress continued and stood up, approaching the curtain and opening it, revealing herself: "The cultivation world is silent, but all eyes are on you. You, who became known as the disciple of the Sword Princess, are the target of envious and evil nces. Even devilish cultivators cannot ignore you." "Hm-m-m?" Xie Qing was surprised to see this beautiful woman with a cold gaze, dressed in a golden hanfu with a phoenix crown, but most of all, he was attracted by her words about the devilish cultivators. "So I''ve be their target?" he thought: "Well, that was inevitable. Whether I want it or not, just the status of the Sword Princess''s disciple makes me a target for many people." The Empress did not continue, allowing the young man to think, and when she noticed that he hade to his senses, she proudly continued. "Undoubtedly, Mei-Mei has the power to protect you, but she has nopetent subordinatesat all. Your family may be the target of many evil people," the Empress continued and added with a proud look: "But I, Yu Longfeng, hold power over the continents and can give you everything you desire. From beautiful women to great power!" "..." Thiswasan obviousattempt to lure Xie Qing.From these words,Xu Mei could not restrain herself and released her aura. It should be saidthat this was the first time Xie Qing saw his Master in such anger. From her fury, the world trembled, mortals were in a panic, and birds in the sky lost their orientation and fell to the ground, dying senselessly. However, Yu Longfeng did not falter. She still stood proudly, her posture was straight, and her sexy body with slender legs was just as bright. "Yu Longfeng... it seems that you overestimate yourself too much," the cold voice of Xu Mei, who looked as if she was barely restraining herself from strangling the empress: "You are trying to lure my disciple right in front of my eyes? Do you think I am blind and deaf?" "Suy Mei, your reaction is too exaggerated. I am not insisting that he be part of my Dynasty, thisis just a sincere offer," Yu Longfeng replied indifferently, not flinching from this pressure: "If you are his Master, then you have no right to limit his choices. Moreover, I am sure that under my protection, he will grow much faster." "Hmph!" Yu Longfeng frowned and snapped her fingers. Immediately, the earthquakes in the outer world ceased, but the pressure of Xu Mei''s aura did not disappear. The Empresssimplyput up a barrier around the throne room. Then, seeing that the situation was heating up, Xie Qing took Xu Mei by the hand, greatly surprising her. "Master... let me decide this question," said the young man, not paying attention to the hundreds of wounds that appeared on his body. "Eh..." Xu Mei panickeda littlewhen she discovered that her aura had seriously injured Xie Qing.Guilt could be readin her eyes. "It''s okay." Xie Qing nodded and waved his hand, signaling to the panicking Xu Mei not to worry. These wounds were only minor cuts. If the Master had not controlled herself so as not to harm the young man, the result would have been worse. Then, bowing to Empress Yu Longfeng, Xie Qing replied to her offer. "Although Your Majesty''s offer is somewhat attractiveto me, I have sworn that I will not leave my Master and will stand by her side until the end. I hope for your understanding." "Hm..." Yu Longfeng nodded briefly, seeminglynot at all surprisedby such an answer. And Xu Mei, on the other hand, showed a gentle smile on her beautiful face, which even made the Empress raise an eyebrow. Her face seemed to say: "This crazy woman can even smile?" Xie Qing, in a way, wanted to agree, but he had long ago sworn to be with Xu Mei, and if he became part of the imperial pce, they wouldbe separatedby miles. Moreover, in his ns was also bing the leader of the Heavenly SwordSect,to contribute to its expansion. And as is known, beingsimultaneouslythe leader of a sect and an official in the Dynasty is impossible. Because inseriousmoments, there could be confusion between interests. For some time, the hall was silent. Until the Empress made a repeated offer. "Are you interested in the position of imperial censor?" Chapter 121: Altar of the Devil "The position of the imperial censor?" Xie Qing was surprised. If briefly speaking about this title,in the currentrealitiesit did not have direct power but served to intimidate.Therefore, duringnormaltimes, people with an impressive reputation were chosen who could intimidate others with their actions. And in fact, this title did not have practical power. ording to Lian Lin, she refused this title because she had animosity towards the Empress, and in her position at that time, it was inconvenient to agree. "Hm, so that''s what you''re nning. You want to usehisreputation to unite the righteous cultivators?" Xu Mei raised an eyebrow and smiled: "And you''re still so pushy. Aren''t you satisfied with the power you hold in your hands?" "It''s not about my power, Xu Mei. Stop portraying me as some greedy woman," Yu Longfeng rolled her eyes and said. She turned to Xie Qing and exined: "Your personality as a genius isvery valuableto the Dynasty, I admit it. However, my intentions are pure, Ijustwant to use your help to show the current geniuses that they cannot rx." "So... Your Majesty wants to make them feel threatened, right?" Xie Qing asked and tilted his head thoughtfully to the side: "And I, presumably, should graciously agree to be a target for evil eyes, right?" "Heh..." Xu Mei smiled weakly, hearing the sarcasm in Xie Qing''s voice, and proudly puffed out her chest. Although, on the one hand, the woman...shouldn''t you have taught him much moreusefulthings? However, one way or another, Xie Qing was right. As soon as he became the so-called threat to the current geniuses, he would immediately be the target of many evil eyes. Who would want to see a potential genius who couldpose a danger tothem? Honestly, few can restrain their murderous intent. The Dynasty had been conducting such a policy for a very long time. Those geniuses who did not obey them, the thenEmperoreasily killed to avoid danger in the future. As a result, this led to arge-scale war. And if Xie Qing appears? And if his talent bes known?Thiswill shake the whole world. Although Xie Qing''s current achievements were already terrifying, they stood between the category of a super genius and a monster. Among the monsters, of course, were the Sword Empress and the Sword Princess, whoinantiquitywere often the target of many evil eyes. "I won''t deny it, itwill be dangerous," Empress Yu Longfeng admitted and nodded, looking at Xu Mei: "Do you remember our youth? When you just became popr, one group pursued you very passionately." "By ''passionately'' you mean ruined cities and thousands of killers?" Xu Mei rolled her eyes and said, then nodded: "Yes, I remember. I personally finished off these beasts to thest member. And what about them?" "Well, you know, afterthatyou started to grow much faster," Yu Longfeng noted and sat on the throne. This timethecurtain was removed, so her majestic figure, towering on a high tform, looked impressive: "Forgive me for my rudeness, but your student also wouldn''t hurt to gain strength. Although his development rate is fast, he won''t be able topete with new events." "New events?" Xu Mei frowned. Yu Longfeng raised an eyebrow, then rxed her facial muscles and said: "Ah, that''s right... you haven''t heard yet. Allow me to tell you...about the ''Evil God Ritual'' that the devilish cultivators are conducting." *** "Feng Gu, did you feel that?" "Yes... Sister Liu Yan, I ask you to remindme,this is... "The Evil God Ritual. I thoughtthe altar had been destroyed." Southern Continent, Abyss Forest. This ce presented itself with an endless forest, overgrown with dense trees. There was an incredibly poisonous and dangerous environment. Due to the evil power, monsters were irradiated with devilish qi and turned into somethingstronger. And it was above this forest, in the air, that two people floated - Feng Gu and Liu Yan. Their faces were serious, and in their hands were personal weapons that apanied them for two thousand years. A week ago, Feng Gu felt a strangefluctuation of energyin the Abyss Forest, wherethe remaining forces of the devilish cultivators were sealedforever. And now, somewhere in the depths of the forest, the aura of the altar appeared. The Altar of the Devil - aso-called powerful artifact, which, ording to legends, had the power to endow a person with the bloodline of a demon and give them strength.And if the devilish cultivators try, there will be an opportunity to summon a demon. Although the word "demon" sounds ordinary, this race represents evilsouls,deprived of a physical body, which from birth have the level of cultivation of the Soul Integration. "What a pitythat wecouldn''tdestroy thempletely... if not for that restriction..." Feng Gu regretted it. "It''s toote to regret it. Anyway, we couldn''t change anything," Liu Yan coldly replied, hertemperament differed from the usual. She frowned and looked at the bright light in the distance: "It seemsthat wewerevery stupid, underestimating our enemy. Nowwecan''t even cross the barrier." "It''spletely my fault... I couldn''t detect anything suspicious..." gritting his teeth, Feng Gu said with shame on his face. He clenched his hands into a fist, causing even the bones to turn white. As a man appointed to watch over the devilish cultivators, he watched them everysecond,but still could not keep track of their actions. As it turned out, the devilish cultivatorswere able tochange the structure of the barrier and make it so that it was impossible to enter from the outside world. Although the barrier remained for themtoo, at least they got rid of the hot spot. Liu Yan did notfort herade,but only coldly watched the situation. If the demonis sessfully summoned, the world will meet its worst enemy and, most importantly,willbe in danger. "The Sword Empress... probably only she can provide worthy resistance. True, it is unknown whether she will agree..." Liu Yan bit her lower lip and fearfully looked at the altar: "This power... it will take at least five years to summon a demon. However, this time is too little for the world to get a new pir." Despair surfaced on her beautiful face. "If not for this damned restriction..." *** The capital has always been famous for its exuberant views, stunning buildings, and powerfulbeings living in it. Every day, the residents of the capital performed a dragon worship ritual. The dragon, which was in the form of a golden statue, was considered the main "mascot" of the Dynasty. It had a special meaning. "If you believe the legends, then the blood in the Empress''s bloodline belongs to the golden dragons, but... it is the Silver Dragon," Xie Qing thought, passing by the statue as hewas carriedon a pnquin. The young man turned his gaze away and added in his mind: "Andalsothe Master suddenly left on urgent business... it seems that the devilish cultivators are not sleeping." The world was in some active movement. As if there was a lull, but as a spite, a powerful enemy was hiding in the darkness, sharpening his fangs and drooling. Xie Qing was also very worried about this, as his future was in danger. A few days ago, hesessfullyreached the third stage of the Nascent Soul. "After I reached the Nascent Soul, my cultivation speed decreased significantly," Xie Qing thought and frowned worriedly, looking gloomier - even gloomier than the clouds in the sky: "This won''t do. If I can''t figure outa wayto quickly advance through the levels, I''m doomed to fail." The enemy was at the gates - the matter was urgent.However,it should be notedthat Xie Qing was too hurried,because of which there could be mistakes in cultivation. What he can already breakthrough once a month can be considered a great talent, surpassing all others. Faster cultivation was possible only with the help of certain tricks, which would significantlyplicate life in the future. "I''ve been warned several times not to rush," Xie Qing recalled and sighed bitterly: "Could it be that I''m really in such a hurry? It seemsthat I''mstarting to lose control of my emotions too quickly." As much as Xie Qing considered himself a cold-bloodedperson, it was impossible to withstand such pressure from the enemy, which even Xu Mei was afraid of. "Who would have thought that I would really be afraid of devilish cultivators," Xie Qing thought with a sigh. He was indeed scared, as he had never met real devilish cultivators. And when ites to REAL ones, then the enemies of Xu Mei immediatelye to mind, who surpass him not only in level but also in experience. Sometimeshehad nightmares. Where he is weak and cannot protect anyone.Thismade him suffer, andthe idea ofquickly raising the level became an obsession for him. Xie Qing turned his gaze to the sky and narrowed his eyes. "Something is brewing." === Volume 1: END. Three extra chapters will be released, and then the new season will begin. Chapter 122: Tales of the Past (Part 1) [extra] Extra Chapter. Tales of the Past (Part 1) === The ruthless flow of the cultivation world swept countless geniuses off their pedestals. The whole worldpeted. The one who possessed superior strength and deserved to live! Cruelty was the norm. Your family was robbed and killed? Well, it''s your fault! You were weak since it happened! "In the eyes of the strong, the weak are always to me," a woman''s indifferent voice sounded. "M-monster..." On the green ins was located the Spiritual Prosperity Sect, which focused on improving their abilities through dual cultivation.At first nce, it was an exemry righteous sect. However, in reality, they were devilish servants, mostof the disciples forcibly used their techniques to absorb other men or women, turning them into cultivation cauldrons. She found out about it...Xu Mei. Compared to her future self, this girl looked much colder and ruthless, herbeautiful blue eyes gleamedwithruthlessness, and there were drops of blood on her white hanfu. Her foot trampled the lifeless body of the sect leader, who died personally at her hands. In front of her was the only surviving elder. The elder looked about forty years old. He had long silver hair and deep ck eyes,hecould be called a handsomeman,who was popr with women. "Monster? Bai Wenjun, it seems you havepletely lost your mind from lust. Let me remind youhowmany defenseless women have turned into dried-up corpses because of your cultivation technique?" Xu Mei replied indifferently, but her eyes sharply gleamed. "I-I..." Bai Wenjun could not find words for an exnation. Becausehis guilt was obvious. Even the fact that he was from the Bai family did not save the situation, as the personin front ofhim was Xu Mei, recognized as the most talented cultivator in the world. At the same time, the man in his family was just an insignificant person. He was sure that if he went and told the head of the family about the "injustice" that Xu Mei had brought him,thenhis head would already be lying in a neat gift box in an hour, and the addressee would be the culprit herself. "Hahaha..." Suddenly, out of nowhere, Bai Wenjun began tough. His eyes showed what was in his soul - despair and hatred. He looked at Xu Mei with suchhatredthat if it were possible to kill with a nce, the girl would have died long ago. "You! You will never understand my suffering. I have been nothing but a stain on the eye since childhood! No one respected me. But I was able...Iwas able to reachthe peak of Qi Condensation at the age of a hundred! I also have the right to be considered a genius! But..." Bai Wenjun poured out his sondin the end, whenhis achievement was mentioned, he clenched his teeth and looked at Xu Mei with hatred that intensified every second: "But you overshadowed everyone! Now I''m just a worm!" In his eyes was a perfect reflection of the girl who stood on the body of the sect leader, whose cultivation level was at the Soul Nascent - 3rd stage. Her soft and long ck hair fluttered in the wind, while her eyes as ifstrewnwith stars, reflected her emotions - indifference and disgust. She was the dream of many men.Her power and talent were knownthroughout the world. To reach the level of Soul Nascent - 4th stage at the age of 29...it was an absolute record. Who can repeat after her? Who can catch up with her? Maybe such a person is not born in this era. Bai Wenjunwas filledwith anger. He always hated Xu Mei and disliked her. Because she had talent from birth, and he had only a cold gender and contemptuous looks of rtives. "Hmph..." Xu Mei snorted loudly. The calm breeze turned into a storm, and countlesssmallwounds appeared on Bai Wenjun''s face, which began to bleed and cause him severe pain. "You..." He looked in shock at the indifferent woman, who slowly pulledouta sword from itsscabbard. And when the bright glow of the de reflected in the man''s eyes... "Born as a stain on the eye, die as a stain on the eye. You''re just trash in my eyes." Bright sunlight prated through the restless clouds. Meanwhile,the Spiritual Prosperity Sect was destroyedin one day. The severed head of Bai Wenjuny on the ground, preserving the initial shock of the owner. A new day began. *** In the hignds, where the mountain peaks rose, hiding behind the clouds, was a mysterious red pavilion. This area wastrulymagnificent and wild, with many high mountains and monoliths that protruded from the ground likehugecolumns supporting the sky. There was so much vegetation and greenery here that it covered everything, from the slopes of the mountains to the valleys, creating a uniquendscape. Somewhere in the distance, dense forests couldbe seen. ording tolegends,an Immortal Fairy lived there, whose beauty would conquer any man.Her power is as beautiful as her appearance. They say that with onestrikeshe will bring disaster, cut the heavens in half, andlikea sacred dragon, soar into the sky. ng! A loud metallic soundwas heardas if something had collided. The mountain rangewas locatedon the Eastern Continent. There was not a single person within several thousandmiles,because this zone was considered forbiddenandeven the imperial guards could not enter the borders without permission. Because there lived not a simple personality...but the Sword Empress herself. "Too weak. Do you want to tickle your Master? s, sleepyhead, you are still too immature to do anything. Maybe the Master will introduce you to a man so that you be much more aggressive?" a deep andmanding gentle voicewas heard, mixed withsomeroughness and mockery. "Shut up! Stop talking like you have experience with men. I clearly feel that your Yin Source is untouched! Hmph!" a young female voice replied in response to the mockery,fullof energy. Boom! "Ow, you vicious old woman, stop hitting my head!" BOOM! "AAAY! IT HURTS!" On the highest mountain, which was more like onehugemonolith of earth and minerals, was the Red Pavilion. The mountain peak was a t area. Surprisingly, various animals lived here - from tigers to foxes and other wildlife. And they, surprisingly, were in harmony. But the only ones who were not in harmony were two women. In appearance, they were like Yin and Yang. "Heh, I told you,the mouth should be openedeither during eating or when you need to say something useful. And you''re yapping for nothing!" the woman said with a smile. It was her voice that mocked the ck-haired girl. This woman was named Mei Feng, better known as the Sword Empress. A thousand years ago, she single-handedly destroyed many evil sects, sheis considered the modern progenitor of the sword path and thestrongestrepresentative ofswordsmen. She had long, very long silver hair that reached her knees.Her eyes,like two bright moons,gleamed in the reflection of the sunlight.The most amazing thing was her pupils, which looked like a cross. Mei Feng had arge chest - but it looked beautiful and not saggy. Shewas dressedin a dark pink hanfu with lotus patterns. Her stomach was open, showing off her perfect abs. "Try harder, Xu Mei," Mei Feng finally said seriously and narrowed her eyes, looking at the girl lying on the floor: "You''re toozy. How often do you drink?" "Uuuu... if I had known you were such a bitch, I would have died in the mouth of a devil bear," Xu Meiined, rubbing her head. "Eeh..." Mei Feng shook her head worriedly, watching as the girl secretly took out wine and began to drink, sitting in anunseemlypose. The woman raised her finger to remark, but rememberingthe character of her disciple and herstubbornness like a ram, she bent her finger and sighed heavily. "Why did I get such a strange disciple... she seems obedient, but somehow not..." Xu Mei was thirty years old. A year ago, when she destroyed the Spiritual Prosperity Sect,there were many problemsassociated with it. The Empress wrote many letters, directing them to Mei Feng, butthe womanafterreading the first wordssimplyburned them. "Although she vited the rules of the Dynasty, who needs thesews? Hmph, stupid bitch Yu Longfeng thinks she is the ruler of the world?" Yu Longfeng was apletely new Empress. She was five hundred years older than Xu Mei. This woman''s character was a bit strange. There were moments when she was very generous, and there were moments when she was very stingy. In her time, Mei Feng had seen this young girl, and she was then a baby. Who would have thought that a baby would be such a great empress? "Hmph, no matter how great she is, I won''t let her bully my girl!" Mei Feng thought proudly and proudly puffed out her chest,andthen added: "Only I can bully her." Chapter 123: Tales of the Past (Part 2) [extra] Extra Chapter. Tales of the Past (Part 2) === The glory of Xu Mei over the past year began to grow and spread throughout the cultivation world. Even the legendary Golden Empress was helpless against her. Although she was a genius, her character was too... unstable. She had more than a hundred beatings on her ount. And that was only for a week. Many sect leaders and family heads were dissatisfied, but they were forced to warn their offspring not to argue and conflict with this woman, and especially attention was paid to men. Due to her personality and beauty, Xu Mei, of course, attracted a lot of attention, many young lords wanted to win her favor, and many of them eagerly worked towards it. However, the girl remained cold, and no one had yet been able to win her favor. On the contrary, many of the persistent suitors were thanked with a kick in the face, breaking many noses. There were many attempts to avenge her or put her in her ce, however, they all failed. In addition to the fact that the young genius had many high-level spiritual items with her, she also had personal power that could easily get rid of assassins. Therefore, there was only to sigh and pray that this girl would restrain herself. Many at that time wondered if it was possible to find a Nemesis for this woman in any way. Many immediately answered: "I doubt that such a person will be found." However, surprisingly, someone like that existed! In one of the cities of the Northern Continent, in a high pavilion. "Come on, older sister, drink! This is very expensive spiritual wine!" a lively girl''s voice was heard. "Mei-Mei... let me remind you that I don''t drink wine. You can enjoy it, and I prefer tea," a gentle voice was heard in response, which made people rx and show friendliness. "Eee?! In the VIP room, which was separate from the main hall of the restaurant, two girls were sitting. Each of them was beautiful, like a diamond shining brightly in the moonlight. One of the girls was the beautiful brte with blue eyes, Xu Mei. But the other... She had shoulder-length hair that shone brightly silver, reminiscent of moonlight. Her eyshes were long, and her eyelids were closed, but she easily handled the tea set. She was slender, not tall if we are talking about the average height of cultivators, which was about 175-180 cm. The chest of the cute girl was of medium size, but what stood out was her slender butt and "developed" thighs. This girl had first-ss charm. If Xu Mei was a beauty with her aura of arrogance and coldness, then she looked modest, calm, andpliant, which won the hearts of many men. "Hmph, because of yourpliance, many stupid bastards think that you are a weakling and can be offended! I''ll tear all their necks off!" Xu Mei said angrily, drinking wine from the bottle and mming it on the table. She looked at the girl in front of her with obvious displeasure: "Liu Yan! Why do you put up with this? You''re a genius alchemist!" As it turned out, the girl sitting at the same table as Xu Mei was named Liu Yan. She slightly opened her eyes, which were like amber, and smiled sweetly, not answering the girl''s question. "Don''t drink from the neck. You''re ady," Liu Yan scolded. "Um... l-alright." It would be an exaggerated reaction if all the people who suffered from Xu Mei''s hands saw her now. It seemed that the untamed and cruel lioness in one moment became an obedient tiger cub, as soon as Liu Yan scolded her. Liu Yan, seeing her obedience, could only smile gently. And then, pouring herself fragrant tea, she thought a little and sighed. "They are just foolish young men. Why should I waste my breath on them? You should also learn to ignore all kinds of idiots," Liu Yan said and bitterly smiled, looking at Xu Mei, who muttered something under her nose with a disgruntled voice: "And stop being offended. I''m just saying this for your own good." "Hmph, you''re like a mom..." Rolling her eyes, with pouted lips, Xu Mei said. "M-mom?" Liu Yan didn''t know whether to cry orugh when she was called such a stupid word, however, a gentle smile did not leave her face. She remembered their first meeting. *** Liu Yan loved to travel and mostly did it alone. Since there were hidden warriors in the shadows nearby, she could walk around without fear for her life. Her favorite pastime was collecting flowers, and medicinal herbs, and making pills. One of these days, she ended up on the Eastern Continent and found herself on the territory with high mountains. "How beautiful it is here!" the girl was amazed, and her yellow eyes, like two pieces of amber, showed her sincere emotions. There were no people around, only flora and fauna ruled in this area. Although she tried to be persuaded several times not to go to these territories, the curiosity of the youngdy outweighed the danger. "I was right not to listen to these guys! It''s so beautiful here! Such clean air, lots of greenery and herbs... oh! There''s even the White Radiance Grass here!" It seemed that she had got into paradise - such were the feelings that Liu Yan experienced. After all, in addition to the fact that it was very beautiful here, many rare medicinal herbs were also discovered that could help her in the future. "I don''t understand why no onees here. With my Soul Nascent cultivation, I didn''t sense any danger," the girl thought, tilting her head to the side as her hands carefully cut the stem of the medicinal herb. She wandered around here until the evening and already lost her bearings. The day turned into night, and the girl lost in the mountainous area was puzzled. "But... where is the exit?" she thought, and her face became bitter: "I got lost again!" The young girl was on the peak of one of the countless mountains. The view from here was very beautiful. "Oh, the weather is good today. The stars are visible in the sky," she muttered, looking up in surprise. The bright starlight was reflected in her beautiful yellow eyes: "How beautiful!" With her shiny silver hair, she was somewhat reminiscent of the moon. Her slender figure fits perfectly into the boundless starry sky. Only she and nature, as well as the bright glow of souls. Liu Yan''s face involuntarily showed hints of drowsiness. And at that moment, when she was about to lose consciousness, her sixth sense woke her up from sleep, brushing aside drowsiness. Fshuuuh! The sound of the wind was heard, and Liu Yan discovered with horror that the tips of her silver hair, which were cut, were dancing in the air. And in the ce where she was standing before, there was a girl. She was like the embodiment of the night, and her eyes were like a sea surface, in which nothing could be read except cold. In her hand, she held an ordinary-looking sword, and white robes fluttered in the wind. She was tall, slender, and developed in the right ces. "This is..." Liu Yan narrowed her eyes. She could determine at first nce who this girl was. After all, as the heiress of the sect, the girl was introduced to many dangerous and influential personalities. "Xu Mei! Her nickname is ''Blinding de''!" Liu Yan discovered in shock. Gradually, as Xu Mei remained silent, Liu Yan''s breathing stabilized, and she, standing in a stance, stretched her hands towards the scabbards that appeared from her spatial ring. However, before she could even bring her hands close to the scabbards to draw the sword, suddenly! ng! Jin! "Wh-what?!" Liu Yan looked in amazement at the indifferent blue eyes that mercilessly shone in the night sky, while she helplesslyy on the ground. Her hands trembled, resisting the force that this girl was applying. When Liu Yan came to her senses from the shock, her eyes widened, discovering that her sword along with the scabbard was cut in half! Fear. This emotion Liu Yan had not experienced for a long time. Of all the cases, she met this girl, who was dangerous and bloodthirsty! "W-wait..." Liu Yan''s gentle voice was heard, and she looked at Xu Mei with fear on her face, who held the sword at the ready: "P-please, stop. I don''t understand how I offended you. Why did you attack me?" "Hm? Judging by your voice, you should have recognized me," Xu Mei''s cold voice was heard, and she narrowed her eyes, looking at Liu Yan''s helpless expression: "I must say, you have courage. Aren''t you aware that from the grass to all the mountains, within a radius of ten thousand miles, the territory belongs to me?" "N-no... I''m sorry... I''m really guilty!" Liu Yan finally realized why the residents of the nearby city warned her so strongly. As it turned out, thesends were owned directly by Xu Mei! And what''s worse, she vited the borders, thus dooming herself to death! However, it seemed that Xu Mei was not as bloodthirsty as the rumors said. She was silent for a while, and then put away the de, indifferently looking at Liu Yan lying on the grass. "It seems that you are really lucky. I don''t really want to fight with Soul Integration cultivators, so I''ll leave you alive," Xu Mei coldly noted, and then frowning, shouted: "Now get out of here! So that I don''t see your foot here anymore!" "I-I understand!" Liu Yan panicked and got up. Immediately, she was enveloped in dark smoke, and the cultivators hiding in the darkness finally appeared in the light, standing in front of Xu Mei. The atmosphere was tense, however, Xu Mei was not worried. She just looked at them arrogantly and raised her sword. One easy movement, but this already made the opponent at the level of Soul Integration be on guard. "Stop,dy. We do not intend to fight!" said one of the defenders,ing into the light. This was a man with a beautiful appearance. He had long gray hair and deep blue eyes. His height was under two meters, while his aura radiated existence at the level of Soul Integration 1st stage. "Hm? You are Yan Zui, right? One of the geniuses in the Sect of Nine Pills," Xu Mei recognized the man''s identity. As it turned out, this was Yan Zui! A genius who became famous in thest ten years for his speed of learning and flexibility of mind! (To be continued in the next chapter) Chapter 124: Tales of the Past (Part 3) [extra] Yan Zui was not unknown. In some moments, even Xu Mei had to look at his side. It was he who came up with a new perfect pill that helped break through to the Foundation Building level without serious health problems. Although the pill was exclusively for low-level cultivation, who knows, maybe it could be created for higher levels based on it? Thenthiswill be a genius breakthrough in the entire cultivation world! "Hm. What do you want?" Xu Mei replied rudely. She didn''t give a damn about this man. Although he was a genius in alchemy, Xu Mei was only interested in worthyswordsmen. Besides, she saw no point in continuing this conversation. "I have already released the sect heiress. Does the elder have any advice for me?" Xu Mei said indifferently, looking into Yan Zui''s blue eyes. "No, what advice can I have for you, youngdy?" Yan Zui replied with a smile, but it was clear that he was ufortable with her words. Clearing his throat falsely, he asked: "We would like to know if you need help. Our sect master heard about your situation and would like to offer his help." "Master Sect Wan Yue?" Xu Mei frowned. Wan Yue - that was the name of the woman who ruled the Sect of Nine Pills. She was very strict. She was of the same generation as the Sword Empress. To get help from her in this situation would be very timely for Xu Mei. A few weeks ago, she was injured because two Divine Transformation cultivators hunted her, and thanks to luck, she was able to escape. However, unfortunately, the wounds were tooserious.Shecould only hide and try not to strainherself,so as not to allow internal wounds to re up again. "I doubt it''s free. I''ll listen to your conditions," Xu Mei replied indifferently, cracking her neck. She threw the sword over her shoulder and narrowly looked at Yan Zui: "Just don''t waste my time." "Of course," Yan Zui noddedwith a nervous smileand then looked back. Xu Mei followed his gaze and saw that with a sh, a cultivator shrouded in dark clothes appeared, and next to her was...Liu Yan. "Hm?" The girl looked nervous, but Xu Meijustnced at her and looked at Yan Zui. "Your acquaintance with her was not the best... however, for her skills, I vouch," Yan Zui sincerely said, and then continued: "The only condition is to be her guardian for two years and apany her on her travels." "Hehe..." Xu Mei smiled widely, which looked beautiful, but Yan Zui and the otherswere coveredin goosebumps. And only then, when Xu Mei rxed her face, everyonewas able to breathea sigh of relief. "Not interested. Apanying some sleepyhead for two years is the worst punishment that the Heavens could give," Xu Mei waved her hand dismissively and walkedaway,indifferently waving her hand: "I''m not interested. Find another idiot." "But I''m 90 years older than you..."Liu Yan wanted tin,butjustsmiled gently, closing her eyes. Seeing this expression on her face, Xu Mei''s eyes twitched. "One million spiritual stones!" "Hm?" Xu Mei turned in surprise to Yan Zui, who lookedas ifhis heart had been shot. However, heresolutelylooked at Xu Mei, naming thishugeamount. Seeing thather attention had been sessfully attracted, the man sighed in relief. "One million spiritual stones a year. How do you like this offer?" Yan Zui said. The amount warge, butgiven that the sect was now going through animportanttime of development, such expenses were too dangerous. However, by order of the sect leader, it was necessary to find a strong personwho wouldguard Liu Yan. The only one suitable for this category, with her terrifyingspeed ofgrowth, was Xu Mei.Moreover, if a friendshipis formedbetween the two girls during this time, then the Sect of Nine Pills will have a reliable ally. "One... million?" Xu Mei''s eyes shed. Although she was rich because she robbed...um...borrowed several hundred thousand spiritual stones from her fellow Daoists, it was about a million. As much as she didn''t want to show it...But she was tempted! "One million spiritual stones and five barrels of spiritual wine per month," Xu Mei named the pricewith an indifferentvoice,but with sparkling eyes. "Ugh..." Yan Zui could not help but feel how his heart was bleeding. Spiritual wine was expensive, and few could afford it. One such bottle, containing 1 liter of wine, cost 1000 Spiritual Stones. And in one wine barrel, there were 40 liters! As a result, they will have to spend no less than three million spiritual stones per year! "But... the sect leader insisted on this deal. Although it exceeds the budget by a hundred thousand, I think everything is in order..."thought Yan Zui andnodded. It seemed that this ordinary nod took all his avable energy, and after that, hewas dragged awayby other cultivators. As a result, only Liu Yan remained, who smiled gently, keeping her eyes closed. Xu Mei turned to Liu Yan with a satisfied smile and raised her eyebrow, pointing to her eyes: "Why the fuck do you keep them closed? How are you going to see the path in front of you?" "W-what the... ehh?" Liu Yan lost her speech from Xu Mei''s vulgarwords,but still answered the question: "My eyes are a little special, and it''s hard for me to keep them open for a long time." "What do you mean?" Xu Mei was puzzled and raised her eyebrow, looking at Liu Yan''s eyes, and asked: "Can you shootsers from your eyes?" "What?" "Apparently not. Strange. And what about this...can you see through clothes?" "Um... n-no?" "Then can you see thews of the universe with it?" "Not at all..." Xu Mei fell silent, and Liu Yan looked at her in bewilderment.She could not understandwhat these strange ideas werein this girl''s mind.Lasers from the eyes? See through clothes? Look at thews of the universe. And thenextwords of Xu Mei almost made the poor girl cough up blood: "Then are they useless?" "Gha-a..." Liu Yan felt as if someone hadhit her hardin the stomach, and countless red arrows pierced her body. Why did this girl have such a rotten mouth? "M-my power ispletely different, and it is useful!" Liu Yan eximed angrily, twisting the corners of her mouth: "It''s you who have strange ideas!" "Hm-m-m?"Xu Mei narrowed her eyesand lookedup and down Liu Yan, and then spoke with contempt: "Well, one way or another.I don''t have time to deal with you, followme." "Ugh..." Liu Yan could not help but puff out her cheeks at such disrespect. By the way, she was older than her! And still, this girl didn''t even care about observing etiquette. "But,it must be admitted, it''s easy to talk to her," thought Liu Yan and sighed: "Although her mouth is still so poisonous." As it turned out, Xu Mei led her to the red pavilion. It was quite beautiful here, theair was clean, and from the height opened abeautifulview. "Wow!" Liu Yan could not help but sigh, noticing what beauties were here! The bright moonlight illuminated the mountainpeak,while various animals ran around, living in harmony. "This... this... is ideal!" A sharpsense oftranquility made the girl rx and forget about her vignce.Xu Mei, however, not paying attention to such a reaction, enteredinsidethe pavilion and beckoned Liu Yan. "Come on. Stop standing there, ''eye girl''.You need to fulfill part of the contract." "L-alright, I''ming!" *** "Oh, is this your room?Here...um...whydo you have a bed made of wine bottles?" "Never mind." Xu Mei dismissed Liu Yan''squestion,andthen, thinking a little, waved her hand and bared her back. "This..." Liu Yan immediately changed - her usual carefree girlish aura changed to a serious one.Thiswas her peculiarity when she saw patients. "Such a rich Immortal Qi... if not treated immediately, it will bevery dangerousfor your cultivation," Liu Yan said, frowning: "Sit on the floor and get ready to help me." "Okay." Xu Mei noddedand sat downon the floor in the lotus positionandrxed her back.Liu Yan lookedseriouslyat the wound. It was a terrible wound. Even bones were visible. And most importantly, in these wounds was golden qi...Immortal Qi. When a cultivator reached the level of Spiritual Ascension, he turned his qi into Immortal Qi, which was ten times purer than ordinary qi, and there was no need to talk about its power. Therefore, if you get such a wound,then with eachsecondthe chance of survival decreases.It wasamazingthat Xu Mei had held out for so long. In the next second, without hesitation, Liu Yan took out the medicine and began to treat the wounds. Although it wasincredibly difficult, thanks to the cooperation of Xu Mei, it took only a week. "Hm... most of the wounds have been healed. How amazing," Xu Meimentedanda satisfied smile appearedon her face: "Thank you, Liu Yan... hm?" Xu Mei was puzzled when she saw that Liu Yan wasalreadysleeping peacefully. She smiled and shook her head. Chapter 125: Imperial censor (Part 1) Voume #2 ==== Bright sunlight illuminated thegreatcapital of the Dynasty. The townspeople were waking up and going towork,while officials were still sleeping despite the warmth of the sun shining on their fat butts. "Finally..."a tired sigh was heard. Thiswas the Phoenix Pavilion, the personal quarters of Xie Qing.He wassitting on the bed in the lotus positionandlookedverytiredasif he hadn''t slept for a month. For two days,he had been diligently cultivatingandit had paid off.He had broken through to the fourth stage of the Nascent Soul. Once again, breaking cultivation records, the young man was still unhappy, as the feeling of slowing down in cultivation was still a burden on his heart. "Haha. Anyone would strangle me to death if they knew I was unhappy with my slow progress," thought Xie Qing and smiled, finally shaking off his gloomy mood: "Maybe I am in too much of a hurry. After all, I''m not alone." For two days,there had been no new news about the devilish cultivators.Xu Mei had only reminded him to be careful with the Empress andto try to gain experience in cultivation. Although theMaster''swords sounded somewhat mysterious and unclear, Xie Qing did not dare to ignore her advice, so he promised to make every effort. "Now... I don''t even know what to do with myself. The Empress is always waiting for my answer, but she doesn''t insist or pressure me, which is already at odds with what my older sister told me," thought Xie Qing, scratching his head in puzzlement: "Maybe it''s because of my great beauty?I must admit,even the Empress can''t resist my charm." ...As expected, his shamelessness could anger the Heavens themselves. "Alright, I think I''llgo for awalk around the courtyards. It''s boring anyway,"hethought and, crackinghisneck, stood up. The Phoenix Estate wasrgeandthere were many servants. Seeing that the youngmasterhade out of his room, the maid respectfully bowed. "Young master... good morning." "Good morning, Xiao Yu," nodded Xie Qing. The maid smiledand, looking at Xie Qing''s facefor a moment, shetold him about recent events. "Hm?" Xie Qing listened carefullyandin the end, he couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow. "The righteous sects have startedto strictly control their disciples?Moreover,it seems that they aremaking every effort to raise their level..." Thiswas very unusual. After all, there was always only one rule that decided whether you would get resources or not. Strength. Talent. Contribution. If you are not strong enough, you will not have a chance to get valuable resources; if you are not talented enough, you will not receive attention; and if your contribution is low, you will not be a priority. However, nowtheserules have be somewhat blurred. Temporarily, the sects have begun to invest all their resources in all their disciples. Of course, the most talented ones received more, but even what fell into the bowl of the weak disciples was iparable with the usual support of the sect. "You don''t have to be a genius to understandthe reason for this. The devilish cultivators are putting a lot of pressure on the righteous path. TheMasterand the others cannot interfere too much because of the restrictions, so all hope is on us..." thought Xie Qing and frowned: "Which means the situation is shitty." There was no problem with helping the sect and even the whole world.Xie Qing did not consider himselfarighteousperson, but neither was he evil.So, he wanted to participate as much as possible. "Alright, you have to look for the positives in everything, even if you''re looking in a room full of smelly horse shit," thought Xie Qing, and although his analogy was simply terrible, his thought was correct: "The Imperial Censor..." Xie Qing thought about the Empress''s offer. If he became a shining star in theworld of cultivation,a lot of attention would be focusedon him. Thismeant possible assassins, troubles, and the like, but... "Hm... when have I ever been afraid of trouble? If assassinse, I''ll just kill them. And if I can''t kill them, I''ll run away!" thought Xie Qing proudlywith a smile. Let''s ignore the part where he nned to run away andjustadmire the youngmaster''scourage...Sigh. *** Early in the morning, Xie Qing met with the chief eunuch Xian. Theold manwas pleased to hear of Xie Qing''s intention. "Youngmaster, I swear by my ancestors, you will not regret your decision to move forward with the Dynasty! If you are worried about your status as the future head of the sect, it doesn''t matter. The Dynasty will support you on the contrary!" assured Eunuch Xian, smiling brightly: "Be assured, this old man will be happy to shake his old bones to help you. I am sure Her Majesty will be delighted with your wise decision!" "Eunuch Xian tters me," nodded Xie Qing with a kind smile, but in his thoughts, he thought: "No wonder you are the chief eunuch. Even though your bird has lost its head, your ability to tter pierces the Heavens!" While Eunuch Xian was happily talking with Xie Qing, telling him about the history of the Dynasty and pouring buckets of a mysterious liquid called "propaganda" into Xie Qing''s ears, they finally reached the long-awaited throne room. Fortunately, the eunuch stopped talking nonsense and, saying goodbye, asked Xie Qing to visit him to celebrate his appointment. "Thank you!" thanked Xie Qing, waving to Eunuch Xian. He thought: "This eunuch is really funny." The young man shook his head and approached the doors. He was not as crazy as hisMaster, who would kick the doors open, so hesimplyreleased his Qi. Kr-r-r... The door creaked open, although it wasvery slow. Perhaps this was due to the weight and material of the door, whichwere specially madeto protect the Empress. "Maybe... I should also kick the doors open next time?" thought Xie Qing, restraining his annoyance: "By the time this door opens, I will have a hundred wives, a thousand concubines,andfive thousand children, and a hundred thousand grandchildren!" It seemed that even the doors had lost their power of speech, which they did not have to begin with, and opened faster. Immediately, the image of the throne room appeared.Behind the curtain sat a slender figure, and onlyhershadow allowed one to understand thatshewas sitting there. "Your Majesty." Since Xie Qing was not a citizen of the Dynasty, there was no need for a deep bow.It was enough toslightly bow, putting his hand on his heart, to showhispoliteness. Nowinthe throne room, he was not alone. The Empress was listening to a servant''s report. "Sir Xie Qing..." nodded Yu Longfeng, speaking in a somewhat strange voice: "Please wait a few seconds. I apologize for keeping you waiting so rudely." "Don''t worry, Your Majesty. I''ll wait here," replied Xie Qing nonchntly. The servant fell silentfor a momentwhen she saw that Xie Qing was standing casually in ce, but feeling the Empress''s gaze, she continued her report. "Your Majesty... several officials have expressed their disagreement with appointing someone from outside to the post of imperial censor..." said the servant with an awkward voice ¨C mainly because of the presence of "someone" in the room: "They ask Your Majesty to think carefully about this." "Think carefully?" came the cold voice of Yu Longfeng: "Are they saying that I, the Golden Empress, am stupid? That I make decisions without thinking? In other words, are they calling me stupid?" "Th-this... I don''t think they meant it that way...Y-Your Majesty..." The servant fell to the ground, shivering all over, feeling the cold and pressure that Yu Longfengwas releasing. Xie Qing wasjustwatching the course of events with interest. "This is..." His eyes narrowed as he felt the energy that the woman released for suppression: "The Superior Aura of the Ultimate Being..." Thiswas more of a characteristic than a skill when your existence reached the highest limits. However, in some races, including dragons, this ability was present from birth. After all, in the hierarchy of the Heavens, dragons were the closest to the Heavens, acting as their representatives. Xie Qing needed to raise his level tomastersuch an ability.Thiswould help him in battles with superior opponents. "Interesting..." Yu Longfeng, moreover, did not feel Xie Qing''s gaze. The Empress coldly snorted and gave an order. "Tell them that my decision is absolute.Those who disagree will be considered enemies of the Dynasty," coldly replied Yu Longfengand added: "You are free." "A-as youmand, Your Majesty." The servant stood up and ran as if escaping from the gue. He nced at Xie Qingout ofthe corner of his eye but did not dare to stare. Then, the door opened slightlyandthe poor man squeezed through the narrow opening, heavily leaving. Then the door mmed shut. Xie Qing''s face looked somewhat twitchy because he was trying tohold backhisughter. "It seems that this servant showed disrespectful behavior that amused sir... I apologize," came the cold voice of the Empress, which brought the young man to his senses. "Your Majesty need not worry. That servant wasjustdoing his job, and I am, after all, an outsider," said Xie Qing with a polite smile, finallymanaging to restrainhis desire tough. The Empress raised her eyebrows behind the curtain.For the first time,she saw such an unusual and carefree young man...well, except for the restless girl before. "Since you havee before me, that means you have a decision? Don''t worry, any decision will satisfy me," continued Yu Longfeng. Xie Qing felt her sharp gaze and could not help but roll his eyes in his thoughts. "Yeah, yeah, and the spectacle a minute ago was performed by someone else, right? Now that you''re standing up to the officials for me, my refusal will make you lose face," thought Xie Qing, weakly twisting the corners of his mouth,outwardlyhis face was calm: "However, it''s not like I''m against it." Chapter 126: Imperial censor (Part 2) Empress Yu Longfeng smiled, hearing Xie Qing''s decision. She looked very pleased. "Good, I promise that you will never regret this," she said in a serious and confident voice, and then added: "With all these chaotic events, I forgot that I was supposed to give you a reward." "Reward?" Xie Qing did not understand what she was talking about. "Have you forgotten how you destroyed so many Jiangshi?" Yu Longfeng asked with a raised eyebrow, and then went outside, pulling aside the curtains. She lost her voice, seeing that he really forgot: "Are you sure you are Xu Mei''s disciple?" "Is that a hint that Master never misses an opportunity?" Xie Qingmented with a weak smile, and then shrugged: "I think I''m just more patient." ...indeed, he really forgot. All these events over the past month were too tense for him to think about the reward, which was logical. Yu Longfeng couldn''t help but roll her eyes. "Eunuch Xian will send your rewards tonight. And now, do you have any ns?" asked Yu Longfeng, sitting on her throne. The curtain was removed: "As an imperial censor, your power is severely limited. I would advise you to use this momentum to be a core disciple and make a name for yourself." Xie Qing''s eyes flickered. *** The Heavenly Sword Sect was a ce where the influence of swordsmen was concentrated. Since the official cultivation technique was obtained, the sect has undergone dramatic changes that have been able to raise the level of disciples. However, thepetition has also be stronger. For example, right now, on this very day, the exam for the core disciple is taking ce. "Disperse, don''t crowd" a stern female voice sounded: "Don''t create a crowd!" "Yes, Elder Lian!" The exam was held in the arena of the main courtyard. There were more than a hundred people here, but only twenty of them were considered participants. Mainly, inner court disciples of a high level came here to support their brothers and sisters, as well as to learn something themselves. The exam was simple to the point of absurdity - as long as you have a strong understanding of the sword and power, you pass. The assessment will be done personally by the sect master. "Lian Xin" a sleepy female voice sounded. This was Lian Lin, who was dressed in red lingerie. She sleepily rubbed her eyes: "Is it time already? Eeeh... I want to sleep..." "Enough, sister. You shouldn''t be so carefree. Today is an important day - the exam for the core disciple! Your presence there is mandatory!" Lian Xin scolded her, looking unhappy. She quickly walked over to the closet, grabbed the sect master''s clothes, and went to her sister. Then, while Lian Lin wasing to her senses from drowsiness, Lian Xin finished dressing her. "Thank you..." Lian Lin thanked her and raised her eyebrows when she saw that Lian Xin''s eyes were sparkling. She had a thought: "Oo, my dear, has your prince on a white horsee? What was his name... oh, oh, oh! Lian Xin, don''t pull the belt so tight, it hurts!" "Hmph!" Although Lian Lin was teasing Lian Xin, the redness on the second girl''s face was enough to prove the truth of the sleepy sect master''s words. Since Lian Xin was responsible for Xie Qing during this period, she could sense him if the young man entered the sect. And now, judging by her feelings, he was in the arena. Therefore, she tightened the belt, ignoring Lian Lin''s hoarse words, and dragged the sect master, who was crying without tears. "It hurts..." *** "I must say, the formations here are amazing. From the outside, the arena looks small, but inside it''s huge" Xie Qing was surprised: "The size of a city! Holy shit!". The arena with the stands upied only the central part of this space, the rest - majestic statues, monoliths, and pavilions. Another name for this arena is the Hall of Fame. Here are the greatest figures in the world of swordsmen. Each statue and each memoir reflected the history of the ancestors. A mysterious and majestic atmosphere reigned. Xie Qing looked around in amazement. He was dressed in the robe of an inner court disciple, and his face was covered with a mask - he took on this disguise, as he did not want any trouble on the way. "Inner court disciple, don''t block the way" a cold voice sounded. "Hm?" The young man turned his head and saw that three people were standing behind him - they were dressed in the robes of the inner court, but on their sleeves was a special embroidery - a candidate for the core disciples. Xie Qing was also supposed to receive such a robe, but he was away from the sect for a long time, and therefore could not wear it. "Hmph, in our days, the trash from the inner court is really insolent," one of the apanying people said: "Can''t you see the person in front of you? This is young master Lian Jingyuan!" "Lian?" Xie Qing could not help but raise his eyebrows. He did not remember the name of this disciple, as it was annoyingly long, but the surname made him remember Lian Xin and Lian Lin. Xie Qing''s reaction was misunderstood. The disciple smiled, looking at this inner court disciple. "Quickly fall to your knees and apologize to the young master!" "Yes-yes, what rudeness!" "..." The young man fell silent, not knowing how to react to this circus. This Lian Jingyuan also drilled him with a haughty look. "Lian Jingyuan, right?" Xie Qing asked after a short pause, ignoring the angry disciples next to him, he asked: "What is your rtionship with Lian Xin and Lian Lin?" "Hm-m?" Lian Jingyuan frowned and his eyes showed an expression of anger. He could not help but shout: "Shameless! Impudence! Fool! How dare you call their names just like that?!" Lian Jingyuan exploded with righteous anger: "I, Lian Jingyuan, will personally punish you!" "Hmph!" Xie Qing snorted angrily and a thin ripple passed through the body of this trio. Two of them fell to their knees, coughing up blood, while the righteous punisher Lian Jingyuan stood with a bewildered face. The young man could not help but shake his head. At first, he could not understand why this trio showed such an attitude towards him, given his status in the sect... However, then he shamefully remembered that he was wearing a mask. He bought it for a lot of money when he stopped in one city. Because of his beauty and seductive aura, soon a crowd of women poured into the inn, even the daughter of the city lord, who tried to persuade him to stay with her for the night. Xie Qing could only escape through the window, and then buy a mask to avoid such situations. And since the mask was of good quality, hepletely forgot about its existence! "I seem to be forgetfultely" Xie Qing''s tired voice sounded and he tapped his forehead. Soon the mask broke into small fragments, as if it was assembled from small parts, and turned into a beautiful white ring with gold engraving. "Th-this..." Lian Jingyuan lost his voice and shivered with fear. Now he saw the face of the person he had offended. It was Destroying de! The youngest monster! His power was enough to cut the city in half, while his fame flew all over the world! Moreover, Lian Lin could well be considered his older sister, and Lian Xin was even his lover! "I-I..." Xie Qing smiled weakly and, without paying attention to the bewildered Lian Jingyuan, he approached the twodies, who looked surprised. "Elder sister, Elder Lian" Xie Qing politely smiled, bowing: "I missed you very much." "Oh..." Lian Xin smiled sweetly, while Lian Xin just rolled her eyes. She obviously knew that this guy came for her soul, to collect debts, so she just snorted and turned away. Waving her hand, the sect master sent an envelope into Xie Qing''s hand. He caught the envelope, mping it between two fingers, and puzzledly raised his eyebrows. "A cultivator gave this to me when I was at the meeting. This person asked you to contact her when you finish with the sect business" Lian Xin said indifferently and turned her gaze to Lian Jingyuan: "And why is he lying there?" "Heh. Nothing, our young master just slipped" Xie Qing said with a smile, ncing at Lian Jingyuan out of the corner of his eye: "Right? Lian Ji... Zu... Jia... um..." "R-right... everything is fine, elders! Sorry, I''ll leave you, ha ha, my health is not very good!" Of course, Lian Jingyuan did not want to stay long and immediately ran away, and the two unconscious henchmen were ignored. *** "Elder Lian, how do I look?" Xie Qing changed into the robe of a candidate for the core disciple. This was an orange hanfu, more free with long sleeves, on which there was gold embroidery. Our young master looked great. In his presence, the stars lost their brilliance, while inevitably there was a lot of attention on him. Not only because of his personality but because of his beauty. "Oh..." Lian Xin lost her voice and sighed with admiration. Even Lian Xin blushed a little, eagerly looking at the appearance of her younger brother. Her lips dried up a little and she licked them, which looked very sexy. Lian Xin''s eyes lit up with an unknown light and Xie Qing shivered. He raised his eyebrows. "Why do I have the feeling that some hungry beast is watching me?" Well... a hungry beast was indeed nearby. And there were two of them. Chapter 127: Exam (Part 1) The examination process was as follows: analysis of understanding of the sword path, analysis of techniques, andreabat. Participants must show a worthyresult,otherwise they will not receive the coveted red hanfu. Including Xie Qing, there were twenty-one participants. Five girls and sixteen boys.Their average age and level wereas follows:30 years old and Core Formation 2nd stage. Soonecan only light a candle for the unlucky guys who hoped to shine at the exam. In the presence of Xie Qing, they paled and faded into the background. Among the participants was also the young master Lian Jingyuan.His face looked distorted as if he had eaten a bag of lemons.Every timeXie Qing identally looked in his direction, Lian Jingyuan looked away in panic. "It seems that the exam this year has be much more... uh... unusual," someonemented in the crowd: "I''m not even sure if it''s fair." "Young master Xie Qing is at the Soul Nascent stage, which is one realm higher... the other participants have no chance to shine," another voice sighed. "He''s not a young masteranymore,but a young head.Thiswas recently announced. People with big pockets are now flocking to the Xie family," someone corrected another person''s mistake. "Eeeh... these guys are unlucky..." Among the spectators were both main courtyard disciples and elders. And most of them were not in a very positive mood. You can shout about dark horses and the like all you want, but unfortunately, thereality is much harsher.It should be saidthat theaforementioned LianJingyuan''s cultivation level was at the Core Formation - 2nd stage. Thiswas considered notbadfor an inner courtyard disciple and themaincourtyardas well. However... "Of course, there''s no chance. He''s a cultivator at the Soul Nascent stage! It''s not fair!" many objected. There was an age limit for the exam, and ifyou were older than forty-five, you were not allowed to apply.The only option was to be an elder. "Even more insulting isthe factthat he''s younger than us!" many cried. Neen years old. Many at this age had not even reached Qi Condensation, let alone Soul Nascent. Even the well-known SwordPrincess,and the Sword Empressherselfwere powerless against this young talent. Fortunately, the exam did not include fights between participants - fights were with other main courtyard disciples, whowere selectedording to thelevel of the examinee. "Alright! Pleasee up one by one to this sphere.It will help us understandwhatyour understanding of the sword pathis!" said the voice of one of the elder examiners. There was nothing to do. The order had alreadybeen agreedupon, and since Xie Qing waste, he wasst in line. The first, ironically, was our dear young master Lian Jingyuan.Although he had been previously humiliated by Xie Qing,inpubliche represented the Lian family andthereforehadto show his aura. "Hm!" He proudly snorted and hunched over slightly, feeling the indifferent gaze of one bored guy, but managed to maintain an indifferent expressionon his face. He approached the elder who stood behind a round table on which stood a semi-transparent sphere with golden patterns on it. Thiswas aspecialformation that, through a cultivator''s Qi, could analyze the level of understanding of the sword path. Understandingofthe sword was always associated with how many techniques you knew and how well you understood them. Themoreunderstanding, the stronger the Sword Aura. And so... "Hm!" Lian Jingyuan snorted,cing his hand onthe sphere. "And so..." The elder narrowed his eyes, taking out a monocle on whichspecialcharmswere traced. The sphere at that moment shoneanda small circle of green color appeared inside the sphere. "Not bad at all... very good... Lian Jingyuan, you have not disgraced the Lian family. Your level of understanding isnephrite!" the elderconcluded, noddingsatisfactorily. "Nothing unusual," Lian Jingyuan nodded. Although he sounded indifferent, there was a satisfied smile on his face. The rank of understandingwas dividedinto the following levels - from the lowest to the highest: Copper -> Iron -> Nephrite -> Gold -> Jadeite -> Jasper It may seem thatNephriteupies aratherlow ce, but it was already a good result even for amaincourtyard disciple. "Hm, as expected from the offspring of the Lian family. With their wealth, it''s not that difficult to raise such talent." "Here, the physique factor also worked.This Lian Jingyuan has one of the sword physiques - the Five des Body, which, although considered weak,butfor swordsmen it is ideal." "Well, it seemsthat theexam will not be so boring." The next participant was a cultivator at the second stage of Core Formation. He looked nervous andwithobviousfearced his hand on the sphere. As before, the sphere lit upanda silver-colored ball appeared in the central area. The elder shook his head. "Your rating is iron.Although it is not averygood indicator for a main courtyard disciple,butyou are youngandyouhave a lot of time ahead." "Th-thank you..." Althoughthe elder''s words were not filledwith contempt, the disciple blushed with shameandhis eyes filled with tears. Some mocked him, but many understood this young man. Not everyone had the means to buy sword techniques, which were very expensive due to their rarity. The next participant was at the third level of Core Formation. He looked much more confident than his predecessor. And his rating was... "Iron". "K-how?" The cultivator fell to his knees in shock. Although the result was already not bad, his expectations were much higher. In the crowd,ughter rang out. Ifthe majority did notugh at the previouscultivator,because everyone saw his nervousness and inexperience. Thenthearrogance of this guy annoyed me. And when he failed with a crash, many satisfied their sadistic inclinations. "Boring..." thought Xie Qing, barely restraining the desire to yawn. The following participants showed a level from Iron to Nephrite, noone stood out further. These were alreadygoodresults. Strictly speaking, such disciples could not be considered geniuses, but their base was already strong. And so. The moment came that most if not all, had been waiting for. A noise rose among the tribune. "This is the young headXieQing!I have hearda lotabout his talent and strength, so Iam eagerly waiting forthe results!" "But it seems to me that he is just lucky. Who knows, maybe his understanding is not as good as his cultivation?" "Do you mean that since he cultivates quickly, there isnot enoughtime for understanding?" "Yes! It''s obvious! It''s impossible to do two different things at the same time! It''s irrational!" "But it seems to me that everything will be fine with him. He is quitenormal"a deep bass male voice was heard. He lookedquiteordinary andwas dressedin strange clothes. "And who are you?" the audience asked. "Never mind. I also need to rxfrom time to time," the man yawned. "Get lost!" Since the evil people made me return, I will continue the story. Xie Qing was under the gaze of everyone - both participants and the audience. And when he ced his hand on the sphere... "Young head Xie Qing! Yep! Yep! Yep!" "Invincible young head!" "Yep! Yep! Yep!". The young man shuddered and looked withobviousiprehension at the left part of the tribune, and his eyebrows rose. "What the?" More than a hundred girls - disciples and elders - jumped up and began to cheer. Only pompoms and a cheerleader uniform were missing to make it more realistic. "This bastard..." "How insulting! So many girls are cheering for him!" "Hey, my mom is there!" "Ch-what... Wan Yan, my fiancee, what are you doing there?" "Hm? Why is my mother there too?!" Absurd! Complete absurdity! Xie Qing lost the power of speech. Although he was used to the fact that there were so many gazes on him,andespecially itwas noisyamong the girls, but for this... And, wait a minute...moms? MILFS?! "Alright, I''ll just wave my hand," thought Xie Qing. He rxed his face, then gently smiled, waving his hand. His charm pierced the heavens andpiercedthe hearts of innocent and not-so-innocent girls. And then... "Kyayaya!" Many covered their ears, and someparticrly sensitiveones had blooding from their ears. The arena even shook! Lian Lin lost the power of speech and turned to Lian Xin toment on this situation, but did not find her! "Where did she go?" Lian Lin wondered and, looking around, lost the power of speech: "She''s with those girls! Lian Xin..." The spectators lost the power of speech. The female half of the hall was excited, and those who had not joined in earlier repeated after them. In general, itwas very noisy. "This isan exam...an important exam..." cried theelderexaminer. *** I thinkeven in the most dangerous situation, it would not be as noisy as it is now. Even Xie Qing, who was shameless, lost the power of speech and froze in ce. "What an exaggerated reaction," Xie Qing lost the power of speech and sighed: "Maybe I shouldn''t have waved my hand?" Fortunately, after ten minutes, the noise stopped thanks to the diligent work of the elder Daoistrades, who barely convinced their colleagues andevenlovers to stop this farce. Andso,when everyone calmed down, Xie Qing ced his hand on the sphere. A bright light appeared, which blinded the examiner and Xie Qinghimself,while covering theview of the sphere as a whole. And so, when everyone was already eagerly waiting for the results,a loud cry was heard. "Jadeite!" Chapter 128: Exam (Part 2) The elder''s loud cry made the stands fall silent. Many were rubbing their ears, notquiteunderstanding if they had misheard or if the examiner hadsimplycalled out the wrong grade. "The elder didn''t make a mistake, did he? I heard the word ''jadeite'' correctly, right? Haha, I must be dreaming, pinchme...OW! I said pinch, not hit!" "Jadeite... how many years has it been since such talents have appeared among the younger generation?" "The Heavens have blessed the Heavenly Sword Sect!" After a brief pause, the noise returned. Many elders were breathing heavily with excitement. They could not fail to understand that the appearance of a genius like Xie Qing could be a turning point for the sect. It wasnot onlyabout attractiveness in the eyes of young talentsbut alsoa potential increase in the average level of disciples! "Amazing! The Four Great Competitions havebeen postponeduntil next year...finally, our sect will show everyone a miracle!" many elders joyfully shouted. The reaction of themaincourtyard disciples was slightly sour. A young manwho wasmuch younger than them had received such wonderful andamazingresults, so they, as seniors, hapletelylost their authority. As for the reaction of the leading figures, such as Lian Lin, it was more calm than the others. Although this still amazed the girl, she was prepared for such a result. "Considering that he has the legacy of two main swordsmen in history... it''s no wonder that he has reached such a level of understanding," Lian Lin thought. She yawned and looked at Xie Qing, who stood proudly alone on the podium: "There''s the bastard. Acting like he''s someone important, but he''s probably already ready to jump for joy." Lian Lin smiled and rolled her eyes, reading her younger brother''s mood. And, in general, she was right. "Jadeite!" Xie Qing had been preparing for this day for a very long time. He had not slept at night and had trained to strengthen his understanding. It was not easy to reach this level by just reading books. Practice was needed!Every night,in any weather, his sword shook the air with piercing strikes.His fingerswere coveredwith calluses, but in the end, he achieved sess! "Finally!" Even the most excellent genius, without effort,will be nothing but garbage.Climbing to the top of the mountain, one must be careful not to be carried away by the wind. Lian Lin pursed her lips and sighed. Unconsciously, a smile appeared on her face, which did not look as carefree and sleepy as usual. Rather, this smile gave her a certain adult charm. "Well done". \\*\\*\\* Although one could admire Xie Qing''s resultsforever, this was still an exam.It was necessaryto immediately return to the schedule and appoint the next stage. The participants looked dejected, clearly having lost their fighting spirit. They no longer hoped to have a chance to shine on this exam.It can be saidthat the scene with Xie Qing was too overwhelming for them. "Sigh. Nowtheywill probably doubt themselves," thought the elder examiner, and then looked at Xie Qing, who had looked indifferent from theverybeginning - as if it didn''t matter to him: "He is both a blessing and a curse.He will be hatedout ofenvy,but respected for his strength.Thisis the eternal curse of geniuses." When you see someone more sessful than you several times...it makes you feel difort. And when he is younger than youbyseveral times, it causes envy. Neen years old.It seemed thatin the world of cultivation, this was still like a child, but now this child was standing on the stage and blinding everyone around him. "Well, let''s see what the future holds," thought the elder and shook her head, then announced out loud: "The secondstage of the exambegins. Youhave toshow your best technique and make this mannequin turn dark yellow!" The audience stirred with interest, eagerly awaiting the performance. It was this round that weeded out those who were unskilled in sword techniques. "Finally, an interesting show!" "I wonder what this genius will show this time..." "I''m even afraid to imagine. I hopehedoesn''t cut the arena in half..." "Hahaha, that''s impossible... uh..." "Bastard, you raised the red g!" Ignoring the overly excited audience, theelderexaminer took a token in her hand with the names of the participants. She thought for a moment and called out the first name: "Li Jun,e on stage!" "Okay". Step by step, a tall man walked onto the stage. He had long chestnut hair and gray eyes. He looked handsome, tall, and muscr. "This is Li Jun from the Li family! He is considered one of the strongest disciples of the inner courtyard!" "Oh? He exudes the aura of a cultivator at the fifth stage of Core Formation! Amazing!" "True! Moreover, his Master is the famous swordsman Elder Chen Lu!" "Looking forward to the results!" The mannequin was broughtonto the stage. It was two meters tall, looked quite simr to a human, and although it had no facial features,this mannequin was consideredhigh-ss. It adjusted to the level of thedisciple Many can forget, but themannequinhad the following levels of damage: Light green: weak, a small scratch. Dark green: a minor wound. Light yellow: deep wound. Dark yellow: serious injury. Light orange: almost fatal wound. Dark orange: fatal wound. And so, Li Jun found himself in front of themannequin. He drew his sword from itsscabbard. "This is... the Bright Moon de! One of the precious swords of the Li family!" "Just think, they gave this sword to him! Now it will definitely be fun!" The Bright Moon de. It was afairlyold sword in terms of history. The de had a silver color that shone brightly. The handlewas madeof ancient wood, which yielded only to immortal stone. The peculiarity of this sword was its strength and sharpness. In addition, it strengthened attacks performed from the Sword Aura every time. "Li Jun... alright, you can attack whenit''sconvenient for you". The man nodded and took a deep breath. He stepped back two steps with his leftfoot,and two steps to the left with his right foot. He leaned his torso forward at 45 degrees. He held the sword with both hands at waist level, at arm''s length. "Fuuuh..." Taking a deep breath, Li Jun''s eyes lit up. He gripped the handletighter,and then muttered: "Blessing of the Moon Goddess!" The elder squinted from the bright silver light. In the vision of each, an image of the moon appeared. Soon, the de, which was the source of the light,easilyand without problems collided with the head of themannequin. Boom! A muffled explosion sounded, and two small cracks appeared under Li Jun''s feet. He clenched his teeth and swallowed blood, suppressing the recoil with his Qi. For a split second, silencehung,until themannequinbegan to change color. First, it was light green, and then it darkened. Thenlightyellow, which did notst long and also darkened. And so, the mannequin turned light orange. The mannequin was still swayingandthe light orange in ces darkened, but in the end, returned to its usual state - light orange. "What a pity..." Li Jun muttered with a sigh. Indeed. The audience sighed disappointedly. Even though the light orangecolorwas a good result...it was still a pity that Li Jun could not achieve higher results. Nevertheless, the audience still weed his achievements with loud apuse. The result was already quite good. "This is a good result. You have a great future ahead of you, young man!" praised the elder. "Thank you," Li Jun bowed and stepped back from the stage. The next was Bai Lan from the Bai family. He looked proud and arrogant, walking forward with his nose in the air. "This is Bai Lan... an arrogant bastard. Since his older brother Bai Baiwas killed, he has be even more insolent." "What did you expect? The Bai family is an ancient family who were subjects of the Golden Emperor in ancient times. They have history behind them and power." "Pfft, my cat shit on their history! Just a family of arrogant and greedy idiots!" The Bai family had high control over spiritual items such as weapons, as well as a high share in the sale of pills and medicinal herbs. If it were not for the fact that Yu Longfeng strictly regards the concentration of control over any industry on one hand, the Bai family would-be monopolists. Bai Lan was not deaf and heard all the mockery directed at him. Even though hewas oveewith righteous anger, those who sat on the tribune were not pitiful boys from the backyard, so to insult them was more expensive than himself. He took a deep breath and wiped his forehead, on which a vein had popped out. "Calm down, calm down. Don''t listen to these lower beings, theydon''t understand the greatness of the mountains and the height of the Heavens!" Having calmed down, Bai Lan waited for the signal from the elder and then drew his sword. "This is..." "The Crimson Devil de... what a terrible and disgusting de!" The Crimson Devil de had a dark red color as ifblood. The de was 80 centimeterslong,andhad terrible serrations, which, when hitting thebody of the enemy, would reduce the chance of survival. Such swordswere mostlyconsideredforbidden because they were more often than not endowed withspecialcharms. "Hm..." Bai Lan smiled. He acquired this sword twenty years ago on the ck market. In addition to the fact that it hadspecialcharms for strength and sharpness, it also had holes for poison on the tips of the serrations. Ifthis weaponwasusedin a real battle, the enemy''s chance of survival wouldbe halved. "Silence!" came the loud cry of the chief elder, who, frowning, looked at the stands: "As long as the sword does not possess devilish Qi, it will be considered suitable for the exam! Andnowdon''t interfere!" Thishad a good effect. Everyone fell silent, waiting for the beginning of Bai Lan''s test. Chapter 129: Exam (Part 3) The Crimson Devil de looked grim and emitted a dark aura. Bai Lan narrowed his eyes and then took a stance. This time, nothing was outstanding about this stance, and it was more suitable forpetitions thanforbattle. His posture was straight,his left foot was stepped backthree steps, and the sword handle was at neck level. The sword looked up at the sky, emitting a dangerous aura. Even those who were far away could feel the danger. "Oh..." "As expected of this de. Its history is not just ink on paper." "Ugh... it''s hard to breathe..." There were whispers in the crowd, manywere holding their throats and trying to breathe in more air, feeling suffocated. "How interesting..." Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, looking at the sword with interest. He could detect that the sword seemed to have a spirit. Judging by everything, this spirit was at least at the Soul Integration level, which was already incredible. Moreover, it seemed that this was not an ordinaryspirit,but an evil spirit, and an ancient oneat that.Thisgave the sword its characteristics. Meanwhile, Bai Lan proudly smiled. The members of the Bai family had an excellent filter for insults and mockery, letting through only ttery and praise. He looked at the elder, and the elder nodded, announcing the start of the exam. "Fuuu..." Even if Bai Lan was confident in himself, he did not dare to underestimate themannequinin front of him. At the very least, it was made of sturdy resources and adapted to the releasedbat power of the opponent. And so, a deep breath in and out. Bai Lan''s back became straight, and without hesitation, he tightly gripped the sword handle with both hands and then raised it into the air. Everyone held their breath. The sword emitted a grim glow, and there was a smell of blood. It did not take long for the deto swiftly fall. Swoosh! The sound of airbeing piercedby the de was heard. As if destroying all obstacles in its path, the Crimson Devil de brightly shone. Finally, the de did touch the head of themannequin. There was an explosion, and Bai Lan clenched his teeth, ignoring the sharp pain in his wrist from the impact inertia. Boom! Boom! Boom! Three consecutive explosions with an aftershock brought the elder to admiration.However, when the dust and dirt rose into the air and were already going beyond the arena, the elder waved his hand. Swoosh. A soundwasheard,as if something was sucking, and the dirt and dust disappeared. The scene was clean, freeing the view for the spectators. "O-he..." "This is..." "Dark orange!" Many jumped up from their seats, clearly shocked as they looked at what color the mannequin was burning with! "Hm..." Xie Qing raised an eyebrow in surprise. He looked at the sword, which had slightly lost its luster. His eyes shed as the young man realized: "This is... he exhausted the spirit''s power for this attack? Interesting. Very interesting. But why waste such a valuable resource on an ordinary exam?" Xie Qing was genuinely puzzled: "Or isit that money isno object in the Bai family?" A spiritual item with a spirit was expensive, and few could afford it. The peculiarity was that they were many times stronger than ordinary spiritual items. At the very least, one could use the depletion of the spiritsto temporarily strengthen the item to show a better result.However, after that, theproperties of the item would be weakeruntil the spirit recovered. And this would take a very long time. Depending on the spirit, restoration could takefromten years to a hundred and a thousand! "Eh, bastards, they don''t understand how to use money properly!" Xie Qing thought with pity. However, no matter how much heined, Bai Lanhimselflooked pleasedandwith arrogance, hecast a lookat the otherparticipants,as if throwing them a challenge, which greatly angered them. "Bastard..." "What a show-off! He''s just a rich freak!" "Tsk!" Of course, this was unfair. However, the rules did not forbid bringing spiritual items that could strengthen you. You just had to register them. After all, strength decided. If you had the resources to buy a sword,thenyou were qualified enough to be considered amaincourtyard disciple. "How stupid. It would be bettertojustgive the same sword to all participants. We need to test their techniques, not their swords!"Xie Qingnarrowed his eyes inindignation: "No wonder the sect has been stagnating!Lian Lin probably found it too difficult to change the rules because of the elders." *** "Hm... sister, do you thinkthattherule shouldn''t be changed?" Lian Xin, who had returned to Lian Lin after supporting Xie Qing, was puzzled. "I also want to change it, but these old men don''t agree. And Master doesn''t want to interfere in the sect''s affairsat all. She will only help when the sect is on the brink of destruction," Lian Lin said, pouting her lips as she looked at the stage where the next examinees were passing: "But this Bai Lan did surprise me. The Crimson Devil de...this swordwas consideredforbidden in a way, but whenit was proventhat the spirit inside did not belong to a devil, there were fewer disgruntled people." "The Bai family controlsarge sector ofspiritual items such as weapons. No wonder they''ll show themselves well in thispetition," Lian Xin muttered with a twist of her mouth: "This is very unfair." "Hmph, as if you''re not worried about that guy!" "Eh?!" Lian Xin blushed deeply, and Lian Lin just snorted. She understood that her sister was worried about the fairness of thispetition only because she did not want to see Xie Qing lose. "I doubt that guy will lose. I had to try hard to create a suitable mannequin for him!" Lian Linined: "It cost me a lot of money!" "Sister, but you used the moneythat weearned thanks to his image..." "Eh... w-well, y-you''re right." *** "Light yellow... failed." "Dark yellow... passed." "Light orange... passed." "Dark yellow..." "Light yellow..." The elder announced the results in turn. Some left disappointed, while others, on the contrary, smiled from ear to ear. In the end, only Xie Qingwas left, who stood in ce and waited for the queue to clear. And when he was about to draw his sword, he was interrupted by the elder. "Disciple Xie Qing, wait a moment. We will now bring out a mannequin suitable for you." "Hm?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow inpuzzlement,and then could not help but twist the corners of his mouth when he sawthat ten people werecarrying a one-meter mannequin with a graytexture,resembling stone. Although it was not immediately clear what material itwas madeof, Xie Qing could guess by the distorted faces of these guys. "Immortal stone... damn." Even if he was confident in himself, striking such a stone would bedifficult, andit was not excludedthat one could break their hands. "Well, since the test is like this, I need to try harder," thought Xie Qing, rolling his eyes. The audience also recognized themannequin,andtheycould not help but whisper about it. "This is amannequinmade of immortal stone.Theysay it can withstand a full-force blow from a Divine Transformation cultivator!" "Well, you''re exaggerating, but close to the truth. This stone is of medium quality, so at most, it''s a Spiritual Ascension cultivator at full power." "Even so, that''s amazing. It looks like the sect master is serious this time." "And what did you think? It would have been a miracle ifafterthe attack of thismonsterthat mannequin could havebeen collectedin pieces. It''s expensive!" "Eh, where are our taxes going?" Xie Qing ignored thechatter of the crowdand, seeing that the elder nodded to him, he nodded in response. Then, under the expectant gazes, he drew his sword. "Hm?" "This is it... the sword of the famous genius? It looks...very ordinary." "Agreed. I expected something like the Crimson Devil de, but it turned out..." "I''m a little disappointed..." The sword that Xie Qing drew was the Nameless Sword. It had aquiteordinary andboringlook. However, Lian Lin and other high-level cultivators did not underestimate this sword, as they felt a sharp Sword Aura and danger from its de. This time,the examinee was not an ordinary person, so Lian Lin reced the examiner.She clicked her fingers and erected a barrier that would block this blow. "Youhave touse your strongest technique... if you believe the rules. However, I''m not interested in seeing what you got from the Master. I want to see what you''ve been working on for so long!" Lian Lin dered, narrowing her eyes: "This time, I''m not just your oldersister,but also the sect master! Proveto methat you''re worthy of bing a main courtyard disciple!" The audience stirred with excitement. Xie Qing nodded. He had been trying to develop his technique for a long time but had failed. Only after hewas able todestroy so many monsters and train at night did he gain some understanding. Partly, his technique could not be considerepletelyoriginal, but this wasonlyif you delved into the details. "Good." The young man nodded. He didn''t even bother to take a normalstance,justgrabbed the handle with both hands and raised it to neck level, holding the sword vertically. Many wereonce again disappointed, and Bai Lan and some participants smiled, but... WHOOSH! Xie Qing''s eyes lit up, and a vortex appeared around him.Thiswas not an ordinaryvortex,but a vortex of Sword Aura! "I-I... c-can''t breathe!" "H-help..." "Ugh... i-it hurts..." Many in the stands lost consciousness from the overwhelming aura. Even Lian Lin''s barrier did not help. The elders quickly took action and erected a barrier for the stands. It had beenmore thana thousand years sincethis barrier wasst used. Lian Lin becameserious, and her eyes narrowed when she met Xie Qing''s eyes, which were glowing with a golden light. And then, as if he was the only being in this world, his voice sounded in the ears of everyone. "Sword God Strike." Boom! Chapter 130: Exam (Part 4) It seemed as though Xie Qing was speaking almost in a whisper, but his voice echoed throughout thehugespace of the arena and the stands. Every spectator held their breath. And not in vain. "Kh-h..." Those who did not have time to breathe in enough air clutched their throats. They felt all sorts of pressure falling on their frail bodies. Even the protective barrier did not help. Lian Lin was pleasantly surprised. Xie Qing''s level was not high enough for her to feel the danger, but of course, the girlwas able tofeel all the changes in his qi and aura. "Amazing... is this the technique you''ve been working on for so long?" Lian Lin asked admiringly, a faint smile appearingon her face: "A worthy result!" The young man did not answer - he simply could not. This technique wasvery difficulttoperform,but very powerful. The Nameless Sword made creaking sounds, and it seemed that it would break at any moment, but surprisingly, the simple-looking sword held up well. And finally, when Xie Qing could no longer hold back, he clenched his teeth and swung down. "sh!" His voice was neither loud nor quiet, but the audience heard every word. In the end, a powerful pressure fell on the stage, and clouds of dust and dirt rose into the air. The elders were stunned, feeling the surrounding space begin to shake. They stood in a circle, andthensomeone among them took out a golden core. "Pour your qi into the Space Core! Don''t let the Sword Aura cause too much damage!" "Yes!" Under themand of the chief elder, the other elders poured their qi into the core with all their might.Thisturned out to be effective. Fortunately, with the increase of qi flows into the space ecosystem, the barriers also strengthened, and this helped the spectatorse to their senses from suffocation. They looked at the stage with trepidation. There was still dust and dirt there, which obscured the view. "What happened there? Is the sect master okay?!" "Of course she''s okay! She''s a Divine Transformation cultivator!" "This guy really shocks..." On this day, they had felt too much "surprise." It seemed that there would be nothing else in their lives that could knock them off bnce. ...And so, while the spectators were discussing something, a wind rose on the stage, which carried away all the dirt and dust. In the end, people were able to see what was happening. "This..." "Heavens..." "What a horror!" There was not even a name left on the stage, thesituation was sobad. Although Lian Lin and Xie Qing were standing, not having received anydamage,but... "The mannequin... cracked!" "Wh-what..." A wave of exmations swept through the stands whenthis detail was discovered. Themannequinhad cracked in the neck area - it extended along the torso. Moreover, the color had be dark red...which meant one thing. Instant kill! Merciless kill! "Th-this..." "Now I understand why he''s called Destroying de..." "The Immortal Stone cracked from the attack of a Soul Nascent cultivator... ha-ha-ha-ha... ha-ha..." "Stop hystericallyughing, I''mabout to go crazy." "Look! Did you see it? Did you see?!Thisis freaking crazy!" Various bad words and exmations made the stands noisy. Many discussed Xie Qing''s technique, someeven tried to contact their family to share the new information. One way or another, everyone remembered one name. "Sword God Strike..." It seemed that even afterthe strikewas made, the scenewas still filledwith that suffocating aura.Moreover, the Sword Aura had deeply prated the stones, whichin the futurewould be a little dangerous. Xie Qing blinked when he heard the characteristic sound "ding." He turned his head and looked at the system message. Ding! [The user has created their sword technique...] Ding! [Sword God Strike] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: ording to legends, there once was a Sword God whowithoneattackcould divide the heavens, destroy hundreds of worlds, and at the same time y cards. His swordwas madeof simple materials, histechnique was unremarkable - an ordinary vertical strike. However, those who underestimated this strike did not survive, nor did they remain in history. Following these legends, you have created a sword technique that delivers a powerful strike. If the Sword Aura gets into the enemy''s body, then it will immediately burst from the inside. The effect of the strike increases with each second of using this skill] | [Original technique] Ding! [Achievements arebeing counted... a category isbeing created...] ... ... ... Ding! [The category "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens" has been created.All your original techniques will be cedthere]. Ding! [The appropriate reward isbeing calcted...] Ding! [Received item: Veil of the Heavenly Maiden] [Veil of the Heavenly Maiden] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: A beautiful veil made of Silver Star Spider silk.Hasspecialprotective properties, can enhance qi absorption, andlooksveryelegant...heh...] *** "My head... how noisy!" Xie Qing mentallyined, twisting the corners of his mouth. There were so many "dings" thathe already thoughtthey would not stop.Fortunately, they stopped at thest item. "A veil...?" The young man twisted the corners of his mouth. The veil was obviously for women. Why did the system give him such an item? "Well, it''ll do. I''lljustgive it toMaster" hethought, rolling his eyes. While he was thinking, the elders came up and began to help restore the stage. After an hour,the stage was repaired. Lian Lin did not leave. She decided to see this exam through to the end. "Xie Qing, you have already proven your qualifications. I don''t think you''ll have to fight with a main courtyard disciple." "Eh? Well, alright..." Xie Qing listlessly nodded, feeling weakness in his legs. This technique had almost deprived him of all his qi. He was saved only by the fact that his cultivation technique and physique helpedto quickly restore Qi. "Fuuuuh!" Themaincourtyard disciples,who wereon edge because they thought they would have to fight this monster, breathed a sigh of relief. Some even cried tears of joy. "How good. I already wrote my will." "Right. I''m afraid we wouldn''t have survived even underhisone simple attack...sigh!" "The neers this year are somehow not normal..." Then, Xie Qing left the stage and approached Elder Lian, who was waiting for him. "Congrattions. You showed excellent mastery. I admire your skills!" Lian Xinsaid with a kind smile. "And I admire your beauty.I wonder if the elder wouldbe so kind as to apany me to the restaurant this evening?"Xie Qing said with acoquettishsmile, gradually returning to his usual self: "Of course, I''ll treat." "It will be an honor for me." "Heh." Lian Xinand Xie Qing continued their conversation, while some elders could not help but cast envious nces - this applied to both men and women. "This guy... lucky bastard!" "This woman... lucky!" It seemed like two differentthoughts,but so simr. Fortunately for themaincourtyard disciples, the neers this year were rtively normal. The only abnormal one was Xie Qing. Some defeated their opponent - among them was the guy from the Lian family with the longname,and Bai Lan, who did not look particrlyhappy,even though he had defeated his opponent. "Hmph!" Bai Lan snorted and turned his gaze towards Xie Qing, who was discussing something with Lian Xinwith joy on his face. "This Xie Qing... a dangerous figure. I need to warn my father and uncle." Bai Lan''s father was a cousin of the head of the Bai family. Therefore, he had afairlygood position in the family. Because of his status, he knew something about the situation with Bai Bai.Presumably,it was this disciple whobecame the cause of the death of one of themaintalents of the Bai family. ording to the internal investigation, Xie Qing pretended to be a pig to eat a tiger. Thus, he attempted that, unfortunately, ended sessfully. Thismade the Bai family feel angry, but they were powerless against the Sword Princess and Lian Lin. "With such a genius as him, you need to be friends. I don''t see any point in bing his enemy because of the idiot Bai Bai..." thought Bai Lan, turning his gaze away. Bai Bai was indeed one of the talented members of the Bai family, but he was not worth bing hostile with the future sect master. Moreover, he was also verytalented, mostlikely, he was the future Sovereign. "Although I couldn''t achieve impressive results on the exam... I learned some information." Bai Lan smiled and left the stage. *** Xie Qing said goodbye to Lian Xin andwent tothe Xu Mei Pavilion. Unfortunately, he did not find his Master there. But... "Yu Yang!" Seeing the beautiful and sultry maid with a developed body, Xie Qing waved to her and smiled. "Young master?" Of course, Yu Yang was pleasantly surprised by his presence and sweetly smiled, putting aside the broom and running to him. "Wow! Have you lost weight?" Xie Qing was surprised. He caught Yu Yangspunaround,andthen looked at her with a smile, his hands groping her waist. "A little.I''ve been diligently cultivating andbroke through to the peak of Core Formation!"Yu Yang happily reported: "N-and because of this, I lost a little weight. I''m slimmer now, right?" "You were slimbefore" XieQing smiled and squeezed her buttocks. "Aaah... n-naughty boy." They smiled at each other, and then the young man thought for a moment and took out the veil. He handed it to the woman. "Yu Yang, this is my gift to you." "This... a veil?" Xie Qing nodded. Initially, he wanted to give it to the Master but realizedthat hepaid too little attention to other women. Especially to Yu Yang. Chapter 131: I give you permission to touch me... but you can only spank me twenty times Xie Qing''s heart pounded as he watched Yu Yanput onthe veil.She cried out in surprise, "Xie Qing, my Qi seems to be gathering more easily!" "That''s the property of the veil!" Xie Qing exined with a smile. "Amazing... plus, I feel sofortable!" The young man smiled and watched as Yu Yan excitedly spun around, admiring herself in the small mirror. *** Boom! Boom! The Southern Continent shook several times.Thishad been happening for two weeks. Xu Mei furrowed her brow. Her sharp gazended on the base of the barrier. She could seethat small holes wereappearing on it due to aspecialcorrosive poison. "Tsk..." She waved her handandall the holeswere instantly patchedup,whilethe poison was removed. The woman narrowed her beautiful blue eyes as a dark ck liquid levitated above her index finger. "Demon poison... this is serious." She sighed and looked around, seeing that the nts near her had withered and some of the trees had even started to turn ck and fill with devilish Qi. "Scum..." Xu Mei destroyed the poison and all the infected trees. She looked towards the barrier and was surprised to meet someone''s gaze. "Hao Shen?" Xu Mei was surprised, then dangerously narrowed her eyes: "How did you survive, worm?" "Hahaha..." A loud and cunningugh echoed from the barrier, enough to make children cry and adults shiver. A man flew into the air.He was tens of thousands of miles away, but thanks to hergoodeyesight, Xu Mei saw his figure. "You..." "Surprised?" Hao Shen smiled, showing himself in the light. And horror... He was not human. Not human. Standing at five meters tall, his arms were six meters longandhis legs seven meters long.His entire body was coveredin ck, tar-like shadows. He seemed tobe madeof darkness. Blood-red veins in the shape of eyes colored his body. Only his head retained some humanity. "What an abomination... you have lost the honor of being a human and a cultivatorfirstand foremost, sumbing to the cursed demons!" Xu Mei said with disdain, lookingas ifshe was about to vomit. "Say whatever you want, I don''tcare" Hao Shen replied and smiled ¨C it looked very unsettling and terrifying: "However, as I can see, your level hasn''t changed at all, right?" "Hmph!" "Hahaha... still so arrogant!" Hao Shen said with a smile, then snorted coldly: "But with such power, you are no longer a match for me, Sword Princess." Boom! An explosion soundedanda gust of wind hit Xu Mei''s face with terrifying demonic Qi. The woman widened her eyes, looking at howHao Shen''s body was coveredin spikes. She muttered: "Transcendence... eighth level?" "As expected of my opponent! Correct! NowIcan even stand up to the Empress of Swords! HAHAHAHA!" Xu Mei becameserious. However the difference between their powers was only one stage and not the whole cultivation... Thiswas critical when it came to cultivators at the level of Transcendence. The woman darkened.In addition to thefact that the demon lineage had slippedinto the mortal world, now her sworn enemy had also bestronger. "Master... uhh... she will not agree. She doesn''t care about thesurvival of theworld" Xu Mei sighed, feeling helpless for the first time in so many years. At the same time, Hao Shen smiled and began to disappear. He left behind these words: "In ten years, I will pay you back for those scars. You won''t escape from me so easily...Xu Mei." "You have no right to call me by my name, miserableworm" Xu Mei snortedin response. "Hahahaha..." the terrifyingugh echoed. When Hao Shen left...Xu Mei becameserious. The situation was taking a turn for the worse. Demons were ancient beings whowere sealedbeyond the realms of mortals and the Nine Heavens. But now... "Fuck!" *** Inancient times,when dinosaurs and Xu Mei still lived, there were five main sects. The Sect of Nine Pills, the Sect of Resting Eagle, andthe Sect of Starry Stream ¨C arerighteous sects. The Sect of Shadowed des, the Sect of Bone Circle ¨C devilish sects. The first devilish sect was led by Hao Shen, and the second by Ma Lu.They were strong. For many years,the righteous path had suppressed the devilish one, as there were not enough talented cultivators. Even if Xu Meiwas able tosuppress them with herrades, it was still not enough to destroy these two. They hid on the Southern Continent with their sect. And thenthey were sealedfor many years. No one knew if these devilish cultivators were still alive. And while everyone was carefree and enjoying afortable life, the devilish cultivators were diligently cultivating. With each step, they were getting closer to the demons. They became more powerful, acquired the demon lineage, and nowpose agreatdanger. "So you need to be careful..." Xu Mei''s pavilion. Xie Qing and the Master were sitting in one room, drinking tea. The young man listened attentively to her story and couldn''t help but frown. "Master, were you able to find out how they managed to get out of the barrier?" Xie Qing asked. "Partially... because even our entrance with power tokens, which we created back then, isblocked" Xu Mei replied and rubbed her brows: "Most likely, it''s a forgotten Dao technique called ''World Break'', which allows you to create a breach in space and move around." "Andofcourse, there are no countermeasures against this?" Xie Qing asked. "Not yet." Xu Mei shrugged, and Xie Qing thought about it. World Break. He had heard this name when he was studying books about demons.They saythatthis was a powerful Dao technique that allowed you to move between worlds withoutanyproblems. Of course,whatthe devilish cultivators haveisonly a weak version, but even so, they surpass the righteous cultivators. He had an idea. First, Xie Qing opened the store and started looking for something simr. "Oh?" And he was pleased when he saw something simr. He opened the card of this item, then raised his eyebrows in surprise. [Heavenly Control] | [Price: 280,000,000 Immortal Spirit Stones] | [Description: Heavenly Control ¨C thestrongestability. It not only allows you to move around the NineHeavens,but also allows you to control the weather, time, and the lives of everyone in the Heavens. This technique belongs to the Heavenly Emperor. Once, thanks to it, he was able to destroy the entire race of dragons...dragons...dragons...no.] "What is an Immortal Spirit Stone?" Xie Qing wondered, then looked at the characteristics. He supported his jaw with hishand,as it was about to drop: "Holy shit.A technique that belongs to the Heavenly Emperor? I''ve heard this name more than once.ording tolegends,he is an important uncle with arge harem, controlling the Heavens?" Of course, he was more impressed by the part about the harem, but Xie Qing was still surprised. However, thest sentences in the description were still not clear. "But I still don''t understand theprice" XieQing raised his eyebrows in surprise, then askedout loud: "Master, what is an ''Immortal Spirit Stone''?". "What?" Xu Mei raised her eyebrows in surprise: "Sorry, I haven''t heard of it". "I see..." The young man scratched the back of his head. If Xu Mei didn''t understand, then he didn''t either. *** Apart from a few incidents, Xie Qing livedfortably this week, indulging in luxury. And finally, the day hade. "Spank me". "Pardon?" Xie Qing couldn''t help but raise his eyebrows.He looked at Lian Lin,who was sitting at the desk in the officeand lookingseriouslyat his face. The young man couldn''t help but feel embarrassed. What did this girl want from him? "I don''t have any money right now..." "..." Lian Lin lost the power of speech andthen shook her head. "You wanted a reward for your contribution, right? So I looked in the Lian Xin library and found a book called ''Two Hundred Dors''.In it, the main heroine paid off her debt with aspanking" Lian Lin replied, but this only put Xie Qing in an even greater stupor: "So I thought it was a good idea". "Re-really?" Xie Qing was surprised. But he was Xie Qing. "Are you saying that your ass is worth that much?" Xie Qing raised his eyebrows: "Maybe I should add something from the top and..." "Sh-shut up!" Even if Lian Lin had thick skin, she couldn''t help but blush at Xie Qing''s hint. The young man raised his hands in a gesture of "I surrender",but there was a carefree smileon his face. He just wanted to get rid of the awkward atmosphere. However, it seemed that Lian Lin herself was in a serious mood. Todayshewas dressed in more casual clothes. Her ruqun was not asplicated. She lifted her long skirt, showing her slender and beautiful butt. "I give you permission to touch me... but you can only spank me twenty times". Chapter 132: Showing filial piety! (R-16) Xie Qing''s eyes, of course, immediately fixed on Lian Lin''s slender and appetizing buttocks. She arched it at such an angle that there was little room for hiding "sensitive areas." The young man could easily see the red fabric between her legs, and he swallowed.Even forhim,a man with thick skin, this situation was unusual, and he felt embarrassed. "Are you sure?" Xie Qing asked, meeting the girl''s gaze: "This... is not averyusual way to getinto debt, to be honest." "Are you suggesting that I''m used to this?" Lian Lin rolled her eyes and snorted, then brushed the green tips of her hair from her face and adjusted her sses: "I need you to hurry. I''ve equalized our cultivation levels, so you don''t have to worry, I''llfeel your filial piety." "Haha..." Xie Qingughed, hearing the part about "filial piety,"anda weak smile appeared on Lian Lin''s face. Of course, although the young man was a little ufortable with the circumstances of this situation...however, he was Xie Qing. p! "Uhyaa! O-oh...cough...c-continue." Lian Lin let out aloudscream when Xie Qing''s palmnded on her left buttock and pped it. She bit her lip and blushed. "What is this ''Uhyaa''?! Damn, my reputation as an older sister is disappearing...stop...or did it ever exist?" And while she was thinking, Xie Qing''s hand touched her buttocks again, making the girl shudder. She bit her lower lip, determinedly ignoring the slight vibration in her lower body. The skinon her buttocks was slightly red, butthis could only be noticedupon closer inspection. "I still have neen ps left. So I don''t need to rush toomuch" thought Xie Qing, gently squeezing Lian Lin''s right buttock. "Mmm~..." The sect leader sighed sensuously, feeling a slight tingling in the area of her younger sister. However, she held on bravely, still standing, leaning forward. Lian Lin saidnothing, and so Xie Qing did not rush. When else could he enjoy such a moment? Probably not soon. Therefore, he squeezed out of this situation to the fullest. His right and lefthandsalliedand together explored the uncharted hills. "Mmmm..." Ignoring Lian Lin''s moans, Xie Qing ran his hand over her tender skin ¨C it felt soft and pleasantto the touch. His index finger lightly touched the forbidden button. "Hiii!" Thiscaused a violent reaction from Lian Lin, and she shivered slightly, pressing her thighs together. She breathed heavily and shivered. A light floral scent appeared. The young man narrowed his eyes, but noticing a furious look from Lian Lin, he pretended thatnothinghad happened. "What?" he asked with an honestly puzzled face. "...Nothing. Hmph!" "If nothing, then I''llcontinue" Xie Qingmented with a weak smile. "Go forit" Lian Lin replied nonchntly. Although touching was pleasant...Xie Qing removed his hand. Instead of feeling relief, Lian Lin became much tenser. She leaned lower, giving him full ess to the lower part of her buttocks. And so...with a gust of wind and a whistle. A p sounded. SLAP! "Uuh..." Lian Lin groaned through clenched teeth.Her level was limited, so Xie Qing''s ps were painfulfor her. Of course, if shewasat her usual level, this guy would have to use all his strength to make her blusha little. "That''s the secondone" the young manmented with a carefree smile. "And it seems like you''re enjoyingit" Lian Linmented with a twisted smile: "Hmph! Cheeky brat." "Who else should talk about cheekiness?" Xie Qing rolled his eyes and parried: "For your information,it''s you who''sbeen avoiding me for so many months." "That doesn''t count...hiii!" Xie Qing casually pressed his index finger on Lian Lin''sbutton,whilethe rest of his fingers touched onlythe skin. So he couldeasilycall it an ident. Andeven if Lian Lin understood that it was not idental, she did not show any reaction. Her face looked a little sweaty. "Ugh..." The floral scent intensified slightly. Xie Qing ran his hand over her passionate buttocks and groped as he pleased. This advantage, that is, the reward ¨C he used it to the fullest. "Aah..." At one point, Lian Lin let out a quiet moan.Xie Qing raised his eyebrows when he sawthat a dark spot had appearedon the piece of red fabric. "Oh?" A bright smile appeared on the young man''s face. He couldn''t help but tease her. And who would have thought... "AAAAH!" ...Lian Lin uncontrobly shudderedandthe sounds of something liquid spilling out on the floor were heard. Xie Qing looked away, trying to hold back hisughter. As it turned out,at thismomentLian Lin was so sensitive that one finger was enough. She helplessly shuddered, barely supporting herself with her hands. Her legs felt like cotton, and her head was empty. "I... finished? From one touch?" The girl lost the power of speech. Despite her appearance, she was an old hand. And she finished from the touch of a young man who wasn''t even twenty yet... "I... this... p-shameful..." Her face turned bright red. No matter how thick-skinned she was, what happened now had thrown her off track. Xie Qing did not press her and only helped her liedownon the bed. He waved his handanda gust of wind appeared, which carried away the floral scent. "Drying." He muttered the name of the Dao technique he had learned from his mother, and soonthewet partsofLian Lin''s body became clean. The young man casually looked out thewindow,as if admiring the beauty of nature. Of course, he did not want to stare too much at Lian Lin. What if she pounces on him out of anger? "Ugh..." Fortunately for him, Lian Linjusy on the bed and stared nkly at the ceiling. She looked as if she had lost the meaning of life. "What is the meaning of Dao? Which Dao is true and which is false? Among countless worlds, where is the source of origin?" "Well, we''re losing her." Xie Qing lost the power of speech. *** Fortunately, after Lian Lin read some mantras, she came to her senses and looked at Xie Qing with aplex expression. "What?" the young man answered in surprise. "You... eh!" Lian Lin couldn''t even be angry. After all, she had suggested this nonsense with the spanking because of some thoughts. However, she still felt embarrassed. So she reached out to Xie Qing''s nose and pinched it. "Uh... o-ow." The young man wasseriously worriedthat she would tear off his nose ¨C because the strength in these two fingers was too serious! "Heh..." Lian Lin removed her fingers and smiled when she saw that the young man''s nose had turned red. Finally, she cheered up. "Do you like to tease your juniors so much, older sister?" Xie Qing said annoyedly. "I love it." "..." Xie Qing thoughtin his mind: "No wonder you''re Xu Mei''s disciple," but kept these words to himself.After all, he also fell under the distribution...oh! Fortunately, after such a small joke, Lian Lin returned to her previous mood.Although they did not offer a spanking, but... "L-let''s... um... continue next time. Okay?" Lian Lin said, adjusting her sses. "Okaaay..." Xie Qing shrugged, then looked at the documents on the table. His expression darkened. "Hey... these are..." "What?" "These documents... they are marked as important. You should havepleted them within an hour...but the date of the documents is over a week old." "Hm?" "..." Xie Qing twisted the corners of his mouth. It seemed that this woman was indeed carefree. He wondered how she could keep the sect in a normal state with suchziness. He thought for a bit and said: "I received some training while I was at the Xie family estate. I can help you a little." "Ooh? Seriously? You''d be a great help, junior!" "Of course, no problem. One paper will cost1bottle of high-quality spiritual wine." "..." Lian Lin had to agree. *** "Done..." "Good job." Xie Qing fell exhausted onto the table. The volume of documents was toorge. Considering that hewas onlygiventhe task ofchecking the documents and putting stamps on them, this was still an easy job. "You did a good jobtoo, older sister. I was surprised to find out that you are so responsible." "...You know, forthatI can hit you." Lian Lin twisted her mouth, looking at Xie Qing, who weakly smiled. She shook her head, then snapped her fingers. Tu-du-du... Such a soundwas heardas if someone was running on a boardandsuddenlya passage with stairs appeared on the floor. "Take one box of spiritual wine andgo" LianLin twisted her mouth, feeling her heartbeingfilledwith blood. She thought: "Next timeIwill finish everything ahead of schedule and not bezy...otherwiseat thisratemy priceless reserves will be wastedfor nothing!" "Oooh! Long live the older sister! You know, I''ve always respected you!" Xie Qingughed loudlyand huggedLian Lin,thenjumped straight into the hole.The girl raised her eyebrows. "Scoundrel,andwhy did you call such a respected older sister irresponsible a minute ago?!" Lian Lin shook her head and muttered, butthere was a weak smileon her face.It seemed that it had been a long time since this office was lively. And when Xie Qing came out of the hole, she snorted. The spatial ring on Xie Qing''s finger shoneandtwo bottles jumped outof it. "I said one box! I won''t give you anymore!" "Ugh... at least one more..." "Get lost!Thisis my wine!" "Stingy!" Chapter 133: Night (R-18) Days quickly turned into weeks. Time was passing so carefree and cozy that Xie Qing had even forgotten that there was once an exam, and he even became a disciple of the main courtyard. As such... there was nothing new in his life. In the world of cultivation, there was a lull, and most were focused on cultivation. It seemed that the devilish cultivators had caused too much of a stir. Xie Qing was no exception. Although he had not been able to break through to the fifth stage of Soul Nascent, his development had generally be stronger and better. In the end, spending days infort was useful, but the young man felt a terrifying suffocation. It was as if he had stagnated without the ability to move forward. "If you stay still, you will lose everything." "Go on a journey." "It''s time to go!" Something was calling him...something located on the side of the Southern Continent. If it were an ordinary person, it couldbe attributedto obsessive thoughts. However, in the case of cultivators, this was an important signal. Most likely, fate itself was calling him, or something like that. Therefore, Xie Qing did not dare to underestimate this premonition. "Hmm..." Out of curiosity, Xie Qing used his senses to make approximate coordinates of the area...and could not help but be surprised. "This is near the Huang family''s estate!" he thought, raising an eyebrow. Huang Jing, who was his friend, currently lived there. Because the devilish cultivators hade to light, they had to suspend the war for inheritance. However, it seemed that now the preparation was beginning. Xie Qing told the women about his feelings. As it turned out, there was an answer to this question. "Something is calling you?" Xu Mei raised an eyebrow: "Well, I think I can understand what it is. Those whose physique is close to the Heavens sometimes feel ces where a natural treasure has appeared. I think that''s what''s calling you." "Although I have not felt anything like that in my entire life, Xu Mei''s words are not far from what I have heard myself,"mented Xie Meiling and frowned: "I would like to apany you... but there is a turning point in my cultivation." "Everything is fine... I also wanted to travel somewherealone,in order tosearch for treasures and enjoy the danger of the cultivation world." "Not sure if it can be enjoyed," muttered Yu Yan, rolling her eyes. "Hahaha..." Xu Mei smiled and pleasantlyughed. She thought for a bit, looked at Xie Qing, and then made an analysis: "You''re ready." "I''m ttered," nodding, said Xie Qing: "Maybe... you will agree to say goodbye to me in an original way?" The women exchanged nces, and embarrassment appeared on their faces. Although his wordswere more directedat Xu Mei and Yu Yan, Xie Meiling also looked thoughtful. Xie Qing noticed his mother''s emotions out of the corner of his eye. He blinked. *** And so, the night. Xie Qing was sleeping in his room. He wanted to calm his mind a bit before setting off on a journey. However, unfortunately, he could not do this at all. "Initially, I wanted to invite Fang Lan with me... but as it turned out, she returned home to the capital to join the gathering of heirs." What a pity. Xie Qing had befriended this sincere girl. There was a certain spark between them. Therefore, he wanted tomunicate with her more. Because he had been too hyperactivetely, there was no time left for close acquaintances. Even with Lu Yin and Li Yun, hemunicated once every two days. And while he was busy with such thoughts, the door to his room creaked open slightly. The young man turned his head and saw Xu Mei on the threshold. She was just as beautiful as ever. "Master?" He could not help but look over her body, which was illuminated only by the moonlighting from a small window. Her chic figure, developed thighs, and long legs were visible. She was wearing only a semi-transparent robe, which instead of hiding her body, seemed to intentionally reveal all her charms. "Xie Qing..." "Eh?" The young man shuddered. Usually, they adhered to "Master" and "disciple." At least, because they did not want to attract too much attention, and at most...well...they both liked it. However, when they were alone, and especially in the prelude to intimacy... Xu Mei discarded all formalities. After all, they were close enough to understand each other without words. "Come to me," finally, after a brief inspection of her sights, Xie Qing said in a gentle voice and stretched out his hands. "Sigh... Xie Qing, I''m so tired~..." Xu Mei whispered in aintivevoice. "How so?" The young man gently smiled and caught her light and beautiful body. He hugged her by thewaist,while the woman pressed against his body, lying on his chest. Her warm breath was rxing. She softly whispered his name, told him about recent events, andsimplydiscussed topics that interested her. A woman''s sincere emotions were priceless. Of course, Xie Qing listened attentively andmunicated with her. But, in the end, neither Xu Mei nor Xie Qing liked to drag things out. They fell silent at some point, and their bodiesbegan to heatup. Xie Qing slept mostly half-naked. He was wearing only underwear. Therefore, heclearlyfelt Xu Mei''s soft skin, while Xu Mei felt his muscles. She heavily breathed. Her nipples, like mountain peaks, aroused the desire of mountaineers to explore. The young man puckered his lips. Xu Mei understood his desire and crawled up. Holding her left breast with her hand, the woman leaned forward. Her dark pink nippleeasilyentered Xie Qing''s mouth, who pursed his lips and began to suck on it. "Uhh..." Xu Mei moaned softly. No matter howmany timeshe did this, she could never get enough. The tongue of Xie Qing, her beloved disciple, made her lower body hotter and wetter. The right breast did not go unnoticed. As a true gentleman, his right hand gently kneaded it. "Aah..." The master showed an excited face. She clenched her teeth, feeling the vibration of pleasure passing through her entire body. Moreover... "I feel it... his thing..." The hardness was poking right into her sensitive spot. She was too familiar with this. Therefore, her body willingly responded to the poking. Whooosh! A gust of wind instantly blew away all their clothes. Xie Qing lost his speech, looking at the excited Xu Mei, who was stroking his head with a mad gleam in her eyes. After a few seconds... "Aah... d-damn it... as expected. You never disappoint me..." moaned Xu Mei, gently kissing him on the forehead. Then, leaning towards his ear, she whispered: "So fuck me... I''m all yours...my body...belongs only to you!" "Challenge epted!" The young man''s eyes shone with righteous light. Hisrge and dangerous thing instantly reached the edges of Xu Mei, piercing the neck of the womb. "Aaah!~ This is fucking amazing!" She rolled her eyes as Xie Qing, like a storm, pierced her Heavens. She loudly moaned, sweat was dripping from her forehead, and her body became hot. p! The young man could not help himself and pped her buttocks. Then, he sat in such a way that his back leaned against the headboard of the bed. Xu Mei was sitting on his knees, and she began to jump on his jade rod, not forgetting to moan in his ear with her angelic voice. "Uhhh... Aaaah! Oooh..." Sometimes her voice trembled - this was due to the fact that Xie Qing maintained a fast pace and ferociously struck her womb''s neck. For a mortal woman...such a step would be dangerous tohealth. Therefore, do not repeat at home, friends. The young man was enveloped in a strong sensation ofpression, as if his "friend" would be crushed a little more. Fortunately for his buddy, it was just a sensation. Xie Qing moved inside Xu Mei, like an experienced miner who was familiar with the local forks in the mine. And when he struck his pickaxe again at her minerals... "AAAAH!~". Her slender body arched back. Gentle hands tightly squeezed Xie Qing''s neck. The walls of Xu Mei''s vagina tightly squeezed his jade rod, and Xie Qing, groaning, could not hold back. "Aaaah... you''re filling meeee...." Her scream was filled with indescribable pleasure. The seemingly fragile female body twitched, subtly feeling how the young man''s semen flowed into her. "I love it..." satisfied, Xu Mei sighed. She kissed Xie Qing on the lips, gently stroking his back, while Xie Qing groped her butt. After a few minutes, they got up and cleaned their bodies, and then began a new round. Xu Mei leaned against the wall and stuck out her butt. "Come on... fuck me, dear..." Her thin and pitifully sounding voice only further aroused Xie Qing. "Mei-Mei..." His breath was slightly disrupted. He could not help but shudder when he saw her beautiful butt, from which sweat was dripping. Her arched and slender back, as well as blue eyes directed at him, burning with lust. Meeting her gaze, the young man smiled and did not hesitate. "Aah?!" Xu Mei widened her eyes when she felt a strong tremor running through her body. The flesh on her buttocks was like waves when Xie Qing hit her with his pelvis. "Uhh..." The young man could not help but moan. Of all the girls he had been with, Xu Mei squeezed the strongest! Chapter 134: City of Zizhu Cheng (Part 1) Under the bright glow of the morning sun, Xie Qing waved goodbye to Lian Xin, Xu Mei, Xie Meiling, and Yu Yang. The young manwas dressedin a simple ck hanfu that suited him perfectly and created a mysterious image.He also wore amask made of ck stone that coveredthe upper part of his face.This mysterious appearance wascreatedto avoidanypossible incidents where he might be recognized on the street and cause trouble. Xie Qing sat in the flying carriage and looked at the retreating silhouettes of his women with a sense of mncholy. Before leaving, he spent a week fulfilling all their desires. He spent a lot of time with them but still felt unsatisfied. "Well, at least I have themunication token," he thought. Thanks to this invention, he did not have to worry about loneliness. "How beautiful the world is..." he thought, looking at thewonderfulmountains and forests. With the help of the carriage, Xie Qing reached the teleportation formation located on the very edge of the Eastern Continentfairlyquickly. The air here was much colder. There were few people in the city of Zizhu Cheng. Perhaps this was because thecitywas too remote and there were few goods. It was difficult for mortals to live in such cold ces. Moreover, the soil was not very fertile, and remoteness created a big problem in feeding - at least, transportation cost a lot of money. Zizhu Cheng should have been called a fortress city. However, it looked rather shabby. There were holes in the walls, stoneswere coveredwith moss, and a terrible stench indicated the level of sanitation here. It took Xie Qing a few seconds to get used to the annoying smell. Then he looked at the gate. "Well, at least the gate is in order," the young man thought. The gatewas madeof Immortal Stone. No matter how many generations died, this stone was longsting and could serveforup to a thousand years with the right approach. Thedynastystrictly controlled the Immortal Stone like the pupil of an eye.The mines where this stone/ore was located were so strictly guardedthat even a cultivator of Divine Transformation would find it difficult to get inside. "Hm? Only two guards?" Xie Qing was puzzled. Indeed, as he approached the gate, he discovered thatthere were only two guardsat the level of Core Formation - 6th stage.This power could not be consideredworthy of guarding such a city. Although itwas partly abandoned, there was a valuable teleportation formation here. "Something is wrong here..." Xie Qing frowned: "How can such an important city allocate two miserable guards to priceless gates?" The gate was the mostimportantpart of the city. With thespecialtechnologies of theDynasty, formations were poured into them, which created an enormous invisible dome around the city. This dome could withstand a one-time attack of a hundred cultivators at the level of Soul Integration. And his doubts only increased as he approached the guards. The distance between them was ten steps. However, even so, the guardsdid not pay attention tohim. They just looked in a daze somewhere in the distance. "My sixth sense... cannot detect any danger in them.Thisonly means one thing - their power is at the level ofmortals,or...corpses? I hope it''s the first option." Because if they were not even corpses, then...the situation wasvery bad. And, unfortunately, the red g was high on the forehead of our young master.As soon ashe patted the guard on the shoulder, they immediately fell to the ground. They did not even have the usual, most basic reflex - to support themselves with their hands to avoid kissing the ground. "They... they have no souls! Their hearts are beating, but they have no souls!" The bodies functioned. However, the problem was that they had no soul - this was the mostimportantpart of the being in whichpersonality, memories, and reason were preserved. And if there was no soul, then who needed a healthy but soulless body? The gate was too heavy to be opened by hand. Even a kick would not help. Therefore, Xie Qing took out the token of the imperial censor. It acted as a special permission that could open most gates. And, as expected, with difficulty, but the gate still opened. Xie Qing entered inside, and after that, the gate closed again. "Wh-what... is this?!" *** The Eastern Continent. Near the city of Zizhu Cheng... On a high rocky mountain, in onehugecave... Hundreds,no,thousands of eyes opened. "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!" *** The city of Zizhu Cheng was in a deplorable state. Wherever he went, people looked as if they had lost their souls. They stood in ce with ack of emotions on their faces. "Strange... they look as if everything was normal," thought Xie Qing: "There are not even those who would try to escape. As if it were an ordinary day." Someone was buying vegetables, someone was holding a child''s hand and walking along the spacious streets, and someone - from the guards - was guardingimportantbuildings. In the end, wherever he went, there were motionless and soulless bodies everywhere. As if in one moment, undera specialpower,all souls were devoured. "This is terrible... I didn''t expectthat my journey wouldbe sodangerous" thought Xie Qing angrily: "Can''t I rx for a few days? This shit is too dangerous!" He took out his token of the imperial censor and poured Qi into it, trying to contact the Empress, but... "Hsh-sh..." CRASH! "A?!" The token emitted only white noise, and Xie Qinghimselfreceived slight damage from the lightning that appeared out of nowhere. "What the hell?!" He could not help but shout, being shocked by this situation. Then, Xie Qing becameserious. "World Sealing Formation... no wonder I felt a sense of suppression and undefined sensations from the Tender DragonToken" The Tender Dragon Token allowed him to know the location of his women at any second, moreover, it gave them a little bonus to strength. But now it emitted the same white noise and a feelingas ifhe was looking into the darkness. "The Empress is reallyfunny" Xie Qing snorted angrily: "Having reached the peak of her reign, it''s no wonderthat shehas rxed. Now an important city is under threat of destruction." However, Xie Qing did not care about the fate of this city. He wanted toget rid ofthe danger as soon as possible and find the treasure. Therefore, he headed to the ce where the formation was, but... "BITCH! SHIT! I HATE THIS BULLSHIT!" Loud explosions shook the earth. Xie Qing looked with gloom at the destroyed teleportation formation. "And now what should I do?! The nearest teleportation formation is ten thousand miles away!" The situation was not the best.Hehad to go on a path that was even further. Moreover, he got into someone''s conspiracy. "Aagh! I even lost my calmness! Annoying!" Xie Qing clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. Nowhevery much wanted to break the face of that bastard who made him waste so much time in vain. However, before he began a new wave of insults, Xie Qing fell silentandhis eyes narrowed. "Five hundred... no... five thousand hostile creatures. Southeast, distance one hundred meters, average level - Core Formation - 9th stage...highest level - Soul Nascent - 7th stage...minimum level Core Formation - 4th stage..." With each second, his face became darker and darker. In the end, the result was: "I''m in shit. In full,viscousand annoying shit." And when he already thought about running away,above thecitythere was a sh, and as if a flock of crows, five thousand flying creatures appeared! "Teleportation?! Plus...fuck, there are a lot of them!" Xie Qing thought in surprise. He took out his Nameless Sword and gritted his teeth: "I''ll have to fight. Damn, here''s a gift for the trip! There will be something to tell the descendants..." Ignoring the stream of disappointment inside him, Xie Qing took a stance. And then, taking a deep breath, he aimed thede of the swordstraight at the sky. "Will of the Empress of Swords... World of des!" At first nce, nothing happened. However, as soon as these creatures descended below the city barrier, suddenly... p! The weakest died instantly - their number reached a hundred.Whilethe stronger ones received only deep and not very deep wounds. Boom! "Oh..." Xie Qing dodged the falling head of a creature. Recognizing who it was, he wasvery surprised. "Three-legged crow?Thisis impossible, theyare not aggressive creatures. But...wait a minute..." the young man widened his eyes when he discovered something: "Theyare emanatingdevilish Qi! They were infected?!" Thisalone was amazing. A creature that represented the Sunwas infectedwith the power of darkness. What kind of monster should the devilish cultivatorbe,capable of this? However, of course, he could not be admired for a long time. Immediately after he demonstrated weakness, sounds of "bdzin" were heard from the sky. "Dangerous!" Boom! Boom! Boom! Xie Qing dodged the threatening rays of ck color.Wherever he went,these rays followed him and filled him with devilish Qi.At the same time, the soulless bodies...suddenly moved. More than a thousand residents...fromthe oldto the children.Holdingin their handsa sword created from dark energy, they slowly approached Xie Qing. And he, avoiding the rays of the Three-legged crows, could only grit his teeth. "I don''t even have time to counterattack!" Looking at this dangerous situation...cold sweat ran down Xie Qing''s forehead. "I''m in deep shit!" BOOM! Chapter 135: City of Zizhu Cheng (Part 2) Xie Qing was startled by a loud explosion that interrupted his thoughts. He couldn''t help but shudder in fear as he realized that the beam hadnded dangerously close and could have easily severed his arm. "Ugh... it''s just a scratch, but it still hurts! And my body is trying to be taken over by devilish qi...hmph, how arrogant!" Xie Qing gripped his sword tighter and snarled in frustration. It was a humiliation. How could he, a noble cultivator of the righteous path, be infected by devilish qi?! Shu-shu-shu... Shu-shu... "Shut up!" Xie Qing shouted, and the illusionsthat had beenwhispering to him disappeared. Soon, the battlefield came into view. Three-legged crows circled above, and a horde of "zombies" was just five steps away. "This is bad!" Xie Qing scowled. "I won''t be able to hold out on my own! But no one will be able toe here! All connections are closed, and the gate...damn. I won''t be able to reach it in time!" The situation was dire.Hecouldn''t escape, andhecouldn''t fight back. Although quality always surpassed quantitywhen it came tocultivators, Xie Qing couldn''t be sure he could get out of this alive. "The townspeople pose a limited threat. They can only hinder my concentration on the battle with these damn crows, but even that is dangerous!" Xie Qing narrowed his eyes as he sensed danger in the skies. He saw the crows forming aspecialformation, and soon... BDZYYYN''! A strange sound, as if from a hundred thousandsers, echoed high in the sky, followed by a bted explosion. BOOM! Ahugser, a hundred meters in diameter, fell in the central area of the town. As a result, even the townspeople controlled by the devilish qi could not escapebeing destroyed. "This is... the Light Punishment! But now, it should be called the Dark Punishment!" Xie Qing thought in shock. The Light Punishment was aplex Daoist technique that dates back to ancient times. The three-legged crows could use this technique if they formed aspecialformation. And under this attack... "Even a cultivator at the Divine Transformation stage would be helpless!" Things were getting serious. The beam of dark energy was getting closer and closer to himwitheach second, making his hair stand on end.He couldn''t escape; he was surrounded by zombies! "I have rescue tokens... but because of the formation,their effect will be limitedto the city radius, which is equivalent to uselessness," Xie Qing thought. He gripped his sword tighter andeasilyfended off the zombies attacking him with their wooden movements. And then, the moment came... "Ugh..." Xie Qing''s skin began to boil, and he narrowed his eyes. The beam was only ten steps away. So, he shouted loudly: "Will of the Empress of Swords... I am the SWORD!" Vshuuuh! The Sword Aura instantly burst out of Xie Qing''s bodyand envelopedhim like a shield.Then, he narrowed his eyes and shouted another technique: "Will of the Empress of Swords... Wrath of the Sword Empress!" Boom! The whole world seemed to tremble. Xie Qing had to use all his strength to stay in ce. However, thanks to this movement, the situation on the battlefield changed for the better. The zombies were pierced by hundreds of swords from the ground, allowing himto finally escape. Bz-z-z... "Gh-h..." As Xie Qing was escaping, the beam still slightly touched him, and although the devilish qi trying to take control of his body was unpleasant, he had no choice but to keep running. Finally, when hehadretreated to a safe distance of ten meters, he noticedthat the beam was getting weaker. "No wonder... The Light Punishment is a powerful spell that can onlybe usedby beings with Immortal Qi...so my task is to drag out time as much as possible. And then... "I''ll kill them all! I''ll roastthem,andmake kebabs! Bastards!" Xie Qing had always been proud and sometimes even arrogant, onecould say it was in his blood. The reasons for such behavior were unknown. So, his current pitiful state, to say the least, did not inspire anyfort and shook his pride. "Phew..." The young man took a deep breath. He remembered his beloved women and then shook his head. For a moment, dangerous thoughts entered his mind. "I seem to be getting angriertely. I need to stop,"hescowled andthenlooked at the beam. "The beam can''t move... the energy consumption has reached its peak, so the Three-Legged Crowsare stuckin the clouds without the ability to move... this is a good opportunity." He took two steps back.In his mind,hundreds of techniques shed, and he chose one simple but good technique. God Sword Strike. The main feature of this technique was that the longer you held it activated, the stronger the attack would be on release. It was not suitable for activebat, and you couldn''t move. However, in situations where the opponent was standing still... "Well... let''s swing!" Xie Qing smiled predatorily and then swung vertically.Thiswas followedby silence. But after two seconds... "Kiii!" "Kya!" The Three-Legged Crows let out terrifying screeches. One could only imagine how painful it was for them. All because of a single sh that consisted of hundreds, even thousands of swords, struck their bodies, burning them from the inside with the Sword Aura. Against the mannequin, Xie Qing used only a fraction of the power of this technique. If he had identally injured any of the spectators, he would likely not have survived. "What a beauty!" Xie Qing thought, finally feeling the burning in his heart subside. The falling Three-Legged Crows looked like they were from a painting. They fell into one ce, forming a small hill that grew with each second. "Kaaaar!" Finally, even the strongestof themcould not withstand this power and fell. Xie Qing did not dare to underestimate his opponents, so hemade suretheir bodies turned to ashes. The townspeople (who numbered about a hundred) controlled by the monsters fell dead. They looked dried up. Nowtheywere corpses. The formation above the city also broke from the power of the God Sword Strike technique. "I''m so tired..." the young man sighed and copsedonto the ground. "This technique ispowerful,butpletely useless in activebat... ugh!Well, I guessI need to report this incident." At first, he thought he should tell Xu Mei about it, but the city was far from the Heavenly Sword Sect, and there was no need to involve her in this story. So, Xie Qing made a decision. He took out a golden token with a dragon engraving andthensent Qi into it. When the token lit up, the young man spoke: "Your Majesty." It was the Empress! *** In the imperial pce, Yu Longfeng set aside themunication token. She frowned. "It seems I have indeed be too rxed. These bastards have pulled off something like this with an important city...it''s my fault. I was too focused on developing cities close to the capital," Yu Longfeng thought and said out loud: "Immediately resolve this issue. Allocate funds to officials for restoration and inspection of all cities in the Dynasty. If I find out that they have made even one mistake that has led to the loss of important cities and teleportation formations...their fate will be cruel!" "As youmand, Your Majesty!" People appeared from the shadows. They bowed to her and disappeared again into the bright night. However, even after that, there was still displeasure on the Empress''s face. "And, by the way, why did this guy talk to me as if I were stupid?!He even reminded mefive timesin an annoyed voice to watch over the teleportation formations!Does he think this Empress is foolish?!" Yu Longfeng twisted her mouth and then puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. "Like master, like a student. Birds of a feather flock together!" *** "Haaah... haaah... Damn it, if this city is in the same shit, I swear I''ll seize the Dynasty and personally cut off the heads of those idiots who didn''t take care of it!" Xie Qing was near another city with a teleportation formation that could redirect to other continents. He was all sweaty - he had to run fast because the Lunar Festival week in the Dynasty was approaching, which would be a holiday before the start of the new year... And then nothing would work! Because everyone would be on vacation! Fortunately, he made it in two days. Running ten thousand miles was hard even for a cultivator, and there were no cities nearby to hire carriages...and the system? "Damn, who came up with this crap? 570,000 Spiritual Stones for a stinky carriage? Good thing I made it on foot! At least I didn''t ruin my health!" ...hejustdidn''t want to spend the money. And as if the Heavens had heard his call, the city gates were guarded by ten guards and more than twenty hidden warriors. Their average level was at the intermediate stage of the Soul Nascent. It was precisely such cultivators whowere neededfor protection! "Hm? Inner court disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect... Cao Ni Ma?" The guards exchanged nces. They looked both puzzled and annoyed. "What? That''s my name! Do you have something against my name?!" Xie Qing snarled in annoyance and thought to himself: "It''s not my fault, myimagination just ran out..." The guards could only snarlin annoyanceand let this disciple into the city.After all, on the token...strangely enough, it was the same name. When Xie Qing''s back disappeared behind the gates, they exchanged nces: "This is fucked up". "Yeah". Chapter 136: Expert Control Fortunately, this city was indeed free of any shitty adventures. It wasn''t as if thecityhad a highly developed infrastructure, but at the very least, it was livable. The most important thing was that there were many guards! The city was well-guarded. "Damn it! Couldn''t they have done this with all the cities? The Dynasty has a pond of cultivators, but they leave them in the capital! Tsk, soulless!" Of course, one couldin endlessly, but Xie Qing was not herefor that. After asking several locals, he finally reached the teleportation formation. And... "Oh fuck..." he cursed under his breath, looking at the sight in front of him. A crowd! More than a hundred peoplewere lined uphere. The end of the line was almost a hundred meters away from the formation itself! "A line... how I hate lines..." If these were ordinary people, it would have been possible to use a temporary false identity certificate, but the problem was that there were also representatives of other sects here. There was an option to reveal himself, but then the journey would have turnedintohell. He wouldn''t even be able to catch his breath! So, all he could do was stand in line. Hours passed... "Ah, what beautiful birdsong... oh, what a beautiful sunset!" thought Xie Qing, and he twisted the corners of his mouth: "Indeed! Sunset! Damn, I hate lines!" *** "Is everything all right with you?" The cultivators in charge of teleportation looked puzzled at Xie Qing, who lookedas ifhe hade from the battlefield. Under his mask, he had ahaggardface, hewas all sweaty and felt exhausted and irritated. So, in response to the cultivator''s question, hesimplywaved his hand. Aftera brief check ofthe token and payment, hewas finally teleported. "Finally... the Southern Continent... Now I want to study teleportationformations,soI can travel directly from home..." Formations were veryplex, especially the teleportation formation...so one could only wish him luck. *** "Nauseous..." Teleportation formations were expensive and just as ufortable. After this, no matter how strong you were, you would feel nauseous. You could get used to it, buteven so,there would still be obvious difort.Nevertheless, Xie Qing did not linger and yielded his ce to other people who were waiting for teleportation. Nanmei City - a city on the Southern Continent.It was home to the most luxurious beach, and thanks to its ess to the sea, seafood was abundant. The air here was slightly salty - ifit could be describedthat way. The humidity was also higher. It wascurrentlythe rainy season, and in a month or two, it would be the dry season,which would bringunbearable heat. "Hahaha!" "Stop running, Liupiao, I''ll catch up with you!" "No, you won''t! Hahaha!" "Little rascal, heh..." Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. His hair was blowing in the wind, and the hem of his hanfu was swaying due to the gust of wind. He looked at theughing children, at the adults conversing. It was a warm feeling. "Oh..." He was a cultivator. And they were mortals. They did not have a long life, theywere limitedin their desires, and they often died without fulfilling their dreams and goals. "Being mortals... I suppose their lives will be more interesting than mine," thought Xie Qing, sitting on a free bench. He was in the main square. In the center stood a fountain. Highjets of watercreated the illusion that they would reach the heavens at any moment. Even though the city was simple...Xie Qing felt an extraordinaryfort. But he also felt difort. "But... this will disappear one day." A subtle sense of mncholy made him sigh. All these children, who now looked so innocent andughed so happily, would one day grow up. "And, growing old, they will die... leaving behind a cold corpse." A hundred years for a cultivator of his level was the same as a month. So, he could not be satisfied with such a short lifespan. Xie Qing looked at the children and adultswhowere smiling brightly. "Although I surpass them in strength... they surpass me in their inner world," he thoughtand narrowedhis eyes: "I wonder if, on the threshold of old age, I will also be able to smile, knowing that I will soon cease to exist?" His eyes narrowed even more. He knew the answer to this question. "No. I would nevere to terms with it. I would do everything to live longer. BecauseI don''t want to die. I want to be a true immortal.To look down upon the world of mortals,tohold hundreds of thousands of worlds in my palm, andto control the life and death of all beings." He had unmistakable ambitions. As a cultivator, he also wanted to attain immortality. After all, it was for this that he became a cultivator. Life is beautiful. Even ifthere is reincarnation, what is the point of living again without memories? And how long can he exist like that? The day wille when he will tire of everything. And then only boredom wille. The world will lose its colors. "Funny... I can''t surpass mortals. How funny. And how did I n to be immortal with such a mindset?" he smiled at himself. In this solitary journey, he learned a lot: "Fear of wolves - don''t go into the forest. So should one fear Death?" Xie Qing could not answer this question. "Death is the end of everything or the beginning? Thenislife the beginning of everything or the end? Thenshouldone fear Death or Life? After all, in the end, they are somewhat simr to each other...then which Dao is correct? The Dao of Life or the Dao of Death?" "Heh, it''s not in my spirit to think about such things..." Xie Qing smiled and looked up at the bright sky. "Hundreds of thousands, or even millions ofyearswill pass. But the Heavens will remain unchanged...the only correct Dao is the Dao of Heavens." His eyes sparkled, and threatening Qi began to emanate from him. However, the young man managed to restrain its influence in time. But when he blinked and looked forward, he saw that many of the residents had knelt and were trembling with fear, worshiping him. "W-wee, Immortal!" "Hm..." Xie Qing twisted the corners of his mouth. For the first time in so long, hewas disheartenedby the breakthrough. And before he could rx, the guards rushed up to him. The strongest of them was at the peak of the Soul Nascent stage. They looked at himwithobvioushostilityand pointed the spear tip directly at Xie Qing. "Vitor! You have vited the city''sw by using Qi! For this, you must go to prison for two years!" "Pfft!" Xie Qing snorted with obvious displeasure and stood up from his ce. He narrowed his eyes and felt a strange sensation. And in thesamesecond... "Kh-kh-kh..." The strongest of the guards clutched his throat as an illusory hand appeared behind him and squeezed his throat, lifting him into the air. "This is..." Ding! [A new technique hasbeen learned...] Ding! [Expert Control] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: A basic Dao technique that allows you to use Qi to control objects and even people.Under control meansthat you usethe gravitational field to your advantage andmoveobjects through space.Therger the object, the greater the consumption of Qi. And what the hell, you, freak, mastered it at the Soul Nascent stage? Abnormal!] "Expert Control? So that''s what it was...this technique saw my thoughts and gently strangled this guard?" the young man was surprised, and then he smiled: "System, how I love to shock you." However, there was no time to admire. The other cultivators also began to rush over and interfere in the situation. So, he snorted and retracted the technique. With a crash, the guard fell to the ground, clutching his throat. His face turned blue. "So that you don''t behave arrogantly in my presence anymore. Understood?" "Y-yes..." the guard barely croaked. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes and walked past. No one dared to stop him, so hewas able tocontinue on his way without any problems. Everyone looked around.Expert Control was not an unfamiliar technique,andit waseven widespread, but... This technique could onlybe usedby cultivators at the Spiritual Ascension stage. There were no exceptions. And that was why everyone thoughtthat XieQing was a cultivator at the Spiritual Ascension stage. And it was never wise to offend them. *** "An amusing sight..." Xie Qing looked curiously at the stone floating in the air and could not help but be surprised. "Expert Control... this is damn convenient. In a battle with a crowd, I cansimplysweep them aside. If I had unlocked this technique earlier, I would have shoved that beam up the Three-Legged Crow''s ass as quickly as possible." However, it was a sin toin. He had already gained agoodtechnique that could help himin the future. Boom. The stone fell to the ground, and XieQing''s breathing became heavy. He shook his head. "I can''t control it for a long time. Well, no wonderit''s only masteredat the Spiritual Ascension stage. It requires too much Qi to control." To keep the stone in the air,Xie Qing had to drain 25% of his Qi.And on that guard, he spent almost all his Qi. Only a little was left. So, if therewasa battle, it would not have been easy for him. "Ah! Bluffing is our everything...I need to use this technique more often in difficult situations." ...although, knowing you, you willjustuse this technique to show off in front of women. Chapter 137: Love of the Moon Goddess Xie Qing decided not to rush andsimplymove at his own pace. After breaking through, a mysterious sense of rxation appeared in his heart, as if even his heart was urging him not to hurry. So he set up camp. It was a simple camp with no fancy arrangements. He had bought the tent and clothes from the second city he came across. And when he took out the meat from his spatial ring and started roasting it, Xie Qing sighed. "How wonderful. This silence is not what I''m used to...it''s even a bit lonely..." There was no way to contact the girls yet. There were no Communication Towers to help transmit signals over such long distances. SoXieQing had to settle for solitude and silence for now. Today, strangely enough, the weather was simplywonderful. There was no annoying rain, no clouds. "How beautiful..." The stars shone brightly in the sky, showing their primordial charm. A light,coolnight breeze blew, gently rustling the ends of Xie Qing''s loose hair. The extraordinaryfort made Xie Qing narrow his eyes slightly. Although he preferred to be in a noisy environment with his loved ones, sometimes being alone was also good. Because he could be alone with his thoughts. "I think this is a good time for meditation," the young man thought. With his cultivation technique, it was not necessary to meditate to increase his level, but he preferred to do soas a wayto kill time, and in general, it helped him a lot. Perhaps it was because ofthefort he feltfrom the current environment, but meditation was much more peaceful. There were no annoying voices of the Heart Demon trying to seduce him intotakingthe path of evil. And there was no boredom that he felt during meditations. Under the bright moonlight, Xie Qingwas surroundedby streams of powerful Qi. The animals nearby immediately ran away, not wanting to encounter such a dangerous creature. And predators watching from the shadows could only reluctantly retreat. Xie Qing''s Qi was different from ordinary Qi in color. It had a faint but still visible golden hue. Moreover, its peculiarity was that his Qi was much purer and morepowerfulthan that of other cultivators at the same level. That''s why he could fight enemies who surpassed him in level without any problems. Xie Qing focused on meditation.In his mind, an image of the moon and its three phases appeared ¨C newmoon, crescent moon, and full moon. Silence fell. Xie Qing usually meditated for only two hours ¨C that was the maximum. But it was already deep night, and five hours had passed, but he was still meditating. One might think he was asleep, but the fluctuating streams of Qi around him did not lie ¨C he was currently meditating diligently. And only after two hours, when the moon disappeared behind the clouds, the young man opened his eyes. A bright silver glow appeared in them, which disappeared after he blinked. "This..." He had many questions, but all his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden notification. Ding! [You have created an original technique...] [Moved to the second category...] Ding! [Love of the Moon Goddess] | [Rank: Elite (one step away from Legendary)] | [Description: In apce,on themoon,lives the beautiful Moon Goddess. She looks down upon the mortal world, stunning with her beauty. There are three techniques ¨C New Moon (Invisibility), Crescent Moon (Qi Attack that cuts through everything it touches), and Full Moon (Imprable Shield). Youwere inspiredby the beauty of the moon and the stars, so you were able to create this technique. The technique works mainly on moonlight, but it also works during the day ¨C albeit more weakly] | [Original Technique] Xie Qing waited a bit for the notifications to end and only then paid attention to the analysis of the technique he created. Althoughthe name was chosenrandomly and was very strange, but... "Oh... this isa very goodtechnique," Xie Qing was pleasantly surprised. A techniquethat epassedseveraltechniquesat once was usually created in ancient times and belonged to the Legendary category. And although Xie Qing could not ovee this threshold, he was still d of his achievement. "Such moments of concentration arevery valuable. Who would have thought that this journey would be so fruitful!" Perhaps this was the legendary blessing of the Heavens? Xie Qing wasnot sureabout this, but he was stillvery happy. So it''s no wonder that in the next second, he began to check his new technique. And the result pleasantly surprised him. "Invisibility works great, to be honest. I''m not sure how effective it is. The only downside is that if you stand still for too long, especially in the light, the technique stops working!" Xie Qing concluded and checked the other technique: "And now... Love of the Moon Goddess ¨C Crescent Moon!" And, obeying hismand, the lunar shadow on the ground gained volume and turned into a crescent moon five centimeters thick.Flying like a boomerang,the crescent moon flew by Xie Qing''s desire. "Oh, this is not a one-time attack! You can control it? Amazing..." After trying it a little more, Xie Qingwas convincedof his assumption. He could evenmand this crescent moon to follow acertainobject. Then, restoring his Qi, Xie Qing tried thest technique. "So... Love of the Moon Goddess ¨C Full Moon!" Swoosh! The moonlight on the groundbegan to stretchtowards Xie Qing and surrounded him from all sides. Then, gaining material form, the moonlight turned into a spherical dome that covered Xie Qing from all sides. "Interesting!" The young man touched the barrier with his finger and clicked his tongue.This barrier could not be broken even by him, provided that he did not exhaust all his Qi. Blocking an attack from a cultivator at the peak of Soul Nascent would be easy. "However, although the techniques areindeedwonderful, there is one downside!" Xie Qing withdrew his Qi, and the moonlight returned to its ce. He looked at the sky: "This technique is strong in moonlight. Although it also works during the day, it is weaker than at night. That''s why the technique is only of the Elite rank, even though it''s almost Legendary." To some extent,this was a fatal problem, but still, the technique wasworth it.For example, even ifhedidn''t use this technique often,hecould always sell it to enthusiasts. Those who could create their techniques were always famous and respected. Especiallyif it concerned the path of the sword. "In normal times, I would hide these techniques for myself, but now is not the most peaceful time," the young man thought and sighed, shaking his head: "So be it. I''ll put it up for sale...at an inted price." Since there were few sword techniquespared to other branches,it could be saidthat they were worth their weight in gold. "I''ll be rich!" Xie Qing thought with a smile. *** Inthe eastern part of the Southern Continent, the weather was humid and mostly spring-like.But in the northern part... "It''s so hot... I''m going to die..." Hundreds of miles of desert without food and water.Even though Xie Qing''s body was well-trained and he was a cultivator who didn''t need water and food... "I want to drink..." He was not used to such weather. He had identally ended up in the desert part of the Southern Continent,which wascalled the "Desert of Death".Here, even cultivators could die from the heat. Before, this ce was fertilend, but ording to legends, when the Three-Legged Crow of the Immortal level fell into the mortal world, its corpse turnedthis ceinto a desert. And even millions of yearster, the drought continued. "Ah, how good it was in the city. I could drink wine, flirt with girls...and now, I can only eat sand and look at ugly sandworms!" Xie Qing wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn''te. *** "Finally..." He had to resort to tricks. He bought a carriage. [Heavenly Lord''s Carriage] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: A carriage thatis controlledby horses made of Qi. They have wings and can fly tirelessly. The interior spaceis expanded] It cost him 89,999 Spiritual Stones. It didn''t haveparticrly strongprotection, but its feature was that it wasvery fast. Thanks to this carriage, hewas able toreach the city in a week. Of course, calling it acitywas a stretch ¨C it was more like a vige. But for Xie Qing, to seend instead of sand and people instead of disgusting worms...well,justlook at his reaction. "Decided! TodayI''mtreating all thedies to drinks!" Xie Qing shouted with a bright smile, weakly dancing. His carriage disappeared into the air, and he began to fall. The young man had a bright smile on his face. "Wait for me ¨C wine, bed, and beauties!" The guards looked up in amazement, and then... "What the fuck?!" "Fuckin'' hell! He''s falling! Save yourselves, you fools!" "Crazy! Fuck!" BOOM! Xie Qing used Expert Control at thest moment to avoid a direct hit, but the impact of thending was still there. The guards fell to the ground, and someone even fell face-first into horse manure. Looking at this whole scene, Xie Qing awkwardly smiled. "Ah, I didn''t think I''d pick up speed so quickly... I''m sorry!" The guards clenched their teeth and thought: "Bastard! Couldn''t yound normally?!" "I want to beat him up so badly... but he''s a hundred percent going to kill me first." "Monster... falling from such a height and surviving. That''s who you should be afraid of...and those devilish cultivators are just babies. They should be sucking their mother''s milk..." Chapter 138: Wang Feifei Yao Cheng was a city where merchants and alchemists gathered, with thetter having the highest influence.The sphere of influence of the Nine Pills Sect was mainly spreadacross other continents, but not all cities had the honor of having their own branches. "Unfortunately, I expected to see their branch here. They have quite good recipe books!" sighed Xie Qing. However, even if the city did not have such high-quality books, there was still something to see. People were also looking for alchemists who would sell them pills. "It seems that there isrtively free trade in pills and openpetition here.But, of course, you need to find out first which trading organization epts the best terms." Xie Qing wandered around the city and asked about it. Although money was not his primary necessity, considering his current financial stability, he still wanted to gainsomefunds for the road. His hobby, which he inherited from hisMaster- collecting expensive spiritual wine and drinking it on special days after some time, hit his wallet hard. "Although it isvery expensive, in the long life of a cultivator, a hobby is what needs to be valued. That''s why I have a collection of all the works of the great artist Haose De!" ...perhaps some began to admire his love for art. However, the artist named Haose De...was a porn artist.His works were soldin an instant, and Xie Qing even exchanged letters with him, not hiding his identity. The artist happily provided him with all the works for agoodsum. And Xie Qing had so many of these works that they could fill an entire room. All these "treasures" he carefully carries in a spatial ring, which he always keeps with him. If you are interested in the total number of these works that Xie Qing has, then there are 17,524 of them. "Heh, it''s time to milk the clients... I mean, show my skills!" *** Skipping therathertedious process of pill refining...Xie Qing set a box with twenty vials filled to the brim with pills in front of him. "And so... this is thest batch. I have a total of five boxes. In total, this is...a hundred vials of pills! I think I''ll be able to sell them at a good price!" Although these pills were not particrly rare - their name was "Wisdom Pill," which helped cultivators from Foundation Building to Qi Condensation meditatemore easily, theywere valuedon the market, but not so much that there was a battle for them. For such a vial, a fair price would be 240 Spiritual Stones. As a result, Xie Qing, under the best conditions withouttaking into ountall the expenses, will earn... 24,000 Spiritual Stones gross! Considering that he did not spend much time on it, it was already good. "Moreover, there is no guarantee that the price will remain at market level. After all, each of these pills is purified by 97%!" Xie Qing smiled: "Not many people know about my achievements in alchemy... so I can juste up with a new pseudonym for myself." For a cultivator,it wasnormalto haveseveral pseudonyms and hidden identities to have a trump card in case of anything.Xie Qing wantedto havetwo images - one of a genius swordsman and the other of a genius alchemist.Thiswas, at least, his current goal. "I want to develop. Now is the time to show off my talent as much as possible.Thisis a chance for every genius!" Difficult times created strong people. Therefore, Xie Qing understood that thepetition would be great.However, if he could stand out,his name would be heard by everyone. And ording to his exnations, he did it all forveryimportantreasons..."I want to one day pull off my mask and say: ''Ha ha, bastards. You thought I was Ge Hong (pseudonym made up just now), but no, I am Xie Qing!''... something like that."...I will notment on this. *** Commerce ''Silver Moon.'' An organization ofmerchants,and one of thergest, if not thergest, organizations. Their influence covers the entire Dynasty and goes beyond the borders of one continent. They have a lot of money.A lot.Most sects,especiallyrgeones, are financed directly by them,andtheyhave arge share and a lot of power. Their leader''s name was Wang Feifei. She was the one who ran this entire organization. However, what was surprising and oh, Heaven...what a coincidence! "Lady Wang Feifei! I''m sorry for making you wait! I didn''t expect you toe to such an insignificant ce!" In the city of Yao Cheng, in the mayor''s residence, in a luxuriously decorated room with two sofas facing each other and separated by a tea table, two people sat.One of them was themayor of the city, hisname was Zhou Xiaolong. Despite hisrathercute name (Little Dragon), he did not lookvery attractive. He was short, overweight, andlooked unhealthy. There were many pimples on his face, and his whole body looked weak. In contrast to him, Wang Feifeilookedquite attractive. She had long, slender legs - shewas dressedin a red qipao. Her hair, as if tempered by fire,was neatly braided into one braid.Her eyes, like molten gold - shonebrightly,but gave off coldness.Her chest could beparedto Xu Mei''s. "Mayor Zhou... I am in this city in passing. I decided to look at how the construction of our branch isgoing" began the conversation Wang Feifei in a businesslike tone, not paying attention to the hints of Zhou Xiaolong: "I would like to ask about some rumors before everything continues." "Of-of course,dy! No problem! I will satisfy your requests, no matter how difficult they are!" ttered the mayor with a ttering smile. He was like obsequious eunuchs at the emperor, who at any time were ready to lick the boots of theirmasterto a shine. Fortunately or unfortunately for Zhou Xiaolong, Wang Feifei was not one of those who liked ttery, let alone having her boots licked. She always kept herself cold and only raised topics about business. Narrowing her beautiful golden eyes, she asked one question that interested her: "I heardthat an alchemist appearedwho can purify pills up to 98%.I amvery curiousto learn about hisidentity,because, surprisingly, my subordinates were unable to see through hispast" exined her question Wang Feifei. "Ah, amazingly, but this time I guessed the question of the Lady..." smiled the mayor and, seeing that the cold gaze of Wang Feifei intensified, he awkwardly coughed and changed the subject: "Well, what I know is hardly likely to satisfy the curiosity of thedy, but at least I will tell you everything I know." "..." "...The man is called Gu Heng. I can assume that this is a pseudonym. He has another name...um...but it seems to be faketoo. We believe he is rted to the Sect of Heavenly Sword, but mostlikelyit is a forgery. Unfortunately, I dare not pronounce this fakename" said the mayor with embarrassmenton his face. "Hm? What is this fake name?" The mayor almost lost consciousness. He was alreadyveryembarrassed to talk about it, but this woman wanted him to say that name. "Please spare medy" the mayor bitterly smiled. "Stop dragging it out, Zhou Xiaolong. I swear by the Heavens, I will not harm you!" Wang Feifei scowled and shouted. "His... um..." "Zhou Xiaolong! Are you doubting me?!" The poor mayor wanted to cry, but he had no tears. Woman, are you seriously insisting on this? However, there was no other choice but to say this name and... "Cao Ni Ma... um... that''s what he''s called..." "What?!" Wang Feifei, being aratherlong-lived cultivator, for the firsttimelost the power of speech and could not understand what to answer to this. Although her facedid not express anything, she could not help but feel annoyance and shame. Nowit''sno wonder that the mayor was so embarrassed! In addition to the fact that hewas forcedto utter such a rude insult... It was also in front of her - the head of a major tradingorganization,andfirstof all, a woman! "This..." The woman fell silent. She didn''t even know how to react to this. Could there be anyone with such a humiliating name? "This..." The woman thought. She even didn''t know how to react to this. Could there be anyone with such a humiliating name? "This... is definitely a fake identity.TheSect of Heavenly Sword, although ithas reliable tokens,mostlythey canbe simtedwith the help of experienced formation masters..."Wang Feifei thought and narrowed her eyes: "If the sect learns about such an incident, they may even kill this cultivator. Therefore, I should use this fact as a lever of pressure." An alchemist who can purify pills so well cannot beanordinaryperson.To recruit such a person,a lot of effort had to be applied.Wang Feifei, as a businessman first of all, was ready to use cunning methods to achieve her goal. "But still... this person must be very cynical to choose such a pseudonym..." thought Wang Feifei, clicking her tongue: "For some reason, I feel like I won''t get along with him." *** "Achoo..." Xie Qing sneezed and wiped his nose, puzzledly looking out the window: "Damn, beautiful women are thinking about me again. I can''t even rest on my day off...sigh!" Nowhewas in a rented two-story house. He was sitting in the bedroom and drinking wine. And when he looked at the stars... Knock-knock. "Hm?" In his field of vision, outside the window, a creature appeared. When the moonlight illuminated it, Xie Qing was surprised. "An owl? I thought they were extinct..." Silver Owl-a special kind of spiritualcreature,whichis not easy to tame.Their feathersare soldat a high price as a material for alchemy, and the meat has concentrated Yin energy in it, and female cultivators often buy it. Therefore, their poption was low and was under protection. "Hm? Does it have a letter in its hands?" Xie Qing wrinkled his surprised face: "Maybe I was invited to a magic academy or something?" Chapter 139: Letter Xie Qing was in his rented house. In front of him was a pot filled with herbs of different colors and aromas. "So... In pill refining, the most important thing is to maintain the right temperature." The young man had been mastering new techniques and recipes for a long time, eventually forming his own efficient one. Although his me had no special qualities, it was powerful enough and good enough to refine quiteplex pills. In the end, thanks to the fact that he was getting better and better with each pill, he was able to reach for high-level pills. "So... It looks like everything is ready." Xie Qing sighed and summoned up his courage: "If I can''t do it, I''ll blow this pot to hell." ...the pot would have released cold sweat, hearing such a thing about itself. However, fortunately, it was just an object. In the end, after a long cooking process, Xie Qing was able to make a single pill. "Ascension Pill... Special properties - elerates the mastery of Qi, and also contributes to its purification." Quite a valuable pill, considering it could help even cultivators at Divine Transformation. True, the herbs were not cheap either. The total cost of these herbs was 5,000 Spiritual Stones. "However, you can sell it for twice as much." Xie Qing rubbed his hands and smiled. "I''ll get rich!" Considering that his pills were almost close to perfect purity, there was a good chance to sell more expensive. Xie Qing was excited. Although he believed that the path of the sword was ideal for him, it would not be bad to do something else. And considering that he had a good talent for alchemy, he wanted to develop in this direction. And with such a mood, he spent the whole evening. *** The city of Yao Cheng, as expected, attracted a lot of attention due to the mysterious wandering alchemist Gu Heng. And here he was, the one they were talking about, sitting in his room. He had long finished making the pill and was now reading a letter. Since Xie Qing was busy earlier, he put off the letter until better times. However, when he was free, his curiosity got the better of him. "''Silver Moon'' Commerce? Sounds familiar..." The letter was from a person named Wang Feifei, addressing him with a proposal for cooperation and expressing a desire to meet. A quite formal and polite letter. However, after racking his brains, Xie Qing remembered this name. "Ah, an old acquaintance of my mother''s..." It was she who helped Xie Meiling hide in the capital because of a debt. Therefore, Xie Qing had a more or less neutral attitude towards her. If we talk about rumors, then her personality was arrogant, proud, and cold. She was simr to those people who are hard to get along with. Moreover, he was wary. It was unknown what this woman could offer him at a personal meeting, so it was necessary to be careful and do everything without foolishness. The very thought of trade was sound. As the head of the family, he should have thought at least a little about the financial flow to ensure growth. "Wang Feifei... I wonder what she''s like." Xie Qing decided to agree. But of course, he did not trust her. He had several rescue tokens that could block the strike of a cultivator at the peak of Divine Transformation. And, apparently, if he wanted to express his intention to meet, it was enough for him to simply burn the letter with alchemical me. "And what if I burned it right away?" He wondered, but did as the letter said. Fuuush. The me instantly engulfed the letter and the letter burned. At the same time, Xie Qing clearly felt the appearance of a formation that sent a signal towards the mayor''s mansion. "Interesting." He instantly read the formation. It wasposed of three different formations. Waving his hand, he changed something and smiled quite a bit. "Good thing I trained in this." *** Wang Feifei was sitting in the room allocated to her by the mayor. She was drinking tea and reading a book when suddenly a white glow flew into the window. "Hmmm?" The woman waved her hand and easily caught the light. She clenched and unclenched her fist, then closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she opened them with a satisfied smile. "Interesting. He agreed, but... What surprised me more was that he was able to change the activated formation and prevent the recording of his appearance." Reconnaissance Formation - simple enough in name, but a very heavy formation. It consists of several formations. First, it delivers information to the specified location or person - the range should not exceed a hundred miles. Second, it makes a recording of the surroundings. Third, it records information about the target. However, the mysterious Gu Heng was able to change the already activated formation (this was very difficult) and removed thest two most important formations. Therefore, Wang Feifei was genuinely impressed. She was somewhat versed in formations, but still understood how difficult it was. "It seems that I have met not only a good alchemist, but also a formation expert. I think Heaven has blessed me this time." She seductively smiled and licked her cherry lips. *** Two dayster. There was a knock on Xie Qing''s house. "And here they are... One person feels like a mortal, and the other is a cultivator at the Soul Nascent." For Xie Qing, this was not so dangerous, but he did not lose vignce. It was up to the butler to meet them in person. The young man could hear their dialogue on the first floor. And, after a minute, they began to climb the stairs. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. "The one at the Soul Nascent has a light and silent gait. The perfect assassin." he analyzed, and then narrowed his eyes even more: "And the one without cultivation... Hmmm..." It seemed that a person without cultivation, but it was from him that Xie Qing felt danger. It''s simple. This person was too ordinary. "Ordinary breathing, ordinary gait... However, my sixth sense is screaming of danger." And when he saw that the door opened, Xie Qing fell silent. "A woman? It was from her that I felt danger." Two people entered the room. The butler closed the door behind them. The woman looked very beautiful. She had long and slender legs, as well as red hair and golden eyes. The cultivator apanying her was dressed in a spacious ck robe. Xie Qing wore a mask on his face - this mask was bought from the system. It does not allow other creatures to recognize his face. Even Xu Mei would face an obstacle if she tried to do this. "Wee to my humble abode... Make yourself at home." "Mr. Gu Heng. Thank you for your hospitality," the woman - Wang Feifei, nodded and smiled. "It is my duty to meet a beautifuldy, but I apologize, I was too focused on pill refining." With a polite smile, Xie Qing said and looked at the standing cultivator behind him: "You can also sit down. I don''t mind." "I apologize... I prefer to stand." "Heh." She was clearly wary of Xie Qing. However, the young man was not thick-skinned enough to persuade a stranger. And he was not patient either. Therefore, he immediately went to the point. "Lady, it seems that you have some knowledge about me." Xie Qing said and narrowed his eyes: "I would like to know your name..." "Ah, where are my manners... Mr. Gu Heng is absolutely right." Wang Feifei smiled and continued: "I am Wang Feifei. My humble name may be unknown to Mr., but in fact I am the head of arge trading organization." "Oh, really?" Xie Qing nodded with false surprise. He also allowed his eyes to show respect. Wang Feifei nodded. "Mr. is too busy a person, so Wang Feifei will not waste your time in vain. My intention was to meet with you for the purpose of recruiting, as well as offering a mutually beneficial cooperation." Finally, Wang Feifei began the main conversation with a serious face: "In this world, there is nothing that my hands cannot reach. I can offer you a high sry, beautiful women, and a huge mansion..." "Hoo? It seems that Lady Wang is indeed resolute. I''m impressed." Xie Qing smiled: "I am open for cooperation, but if we are talking about getting a job, then I am forced to refuse. I don''t like to stay in one ce." "Hmm..." Wang Feifei frowned. Cooperation was not a bad result, but she hoped to recruit such a master thoroughly. Therefore, she could not let him go. How could she miss such a tasty piece? She thought. "It is not surprising that an alchemist wants freedom. However, I cannot allow this to happen, as I need to build up my influence as quickly as possible. Hard times areing, and for traders, this is like a gold mine". Chapter 140: Deal Wang Feifei looked thoughtful.Although it would be easier for hertosimplykidnap this alchemist...herreputation would sufferin that case. "Ah... to do..." She frowned. These were turbulent timesandthere was a high price on various spiritual items, including pills. Although the Sect of Nine Pills was able to meet current pill needs, it was only temporary. Soon, the pill market was likely to be an expensive anddifficultce to ess. So the appearance of Gu Hen was almost a blessing for Wang Feifei. "Freedom... at thistimeI''m not sure I can give you that," Wang Feifei replied after thinking, "So, to avoid causing each other trouble, I propose the following." "I''m all ears." "I''m ready to cooperate instead of hiring. I think it will be much easier for you that way. Side A - that is, my organization will finance you and provide herbs, while your obligation, as Side B, will be to provide the prepared pills on time with a certain quality and purity," Wang Feifei began to speak, lookingserious. She took out two papers: "This is a contract of equal trade. You can read each pointandif you have any questions, please ask me." "How kind of you." Xie Qing smiled warmly and took the document. He carefully read each line and examined it for formations that couldthenforge his spiritual trace and hide hidden conditions. However, it seemed he was worried for nothing, as there was nothingof the sort. To summarize all the conditions, Side A is obliged to pay for the services of SideB,andinaddition, to provide the necessary recipes and ingredients. Additional costs are also covered. Side B is obliged to prepare the pills within the specified time frame and then send the pills to the specified address within three working days. The pills must also have a purity of at least 90%. For higher levels of purity,a +2% increase was addedto the final payment. "The terms are good, Ihave noints on my part," Xie Qing replied and smiled, snapping his fingers: "I agree." Wang Feifei smiled contentedly. She waved her handandthe cultivator standing behind her bowed and then took something out of his spatial ring. "Hmm? What is that, Lady Wang?" Xie Qing asked, raising an eyebrow. In her hand, the woman held a small ck object, but she was covering it with her hand, so Xie Qing didn''t have time to see what it was. However, he didn''t have to wait long. Wang Feifei held out the object to Xie Qing and exined. "This is a cauldron. Its name is ''Eight Trigrams Cauldron''. Although the name is awe-inspiring, its main functions are to significantly increasethe efficiency of purification, enhance the pill by 0.5 times, and hardness. It can also be reduced in size, which is suitable for travel." "Ooh..." Xie Qing raised an eyebrow in surprise. It turned out to be an alchemy cauldron. And not a simple one, but one that looked extremely expensive. "Are you sure? I would feel ufortable taking such a valuable gift," Xie Qing said and smiled: "Maybe you want something in exchange?" "Oh... Sir Gu Hen is so polite," Wang Feifei nodded and stopped trying to change the subject: "My stay in this city is limitedandunfortunatelyit will beextremely difficultfor me to maintain further contact. Therefore, I would like you to help me with some pills first. Of course, I will give you the cauldron for free." "No problem. If you want me to make pills, it''s simple - give me the ingredientsandI''ll be ready," Xie Qing repliednonchntly: "And, by the looks of it, you''re eager to see how I make pills?" "I must admit, I''m excited. It''s the first time I''ve met such a young alchemist who can purify pills so exquisitely," Wang Feifei replied, but despite her words, the expression on thisdy''s face was indifferent: "May I watch? Of course, I''m willing to pay." "No problem. 17,000 Spirit StonesandI''ll show you the process without a problem," Xie Qing named the price shamelessly. And then he thought to himself: "Young? Can she see my age? I''ve been hiding well..." "Fair enough..." Wang Feifei didn''t even flinch, handing over 17,000 Spirit Stones in the spatial ring. The young man made sure that the promised amount was there and nodded. "Then please follow me." In the house that Xie Qing had rented, there was a separate room for alchemy. Not to say it was mega-cool, but it had pretty good features. "Protection, soundproofing, and an exhaust formation," Wang Feifeimented, raising an eyebrow: "Not bad, but why is there no Qi condensation formation, storage, and concentration improvement here?" "Well... it''s allvery expensive. And I doubt I''ll need it," Xie Qing repliedin a carefree voice. "I see. I apologize for the silly question." "It''s alright." Xie Qing waved his hand. He was a Soul Nascent cultivator. Even if the cauldron exploded, hewould be able toprotect himself, so there was no problem. His cultivation technique helped himto instantly restore the spent Qi. SotheQi condensation formation was useless. And the storage... "Storage is a formation that holds a room-sized spacewith the function of creatingcategories for distributing ingredients.It consists of ten formations, so it is considered veryplex and expensive," Xie Qing recalled. cing such a formation in the room would require a lot of money,andalthough Xie Qing could afford it...there was little point. He usually bought herbs from the system store -sometimesthe pricestherewere even lower than market value. So he didn''t have to worry about buying such a formation. "So, judging by those herbs and the scales of the Evil Poisonous Lizard, you want me to create a Protection Pill, right?" "Wang Feifei is impressed by your knowledge. You understood everything correctly," the woman nodded and smiled faintly: "This pill is a bit difficult to prepare because the scales arevery difficultto melt, but I believe in your abilities." "Yeah, I believe in me too." Xie Qing shrugged nonchntly. Maybe for someone elsemeltingthe scales of the Evil Poisonous Lizard might be difficult, but his alchemical me was good enough, and his Qi reserves wererge. So already half an hourter, when he finished melting the scales, Wang Feifei narrowed her eyes in surprise. "This level almost reaches the level of a Great Alchemist. I can only admire his skills," she thoughtto herselfand looked curiously: "However, the scales can disappear almost immediately if the right formation is not applied.Forthisthere is a Qi Condensation formation, so...how will he cope?" The scales wereextremely difficultto melt, but even if you melted them, there was a high chancethat theywouldsimplyturn into air. This mystical property was still a mystery. But the alchemists found a solution. Youjustneed to feed this scale with Qi and slowly but surely mix it with other ingredients. And twenty minutester, Wang Feifei stood speechless.Forshesaw with her own eyes that the scales,even after melting, did not disappear, although Xie Qing did not activate the formations. "The only assumption is that he can easily maintain the properties of the scales with his Qi!" Wang Feifei was pleasantly surprised.If this was so, then this man could handle the rest of thedifficultpillsas well. "I... hit the jackpot!" Wang Feifei couldn''t help but smile - her smile was both greedy and mischievous, like a child who had found aninterestingtoy. Xie Qing was too focused on cooking to pay attention to Wang Feifei. And thanks to that, already two hourterthe pill was ready. "Please, take a look," Xie Qing said, holdingoutthe vial with the pill. "With your permission..." Wang Feifei nodded and opened the vial, bringing it to her nose. She took a breath and narrowed her eyes: "Amazing. I can smell the clean scent of herbs. Judging by the look of it...the purity is 97%!" Xie Qing couldn''t help but be surprised. He had seen many times that people could understand purity by touch, but this was the first time he saw someone recognize it by smell. Even he couldn''t do that. However, it seemed that Wang Feifei was too busy analyzing the pill. In the end, she couldn''t help butment. "This pill... is perfect. I estimate that even a cultivator at the peak of Soul Integration would not be able to break through the defense." "Oh? d to be of service," Xie Qing smiled, making an elegant bow. Wang Feifei stared at him intently and narrowed her eyes. Shewas preparedfor a lot, but not for the fact that this guy could make pills so well. And she began to doubt. Was it necessary to agree to ordinary trade rtions? After all, if Wang Feifei had received him as a subordinate, her ie would have doubled, and the tradingorganization Chapter 141: The banquet at Huang Jings mansion (Part 1) However, despite her doubts, Wan Feifei decided to remain neutral and not take any actions that could cause hostility between them. She took the pill, made the payment, and said her goodbyes before leaving. The cauldron also came with amunication token. As soon as the two of them left, Xie Qing''s face,whichhad beenadornedwith a bright smile, turned expressionless. "That woman is dangerous. I could sense her greed when she saw my abilities, but she seemsto besmart enough not to do anything stupid," he thought, narrowing his eyes and clenching his fist around the small cauldron. He looked at it curiously, wondering if its properties were as good as Wan Feifei had imed. As if in response to his curiosity,a familiar "ding" sound rang out, and a line of text appeared before him. [Eight Trigrams Cauldron] | [Rank: Legendary] | [Description: The Eight Trigrams Cauldron is one of the best cauldrons in the mortal world. It enhances the properties of pills by 0.5 times, helps to purify pills well, is very sturdy, and can transform size. If the user has a special bloodline, they can use the cauldron''s hidden ability, "Eight Trigrams," to double the pill''s properties with asmallchance.] "Impressive... item," Xie Qing marveled. ording toWan Feifei,the cauldron had good properties but could not be considered the best.Now, Xie Qing could understand why. "Special bloodline? I wonder if many people in this world have it...The powerful bloodlines of the ancient era have mostly disappeared," he thought with a hint of mncholy. "But damn it, what a coincidence. I am one of the few people with a special bloodline. What a coincidence, right?" ...whether it was a coincidence or not, it was not his concern.But, judging by the fact that Xie Qing had already started fiddling with the cauldron and trying to make something, I could exinin more detail aboutspecialbloodlines and their history. Bloodline - this word is understood by everyone.In the current cultivation world, there are only a handful of people with the bloodlines of ancient beings, but in a very weak manifestation. Xie Qing also has a special bloodline, and it canbe saidthat, although it is powerful, it is still in a dormant state. And you can only imagine what will happen if it awakens to 100%. In general, cultivators with bloodlines can develop faster, have a much stronger foundation, and inherit the dao techniques of their ancestors. For example, Yu Longfeng has atechnique, ording to Xu Mei''s story, that deprives the opponent of movement. Xie Qing assumed that this was the "Dragon''s Gaze." *** On the fifth day after Wan Feifei''s generous gift, Xie Qing gathered his belongings, said goodbye to the maids, paid thest rent, and left the city. During his time in Yao Cheng, Xie Qing umted a fortune of 875,000 spiritual stones.Thiswas arge sum forhim,but not enough for a cultivator. Many of the techniques he needed cost millions of spiritual stones, which made the young, greedy alchemist''s heart bleed. However, the fact was that the work of an alchemist was incredibly profitable. This type of business had strict requirements and needed a lot of investment, but most importantly - talent. Xie Qing was born under a lucky star and had this talent, even without the system. However, he did not know about it. One way or another, our young hero continued on his journey.The reason hedecided to travel on footwasnot because of a desire to lead a healthy lifestyle... "Khaaa! M-monster! D-damn it, spare us, okay? We''ll give you all ourloot,just don''t kill us!" "Hah, do you think I can''t strip the resources from your corpse? Or do you think I''m an idiot? It''s easier for me to turn you into a sieve than to listen to this nonsense." "P-please..." Crack! Xie Qing mercilessly broke the neck of the bandit who had attacked him a minute earlier. He then looked around and saw that no one was left alive. The fifty-member gang had beenpletely exterminated,noteven the dogs and chickens were spared. "Huh... these idiots were quite diligent.I managed to steal more than ten spatial rings, andthere aresome interesting items herethatcan be sold...but only a hundred spiritual stones.Tsk, not even enough for wine." The story was as follows. Xie Qing thought that he wascking in battles and, to avoid gettingcent, decided to travel on foot through dangerous areas where bandits lived. And, as luck would have it, he encountered them twenty minutes after entering their territory. "It seems that these guys are not quite right in the head. You''re trying to rob a person who''s walking alone and looks carefree. Don''t you think you should be more vignt? Sigh, bandits these days..." Xie Qing shook his head and scoldedthe banditsfor their stupidity. However,it should be notedthat other groups did not attack him, seeing his strength. On ordinary days, Xie Qing would havejustsneezed at them and left, but... "Sigh... Iam only drivenby the Dao of Kindness. I can''t understand why I have to have such a kind heart...Amitabha..." That night, all the groups in the "Death Zone" were exterminated. *** Jin Cheng City. Like Xie Qing''s hometown on the northern continent, this ce was considered one of therichestcities in the Dynasty. It was here that the Huang familywas located. Today, young master Huang''s mansion was bustling with activity. "Hurry, we must set up the banquet hall with all kinds of food and alcohol!Thisis the young master''s order!" "We cannot let the young master be ashamed because of our mistakes! Brothers, let''s do our best!" In the morning, the servants had received an order to prepare the banquet hall in the best possible way, from beautiful decorations to expensive alcohol and trusted allies.Thiswas because Xie Qing had sent a letter to his friend, Huang Jing, the night before, saying that hewas going tovisit him. Huang Jing could not allow Xie Qing - his benefactor - to be greeted in an ordinary, mundane way. Therefore, he did everything he could to prepare for avish wee banquet.Thisincluded inviting their mutual acquaintance, Fang Lan. "Huang Jing." Apanied by two Qi Condensation cultivators at their peak, Fang Lan entered the mansion of the young master. Shewas dressedin a beautiful red dress that emphasized her slender figure.Her ck hair was neatly tiedin a bun (it had grown back over time). "Sister Fan. It''s been a long time since west saw each other. How have you been?" Huang Jing greeted her warmly with a smile. "Sigh, things would be better if I didn''t have so many problems..." Fang Lan sighed tiredly and then began to look around. Huang Jing raised an eyebrow and thenughed, "He hasn''t arrived yet. We can wait for him here over a cup of tea. I would like to hear about your situation andthink abouthow I can help you." "T-thank you." Fang Lan blushed, and theservants,who sawthis,began to whisper to each other. "Maybe it''s because of her that the young master is having this banquet?" "No, did you not hear their conversation? It seems that they are both waiting for someone..." "Damn, it''s a pity... The young master should have taken a wife a long time ago." "Oh, don''t start..." At the same time, Huang Jing listened to Fang Lan''s situation and could not help but raise an eyebrow. "Fan Hei is so powerful? It''s amazing that he even has the support of a Soul Integration cultivator...Thisis a serious opponent." "Our family is different from yours. Even if we attract a high-level cultivator to our side - it''s good, but what is most valued is investment in business, especially in alchemy," Fang Lan exined and took a sip of tea. "And my business is too small, and due to the limited finances, I cannot fullypete with my older brother. Moreover, he is secretly causing me trouble." "I doubt that your family is unaware of his actions," Huang Jing reasoned with a sigh. "Of course, they are aware. But what do they care about such a small fry like me? Fan Hei''s business brings the family arge profit." Fang Lan twisted her mouth. It was clear that she was unhappy with her situation but also helpless. ==== *Readers should remember that I once said that bloodline and physique in the setting of my book are the same thing. However, since I did not mention this often, andthe attention was not focusedon it, now these will be two different concepts. I apologize for the confusion. **I may not have mentioned this, but there was something like a carnival mask on Xie Qing''s face that covered everything above his lips.Thisis a spiritual item thatinterferes with perception and does not allow anyone to remember the exact features of your face. Chapter 142: The banquet at Huang Jings mansion (Part 2) Huang Jing could only sigh, fully understanding Fan Lan''s situation. To cheer her up, he suddenly told her about a rumor. "As far as I remember,I was recently toldabout a rumor that a certain alchemist who can purify pills to 90% and above has visited the southern continent. His name is...let me see...Gu Heng, right?" Huang Jing raised his eyebrows and nodded, "Yes, that''s right, I remember. Gu Heng." "Never heard of him," Fan Lan repliedand tiltedher head to the side, asking, "What about you?" "I''ve never heard of him either. It can alsobe saidabout my intelligenceworks. It seems that this is one of those cultivators who were in seclusion and decided toe out into the world," Huang Jing suggested and, looking at Fan Lan, offered, "Why don''t you try to contact him? They say he''s quite friendlyandif you offer him favorable terms, he''s likely to agree." "I''d be d to... but, judging by my current financial situation, making deals with such people would be too expensive." "That''s also true. Do you want me to lend you some money?" "Everything is fine." Huang Jing could only shrug his shoulders. He and Fan Lan were acquainted thanks to Xie Qingandtheyhad good rtions. Therefore, he was not against helping his acquaintance. But it seemed that Fan Lan wascurrentlynot in such a desperate state as to take money from someone in debt. Moreover, judging by everything, her business wassomehow,but prospering. In such matters, Huang Jing was not versed. He was knowledgeable in politics, building rtionships, anbat,but not in alchemy, let alone business. These two talked on various topics,and mainlytheyrevolvedaround their specialties. Huang Jing still could not bypass Fan Lan''s problem and promised to help her by allocating several of his acquainted alchemists to her aid. And while they were discussing something, a man appeared in front of thegates of the estate. He looked, however, unparalleled. With his tall stature, he could easily eclipse other people. His ck, long hair was tied in a high ponytail, while his dark, like the night,eyesgave off coldness. Hewas dressedin a luxurious white robe with gold embroidery. A regr-looking sword was resting on his belt. "Oh, what a huge estate Huang Jing has. Although it''s not surprising, he''s rich after all," Xie Qingthought with a smile. The cultivators who guarded the entrance, noticing the presence of Xie Qing, slowly approached him. And then, after throwing a short nce at his face, they bowed. "Young master, by the order of Mr. Huang Jing, we ask you to allow us to escort you into the estate." "Oh? It seems that Brother Huang has taken care of it so that his brother can pass without any problems," Xie Qing nodded and said, "All right, I permit it." "Many thanks. Please, follow me." Xie Qing nodded, and the cultivator was able to sigh in relief. He was only at the Foundation Building stage, so even though no drop of Qiwas emanatingfrom the young man... As a cultivator, he could sense the danger. "Feels like I''m near the mouth of a tiger," one of them thought. Unconsciously for himself, even though he was restraining himself - Xie Qing was emitting an aura that repelled people weaker than him. Thiswas not rted to any technique. When a person kills their kind, they umte negative karma, even if the one killed is a criminal. Therefore, around Xie Qing, who had killed more than two hundred bandits and troublesome pursuers, there was a sharp aura of blood. *** The maids in the estate gasped and swooned, watching as an attractive young man entered the main entrance. Fan Lan and Huang Jing,who weresitting with their backs to him, did not notice him right away. "Oh?" Xie Qing smiled and decided to have some fun.He maximally muted the sound of hissteps,andthenstealthily approached Fan Lan from behind. Of course, by that time, Huang Jing had noticed him, but he pretended not to see anything. He was also not against teasing the serious and downcast girl. And so, while the girl was lively telling him something... Pinch. "GHIIIIYA!" She let out a strange cry and sharply turned her head back.Xie Qing was slightly surprised by such an exaggerated reaction, butthere was a mischievous smile on his face, like a child who had made a prank. "X-Xie Qing? Why did you pinch me?" Fan Lan finally came to her senses and puffed up her cheeks in annoyance. "You were so concentrated that it seemed to me that it would be fun. I''m sorry," Xie Qing replied with augh. Huang Jingwas friendlysmiling, like a father watching his children...oy, wait, that doesn''t sound right. "You must have ovee a long journey. Chen Hui, bring a chair for our guest," Huang Jing said, but then he fell silent and continued, "...although, I think our guest will do without it..." The reason for his reaction was simple... "A-a-a?! B-but I''m in a dress!" "Not a problem. I have a nket with me. It''s a bit chilly in the estate, youwon''t catch a cold." "Uuu..." Huang Jing shook his head. A second earlier, Xie Qing hadsimplypicked up Fan Lan, sat on a chair, and ced her on hisp. "Brother Xie, I must bow to yourskills inmunicatingwith women." "What do you mean?" Xie Qing looked at him in confusion, "I just didn''t want to bother the servants." "Oh,soyou do it unconsciously... that sounds even worse." Poor Huang Jing could only sigh, sincerely not understanding how Xie Qing''s brainwas wired. And, seeing his genuinely confused face, one could only trust the young man''s words that he had done it identally. However, one way or another, Huang Jing decided not to pay attention. *** After the servants brought Xie Qing a ss of wine (he didn''t particrly like tea), Fan Lan also managed to get used to her position, and Huang Jing sessfully changed the topic. "You''re saying you have problems, Lan?" Xie Qing raised his eyebrows and smiled, "If this problem is rted to pills, then it''s not a problemat all!" "Oh? Tell me more. I also want to help," Huang Jing said with interest. "Well..." Xie Qing looked at the servants. Huang Jing noticed his gaze and waved his hand.Thiswas a signal for the servants to leave. Two minutester, there was no one around who could eavesdrop. Therefore, Xie Qing told them something. "You must have heard of the alchemist Gu Heng, right? The one who can easily purify pills up to 97% purity," Xie Qing began to speak, and, seeing that these two nodded, he continued, adjusting the hem of Fan Lan''s dress, "Well then... let''s say that I know this person well..." "''Well''?" Fan Lan asked. "How ''well'' do you know him?" Huang Jing added, narrowing his eyes. However, Xie Qing only smiled and pointed with his chin to his empty ss. Huang Jing was at a loss for words. "You''ve already drunk it all? Maybe part of your pseudonym ''Destroying'' refers to wine reserves?" "Maybe it does, haha..." Xie Qingughed loudly, and Huang Jing and Fan Lan smiled. There was nowhere to go - Huang Jing tookoutspiritual wine from his spatial ring and poured it into the ss himself. "Here you go. And now, our alcoholic, tell us more about it. If you introduce me to this person, I''m not against giving you5boxes of spiritual wine." "Really?" Xie Qing''s eyes sparkled, "If so, there''s no turning back." "I swear by the honor of the Huang family!" Xie Qing was silent for some time, and then he smiled. "Then,meet,Brother Huang..." Xie Qing began to speak, making the man feel something strange. And then the young man pointed to himself with his index finger, "The esteemed Mr. Gu Heng greets the young master Huang Jing." "Hm?" *** It took several minutes for Huang Jing and Fan Lan toe to their senses. And when they did, they asked the same question simultaneously. "Are you kidding?" "Hahaha... that''s rude, you know. I never lie." Thiswas a weighty argument. Huang Jing shook his head and couldn''t help but clutch his heart. "M-my precious collection..." "Hehe, there''s no turning back!" "You sound like a viin..." Fan Lan rolled her eyes. Xie Qing only shrugged his shoulders. If he could get wine for free, he would get wine for free. And, technically, he didn''t deceive them. "I studied alchemy just so I could make pills for myself while traveling, but it turns out that this can be a source of ie," Xie Qing said with a smile, "And recently, I''ve signed a contract with arge trading organization. So, even though I have to make pills for them within a limited time frame, I still have time to help you, Lan." "Oh, well..." Fan Lan hesitated and,after thinking for a moment, nodded with embarrassment. "I''m sorry for dragging you into this." "It''s all good. You helped me during the inheritance war, after all." Xie Qing was casually smiling, sipping wine, and Huang Jing was limited to tea - he had principles about drinking only in the evenings. And Fan Lan...well, she didn''t particrly like wine. To be more precise, she didn''t like getting drunk. So, it turned into a peculiar tea party.One was drinking wine and telling stories, and theothers were drinking tea and asking about something. *** An hourter, the banquet sessfully began.Xie Qing had changed into more formal attire, and his noble appearance attracted attention. It was the same hanfu,butnot the usual white, but red with gold patterns. The difference was the long sleeves andthe wide belt with dragon patterns. The robe reached down to his feet. Of course, you couldn''t wear such an outfit forbat, but for banquets and official meetings- it was quite suitable.This set of clothes Xie Qing received as an imperial censor, but he had not yet worn it. And his noble appearance instantly won the hearts of the guests. Chapter 143: Mai Dong Before thevish ball began, Xie Qing was puzzled about what to wear. So, when hewas searchingin his spatial rings for something that might fit, he found a forgotten set of clothes. The Imperial Censor used to be something like a first-rank official, but now he was just for decoration.However, the uniform remained the same, soin the eyes of all those present... Xie Qing,who waswearing these clothes,was openly supportingHuang Jing! And when Huang Jing told Xie Qing about this, he just shrugged his shoulders and said: "Isn''t it better? Although I didn''t know this, at least I helped you. Not a bad result, right?" "I don''t deny it, but be more careful next time," Huang Jing said tiredly. "Ha-ha-ha, rx, man! " Xie Qingughedcarelessly,andthen leaned towards Huang Jing''s ear: "Listen, there are so many beauties here, maybe we can find someone for you?" "Hey, are you trying to be my matchmaker?" "Why not? I would like to see my grandchildren!" "...You know, I can hit you." And while these two were joking with each other, a woman in a beautiful dress entered the spacious ballroom. At the sight of her, all those present - men and even women - could not help but cast an admiring look at her. "Oh, look, it''s your favorite Fang Lan," Huang Jingsaid with a smile. Indeed, the girl who entered the hall was none other than Fang Lan, who had changed her dress to a more festive one. Her light-blue hanfu with a long robe and luxurious jewelry attracted attention to herself. Moreover, shewas wearing makeup today, which madeher twice as beautiful.Her eyes were highlightedwith red shadows, andher lips were paintedwith light-red lipstick. Even Xie Qing, whowas ustomedto female beauty, was speechless for a moment. He could only stare at her beautiful appearance like a log for some time. "Hm?" He secretly pinched himself. Xie Qing felt a little embarrassed. "I must have been lost in thought." Well...no matter how much he tried to pretend to be anadult,in the world ofcultivation,and among mortals, a 19-year-old guy was still a teenager (people lived longer here), so his reaction wasnormal. Fang Lan was also surprised when she saw that Xie Qing could not take his eyes off her. She felt acertainpleasure in her chestandher red lips involuntarily rose in a smile. As she approached the two guys who had already managed to take three sses, she snorted. "I thought you woulde in your usual clothes." "Don''tpare me tohim,I often visit such cesandI know the etiquette and dress code," Huang Jing said, distorting the corners of his mouth and pointing his left thumb at Xie Qing: "So all the questions are to him." "Hey-ey... what kind of questions can there be to me? Look at howI''m dressed. Wherever I go, I always have the looks of hot women.Thisalone confirms that I am beautiful!" Xie Qing said arrogantly, proudly puffingouthis chest with a sly smile. He looked at Fang Lan and said to her: "Lan, I''ve decided that we need to find a bride for our Huang Jing. What do you think? There are many beautifuldies here..." "Are you kidding? We''ve already talked about this...I prefer freedom!" "Hee-hee..." The guests standing in the distance could only sigh heavily. Manyof themwanted to approach Xie Qing and talk to him, but next to this guy was such an unapproachable aura. Moreover, who could dare to talk to him, especially remembering his skills? As for thedies...among them,there were no brave ones whocould approach him. So the guests had to sigh, watching how the three teenagers...or rather, one teenager and two middle-aged people weremunicating. *** Huang Jing was thehost of the banquet, so he could not devote all his time to Xie Qing and Fang Lan. At the same time, Fang Lanherselfneeded to establish new connectionsat least, as her businessneeded investments.Although Xie Qing could buy and give her pills at his own expense... "No." "Why not? " Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, looking at Fang Lan: "It''s not difficult for me." "I can''t always take advantage of your kindness.Moreover,this businessis partly ownedby my family, so I don''t want you to spend money unnecessarily!"Fang Lan exined and distorted the corners of her mouth: "Moreover, I can''t just ept kindness. I will provide you with ingredients and payment for the work." "Hmm? I agree about thepart of the ingredientsif you want it so much," Xie Qing nodded, shrugging his shoulders. However, then he leaned forward, embraced the girl by the waist, and bit her earlobe, making Fang Lan shudder. Then he whispered: "However, I will ept the payment for the work... only in the formthat isfamiliar to us. Do you understand?" "L-let go of me... p-please, I need to have time to establish connections before the end of the ball..." Fang Lan blushed and felt her legs go numb. Xie Qing smiled and let her go. The girl immediately ran away. Several people were watching this, but as soon as Xie Qing gave them an indifferent look, they immediately pretended to be deaf, blind, and mute. "Hmph! Only I can see her blushing face, you bastards!" Xie Qing thought, snorting. ...well, a hopeless case. *** The ball was...extremelyboring for Xie Qing. Yes, there were many beauties here, but most of them were either underage or married. "Of course, the fact that they are married will not stop me, but... all of them... um..." Most of these married women...mostly looked like they had escaped from a BDSM story. Moreover, thekeytag was "guy is passive"! And Xie Qing, excuse me, did not like that very much. So he could only sadly hide in a corner and drink wine. And, to his great fortune, after a long time, when the ball was alreadying to an end, several people finally approached him. "Young Master Xie, I apologize for disturbing you..." a chubby man with gray hair and a long beard addressed him. He was taller than Xie Qing by several centimeters. "You''re not disturbing me. Hello," Xie Qing nodded, sipping wine. "Oh, wonderful. I am a representative of the ''Silver Moon'' Commerce. Can we talk in a more secluded setting?" "Oh?" Xie Qing smiled faintly, and his eyes narrowed. A representative of the ''Silver Moon'' Commerce... these guys with whom he had a contract for pills. The fact thathis identity was revealedwas equal to zero. Therefore... "Let''s go," Xie Qing nodded and waved his hand, summoning a servant: "Prepare a room with soundproofing." "Yes, sir." *** "Here it is.Thisis a gift from our organizationfor the fact thatwe so rudely interrupted you at the ball. I ask the young master to ept this modest gift!" the man said with a smile, putting a spatial ring on the table and pushing it towards Xie Qing. "Oh, you shouldn''t have... but it''s rude to refuse a gift, so I''ll dly ept it," Xie Qing replied with a shameless smile. The man just nodded. By the way, his name was Mai Dong. Xie Qing quickly examined the ring, and there were about 12,000 Spiritual Stones and a pill that amused him. "Protection Pill... and with such purity. Ha-ha-ha, this is my own prepared pill. They took it for this?" Although he wasughing, it was in his thoughts. Mai Dong only saw that Xie Qingthrew a short nceat thecontents,and then put it in his pocket. "Well, young master. I don''t want to take up more of your valuable time than necessary, so I want to get to the point of our offer!" Mai Dong saidin aseriousvoice: "Our leader would like you to help us escort an important caravan. Its final destination is close to the seal, so we need strong cultivators." "Oh, really?" Xie Qing nodded. Of course, it was dangerous near the seal, but there wereimportantfortifications and cities there, created for emergency response in case of danger. Sometimes, on the order of the Dynasty or the sects,goods were deliveredthere. The ''Silver Moon'' Commerce was not oneof thosewho would stop at such a benefit. "And so... this zone is quite dangerous.It should be mentionedthat it would be more advantageous for you to enlist the support of more powerful cultivators, right?" Xie Qing asked with a smile. "Well..." "Or is the reason that these cultivators have refused? A reasonable decision. After all, even a cultivator of the Soul Integration stage is in danger there," Xie Qing nodded, not paying attention to Mai Dong''s pale face: "And therefore, you should understand that as a cultivator of the Soul Nascent stage, I can be subjected to a much greater danger if I go there. So why do you think I will agree? Or do you have something that can attract my attention?" Chapter 144: Matchmaking for Brother Huang! Mai Dong fell silent and could only nod.It was expectedthat convincing Xie Qing would not be easy. The thing was,with the avable resources of the "Silver Moon" Commerce, it would not be a problem to hire even someone at the Soul Integration level.However, all of themwithoutexceptionhad refused! And those who were weaker, at the Soul Nascent level, were not known for their strength. And if some were strong, they also refused. Although the scent of money is sweet, it cannot hide the stench of death. Therefore, in order not to leave only bones in some remote rural areas, cultivators refused. And this put Commerce in a predicament.In the past years,there were no such problems, but now...the activation of the devilish cultivators has made many tense. Xie Qing drank the wine and sighed. "Youdounderstand that you are asking cultivators at the fifth stage of the Soul Nascent to go to certain death, right?No amount of money can help me if a monster infected with devilish qi appears during the journey," Xie Qing exined his position: "And you, as you already know, such monsters have at least the Core Formation level, which poses a danger if they attack in a crowd. And they love to do that." "I understand your position..." Mai Dong also understoodthathe could not force Xie Qing to agreeto this.Sinceit was no longer possible to tempt him further. "I apologize for taking up your time," said Mai Dong and stood up, bowing: "I will leave you." "Alright. Enjoy your evening." "Of course, I don''t want to miss out on such a lucrative contract... but... even I am not sure if I can handle those guys," thought Xie Qing and averted his gaze: "Besides, I will probablybe forcedto protect the annoying mortalsandif they die, I will have to pay a fine." *** The ball ended sessfully. Huang Jing looked pleased, as did Fang Lan, who was able to meet some people and create asmacquaintance. As for Xie Qing, he decided not to return to the ballroom andsimplydrank wine in solitude. It was much easier for him to endure all this boredom. And so, when the ball was over, they gathered in a group of threeagain.Now, of course, in more casual outfits. "Hehe! I was able to meet some merchants who supply ingredients at favorable prices. I think we can now start the process!" the girl said with a smile. "And I had fun at the ball. There were so many familiar faces," Huang Jing said with a smile. "And I drank wine. It was delicious," Xie Qing nodded. "Eh?" "Hm?" The duo could not help but look at the young manwho wasstill drinking wine. They were puzzled. "Didn''t a representative of the merchant Commercee to you? I thought you had made a deal," Fang Lan asked. "Yeah... that''s what I wanted to ask. I heard thatheis from the "Silver Moon" Commerce, and they are famous for their wealth," Huang Jing also said in bewilderment. "He offered me to go to the border area near thebarrier,to escort a caravan. Moreover, there will likely be no more than two cultivators in the escort," Xie Qing answered in a carefree voice, leaning back on the back of the chair and shrugging his shoulders: "Should I risk my life for a few spiritual stones? I think I have more important things to do." "Well... your truth!" Huang Jing answered and sighed: "But, seriously? This zone is now too dangerous. Some time ago, the demonic beasts became more fierce andare now terrorizing thenearby cities and viges. Most of the trade routes are blockedandit is dangerous to transport goods along them." "I heard that there is now a famine thereanda mass evacuation of the poption is required," Fang Lan added with a sigh: "Most of them are mortals or weak cultivators. It''s a pity..." "Well, their problem." Xie Qing did not particrly want to delve into this mess,and he did not particrlypity them.After all, these people went to these territories, knowing the price and the consequences. Huang Jing and Fang Lanalsodid not dwell on this news for long and discussed various topics. Xie Qing lost the power of speech. "I forgot that you guys are busy here," hemented with a smile: "I''m the only carefree one." "You''re still young." "You''re still a kid." "..." *** The night came quickly. Xie Qing grimly looked at his own hands. "No hint of a breakthrough again.My soul is strong enough tostart expanding, but itisstuckin development..." Soul Nascent.The name alonegivesyouan understanding that you have tocreate a nascent soul. At the peak of the Soul Nascent, your soul will already upy almost the entire body, acquiring the physical features of a cultivator. It is this result that is considered satisfactory. However, right now, Xie Qing''s soul only upied his torso. Whichwas not very satisfactory. "It is impossible to contribute to thedevelopment of the sot this stage. It remains only to hope that everything will be fine," Xie Qing thought and sighed: "I don''t understand what is happening, to be honest. With my pace, I should have already formed a soul." It was because of this that he felt ufortable for so many days. It seemed to him that he wasgging behind everythingthat wasat odds with his talent. Looking out the window, the young man frowned. *** Early in the morning.Xie Qing wearily rubbed his eyes, opening the door. "Who is it?" "It''s me," Huang Jing said and looked at Xie Qing''s sleepy face: "Didn''t you get enough sleep? I told youthat we need tochoose a ce for Fang Lan''s branch in the morning." "I was thinking about something at night..."Xie Qing waved his handand tookoff his robe,thenbegan to get dressed. Two minutester, he already looked fresh. Huang Jing noddedandthey went downstairs, to the first floor. In the spacious main hall, on a luxurious couch, Fang Lan was drinking teaandwhen she noticed Xie Qing out of the corner of her eye, she frowned. "You overslept." "It happens," Xie Qing answered casually and plopped down on the couch, waving his hand: "Give me wine, please." Huang Jing also plopped down on the couch and ordered tea for himself. He could not help but say: "Drinking wine on an empty stomach is harmful to your health." "Dude, are you my mom or something..." "Hahaha..." Fang Lan smiledand took something out ofher spatial ring,thenthrew it to Xie Qing. "Hm?" Heeasilycaught the object flying in his direction and, weighing the package, raised an eyebrow. "Cookies? How cute." "I baked them myself, you know!" Fang Lan smiled: "Eat themandonly then drink this poison.Even if you are a cultivator,you cannot eat on an empty stomach." "Well..." Xie Qing lost the power ofspeech,but could not help but try a cookie. And he was surprised. "Delicious." "I''m d you liked it." Although Fang Lan''s voice was carefree, there was a satisfied smile on her face. Huang Jing, who was watching all this out of the corner of his eye, smiled. "What are you smiling at?" Xie Qingmented in bewilderment, nibbling on cookies. There were crumbs of cookies around his mouth. "Nothing~". "Hm? You''re weird." Shrugging his shoulders, Xie Qing bit into another cookie, waiting for the wine. Huang Jing leaned back on the back of the couch and sighed. "Well, now I want a girltoo," he muttered. "Oh? Have you decided? You know, I found a beauty yesterday..." "You mean the girl with the big breasts and the elegant butt?" Huang Jing''s eyes gleamed, but he coughed a little when he noticed Fang Lan''s gaze on him: "Khe-khe, Daoist friend, I think... we will postpone the discussion of this question to another day." Friend Huang Jing, hold on! We will find you a beauty! *** The night before, Huang Jing had expressed his position. Since they were good acquaintances, and what Xie Qing did at the ball had raised his reputation... Huang Jingexpressed his insistenceon helping Fang Lan open a branch in this city. Having connections and acquaintances, this was not difficult. Therefore,alreadythe next day, that is, today, they could inspect the avable ces.And they were all located quite close to themain activity of the city. "This..." Fang Lan inspected the room and could not help but nod. There was admiration on her face. "This isa very goodroom!It is close to themain activity of the city, and it also neighbors an ingredient store, which is very beneficial!" she said with a smile and then looked at Huang Jing: "How much will the rent cost me?" "Zero. I will not allow you or Brother Xie to give a single Huang!"Huang Jing saidwith a resolute look: "Take it as a gift.Refusals are not epted!" "This... but I feel ufortable," Fang Lan said indecisively. "Just ept his kindness," Xie Qing shrugged and hugged Huang Jing by the shoulder: "And I, well, I will help him meet a hot beauty... hehe..." "Brother Xie is too generous... hahaha..." The two menughed heartily, and Fang Lan did not know what to say.However,judging bytheir appearance, they werevery pleasedwith the deal. And, by the way, if you thoughtthat thiswas a joke (Huang Jing also thought so), then... *** "S-stop, brother Xie! This is the estate of the Zhao family... they are in charge of trading spiritual items!" Huang Jing said in a nervous voice. Hewas dressedin official clothes. "Hoho, son, don''t worry... Ifound outfrom some lovelydies that the youngdy is very fond of the ornament made of Midnight Fire Iron and the precious stone Call of Ten Phoenixes..." Xie Qing smiledand pushedHuang Jing towards the entrance, andthenpressed the doorbell. "And I brought some useful things and a lucrative contract, so they will agree to give out the young miss of their family! And she, you know, is a beauty!" "So why don''t you take her as your wife?!" "Huh? Dude, she''s not my type, so..." "Ah, you!" Chapter 145: Teaching Huang Jing Fang Lan returned homete from the new alchemy shop due to some business.She tiredly opened the door and, upon entering the main hall,saw Huang Jing sitting alone on the couch, looking exhausted. "What''s wrong with you?" she asked, surprised, and requested a servant to bring her tea. She sat on the adjacent couch and raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing him, "You look like you''ve run across the entire Southern Continent.And,where''s Xie Qing?" "Ugh... don''t mention that bastard''s name!" Huang Jing shouted loudly, startling FangLan, whowas taken aback. The man wiped away non-existent tears and theatrically fell to his knees, cryingoutto the heavens, "That bastard! I thought he was joking, but he actually went and got engaged! Now I''ve officially lost my wings...I was on the path of travel, but I''vebeen shotin the knee!" "Eh... what does that mean?" FangLan furrowed her brows as she saw Huang Jing was about to cry.At that moment,there was a creaking sound, and Xie Qing entered from the ck exit.He was dressed only in thin, loose pants and light ck boots. His torso was bare, revealing his toned abs and well-developed muscles. "Hm? So you''re back, Lan," Xie Qing nodded and nced at Huang Jing, smiling, "And you, Daoist friend, why are you lying on the ground? You''ll catch a cold in your JJ, and Lady Zhao will be saddened!" "Go to hell, uuuuh... My beautiful, carefree bachelor life..." "Hahaha..." Xie Qingughed heartily and ignored Fan Lan''s lustful gaze. He nced at the maidservantwhowasfrozen in awe, staring at his bare torso. "If you bring me wine, I''ll let you touch them," he said, flexing his muscles. "Y-yes, sir!" Huang Jing and FangLan fell silent, watching as the maidservant rushed to the kitchen...followed by nine more maids. Xie Qing, meanwhile,y on the couchnonchntly, not bothering to cover himself up. He was unashamed of his body. Seeing that no one was speaking, he decided to start a conversation. He looked at Fang Lan, "How''s the shop?" he asked, sprawling out on the couch and yawning, "I''ve been busy with training, so I haven''t had time to apany you." "Hm. I''ve managed to negotiate with the neighboring shops, and they''re willing to provide us with raw materials at a good price," Fang Lan said, and when the topic turned to profit, she smiled, "It seems they''ve heard about our rtionship, so they''re trying to please you." "Oh, really? Interesting. What kind of ''rtionship'' are they talking about, hm?" Xie Qing asked with a faint smile. "You love pretending to be stupid!" Fang Lan snorted and said, blushing slightly. Huang Jing, meanwhile, remained silent. He decided to pretend to be a tree. A tree can''t talk, hear, or think. A tree is just a tree, sohe could ignore their flirtation. However, even a tree would spit blood if they continuedtheirflirtation, so Fang Lan abruptly changed the subject and began discussingcultivation. "I''ve recently encountered an obstacle... I can''t seem to break through to the fifth stage of Core Formation!" she sighed and shook her head, "Huang Jing, I''ve heard that you''ve recently had a breakthrough?" "Ah, yes! I used a pill...but it cost me a lot of money...sigh!" Huang Jing said with a gloomy expression, "Cultivationis too hard.My cultivation technique is good,butithas a drawback ¨C I develop slowly." "But that''s a good thing," Xie Qingmented, ncing to the left as maids rushed in with bottles of wine, "Slow cultivation techniques, except in special cases, bringa lot ofbenefits at high cultivation stages." "That''s true, but..." Huang Jing sighed. Meanwhile, Xie Qingy on the couch, allowing ten maids to touch his body as they pleased. He drank wine with his free hand. And Fang Lan...she just watched with jealousy. *** Location: Garden, Huang Jing''s mansion. Xie Qing swung his sword, and streams of wind sliced through several des of grass on the ground. A dangerous and cold aura surrounded him. His de,like a dance, moved up and down, causing the servants to stop and stare at him. As it was hot outside, Xie Qing had removed his hanfu and was now dressed only in pants. He was barefoot. His gaze was focusedas he swung his sword. Each swing seemed as if it could take the lives of hundreds of people. It was a beautiful sight that left the passing servants breathless. Huang Jing watched this training session. Fan Lan was not present; she was busy with work at the shop. "Excellent. I''ve never seen such superior movements," Huang Jingmented and sighed, "And you''re more than twenty years younger than me, yet so talented. I''m afraid to imagine what the future will hold. I wouldn''t be surprised if one of your strikes could pierce the Heavens." "I would like to reach such a level," Xie Qing replied and smiled. His movements were just as clean and precise, even though he was talking. His breathing was steady and calm, "However, I can only achieve this through diligentcultivation. That''s why I don''t neglect my training!" "I genuinely admire you, to be honest. Not all geniuses are as dedicated tocultivationas you are!" Huang Jingplimentedhimand smiled, "Perhaps you could teach me a few tricks? I''m willing to pay." "I don''t need money," Xie Qing replied and tightly gripped the handle of his sword, then stomped on the ground with his right foot, "We''re friends, after all." Vshuuu! A strong wind arose.The skirts of the maids were lifted, and the hairstyles of the servants were disheveled. "This..." Huang Jing was shocked to discover thatthe recently-nted grass had been neatly trimmed! The gardener was also in shock...his job had been taken! Andso,when the training session was over, Xie Qing closed his eyes and took two consecutive breaths in and out. Only then did he open his eyes, which shone with a golden light. "Alright, I''m done. Take off your shoes and get your sword; I''ll show you two of my original techniques. Your task is to figure out which one suits you best. Got it?"Xie Qing said, waving his Nameless Sword, which gleamedunder the bright sunlight. "Yes, sir!" Huang Jing was excited. He removed his shoes and approached Xie Qing. A minuteter, a servant brought the man''s sword. "Hm? It seems that the swordis enchantedwith Sharpness, Durability, and, in case of emergency,it can always be restored," Xie Qingmented and nodded, "A good sword." "Thank you. It''s an heirloom from my mother," Huang Jing said with a noble air. "Your mother... ah, I remember now. She was an outstanding swordswoman, wasn''t she? My respects," Xie Qing nodded and then changed the subject, "I won''t be able to fully demonstrate one of the techniques to you, as it could destroy your mansion. However, I''ll transmit the image to your mind." "Alright!" Huang Jing nodded. Xie Qing didn''t hesitate and immediately touched the man''s forehead with his index finger. "This..." Huang Jing felt a slight chill and closed his eyes. He then fell silent. "Now it''s up to you whether you can learn this technique or not," Xie Qing''s deep voice resonated, and his face wasserious¨C there was no room for a smile, "You have five attempts. Your mind won''t be able to withstand more than that." *** "Now it''s up to you..." Huang Jing, whose consciousness was in a dark space, nodded briefly upon hearing Xie Qing''s warning. He looked around, "It''s as dark as a demonic beast''s ass," he grumbled. And, as if in response to his words, the space suddenly lit up, and hewas transportedto a field. Looking around, Huang Jing discovered that a man was standing behind him. He was tall, almost two meters in height, and had a sturdy, muscr build. His ck hair was tiedin a ponytail, and his dark, ck eyes gleamed with wisdom and determination. Hewas dressedin silver armor with gold engravings. In his hand, he held an ordinary-looking sword, albeirgerin size. "Wait a minute..." Huang Jing shouted in shock, "That''s... Xie Qing?! But he looks so mature..." The technique that Xie Qing used on Huang Jing was simple.It allowed him,with the target''s permission, to immerse them in an illusion, andit was often usedfor transmitting techniques orfortraining. Since Xie Qing did not possess a high level ofcultivation, he could not adjust the illusion with precision, so most of the time,everything was chosenat random. The person who was teaching the technique could be anillusoryfigure. "So realistic... has he reached such a high level?" However, to his great disappointment, Xie Qingintheillusiondid not particrly like to talk, andso he immediately began to teach the technique. Huang Jing becameserious. Xie Qingintheillusiongripped the handle of the sword and then slowlybegan to raise it up. It seemed like such a weak and full-of-holes position that could instantly lead to death. However, Huang Jing felt a shiver.His spine was coveredin goosebumps. "This... my sixth sense is screaming about the danger!This strike cankill me? But he hasn''t even started yet!" Huang Jing eximed in shock. However, what was even more surprising was that Huang Jing, no matter how hard he tried, could not follow thetrajectory of the sword! Chapter 146: Adult Xie Qing "Amazing!" Huang Jing could only admire and sigh. At such a young age, Xie Qing had reached such a level ofunderstanding,while he wassimplytreading on the ground as the youth ascended to the Heavens. If he were to bepletely honest, Huang Jing was envious. If he had the same talent as Xie Qing, many things in his life would have undergone significant changes. He would not have had to spend so much time persuading merchants and many influential figures. With such talent, which merchant would not approach Xie Qing? "I need to be realistic. After all, those with great talent often have a great burden. The Heavens are considerate," Huang Jing thought and sighed, "Brother Xie''s future will be difficult. However, I am willing to support him." As he was thinking... Whoosh~... A gentle breeze brushed against Huang Jing''s cheek, causing him toe to his senses. And to his horror... "Blood? This light wind...left a cut on me?" Huang Jing was shocked as he felt the Sword Aura ignite in his wound, "Bad! This technique is too powerful for me. No wonder Xie Qing couldn''t show it!" However, it was toote to regret it.The sword was raisedinto the air, and then, when Huang Jing met the gaze of the adult Xie Qing... BOOM! "Ugh..." His bodywas slicedin half, and where he had been standing, there was a long gash that was five meters deep and ten meters wide. After a second, Huang Jing''s body reassembled itself. Allofthis was happening in his mind, sohe was not harmed. The only consequence was fear. "Terrible... this technique is terrible. No one can withstand such power!" Huang Jing was shocked. As he was in awe of this power, the adult Xie Qing suddenly spoke. "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens - Sword God Strike. This skill I created in my youth, after reading legends of the great God Sword, who with one strike, could split open hundreds of worlds." "Y-you''re saying?!" The voice of the adult Xie Qing was devoid of carelessness and whining. It was deep,manding, and somewhat seductive. If Huang Jing were a woman, he would not have been able to resist. Xie Qing''s expression was cold. He stuck the sword into the ground and leaned on it with his hands. His eyes looked directly at Huang Jing. "My thirst for power was insatiable. I gathered all my knowledge of sword strikes. I was not interested in modern techniques that used more Qi than Sword Aura. I liked the raw power and thesubtle,yetmanding use of the Sword Aura!" Xie Qing said with a resolute voice, "However, this technique is full of holes and ws. There are many holes. Although I eliminated them in the future, this does not negatethe factthat I was untalented!" "This..." "Don''t look at me like that. I cannot teach you the perfect version, so I will teach you what the current me knows!" Xie Qing said with an annoyingsmile,and then added, "Of course, you only have four attempts. If you cannot learn itin this time, then you are not suitable for this technique!" "U-understood!" Huang Jing did not understand many things. For example, what future was this Xie Qing talking about? After all, this space was just an illusion in Huang Jing''s mind. However, there was no time for contemtion. Xie Qing raised his sword again. The man''s eyes shed with power, and the surrounding earth began to tremble. Huang Jing shuddered. He felt as if he were just a helpless ant that had ended up in the path of an elephant. However, even so, he did not waste time and stood in a stance. He tried to imitate the man''s movements! The Sword Aura whirlwind filled the space. Huang Jing was breathing heavily, barely able to withstand such pressure. "A swordsman is not just someone who wields a sword. It is someone who is a sword itself!" Xie Qing shouted as it was too difficult to hear each other amidst the massive Sword Aura whirlwind, "The sword is a part of the body. Not a weapon, not metal, and certainly not a friend! The sword is you!" Huang Jing frowned. He still could not understand the meaning of these words. Everything soundedlikenonsense to him, as how could a person be a sword? However, Xie Qing did not bother to exin this. He just smiled and swung his sword. And in that moment...time seemed to stop. All the movements that Huang Jing hae up withand his attempts to imitate the strike were in vain. Thus, the third attempt passed...and then the final, fourth attempt. Huang Jing was breathing heavily. His body was lying on the ground, and around him, there were countless pits and cuts. His face was pale, andhis forehead was coveredin sweat. Despite all his efforts, he could not even understand how this technique worked. Gr-r-r... He gritted his teeth. A fire of disappointment and anger burned within him. And Xie Qing...the man wasjuststanding in ce.Behind him, therewere only light cuts and a little bit of cut grass. Everything around him was constant, prosperous, and beautiful. Meanwhile, behind Huang Jing, there was only destruction and death. Thiswas the difference between their strengths. If Xie Qing could make such deep cuts with one strike, then Huang Jing could barely even cut the grass. However,donot think that he was devoid of talent. It''s just that this technique was not suitable for everyone. "You have tried well. Your understanding of thepath of the swordhas increased, and in the future, your vertical strikes will be able to cause significant damage to your enemies. The recipe for true power is ruthless training!" Xie Qing said, standing in ce and leaning on his sword. He smiled, "Discard all prejudices, stopthinking with the ordinary logic of a mortal. You may have power in your hands, but do you need it in the mortal world?" "Wh-what... do you... mean?" Huang Jing asked, gasping for air and coughing. Xie Qing raised an eyebrow and then pped himself on the forehead. "Oh, that''s right. You don''t know about this yet...so it''s too early to say," Xie Qing said andughed, "Master will definitely scold me. In any case, young friend, it''s time for you to return." "S-stop..." However,Huang Jing''s voice was not heard. Xie Qing was still standing proudly in his ce, while Huang Jing fell into a hole. When he lost consciousness, thest thing the man heard was these words: "The goal of immortality should not be secondary for cultivators. Only by giving everything can one touch the peak of the universe." *** "AAAAAH!" Xie Qing was startled, slightly frightened by Huang Jing''s sudden scream. Turning his head, he saw that his friendwas drenchedin sweat, with a look of regret and shock on his face. "What''s wrong with you? Did you manage to learn the technique?"Xie Qing asked, tilting his head to the sidein confusion, "Your face is pale.Did I use the wrong technique?" "Th-this..." When he returned to reality, Huang Jing''s gaze towards Xie Qing becameplicated. The man in the illusion was older and more powerful, hisdemeanor wamanding and serious. Although they had significant differences, Huang Jing could seesomesimrities in their behaviors. He wanted to sigh. It seemed that despite the knowledge he had gained, he would not be able toe to terms with what he had seen for a long time. "Your power is terrifying, Brother Xie," Huang Jing said with a sigh. He looked exhausted as if this sigh had taken away all his life energy. "Huh? Thank you?" Xie Qing did not know how to respond to such apliment, so he jokingly said, "Of course, I''m the best. There''s no one better than me!" "On the other hand... you two are different." "What do you mean ''you two''?" "Nothing..." *** Late at night, when Xie Qing had finished forting" Fan§á Lan, he received a message on hismunication token. "Hm?Thisisn''t Master, my mom, or any of my other close acquaintances. The vibration from themunication token is different," Xie Qing thought and stood up from his seat, taking out his spatial ring and the vibratingmunication token, which had a carving of a moon hiding in the clouds. "This is... themunication token of the ''Silver Moon'' Commerce? It seems they have a task." Xie Qing put on a robe and left the room so as not to wake Fan Lan. He entered an empty room and set up several formations to prevent tracking and location recognition. Only then, after putting on a mask and changing his voice, did he pick up the call. "Sir Gu Heng?" A mature female voice came from the token. It was none other than Wang Feifei. "Lady Wang," Xie Qing nodded. "Oh, I''m d you''re not asleep. I apologize for thete call, but I have an urgent task for you!" Lady Wang informed him, and after some ttery, she said, "I have several orders. They need tobepletedin three to four days..." "No problem, but it all depends on the required pill," Xie Qing nodded and asked, "I need specific information." "I''m d you asked!" Lady Wang replied calmly and continued, "Are you familiar with the Pill of Estrangement?" "Pill of Estrangement... hmm? Lady Wang, you know that this pill is difficult to make, and it isextremely expensive, even without considering the alchemist''s fee?" "Yes, but I would like to know if you can make it?" Lady Wangasked,without revealing any details. "As long as I have the recipe, any pill is possible. However, you should understand that no alchemist can make it on the first try, so I need more resources." Chapter 147: Song Maiden (Part 1) Pill of Estrangement. It had very mysterious properties, and if it weren''t for the fact that the cultivation world encouragedpetition and eternal development, it would havebeen banned. It allowed, upon use, to expel the soul.Of course, it was mainly used by peoplewho had beeninfluenced by some spirits. However,it was more often usedin evil rituals. In addition to the fact that the origin of the pill is quite questionable, itisdifficultto prepare, and the ingredients areextremely expensive. Nevertheless, the demand for this pill is high. After all, most cultivators who love to roam around abandoned graveyards or Cultivator Tombs often get infected with an alien soul. And so, in response to the question about the price, Wan Feifei gave arathersimple,but confident answer: "Myorganization of traders is not familiarwith the words ck of money''.So, if you are sure that you can make the pill, I will generously reward you!" she said confidently. "Interesting... well, no objections. Iam currently locatedin the following ce..." "Good. I will notepersonally,I have business, but I will send my representative to you. He is in the city of Jin Cheng." "Excellent." Xie Qing smiled carelessly and disconnected the call. He could guess who the representative was. *** And,as expected, thenext morning, the representative Mai Dong came to the hotel that Xie Qing had previously rented. "Good day, sir!" greeted Mai Dong, bowing respectfully. "Sit down. Lady Wan told me that you woulde today...tea or wine?" Xie Qing offered, getting up from his ce and waving his hand sothat MaiDong could sit down freely. "Everything is in order. You are a busy person, Ido not dare to disturb you, sir!" Mai Dong nodded respectfully and introduced himself: "My name is Mai Dong, Iam in charge of the affairs of the trading organization ''Silver Moon'' in this city. If you have any questions,please contact us, esteemed sir!" "You have pleased me, Mai Dong... drink some tea of my brew," Xie Qing said with a smile and handed a cupof tea. "Excuse me for the disturbance..." Mai Dong nodded in embarrassment and drank the tea. His eyes sparkled as he tasted the vor. "Th-this... incredible! Sir, your skills are simply terrifying!" "A peculiarpliment, but thank you," Xie Qing said carelessly and poured himself some tea to reinforce the impression of a wise and busy gentleman. He nced at Mai Dong out of the corner of his eye: "Lady Wan told me that I need to prepare some kind of pill, right?" "Indeed! I apologize..." Mai Dongsighed,as if he had just realized something, and then took out a spatial ring with a golden engraving and silvercoating,and handed it to Xie Qing, holding it in two open palms: "Please, here is the ring with the ingredients. The recipe is also there." Xie Qing nodded and took the ring. He quickly examined the contents and saw everything he needed. There was also a prepayment for his service of 290,000 Spiritual Stones. "Well, here is everything I need. I think I can do it within thedeadline" Xie Qing said and looked at Mai Dong: "Do you have any more questions?" "Oh, no... I apologize. Have a good day!" Mai Dong understood the hint and, bowing, left the room. Xie Qing smiled carelessly and put the ring in his pocket. "290,000 Spiritual Stonesandthis is only a prepayment... well, I have no doubt that she needs this pill urgently. It seems that something hashappened" Xie Qing thought and smiled: "I need to try to make it as soon as possible. I would be curious to see if I can get a bonus for speed." There were enough ingredients in the ring for five attempts. Xie Qing, however, was confident that he could finish it on the second attempt, if not the first. His talent in alchemy was outstanding. He could memorize a recipe and easily make a pill. Because of this peculiarity, he was confident in himself. And as for the fact that he requested more attempts... "Firstly, I wanted to give the illusion that it is difficult for me to prepare... and secondly, I just wanted to rob her a little," Xie Qing thought and shamelessly smiled: "Some of the ingredients for this pill are suitable for other pills that I need". ...yes, he was shameless. However, as long as he could bestronger, Xie Qing believedthat this type ofdeception was not so terrible. *** Two dayster. Mai Dong, in a state of shock, was returning to the "Silver Moon" branch. He was holding a sk with the pill in his hand. "He... did it... in two days?Thisis too fast..." Mai Dong sighed. He still couldn''t believe it. The mysterious alchemist Gu Heng had such talent! Although Lady Wan was already confident in his abilities... "I can''t believe it! I must be dreaming!" The man doubted the reality. If Xie Qing could make the pill in four days, that would already be a good result. After all, making the Pill of Alienation isextremely difficultdue to itsspecialproperties. But... two days? Well, the funniest thing was that Xie Qingwas able tomake this pill by the evening. It took two attempts, but the result was worth it. However, he didn''t tell Mai Dong about this. Not because he was afraid of exposure. Xie Qingjustdidn''t want the poor representative to have a heart attack. And by the evening, Lady Wan learned about this news. She was no less surprised, perhaps even more so. After all, she knew more about this pill than Mai Dong. "Seriously? In two days? This speed is terrifying. He isonlyslightly inferior to Lady Liu Yang, but she has made this pill many times and has more experience!" Lady Wan thought and narrowed her eyes: "Could it be that I was chasing after gold and ended up with a dragon? Who could have thought that this Gu Heng is so terrifying. I highly doubt that he is a lone wolf". Lady Wan thoughts that he was a secret disciple of Liu Yang, as this was the only way to exin such a high level of alchemy and his age. However, now that he has made the pillin such a short time, Lady Wan is very doubtful about this.After all, even Liu Yang was inferior in terms of genius, and the Sect of Nine Pills had no reason to hide his existence. "Either way, Mai Dong, I want this pill to be on my table tomorrow. Is that clear?" Lady Wan said in amanding voice. "As youmand, Lady!" *** Xie Qing looked at the estatethat wasmoving away with each piercing sound. He was sitting in a carriage and sighed. "It''s time for me to set off... I can''t stay in one ce for too long". Huang Jing and Fang Lan were a little saddened, but he had a ce that he needed to visit. "A letter... hm, I didn''t expect it..." At themaincourt disciple exam, Xie Qing received a letter that Lian Lin had delivered. "I have been looking for her for a long time, but they told methat shehad disappeared. And now she has sent a letter...I can''t understand herlogic" Xie Qing thought and sighed: "Lyu Lyu... she asked me to find her when I was on the Southern Continent. Now that I have sorted out my affairs, I need to find her". Lyu Lyu, the Song Maiden. She was Xie Qing''s first woman, so the young man had special feelings for her. Therefore, after he had earned arge sum, he tried to contact her. But the management gave only one answer - she left for her own business. Xie Qing was puzzled and tried to find her, but he was unsessful. Narrowing his eyes, the young man sighed and looked forward. *** The port city of Silver Moon was beautiful. The main advantage of thecitywas its architecture and seafood. Xie Qing took a deep breath. The smell of the sea, mixed with salt and bird droppings...what could be better? "Ugh... it smells so bad at the port..." Xie Qing thought and narrowed his eyes. In the letter, Lyu Lyu asked him to visit this city and then go to the seafood store. As he understood, this was her hometown. Although the smell was specific, Xie Qing admired the beauty of the light-blue sea. The towering waves reminded him of Lyu Lyu herself. "She''s like a mermaid or something," Xie Qing thought. Looking around, Xie Qing couldn''t help but admire the architecture of the buildings and the huge ships. Of course, there were teleportation formations, but they consumed too many resources. Ships were a more affordable option. Therefore, theywere often usedby both cultivators and ordinary mortals. And so, following the mapthatwasdrawnon ordinary paper, Xie Qing reached the store. The sign read "Liu Family Seafood," but the building looked half-destroyed. "This..." Xie Qing was a little nervous. He had been looking forward to this day, but when he arrived at the right ce, he felta slight embarrassment. However, determination overcame fear, and he went inside. "Hello!" he called out. After a few seconds of silence, he heard quiet footsteps. Xie Qing held his breath. Chapter 148: Song Maiden (Part 2) Xie Qing was standing in a dimly lit area, his heart pounding as he heard the sound of footsteps approaching him. He was anxious and nervous, feeling as though the noise was amplified in the silence. After a few seconds, a figure appeared in the passageway. She had long, blue hair that resembled a clear, smooth body of water, and her eyes sparkled like diamonds in the darkness, captivating anyone who gazed upon them. Her waist was slim, and Xie Qing could have easily encircled it with one hand. She had a slender figure and long legs that drew attention. Upon seeing each other, Xie Qing and the girl fell silent. He had many questions, but he couldn''t bring himself to ask them. The young man was flustered. "What''s going on... I''ve never been shy around women, and now this is happening?" he thought, sighing and speaking his thoughts aloud, "I was looking for you." "And it seems you''ve found me," the girl replied with a smile, her name was Lyu Lyu. "Hmph..." Xie Qing curled his lips. Lyu Lyu''s nonchnt reaction had truly left him speechless. Lyu Lyu noticed the changes in Xie Qing''s mood, so she didn''t continue to tease him and instead said with a weak smile, "Please,e inside. I live here alone, after all." "Alone? Hm... it''s not a very suitable ce for you, I''ll admit," Xie Qing replied, furrowing his brows. The air was humid, and there was a scent of decay and fish. The floorboards creaked with each step, regardless of how light Lyu Lyu''s footsteps were. And Xie Qing''s steps... well, he was a swordsman, so he was used to moving without making much noise. When he saw that, aside from the main shop building, there was a small warehouse on the inside, and then a worn-out bed, he couldn''t help but furrow his brow. "This is... Lyu Lyu, I can''t understand why you''re staying here. If you had found me, I would have happily helped you find a nice home!" Xie Qing said in confusion. "Ha ha... to you, this is just a dirty ce, but to me, it''s a treasure trove of memories," Lyu Lyu replied with a smile, not at all offended by his rude remark. "Forgive me, you''re probably not used to ces like this." "Well..." Xie Qing curled his lips. He was indeed not used to such dirty and dpidated ces. From a young age, he had been surrounded by luxury, so it could be said that he was spoiled and had high standards for his living conditions. However, he simply remained silent and sat on a stool that was a step away from copsing. It would have been rude to speak poorly of a ce that Lyu Lyu cherished. "I''m sorry, I forgot to buy tea. The prices have really gone up this year," the girl said with a sigh, sitting down at the table across from him. "It''s alright. I''m not a big fan of tea," Xie Qing replied, shaking his head. He fell silent for a moment before continuing, "One way or another... I don''t want to ask you why you left or anything like that. I just want to know the answer to one question..." "Will I go back with you?" Lyu Lyu asked weakly, looking into Xie Qing''s crystal-clear eyes, in which she was reflected. The girl fell silent and, after ten sighs, replied, "I... honestly, I don''t know." Xie Qing raised an eyebrow. He looked as though he genuinely didn''t understand her words, so Lyu Lyu bitterly smiled and began to tell him everything that had happened after their night together. "In the first few days, I felt a sense of emptiness. I''ve never liked performing, but since my cultivation technique required it, I wanted to make the most of those days. But..." Lyu Lyu bit her lip and sighed, "I was able to break through to the Soul Nascent stage. However, I soon received news that my father had passed away. From that day on, I left that ce and have been living here, in a state of despair every day." "..." Xie Qing fell silent. He didn''t know how to react in such a situation, so he simply took the girl''s hand, gently stroking her palm. "Hehe... I like your caring and especially your awkwardness. You like to pretend to be tough, even though you''re actually quite shy, aren''t you?" Lyu Lyu giggled. "That''s nder," Xie Qing curled his lips. "Of course, of course." "Hmph..." Lyu Lyuughed happily. The gloom seemed to have lifted from her face, and she looked much more cheerful. *** Lyu Lyu''s story was simple. Her cultivation technique was as follows: she would choose a spiritual object in the form of a musical instrument, and the more people who listened to her songs and thought they were beautiful, the stronger she would be. This was an extremely difficult and unclear method. Xie Qing believed that this cultivation technique hade from ancient times, as he didn''t know of anyone in the current era who practiced it. However, despite the questionable content of the technique, the results were shocking. Lyu Lyu was able to break through to the Soul Nascent stage in just over twenty years, which was already an excellent result. That night, Xie Qing slept with her. If you''re thinking that there was some interesting action that I didn''t show you, then you''re wrong. Xie Qing simply understood that Lyu Lyu was not in the mood, and the location... well, apologize, but it wasn''t very suitable. The young man spent the night cultivating. He kept an eye on Lyu Lyu, who was sleeping soundly and fed her his Qi, helping to improve her Qi. "She''s at the second stage of the Soul Nascent. However, the breakthrough method is somewhat crude, and Lyu Lyu still hasn''t fully mastered the received Qi. This is an important w," the young man thought, sighing. "It''s time for me to cultivate." Closing his eyes, the young man recited the mantra of his cultivation technique and then began to meditate. Thin and semi-transparent Qi particles and small vortexes appeared around him. All the Qi in the room became very dense. All the Qi in the vicinity were drawn to Xie Qing. Five hourster... "Phew... I... ugh! Damn it, seriously?" Xie Qing opened his eyes and furrowed his brow. His cultivation level... had broken through two stages at once! He was at the seventh stage of the Soul Nascent! "I... struggled for so many weeks, not understanding why... and it turned out to be because of my worries?" Xie Qing was in shock. "Who would have thought that my worries and stress could slow down cultivation... seriously..." Xie Qing didn''t fully understand, but cultivation was an extremely sensitive method of umting power. If something was bothering the cultivator, then the cultivation technique couldn''t work at full power. This was how Heart Demons could appear. The young man was at a loss for words but was nheless very happy. "The seventh stage! I''m very close to the Soul Integration stage!" the young man thought, analyzing his soul and smiling quite satisfied. "My soul has instantly grown and upied the lower part of the body." Well, the lower part of the body includes the legs and pelvis, so I hope you understand me correctly. Xie Qing only needed to expand his soul towards his arms and head with his neck. Then he could be considered ready to break through to the Soul Integration stage! From this news, Xie Qing was beaming and as happy as a snake that had eaten well. Looking towards the small window, he realized that it was already dawn. "Hm... the night went by quickly," the young man thought, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, it seems I''ve caused trouble again. The Qi in this ce has dropped by several levels..." The young man looked at Lyu Lyu and saw that she was frowning in her sleep. Xie Qing waved his hand, and a gentle flow of Qi enveloped her body, causing her to stop frowning. "How cute," the young man thought, seeing her satisfied smile. He scratched his cheek and narrowed his eyes. "But... I didn''t expect there to be someone with devilish Qi in this ce. Moreover, it''s so weak. Are they courting death?" The young man''s eyes dangerously gleamed. He waved his hand, and formations of protection closed off this room. *** The port was operating even at night. Despite the darkness and the only illumination being the extremely weaknterns, the workers didn''t stop unloading and loading goods from the ships. It was noisy. The seagulls had not been stingy with their droppings, so many sailors had to cover their heads to avoid getting a "pleasant" surprise on their necks. However, no oneined, and everyone did their job. On one of the ships, in a secluded and quite luxurious cabin, a lone man was sitting in the lotus position. He had long, silver hair. His face was attractive, and his body was muscr. Arge sword was next to the bed. "Hm?" Suddenly, this man opened his eyes and looked frightened. He gazed towards the seemingly ordinary shop and couldn''t help but furrow his brow. "There''s a sucking forceing from there... could it be a powerful cultivator?" the cultivator thought, but then he suddenly widened his eyes. "Shit! My aura... along with the Qi, it also absorbed my aura!" The cultivator quickly got up from his ce and picked up the sword. He approached the door of the cabin and jiggled the handle, but... "Hm? It won''t open, you beast. I asked those bastards to change the door!" the cultivator grumbled, curling his lips. "Indeed. On the sea, such a situation could be fatal. Be sure to reprimand those sailors... " "?!?!" "... if you survive, of course." The cultivator jumped back in shock and, in the ce where he was standing, there was an explosion, and a hole appeared. Chapter 149: My path (Part 1) Xie Qing narrowed his eyes as he faced the young-looking enemy. The man had long ck hair tied in a ponytail, wore a light white hanfu, and held an ordinary-looking sword. However, thegleamin his ck eyes was menacing, especially in the darkness. Xie Qing swallowed hard. "Who are you? You know you can''t just barge onto a ship?! I''m a member of a trading organization..." the young man snarled. "Shut up. I can smell your disgusting Qi from miles away, pig. Why bother resisting when the oue will be death?Don''twaste my time.Pickup your sword and try to entertain me a little. Maybe then I''ll kill you quickly and painlessly." Xie Qing''s eyes shed with anger. He never expected to encounter a devilish cultivator during hisjourney,and one who was also a member of a trading organization. The enemy was at the fifth stage of the Soul Nascent, and Xie Qing knew he had to be careful. But now, he was confident in his victory. The devilish cultivator''s face darkened, and he grew angrier and more embarrassed when Xie Qing insulted him. "Fucking hypocrite!Just because you''re a righteous cultivator,you think you''re the pinnacle of power?!You''re all just scumbags who pretend to be holy!" the cultivator shouted angrily and gripped the handle of his sword, pointing it at Xie Qing with an evil smile. "I''ll kill you and use your skull as a wine cup! And I''ll burn your soul in hellish mes for a hundred years!" The devilish cultivator, whom we''ll call Xia Gui, swung his sword. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. The enemy''s sword technique was unusual, and he could hear the cries of the dead. "Ho-o... spiritual poison? That''s something new!" Xie Qing smiled. He didn''t hold back against his enemy, releasing all his Qi. The ship shook, and the crewwas forcedto evacuate quickly. Xia Gui''s cabinwas already destroyed, its ceiling blown off by the shockwave when Xie Qing blocked the enemy''s attack. Now,with nothing to hold them back, the two men unleashed their full power.Bright shes of Sword Aura filled the air. "Ghostly Cross Strike!" Xia Gui shouted, then made two vertical strikes, sending a spiritual attack mixed with Sword Aura. The attack resembled the letter "X." "Interesting..." Xie Qing had never seen such abination of Sword Aura and spiritual attack, and he was impressed. He didn''t dare to block the attack with his body or sword, so he dodged to the side. But... "Hahaha! Useless to dodge! My attack will pursue you untilit''s destroyedor it destroys you!" Xia Guiughed loudly, his face twisted with madness. "I''ll kill you! Make you suffer! All righteous cultivators will suffer under the boots of devilish cultivators!" "Pf! Go to hell!" Xie Qing didn''t mincer words with his enemies. He smiled, swung his sword, and sent a dense stream of Sword Aura towards the attack. Xia Gui smirked at first but then froze.His prized technique was tornto shreds in just two seconds. "N-no way..." "Possible," Xie Qing added with a smile and took a stance. "Love of the Moon Goddess - Crescent Strike!" His de glowed, and with a swing, he sent a crescent-shaped attack shining with silver light toward Xia Gui. The attack was powerful enough to cause significant trouble for the enemy, especially in the darknesswiththe moon shining brightly. Dodging was impossible.In just a fraction of a second,the attack was already within arm''s reach.Xia Gui gritted his teeth and prepared to block the attack with his sword. The shining crescenteasilytouched Xia Gui''s de, causing a loud "zing" sound. "Ugh..." Xia Gui''s face contorted with the effort to block the attack. His muscles bulged, and his face turned red. "What a terrible attack!"Xia Gui thought,andhefinally managed to block and disperse the attack after a great struggle. However, two cuts appeared on hischeek,and one on his brow. Blood began to flow slowly. "Ugh... ah, you... ah, I''ll KILL YOU!" Xia Gui was beside himself with anger. His face was a mask of pure rage, and his sword glowed brightly. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes to avoid being blinded by the bright silver glow. When the glow faded, Xie Qing couldn''t help but furrow his brow. Purple vinesthat looked liketentacles had grown on the enemy''s de, and sharp teeth appeared on both sides.A thick, dark green liquid flowed from the teeth,andthe air was filledwith a disgusting smell of decay. "How disgusting. As expected from a devilish cultivator," Xie Qingmented with a frown. He looked at his enemy and smiled. "Although, I believe that any power has the right to exist. However, such atransformation of the swordis unlikely to be without consequences." "Hahaha..." Xia Guiughed loudly, his face twisted and evil. He spat, "Good guess, you''re right. But I''ll still manage to kill you before that!" Whoosh! Xia Gui was suddenly in front of Xie Qing, who was already ready for the attack. Zing! The swords shed, and Xie Qing felt a tremor in his wrist, apanied by pain. He couldn''t help but frown. "He''s superior to me in physical strength.Presumably,this is because he sacrificed part of his life force for reinforcement," Xie Qing thought, gritting his teeth and tightly gripping the handle."In that case... Rising Legend!" Whoosh! Zing! "Agh!"A loud, painful cry was heard,but it wasn''tfrom Xie Qing butfromXia Gui. "T-you..." The man stumbled back, his sword-wielding hand bleeding and unnaturally bent. Although it healed after a minute, Xia Gui was still scared. "What happened? He suddenly became stronger! His physical strength surpassed mine! Did he also burn his life force?" Xia Gui thought, frowning. "Damn! I hate righteous cultivators and their tricky methods! I need to finish this quickly! I sense that two cultivators are approaching from afar!" Xie Qing,on the other hand, looked at his body with annoyance."This technique is good, but it consumes too much Qi! If I don''t kill this bastard within twenty minutes, I''ll be a fish on the chopping block!" he thought angrily. [Rising Legend (2/4)] | [Rank: Elite?] | [Description: A technique that increases the body''s conduction capacity, eliminating restrictions and allowing you to reach a new level of power.It adds to strength and Qiandalsocreates pressure for thosewho arebelow you in the cultivation stage.It seems that you still haven''t died at the hands of your lovers, but who knows if that will change in the future...kakaka] Xie Qing had acquired this techniquealongtimeago, but he had never had a situation where he needed to use it until now.The situation required him to eliminate the enemy as quickly as possible. Xie Qing''s eyes gleamed. Boom! Xia Gui dodged the sword strike that would have decapitated him, but a momentter, he received a powerful kick to the chest. "AAGH!" The devilish cultivator flew backward, his clothes torn by the force of the kick, and asmalldepression appeared on his chest. "Painful... damn it! This physical strength is not normal!" Xia Gui thought, gritting his teeth. If he weren''t a cultivator, this one attack could have shaken his internal organs and killed him instantly. "Well, well! You''re a worthy opponent! Tell me your name!" Xia Gui shouted and dodged the next attack, which pierced the spot where he had been, creating a deep gash. "Noment," Xie Qing replied coldly. Boom! "Ugh!" Xia Gui gritted his teeth and coughed up blood. The capiries in his eyes burst, turning the whites of his eyes red. Xie Qing looked coldly at his enemy, who retreated and barely dodged ahugesword that sliced off several tips of his hair. "Devilish cultivators are something. If this were a cultivator of the same level, I could have easily killed him within half an hour of battle," Xie Qing thought, frowning. "But devilish cultivators have strong bodies, many secret techniques, and are well-trained inbat." Thiswas why devilish cultivators once ruled the world. They were aggressive, while most cultivators spent their daysin pursuit ofthe Dao. War was their element! But Xie Qing was no ordinary man either. "Seal!" Xie Qing''s voice was cold as ice, and his eyes constantly watched Xia Gui. Soon, the devilish cultivator was immobilized and could only angrily look at his enemy. "Formation of Seals. It seems that your attackswere aimedat this! " Xia Gui said with shock and fear. "Underhanded!" "Pf-f... hahaha... khm... funny to hear that from a devilish cultivator," Xie Qing replied with disdain and noted coldly, "Besides, you''ve tried to seal me with spiritual items several times. Right?" "..." Xia Gui had no answer to that question. So, he could only helplessly watch as Xie Qing slowly raised his sword. Then, even though Xie Qing was speaking quietly...his voice echoed for hundreds of miles. "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens - Sword God Strike". BOOM! Chapter 150: Zither Boom! A loud explosion echoed at the port. The city''s residents were startled by the sound and looked frightened. The once-proud cultivators, wholooked down upon ordinary mortals,werealsoterrified.They were retreating as if their lives were in grave danger. The city''s guardian cultivator had a grim expression when he arrived at the explosion site. Hewas dressedin a simple ck hanfu with golden patterns. He had short ck hair and gray eyes, and his appearance was average. "What the hell is happening here?!" he roared, looking at his subordinates, who had numerous minor injuries. The guardian cultivator looked furious: "You bunch of idiots! Did you get scared and retreat? What if this bastard destroys our city?! Huh?!" "I-I''m sorry, Mr. Xian Sheng... b-butthere was someoneat the Soul Nascent stage! We didn''t dare to approach!" "What?!" Xian Sheng''s expression darkened. Among his subordinates, there was not a single person who had reached the Soul Nascent stage. In fact, he was only at the Core Formation stage! Although it seemed that only one stage separated them, the difference in power was too immense! "This...!" Xian Sheng didn''t know how to react. He frowned, looking unhappy and scared.Thiswas an ordinary port city, and he was here only because he could live his days peacefully. Who would dare to cause trouble when the citywas guardedby a cultivator at his level? "Damn it! Damn it! How unlucky...!" Xian Sheng cursed. At the same time, the ship thathad been blownto pieces exploded again.From the clouds of dust,a young man with a cold gaze emerged.Hewas dressedin a beautiful white hanfu with long sleeves that fluttered in the wind. He looked grim. On his forearm, there was a small wound that was bleeding with pale-golden blood. "Son of a bitch. He managed to injure me at thest moment. He even sacrificed his soul to harm me...crazy! Devilish cultivators are just a pain in the ass!" Xie Qing thought and clenched his teeth in annoyance: "Not a pleasant experience, but in the future, I need to be careful." Devilish cultivators posed a potential threat to Xie Qing. Although he didn''t havea stronghatred for them... Xie Qing didn''t want anything that could hinder his goals to exist! "Well, to live peacefully, cultivating and achieving immortality... if these bastards rise, I''ll have to work hard to maintain such a lifestyle!" Xie Qing thought and sighed. Meanwhile, as the young manwas lostin his thoughts, cultivatorsbegan to approachhim. Xian Sheng was among them. "H-heavens..." The guardian cultivator looked terrified. His subordinates saw their master in such a state for the first time, so they couldn''t help but be shocked.Thismeant that... "This young man... is stronger than our master?!" they thought, their mouths agape. When hewas addressed, Xie Qing narrowed his eyes and looked at Xian Sheng, who shivered and lowered his head, not daring to look the young man in the eyes. "What?" Xie Qing said coldly. He was already in a bad mood because the devilish cultivator had caused him such harm. "P-please forgive me for the disturbance, b-but... um..." Xian Sheng shivered and, despite his fear, said: "The head of the ''Tiger Armor'' merchant organization is asking for an exnation regarding the destruction of their ship... I''m sorry, it''s their request..." "Ha-ha?" The young man let out an indeterminate sound and couldn''t help but frown. Then, he released his aura and snorted. "Nonsense! Who are they to dare to demand something from me?!" Xie Qing roared, making everyone fall to their knees in fear. "Calm down, sir!" the cultivators cried out. They clenched their teeth and cursed Xian Sheng, who shamelessly delivered such an arrogant message! In front of them was a cultivator at the Soul Nascent stage, who might not be thestrongest,but still had a strong influence! Xie Qing snorted and reduced the pressure. He did so not because he was angry... "Pfft, as if! I won''t pay a single Spiritual Stone!" Xie Qing thought. He was stingy! Xie Qing couldn''t stand the thought of his Spiritual Stonesbeing spenton something like this. Xian Sheng, it seemed, realized that he had messed up and beganto actively apologize and kowtow. He couldn''t afford to have the young man in front of him get angry. Otherwise, his shoulders would be relieved of their burden! Sighing, Xian Sheng looked at the young man, who had already disappeared into the night. A cold sweat ran down his forehead. *** The merchant organization, of course, was angry about this turn of events, but after conducting an investigation...they were left speechless. Headquarters, meeting room.At therge round table, there wereold menin expensive clothes. "This is...!" "The young genius, Imperial Censor Xie Qing... damn it... and how, in your opinion, can we demand an exnation from him?!" Their headquarters was in chaos. Xie Qing was a surprise for them. Although they had lost their goods and suffered losses...to offend someone who could be a Sovereign in the future... It was too wasteful! Too reckless! Too unprofitable! "Ha-ha, it seemsthat itwas a misunderstanding... send the gentleman a few gifts... I''ve heardthat he''sfriends with Miss Fan Lan from the Fan family. Oh, what acoincidence,Ijusthappen tohave a few investment opportunities avable!" "Oh, brother, you''re right! I also have a few Spiritual Stones. Why not support the youngdy? Ha-ha-ha, the elders should help the younger generation!" "How noble! How noble!" "..." Many representatives of the younger generation blushed with shame. They couldn''t believe that their elders had such thick skin! *** "Huh? Have you received investments from the ''Tiger Armor'' organization? O-o, they offered such arge amount...Well, I understand. Let me know if something happens." There was silence. Xie Qing was sitting in Lyu Lyu''s room. Ten minutes ago, he received a call from Fan Lan, who told himthat shehadbeen offeredrgeinvestment. At first, Xie Qing was surprised, but when he heard the name of this merchant organization, he couldn''t help but lose his voice. "It seems that their connections are deeper than I thought. They were ableto quickly identify my identity. Nevertheless, their skin is indeed thick, ha-ha..." Xie Qing didn''t know whether tough or cry. However, one thing wascertain- he had received an unexpected benefit. *** Lyu Lyu woke up from a deep sleep. She slept until the day, and when she opened her eyes and saw the weather outside the window and theposition of the sun... "Aaaa!" She screamed, and Xie Qing was startled. He was drinking wine and reading a book, so he didn''t expect this. Looking at Lyu Lyu, who looked shocked, the young man looked at her. "Good morning... although it''s already daytime," he said with a smile,ing to his senses. "D-day... I...overslept?" Lyu Lyu looked shocked: "Who would have thoughtthat Iwould oversleep for the first time in so many years!" "Are you in a hurry?" Xie Qing asked in confusion. "At this time, I practice on the zither!" Lyu Lyu didn''t bother to exin and quickly changed her clothes. Then, grabbing the zither, she ran to the backyard. A few secondster,a pleasant melody was heardfrom there. The young man was left speechless. "How active," he thoughtand shookhis head, heading towards her. *** The beautiful zither melody made the people at the port stop and listen. For them, it had already be a daily urrence. "It seems that she iste today. I was already beginning to worry that she had gotten tired of it!" said one of the sailors. "Oh, don''t say that... Her songs in the mornings are the best motivation for me!" said another sailor. For almost a year now, this girl has been ying the zither every morning. Her songs gave many workers the strength to work harder. Itis even saidthatsomeone was curedof a long depression. Therefore, the sailors even nicknamed her the "Sea Maiden"!This cute nickname wasperfectlysuitedto her appearance. Xie Qing was listening to her y the zither for the second time, and he couldn''t help but be amazed. "Your skills are improving every day!" Xie Qing said admiringly. "Thank you..." Lyu Lyu smiled gently, and her cheeks blushed. She closed her eyes and giggled: "I have one song. I wrote it myself, but it''s not perfect. Do you want to listen?" "Oh? Of course!" Lyu Lyu took a deep breath and then began to sing. Xie Qing listened carefully to every line of hers.Her hands gently yed the zither, and thebeautiful singing of the young girl pratedthe depths of the soul. The sailors were frozenin ce, and many of them had tears in the corners of their eyes. Xie Qing himself was also impressed. "Oh..." For the first time, he heard something so beautiful. His gaze at Lyu Lyu became gentle. ==== *In the discord server,you will find a link to the song.Of course, there will not be 100% matching, as itis donewith the help of a neuralwork. Chapter 151: Lyu Lyu (Part 1) (R-18) Xie Qing listened to Lyu Lyu''s singing with admiration on his face. It seemed as if the world had fallen silent the moment she began to sing. Many of the sailors shared his reaction, standing still until the song was over before erupting into apuse. The loud cheers and pping echoed all the way to where Xie Qing and Lyu Lyu were seated. "It seems that you are quite popr here," Xie Qing remarked with a smile, ncing at the excited sailors. "And they hold you in high regard, Lyu Lyu." "Yes... I have been ying the zither and asionally singing for almost a year now to practice," the young woman replied, straightening her hair. She blushed slightly, "Even the city leader hase to listen to my songs. It''s a little embarrassing." "Embarrassing? Well... They are still quite restrained in their actions. Your voice is priceless," Xie Qing said earnestly, causing Lyu Lyu to blush even more. She was d to have found someone who appreciated her skills, and it was this that had initially attracted her to him. The feeling of happiness and the fluttering in her stomach only grew stronger. *** Lyu Lyu had packed her things and decided to return to the Eastern Continent with Xie Qing. The young man was pleased with this decision, although he had initially nned to make a detour. "I can still sense the call... It seems that the treasure is still active," he said. Some time ago, he had been close to the treasure but had not acted rashly. Instead, he asked Huang Jing to investigate the situation. As expected, it was no easy task to obtain the treasure. The entrance was guarded by a monster at the peak of the Soul Nascent stage, just one step away from Soul Integration. Furthermore, it seemed that there was more than one or two of these monsters, and they lived in groups. Xie Qing was not overly confident that he could storm in and kill all the monsters without any problems. However, he was certain that he could at least escape unscathed and unharmed. Therefore, as soon as Lyu Lyu had finished her business, Xie Qing also concluded his conversation with the guarding cultivator. "Do you understand my request?" he asked casually. "Yes, sir! I swear that I will ensure that this hut remains untouched!" the cultivator replied, sweating profusely. He was relieved when Xie Qing left, knowing that it would have been safer to stick his head in a tiger''s mouth than to refuse the request of a Soul Nascent cultivator. "Alright". And so, the n for the day was set. *** "Wow... This is the first time I''ve seen such a high-ss carriage," Lyu Lyu eximed in admiration. "High...ss?" Xie Qing repeated, puzzled. At her confused look, he corrected her, "This is a carriage of the middle ss." "Seriously? I''m a little ashamed to admit it, but I''m not very knowledgeable about these things," Lyu Lyu said with a slight blush. "Don''t be ashamed of it. After all, I wasn''t very knowledgeable about it either," Xie Qing said, unconcerned. He was the type of person who only took an interest in goods when he needed them. The two of them sat in the carriage and chatted happily, despite the difference in their ages. They had manymon interests and topics to discuss. *** Although Xie Qing didn''t mind, he was still a little surprised by how talkative Lyu Lyu was. She was even more talkative than him! However, they couldn''t talk forever. After half a day, they had exhausted all their topics and fell into silence. Xie Qing was lost in thought, staring out of the small window. He looked as if he was in a state of prostration. This expression on his face charmed Lyu Lyu, and her heart began to beat faster. Without realizing it, she moved closer to Xie Qing and leaned against him, pressing her chest against his arm. "Oh... Such firm muscles..." she thought, rubbing her chest against his arm. But when she realized what she was doing, she blushed deeply, "What''s wrong with me?! It''s so embarrassing... How embarrassing..." She hurriedly stood up and tried to leave, but... "What are we doing?" a seductive male voice whispered in her ear. "Hii!" Lyu Lyu screamed in fright at Xie Qing''s sudden whisper, and when she saw his carefree smile, she blushed even more. "This... Hear me out..." "Yes?" "Ugh..." When it was time to exin, Lyu Lyu felt a strong sense of shame. She didn''t know how to exin what she had done. However, Xie Qing did not tease her as she expected, but instead smiled and said, "You know, you don''t have to exin. I''ll just do this..." Before Lyu Lyu could even sigh in relief, she felt the ground beneath her feet be lighter, and then her buttocks felt something hard. "Hm?" She looked around in confusion and then blushed deeply. In just a short moment, Xie Qing had really made her sit on hisp! And then... "Aah..." Lyu Lyu let out a soft and seductive moan. Her breathing was in sync with the beating of her heart. Xie Qing''s hands gently caressed her slender and smooth thighs. The sensation was very pleasant and soothing. "W-wait... This... Aah!" Of course, Xie Qing did not listen to her pleas. His hands moved upwards, over her t and slender stomach, and towards her chest. Two pale bunnies were hidden behind a thin piece of cloth that served as a bra. However, under Xie Qing''s skillful movements, this piece of cloth slipped down. The upper part of Lyu Lyu''s hanfu was loosened, revealing her pale chest between C-cup and D-cup. Her delicate, slightly dark pink are and pink nipples were in an excited state due to the slightly cool temperature of the room and Xie Qing''s touch. "W-wait... I..." Lyu Lyu was embarrassed. She had only had one sexual experience, and it was with Xie Qing. It had been a long time, and her body was very sensitive. She wanted to express her protest, but feeling the heat in her lower body, she fell silent and just nodded, feeling Xie Qing''s questioning gaze on her. And when he got the permission... "Aah!" A soft moan escaped her lips. Lyu Lyu, with a blush on her face, watched as Xie Qing''s pale fingers gently massaged her chest. He seemed to be a master in this matter. When he touched her nipples or was close to the are, he would release a bit of Qi from his fingers, making the young woman even more sensitive. "Aah! Xie Qing, I''m going to... Ooh..." However, no matter how much Lyu Lyu tried, she could not resist the pleasure for long and, shuddering, slightly arched her slender back. Xie Qing felt a few drops of Lyu Lyu''s liquid fall on his clothes, but he did not object. He made the young woman sit down and then began to undress. Lyu Lyu came to her senses only after her eyes focused on one majestic object. "This is..." The young woman sighed softly. Her lips puckered, and her breathing became heavy. Despite having just finished a few minutes ago, her younger sister was already hot again. Swallowing her saliva, her delicate hand unconsciouslynded on the head of Xie Qing''s jade rod. Then, when she gently stroked the head, she began to slowly move her delicate and slightly cold fingers along the hard rod, down to the base. It seemed as if there were changes in Lyu Lyu''s eyes - an illusion that her pupils had turned into a heart. "Haa... Haa..." With heavy breathing, Lyu Lyu blushed deeply. She felt how her younger sister was ''panting and sweating with desire." The heat was unbearable. So, the young woman looked around, trying to find a suitable ce. "Don''t worry. I came prepared!" Xie Qing reassured the young woman with a smile and then took out a bed from his spatial ring. Although the carriage wasrge, there was still plenty of space. But... "Do you carry a bed with you? Why? Although, that''s a stupid question," Lyu Lyu thought. Even though this surprised her a little, it did not affect her own mood and burning desire. She pushed Xie Qing down and then, grabbing his jade rod, plunged it into herself without a drop of doubt... "Aah... Haa... What a wonderful feeling!" Lyu Lyu took a deep breath, showing a satisfied smile on her face. She had not felt this feeling of fullness for a long time. It was as if a scabbard that had been idle for so long had finally found a suitable de. With soft moans, Lyu Lyu quickly adapted and began to ride Xie Qing''s dragon with great enthusiasm. "Aah!" Without any embarrassment, she moaned loudly, as if trying to release all her feelings. The walls of her vagina greedily squeezed Xie Qing from the inside, as if trying to milk him dry. Chapter 152: Lyu Lyu (Part 2) (R-18) Xie Qing did not like to be in a passive role and decided to actively participate in the action. He rhythmically moved his hips and sessfully prated her inner depths at the right moments. Both of them were cultivators, and their bodies could withstand high loads. Therefore, Xie Qing and Lyu Lyu did not intend to limit themselves to ordinary sex. This was evident in the fact that even the well-protected carriage began to sway slightly after a few minutes. Xie Qing fiercely pounded Lyu Lyu''s pussy, making the girl moan incessantly and eventually exhausting her to the point where she no longer had the strength to moan. Lifting Lyu Lyu, Xie Qing held her legs and then prated her cave. "Oooh..." In this position, Xie Qing deeply prated inside her. The girl could only sigh. Her lips shone with saliva, and her eyes rolled back with pleasure. "Lyu Lyu, I''m going to finish..." Xie Qing whispered softly. The girl did not have time to respond before she suddenly shuddered all over and, with a sigh, felt Xie Qing''s semen pouring into her. The simultaneous intense pleasure and fatigue weakened her so much that Lyu Lyu could not even move a finger. Xie Qing carefully ced her on the bed and took out wine to drink and quench his thirst. After twenty minutes of rest, Lyu Lyu was like new again. She immediately jumped off the bed and knelt at Xie Qing''s feet. "Daddy, let me satisfy you," she said with a slight embarrassment. "Eh..." Xie Qing did not know how to react, so he simply nodded. Her lips gently kissed the head of the jade rod and then closed softly, as if she was eating a lollipop. When she had enjoyed the taste enough, the girl made a smacking sound and began to lower her head, swallowing Xie Qing''s penis. "Mmmmh..." At first, it was difficult for her. Lyu Lyu was breathing heavily, but in the end, she was able to adapt and swallowed his dragon halfway! With a light burp, she began to move her head up and down, her saliva continuously lubricating Xie Qing''s apparatus. "Ugh... Ugh... Mmmh..." She made gulping sounds, like a drowning person, which sounded strange in a way. However, a look of pleasure appeared on Xie Qing''s face. He felt a slight tremor and enjoyed the situation. Although Lyu Lyu did not have much experience in blowjobs, her efforts and talent (if such a thing exists) made him feel pleasure. Unconsciously, he began to stroke her hair, and after a while, grabbing her by the head, he began to help her. At first, Lyu Lyu was ufortable and squinted, but in the end, she was able to adapt to it after a few minutes. Xie Qing did not drag it out for long. After twenty or so minutes, he grunted and, grabbing Lyu Lyu''s head, finished. "Uuum!" Lyu Lyu''s eyes widened. However, she resisted her reflexes and did not push back. After a few minutes, she sighed and stuck out her tongue. Her eyes looked as if they were covered with fog. "I''ve cleaned your penis, daddy," she said. Xie Qing lost his speech again. Although it sounded somewhat arousing, he felt a shiver down his spine. "Where did you learn this?" he asked, tiredly rubbing his temples. "Eh? My acquaintances said that men like this!" Lyu Lyu replied with an innocent look. She looked at him with a face that said, "Isn''t that true?" which made even the thick-skinned Xie Qing not know how to respond. So, he simply nodded. Lyu Lyu made an effort for him and overcame her embarrassment to say it... Xie Qing was only happy! After a few seconds, their me of passion burned again. Damn, these cultivators and their strong endurance! I''m envious! *** Early in the morning, Xie Qing sighed and opened the carriage door, stepping down. He was dressed in his usual loose white hanfu. Jumping off the carriage, he reached up and helped Lyu Lyu down. Compared to the energetic Xie Qing, the girl looked as if she hadn''t slept for a week and was even limping. "Your endurance is terrifying..." she muttered with a displeased expression. "Next time, I''ll drain all your semen." "Yes, yes," Xie Qing replied nonchntly, not taking her threats seriously. Although they were both cultivators at the same stage, there was a difference in their training and cultivation techniques. Xie Qing was a swordsman, and his cultivation technique helped to strengthen his body and increase his endurance. He could practice dual cultivation for a week without tiring. However, tonight''s practice helped Lyu Lyu strengthen her control over her qi and eliminate the problems caused by her sudden breakthrough. The dual cultivation technique was truly amazing, and Xie Qing could praise the genius who created it for years. Of course, he also benefited from the technique, but he did not undergo any major changes. To gain an advantage from the technique, his partner must be a cultivator one stage higher than him. However, if the partner is three stages higher, the effect isrgely negated. Xie Qing could not understand why this was the case, and the only exnation was that the Laws of Heaven did not allow the existence of irregr things. In any case, returning to Xie Qing and Lyu Lyu, they had sessfully reached the area they needed. This ce, covering an area of five thousand miles, was called the "Shen Mountain Range." It was rumored that there were many evil spirits and the like here. Therefore, even a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage had to be careful. Xie Qing, of course, did not dare to underestimate the information he had received from Huang Jing. Therefore, before beginning his exploration, he took care of his own safety and that of Lyu Lyu. "Here, take it," the young man said, handing her a set of armor with a bright silver color. There was a golden dragon engraving on the breastte. The armor was adapted for women, so Lyu Lyu was able to put it on easily. "Oh! This armor can adjust to the size of the body... Amazing!" she eximed, admiring herself. "Moreover, the armor''s protection is high! An ordinary cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage would have a hard time prating this armor." "Well noted," Xie Qing said, "but it''s still best not to let the enemynd too many blows. This armor has a limit to its durability." "No problem. I have experience in battle," Lyu Lyu said, nodding. This was a surprise to Xie Qing when he first learned of it. Although cultivators were known for their strength, there were also types of cultivators who developed other aspects of the dao. In the end, Lyu Lyu had said and proven that she possessed sufficient skills to deal with someone at her level. After discussing a few details, the two of them headed towards this territory. The entrance was a forest, a very dense forest. The trees had thick bark and emitted qi. "Iron Glory Trees... I didn''t expect to find them here," Xie Qing said in a whisper, raising an eyebrow. "This type of tree has high durability and is very difficult to obtain." "I can imagine what kind of frenzy would be around this ce if it weren''t for the location," Lyu Lyu said with a bitter smile. The Shen Mountain Range was located in a remote area. The nearest city to it was where Huang Jing lived. However, transporting such goods requires a lot of resources. Moreover, harvesting the tree was extremely difficult due to its durability. In addition, many dangerous monsters lived in this forest. There had been attempts to harvest goods from here, but they all ended in the expected failure. However, Xie Qing did not want to retreat. Lyu Lyu, in turn, did not want to leave him alone, and considering her strength, the young man did not object. And so, they entered the forest. The ground was damp and unpleasant to walk on. In addition, Xie Qing noticed many poisonous creatures. Several snakes even tried to bite him from their hiding ces. However, he was able to easily deal with them with one left hand. The sword aura shredded the unlucky snakes and toads into small pieces. "Hey..." "Yes..." "It''s too quiet..." Xie Qing and Lyu Lyu exchanged nces. Although their journey through the forest was going quite calmly, this silence was already rming. "Strange. Huang Jing looked gloomy when he talked about the monster that guarded the entrance. It can''t be an ordinary scarecrow," Xie Qing thought and confidently nodded. "We need to be careful. Although I can kill the monster, I don''t want to be in a situation where I''m surrounded by enemies." The Three-Legged Crows had been a headache for Xie Qing. Although he had dealt with them, he had been in danger the whole time. He did not want to repeat his past mistakes. At some point, Xie Qing and Lyu Lyu stopped. The girl looked worried, and the young man sighed gloomily. "We''re lost..." The situation was heating up. Chapter 153: Treasures (Part 1) One might have thought, "Ha, stupid Xie Qing. He managed to get lost even though no one was chasing him." But the problem was¡­ "I definitely followed a clear route!" Xie Qing thought, his eyes gleaming as he scanned his surroundings with his spiritual sense. "Strange. I don''t sense any illusion formations. Could I have really been careless?" He pulled out a map that looked tattered and worn. The rough markings on it resembled scribbles more than an actual map. However, every line and path on it was made at the cost of the blood and sweat of many cultivators. Despite this, the map was only a rough sketch of a certain part of the forest, and there was no urate information beyond its borders. Studying this ce was expensive, and few enthusiasts were willing to take on the task. Those who did¡­ well, candles had long been lit in their honor. Nevertheless, Xie Qing needed to find a way out of there. He walked around for a bit and discovered something. "Look!" He called out to Lyu Lyu, who quickly ran over. "What is it?" She asked, puzzled. "The Brown Fantasy Flower. It''s highly poisonous and is mainly used for poisons and, moremonly, for aromatic candles," Xie Qing exined. "It''s popr among the wealthy, who use the candles to fragrance their homes and clothing. However, if the flower is not properly processed, or if the person using the candles has a weak constitution, there is a chance they could lose their mind to hallucinations." "What a terrible flower. Is that why we were wandering around?" Lyu Lyu asked. "Yes," Xie Qing said, looking thoughtful. He had read a lot about different nts and flowers, so he was familiar with most of them. This flower had high hallucinogenic properties, but it could only confuse cultivators at most. And he was confused but for different reasons. "It''s strange that this flower has no effect on cultivators of our level! But I can''t think of any other reason why we would have gotten lost¡­" Xie Qing muttered to himself. Lyu Lyu was also puzzled. Their bodies'' resistance was hundreds of times higher than that of an ordinary person, so it was incredible that they had been affected by this flower. However, after Xie Qing wandered around the area, he noticed a pattern. "Wherever there is a Brown Fantasy Flower, there is also a Passion Grass nearby¡­ could it be?" Xie Qing''s face stretched in surprise. It seemed that he had figured out the reason. "Seriously¡­ is the flora in this ce that terrible?" The Brown Fantasy Flower and the Passion Grass, whenbined, could create an enhanced version that could affect even cultivators of his level! The Passion Grass was used for tonics among cultivators, but Xie Qing had never considered that it could enhance the properties of its neighbors. "However, it seems that this protection is noting from the flora¡­" Xie Qing thought, his expression serious. "It''s more likely that someone deliberately nted them like this. But then the question is¡­ who is it?" Despite his interest in this matter, Xie Qing needed to find the treasures as soon as possible! Removing this illusion was easy; the only difficulty was that it was hard to detect. However, with the proper use of spiritual energy, one could easily dispel the annoying effects. "Set up a barrier of spiritual energy around you," Xie Qing said. "Got it!" Lyu Lyu followed his advice, and a semi-transparent, light-blue barrier appeared around her in a second. She could then detect that the effect of the confusion had disappeared. A few minutester, they were back on the path. Xie Qing sighed in relief. Although he was excited that all of this reminded him of stories from books, he was eager to find what was calling him. ording to Xu Mei, a cultivator usually finds countless treasures after such a call! And what could be considered a treasure for a cultivator? Natural resources! *** The forest Xie Qing was in was called the "Steel Forest." As they approached the exit, the young man sensed a dangerous and powerful aura in front of them. "Hmm? A creature at the level of the Nascent Soul, presumably at its peak. Could it be that guardian that the rumors were about?" Xie Qing thought, narrowing his eyes. With a light movement of his hand, he unsheathed his sword and signaled for Lyu Lyu to be on guard. As they got closer, Xie Qing was able to see the creature that was emitting this energy fluctuation. "Mountain King!" Xie Qing and Lyu Lyu eximed in surprise. A giant bear, ten meters tall, was quietly snoring as it ate someone''s meat. It looked like a grizzly bear. The bear had dark-ck fur, and a dark red liquid was dripping from the corners of its mouth. "What a surprise!" Xie Qing was both surprised and delighted. The Mountain King was not a specific race but a general term for monsters that lived in mountainous areas and had great strength, thereby controlling other animals. It was said that any monster recognized as a Mountain King could, with a certain probability, leave behind a precious resource after its death ¨C a monster core! The monster core, in its ordinary form, was a material dan tian, where the monster''s qi, umted over its lifetime, was stored. If one killed the monster and obtained this core, one could forget about the problems of breaking through to the Soul Nascent stage! "Such a core can nourish me with qi during the breakthrough! Of course, it needs to be purified first, but¡­ even so, I can break through without any problems!" Xie Qing was overjoyed. It seemed that the Goddess of Luck was smiling at him seductively, inviting him to taste her "luck." "Lyu Lyu, get ready," Xie Qing whispered, then got into a stance. "Got it!" The girl nodded seriously, and when Xie Qing gave the signal, she pulled the string. A soft sound was heard, and then the monster let out a terrible roar. "GRAARRR!" Xie Qing did not waste any time, and in less than a second after Lyu Lyu''s attack, he appeared in front of the bear. Whoosh! The sound of the wind was heard, and the poor bear cub did not have time to react before its head was chopped off. Pfft-ssss¡­ The sound of blood gushing out like a fountain¡­ Xie Qing looked at his hands in amazement. "What the fuck?!" He couldn''t help but swear. After a moment of silence, he turned to look at Lyu Lyu and asked, "Hey, did you put something in my food?" "No!" Lyu Lyu shouted with a red face, realizing what Xie Qing was implying. The young man chuckled and shook his head. "Nevertheless, I didn''t expect it to die so easily¡­" Xie Qing said nonchntly, then shouted over his shoulder, "By the way, I''d advise you to turn away¡­" "Eh? Ugh!" Lyu Lyu was a little slow to react, so she had to see the blood stter in the air as Xie Qing made a deep and rough cut into the bear''s belly. She restrained her urge to make a short presentation of today''s dinner and turned away. And Xie Qing¡­ well, he was already used to bloody scenes. When he made the incision and reached the spot where the core was¡­ "Found it!" He happily shouted and pulled out the bloody, golden core that glowed in the light. "Could it be that this trip will bring me such a cool reward?!" Xie Qing thought with a smile. Then he raised his eyebrows in surprise. He looked ahead and his face darkened. "Holy shit." In front of him were¡­ more than a hundred monsters. And the weakest one was at the peak of the Core Formation stage! "Well, thank you, fuck." *** Xie Qing was breathing heavily. His clothes were bloodstained, and there wererge beads of sweat on his face. He sat, as was proper, on a small hill of monster corpses of various kinds. And although he looked tired and irritated, he had a satisfied smile on his face. "I managed to get 10 cores! That''s even more than I need!" The young man thought happily. He looked at Lyu Lyu, who was sitting tiredly on the grass, and shouted at her, "How''s your qi?" "Half exhausted!" Lyu Lyu replied, grimacing. "You''ve really brought adventure upon our heads." "Well, I didn''t expect that," Xie Qing sighed, but then a smile appeared on his face as he pulled out a few golden balls the size of a billiard ball. "If you sell them, you can get a lot of money! Although, it''s better to use them for cultivation." Lyu Lyu smiled. She was tired, but she and Xie Qing had managed to gather so many cores! These cores could be used not only for breaking through to the Soul Nascent stage but could also provide quick practice in daily cultivation. After resting for a bit, the two of them continued on their way. Fortunately, the Heavens were no longer ying with them, so their path was simple. Xie Qing did not have an urate map, but he could sense approximately where the treasure was. "Presumably¡­ near the highest mountain!" Xie Qing said after some thought and calction. "The highest mountain? You mean that one?" Lyu Lyu asked in surprise, pointing to a mountain whose peak was hidden behind the clouds. "It looks like a dangerous ce." "True. But I feel like everything will be fine," Xie Qing nodded. Climbing the mountain was easy for cultivators. And it was especially easy for Xie Qing, who preferred to simply fly up. And when they were at a high altitude¡­ "Wow!" Lyu Lyu''s eyes shone brightly as she looked at the earth with indescribable admiration. The mountains and forests seemed so small to her as if they could be picked up with one hand. Xie Qing was also amazed by this sight. The cultivation world was beautiful, no matter how much one criticized it! "Immortality! Only a long-liver can enjoy the beauties of the world!" Xie Qing thought, clenching his fists. His eyes were filled with determination: "I will reach the top! And only then will I be able to lower my head!" Chapter 154: Hole The carriage rapidly descended and seemed as if it would collide with the snow-covered mountain peak. However, as if someone had simply stopped time, the carriage halted in mid-air. Xie Qing nced at Lyu Lyu and smirked, suppressing hisughter. "Don''t be afraid, I can control the carriage well, so such tricks are very simple," Xie Qing said and, unable to hold back, began tough. "Y-you..." Lyu Lyu''s legs trembled with fear, and she grabbed Xie Qing with her very cute and frightened face, trying to cover him with her body. However, realizing what had happened, she could not help but blush and feel ashamed. The girl pinched Xie Qing''s side, making him cough. "Alright, alright, don''t be upset. I didn''t think you''d react like that," Xie Qing said with a smile and then picked up Lyu Lyu like a princess. "Kya~!" The girl cried out in surprise, and although there was embarrassment on her face, it was clear that she was pleased. One way or another, returning to the topic of their location... The mountain, ording to information from books, was called Mount Yundian! One of, if not the highest mountain in the cultivation world. It is said that by climbing to its peak, one can see the Immortal World! However... "Rumors and legends... Often turn out to be disappointing," Xie Qing thought, wrinkling his nose. Before he climbed the mountain, full of hopes and desires to glimpse the Immortal World... In the end, he could only sigh in disappointment. At the top, there was only the sky. Endless, boundless sky. Devoid of clouds, beautiful and pure. Xie Qing was pleased with the views, but nheless... "Not what I wanted. But, one way or another, it''s beautiful here," Xie Qing admired the surroundings. Lyu Lyu also, with her mouth open, gazed at the beautiful views. *** Of course, one could admire nature andndscapes for a long time. However, the purpose of their arrival was not for that. Moreover, even considering their cultivation level, it was difficult for them to breathe. They needed to finish their business as soon as possible. And Xie Qing nodded in satisfaction. He felt that the treasure was within reach. Of course, it was still difficult to understand exactly where, and the denseyer of snowplicated it several times. However, thanks to their joint efforts, Lyu Lyu called Xie Qing already after an hour of searching. "Xie Qing! Look!" Her cry attracted the young man''s attention, who had identally discovered the bones of some animal. He approached her. "This... ho-o-o..." Xie Qing raised an eyebrow. Under theyer of snow, there was actually an underground passage! And the young man felt that the treasure was inside! "But... My mom taught me not to enter suspicious holes," Xie Qingmented in the ear, depriving Lyu Lyu of the power of speech. And then, as if nothing had happened, he nodded and looked at the girl, saying: "I''ll jump in. You can stay here" "I''ll go with you," Lyu Lyu shook her head. She looked serious: "It could be dangerous there. After all, most treasures are protected either by monsters or byplex mechanisms" "Hm..." Xie Qing was silent for a moment, drilling Lyu Lyu with his gaze, and then shrugged: "Alright, no problem" "Yay!" Xie Qing could only smile. And then, without any hesitation, he jumped into the hole! Lyu Lyu did not linger for long and jumped after him. Buh! With a muffled sound that echoed, Xie Qing jumped down andnded sessfully. Then he opened his arms. With a slight gust of wind, Lyu Lyunded in his arms. The girl smiled and kissed him on the cheek, and then jumped down. "Trying to seduce me?" Xie Qingughed. "Hehe..." Lyu Lyu smiled tenderly. Then they began to explore the ce where they found themselves. Xie Qing curiously examined the space he had discovered. This was a spacious room with a very high ceiling. The eyes could only see darkness in the distance. It was notable that this ce was extremely deste. The only thing they had seen in all this time was the stone, rough floor, and a few bones. And then, after they had wandered for several minutes... A sound was heard. Grrhhhh... Boom! Boom! Boom! First, there was a sound as if something heavy and stone was scratching the floor. And then three consecutive explosions were heard. Xie Qing frowned. They approached the source of the sound and were surprised to discover an enormous, no, very enormous door. Compared to this door, Xie Qing and Lyu Lyu looked like ants. The thickness of the doors also stood out... Thickness as if three elephants lined up in a row. "Holy shit!" Xie Qing expressed his honest reaction. Lyu Lyu was no less surprised than him, but at least she restrained her swearing. ncing at each other, they had no choice but to enter the door. Although Xie Qing was slightly worried about what might be waiting for them... "The treasure is close! But... If it bes dangerous, I''ll run away immediately," he thought and prepared rescue tokens. One of them he handed to Lyu Lyu. He needed to be prepared. This ce looked extremely mysterious. The fact that it was empty around, except for a few bones of animals that had identally ended up here, was what scared him. Xie Qing did not think that someone was bored, so he decided to simply create huge rooms! "Moreover, this darkness effect... Strangely, I can''t see further than a hundred meters with my vision!" Xie Qing thought, darkening. The worst thing was the inability to analyze the situation and the surroundingndscape. In battle, there was a high chance that Xie Qing would simply not notice the enemy. After all, cultivators often fight from a distance. This slightly weighed on his nerves, but Xie Qing maintained a calm appearance. He tried not to sumb to emotions. "How strange... Something is forcibly, but superficially trying to ignite my emotions!" Xie Qing thought and nced at Lyu Lyu, who looked somewhat annoyed. He said in her ear: "Surround yourself with Qi. It seems there is a formation here that specifically ignites negative emotions" "Oh... Indeed. Now I understand why I felt so annoyed!" Lyu Lyu replied and, frowning, surrounded herself with Qi. Only then, when a semi-transparent barrier was formed, did her face smooth out. "Hehe, you have an angry face. It''s cute," Xie Qingmented to change the topic and the tense atmosphere. "tterer," Lyu Lyu snorted, but the corners of her lips twitched. "Yes, I am," Xie Qing replied with a carefreeugh. And it seemed that his n had worked. The effect of annoyance was reduced to zero. And only then... Xie Qing frowned, stopping his steps. "Xie Qing?" "We''ve arrived," The young man frowned. He was standing in front of arge, no, an ENORMOUS pavilion. And he did not like the aura that he felt inside. "Evil... Qi?" Sometimeter... Xie Qing waited for some time. He could not just enter the pavilion, as he was afraid that they might be subjected to an attack. As is known, cultivators often set up security systems in their pavilions. Therefore, they could receive severe injuries, even without meeting the owner of the pavilion. However, a special detector of formations showed a practically zero reaction. This surprised Xie Qing. "A pavilion without protection? This is some kind of absurdity," Xie Qingmented. "Perhaps this pavilion is very old? After all, no matter how safe and powerful a formation is, without energy, it is useless," Lyu Lyu concluded. "You''re right, but... The majority of formations can operate for more than a thousand years without interruptions... And if there are no traces of formations here... Oh..." Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. Lyu Lyu also began to understand what Xie Qing meant. It seemed that they had stumbled upon something ancient! *** Xie Qing believed the detector''s readings, but nheless, he was prepared. They attached various tokens and activated them. In case of danger, this would help them survive. And only after that, with the utmost caution, Xie Qing and Lyu Lyu stepped inside. Skr-r-r... "Ugh... My ears..." Lyu Lyu sighed. The floor creaked with a sound simr to a woman''s scream. Xie Qing''s steps were careful and almost silent, but... Skr-r-r... This time, the sound was even quieter than what was heard when Xie Qing walked silently! His eyes sparkled. "Legendary tree ''Jingbao mu''! Natural killer of spies," Xie Qing said, and seeing Lyu Lyu''s curious look, he exined with a satisfied smile: "My dear, the quieter and more inconspicuous your steps, the louder the creak it makes! Watch!" Xie Qing began to walk. Lyu Lyu during this time remembered how he walked and could say that this was his silent "mode". However... SKRRRRRR! A piercing, terrifyingly loud creak made Lyu Lyu cover her ears. She looked at Xie Qing in surprise. "What a terrible tree!" was all Lyu Lyu could say. "Indeed! And now, observe..." The young man smiled quite satisfied and then began to walk again. His steps made a slight tapping sound, but... "No creak?" Lyu Lyu was surprised, and then pped her hands with sparkling eyes: "Now I understand! If someone lives in the pavilion, it will mainly be servants who are obviously not trained in movement techniques" "Indeed!" Xie Qing was satisfied. This material was readily avable in antiquity. From it, an excellent security system was obtained. If the formations were set up correctly, the arrest of unwee guests could even be automated. However, due to its great poprity and the fact that the tree matured only once every hundred thousand years, there was not a single instance left. Xie Qing''s eyes sparkled. He took out tools from the spatial ring. "What are you doing?" Lyu Lyu was interested. And Xie Qing... "What do you mean ''What are you doing?''. How can I pass by such valuable material?! If I train on it, my steps will be impossible to hear!" Although this was logical... Lyu Lyu was at a loss for words, seeing Xie Qing''s diligence as he shamelessly stole the valuable ancient material. Chapter 155: Legacy of Deities (Part 1) The corners of Lyu Lyu''s eyes were twitching uncontrobly. She was standing on the bare ground... The floor of the first floor of the pavilion... was missing half of it! Lyu Lyu didn''t know whether tough or cry. Meanwhile, in contrast to the girl, Xie Qing looked as if he had hit the jackpot. His spatial ring was filled with more than tens of thousands of boards. Unfortunately, Xie Qing could not obtain any more physically. However, that was enough for him to his heart''s content! So, Xie Qing was satisfied. Lyu Lyu came to her senses, and they together went to explore the first floor. It was extremely spacious. Even after walking two kilometers, they had not reached the walls. "Who the hell was this built for? Giants?" Xie Qing thought and, remembering about "giants," his face suddenly became strange: "By the way, speaking of giants, do they... no, dude, chill..." Xie Qing coughed and turned his gaze to Lyu Lyu. She was leaning towards the floor and picked up something. "This..." The girl was looking at the ck stone in surprise. It was like an ordinary guy, but ck and with grayish veins that covered the entire stone. Xie Qing analyzed it several times but did not find any interesting properties, let alone any danger. However, damn it, where the hell did this ordinary stonee from out of nowhere? "Keep it in a spare spatial ring. Just in case, for safety reasons, keep it away from other things!" Xie Qing said. The cultivation world was tooplex and diverse. It was possible that this stone could help them with something, but if not, Xie Qing would simply throw it away. At his words, Lyu Lyu nodded. The stone disappeared from her hands, having been ced in an absolutely empty spatial ring. And so, they continued their walk. And oh, what a wonder. After three hours, they found the walls. And with it, an enormous staircase. "Well, fuck..." Xie Qing had expected this, but nheless... The staircase, as expected, was also enormous! Each step was a hundred meters high and about a kilometer wide. And Xie Qing began to seriously wonder who the hell this was built for. From legends, he knew of the existence of giants. They were a peculiar race that was equated with an ancient bloodline, and in most cases, they were also called Deities. However, these were legends. But Xie Qing shuddered with excitement at the thought that he had stumbled upon a trace of the past! "Deities! Beings that have much inmon with cultivators! They can create worlds, but unfortunately, they are too bound by the rules" Xie Qing remembered the information from the textbooks. Climbing the steps was inconvenient and long, and they could not fly. So, the carriage came to their aid. Getting into it, they flew into the air. It took them another hour just to climb to the second floor. Landing on the floor of the second floor, Xie Qing could see the difference. This ce was more furnished. "Judging by the looks, this was a living room," Lyu Lyumented in surprise, looking around. "Cabs, tables, there are even dishes on the table. Interesting... By the way, it smells like antiquity and unwashed socks here," Xie Qing thought, looking around. The furniture was, to put it mildly, in a battered state. It seemed that if they touched them, everything here would turn to dust. Xie Qing did not want this at all, as it would be too much of a pity to damage the heritage of the past. So, they took every step with the utmost care. Xie Qing carefully watched to make sure he didn''t break anything. And when they began to wander around, they found many strange things. "This? Eh... A strange kind of flower. It''s dried up, but it has mostly preserved its appearance," Lyu Lyu muttered. "It''s like a rose, a lily, and a May bugbined in one body," Xie Qingmented. "Not a very pleasant sight..." There were also cockroaches. Huge, damn it, cockroaches! Of course, they had long been dead, but nheless, they looked no less disgusting. The body was twenty meters wide and forty meters high, which was not something to look at. However, even so, Xie Qing was silent, realizing that this cockroach... had cultivation! "Core Formation stage... possibly a bit higher. It''s impossible to determine urately since it''s been dead for a long time. Nevertheless, this is impressive..." Xie Qing remembered one saying. It is said that when a mortal bes immortal, his pigs and chickens also gain immortality. The same thing was happening here but with a cockroach. Of course, they did not look at the huge disgusting cockroach for a long time. Since the room was toorge, Xie Qing finally thought of using the carriage. And this really sped up the process. "Do you sense the location of the treasure?" Lyu Lyu asked, looking out the window. "Presumably, the top floor," Xie Qing answered, scratching his head: "Moreover, the detector has found half-functioning formations. We need to be careful" Two hours were needed here to fly to the staircase to the third floor. Xie Qing was still impressed. "This ce is really very mysterious. I can''t even guess why this pavilion is here. And how the hell did they manage to fit such a huge space here?" Xie Qing muttered. "Well... Deities..." Lyu Lyu could only give such an answer. "Ah... Divine nonsense... I understand you" Xie Qing sighed. It was too hard for a mortal, let alone one as young as him, to process so much information. He had not thought that the journey would take him so much time. Moreover, they had not encountered a security system. This was rming. And not in vain was Xie Qing being careful. With a metallic ng, an enormous semi-transparent de flew through the spot where Xie Qing''s carriage and Lyu Lyu had been a second earlier. Xie Qing had reacted in time, so they, as well as the carriage, were not harmed. "What an old-fashioned... but dangerous trap," Lyu Lyu said nervously. "Indeed..." Xie Qing smiled bitterly. It was good that his reaction speed as a swordsman was good, so it was not difficult to dodge. However, "Strange. The entrance to the third floor seems to be destroyed?" Xie Qing thought, raising an eyebrow: "The vision says one thing, but the sixth sense is the other..." What he saw was a staircase leading into the darkness. The vision said that there was nothing there, but the sixth sense, on the contrary, was firmly standing its ground, hinting to him the way to the treasure. Xie Qing could only sigh. The space in which they were located was too mysterious. However, the road of adventure led them on. It was toote to retreat. So, with the utmost care, activating their sixth senses to the fullest, they moved forward. Climbing the stairs, even taking into ount that they were in the carriage, was a long process. Xie Qing, in such times, carefully looked around. He noticed that the walls were made of some unknown material to him. "By the feel, it''s somewhat like immortal stone..." Xie Qing thought. He had previously tried to get a little of the stone for research, but even his sword could not leave a scratch on the wall. *** Finally, after three whole hours, they reached the third floor. And what they saw was too amazing. "A huge throne room!" Lyu Lyu eximed in admiration, looking around. Indeed! A throne room! It seemed as if time had stopped, and the aura of greatness of those days had been preserved in this ce. However, despite its beauty, the throne room - the walls, the floor, and the armor in the corners - looked battered. It felt as if they could turn to dust with just one touch. A huge and long red carpet, with many holes and stains, stretched all the way to the throne, which stood on a small tform, to which three steps led. Next to each step was a throne, but of a much smaller size. Notable was that the backrest was shorter, and the upholstery was made not of red, but of blue velvet. "Is this some kind of tradition?" Xie Qing wondered. "Yes. I read somewhere that among the Deities, in the royal family, it was customary to dress strictly in certain colors," Lyu Lyu said, and squinted her eyes: "Red is the color that symbolizes the king. Blue is his wife. Green is their offspring. And yellow, pink, brown, silver, and gray are the ranks of the nobles." "Who would have thought that the Deities are also bound by the noble ranking system," Xie Qing muttered, distorting the corners of his mouth. Xie Qing had always thought, in his representation, he had representation that the Deities were beings who were not interested in power and everything that was connected with it. However, the fact that they had found something so historical could be a good reward. For historians, of course. But Xie Qing was focused on something else. He had discovered that somewhere behind the throne was what he hade all this way for! "It''s there!" Xie Qing said after making a few preparations. He looked at Lyu Lyu and, with a serious expression, said: "We need to be careful" "Understood!" Step by step, they approached the throne. Their steps echoed, it was so quiet and deserted here. Taking two steps forward... Xie Qing froze. He felt a slight chill run down his spine. So, he decided to immediately tell Lyu Lyu about this. "Something''s wrong! We need to..." However, when he turned around, Lyu Lyu was gone. The young man could not help but frown. "Damn it!" Chapter 156: Legacy of Deities (Part 2) A soft howl of the wind sounded in Xie Qing''s ears. The young man''s face was dark, and he was in a state ofbat readiness. The danger that awaited them on the path to the treasure was higher than his expectations. Now, even Lyu Lyu had disappeared. She seemed to have dissolved into the air. And the worst thing was that Xie Qing did not even feel it. It was as if he had been in an illusion all this time and suddenly woke up. "This ce... It''s still the same throne room, but..." The young man fell silent. He looked around and a drop of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. "This... Are they... Alive?" The throne room. The carpet. Xie Qing was standing on the carpet. And on both sides, towering up to the ceiling, were beings dressed in noble robes of different colors. And far ahead, on arge throne, sat a man. His eyes were closed, and he was half-lying on his throne. On his head was a crown, and his robe was luxurious. His hair was white and reached to his shoulders, and his gray beard reflected his age. "And most importantly... He is emitting a terrifying aura. This aura... It''s stronger than Xu Mei!" Xie Qing''s heart grew cold. The only thing that reassured him was therge, sharp spear that pierced the king''s chest. Around the ce where the spear pierced the king''s heart, there were dried-up traces of dark golden blood. "Who had such power?" Xie Qing wondered as he slowly approached the stairs. The chairs on the stairs were empty. But the difference was that they were half-destroyed and rotten as if time had passed since they had been sat on. Xie Qing was most shocked by the more than a hundred deities who stood neatly on both sides. From them came a terrifying aura that also surpassed Xu Mei but was inferior to the king. "Immortals!" Xie Qing thought. This was the only thing that came to his mind at that moment. However, his fear quickly disappeared as soon as he realized that these nobles (judging by their clothes) were also dead. However, now a new question arose: "Who killed them?" A single such being, if it were to enter the mortal world, would immediately destroy kingdoms with just one breath, and continents would be flooded with water, sinking into the ocean floor. And yet, such terrifying beings were dead. Whether it was due to the effect of time or an external enemy, Xie Qing did not know. "Am I seeing an illusion?" Xie Qing thought and blinked. Then, what happened next shocked him again. "HAIL TO THE KING!" "GLORY TO HIS MAJESTY!" "LONG LIFE TO THE KING OF THE DEITIES!" Loud, almost piercing-to-the-point-of-bleeding cries instantly made Xie Qinge to his senses. He was very surprised, looking around. He was standing in the same ce. At the same time, the difference was that now the throne room looked whole, beautiful, and majestic. The king on the throne sat majestically, cing his hands on the armrests, and with a clear hauteur and pride in his gaze, together with his dominant aura, he looked at the nobles. They, like devoted servants, knelt down, and some even fell to the ground, bowing their heads. "Hm!" At the praise of the subordinates, at their piercing cries, the king only uttered a deep sound that came from his throat. His piercing gaze was heavy. Even though Xie Qing did not feel strong pressure, he felt that his sixth sense was screaming about the danger. However, as if the young man was a simple ant (which, in terms of his size, was expected), the king did not even cast a nce in his direction. So, Xie Qing could observe the situation a little. The next difference from the previous scene was that the ces of the free thrones on the stairs were upied by three women. Next to each of them, on the green thrones, sat boys and girls aged from nine to twenty years. And despite their young appearance, they emitted a dangerous aura. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. "Each of them is a being with incredible power. Even the cute-looking child has the power of at least Soul Integration... Are these the Deities?" Beloved by the Heavens, blessed from birth. They ruled the Heavens in antiquity until the Heavenly Emperor came to rece them. However, these were legends. Xie Qing did not know how reliable they were. A minute or twoter... "My subjects, there is a n to attack us!" the king spoke and then paused. Many nobles began to whisper. But as soon as he showed his intention to continue his speech, everyone fell silent: "People have forgotten our might. Our strength and the weight of our fists. They have deluded themselves into thinking that they are the strongest, beloved by the Heavens! But it is we who must show them that no one but us, the Deities and the children of the Heavens, can rule all the worlds!" "Hail to His Majesty!" "Hail to the King!" "May the Heavens bless us..." "Hm?" Among all the cries, Xie Qing heard that thest one who spoke about the blessing at the end of his speech, sneered and his voice became quieter. Shuuuuuu! A wild wind whipped through Xie Qing''s ears, causing a terrifying noise. Only after the wind had passed did Xie Qinge to his senses. And what he saw shocked him. "HELP!" "People... Lowly people!" "My child... Where is my child?!" Chaos. Pure chaos. It seemed as if all thews and restrictions had been lifted. The fire was burning everywhere. The scene was in a city that seemed to be built on the clouds. Each building was sorge and majestic that Xie Qing, inparison with them, looked like a microbe. If one were to judge by the familiar architecture from the pavilion, then this was nothing other than the city of the Deities. However, the aforementioned beings, who controlled the Heavens, were in a slightly better state than a stray dog with a broken leg. They were screaming, crying, and writhing in agony. Like a symphony of chaos, true bloodthirstiness, and madness, everyone had gone crazy. The city was engulfed in fire. The debris of the buildings was flying down, immobilizing those who were trying to escape. And somewhere on the horizon, amidst the gloomy evening sky, a ck cloud was approaching the city. And when they approached close enough and quickly, it was clear that it was not a cloud... but hundreds of thousands, if not a million, people! And each of them, armed in bright silver armor, held a sword or spear in their hands. On the faces of the warriors, there was no fear, only pure pleasure and a smile full of confidence. And so, among them, someone began to chant. "For the Heavenly Emperor!" "For the glory of humanity!" "Kill them!" Xie Qing watched this with trepidation. Each being was endowed with great powerpared to them; he seemed so insignificant. "This is both fascinating and terrifying..." Xie Qing frowned and then clenched his hands into a fist: "And when I gain power, I will be able to look into the future with confidence!" Immortality! *** Xie Qing, to his luck, returned to the throne room again. The great scenes of the past had disappeared. Only the lonely, cold throne remained. And when he looked around, he was shocked. "Mortal, who has found this ce..." The king! Behind him stood the king! The one who was sitting on the throne! His eyes, so cold and majestic, were looking at Xie Qing. His lips, hidden behind a thick beard, were slowly and chaotically moving, but Xie Qing could understand his words. "If you havee here, then it is fate that has brought you. The heritage of the Deities has vanished with my death. I was most likely thest Deity," the king said. There was no sadness or joy in his voice, only indifference. He continued: "However, the Heavens are merciful. You and another mortal have been lucky. Whether you will receive my heritage depends strictly on your abilities." Xie Qing wanted to ask many questions, but in the next second, the space around him shrank to the size of a needle, and then he found himself in front of a tall being, about ten meters tall. "Your first test is to defeat the enemy," a cold voice informed him. *** Lyu Lyu saw the same scenes as Xie Qing. And when the king finished his speech, she also found herself in the same space. The girl was standing on a spacious stone tform. Around her was only pitch-ck darkness. In front of her, a hundred meters away, stood a monster. It looked like a deer, but it was standing on two legs. The difference was its coloring - a dark burgundy color with ck spots. "Soul Integration... First stage!" Lyu Lyu''s face darkened. *** Xie Qing''s opponent, however, was at the same level of cultivation, but the difference was that it was an elephant with ten legs. "Ten-legged elephant... Damn it. What kind of freaks has the world given birth to..." Xie Qing couldn''t help but curse. He immediately unsheathed his sword. The de shone brightly, showing a fierce desire to enter the battle. Xie Qing, despite his slight excitement, did not lose hisposure and, most importantly, carefully watched his own actions. An enemy at the Soul Integration level was not someone who could be easily dealt with. When it came to cultivation levels, most geniuses understood that they could no longer defeat enemies who were higher than them. Because the difference was not only in the levels but also in the stages! A Soul Integration cultivator at the second stage would lose to a cultivator with the same level of cultivation but at the fifth stage! Returning to the battle. The elephant did not look like one of those gentle gentlemen who would wait for the start of the fight. So, as soon as Xie Qing showed his desire to fight, the elephant suddenly stomped its feet with a loud crash, and a huge shadow appeared above the young man''s head. "Damn it!" Xie Qing quickly moved away from the ce where he had been standing before. Boom! The elephantnded with a crash on the spot where Xie Qing had been standing before. It provocatively waved its trunk. Xie Qing''s face darkened. "I''ll make barbecue out of you, bitch!" Chapter 157: Legacy of Deities (Part 3) The ten-legged elephant was definitely not characterized by the slowness typical of its kind. It seemed that its heavy andrge body could be fatal for it, especially in a battle with such an agile swordsman as Xie Qing. However, the elephant had no problems. It moved quickly, and it felt as if it was teleporting. Its ten legs had terrifying strength. During their brief exchange of blows, Xie Qing was nearly crushed by the horrifying power of those legs. Moreover, it was extremely difficult to withstand attacks on the soul. Xie Qing was sweating profusely. "Soul Integration! A stage where the cultivator merges their soul and body, creating something beautiful and bing a being of a new order!" In addition to great strength and enormous endurance, it was notable that beings at this level already had advanced soul attack techniques. Xie Qing could only spend arge amount of his Qi on defense. After all, if he received a soul injury, his future path would be difficult! However, the elephant did not get off lightly either. Numerous small and shallow wounds appeared on its body, from which gray, thick blood oozed. Moreover, the wounds were enveloped in the glow of the Sword Aura, which prevented the elephant''s regeneration from quickly dealing with the wounds. "TUUUUUU!" With an angry roar... A scream... Something like that, the elephant''s body shone very brightly. Xie Qing was blinded, but this effectsted only a second. However, sighing, he discovered that his body had be heavy. "This..." Xie Qing frowned. It felt as if something was restraining him, but his active search for his Qi did not show any results. Dum! Dum! Loud sounds of footsteps rang in Xie Qing''s ears. He turned to the elephant and narrowed his eyes. "Ah, you bitch..." Xie Qing already understood what had happened. The elephant had not used a curse, as he initially thought. His opponent had secretly attacked his soul! "Qi has be heavier to gather... The effect, presumably, willst about three minutes. But in that time, I''ll be crushed to hell" Xie Qing frowned. Due to the strange, unfamiliar attack, the amount and quality of Qi he could use was limited. However, Xie Qing did not panic. He used a special technique, "Rising Legend," which allowed him to temporarily strengthen his characteristics. And the young man, taking advantage of this temporary enhancement, quickly took action. Bright and piercing shes of the Sword Aura stretched across the ck and gloomy space. Xie Qing confidently swung his sword. "I need to weaken him a bit!" Boom! A powerful attacknded directly on the elephant''s torso. It loudly reacted to its wounds. However, while Xie Qing was dodging the chaotic attacks of the trunk and legs, he took advantage of the opportunity. Vshhh! "Finally! Now..." With a sharp movement of his hand, a thinyer of the Sword Aura detached from the de of the sword. "TUUUUUUUU!" The elephant desperately howled. Its eyes were bleeding. Xie Qing''s attack would have been useless if he had directed it at the elephant''s torso. However, the eyes were the weak spot of most beings. "Excellent!" Xie Qing licked his lips and jumped back, dodging the attack of the trunk. A satisfied smile shone on his face: "I did it!" Having temporarily lost its vision, the elephant could only fight by feeling against Xie Qing. It could be said that it was sessful. However, the uracy of the attacks had noticeably decreased. Therefore, Xie Qing did not miss his chance. He confidently swung his sword, using the sword technique: "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens - Sword God Strike!" BOOM! A loud, piercing explosion deafened both the elephant and Xie Qing. However, the young man was in good condition. As for the elephant, that was not the case. Ity on the ground, writhing in apparent convulsions and howling pitifully. Itsrge and heavy body was bleeding, and countless glows of the Sword Aura interfered with its regeneration. Although one could admire this sight for a long time, Xie Qing preferred to end everything as quickly as possible. Therefore, he swung his sword, and after ten attacks, he was able to cut off the elephant''s head. And before he could rest, the king suddenly appeared again. He looked at the young man and emotionlessly said, "The first test has been passed. Participant 1 has defeated their opponent. Passed. Participant 2..." The king was silent for a while, and then continued, "Hm. A draw." "A draw?" Xie Qing was surprised, "It seems she has good skills." The fact that Lyu Lyu hadsted so long and managed to end in a draw was already something significant. Her cultivation technique was ancient and even Xie Qing could not fully understand how it was created. The only thing he knew was that this technique was good in most cases for a support role. However, a cultivator with such a cultivation technique also had their tricks in battle. The king did not particrly try to fit into the atmosphere, so after a short silence, he continued, "The second test will be a test of your heart. Prove that you are worthy." Xie Qing did not have time to react before his mind was caught in a whirlwind, and he lost consciousness. The same scene was repeated with Lyu Lyu. *** A bright, sunny day. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, gazing at the boundless expanse of the field. He was dressed in tattered clothes, which were worn exclusively by the poor. However, it seemed that even in such cheap and unattractive clothes, he had a certain charm. His beautiful appearance was the wet dream of almost every vige girl and even women. In the vige of Xianshen, he was popr and loved by all. However, Xie Qing was unhappy. He sighed bitterly, looking around. "And again, this sad everyday life," he thought angrily. He was a young man with a fiery temperament. He always wanted fun, liveliness, and an active life. However, the vige could only offer wheat fields and mud. The only thing that could entertain the young man was flirting with youngdies. Xie Qing was one of those boys who, having heard stories about immortals, wanted to be one of them. However, reality was cruel. Where would an ordinary vige family get the finances and connections to raise a cultivator? Therefore, everything was limited only to their own fantasies. "Ah, if only I could be an immortal. I would have a harem of beautiful fairies. The girls from the vige are nice, but they''re too ordinary..." Hecked romance! Interesting and captivating romance! What young man wouldn''t want to meet a beautiful princess and be her beloved? But, one way or another, fantasies are just fantasies. Xie Qing sighed again. Thus, weeks passed. He lived an ordinary life - working in the fields, taking care of the livestock, and spending time with friends. It seemed like an ordinary, mortal life. But one day... "Wailing! I''m wailing! Help me..." "Aaaa!" "Nooo! My Xiao Yue!" Xie Qing was in shock as he looked at his native vige. It was engulfed in mes. "How could this be..." Out of helplessness and despair, he fell to his knees. His hands were trembling. Five minutes ago... He had seen the sky catch fire. Something round and fiery had fallen from the clouds. And in that moment, everything was destroyed. Toxic and extremely dangerous energy, along with inexplicable phenomena, created a terrifying me that imed more than a dozen lives. "This... Mama! Papa!" Xie Qing seemed to finallye to his senses. He ran toward the vige, ignoring the vigers who were begging for help. He tirelessly moved through the burning houses and beams. But when he reached his home, he could only sigh deeply out of helplessness and despair. "It''s all over..." *** Years had passed. The once charming and attractive young man had be a gloomy adventurer. He tirelessly traveled across the continent andpleted tasks. He did not possess any particr strength, judging by the cultivator ranking. However, for a mortal, he was strong and sturdy. A deep night. Xie Qing scratched his stubble. The bonfire was crackling. Behind the young man was a portable tent, which had cost him dearly. "I''m tired..." he thought with a sigh, "What a terrible day..." Today, he had taken on a task to kill some fugitive from a merchant organization. The target was an ordinary person, but he was good at hiding and changing his identity. However, Xie Qing had managed to see the cultivator from a distance. He looked stately, and many beauties were swirling around him. Even the legendary beauty, the daughter of the city leader, was smiling brightly at him and swirling around him. "Who would have thought that this high-and-mighty woman would behave so coquettishly..." Xie Qing thought, recalling her behavior on other days. He crookedly smiled, "Even the city leader himself behaved more obediently than any trained dog. I suppose this is the true power of cultivators." Hearing one thing was one thing, but seeing it was quite another impression. Xie Qing was only more convinced that without sufficient strength, one would never be able to gain a good attitude toward themselves. "Mind... Beauty... Erudition... All of this is meaningless if you are weak." He bitterly smiled. It seemed that the life he had lived was no better than that of a yard dog. "I have neither a wife nor children. Not even a permanent ce to live," Xie Qing thought, looking up at the stars, "The starry sky and a tent. That''s my home..." After the incident with the vige, he had to grow up quickly. Most of his rtives and friends had been killed in the sudden disaster. And those who had survived either became madmen or closed themselves off. Chapter 158: Heart (Part 1) Xie Qing had been asleep for a while in his tent. The campfire had been extinguished, and a thin, barely noticeable smoke was rising. The forest was shrouded in a dead silence. The stars shone brightly in the sky as if they had be much brighter than usual tonight. And suddenly, a round object appeared in the beautiful, glittering sky. Duum! The sky was filled with bright purple colors. A round, distinctly purple-glowing point began to increase in size. Someone might have thought that the Northern Lights had appeared, but the bright ball continued to grow, eventually bing the same size as the Sun. This caused panic among many astrologers. They suddenly felt that the past, present, and future blurred. The panicsted for about twenty minutes. In such a short time, the ball had managed to rece the entire sky and then disappearpletely. What had actually happened was unknown. Many predicted disasters! *** Xie Qing woke up early in the morning. He packed up his tent and set off on his way again. He was heading nowhere, just walking where his eyes would take him. He loved to explore the world this way. There might be dangerous ces where he could lose his life, but having seen the beauty of this world, he was more than satisfied with his life. "Hmm... this direction, if I''m not mistaken, leads straight to the Han Dynasty... oh, they''re very strict with foreigners there. I''ll have to make an effort to get them to let me into at least a vige to replenish my supplies," Xie Qing thought with a sigh. He was holding a map in his hand. The edges of the map were frayed, and folds were visible on the surface. One could tell from its appearance how often it was used. "One way or another... no harm in trying. I''ve run out of my Sleeping Potion. It''ll be extremely difficult if a monster attacks me at night," the man thought and scratched his stubble. There were bags under his eyes fromck of sleep. In recent days, he had be too restless. Even resting in nature didn''t help. "Sigh..." Xie Qing approached a stream, cupped his hands, and drank some water from it. He nced at his reflection and felt a pain in his heart. "Who would have thought that I would sink to this level... I used to be so handsome. Now, only faint traces of my beauty remain," he thought, frowning darkly. Xie Qing felt pain and suffocation from how his life had changed. But he couldn''t do anything about it. Comining about his life could go on endlessly. But the journey had to begin immediately to make it to the vige by nightfall. "This area is quite dangerous. Plus, they''ve spotted traces of demonic beasts here... damn, those bastards are breeding again," Xie Qing thought, his eyes showing noticeable fear. Demonic beasts are a category of monsters that were ordinary animals until they were infected with demonic Qi. After this, these weak creatures gained more power and posed a danger to entire viges, even if they hunted alone. During his travels, Xie Qing had only encountered such a monster once, and it was injured and didn''t have the strength to pursue him. So, the man managed to avoid a confrontation and continued on his way. And now, he was full of hope that his journey back would not encounter any problems. However... "Holy shit..." Xie Qing was sweating. In front of him were two monsters. They resembled wolves but were twice asrge. Their fur was silver-ck as if it shimmered in the light. Their eyes were red as if filled with blood. And their fangs, so sharp and strong, instilled fear in any unprepared person. Even with all his bravery, Xie Qing couldn''t help but shiver with fear. For the wolves had clearly focused their gazes on him, and in those gazes, he saw hunger. "Damn it! How unlucky I am..." Xie Qing grumbled, not daring to move ¨C this would only provoke the wolves. "Demonic Blood Wolves! Their strength is equal to a cultivator at the fifth stage of Enlightenment!" What does the fifth stage of Enlightenment mean? It''s at least a body that has enough strength to crush a mortal''s skull with one hand! For experienced cultivators, such beasts might be a meal, but for Xie Qing, he was more likely to be the meal! "I need to do something... we can''t just stand here staring at each other forever!" Xie Qing thought and clenched his teeth, gripping his hunting knife, the tip of which was coated with poison. "This poison is enough to kill an ordinary animal instantly! But against these bastards, it''ll only serve as a short-term paralysis effect!" Xie Qing was sweating. He was truly in a shitty situation, especially since he was up against two demonic monsters at once! However, when he was already starting to think about how to properly dy them and escape, the wolves suddenly turned around and ran away. "What?" Xie Qing clenched his hunting knife in surprise. Although the wolves had long since disappeared over the horizon, he didn''t dare to let go of his only weapon, which could guarantee his safety. "What... happened? Why did they leave?" Xie Qing thought, confused. He scratched the back of his head and turned around, bending down to pick up his backpack, which had identally fallen when he took out his knife, but... Bang! He suddenly collided with something. With a very soft, pleasant sensation... And when the man looked up in surprise and froze. "Are you going to stand like that for a long time?" a cold female voice sounded. Xie Qing took two steps back and retreated. He looked warily at the figure that had suddenly appeared. She was tall, only slightly shorter than Xie Qing, who was about two meters tall. Her hair was particrly striking, as if covered in gold. In her bright golden eyes, one could see greatness. Her body was... em... quite mature if you know what I mean. But Xie Qing was not surprised by this. "Horns... and a tail... this is..." he looked at the girl in shock and thought, "A descendant of the Dragon n!" The cultivation world was teeming with various races. Some were weak, while others were infinitely strong. But one exceptional race stood out ¨C the favorites of the Heavens, the Dragon n! They had the special ability to control other races, could control nature, and had a long lifespan! They were the rulers of the Heavens! And with his own eyes, Xie Qing saw a representative of their kind! No wonder those wolves ran away. Who would dare to stay in the presence of a predator? However, the girl only nced at Xie Qing and was about to say something, but suddenly, her eyes rolled back, and she fell to the ground. "Huh?" *** Night had fallen. Xie Qing had set up camp two kilometers away from the ce where he had encountered the wolves. Fortunately, he had found a cave where he could temporarily set up camp. He didn''t light a fire ¨C he didn''t want to die of suffocation, after all. So, he had to huddle under a warm nket. The cave was damp and cold, but at least it was safe. The hard, rocky walls with sharp, protruding, spike-like stones. "Not the best ce, but at least my back is covered. The only thing to fear is the entrance, but I''ve poured thest drops of my Sleeping Potion there and set up a simple trap and rm system..." The man sighed deeply and coughed slightly. He turned his gaze to the left and narrowed his eyes. There, the Dragon girl he had met not long ago was lying down. Although it was somewhat dangerous to take her with him, Xie Qing felt extremely ufortable at the thought of leaving his savior to lie on such a dangerous spot. He had thoughts of her possibly killing him, but Xie Qing''s eyes became empty as he looked apathetically at the stars. The night was cold, especially cold. After an hour or so, the sky was covered with clouds, and it began to rain. A few drops fell inside, creating a small noise. Xie Qing couldn''t sleep, so he took out a book and started to read. The title of the book was "Mortal Meets Immortal Fey!" It was a nearly childish, naive story about how a mortal meets a beautiful woman who turns out to be immortal and falls in love with her. ording to the pattern of such books, the woman falls in love, but her fianc¨¦, who somehow appeared out of thin air, interferes with their marriage. And the mortal, fueled by his hatred and love, bes a cultivator, conquers the Heavens, and lives happily ever after with the woman. Such naive stories... sigh. Xie Qing looked like a middle-aged man with stubble, extremely manly and gloomy. His height gave the impression of a warrior who could break the heads of enemies with his bare hands. But now, he was sitting and reading something so childish... "Are you reading a book? Hah? That''s a story for children..." a cold female voice sounded from the side. p. "That''s my favorite book from childhood. In it, I find the past, see the present, and ignore the future," Xie Qing replied indifferently, pping the book shut. There was apathy in his voice. "A mortal''s life is too short. I have fun as I can..." "I don''t understand mortals." The Dragon girl got up and stretched her neck. Her hanfu was slightly wrinkled, revealing glimpses of her beautiful legs and corbone. However, Xie Qing tactfully didn''t stare. Putting the book in his bag, the man looked at the girl, who had already put her clothes in order. "Lady, you must be very tired from the journey? I have a Stamina Potion, but I doubt it''ll have an effect on you," Xie Qing said respectfully. "It won''t have an effect, you''re right. Potions for mortals are like cheap booze for us higher beings," the girl replied with obvious disdain. But, after a moment of silence, she added in a quiet voice, "...this... em... you... uhh..." "You''re wee," Xie Qing replied calmly and bowed his head. "It''s an honor for me to be useful to the Lady." An awkward silence hung between them. Xie Qing was silent, not knowing what to say next, but then... Guurrr... "Ugh..." The man tactfully didn''t ask about the stomach growling. "I''m a bit hungry, and I was nning to make something. I hope the Lady will agree to have ate dinner..." "D-don''t mind if I do..." the girl replied awkwardly. Chapter 159: Heart (Part 2) Xie Qing and the immortal woman were eating mushroom soup in silence. Xie Qing''s cooking skills were decent, but not enough to satisfy an immortal''s taste buds. However, the immortal woman did notin and just ate the soup. Xie Qing was a bit puzzled. "She is different from the cultivators I have heard of...," Xie Qing thought, looking up at the night sky. "Arrogant, like stars in the sky, shining bright and illuminating the heavens. And I, along with all mortals, can only be worthy of being the dirt beneath their feet." A sense of mncholy overcame him. It was true that such a fate was pitiful. What mortal would not want a luxurious and healthy life? Xie Qing had also dreamed of this since he was a child. The day he learned about cultivators became the cause of his obsession and desire to be one. But how could a mortal touch the power of the immortals? Just attempting it could result in death. This was the reason why mortals were not allowed to be cultivators. The fiercepetition in the cultivation world was due to the limited resources. No matter how they wished, the resources that could help cultivators advance became less and less with each century. "How pitiful... to think that cultivators would be so greedy. I thought that once they gained power, they would no longer care about wealth and valuable resources...," Xie Qing thought. Sighing softly, he put aside his empty bowl. He did not have much of an appetite, but since the immortal woman wanted food, he could only use hisst bit of provisions to make it. However, it seemed that the girl was already satisfied. She licked her lips and then carefully ced the bowl on the ground, as if afraid it would break. She then looked at Xie Qing and pondered about something. Xie Qing felt extremely ufortable under her gaze. It was not easy for a mortal to withstand an immortal''s curiosity, so he could only pretend not to notice her gaze. And, as if hearing the call of his heart, the immortal woman stopped staring at him. However, she did say something. "Thank you for the food," she began, not allowing Xie Qing to say "You''re wee," and continued with a serious expression. "Since you have fulfilled thisdy''s wish, I will generously reward you!" "Reward, huh...," Xie Qing said weakly, looking slightly puzzled. "You don''t have to, really... it''s my duty." "Hmph! Are you trying to refuse thisdy''s kindness? You should know, no one has been so bold before!" the girl said, puffing out her chest arrogantly (which looked more seductive). With a flick of her left hand, which had a bronze ring, she said, "Catch!" The ring shone with a purple light, and two objects flew towards Xie Qing. "Ugh..." Xie Qing used his full reaction speed and managed to catch the two objects. When the nervousness subsided a bit, he was able to see what the two objects were. And his eyes widened, showing a storm of emotions - including shock, joy, and... wariness. For what he held in his right hand was a cultivation technique, and in his left hand - the size of a fist - was a stone that had a semi-transparent base and a light-blue tint. "This is...," Xie Qing thought. Even though these two items could cause a stir in the mortal world - so strong that even emperors would fight for just one of them... Xie Qing did not feel great happiness at receiving these items. "You... which sect are you from, madam?" Xie Qing asked with extreme caution. "Sect? Hm? Oh, um... that is...," the girl was flustered and then snapped her fingers, naming the sect. "Right! Sect of Spring Grace!" "A-ah... I see...," Xie Qing''s face showed a weak smile, and he nodded. "Who would have thought that a sect that only epts eunuchs would have such a beautifuldy! It seems that the cultivation world is improving..." "What?" Of course, the girl did not expect this and, realizing the situation, blushed heavily. She was very embarrassed! Not waiting for the man to react, she quickly disappeared in a bright golden light. "Strange girl...," the man thought and then looked at the two objects in his hands. Xie Qing''s eyes shone. It was unclear what he was thinking. *** The cultivation world. For mortals, this name seemed to further emphasize the fact that in this world, they were nothing but dirt and did not even have the basic right to exist. And it was sad that even if a mortal was talented enough, without the backing of someone influential, that mortal would not have a chance! This was a strict rule. Mortals were not allowed to cross the boundary into immortality. If such a precedent were found, the cultivation world would plunge into endless wars. That was why cultivation techniques were strictly guarded. "Is this a trap?" Xie Qing thought, looking puzzledly at the two objects in his hand. One of them was the cultivation technique "Lonely Executioner Technique," while the other object was a Spiritual Stone. "Although this is a low-quality spiritual stone and is so small, it is still worth as much as a hundred capitals!" Xie Qing thought, recalling the legends. He bit his lip. "And I... just got it like that? I don''t believe it. There must be something suspicious. Am I being used as a scapegoat?" After being silent for a bit, he just sighed. The chance that he was being used for nefarious purposes was close to zero. After all, if someone wanted to plunge the cultivation world into chaos, they could have chosen a much more talented person. Moreover, Xie Qing was not young, and even more so, not talented! This put him in a difficult position. "But... am I satisfied with my life?" he asked himself. What had he been doing all these years? Wandering, a traveler with no fixed ce of residence. He slept in a tent and ate barely ptable food... This was not a life. This was crap. Xie Qing had always been dissatisfied with his life. He had so many hopes, and so many chances for a future career. However, one single incident put an end to his efforts. Sighing, he opened the cultivation technique. "I have nothing to lose." *** Shu-u-u... In a small cave, a thin whirlwind of Qi appeared. It was so weak that it could be easily mistaken for the wind. Behind the small storm sat a man in his forties. He had a thick beard, and the wrinkles on his beard showed how much he had seen in his life. His hands were rough, covered in calluses. His hair was dirty, a mix of ck and gray. His unhealthy appearance could repel any woman or even any man. No one would even greet him on the street, mistaking him for some homeless person. However, this was our Xie Qing. And he had been sitting in this position for a month. The mastery of a cultivation technique was mainly achieved through practice. One had to work hard. With his perseverance, after a month of continuous meditation, he finally managed to feel that very feeling that was described in the books. "Gentle, like the wind, but firm, like a rock. Calm, like water, and passionate, like fire," the man muttered these words in a hoarse voice, and then opened his eyes, in which a weak blue light appeared for a moment. "This is Qi!" Although it was only for a moment, he was able to feel this Qi. Such a result was considered not bad, equivalent to an average level of talent. And although Xie Qing was pleased, as soon as he tried to move, he was ovee by pain. "Aaaaagh!" The pain was terrible. His muscles, bones, and even internal organs were screaming for help. "Damn, I haven''t eaten or drunk anything for so many days... everything is clogged up. My body is weak, like a prostitute''s self-respect!" The only reason he did not die was that the Qi was somehow supporting his life functions. He looked at the spiritual stone next to him. The stone had long turned to dust, having been exhausted a week or so ago. "Pity. I won''t be able to get this item in the future unless Ie across a cultivator who decides to sell it to me," Xie Qing thought and then shook his head, realizing how absurd this idea was. "Yeah, who in their right mind would sell it to a mortal? I may have gotten the cultivation technique, but I''m not a cultivator." This was his greatest regret. Although feeling Qi was an important step forward, this result was not enough. His chances of a breakthrough were extremely low. However, Xie Qing did not give up hope. At the very least, he now had something to hold on to. This added a bit of color to his life. The feeling of numbness and pain subsided after he ate twenty bowls of soup. It helped that he had the foresight to cultivate at least to ensure he had a supply of food and water, or else he would have died. And so, closer to the morning of the next day, he was able to move his body a bit. However, the body was still numb, and any sudden movement could cause sharp pain. That was why, during this time, he was trying to master the second page of the cultivation technique... and yes, you heard it right. "In a month, I was only able to understand how to feel Qi...," Xie Qing thought and blushed with shame. "These texts are extremelyplex, and the further steps can only be taken when I can freely feel the Qi." Although this result was disappointing... The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Chapter 160: Heart (Part 3) Years had passed. Over time, Xie Qing became increasingly stronger in mind and body. After so many grueling training sessions and meditations, in the third year, his body became as hard as a boulder, and he could easily break rocks with his hands and lift weights of almost a ton with just one arm. In the fifth year, he finally felt Qi and no longer had problems detecting it. Ten yearster, on his 60th birthday... "I-I..." With a stammering, hoarse voice, Xie Qing looked at his body, which was brightly glowing with Qi. He clenched his hand and heard the air cry out. This feeling of power was intoxicating! "First stage of Enlightenment... Heavens... I... did it!" Xie Qing clenched his teeth and was ready to cry with joy. The grueling ten years had made his soul suffer. Every day was like Groundhog Day - practice, training, meditation, reading. This vicious circle did not end, even when his body could already withstand the powerful monsters that he used to fear. Only when he felt Qi in his veins, that''s when it be a reason for pride! "So many years of my efforts have not been in vain... I did it! I did it!" he cried out excitedly, clenching his fists and tears welled up in the corners of his eyes: "How tired I am! Every day, every damn day..." Fuuuh! Xie Qing took a deep breath and exhaled. The air around him swirled, emitting a terrifying roar. The Qi in his veins surged! "First stage of Enlightenment... this is just the beginning of the cultivator''s path!" After his moment of joy, the man hastened to lower himself to the ground. He clenched his fists: "My path has not truly begun, and I am already rejoicing. An uneptable luxury!" The cold reality hit him in the face. Xie Qing remembered the unspoken rule of the cultivation world - do not allow mortals to obtain cultivation techniques! And who was he? That''s right, a mortal! A mortal is different from a cultivator''s offspring in that they have what they call a "Soul Embryo." In a mortal, it is more impure, more chaotic. And those born in a cultivator''s family - are pure! Because of this, most mortals do not even get a chance to be cultivators. Xie Qing clenched his teeth. Before him, the past opened up, but the past closed. He was a stranger among his own! "No one will ept a mortal among them. It''s too dangerous..." Xie Qing thought, recalling the harsh rules of sects and organizations: "To them, I am the worst gue. That''s why I can''t avoid the fate of loneliness!" How ironic. Even the cultivation technique he obtained screamed of his future - the Lonely Executioner Technique. *** Years had passed. Xie Qing had sessfully broken through to the second stage of Enlightenment. He was already over seventy years old. However, his appearance was preserved at around fifty years old. This was because cultivators always have the opportunity to preserve their appearance, provided that their lifespan is long and their life energy is whole. He could regain his youthful appearance when he reached the Foundation Building stage, but that was a distant goal for him. During this period, Xie Qing lived in a small vige. There were no cultivators here, and even monsters did not visit this ce for many years. The reason was simple - the vige was half-ruined. Only about twenty people were living here, of whom only five were representatives of the younger generation and had strength. Mostly, the elderly worked to the maximum in the fields. Xie Qing often saw how someone older, and even younger than him, died right before his eyes. "Hang in there, brother Xie... she was a good woman. The Heavens will definitely allow her to be reborn as a happy person!" The rain was pouring. Xie Qing stood with a grim expression in front of the fresh grave. The inscription on it read: "Elizabeth - a beautifuldy, a kind person, and a good wife." "Even you have left me..." Xie Qing clenched his teeth, his emotions exploding inside him. This girl was very young when they met - she was about forty years old. A widoweddy, helpless, but so bright. She attracted his attention and turned his head. In the end, a me of love appeared between them. Unfortunately, they had no children - they were no longer young. If Xie Qing, as a cultivator, had the strength for it, then hisdy clearly did not. Childbirth would onlyplicate her health, so the man did not insist. "Heavens, my path is covered in loneliness. Even if I can live for another hundred years, my end is still near..." Xie Qing thought and sighed, stroking the grave: "After death, I dream of touching you again, falling asleep in your arms, and never parting." Ffffh... And the rain kept pouring. Xie Qing did not move from the spot for a week. The vigers came to visit him. "Eh? Where is he?!" One day, the man disappeared. All that remained of his traces was a book. The boy who came to check on Uncle Xie Qing picked up the book, and his eyes sparkled. "This is ''The Mortal Who Fell in Love with the Immortal''! In my childhood, my Uncle often told me this story..." *** Vshuuuh! A cold wind blew, ruffling Xie Qing''s long hair, which was tied in a ponytail. He was no longer young. Even the long life of a cultivator had its limits, and his hair had long since turned gray. He sat on a rock and meditated. His eyes were closed. The bad weather did not bother him at all. Despite the snowstorm, he simply cultivated, not paying attention to anything. His head, shoulders, and knees were covered with a thickyer of snow. He was in a remote mountainous area. Here, his soul found peace. Although it was winter all year round, snowstorms and the weather were not suitable for the life of an ordinary person, as a cultivator with his endurance, he could easily live here for the rest of his life. Now he was 125 years old. His death was slowly but surely approaching. The result of his diligent cultivation was the sixth stage of Enlightenment. This was not a bad result, considering that he was just a mortal. However, age was taking its toll. Cultivation should begin at a young age to avoid death from old age. However, he started his path when he was in his forties. It was toote. However, Xie Qing was not worried about this. After the death of his wife, he set out on a journey and decided to live out the rest of his life in the mountains. Here, the Qi was even better than on the surface. A week had passed. Xie Qing opened his eyes. The snow around him instantly melted, and he, dressed in a white hanfu, stood up from his spot. Although he looked like an old man, his body was muscr, and his back was broad and powerful. His hands had not lost their strength, and he could easily kill an ordinary demonic monster with just his bare hands. "This time, cultivation took a month... ugh, old age is not a joy. I''m losing track of time" Xie Qing shook his head and thought. He jumped off the rock and then headed towards his home. It was maximally ordinary, nothing remarkable. However, it was the mostfortable ce for him. As soon as he crossed the threshold, a wave of warm air hit his face. A fire was burning in the firece, crackling. "I don''t even feel like eating... my appetite is gone," Xie Qing thought and sighed. He was aging. Now, even the food that used to seem delicious to him could not satisfy him. For cultivators, mortal food is just a way to satisfy their receptors, but in terms of usefulness - it''s zero. Spiritual Food was impossible for him to obtain. They were sold exclusively to cultivators, and such ces were usually equipped with strict checks. Xie Qing did not have a token that would help him confirm his identity. That''s why he had to live in the mountains. It was hard at first, but he got used to it. It even becamefortable. However... "Is this the life... that I aspired to?" he thought. These thoughts visited him more and more often. Especially when he was approaching his end. Was everything he did - meaningless? *** Xie Qing had sessfully be a cultivator in the sixth stage of Enlightenment. However, there was little joy in this. "Kha... kha!" Half-lying in his bed, the old man coughed. With a bitter smile, he wiped his hand and noticed traces of blood. "My time hase. What a pitiful life. I understood nothing from my life, I have no children - I left no trace in history. This is my fate... the fate of a mortal..." He sighed. His life was not easy, but he neverined. There was no point; it wouldn''t make life any better. However, in thest moments of his life, he felt a slight resentment. The memories of his youth had faded, even the face of his wife had disappeared from his memories. "To live without glory, to die without glory..." A sigh. Xie Qing turned his gaze to the window. It was still snowing outside. He would die here, in the high mountains. No one would notice his corpse, no one would know about him. He would disappear into time, and vanish from memories. "We are all just guests in this life. Wee and we go..." The wind howled. Xie Qing smiled bitterly and closed his eyes. A moment before death, he saw a girl whose hair shone gold. Ah, my endless world, grant me peace... *** BOOM! BOOM! The Illusionary King of Deities indifferently looked at Xie Qing''s body, which was lying on the ground. "What a pity. You remained in the Illusions of the Heart. Although that girl managed to break free from the illusion, it seems that her illusion was simpler" the king muttered, and his eyes sparkled: "But... interesting... why does this mortal have such a long illusion?" The King of Deities fell silent. For the first time, he had encountered a mortal who had resisted the illusions for so long." Chapter 161: Heart (Part 4) Xie Qing''s soul resisted the illusions at the moment when the Heart Demon was about to take over his body. The old man opened his eyes, which shone with a grim light. "So it was an illusion... How long have I been here? It feels like a hundred years. Although, in reality, it''s probably much less. Who would have thought that I would be in an illusion for so long..." He thought, frowning in dissatisfaction. Looking around, he found that the ce was extremely gloomy. A dpidated house, a terrible rotten smell, and the howling of the wind with an endless blizzard. "Interesting. Everything looks so realistic that my soul was captured by these feelings..." Xie Qing thought and sighed: "This was a good illusion. Too bad, but I pursue reality. I don''t care about the world that exists only in dreams" Crack... Crack... Along with the sound of ss cracking, a loud scream filled with pain and despair was heard in the distance. Xie Qing snorted coldly, and his body returned to its normal state in a few seconds from being old and helpless. His cultivation grew on his eyes, and he directly broke through to the peak of the Soul Nascent stage! "Not bad. This trip was worth it, if you think about it" He said in a monotone voice, and then yawned: "I''ve been here for a long time. It''s time to get to work" A golden light appeared around him, and the house copsed into darkness. The illusion could no longer be maintained because Xie Qing had regained hisposure. In the end, the young man disappeared in a bright light, and the space around him copsed. Only one item remained hanging in the air - a mysterious diary. *** The King of Deities nodded, looking at Xie Qing opening his eyes. "Not bad. Your test can be considered passed, although you were in the illusions for a week" The king informed him, and then looked at Xie Qing with an indifferent gaze: "What you learned in the illusions is important. However, prepare for thest and decisive test" "Mmm..." The young man nodded, getting up from the stone floor. He looked directly into the eyes of the King of Deities, who suddenly smiled and said. "The final test will help us determine whether you are worthy of the inheritance or not," the king said, and then casually yawning, continued: "In the dark of night, wrapped in a nket, we are not afraid of the cold. Hiding under a nket, we feel safe. But danger is always lurking in the shadows... May the heavens bless you..." Whoosh! Xie Qing frowned, feeling another stream of Qi that enveloped him and moved him to a random ce. The King of Deities turned his gaze to Lyu Lyu and then shrugged his shoulders. "She is not suitable, so I will give her a chance. Let her solve a few tasks. She has an iplete cultivation technique of the Heavenly Melody Sect... I think the reward in the form of the inheritance of this sect will be sufficient" *** Xie Qing looked around when he was moved to a new ce. He found that he was now standing in the center of a city. And... "I... Uh... Why am I so huge?" He thought, evaluating his body. His height was no less than a hundred meters. This is madness. And even more interesting was that the people around him were of the same height. Even the buildings were huge and tall, which could exin one thing. "Another illusion! This time I''m a deity?" Xie Qing thought, puzzledly frowning: "And what should I do here?" Fortunately for him, a mysterious male voice soon appeared in his head, filled with power and determination. "Deities are the beings of the Heavens. They were born in the moment when the Heavens themselves were born. Our role was simple" The voice was silent, and then continued: "To protect the Heavens. However, over the years, our sacred mission... Has undergone some changes" Xie Qing blinked. He immediately found himself in a luxurious pce. "Damn it..." Xie Qing raised his eyebrows, looking at the luxurious hall. Numerous naked men and women were engaged in, well, you know what. And the stench from this was unbearable. Xie Qing was not a voyeur and did not consider himself to be one, so he turned his gaze away and tried not to look at what was happening. "It turned out that the needs of us, the Deities, are... Veryrge. However, the fact that we have forgotten ourselves in our own greatness and have begun to ignore our role..." Xie Qing could not help but roll his eyes. They were like animals that, feelingfort, began to waste their days carelessly. The voice, apparently, felt Xie Qing''s contempt andughed loudly. "Ha-ha-ha... Your reaction is worth it. However, I was a strict deity in life. I was only interested in the spear" The deity said with some attachment. His voice became gentle when he said about the spear: "How many days, how many months... How many centuries? The years passed, maybe even millions of years. In the end, the people could not restrain their anger. They took up weapons and came for our heads" The scene changed. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, watching as bright red clouds filled the Heavens, while an endless number of small silhouettes, like ants, gathered into one single building. This was an army of people. Or, more urately, an army of immortals. Xie Qing could not restrain the shiver, feeling the suppression from their aura. Cold sweat ran down his forehead. Even with all his desire, possessing the power of an immortal, Xie Qing was clearly not confident in his victory. "There were many of them. But we were not weak either. However, I must admit, the final battle was not very impressive. However, we ended the first war with the victory of the Deities" "I can only imagine how many casualties there were... Especially on the side of the immortals" Xie Qing expressed his thoughts out loud. "Of course" The vision changed. Xie Qing looked over the battlefield, flooded with an ocean of blood and countless corpses - both immortals and Deities. It was really hard to watch all this. The aura of these creatures alone could turn him into dust. And this is considering that they are dead! Xie Qing was really impressed. He had never seen anything like it before. "The war was indeed cruel. Among the Deities, there were many casualties, and the majority of my fellow Deities began to take life more seriously" The mysterious voice said and then continued with a smile: "But who would have thought that among the immortals, there would be one who could somehow receive the Blessing of the Heavens. He should be called now... Hm... I guess, the Heavenly Emperor" "Heavenly Emperor!" Xie Qing inhaled a stream of cold air. This creature controlled the Heavens. He held in his hand the power over the lives of billions of different creatures. And that was dangerous. Who knows what wille into his head if one day he decides to arrange a massacre? Even the legendary immortals will fall under his wrath. Moreover, Xie Qing had a more neutral opinion about the Heavenly Emperor, but one that leaned more towards caution. Legends say that the Heavenly Emperor does not like the dragon n very much. And although he does not order to kill them, there will be millions and billions of creatures who will want to gain favor with him. "And I am the one who possesses their inheritance, which is like a tasty piece," Xie Qing thought, darkening. The voice, apparently, did not continue, feeling the emotions of Xie Qing. The young man took a pause for a few minutes and then raised his gaze. In the end, he looked into the eyes of the huge creature with a human appearance. "Mortal, you will receive the inheritance of the Deities. I am not very confident that you will withstand the test, but I want to warn you about something..." The deity said and narrowed his eyes: "As soon as you break through the shackles of mortality and rise to the Immortal World, the Heavenly Emperor will learn about your existence. Then the difficulties will begin" "I can die if I ept this inheritance... Did I understand correctly?" Xie Qing asked with a neutral face. "Naturally. But, if you want to stay in the mortal world, then the Heavenly Emperor will not find you right away. But I guarantee you that with the inheritance of the Deities, you will have many problems and... Many advantages" The deity said with an indifferent gaze, looking at the young man: "At your level, all these advantages are useless, but as soon as you touch the doors of Immortality, you will receive... Khr... Raken... Borden... Hm? It seems that the Heavens are blocking my words... Sigh!" Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. He could not understand a single word that came out of the mouth of this deity. "Before the test begins, you will have a chance to retreat," The deity said, and then clenched his hand into a fist. When he unclenched it, a golden me appeared on his palms: "At least, I can give you this - the me of the Golden Dragon. It will be one of the rewards!" "This is..." Xie Qing has surprisedly raised his eyebrows. This is one of those items that cost a lot! And if he could pass the test... Did this not mean... "I..." Chapter 162: Heavenly Punishment (Part 1) Xie Qing sighed bitterly. "Master... Why did I inherit your carefree character?" The young man stood before a stone tablet with golden patterns, depicting a battle between the Deities and the Heavenly Emperor. The trial would begin as soon as he touched his Qi to the tablet. Then, he would have to show his will. It was dangerous, very dangerous. If his will was not strong enough, he could get lost in the illusions. Xie Qing pondered for a moment. This life was so fast-paced, interesting, and diverse for him. He had people he loved, and they loved him in return. So, his life did not belong to him alone. "But... I am first and foremost a cultivator... If I do not be stronger, do not develop, then what is the point of such a life?" Xie Qing thought and sighed. His hesitationsted less than a second. With a light wave of his hand, he sent a strand of his Qi, which was instantly sucked into the tablet. Shuuu... A gust of wind appeared, and Xie Qing closed his eyes. Boom! "Agh!" A powerful blow struck him in the chest. Looking around, he found himself on an ancient battlefield. And he was none other than the opponent of the Heavenly Emperor. *** Whoosh! The wind whistled in Xie Qing''s ears. He warily watched the Heavenly Emperor and dodged his spear strikes. The Heavenly Emperor looked like a middle-aged man with golden hair and bright, like the Heavens themselves, blue eyes. Anyone who looked at him would feel insignificant, tiny, and utterly unimportant. Xie Qing shared this feeling, and although there was a slight indignation, he could understand why. "He is like the Heavens themselves. His hands are as strong as a mountain, and with a wave of his spear, he can divide the seas and destroy the worlds... That''s who he is, the true immortal!" Xie Qing, with his reaction speed, could not help but darken. It was too hard to dodge these constant attacks. In the young man''s hand was a long, two-handed sword, and he had a huge body. "Damn! Who came up with the idea of preserving a huge body during the battle?" Xie Qing thought with anger: "It''s too hard. I need to figure out how to reduce my body size!" With arge body, it was extremely difficult for him to fight. For opponents, he was like a mountain, so no matter where they struck, they would still hit. *** A month had passed since the beginning of their battle. Xie Qing still could not figure out how to reduce his body size. However, after a hundred deaths, he was able to train and, at least, was good at dodging and counterattacking. The Heavenly Emperor in this trial possessed overwhelming and fearsome power. Xie Qing, in this illusion, was weaker than the man by two times. However, it was extremely interesting and fascinating to fight against the Heavenly Emperor. He used various techniques. Most of them were focused on Dao techniques, rather than spear techniques. Xie Qing also felt that when he managed to break through his defense, at some point, a strange sensation suddenly appeared, and he would freeze in ce, allowing the Heavenly Emperor to retreat to a safe distance. And, it seemed, there were no techniques against the Heavenly Emperor that could withstand him. "Strange," Xie Qing thought, not paying attention to the countless wounds on his body: "Want to kill - can''t, freeze. Want to dodge - can''t, freeze. This technique is like Expert Control, but ten times stronger." Resisting this was almost impossible. Xie Qing, for all this time, had not yet found a way to defeat his opponent. "But I still don''t understand, what does this have to do with the test of will?" Xie Qing thought, frowning: "Has the trial not started yet? Why?" His curiosity was satisfied a few hourster. In one of his attacks, he noticed a gap in the Heavenly Emperor''s defense and then pierced his stomach. "Now!" Xie Qing frowned and, feeling a stream of Qi that should restrain him, he exploded with a huge, like a vortex, stream of Qi. Boom! At the moment when the restraining aura should have shackled his movements, he exploded with a powerful, focused blow from Xie Qing. The Heavenly Emperor''s Dao technique was instantly destroyed under the concentrated attack of Xie Qing. The young man, during this time of battle with him, had discovered that in this weak stream of Qi, there was a special ce, very vulnerable. And if you strike it, you can easily break the attack. "Gha..." The Heavenly Emperor coughed and frowned. Golden blood seeped from his stomach. "Well, well..." Xie Qing crookedly smiled, not even trying to dodge the attack that should have beheaded him. Boom! Xie Qing, who appeared next to his headless body, indifferently nodded. "After death, I return again. Is this my trial - to kill the Heavenly Emperor?" Xie Qing licked his lips. He was indeed curious if he could behead this being. *** In the illusion, almost a year had passed. Xie Qing could, at least,st a week against the Heavenly Emperor and block his special techniques. There were moments when Xie Qing was close to beheading the Heavenly Emperor. However, he used a strange technique, and it was as if time had turned back. "Over the year of battle, I have realized that this guy can ignore some fatal wounds. Several times, I tore out his heart and crushed it. However, the Heavenly Emperor received only minor injuries," Xie Qing thought and spat, dodging a spear strike from his opponent: "I havepletely memorized his spear technique. However, it is not suitable for my path. In addition, this guy can turn back time, which also greatlyplicates my task. So, I am puzzled and cannot figure out how to kill him." The young man had tried many different ways to kill him. However, everything was useless. This cunning bastard could even ignore the destruction of his own heart! "If, ording to ancient legend, some cultivators could live as long as their brains were not damaged orpletely destroyed," Xie Qing thought and sighed: "A bunch of abnormal monsters. How, in their opinion, should I kill someone who can turn back time?" Xie Qing was confident in his victory, especially after so many times. But... If the Heavenly Emperor simply turned back time, how could he kill him? p. "Another failure..." Xie Qing spat and kicked his corpse. The young man''srge body instantly caught up with the Heavenly Emperor. However, a secondter, it was cut into hundreds of millions of pieces. Xie Qing shook his head. His opponent was clearly not from the cowardly dozen. "Ah, damn, how annoying this is," Xie Qing thought and, with a sigh, prepared for the next round. *** "Ha-a... ha-a... Damn, I''m so tired..." Xie Qing sat in the lotus position in the air and wiped away the cold sweat. The sword in his hand was broken into two parts, and his face was pale, like a sheet of paper. However, looking at his opponent, Xie Qing smiled somewhat. "This is your end, Heavenly Emperor," Xie Qing said with a sigh. "Hm..." His opponent merely grunted. Then, the body of the injured Heavenly Emperor was covered with shards, and he disappeared in a bright glow. "Congrattions..." came an indifferent voice from the shard of the man''s mouth: "You havepleted the first part of the trial. And now..." "Huh? The first part..." Xie Qing frowned. However, when he sensed something, he was covered in goosebumps and widened his eyes, looking up at the Heavens. "Damn!" With fear in his eyes, Xie Qing saw a powerful, purple, lightning bolt descend upon him! The Heavens thundered, and roared, expressing their anger! It was like the end of the world. And when Xie Qing tried to dodge, he realized that he could not move from his spot... "Is this... I have to withstand the lightning?" Xie Qing thought, frowning: "By the way, as far as I know, this is the Heavenly Punishment... so why is it trying to kill me, a Deity who is a child of the Heavens..." Although he was very curious to learn more about this, time was pressing. And so, the lightning struck Xie Qing. "Ch-ert..." Xie Qing clenched his teeth. He tried not to make pitiful sounds. However, the pain was terrible! It was as if something was devouring him from the inside, while his internal organs were burning, and his skin was slowly and cruelly peeled off! These torments could make people die from shock. However, the trial had only just begun. BOOM! Another lightning strike, seemingly, where else? This time, the lightning was much stronger. "AAAAGH!" Xie Qing let out a long scream. He could no longer hold back his voice. The pain was terrible! Even when his head was cut off, it was not so painful! "Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!" What Xie Qing was experiencing was true torment. His eyes were filled with blood. The only thing that kept him sane was his strong will! "Damn! I''ve made it this far, and now I''ll lose to some pitiful lightning?!" Xie Qing raged, no longer able to hold back his emotions. The Heavens seemed to be angered by such arrogance. So, in the same second, they sent down a lightning bolt that lit up the sky and then brutally struck Xie Qing''s body. "AAAAGH!" The pain was unbearable. Xie Qing clenched his teeth. He could not even beat someone to relieve his pain. His vision was blurred from the blood, and his ears were ringing. When vital senses for a person - sight and hearing - were turned off, the sensation of pain became tens, and even hundreds, of times stronger! "FUCK! FUCK!" *** The King of the Deities, who looked like an illusory body, looked at this scene with indifference. A pale glow appeared in his eyes. "The candidate is in a critical condition... starting the search for information in the soul''s memories... Beep! Nothing was found... starting an attempt to analyze possible methods of assistance... Beep! Insufficient information, no possibilities found..." The voice of the King of the Deities was like a mechanical one as if a living being was not speaking. In fact, he was not a living being! "Beep! Received permission... issued permission for Soul No.1 to exit..." the King of the Deities mumbled and then shuddered. In a second, the gaze of this being became meaningful, acquiring reason: "So... eh! I did say that this trial was too difficult. The Heavens are too powerful..." Chapter 163: Heavenly Punishment (Part 2) Xie Qing had spent years in the illusion, and during that time, the lightning had never stopped striking him. Although it was excruciating, he gradually grew ustomed to the pain. Eventually, he even thought of using the lightning to temper his soul. "Soul Integration..." Xie Qing furrowed his brow, recalling what he had been taught: "A Nascent Soul cultivates the soul and expands it in size. However, eventually, it bes sorge that the cultivator''s body cannot contain it..." This was where Soul Integration was necessary. Cleansing and merging with the body. Although it sounded simple, like adding 2 + 2, in reality, it was extremely difficult. Cleansing the soul? This required extremely rare resources and effort. If the cultivation technique was not good enough, then even with resources, it would all be for naught! Moreover, there was also the task of integrating one''s soul with their physical body, nourishing it! This was also extremely difficult! Xie Qing sighed. His path was full of hardships. However, who could have thought that under these circumstances, he could turn his misfortune into an opportunity? "The lightning is part of the trial, but it is so urately simted that I can use it to cleanse my soul!" Xie Qing thought with a bright smile. Rumble... rumble... "Now!" The young man focused all his attention and began to chant the mantra from his cultivation technique. And at the moment when the lightning struck, he intentionally weakened the protection of his soul. "Aaaaagh!" Boom! The lightning struck his soul directly, causing him to suffer hundreds, if not thousands, of times the pain. However, gritting his teeth, he resisted the negative effects and used the method from his cultivation technique to cleanse his soul. Rumble! Rumble! The lightning continued to strike his soul, causing him several serious injuries. However, even in the face of such danger, he did not give up. Was it bravery or madness? No one knew the answer to this question. *** Xu Mei was guarding the barrier on the Southern Continent when she suddenly sensed something from the depths of her soul... "This... is my Xie Qing!" Her eyes turned red with blood. Like any other cultivator who cared for their disciples, she had left a mark on his soul that would allow her to know if anyone tried to affect his soul. And now, this mark had been destroyed! This meant that he had encountered an enemy so powerful that even her mark could not withstand it. "Son of a bitch! I''ll kill you!" Her eyes shed with anger. The mark had a function to transmit information about the location, and after its destruction, it even provided more urate information. So, without hesitation, she set off in the direction of the mark''s signal. *** The Deities King looked indifferently at the mark that had flown out of Xie Qing''s body. "Interesting, does this boy even know what he''s doing? Trying to cultivate his soul with Heavenly Lightning... oh... even in ancient times, few dared to do so..." The Deities King''s semi-transparent body looked extremely realistic. He had changed his size to fit better in this narrow space, where many formations imitated an ancient battle. "However, this boy knows how to surprise. I think that even in ancient times, he would have been considered a genius on par with that person... what was his name? Ugh, I don''t even remember... so much time has passed..." The Deities King shook his head indifferently. He was only a remnant of a soul, without any emotions or hopes. He had only one mission. "If you can pass this trial... heh... I think the Heavenly Emperor won''t be happy about the seconding of the Executioner..." *** The lightning grew weaker and weaker until it finally stopped. The sky cleared, and the battlefield was illuminated by the light, revealing countless corpses. Xie Qing opened his eyes, which now had a golden spark in them. His entire body was in pain, and his soul was covered in light wounds... but a satisfied smile appeared on his face. "First stage of Soul Integration... Yes, baby!" Xie Qing stood up and cracked his neck: "I think I''ve passed the trial, right?" And as if in answer to his question, the space around him began to crack. Xie Qing looked around and saw that in the countless cracks, an eye filled with blood and a golden pupil appeared. "The Heavens... see the fate... the Deities n... and the Dragon n... how amusing..." The voice was full of hostility, coldness, and anger. The countless eyes looked at Xie Qing, creating immense pressure. "I don''t see your fate... this... is amusing... and... interesting..." Dingling! [User is in an anomalous state...] Dingling! [Advice: Leave immediately] Dingling! [I can''t... leave...] Dingling! Dingling! Dingling! Dingling! Dingling! Dingling! Dingling! ... Xie Qing looked around in shock. This was not just terrifying, it was fucking terrifying! "What the fuck is this...?" he asked himself with a bewildered expression. However, in the next second, he felt something trying to invade his soul. He darkened. "My soul... you''re trying to take control of it?! Pfft!" Xie Qing snorted coldly, and a vortex of energy burst from his body, destroying the hidden attacks that were trying to take control of him. "Good... good... not bad..." the ominous voice continued, and the hidden attacks ceased: "You''ve passed... you... are ready... but... hehe... the Heavens see the fate... the wheel... is turning... again!" "What fucking wheel? It''s your fucking brain wheel spinning the wrong way, you stupid fucking son of a bitch!" Xie Qing wanted to say, but he restrained himself. "Ha... ha... ha... it seems... the time... hase..." Whoosh! An immense pressure descended on Xie Qing''s shoulders, and he barely managed to keep from falling to the ground. However, this pressure disappeared at the moment when all the eyes closed, and Xie Qing lost consciousness. *** "The Forgotten Evil... ha, it seems that this ancient being has also awakened... this can only mean one thing... sigh!" The Deities King sighed. *** Dingling! [The Trial of the Deities has been passed... calcting avable rewards...] Dingling! [Error! User level is too low to ept all rewards... calcting avable rewards...] Dingling! [Golden Dragon me] Dingling! [The remaining rewards will be ced in the user''s soul and will be opened as they ascend to immortality!] Dingling! Dingling! Ding... "Shut up for a second!" Xie Qing furrowed his brow. He stood up abruptly from the stone floor, rubbing his head, which was hurting like hell. "Fuck, I had a good sleep!" Xie Qing muttered and sighed, rubbing his head. He looked around. The young man was in a small wooden house that looked old and dpidated. It seemed that one careless step and he could destroy everything here. "Strange. I don''t remember anything... it seems that Lyu Lyu and I were trying to find the entrance to a secret ce... but we couldn''t..." He sighed. There was no one nearby, so the young man decided to go outside. "Oh!" There he saw a familiar back. Lyu Lyu was standing on a small hill and was looking around with curiosity. "Liu Yang!" Xie Qing shouted to her. Using Expert Control, he was able to cross the distance between them in a fraction of a second. Although this consumed a lot of Qi. "Xie Qing! You''re awake..." Lyu Lyu turned around with a gentle smile and hugged the young man. And then with concern, she said: "You were unconscious. When I returned, I couldn''t find the entrance, but I found you unconscious. What happened?" "Huh? No, nothing... and, by the way, it seems that I''ve stopped sensing the treasure!" Xie Qing muttered, furrowing his brow. "Maybe it''s for the better. This ce is too dangerous..." The young man nodded. But he still felt that something was wrong, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn''te up with any ideas. And at the moment when he was about to take out his carriage, he suddenly felt a familiar aura. "This is... Master?" Xie Qing smiled happily and opened his arms, ignoring Lyu Lyu''s puzzled look. And in the next second... Whoosh! BOOM! A powerful blow shook the mountain. However, Xie Qing casually hugged the beautiful woman with ck hair and blue eyes in his arms, ignoring the slight tremor in his internal organs. Lyu Lyu looked in shock at the woman in Xie Qing''s arms. This woman... first of all, who was she and secondly... why was she so strong?! *** The Deities King looked indifferently at everything around him. His gaze seemed devoid of any emotions. Whoosh... Suddenly, a cold wind rose. The Deities King turned his gaze away from the wall, where the histories of the Deities were engraved. "The Deities n, you have long since perished, so why are you trying to cause trouble? Your efforts are nothing but a joke to us, the great beings..." a cold voice sounded, full of pride and arrogance. The Deities King looked at the ghostly figure standing proudly with a spear in his hand and smiled eerily. "Heavenly Emperor. You feel it, don''t you? The wheel of fate is turning again... and all those you feared have returned!" The Deities Kingughed loudly, not paying attention to the piercing gaze of the Heavenly Emperor: "I know that you are trying to find him, but who do you think you are dealing with?" After these words, the Deities King''s face became stern and evil. He looked at the Heavenly Emperor and snorted coldly. "As long as this king covers the boy, you will never find him within the mortal world! So, your task is to wait like a pig on a cutting board until the Executioner''s sword severs your neck!" "The Executioner..." The Heavenly Emperor''s voice was surprisingly emotional as he recalled the man. He was the worst nightmare for the immortals and posed too great a danger to the Heavenly Emperor. So great that even he, with his techniques, could not kill the Executioner. "Hm..." Chapter 164: Xie Qing Mansion Although Xu Mei was also a curious girl next to Xie Qing, she chose to hug her disciple first and then carefully check his soul. "Hm? There are traces of minor injuries... but mostly everything is normal," Xu Mei thought, puzzled, after examining Xie Qing''s soul. "My mark should have activated when the soul damage reached 50%... that''s strange..." The woman was truly perplexed. However, not finding any problems, she could only give up. "And... you''ve reached the Soul Integration stage? That''s amazing!" Xu Mei praised, smiling brightly. "Good, excellent! A cultivator at the Soul Integration stage at 19 years old? That''s truly a bit shocking..." "You''re ttering me..." Xie Qing smiled, not even trying to hide his self-satisfaction with this fact. After all, the fact that a cultivator of his age had reached such heights was already considered something shocking. However, reaching the current stage at such a young age did not mean that his path would be just as easy from now on. He had already felt the difficulties when he reached the Nascent Soul stage, and the feeling would be stronger at the Soul Integration stage. After all, although a quick breakthrough was important, the foundation was paramount. "Let''s go. I need to check on my guard post first, and then we can continue our conversation," Xu Mei said, looking at Lyu Lyu, who was holding Xie Qing''s hand and hiding behind his back. Whoosh! A vortex rose around them, and they disappeared. *** Crack... crack... Sounds were heard as if something was starting to crack. The matter was near the barrier that was being protected by hundreds of cultivators. While the others were monitoring the area, two cultivators were sparring in a small corner that had been set aside for them. Bang. Xie Qing fell helplessly to the ground, and the training sword in his hand shattered into dust. He looked up at Xu Mei with a smile. She had not moved from her spot during the entire sparring session. "Good, not bad skills," she nodded and said with a smile. "Dear disciple, the techniques you''ve created are worthy of attention. I can only apud how well-bnced they are. However, the Sword God Strike still needs adjustments, as its base power is extremely weak." "I understand, but it''s very difficult to bnce this technique properly," Xie Qing exined, sighing. "It umtes power through the sword cultivator''s qi and the surrounding environment''s qi. So, you could say that the longer you ''charge'' it, the stronger the final attack will be!" "Well, since it''s your personal sword technique, you''re the best one to know how to improve it," Xu Mei nodded, and then pped her hands. "Alright, I''ve confirmed that your cultivation level is good and solid. I''m very pleased with you!" Xie Qing stood up and dusted off the dirt and dust from his clothes. He couldn''t help but smile, hearing her words. Each of his techniques had been honed to perfection, and he had spent hundreds of hours and days on them. So, it was nice to hear someone acknowledge his hard work. Xu Mei nodded, and then asked with a bright smile, "So... who is that girl?" "..." Xie Qing smiled awkwardly. He knew that he would have to tell her about Lyu Lyu sooner orter. "Her name is Lyu Lyu, we met..." Since he had nothing to hide, the young man told her everything. By the end of the story, Xu Mei looked calm. "Alright... I understand..." she muttered, twisting her mouth, and then sighed, saying, "Is there a ma on you that attracts women? This is already the... time?" "Ma?" Xie Qing smiled bitterly. *** Xie Qing had a long conversation with Xu Mei, and she told him thetest news. Although the devilish cultivators had not caused any trouble, the fact that they had been able to prate the barrier was already shocking news for them. "After a small investigation, it was found that there were about ten devilish cultivators in the past year who were actively spreading forbidden cultivation techniques," Xu Mei exined. Together with Xie Qing, they stood on a high defensive wall, looking down at the bright reflections that were being reflected on the surface of the barrier. Inhaling the slightly moist air, Xie Qing sensed a faint, almost imperceptible, stench of devilish qi. And if you''re wondering what kind of smell it has, imagine the smell of sewers and a drowned man. "Interesting... it seems that they can''t use this loophole too often, right?" Xie Qing asked, crossing his arms over his chest. His long sleeves fluttered in the wind. "That''s right. Moreover, we''re not missing a beat. There are qi suppression formations and spatial interference around the barrier. Most of the teleportation attempts are intercepted at the root," Xu Mei replied with a smile that looked very malicious. "What a cutie..." Xie Qing thought. In any case, ignoring the guy with the loose screws, the situation was mostly satisfactory. Despite the minor inconveniences, everything was stable. "How is the sect doing?" Xie Qing asked curiously. "What''s the matter... everything is mostly fine..." Xu Mei replied with a bright smile, which clearly showed that everything was simply excellent. "The cultivation techniques that you''ve passed on to the sect have helped us bridge a big gap. So, we''ve been able to cultivate several good seeds. Moreover, thanks to your reputation, many talents are choosing our sect!" "I''m d to hear that." Xie Qing nodded. From the beginning, he had no strong emotions towards the sect. He had only done everything for Xu Mei''s sake, as, although she was carefree, the sect was an important part of her life. Although she was carefree, which had caused the sect''s development to stagnate for many years. "The sect... hm... I''m supposed to be the main disciple, right?" Xie Qing thought and felt a little embarrassed. "Oh, damn it, I haven''t really been interested in this topic since the exam..." He was probably the most carefree disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect. However, no one med him -, no one dared. His reputation had created favorable conditions for the sect for many years. Moreover, the main disciples were grateful that this guy had decided not to interfere in the affairs of the main court. After all, imagine that while the rest have an average level of Core Formation, one monster already has a Soul Integration! This is like an adult man going to a sandbox and fighting for a toy shovel and bucket. "By the way, how is the construction of the huge mansion going?" Xie Qing asked. "Ah, you mean your new home? Well, let''s say that a lot is already done... it remains to find a person who will apply the formations and create a security system... I''m sorry, I can''t do it," Xu Mei replied with some embarrassment. "Formations... hm... what about the sect master, Zhang Mei? Will she agree to help us?" Xie Qing asked. "With her character... um... well, she''ll agree, but... you''ll have to do a few tasks for her," Zhang Mei thought for a moment and then replied, scratching her head. "I can put in a good word for you if you want." "Everything is fine, I''ll contact her myself," Xie Qing thought with a mischievous smile. *** At this time, Zhang Mei was meditating in her pavilion without a care in the world. Suddenly, a warmth appeared from the depths of her soul that instantly destroyed her concentration and tranquility. And in the next second, she heard a sigh. "Aah..." "***?!" Zhang Mei''s eyes opened, and she blushed with shame. This moan, full of pleasure... was horribly familiar to her. "This brat! Scoundrel! And Xu Mei, shameless, how can you sleep with your disciple?!" Her eyes were filled with despair. Xie Qing, whether intentionally or not, sometimes transmitted his hearing through the Soul Mark. Zhang Mei, as the other party, could hear all of this. Although she was initially annoyed... her face became drawn as she listened to every sigh and word from Xu Mei with red, shame-filled ears. "This... is so shameful! What am I even doing, in the end?!" Zhang Mei thought, ashamed. However, she couldn''t do anything about it. Everything she heard in her head was transmitted directly through her soul, so she could only resign herself to it. "I need to change my underwear..." she thought, ashamed. Two hourster, the sounds, fortunately, disappeared. And when the re-dressed Zhang Mei was able to breathe a sigh of relief, she heard a voice she hated. "Sect Master Zhang Mei? This is Xie Qing..." "Scoundrel!" Zhang Mei cursed the shameless man in her thoughts, but her face was cold, as was her voice. "What do you need?" "Hm? I sense a strange smell..." "Shut up!" Zhang Mei blushed deeply. "This damn thing can even transmit smells! How could I have forgotten...?" Of course, with Xie Qing''s intelligence, it didn''t take him long to figure out what the smell was. However, in order not to put Zhang Mei in an awkward position, he skipped over this topic. "In any case, I have a request for you, Sect Master..." "Hm?" *** A weekter, Xie Qing, Lyu Lyu, and Xu Mei returned to the Eastern Continent. However, they did not go to the sect, but to arge mansion located a hundred miles away, on the highest mountain. Luxurious gardens, fountains, sculptures, as well as horses and various animals served to protect the mansion. The main material of the mansion was made of a strong material, simr in quality and strength to the Immortal Stone. And now, all that remained was to apply the formations. Chapter 165: Xie Meiling Flower (Part 1) Xie Qing, DaoistjgSy04, DEATH\\_69, Truscan, Daken\\_4, sharjehad, HANDEL\\_14, squalus, sharjehad, cenap, SupremeKnowledge (17 GT), Irkos, Dantes\\_inferno, Ana\\_Kellen\\_Miranda, nakia\\_pendleton troels\\_jhonsen, Gankcrazy ¨C thank you for supporting the book with GT! *** As if they were sun rays, two beautifuldies appeared at the gate. They were as if woven from countless divine techniques, possessing excellent beauty. "Has the prodigal son decided to return? What a suprise!" a voice rang out, in which one could hear a little jealousy and resentment. Xie Qing crookedly smiled. He looked at Xie Meiling and Yu Yang, who were standing at the gate, watching him and the two womans behind him. "Huh... I have returned," said Xie Qing, taking a deep breath and smiled. The familiar scent of the mountainous area, the fragrant perfume of his mother, and the sweet aroma of Yu Yang. This was the scent of home that he had missed so much. "I missed you, dears," said Xie Qing with a bright smile. *** The estate was equipped from beginning to end. Many luxurious paintings, furniture, and the like. By the order of Xie Qing, the builders had put all their efforts into creating this estate. Many rooms, lush gardens... all this satisfied the needs of Xie Qing. There was even a training ground where he could train without thinking about the limitations of his strength. Of course, all these expenses flew into arge amount, but thanks to his pill sales, he easily covered the payment. However... "What should we name the estate?" asked Xie Meiling. Xie Meiling, Xie Qing, Xu Mei, Lyu Lyu, and Yu Yang were sitting in the living room and drinking tea. In the corners of the room, there were servants ready to offer sweets or pour tea at any moment. Xie Qing had listened to several news items regarding recent events, but now he had decided to postpone the discussion of this for another time. However, now there was another question ¨C what should the estate be called? "Eh... I''m not good with names... you know..." sighed Xie Qing. He thought for a moment. Naming the estate was a special ceremony, as it allowed one to show their status. And for some reason, one name came to mind that was persistently trying to break out. "Golden Lotus Estate..." Xie Qing unconsciously muttered, and raised an eyebrow: "Hm-m? Well, not a bad name..." "An unusual name..." the girlsmented. Xie Qing could only shrug. In any case, his imagination was capable of this. However, the others had no objections. "Considering that I have the bloodline of the Golden Dragon and I am pursuing immortality, this name is logical, isn''t it?" Xie Qing shared his thoughts. The girls could only shrug. Besides Xie Meiling, none of them cared about the name of the estate. Ah, about Lyu Lyu. At first, she was very ufortable, and awkward, and always stayed close to Xie Qing. After Xu Mei talked to her and helped her fit into society, the girl no longer felt shy and began to gradually get used to it. This could not but please Xie Qing, because in such matters... well... he was not very strong. "Master, how are things on the Southern Continent regarding the demons?" asked Xie Qing. He had not been particrly interested in this during this time, as he had been busy searching for treasures. "Ah... Southern Continent, yeah..." Judging by Xu Mei''s face, which was furrowed, one could guess that things were not going very well. "There are cases of attempts to break through the barrier. But these are already from the side of dubious monsters that have turned into mutated monsters under the influence of devilish qi," Xu Mei said and drank wine: "Personally, I have not yet encountered daredevils from the devilish cultivators who would decide to break through the barrier. And those who used teleportation were met by our interference formations." "Interference formation... this is really something with something!"mented Xie Meiling, showing an admiring look: "I have never heard of it, and at the moment, I still cannot understand how they created this formation. During the tests, teleportation was interrupted 92 times out of 100, while the remaining 8 changed the teleportation location directly into the ocean!" "This..." Xie Qing was equally amazed. Although he had heard that this formation was impressive and worked well... who would have thought that it worked so well? "Who is the author?" he asked with interest. "Zhang Mei... and her two disciples," Xu Mei answered casually. "Li Yun and Xie Yu?" Xie Qing was even more surprised. Undoubtedly, he knew that they were talented, but who would have thought that they were capable of this? Xie Qing leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Although he also knew something about formations, he naturally still fell short of Zhang Mei and her disciples. However, as one who knew the basics ¨C he was confident that this was a very difficult task, and even Zhang Mei would have faced serious problems. "Amazing... I wanted to study formations, but I think it''s better not to delve into suchplex matters..." Developing in several directions at once... was a critical decision for a cultivator. You simply would not have enough time and resources, so few people decided on developing in multiple directions. And now, Xie Qing wanted to focus on cultivation and the path of the sword, rather than on other paths. Looking out the window, the young man noticed that it was already evening. The time had flown by quickly and unexpectedly during the conversation. *** "The cultivation world is full of mysteries. What is the Dao? Is it possible to learn about the essence of the Dao by following the path that others have already trodden?" And if you are shocked by why Xie Qing started to think about such wise topics, then this is just his usual state after "dual cultivation." It seems that for some reason, it is precisely "dual cultivation" and "lonely cultivation" that give male-cultivators enlightenment and a desire to learn all the secrets of the world. No one knows why, but it is considered a dogma, haha... However, after a truly long journey, returning to his homnd, his soul became calm. Although the ce had changed a little, the people remained the same. It seemed that his soul, which was at the stage of Soul Integration, had begun to improve thanks to his emotions. And when he had already managed to rx, suddenly, a melodic female voice was heard, in which there was a certain strictness and awkwardness. "Son... can Ie in?" "Eh?" Xie Qing did not expect that someone else would visit him tonight, so he gave in to his thoughts and forgot about them. But the voice of Xie Meiling finally woke him up. "Yes,e in..." Rubbing his eyes, Xie Qing yawned and turned his gaze to the door, only to then widen his mouth with shocked eyes. "This is..." In front of him, in the light of the night, stood Xie Meiling, dressed in semi-transparent night lingerie. Herrge breasts and pink nipples were visible through the semi-transparent material... The young man lost the power of speech, so stunning was this picture. It should be said that he had seen her naked before, but that was only a necessity for treatment, and his brain mainly worked on the side of treatment, rather than on lust. And now, in such an intimate atmosphere and in such clothes... a shiver ran down Xie Qing''s spine. It seemed that Xie Meiling herself could barely withstand the burning gaze of Xie Qing. She slowly, almost seductively, approached the bed and softly plopped down next to the young man. It seemed that this movement brought Xie Qing to his senses, and he, having been silent for a moment, sighed. Was he blind, considering that he had been ignoring his mother''s feelings in every way? No, he just had slightly mixed feelings. The day when he realized that Xie Meiling''s love for him was not only the love of a mother and son was not easy. epting this... is difficult, but Xie Qing tried not to think about it. They are cultivators, living for many centuries. Moreover, when creating a family, many resorted to incest in order to avoid blood pollution and maintain the purity of the blood. Of course, among mortals, this is forbidden and considered a taboo ¨C and how else? It mainly leads to unhealthy offspring who die early. But thanks to the physique of cultivators, this problem disappearspletely. Therefore, it can be said that this is a popr practice. And when Xie Qing came to his senses, he realized that he was already lying on the bed, and Xie Meiling was sitting on him. The woman, with unprecedented passion, looked at him, and it seemed that her eyes were brightly shining in the darkness. The young man helplessly smiled and stopped thinking about it. And then, their breathing slowed down. Xie Meiling gently fell on his chest, and then, raising her face, approached and kissed her son on the lips. "Mm..." It seemed that a current had passed through the woman''s body, which made her shudder and feel an unprecedented pleasure. She closed her eyes and moaned with relief. "Aah... this is it... this is what I have desired all this time..." Because of the thin panties on her, the woman could fully feel the hardness of Xie Qing''s jade rod. And this very feeling made her pussy wet, and the walls of the vagina greedily squeezed, begging for something to be inserted into it again and make it full. Chapter 166: Xie Meiling Flower (Part 2) (R-18) Chapter Contains 18+ Content Narrated by Xie Qing Enjoy the read *** The dark moonlight illuminated my room, and I could see every curve of Xie Meiling''s body. Her beauty wasparable to the moon in the sky, and her bright ck eyes seemed to hold stars within them. Ironically, we were very simr to each other, like twins. If I were to stand next to my mother, others would think we were siblings. Perhaps it was because of this that my father was afraid to harm me? I''ll never know. However, I was somewhat puzzled by the current situation. "Aaaah..." Soft, sensual moans escaped her lips, and I couldn''t help but gently squeeze her two ample assets. "Son..." My body shuddered as my mother whispered in my ear. This was my weak spot, and my ears couldn''t help but twitch. "Hehe..." A soft giggle escaped her lips, as innocent as her eyes. I was captivated by her beauty. Perhaps I still had some doubts ¨C was I doing the right thing or not? However, in this moment, I decided to let go of all my inhibitions. Pursuing immortality, I would encounter many people on my path. And I had chosen this life ¨C carefree and full of excitement. So why not? With these words, I finallyforted myself, as pathetic as it sounded. Without hesitation, I pressed my lips against hers and pushed Xie Meiling onto the bed. She gasped as my lips closed around her are, and my tongue began to tease her beautiful pink nipple. "Aaaah..." Her moans were like a fairy''s song, and any man would be aroused by them. Her slender, beautiful leg unconsciously wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to her. "Mom..." I let out a long sigh. This was the first time I had been so aroused... was this the feeling of taboo? As I pondered this, I suddenly realized that my hanfu had been removed. Looking at my mother''s face, I saw her sly smile and hands holding my clothes. I couldn''t help but bite her nipple gently, causing this bold woman to bite her lower lip and let out a suppressed moan. Well... when I focus on one thing, I forget about the outside world. This was my biggest w... but also my strength. And since the opportunity had presented itself, my free left hand slid down like a snake, feeling her smooth skin on my fingertips. My index finger then touched her clitoris without hesitation. "Eh..." My mother let out a strange reaction, a soft gasp, and a shiver. Ignoring her heavy breathing, I used a yful technique... or rather, a trick. Bz-z-z... A very weak, almost invisible current of Qi appeared on the tip of my index finger. However, even such a small amount of Qi, when used correctly, could make any girl (as long as they didn''t have strong resistance to Qi) feel the highest pleasure. And since Xie Meiling, my beloved mother, didn''t have such a physique... "Ooooh!" She let out a long moan, her back arching, and a clear liquid gushed out of her bud, making my left hand wet. However, I didn''t stop there. Although I didn''t focus solely on her clitoris, my two fingers ¨C index and middle ¨C entered her. They immediately met with resistance. The walls of her vagina mped down on my fingers, but fortunately, after my mother caught her breath, she didn''t mp down as hard. Soon, by sending thin streams of Qi, I made her tremble and shudder with pleasure. At the same time, I was sucking on her breast. This stimtion quickly made her squirt for the second time. "Aaaah~!" Her beautiful moan, like a melody, rang in my ears, making my body hot. I really felt unusual, especially when I saw her expression, filled with lust. Redicking her usual strict expression... hm... was this what people called the conquest of the forbidden fruit? "Haaa... haaa..." Of course, even a cultivator needed to rest, so I didn''t force her. Allowing my mother to catch her breath, I took out the wine. What kind of dual cultivation was without wine? It had be a tradition for me and my women, so I poured the wine into two sses, one of which I offered to my mother, who was sitting half-reclined, and the other I took for myself. "I heard about this tradition from Xu Mei..." my mother said with a hint of jealousy, "Who would have thought that I would be able to participate in it too." "Haha... are you happy about it?" "Very... happy..." My mother showed a gentle smile on her face, mixed with lust. It was so charming that I was captivated by her beauty for a few seconds. And after a few minutes... "S-son, l-listen... is this really okay?" my mother asked with a trembling voice, her face red. "Absolutely!" I answered confidently. And if you''re wondering what I did, it was just a continuation of the tradition. I was sitting on the bed, and my partner was on myp, facing me. I smiled, feeling the wetness on my dick. It just so happened that my mother''s bud was only a centimeter away from my standing jade rod. And feeling her arousal, I couldn''t help but smile. "Now, let''s drink!" I said, raising my ss. "Let''s drink..." My mother responded with less enthusiasm at first, but as we drank, she became more active. In reality, after the second ss, she began to move actively, and her bud slid repeatedly over my dick. Her breathing became heavy, as if she had run a marathon. There was a haze in her eyes. I drank the wine again and, swallowing it, I moved closer to her cherry lips. Then, I kissed her. "Mm..." Together with the remaining drops of wine on her lips, the taste of the kiss was both bitter and sweet at the same time. I squeezed her passionate buttocks and, feeling the softness of herbia, my arousal reached its peak. "Ah..." With a soft moan, she opened her mouth in front of me, and my tongue, like a snake waiting for its prey, instantly slipped inside. Her tongue waspletely unprepared ¨C it was clear that she was inexperienced in this. Therefore, very quickly, our tongues intertwined with each other, like two snakes. This "tradition" greatly helped to prolong our pleasure. Therefore, we never missed it with the Master. After we got used to each other''s warmth, I bit her lip, and then, using my left hand, I gently rubbed herbia. "Aaaah..." With a gentle moan, she shuddered, and I felt that the liquid flowing from her entrance was bing more and more abundant. I continued to move actively, prating her from the inside. The walls of her vagina clung to my dick and greedily sucked it in, not wanting to let go. "Mmmm!" My mother let out a long moan and, opening her eyes, immediately rolled them back from pleasure. The lust in her eyes was more evident than ever. The only reason she couldn''t moan louder was that I was still attacking her mouth. Her tongue had surrendered to me, and I subdued her with pleasure. Squeezing her buttocks gently and sometimes pping them, I made my mother moan. With each p, I felt that the liquid flowing from her entrance was bing more and more abundant. And so, greedily kissing her and exploring her mouth, I moved my dick without hesitation and entered her. "Mmmm!" My mother let out a long moan and, opening her eyes, immediately rolled them back from pleasure. The lust in her eyes was more evident than ever. The only reason she couldn''t moan louder was that I was still attacking her mouth. Her tongue had surrendered to me, and I subdued her with pleasure. Squeezing her buttocks gently and sometimes pping them, I made my mother moan. With each p, I felt that the liquid flowing from her entrance was bing more and more abundant. And so, greedily kissing her and exploring her mouth, I moved my dick without hesitation and entered her. "Mmmm!" My mother let out a muffled moan, and her hands wrapped around my neck. She kissed me again without hesitation. p! p! The pping and smacking sounds rang out each time I thrust into her. My mother''s butt was red from the spanking, and I knew she was enjoying it. So, I didn''t stop. My hand repeatedly pped her, making this woman submit and be addicted to my spanking and dick. "Aaaah!" Unable to hold back any longer, my mother let out a long moan and then shuddered. She had reached her climax! "Mmm..." I caught the moment and kissed her again. Her tongue wrapped around mine, and we kissed as if there was no tomorrow. I could only thank the heavens for the high endurance of cultivators, and all our actions didn''t make us tired. Hlup... hlup... I pulled my dick out of her and then helped my mother lie down on the bed. Our night was just beginning. Chapter 167: Xie Meiling Flower (Part 3) (R-18) The night was just beginning. With a flush on her face, but full of excitement, Mama was sucking my dick. Her delicate tongue wrapped around the head of my dick, diligently licking it like a lollipop. I felt a sense of dominance. Her submissive appearance and the passion and effort she put into her actions could drive me crazy. Her hands, small and delicate, rested on my thighs. I sat on the bed while Mama, kneeling, gave me a blowjob. It was her own initiative. "Muaah..." Pursing her lips, Xie Meiling showed a satisfied expression. "I never thought your dick was so delicious..." She muttered, greedily licking her lips: "But I''m not done yet..." Without waiting for my response, Mama once again attached herself to the head of my dick, and then, after licking the tip for some time, suddenly opened her mouth and, avoiding contact with her teeth, swallowed my dick! Before I could react, a strong sensation of warmth and pleasure filled my mind. With one movement of her head, Xie Meiling easily swallowed my dick halfway. I didn''t want to brag, but my size was not small. Mama''s expression was slightly pained, it was clear that she was not used to such sensations. So, I couldn''t help but pat her on the head. "Mm?" She let out a puzzled moan, but apparently, she didn''t object. And when Mama got used to this sensation, she began to move her head up and down - rhythmically, creating something like hypnosis. Her head moved so gently and smoothly that with each movement, I felt more and more pleasure. Mama''s yful tongue greedily licked my shaft, covering it with saliva. I had a lot of experience, but I must say, this blowjob was unusual... Perhaps it was due to that taboo feeling. Unconsciously, I looked at my Mama and thought. Watching her head movements, her moans, and the "gulk" sounds each time she moved her head... Comparing it to her usual appearance... Such thoughts only made my little brother stronger. The excitement of realizing that the woman giving me a blowjob was my Mama made the situation even more lustful. And mostly, all my thoughts and doubts were easily dispelled. I didn''t care anymore. After a few minutes, I felt that I was about to lose control. So, with a sigh, I grabbed Mama''s head and started moving my dick. "Ugh!" Of course, for Mama, this sensation was somewhat unusual and unpleasant on one hand. However, I lost myself in the feeling of pleasure, and soon, without restraining myself, I finished in her throat. "Gulp... Gulp..." At first, Mama was very surprised and didn''t know what to do, but then she began to swallow my semen. Her face was red with excitement, and her eyes showed lust. My rough actions, it seemed, did not repel her - on the contrary, they only excited her more. And when I stopped finishing in her throat, I pulled my dick out of her mouth. The woman continued to swallow for a few more seconds, and then, looking into my eyes, she opened her mouth wide and stuck out her tongue, moving it from right to left. Although she didn''t say a word, I understood her message: "I swallowed it all." *** Pressing her chest against the bed, Xie Meiling stuck out her big butt and swayed it, tempting me. "Son... Darling..." She whimpered helplessly. Looking at me with red eyes, she bit her lip and said, "Please..." "Please?" I smiled excitedly. My handnded on her slender butt, and I spanked her. A wave appeared on her right cheek as my hand spanked her. "Mmm..." Mama let out a long moan and bit her lower lip even harder. She was turned on by this situation... But judging by how much fluid was flowing from her pussy... She couldn''t wait any longer. "Please..." She begged again, actively swaying her butt and moaning lustfully: "Son... Fuck me..." I really felt the temptation to roughly fuck her. I approached her ears, and my dick touched the entrance to her pussy. This one step made her pussy gush out even more love juice. She actively swayed her butt, but I did not enter her. Bringing my mouth close to her ear, I bit her earlobe. "Do you want me to fuck you?" I whispered, running my hand over her butt and lightly spanking it, continuing: "You''re so lustful... You''re asking your son to fuck you... Haha..." "X-Xie Qing... I... Ahh!" Mama turned to me, trying to exin herself, but at that moment, I mercilessly thrust my dick into her. And since her face was turned towards me at that moment, I saw how her eyes rolled back, and her tongue stuck out. Seeing this, I only started to move more actively. p! p! p! Each time I fucked her, pping and squelching sounds were heard. "A-a-a... D-don''t stop... Fuck me... Ahh" "Oh yes... Yes... Son..." "Please, harder... Fuck me harder..." Lustful words came out of her mouth, and I was indeed somewhat taken aback and excited at the same time. p! "Ah!" I raised my hand and spanked her butt, and then my hands squeezed her breasts. My mother''srge breasts were soft and pleasant to the touch. p! p! p! Over time, I only started to move my hips more actively, and because of this, the pping sounds only became louder. Without thinking for long, while I was fucking her, my hands easily lifted my mother''s body, and holding her by the legs, I continued to thrust my dick into her. "Y-yes! Son... You''re the best! Fuck me... Ahh!" "I love it... I love it..." "Oooh... Come inside me! Fill me up!" "Ahh!" My semen filled her pussy and filled her womb. After a few minutes, Xie Meilingy on the bed with a satisfied expression, and my semen flowed out of her pussy like a waterfall. Until morning, we had sex repeatedly. *** -Third Person- Xie Qing woke up early in the morning and went straight to the garden. Sitting among the flowers and neatly trimmed bushes, he cultivated his energy. As for Xie Meiling... Well, she couldn''t look other women in the house in the eye for a long time. They immediately understood what had happened. "He fucked you all night? Oooh... I thought you were a modestdy... As expected, the quiet ones are the most dangerous," Xu Mei muttered at the time. Mainly because of thisment, Xie Meiling was embarrassed. But knowing her character, she would soon get used to it. And our young man, who was on edge all night, was full of energy. One should not underestimate the physique of a cultivator at the Soul Integration stage. Therefore, Xie Meiling fell asleep first, and Xie Qing at that moment was full of strength. So, he visited his other women, fully "feeding" them. Therefore, there were noints. Now, sitting in the garden and cultivating, he definitely attracted attention. Many maidservants blushed when they looked at him - they saw such a handsome young man for the first time. And considering that Xie Qing looked younger than his age at some point... Well, that doubly attracteddies, especially older ones. And Xie Qing... He was used to it, and secondly... He was shameless. Therefore, he very much enjoyed such attention. "As expected... Among the flowers and nature, it''s much easier for me to cultivate. My soul seems to be at rest..." Xie Qing thought. The tranquility brought by the fresh air and the chirping of birds... That''s why he insisted on having arge garden and even called for the use of rare tree species and birds. Many of the trees were actually spiritual trees that could produce Qi, which increased the concentration of Qi in the air by several orders of magnitude. Was it expensive? Yes, very. However, Xie Qing did not regret the expense because he believed that anything that could help with cultivation was worth having, regardless of the cost! And, by the way, a bonus of this Qi was that ordinary mortals could live longer and maintain their youth. Of course, we are talking about 90-100 years of life, but even that is a big deal for an ordinary mortal. Therefore, when the advertisement appeared, the number of people who wanted to join reached over ten thousand. In Xie Qing''s mansion, there were more than 600 servants. Most of them were mortals, but there were also cultivators from Foundation Building to Qi Condensation. And, coincidentally or not, the majority of the servants were women. Mostly between the ages of 19 and 45. One could say... This scoundrel Xie Qing fulfilled the desire of many men. His own huge harem! The heavens weep bloody tears! *** Xie Qing opened his eyes. It was already midnight, and he had been cultivating since six in the evening. "Hm... I''m spending more and more time in meditation," he thought and smiled: "Hehe. Has Xie Qing finally gotten used to the life of a cultivator?" Usually, when cultivators meditated, it took from a day to a week. There were even those who meditated for months or even years. And this was considered normal. Therefore, the fact that Xie Qing spent only a few hours in meditation... It was considered extremely disrespectful. Buttely, he had begun to devote more time to it. After all, the less you cultivate as you age, the more you lose. Scratching the back of his head, Xie Qing stood up and started warming up, although this was not necessary. As he was doing this, a beautiful maidservant approached him with an admiring look on her face, bowed to him, and said: "My lord, dinner is ready..." "Oh?" Xie Qing snapped his fingers and then looked at the maidservant, smiled, and patted her on the head. "Good, I understand." "Th-this..." The maid blushed deeply. She was a virgin who had not experienced the sweetness of a man. After teasing her enough, the young man went to dinner, where hisdies were already waiting for him. "You''ve been meditating for a long timetely, huh? Looks like you''ve started to forget about us," a woman''s voice rang out, filled with nonchnce. Chapter 168: Quest (Part 1) This voice, Xie Qing would recognize out of a thousand. He smiled. "Master, didn''t you say that I should be more diligent?" Tilting his head to the side, Xie Qing allowed Xu Mei to rest her chin on his shoulder. Her pouty face looked very cute. "You give me so little time... Sigh... Master is so lonely~..." "Is that so?" The young man gently smiled and stroked Xu Mei''s cheek, then whispered in her ear: "Or maybe... the disciple will show his filial piety to you today?" "That would be nice..." Xu Mei replied in a dreamy voice. "Heh" *** The banquet was indeed luxurious. Being cultivators with important backgrounds, they only ate high-quality food. Spiritual wine, spiritual meat, fruits... The servants'' hearts bled. After all, the price for this one banquet could easily feed their families for seven generations. And for Xie Qing... This was an ordinary dinner. Nevertheless, such banquets were rare, as for cultivators, food was purely aesthetic and gustatory pleasure. And, it must be said, it was very delicious. Xie Qing was full. *** A weekter, after Xie Qing contacted Zhang Mei, she arrived as promised. "Weren''t you ashamed when you built this mansion, huh?" She said first, narrowing her eyes: "Hm... You know, setting up formations on all this with your requirements... It will be expensive" "I understand, so I would like to pay the rest with something else" Xie Qing said bitterly: "Something likepleting tasks, preparing pills..." "Mm-hmm. You''re just like your foolish Master, you love to spend money, but when ites time to pay, you only realize the problem" She said with a sigh, shaking her head: "You''re lucky. In normal times, I wouldn''t even lift a finger for such a thing, but recently I needed help with a certain question. Complete one task and we''re even" "I''m all ears" Xie Qing nodded. "Let''s discuss this in a private conversation" Zhang Mei casually replied, ending the conversation. Now in the mansion, there were servants, the other girls were in the sect for various matters. So, Zhang Mei and Xie Qing were mostly alone. Preparing the necessary materials, Zhang Mei waved her hand. On the walls of the mansion, various geometric shapes appeared, connected by mysterious characters. Xie Qing, watching this, was genuinely amazed - he had never seen anything so beautiful. It took five hours to cover the entire mansion with protective formations, which in principle was considered a very short period of time. In the end, using his vision, he was able to discern the formation applied to the walls of the mansion. Countless geometric shapes werebined intoplex patterns. If you look at them for a long time, your head starts to hurt. "Done. The outer protection can block ten attacks from a cultivator at the Divine Transformation level, and there''s no need to talk about cultivators below that level" Zhang Mei said, brushing her hair off her shoulders. She indifferently looked at Xie Qing: "I won''t take payment for applying the outer protection, consider it my repayment to you for being friends with my disciple" "Sect Master Zhang is indeed kind" Xie Qing shamelessly nodded, brightly smiling. If something is given to you for free and there are no hidden catches, then why not? It would be foolish to refuse free food, wouldn''t it? "Also, you asked me to help you create an alchemy room and provide an internal management system for the mansion" Zhang Mei said, not changing her facial expression. "That''s right" Xie Qing nodded, then waved his hand to the servant girls: "Prepare us some tea" "There was no need to trouble yourself" Zhang Mei said, casually ncing at the interior decoration. "I insist. After all, you are a guest. It would be rude not to offer you tea" "Then I humbly ept your hospitality" Xie Qing smiled. Although he couldn''t understand what emotions she had (Zhang Mei''s face doesn''t change at all), he still wanted to provide the highest hospitality to his Master''s friends. After all, he remained a disciple of Xu Mei. It wouldn''t be right to put her in an awkward position. Sitting in the living room, the servant girls very quickly brewed tea and brought sweets. "Please, Sect Master Zhang, try it. Although I cannot im that this will be able to fully satisfy you, I guarantee the taste" Xie Qing said. "Hm..." Zhang Mei nodded and took a chocte cookie, then bit off a small piece and tried it. After a few seconds, she nodded again: "Indeed, it''s delicious. By the way, your manners are good. In this, you surpass your Master" "..." Xie Qing decided not toment on this. And although he did not see any emotions appear on Zhang Mei''s face, he felt that she liked everything. *** After the tea party (Xie Qing drank through force, as he didn''t like tea), Zhang Mei began to apply the formation. "What you asked for is very expensive even for me. Moreover, considering theplexity, it will take me until night" Zhang Mei said, assessing the situation: "I will deduct the cost of my services only because you are Xu Mei''s disciple. However, the cost of materials will be covered from your own pocket". "It couldn''t be better. Thank you" Xie Qing was grateful. He had already prepared a total of 2 million Spiritual Stones. The internal management system of the mansion was an extremelyplex formation. It helped to establish surveince over every corner of the mansion, as well as provided protection for the mansion. The main core of the formation was an artificial soul-assistant. There were teleportation functions within the mansion, so one could only imagine how difficult it was to create this formation. Only two people in this world were capable of this - Zhang Mei and Master Yao. Although to an outside observer like Xie Qing, it looked as if she simply waved her hand and drew something on the materials... A knowledgeable person would have be like a traveler in the desert looking for water, eagerly watching every little action of Zhang Mei. Xie Qing did not stare at the girl''s work and decided to spend time on his own development. *** Thus, night fell. The girls had already returned and were somewhat surprised to see Zhang Mei casually drinking tea. "Hey... what are you doing here?" Xu Mei asked, frowning and plopping down next to Xie Qing, pressing herself against him with her hips, as if trying to say: "He''s mine!" Zhang Mei only rolled her eyes at her friend''s childish behavior. "Do your brains ever work?" She casually asked a rhetorical question: "One way or another, it''s your disciple who invited me. And we didn''t do anything like what your dirty mind might imagine". "How rude! I''m pure and innocent!" "Yes, yes..." Zhang Mei nodded with a serious face, adding: "Innocent as the devil". "..." The bickering of these two had be somonce that Xie Qing didn''t even react. He just immersed himself in meditation, not particrly wanting to get involved in their dialogue. Xu Mei and Zhang Mei argued for another half hour. And when they finally finished, Xie Qing opened his eyes and looked at the head of the Starry Stream Sect. "Sect Master Zhang... as you requested, I have collected two million Spiritual Stones" Xie Qing said and took out a spatial ring from the inner pocket of his hanfu: "And as for the rest of the part... hm... I agree". "That''s wonderful. I don''t want to force you to rush, but the sooner you go, the better, right?" Zhang Mei said, getting up from her seat. She brushed her hair off her shoulders: "Then I''ll leave you, I still have a lot of business to attend to". "I''ll see you out". "I''d appreciate it". Xu Mei watched as Xie Qing and Zhang Mei walked away down the hallways. Her face became strange. "For some reason, I have a strange feeling..." *** Two dayster, after Xie Qing had rested enough, he set off for the Northern Continent. The reason for such a quick departure was Zhang Mei''s task. "Li Yun went to study the ruins... hm..." Zhang Mei was worried about her disciple, but she didn''t want to impose too much and thus interfere with Li Yun''s development. So, she sent Xie Qing to her, as the two of them were quite close. Xie Qing didn''t object. He himself was worried about Li Yun, as they were friends and got along well. Fortunately, after he showed his main disciple token of the Heavenly Sword Sect, many guards let him in without question. Using the teleportation formations, he quickly reached the Northern Continent. "I need to check on the Xie family at the same time" Xie Qing thought. He was probably the worst of the main family. After all, the only thing he did was finance his family. And although he received messages that the family was developing and had already be almost a monopolist in Yuguang. Such news couldn''t help but make Xie Qing happy. In any case, he had to be in leading positions, if not the first. And while he was busy with his thoughts, his carriage arrived at the desired location. "The ruins of the cultivator nicknamed ''King of Hunting''... hm, they say he could destroy mountains with one blow. Is that true?" The young man didn''t know, and he didn''t care. His goal was to find Li Yun. Chapter 169: Quest (Part 2) King of Hunting. He lived during the ancient era when cultivators still considered the Soul Nascent stage to be the peak of power. His name shook everyone. It is said that with one strike, he destroyed a mountain range and turned the surroundingndscape into endless valleys. Although his fame was bright, shining, and powerful... it was short-lived. Hundreds of years of martial exploits eventually ended when the King of Hunting offended an Immortal, who in anger cursed him. From that day on, the King of Hunting lost his sight and aged faster and faster with each passing year. "There were rumors that he had alreadye up with a way to cure the curse of blindness before his death... Now I understand why Li Yun wanted toe here," Xie Qing recalled as he gazed at the ins and ruins of the ancient city. Every self-respecting ancient cultivator built sect-cities. The King of Hunting was no exception, so his city, or rather its ruins, were what many archaeologists eagerly wanted to explore. However, the territory was under the protection of the Starry Stream Sect, which did not allow outsiders to enter the area. "Formation of protection... from the inner system. Wow," Xie Qing raised his eyebrows in surprise, then took out a token that immediately glowed with a golden light and made a hole in the formation, allowing the young man to enter inside: "I need to hurry, the entrance will close in two seconds." Xie Qing did not hesitate and entered. After the entrance closed and the barrier became whole again, he could see the city without any restrictions. The beautiful buildings had turned into ruins, and although they looked extremely pitiful, the air still retained an aura of greatness. "Now I can understand those cultivators who desperately search for the ruins of antiquity. After all, the most valuable treasures of cultivators are hidden here... their history!" Xie Qing thought. Undoubtedly, he was not one of those people who considered history to be super important, but he appreciated it. After all, it was interesting to look at the legacy of the past. "Li Yun..." The young man could not help but sigh. How could he not understand her thoughts? After all, she also lost her sight because of her talent to see the threads of fate. This was very tragic for such a young girl like her. However, even if Xie Qing tried, he could not find an item in the System''s store that could cure such a thing. After all, for Li Yun, this was more of a restriction imposed by the Heavens rather than a curse. "Even if I want to very much, I have no chance against the Heavenly Laws..." Xie Qing thought. Li Yun probably also understood this, but she did not give up trying to find a way out of this situation. Foolishness or persistence? Xie Qing, s, did not know. Nevertheless, since he did not want Li Yun to encounter danger because of his careless behavior, the young man immediately channeled Qi into the token and closed his eyes. After a few minutes, he opened them. His ck eyes sparkled. "I found her. However, it seems that there is a concentration of negative energy near her... the karma from these ruins is extremely negative. One can only conclude that there was once a mass murder here," Xie Qing thought. He cracked his neck and began to walk towards thergest building. Compared to the other buildings, it was like a two-story house and a ten-story building, so it immediately caught his eye. "If the legends are to be believed, this is the Hunter''s Pavilion... listen, these cultivators definitely had the ability to give good names!" Xie Qing thought and admired. Although it was doubtful that his mind was in order, nevertheless, the sight of the pavilion alone was breathtaking. Built entirely of ck stone, it looked ominous, giving the impression that a devilish cultivator lived there. "In ancient times..." Xie Qing suddenly remembered: "The division into righteous and devilish cultivators did not yet exist, so even those who seemed ''good'' on the outside engaged in evil rituals and conducted experiments on living beings. There were often massacres to test dao techniques, sword techniques, etc..." Of course, the dark aspects of the stories of characters such as the King of Hunting were always kept under the "TOP SECRET" ssification, but Xie Qing as Xu Mei''s disciple had ess to this information. Therefore, he knew that the King of Hunting had such a strange and perverted hobby - arranging massacres of mortals to test his techniques. Xie Qing did not particrly approve of this, because killing without reason... was more like something madmen would do. But he was not pure either. And so, entering the pavilion, Xie Qing expected this, but the scene of ruin and decay instantly erased all his expectations. "Damn... well, the Starry Stream Sect did thoroughly investigate this ce before, so it''s not surprising... it''s only been a year since Chang Mei said that a secret passage to the underground was discovered, which is still being explored," Xie Qing thought and channeled Qi into the token that Chang Mei had given him. As soon as the Qi touched the surface of the token, aplete map of the explored area was transmitted to Xie Qing''s mind. He was pleasantly surprised. "Hm... not bad... they have explored many ces, but as expected, there are ces covered in darkness," Xie Qing thought, scratching the back of his head: "And... damn, how could it be so easy..." He sighed. After all, the ce where Li Yun''s aura was felt, was in the unexplored areas, which were most likely full of dangers. "Well, let''s dive headfirst into this deep crap with our heads held high," Xie Qing thought, stamping his foot on the ground. Creak... A passage opened under his feet, and he fell down. "Damn!" "Why did it open under my feet?!" Boom! *** In the pitch darkness, in a gloomy and dimly lit room with a damp smell mixed with the stench of rotting flesh, Li Yun sat in the lotus position. Large drops of cold sweat dripped from her forehead. Her beautiful eyebrows were furrowed, and her body trembled as if she was cold. "The world is so good... but dangerous... why don''t you ept my power...?" "The Heavens are against you... don''t you see?..." "ept... ept... my... power..." The annoying whisper was clearly audible in therge room. And the content of this whisper was somewhat ominous. "Damn!" "How did I even catch a heart demon?!" Li Yun unconsciously opened her eyes, which were just as empty as before, and then closed them again. Her face looked scared and angry at the same time. "I''ve been wandering here for a month..." Li Yun bit her lower lip and cried out in disappointment: "And I haven''t found anything! There are only bare walls here! Could it be that... the legends lied? Although, what else could I have expected..." Li Yun showed regret and despair on her face. In her hands was a broken token that helped her meditate and resist the heart demon. "In such conditions, I won''tst long... it''s too dangerous!" "I need to go home!" Li Yun had spent a lot of strength and resources on this trip. And although it was extremely bitter to return with nothing, life was more valuable. Therefore, standing up, she began to look for a way out. And while she was lost in thought, suddenly a loud and ominous scream was heard: "You... dare... reject... me?!" Rumble! "Wh-what..." Li Yun barely managed to keep her bnce. The entire underground began to shake as if a giant was running! Li Yun''s heart skipped a beat. She felt a terrifying Qiing from the direction of the entrance! "This is..." Her face darkened. A creature of negative karma... An Evil Ghost! *** Rumble! "What''s this?" Xie Qing, who was following Li Yun''s aura, stopped when he felt the earthquake. The ground under his feet cracked and cracks appeared on it, from which negative karma seeped out. "This is... dangerous!" The young man could clearly feel how his Qi became extremely weak and was destroyed as soon as the Negative Karma touched him. The natural enemy of cultivators! "This is... this is... damn!" Xie Qing was shocked: "This Negative Karma is mighty! It would take more than a million mortal lives here..." He could not help but wonder if the King of Hunting was really a madman? After all, such Negative Karma would first of all affect the perpetrator himself, and even if he left here, his Dao Heart would be damaged, and further cultivation would be impossible. "Definitely a madman! Who would ruin their own Karma and expose themselves to danger for the sake of entertainment? Only madmen!" Xie Qing did not have any protection against this situation, and he did not even have a token, so he had to move forward very carefully. Because Negative Karma began to fill the underground, the token was covered with interference and could not urately calcte Li Yun''s location. "Damn!" Xie Qing gritted his teeth and continued to move forward. He could not stop! *** Li Yun was in an even worse situation. In front of her floated a semi-transparent creature of ck color. It vaguely resembled a human, but too vaguely. "Level... Soul Nascent!" Li Yun''s face darkened. In her eyes appeared despair: "I''m only at the 5th level of Core Formation! I''m no match for him!" And this was a ghost created from Negative Karma! And what if there were many of them? Li Yun felt despair. *** "Why are they all heading towards me? They''re like flies to shit... uh... the analogy isn''t the best, it''s like I just insulted myself." Compared to Li Yun, Xie Qing had no problem killing a few ghosts. Most of them died with one hit. Since his karma was mostly positive, he had immunity to the attacks of ghosts. Therefore, for him, everything looked like a walk in the park. The token became useless - it could not sense Li Yun''s aura due to the interference, so he decided to just follow his heart. "In any case, the luck of a cultivator of my level is quite good. Maybe I''ll find..." Xie Qing thought. Rumble! "What the...?!" Xie Qing stopped when he felt a sharp surge of Negative Karma. "This is... a ghost with the level of Soul Integration? Damn!" Chapter 170: Quest (Part 3) The suffocating Negative Karma was so dangerous that even Xie Qing, with his Soul Integration power, wouldn''t dare to take this blow. So he was on guard and even more worried. After all, if he couldn''t withstand this Negative Karma, what about Li Yun? "I need to hurry!" Xie Qing frowned. Immediately, his steps quickened, and he began to destroy the souls trying to reach him as efficiently and quickly as possible. Gu-gu-gu... A sinisterugh echoed as a crowd of evil spirits appeared before Xie Qing! They were filled with Negative Karma and looked malicious. The young man gritted his teeth and shouted: "Get lost!" Swoosh! The Nameless Sword flew out of its scabbard and then shot forward. Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh... "Giii!" Loud shrieks resounded. The evil spirits began to disperse. However, before they could escape, the Nameless Sword caught up to them and destroyed them! Although Xie Qing was slightly surprised, he still ran forward, grabbing the sword mid-air. Beep! [Original Technique Comprehension...] Beep! [Technique Card Disy] Beep! [de of Infinite Apathy] | [Rank: Elite] | [Description: Your de will kill anyone who tries to hinder your path to your goal. Each attack, as long as the enemy is not stronger than you by a stage, will hit a vital point] | [Original Technique] *** Boom! Li Yun fell down and hit her head against the wall. Her eyes opened slightly, her lips were pressed together, and a stream of blood flowed from the corners of her mouth. Her appearance was extremely pitiful. Her clothes were tattered, and countless wounds covered her body. Her elegant demeanor was long gone. Of course, the girl was not concerned about this at all. "I... am I going to die?" she suddenly thought and bit her lower lip: "How is this possible... am I going to die here? Haha... aha... sigh..." In such a desperate moment, she couldn''t do anything but mock herself. "And why did Ie here alone? I even convinced the Master that everything would be fine. Just look at my state ¨C worse than a stray dog thrown in the street!" Li Yun desperately muttered. She could hardly speak: "What a pitiful life... I can''t even see my own death... ha...ha...haha..." Her Qi was already exhausted, so she couldn''t use her ability to see the surrounding space. And the monster standing in front of her looked carefree as if enjoying her desperate state and negative emotions. It even became stronger because of this! When the monster realized that waiting was futile, it approached Li Yun and touched her head. Li Yun sighed. She felt how foreign Qi tried to break through to her mind and devour her soul... this was the end. And when she had already lost hope... suddenly, a faint breeze with a pleasant scent appeared, a scent she was familiar with. "This is..." Swoosh! The sudden gentle breeze turned into a terrifying whirlwind. The monster roared. "Giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir!" Li Yun couldn''t see, but she felt a terrifying presence appear at the entrance. The monster, which wanted to kill her, was distracted and turned away from her. *** Xie Qing burst into one of the rooms in this dungeon. From there, he finally sensed Li Yun''s aura! His face was agitated. "I hope you''re alive!" he prayed in his mind and then rushed into the room. The young man immediately saw a semi-transparent ck human figure floating above Li Yun''s head, without any distinct facial features. Like a shadow. He frowned. His Soul Integration Qi burst out of his body. "I''ll kill you!" How could he not be enraged? If Xie Qing had been a littlete, Li Yun would have died! "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens ¨C de of Infinite Apathy!" Swoosh! The Nameless Sword flew out of his hand and then, without hesitation, like an arrow, pierced the Evil Spirit''s most vulnerable spot. "Giii!" The de struck right in the center of its forehead. Immediately after, the spirit let out a malicious cry mixed with pain and suffering. Nevertheless, Xie Qing didn''t even hesitate. "Sword Aura!" hemanded, and a high-quality Sword Aura flowed from his hand. All this,bined with the de of Infinite Apathy technique, weakened the spirit. And then, unable to resist, the spirit was destroyed! Shu-u-u... Of course, the stench of shit didn''t disappear immediately. So, when the spirit was destroyed, Negative Karma flowed from its body, trying to devour Xie Qing, but failed. The Negative Karma was destroyed by the Sword Aura! Having dealt with the danger, Xie Qing immediately went to Li Yun, who had lost consciousness from exhaustion. The young man took out a pill and crushed it near the girl''s wounds. Whoosh! A weak wind blew from the pill. This wind was created from Yang Qi, which had healing properties. After a few minutes, most of the wounds, except for the extremely severe ones, were healed. The young man waved his hands, and his Qi flowed out of his body, beginning to nourish Li Yun''s Golden Core, preventing it from losing control and shattering due to theck of energy. For two hours, the young man helped her with her wounds, and for the remaining five hours, he watched to make sure no one came here. "I lost track of the bastard at the Soul Integration stage... I''m afraid this ce is too dangerous. We need to leave immediately!" he thought and turned his gaze to Li Yun: "Sigh! I need to somehow bring her out..." Xie Qing still felt the presence of many Evil Spirits around them. Although he could handle them, he was afraid they might harm Li Yun. So he had to wait for the right moment. Three hourster, the moment X finally arrived! Xie Qing picked up Li Yun and then, applying the talisman with the aura concealment technique on himself began to return along the same trajectory he hade from. Along the way, they still encountered Evil Spirits, but most of them couldn''t detect Xie Qing. There were also Evil Spirits at the Nascent Soul stage, but they only felt a fluctuation in the air for a moment, but due to their low intelligence, they couldn''t react. Over time, Xie Qing began to feel that something was wrong. Most of the passages and corridors he had passed through had disappeared! "***!" "Well, of course, it couldn''t be easy, could it? My ass hasn''t felt adventure in a long time!" "Tch!" Although he was displeased, the young man was helpless. Most likely, the dungeon''s internal system had a formation that changed the corridors and passages to prevent information leaks. Not the mostplex formation, but the most annoying! So Xie Qing had no choice but to try to find a new exit himself. And this was with limited time. "The invisibility talisman will soon run out of Qi... and it''s impossible to recharge it!" he thought and gritted his teeth: "***! I hate dungeons!" *** An hour had passed, and Xie Qing still hadn''t found a way out. Moreover, the invisibility talisman had long since shattered into pieces. So he also had to kill the Evil Spirits that attacked him. If it weren''t for the fact that his cultivation technique could quickly purify Qi, he would now be lying dead from exhaustion! Swoosh! Xie Qing tilted his head to the side. An arrow flew past his left ear, its tip poisoned. He darkened. "Seriously... if it weren''t for my reflexes, I wouldn''t have noticed this arrow!" he thought in horror. During his time in the dungeon, he encountered things that could easily take his life! Although Xie Qing understood that Soul Integration was just a step towards true power... He didn''t realize that even with such power, he would be like a chicken on a chopping block! They could easily kill him by infecting him with Negative Karma! "Although, the devilish cultivators would have a field day here..." Xie Qing thought, rolling his eyes. A ce where there were Evil Spirits and Negative Karma... it was like putting a defenseless, fat, and delicious sheep in front of a tiger. The young man wouldn''t have been surprised if, after discovering this ce, the average cultivation level of the devilish cultivators had risen to the Soul Integration stage! *** Three hours had passed. Xie Qing found a safe ce where they could hide for a while. After setting up concealment formations that could interfere with the weak Evil Spirits'' ability to detect this ce, he took a bed out of his spatial ring and ced Li Yun on it. "Still unconscious... at least she''s breathing. Her soul is intact... so I don''t understand why she hasn''t woken up yet" Xie Qing thought. He wasn''t a doctor, so he couldn''t say what was wrong with her. Maybe it was due to fatigue? The young man scratched his head and sighed. He was tired. Not physically, but morally. After all, this ce was too dangerous, and besides protecting himself, he also had to protect another person. It wasn''t easy. Moreover, every second he was in tension. After all, he felt the presence of a powerful enemy. Just the Negative Karma alone could devour him and turn him into a pitiful ghost, deprived of the chance for reincarnation. Although he tried to contact Xu Mei, he couldn''t because of the distance and interference. The Soul Connection didn''t help; the distance was too great. "I have two choices ¨C either wait for the moment when Zhang Meies for us or desperately fight to find a way out..." Of course, it was easier said than done. Xie Qing sighed. And at that moment... "A living being... it''s been so long since I''ve seen people here?" A devilish whisper sounded next to Xie Qing''s ear! The young man, without thinking, released his Qi and then, grabbing Li Yun, tore through the distance. He looked in horror at the tall man with a muscr build, who had no face! Pure, smooth skin! "Not a bad reaction. I must say, after so long, cultivators have really improved... or is it just you?" the man asked curiously. "How can you even talk?" Xie Qing thought but remained silent. He didn''t answer the man''s question. Chapter 171: Quest (Part 4) Xie Qing did not object. He merely shrugged his shoulders, looking nonchnt at Xie Qin''s silent behavior. "From my death, it has been... hm... when was the Ancient Era, brat?" "More than a million years ago," Xie Qing frowned but answered. "A million years? Oh, oh... how long ago that was... hmm... even after so long, I couldn''t enter Samsara?" Xie Qing darkened. He had a guess. Looking at the man, he asked, "Are you the King of Hunting?" "Hehe..." The manughed. Hisughter was loud and echoed, immediately attracting the attention of the Evil Spirits. "Looking" at Xie Qing, he replied, "Yes, boy, I am the King of Hunting. So why not show your respect and help the elder restore his body?" said the King of Hunting, and two holes appeared on his smooth face, located where his eyes should be. From these holes peered bottomless, ck eyes, devoid of pupils. Xie Qing did not answer and only silently drew his sword. The King of Hunting let out a terrifyingugh, which sounded like scraping a fork on a te. Boom! A deafening explosion sounded, and the floor began to shake. Xie Qing took three steps back and easily tossed a token into the air. The King of Hunting narrowed his eyes and sent Qi, trying to destroy the token, but the youth took measures and destroyed his own Qi with his Sword Aura. "Hm! Not bad, kid. But how long can youst?" the King of Hunting said with a smirk, then looked at the token that created a barrier around Li Yun. He asked in puzzlement, "Why are you even trying to protect this girl? She is obviously blind and useless. Although she has a good talent, now she is just an extra burden." "Funny question," Xie Qing said and narrowed his eyes, gripping the sword handle tighter: "You can''t understand my actions because our philosophies are different." "You''re right. Smart boy," the King of Hunting nodded, and his terrifying eyes narrowed with a slurp: "You know, you''re a little... special. Why do I sense the scent of the Dragon n from you? Are you their descendant?" "Pff." Xie Qing snorted and did not answer. He clearly saw the desire in the eyes of this monster, so there was no point in exining anything. Most likely, this King of Hunting saw him only as food. Speaking of level, they were both at Soul Integration. The King of Hunting was dangerous because he had terrifying physical strength, and his body was filled with Negative Karma. "Not talkative, eh!" The King of Hunting shook his head and took a stance. His right leg was moved two steps back, and his left leg was moved three steps to the left: "Then we''ll have to fight. I''m just hungry after a long sleep." Boom! As soon as the King of Hunting finished his speech, a loud explosion suddenly sounded, and the ce where he stood was covered with cracks, resembling a spider web. And Xie Qing, narrowing his eyes, jumped to the left. Bang! "Not bad. Your reaction deserves separate attention, boy..." The King of Huntingughed. It was still unclear where his voice came from, but Xie Qin no longer cared about this. His opponent easily covered distances and struck so fast and hard that it was extremely difficult to resist him. Although Xie Qing''s physical strength was not bad, he could notpare with a cultivator who had dedicated his entire life to training his body. These were different leagues! "Lion Fist Strike!" The King of Hunting shouted the name of some technique, and Xie Qing was thrown back. He clenched his teeth. "Pha-a..." Unable to hold back, he coughed up blood. There was a palm print on his chest. The King of Hunting, standing ten meters away, jumped first on one foot, then on the other. His face began to tear apart, and he clenched his fingers, tearing the skin off himself! "..." Xie Qing was impressed. The King of Hunting spat out blood. This monster... made a mouth for himself! "DIY?" "Stop, no time for nonsense!" The young man got serious. He took a stance and exhaled. His sword shone with a bright golden light. "This..." The King of Hunting tried to move, but suddenly Xie Qing''s eyes lit up with an amber glow. The monster was forced to stop and resist this restraining force. And when he came to his senses... Xie Qing, who had raised his sword high above his head, clenched his teeth and swung it, making a vertical sh. "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens - Sword God Strike!" The King of Hunting frowned. "***!" "I can''t move!" For the first time in so long, he was so frightened for his life. At the moment when he finally managed to free himself from the control of the Dragon''s Gaze, the golden light instantly caught up with him. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! *** "Faster! Open the barrier!" Zhang Mei stood with a worried look in front of the ruins. She became worried when Xie Qing and Li Yun did not return for so long. So she immediately took a group of cultivators and headed for the ruins. "***! Why did I make the barrier so strong?!" Zhang Mei began to regret. Even a cultivator of her strength found it extremely difficult to break through. Therefore, she had to ask the others to open the passage as quickly as possible. "Sect Master, the barrier does not give in! Spatial interference detected!" reported one of her subordinates. He looked nervous and knelt down, lowering his head. He thought, "The sect master is enraged! We''re all doomed!" "What?!" Of course, Zhang Mei was enraged! Would she have to watch as her disciple died in this rotten ce? "My Li Yun..." Even such a cold girl as she could not help but feel despair. Her eyes slightly moistened. Memories of Li Yun''s growth shed before her eyes. And at the moment when she desperately tried to find a way to get inside... BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! A loud, deafening explosion sounded inside the ruins. Even the powerful barrier trembled and began to show oscitions. "There! Sect Master, we managed to open the passage!" someone shouted. "Excellent!" Zhang Mei immediately went inside. She was scared. This explosion was too powerful! The other cultivators who remained behind looked at each other. Although they were afraid to go inside, they were even more afraid of Zhang Mei''s wrath. So, clenching their teeth, they had to enter the barrier. *** Zhang Mei and her group quickly made their way inside. The Evil Spirits inside somehow ended up destroyed. "This..." The girl was shocked. She remembered well that this dungeon had always been strong and looked extremely gloomy, but... "Everything is destroyed!" someone shouted in shock: "What kind of monster was this?!" "Horror... could Miss Li..." "Shut up!" Zhang Mei shouted angrily at the one who said something about Li Yun. "I-I''m sorry..." Frowning, Zhang Mei waved her hand, and they began to quickly search for Li Yun and Xie Qing. In the end, Zhang Mei caught the Sword Aura, which she knew well. "This is Xie Qing!" She waved her hand, and a vortex appeared around them, which instantly allowed them to reach Xie Qing''s location. This was a small room... or rather, it used to be. The walls had long been destroyed. Zhang Mei widened her eyes. "This..." The corners of the girl''s eyes trembled. She could not believe her eyes! Li Yun was still sleeping under the barrier. Amazingly, the space around her looked intact. But Xie Qing... his appearance, to put it mildly, was pitiful. His clothes were torn, and his skin was visible through the torn parts, covered with burns and countless wounds - from serious to ordinary cuts. He stood upright, holding his sword in his hand, which was lowered by 90 degrees. Beneath him stretched a terrifying line ten meters deep and twenty meters wide. And this line led to a corpse... hm... a shadow? The monster looked extremely pitiful. All his limbs were cut off, and he was cut in half up to his chest. This dismembered sight made several cultivators from Zhang Mei''s group present their today''s lunch. Zhang Mei scanned Xie Qing''s opponent and noticed that he was dead in body and soul. She could not help but be surprised. "He killed a cultivator at the fifth stage of Soul Integration? Amazing..." However, there was no time to admire his techniques. She approached him and examined Xie Qing''s body. Then she frowned. "His Qi ispletely drained. Even a hundred years of lifespan have been spent..." she concluded, then waved her hand, sending a stream of Qi into the young man''s spiritual channels. *** Xie Qing wearily opened his eyes. He examined his body with Qi and exhaled. "This time, I overdid it. This technique drained mepletely, and even my cultivation technique couldn''t handle it," he thought and raised an eyebrow: "By the way, why does my chest feel heavy?" The young man lowered his head, and his face became strange. "Zhang Mei?" He was lying on a bed in a small dimly lit room. Zhang Mei was sitting on a chair next to his bed, and she had fallen asleep, resting her head on his chest. It looked... somewhat cute. "It seems she found us... hah... at least I managed to save Li Yun. That''s good," he thought and sighed. This expedition was too dangerous. Of course, he did not regret it, because Li Yun was his friend. He would feel just awful if she died while he was somewhere having fun. His Qi was fully restored, as were his wounds. The body was just a little sore from overexertion. Otherwise, he was quite lively. The young man smiled rather cheerfully. "Well, at least I tried hard." And while he was thinking... Knock-knock... "S-Xie Qing... are you asleep?" "Hm?" It was Li Yun''s voice! Chapter 172: Li Yuilan (Part 1) Xie Qing felt relieved upon hearing her soft and gentle voice. He was still worried that she wouldn''t regain consciousness. "Come in," said the young man in a calm voice. The door slightly opened, and pink hair tips peeked through the gap. The young man smiled. After a while, the girl opened the door and entered, closing it behind her. She looked at Zhang Mei lying on Xie Qing''s chest, and her face became strange. However, she was distracted by Xie Qing''s voice. "You seem to be alright. I''m d," he said calmly, his face unchanging. He looked her up and down and asked, "When I found you, you were unconscious and didn''t wake up for so long. What happened? Have you been checked up?" "A..." Li Yun froze and blushed. Xie Qing was puzzled by this reaction but decided not to pry further. The girl sat on the other side of Zhang Mei and began inquiring about his health. "Are you alright? I heard you were seriously injured..." Li Yun asked worriedly, tears welling up in her eyes. "Seriously injured? Pfft, they exaggerated. I''m fine!" Xie Qing confidently replied, flexing his muscles and ignoring the sharp pain in his chest: "See? Heh, I''m too tough!" "R-really? That''s good..." Li Yun sighed in relief. The young man was indeed seriously injured, but would he talk about it? Of course not. "Lu Yin will be here soon," Li Yun suddenly said and smiled: "She''ll check your health. I can''t let you go until I''m sure you''ve recovered." "I''m fine..." the young man replied, waving his hands. Curiously, he asked, "Does the Master know about my situation?" "E... e-erm... Mistress Xu Mei doesn''t know, my Master ordered not to tell her..." "Thank heavens. I wouldn''t want her to do something rash out of anger," Xie Qing muttered, curling his lips. "I can imagine..." Xu Mei... if she heard that Xie Qing was injured, she would undoubtedly be furious and go after those involved. It would likely end in a battle between Zhang Mei and Xu Mei. Xie Qing didn''t want to see that, as he had agreed to it. So, he felt relieved when he learned that his Master was unaware of the situation. *** "You always get into trouble," Lu Yin said disapprovingly, looking at Li Yun. "..." Li Yun fell silent, lowering her head ¨C it was clear she felt awkward and embarrassed. However, Lu Yin, being kind-hearted, couldn''t scold her for long, so she changed the subject and looked at Xie Qing. "Hm... I heard your opponent was a Soul Integration monster? Impressive. I must say, you''re not bad yourself. I bet that monster didn''t die a sweet death." "Naturally," Xie Qing casually replied, but his eyes held a cold glint: "His soul was destroyed, and he''ll never enter the Wheel of Samsara." "Harsh, but fair. Now take off your shirt and let me see your body," Lu Yin said seriously, her face matching her tone. "Eh..." Li Yun made a strange sound, and Xie Qing just chuckled, removing his shirt. Only then did Lu Yin realize what she had said and blushed. "I-I-I... I just wanted to check his condition!" She cried out, her face red with embarrassment, and waved her hands: "What are you thinking?" "Well..." Li Yun smiled. "I knew right away that you wanted to examine me," Xie Qing innocently looked at Lu Yin and smiled: "What other meaning could there be?" "..." Lu Yin almost fainted from shame! However, when she and Li Yun saw the deep palm print on Xie Qing''s chest, their previous awkwardness vanished. "Such a terrible wound... I''m not surprised if your chest turned to dust after such an attack!" Lu Yin eximed in shock and gently touched the print. Xie Qing immediately felt a terrible pain, but his face remained unchanged. "The wound has already begun to heal. The bones, despite being covered in cracks, have mostly returned to their original state." Lu Yin concluded and furrowed her brow: "However, what worries me more is that there are traces of Negative Karma in the bones, which is very difficult to remove. We need to figure out how to get rid of it, or else the healing will take years." "Negative karma..." Li Yun muttered in fear. "Mhm." Xie Qing simply nodded. He already knew about this problem, but he couldn''t remove the Negative Karma himself. This was too difficult and dangerous a task, so few dared to touch Negative Karma. And while Lu Yin was searching for treatment methods in her notebook... "Liu Yang knows how to remove Negative Karma," a cold female voice suddenly said. The trio looked around. The speaker was Zhang Mei, who had woken up and was looking at them with an indifferent gaze. "I tried to contact her, but it seems she''s in secluded practice again." "There it is..." Xie Qing nodded with a strange expression. The same expression was on the faces of the two girls. "What''s on my face?" Zhang Mei frowned and asked. "Uh-huh." Xie Qing weakly smiled and pointed to the corner of his mouth. Zhang Mei froze and quickly wiped away the saliva. "You didn''t see that," she said, clearly embarrassed and annoyed. "Alright!" Despite the difficulty of the treatment, most of Xie Qing''s wounds had healed, and he could at least meditate. Sitting in the luxurious garden of Li Yun''s mansion, he meditated. Since any clothing heavily pressed on his chest, he had to walk around with his torso bare. For some, this was a feast for the eyes; for others, a misfortune. The obvious palm print trace had gradually faded, and now, unless one looked closely, nothing suspicious could be seen. A week had passed since he helped Li Yun escape from the ruins. During this time, Lu Yin had not left and stayed with him to monitor the young man''s health. "I wouldn''t advise you to push yourself so hard," a calm female voice sounded from behind Xie Qing. "I love meditation. It allows me to calm my mind," Xie Qing replied without bothering to open his eyes: "How''s Li Yun?" "She''s fine. She only had mental demons, but otherwise, she''s okay," Lu Yin answered and puffed her cheeks: "Why is your cultivation speed so abnormal? I was shocked to learn that you broke through to the Soul Integration stage!" "Talent, girl, talent." "Pfft!!" Xie Qing smiled and opened his eyes. He couldn''t tell them that the system was helping him, could he? "Even I find it hard to fully understand the origin of the system and what it represents," the young man thought, rolling his eyes: "And I''m toozy to answer their questions..." However, Lu Yin''s shock was understandable. Achieving such a cultivation level at 19 years old was far too abnormal. This was no longer the level of a hero or a child prodigy ¨C this was a monster! Fortunately, Zhang Mei''s subordinates were smart enough not to spread this information carelessly. "I recently learned a new sword technique. I can teach you," Xie Qing said and waved his hand: "If you want, of course." "Really? Really? You''re not kidding?" Lu Yin''s eyes sparkled, and she immediately sat in the lotus position in front of Xie Qing, looking excited. "I''m not kidding." Xie Qing weakly smiled and added: "This technique is called Love of the Moon Goddess. It''s divided into three levels..." As soon as Xie Qing began to exin the essence of the technique, Lu Yin immediately started listening with full attention. She could feel that this sword technique was not simple and suited her cultivation level. At the same time, this made the girl admire Xie Qing''s mental abilities. After all, someone who could create techniques must have a deep understanding of the Dao. "The difference between us is too great. Even if I''m considered a genius,pared to him, I''m no different from a mortal," Lu Yin thought. However, dwelling on this for too long wouldn''t yield any results. The girl focused on learning the technique. Xie Qing nced at the window behind him. "Hmm..." Night. Li Yun was meditating. Her face looked sickly. Pale as a sheet. Shu-shu-shu... If one listened closely, a faint whisper could be heard near her ear. These were mental demons! "Damn it!" The girl opened her eyes, revealing irritation: "These mental demons won''t disappear even after I took the pills!" Ever since she entered the ruins and was exposed to Negative Karma, she had been suffering from mental demons. The scariest part was that they were too strong, and she had even lost herself in an illusion once. And recalling that illusion... "What a shame!" She thought with a red face, but her eyes held a dreamy look: "But at least in that illusion, I regained my sight... What a cruel illusion" The girl clenched her teeth. And while she was contemting, there was a knock on her door. "Hey... May Ie in, Li Yun?" "Eh?!" It was Xie Qing! Chapter 173: Li Yuilan (Part 2) At first, Li Yun thought that the mental demons were her own. However, after hearing several knocks on the door, she stopped meditating and opened it. "I''m sorry to disturb you at thiste hour," Xie Qing said. "No, it''s okay..." Li Yun replied and fell silent. Since Xie Qing''s wound had not yet healed, he had to walk around with his shirt off. At first, this caused some problems, but over time, everyone got used to it. "Can Ie in?" Xie Qing asked with a calm face, avoiding eye contact. "Eh? Oh, of course..." Although Li Yun was embarrassed, she trusted Xie Qing and did not think he had any ulterior motives. One could say she was very innocent. Xie Qing nodded. His calm demeanor even affected Li Yun, allowing her to calm down. It seemed that the mental demons started to disappear around this man as if they were afraid of him. "I heard from Lu Yin that you''re having trouble with mental demons," the young man said, ncing at the bed with stuffed animals and then back to Li Yun. "Coincidentally, my older sister has a technique that can help you calm them down. I also found some natural resources that can be nted either in the garden or in a pot. They can help prevent the urrence of mental demons." "Is there such a thing?" Li Yun was genuinely surprised and unconsciously opened her eyes, but quickly covered them again. "Oh, and there''s also a pendant. It has simr properties and can help deal with mental demons." Of course, all these items were bought from the System. Although there were simr items in specialized stores, they were all of lower quality and more expensive. Of course, it was more cost-effective to buy from the System store. "This..." Li Yun didn''t know whether tough or cry. So many valuable resources! She was sure that everything mentioned was very expensive! "I can''t..." Li Yun began to say. "You can. I can''t return them anyway, right?" Xie Qing said indifferently and then took out a spatial ring and ced it in Li Yun''s hand. "We''re friends. I can''t stand to see you suffer." "This..." Li Yun was touched and after a moment of silence, she nodded. Her head unconsciously leaned against Xie Qing''s chest. The young man was somewhat surprised. "If I hug her, is that okay?" Putting aside his doubts, the young man hugged her tofort her. Interacting with Li Yun and Lu Yin... for some reason, he felt both more free and more restrained. But with old monsters like Xu Mei and Lian Lin... he found it much easier to get along with them. The next day, Li Yun''s condition improved. She even managed to sleep well and rest. This pleasantly surprised her. "Wow. Her mental demons are really gone," Lu Yin eximed in admiration and looked at the pendant with a silver and nephrite chain. "There''s such exquisite engraving on the nephrite! It''s not formations... something more ancient." "Yuan symbols," Xie Qing said, who was meditating. They were sitting on the grass in the garden. There were no servants around, so the trio could chat freely. "Yuan symbols?!!" Lu Yin and Li Yun eximed in shock at the same time. "Loud... my ears are about to burst," Xie Qing said, opening his eyes and frowning. However, the girls seemed to be more preupied with examining the nephrite on the pendant. And they were shocked. "Yuan symbols are considered a legacy of antiquity! Finding even one symbol is considered a great breakthrough!" Li Yun said out loud and looked at Xie Qing with aplicated expression. "Now I''m really your eternal debtor. This one item alone could make the cultivation world tremble with excitement!" "Really? Well, it happens," Xie Qing replied nonchntly and closed his eyes. "However, it''s in your best interest to keep the secret of this pendant. I wouldn''t want any wild beasts to try and knock on your door." "That''s true," Li Yun nodded. Deep night. Xie Qing was still sitting in the garden, meditating. Lu Yin and Li Yun were practicing nearby. None of them spoke, but quietly practiced. For cultivators, this was a time when silence was extremely important. For Xie Qing, at the moment, he needed to consolidate his cultivation. After a few hours... The young man opened his eyes. The girls were still training and learning the technique that he had taught Lu Yin. "Any progress?" he asked, getting up from his spot. His aura had be more stable and almost imperceptible. This was because he had begun to gradually improve his control over his Qi. "Almost. I''ve been able to learn the basics," Li Yun said, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "I''ve mastered the first part of the technique," Lu Yin said and, wielding her sword, used the technique. With each second, she merged with the surrounding environment until she disappeared. This was the first part of Love of Moon Goddess ¨C New Moon. "Not bad," Xie Qing said with a smile and nodded. "You don''t have to try to scare me, I can sense your presence." "Damn!" Lu Yin suddenly appeared behind him and twisted her mouth. Her displeased face was cute. "Girl, I am the creator of this technique and I know all its ws. For me to find you is as easy as taking candy from a baby," Xie Qing said, pping his hands. "Alright, since it''se to this, I''ll help you both train. Since Lu Yin has mastered the first part, it''s only fair to help Li Yun first." The girl nodded. The young man took out a bamboo training sword from his spatial ring and then began to exin. "The Love of the Moon Goddess technique is actually quite simple. However, due to certain factors, it is not the most stable and is suitable for cultivators up to the Core Formation stage." Xie Qing exined and then made a vertical swing and then a swing at a 70-degree angle upward. Seeing the confusion on Li Yun''s face, he exined: "In this technique, the activation of the three techniques is performed either by sword swings that form special symbols or by Sword Aura, which consumes more energy." "But isn''t it more advantageous to use Sword Aura in terms of speed?" Lu Yin asked. Li Yun nodded. "That''s true. However, the special symbols will help you use the techniques more effectively," Xie Qing exined. "Let''s continue. The technique is divided into three stages - new moon, half moon, and full moon." The young man demonstrated the New Moon. Compared to Lu Yin, he immediately disappeared, and his presence was impossible to detect. "The Full Moon helps you use the invisibility ability. Thanks to the influence of moonlight and Yin Qi, this technique works best at night." "Eek!" Li Yun screamed in fright when Xie Qing''s voice sounded next to her ear. The girl almost fell to the ground, but Xie Qing managed to catch her by the shoulder. Ignoring her offended look, he continued: "Next is the Half Moon - an attack that can easily cut through even the hardest material." Xie Qing exined and, stepping back a bit, swung his sword. With a soft sound, the attack in the shape of a half-moon rushed towards the stone. Upon meeting the surface of the stone, the arc easily cuts through the stone. Fortunately, Xie Qing controlled the attack and did not let it spoil the appearance of the garden. "Full Moon," Xie Qing said and plunged the sword into the air. A semi-transparent domed barrier appeared around him: "Creates a strong barrier. Depending on your level of cultivation, it can block one attack from a cultivator of a higher realm and up to twenty attacks from cultivators of the same or lower realm." The girls listened carefully to his exnations and, after a few additional tips, they finally began to train. Since Xie Qing had nothing to do, he took charge of their training. It can''t be said that the girls had any special talent, but they learned quite quickly and effectively, which satisfied Xie Qing. After three hours of training, Lu Yin mastered the second part of the technique, and Li Yun excelled in the first part. *** A weekter, Liu Yang, Lu Yin''s master, contacted Zhang Mei. That evening, Zhang Mei raised the token that glowed with a soft white light. "Mei, I heard that you were trying to contact me," Liu Yang''s voice rang out, full of gentleness and calmness. "Do you need something?" "Elder sister..." when speaking with Liu Yang, Zhang Mei became more gentle and polite. She nodded: "Yes, to be honest..." And she began to tell what was happening. Liu Yang did not interrupt and listened to Zhang Mei''s story. Only then, when Mei finished speaking, the head of the Nine Pills Sect replied: "Oh, so he''s also ying the hero. Alright, no problem. He is Xu Mei''s disciple, so I''ll help him." Liu Yang said and, after a moment of silence, asked curiously: "What is this boy''s cultivation level?" "Him? Sigh..." Zhang Mei sighed and gloomily replied: "He''s already at the Soul Integration stage..." "Huh?" A surprised sigh came from the token. Liu Yang was silent for a long time, making Zhang Mei think that the connection had been lost. "This... is not normal," Liu Yang sighed. "My dear Lu Yin will be left behind in the cultivation realm by his powerful back... Sigh! They were born in the wrong era..." "Well, it can''t be helped. It''s good that he has good talent and a righteous heart," Zhang Mei replied, brushing her hair off her shoulders. "A righteous heart? Hehe..." Liu Yang smiled. "Your disciple is infatuated with him, isn''t she?" "They''re young. It''s their right." "Hehe... but at their age, you kept men a hundred kilometers away from you." "Hmph. I''m not interested in love." "Right, right..." Chapter 174: Liu Yang It was a deep night. Sounds of something piercing the air could be heard. In Li Yun''s garden, a young man with a bare torso was practicing with a sword. Of course, it was Xie Qing. He looked a bit tired, but he still trained and didn''t stop for a second. His appearance was masculine, and with every swing, one could feel the power. This was his usual practice at night. He felt better when he trained with the sword. "Your wounds still haven''t healed. I wouldn''t advise overexerting yourself," a cold voice suddenly sounded behind Xie Qing. "..." The young man was startled by the unexpected sound and turned his head. He narrowed his eyes, seeing Zhang Mei standing behind him: "Sect Master Zhang... Can''t you sleep?" "Sleep? Cultivators at my level don''t sleep," Zhang Mei replied, raising an eyebrow. "...Alright, never mind," Xie Qing weakly smiled and shrugged. He continued to swing the sword. These were both horizontal and vertical cuts. Despite being the most primitive types of attacks, they were the strongest at the same time. Zhang Mei said nothing, only watching him practice. She was indeed interested in seeing a genius who could achieve such a level of cultivation at such a young age. And, it must be said, she was able to notice some differences. In Xie Qing''s swings, one could feel a slight but still present Sword Aura. Achieving such an effect was extremely difficult. Zhang Mei could count on the fingers of one hand those who had reached such a level of understanding of the Sword Dao. "Hm... besides the fact that he is good at the Sword Dao, this guy also has talent in cultivation... Xu Mei is lucky!" Zhang Mei thought. She was slightly displeased. Although Li Yun and Xie Yu were talented, their talent could notpare to Xie Qing. Before him, they were both helpless, so Zhang Mei could only sigh. After a while, she said: "Liu Yang hase out of her secluded practice and is ready to help you heal," Zhang Mei said and, after a pause, added: "...What are your rtionships with Lu Yin?" "Lu Yin?" Xie Qing put down the sword, looking puzzled. Even if he had sympathy for this girl, their rtionship remained at an ordinary friendship. "We are friends. What about it?" Xie Qing asked curiously. Why was Zhang Mei interested in this? "Friends, yes..." Zhang Mei narrowed her eyes, looking at Xie Qing and saying nothing, turned and left. "What was that?" The young man was at a loss for words and shrugged. --- The next day, the young man sat in a carriage, and apanied by Li Yun and Lu Yin, they flew towards the Sect of Nine Pills. Zhang Mei did not go with them, as she had too many affairs as the sect master. On the way, of course, this trio had a lively conversation. "Xie Qing, have you heard of that person? What was his name... Fierce Bull!" Li Yun began to speak. "Fierce... who?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, being puzzled. "Fierce Bull! He is one of the geniuses of our generation who, at the age of 24, became a Core Formation cultivator!" Li Yun said, and then added, twisting the corners of her mouth: "Although, for you, this is nothing." "I don''t care about talents. I''m only interested in the person''s character," Xie Qing said and sighed,fortably settling into the chair: "Honestly? I don''t care about getting closer to other geniuses. Most of them think that the world revolves around them. I, on the other hand, pursue Immortality and afortable life." "Hehe" Lu Yin smiled: "Afortable life is lounging with women and drinking alcohol?" "Partly." "..." "..." The two girls simply lost their voices. He was so shameless! However, it can be said that it was precisely such a carefree and honest character that brought them together. Therefore, they quickly moved on to other topics. "Xie Yu has already been in secluded cultivation for two months..." Xie Qing suddenly said and, after a pause, asked: "Is she okay? Does she need any resources?" "Little Yu? She''s fine, don''t worry," Li Yun replied, gently smiling: "She has good potential. The master also takes care of her, so she has no problems with resources." "One way or another, let me know if anything is needed. And, Lu Yin, this also applies to you." "Got it." --- The Sect of Nine Pills, perhaps, was the most peaceful of those that Xie Qing had seen. Here reigned an atmosphere of tranquility and silence. Also, the smell of herbs stood out. "By the way, I have a new alchemical me..." Xie Qing thought and raised an eyebrow: "Maybe there is a suitable technique for it here? The one in the system is too expensive..." Looking around, Xie Qing noticed no changes. The same ces, the same atmosphere, and the smell of herbs. It was soothing. "Maybe that''s why I feel so rxed next to Lu Yin?" Xie Qing thought, raising an eyebrow. The two girls were discussing something, and he was lost in his thoughts. Thus, unknowingly, he arrived at the sect master''s pavilion. "Young Miss!" At the entrance stood two cultivators at the Soul Nascent stage who, seeing Lu Yin, stood straight and greeted. "Hello. I came to see the Master, she should already know about us," Lu Yin said, gently smiling. "Of course! Pleasee in!" Xie Qing did not pay attention to the envious gaze of the guards and merely entered. Now even Soul Nascent cultivators were nothing to him, so he could afford to be arrogant. Carefree and childish, he was only with close people. Now his aura waspletely different, turning into a cold and dominant one. From such changes, even Lu Yin and Li Yun lost their voices. "Can he be serious?" "Impossible... I must be hallucinating..." Xie Qing twisted the corners of his mouth when he heard their whisper, but did not react. It must be said that such a sudden change allowed the young man to attract a lot of attention. Many cultivators looked at him with curiosity and fear. As for the female cultivators... oh, fellow daoists, should I exin about this? The heavens cursed me and took away our beauty, instead giving it to Xie Qing! Therefore, the attention from the girls was almost non-existent. Even the sect''s elders could not help but throw a few flirtatious nces at him. Did Lu Yin and Li Yun feel something was amiss? Naturally. Especially Li Yun''s aura became cold. Lu Yin, looking at her friend, could not help but narrow her eyes. --- Liu Yang opened her eyes. She was levitating in the air, and around her was a vortex of mysterious and more powerful energy than ordinary Qi. "Hm? So they have already arrived..." Liu Yang gently smiled and descended to the ground. Then, pping her hands, she ordered: "Formation Spirit, bring them here." "epted..." a female voice without emotions sounded. At the same time, Xie Qing, Lu Yin, and Li Yun were enveloped in a bright silver glow and instantly teleported to Liu Yang''s chambers. "Formation Spirit?" Xie Qing thought and looked around, feeling a gaze on him. Seeing Liu Yang, he politely bowed: "Greetings, Sect Master!" "Greetings, Lady Liu!" Li Yun bowed, and Lu Yin simply used Baoqian. "Hm. I have heard of your heroics, Disciple Xu Mei!" Liu Yang nodded and gently smiled: "Your heart is truly... all-epassing, isn''t it? "Is it...?" Xie Qing didn''t know what to answer. He felt sarcasm in Liu Yang''s voice. When did he offend this ancient artifact? "One way or another, let''s start with your treatment. I don''t like to postpone things," Liu Yang said and waved her hand, adding: "Take off your clothes... why are you looking at me like that?" Xie Qing said nothing and silently took off his top. He approached Liu Yang and sat down in front of her. "Good, you two can meditate while I heal him," Liu Yang said and narrowed her eyes, looking at Lu Yin: "I am very displeased with you. Your cultivation level has not progressed at all for a year. Work harder!" "Yes, Master..." Lu Yin twisted her lips and could not help but object in her thoughts: "Do you think I can break through as fast as this monster Xie Qing?" Li Yun closed her eyes and began to meditate. She was pleasantly surprised, feeling that the quality of Qi here was several times higher than in her mansion! Not wanting to miss such a chance, she meditated diligently. "Good, Disciple Zhang is very diligent and not aszy as her Master in her youth," Liu Yang thought and turned her gaze to Xie Qing, who looked indifferent: "And now..." Liu Yang approached Xie Qing. She sat in the lotus position in front of him, and these two were so close that if Liu Yang leaned slightly, they would kiss. However, of course, the young man did not harbor such thoughts. He still wanted to live. Liu Yang was also focused on healing and did not entertain such strange thoughts. She frowned. "Such dense Negative Karma... you made the right decision bying to me. Otherwise, your soul would have been torn apart by this Karma, and you would have be an Evil Spirit," Liu Yang said, shocking everyone. "Seriously? That sounds harsh..." Xie Qing replied, raising an eyebrow. "And you, it seems, are not from the cowardly ten," Liu Yang said with a faint smile, and then continued seriously: "However, you are lucky. I will help you get rid of this Negative Karma." "Many thanks." ==== * I have always tranted Dao as Way, but I think it would be more urate to stick to the original name. Chapter 175: Mental demon Although Xie Qing was prepared for the pain, he did not expect the process to be so excruciating! "It feels like... like you''re being burned alive and your skin is being peeled off," he thought, gritting his teeth. His face looked tense, andrge drops of cold sweat dripped from his forehead. Nevertheless, he restrained himself, and not a single whimper escaped his lips. "Hm..." Liu Yan, who was helping him expel the Negative Karma from his body, was pleased with Xie Qing''s behavior. Lu Yin and Li Yun stopped meditating when they heard Liu Yan''s hum. They could see Xie Qing''s tense expression. "This... is horrible..." Lu Yin lowered her head. She couldn''t even imagine how painful it was. "I..." Li Yun felt the worst, as it was because of her that Xie Qing was in this condition. Seeing her friend''s state, Lu Yin simply pinched her cheek. "Ow..." "Don''t think about it, okay?" Lu Yin whispered, afraid to distract the Master: "He will definitely scold you if you show him such a face." "I-I understand... let go of my cheek..." Li Yun twisted her mouth and looked at Xie Qing''s back with the corner of her eye. She sighed in relief when she saw that he was not looking in their direction. Well, the young man had much more important matters to attend to, so he did not notice what was happening around him. After all, he was facing a powerful mental demon for the first time! *** "Wake up!" A loud voice brought Xie Qing to his senses. He stood up and looked around. "Where is this?" his puzzled... childish voice rang out: "Eh... why do I have such a squeaky voice, as if I''ve been hit in the balls?" Don''t pay attention to his stupidparison. However, childish was not only his voice, but his entire body! Xie Qing had returned to his youth! "And where am I? I was just undergoing treatment a second ago..." Xie Qing thought in confusion and looked around. It took him a moment to remember this ce. It was his room! "I''ve returned to the past? How is this possible?" he wondered angrily. This option was immediately dismissed. He didn''t remember entering a police box... wait, this wasn''t that universe. Crash! Xie Qing frowned. The door to his room had been roughly opened, and a teenager around fifteen years old entered, with a smirk on his face and a bat in his hands. He had ck hair and gray eyes. "Xie Qing! Bastard, get up, I''vee to punish you! How dare you get close to my Han Yue?!" "Pfft... Han Yue?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow. He was able to remember who she was. The maid who worked at the Xie estate was often the target of bullying, so Xie Qing took her in. "If this is a reproduction of the past, then..." "Ha! Are you silent, you son of a bitch?!" The teenager swung the bat. He was fast... this was the strength of a cultivator! However, Xie Qing was not worried. Before the bat could touch his head, he easily caught it. "Wh-what..." the teenager was shocked: "How?! You... bastard, did you be a cultivator?" There was fear in his voice. Xie Qing did not answer the question and only clenched the bat in his hands. Crackle... "Hm?" The teenager heard a strange sound and suddenly felt that the bat in his hand... had be lighter? And when he turned his gaze to Xie Qing, he was shocked! His hand easily squeezed the end of the bat and turned it into splinters. "Aaaa!" The teenager fell on his butt in shock and began to crawl backward. His face was filled with shock and amazement. "Interesting," Xie Qing muttered and cracked his neck: "So these are mental demons, huh... interesting. They''re too weak and can''t limit my cultivation level." He shook his head. Although he was initially panicked, in the end, this turned out to be an ordinary illusion. Over the past month, he had already been in several illusions, so he had gotten used to it... "Hm? What do you mean I was in an illusion?" Xie Qing thought in confusion, and then shrugged: "Either way, I need to find this mental demon and kill it to get out of here." The teenager wanted to say something, but Xie Qing simply stepped on his face and, twisting his boot, left the room. "Uuuuh..." *** "Curious. Everything here is so realistic. If I were a weak-willed person, I would have been drawn in and never escaped," Xie Qing thought, looking around. Everything reminded him of the past. A past where he had no talents and, apart from his appearance, had nothing else. Pathetic, uninteresting times. The young man partly hated this time, but also missed it. Many familiar faces were no longer around. Over time, many of them had left their jobs, and some had died because they were involved in the attempt on Xie Meiling''s life. "Interesting ce..." Xie Qing said to himself and looked around. His eyes narrowed, and his mouth stretched into a devilish grin: "But you''re trying to hide from me... I''ll tell you now, it''s useless." The young man''s eyes shed with amber light. Somewhere in the distance, there was a loud scream. "I hate it! I hate it!" the mental demon shouted. Xie Qing was surprised. This voice... it was the King of Hunting! So he was trying to take over his body? Realizing this fact, Xie Qing''s eyes filled with cruelty. Kill! "AAAAAAA!" Summoning the Golden me, Xie Qing pped his hands together. BOOM! This single p made the surrounding space crack. He smiled and then swung his hand. The Golden me began to consume everything in its path. "Aaaa!" "Save me..." Of course, the people in the illusions screamed, but Xie Qing did not even flinch. This was just an illusion, so he did not need to worry about their safety. Soon, only darkness remained of this space. Xie Qing looked indifferently at the small ck sphere in his hand. "If your physical body were alive, I wouldn''t have been able to stand up to you. But despite being an ancient cultivator, your Qi was too poor, and your techniques were even worse. You are inferior to me!" Xie Qing shouted arrogantly. The space shook with new force from his voice. "I hate you! Geniuses like you should die! I curse..." "Shut up." Xie Qing snorted and clenched his fist, instantly destroying the remaining fragment of the King of Hunting''s soul. He was not merciful to his enemies! After the King of Hunting''s death, the Negative Karma dissipated and could no longer sustain the illusion. Xie Qing blinked, and everything around him exploded! *** "Hm..." Xie Qing opened his eyes. Liu Yan was still sitting in front of him, and he was in her chambers with two other women. Everything was back to normal. "Were you visited by mental demons?" Liu Yan asked, having finished treating Xie Qing. "Yes. It was a fragment of the King of Hunting''s soul," Xie Qing replied calmly. "The King... of Hunting?" Liu Yan raised an eyebrow in surprise and then marveled: "He''s an ancient cultivator... who would have thought he was alive." "Well, his condition is not what one would call ''alive.'' It''s worse than death," Xie Qing answered and twisted his mouth: "He lost his main advantage ¨C physical strength. That''s why he became another step on my path to Immortality." "My, my..." Liu Yan suddenly fell silent and shook her head. "You really are like your Master..." "Am I?" "Like two peas in a pod." "Thank you for thepliment." "And just as shameless." "Hehe..." Lu Yin and Li Yun exchanged nces. Why were these two acting as if they were close? *** After so long, Xie Qing finally put on his new white hanfu. The old one had been destroyed during the battle with the King of Hunting. This hanfu was a gift. "Are you sure? It looks very expensive," Xie Qing said in surprise. "It''s fine. You''ve helped me a lot. I even think it''s too cheap a gift..." Li Yun replied in a calm voice. "Well, if you say so..." Xie Qing smiled. He really liked this hanfu. It was also rted to its attributes. [Garment of the Six Immortals] | [Rank: Semi-Legendary] | [Description: A hanfu made from high-quality materials. It has protective formations on the inside and outside that can block a single attack from a Soul Nascent cultivator. Created by Li Yun with the help of Zhang Mei. Contains a secret random teleportation formation.] "Semi-Legendary... Heavens... its protective functions are simply excellent!" Xie Qing thought admiringly. If he sold it on the market, he could get a fortune for it. However, the young man would not treat Li Yun''s gift, which she had put her soul into, so crudely. Li Yun smiled slightly when she saw that Xie Qing did not insist. She looked him over and blushed faintly. "He''s so handsome..." Although she regretted not being able to see his torso, this clothingplemented him very well! With a satisfied hum, she smiled. "I brought you tea." At that moment, the door to the room opened, and Lu Yin entered with a tray. Her face looked a little strange when she looked at Xie Qing, but the girl soon came to her senses. "Thank you," Xie Qing nodded and took the tea. Although he did not like tea... could he really refuse a treat? He didn''t want Lu Yin''s efforts to go to waste. "Thank you... did you bring Zhima Qiu?" "No, I''m sorry... I can ask the cooks to make it. Do you want it?" "Yes, please!" Li Yun answered with sparkling eyes. They sat down and began to drink tea. At one point, Lu Yin asked a question. "By the way, did you know that Lady Xu Mei ising here?" "Pffffff!" Chapter 176: Her eyes Xie Qing had lost the ability to speak. This sudden news had shocked him too much. "M-master wille?" He could already imagine the headache if Xu Mei found out. Considering her temperament... Xie Qing broke out in a cold sweat. "Yes... it seems you''ve been away for a long time and she''s calcted your karma..." Lu Yin replied with an awkward expression on her face: "Since you''ve already recovered, the Master didn''t stop her attempt." "That''s right, cultivators at her level can easily find out most things with a simple thought..." Xie Qing twisted his mouth. Of course, now he had nowhere to run, so he had to prepare to face the Master. He only hoped that Xu Mei wouldn''t do anything stupid. *** Boom! Zhang Mei looked at the entrance to her office with a neutral expression. The door had turned into splinters. Standing on the threshold was a beautiful and tall ck-haired girl with blue eyes. And those blue eyes seemed cold as ice. Even Zhang Mei felt a slight chill down her spine. "Your manners are terrible," Zhang Mei said indifferently and turned her gaze to the papers in her hand: "You don''t know about the direct function of doors? They need to be opened, not broken down." "I don''t care. Stop ying these games, Zhang Mei," Xu Mei coldly replied and frowned: "What the hell?! Because of you, my disciple almost died!" "He didn''t die." "But he was on the verge! Negative Karma is what even we, cultivators at the level of Transcendence, fear!" Xu Mei snorted angrily. Zhang Mei sighed. She did not deny the fact that she had been extremely careless. But facing Xu Mei face to face, she did not want to give up her position. Therefore, they argued for a long time. In principle, for them, it was a normal phenomenon. In the past, Liu Yang often drank pills for headaches, so frequently they quarreled. *** Whoosh! Whoosh! Swoosh! Xie Qing dodged Lu Yin''s fierce attacks. Since they were bored, he decided to help them train. Although he was still worried about his Master, he could not sit still. "Too aggressive. Excessive movements will be the cause of sudden death. You''repletely open when you swing. What if I cut off your arm with a simple horizontal swing?" Xie Qing said, and when Lu Yin attacked again, he lightly swung his sword. "Ugh!" Lu Yin let out a heavy sigh as the bamboo swordnded under her armpit. If it had been a real sword, the girl would have lost her arm. Xie Qing tried to exin this to her. "Do you see? You are one of those swordsmen who like to fight in closebat. Therefore, you need to understand that every move you make must be calcted!" Xie Qing spoke in a strict voice. He tilted his head to the side and easily dodged Lu Yin''s sharp lunge: "Not bad. When opponents talk a lot, you can kill them with a sudden attack or wound them as best you can." "You really are a monster..." Lu Yin said after a long silence and sighed. The young man only smiled and closed the distance between them. He swung his sword and a thick Sword Aura formed ten small swords, each five centimeters long, glowing with golden light. "This is a basic sword technique. You should be able to use it, right?" Xie Qing asked, and seeing Lu Yin''s nod, continued: "In fact, despite its extremely simple appearance, it possesses terrible power in the hands of a good swordsman." The young man blinked and the swords suddenly disappeared. Lu Yin was shocked! Looking around, she noticed that the ten small swords were near her nape, Achilles'' tendon, and kidney area. "That speed..." "Impressive, right? And this is just the basic sword dao skill ''Materialization of the Sword Aura''," Xie Qing replied nonchntly, cracking his neck. He waved his hand: "When you learn to control this technique to 100%, numerical superiority will be a joke." "Eh..." Lu Yin looked at the swords in surprise. They really had turned into roses! Moreover, when she touched this rose, she did not get hurt! This was amazing control! The young man smiled. Such a level of control had be natural for him after so much training. ''Materialization of the Sword Aura'' was an important part of the Sword of Empress style, so out of curiosity, he decided to study it. After mastering this technique, he thought that it should be taught to the younger generation without fail! It was too good! Looking around, Xie Qing fell silent for a moment and then asked: "And where is Li Yun?" "Huh?" Lu Yin, who was ying with the rose, raised her head and, clearing her throat, replied: "Probably with the Master. Lady Zhang Mei asked for her help with cultivation." "Does she have problems?" Xie Qing asked, frowning with concern. "No. Just advice. Lady Zhang Mei... how to say it..." Lu Yin looked somewhat embarrassed. She sighed and muttered: "...is very terribly exined when ites to cultivation." "..." Xie Qing lost the ability to speak. Although thinking about it a little, he remembered that Xu Mei also had some problems with this. For example, Xu Mei was good at formations, but she couldn''t exin and teach them! "It seems that even the most seriousdies have their shorings," Xie Qing thought. He continued to train Lu Yin. *** "..." "..." Xu Mei casually threw her legs onto the table and drank wine. Zhang Mei, sitting nearby on a chair, only twisted her mouth. "When will you go to your lover?" Zhang Mei asked indifferently, but between her eyebrows, one could see annoyance. "L-lover?" Xu Mei was taken aback, but noticing Zhang Mei''s piercing gaze, she snorted and replied: "What business is it of yours? Are you jealous?" "Jealous of what? The fact that you, in essence, seduced chi..." BOOM! Zhang Mei immediately fell silent. The floor of her office was covered with cracks. "Although, it''s your life," Zhang Mei said with a strange expression on her face, turning her gaze away from Xu Mei, who was looking at her with anger. "Hmph!" The elders standing behind the door lost the ability to speak. Although they could not hear what was happening behind the walls, they were amazed, feeling the earthquake. "I''ve heard about the hot-tempered nature of the Sword Princess, but..." "Shut up, idiot! Do you want your head to end up on her sword?!" "Don''t yell, fool! I have a wife and children, I don''t want to die because of you two fools!" *** Xie Qing was training in the garden. It was a deep night. Lu Yin and Li Yun were meditating in their rooms. Although they wanted to learn the sword, these two did not want to focus their Dao exclusively on the sword. At one point, Xie Qing felt a suspicious phenomenon. The wind seemed to have disappeared. This was not normal. "Sect Master Liu, how can I be of service to you?" Xie Qing said in a cautious tone, looking over his shoulder. "Heh." The young man was about to roll his eyes but restrained himself. Behind his back was indeed Liu Yang! Her beautiful dark silver hair fluttered in the wind, and her beautiful and bright yellow eyes narrowed into a crescent, watching him. Her slender body could charm even the Buddha! "Your diligence reminds me of Xu Mei. However, it should be noted that even she was not so diligent," Liu Yang said after a short silence. Her voice was gentle and friendly, although Xie Qing noticed that the woman''s eyes were expressionless: "How is your practice going? I''ve heard that you''ve already reached Soul Integration." "My practice?..." Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled, but still replied: "I guess it''s going well. I haven''t encountered any problems yet." "There it is." Liu Yang nodded and fell silent. Xie Qing also fell silent. "What does this woman want from me?" Liu Yang was the only one of Xu Mei''s acquaintances with whom Xie Qing felt strange. It was a slight difort. He had the feeling that she didn''t like him. "Hmm... by the way, although I haven''t been particrly interested in this question..." Liu Yang suddenly spoke and tilted her head to the side, squinting with a smile: "How are things going with Xu Mei?" Xie Qing blinked. Did this woman really want to ask him this all the time? Although he was puzzled, his face showed nothing. Thinking for a moment, he replied: "Everything is fine between us." "Is that so?" Liu Yang smiled: "I hope you''re not deceiving her?" "Why should I deceive her?" "Who knows. I still can''t believe that there can be such an improper rtionship between a Master and a disciple." Xie Qing froze. He frowned, looking at Liu Yang, and asked: "What are you implying?" "Nothing. I''m just curious. Mei-Mei may seem arrogant, proud, and unapproachable, but her heart can easily melt when someone is sincere with her," Liu Yang said and giggled: "Once a cultivator tried to get close to her in this way. Xu Mei was unapproachable, but this guy was smart and cunning. Fortunately, I was able to react in time and did not allow him to deceive Xu Mei." "And where is this ''guy''?" Xie Qing asked, although he already had a guess. "Dead. I killed him," Liu Yang replied indifferently as if she were talking about the weather, not about human life: "How could I allow him to deceive my good friend? So I cut off his head." "Hmm..." Xie Qing understood the situation a little. It seemed that Liu Yang thought that Xie Qing was simply trying to deceive Xu Mei for his own purposes. He was a little annoyed. This woman, it seemed, considered him a scammer. Therefore, he wanted to rify his position. Putting his sword aside, he closed the distance between them. They were at arm''s length. "If you think I''m deceiving the Master, you''re very wrong," Xie Qing began to speak and snorted, looking into Liu Yang''s yellow eyes: "And to anyone who doubts my intentions, I can prove with my sword!" A Sword Aura sparkled and his body was enveloped in energy. Although Xie Qing felt Liu Yang''s piercing gaze on him, he didn''t even flinch. Tension appeared between them. However, when he already thought that Liu Yang would get angry, she simply smiled gently. "What a cute boy." "What?" Chapter 177: Demonic monsters (Part 1) "Cute boy? Just a moment ago she threatened him with death, and now he''s a cute boy?" ''What do you mean?'' "You''re crazy?" Liu Yan fell silent and raised an eyebrow: "It seems you''ve confused your thoughts." "Khe-khe..." Xie Qing coughed embarrassedly. But that was indeed what he was thinking. Only a crazy person could change their emotions so quickly. Seeing the young man''s reaction, Liu Yan found it amusing andughed. "I was just testing you. Don''t worry," she said with a gentle smile, and suddenly took a step forward. Xie Qing didn''t have time to react before Liu Yan''s face appeared in front of him. From a close distance, she looked even more beautiful. The young man was slightly surprised. If he moved his head slightly, they would have kissed! "Heh... but I still hope you won''t deceive Xu Mei," Liu Yan said with a teasing smile. She pinched Xie Qing''s cheek and left with augh. Standing alone in the garden, the young man raised an eyebrow. "Is she really crazy?" *** There was nothing to do. Xie Qing didn''t need sleep and spent all his time training. In the early morning, as he meditated in the garden, the young man felt a familiar presence behind him. "Li Yun, why aren''t you sleeping?" he asked, smiling and opening his eyes. "Sleep? We''re cultivators. We don''t need sleep," Li Yun replied with a light smile. She walked up to him. Xie Qing had not noticed before, but her gait was indeed very elegant. With a straight posture, her left hand rested on her belly, and her right hand covered her fingers. "That''s true. How''s your cultivation?" Xie Qing asked, standing up. It would have been impolite to talk in that position. "Not bad. Thanks to Lady Liu Yan''s help and your gift, the mental demons no longer bother me. In fact, I''ve even managed to raise my cultivation level a bit," Li Yun said, smiling quite happily. "Oh?" Xie Qing smiled, seeing Li Yun''s good mood. He checked her cultivation level and saw that although there was no breakthrough, her foundation had strengthened. He praised her: "Well done." "It''s mostly your doing," Li Yun giggled. Xie Qing shrugged. He had only given her some cheap items that didn''t cost much in the system store, so he didn''t worry about it or ask Li Yun to repay him. Speaking of which... Xie Qing nced at Li Yun out of the corner of his eye. She was wearing a long dress that reached her ankles. The dress was white and looked very innocent. But what didn''t look innocent was her deep cleavage. A pendant hung from her cleavage, a gift from Xie Qing. It must be said that even Xie Qing had to be careful, or his gaze might wander over her body. Although looking was fine, staring was very rude. Li Yun seemed not to notice his gaze. She continued to talk about something, and Xie Qing listened attentively, only asionally responding. Since standing in one ce was ufortable, they decided to walk around the garden. After all, it was quite spacious. "By the way, what''s your rtionship with Fang Lan?" Li Yun suddenly asked, slightly surprising Xie Qing. "Friendly..." Xie Qing answered, and after a pause, ignoring Li Yun''s strange look, asked in return: "What? Is something wrong with her?" "No, on the contrary. They say she''s coborating with a mysterious alchemist who recently appeared," Li Yun said. Xie Qing''s expression was strange. Of course, the mysterious alchemist was him. He had disappeared for some time, which made his identity mysterious. Of course, he was stillpleting tasks for the "Silver Moon" trade organization. Wang Feifei hadn''t asked for his help as oftentely. "Speaking of the alchemist Ge Hun... recently, the ''Silver Moon'' trade organization was in danger," Li Yun suddenly said, seeing Xie Qing''s interest, and continued: "They say they sent a group of cultivators to the barrier to bring food. But the enraged demonic monsters simply destroyed their group. It was terrible." "Ho-o-o..." Xie Qing, hearing this, showed a rather meager reaction, but in his mind, he was somewhat concerned. He couldn''t help but recall when a representative of the "Silver Moon" came to him and suggested that he escort a group of cultivators to the barrier. As it turned out, he was right to decide not to go there. Although Xie Qing liked to fight, going to certain death was just stupid. "Although, with my current strength, I don''t think they can just kill me," he thought. But, of course, he still needed to test this to be sure of his own strength. Li Yun saw that Xie Qing was lost in thought and fell silent, not interrupting him. They walked side by side, and because of the height difference, it even looked cute. When Xie Qing came to his senses, they had already reached the fountains. The young man blinked and saw that Li Yun was sitting by the fountains, looking at the stars. "Sorry. I got lost in thought," the young man said, sitting down next to the girl. "It''s okay. I guess it was something important," the girl said with a understanding smile, her voice gentle. "She really is nice," Xie Qing thought. *** Morning for some begins with coffee. Li Yun, Lu Yin, Liu Yan, and Zhang Mei silently watched the scene before them. Xie Qing was sitting in a chair, and Xu Mei was holding his hand, examining his body for signs of injury. Everything would have been fine, but... she had been doing this for about an hour... Even the patient Zhang Mei began to get annoyed. "I already told you that Liu Yan checked him and healed him! Why are you being so stubborn and stupid?!" Zhang Mei said angrily. "Shut up! You have no right to speak!" Xu Mei snapped back and continued examining him. Lu Yin and Li Yun did not participate, so they just watched. Liu Yan, as usual, smiled kindly. "Xu Mei, don''t be so hard on the boy," Liu Yan said, smiling gently. However, Zhang Mei shuddered. Such a reaction puzzled the two girls. "Hm?" Xu Mei frowned and turned around. Seeing that Liu Yan was looking at her with a gentle smile, she suddenly froze and reluctantly let go of Xie Qing. "Phew..." The young man finally managed to breathe! It was too hard when someone stared at him so persistently and examined his spiritual channels so intrusively. A few minutester, the atmosphere calmed down. Xu Mei looked indifferent, and Lu Yin and Li Yun pretended not to notice anything. "It seems you have a lot of free time," Liu Yan said, looking at Xu Mei and Zhang Mei, who turned away. Liu Yan narrowed her eyes: "You know about the recent incident with the ''Silver Moon,'' right?" Xie Qing, Lu Yin, and Li Yun were surprised. "What do you mean, Master?" Lu Yin asked in surprise. "Ah, yes, you don''t know yet..." Liu Yan nodded to herself and continued: "Recently, a problem has arisen. Demonic monsters have been infected with devilish qi. Before, it wasn''t so serious, but now they''re developing too quickly, and we can''t keep up with them." Demonic monsters... Xie Qing recalled Li Yun''s words. Indeed, it seemed that the situation was even worse. But he didn''t understand. He was sure that the head of the Resting Eagle Sect was keeping a close eye on everything... hm? Xie Qing''s expression became strange. Nevertheless, even if he had suspicions, what about Xu Mei and the others? He thought for a moment and decided not to voice his thoughts until he learned more about the situation. "Since ordinary cultivators can''t defeat these monsters, I suggest sending our disciples to eliminate their poption," Liu Yan said, looking indifferent. "Good idea. The Empress promised me her help," Zhang Mei said and nodded. "Hmph, don''t trust that stupid bitch. She''s obviously targeting the Southern Continent." Zhang Mei rolled her eyes and ignored Xu Mei. That''s how it was decided. Xie Qing smiled bitterly. "Working again?" *** "This armor... is extremely ufortable..." Xie Qing thought, looking at himself. He was wearing te armor with many formations for protection and so on. Everyone going to this region was rmended to wear armor to avoid infection with devilish qi. Although he was somewhat unhappy, for safety''s sake, he still decided to wear it. "Are you ready?" a voice came from behind Xie Qing. The young man turned around and saw that Lu Yin and Li Yun were already armed. The armor didn''t look particrly good on them, but there was no other choice. "You look funny," Xie Qingughed. "Have you looked at yourself?" Lu Yin snorted in response, and Li Yun just smiled. They exchanged nces, and Xie Qing took out his carriage. After helping the girls get in, he finally got in himself. Snapping his fingers, the young man activated the carriage and set the coordinates. The carriage immediately flew towards the teleportation formation on the Southern Continent. Inside the carriage. Xie Qing took off his armor and put it inside his spatial ring. Wearing it was extremely heavy and ufortable. Lu Yin and Li Yun also took off their armor. They had put it on earlier to try it on and see if it suited them. Chapter 178: Demonic monsters (Part 2) The South Continent was inhabited by countless mortals and numerous cultivation sects. Most of them were currently in a state of pre-war alertness. Although the demonic monsters had not yet left the barrier area, their mere existence made many cultivators uneasy. Xie Qing read several reports and concluded that the strength of these monsters did not exceed the level of a Soul Integration cultivator. With his own strength, he was confident that he could kill hundreds, if not thousands of them. "But who knows if there is someone stronger among them?" Xie Qing felt that there was. His sixth sense told him that this adventure would not be as easy as before. Lu Yin and Li Yun were in a more rxed state. They believed that with their strength, they could at least contain the poption of these monsters. Xie Qing wanted to warn them of the danger, but decided to remain silent, not wanting to cause panic. "What are those bastards doing?" Xie Qing thought angrily. *** "Indeed, it''s quite deste here..." A group of cultivators was fighting against two demonic monsters about a hundred miles away from the barrier. They resembled a wild boar and an ostrich, but were five timesrger in size. There were many small and medium-sized wounds on their bodies. "Damn! These stupid monsters!" One of them cursed. The average level of the group did not exceed the fourth stage of Core Formation. This level was considered good, but against the two monsters at the peak of Core Formation, it was too insignificant. Different colored lights appeared in the air as the cultivators fought. The battle was fierce. "Roar!" Suddenly, the demonic boar let out a low roar, releasing an aura of fear that caused the cultivators to panic. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the boar turned around and ran towards the forest. However, it did not get far before a loud sound came from the sky, and a dense Sword Aura descended upon the boar''s body. "Eek!?" The boar let out a strange cry that was cut off after a second. When the cultivators came to their senses, they saw that the boar''s body had disappeared, leaving only ashes behind. "Cultivators at the Core Formation stage? It''s too dangerous here. Change your guard zone, or else you won''t be able to live until tomorrow," a deep male voice sounded from the sky. It was charming, authoritative, and beautiful. "T-thank you for saving us!" As soon as they heard the man''s voice, the group of cultivators knelt down and bowed before leaving. Standing on the roof of the carriage, Xie Qing watched these young men leave. Only then did he wave his hand and turn the ostrich, which had only managed to run a hundred meters away, into ashes. With his strength, someone at the Core Formation stage was no different from an ant. "Dao technique - Detection," Xie Qing muttered, and his eyes lit up. A bright silver ring emerged from his body and expanded with each second. When it flew out, it surrounded the entire forest and reached the barrier. Xie Qing closed his eyes and, ignoring the slight headache, smiled casually. "Found it. 496 monsters at the Core Formation stage, 175 at the Soul Nascent stage, and... Hm... Five monsters at the Soul Integration stage. Fortunately, they are only at the first stage." Although he was confident about the others, the Soul Integration monsters were a bit dangerous. However, the young man did not panic. Shrugging his shoulders, Xie Qing did a backflip and grabbed the protruding detail above the carriage door to enter the already open door. "Couldn''t you enter normally?" Lu Yin asked with a neutral tone and a strange expression on her face. "Too slow. Inefficient. And I was bored," Xie Qing replied with a carefree smile. "It was cool," Li Yun praised, but still added, "But don''t do it again. It''s dangerous, you know." "I''m not a child..." Xie Qing could only twist the right corner of his mouth when he heard Li Yun''s words. The girlughed cheerfully. *** The journey to the South Continent took them a week, which was already very fast. Along the way, they encountered several infected monsters that had not yet turned into something new. Xie Qing killed them and took samples of their blood and the devilish Qi with him. "This devilish Qi is like a virus. It spreads through blood and poses a danger even to humans," Lu Yin said. She held a test tube in her hand with many formations and protections on it. Her face was serious and tense. "I''m afraid some people may be infected. We need to figure out how to cure them." "Leave one alive and kill the rest," Xie Qing said ruthlessly. "That... is only an extreme method," Li Yun sighed in response. The young man shrugged. In any case, developing a cure would take a lot of time, during which the virus could spread, posing a serious threat to them in the future. Therefore, Xie Qing believed that it was better to leave one for experimentation and kill the rest, disposing of their bodies. Many cultivators agreed with his opinion, including Xu Mei, who thought it was the best solution. Of course, there were also those who pretended to be saints and caused a lot of problems. *** Since their identities were very important, the trio was met by the general of the united army of the four sects, Liu Bei. "I wee you. The situation is quite tense now, I''m afraid I won''t be able to give you a proper wee," the man said calmly. Although he said that, his face was indifferent. In terms of appearance, he looked like a typical general. He had a fierce and domineering aura, narrow and sharp green eyes, and always furrowed brows. His long chestnut hair was tied back in a ponytail, and he was almost as tall as Xie Qing. Since he was the strongest among them, the girls suggested that he be the leader. Not wanting to put them under unnecessary stress, Xie Qing did not refuse. Therefore, he spoke on their behalf. "General Liu Bei is too kind. We would like to get straight to business without any formalities, so we won''t demand any special attention to our persons," Xie Qing said, narrowing his eyes. There was a slight smile on his face, but his ck eyes showed no emotion. When speaking with the general, Xie Qing''s posture was straight and domineering, not allowing the other side to feel free. "Young Master Xie is indeed wise. I have heard of the reputation of Destroying de, and I must say that even I have to admire your talent and sword techniques," Liu Bei replied, and finally, there was sincerity in his voice when he looked at the Nameless Sword attached to the belt at Xie Qing''s waist. "General, you tter me," Xie Qing replied indifferently and nodded. He surveyed the many tents and asked, "Is there a ce for us? I would like to set up a tent and after a short rest, head out to kill the monsters." "We will find you the best ce," Liu Bei said and waved his hand, summoning a soldier. After giving the order for Xie Qing''s group to be given a good ce, Liu Bei politely said goodbye and left. "Please follow me," the soldier said with a respectful tone and nced at the girls. However, he was forced to stop when he felt Xie Qing''s cold gaze on him. Sweating, the soldier stammered and began to lead them. Lu Yin and Li Yun did not pay attention. They were too used to men''s gazes, and although it was annoying, they had to ignore it. Being beautiful was hard. As it turned out, the general had lied a little. In terms of location, there were not many tents here. There was even an exit to a stream. But the problem was the location. They were located in front of the forest, which had been named the Forest of Death after the boom in the demonic monster poption. In the event of an attack, their tent would be on the front line. Although Xie Qing realized this, he did not object. With his cultivation level, there were few monsters that could withstand him. "Do you have a tent? I can provide you with mine..." the soldier said with a respectful tone, but his eyes showed reluctance. "No need. You''re free to go," Xie Qing did not stand on ceremony with this guy and waved his hand. The soldier sighed with relief and left, or rather, ran away. The young man waved his hand and took out a tent. "This is a spiritual item. The space inside isrge enough to amodate a small cabin. There are four rooms, a bathroom, and a living room," the young man said and looked at Li Yun and Lu Yin. "You have such a thing?" Lu Yin was surprised, and then poked Xie Qing''s cheek, teasing him: "So you''re rich." "Yes, yes,e inside," Xie Qing rolled his eyes. The trio entered the tent. The other soldiers exchanged nces, and their faces looked as if they had eaten a May bug. "This guy..." "Two beauties at once..." "How I envy him!" Lu Yin and Li Yun were popr figures in the cultivation world. What cultivator did not dream of bing their lover? Since the soldiers did not know about the function of the tent, they thought that these three wanted to share a bed together. It was too hateful! Unbearable! They were envious. As for the culprit, he had no such thoughts at all. He thought it would be too ufortable for these girls to live in a narrow and cold tent without a proper bed. Man, I want such a tent too... Chapter 179: United Army of the Four Sects (Part 1) The night was surprisingly peaceful. Xie Qing was on guard and therefore did not sleep or meditate. Every half hour, he checked the surroundings for the presence of demonic monsters but found no traces. This silence should have caused fewer problems, but it was unsettling. So, he left the tent and began to walk around the area. "What a thick smell of blood," he thought, looking around. As he inspected the area, he was drawn into the forest. A thick smell of blood, both human and monster, emanated from here. He was wearing armor, just in case. "Silence... So quiet that it''s suspicious," Xie Qing pondered. The most important thing was that when he first came here, he was able to detect monsters. But now, there was no reaction from his Dao technique, as if he was descending a staircase and skipping a step. After walking around for several hours, Xie Qing gave up when he found no signs of activity. Although he was sure that someone might be deep in the forest, provoking them unnecessarily could be a fatal mistake and lead to pointless deaths. The young man cracked his neck and returned to the tent. In the morning, Xie Qing meditated out of boredom and woke up when he sensed the presence of a Qi Condensation cultivator outside the tent. Scanning with his Qi, the young man discovered that Lu Yin and Li Yun were still meditating. Having nothing to do, he stood up and went to the entrance of the tent, then exited. Due to his tall stature, Xie Qing looked quite imposing when he emerged from the tent. The cultivator who had deliberately released his Qi to warn the tent owner of his presence almost wet himself. "What can I help you with?" Xie Qing asked, looking into the man''s eyes. His tone was neither arrogant nor submissive - rather indifferent. "A... The general has requested your presence and that of the twodies at a meeting..." the cultivator muttered in response. "Alright, I''ve heard you. You can go." Xie Qing nodded and entered the tent, paying no attention to the man, who sighed in relief and ran away. The others whispered: "That''s Cao Wei... He was called Miss Li Yun''s biggest fan... Yesterday he bragged to me that he would challenge Destroying de. Haha..." "Poor guy. This monster hasn''t even said anything, and he''s already scared!" someone mocked the unfortunate cultivator. "Sigh, youth..." Many grew jealous seeing Xie Qing''s close rtionship with Lu Yin and Li Yun. They were confident when they spoke of their desire to challenge him. But when they met him face to face, these men had to fall silent. Such was the influence of power. Who would dare to bother you if your power could suppress them all? Xie Qing didn''t care much about the opinions of the cultivators of the united sects'' army. If they wanted something, they could always challenge him. "Lu Yin, Li Yun. The general has called us for a tactical discussion," Xie Qing calmly announced, sitting in the living room. Using the formations in the tent, he delivered the message directly to their rooms. The girls responded and came out to the living room after about ten minutes. "Did you put on the sect uniform? Is that necessary?" Xie Qing asked, surprised to see their official hanfu. "Of course. We represent our sects and are future sect masters," Lu Yin replied, giving Xie Qing a strange look. "Don''t tell me your master didn''t tell you about this." "Eh? Well... She said that if I wanted to, I could wear it. And if not, it doesn''t matter," Xie Qing recalled her words and smiled. "Since that''s the case, I''ll wear it too." The young man stood up and went into a free room. After a few minutes, he returned, dressed in red hanfu with gold patterns. "It suits you!" Lu Yin praised, and Li Yun nodded silently. Xie Qing smiled. The trio left the tent. The young man sealed the entrance, and they headed towards the central tent. There, as it turned out, they were already waiting. General Liu Bei nodded briefly upon seeing them, and his assistants looked somewhat displeased. "General," Xie Qing nodded in greeting, ignoring the rest. In any case, many were at the Soul Nascent cultivation level, and the only Spiritual Integration cultivator was the general himself. Liu Bei did not pay attention to Xie Qing''s behavior. He immediately got down to business. "This morning, the scouts reported that arge number of demonic monsters have gathered in the deepest part of the forest," the general reported, his expression indifferent as always, his brows furrowed. "I asked Elder Shan from the Starry Stream Sect to make a prediction. Apparently, someone with a demon lineage, albeit highly diluted, has appeared." "What?" "This..." There was a mor and an uproar. The others'' expressions became very subtle, and even Xie Qing looked somewhat wary. Demon lineage. Xu Mei had told him about how during the War of the Heirs, someone had tried to charm his Xie Hui and even seeded to some extent. So, the young man was very wary of these beings. After all, someone with a demon lineage was ten times stronger than an ordinary person, and the difference would only increase as their cultivation level grew. Although Xie Qing had some techniques to kill demons, if the opponent turned out to be at an equal level, even under such conditions, it would not be easy for him. This was precisely why demons were so terrifying. Their potential was enormous, but due to the Negative Karma around them, they had been sealed since ancient times. "Why does shit have to happen in my generation?" Xie Qing thought with some displeasure but then continued to consider how to solve this problem. "A diluted demon lineage is not that dangerous. I can kill such an opponent if I''m not interfered with. But even so, it won''t be easy." Evil cultivators were indeed a thorn in the side. Xie Qing knew that it would be very difficult to deal with experts. The general looked at everyone present and said in a serious tone, "We must be prepared for the worst oue. Even though we have many cultivators in our ranks, against such beings, numbers are useless!" The general began to speak, and everyone fell silent. He turned his gaze to Xie Qing and the two girls, saying, "The Great Saints have already made their move and sent you to us. We hope that with your help, we will be able to curb the poption of demonic cultivators and find a way to get rid of them." Liu Bei''s words caused the general''s assistants to turn their attention to the trio. Some gloated, some looked friendly, and others didn''t care at all. "I can guarantee that I will fight to the best of my abilities," Xie Qing informed them, then narrowed his eyes. "However, don''t expect me to solve everything for you. I won''t allow myself to be exploited while others sit idly on their asses." "Insolence!" "The younger generation doesn''t know how to speak to their elders!" Of course, Xie Qing''s statement angered the general''s assistants. Their faces turned red with anger. However, Liu Bei waved his hand to calm them down. No one dared to disobey the general. He looked at Xie Qing and, after a moment of silence, replied, "Of course, we will not exploit you. We only hope that with your help, we will have the opportunity to reduce the pressure on the soldiers." "In that case, I see no problem." Xie Qing nodded. From beginning to end, he showed no emotions on his face, appearing indifferent and cold. He had to maintain this image to prevent some assistants from taking advantage of his power. Although his arrogant behavior led to enmity, Xie Qing never cared about the weak. After all, he was naturally high and mighty. Lu Yin and Li Yun were somewhat worried, but seeing that everything ended well, they were able to sigh in relief. In case of conflict, they would have stood up for Xie Qing, but they wanted to minimize the possibility of internal strife. Liu Bei continued to exin their n. By evening, they nned to expand their controlled territories deeper into the forest and set up several formations that would repel demonic and ordinary beasts. Li Yun, as a formation expert, was second inmand of the Starry Stream Sect''s team. The leader remained Elder Shan. Lu Yin, as an alchemist, did not participate in battles and only controlled the team of alchemists to produce pills and supply the army. As for Xie Qing, as a Spiritual Integration cultivator, he was to apany Liu Bei on the front lines. The young man had no problem with this. "So, I ask everyone to prepare." Liu Bei ended the meeting, and each person left for their team. Xie Qing was mostly free, but he specifically chose an additional task to protect the formation team. Of course, the general had no problem with this, and it was even convenient for him. Lu Yin and Li Yun needed to familiarize themselves with their teams, so they parted ways. Since there was nothing to do, Xie Qing headed to an open space that was rtively deserted to practice his swordsmanship. This is how he passed the time until evening. Xie Qing looked around. More than a hundred thousand cultivators were ready and waiting for the general''s order. The general was saying something and raising morale. Since it was too boring, Xie Qing spent this time detecting enemies. To his great surprise, he really discovered something. "A hundred monsters at the Soul Nascent level... Are they breeding like rabbits? Huh?" His expression became strange, and he sent a mental message to the general. "A hundred? That''s indeed problematic," the general''s voice sounded in his head, sounding surprised and annoyed. "Alright, don''t mention this to anyone else. You need to help me in battle." "No problem." Xie Qing nodded, answering in a calm voice. The general waved his hand and gave the order. "Let''s move out!" Chapter 180: United Army of the Four Sects (Part 2) I must admit, when an army of a hundred thousand people, all cultivators, moved in one direction... It looked imposing. Xie Qing kept an eye on both the monsters and the army that followed behind him. "Such a gathering can be a problem..." Although many of them were from sects and smart enough not to cause trouble... Xie Qing always viewed such gatherings with caution. Especially during military operations, when everything was chaotic and too fast to keep track of everyone. However, so far his concerns had been unnecessary and although there were some troublemakers, they were quickly dealt with. The young man kept an eye on the formation team that included Li Yun. They were surrounded and apanied by a team of Soul Nascent cultivators. As for the team of alchemists, Lu Yin stayed in the camp with another hundred cultivators. After several hours, they encountered their first enemy. "Team 1, prepare for battle," the general ordered, and Xie Qing, who was also temporarily a member of this team, began the attack. Their enemy was a Soul Nascent fifth-stage monster. Xie Qing could kill several of them alone, but the others had a lot of trouble. The monster looked like a bear, was five meters tall, and was surrounded by thick demonic Qi. It was dangerous to fight against it not only because of its ws and enormous physical strength but also because of the demonic Qi, which was like poison. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes and unsheathed his sword. With a ng, the Nameless Sword emitted a bright light, and deep wounds appeared on the bear''s weak spots. Moreover, the released attack carried the Sword Aura, which was able to fight against the demonic Qi and limit its spread. "Rrrrrr!" The bear roared and tried to resist, but when four cultivators at the peak of Core Formation attacked it, it had no chance of resistance. After several minutes of fierce battle, one of the cultivators managed to cut off the bear''s head. Flying through the air, the hideous bear''s head fell to the ground with a crash, nearly injuring one of the ordinary soldiers. Xie Qing waved his hand and released the Sword Aura, which immediately turned the body into hundreds of thousands of small pieces, and General Liu Bei swung his spear, summoning fire and burning the remains of the bear''s body. Their coordinated work ensured that the demonic Qi could not escape and harm them. The soldiers'' morale rose, and triumphant cries filled the forest. The young man frowned slightly, as did Liu Bei. "These idiots are too excited. Their cries attract too much attention," thought Xie Qing, maintaining an indifferent expression. If they were a group of weak people, this would be fatal. Although Xie Qing did not like noise, he could not stop the soldiers, who were trying to get rid of their fear in this way. After all, they were fighting not just anyone, but monsters, who could cause trouble even after death. High-ranking individuals had special spiritual items to protect them, but ordinary soldiers did not. General Liu Bei waved his hand, and the noise immediately stopped. They continued on their way, and Xie Qing sensed the presence of three monsters ten miles away from them. However, their level was too low, and Xie Qing saw no point in getting involved himself. "I''m not going to do all the work for them," he thought, turning his attention to finding stronger enemies. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried, the young man found himself in a situation where he was walking on level ground and suddenly slipped, falling into an abyss. This meant that among the monsters, there was a creature capable of blocking his Qi. "It''s rming. Can a demonic monster develop intelligence? Although it''s not impossible, the cultivation level must be at least Divine Transformation..." Xie Qing frowned. Although he hated his character, these thoughts worried him. A monster without intelligence would be an easy opponent. Not so with one that has intelligence. "Ugh... Maybe I''m cursed or something? Why does the situation get worse every time I go somewhere..." *** In the deepest part of the forest, three monsters gathered in one ce. They were a white python, an elephant, and a tiger. Although it looked more like a circus, this trio was at the Soul Integration first stage. And, to your knowledge, they had developed intelligence. "We haven''t even gotten to our feet, and the humans have already sent executioners here," said the python. His voice was hissing and hard to understand. "What do you suggest we do? There are strong ones among these bastards. We''ll have to face them head-on!" roared the tiger, looking annoyed: "My subordinates are suffering! More than a hundred of our brothers have died!" "So what? They''re just idiots without brains. They disobeyed us and went beyond the boundaries of the Master''s formation," the elephant replied coldly. "Sh-sh-sh... Don''t argue... Sh-sh-sh!" The trio continued to argue. They looked very funny from the side. True, their power was terrifying. In this forest, besides two more, there was no one stronger than them. So they were somewhat arrogant. True, the humans quickly brought them to their senses. When their subordinates began to die one by one, this rmed them, forcing them to turn to the mysterious creature. "Where are Rabbit and Hare?" the python asked in his usual hissing voice. "I don''t know. They went somewhere with the master. They''ve probably been sent to the ughterhouse by now. The subordinates of these two fools are fighting each other," the tiger snorted, answering in an unhappy voice: "I''m telling you, it''s better to send these troublemakers against the humans! They''re useless anyway" "Without these two, it will be difficult to give orders to the demonic monsters. They obey only their ruler" "Tsk!" *** Xie Qing, of course, knew nothing about this zoo. He calmly cut off the elephant''s head. This time the enemy had too little demonic Qi, and the only advantage was thick skin. "Pick up his body and burn it. Keep only two teeth and ask someone from the formation team to deliver the box. We need to take samples," ordered Xie Qing. "Yes, sir!" Two cultivators bowed and ran to carry out the order. Since Xie Qing was a high-level cultivator, General Liu Bei appointed him directly as themander of the first team. The young man did not object and was doing a good job. He was already used to giving orders and managing people. Now the army had set up a small camp to rest and replenish their Qi. Xie Qing sat in a secluded ce by the fire. Stars twinkled in the sky. They had killed more than a hundred monsters on their way, and it was exhausting. Although many of these monsters were weaklings... A hundred, and even a thousand of them, had exhausted the ordinary soldiers. "You haven''t eaten anything. Although we don''t need it, you must be tired of the smell of blood," a soft female voice sounded behind him. Xie Qing turned his head and saw Li Yun bringing him hot soup. The young man jumped up and helped her, afraid she would spill the soup on herself. "You should have told me. I would have taken it myself," said Xie Qing, taking a table and two chairs out of his spatial ring. "How could I? You''re already so tired. The girls in my team were praising you," said Li Yun, shaking her head slightly with a weak smile. "Then thank you..." Xie Qing could not refuse her, so he reluctantly agreed. Only after his agreement did Li Yun smile brightly, looking pleased. She also brought her food and had dinner with him. "How is your team doing?" she asked after eating, wiping her hands. "...I think it''s going well. They''re all capable guys and can react quickly. I don''t ask for more," thought Xie Qing and asked a question in return: "And how about you?" "In my team, most of the members are from the Starry Stream Sect. So I feel like a fish in water," said Li Yun and giggled: "Elder Shan cares a lot about me" "d to hear you''re doing well" Although, if you think about it, it was natural. Most of the formation masters were from the Starry Stream Sect. So Li Yun, who was the main heir, was a respected figure and would be protected. Because of this, Xie Qing felt better. At least Li Yun was safe. They rested for two hours. During this time, there were forty attempts to attack. Twenty of them were stopped by Xie Qing, who only needed to use the basic skill "Materialization." If there were still people who doubted his strength, no one dared to ignore him now. It seemed that the reputation of Destroying de had shone again. No one dared to sleep or meditate at night. They were in a dangerous area. The mission for today was to kill as many monsters as possible, collect samples, and repeat this several times. If everything went ording to n, they would sessfully return to the main base by morning. "Stop" Suddenly, General Liu Bei raised his hand and ordered the army to stop. Xie Qing immediately tensed and drew his sword. His eyes narrowed, staring into the darkness of the forest. "Come out, demonic spawn," said the general indifferently. "Ha-ha, General Liu Bei is still so cruel. Why are you so rude?" A hoarse male voice came from the forest, in which mockery could be heard. From the darkness came a man... No, too ugly to be called a man. "This..." Xie Qing frowned. "So this is what demons look like" Chapter 181: Demon (Part 1) The Demons. Once a numerous race that terrified others with their power. Their bloodthirstiness, dominance, and greed brought much suffering. The history of this race is extremely chaotic, and it''s hard to establish their first appearance, as they existed for millions of years. In the history of the Heavens, such numbers are neitherrge nor small. The development of mortal worlds under demon control stagnated. The world where Xie Qing lived also suffered from demon terror. However, after more than two million years of oppression, the human race produced a genius who dealt with the demons, sealed them, and ascended to the Immortal World. The Daoist name of this person has not yet been established. Xie Qing also heard this story. He had some prejudice against demons. And, as it turned out, not in vain. The familiar skin was gray, covered with scales. Numerous blisters, pimples, and disgusting pus-filled lumps. He reeked of blood and decay. Many, out of admiration, immediately began a brief presentation of the contents of their stomachs. Xie Qing also felt disgusted. "What is this monstrosity? And why doesn''t he have a face?" the young man wondered. The demon had a smooth face without a nose, mouth, or eyes. Smooth, gray skin. "Where the hell is he speaking from?" Xie Qing was puzzled. And it seemed that only he was concerned about this in the situation. The others were either scared or holding back their vomiting reflexes. "Ho-o..." Xie Qing released his aura. This attracted the attention of the demon, but the youth didn''t care. Thanks to his initiative, the demon''s spiritual power, which made everyone afraid, subsided. "L¨¹ Bu, we haven''t seen each other for about five hundred years, but this is the first time I see this subordinate of yours?" The demon asked admiringly. His voice was rough and unpleasant to hear. He turned his head curiously towards Xie Qing: "Boy, this general is just another dog obeying the Empress. He has no future, no hope for a high rank. But I am different." "You!" General L¨¹ Bu frowned and got angry for the first time in so long. He shouted, "Young man, do not listen to this scum! Because of him, more than a thousand people died!" "They did not die in vain. My squad was a good sacrifice to the Lord!" The demon interrupted rare, then broke into loudughter: "And it was not in vain! Their sacrifices were not in vain! L¨¹ Bu, so many years have passed, and your cultivation level has not changed! Young man, pay attention and realize what demon power truly means!" Simultaneously, Xie Qing and L¨¹ Bu released their auras. The formation team also reacted andunched the formation that was previously applied to the soldiers'' armor. Swoosh! A dome appeared around the huge army. Xie Qing frowned. "One enemy forced the use of aplex formation... Trouble..." And after... Boom! A heavy and loud explosion deafened the unprepared soldiers. Xie Qing was more prepared for this. He quickly gave orders and drew his sword, attacking the demon. Swoosh! The sound of wind was heard as Xie Qing''s de, piercing through the dust clouds, headed towards the demon. The demon grew even taller. It seemed he had taken some perfect form. Xie Qing frowned. "Hmph. In addition to being ugly, he became even worse," he thought but did not voice his thoughts. "Xie Qing, hold him off for a minute! I will use my Dao technique!" L¨¹ Bu shouted to him. Xie Qing waved his hand, and his troops began to attack the demon. However, their attacks could not harm him, and a sound was heard as if they were hitting metal. "Ha-ha-ha!" The demonughed arrogantly, with obvious contempt in his voice. He clenched his fist, and one of the cultivators who was unlucky met his punch: "Feel my power!" Boom! The cultivator''s body could not withstand the power of the punch and turned into smithereens. This bloody scene was too shocking. Many soldiers tried to retreat, but they were stopped by the order squad. Standing in front of the demon, Xie Qing frowned. "This energy release... A cultivator at the peak of Soul Integration..." Darkening, he thought and gripped the hilt tighter. He licked his lips: "Interesting, how long will it take me to kill this demon?" The young man swung his sword. The Sword Aura, shining brightly with golden light and moving at an incredibly high speed, pierced the demon''s leg. "Hm? Boy, you''re not bad! In my time, you would have been among the best geniuses!" The demon praised, then maliciouslyughed: "But you know what? I hate geniuses the most!" Boom! Xie Qing blocked the punch with his sword. "Kh-h" Xie Qing grunted irritably, feeling the terrifying power of this attack. His arm even went slightly numb: "What terrible strength... Is this a demon?" The young man licked his lips, ignoring the slight pain in his arms. He was sure that he would not have been able to withstand this attack with his body alone - it would not have ended with just broken bones. The pressure on him was too great. This was the first time in so long that Xie Qing had encountered such a dangerous opponent. Boom! Boom! Boom! It seemed that the demon also did not underestimate the young man, despite his physical superiority. He continuously attacked, not giving Xie Qing a chance to use his sword for an attack. "It seems this bastard is afraid of my Sword Aura," Xie Qing thought and grimly smiled: "But you''re wrong about one thing. I can use the Sword Aura without a sword!" Whoosh! "What?!" The demon let out a loud cry and hastily tilted his head back. However, several sharp, small spears five centimeters long still pierced the facial part of the demon. "This..." The demon hastily struck Xie Qing, forcing him to retreat. "It seems I really underestimated you. You can materialize your Sword Aura without a sword... This level of skill was considered high-ss even in ancient times," the demon said admiringly. He waspletely unlike an enemy: "Interesting. I sacrificed a lot, but I couldn''t reduce the gap between me and the geniuses? This is disappointing... Very... Disappointing." Xie Qing frowned. Although the demon''s voice was neutral and friendly, he felt a chill down his spine when he heard the enemy''s quiet muttering. "?! Xie Qing sensed something and quickly rolled to the left. Boom! A mouth appeared from the ground and closed, taking only the earth with it. "This is..." "Devilish Mole. Admittedly, a bit modernized. It''s very stealthy and has almost no Qi in its body," the demon exined to Xie Qing friendly, even gesturing like a teacher: "But its mouth is excellent. With just its teeth, it poses a great danger to someone at our level. Admittedly, they are foolish and die easily." "..." Xie Qing did not respond to the demon''s exnations. He just shifted his gaze to the left. The demon followed him. And at that moment. Boom! "Gha!" The demon fell to the ground. A small indentation appeared on his cheek. Xie Qing jumped back, not paying attention to his arm and fingers, which were bent in an unnatural position. "Damn, it''s like hitting a rock," Xie Qing thought. At this time, the demon came to his senses and slowly stood up. He was silent for about two seconds and sighed. "Eh, why did you do that? Now I''m angry." Although his voice was indifferent... Xie Qing felt a chill run down his spine. Boom! "Damn! General, ***!" Xie Qing dodged the sudden attack aimed at his face. As soon as Xie Qing jumped back two meters, the demon appeared behind him and struck his legs. Xie Qing, barely maintaining his bnce, used his Sword and swung, using a technique. "Love of the Moon Goddess - Full moon." Ding! The sound of something hitting metal was heard. The demon frowned, looking at Xie Qing, surrounded by a silvery dome. "A barrier... Made of Sword Aura? This is the first time in so many years that I''ve seen such an application..." The demon was surprised and asked, "Whose disciple are you? I''ve heard that there are now many Sword Dao cultivators in the world and..." "Shut up," Xie Qing rudely interrupted him, coldly snorting and pointing the sword tip at the demon: "The only thing you need to know is that today I will either kill you or die myself, but I will take you with me!" "Eh? Ha-ha-ha!" The demon was quite surprised, and thenughed loudly, covering his face with his hands. His shoulders shook. "Ha-ha... Kill..." He began to say with aughing voice, and then cooled: "But can you?" Xie Qing did not answer and only made a horizontal swing. His eyes shed with amber light. "This..." The demon felt darkness trying to thicken around him. He tried to move but was surprised to find that he could not. He could only look in amazement at the strike that was rapidly approaching him. Boom! General L¨¹ Bu grabbed the spear and ran towards the demon. He saw Xie Qing standing with a straight posture, his sword pointed at the ground. "Is he dead?" The general asked with some disbelief, looking at Xie Qing. "No," Xie Qing replied neutrally, without turning around. He raised his sword and took a stance, then narrowed his eyes, looking at the cloud of dust: "But he will die soon." "This..." General L¨¹ Bu sighed. Through the dust cloud, he saw the silhouette of the demon. Suddenly, the wind appeared out of nowhere, blowing away the dust cloud, and revealing the demon. The demon stood there, swaying. His hands were bleeding, and there were many small wounds on his body. "Could we have injured him!" The general was surprised, looking pleased. "Don''t rejoice too soon, general," Xie Qing interrupted and shook his head: "This monster... He''s regenerating with every second!" L¨¹ Bu looked at the demon again and saw that his wounds were healing in a matter of seconds! He frowned and rushed into the attack, giving the final order: "Let the army prepare to use our secret weapon!" Chapter 182: Demon (Part 2) Xie Qing was speechless as he watched General Liu Bei charging towards the demon with a battle-ready stance. His spear moved lightning fast, striking the enemy, but it only dyed him, not causing any real damage. "Do you think you''re the main character of a novel or something?" Xie Qing thought in bewilderment and added, "What a weirdo..." Despite this, Xie Qing simply shrugged and gave the order with a wave of his hand. "Activate." "Yes!" A light breeze rustled as Xie Qing took a stance and smiled, watching Liu Bei struggle to hold back the demon, even managing to inflict several small and even deep wounds on him. At the same time, the cultivators in the army began to emit a bright, silvery-white light thatbined in the sky to form the character "Death." "Death Formation," Xie Qing remembered the name and leaned forward. "He''s gathering Qi from all the cultivators and activating the formation that can destroy the enemy..." The young man smiled confidently. This demon was an abnormal being, and it was necessary to resort to such measures. Xie Qing had some confidence that he could kill him, but it would take too much time. And although he wanted to personally take the enemy''s life, in this situation, where he posed a danger, useless arrogance would cost many lives. "However, I will not allow outsiders to interfere," Xie Qing''s cold voice suddenly rang out. Under the puzzled gazes of the army, he swung his sword. Everyone held their breath. And with a full horizontal sh of the sword, there was nothing. The cultivators looked at each other in confusion, wondering if Xie Qing was joking. But it was at this very moment, when they began to doubt... "Kha..." The demon fell to his knees and gasped heavily. His abdomen was shed open, and ck blood flowed uncontrobly. But that was not all. Xie Qing waved his hand, and the armypleted the activation of the formation. The demon, who tried to get rid of the Sword Aura as quickly as possible, suddenly raised his head and darkened. "Liu Bei!" the demon roared angrily with hatred in his voice. "Coward! You needed the help of so many people to fight me? It seems that the title of general has clouded your understanding! You''ve be a coward!" "Hmph! You''re the one to talk about this? First and foremost, I am a general, and only then a cultivator!" Liu Bei did not give in to provocations and only snorted. The demon wanted to say something, but suddenly froze and looked around in shock, looking at the forest... Crack. Crack. "Wh-what is this..." "The earth is shaking..." "Hey, a tree is falling over there!" Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. The demon and Liu Bei looked shocked. BOOM! With a powerful, almost deafening explosion, the surrounding trees were cut down! The ground cracked. And that was not the end. Xie Qing smiled slightly, noticing the huge corpses that had been cut in half. This was a horde of monsters that the demon had hidden! "Th-there!" "Monsters! Oh sh\\*t! If we had met them..." "Heavens..." The number of monsters was terrifying. More than twenty thousand monsters, with the weakest being at the first stage of Core Formation. If they were released into the outside world... Even thinking about it was scary! Xie Qing sighed in relief. He turned his gaze. Ding! [Mission ''Destroy the Hidden Monster Army''pleted!] [Reward: Qi Integration Pills (x5), Heavenly Lightning Summoning Scroll (x2), Recipe for ''Dao Comprehension Pill'' (x1)] Ding! [User has created a new Dao Sword technique... calcting... disying skill card] Ding! [Punishment of a Thousand Swords] | [Rank: Legendary] | [Description: The sword in your hand is the highest authority given to mankind. With its help, you decide the fate of your enemies, subjects, and loved ones. The Dao Sword technique will allow you to deliver a powerful attack that will concentrate a terrifying amount of Sword Aura and, in one attack, can destroy entire armies. Ignores allies] | [Original Technique] Xie Qing sighed. He even ignored the slight headache from Qi exhaustion, so happy was he. "Who would have thought that the system, which had been silent for so long, would give a mission... interesting. It really did save us!" The Dao Sword technique was invented by him on the spot, and he would not even have called it a technique. The young man simply concentrated an overwhelming amount of Sword Aura, and thanks to his special control, he was able to achieve that Liu Bei and the other allies were not affected. Although it sounds simple, this is not the easiest task. However, having coped with this, Xie Qing felt a slight relief. A light silence fell. The young man frowned and raised his sword, then took a stance. Whoosh... "Eh?" "What''s going on? The Qi in the area is depleting so quickly!" The shocked cultivators began toe to their senses. Xie Qing was very annoyed, so he shouted angrily: "Idiots, use the damn formation!" "Ah!" Liu Bei also came to his senses from the shock. He looked at the demon, who was already trying to escape, and felt ashamed. "I really got distracted?! What kind of general am I?!" The demon clenched his teeth. In his thoughts, he cursed the people. "Damn it! I even sacrificed my chance at reincarnation to gain the chance to be a demon, even with a very diluted bloodline. And now what? I''m about to be killed!" Since ancient times, there have been rumors that demons are immortal. This happened because it was very difficult for a cultivator to kill them, and even if you cut off their head and destroyed their heart, you could not destroy them! However, the truth was one... BOOM! The demon froze, feeling the darkness thicken around him and a terrifying attack approaching from behind at an astonishing speed! "Formation! Damn it!" The demon clenched his teeth. He suddenly raised his head to the sky and screamed: "Master!" Xie Qing frowned. The cultivators looked worried, but he ordered not to dy and continue the attack. The demon was suppressed, and his life energy was absorbed by the formation. He clenched his teeth and suddenly exploded! Boom! The formation made a strange sound, like the cracking of ss. Xie Qing frowned. "He''s gone... but not dead. Otherwise, the formation would have stopped. His soul is still intact, although wounded" he thought and angrily snorted: "Damn it! No wonder demons were considered the scourge of mankind. They are extremely difficult to kill!" Xie Qing''s mood plummeted, so he decided to first take care of the demon''s subordinates. "Kill all the monsters you find! Burn the corpses, destroy them all to thest one!" "Yes!" *** "Your Majesty... Ga Yu has lost..." "Hm..." In the dimly lit room, there were two beings. One of them was so tall that he reached the ceiling even while sitting. And the other was six meters tall. The one who was tall, or rather huge, had a body resembling a shadow. In the darkness, only dark red eyes were visible. The tall being waved its hand, clenched its fist, and then unclenched it after a few seconds. In its palm appeared a pale gray sphere. "His soul has been severely damaged. Send him to the Altar..." "As youmand..." *** The cultivation world was in turmoil. The news that the monsters that had been troubling mortals and cultivators for a long time had almost been destroyed was spreading. Although there was still a poption that was hiding, the news that they had been contained was pleasant. Xie Qing looked indifferently at several monster corpses. He turned and looked at the squad of forty cultivators. "Is that all you found?" he asked in a neutral voice. "Y-yes, sir!" one of them tensed and bowed with shame on his face. "I''m sorry... we missed one". "I don''t need apologies. I need results. Transfer the task of capturing that monster to the second squad". "Yes, sir!" "Dismissed". Xie Qing waved his hand. The leader bowed and left with his squad. The young man was silent for some time, then turned and left. After taking two steps, the corpse of one of the monsters, which was a tiger, rose and attacked Xie Qing. This was a tiger at the Soul Integration stage! "Die!" the tiger thought furiously, striking. Xie Qing smiled. "I thought you''d pretend for so long..." "What?!" The tiger, which was supposed to cut Xie Qing''s body in half, froze. He met the cold eyes of Xie Qing, which shone with amber light. His pupils turned into a rhombus. "I-I... can''t move!" the tiger panicked and shivered. Xie Qing turned and approached the tiger. The young man whistled. "Soul Integration... how interesting. You hid among the ordinary monsters, knowing that I check every corpse? In this way, you wanted to kill me and get rid of me, right?" Xie Qing said casually, looking into the tiger''s eyes, which trembled with fear. The young man erased the smile from his face and snorted: "Weakling. Your fate is a pitiful death". "Kha..." m! Boom! Xie Qing snorted and threw aside the lifeless tiger corpse, which was killed instantly. His internal organs turned into nothing after Xie Qing''s decisive attack. After the battle with the demon, Xie Qing trained a lot and learned to kill his opponents instantly. Before, he was quite carefree and let his enemy out of sight. This angered him greatly and made him disappointed in his own skills. So he decided to hone his skills for instant killing. "Soul destroyed. There''s nothing more to see here" he thought and waved his hand, throwing a small golden pill at the monster corpses, including the tiger. As soon as the pill touched the corpses, it exploded with furious fire, which turned all the corpses into powder in a matter of seconds. Then, using the Dao technique, Xie Qing sealed the powder in a special vial and threw it into his spatial ring. This was a mandatory procedure to prevent pollution of the environment and the possibility that the demonic monster would be reborn. The young man looked around and saw that a tall and muscr man was standing a hundred miles away from him. The general. Chapter 183: Formations (extra) Extra. About how Li Yun taught Xie Qing formations. The events take ce in Li Yun''s estate, after her rescue. === It was a peaceful morning. Xie Qing opened his eyes after a long meditation and stood up, stretching his neck. He was in the garden. His appearance attracted a lot of attention from the servants of the estate. Due to his heavy wound, he had to walk around shirtless, which caused the maids to stare at him hungrily. Although he had gotten used to it by now. Despite the time that had passed, his recovery hadn''t progressed much. "Good morning. Although meditation helps with recovery, you shouldn''t push yourself too hard." A gentle female voice sounded. Xie Qing turned around and smiled gently, seeing Li Yun. With her elegant gait and light summer white dress that reached her ankles, she looked indescribably beautiful. Her pink hair was tied into a neat braid that fell onto her chest. Li Yun''s appearance contained refined beauty and tenderness. "Good morning. Meditation helps me deal with the pain and distract myself. Besides, the pain isn''t that strong, don''t worry." Xie Qing reassured her, speaking confidently. "Really?" Li Yun still looked worried, but Xie Qing''s words did make her feel a little better. The guilt over Xie Qing''s wound still weighed on her young heart. Such concern touched even the young man who considered himself quite stoic and not overly emotional. There was nothing to do. Lu Yin had left for a while, and Li Yun and Xie Qing were in no hurry to go outside. So they decided to take a walk in the garden, away from the servants'' gaze. They were smart enough to leave them alone. Xie Qing was silent for a while. He was a little embarrassed because he didn''t know what topic to bring up. Cultivation? Too banal... Alchemy? Well, Li Yun wasn''t very knowledgeable about it. Formations? Perfect! "Li Yun, I heard that the Starry Stream Sect recently developed new formations for spiritual items..." Xie Qing began. "Oh, that''s right. I also participated in the development, but most of the work was done by the Master. This formation will create a barrier that can serve both protective andforting roles." Li Yun shyly smiled and happily told him everything: "They will soon be on sale. I reserved ten spots and will definitely give you one!" "I''ll shamelessly ept your kindness," Xie Qing replied with an awkward smile and asked, "Do you need anything? I would like to repay you for this favor. I feel ufortable epting but not giving anything in return..." "Hmm, I don''t know..." Li Yun looked puzzled. It seemed she didn''t need anything at the moment. Nevertheless, Xie Qing was d to help her. He didn''t want to take advantage of her kindness. The girl pressed her index finger to her lip, making a thoughtful sound, and seemed to be seriously considering it. However, in the end, she apologized, saying: "Sorry. I don''t even know what I need. Probably nothing." "Really? How about some spiritual items? Jewelry?" "Um, listen, we''re friends, and you don''t have to try to repay me for anything." Li Yun waved her hands and chuckled: "Although, if you agree to help me with formations, I don''t mind." "Of course," Xie Qing replied without hesitation. "Then let''s go. I''ll teach you at the same time!" Li Yun excitedly said, grabbing the young man''s hand and pulling him along. "Alright." --- Crack. "..." "..." Xie Qing''s eyes twitched every time he looked at the wooden token in his left hand. His right hand held something like a needle, with special symbols engraved on the tip. This tool was used to engrave formations on items. Xie Qing asked Li Yun to teach him, but... "This is already the third token..." Xie Qing hung his head. Even though he was quite patient and diligent, failures still greatly disappointed him. "D-don''t worry! Everyone has their weaknesses. I couldn''t do it at first either!" Li Yunforted him. "Really? And which attempt did you seed on?" "The second..." "..." Xie Qing began to doubt his life. Although he shouldn''t be talented in everything, this still disappointed him a little. Li Yun smiled awkwardly. On one hand, she was happy to have surpassed Xie Qing in something, but on the other, she felt ufortable seeing him suffer. "Although I find this a little cute," the girl thought, watching Xie Qing''s determined expression. It seemed that he had not given up and started engraving again. Li Yun gently smiled and guided him. It took Xie Qing more than ten attempts to finally make a simple storage and release Qi engraving. His expression looked soft as he gazed at his creation. Although the system gave this item an "Ordinary" rating, Xie Qing was satisfied. "Well done. You tried hard," Li Yun said with a delighted expression, pping her hands. "You know, this is a little awkward... It''s like you''reforting a child..." "Hee-hee." Xie Qing twisted his mouth and shook his head,ughing. Li Yun smiled brightly andughed, looking very cute. After a few minutes, Li Yun began teaching him new formations and engraving methods. Although Xie Qing found it difficult, he was attentive and diligent. Li Yun found him very charming and couldn''t help but smile tenderly. "It seems there are things you''re weak in too," the girl said, voicing her thoughts. "Really? Well, that''s natural. Although I''ve be a bit arrogant, I used to struggle with cultivation," Xie Qing replied honestly, a little surprised: "For example, even after joining the sect, I couldn''t cultivate properly. I had a hard time even with the most basic Dao techniques." "No way. You''re lying!" "No, it''s true." Xie Qing smiled faintly. Although he still didn''t know and was wary of the System, it was the one that helped him be who he is now. The first task still lingered in his mind. In just one day, his life drastically changed. Li Yun was touched. Xie Qing, by telling her this, was clearly showing his trust. So she couldn''t help but be happy. "A-and... Does L-Lu Yin know about this?" Li Yun asked with some nervousness. "Hmm?" Xie Qing didn''t understand why she was so curious, but still answered: "No. I haven''t told many people about this. Maybe only my mother and Master know." "Really?" Li Yun felt better for some reason, and her mood improved. She even started humming a little tune. Xie Qing had some thoughts, but he decided to keep quiet and focus on engraving first. Crack. "I-it''s okay, calm down..." --- Xie Qing sighed heavily. Finally, after twenty damn attempts, he created his first decent item. It was the same token, with an engraving that imitated a basic Sword Dao skill. When activated with Qi, the token sent an attack in the shape of a crescent towards the enemy. Xie Qing used his Sword Aura, so the item turned out quite good. "Excellent. You did very well!" Li Yun gave her approval with a smile. "Yes!" Xie Qing smiled, and the gloominess on his face disappeared. Formations were very difficult, especially engraving them. However, he gradually improved and made fewer mistakes. And it seemed that these two ignored the small pile of broken and cracked wooden tokens. "Thank you. You really exin things well. If it were someone else, the cultivation world would have to destroy all the trees for me to make an engraving," Xie Qing said with augh. "All the trees? Good thing it''s me teaching you," Li Yun giggled, epting hispliment. --- As night approached, it was probably time to go to sleep. However, Xie Qing was faced with an unusual request. "Can you... um... stay in my room tonight? Just for tonight, okay?" "Really? No problem..." Xie Qing nodded. Upon hearing his words, Li Yun beamed and smiled so brightly that her smile could blind even those wearing sunsses. Seeing such a sweet and radiant smile, Xie Qing couldn''t help but want to protect her. The power of cuteness was truly frightening. The girl sat on the bed and patted the nket, clearly inviting Xie Qing to sit next to her. Xie Qing wasn''t one to be shy, so seeing Li Yun asking for it herself, he shrugged and sat down next to her. Only then did the girl nod in satisfaction. She took his hand and leaned against his shoulder. "Please... Can this be considered my reward?" She whispered softly, sounding very anxious. "Of course." The young man smiled gently and did not refuse. Only then did Li Yun sigh in relief and close her eyes. After a few minutes, her gentle snores could be heard. Xie Qing looked out the window and smiled carefreely. The bright moonlight disappeared second by second behind the clouds. It was getting a bit chilly. Despite this, the feeling of the girl''s warm breath on his shoulder (Xie Qing was wearing a loose white robe) was enough to warm him. Tomorrow, a new day would arrive. Chapter 184: Banquet Xie Qing blinked, looking at the general who had been watching him continuously since he began battling the demonic monster. With two or three steps, Xie Qing managed to halve the distance between them. And on the fourth step, he found himself right in front of the man. "General, you look bored. Is there something you need?" Xie Qing asked curiously, looking into the general''s bottomless eyes. "It seems the rumors were not false. You improve with each passing day," the general said with a strict, familiar to all face. Although he was praising Xie Qing, it could not be felt due to his indifferent tone: "Since we have been fighting together for so long... I will get straight to the point." The general looked at Xie Qing and continued: "Imperial Censor, a banquet will be held at Her Majesty''s pce to celebrate the victory over the horde of monsters. You, including Miss Lu Yin and Li Yun, are invited to the banquet. Her Majesty hopes that you will fulfill your role at this banquet." "..." Xie Qing did not respond - and there was no need for it. The general nodded to him and left immediately after delivering the Empress''s message. The young man was left standing alone. The role of the imperial censor. He was to be the nightmare of all geniuses and their beacon, showing the way forward. Thanks to his talent, the Empress had proposed using Xie Qing as a poprization target and making him the representative and leader of the geniuses of this generation. Of course, the devilish cultivators were bound to have spies, and when Xie Qing''s face was poprized, there would be a lot of attention on him, and consequently, it would be a bit dangerous. "Interesting...tely, I''ve had a feeling that I''m not training well enough. Maybe I''ll be able to fight against devilish cultivators?" Xie Qing thought and furrowed his brow: "If I can kill them... maybe I can umte Positive Karma and use it for a breakthrough?" In the cultivation world, Karma was something akin to school grades. If you had a lot of Positive Karma, there was a high chance that you could enter the Wheel of Samsara and have a good start in your next life. And Negative Karma could even prevent you from entering the Wheel of Samsara, turning you into ashes. Positive Karma could also be used for cultivation purposes. In fact, back when the Buddhist sect was thriving and deciding the fate of the entire world, they promoted the Dao of Great Kindness and umted Positive Karma. Thanks to this, the average level of disciples in the Buddhist sect was at the Soul Nascent level. Madness, right? "I don''t know if I can... break through. There''s some difort," Xie Qing thought. He had been stuck at the first stage of Soul Integration for so long. Although for others this might be a good result, especially in such a short time, Xie Qing was already used to fast cultivation. "Maybe I''m just a coward? I hate my character..." *** Li Yun, Lu Yin, and Xie Qing got into a carriage and set off. The soldiers watched them leave with somewhat mncholic expressions. "Sigh. Now without Mr. Xie Qing, it''ll be harder for us..." "And without Miss Lu Yin''s pills, it''s even worse..." "Did you forget about the formations? Miss Li Yun was even better than Elder Shan..." In such a short time, the trio had managed to build a respected reputation for themselves. Of course, it couldn''t be said that without them, thend remation process would be much more difficult, but still... "Back to work. We don''t have time to waste," General Liu Bei said after some silence, waving his hand. *** In arge hall where shadows enveloped the walls and floor, three people sat at a round table. Their faces were hidden behind ordinary white masks without any distinctive features or patterns. "The Empress has organized a banquet for the first time in many years. Are our spies ready?" one of them spoke. As it turned out by the voice, it was a woman. "Ready. I ordered them to infiltrate the banquet. Although their cultivation level is too low," another replied in an elderly voice. "That''s even better. The Empress will have suspicions if someone tries to infiltrate with a high cultivation level..." thest person replied, who had a... um... childish voice? Silence fell. It seemed that everyone was thinking about something until someone voiced their thoughts: "Amazing. So many geniuses have appeared in the Righteous path, huh?" "The Heavens have always blessed the righteous path. Devils, demons... so many races subject to darkness have perished due to the whims of the Heavens? We are considered filth in the face of others. The Heavens have never helped the Devilish path." "Not surprising. The philosophy of the Devilish path rejects the Heavens themselves..." Sighs were heard. *** "..." Xie Qing silently looked at himself in the mirror. His face twisted. "I really hate suchvish clothing..." he thought. It was the same hanfu, but not the usual white, but red with gold patterns. The difference was the long sleeves, a wide belt with dragon patterns. The robe reached all the way to the feet. Such luxurious clothing was mostly heavy and ufortable, but it was necessary to adhere strictly to the dress code to avoid ridicule. The young man sighed. "The Master was very angry when she learned about the Empress''s n. If not for my ''efforts,'' the capital would now be aze..." he thought, twisting the corners of his mouth. His Master''s fiery character was both her good and bad side. Xie Qing was afraid that one day the cultivation world would lose a continent... "Young Master..." The door to the room opened, and a modestly dressed maid entered. Hearing her voice, Xie Qing turned and looked at the maid''s astonished face. "Yes?" "Th-this... Miss Li Yun and Lu Yin asked you to help them choose their clothes..." the maid said, blushing. Her gaze fell on Xie Qing''s face, and meeting his eyes, she averted her eyes, blinking timidly. "They still haven''t chosen?" Xie Qing asked, losing hisposure, and then nodded: "Alright. I''ll have to rely on you to get to their room. May I bother you?" "C-certainly!" The maid replied in a high, piercing voice. Xie Qing smiled. Only after seeing his smile did the maid realize her mistake and, blushing, lowered her head in embarrassment. "She''s so cute," Xie Qing thought, but he didn''t tease her. In fact, he really did need the maid''s help to get to the girls'' room. This mansion, which had been allocated to him for his stay in the capital, was, to put it mildly, huge and resembled abyrinth. And Xie Qing, who had a poor sense of direction, felt ufortable going into every room looking for them. And... he sweated when he realized that they had to turn around about ten times, walk through two corridors, and only after fifteen minutes did they reach their destination. "It''s good that I didn''t build such a huge mansion for myself," Xie Qing thought with relief. This mansion was literally a nightmare for any thief. You could get lost here for centuries! The maid curtsied and left. Xie Qing wanted to ask her to stay, but she left so quickly that he didn''t even have a chance to speak. "But how do I... get back?" he thought, losing hisposure. However, it was more important now to help the girls get dressed quickly and get to the banquet as soon as possible. Knock-knock. Xie Qing knocked on the door, and after a few seconds, he heard a soft voice: "Who is it?" "Xie Qing. You asked me toe here..." the young man said. "Ah! Come in!" The young man sighed and opened the door. Almost immediately, he closed it behind him to avoid revealing to the world what should not be seen. Looking around, he was greatly surprised. "Oh? I thought you needed my help, but you''ve already managed on your own," he said with a smile and raised his thumb: "Beauties!" "Hehehe..." Lu Yinughed cheerfully. Li Yun reacted more modestly and only smiled gently. They were dressed in luxurious light pink dresses that perfectly matched their figures. The dresses were intricate, and Xie Qing could only admire how they managed to put them on by themselves. "You look very beautiful. Really," Xie Qing praised. "Thank you. You''re not bad either." "''Not bad''?" "Hehe." Lu Yin giggled. Xie Qing snorted and turned away. *** The banquet organized by the Empress herself could not leave anyone indifferent. Even the most hardened bandits were talking about it. Many sects with great influence had arrived at the pce. The castle''s security system was activated to the fullest. Moreover, this was the first banquet held by the Dynasty in many years. Therefore, the capital was now particrly lively. Xie Qing walked behind and apanied Lu Yin and Li Yun. Despite his calm and proud expression, he was vignt. With so many cultivators gathered, the Qi in the air was thick and heavy. Moreover, it was impossible to rule out the possibility of disturbances. And the young man did not want Lu Yin and Li Yun to suffer because of brawlers. So he carefully watched all the guests. And during his observation, he was indeed greatly surprised. So many diverse cultivators with different cultivation levels. Moreover, there were those from whom Xie Qing felt danger. There were also cultivators whose cultivation levels were unknown to him - this could only be the case if the opponent surpassed him in level. "I suspect that the banquet will not end peacefully. Well, let''s see..." Xie Qing sighed. And the two girls... they were just chattering carefreely. Not including Xie Qing, there was too much attention on these two. "No wonder. Beauties always attract a lot of attention!" Xie Qing smiled. Then he muttered aloud: "Of course, I''m still far from them..." Brother! Moderate your arrogance! Chapter 185: Your Majesty The Imperial Banquet had not been held for a very long time, more than a hundred, or perhaps even a thousand years. In those times, the main problem was also the devilish cultivators. And ironically, it seemed that today''s banquet was held on this very topic. So much time had passed, yet one single enemy continued to trouble all existence. Xie Qing smiled as he spoke to the guests. As the imperial censor for tonight''s event, he was granted the highest respect and attention. Lu Yin and Li Yun stayed together and also did not miss the opportunity to meet influential people. After all, this banquet was also created forworking, so that the older generation could support the younger one. Within just two minutes of conversation, Xie Qing received more than ten marriage proposals, business offers, and the like. "Speaking of marriage... I am ashamed to admit it, but I am not ready for it yet. I believe it would be a more responsible decision for me to first deal with the current situation," Xie Qing said with a sensual voice, his expression serious and resolute as he looked at thedy with whom he was offered to be engaged. She was a twenty-five-year-old woman in the fifth stage of Qi Condensation. Her scarlet hair was neatly tied into an elegant bun, and her long silver dress with golden patterns looked very elegant. Xie Qing made a light bow ¨C not too deep, but not showing arrogance either. He took the woman''s hand and kissed the back of it. "Miss, I am endlessly grateful that you have turned your gaze upon me. But until I can defeat the devilish cultivators, I have no right to rx," Xie Qing said, his serious demeanor charming the guests. He added, "I hope the miss understands. It is difficult for me to make this decision, considering how beautiful you are." "Ah... y-yes..." The young woman blushed deeply and looked happy. It seemed that despite being rejected, she felt no resentment. Xie Qing sighed inwardly (though he did not show it). He did not want to enter into casual engagements just for the sake of supposed benefits. Besides, he had plenty of candidates... "I wouldn''t want chaos to break out in my harem..." the young man thought, feeling a slight headache. "Now I understand why even influential figures who had a harem couldn''t handle them. There were always conflicts..." Politely bowing, Xie Qing left to speak with the guests who had offered financial assistance to him, his family, and his sect. "What a polite and well-mannered young master," someone muttered in admiration. "Indeed. He knows how to choose his words wisely, and his priorities are enviable. When was thest time I saw such a resolute and righteous young man?" "Ah, what a pity. It seems I won''t be able to bring my daughter closer to him. Yet I wanted to be the mother-inw of a famous hero!" "I would have liked that too..." Xie Qing blushed slightly. With his hearing, he could pick up the smallest details of their conversation. Realizing how in demand he was, even his eternally arrogant attitude was shattered. "What chaos..." Lu Yin chuckled, deciding to take a break. They drank spiritual wine, watching the guests. She smiled and said to Li Yun, "He''s in demand, isn''t he? So many girls want to sleep with him... hm? Li Yun? Why do you have such a strange look? W-wait... it''s scary!" *** Half an hourter, precisely the amount of time etiquette requires for the guests to wait before the ruler''s appearance... The banquet hall became lively. Many people who had not previously met the Empress were very excited. They could not sit still. Lu Yin was excited, but Li Yun... "Why are you looking at me like that?" Xie Qing asked, puzzled. Li Yun, for some reason, did not shy away from her gaze when she returned with Lu Yin and stared at Xie Qing. Her silent face vaguely reminded him of someone, making him feel strange. "Nothing... by the way, are you quite popr with thedies?" Li Yun asked as if in passing. "Yes?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow and answered honestly, "Naturally. In terms of appearance, I have no equal. In terms of strength at the same age, too. Plus, I am from an influential sect. A candidate for sect master and family head." "Well, yes..." Li Yun seemed to rx her face and closed her eyes, hiding them. She blushed slightly. If one thought about it, all these girls, except for those who were charmed by his appearance, were only pursuing his status and wealth. So Li Yun, who thought about this, felt better. And so, the trio was distracted by a sudden hush. A moment ago, everyone was shouting and eagerly awaiting the Empress''s appearance. Therefore, such silence could mean only one thing. Xie Qing raised his gaze. An elegant female figure ascended to the previously arranged tform with a throne. Dressed in a golden robe with beautiful dragon patterns, she looked unrivaled. Her face was covered by a silk veil, which seemed to be a spiritual item. The Empress''s face was hidden, yet everyone could feel that behind this veily a beauty unseen by the world. Officials and other subordinates of the Dynasty knelt, bowing to the Empress, while the rest, not bound by master-servant ties, merely expressed a polite and respectful greeting. Something was amazing about the fact that so many people ¨C arrogant, conceited, proud ¨C upon seeing a single woman immediately fell silent and bowed. "This is the Empress, the ruler of the Dynasty for so many centuries... I must admit, her aura is very impressive..." When he met her, the Empress concealed her aura. Although she and Xu Mei were like cats and dogs, it seemed the Empress respected her and did not release her pressure. But now, she was not holding back. It was difficult for weak people to resist this pressure. However, itsted only a few seconds. Xie Qing smiled, partly understanding her actions. "She wants to show everyone. That there is no point in arguing with her, or else there will be dire consequences. Well, of course, after the whipes..." "My subjects and fellow Daoists," the Empress began. Her voice was cold, beautiful, and authoritative: "We have encountered a pile of filth in the form of devilish cultivators. However, as you have seen, our young talents have never yielded to them. This is evidenced by the recent victory." Shu-shu-shu... A light murmur, like a wave, swept through the banquet hall. People could not help but discuss this. However, when the Empress slightly raised her index finger, everyone suddenly fell silent. "The world is maintained by the people who are now standing in this hall. The recent victory was only the beginning of our epic of superiority over evil," the Empress dered majestically, making the younger generation shudder with excitement. She eximed, "Let us celebrate our great victory! The Righteous Path is the true Dao!" "Long live the Righteous Path!" "Glory to the Dynasty!" "Glory to the cultivation world!" "Glory to the Heavens!" Xie Qing smiled. It seemed there was also a carrot here. The Empress had quite skillfully inspired the younger generation. "Well, of course, this is the inspiration for now. They still need rewards and the like to be sure that their efforts will not be in vain." And today''s banquet was the best opportunity. Many young talents would receive investments, people would be interested in them, and perhaps someone would even be able to strengthen their position in society and even rise in status. In this situation, Xie Qing was interested only in long-term contracts and investments. Of course, he redirected part of the investments to Fang Lan''s shop and to support Huang Jing. He had discussed this with them in advance. Although these two were embarrassed and did not want to simply ept his gift, Xie Qing insisted. "Lu Yin," Xie Qing called the girl. They stood together, watching Li Yun, who was talking to a group of young misses. Xie Qing leaned towards her ear and whispered something. "Seriously? Are you sure? You know, this is something very expensive..." Lu Yin was surprised. "I need reliable allies. Since I came here to build rtionships, why not choose you?" Xie Qing smiled faintly, looking into Lu Yin''s eyes. "Hm... now I understand why Li Yun..." "What?" "Never mind... I agree." Lu Yin smiled faintly, waving her hand. The banquetsted almost until morning. The Empress had not moved from her seated position throughout this time. Her presence at one point became illusory, but Xie Qing felt that she was carefully watching everyone. "Aren''t you bored sitting here alone, Your Majesty?" "Hm?" The Empress let out a surprised grunt, greatly surprising the two officials standing under the tform. "What happened, Your Majesty?" they asked nervously. "No, everything is fine. Leave me and have fun," the Empress waved them off. "But..." "Dismissed." "As youmand..." Yu Longfeng silently watched them leave, and then unhappily said, Didn''t Xu Mei teach you not to sneak up behind ady?" "Ha ha... I''m sorry. I''m tired of the constant pursuits at the banquet and decided to visit you, seeing that you''re bored," a maleugh sounded, and Xie Qing appeared from behind the throne. The Empress snorted and waved her hand. Around them appeared a dome that created the illusion that the Empress was simply sitting on the throne. She looked at the young man. Although Xie Qing could not see her eyes, he felt that she was looking intently at him. "Is something wrong, Your Majesty?" "You could say that. You''ve learned a lot, haven''t you?" "Ha ha..." Chapter 186: Blush Xie Qing analyzed Yu Longfeng with a nce. She was slightly surprised at how much stronger he had be in such a short period. It was truly frightening. "Even in ancient times, you would have been a genius among geniuses," praised Yu Longfeng with genuine admiration. "Oh? Well, if you say so, then I believe you even more." "What are you implying?" "Hahaha." Yu Longfeng rolled her eyes. It seemed that this boy was just like his Master - rude and uncultivated. However, for some reason, the Empress found it amusing to converse with him. This made her recall her younger years. Unconsciously, she smiled. Xie Qing did not see her smile and only noticed that the Empress had fallen silent. The young man also fell silent at one point. They both observed the banquet. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes when he saw that several rude young men were trying to harass Lu Yin and Li Yun. "What disrespectful children..." he muttered and was about to stand up when the Empress suddenly stopped him. "Do not interfere. Do you think that Liu Yang''s disciple cannot stand up for herself?" her carefree voice rang out, making Xie Qing freeze in ce. "It seems that you have a good rtionship with the master of the Sect of Nine Pills, Your Majesty?" "Hm..." The Empress grunted and fell silent for a while. Xie Qing had been watching Lu Yin and lost his speech. "P-please, spare me!" "Forgive us!" "This..." The young man was sweating. This girl, Lu Yin... "She... broke his arms?" "What a horror..." "And she was smiling gently the whole time..." Indeed. On the groundy two extremely persistent guys who had been bothering them. When Lu Yin warned them, they just smiled, but... in the next second, this girl broke their arms. Xie Qing did not even know what to say. Although he had seen Lu Yin''s cruelty before, it was still a bit horrifying for him to break arms with a gentle smile on his face. And Li Yun... she did not show any reaction at all! She only sighed heavily, as if she had gotten used to it. The servants quickly ran up and grabbed the two wounded men and took them away. And as for anyone who would scold Lu Yin, there were none. Firstly, she was the heiress of the Sect of Nine Pills, which was a giant in alchemy. And secondly... didn''t you see how she casually broke the arms of those two? "Hahaha..." The Empress suddenlyughed, greatly surprising Xie Qing. "Did you find something funny, Your Majesty?" raised an eyebrow Xie Qing. "Huh? Well, how to say it... you asked if I was close to Liu Yang, well..." The Empress giggled, then coughed,ing to her senses. She continued: "I want to say... Lu Yin is very much like her Master. Liu Yang could also break someone''s bones with such a carefree smile." "Oh?" Xie Qing, although he had heard about this from Liu Yang herself, but when others talked about it... it seemed that thispany of disciple and Master were crazy. *** The banquet was alreadying to an end. Since Xie Qing had not shown himself for a long time, Li Yun sent a message to his token. "Hm?" At this time, the young man was talking with the Empress on some topics. She saw that his token was shaking and only snorted. "Boy, you seem to be very popr. Come on, let''s talk about your nter." "Then I beg your pardon, Your Majesty. I will visit you as soon as possible..." "No need. I don''t want any extra noise in my garden." "Hahaha..." Xie Qing smiled and said goodbye, heading towards Li Yun and Lu Yin. At this time, the Empress propped up her chin with her hand and sighed. "Annoying boy, but with not bad skills... hm... maybe I should ask my uncle to give his daughter''s hand? Need to tie him to the Dynasty..." *** "Achoo..." "Did you catch a cold?" "Eh, no..." Xie Qing rubbed his nose. For some reason, he felt a slight chill run down his spine. Looking around, the young man saw countless carriages leaving the capital in the distance. "It seems that today the guards will have a hard time"mented Lu Yin, whistling in surprise, looking at the crowd. "Well... not everyone is allowed to stay in the capital. If the Empress indulged everyone, there would be chaos in the capital now. And stop whistling, behave properly" answered Li Yun, frowning. "A... sorry..." Xie Qingughed and thought: "It seems that the Heavens have nerfed the disciples of these two old monsters. Now the disciple of Zhang Mei is taking care of the disciple of Liu Yang... heh..." Of course, he did not say this out loud. He would not want to meet the cold gaze of Liu Yang or Zhang Mei. He feared the first one more. After all, even his Master could not do anything to her, and he was even more so. "But... what if I and... no, stop. I''m getting carried away again" Xie Qing pinched himself for his thoughts. Sighing, Xie Qing helped the girls into the carriage, then clicked his fingers, choosing a direction. On the way, Li Yun''s token shed. She frowned and poured her Qi into it. "Yun" a cold voice sounded from the token, which then sighed: "I did tell you not to go to the capital... hm? It seems that there are other people around you. Come to the sect tomorrow, we have some work to do." "This..." The girl fell silent and thought for a while, then nodded. "Alright..." *** Xie Qing was seeing off Li Yun, who looked somewhat upset. He sighed. "It seems that not all elders have good rtions with the Empress" hemented. "It''s more about not rtionships. The Li Yun family is quite influential and there is always a lot of attention on her, so the sect master of Zhang is worried about her" spoke Lu Yin with a bitter smile: "You can''t tell, but Mistress Zhang Mei is very caring." "Oh? She''s hard to understand. Her facial expressions are as rich as a stone''s..." "Hahah... I hope you don''t say that in front of her..." "Well..." "..." Lu Yin looked dryly at Xie Qing. If you think about it, this guy was straightforward as a rail and always said what was on his mind. If he says about Zhang Mei''s facial expressions... oh... "For your own safety, you should keep quiet more. Besides, silent guys look cool." "I already look cool." "Well, you can''t argue with that..." "Hehe..." Lu Yin shook her head. "Come on, let''s go back, it''s getting cold," she said, turning on her heels. "How can a cultivator be cold? You''re changing the subject..." "Ugh, shut up..." *** Xie Qing was drinking wine. In front of him sat Lu Yin, who was reading financial reports with a serious expression. She fell silent and sighed after several seconds, looking shocked. "You''re serious? Your ie from pills, although itgs a bit behind mine, is only because you don''t have as many clients. This is amazing." she admired. "Well... I had a chance encounter and got the alchemical me. And it turned out to be effective. And, since we''re on the subject..." Xie Qing put down the wine on the table and became serious: "Golden Dragon Elegance. I know you have it. Name me a price." "Hm?" Lu Yin looked surprised when she heard this name. The girl narrowed her eyes and quietly asked: "Is this what Mistress Xu Mei told you?" "Correct. However, that''s not important. I''m interested in your answer." said Xie Qing, not bothering to exin himself. Golden Dragon Elegance, is a special technique for cultivating the Golden Dragon me. Once in her youth, Liu Yang managed to obtain it, but since there was no user with this type of me, this thing was simply gathering dust in a secluded ce. Although Xie Qing wanted to get it, he did not resort to the help of Xu Mei. It was too awkward for him to ask for help in such matters, considering that alchemy was mostly just a hobby for him. So he just decided to try his luck. Lu Yin looked thoughtful. After a few seconds, she said: "Can you... show me your me?" "Oh? I can. Although you need to take care of protecting the furniture. I don''t control it very well yet." "No problem." The girl looked nervous. She had probably heard about this me, so she was nervous because of it. Xie Qing smiled and clenched his right hand into a fist. And when he unclenched it, a bright golden me aggressively burst out of his palm, rushing towards the ceiling. "Th-this..." Lu Yin was shocked, but she was not an alchemist for nothing. Very quickly, she managed to activate the formation that prevented the me from damaging the furniture. Xie Qing sighed in relief. He clenched his hand and the me went out. Its use consumed a lot of Qi, as he did not possess the necessary control technique. This was also rted to the origin of the me. Lu Yin looked silent, especially when she remembered how violent the fire was. "This... Xie Qing. After seeing this, I realized that not giving this technique to you is a waste of ancient heritage. But you need to understand that I can only rmend you to the Master. The rest depends entirely on you." said Lu Yin in a guilty voice and lowered her head: "Forgive me..." Xie Qing smiled weakly and leaned forward. "Eh?" Lu Yin was puzzled, feeling the young man''s gentle hand patting her head. She blushed. "X-Xie Qing?" "Don''t apologize. In fact, I''m already d that you can rmend me." he said andughed cheerfully: "I was thinking that I would have to seduce one of the disciples of the main court to meet with Mistress Liu Yang." "Eeeh..." The girl looked puzzled, looking at Xie Qing''s cheerful smile. However, what the young man did not notice was the slight blush on Lu Yin''s cheeks. "Fool guy... hmpf" Chapter 187: Proud sect heiress Lu Yin... hey, where are your hands wandering? Early in the morning, Xie Qing was forced to visit the Empress. He looked somewhat sleepy and tired. "I seem to have overexerted myself... I''ve been training so much with the sword, but I still can''t develop a new technique..." the young man thought disappointedly, cracking his neck and casting ackluster gaze at the tall and luxurious pavilion: "I wonder what she wants?" Lu Yin was absent for the time being. She was visiting the branch of the Sect of Nine Pills, apparently wanting to contact the sect master through a convenient method. Meanwhile, Xie Qing headed inside under the escort of two eunuchs. *** "Your Majesty..." Upon entering the luxurious garden, Xie Qing was enchanted by the beauty of the flowers and trees for a few seconds. A luxuriant willow swayed gently, like a maiden''s hair in the wind. Surrounded by white birds, she sat there - Yu Longfeng. She was not wearing her usual veil or luxurious hanfu. Instead, it was a light, thin, long white dress. Her hair was neatly tied into a braid, and her eyes blinked rxedly. "Wee to my garden. How are you? Beautiful, isn''t it?" Yu Longfeng spoke, not turning away from the swans swimming in the water. "Indeed. I suppose this is one of the most beautiful gardens I''ve seen," Xie Qing answered sincerely, unable to restrain his curious gaze, which studied all the beauty around him. "Oh? Was there something more beautiful than my garden?" Yu Longfeng suddenly asked, her gaze literally absorbing Xie Qing. The young man was surprised by such persistence. "The Golden Lotus Garden," Xie Qing replied with a weak smile, which seemed empty for some reason. "Hm? Never heard of it..." Xie Qing furrowed his brow. He suddenly came to his senses, feeling a slight shiver in his spine. Just now... his consciousness had be clouded. This was truly strange. However, it seemed that Yu Longfeng did not react in any way and merely snorted, apparently reconciling herself with the fact that her garden was inferior to someone else''s. "Come, sit on the bench, let''s talk about something..." The young man came to his senses upon hearing her voice and headed towards the bench, which was located right under the willow tree. This created a pleasant shade. Yu Longfeng stroked the head of a swan and released it into the river. She, folding her hands on her knees, looked at Xie Qing and uttered a few words that possessed enough power to shock him: "The disciple of the Resting Eagle Sect''s leader is a spy for the devilish cultivators." "What?" Xie Qing was surprised. This news would definitely rm the entire cultivation world. However, he had heard nothing about it, not even from Lu Yin. He narrowed his eyes. This could only mean that this matter was under a strict confidentiality seal. The Empress was satisfied with his reaction and, nodding, continued. "It seems we have truly underestimated the devilish cultivators. Even a representative of the cultivation world''s geniuses turned out to be their spy. Do you understand the situation? This is bing too serious," Yu Longfeng said, surprisingly talkative today. The woman furrowed her brow: "The worst part is that this bastard is so mad that he erased his memories, and when Xu Mei tried to retrieve his soul, he self-destructed. This is madness." "Madness, indeed..." Xie Qing furrowed his brow. He could not remember the appearance of this guy, which indicated certain methods of the devilish cultivators. No wonder he always seemed inconspicuous to him. "Feng Gu... the master of the Resting Eagle Sect. What reaction did he show?" Xie Qing asked with a gloomy face: "Public outrage will surely fall upon him. After all, as a Master, he failed to keep an eye on his disciple. This is the greatest sin." "Feng Gu... oh. This guy ended up in a difficult situation. Although the news has not spread, he feels ashamed. If it weren''t for the fact that we now need as much military power as possible, this guy was ready tomit suicide," the Empress replied, shrugging her shoulders. She looked somewhat disappointed. The young man fell silent. He was indeed somewhat... disappointed in the Righteous Path. It seemed that their loud speeches never ceased. They persistently ignored the devil''s whisper. This was a disgrace. They were being yed with, as if they were children. Xie Qing bit his lower lip, feeling ashamed. As a cultivator, he was proud and, of course, although he did not admire the philosophy of the Righteous Path, he also did not like the devilish path. "Killing for the sake of killing, living for the sake of cultivation. The philosophy of the devilish path has never changed since ancient times," the Empress said and looked directly into Xie Qing''s eyes: "But you, boy, need to understand for yourself which path is the best. After all, after reaching the Dao... evil and good will no longer matter." Above the heavens, there are other heavens. Above the clouds, there are other clouds. *** "Xie Qing?" In the garden of the estate assigned to the young man and Lu Yin during their stay in the capital, the young man was swinging his sword. Leaves fell from the tree. However, before they could even touch the ground, they were suddenly cut into a hundred pieces and disintegrated into tiny particles. The girl apuded admiringly. This was the level of sword mastery to which Lu Yin aspired. Only after Xie Qing returned his sword to its scabbard did he turn to Lu Yin. His gaze, which had been cold and detached a second ago, softened. "Are you done?" he asked, taking a towel out of his spatial ring and wiping his forehead with it. "Yes. I contacted the Master, and she gave me a short answer that she is ready to meet with you and discuss not only the me cultivation technique but also what you asked her about," Lu Yin said, and, finishing, she curiously tilted her head to the side: "By the way, what did you ask her about? Maybe I can help you?" "A... no, everything''s fine." The young man smiled and shook his head. He looked at the sky and clicked his tongue: "It''s already sunset. I got carried away." "You''ve been training a lottely. Although this is good, don''t overdo it. Health is always more important." "That''s true," Xie Qingughed. Lu Yin pursed her lips. She felt that this guy was hiding something from her, but seeing that he did not want to talk about it, the girl did not insist. "It''s getting cold. Let''s go inside," he said, throwing the towel over his shoulder. "Am I not good at changing the subject?" "Hehe." *** The next day, Xie Qing and Lu Yin left the capital. The young man did not visit the Empress before leaving, considering it pointless. In any case, this woman could see everything happening in the capital. For the past two days, Xie Qing''s mood had been neutral, and his facial expression showed nothing in particr. Even his usual chatter was now a rarity. It would be a blessing if he exchanged a few words with Lu Yin during their flight. The girl found this too suspicious. It seemed that after visiting the Empress, Xie Qing was always deep in thought and silent. Although she was worried, she was helpless. Considering this guy''s character, he would never talk about what he didn''t want to, and there was no point in forcing him. But even so, after so much time in silence... Lu Yin was getting bored. She swayed on the spot, humming something to herself. Xie Qing blinked and looked at her. "You look bored," he said, his eyshes fluttering. "That''s because you''re not talking to me. So I have to entertain myself somehow," Lu Yin replied, distorting the corners of her mouth. "I''ve run out of ideas for conversation," Xie Qing replied nonchntly and stretched. He suddenly fell silent and looked at Lu Yin, or rather, at her thighs. "Ch-what?" The girl felt ufortable under such a scrutinizing gaze, and Xie Qing''s subsequent request made herpletely lose her speech. "Can I sleep on your thighs? I''ll pay." "..." In her more than twenty years of life, Lu Yin had never encountered such a request. Therefore, she was stunned. But seeing Xie Qing''s serious face... she felt a slight shiver for some reason and, thinking for a moment nodded. "Y-you can..." "Thank you. How much should I pay?" "No need! I''m doing this for free!" Lu Yin waved her hands and then suddenly grabbed Xie Qing and pressed his head against her thighs. She blushed. The feeling of his soft hair on her thighs, which had be exposed due to the awkward position, was something else. Moreover, it so happened that Xie Qing fell face down right on her reproductive area, giving him a view of the endlessnds. The girl blushed deeply, but it was toote to back down. She could only sit there meekly, epting her fate. And Lu Yin, lost in thought, was brought back to reality by soft snoring. She looked at her knees in surprise and barely held back a scream. "Milo!" On her knees, with a rxed expression on his face, Xie Qing was sleeping! His usually serious and gloomy face looked gentle and cute. "Awawawa..." Lu Yin regretted not taking a special device for photography. All she could do was remember this moment and firmly etch it into her memory! Unconsciously, her hands began to stroke his smooth ck hair, and Xie Qing mumbled something under his nose and turned over. "Eek!" Lu Yin let out a quiet scream when Xie Qing''s nose, well... came into contact with what it shouldn''t have. "This position... it''s too embarrassing!" Lu Yin''s cheeks burned with shame. She wanted to sink into the ground to somehow get rid of her embarrassment. But... "Such a valuable opportunity... he never allowed anyone to touch his head and hair... ugh..." The girl sighed and then thought seriously: "Calm down, I need to set my priorities right. So, as a proud heiress of the sect..." Hey... As a proud heiress of the sect, are you still stroking him? And why are your hands trying to slip inside his clothes? Hey! Chapter 188: Trade with Liu Yang (Part 1) The eyshes of Xie Qing fluttered, and his eyelids quivered as he slowly began to wake up. His sleepy appearance was charming. Unfortunately for Lu Yin, it took him a few seconds to reach his senses. He looked at the girl with a slightly lost gaze and sleepy eyes, which became aware again within a second. "...Did I fall asleep?" "Yes. You were sleeping soundly, so I didn''t want to wake you up," replied Lu Yin with an awkward smile. "Like this... I''m sorry, that was rude of me to leave you alone," muttered the young man in a low voice and stood up. "Oh..." Lu Yin made a strange sound as if she was disappointed. Xie Qing was still sleepy, so he didn''t hear it. Sitting up straight, he rubbed his eyes and sighed. "I haven''t slept for a long time..." thought Xie Qing and yawned, covering his mouth with his hand. He looked out the small window and narrowed his eyes: "We''re almost there. I need to contact the Master about that matter..." The young man sighed. So much work... *** The carriagended lightly in front of the gates of the Sect of Nine Pills. The distance to the entrance was about ten meters. This was required by the security system so that it would not be considered a vition. Opening the carriage door, Xie Qing jumped down and then extended his hand, helping Lu Yin out of the carriage. When these two left the carriage, the young man waved his hand, and their transportation disappeared. The guards were amazed. "Miss Lu Yin!" they eximed in surprise, seeing Lu Yin''s appearance and bowing: "Wee back! The Sect Master is waiting for you..." He fell silent when his gaze fell on Xie Qing, who looked indifferent. His behavior created a mysterious atmosphere around him. "He seems unhappy," thought the other guard, getting nervous. Who didn''t know about the young talent of the Sect of Heavenly Sword? Although he rarely appeared, every appearance of his was maximally loud. And because Xie Qing looked slightly gloomy, the guards were afraid to disturb him. Quickly opening the gates, the guards bowed. Lu Yin and Xie Qing entered. When the gates closed, the guard duo sighed in relief. "Damn! I thought I was going to die. He''s so scary when he''s silent!" said one of them. "I wonder what happened to him? This young master looked annoyed..." "Well! It''s none of our business, we''re just ordinary guards..." "Hey, friendly fire is not epted!" As for Xie Qing''s mood... it was just neutral. His facial expression was gloomy because he was a little hungry. Poor guards... *** "Master!" Lu Yin bowed when she saw Liu Yang, who was sitting with her back to them and preparing pills. Xie Qing also bowed, although his bow was less respectful and adhered only to formalities. "You havee. Wait a moment, I will finish with the pill..." replied Liu Yang in a calm voice. The changes in her behavior were somewhat unusual. She behaved distantly and coldly while working with the pills... Xie Qing was reminded of Xu Mei, who had the same character. When it came to training, Xu Mei always looked serious and cold, as if ready to kill anyone who got in her way. "I like this temperament!" thought Xie Qing, entertaining himself while they waited: "I wonder what pill she is making? It must be something amazing..." Xie Qing''s eyes sparkled. Although he had seen several of her works, there were too few of them, and the pills created by Liu Yang were usually brought up in seconds. Therefore, he was curious to see what it looked like. He was sure that it would help him form some understanding of the Dao of Alchemy. In addition to his curiosity, Xie Qing was also a little nervous and wondered how to persuade Liu Yang to pass on the cultivation technique to him. Although the new alchemical me was undoubtedly excellent and powerful... it was not easy to control! Five minutes passed, and Liu Yang was still busy preparing the pill. Xie Qing waited patiently. Ten minutes passed... twenty minutes... an hour! "I mean, I''m no, I''m not the most charming guy in the world so I''ve been told, but..." Xie Qing sighed. It was not easy to endure so much time, given his restless nature, but the personality of the woman in front of him was too influential. Moreover, he had a simr character. Fortunately, Liu Yang finished after twenty minutes. The cauldron shook, and when Xie Qing already thought that there would be a bang, Liu Yang waved her hand, and the cauldron lid flew off, falling to the ground, and a small, pure white pill fell into the woman''s hand. The pill was the size of a bead, with a smooth, pure white texture. "There it is... now I understand..." muttered something Liu Yang, and some of her words could not be understood. She turned around and gently smiled, seeing Lu Yin: "You have deigned to return to me, my dear disciple? And you even brought this boy... oh? Could it be that you..." "M-Master!" Lu Yin cried out in embarrassment. Xie Qing covered his ears by that time. "Hahaha..." Liu Yangughed cheerfully. Xie Qing was surprised. Was this crazy woman in a good mood? At the same time, Lu Yin asked a question that also interested Xie Qing. "Master, what is this pill?" the girl''s eyes brightened as if she had found a new toy. "Ah, this one? A new recipe. I''ve been experimenting for a long time and have achieved several good changes!" said Liu Yang happily, excitedly telling, like a little girl sharing her favorite toys: "This pill can help increase the cultivation level by one small stage, sacrificing Blood Essence. However, it can only be used once in a lifetime." "This..." Xie Qing was surprised. Although Blood Essence, which was also considered an important basic life energy, was valuable, a small depletion would not significantly affect the situation. Therefore, such a pill would be in high demand. Even Xie Qing would want something like that for himself. However, he had a System. Meanwhile, he checked the store. "Hm?" The young man smiled. There was indeed something like this here! [Small Ascension Pill] | [Price: 150,050 Spiritual Stones] | [Description: A pill that exhausts 100 years of life, helping to break through a minor cultivation stage. Can only be used once] "But... it''s a pity that it can only be used once" The young man was a little disappointed and checked the store for something simr, but without restrictions. However, he had to stop, finding nothing. He sighed. "Too bad. Although, if there were something like that, the cultivation world would have relied on pills alone long ago" thought Xie Qing and shook his head: "Moreover, relying on this means is dangerous. It should only be used when there is no other choice." Liu Yang had already finished exining. By this time, she had calmed down a bit, looking calm. Which could not be said about Lu Yin. "Master! Please! Teach me!" Her excited appearance looked very cute, and even Xie Qing could not help but be amused. It was nice to see a woman of her age so excitedly asking for something. Liu Yang gently smiled - it seemed that even the heart of this crazy woman had melted before her disciple''s request. "Of course. But let''s put that aside for now. You are here for another matter, aren''t you?" she asked with a smile, turning her gaze to Xie Qing, who had been silent all this time. "Lady Liu Yang" Xie Qing nodded and then got straight to the point: "I need the Golden Dragon Elegance alchemical me cultivation technique." "Oh?" Liu Yang clicked her tongue in surprise, looking over Xie Qing''s body from head to toe, and then asked with a smile: "Will you show me your me?" "If you can ensure Lu Yin''s safety" Xie Qing nodded. "Naturally. Now show me!" Liu Yang spoke in a stricter voice, but it could be seen that her eyes were slightly sparkling. Xie Qing shrugged and then extended his hand forward, summoning the alchemical me. Whoosh! The fierce golden me shot out of Xie Qing''s hand. The most amazing thing was that he was absorbing Qi around him, not consuming Xie Qing''s Qi! Liu Yin clicked her tongue in surprise and waved her hand. A barrier appeared around Lu Yin and the rest of the furniture, isting them from the fire. "Monstrous fire. It tries to devour everything in its path. It''s even trying to break my barrier!" Liu Yang admired, her eyes sparkling: "Incredible. Fire with its own consciousness? Heavens!" "Can I withdraw the fire now? It consumes too much Qi..." Suddenly, Xie Qing''s tired voice was heard. "Oh, right... you can withdraw it." "Uh..." The young man clenched his hand into a fist, and the me disappeared. Although, most likely, due to the rich Qi in this room, the fire was easier to control because it fed itself, but the huge consumption of energy was still there. Moreover, after some time, the alchemical me seemed to try to break free from his control. The only reason the fire did not burn him was the Golden Dragon bloodline. Liu Yang thought about something and wanted to say something, but the young man interrupted her. "I''m not asking for the cultivation technique for free. And I won''t ept it for free either; it''s a matter of my pride. The cultivation world and the rtionships between cultivators should be based on mutual benefit" said Xie Qing with a serious expression. Although this might seem somewhat strange and unnecessary to someone, Xie Qing had his own pride. Moreover, although Liu Yang was a close friend of Xu Mei, it should not be forgotten that she was first and foremost the Sect Master. And Xie Qing would remain in debt if he did not offer something equivalent. Therefore, he confidently smiled. "And I have something that might interest you" Ding! [Items for the task received...] [The user wants to receive ''Recipe for ''Dao Comprehension Pill'' (x1)''... request approved...] Ding! [Recipe for ''Dao Comprehension Pill''] | [Rank: Legendary] | [Description: A recipe for a pill from antiquity. Can be beneficial even to a cultivator at the level of Transcendence. Helps to enter the state of Dao Comprehension]. Xie Qing deftly smiled, rubbing his hands together. "Now we can start the trade." Chapter 189: Trade with Liu Yang (Part 2) Xie Qing had done some research on this pill in books. It appeared only in ancient times and was in high demand among cultivators even at the Transcendence level. Entering a state of Dao Comprehension is one of the best and fastest ways to raise one''s cultivation level and the power of one''s techniques. Of course, such a pill recipe was too expensive, even more expensive than the Golden Dragon Elegance. Therefore, Xie Qing was going to set additional requirements. Liu Yang looked at him with a dry look. "I take back my words. You''re not like Xu Mei at all." "Eh? Why?" "Eh... never mind..." Liu Yang just shrugged, shaking her head. Xie Qing was speechless. What''s wrong with this woman? Does she have psychological problems again? Not knowing his thoughts, Liu Yan thought momentarily and narrowed her eyes. After a few seconds, she said: "The pill recipe you want to offer must be special, right? I need more details," said Liu Yan, looking genuinely interested: "Of course, you must swear by your Soul Source. After all, I don''t trust you very much." "Of course," Xie Qing rolled his eyes and then gave a brief description: "In short, the effect of this pill is to help enter the state of Dao Comprehension..." "What?!" "What?!" "My ears..." Xie Qing looked annoyed at Lu Yin and Liu Yan. These women... can''t they be surprised more quietly? However, it seemed that they had no time for him. They were surprised, rather shocked, by his words. Dao Comprehension... This state can only be entered by gifted people or the lucky ones. It may even be that you will never enter Dao Comprehension in your entire life. Therefore, a pill that will help ovee limitations and enter this state will be valued at millions or even tens of millions of Spiritual Stones. Of course, Xie Qing could keep this to himself and enjoy the profit alone, but there were problems. First, he didn''t have the ingredients. Making one pill will be a very expensive process. Even with his resources, it won''t be easy. Second, his techniques were clearly not enough to make this pill. Third... he was, to put it mildly,zy. Therefore, the best option was to trust someone like Liu Yan, who, although she had a strange character, as an alchemy expert, she certainly had her own resources to make this pill. And Xie Qing was confident that Liu Yan would not refuse this recipe. "M-Master?" Lu Yin''s surprised voice was heard. Xie Qing blinked and looked at Liu Yan and distorted the corners of his mouth. "This woman is really crazy..." Liu Yan had a wide, bright, and full of excitement smile on her face. Her eyes were narrowed, and her hands were trembling as if she could barely restrain herself. Like a predatory beast, she looked at Xie Qing, who seemed very rxed. It seemed that it was his calm expression that allowed Liu Yan toe to her senses. She coughed and blushed, apologizing. "It seems that I got a little carried away. I apologize." "Ah, it''s okay. You looked very attractive," Xie Qing casually replied, saying what he had in mind. "Oh? Are you trying to hit on me? Try in a hundred thousand years." "Will you live to that moment?" "I''ll outlive you, don''t worry." "That''s debatable." "..." Lu Yin, having lost the power of speech, looked at how these two just quarreled with each other. And for some reason, she felt ufortable, and she felt a slight pang in her heart. However, this feeling passed when the duo... crazy people returned to their usual mood. Liu Yan sighed and looked at Xie Qing with some bewilderment: "Silly boy, where did you get this recipe? You know, even in ancient times, as far as I know, there was nothing like that." "Ah? Well, you know... because of my attractive appearance, I met a beauty who was fascinated by my beauty and begged me to be her partner. I couldn''t agree because my noble heart can''t ept every woman I meet. However, she put this recipe in my hand and said that at the next meeting, I must drink wine with her." "..." Liu Yan and Lu Yin were silent, having lost the power of speech, looking at Xie Qing, who looked absolutely serious. "You could have said that you just don''t want to reveal the background..." thought Lu Yin, distorting the corners of her mouth. "...But you even made up a story?" Liu Yan was puzzled, as if continuing Lu Yin''s thoughts. And Xie Qing just smiled as if nothing had happened. Liu Yan was convinced that he had thick skin, so she just sighed. *** sh! In the training room where Liu Yan usually trained, Xie Qing sat in the lotus position and summoned a golden me that fiercely engulfed his hand. Surprisingly, it seemed that the me did not harm him. But the same cannot be said for Liu Yan, who at her level was afraid of being exposed to Xie Qing''s alchemical me for too long. "Well, it seems that you have learned to control your me. Although it is still very disobedient and, most likely, will break out of control if you lose vignce," concluded Liu Yan, who had changed into less strict training clothes and... khm... more sexy. But Xie Qing only nced quickly and did not stare. Although this woman looked sexy, and her gentle smile made men rx... She was like a female mantis. Standing up, Xie Qing rxed his neck and cracked his back, feeling a slight fatigue. Maintaining the fire had be easier, but he was still spending too much Qi. In his opinion, at the current pace, with ideal control, he could maintain the fire for only ten minutes. Liu Yan looked at him and shook her head. Even she was a little envious because, although there was very little information about this me, its origin alone could make one kneel. "Returning to the discussion of your recipe..." suddenly said Liu Yan, interrupting Xie Qing, who was warming up. She frowned: "You asked me to help you control it first, which I fully satisfied. Don''t you think it''s time to start discussing the recipe?" "Oh, that''s right. I even forgot," Xie Qing nodded and then threw the recipe at Liu Yan. He smiled: "The recipe is forbidden to sell, but it can be passed on - no problem, but only to one person who must be checked by me in advance. I also give permission to use the pills for personal purposes. I need 70% of the ie and also twenty pills annually for the Heavenly Sword Sect." "Ugh..." Liu Yan almost choked on her blood. These conditions were so strict that they literally cut off many of her ns. "Of course, I won''t sell the recipe, don''t doubt it," Liu Yan snorted and frowned, looking a little unhappy: "But 70%? Twenty pills a year? Don''t you think that''s a little..." "What''s it to me?" Xie Qing eximed in surprise, spreading his hands: "Moreover, this recipe is worth more than a hundred billion Spiritual Stones if sold in its pure form. And my conditions are quite fair, considering that you will already be in great benefit from these 30%." "Of course, but your contribution was to transfer the recipe to my possession. However, our task is not only to collect ingredients but also to make pills. Do you want to get money without effort?" "Why without effort? Moreover, the appearance of this recipe is already the greatest contribution to Alchemy. This easily covers all your efforts..." "Ugh..." Liu Yan felt a headache. What Xie Qing said was partly true because the recipe for a pill that would help even someone at her level enter the state of Dao Comprehension was supernatural. However, she did not want to be limited to such a benefit. But she didn''t have the means to buy out the recipe. Xie Qing silently watched her expression with a faint smile. When ites to profit, he can''t take a step back. Thinking a little, he sent a mental message to Liu Yan. "..." Boom! A terrifying, oppressive aura burst out of Liu Yan''s body as she looked at Xie Qing, who was smiling casually, with a murderous gaze. Lu Yin was stunned. "M-master, wait..." "I agree. However, I hope that you will keep your promise," Liu Yan coldly muttered. She looked in a bad mood. Taking two steps back, the woman disappeared, leaving Lu Yin and Xie Qing alone in this room. "S-Xie Qing... what did you say to the Master that she got so angry?" Lu Yin asked anxiously. "Eh?" Seeing her worried expression, Xie Qing''s heart softened a little, and he smiled, saying: "Everything is fine. I just set some conditions. Lady Liu Yan agreed, and I gave up 10%." "Seriously? Then why..." "Let''s not ask these questions, okay? I saw a new dessert in the city. Shall we go?" Xie Qing smiled, pinching Lu Yin''s cheeks. "Desserts!" Lu Yin''s eyes sparkled. "And there''s also very tasty tea!" Xie Qing smiled, but suddenly he felt a gust of wind with a slight scent of perfume. He looked towards the door and lost his voice. "Who are we waiting for? Let''s go, faster!" Lu Yin was standing at the door and beckoning him. Xie Qing smiled weakly. *** The next day. Xie Qing was in the city, which was located around the Sect of Nine Pills. Since the sect was rich, it took care of turning the city into a developed ce. There was a lot of delicious food, drinks, and entertainment here. He was dressed less formally, but still stood out from the crowd. Many girls threw loving nces at him, even those who were in rtionships. There were also several moms with children who looked at him with a predatory gaze. And while he was lost in thought... "Hm. You look rxed." Behind him, a cold female voice was heard. The young man smiled faintly and turned around, making a slight bow. "Sect Master Liu Yan..." "Hmph! Your request is outrageous, but it doesn''t cross the line. That''s why I agreed!" The young man smiled faintly. His request was... Chapter 190: Date with Liu Yang (Part 1) Dating. Once, it was a special event where a man and a woman had to evaluate each other and understand if they were suitable partners. In the modern world, dating ys a more informal role, but it is still considered something that should be between close people or those who want to be closer. Xie Qing looked at Liu Yan with a calm expression. "Lady Liu, I told you, this is just an ordinary walk. Although I called it a date, you know that there is no such rtionship between us," exined Xie Qing, seeing her annoyance and... tension? "Then why did you call it a date, you brat?" Liu Yan grumbled unhappily. "I couldn''t find a more appropriate name." "..." Liu Yan twisted her lips. For her, a woman of the old school who was conservative about rtionships, such an invitation was maximally ufortable. Although by agreeing to this little walk she was able to get 10% of the profits, there was something wrong with this date. "I only agreed because you offered me 10%!" said Liu Yan, returning to her usual smiling state. She approached Xie Qing and gently pinched him, saying in a low voice: "But Xu Mei must not find out. Got it?" "Oh, you want to keep this between us? It''s even exciting that we have a shared secret..." "Why do I feel like you''re steering the conversation in a strange direction?" "You feel like it..." Xie Qing replied nonchntly, faintly smiling. Liu Yan watched his expression out of the corner of her eye and shook her head. "Has anyone ever told you that you''re hard to talk to?" "No, you''re the first." "...that sounds strange" "Hehe... Maybe..." The woman sighed heavily. Did she ever imagine that even in her life there would be such an awkward moment? Even if Xie Qing didn''t call it a date, she was still sure that it was one. "Do he like me? It''s strange to invite a girl on a date who you don''t care about..." she thought. Such thoughts and worries... were charming, considering how she fiercely resisted it. Xie Qing, meanwhile, found a moment to admire her beauty. Silver hair tied into a neat braid and bright, golden eyes gazed at the luxurious buildings. Her lips, so tenderly cherry-colored, possessed incredible attraction, beckoning to them as if asking for a kiss. Liu Yan''s usual strict hanfu was reced with a light summer dress, which hardly revealed any skin, but looked very cute and beautiful. Together with her youthful appearance, one would never guess that Liu Yan was older than their most distant ancestor. Xie Qing, to be honest, did this out of whimsy. Sacrificing 10% of the ie was painful, but he wanted to give a face to his Master''s friend. And the date was just a way to have fun. Although he tried to restrain himself, his character was free-spirited and he loved spending time with beauties the most. "Lady Liu Yan, do you like cakes?" Xie Qing asked casually as they walked through the central square. "Cakes? Well, I rarely eat them because I don''t particrly like sweets... but asionally I do have them with tea," she replied. Remembering Lu Yin, a gentle, caring smile appeared on her face, like a mother''s. Even Xie Qing was charmed by her for a second. But he quickly came to his senses. "You care a lot about Lu Yin, Miss Liu Yan," said Xie Qing, faintly smiling. "Of course. Besides talent, she is very polite and caring. And in her childhood, she called me ''Sister Liu''..." As she talked about this, Liu Yan had a happy and cheerful smile on her face that dazzled everyone around them. Xie Qing noticed that they were getting a lot of attention even because they were wearing special bracelets. The young man faintly smiled and led her to a pastry shop. Here, not only did they bake good cakes, but they also served special tea. "Lady Liu Yan..." "Miss," Liu Yan said with unusual firmness in her voice, and seeing Xie Qing''s confusion, she gently smiled: "I''m not that old... and be simpler, since we''re on a ''date''..." "Oh..." Xie Qing was taken aback but still nodded. "Not that old? With that logic, I should still be sucking on a milk..." Xie Qing thought but did not voice it out loud. While he was lost in thought, the usually calm Liu Yan surprisingly quickly made an order. Xie Qing didn''t particrly like sweets, so he limited himself to tea and a pastry with bitter chocte and ckberry filling. "Thank you for your order!" the waitress said slightly excitedly and rushed inside. "Well..." Liu Yan sighed. She looked at the carefree Xie Qing, who was sitting and looking at her. "Do I have something on my face?" Liu Yan raised her eyebrows in surprise. "No. I just see that you''re more rxed than usual," he honestly answered, being as straightforward as a railroad track. "Hm?" When it was pointed out, Liu Yan felt a slight shame. After all, with her age, she always tried to show her serious side and even in the presence of family, she behaved like an older sister. "I can''t believe I let myself rx in front of this sleepyhead..." Liu Yan thought with shame. For some reason, she felt a sense of calmness around this young man, as if all problems disappeared at once. And the most amazing thing was that this feeling was shared not only by Liu Yan but also by other women. Apart from his natural beauty, he had a confident aura, as if nothing in this world could shake him. ...although, usually he behaved carefreely and this aura was almost unnoticeable. "But I''m surprised," Liu Yan suddenly said. Xie Qing blinked, noticing the presence of chatter around them that isted their conversation. "Surprised by what?" he asked, sipping his tea. "This recipe... I''ve had enough time to study it, but I still can''t understand its full depth," Liu Yan honestly replied, looking a little disappointed: "I must admit, this is the second time I''ve found it so difficult." "Don''t put too much pressure on yourself. The pill has an extremelyplex recipe and requires the right, elegant approach. It''s like a woman you''re courting - you need to be gentle, and aggressive, but not too pushy," Xie Qing said what he had in mind. "A pill... like a woman?" Liu Yan was speechless. This was the first time she had heard of such a thing. But, although many would simplyugh, Liu Yan thought about it. High-ranking pills required a refined approach, so Xie Qing''s description was quite urate. "You''re right," Liu Yan nodded after thinking for a bit and looked at the young man curiously, showing a gentle smile: "How did youe up with that?" "Well... I haven''t tried it on myself, but when you''re too aggressive, there''s a high chance that the pill will turn into charcoal, right? The same goes for a woman..." he mumbled with slight embarrassment: "I was just joking, I didn''t know you''d take it seriously..." "Hehe..." Liu Yanughed more at Xie Qing''s embarrassed face than at his words. "..." Xie Qing shook his head. --- You know... Xie Qing had not lived for very long, but he had seen a lot. And, uh... "Miss Liu Yan..." Crunch. "Yes?" Crunch. "Are you... not full yet?" Crunch. "Not yet..." "..." Xie Qing shook his head when he saw Liu Yan eating... a fifth serving of noodles with such an appetite. Since he loved spicy food and Miss Liu Yan didn''t seem to mind, he brought her to a noodle shop that made excellent spicy noodles. He, of course, knew it was delicious, but... who would have thought that she would like it so much that she would order tenrge servings? What was even more surprising was that she looked elegant while doing so, and even the owner of the establishment gave her a big discount. Xie Qing smiled. By the way, he still hadn''t finished his serving... "I didn''t know she liked to eat so much," he thought. Generally speaking, from another perspective, this was normal. Cultivators had a strong metabolism and quickly absorbed food. Moreover, thanks to Qi, they did not gain weight, and eating could even have a good effect on cultivation. "Delicious..." he thought, feeling a slight spiciness on his tongue. Actually, this food was dangerous to eat if you had a weak stomach. Moreover, there were cases where people''s hearts stopped because it was so spicy. But as a cultivator, Xie Qing had a high tolerance for spiciness. So he enjoyed it. "By the way, the owner of the establishment said that he could prepare something even spicier than this," the young man said, eating his noodles. "Really?! I want to try!" Liu Yan''s eyes widened when she heard this news, but seeing Xie Qing''s gaze on her, the woman became saddened. "I mean... I want to, but next time... I''m already full." "Sure? I don''t mind waiting, you know..." "N-no, it''s fine..." Xie Qing smiled gently. One didn''t have to be a genius to understand Liu Yan''s mood. It seemed that she was very embarrassed about showing this side of herself to Xie Qing. "Let''s go for a walk!" she eximed and left the payment in the form of a Spiritual Stone. The owner of the establishment wanted to refuse, as he sensed that these two were powerful cultivators, but they disappeared very quickly. And from that moment on, this establishment attracted a lot of attention. Chapter 191: Source of Evil As the evening approached, Xie Qing sat on the balcony of the hotel he had rented for a week. And yes, he simply bought out all the rooms for a week, so for some time the hotel would not be operating, which caused some disturbance among tourists and travelers. However, Xie Qing did not care about their opinion, as he did not want to share a room with anyone else, and he did not like the presence of strangers. The reason they did not return to the sect was simple - Xie Qing wanted to rx, and Liu Yan was interested in discussing a certain issue. "You look quite rxed, considering the n you''vee up with..." a soft female voice sounded behind the young man. Turning his head, Xie Qing saw Liu Yan approaching him, dressed in her usual hanfu. The young man smiled faintly. "Should I be worried? I have a strange character, but I am terribly stubborn and selfish. That''s the worst in me," Xie Qing replied with a lightugh. "Maybe we''re alike in some ways," Liu Yan replied with a cold smile: "That''s why I won''t agree to your n." "And why is that?" "It''s dangerous." "It''s even more dangerous to do nothing." Xie Qing calmly looked into Liu Yan''s yellow eyes, which seemed somewhat cold and detached. The atmosphere tensed. However, suddenly Liu Yan''s expression rxed, and she sighed. "Did you... tell Xu Mei about this?" "No, but I n to, as soon as I discuss my n with you," the young man replied, looking as honest as possible. When his Master''s name was mentioned, Xie Qing showed nervousness, which seemed amusing to Liu Yan. She sat down next to him and sighed. "Working as a spy is too dangerous..." "..." Xie Qing smiled faintly. His n... *** Going back a few days ago... Xie Qing sat alone in his room, looking thoughtful. He recently received news that many spies had been found among the righteous cultivators, and even the sect master of the Resting Eagle Sect had allowed a scoundrel to be near him. If it weren''t for the fact that the righteous cultivators themselves were hiding the presence of spies to avoid chaos. "Aplete mess. There''s no other way to put it. I can''t understand what''s going on. It''s as if rats have gotten into a farmer''s supplies and eaten everything, and he just stood and watched," Xie Qing thought, frowning: "It seems that the righteous cultivators consider themselves very smart, allowing such arrogance. How disgusting. Even a predator has to give its all to catch a rabbit..." As a righteous cultivator, Xie Qing had his pride, and he also believed that his Dao surpassed others. However, he tried not to be careless, even if his opponent was a weak cultivator. "If we send spies... no, it''s toote. Even if we manage to create a loophole in the barrier, it will be too dangerous. Moreover, who can be a good candidate... hm?" The young man suddenly fell silent and strangely smiled. "Interesting..." *** Returning to the present time. This crazy n had urred to him a long time ago. However, even with all his desire, he could not just go and fight against the devilish cultivators, as the mere pration inside would be a difficult task. Moreover, there was the question of how to hide his Qi. After all, as is known, devilish cultivators have their own devilish Qi, and in addition, Negative Karma. A cultivator without these two qualities would be easily detected. That''s why Xie Qing considered it necessary to discuss this with Liu Yan. "Opening the barrier is already a difficult task, you understand?" Liu Yan said, notpletely rejecting his idea, but not epting it either. She exined: "Although we used to be able to open and close the barrier at will, now there are difficulties, and everything has beplicated. We will need a lot of strength to open the barrier, moreover, this will attract attention from the other side." The woman frowned when she mentioned the attention. This part was the most difficult because there were two cultivators at the Transcendence level among the devilish cultivators who had be even stronger over the years. The four of them would have to make a considerable effort just to hold them back. But for someone at their level, remembering Xie Qing''s aura would be easier than easy, and finding him - a task of a few seconds. "This is a reckless, dangerous, and most likely, unsessful n, Xie Qing. You should abandon this idea. Although we also want to send reconnaissance, it will cost us too many resources and time, and the losses will be enormous, do you understand?" Liu Yan exined, looking gloomy. "Financial losses are, of course, bad. However, we can prepare guinea pigs," Xie Qing replied, saying this in a carefree voice. "You don''t understand!" getting a little angry, Liu Yan shouted: "We''re talking about human lives!" "You don''t understand," Xie Qing continued in the same calm voice, and his speech was confident: "We will lose a hundred, a thousand... maybe even ten thousand lives trying to spy on the devilish cultivators. But we will lose a million, ten million, and hundreds of millions of lives if we don''t do it!" "This..." Liu Yan didn''t know what to say, so she fell silent for some time. She also understood that these were necessary sacrifices, but because the chances were extremely low, she didn''t want to agree to this hastily. "Miss Liu Yan, I''m not asking you to start implementing this n immediately. It will take years, and I''m sure that by joining forces, the Righteous Path will be able to get back on its feet!" Xie Qing honestly replied, looking a little agitated. "..." Liu Yan fell silent and looked at Xie Qing with a dry gaze. And then she asked one question: "What do you want?" "Yes?" The young man smiled faintly as if he had been expecting this question. "The Source of Evil." "!!!" Liu Yan was shocked. "Where did you learn about this?!" "I read it in a book..." Xie Qing shrugged, looking nonchnt. His answer, of course, did not satisfy Liu Yan. The Source of Evil. The power that only the most corrupt cultivator of the Devilish Path possesses. It is said that the Source of Evil can even grow into the Seed of the Demon in the future, which will help them be a true demon. However, Xie Qing needed it for something else. To nourish his bloodline. The Golden Dragons were the Lords of Heaven. One of their roars destroyed worlds, and a flick of their tail - created new ones. And there was something that no one knew about them... they could absorb Evil Energy and Negative Karma. Xie Qing had gained this understanding at some point. This happened after the Negative Karma was removed from his wound. And, ording to his calctions, by absorbing the Source of Evil, he would be able to awaken his bloodline at once in three stages and develop it. This would help raise the level of cultivation. Liu Yan fell silent. Xie Qing also did not rush to say anything. He could not give up this opportunity. Yes, it was hard, dangerous in ces, but this was the easiest way to raise his cultivation level. It seemed to him that if he could not reach the peak of cultivation in this world by the age of a hundred, misfortune would await him. And sometimes he felt a weak gaze on himself. Someone was watching him. However, there was no hostility in this gaze, so Xie Qing ignored it. After an hour, Liu Yan came to her senses and muttered with a serious face... "I''ll talk about it at the meeting." "Thank you..." Xie Qing smiled faintly, feeling a slight headache. He could already imagine what it would be like when he returned home. *** "You should have discussed this with me in advance..." "I know. However, Master, I needed to understand the whole situation first." "You... stubborn boy!" Xie Qing sat in his room in the lotus position, cleansing his Qi after cultivation. In front of him stood Xu Mei. Her usual smile, even her embarrassed behavior, disappeared. Only coldness and anger remained. "Liu Yan should have exined it to you. Your venture is too dangerous and can lead to many unnecessary sacrifices." "However, our inaction has already brought many victims, hasn''t it?" Xie Qing replied, looking serious. He looked into his Master''s eyes and gently smiled, standing up and approaching her: "Master. You should understand the whole situation. I will take care not of mortals, but of you and my loved ones!" "Xie Qing..." Xu Mei sighed and allowed herself to fall into the young man''s embrace. Feeling his strong chest and the gentle touches of his fingers on her head, the woman''s heart melted, and her anger began to dissipate. Was she still angry? Partly, the woman could not believe that her foolish disciple would undertake something so dangerous. The responsibility would be a heavy burden on his shoulders. Even though his intentions were not pure, the cultivation world would believe in him. Their faith would be his support... and shackles. Xu Mei herself knew what it was like. There was too much responsibility, and that''s why she preferred to disappear from the public eye after creating the sect and strengthening it. However, seeing his determination and his goal... Xu Mei could only sigh. "Are you sure about the Source of Evil?" she asked seriously. Now they were not lovers. But Master and disciple. "That''s right. I won''t say it will be problem-free, but I won''t say it will be a failure. In case of sess, I will receive a significant increase in power and bloodline!" Xie Qing exined, not pretending to be something unknown. "That is, there is a chance of failure, and it is equal to the chance of sess. 50/50, the situation is not too bad, but not good either..." Chapter 192: Fang He (Part 1) Late at night, Xie Qing sat on his bed in the lotus position, practicing his daily cultivation. His eyes were tightly closed, and a mysterious atmosphere surrounded his body. "Fuuh..." Each of his inhales and exhales shook the Qi in the surrounding environment for hundreds of miles. Most of the disciples, who had weak sensitivity to magic, could not cultivate it to the fullest. They had to postpone their cultivation until tomorrow. Xie Qing opened his eyes. He looked around and realized that he was now in Xu Mei''s pavilion, inside the Heavenly Sword Sect. He had several reasons for returning here - mainly to see old acquaintances and check on the progress. The Heavenly Sword Sect had undergone several quality changes, including those rted to the Dao sword techniques. Xie Qing once passed on many unnecessary Dao sword techniques to the sect, so now the problem ofck of knowledge has disappeared. Moreover, it should be noted that thepetition has also be tougher. Now even a cultivator at the Qi Condensation stage would not be impressive enough, and they say that in a few years, the requirement for moving to the inner court will be raised, and the exam will be made more difficult. Although Xie Qing believed that changes should ur gradually and slowly, it seemed that Lian Lin had his own ns. "One way or another, I am not the sect master, I don''t care. It''s just curious... I still don''t feel anyone with an impressive Sword Aura." The Dao of the Sword begins with the study of the Sword Aura. For many, this is already bing a difficult task. But... this is just the beginning. Xie Qing himself had recently learned about this, as Xu Mei did not rush to tell him about it, so as not to put pressure on him. After the Sword Auraes the Higher Sword Aura, which is a hundred times stronger... and this is just incredible. In addition to being able to suppress the Sword Aura, its power is too terrifying. Although the energy consumption is insane, so Xu Mei never used it (she had enough of the Sword Aura). Although Xie Qing was eager to obtain the Higher Sword Aura, there was a small problem... it required a cultivation level of at least Spiritual Ascension. This was the next stage after Soul Integration. And since Xie Qing was having a hard time raising his level... he sighed tiredly. "After the Higher Sword Auraes the Sword Supremacy, which is ten times stronger than its predecessor and can also suppress the rest..." Xie Qing crookedly smiled. It seemed that the Dao of the Sword was moreplicated than he had thought. Although, what else could be expected, right? Who knows, maybe even the Sword Supremacy is not thest stage... "But this is really funny. I considered myself a strong swordsman, although the real experts didn''t pay attention to me..." In fact, Xie Qing thought too much about this. There were not many swordsmen who had the Higher Sword Aura, and only two people possessed the Sword Supremacy. "But... it''s really empty here..." Xie Qing thought. It waste at night. Even the always bustling outer court was quiet, not to mention the inner court, where Xie Qing was now walking. He felt the gazes on him - it seemed that they recognized him, but no one dared toe out and approach him. Xie Qing did not object, it was even good that no one bothered him with stupid questions. Although he used to treat the inner court as something very important... now all these emotions were gone. Gradually, without realizing it, he entered the main court. There was also emptiness, but Xie Qing felt that the number of disciples in the main court had increased. "Hm... although their level is still low, they have potential..." Xie Qing thought and smiled faintly: "Not bad." He put his hands behind his back, arching his back and walking as if he were a sage. Fortunately, no one was watching him, because most of the disciples were busy cultivating. And so, Xie Qing reached a certain house. He smiled. "Fang Lan returned to the sect, as far as I remember," he thought and felt the house. The young man raised his eyebrow, discovering another aura there: "Hm?" *** "Fang Lan, I don''t think I need to exin why I came here?" a calm male voice sounded. "Brother..." Fang Lan, still as beautiful, sat in the living room of her house and looked somewhat frightened. In front of her sat a man who looked very much like her. His aura was suffocating, reflecting the development of a cultivator at the Soul Nascent stage. Even though Fang Lan had slightly improved her cultivation during this time, she still found it difficult to resist the pressure of her brother''s aura. This was Fang He, who had strong support. And his goal today... "I am really impressed. You were able to find and establish contact with an alchemist capable of making amazing pills..." Fang, smiled faintly and crossed his arms, squinting at his sister: "But are you serious? Do you want topete with me? You''re too self-confident!" "..." Fang Lan frowned. Fang He, had always been something unattainable for her, he didn''t even look at her all this time. They exchanged only a few words in their entire life. "Stop trying to be smart, Fang Lan. You''re too self-confident!" Fang He frowned, almost shouting: "You will never be able to catch up with me, do you hear? Just calmly ept your role. I will introduce you to the young master of the Bai family..." "What?" "Hm? You didn''t know? It seems that he is very interested in you!" Fang He smiled and shrugged: "His status in the family is high, so our Fang family will receive many benefits. Moreover, it seems that he loves you very much. So this is just an excellent deal, isn''t it?" "W-wait, I don''t agree!" "Haa?" Fang He sighed in surprise, as if he didn''t expect this at all. His gaze at his sister changed to a more irritated one. "What the hell are you talking about? Do you think you have a choice? Let me remind you how many blessings our family has given you?" he snorted, speaking in a contemptuous tone: "Shameless! Getting everything for free, and when it''s time to pay back, suddenly ''no''?!" "This..." Fang Lan swallowed, feeling her brother''s aura beginning to press on her. She sweated. However, at the moment when she began to worry that she would not be able to withstand this pressure any longer... "Shut up." p! "?.." Fang Lan blinked her eyes in surprise and then opened them wide in shock. "X-Xie... Xie Qing?!" The shock in her eyes could be seen with the naked eye. The young man stood, casually looking at the man who had fallen to the floor with a mark from a p on his cheek. The girl lost her voice. He hit... Fang He? This was something with something. "Y-you..." Fang He, lying on the floor, only now realized what was happening, and his first reaction was anger. "How dare you hit my face?!" he shouted and jumped up to hit back, but... p! "I told you to shut up. It''s nighttime." Xie Qing snorted. His hand pped the annoying guy again, who just wouldn''t calm down. "You are on the territory of my sect. What the hell are you allowing yourself to shout? Are you a pig?" Xie Qing spoke in an unhappy voice and kicked Fang He in the stomach out of annoyance. "Gha!" "Shut up. Have youpletely lost your mind? Hey, bastard, I''ll tear off your member and shove it up your ass, got it? What the hell are you doing here? Who the hell allowed you to enter? Who are you, bitch, to threaten the disciples of my sect?!" Boom! Boom! Boom! Fang Lan looked with her mouth open as Xie Qing mercilessly beat Fang He. She couldn''t say anything, she just lost all her words, as if someone had erased her consciousness. Even Fang He himself was stunned. He, a man famous throughout the capital, was beaten by some unknown disciple? He wanted to shout and reproach Xie Qing, but the pain did not allow him toe to his senses. "Well? Who was that, Fang Lan? Since when are animals allowed into the Heavenly Sword Sect?" Xie Qing asked, stepping on Fang He''s head, looking like a thug. "This... my brother..." "Your brother?" Xie Qing raised his eyebrow in surprise and then smiled faintly: "Should I kill him?" "N-no, wait!" "Uuum!" "Haha..." Xie Qingughed, seeing how the brother and sister panicked. He removed his foot and plopped down on the chair. "Bring me something strong, Fang Lan." "Eh? But..." "Please?" The girl fell silent, seeing Xie Qing''s cold smile, and nodded, going to her room and closing the door. By that time, Fang He had restored his breathing, and the pain from the wounds had disappeared. He fearfully looked at Xie Qing. "Who are you?" Fang He asked in a hoarse voice. To beat him, a cultivator at the Soul Nascent stage, would require someone very strong. And he could not understand where such a person came from! And why was he familiar with Fang Lan? "Sit down," Xie Qingmanded in amanding tone, not bothering to react to the man''s question. Fang He clenched his teeth but still did what he was told. He sat down on the chair and shuddered, feeling pain all over his body. Several bones were broken. "So who are you?" Xie Qing asked, propping his chin with his hand, speaking in an unusually cold tone: "I give you five breaths to exin. Time''s up." Chapter 193: Fang He (Part 2) Fang He was sweating as he looked at the young man sitting in front of him. His carefree appearance, beautiful and cold face, which could drive any woman crazy... Looking at this face, Fang He couldn''t help but swallow. His stomach began to churn with acid and he wanted to disappear from this ce. Xie Qing, Destroying de. Although his achievements were seen by a limited circle of people, he had already be a celebrity. Even Fang He, who was considered a genius because of his high cultivation level at such an age, would have to lower his head before him. A cultivator at the Soul Integration stage who was only neen? This was unheard of. Never, anywhere, and not even in ancient times, which were considered the golden age of the cultivation world, were there such precedents. "I... Fang He... from the Fang family!" Fang He quickly exined, fearing further blows to the stomach. He clenched his teeth and said hoarsely: "I was visiting my sister, Fang Lian! That''s all..." "''That''s all''?" Xie Qing snorted and released his aura. "Gha!" Fang He helplessly fell to his knees and his face kissed the floor. Xie Qing coldly looked at him, sitting on the chair. "It seems that you really think I''m an idiot. Do you think I didn''t hear your vile words? I remembered every word you said, bastard!" Xie Qing roared, increasing the pressure. This only made Fang He press harder against the floor: "'' Just calmly ept your role. I will introduce you to the young master of the Bai family''... are these your words, right?" "W-wait... GHA!" "I didn''t give permission for you to open your mouth, son of a bitch" Xie Qing waved his hand and using Expert Control, pulled Fang He''s body to him. He stepped on his face and spat: "You use your dirty, scumbag pressure and try to make my sect''s disciples do what they don''t want? And on top of that, you try to touch my woman! MY! WOMAN!" Fang He couldn''t even speak. The pressure of an expert at the Soul Integration stage was not something he could resist. However, he was not just one of the main heirs of the Fang family for nothing. Xie Qing waved his hand and there was a sound of "dzy¨½", as if something metallic collided with each other. The young man spat. "Of course, how could this gang not have a protector. Moreover... it seems that you are the one that Fang Lian talked about" Xie Qing said indifferently. He felt a gust of wind and Fang He disappeared from under his feet. Soon, an old man appeared at a distance of ten steps. No energy emanated from him, as if he was an ordinary old man. His long gray hair seemed to be blowing in the wind, and his cold and sharp, triangr-shaped eyes continuously watched Xie Qing''s movements. The old man''s body was covered with scars, moreover, it was so thin that even the bones were visible. However, Xie Qing did not underestimate him just because of his weak appearance. "Cultivator at the Soul Integration stage... so young!" a hoarse old voice was heard, which cut the ear. It belonged to the old man who saved Fang He. "Old man, are you really so bold? What, since you''re already at an advanced age, you''re not afraid of death?" Xie Qing smiled, speaking in an extremely contemptuous tone. He waved his hand and a barrier rose around the room where Fang Lian was sitting. The young man took two steps forward and cracked his neck. "!!! At the moment when a slight crunch was heard, the old man squinted his eyes. Dzy¨½! Out of nowhere, Xie Qing''s sword appeared right in front of the old man''s face, but he managed to block the attack with a staff that was made of incredibly hard wood. "Not bad. It''s worth noting that despite your young age, your talent is the best!" the old man eximed admiringly and narrowed his eyes: "But... don''t get too cocky, boy. When I walked the earth, your parents hadn''t even been born yet." Dzy¨½! Xie Qing moved his head to the side and blocked the sudden attack. The young man threw a short nce at Fang He, who was unconscious and surrounded by a barrier. The old man, with a disgustingly excited face, attacked him, making dangerousbinations of vertical, horizontal, and other strikes. In terms of physical strength, they were equal, but Xie Qing was slightly inferior in speed and experience. However, the experience can always be covered by strength. The young man blinked and gripped the sword tighter. Blinking again, he looked straight into the old man''s eyes. "What... hm?!" The old man was stunned. A curtain of darkness began to rise around him and he could no longer see Xie Qing. At that moment, his soul collided with incredible pressure. Xie Qing did not waste time. "Now!" Using several strengthening techniques, the young man''s power soared to a new level. Xie Qing swung his sword and used his signature attack. "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens - Punishment of a Thousand Swords!" Swoosh! *** The old man opened his eyes, breaking free from the illusion. His heart was beating wildly as he remembered the cold amber eyes. However, he did not have time toe to his senses when he was struck by sudden pain. He shockingly widened his eyes, discovering that his body was covered with hundreds of small wounds. Moreover... these wounds were actually covered with Sword Aura! Xie Qing coldly smiled and swung again. "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens - Sword God Strike!" Boom! The next attack almost brought the old man to despair. He clenched his teeth and cried out. "Armor of a Hundred Turtles!" Bdzy¨½! Xie Qing frowned, feeling a slight tremor in his wrist. His sword collided with something extremely hard and he could not break through, considering his strengthened state. When his vision returned to normal, the young man noticed that the old man was covered with turtle armor, reminiscent of an armadillo. "Old man, how can you not be ashamed? Do you use such petty tricks in a battle with a younger one? Hey? Are you alive there?" Xie Qing openly mocked him, trying to provoke him toe out, but the old man remained silent. The young man clicked his tongue. "As you wish. As long as you sit there, I''ll deal with your young master..." Xie Qing casually said, heading towards Fang He. "W-wait!" "Heheh..." Behind his back, almost immediately, a desperate cry was heard. It was the old man who had not yet opened his armor but was no longer pretending to be dead. "What?" Xie Qing asked with an innocent smile. "W-wait. You can''t kill him, he is..." "Presumably, the heir of the Fang family, right? However, I''ll say in advance, I don''t care. If I want to kill him, the people behind him will be angry. But you know?" Xie Qing waved his hand andughed: "I also have support and it is stronger than the entire Fang family." "This..." The old man was flustered. Indeed... the old man was a person of high status and knew about Xie Qing''s teacher. Xie Qing did not offer anything, only smiled and waited. He felt the gaze of Lian Lin, who had been watching the situation from the beginning. Apparently, his older sister was veryzy. "If you think about it, she still owes me..." he thought and weakly smiled: "And now she is also in my debt. Hehe..." While his thoughts were upied with all sorts of nonsense, by that time the old man shouted, as if afraid that Xie Qing would not hear. "Please! Ask for anything, but let us go. And I promise that I will not bother you anymore." "Oh?" Xie Qing pped his hands and brightly smiled, tilting his head to the side: "''You'' won''t bother me? What about ''him''?" "Eeh..." The old man was helpless. He knew that with Fang He''s character, after this he would try to do something. Most likely, it would end in another tragedy. However, he could not give a guarantee. The young man only smiled when he did not hear the obvious answer. "Although, you know what? I don''t care. It would be boring if he just surrendered, right?" Xie Qing said with a smile, and then slowly, as if afraid that the old man would not hear, said: "But you must refuse his support and swear to the Heavens that you will serve Fang Lian for a hundred years." "What?!" Hearing the young man''s demands, the old man shouted loudly. This time, anger could be heard in his voice. "Impudence! Young man, do not test my patience!" "Or what? You won''t be able to hide there forever, I feel how your turtle defense is getting weaker. Moreover, this item is very expensive, right? I suppose you don''t have anymore. Then I''ll just find you and kill you, destroying your soul. What do you say?" Xie Qing said in one breath, looking absolutely carefree, as if just telling a fairy tale. He added: "Of course, if you try to escape, even the Fang family will not save you." "This..." The old man was faced with a dilemma. He clenched his teeth, feeling anger. When was thest time he was humiliated like this? With his strength as a Soul Integration stage cultivator, he was literally swept away by a brat who wasn''t even twenty. "What''s wrong with this bastard? Why does he have such abnormal techniques!" the old man thought, barely holding back to keep from crying. Xie Qing smiled, waiting for an answer. After five minutes... "Fine..." the helpless voice of the old man was heard and he shouted: "I swear to the heavens that I, Fang Jia of the Fang family, will be obliged to protect and cherish Fang Lian for a hundred years, bing her armor, weapon and shield!" Thunder... thunder... Despite the absence of clouds, the clouds rumbled, as if showing the reaction of the Heavens. Xie Qing smiled weakly and pped his hands. "Fang Jia? Good, excellent. For some time, pretend that you support Fang He and pass on all the information to Fang Lian. Do you understand me?" "Yes..." the suppressed voice of the old man was heard. Xie Qingughed loudly. This evening... was damn fun and profitable! Chapter 194: Dilemma Fang Jia soon disappeared with Fang He, flying beyond the sect. The young man weakly smiled and turned his gaze to the window, seeing Lian Lin there. "Sister, this time your entertainment has gone too far. How could you let in such suspicious guys?" the young man asked directly, sounding a little cold. "It''s all politics, brat. Do you think I can just expel guests? Moreover, they were people from the Fang family who were looking for Fang Lian. It''s not possible to simply refuse," Lian Lin replied, who appeared inside the house in a second. "What a funny nonsense. You just wanted to test my strength, right? Tsk, tsk. Don''t do that next time, or I''ll tell the Master." "E... w-well, can we make a deal?" Lian Lin awkwardly scratched the back of her head. Although she had been standing here from the very beginning, watching Fang Lian''s safety... it was too careless! "Treat me to the most expensive wine in your collection!" shamelessly said Xie Qing. "Fine..." *** After exining everything to Fang Lian, who was still shocked by such a sudden turn of events, Xie Qing followed Lian Lin''s personal chambers. As soon as the door closed, Xie Qing took on a serious expression. "What a horror..." "Hm?" Lian Lin looked puzzled over her shoulder as she pulled out two bottles of spiritual wine from the cab. Xie Qing pointed to all the mess in the room. Clothes were lying on the floor, ink was spilled somewhere, aplete nightmare! "You are ady. How can you live in such terrible conditions?" feeling a headache, Xie Qing asked, picking up a ck item withce. Looking closer, it turned out to be a bra... hm? "This is not your size. Are you engaged in theft? Return the bra to the disciples..." "What? Th-this... I was just checking if they had grown..." "That''s impossible. At your cultivation level, the body size no longer changes..." Losing the power of speech, Xie Qing said and raised his eyebrow: "And why don''t you just change the size of your chest? You can." "No, that would be too desperate" Lian Lin answered directly. "..." Xie Qing lost the power of speech. Sometimes he really couldn''t understand women. Cracking his neck, the young man looked out the window. It was already quitete, and he was still hanging out here. Moreover, he had felt Xu Mei''s spiritual sense several times. It seemed she was worried and looking for him. Lian Lin also noticed this and smiled. "I even envy you a little. The Master no longer worries about me..." "You are already strong enough, why should she worry about you?" Xie Qing replied casually. "And why not? Where is the maternal love, all the deeds..." "Yep yep, pour into the ss." Xie Qing rolled his eyes. This girl really loved to talk nonsense. They sat down at the table and clinked sses. The young man drank the spiritual wine and was pleasantly surprised. The sweet-bitter taste was just the perfect start, and the longer he held it in his mouth, the stronger the sourness became. Considering that Xie Qing loved sour food, these sensations were very pleasing to him. Moreover, the wine had a delicious pomegranate vor. "Oh? Unusual wine. My tongue seems to have turned wooden," Xie Qing was surprised. "Cool, right? It has the poison of the Three-legged Hedgehog in it. It''s not dangerous for cultivators of our level and can only cause a slight numbness of the tongue, which enhances the taste of the wine." "Well..." Xie Qing didn''t particrly like this, but it was worth trying at least once. It seemed crazy to mix poison into wine. Although, apparently, Lian Lin enjoyed it. "Sister, do you know the details about the devilish cultivators'' spies?" Xie Qing asked after a short silence. "Yes," the girl replied and, savoring the wine, continued: "After careful work, new devices were created to search for devilish Qi. This helped us discover many traitors... which was shocking." "Our sect. Were there traitors here?" Xie Qing asked, and his voice became cold as ice. Lian Lin nced at him out of the corner of her eye and casually replied: "Yes, two people. One elder of the outer court, the other an insignificant disciple of the outer court. Both were interrogated and when no useful information was found, they were tortured for several months and burned alive." "Ho-o-o..." Xie Qing smiled weakly when he heard what punishment the traitors had received. Although he was extremely indifferent to the sect''s activities, he cherished this ce. Therefore, hearing that there were traitors here, he was very angry. Fortunately, Lian Lin had long dealt with them. "But it''s amazing. How did these guys hide before?" Xie Qing asked in surprise and added: "I mean... we had many devices for checks. And they passed through all this so easily... they must have some trump card." "I''m not sure if this is the absolute truth, but... there was one pattern among those who were caught," Lian Lin said and leaned forward: "There was an insect imnted in their spine, resembling an ordinary May bug. As soon as it was removed from the body, the devilish Qi became visible as on the palm of your hand." "Seriously?" Xie Qing was amazed. Where was such an amazing insect? The location of the insect on the spine was rted to the fact that many spiritual channels passed through there. "Were there any research results?" Xie Qing asked, feeling curious. "No, none. These insects simply exploded as soon as the user died." "Damn..." The young man clicked his tongue. Of course, how could it be so easy? He felt a slight regret. "Based on the remains, there should have been some results, right?" Xie Qing asked, hoping for the best. "Not yet, but the work is in full swing," Lian Lin replied, raising her ss and smiling weakly: "We can only hope for the best." "Haaa..." *** "Did you go to Lian Lin?" Xu Mei asked casually as soon as Xie Qing returned to his estate. He tilted his head, feeling a slight jealousy in his Master''s voice. He approached the sofa in the living room where the woman was sitting and plopped down next to her. "She promised to treat me to wine, so I didn''t hesitate, heh," the young man replied with a lightugh. "There it is..." Xu Mei rolled her eyes and put her head on Xie Qing''s shoulder. Her nose touched the young man''s neck, who could feel her warm breath. He smiled weakly. Gently stroking her beautiful hair, Xie Qing immersed himself in his thoughts. *** Two days flew by like a moment. Xie Qing was busy training with the sword and meditating, so no particrly interesting events happened. Now it was already night, and he was finishing his sword training. His forehead was slightly sweaty from the workout, which was surprising, considering his enduring body. "Try in moderation, but don''t overdo it," a calm mature female voice sounded behind his back. Turning around, the young man saw his mother, Xie Meiling, who looked more beautiful than a hundred works of art in the moonlight. Admiring her beautiful face, the young man nodded and put away the training sword in his spatial ring. "Mom. Your cultivation level has improved a bit," Xie Qing said sincerely, smiling weakly. "From your lips, it sounds like mockery," Xie Meiling said with a lightugh. A few secondster, the young man and Xie Meiling began to walk around the garden, enjoying the slight coolness in the air and the peaceful breeze. Countless spiritual flowers created a beautiful picture and filled the garden with Qi. This ce was definitely a paradise for every cultivator. Inhaling the scent of the flowers, Xie Meiling looked in a good mood. The young man was pleased to see his mother''s reaction. After all, this garden was his pride, and most of the flowers were nted by him, of course, with the help of a gardener. "What are your ns for the future, my dear?" Xie Meiling suddenly asked, looking calm and serene. "ns for the future? Well... I n to raise my cultivation level as much as possible, and then live a carefree old age," Xie Qing said with augh. "Don''t lie." "Hm?" Xie Qing raised his eyebrow, hearing his mother''s words. What did she mean by ''don''t lie''? The woman looked into his ck eyes, which were so simr to hers. She snorted, pinching his cheek. "What an impudent boy. You dare to lie to your mother? I know you very well." "Haha..." Xie Qing smiled and shrugged, not paying attention to the slight prickling in his cheek. Xie Meiling shook her head. Considering that this boy was her favorite son, she knew that his heart was full of ambition. A carefree old age? No, he would never be satisfied with that. "You want to be an Immortal, right?" Xie Meiling asked. "Eh..." Xie Qing froze. He looked surprised at Xie Meiling, who rolled her eyes. "It was obvious when you asked Xu Mei about the cultivation stages above Transcendence," the woman exined, looking displeased: "You''re afraid that we''ll feel the pressure, so you didn''t talk about your ambitions?" "..." Xie Qing shook his head ¨C this was not a gesture of denial, but just a slight surprise. After all, Xie Meiling was right. With his talent, he can be the strongest in the world. And with the help of the system, he will be invincible for all eternity. However, is there any point in this? A mortal remains a mortal. Immortals can kill hundreds of such Transcendence cultivators. Although it was unknown whether there was a true Immortal World, Xie Qing did not want to give up without trying. Therefore, he was persistent and wanted to raise his cultivation level as soon as possible. However, the fact was that he would have to wait. After all, except for Xu Mei, no one had enough talent to be a Transcendence cultivator in twenty years. This was the pain in his heart. He had a choice ¨C either stay in the mortal world until his women reached the appropriate cultivation level... or rise himself. This was his problem. Chapter 195: Son and mom (Part 1) (R-18) Thanks for your support with PS and GT! Enjoy! ==== Xie Qing''s room. Usually, Xu Mei would apany him in bed when he stayed in the manor, but today was not that day. p, p. Xie Qing looked at Xie Meiling with a neutral expression, sitting on the corner of the bed. His gaze was fixed on her. Dressed in red lingerie that was semi-transparent and barely covered anything, his younger brother showed signs of awakening. The woman knelt, and her gentle hands stroked Xie Qing''s jade-like rod. It seemed that shecked attention, and Xie Qing did not refuse her. Moreover, the movements of her hands were very pleasant. Thanks to her soft and slightly moist palms from sweat, Xie Qing felt as if he was in heaven. Each of her touches,bined with the use of Qi to enhance the sensation, was unparalleled and skillful. Her expression remained neutral, not showing any hint of emotions. However, the eyes are the window to the soul. In her ck, pitch-like eyes, there was excitement that could not be hidden behind a facade of indifference. After stroking Xie Qing''s beast for a while, she pursed her lips, slightly moistening them with her pink and seductive tongue, and then slowly leaned her head down. Her small mouth opened, and her cherry lips made a smacking sound as they touched the head of Xie Qing''s penis. A slight shiver, almost imperceptible, set the pace for their entertainment. The woman''s free left hand slowly moved down to her younger sister, and she began to caress herself. But after a few seconds, she became so engrossed in sucking her son''s dick that all her attention was focused on this process. Xie Qing, on the other hand, felt incredible. Every movement of Xie Meiling''s tongue brought him unparalleled pleasure. Moreover, her hand skillfully massaged the base of his dick, and although Xie Meiling wanted to touch his precious stones, Xie Qing found such an idea inappropriate. "Smack..." Xie Meiling smacked her lips, batted her eyes, and continuously looked into Xie Qing''s eyes. This was her favorite part during a blowjob - watching her son''s facial expression. "Ugh..." Xie Qing decided not to hold back tonight, so after a few minutes, he felt a shiver run down his cheeks, and then he grabbed Xie Meiling''s head and began to move. "Gulp... Ugh... Ugh..." Making sounds typical of this process, Xie Meiling did not object and even actively moved her head, assisting Xie Qing. After a few minutes, the young man jerked and could not hold back, releasing the contents of his sack directly into her throat. Gulp. Gulp. "Haaa..." Surprisingly, Xie Meiling swallowed everything quite easily, and then with a dreamy look and a slight blush on her cheek, she opened her mouth wide and stuck out her tongue. "I swallowed it all..." She said in a sensual tone, slowly getting up from her knees. Her breathing becamebored, either from the blowjob or from the excitement and burning lust within her. With an elegant wave of her hand, the lingerie was sent directly into the spatial ring. Xie Qing could not help but stare at his mother''s beautiful body. If we''re talking about a slender figure, she was not very thin. Xie Meiling''s body was more mature. There was fat, without it, there was nowhere to go, but there was very little of it. The highlight of her figure was a narrow waist, which was convenient and pleasant to hold onto. Xie Qing stood up and slowly approached her. His arms wrapped around her back, and with a gentle movement, he pulled the woman towards him. He ced his right hand on her back, while his left hand began to grope her buttocks and tease her flower bud. "Aah..." Xie Meiling moaned seductively, leaning forward and pressing against Xie Qing''s chest, exhaling warm air. Her skin felt hot as if she had a fever. Combined with her soft and tender skin, as well as her developed forms, even Xie Qing, who was used to a woman''s body, felt hot. "Mom... You moan so lustfully when my fingers touch you..." Xie Qing whispered seductively, and considering their mutual arousal, every word was torture for them. "But... I was told that you behaved very badly... And what should be done to naughty girls?" "N-punish..." Xie Meiling barely mustered the strength in her small fists and whispered in response, deliberately rubbing her sensitive area against Xie Qing''s hand. Since they were both naked, Xie Qing felt her two ''weighty arguments''. He smiled faintly. "Correct answer..." He whispered back and bit her earlobe. His voice became seductive: "But... What a pity... I don''t even know how to punish you? So... Won''t you give me a hint?" "!!!" Xie Meiling shivered with embarrassment. Her shoulders looked fragile, and her already red face turned even redder. However, she was not just anyone. After a few seconds, as if taking a deep breath, she leaned towards his ear and spoke. "P-please, spank me..." "Hehe..." Xie Qing smiled brightly, and the tip of his ear turned slightly red. His left hand slid down like a snake and touched her lush and passionate buttocks. p! "Kya!" Xie Meiling let out a cute girlish scream and covered her face with her hands, hiding from Xie Qing''s teasing gaze. "Heh. That won''t do. Mom, I want to see your face when I spank you," Xie Qing said as his hand drew circles on her buttocks. "B-but..." "No ''buts''... My dear mom... No, Meiling... Won''t you fulfill my request?" "!!!" A shiver ran down Xie Meiling''s spine, especially when the gentle voice sweetly whispered her name in the woman''s ear. More fluid seeped out of her wet hole, creating a small puddle on the floor. Xie Qing smiled, gently patting her buttocks, waiting for an answer from Xie Meiling. And he got what he wanted. "Okay..." The woman replied in a quiet, so quiet voice that even Xie Qing, as a cultivator, had to strain his ears to hear her. As her palms slowly and tremblingly opened, Xie Qing saw her face. "O-o-o..." Xie Qing whistled. The beautiful and usually strict face, filled with a coldness that resembled an officedy... Had turned red, disheveled, and burning with unconcealed lust in her eyes. "You''re beautiful, mom..." Xie Qing said, gently stroking her cheek. "Mmm..." He kissed her on the forehead, slowly moving down the left side of her face and reaching her neck. Kiss. "Mmm!" The kiss on the neck made Xie Meiling shiver, and her younger sister gave a lively reaction, only intensifying the floral scent in the room. His hands gently caressed her body, leaving no corner untouched. Her cute pink nipples ended up under Xie Qing''s mouth, who gently sucked on her right breast while massaging her left breast with his free hand. Slowly and gently caressing her body, Xie Qing moved to the bed. He plopped down on the edge, and Xie Meiling, who was already beginning to lose herself in pleasure, ced face down on his knees. The woman stupidly stared at the wall, and saliva dripped from the corner of her mouth. Her younger sister also continuously emitted love juice, which stained the sheet. p! "Hii!" The sound of the p and the sharp pain in her left buttock brought Xie Meiling out of her daze. She felt a slight burning sensation on her buttocks. "W-w-wait..." p! "Aah!" Her initial reaction was embarrassment. The woman could not believe that her son was the one spanking her on the butt! However, Xie Qing chose to listen to her body, which reacted to every p and gushed with fluid. p! "Aah!" p! "Oh!" "Aah!" Each of his ps made Xie Meiling''s pussy gush with juices even more. Meanwhile, her butt was already covered with a light redness that spread more on her left cheek. Xie Qing felt like an artist, and his expression looked slightly arrogant and annoying. He pped his mother again. p! "Oh..." "Oh, yes..." Then, his hand gently caressed the redness and slowly but surely, unnoticed, approached the gates of Xie Meiling''s castle. "Hm? Why did you st...OOOP! OOOH, HEAVENS!" "AAAH! YES! YES! DAMN IT!" Xie Meiling''s shocked scream was truly shocking. Two of Xie Qing''s fingers easily prated her pussy. Covering his fingers with Qi, the young man made Xie Meiling experience incredible pleasure. "Aah!" "Oooh?" "AAAH" The woman trembled and writhed, and her divine gates continuously gushed with love juice. It even reached the point where Xie Meiling was no longer able to moan. Her eyes rolled back, and there were tears in the corners of her eyes. Her mouth was wide open, and her tongue was seductively sticking out. She was experiencing a strong orgasm! Xie Qing did not rush to pounce on her, as pleasure with improper application could be dangerous. The young man pulled out his fingers and found that they were soaked. "It''s as if I dipped my fingers in a bucket of water," Xie Qing thought, slightly amazed. While he waited for Xie Meiling toe to her senses, he gently stroked her back. The woman made strange, unintelligible moans and breathed heavily. Xie Qing smiled and, although he wanted to stroke her head, he did not do so with the state of his fingers. After fifteen minutes, Xie Meiling regained consciousness on her own. "Ooh... Son, you''re a monster. Your fingers drove me crazy," she admitted, sighing softly. Her face turned red from the memory of how, as an adult woman, she moaned so loudly and lustfully. "How shameful! At my age and status... I allowed myself to be shown in such a way..." Xie Qing did not care much about this, so he only smiled faintly. After a few seconds, Xie Meilingy down on the bed on her back and spread her legs. Looking him in the eyes, the woman said with slight embarrassment: "Please, son, fuck me... Let mommy feel the hardness of your dick." Xie Qing smiled faintly. The night was still young. (To be continued in the next chapter) Chapter 196: Son and mom (Part 2) (R-18) Xie Meiling eagerly licked her dry lips, which were glistening with sweat. Her gaze, like that of a hungry tigress, stirred a particr sense of lust within Xie Qing, and the taboo effect was astonishing. The young man leaned forward and did not immediately enter her. He caressed her entrance, feeling how his fingers instantly became wet and how Xie Meiling''s body trembled with each touch. "Aah... Aaah..." At such moments, Xie Meiling''s body became extremely sensitive, so Xie Qing took full advantage of the moment and did not miss the chance to tease her. "Aaaaaah!" Xie Meiling cried out loudly, feeling how Xie Qing''s index finger entered her. She shuddered and looked at him with tears in her eyes, speaking in an offended tone: "Come on... Please... son!" Xie Qing smiled and when Xie Meiling began to feel annoyed... "Ooh! Oh yes! This hardness... How I''ve missed it!" A loud, lustful moan escaped Xie Meiling''s lips as Xie Qing''s younger brother entered her divine gates and pierced her heavens. The woman rolled her eyes in ecstasy, and a shiver ran through her body as if she had been struck by lightning. Xie Qing grabbed her legs and ced them on his shoulder, allowing him to take a position that let him prate deeper into Xie Meiling''s divine gates. "AAAH!" "Ooh!" "Oh yes! Son... Son... I love you..." Xie Meiling moved her hands chaotically, asionally touching his cheeks and chest, as if seeking an embrace. Xie Qing smiled and only elerated, reminding a miner who had spotted a diamond vein. "Ooooh! AAAAH!" Xie Meiling helplessly moaned and interrupted herself with gasps, her voice trembling due to Xie Qing''s divine instrument. Every muscle became limp, and the woman lost her strength. "Aah! I''m going crazy... AAAAAAH!" Xie Qing squeezed Xie Meiling''s breasts in his hand, gently massaging them while feeling how the walls of the woman''s vagina contracted around his younger brother. Xie Meiling''s breathing was heavy. She had just climaxed twice in a row, which had temporarily drained her of energy. Xie Qing, on the other hand, had not released a single drop of his Yang Qi, which was a great disappointment for Xie Meiling, who wanted to feel herself filled. After a few minutes, Xie Meiling leaned against the wall, arching her back. She was full of enthusiasm and initiative, agreeing to bold poses. Xie Qing indulged her desires. He slowly entered her, not wanting to rush. However, as soon as he entered just the tip, a strong pressure formed around his jade pir. "Ugh..." Even he, a man ustomed to such "squeezing," found it difficult to resist this force. "Heavenly Dao begins with self-understanding... The power of the Heavens is realized only by those who, since birth, have not flown, not run, and not stood..." Xie Qing recited some mantras he had read in a book. This helped him regain control and not release his Yang Qi. "Ah, you!" Xie Meiling noticed this and was extremely displeased, frowning. Her face flushed when she felt Xie Qing''s rare movement. "Aah!" p! "Hii!" A sharp movement was followed by a p on her buttocks. Xie Qing''s palm easily touched her buttocks, and a small wave appeared on her flesh for a split second due to the impact. The young man passionately squeezed her buttocks while moving aggressively, exerting all his strength. "AAAH! S-stop! Let me catch my breath... Aah! I... I''m going crazy! OOOH!" Xie Meiling shuddered again and helplessly moaned as her body trembled, releasing Yin Qi. Xie Qing no longer held back. "Mom, I''ming!" He cried out the extremely shameful words, for which even I felt awkward. "Y-yes! Cum in me!" However, for these two, this moment was special, and Xie Meiling was so happy that she did not hide the obvious joy on her face. The young man made two strong thrusts, and his Yang Qi spurted out, filling Xie Meiling from within. After a few seconds, when the action was over, he pulled out his jade pir and took a step back. "Aah... What bliss..." Xie Meiling moaned lustfully, still standing in the doggy style pose. Thick Yang Qi flowed from her divine gates, resembling a waterfall. Xie Qing moved away to the nightstand and picked up two sses, then the spiritual wine. Xie Meiling did not ask any extra questions and, after cleansing her body using a basic Dao technique, she sat on hisp and epted the ss filled with wine. "To your health, mom." "To your health, son." They smiled at each other, and in any other situation, it would have looked cute. But when a woman... A mother, being naked and sweaty, sat on her son''s jade pir... Well, I don''t even know how toment on that. When they clinked sses, the ss emitted a faint ring, and the spiritual wine slightly glowed in the sses. These were special sses that Li Yun had given him. Every time he clinked sses with someone, the liquid inside the ss cooled to a pleasant temperature. "Oh! What a pleasant taste..." Xie Meiling genuinely marveled, looking satisfied. "Naturally. This stuff cost me a pretty penny," Xie Qing replied with a smile. He drank the wine elegantly and with all the refinement and primness - extremely neatly. Usually, he was not like this, but this spiritual wine was special and had cost him thousands of spiritual stones. Therefore, he genuinely enjoyed every drop. Xie Meiling also, like a traveler who had found an oasis in the desert, drank the wine extremely patiently and slowly. During the process of drinking wine, especially expensive ones, haste will only make you lose precious time and money. The tastes in particrly expensive wine varieties only manifest themselves after several seconds have passed. This is why simply pouring wine into your stomach would be an extremely barbaric method. Although to be honest, it''s so tedious and annoying that most people don''t care. Only fanatics like Xie Qing and Xu Mei cherish every drop of Spiritual Wine as if it were a Heavenly Peach. Surprisingly, they became so engrossed in the taste of the wine that they came to their senses only after emptying the bottle halfway. "Oh. I got carried away, I''m sorry," Xie Qing sincerely said, feeling embarrassed. "No, I''m also to me..." Xie Meiling awkwardly coughed, and her smile looked forced due to embarrassment. After all, at her age, she had allowed herself such a thing... Therefore, they both decided to put the drinking aside. Xie Qing ced the ss and wine bottle on a small cab and looked at Xie Meiling''s face. There, he noticed a few droplets of wine. Smiling faintly, he leaned forward. "Eh? Mm...." Xie Meiling could not react in time, and her lips were sealed by Xie Qing''s lips, while her tongue was subjected to an attack from the young man''s side. "Mmm!" The woman moaned loudly into Xie Qing''s mouth as his tongue stimted her arousal. Unconsciously, Xie Meiling wrapped her legs around Xie Qing''s waist, and her buttocks began to sway, squeezing Xie Qing''s jade pir, which was inside her vagina. Xie Qing pped her buttocks and began to move, prating her in this unusual pose. "Aah!" Her crazy, desperate, and pleasure-filled scream was long and beautiful, like the singing of birds. Every touch of her delicate skin felt a hundred times stronger to Xie Meiling, which wasrgely due to her particr physique. p! p! Xie Qing pped her buttocks as if concerned, and his hands moved continuously around her waist, squeezing and touching her soft and hot skin. Xie Meiling''s voluptuous breasts pressed against Xie Qing''s chest, and the woman intentionally rubbed them, increasing their mutual arousal as much as possible. Their gazes met, and no long conversations were needed - they kissed again. These two monsters continued to have sex until morning and would have continued if not for Xu Mei''s displeasure. *** "Master..." Sliurp... Xie Qing lost his speech, watching Xu Mei, who was moving her head continuously, giving him a blowjob. She seemed to be stuck to his jade pir, looking somewhat offended. Well, it must be said that although Xu Mei had agreed to give up for one night, her jealousy was still present. Therefore, Xie Qing, since early morning, even without fully resting from the previous act, was forced to go back into battle. "Master... I''ming!" Xie Qing did not hold back, as he knew that Xu Mei liked the taste of his Yang Qi. He squinted, feeling an unparalleled pleasure. "Haaa..." Xu Mei took a deep breath and smacked her lips, licking her pink tongue over her pte, as if not wanting to leave a single drop. Xie Qing, at this sight, once again felt how his younger brother armed himself in bronze and prepared for a new battle. "Ooh... It seems you just have to fuck me today." Xu Mei spoke in a seductive voice, and her eyes sparkled. Until nightfall, Xie Qing apanied Xu Mei, and in the end, they went to bed together after showering. In bed, Xie Qing hugged Xu Mei and pressed her against himself, and the woman showed a happy smile on her face, which looked so cute and attractive that Xie Qing''s mind became sweet. Her soft cheeks pressed against his corbone, and the woman hugged him and closed her eyes, falling asleep. After a few minutes, Xie Qing could only hear her beautiful snoring. Xu Mei had barely slept for so long, so he was d that she was able to rest a little. It was a restless night. Chapter 197: Thoughts, worries, decisions A gentle breeze, like a sigh, swept through the luxurious garden. Xie Qing sat under a tree, his eyes tightly closed, and his breathing even and slightly weak, as if he had fallen asleep. Sitting under the apple tree, with his white robe and in conjunction with the surrounding scenery, he looked more beautiful than the immortals themselves. Suddenly, as if stirred by the wind, one of the apple tree''s leaves detached from its branch and began to descend towards Xie Qing''s head, spinning as it fell. But in the moment when the leaf was just ten centimeters from his head... Swoosh! A sudden sharp gust of wind burst from his body, shredding the leaf into a thousand pieces! However, Xie Qing remained immersed in his cultivation and showed no reaction. This was because his understanding of the Dao of the Sword had reached such a level that during cultivation, an invisible barrier formed around him that instantly killed anyone who tried to touch him. Such an unusual barrier was generally amon urrence, but only for cultivators at the Divine Transformation stage. Therefore, such an effect at a young age and cultivation level was considered abnormal. However, considering that this was Xie Qing, it was pointless to be surprised by his actions. It was better to just save one''s strength. From a distance of ten miles, a beautiful woman with long ck hair and blue eyes stood, Xu Mei. As an experienced cultivator and an expert in the Dao of the Sword, she could see this imperceptible aura surrounding the young man. And she was pleasantly surprised, amazed, and her face reflected strong joy. "What talent! Moreover, he is so diligent..." It was rare to find someone as diligent as Xie Qing among geniuses, considering their age. Most of these young men first wanted to solidify their status and to be fair, many geniuses of his age had more concerns. However, Xie Qing devoted his heart to cultivation, and although he had taken a few steps, such as controlling the Xie family and the title of imperial censor... He still preferred to spend his time meditating and training. Xu Mei smiled as she watched him. In her calctions, at this pace, he would catch up to her cultivation level in just twenty years. "Sigh, if only I could break through..." Xu Mei felt a sense of despair. At her cultivation level, ordinary Qi absorption was no longer helpful. She also needed Enlightenment. Furthermore, each improvement in level required a significant increase in the surrounding environment. Starting from the Spiritual Ascension stage, a cultivator transformed their Qi into Immortal Qi. Although the name was unofficial, and ording to the epted version, it was Higher Qi, many practitioners liked to call it that for self-satisfaction. The Higher Qi emitted by the mortal world could barely cover the expenses of someone at Xu Mei''s level. Therefore, until they found a valuable treasure or a ce with dense Higher Qi... "I''ll have to stay stuck..." The woman''s expression darkened, clenching her fists. Her eyes narrowed, and the right corner of her mouth turned up in a contemptuous expression. *** Xie Qing opened his eyes and felt a slight dizziness. He had been immersed in cultivation for an entire day, which helped him stabilize himself. His worries, fears, and doubts disappeared during cultivation, stabilizing his soul. Checking his body with Qi, he sighed in relief when he discovered minor but present changes. "I hate my character. Although I haven''t been able to break through for a long time, I can still see changes. I feel like if this continues, it could be my Heart Demon," Xie Qing thought with a sour expression as if he had swallowed ten boxes of lemons. His cultivation base was still at the first stage of Soul Integration. Considering his age, this was still too fast, but Xie Qing had a character trait, and sometimes he thought too much. The fear of returning to his mediocre self was what troubled him. "What if I be weak again?" "What if I can''t break through in twenty years?" "What if..." Many dark and unpleasant thoughts upied his mind, and it was bing torture. During cultivation, from time to time, he could even hear a faint, indistinct whisper. This was the first manifestation of Heart Demons. Although Xie Qing could buy an item that would suppress them, he believed he should ovee this himself. "A person''s deadliest enemy is themselves. Anyone can defeat a cultivator, but not everyone can crush them..." Xie Qing thought, rxing his eyebrows and rubbing his slightly aching forehead due to the headache. "Well, at the very least, my haste is too ridiculous. I can''t allow myself such thoughts, or I''ll seem like a failure..." Rxing his legs, he pushed off his hand and stood up for a second. The apple tree swayed, and a fruit fell from above, caught by Xie Qing. "It seems that due to the excellent conditions and the dense Qi in the air, the tree is bearing fruit earlier. This is truly surprising..." Xie Qing thought and took a small bite of the green apple. The sour juice immediately touched his tongue and instantly took over the cavity of his mouth. The taste was amazing, just the way he liked it. Moreover, inside the fruit were barely noticeable but still present Qi particles. "I should warn the maidservants not to let the estate servants carelessly eat the fruits from the trees. Even a small amount of Qi can be poisonous to them," Xie Qing thought, appetizingly biting into the apple. Most mortals, except a few, had an intolerance to Qi at the gic level. If they were under the direct influence of Qi, which could ur from being near spiritual objects or directly consuming products containing Qi... It could be fatal. Of course, there were cases where they survived, but it was doubtful that there would be objects or fruits filled with Qi in the ces where mortals lived. Xie Qing had mortals in his estate who had excellent resistance to Qi exposure and, if desired, could be cultivators. However, there were still servants with weak health. *** Days without serious incidents were sweet, like honey, when the soul could enjoy the feeling of peace and tranquility for a long time. Xie Qing, although very mischievous and hyperactive, still liked to take things slow and enjoy every second. A whole month flew by unnoticed. Busying himself with things like satisfying the needs of his women, cultivation, and sword training... Xie Qing had quite improved his skills. There were still no noticeable changes in cultivation, which was sad, but the young man no longer paid much attention to it. In the end, peaceful days were good, but Xie Qing preferred to warm up a bit. And after some time... "Regarding your n. I have a few ideas that we''ve been discussing for a month." One day, after dinner in Xie Qing''s room, he and Xu Meiy naked on the bed after a Dao discussion session. Xu Mei''s expression looked extremely serious, and her usually rxed eyes looked sharp and dark. "We''ve secured the help of a person... and... This person has agreed to help us dy the devilish cultivators," Xu Mei said with a strange expression as she nced at Xie Qing, who was listening attentively. "I see... It must not have been easy to convince this expert? As far as I know, the strongest in the world mostly spend their days in lifeless ces..." "Ah, well..." Xu Mei looked a bit strange, and the corners of her mouth trembled. "In any case... We''ll discuss the conditionster. The main thing is that this person has agreed, and... For starters, you need to master a few skills. Moreover, Liu Yang is working on a pill recipe that will mask your presence." "About that..." Xie Qing noticed Xu Mei''s strange behavior, but he decided to postpone discussing it until better times. He stood up and walked to the chair where his clothesy, pulling a ring out of his pocket. "I have a pill recipe that will help us with this," Xie Qing said and pulled out a jade scroll, handing it to Xu Mei. "Oh? Where did you get it?" "It''s a secret." "Hm? You little rascal, have you grown so much that you''re already hiding something from your Master?" Xie Qing shrugged in response to Xu Mei''s grumbling, who immediately opened the scroll. With each paragraph, she read of the recipe and the pill''s description, her eyes widened more and more, which looked amusing from the side. "H-how... What a wonderful means! A pill that can change one''s appearance to such an extent... And also suppress aura and cultivation level! It''s even possible to imitate another aura..." Xie Qing smiled. Of course, he had obtained this item from the system. The recipe was called "Dao Concealment Pill," and it cost him over a million Spiritual Stones. Its purpose was to change one''s appearance. However, the catch was that it could change even the aura, which was already the main requirement for hiding oneself. Before this, when Xie Qing checked for something simr, this pill did not appear in the catalog. But after significant sesses during training, it suddenly appeared and immediately caught his attention. He had to work hard to allocate the money and buy this recipe. Moreover, the ingredients were so expensive that it would take another year to gather them, and the amount of money spent would exceed a billion. However, Xie Qing had already informed the Empress about the price issue, and to his surprise, she gave her approval and expressed her desire to help with the financing. This was why Xie Qing was now more than confident. Xu Mei remained silent for some time and then said with a serious expression, "We''ll immediately visit Sister Liu Yan. I''ll also ask Zhang Mei toe with us." Chapter 198: Spatial Distortion Xie Qing stood by the wall and took deep breaths, fighting the urge to present what he had eaten for the week. The thing was, the space where Xu Mei, Zhang Mei, and Liu Yan agreed to meet was very far away, and ordinary formations could not reach it. So, they had to go through a certain spatial distortion, and... imagine that you are eating at a speed of 500 km/h, and all around you, lights of different colors are shing. This journey was too heavy, and Xie Qing sighed, feeling the unpleasant sensations gradually disappear. "Are you okay?" Xie Qing nodded, waving his hand. He didn''t even need to turn around to know who it was. The smell of pills gave her away. "Lu Yin... do you have a pill for something like this?" Xie Qing asked with a pale face, wiping the corners of his mouth. "Ah! That''s right, I had one... p-wait, l-really?" "Don''tugh." "Khm... h-here, take it..." Xie Qing snorted and swallowed the pill. Immediately, he felt a light cold spread through his body, and the unpleasant sensation of dizziness disappeared. He sighed in relief. "I thought I would have to rest for another half an hour toe to my senses," he said, looking genuinely d to have returned to his normal state. "Everyone experiences this during spatial distortion. When I went through it for the first time... ugh... it''s still a shameful story..." Lu Yin said with a crooked smile. "Oh? So you were just gloating?" "Hehe, a little." Xie Qing rolled his eyes. The color of his face had already begun to return to normal, so his mood improved slightly. Xu Mei left him and went to the two Sect Masters, leaving Xie Qing to rest a little. "By the way, didn''t your Master have a Sobering Pill?" Lu Yin asked on the way. "If she did, would I be suffering? She forgot that my body is not used to such adventures..." Xie Qing replied, rolling his eyes. "Well, she is a Transcendence cultivator. For her, spatial distortion is like a walk in the garden," Lu Yin replied with a giggle and a hint of envy in her voice. "I will never repeat this experience, even if I reach Transcendence..." Xie Qing replied, grunting. Involuntarily, he remembered his experience and those annoyingly bright colors... ugh, he felt like making a short presentation of the contents of his stomach again. However, with mixed feelings, they reached a two-story wooden house, which was the only building that Xie Qing saw there. "Over here!" a female voice belonging to Xu Mei called out. The young man nodded and, together with Lu Yin, approached the veranda where the trio of Masters were sitting. "And Li Yun?" Xie Qing was surprised not to see his other girlfriend. "She is in secluded cultivation, so she cannot visit us for now," Zhang Mei replied in her usual cold voice. Today, the three Masters were dressed in simple, white robes. On the tabley teacups, from which steam rose, bringing a pleasant aroma to the air. Xie Qing pushed back a chair and helped Lu Yin sit down, then sat down himself. "Xie Qing, we have discussed your idea... although it will be very dangerous, especially for you, considering all the circumstances, it seems we really have to use this method," Liu Yan expressed with her usual gentle smile. She folded her hands into a lock and propped up her chin: "Of course, I''m counting on you to give us this recipe... right?" "989,984 Spiritual Stones, and it''s yours," Xie Qing replied directly with a serious face. "Pfft, miser. But I''ll buy it," Liu Yan waved her hand and threw a spatial ring at Xie Qing. "Thank you for your purchase~." Xie Qing brightly smiled and took out the recipe for the Dao Concealment Pill, handing it to Liu Yan, who immediately began to read it enthusiastically and mutter something to herself. Xu Mei and Zhang Mei, and especially Lu Yin, did not react to the woman''s strange behavior, and Xie Qing simply thought she had problems with her head. Zhang Mei drank some tea and casually said: "By the way, it seems to me that you have improved your skills a bit, haven''t you?" "Me? To my shame, it''s just a minor change." Tsk, tsk. "...?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow when he heard simultaneous tongue-clicking from both sides. One came from Lu Yin, and the other from Zhang Mei. "What was that?" he asked with a puzzled face. "Nothing. Your Master also carried such nonsense with a serious face. Remembering this, I started to get annoyed..." Zhang Mei replied with an indifferent face. "Hey!" Xu Mei, who was suddenly included in the conversation, cried out in displeasure, but Zhang Mei just snorted, ignoring her. After half an hour, Liu Yan suddenly came to her senses from her strange state and then smiled brightly. "We''re in trouble!" she suddenly said, greatly shocking everyone. "W-what do you mean?" even the eternally indifferent Zhang Mei felt a slight nervousness when she heard Liu Yan''s words. "R-right. Stop dragging it out, what happened?" Xu Mei was worried. Xie Qing was also curious. What could have made Liu Yan say such words? "Well... there are two ingredients that I cannot obtain even with the help of all the cultivation sects in the world. They simply do not exist in our time!" Liu Yan replied with slight dejection: "I can look for substitute ingredients, but it will be difficult." "Hm? Which ingredients are missing?" Xie Qing asked. "Ah? Well, it''s the Heavenly Star Flower and the Enraged Rhino me..." Liu Yan replied. Almost instantly, Xie Qing activated the system store and searched for these two ingredients. His heart was beating wildly, like an Audi on the racetrack, but... [No results found for your query]. "Damn it..." Xie Qing was stunned and plopped down on the chair. Although they could try to find simr ingredients in properties, it would take a long time ¨C from one year to five years. He could not naively believe that nothing would happen during this time and their enemy would be peacefully sitting in their nest. There was an option that with a major breakthrough, the system store would be replenished with new items, but it was not as easy as it sounded! After all, the breakthrough from Soul Integration to Spiritual Ascension required a lot of effort and resources. Even with the most optimistic view, it would take no less than two years! Xie Qing sighed. His mood suddenly worsened, as did the others. The only one who still held hope was Liu Yan, who immediately took a book out of her spatial ring and began flipping through the pages. The young man shrugged and went outside for some fresh air. The Qi here was of high quality and dense, so he decided to cultivate it. Sitting in the lotus position, the young man closed his eyes and entered deep cultivation in two seconds. Lu Yin watched him and was genuinely surprised. "This... wow! How fast he absorbs Qi!" she eximed in amazement. "Huh? Indeed. Although I''ve seen it once, his talent still surprises me," Zhang Mei said, casting a brief nce at Xie Qing. "Hehe. He''s my disciple!" Xu Mei boasted, puffing out her chest. "Disciple? I thought you would say ''my husband'', huh? Did you break up?" Zhang Mei added. "S-shut up!" "Heh." Lu Yin was speechless, watching as two adults with incredible influence in the cultivation world... argued like children! And she couldn''t help but blush when she heard the crude words they used. These elders have no pride at all! The girl ran away and began to cultivate next to Xie Qing, no longer wanting to listen to their dialogue. She was pleasantly surprised to discover the quality of the Qi, so she immediately immersed herself in meditation. Xu Mei and Zhang Mei grumbled at each other for another fifteen minutes, but then they got bored. Liu Yan had not uttered a single word during this time, flipping through the book like a possessed woman. Her eyes moved swiftly, reading every word and not missing even themas. *** "Any results?" The first thing Xie Qing asked when he opened his eyes was whether they had found anything. However, Lu Yin could only shake her head with a sour face. It seemed that this question turned out to be too difficult for them and would require more time. Xie Qing didn''t really expect them to find everything so quickly. At least the fact that steps towards this had already begun now was a good result. "We need to ask the Empress to allocate funds so that your sect can experiment with herbs and other ingredients," Xie Qing said with a thoughtful expression. "The Master has already sent a request and is waiting for an answer," Lu Yin said and weakly smiled: "By the way, since we have nothing to do, how about a sparring session?" "Sparring? I''m not against it, why not?" Xie Qing stood up and shook the dust off himself. He took out a training sword and said: "You can use a real one. Besides, I''ll take three hits and will only block your attacks." "How nice..." Lu Yin sighed in relief. If Xie Qing had fought seriously with her, she would have been left with only cosmic dust. So, the girl was immediately d to hear about the handicap. Therefore, without hesitation, she began her attack. "Tiger''s Rage Strike!" Swoosh! Xie Qing slightly raised his sword and felt an awful force concertizing on his wrist. Chapter 199: Heavenly Lightning Xie Qing was, to put it mildly, surprised. Lu Yin''s physical strength, considering her cultivation level, was very... terrifying. This advantage gave her the ability to deprive her opponents of their bnce, and if someone was weaker than her, she could even crush them. "Hm... why don''t you study martial arts?" Xie Qing asked, merely parrying her attacks. He smiled, looking at Lu Yin''s body: "Although you look slender and weak, your physical strength is amazing. I think if you practiced martial arts, you could easily defeat your enemies." "Martial... arts?" Lu Yin repeated, puzzled, and her sword froze in the air. "Indeed. To be honest, you have more potential in martial arts than in the Dao of the Sword, do you understand? It would be too wasteful not to use your abilities to the fullest," Xie Qing exined and looked at Liu Yan: "I''m right, Miss, aren''t I?" "Absolutely right," Liu Yan nodded. She had been distracted from her book, not finding anything suitable, and decided to take a walk. There, she saw these two sparring and decided to observe them for a bit. And, to be honest, Liu Yan was genuinely surprised at how easily Xie Qing parried Lu Yin''s attacks. This was not about the strength of a Soul Integration cultivator, but his skills. Every move seemed to be calcted hundreds of steps ahead, which once again shocked Liu Yan, who could not believe the existence of such talent. Xie Qing''s development speed in some moments was even higher than that of Xu Mei, but it was unfair topare them, as Xu Mei grew in dangerous conditions, and her potential ignited due to strong opponents. And if not considering a few incidents, Xie Qing grew in almost greenhouse conditions, which should have slowed down his growth. "Hm-hm... indeed, Xu Mei''s disciple speaks the truth, Lu Yin," Liu Yan said after a short silence. She looked at her disciple and gently smiled: "Of course, if you like the Dao of the Sword, you can study it." "Eh..." Lu Yin didn''t even know what to say. She studied the path of the sword only because she needed a means of self-defense. After all, there were not always guards around her who could save her. Moreover, it would be too shameful if someone at her cultivation level could not even fight properly. Therefore, it didn''t matter to her ¨C the sword or martial arts, the main thing was that it helped her in the future. "Hm? Well, I don''t know, I haven''t studied martial arts that deeply..." Xie Qing replied and showed only a few strikes, which were too superficial: "I don''t have a strong interest in martial arts, because my style is the sword and Qi. So, I can''t help you with that... I''m sorry." "It''s okay, really," Lu Yin waved her hands, urging Xie Qing not to apologize: "But, can we still train with swords, right?" "Of course." Xie Qing and Lu Yin both smiled and continued to fight each other for about five more hours. Liu Yan watched them the whole time and was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly Lu Yin''s skills improved. "It seems this boy is really special." *** Xu Mei waved her hand, creating a stunning vortex that grew in size with each second. They were on an open training ground the size of a ser field. Above their heads was a dome ¨C a barrier erected by Zhang Mei. Beyond the training ground, the trio (Liu Yan, Zhang Mei, and Lu Yin) watched the training. "And what is all this for?" Lu Yin asked warily, noticing the strict protection. She was shocked, thinking, "Are they really that strong?" "Xu Mei wants to help her disciple enter the second stage of Soul Integration with exhausting training," Zhang Mei replied and, after a pause, added: "Moreover, the vortex she summoned consists not of wind, but of Sword Aura. It can be very dangerous." "Sword Aura?! B-but... there is a chance that..." "The boy will die," Liu Yan continued with a weak sigh: "Of course, Xu Mei will not allow this, but I am still against such dangerous methods. Why is this young man in such a hurry?" "Eh..." Lu Yin was puzzled. Was this Xie Qing''s request? There was something abnormal in the head of this guy, who looked like a possessed person, trying to break through to the next cultivation levels. Lu Yin even got the feeling that someone was chasing him. Of course, there were devilish cultivators, but Xie Qing always looked calm when he talked about them. "Who is he so afraid of?" she wondered, but found no answers. In the distance... "I''m giving you thest chance to reconsider, disciple. This method is dangerous, and most likely, you will lose one or two limbs. I strongly advise against using it," Xu Mei said with a sour face, looking at Xie Qing in a white robe. "Master, I am resolute about this. Please forgive me for my stubbornness, but I believe that only danger can make me break through to the next stage of Soul Integration," Xie Qing replied with a serious expression, his heart softened when he noticed Xu Mei''s concern: "I swear, everything will be fine with me. Besides, Miss Liu Yan is here, who can heal me in case of emergency, even if I lose two or three limbs." "Sigh... why are you in such a hurry? Do you know, you have your whole life ahead of you..." Xu Mei looked upset and reluctant. She kept the vortex under control, so it still hadn''t reached Xie Qing. She felt unwell, knowing that Xie Qing could be harmed because of this. Xie Qing fell silent. The reason for his hasty actions... he didn''t even know it himself. It was just a feeling. And never before in his entire life had his sixth sense been wrong. If it screamed that he needed to be stronger as soon as possible, then there must be a reason for it. Seeing that Xie Qing was silent, Xu Mei could only click her tongue at his stubbornness. "Fine, I see your determination. But don''t cry into your pillowter,ining that your Master crippled you!" Xu Mei said with slight displeasure and shouted: "Begin!" Xie Qing smiled and said: "I won''t me the Master, even if she kills me." "..." Xu Mei lost her voice, but she didn''t have time to scold him for such words when the vortex already engulfed him. All that remained was to wait for him toe out. The woman began to carefully monitor the situation. The trio also observed this situation, and Lu Yin''s heart couldn''t help but tighten with worry. She was even d that Li Yun was not here today. After all, who knows what would happen to her if she saw the suffering of her beloved? "Beloved, huh?" Lu Yin twisted her lips, feeling a slight bitterness, which she took for the aftereffects of the pill. *** The Sword Aura Vortex. What does it feel like? Well, imagine that hundreds of thousands of sharp knives are passing over your entire body, and there is poison on their tips that makes you experience unbearable pain. That''s what it is. Xie Qing sat in the lotus position, and his hair fluttered in the wind. His appearance was extremely pitiful ¨C his clothes had many small andrge cuts, from which blood was flowing. Xie Qing himself tried to heal himself, covering hisrge wounds with his Qi, but he was distracted by new cuts. "How hard it is..." Xie Qing muttered, and blood flowed from the corners of his mouth. His condition was deplorable. The training was focused on bringing the physical body to its limit and absorbing all the Sword Aura into oneself to raise the level. Although it sounded very simple, he would have to work hard to endure this trial. Taking a deep breath, the young man focused on absorbing the Sword Aura into his body. The most annoying property of the Sword Aura was that it interfered with the healing of wounds, and the natural regeneration of the body slowed down many times. A slight dizziness led Xie Qing to lose concentration. Opening his eyes, he saw that several fingers of his hands had been cut off. Was it painful? Undoubtedly. Although he felt ufortable seeing his pitiful state, the pills would help him return to his previous appearance one way or another. Clicking his tongue, Xie Qing began to absorb the Sword Aura, ignoring the pain. If he passed this test, he would not only break through to the second stage of Soul Integration, but also greatly improve his Sword Aura and physical body, strengthening it. Thanks to these advantages that shone for him, Xie Qing could restrain his scream. After all, no matter how much tolerance to pain you have, it was still hard to endure. Xie Qing closed his eyes and fell into a deep state of Dao enlightenment. Even the pain could not awaken him. "Dao of Solitude ¨C my only path" "Woven from pain, turned into pain" "Killed, but not defeated. Defeated, but not killed." "Living in eternal curse..." "..." Unconsciously... Xie Qing began to mutter a hitherto unknown mantra, from which a mysterious aura emanated. Beyond the vortex... "What is it? Why are clouds gathering here?" Xu Mei was surprised. The trio also noticed this. Zhang Mei''s expression became shocked. "These are... signs of Heavenly Lightning!" "W-what?!" Chapter 200: Second stage of Soul Integration The novel "Mission: Seduce the Master!" has reached 200 chapters! Thank you for your support. ==== Zhang Mei''s scream immediately attracted everyone''s attention, and they were all shocked. "Heavenly Lightning? But why did it appear?" Liu Yan wondered, then looked worriedly towards the vortex where Xie Qing was. "At his cultivation level... it will be dangerous to receive this attack. The consequence may be his own death." "This..." Xu Mei also noticed the changes and darkened. She waved her hand, trying to block the Heavenly Laws, but then froze. "Heavenly Laws... ignore me? And such strong resistance... what the hell?" Anyone who reached the level of Transcendence could interact with the Heavenly Laws of the mortal world. Of course, this influence was extremely weak, and one could only ''plead'', notmand. Usually, the Heavenly Laws obeyed Xu Mei''s will, but now they stubbornly resisted! This was the first time! "Damn!" Xu Mei clenched her teeth and tried to intervene by force, but she was thrown back. Falling to the ground, the woman showed shock on her face. "Wh-what... Heavenly Laws block any intervention? This is not normal! How could ordinary training cause them?" Heavenly Lightning. A powerful force that punishes sinners who have defied the Heavens. They can interfere with the breakthrough of beings with Negative Karma, which is why cultivators try to cleanse their sins. Xu Mei was sure that Xie Qing had no Negative Karma, so why... Boom! Rumbling! Loud, deafening sounds of thunder and lightning came from inside the storm. Xie Qing opened his eyes, which seemed somewhat deserted, and his expression was somewhat cold and detached. "How disgusting. Why can''t they just sit still and not interfere with me?" Xie Qing muttered in a strangenguage unknown to anyone in this world. He stood up and waved his hand. Mysteriously, a rusty sword appeared in his hand. The overall length of the sword was 110 cm. It was all rusty, as if not sharpened at all. The peculiarity was that the sword had a rounded tip with a hole in the middle, which greatly distinguished it from ordinary swords. The handle was made of pine wood, was short, and it seemed ufortable to hold. Nevertheless, Xie Qing, holding the sword in his hand, confidently swung it. Swoosh! The vortex dispersed in all directions, and Xu Mei''s Sword Aura was thrown back. Xie Qing cracked his neck and looked at the clouds still rumbling with anger. "Heavenly Lightning... hah. How annoying..." Xie Qing shook his head and sat back down in the lotus position, closing his eyes. After a few minutes, when there was another rumble, Xie Qing came to his senses. He looked puzzled at his hand. The sword had disappeared as if it had never existed. The young man was puzzled. "Where did this crap go? I don''t even remember how I summoned it... how strange." He thought, feeling a slight dizziness, and then looked at the clouds in surprise. "Damn! Heavenly Lightning? What for? I didn''t fuck the wife of the Heavenly Emperor in my past life?!" Xie Qing had no thoughts left about what he had done to anger the Heavens. He wanted to swear. However, as if seeing his annoyance, the clouds began to dissipate, and the sounds of thunder became quieter and quieter. Xie Qing checked his cultivation base and was pleasantly surprised. "Second stage of Soul Integration! Could it be that this training led to something good? Oh yes!" Feeling quite pleased, he stood up and approached Xu Mei, who for some reason was lying on the ground and looking at him in surprise. "Wh-what are you doing, Ma...ster..." Bugh. After taking two steps, Xie Qing froze and fell to the ground, losing consciousness. "X-Xie Qing?!" *** Xie Qing opened his eyes, feeling that he was on an open tform. The wind gently blew his hair, while a sweet floral scent touched his nose. Judging by the slight hardness, he was lying on the ground. His scattered ck eyes were blurry, and he blinked several times, trying toe to his senses. After a few seconds, when Xie Qing restored his vision, he dispassionately looked at Lu Yin. "Eh... y-you woke up, ha-ha-ha... g-good morning..." "...Good..." Xie Qing raised an eyebrow. His nape surprisingly touched something warm, and when he saw Lu Yin''s head and smelled the scent of pills... it dawned on him. "Knee-pillows? I now feel like a hero after a battle, cared for by a princess..." Xie Qing thought, his mind filled with all sorts of nonsense. He quickly came to his senses after lying on the girl''s knees for a while. Looking around, he raised an eyebrow. "Where are we?" "This is still the same space. The sect masters are talking to each other and trying to find a recement for some ingredients. And I volunteered to protect you and take care of you," Lu Yin exined with an embarrassed smile. "I saw that you were ufortable and decided to help... was that not allowed?" "It''s allowed. I''m willing to pay." Xie Qing replied with a serious face. "Eh? I don''t need payment..." Lu Yinughed cheerfully. Xie Qing shrugged and rubbed his eyes. Only now did he realize what had happened. He was training with the Sword Aura Vortex. After that, the Heavenly Lightning tried to strike him, but he deflected it with some strange sword and lost consciousness due to Qi exhaustion. It seemed that quite some time had passed, as the Qi in the air and his position differed from what he remembered before losing consciousness. However, the good news was that he had broken through to the second stage of Soul Integration, which couldn''t but make him happy. Feeling pleased, he tried to browse the store but still couldn''t find anything useful. Of course, there were items that could help him, but at his current cultivation level, they were useless to him for a simple reason - the young man wouldn''t be able to control them. "Let''s go to the elders. I also wanted to help them," Xie Qing said and reached out his hand to Lu Yin. For some reason, the girl stared at his hand for a few seconds before grabbing it and allowing herself to be lifted up. Xie Qing walked ahead, lost in thought, while Lu Yin looked unblinkingly at their hands. *** "Master." Xie Qing climbed onto the veranda, noticing that the trio of sect masters were at work. Hearing his voice, Xu Mei turned around, and a beautiful smile bloomed on her face. "Disciple, so you woke up!" In an instant, the woman was next to him, which greatly shocked Xie Qing. This was teleportation, which was considered a feature of cultivators at the Transcendence level.. "She used this tiring technique to reach me?" Xie Qing thought, weakly smiling. Xu Mei, like a curious cat, examined Xie Qing and even sniffed him, as if trying to find wounds or something simr. "Hm, hm..." Making humming sounds, she smiled and raised her thumb up. "You''re fine. That''s great." "Da-a?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow at her method of checking and decided to change the subject. "Have you achieved any results?" He asked, ncing at the worktable. "As you can see..." Xu Mei bitterly smiled, showing a stack of papers with the inscription "Not Suitable," which already exined everything better than any words. "Crossbreeding ingredients, we tried, and got only two results that were too far-fetched and had many unstable factors," Xu Mei said with annoyance, clicking her tongue. "Of course, we could try to make a pill with these ingredients, but it''s too expensive, and most likely, the result will be a failure." "Damn..." Xie Qing was slightly disappointed. It seemed that Liu Yan and the others would have to experiment for a long time and try to find suitable ingredients. He couldn''t help. Although he had some talent for alchemy, his knowledge was too small, and he would just get in the way. So, he decided to read Liu Yan''s encyclopedia for now, which she made copies of using Dao technique. "1780 pages... holy shit..." Xie Qing was astounded. In the outside world, such a book would be considered almost a precious stone, and a queue of hundreds of miles would form for its purchase. "Author Liu Yan... well, no wonder." The young man thought and smiled. He opened the first page, and his face became increasingly grim as he saw so much information and terms that were iprehensible to him. His brain began to boil. "Of course. Alchemy is not just swinging a sword..." He thought, feeling a slight headache. "When was thest time I read something like this? Probably when I was looking for porn books in the library and identally confused them with the method of growing spiritual flowers because of the title..." Even I lost my speech here. Remembering this, this incident made Xie Qing interested in gardening. Oveing himself, he continued to read, trying to delve into the text and get as much information as possible. After all, he held valuable knowledge in his hands, for which one could even have one''s head cut off. Chapter 201: Her smile, her sweetness, her affection Ten meters away from the veranda, Xie Qing sat on the ground, studying an encyclopedia, trying to find any information about herbs, but to no avail. "How difficult... ugh!" The young man tiredly fell to the ground, feeling a slight dizziness. There was so much information that it was incredibly difficult to understand. Even though he had enough time, most of the words remained unknown to him, which was somewhat torturous for the young man. "Xie Qing, Is there anything notable?" asked Lu Yin with a kind smile. "No, nothing... I don''t understand anything," replied the young man with a slight embarrassment on his face. "I''m sorry, I''m useless in this matter." "It''s okay. I see that you''re bored, so why don''t we take a walk?" "Huh? Are you sure? I''m fine, but will Miss Liu Yan object?" asked Xie Qing, tilting his head to the side. "No, it''s all right. I''m not much help either, to be honest. I don''t really understand how to help them, so the Master asked me to just take a walk and not worry about it." "All right, then. I saw a garden nearby. Would you do me the honor of walking with me?" asked Xie Qing and smiled. Lu Yin smiled her usual flowery smile, looking incredibly beautiful. *** Liu Yan smiled, watching the two of them walk towards the garden. "Ah, youth..." she sighed. "Are you reminiscing about your younger days? Back then, legendary phoenixes existed..." Bam. "Ugh..." Xu Mei lost her voice, watching as Xu Mei rubbed her head. Liu Yan hit her on the crown with her usual gentle smile. "It seems you have a lot of free time. Have you finished your task already, that you decided to spend your time joking around?" asked Liu Yan with a gentle smile that seemed too cold and frightening. "No..." Xu Mei flinched and turned away, picking up a book and continuing to read. Liu Yan sighed, looking at her friend. "If Lu Yin falls in love with that guy... what should I do? It''s so annoying... ugh!" Liu Yan sighed and shook her head, feeling a contradiction in her heart. "They say that when people get older, they sigh a lot. Sister Liu Yan, you..." Bam. "Agh..." Xu Mei lost her voice, and her back sweated. *** A stunning view opened up to Xie Qing. He sat on a bench and watched as Lu Yin frolicked in the water. Her shoesy on the ground near the stream, and the girl herself, holding onto the hem of her dress, was having fun in the water. The young man felt a sense of calm from this scene. It was as if he was watching the dance of a Heavenly Fairy, who could enchant anyone with just one nce. "Xie Qing!" A soft girlish cry brought Xie Qing back to his senses. He raised his head and did not have time to say anything when a ssh of water suddenly hit him in the face. "..." "Hahaha!" The young man silently wiped his face and looked at Lu Yin, whose hair was slightly wet, as was the hem of her dress. Sheughed merrily, looking at Xie Qing''s face, which had be wet from the water. Suddenly, the young man stood up and took off his shoes. He tied his hair in a ponytail and, with a look as if he was going to war, entered the river. Ssh! "Kyaaa!" Lu Yin let out a surprised cry as a wave fell directly on her, submerging her in the water. The girl fell and looked stunned, and thenughed merrily. "Hahahaha! I''ve never seen anyone use a sword like that before!" "..." Xie Qing smiled and did not respond. In his hands was an ordinary bamboo training sword with a blunt end. He swung it again and raised a huge wave that immediately submerged Lu Yin in the water again. "Wow! The water is so warm!" eximed Lu Yin. Her clothes and hair were soaked, but she was still just as carefree andughed merrily, looking incredibly attractive. "The water here is really nice," Xie Qing finally spoke and looked away. "Well, of course, I would advise you to change your clothes... if possible." "What? Why?" Lu Yin looked puzzled and then at herself. After a few seconds... "Aaaa! Turn around, please!" "Y-yes..." Xie Qing rubbed his nose and turned away. Of course, he had already seen everything and firmly fixed it in his memory. Lu Yin''s dress was made of lightweight materials that were quite thin. They, of course, covered what they should, but this material was sensitive to water, so... Now her underwear was clearly visible through her dress. That''s why Xie Qing warned her, acting like a gentleman. Of course, before that, he thoroughly enjoyed the sight. After changing her clothes, Lu Yin quickly asked Xie Qing to turn around. "Oh. That color suits you, it looks cute," praised Xie Qing out of habit, earning a gentle smile from Lu Yin, which had a hint of embarrassment in it. Lu Yin changed into the same dress, but light blue. Xie Qing loved light colors, and considering her blue hair, it suited her perfectly. Xie Qing did not have to change his clothes because he simply used a Dao technique that he learned from his mother. "There are animals here. I sensed them with my spiritual sense," said Xie Qing and smiled, looking at Lu Yin''s sparkling eyes. "Do you want to see them? They''re cute." "Let''s go! Where? Where?" "I''ll take you there." The young man smiled weakly, seeing her childish impatience, and led her deeper into the garden. In the very center stood a fountain, from which the animals drank. There was a deer, its baby, and a small white fox. "So cute!" squealed Lu Yin, slightly scaring Xie Qing. "So cute!" She ran forward, and the animals turned to her. Xie Qing expected them to run away now, but... "Wow, you''re so soft! And you''re so cute! Aww!" Lu Yin easily touched the deer and the fox she hugged to her chest. Surprisingly, the animals behaved very friendly and frolicked around her. "Uh... why did they avoid me then?" thought Xie Qing with a slight mncholy. When he tried to approach the deer, it quickly ran away, as if it had encountered a disaster. Even suppressing his Qi did not help; these guys still ran away. The young man sighed dejectedly, and then suddenly felt a light, wet touch on his hand. Furrowing his brow, he looked at his hand, which was being licked by the little fawn. "So cute," he thought, watching as the fawn snuggled up to him and purred. Xie Qing smiled weakly and suddenly noticed... that the fawn was a female! And as for the deer and the fox... damn it, they were males! "Sexist animals... that''s something new," thought Xie Qing in astonishment. However, he did not object. The young man picked up the fawn, which easily fit on his chest. "So cute. Now I understand Lu Yin''s reaction..." thought the young man and gently smiled, seeing how the fawn cutely curled up in his arms, resting its head on his chest. He was like a child trying to feel the warmth of his parent... or a spoiled girl who wanted her boyfriend''s attention. However, Xie Qing tried not to think about it. Standing next to Lu Yin, Xie Qing was surprised to see how easily shemunicated with the animals. "Aww! So cute! He''s lying on your chest so cutely, like a little kitten!" said Lu Yin with a smile. "''He''?" Xie Qingughed and corrected Lu Yin: "It''s ''she'', by the way." "Huh?" Lu Yin suddenly narrowed her eyes and gently smiled. Xie Qing felt a sense of deja vu, looking at this coldly gentle smile that reminded him of someone. However, fortunately, the girl quickly got distracted. Lu Yin yed tag with the deer and the fox, and Xie Qing... "A-a-a-a. Open your mouth~". "Mew~". The fawn let out a cute cry and opened its mouth as if it could fully understand his words, which was incredible. Xie Qing stretched out his hand and fed the fawn an apple soaked in thick Qi. The price of these apples at the market was a hundred Spiritual Stones per kilogram, and since Xie Qing loved snacking on apples, he stuffed a hundred kilograms of them into his spatial ring. So for the fawn, this was almost the best dinner of its life. Xie Qing was sure that with the help of this food, he could easily turn an ordinary animal into a spiritual one, although it would be a bit expensive. Xie Qing could not help but be touched by this cutie. She ate so cutely and appetizingly that the young man wanted to take a pet for himself too. "Hmm... maybe I should find a spiritual eagle? I''ll ask the Master to buy it for me!" thought the young man and smiled. Of course, he could take an egg from the system store, but... Xie Qing was afraid that something abnormal would hatch from there, and he would have to make an effort to tame it. Meanwhile, Lu Yin unconsciously turned her gaze to Xie Qing. Seeing his caring expression and the gentleness with which he fed the fawn, she felt a little strange. "He would make a good father," thought the girl, and then blushed. "What am I even thinking about?" With a face red as a tomato, she hid in the fox''s fur, which looked confused. Chapter 202: Her love Xie Qing waved goodbye and left the garden. Although the fawn looked lonely, and the sight almost broke Xie Qing''s heart, he couldn''t do anything about it. The fawn also wanted to follow the young man, but it was forced to stop. They left, but they promised to return. ...what kind of drama is this, anyway? *** Lu Yin and Xie Qing walked together by the bodies of water and enjoyed the sights of this space. The ce was truly incredible, full of beauty and opportunities. Moreover, the Qi here was so rich that Xie Qing felt as if he had been served the best delicacies in the world on a tter. Even though he had recently broken through, the young man did not rx at all. Instead, he worked even harder on himself to keep up the pace. "Are you cultivating again? I don''t think it''s that important at your cultivation level...right?" asked Lu Yin, who was making a flower crown. The girl tilted her head to the side, looking incredibly cute. "It''s not about that, Lu Yin. A cultivator must follow a strict schedule in their life toprehend the Dao," replied Xie Qing, closing his eyes, and his voice took on an unnatural mysterious tone, as if he were an old sage rather than a neen-year-old young man. "I didn''t know you were such a philosopher," smiled Lu Yin, and then she slowly approached Xie Qing from behind: "Hop!" "Hm?" The young man had long since sensed her presence, but he did not react because, well... it was Lu Yin. Xie Qing opened his eyes, feeling something on his head. He took out a mirror from his spatial ring and looked at his reflection, losing his voice. "A flower crown? Listen, I''d prefer something made of bones and fangs, wouldn''t I?" asked Xie Qing. Despite his displeased tone, he was surprisingly honest, at least physically. His hands gently stroked the crown of red roses, whose thorns had been carefully and lovingly removed. "I''m d you like it, hehe," giggled Lu Yin, seeing such an honest reaction that contradicted his words: "Besides, what bones and fangs? You''re not some kind of savage." "Isn''t it cool to be brutal? I mean..."ughed Xie Qing. "You''re already brutally enough, huh." "What a cutepliment. You''re also very brutal." "That''s not what you should say to a girl, you brute." "Haha! My bad!" Although Lu Yin pouted in offense, she was still smiling brightly. In fact, they looked like teenagers, and the girl even forgot that she was ten years older than Xie Qing. Lu Yiny down peacefully on the short grass. Around them were only mountains and fields filled with flowers. A ce that resembled paradise. The girl was a little emotional today. Finally, she felt rxed in the presence of someone other than Li Yun and Liu Yang. Since childhood, she had been protected, barricaded, and no one had been allowed to touch her. Like a mountain flower growing on a peak, so many hands reached out to her, but none could reach the mountain peak and enjoy her beauty up close. Over time, she too began to feel natural. The arrogance in her gaze was not obvious, but it was present in her heart. Even Li Yun was arrogant and proud. This was amon trait of geniuses. Each of them was confident and knew that they excelled at something over the others. Xie Qing was monstrously talented in cultivation and swordsmanship. Lu Yin was talented in cultivation and alchemy. Li Yun was talented in cultivation and formation mastery. Of course, neither of these two wanted topare themselves with Xie Qing, nor did they particrly want to. In terms of cultivation and sword dao, the young man surpassed even old experts. However, he was inferior to them in formations and alchemy. Perhaps this was due to his low interest in this work, which is why he did not stand out particrly. Lu Yin eagerly awaited the future, as she could not even imagine what it would be like if she and these two joined forces. "Xie Qing, do you think I''m talented?" asked Lu Yin with a slightly suppressed tone. Opening her eyes, her gaze instantly caught the clear blue sky, and turning her head to the side, she saw Xie Qing, who was sitting in the lotus position and looking at her. The young man was dressed in a thin white robe that fluttered in the wind, as did his beautiful long ck hair, which, like stars, possessed their own charm and radiance. Hearing her question, there was a perplexity in his ck, onyx-like eyes. "Of course, you''re talented, Yin. Has anyone dared to say otherwise?" he replied with a slightly fierce expression. "Eh? N-no, not quite. It''s just that looking at you, I realize that even if I receive the Blessing of the Heavens, I will still be inferior, haha..." Xie Qing fell silent, seeing Lu Yin''s self-deprecating expression. With his talents, achievements, and potential, he undoubtedly had no equals. Although he doubted that he could achieve much in formations, when it came to alchemy... he was confident in himself. However... "Don''t think of yourself like that, Lu Yin. My secret is much simpler than you might think. You are much more talented than me, rest assured." "Hm?" Lu Yin frowned and looked at Xie Qing, who had an unreadable expression on his face, and his onyx eyes darkened, bing like a mirror reflecting the girl''s beautiful face. "This..." The girl was embarrassed. In fact, she could feel that there was not a single ttery in Xie Qing''s praise. This skill she had acquired through long interactions with people. And Xie Qing''s words left her stunned. What did he mean by ''My secret is much simpler than you might think''? However, the girl understood that she should not rush him, so she did not ask any extra questions. Xie Qing smiled faintly, seeing her tactfulness, andy down next to her. "Your talent, your skills in alchemy - irresistible. Don''tpare yourself to me. I''m just an anomaly." "This..." Lu Yin could not answer. She saw Xie Qing''s slightly hazy gaze and felt a strange surge that overcame her. "Hm?" The girl came to her senses only when she felt Xie Qing''s firm muscles, and his puzzled hum, sounded near her ear, made Lu Yine to her senses. "I-I... it''s..." Apparently, unknowingly, she had embraced Xie Qing and clung to him with all her body. The pose was very intimate, and Lu Yin blushed deeply. "F-forgive me, I... j-just..." Xie Qing blinked in surprise, but seeing her embarrassment and panic, he just smiled faintly and hugged her. "Thank you. Your support is very important to me." "Uum..." Lu Yin felt how Xie Qing''s light touch slid down her slender back. She blushed, but instead of the usual embarrassment, she also felt relief and calmness. "Y-yes..." was all the girl could answer, being slightly in a stupor. The young man gently stroked her back, remembering her words. He crookedly smiled with a hint of helplessness. "...Did I show weakness? It''s a little awkward." However, this feeling was truly wonderful. When you are valued and supported. Xie Qing buried his nose in Lu Yin''s shoulder and closed his eyes, inhaling her floral scent, which was probably rted to pill concocting. Unconsciously, his mind plunged into a dreand. Snoring. "Hm?" Lu Yin heard a faint snore and was surprised to find that Xie Qing had fallen asleep. Although she could not see his face, the girl assumed that it was cute. "Xie Qing..." biting her lip, she whispered in a bittersweet voice. There was helplessness in her eyes. The girl was not a fool; she was aware of her feelings. However, this did not make it easier for her but even harder. After all, her friend also loved this guy. But... she felt a fierce desire. Not to give up and not to leave him. "How selfish I am... Li Yun will probably call me a traitor. I''m such a bad friend... but..." Lu Yin buried her nose in Xie Qing''s hair and took a deep breath. Xie Qing always smelled great, even though he didn''t use perfumes or colognes. This was rted to his Qi. If one were to try to describe the scent... Lu Yin remembered a poem by a famous poet. "In the spring field, surrounded by blooms, a warrior fought to the death, covered in blood. His legs trembled, and his sword was etched with notches. His eyes dried up, and his lips were caked with grime. Yet with every step he took, the wind scattered pollen and nted flower seeds in the ground. In that same field, the warrior will die, and in that same spot, hydrangeas will bloom." He smelled like hydrangeas. *** Xie Qing waved goodbye to Lu Yin. After spending so many days in this space, they finally needed to return to their sects for business. As they said goodbye, Lu Yin looked a bit strange, and her facial expression and smile seemed fake. However, Xie Qing did not find the right moment to ask about it. And so, they parted ways. This time, Xu Mei took care of the pill, and Xie Qing swallowed it immediately, fearing a repeat of the previous situation. Fortunately for him, they sessfully returned to the sect, and although there was a slight dizziness, everything was not as bad as before. As they stood at the gate, Xu Mei suddenly asked: "Do you like Liu Yan''s disciple?" "?!!" Chapter 203: Dual Cultivation? Nah... Quadruple Cultivation! (Part 1) Upon hearing Xu Mei''s question, Xie Qing felt a shiver run down his spine. He turned his head with a sound as if a rusty mechanism was at work. "Eh?" "Don''t pretend. Do you think you can hide from the eyes of a cultivator at my level?" Xu Mei snorted. Xie Qing looked at her expression and could tell that the girl was upset. Her puffed-out cheeks looked incredibly cute. "W-well, I can''t deny it, of course..." Xie Qing sighed and decided to just tell the truth: "You could say it''s affection on my part. She did used to like me." "Hmph..." Xu Mei made a nomittal sound that didn''t help Xie Qing understand her mood. So he thought for a moment and, putting his arm around her waist, whispered in her ear: "Actually, I was nning on buying you a ring... will you... ept my gift?" "Wh-what?..." His gentle, soothing voice made the woman shudder, and Xie Qing''s words made her blush and her eyes light up. "Do you promise?" she whispered, holding out her pinky finger. "Of course," Xie Qing said with a smile, also holding out his pinky finger. They pinky-swore, and Xu Mei became happier, while Xie Qing breathed a sigh of relief. Then the woman started walking with skipping steps, looking like a maiden in a field of flowers. *** "Secluded cultivation? Seriously? That''s something serious..." At dinner, Xie Qing brought up the topic of wanting to go into seclusion for a long time. Of course, the women''s expressions were not very happy. Disappointment and sadness were all too apparent. "Young Master, could it be that you''ve had an enlightenment?" Yu Yang asked as she poured him wine. Her enchanting figure and scent were simply amazing. "Yes, I have some understanding of the Dao of the Sword, and I want to go into seclusion... I don''t know how long it will take, but I don''t want to miss my chance," Xie Qing replied, wiping his lips with a napkin. He looked at the women and smiled faintly: "Of course, I will spend a week with you before I go into seclusion." After his words, the women smiled. For them, as cultivators, it was not unnatural to go into seclusion for a long time, as ten years for a mortal was a long period, but for cultivators, it could be just one cultivation session. "But I will make sure to work hard during this time and fulfill all your needs and desires," he said, smiling. After his words, Xie Qing immediately felt the women''s gazes in the room (including the servants) be sharp and... predatory? However, it was so brief that he didn''t even have time to react. "Did I... imagine it?" the young man wondered. They continued eating, but the atmosphere was a little strange. The women looked at each other, seeming thoughtful. *** Xie Qing was resting in his room when suddenly the door opened, and Yu Yang appeared on the threshold. The moonlight illuminated her beautiful mature figure. "Young Master..." With her arrival, the room was filled with the scent of roses. The woman was wearing revealing lingerie and a semi-transparent nightgown that didn''t so much hide as reveal her beautiful body. "Yu Yang? Come in, sit down," Xie Qing waved his hand and smiled. As expected, during this time, the women woulde to him to satisfy their desire for his Yang Qi so that they would not be lonelyter. However, to his surprise, Yu Yang sat down next to him and merely hugged him, pressing her seductive body against him. That was all she did, and she didn''t make any other moves. "Heh, do you want to be gentle today? Usually, you pounce on me," Xie Qing said with a smile, making Yu Yang blush. "Don''t tease me, Young Master... I''m not that perverted," Yu Yang said, puffing out her cheeks and looking like a squirrel. "Of course, I believe you," Xie Qing replied. Her embarrassed expression, slight embarrassment, and gentle behavior were like medicine for Xie Qing''s eyes, and he smiled as he looked at her. He gently stroked her back, making Yu Yang shiver and breathe heavily. Xie Qing noticed a clear scent of Yin Qi, which meant one thing - she was aroused. But he didn''t understand why she was holding back so much, as usually, it wouldn''t take five minutes for her to jump on his jade rod with a crazy expression on her face. And as soon as he thought about it, the door to the room opened again, and Xie Qing lost his voice. "Son... hm?" There stood Xie Meiling in revealing lingerie, and upon seeing Yu Yang, she froze and narrowed her eyes. "Hm! You treacherous woman, so you broke our promise! How shameless!" "I''m sorry, Lady Xie... but in my defense, we were just hugging! That''s all..." Yu Yang surprisingly defended herself, and Xie Qing caught something about a promise from their dialogue. He raised an eyebrow. Xie Meiling snorted and quickly walked over to Xie Qing from the other side, hugging his arm and pressing her two ''big arguments'' against him. The young man lost his voice. "What''s going on here?" On one side was the maid who had taken care of his needs since childhood, and on the other side was his mother. And they were both dressed in revealing outfits. And considering the warmth and softness with which they tried to seduce him, Xie Qing felt a slight twitch in the area of his mighty sword, which was about toe out of its scabbard and show the whole world who was in charge here. Two minutester... "Disciple... hm?" "I''m having a deja vu..." Xie Qing thought, looking at the door. As expected, there was Xu Mei, dressed in revealing blue lingerie. She wasn''t wearing a nightgown, so her figure was more exposed. She looked at the two women,pletely ignoring Xie Qing, and her eyes narrowed to slits. "Girls, we had an agreement. Why did you break the order?" she asked in an icy voice, and Xie Qing felt as if a block of ice had been ced against his neck. Xie Meiling and Yu Yang turned away, hissing, looking a little embarrassed. It seemed that they had their own time-sharing arrangement with Xie Qing, but these two had apparently broken the promise. And what about Xie Qing? Well, he found it all amusing, so he silently observed. It wasn''t every day that you got to see such aedy... and besides, he had his own thoughts. Finally... Xu Mei also approached him and hugged him from behind. Now Xie Qing was sandwiched from three sides. "Mountains on the left, mountains on the right, mountains in the back... they''re just walking mountain ranges," he thought, but did not express his thought out loud. The situation was absurdly strange, but it was amusing to him, so he just watched for now. It was like watching a drama. "Xie Meiling, why are you breaking the order? I should be first," Xu Mei said in a displeased voice, hugging Xie Qing tighter. "Hm? How strange. But as far as I remember, I was first. You even graciously agreed to give up your ce, right, Yu Yang?" "Lady Xie, it seems that you have also forgotten something. After all, you two gave me the first ce in the queue, so I would be grateful if you would keep your promise." "Oh, you!" "Sly!" Xu Mei and Xie Meiling clicked their tongues at the same time, losing their voices at Yu Yang''s audacity. Xie Qing smiled faintly. "You get along well," he finally said something instead of his usual silence. "Get along? Hm, I don''t know... partly yes, partly no," Xu Mei replied and smiled: "We''ll get along even better if you, girls, give me my rightful ce." "Hmph!" Xie Meiling snorted and looked at Xu Mei discontentedly: "Why should it be your ''rightful'' ce? After all, I am his mother, which means I should be first!" "Wait, girls, but I''ve been taking care of the young master since he was a child..." "Haha..." Xie Qingughed heartily, attracting the puzzled gazes of the three women. He suddenly did something, and each of them moaned loudly and sensually, falling helplessly onto the bed. "Let''s not argue. I am quite enduring, so I can satisfy all three of you... if you want, of course," he said, getting up from the bed and looking at the three helpless (well, two helpless) women. What he had just done was press on the Yin acupuncture points, which were erogenous zones. He had learned all this from several branch books of Dual Cultivation. Xie Meiling and Yu Yang were still paralyzed and breathing heavily, but Xu Mei almost immediately regained herposure thanks to her monstrous endurance. However, she was curious about what would happen next, so she pretended. Upon hearing his words, the women showed embarrassment and confusion on their faces. Of course, they understood that Xie Qing wanted a threesome, but... "That''s too embarrassing!" Even Xu Mei, who had thick skin, couldn''t bring herself to do it and blushed. Sharing a bed with someone other than her partner was something new to her. However, if she thought about it, this way he could give them equal attention... Xu Mei''s eyes sparkled. "Alright, I agree!" she was the first to say, shocking the other women. "Wh-what? You agree? But..." Xie Meiling and Yu Yang exchanged nces, seeing embarrassment in each other''s eyes, but at some point, desire overcame them, and they nodded. Chapter 204: Dual Cultivation? Nah... Quadruple Cultivation! (Part 2) (R-18) Xie Qingy on the bed while Xu Mei enthusiastically jumped on his jade rod. It seemed that this woman had a built-in mood switching function, as she quickly became distracted for no apparent reason. However, Xie Qing could only lie on his back like a log, as the girls seemed to have decided to indulge in self-pleasure today. But would Xie Qing agree? He was growing tired of just sitting there, so he began to move his fingers. "Aaaah!" "AAAAH!" Two cries echoed through the room, one of which was piercing, like the rumble of thunder,ing from Xie Meiling. Thanks to Xie Qing''s training, his fingers were well-toned, and he had collected cultivation techniques suitable for Dual Cultivation. "Aaaah!" Xu Mei also let out a loud and sensual moan as Xie Qing began to move his hips. She fell helplessly onto his chest, under the young man''s swift attack, who was simultaneously satisfying three women. A minuteter, the trio released their Yin Qi, no longer able to hold back, and their moans were like a symphony to Xie Qing''s ears, who listened with pleasure. "Haa-a..." "Uh... haa... haa..." Xie Meiling and Yu Yang were somewhat exhausted, as Xie Qing had been quite active. Considering their cultivation level, even their stamina was not enough for a prolonged session. However, Xu Mei... "Haaah! Haaah! Heh, just look at yourselves! You''re already out of breath? I''m just getting started!" she said with a loudugh. Xie Qing also smiled but did not criticize the women. After all, today he had given his all and used all his skills. "Aaaah!" Xu Mei quickly fell silent and turned her attention away from the other two women. Her blue eyes were filled with lust as she looked directly into Xie Qing''s eyes. She licked her lips and kissed him. "Muaa..." Xie Qing hugged her and pulled her close, feeling her tongue enter his mouth. He did not resist, and they began to kiss passionately. Xu Mei had learned to kiss well over time, and Xie Qing was impressed by her skills. He pped her on the butt, applying just enough force to make her feel it. "Ummm!" Feeling his passion, his love, and his obsession, Xu Mei took a deep breath and kissed him again, squeezing his jade rod with her vaginal walls. Xie Meiling frowned and joined them after five minutes of rest, as did Yu Yang. *** The servants blushed as they passed by young master Xie''s bedroom. Although there was not a single sounding from inside, was anyone really so foolish as to not understand what was happening? "Ah, how I envy them! I would also like to share a bed with him, even if I have to sell my soul..." "Damn, all these women are top-notch beauties... how I envy them..." "Shut up and get to work!" Of course, the servants envied and coveted, and some even eagerly wanted to watch the process (mostly women), but no one dared to disturb them. Two weekster, Xie Qing left the room looking as lively as ever. His movements were so fast that he closed the door before anyone could peek inside. "Y-young master!" More than forty people had gathered outside his bedroom door, and thirty-five of them were women. They felt ashamed when they saw the young man''s gaze slide over them. "Do you have nothing better to do? The fact that Yu Yang is resting does not mean that you should rx," Xie Qing said calmly, then waved his hand and said, "Disperse. Do not crowd outside my bedroom door and do not enter without permission. Have I made myself clear?" "Yes, sir!" The servants bowed their heads, some trembling with fear, while others... "Haaa... haaa... the young master is so hot... I want him to punish me..." "Hey, woman, calm down..." Well, it happens. Xie Qing looked at the estate and shook his head. He went out into the garden, where his acquaintance, the gardener, was carefully tending to the bushes and flowers, weeding them. "Great job!" Xie Qing praised him in a good mood. "Young master!" The gardener stood up and bowed. Xie Qing smiled approvingly at the work done. Everything was neatly trimmed, and the flowers smelled fragrant. "Excellent work, just excellent. You can count on a raise in your sry, Old Yan!" Xie Qing said in a satisfied voice, patting the old man on the shoulder. "M-young master, Old Yan is grateful for your kindness!" The old man was so happy that he immediately fell to his knees and began to bow, touching his forehead to the ground. Xie Qing did not know how to react, so he just made a sound of acknowledgment and asked him to stand up. "Old Yan, I will not be in the estate for more than six months, so I am counting on you," Xie Qing said, his voice full of calmness and anticipation. "Eh? Young master, are you leaving on a mission?" "Something like that. Until I return, take care of our garden, okay? I have also ordered several new seeds of spiritual nts, so I hope for your help!" Xie Qing said, and seeing the shock on Old Yan''s face, he rxed and added, "Of course, I will pay you well. If you have good results by the time I return, I will take care of you!" "Thank you, young master!" The old man bowed again and was about to fall to his knees, but Xie Qing held him back. He sighed, seeing how Old Yan returned to work with new motivation. Money was no longer a problem for him at this stage, so he could afford to be generous. "Although when I see the prices of items in the system store, I get chills," Xie Qing thought and asked, "System, will there be a special discount on my birthday?" [No] "What a pity..." *** Xu Mei woke up the next day after Xie Qing left. She touched her stomach, feeling the emptiness that had filled her womb since the young man left. His Yang Qi had long been absorbed by her body, so the woman was in a bad mood. However, Xie Meiling and Yu Yang looked just as unhappy, touching their empty stomachs. Although the young man had filled them to the brim, his Yang Qi was very valuable, and although it was somewhat useless for non-Dual Cultivators... "Absorbing young master''s Yang Qi helped me break through to the second stage of Soul Nascent!" Yu Yang eximed in astonishment. "I also broke through. I am at the fourth stage of Soul Nascent!" Xie Meiling was surprised. Xu Mei checked her cultivation and was greatly surprised. Although she had tried his Yang Qi before and even absorbed it, it had not brought her much benefit. But now... her cultivation, although not significantly, had improved. And, by the way, at her level of cultivation, every small improvement was already valuable. "Amazing. I have never heard of such an effect. Could it be that he has a special bloodline? But why did I only feel it now? Could there have been a seal on him initially?" Xu Mei wondered. What was even more surprising was that Xie Meiling did not have any impressive bloodline, so this shocked her even more ¨C where did Xie Qing get this bloodline. "Can bloodlines be acquired? I have never heard of that..." Xu Mei thought, feeling that Xie Qing''s face was shrouded in mystery. However, instead of being afraid, she smiled brightly: "I love mysterious men!" *** In the depths of the garden, behind hundreds of formations, there was an entrance to a cave located in a mountain. Xie Qing went inside and closed the entrance behind him with a huge boulder that had two thousand protective and defensive formations on it. After walking twenty meters, Xie Qing settled down on a red carpet that was not an ordinary carpet but a very expensive spiritual item that he had bought from the system store. [Six Dragons Carpet] | [Rank: Legendary] | [Description: The Six Dragons Carpet is a special spiritual item. It can absorb Qi and purify it, transmitting it to the user. In addition, there are protective formations on the carpet that can block three attacks from a cultivator at the Divine Transformation level. Thanks to the special formations inside the carpet, there is a sound instion function and several ancient symbols that will help you concentrate and enter a state of Enlightenment more often.] "The description is impressive, but the price is a bomb. Ten million Spiritual Stones..." Xie Qing''s eyes twitched with annoyance. His heart bled, but he understood that this thing could be very useful. He sighed and began to cultivate. "Well, there''s no point in being stingy. The road to immortality cannot be cheap!" he said, nodding, and closed his eyes. "Hm?!" Almost instantly, he felt his dantian explode with an overwhelming amount of Qi! Moreover, this Qi was so pure that Xie Qing felt a slight dizziness. Concentrating, he used his cultivation technique to properly distribute the Qi. Five minutester, the young man got used to it and began to cultivate. The carpet did its job perfectly, giving him the opportunity to enter deep cultivation. Outside the cave, Xu Mei watched the entrance and sighed. "How thoughtful. Zhang Mei has ced formations of such a level that even I cannot look inside unless I use my power. And that, in turn, will activate the protective system, and it will not be easy for me..." The woman pouted with resentment. She just wanted to check on her disciple, but even that she could not do! "How annoying!" Xu Mei stomped her foot in annoyance and left. In an instant... A year had passed. Chapter 205: One year (Part 1) On a gloomy, cool morning, the mountain range surrounding the Sect of Heavenly Sword trembled. This caused panic among most of the disciples, and many did not know what to do. The tremblingsted for more than a month and did not stop for a second. The only thing that made them feel relieved was that there was nothing else but the trembling. Over time, the disciples got used to it, so for them, it became something natural. An investigation was underway, and many experts studied the mountain range but found no problems. There were no volcanoes nearby or anywhere close to be afraid of. In the depths of Xie Qing''s garden, in front of a boulder, two women stood. "Master, is it because of him that there is such a tremor? Even now, the earth is shaking... hm!" "Your younger brother-disciple is probably mastering a powerful technique. It is natural for geniuses to disturb the rest of the world for their development. And considering that my disciple is iparably talented and handsome, I am surprised that the mountain range has not yet been destroyed!" "Are you joking? Hm, but my younger brother-disciple has indeed brought chaos to our sect. Even other sects have inquired if something has happened. It''s such a hassle to answer each letter..." "Be patient. You are the Sect Master after all. Don''t you have enough patience? We can''t tell them that it''s because of your younger brother." "I understand, I''m just grumbling... hm!" Of course, the two women were Xu Mei and Lian Lin, who had toe here for the investigation. In fact, the experts found that the epicenter was Xie Qing''s garden, but they were not allowed to enter. The rules of the estate were extremely strict, especially when it came to the garden. Ordinary servants could only enter the first part of the garden, and further only the gardener, who had ess to three parts. However, the ce where Xu Mei and Lian Lin were located was the fifth part, which was under strict guard, and any intruder would die immediately, even if they had no bad intentions. The only reason why Xu Mei and Lian Lin could enter here was that they had special tokens that isted themselves from verification. "Is he okay, Master? Although I trust my younger brother, I wouldn''t want to find out that something happened to him during cultivation," Lian Lin asked, blinking. "I don''t know!" Xu Mei replied with some nervousness and sadness. "The formation inside is too powerful, and it will take me a lot of time and energy to unlock it. It istes my Divine Sense, so it''s hard for me to say anything." "Seriously... what a misfortune..." Lian Lin sighed. It seemed that her younger brother-disciple was painstakingly meticulous and did not want to be disturbed during meditation. Although the woman wanted to stay longer, she needed to return to her duties. She said goodbye to her Master and left. However, Xu Mei continued to sit there. She had been in this position for a year, not moving an inch, eagerly waiting for Xie Qing toe out of the cave. Although Xie Meiling and Yu Yang were with her for the first three weeks, they had too many tasks and had to return to their duties. So for a whole year, without taking a step back, Xu Mei sat and waited for her disciple... lover. She was in the same clothes as when shest had dinner with the young man. She wanted to do everything to make him feelfortable, as she knew that long seclusion could drive one crazy. Days passed. Despite the rain, hot weather, and wind, Xu Mei waited for Xie Qing toe out. And one day. Skr-r-r... Xu Mei blinked her eyes, looking at the boulder... which slowly opened. She bit her lips, and in her bright blue eyes appeared tears and evident happiness. When the boulder was moved aside, a deep male voice was heard. "Master?" Xu Mei could no longer restrain herself and, like a bullet, flew into her disciple''s arms. After a year of seclusion, Xie Qing finally returned. *** "Good morning... hm?" Yu Yang woke up early in the morning, starting her duties as the head of the servants. She looked around and noticed a strange atmosphere. "Elder!" The servants began to bow to her, looking impatient ¨C there was joy and excitement in their eyes. "Eh?" The woman was astonished, as she had never seen them so excited before. Walking through the corridors, she went out into the garden, where it was very noisy. The first thing she noticed was a crowd of servants in front of the fountain. She could not help but frown. "What rudeness! The young master personally built this fountain, and they dare to treat this ce like a yground?!" Yu Yang was angry at the servants'' careless behavior. Walking with quick steps, almost running, she pushed the servants aside and froze. Her mouth opened in the shape of the letter ''O'', and her eyes uninterruptedly observed the man sitting on the bench. Long ck hair falling on his beautiful, muscr back. Eyes as ck as onyx, in which stars seemed to be sealed, and a bold, always bright smile that could drive any woman crazy. His beautiful, refined face, which had acquired more masculinity, and thin eyebrows, as well as a small, neat nose. "Y-young master..." Yu Yang felt a tremor in her legs, clenching her hands and pressing them to her heart, feeling as if she were in a dream. Her legs lost strength, and she began to fall. "Oops! Got you~." A calm, bnced, and deep male voice sounded in her ear as strong arms pulled her by the waist. Before Yu Yang could understand anything, she suddenly found herself in the young man''s arms, who kissed her beautiful face ¨C on the forehead, on the nose, and on the cheek, and then on the lips. "I missed your serious face so much, Yu Yang, you have no idea! Your face was like you were about to scold everyone, haha!" "Sir..." Yu Yang''s face blushed when she realized her position. Xie Qing carried her like a princess, and his kisses drove her crazy. "You''re so bad, young master..." Yu Yang said in an offended voice, burying her face in Xie Qing''s chest, hugging him so tightly, as if afraid to let go. The young man smiled faintly and returned to the bench, sitting there. The servants had already begun to disperse, as they saw that the mood... was a little romantic. "What a cute reaction. I didn''t expect such a reaction from the mature and serious-looking Lady Yu Yang... "Tss, quiet! She only behaves like this around the young master... and if you continue, we''ll have to work overtime." "I''m willing to work until I lose consciousness if the young master agrees to carry me in his arms... ah! How I envy her!" "Can you shut up for once?" Excitement was also present among the servants. However, they quickly dispersed, not wanting to bring trouble upon themselves. Xu Mei pouted, seeing how Yu Yang was behaving. She clung to Xie Qing andy in his arms, behaving like a ko. "Let go of him, Yu Yang! Share!" Xu Mei said offended. "I won''t. It''s my turn now..." Yu Yang replied, and her voice was low, as the woman pressed her lips to the young man''s neck. "Hahaha!" Seeing their excitement, the young manughed with such a warmugh that it instantly melted Xu Mei and Yu Yang''s hearts, who gasped and hugged him with all their might. A year of seclusion was also difficult for Xie Qing, who was a fairly tactile person. Although he did not tolerate loneliness well, he gained many benefits from it. "Hm? By the way, I didn''t notice before, but your cultivation level... heh, peak of Soul Integration, right? Congrattions." Xu Mei suddenly said. "Wh-what?!" Yu Yang pulled her head back and looked at the young man in shock. He was indeed at the peak of Soul Integration? The woman suddenly brought her lips close to his ear and whispered: "Young master... you will fill me with your semen, right?" She licked her lips and bit the earlobe of the young man, hotly sighing: "Your servant needs your semen... tonight... will you fill me?" Xie Qing shuddered. His ears were his sensitive spot, and Yu Yang''s actions and whispering made him shudder. "Of course..." he whispered, grabbing Yu Yang''s plump butt, gently stroking it. He kissed her on the lips and said: "I will divide my time and devote a month to each of you... okay, dear?" "R-really?" "I''m not lying? A month? You know, disciple, your Master is good at math, so you won''t be able to fool me!" Xie Qing smiled, seeing their excitement, so he nodded and said with a serious face: "If I break my promise, let the Heavenly Lightning strike me!" "W-wait, not so seriously..." Xu Mei waved her hands, looking shocked. She raised her head to the sky and sighed in relief, not seeing clouds. "Fuuh... um? Fhat you dufing, diftiple?" "Nothing, haha..." Xie Qing stretched Xu Mei''s cheeks and stupidly smiled. It was precisely because of such cute behavior of his Master that he missed him. After flirting a little, he asked a question. "Where''s mom?" "Hm? She returned to the sect with Lian Lin because she wanted to learn a few techniques. Don''t worry, your older sister will teach her good techniques." "Mom... and the sword? But this Dao is not suitable for her at all," the young man expressed his thoughts in bewilderment. "Yes, but she wanted to try. After all, there''s nothing wrong with trying yourself in different aspects, right?" "Well, you''re right..." Xie Qing took a deep breath, and his eyes turned into slits as he looked up at the sky. "So, the Wheel turns..." Chapter 206: One year (Part 2) Three months - that''s how long Xie Qing had been spending time satisfying his women''s needs and enjoying theirpany. Over the course of a year, each of them had umted many desires, and they behaved like wild beasts seeing juicy meat. Time passed leisurely, and Xie Qing didn''t even notice how these three months passed. He devoted a month to each woman and enjoyed theirpany. Over the year, his strength had significantly increased, and he had gained many insights into his Dao. However, all of this brought him less joy than embracing his beloved woman. *** Of course, Xie Qing''s dream was toze around and spend his days carefree, but now he also wanted to take care of some matters. ording to Xu Mei, Liu Yang had managed to find ingredients that could rece the missing ones for the pill. However, there had been no particr sess in refining the pill yet; the recipe was tooplex. Among the recent news, two months after Xie Qing''s seclusion, the devilish pathunched arge-scale attack and activated formations, turning mortals into dangerous monsters. With thebined strength of the sects, the monsters were defeated, but the cost of victory was heavy. This only made him more disappointed in his own powerlessness. The other side had the ability to ess the outside world, while the righteous path could not find a way in. This caused waves of discontent, but what could mortals do? They could hardly protect themselves, so despite their obvious dissatisfaction, they tried not to express their thoughts aloud. Xie Qing was gloomy when he learned of the losses. It was a disgrace. If he had his way, he would have stormed the barrier and killed everyone there, but two devilish lords would kill him before he could do anything. His mood had been bad in recent days, so he decided to go for a walk in the capital. Who would have thought... "Hm?" As he approached the capital''s gates, the first thing the young man saw was a crowd of people. Although this was amon sight in this ce, Xie Qing still heard something strange. It seemed that they... Hm? "Is someone fighting?" He wondered, approaching the onlookers. The first thing he saw was a cultivator at the fifth stage of the Soul Nascent realm. His Qi was unstable. "What nonsense! Why did you attack me, fellow Daoist?" His opponent was an old man who was two stages weaker. His face looked pale. "Old man, stop pretending to be a saint! Do you think I don''t know you tried to rob me?" "Nonsense! nder! I won''t let you tarnish my bright name!" Xie Qing rolled his eyes. To him, the conflict between these two was just a kindergarten. Although he could easily beat them up, the young man waited for the imperial guards. They arrived very quickly. "Disperse! You two are under arrest! Grab them and throw them in jail!" "P-please wait..." "Daoist friends, this old man is innocent... Aaaa!" Of course, the guards did not bother to listen to them or try to figure out the situation. The capital''sws were written in blood. Soon, the line returned to normal, and Xie Qing entered without any problems. Since he was wearing a mask and concealing his cultivation level, he did not have to deal with any unnecessary noise regarding his identity. "The capital is still so noisy..." the young man thought, looking around. He came here to rx, as his long seclusion had cut him off from the outside world. "Brother, today the Jianxuan Auction House is holding a major auction! They say a precious pill created by Lady ''Spring Flower''* herself will be up for sale!" "Seriously? I have to go!" "Tsk, kid, do you think they let just anyone in? Only the especially rich can get in." "I''ve saved up two thousand spiritual stones..." "Two thousand? The cheapest item there will cost over ten thousand! Oh, brother, you''re barking up the wrong tree." Xie Qing pricked up his ears. An auction house... he had never gone to such ces before because he had the system. "Could I also put something up for sale?" he wondered. The items from the system were high-quality and cheaper than the market. He could make a lot of money just by reselling them. However, the system had limits on the number of purchases per month, so this business was somewhat questionable. Moreover, if the items ran out, they would only be replenished after breaking through to the minor stage. Xie Qing had bought an item for a million spiritual stones. It was a pendant for women, with properties that improved Yin Qi and a function for umting Qi with subsequent purification. Items with an emphasis on improving attributes, such as Yin Qi and Yang Qi, were expensive, so few could afford them. Moreover, Xie Qing had only encountered two cultivators with Yin as their primary attribute. "But the Yin family will definitely be interested in this item..." The Yin family, one of the oldest families in the dynasty, stood out because it officially consisted only of women. As far as Xie Qing knew, the Yin family selected talented men and held sessions for their descendants to conceive the next generation. Afterward, the partners had to sign a contract forbidding them from saying anything in exchange for marypensation. Although Xie Qing did not like men and women who offered their bodies for money, it was simply dislike. "The Yin family has an item I need, and I have what they want..." he thought, stroking his chin: "But... will they give it up? I doubt it, considering how zealously they guard this secret. If it weren''t for Master, I probably wouldn''t have even known about the existence of such an item..." To avoid unnecessary mystery, in brief - the item was a book. Its special properties were that this book would only open for the heir of the Golden Dragon bloodline. There might be heritage and techniques in there that would be a wonderful gift for Xie Qing. *** On the day of the auction, the Jianxuan Auction House opened its doors to all guests with wealth exceeding one hundred thousand spiritual stones. This time, there would be only VIP clients to deal with. At the moment, Xie Qing had wealth equivalent to ten million spiritual stones with him. Where did he get so much money? Before going into seclusion, he bought items from his system and gave them to Xu Mei to sell. Since he needed to break through anyway, the problem of replenishment could be forgotten. "Hello! Wee to Jianxuan Auction House! Are you a guest or a client?" "I am a guest, but I would also like to put something up for sale..." "Hm?" The courteous employee smiled, but upon hearing Xie Qing''s answer, a slight annoyance appeared in her eyes. However, she still responded with a smile. "Dear guest, the rules of Jianxuan Auction House state that items for sale must be submitted strictly one week in advance. I apologize, but we can hardly make such a deal at this time..." the girl said apologetically. "Really?" Xie Qing smiled beneath his mask and leaned forward, ignoring the employee''s displeasure. "But I heard that different rules apply to especially valuable items." "Eh?" The employee was taken aback, then nodded. "The guest is correct. We do indeed have such a rule, but you must understand that we only ept truly valuable items," the girl said, adding, "I can ask our appraiser to meet with you, but please understand that if your item is not good enough, you will have to pay a penalty of one hundred spiritual stones. Are you agreeable?" "I agree." The girl bowed and asked Xie Qing to follow her. A slight annoyance could be seen in her eyes. It seemed that such scenes weremon for her, considering how many people brought items with hopes of a better oue. *** Xie Qing settled into afortable chair inside a fairly spacious room. There was a cab with alcohol and sses, two chairs, and a table between them. Paintings hung on the walls that seemed to be a legacy from antiquity - Xie Qing could tell because he had seen something simr in Lian Lin''s room. Although she used that painting as a fan on hot days... But that''s a story for another time. The door handle clicked, and the door opened. A beautiful, young woman with long, curly ck hair and gray eyes entered. Her figure was... mature. Arge chest and a passionate butt could ignite the fire of desire. However, Xie Qing did not react strongly because he had seen prettier girls. Moreover, as an experienced guy, he had self-control. So, after a nce thatsted less than a second, he greeted the woman with a smile. "Greetings." "Hello. My name is Xian Jue, I am an appraiser," the woman said, sitting down on the chair and continuing brightly, "I have been informed of your request. I don''t want to seem rude, but I must warn you that if the quality is poor, you will have to pay a penalty. So, if you are not confident, we can pretend that nothing happened." Xie Qing smiled upon hearing the woman''s monologue, which seemed skeptical of him from the start. Of course, this was normal. Xie Qing''s identity was unknown, and he did not emit a single drop of Qi, making people think he was a mortal. "Don''t worry, I wouldn''t havee here without confidence," Xie Qing replied casually and took out a wooden box. "Please, you may begin." === * I''m sure you forgot, but... Spring Flower is the Daoist name given to Liu Yan by the cultivation world. Chapter 207: Auction Jianxuan Auction House had an impressive reputation. Among the rich and wealthy, who would refuse to attend their annual auction? The goods they offered for sale were always of the highest quality and carefully vetted. It was unknown who the head of the auction house was, but it was known that this person was extremely meticulous. They would not ept an item that brought trouble. Therefore, the appraisers not only checked the item but also its origin. If a client refused to reveal even a part of its history, they were often not epted. "This is..." Xian Jue, a professional appraiser, was shocked by the item that Xie Qing wanted to sell. Although it was only useful to a limited group of people with the Yin attribute, who wouldn''t want to possess it? Such a wonderful item could easily cause a stir and fiercepetition at the auction. "Incredible... My words were too ignorant. I hope the gentleman is not angry..." Xian Jue bowed her head without a trace of arrogance and pride that she had before. With her experience, how could she not have realized that this item was extremely valuable? Such a client should not be missed! "Youngdy, you must be joking. Why would I be angry with you? Work is work; I''m sure you get tired dealing with self-assured people all day," Xie Qing said amicably, though he inwardly sneered: "Of course, you''ve be respectful now. This item could be sold at three times its value because of its rarity..." Xian Jue smiled brightly, seeing Xie Qing''s calmness and nodded. "You are very kind. Now, I would like to ask you to tell me where you got this item?" Xian Jue asked, narrowing her eyes. "Here ites..." Xie Qing thought. Although the auction house''s policy was extremely unpleasant and caused much discontent... for the sake of profit, most were willing to make concessions. Xie Qing smiled. He was a pro at telling stories. "In my youth, I found the legacy of a man. His Daoist name was Fated Sun Lord," Xie Qing began to speak in a serious and deep voice: "You must have heard of his influential name, right?" "Of course. This man is considered the ancestor of the Yan family, so a lot is known about him," Xian Jue nodded and smiled: "But what about the pendant? It has the Yin attribute, not Yang." "Don''t jump to conclusions. Have you forgotten the origin of the Yan and Yin families?" Xie Qing said with a smile and saw the shock on Xian Jue''s face. He continued in a whisper: "In fact, this is a secret that few people know. But the Fated Moon Lady, the ancestor of the Yin family... together with the Fated Sun Lord..." Then the young man made a gesture that anyone would understand. Xian Jue blushed, but her hands trembled when she heard Xie Qing''s story. "D-do you mean they...?" "Yes, they practiced Dual Cultivation," Xie Qing said with a bright smile under his mask and added: "This pendant is a gift from Lord Sun to his beloved. Unfortunately, the Lady of the Moon disappeared after an ident, and the pendant was the only memory of her. I found it in the man''s tomb and swore that I would return it to the Yin family. Unfortunately, I need money now, and that''s why I''m here." "W-wait, I''m trying to process what you said..." Xian Jue rubbed her forehead, feeling dizzy and pain. The story that Xie Qing told could cause a storm in the outside world. Who didn''t know about the ancient feud between the Yan and Yin families? It was said that their ancestors even hated each other. But in reality... they were lovers? This could rewrite history! "I-is this true?" Xian Jue asked and took out a token from her pocket. "Of course..." Xie Qing nodded and inwardly added: "...not. What do I know about those guys? I just made it up on the spot. Romantic stories of two lovers separated by barriers - isn''t that cool?" As you understood, everything he said wasplete nonsense. From the beginning, he lied to the poor woman, and even the lie detector didn''t help because Xie Qing made himself genuinely believe in this story. And so, he shouldn''t be suspected. Besides, the Yin family wouldn''t start hunting him down just for selling this artifact - they weren''t that stupid. Xian Jue was shocked into silence, looking at the token that glowed green. Who would have thought that the two ancestors... had such a story? If someone else were in her ce, the Yin and Yan families would have trouble. "This must not be spread around! As if we needed to earn the enmity of two ancient families!" Xian Jue thought, sweating, and brightly smiled, saying: "Thank you for your honesty, dear guest. Let''s move on to discussing the deal..." Then Xian Jue exined the auction house''s methods. There were two options: 1. Direct sale of the item to the auction. You receive the full amount withoutmission, and the price of the item is 2% higher than the market price. 2. ssic auction. The item is disyed, and bidding takes ce. After the sale, the client receives 85% of the amount, and the rest goes to the auction. "Of course, dear guest, we will make an exception for you and take only 5% asmission!" Xian Jue said and slyly smiled: "Of course, you can simply sell the item to us. We will buy it for 15 million Spirit Stones." "I prefer to put it up for auction..." "As you wish..." Xian Jue pursed her lips. Naturally, Xie Qing wanted this option, as he could get more money this way. After making some preparations, Xian Jue summoned a beautiful young woman to apany him to the VIP room. There were two categories of VIP rooms, the first being amon room, and the second being private rooms. Themon room was located on the second floor and offered an excellent view of the main stage. Although Xie Qing''s item was impressive, he hadn''t bought a single item yet, so there was no special treatment for him. "Hm? Who is that masked man? I''ve never seen him before." "I don''t recognize him. I don''t sense any Qi from him. Is he a mortal?" "How can that be? A mortal couldn''t withstand our auras. Look, he doesn''t seem to care at all. He''s probably hiding his aura." "A mysterious guy..." Of course, after entering the VIP room, he attracted a lot of attention. Most of the guests knew each other and had been acquainted for a long time. Naturally, these people were not curious enough to bother someone simply out of minor interest. So, Xie Qing calmly sat down in a chair on the second row. "Hm... Four cultivators at Soul Integration and one at Spiritual Ascension... Not bad." It could be said with confidence that everyone gathered here was of high status. So, Xie Qing could not afford to act too softly. After five minutes, a woman in a red qipao appeared on the stage and bowed to the guests. "Hello, esteemed guests. The annual auction of our Jianxuan Auction House is now taking ce," the woman said and smiled softly as she continued: "Before we begin, I would like to point out the rules for all neers. We have a very negative attitude towards people who use their power to suppress other participants. We will immediately cklist anyone who does so. Second, the bid amount must exceed 1,000 at a time if the price reaches 10,000. If the price is equal to or exceeds 100,000, then it must be 10,000 at a time. If the price reaches one million, then bids must be in increments of 50,000." Among the other auction rules, it was also necessary to prove the avability of a sufficient amount of money before bidding. For this purpose, a worker was assigned to each guest. Xie Qing frowned, hearing such strict rules. It seemed that the Jianxuan Auction House had its own atmosphere. Surprisingly, none of the VIP guests reacted - apparently, they had all been here before. Xie Qing propped up his chin with his hand. In fact, he came here out of boredom, so he didn''t know what he wanted to buy. As he was lost in thought... voices came from the entrance to the VIP room. "Younger Sister Lu, which lots are you interested in?" "Younger Sister, if you want something, let me know - I will definitely buy it for you!" "Thank you, but I have money." Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, hearing a familiar voice. He turned his head towards the door and frowned. "Of course, it''s you. Always causing amotion when you appear," Xie Qing sighed. At the entrance stood Lu Yin, apanied by three men and four women. They wore the attire of the main court of the Nine Pills Sect. Unexpectedly, he saw her here. The young man touched his mask and smiled beneath it. "Maybe I should tease her a little?" *** Lu Yin smiled gently, listening to her sect brothers'' ttery, but in her thoughts, she cursed them. "Stop pretending to be saints! Do you think I don''t notice your intentions?! Hmph!" "If it weren''t for the Master''s request for me to go out and rx, I wouldn''t havee here! Who knew that these kids would tag along..." The men tantly ttered and tried to win her favor, while the women shook their heads, trying to find new acquaintances. Suddenly, as Lu Yin politely declined a fellow disciple''s request, she noticed a tall cultivator approaching them out of the corner of her eye. "Hm?" One of the men noticed his approach and stepped forward, shielding Lu Yin with his body. In a haughty voice, he said: "Halt! What do you think you''re doing? Don''te any closer to the youngdy! She finds your presence unpleasant. Leave!" Lu Yin was speechless. "Kid, I haven''t even said a word!" Chapter 208: Ill raise you my mothers soul! Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, which began to turn a dark ck. How dare someone mock him. If it weren''t for the fact that he was suppressing his cultivation level to avoid causing a stir... would anyone dare to challenge him? He turned to Lu Yin and saw a hint of irritation on her face. He shrugged. "I''ve lived for so many years, and this is the first time I''ve seen a dog learn to speak humannguage. But a dog is still a dog, if it''s not trained, it will start biting people without the owner''s permission..." "Wh-what? You called me a dog?" The disciple was shocked! Such an insult... he was a core disciple of the Nine Pills Sect, which had influence over all the sects! "Hmph, ignorant bastard!" Another disciple stepped forward and struck towards Xie Qing, who didn''t even bother to put in much effort. Raising his hand, he easily blocked the disciple''s attack. Boom! "Soul Nascent first stage, right? You''re too weak to mess with me," Xie Qing sneered and grabbed the disciple''s leg. Crack. "AAAAGH!" The disciple screamed loudly and fell to the ground, clutching his ankle. The sharp pain caused him to lose consciousness after just a few seconds. Xie Qing cracked his neck and turned to Lu Yin, who was looking at him with a tired expression. "What?" he asked, puzzled, and then continued: "I wanted to greet you, Lady Lu Yin, but we were interrupted by an untrained dog. I apologize for that disgraceful show." "''Lady'', huh? But you weren''t very respectful when you disappeared for a whole year, bastard," Lu Yin gritted out through clenched teeth. Xie Qing was speechless, as were the others in the room. Who would have thought that... the famous Lu alchemist would say... such words. The female disciples whispered to each other. "Why does Disciple Lu look like a wife scolding her husband for being away for too long?" "Are they... a couple? But who is that guy? Do you know him, guys?" "No. He''s a stranger to me." Xie Qing remained silent for a while, then sighed and reached out to Lu Yin. "Come on, I''ll exin it to you." "Hmph..." Lu Yin snorted, looking offended, but still took his hand and followed him. "W-wait, Disciple Lu..." "Where are you going with this stranger? What if he harms you?" The young man shook his head. He wanted to take off his mask, but then there would be too manyplications. Fortunately, Lu Yin turned around and opened her mouth. "Please exin it to them, Lu Yin..." the young man said and smiled, knowing that the girl had a sharp mind and could stop the pointless conflict. "Of course..." "Hm?" Although Xie Qing thought her expression looked a little strange, he didn''t suspect anything bad, so he just waited. When they went out to the disciples, Lu Yin gently smiled and said something that caught everyone off guard: "He''s my fianc¨¦, so don''t worry. Brothers and sisters, please take your seats, and I''ll be with him for a while." "Kha... w-wait, fianc¨¦?!" "Disciple Lu... are you serious?" "H-how is that possible..." "Kha-kha..." Xie Qing coughed. Fianc¨¦? Damn, who would have thought that this girl was so bold! Under the mask, the young man blushed. Even with his thick skin, it was hard for him to ept such a blow, especially when the girl was taking the first step. Lu Yin smiled and, without exining anything further, ran to the young man and hugged his arm, gently smiling as she looked into his eyes. "We can... go talk, right, dear fianc¨¦?" Her gentle smile was like a rose... beautiful, but dangerous. But she couldn''t hide the hurt in her eyes! The young man sighed weakly, realizing that he had been too selfish. He just couldn''t spend too much time warning everyone. That''s why this happened. Sitting in the corner of the hall, where no one else could see them, Xie Qing gently squeezed Lu Yin''s hand. "I''m sorry. I was too hasty and didn''t have time to warn you, so I caused you pain," he said and sighed. When it came to sincere apologies, he was bad at it. He felt very awkward and ashamed, especially when he noticed the tears in the corners of Lu Yin''s eyes. "Do you know how lonely I''ve been? You and Li Yun are my only friends... and you''re more than just a friend..." Xie Qing gently stroked the back of Lu Yin''s hand. Surprisingly, this helped the girle to her senses, and her mood gradually improved. When the darkness in her eyes faded, it was her turn to feel embarrassed. "How shameful! I called him my fianc¨¦ in front of so many people... my parents will definitely question me.... Sigh!" Lu Yin''s gaze became tired as she remembered her actions. Her jealousy seemed to have driven her crazy, and shepletely lost her mind from resentment and loneliness. Although she tried to visit him, he was always in seclusion. Even Xu Mei couldn''t see through the formation, let alone her. "Li Yun is also feeling hurt, you know? After all, you disappeared without a trace. If it weren''t for your mother, we would have beenpletely in the dark..." Lu Yin said, taking out a teapot and tea from her spatial ring and starting to brew it. "I understand, I understand. I just wanted to take a walk around the capital, so I didn''te to see you right away," Xie Qing sighed, hearing her words. "I''m not saying this to make you feel guilty. We also understand that a cultivator''s life is full of separations and reunions," Lu Yin said and apologized: "I''m sorry, I was too pushy." "It''s okay. We''re not strangers to each other. If I really made a mistake, don''t hesitate to tell me to my face. Haha..." Xie Qing smiled, epting the tea. He took a sip and felt a wave of pleasure wash over his body. A pleasant warmth stirred his spiritual channels. "What a wonderful tea. Your technique is also excellent. Thank you," Xie Qing said with a smile. "You''re wee... but how did you even drink it? You''re wearing a mask..." Lu Yin wondered, blushing slightly. "Oh, this? Well, the mask isn''t simple, I paid a lot of spiritual stones for it. It has a formation that sends food directly to my mouth. Cool, huh?" "K-what absurdity... using formations for that..." Lu Yin was speechless. What would Zhang Mei think if she knew that someone was using formations for such purposes? She would probably go crazy. After a few minutes, their attention returned to the auction. The fifth lot was already on disy. "Dear customers, our next lot is the wless Body Pill, personally prepared by Lady ''Spring Flower''! Starting price - 59,000 Spiritual Stones!" "60,000 Spiritual Stones!" "Pfft, is that all? 75,000 Spiritual Stones!" "Hahaha, Old Jian, you can''t afford it, can you?" "Pfft! I''ll raise you my mother''s soul!" "What nonsense..." Xie Qing was speechless as he watched the cultivators turn from noble representatives of society into a pack of beasts. "It''s normal. The Master''s pills always sell out in seconds, and for these people, this is their only chance to get them. That''s why there''s such a fuss," Lu Yin said, sipping her tea and continuing with a smile: "Of course, this isn''t her best pill, just some leftovers that are sold at high prices." "Even her worst leftovers can easily surpass my best pills..." Xie Qing said, also speechless. "What''s the point ofparing you two? She''s thousands of years older than you. It''s not a question of talent, but of experience." "You''re right..." Xie Qing shrugged and continued to watch the auction. To be honest... he didn''t need anything here at all. Although,pared to him, Lu Yin bought a few things she needed. "And so, dear guests, the next lot... the Hundred Lotus Cauldron!" "That''s..." Lu Yin''s gaze immediately fixed on the lot. It was a gray cauldron with lotus patterns that merged into one line. Even Xie Qing, who didn''t have very detailed knowledge of alchemy, could tell that this cauldron was of a very high rank! "Starting price - 670,087 Spiritual Stones!" "900,000!" "1,234,569!" "1,560,416!" Xie Qing looked at Lu Yin, who seemed to want to buy this cauldron. The young man checked his store and frowned. It seemed that there was nothing there that would suit her better than this cauldron. "Here." "Hm?" Lu Yin turned to Xie Qing and saw that he was holding out a spatial ring to her. The young man tossed the ring into the girl''s hand and propped up his chin, crossing his legs. "Use these funds as you see fit. If it''s not enough, let me know and I''ll give you more..." "Eh?" Lu Yin curiously checked the spatial ring and was greatly surprised. "W-wait... there''s... 50,000,000 Spiritual Stones here?!" "Yep. Use it to buy that cauldron. You like it, don''t you?" "Yes, but... that''s your money. It''s too awkward for me to use it..." "Use it." Xie Qing shrugged. He didn''t need anything at this auction anyway. Lu Yin bit her lip and turned her gaze to the lot. "Thank you..." the girl said and kissed him on the cheek. "Um..." Xie Qing nodded, dazed. Chapter 209: Yin and Yang (Part 1) "2,000,000 Spiritual Stones!" Shock! As soon as Lu Yin made her bid, everyone''s attention was drawn to these two. Most people didn''t pay much attention to Xie Qing, they were only interested in Lu Yin. "The heir of the Nine Pills Sect made a bid?" "Oh, that old man doesn''t dare topete with the youngdy!" "Healer Lu wants that cauldron, so it will be hers!" "Our family will give up this lot to Lady Lu!" "The Jian family will also give up!" Xie Qing was speechless, as was the host. The young man was more shocked by the difference in behavior of these old bones, while the host was crying bitter tears. "We could have sold the cauldron for ten million!" The organizers cried bitterly, realizing their losses. However, what could they do? Insult the heir of the Nine Pills Sect for a few million Spiritual Stones? That was too reckless! Lu Yin was also surprised at how easily she managed to get the cauldron and smiled brightly as she epted the item and paid for it. "I''m so lucky! This cauldron has good properties and can help me make more high-quality pills!" Lu Yin said happily, putting the cauldron into her spatial ring. She turned to Xie Qing, who had been silently watching the situation, and asked with a bright smile: "Would you like something? I''ll buy you a gift in return." "Me? Nothing, to be honest..." Xie Qing replied, shrugging. "I would buy myself some clothes, but I don''t see any suitable lots yet." "Clothes? Got it!" Lu Yin nodded and began to carefully watch the scene. Xie Qing fell silent and wanted to say that she didn''t need to go to such trouble... but her enthusiasm was too cute. The other lots were not particrly interesting. For Xie Qing, the System Store was a more profitable purchase. But even so, he did not expect to find something that would catch his attention. "Dear guests, the items we have presented so far have been just a warm-up! Now we will show you the five main items of tonight''s event. Under your thunderous apuse, we present to you... the Silver Dragon Diadem!" "Ooooo!" "Dragon heritage! It''s amazing!" Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. He sensed a faint, almost imperceptible, but still present dragon aura in the diadem. It belonged to the Silver Dragon. Unfortunately, this was just a "sigh". And when I say sigh, I mean it literally. By reaching a high stage of cultivation, a cultivator can endow objects with special powers with just one breath. Most likely, someone in ancient times found the Silver Dragon and, while it was sleeping, brought the diadem closer and made this item. An absurd story to the point of nonsense, but it was true. Xie Qing had bought several historical books from the system store. Although such items no longer appeared, they opened his eyes to the world beyond the Mortal World. "Wow! The Silver Dragon is a legendary figure that no one has seen... I thought it was a myth..." Lu Yin was amazed when she heard the detailed description of the item. The young man blinked. "Do you want to buy it?" he asked, scanning the auction hall and ignoring the fierce res of the Nine Pills Sect disciples. "I-I do, but... I''m sure it will be too expensive..." Lu Yin said, biting her lip with a sad sigh. "Oh well, it doesn''t matter..." "Hmm..." Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. He could make such an item himself, but the girl would have to wait until he went through the first dragon blood awakening. As the otherspeted, he searched the system store and found something interesting. [Golden Dragon Diadem] | [Price: 15,000,000 Spiritual Stones] | [Description: A special diadem imbued with the blood of the Golden Dragon. Can create a barrier capable of blocking up to ten attacks from a Transcendence cultivator. Also, due to the special symbols and solidified blood of the Golden Dragon, Qi umtes faster than usual]. "The price is steep, but..." The young man tilted his head to the side and saw disappointment on Lu Yin''s face. Although she also had Xie Qing''s funds, she didn''t want to spend more than necessary. "Screw it. Money is meant to be spent. I can''t wear these items anyway..." Xie Qing waved his hand and instantly 15,000,000 Spiritual Stones disappeared from his spatial ring, and a wonderful Diadem appeared in his hand. With a wave of his hand, he created a barrier around them that prevented the outside world from peeking in. "Hm? What''s going on?" Lu Yin asked, puzzled, noticing the barrier. "Nothing serious. This is my gift to you," the young man said, cing the diadem on Lu Yin''s head. The Golden Dragon Diadem was made of rare mythical immortal gold. Moreover, the bright red, like ruby, gemstones had a special attractive power. This was the solidified blood. The young man could tell that this blood was real, because his body reacted to it. "Unfortunately, even if I absorb this blood, the diadem will be destroyed," he thought. While the young man was lost in thought, Lu Yin was stunned. She touched the diadem and her mouth opened in the shape of the letter "O". Quickly taking out a small mirror, she examined herself and was shocked. "How beautiful! And the spiritual energy from this spiritual item... it''s amazing!" Lu Yin was incredibly happy and immediately threw herself into Xie Qing''s arms and buried her face between his neck and shoulder. "T-thank you so much." "You''re wee." Xie Qing smiled weakly, gently stroking her back. Fortunately, he had set up a barrier in advance, anticipating such a situation. Lu Yin smelled really good, as if he had entered a field full of fragrant flowers. Her slender and delicate body was not as mature as Xu Mei''s, but it was very pleasant to hold. The young man sat down in his seat, and Lu Yin settled on hisp. Although this position made the girl a little embarrassed, her heart was filled with sweetness. "I''m sorry, sister Yun... I couldn''t give up..." Lu Yin thought with a hint of sadness. She was still embarrassed to think that she had fallen in love with Xie Qing, especially since her efforts were aimed at preventing this from happening. Lu Yin didn''t know how to exin this situation to her friend. However, it was toote to back down now, and she could only hope that Li Yun wouldn''t be offended by her. And while these two lovebirds flirted under the cover of the barrier... step by step, everything was approaching the moment to show Xie Qing''s lot. "And so,dies and gentlemen, I won''t keep you waiting any longer. Our next and final lot will suit those who have the Yin attribute. Please, guests, take your seats... The Heavenly Yin Pendant!" *** "Wh-what?!" In one of the VIP rooms, a woman was sitting. Her outfit was quite conservative, not allowing anyone to see her appearance. "Mom... that''s..." "Yes, my daughter... the lost artifact of our Yin family! How is this possible? I thought it was destroyed when our ancestor tried to ascend to the Immortal World!" the woman eximed in shock. "Incredible. The Heavens have not turned their backs on our family, Mom!" "Yes, my daughter..." This was the Yin family. There were only three people in the room, two of whom were women dressed in luxurious clothes, and the third was an old woman in a servant''s uniform. Xie Qing watched with interest as the auction began with great enthusiasm. "The Bai family bids 10,000,000 Spiritual Stones!" "The He family bids 15,000,000 Spiritual Stones!" "The Chen family bids 22,000,000 Spiritual Stones!" Xie Qing couldn''t help but smile behind his mask as he heard the amounts these old men were offering. Although for many this pendant was useless... it was always useful to keep the famous Yin family in debt, right? And then, like a roll of thunder... "The Yan family bids 45,000,000 Spiritual Stones!" Silence. Even the most arrogant rich people realized that at this moment they had been kicked off the stage. Exchanging nces, many began to give up. In the Yin family room. Boom! "That bastard! Old son of a bitch! He won''t miss a chance to spite my Yin family?! Hmph!" "M-mom, calm down..." "Calm down? How can I calm down? This is the legendary heritage of our family! We must get it, even if I have to sell myself!" The woman''s voice was filled with anger and despair. This pendant could fall into anyone''s hands, but not the Yan family''s. Gritting her teeth, she announced her price. "The Yin family bids 50,000,000 Spiritual Stones!" Immediately after that, the crowd became excited. The Yin and Yan families were here! That meant... a fight was brewing. Xie Qing smiled, watching this chaos. "Let me make some money," he chuckled, leaning back in his chair and stroking Lu Yin''s hair. Chapter 210: Yin and Yang (Part 2) In another VIP room, which was surrounded by expensive andplex formations, a father and son sat on a sofa, surrounded by women dressed in extremely revealing clothing. These two were Yan Wei and Yan Jin. The head of the Yan family, Yan Jin, was dressed in a loose white robe. He had long ck hair and green eyes, looking youthful, around twenty years old. The man casually smiled, watching the scene. The auction had reached its peak activity. "Father, it seems that bitch from the Yin family is here too... hehe..." "Haha, son, no need to be so rude... after all, she is your elder..." Yan Jin chuckled, "It seems our little dispute will entertain so many guests... hm, how embarrassing." "Heh. Of course, it''s quite a shame, but isn''t it a good opportunity to make the Yin family spit blood? Hahaha!" The other man was Yan Wei, the heir of the Yan family. He resembled his father, though his eyes were blue. He wasn''t particrly handsome¡ªnot ugly, but not a beauty either! "Hm, you''re right, son. Those bitches once managed to snatch our family heirloom... hahaha! I wonder what expression Yin Jinhua will have if I seize her family''s relic?" Yan Jin licked his lips and squeezed a servant''s breast, making her groan¡ªnot from pleasure, but from pain. "Hehe... I''ll make you serve me with your gentle mouth, Yin Jinhua! Only then will you atone for your mistake!" "Father is always magnificent!" "Of course, son! I''ll share her with you when the timees!" "Humbly grateful, Father!" "Hahaha!" *** The situation for the Yin family was quite sad. Their funds were running out, and Yin Jinhua gritted her teeth. "The Yan family bids 100 million Spiritual Stones!" Boom! Crash! "Bastard!" Yin Jinhua stood up from her seat and, in anger, smashed a bottle of wine on the ground, then the table. Her Qi at the Soul Integration stage, 9th level, began to burst out, causing the servants to fall to the floor and beg for forgiveness. "Bastard! Yan Jin, do you think you''re immortal? Dare to try to snatch our family''s relic from my hands? Dream on!" Yin Jinhua gritted her teeth and shouted, "110 million Spiritual Stones!" "Mother!" The girl apanying her, her daughter Yin Yuchen, couldn''t help but cry out, stunned. "We don''t have that much money! And if we really spend so much, what about our n''s development?" Yin Yuchen asked worriedly, trying to persuade her mother. "Hmph! Shut up! Don''t you understand that if our relic falls into the hands of that bastard, our family will lose its superiority? In the past, our family seized their family heirloom and managed to halt the growth of the Yan family. But if this thing falls into their hands... I fear we will immediately fall from the Heavens to the Earth!" Yin Jinhua angrily scolded Yin Yuchen, who hunched her shoulders in fear. No one in the room dared to speak up. A few secondster... "The Yan family bids 120 million Spiritual Stones!" "Shit! Yan Jin, you fucking impotent, fuck you and your whole fucking family!" Yin Yuchen shrank back in fear, moving to a corner. She didn''t want to get caught in her mother''s wrath. No one in the Yin family dared to get caught in her hot temper. The bidding continued. For the guests, tonight''s evening turned out to be a pleasant surprise, as it was for the auction house. They were overjoyed. The price had already reached 160 million Spiritual Stones! "Even if we only get 8 million, our reputation after today will be even stronger!" Xian Jue thought excitedly, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face. "I wonder how much the Yin family is willing to pay to keep their secret? Although, I doubt I''ll survive after that... haha..." Xie Qing also sat, speechless. The sums were reaching unbearably high numbers. It felt like these two families werepeting over who had more money. "Either way, I don''t care how much money they''re willing to spend. But if the Yin family is smart enough..." his eyes sparkled. *** "¡­" The Yan family, who had been joyful a moment ago, now sat with grim faces. "The Yin family bids 200 million Spiritual Stones!" "Damn it!" Yan Jin stood up from his seat, barely restraining himself from strangling Yin Jinhua. He even hit his favorite servant, knocking her unconscious. "What the hell. Where did she get so much extra money? I underestimated the power of this family of hypocritical women!" "Father... should we continue?" Yan Wei asked grimly, feeling a bit of unease and irritation. "Continue? Are you serious?! We''re out of money! I can''t spend any more, or the youngsters of our family will have to eat y and worms!" Yan Jin shouted angrily, forcefully pping Yan Wei''s face. "Agh..." Yan Wei flew back against the wall, receiving a p. He coughed up blood and trembled, feeling several ribs break. "I-I asked a stupid question... I''m sorry, Father..." "Good that you understand! Hmph! Yin family, my Yan family will not forget this humiliation! Let''s go!" Yan Jin gritted his teeth and turned around, leaving. The women exchanged nces and darkened. *** "Congrattions to the Yin family for acquiring the lot ''Heavenly Yin Pendant'' for 200 million Spiritual Stones!" The host announced the end of the auction and congratted the Yin family on their victory. Meanwhile, in the Yin family''s private room, there was a celebration. "Hahaha! My daughter, we won! Hahaha! How do you like that, Yan Jin? HAHAHAHA!" Yin Jinhuaughed loudly and behaved not very befittingly for the head of a family, but no one dared to point it out. She spun around, stood on chairs, and jumped off, behaving like a child. Yin Yuchen bowed, expressing her congrattions. "Congrattions, Mother. Our ancestors will be very happy to know that you have returned our relic. I''m sure your name will be recorded in the annals of the Yin family!" "Haha, what are you doing, daughter? No need for extra politeness, we''re family!" Yin Jinhua cheerfully giggled, taking Yin Yuchen''s hands and helping her up. "When you were shouting at me, it didn''t feel like I was your daughter..." Yin Yuchen thought, barely restraining herself from rolling her eyes. A few minutester, a beautifully dressed woman entered the room with a wooden box containing the item. "Madam, miss... this is your lot. Please transfer 200 million Spiritual Stones before opening..." the worker said, bowing, holding the wooden box. "Hmph, does the Jianxuan auction house not trust my Yin family?" Yin Jinhua snorted and, interrupting the worker who was trying to exin, handed over a spatial ring. "Here. Do you want me to wait while you count? I wouldn''t want my Yin family to be used of cheating!" "How dare we? Lady Yin Jinhua''s name is known throughout the world. We wouldn''t dare..." the worker bowed and handed over the box, taking the spatial ring. As she approached the door, Yin Jinhua suddenly stopped her. "Wait. Pass on a request to the owner that I intend to meet with the seller of this item!" Yin Jinhua said with a stern face. "Tell her that I am willing to pay any amount of money just to meet this person. I swear by the name of the Heavenly Dao that I will not take any actions to harm this person and will not reveal their identity, let alone the history behind them!" "I-I understand..." The worker bowed and left. As soon as she closed the door, Yin Jinhua''s noble and arrogant demeanor disappeared. "P-please, Mother... we need to be careful..." "I can''t wait! Open the box!" Yin Jinhua trembled with excitement, feeling a slight chill as Yin Yuchen slightly opened the lid. "This is it... this cold Qi... it''s real!" Yin Jinhua eximed joyfully. It seemed her strength had left her as soon as this pendant appeared. She fell to her knees, crying with joy, which made Yin Yuchen feel a slight shiver. "Seven hundred years... so much time has passed since we lost our relic. It even led to cases of children being born without the Yin attribute in our family! But now, with this pendant, our problems are solved! We will soar to the heavens!" Yin Jinhuaughed joyfully. Although her face was covered by a veil, Yin Yuchen could imagine the happiness the woman was experiencing. A few minutester, the worker returned with the news. "The seller is willing to meet." *** Xie Qing sat in a rather luxurious room in thepany of Xian Jue. The woman smiled brightly. "Who would have thought that you are the owner of the auction house. I must say, I was a bit surprised..." Xie Qing said, sipping his wine. "Please, don''t be. I''m a bit embarrassed for hiding it from you, but I don''t like unnecessary attention. I hope you understand," the woman bowed and smiled. "Rx, I have no benefit in exposing you. More importantly, those two from the Yin family want to meet with me?" Xie Qing asked, casually crossing his legs. "Yes. My worker said their reaction was... quite exaggerated. I''m here to ensure that Yin Jinhua doesn''t allow herself to threaten you!" "She couldn''t harm me even if she wanted to very badly. But I appreciate your concern." Xie Qing shrugged. With his level of cultivation and items, he was safe even when meeting a cultivator at the Divine Transformation stage. And just then, as if sensing the impatience, the Yin family opened the door and entered. "We kept you waiting. Please forgive us." Chapter 211: Yin Jinhua (Part 1) The Yin Family. When someone mentions them, it is impossible to avoid aplex expression. Being an ancient family, their reputation has long been established in the Dynasty. Of course, the reputation of these folks was not crystal clear. It would be more urate to say that it was quite ambiguous. In general, most people would not want to interact with their family for too long. As the name suggests, the Yin family is matriarchal. Almost all members of the family are descendants with a pronounced Yin attribute. They are all talented cultivators and are considered geniuses across the board. Xie Qing''s interest was piqued by them for one reason ¨C their past. Yin and Yang have always been opposing energies, but who said they cannot be united? And indeed, in their history, there was a time when they practiced Dual Cultivation. But now, this tradition is no more due to conflicts with the Yang family. However, Xie Qing had a valuable Dual Cultivation technique in his possession. In everyday life, he could not use it because Xu Mei was too strong, and his mother and Yu Yang''s cultivation levels were significantly lower than his, so it was of little use. And to increase his cultivation level, Xie Qing decided to find suitable women for this task ¨C those with a pronounced Yin attribute. And who would be more suitable for this role than a member of the Yin family? Correct, no one. "Please forgive the long wait, esteemed one. I am Yin Jinhua, the head of the Yin family. It is a pleasure to meet you," said Yin Jinhua with a rather polite tone, nodding and sitting down in a chair, then introducing her daughter, "And this youngdy is my daughter, Yin Yu Chen. Yu Chen, greet the sir." "I greet you, esteemed one." Yin Yu Chen bowed, but there was no trace of politeness in her eyes, despite the sweet and ttering words. Xie Qing did not object and nodded. "It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ge Hong," Xie Qing said with a polite smile under his mask. "Ge Hong¡­? Please do not take offense, but this name seems somewhat¡­ familiar. Could you reveal your identity?" Yin Jinhua asked curiously, narrowing her eyes behind her veil. She truly felt that she had heard of this name somewhere, but nothing came to mind. "Oh? My humble name must have reached your lovely ears, Lady Yin. You might have heard of the alchemist who works with Commerce ''Silver Moon''," Xie Qing replied calmly, sipping wine ¨C thanks to the functions of his mask. "This¡­!" Yin Jinhua did not need much time to put two and two together, and she immediately recalled the rumors that had reached her. At the time, she did not pay much attention because they had plenty of alchemy masters. "So it is you, Master Alchemist! Please forgive Yin Jinhua for her rudeness!" Yin Jinhua apologized, sping her hands in front of her and slightly bowing her head. "Lady Yin is too polite. My identity is not that important, if we are topare," Xie Qingughed, speaking casually, and then changed the subject: "Although it is pleasant to converse with you, the head of the Yin family must have much work to do. Therefore, I would like to be bold and ask ¨C why did you request a meeting with me?" "Master, please call me simply Yin Jinhua!" the woman said, speaking with ttery, and then continued: "Actually, you are right. I am sure you also have much work to do. Therefore, I will ask a question¡­ where did you obtain our family''s relic?" "Hm? So that is why¡­" Xie Qing nodded understandingly. Of course, he had expected this oue, as his initial intention was to attract the attention of the Yin family. He smiled. "It is quite a long and boring story. Does Lady Yin still want to hear it?" he said, swirling the wine in his ss. "From your lips, any story will sound divine, master," Yin Jinhua replied with slight impatience. "Very well¡­" The young man smirked and did not dy. He simply told the fabricated story, repeating it fully and not omitting any details. By the end of the story, the Yin family was in deep shock, so much so that they could not even speak. Xian Jue observed the expressions of the two women with a faint smile, in which one could see disdain. It seemed she found the state of Yin Jinhua and Yin Yu Chen rather pitiful. "This woman is so arrogant. She had exactly the same reaction when I first told this fabricated story¡­" Xie Qing rolled his eyes. However, to his great surprise, Yin Jinhua did not shout. "Please keep this a secret. If you do, my Yin family will not remain indebted to you!" Yin Jinhua said seriously, slightly releasing her aura as if threatening them. "Lady Yin, do not be hasty. We were merely discussing a fun taleposed by some bard," Xie Qing said with a smile, leaning back in his chair: "And a tale is something made up, which certainly does not exist. Correct? Or am I mistaken?" "N-no, of course not¡­ Master is very wise!" Yin Jinhua withdrew her aura and politely nodded, hearing Xie Qing''s words. Although she very much wanted to get rid of the extra witnesses¡­ Xian Jue was sitting next to the man. "If it weren''t for her... this woman is stronger than me," Yin Jinhua gritted her teeth, feeling bitterness: "This guy clearly won''t leave our Yin family alone. I cannot allow this story to be heard by the outside world. Otherwise, there will be trouble! I cannot back down!" In fact¡­ the records of the rtionship between the two ancestors of the Yin and Yang families had been discovered long ago by Yin Jinhua. As the most talented head of the family in the past few hundred years, she had ess to a higher-level inheritance. And there were ancient letters preserved by a special formation. And in these letters, one could see a love confession from the ancestor of the Yin family. Moreover, the pendant that Yin Jinhua snatched from the Yang family was made within the Yin family. This is indicated by a special forging technique. "However, only I know about this! Even that bastard Yan Jin can only guess!" Yin Jinhua frowned. Xie Qing said nothing, merely observing with curiosity. Yin Yu Chen frowned, realizing they had dug their own grave. "Master Ge Hong¡­ you understand that spreading this story¡­ would not be the best decision?" Yin Jinhua finally said calmly, regaining herposure. "Oh? What are you implying, Lady Yin?" Xie Qing said with a smile. He seemed not at all worried. "Let''s not beat around the bush¡­ I need you to take the Heavenly Oath not to spread this story!" Yin Jinhua said in the same calm voice, but with a hint of coldness. "Heh." The young man was not surprised. From all the stories he had heard about the Yin family, he had formed the impression that they were a rather strict and conservative family. They literally lick any small wounds and do not allow dirt to settle on their reputation. Sometimes their methods can be cruel. And more often than not, threatse into y. "Lady Yin, my personal advice ¨C do not bite off more than you can chew. Your threats sound quite amusing to me, understand?" Xie Qing said with augh, not pretending to be weak: "Your cultivation level is certainly not bad, but do you consider yourself invincible?" "What do you mean?" Yin Jinhua asked, increasing the pressure of her aura. Yin Yu Chen, her daughter, also followed her mother''s lead and released her aura. For some, this pressure could be fatal and lead to death, but Xie Qing only felt a slight cold breeze. The furniture in the room began to frost over, and the only reason it did not freeze was Yin Jinhua''s self-control. "There is no hidden meaning in my words. I just want to remind you that reckless actions like this¡­ are not particrly appreciated by me," the young man replied and released his aura in response. "Kh! C-cultivator¡­ Soul Integration!" Yin Yu Chen eximed. She fell to her knees, unable to withstand the pressure. Even Yin Jinhua was affected, feeling a slight pain in her head. "You¡­" The head of the Yin family was shocked. This seemingly weak man was actually at the same cultivation level as her! Even Xian Jue looked surprised. The young man chuckled, seeing their shock. "Oh, did you think I was foolish toe here without protection? Everyone knows the vengeful reputation of the Yin family. Therefore, when I epted your request, I was already prepared for such amusing situations," Xie Qing replied, looking disdainful: "Now, let''s return to the method of dialogue and stop using force. In this case, you will lose miserably." What could Yin Jinhua do? Nothing. Against her were two opponents who surpassed her in strength. So she plopped down on the sofa and asked wearily, "What are your demands?" Chapter 212: Yin Jinhua (Part 2) Xie Qing felt as if he was the only viin in this situation, although, in essence, he was not to me¡­ Yin Jinhua looked as if her heart had been torn apart. Well, it seemed that this "secret" could greatly affect the reputation and future growth of the Yin family. The young man pondered. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, creating a charming melody that even brought the girls into a state of prostration. Finally, after a few minutes, he spoke. "I need a girl with a preserved Yin Source¡­" the young man said calmly, in a matter-of-fact tone, as if he were talking about vegetables in a garden. "This¡­" Of course, his demands were outrageous to Yin Jinhua. The head of the Yin family narrowed her eyes behind her veil, and her eyebrows furrowed. The Yin Source, simply put, is virginity. In the Yin family, virgin girls were highly valued, for the longer she preserved her virginity, the stronger her talent would be in the future. And therefore, few were willing to give up their Yin Source, especially if it concerned the younger generation of the Yin family, who valued their virginity and were not willing to exchange it even for hundreds of thousands of spiritual stones. "You understand¡­ the value of the Yin Source in our family, right?" Yin Yu Chen said, frowning. Her hands clenched into fists as she raised her voice when she saw Xie Qing nod: "And you still insist, knowing this? Are you willing to offend our Yin family?" "Offend?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, as if he had heard a funny joke, and then shrugged, remaining nonchnt. His voice was calm, with a certain hoarseness: "With all due respect, I did not initially n to tell the story of the ancestor of the Yin family to the public. However, Lady Yin considered me weak and even dared to threaten me. And here the question arises ¨C who offended whom? Do you consider yourselves invincible? Hmph!" The young man snorted, waving his right hand, and a terrifying Qi emerged from his body. The pressure was unbearable, so much so that Yin Jinhua and Yin Yu Chen fell to their knees. Even Xian Jue was affected. However, when the young man sighed, the pressure disappeared, as if it had never been there! This level of control¡­ was terrifying! "And, so that you do not consider me some kind of bastard, I will add from myself ¨C I will not force anyone. However, I possess high-quality Yang Qi, which can bring benefits to you," the young man said calmly, exining his point of view and borating on his intentions: "Moreover, I have a special technique that will help me and my partner raise our level and even improve our attribute. Isn''t that good?" "I¡­ don''t even know how to respond¡­" Yin Jinhua sat back in her chair and pondered. Although it was unpleasant for her to realize that in the current situation they were in a losing position¡­ hearing the young man''s words, she felt that there was not a trace of deceit in them. As cultivators, they could read each other''s Qi flows and thus easily determine whether the speaker was lying or not. And all this time, Xie Qing''s Qi flow was calm, like a river''s surface. And after that, the question remained ¨C who exactly would be this man''s partner? "Mother¡­ I am willing to make the sacrifice!" Yin Yu Chen suddenly volunteered, stepping forward. She ced her hand on her chest, looking up high and appearing as if she were a martyr taking on the burden of the mortal world. "My daughter¡­ u-u-u¡­" Yin Jinhua and Yin Yu Chen embraced. The young man was at a loss for words. "What a performance! I feel like a viin now," Xie Qing shook his head, expressing his thoughts aloud: "Again, I am not forcing anyone. So stop acting like martyrs, pff¡­" Yin Jinhua stopped pretending and sat back in her ce. Yin Yu Chen approached Xie Qing and bowed. "Master, if you do not mind, I will be your partner for tonight¡­" she said, clutching the hem of her dress, feeling shame and irritation. In fact, she did not just decide to sacrifice herself. Yin Jinhua had sent her a mental message that if she made this sacrifice, she would be given a precious resource ¨C the Ice Lotus. The Ice Lotus was a special treasure for cultivators with the Yin attribute; it could help strengthen the Yin attribute in the body. Therefore, the Yin family preserved it as a vital resource and kept it for the most valuable talents. "Although it will be a pity to lose my Yin Source¡­ in exchange, I will receive a valuable treasure!" Yin Yu Chen''s eyes lit up. On his part, Xie Qing simply observed the entire situation with a neutral expression. He had long since lost his ability to speak due to the acting of these two women. *** The next steps involved signing a contract. Although it was not as strict as the Heavenly Oath, it still had a binding force that not even Immortals could possibly defy. "Master, this is the ''Blood Oath'' contract. We can be assured of your words only after your signature¡­" Yin Jinhua presented a yellow parchment on which nothing was written. From the outside, it looked like an ordinary parchment, but¡­ as soon as Xie Qing dripped his blood onto it, words began to appear on the parchment. [Blood Representative #2 agrees to keep the secret of the Yin family and never reveal it. Blood Representative #1 agrees to¡­] In general, it was a rather long contract, imposing restrictions on both sides. Xie Qing was satisfied. "Very well, I have seen your sincerity. You can be assured that not a word about your secret will leave my lips," the young man said casually, sping his hands behind his back and strolling like an old Daoist. He approached the door and opened it, saying as he left: "Oh, by the way, I live in the ''Silver Moon'' inn, I will be waiting for you as my guest, Miss Yin Yu Chen." "Ah, yes¡­ of course¡­" the girl replied with a rather forced smile behind her veil. The young man nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him. Almost immediately, Yin Jinhua and Yin Yu Chen acquired a cold aura, looking irritated. "Damn! Damn! If it weren''t for my hasty steps¡­ that bastard!" Yin Jinhua gritted her teeth, then looked at her daughter and sent her a mental message: "Make sure he can''t get out of bed! I will pass on a secret technique to you!" "Yes, Mother!" *** Xie Qing strolled casually through the capital. Lu Yin was at the inn with her fellow disciples, so it might be a bit tricky to get there. Nevertheless, today''s auction had truly amused him. Surprisingly, everything went quite smoothly, and he even got the opportunity to obtain the Yin Source. Although for him, as a man, the Yin attribute was considered poisonous, thanks to the Dual Cultivation technique he had long possessed, his cultivation level could be raised to a new stage. "Although, from the outside, it sounded as if I were the viin¡­" Xie Qing twisted the corners of his mouth: "But they are to me. These women from the Yin family love to humiliate the weak and fawn over the strong. Moreover, such amusing threats towards me¡­ I don''t even know how to react¡­" He shook his head. The Yin family was influential in the Dynasty, but who was he? An Imperial Censor, the heir to a sect, and a talented cultivator. Who would want to offend him for the sake of one mere Yin family? *** "Your Majesty¡­" In a luxurious garden, on a bench by the river where swans sshed, sat a woman of unearthly beauty. Silver hair tied in a ponytail¡­ silver eyes filled with boredom. And a beautiful white robe. This was Her Majesty the Empress, ruler of the Huanglun Dynasty. And approaching her was a servant dressed in a gray outfit. She bowed to the ground, never stopping her report for a second. "The person you asked to be followed is in the capital, Your Majesty. It seems he had some business with the Yin family. He is currently strolling through the capital¡­" "Hmm?" The Empress made a curious hum, turning to the servant. She narrowed her eyes, hearing her words. "Xie Qing, huh? He hasn''t appeared for a whole year, and that bitch Xu Mei didn''t even want to answer my calls. How annoying. It seems he still doesn''t trust me," she thought, feeling a slight offense. And especially remembering that this rude young man only contacted her when he needed help¡­ The Empress frowned and issued an order in a cold voice. "Have hime to me in the garden. Immediately." "As Your Majestymands!" The servant stood up and bowed, then disappeared in a sh. Yu Longfeng snorted, returning to her observation of the swans. "Hmm? Is this¡­ a mating dance?" The Empress was at a loss for words. Chapter 213: What a womanizer you are! The moments of a mortal''s life are like minutes in the eyes of an Immortal. For Yu Longfeng, this quote was a direct reflection of her life. But who would have thought that she would now be eagerly awaiting a meeting with an annoying young man? "Hmm, this kid has really raised his level," she thought, as she gently ran her fingertips over the petals of a rose, slowly activating the formations: "Following the instructions... it should be like this..." The Empress was focused on drawing formations in her garden. Here, there were flowers of all sorts, kinds, and qualities. There were even flowers that were considered extinct. This garden alone was worth at least hundreds of millions of Spiritual Stones. "Oh? It seems he has arrived..." Yu Longfeng thought, sensing the aura of a Soul Integration cultivator in her pce. She smiled, removing her finger and turning her head towards the garden entrance. As expected, a few minutester, a man dressed in a white robe with long sleeves, devoid of any embellishments, appeared at the entrance. It seemed that such a simple attire did not diminish his natural beauty but ratherplemented it. "Hmm, who would have thought that the young master would grace me with his presence," said the Empress, appearing indifferent. She sat down on a bench and patted the spot next to her: "Please, have a seat." "Oh?..." Although Xie Qing felt that the Empress was behaving quite strangely, he still nodded and sat down next to her. As it happened, the bench was quite small, causing the youth to press his hips tightly against Yu Longfeng''s. "..." The youth fell silent, not knowing what to say: "What an awkward atmosphere..." Yu Longfeng also remained silent. Surprisingly, all her pre-nned thoughts were flushed down the toilet by the sensation of Xie Qing''s firm hips. Although she had no such strange fetishes, her heart burned with a strange me when she felt the firmness of his hands, which unconsciously touched her waist. Being an Empress, she had always kept her distance from men, and all her servants were women. Therefore, she had never been so close to a man. And considering all these factors,dies and gentlemen... we have found virgin ancient remains. Yu Longfeng turned her head to the right, pretending to watch the stream, although her face was slightly flushed. Xie Qing felt as if he was in a tiger''s cage. He was sweating. "Why did this woman invite me here? Moreover, she hasn''t said a word. Could it be that she...?" Xie Qing took on a shocked expression but quickly regained hisposure. The youth patted his chest: "No, how could I be so naive? Even the Master, who never allowed men near her, is quite impressionable. How could the Empress fall in love with me for some strange reasons?" Yu Longfeng coughed, feeling as if she had been struck by an invisible arrow. "..." "..." These two... just remained silent. To be honest, it was getting tiresome, so let''s add some spice. "Hmm?" Yu Longfeng suddenly felt a slight dizziness. Before she could react, her body leaned to the left, and then... Puf! "What?!" Xie Qing almost spat blood when he saw the Empressnd with the back of her head on his groin. Now she was lying on his knees... what the hell?! "Are you alright?" Xie Qing asked, seeing the confusion in the Empress''s eyes. "Eh? What happened to me... ?!?!?!" Yu Longfeng initially felt confused, but upon seeing her own posture, she was shocked. Her first attempt to get up was unsessful. She returned to her original position. Xie Qing watched her and felt that Yu Longfeng looked very cute. "She is usually so cold... and now she looks embarrassed," he thought, and a faint smile appeared on his face. He ced his hand on the Empress''s shoulder and said: "It seems you are not feeling well. You can lie down and rest like this." "Thank you..." Yu Longfeng agreed with embarrassment. Her body had suddenly be weak, and even the slightest movement consumed her Qi. Therefore, the woman could only lie on the youth''s knees. Gradually, she began to rx. The scent emanating from Xie Qing was pleasant and soothing, so much so that after five minutes, the Empress fell asleep. "..." Xie Qing didn''t know what to say, seeing Yu Longfeng''s sleeping face. It was peaceful, with a hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth. "Cuteness, 100 points," the youth thought with a slightugh. Who would have thought that the Empress, a formidable figure of the past and present, would have such a funny face? "And also, who would have thought that she would be lying on my knees and sleeping?" Xie Qing was speechless. *** Five hourster... Yu Longfeng got up from Xie Qing''s knees, took a few steps, and fell to her knees, clutching her heart. "Your Majesty?" Xie Qing said, puzzled, not understanding her reaction. "Be quiet... and not a word about what you saw. Understood?" Yu Longfeng said sternly, not turning her head. "Uh... okay," Xie Qing grimaced, seeing her behavior: "It seems she is too embarrassed to talk... I need to change the subject." Xie Qing sighed. "Empress, I have been in secluded cultivation for a year and know very little. Can you enlighten me?" Xie Qing asked, getting up from the bench. "Hmm? Indeed... ahem-ahem," Yu Longfeng nodded and stood up, regaining her usual cold demeanor: "Come, there have indeed been many changes." Walking together with the Empress to the veranda, they sat down at a round table. From a distance, servants approached, carrying a basket of fruits, a tea set, and desserts. In a very short time¡ªjust two minutes¡ªthe table was set with fragrant desserts, and small tea cups were filled with tea. "How quick," Xie Qing praised. The servants bowed and left, leaving them alone. The Empress began to speak. "I heard that you found a recipe for a pill that will help us send spies inside the barrier," Yu Longfeng began, sipping her tea: "Well, there have been initial sessful experiments. Theoretically, the pill works fine, but in practice, Liu Yang has not tried it yet." "Not tried? Why?" "Well... Liu Yang does not want to test it on people, so she is looking for a suitable animal," Yu Longfeng replied with slight embarrassment. "The reason... is so trivial?" the youth was speechless. Of course, Liu Yang''s kindness was admirable, and he himself was touched. However, should one hesitate when facing a matter of life and death? It seemed that Yu Longfeng shared his thoughts, but apparently, she could not persuade Liu Yang. "Miss Liu Yang indeed has a kind heart, but I cannot let her efforts go to waste," Xie Qing said, tapping the table. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the Empress: "I am willing to test the pill on myself. That would be better, wouldn''t it?" "I think you''ve suggested the worst option," the Empress was speechless and, seeing the confusion on the youth''s face, exined: "Your Master... she will tear apart the entire capital if you get hurt. And I don''t need that kind of happiness even for money..." "True..." Xie Qing rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. He could imagine Xu Mei''s exaggerated reaction. "However, I still insist. I don''t want to dy the response to the devilish cultivator any further," he continued, still insisting on his point: "Lu Yin, the disciple of Miss Liu Yang, is currently in the capital. If the Empress does not object, we can go to the Sect of Nine Pills together." "Sounds like a n." *** Lu Yin trembled. She sat in her room. And before her... "How are you, Lu Yin? I hope your fellow disciples haven''t been bothering you." "Hmm, Liu Yang disciple. I remember her being very small." "It seems to me that you remember Miss Liu Yang herself being small..." "Rude boy, I''m not that old. You''re as impolite as your Master." "Understood, but... ''not that old''? Are you implying that Miss Liu Yang is so old that... umm..." "Don''t talk nonsense, idiot." Lu Yin was speechless, watching as the eternally cold Empress irritably covered Xie Qing''s mouth. Even someone of her status had only seen the Empress once in her life, and that was thanks to Liu Yang. And her appearance then was as cold as a block of ice. But now... Why does her face look so lively? "Wait, they can''t be...," Lu Yin felt a shiver run down her spine: "Could Her Majesty be my rival?!" Lu Yin nearly fainted from shock. How could this be?! Why does this guy attract such abnormal personalities? "Hmm? Lu Yin? Lu Yin!" "Ha... um... yes?!" The girl snapped out of her thoughts and saw that Xie Qing had moved to sit next to her. He gently patted her back, showing a concerned expression. "What''s wrong? Did someone hurt you?" Lu Yin gritted her teeth and screamed in her thoughts: "Yes, and it''s you, bastard! What a womanizer you are!" Chapter 214: Yin Yu Chen (R-18) Their dialogue wasn''t particrly long¡ªonly about an hour. It was decided to set off on the journey the day after tomorrow, as the Empress had work to do. Xie Qing himself didn''t object at all, as he had his own affairs to attend to. "Are you sure you don''t want to go to that estate? No one lives there anyway," Yu Longfeng asked with her usual indifferent expression. "Thank you for the offer, but I''ve already checked into a hotel. It would be a shame to waste your kindness so thoughtlessly," Xie Qing smiled, then bowed and left. *** Late at night, while Xie Qing was meditating, there was a knock at his door. He opened his eyes and used his spiritual sense to detect a girl dressed in a closed dress and wearing a veil standing outside the door. The corners of his lips lifted as realization dawned on him. "Has the Yin family finallye to me?" he smiled, then said aloud, "Come in, the door is not locked." There was a click, and the door opened, letting the girl inside. She quickly closed the door behind her, as if afraid someone might see her. Then, turning to the young man who had changed into his Ge Hong attire, she bowed. "Master... Yin Yu Chen hase to fulfill part of her agreement." Xie Qing cracked his neck as he stood up from his seat. He approached the table and pulled out a chair. "Please sit, I''ll make some tea." "Yin Yu Chen understands." The girl bowed and epted Xie Qing''s gesture. The young man smiled behind his mask, noticing the tension in her behavior. The hotel was not ordinary, so it included a tea set and all the necessary utensils. Moreover, there was a separate cab for food with formations to prevent spoge. Setting the table, the young man poured a cup of tea for Yin Yu Chen. "Please. Although I wouldn''t dare im that my tea-making skills are good, it should at least taste decent," Xie Qing said, sitting down on the opposite chair. He poured himself some tea and, seeing Yin Yu Chen''s wariness, drank first. The first thing he felt was a light sweet sensation on the tip of his tongue, followed by a barely perceptible bitterness, and then a cherry vor. Moreover, although it was minor, his Qi was restored. Partly, this was due to the herbs the tea was brewed from, but mostly it was thanks to a special technique. Yin Yu Chen didn''t hesitate for long, especially after seeing Xie Qing drink. Then, she casually lifted her veil, revealing her beauty. Xie Qing saw her pale skin, cherry lips, and small nose. Her white hair was neatly tucked behind her ear. Moreover, her beautiful blue eyes, like a ma, attracted attention, making men''s hearts skip a beat with love. Of course, Xie Qing had seen many beautiful women, and it could be said that Yin Yu Chen was not inferior to most of them. However, who needs a beautiful but poisonous flower? Although he himself acted not entirely ethically, his primary desire remained to improve his cultivation level. "Amazing. Master''s skills are incredible!" Yin Yu Chen praised. However, it was unclear whether she was ttering him or telling the truth. Throughout this time, her expression remained unchanged. But Xie Qing was not disheartened; on the contrary, he was very pleased. If feelings had arisen between them... I''m afraid the situation would have beplicated. It seemed that Yin Yu Chen also understood this, so she did not dy any further. "Master... Yin Yu Chen is ready," she said, standing up from her seat and removing her veil, dropping it to the floor. The next step was undressing. The girl removed her clothes¡ªnot particrly quickly, as if trying to create the right atmosphere. And Xie Qing had to admit that she seeded. An almost imperceptible but still existing spark of excitement awoke in him. Soon, Yin Yu Chen reached her blue-colored dudou with lotus patterns. And it was here that her movements became stiff, and her face showed hesitation and fear. "If you don''t want to, you don''t have to force yourself. I''m not a bad person. As long as the Yin family provides me with another girl with Yin Essence, I will consider our agreement fulfilled," Xie Qing said, feeling awkward from this scene. After all, he was not a viin and did not like to force women into anything. However, Yin Yu Chen remained unyielding. "Yin Yu Chen appreciates Master''s concern, but I do not wish to break our agreement. These were just minor hesitations; please forgive my rudeness..." the girl said and, biting her lower lip, removed her top. A piece of fabric fell to the floor, revealing tworge mounds that did not fit in the palm of her hand. What Xie Qing noticed were Yin Yu Chen''s inverted nipples as she began to remove thest piece of fabric. Soon, Yin Yu Chen waspletely naked, covering her divine abode with her hand. "Master... Should I undress you?" she asked, finally showing a slight embarrassment on her face. Xie Qing smiled and shook his head. With one movement of his hand, he removed his clothes and tossed them into his spatial ring. Of course, he would have to remove his mask as well, but there was a special function for that. "I guess... I''ll change to the face I saw in my dreams..." This mask had twoyers. The outeryer restricted spiritual perception, and the inneryer could help create an illusion. Therefore, when Xie Qing began to remove his mask, Yin Yu Chen secretly took out a recording stone. She tossed it not far from the bed Under normal circumstances, Xie Qing should not have noticed its presence, but... Well, there was no such thing as "normal" for him. And so, when Xie Qing removed his mask, Yin Yu Chen was stunned. "I thought... He was an old man." Although the man in front of her had a youthful voice and a muscr physique, which could easily be achieved with illusions. But now there was a formation in the room that blocked the use of illusory skills¡ªYin Yu Chen had bribed the hotel for this. "How handsome!" the girl eximed, swallowing her saliva. Xie Qing''s physique had noticeably improved, and he had acquired defined muscles that were not overly bulky. And his face was particrly handsome. Masculine, elegant, and perfect¡ªthe only words that could be used to describe it. This appearance was from Xie Qing''s dreams... In other words, it was his adult appearance. Here, he was more masculine, and he exuded an imposing, authoritative aura. All these factorsbined made Yin Yu Chen ''sweat'' down below. "Master..." she said with heavy breathing, looking as if she had run a marathon. The young man smiled and approached her. Before Yin Yu Chen could react, the man''s authoritative hands gripped her buttocks, pressing her against him, and her lips were captured in a passionate kiss. "My first kiss..." Yin Yu Chen shuddered, feeling her tongue being captured by Xie Qing''s tongue. She tried to resist, but all her strength was exhausted when something hard touched her stomach. Unconsciously, her gentle hands rested on his jade rod. Yin Yu Chen''s hands stroked Xie Qing''s dragon with all her passion. After a few minutes of kissing, Yin Yu Chen''s body became weak, and a strange sensation appeared in her pubic area. "Something... Something ising out!" Yin Yu Chen cried out, looking frightened. Everything inside her tightened, and then... "Aaaah!" Yin Yu Chen rolled her eyes, helplessly copsing into Xie Qing''s arms as love juices flowed abundantly from her cave. "Haaa... Haaa..." The girl''s body became weak, and even a single movement of her finger could make her insides tighten. She had experienced an orgasm for the first time in her life. But even so, the result was astonishing. "This..." Xie Qing was surprised to find that a barely noticeable mist had appeared in the room. And this mist was not made of water, but of Yin Qi! Out of curiosity, he activated the Dual Cultivation technique... Instantly, there were results! "Wow... My Qi is being purified at a much higher speed. At this rate, I''ll soon reach the next level!" Xie Qing thought in shock, looking at Yin Yu Chen: "What a treasure!" Deciding not to dy, Xie Qingid her on the bed while Yin Yu Chen tried to recover from the aftermath of her orgasm. Xie Qing''s jade rod approached her entrance. "Aaah?!" Yin Yu Chen let out a loud moan and opened her mouth and eyes wide, feeling something foreign entering her body. "Aaaaah! Oooo..." Immediately at the entrance, Xie Qing''s younger brother was squeezed by the walls of Yin Yu Chen''s cave. Moreover, this squeeze was so strong that it was hard topare it to anything. Yin Yu Chen grabbed the sheet and arched her back, feeling Xie Qing''s item moving inside her. "Aaaaah!" Each of his movements, each of his thrusts, brought her indescribable pain. Initially, she expected to feel pain, as her acquaintances, the elders, had told her, but there was none of that. And in ce of pain, there was only pleasure. "Oh yes!" Chapter 215: Did I... seduce the entire lineage of the Heavenly Emperor in my past life?! Yin Yu Chen''s breathing was heavy and asionally turned into a moan of pleasure. As a noblewoman from the Yin family, her methods in the realm of Dual Cultivation were quite good - they had been taught special techniques since childhood to always be the active party. However, no matter how much Yin Yu Chen tried to activate these techniques, her body trembled uncontrobly, and every slight movement of Qi in her spiritual veins was extremely difficult. "AAAAAH!" Yin Yu Cheny on her back on the bed while Xie Qing prated her in the missionary position. "So deep! Oh!" Yin Yu Chen''s lips parted like a bud, and she let out a soft moan: "I can''t focus my Qi... It feels like he''s doing it on purpose!" Yin Yu Chen gritted her teeth. No matter how much she wanted to resist, this was her first time. It was not easy to resist an experienced man. So, this time she decided to yield and submit, promising herself that next time she would be in control. Soon, they changed positions. Yin Yu Chen was pressed against the wall while Xie Qing fiercely thrust into her with his jade rod. "Ooooh... W-wait..." The girl tried to ask for mercy, but Xie Qing did not listen. And after a few minutes... "I-I''ming!" Yin Yu Chen could not hold back, and the walls of her vagina squeezed Xie Qing''s little brother so tightly that even the youth found it hard to resist. "Uuuff..." Letting out a long moan, Yin Yu Chen lost strength in her body and fainted. Xie Qing silentlyid her on the bed and sat in the lotus position. "Her Qi Essence and Yin Qi have begun to condense in my dantian. I need to purify it as soon as possible..." Sitting in the lotus position, Xie Qing almost immediately entered a deep state of cultivation. His mind was focused on purifying the Yin Qi and reciting the mantra of Dual Cultivation. "This... is bad! Heavenly Retribution!" Xie Qing frowned. He was one step away from breaking through to the next stage, and this would inevitably attract Heavenly Retribution. If he started his breakthrough in the capital... I''m afraid it would cause too many problems! Quickly getting dressed, the youth slipped out of the hotel, wearing a mask. He ran out of the city, ignoring the puzzled shouts of the guards. *** The Empress was doing paperwork when she suddenly sensed something. Her hand hovered over the parchment, and ink dripped from the quill. "This... such strong Heavenly Retribution? Could it be that someone with terrifying talent is breaking through?" she thought, narrowing her eyes. In her mind, hundreds of thousands of faces of the younger generation shed by, and she could only think of one who fit all the criteria: "This kid... Xie Qing. Indeed, I sense his aura. He is about a hundred miles away from the capital." Yu Longfeng sighed. Why did this Master-disciple pair always bring her problems? Even now, she had to work. She took out a token from her pocket and gave an order. "Raise a barrier over the capital and temporarily close the entrances and exits. Someone is about to ovee Heavenly Retribution." "Understood, Your Majesty!" The woman tossed the token aside and stood up. Taking two steps, she disappeared into the air and appeared hundreds of meters above the ground. "There you are," she thought, seeing Xie Qing sitting in the lotus position. Her expression became strange, and her cheeks flushed slightly when she saw his appearance: "This... why is he walking around with a bare chest?!" Boom! *** Xie Qing ignored the slight tremor from his sixth sense. Clouds began to gather above his head, foretelling trouble - the Heavenly Lightning was about to strike! This event attracted the attention of many cultivators from influential sects, but no one dared to approach. In the world of cultivation, ording to unspoken rules, interfering with someone oveing Heavenly Retribution is taboo! Therefore, powerful individuals could only watch from afar, but their curious gazes were blocked by a powerful being. In the distance, at Xie Qing''s estate... Xu Mei opened her eyes. "My disciple... is oveing retribution?" she frowned and stood up. In two steps, she was above the ground. Her gaze was immediately drawn to Yu Longfeng, who noticed her presence. "Hmph! What are you doing here, ancient fossil?" Xu Mei said with obvious irritation, disdainfully snorting. "Ancient fossil? Hm, if we''re talking about age, then your entire existence, from your personality to your bones, is a valuable artifact for archaeologists. Who knows, maybe they can understand if humans really evolved from apes by looking at your bones," Yu Longfeng sneered, curling her lips. "I can''t even imagine what kind of animal you evolved from. Although, maybe from dogs, right? You really like to bite!" "Pfft, monkey, I have a banana, want to eat? Maybe you''ll upy your dirty mouth and give me some peace." "You!" "Hmph!" The great sages were right. When two women sh, even the Heavens cannot intervene! Otherwise, how to exin that only after Xu Mei and Yu Longfeng turned away from each other did the Heavenly Lightning strike Xie Qing directly? BOOOOOOM! The youth almost coughed up all his blood from the shock. His ears were always sensitive, and this thunder... I''m afraid it could drive one mad! "Calm down! Heavenly Retribution must be ovee with abilities and heart!" Xie Qing was quite nervous, and his hands trembled. Heavenly Retribution will apany a cultivator during the breakthrough of each major stage of cultivation, starting from Spiritual Ascension! Therefore, the sooner he gets used to it, the better for him! And now, the moment hade. The Heavens shed, and with a deafening roar, the first lightning bolt struck Xie Qing''s body. BOOOOM! "Ghaaa!" Xie Qing coughed up blood, but still did not move a muscle. His body trembled with pain, and he experienced indescribable suffering! Every muscle in his body trembled, his bones almost turned to dust! Thest piece of cloth was burned, turning into charcoal! "And this... is only the first lightning bolt?!" Xie Qing thought in shock: "Did all cultivators have to face this?" Xie Qing thought it was normal, but Xu Mei and Yu Longfeng did not think so. They themselves were shocked. "Hey, old dog..." Xu Mei started to speak, her hands trembling. "Yes, you''re right, old monkey..." Yu Longfeng continued, covering her mouth with her hand, looking shocked: "Divine Lightning... why are the Heavens punishing him with something like this? This is only for sinners who have sinned against the Heavenly Dao itself! Even the most ruthless Devilish cultivators have not encountered this. Could it be..." "Nonsense!" Xu Mei growled, catching the thread of Yu Longfeng''s thoughts. Her expression was full of anger, and a sword appeared in her hand, which she pointed at Yu Longfeng: "Don''t talk nonsense! My disciple has been with me since childhood, I have seen his Dao and Karma! He cannot be a criminal! The Heavens envy my disciple''s talent!" "Calm down, I didn''t mean that..." Yu Longfeng was speechless from Xu Mei''s anger: "I understand it myself. I just have no other exnation for why the Heavens are so angry with him." Indeed. Xu Mei calmed down and narrowed her eyes, carefully watching how Xie Qing dealt with the aftermath of the first lightning bolt. She frowned. "My disciple..." *** Thunder... thunder... "Damn Heavens! Did I sleep with the Heavenly Emperor''s wife in my past life?! Why so cruel?!" he thought angrily, feeling offended: "I''m just an honest guy who lived righteously! I confess, I sometimes peeked at girls in the sect, but it was only once... well, twenty times... a week!" However, it seemed the Heavens were not in the mood for conversation, so after a few seconds, they sent the next lightning bolt. Thunder... thunder... "This... listen, I was joking... but maybe I really did sleep with the Heavenly Emperor''s wife in my past life?" Xie Qing sweated. The Heavens turned purple. Even Xu Mei was speechless. "Purple lightning... this is... the most powerful Divine Lightning!" Yu Longfeng could barely hold back her scream: "This guy, did he seduce all the concubines of the Heavenly Emperor?!" The next lightning bolt struck immediately. As expected, it was purple. Xie Qing''s heart sank. Boom! Beep! [User is undergoing Heavenly Retribution... activating Dao Shield... sess...] Xie Qing blinked and saw a golden dome appear around him. The purple lightning still tried to strike him, but it was blocked by the barrier. "Dao Shield? Wow! Dog system, couldn''t you have helped me earlier?!" Xie Qing cursed, feeling his blood boil. [...] "Don''t want to talk - no need, hmph!" Xie Qing shook his head and raised an eyebrow, sensing something: "This shield... it absorbs the energy of the lightning?!" Xie Qing smiled brightly. He activated his cultivation technique and began to absorb this energy. And the progress... Oh, Heavens, was simply amazing! "If before I was moving two steps at a time, now it''s ten steps at a time!" If not for the limitations of the human body, Xie Qing''s smile would have epassed the whole world. The next, third lightning bolt struck two minutester. This time, it was golden. Xu Mei and Yu Longfeng were already tired ofmenting, so they just watched this absurdity. Golden Lightning... was so rare that no one knew of its existence. And it struck the great sinners. For example, Purple Lightning punishes those who have killed hundreds of billions of beings from the Chosen Race of the Heavens. But Golden Lightning... only those who have destroyed hundreds of billions of worlds. And if you count the number of victims... it equals more than a quintillion! "Did I... seduce the entire lineage of the Heavenly Emperor in my past life?!" Chapter 216: Spiritual Ascension The Heavens roared as if they could not contain their own anger and indignation. Under the cover of the Dao Shield, Xie Qing was like a turtle. Moreover, the Heavens were even more angry that this turtle was absorbing the energy of the Heavenly Lightning! "Ugh!" Xie Qing gritted his teeth. The energy inside his dantian was rebelling, refusing to obey! His own Qi was trying to revolt against him! This was the first sign of the transformation of ordinary Qi into Superior Qi! This was the boundary separating mortals and cultivators who were one step away from immortality! A level of cultivation that had be a barrier for many geniuses, driving them into despair. "Haaaaaaaah!" Xie Qing''s loud battle cry, like a deafening roar, echoed through the Heavens, causing even the Heavenly Retribution to pause for a few seconds. "Submit to me!" Xie Qing gritted his teeth and shouted. Boom! Inside his body, in the spiritual channels, there was a real war! The cultivator''s own Qi rebelled against him, resisting the sudden changes that were partly due to the stimtions of the Heavenly Lightning. The Qi began to take on a light-white, moon-like glow! Mortal Qi ¨C the primary state of Qi before breaking through to Spiritual Ascension ¨C tried to resist the changes. However, like a virus, the Superior Qi began to spread through the spiritual veins, recing the old. Soon, his Qi turned from golden to pure white! "Aaaaagh!" This processsted less than two seconds, but it brought Xie Qing unbearable pain. It was as if hundreds of poisonous insects were devouring his flesh from within! The physical body... could not contain the Superior Qi! Thunder... thunder... The Heavens still roared, and the beautiful sky was covered with a thick, gloomy fog, hiding the view of the stars and the moon from all living beings. The world seemed to be plunged into silence and darkness... and then, after two seconds... the sky shed with a crimson glow! "W-what is this? I''ve never seen anything like it!" Yu Longfeng always considered herself strong and calm, but she could not help but fall to her knees (still in the air). "This... you don''t know what this lightning is either? It looks terrible!" Xu Mei was seriously frightened. She was about to rush towards Xie Qing, but...: "Hm? Yu Longfeng! Let me go!" "Wait!" Yu Longfeng frowned, seeing Xu Mei''s recklessness. Her head began to ache from how absurd this Master-disciple pair was. It felt like they had taken a hundred years off her life. "Can''t you see? The Heavens are enraged and will not stop the Heavenly Retribution until your disciple manages to survive this trial! If you interfere, you will forever cut off his path in the Dao!" Yu Longfeng snapped, looking angry. She grabbed Xu Mei''s wrist and shouted: "So stay put and don''t interfere! Act like an adult, not a child!" "Y-you..." Xu Mei was speechless. For the first time in her life, someone had shouted at her so fiercely. She was more shocked than angry. Yu Longfeng snorted, releasing Xu Mei''s wrist and turning back to continue observing Xie Qing''s Heavenly Karma. She frowned. "I can''t understand why the Heavens are so set against him. If he had negative karma, I would have discovered it long ago. But did he sin in his past life? Yu Longfeng couldn''t understand: "Does reincarnation exist? If so, who is this brat? Is he the reincarnation of some killer who sinned against the Heavens?!" This time, it seemed the Heavens needed a little time before striking again! Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, carefully waiting for the next lightning bolt. And then... [Danger! Danger! The next strike may put the user in a difficult situation. Probability of death ¨C 56%]. "Whatever. Where am I going to run to? The Heavenly Lightning won''t let me escape!" Xie Qing smiled, preparing to take the hit. Either way, if he tried to run, he would only make the punishment worse. So it was better to just take this hit. The youth blinked, and a strange glow appeared in his eyes. The lightning struck Xie Qing almost silently. The youth gritted his teeth, resisting the horrifying pain... "AAAAA!" In the sky, Xu Mei could not help but scream, seeing both of Xie Qing''s arms fly off! If it weren''t for Yu Longfeng, she would have intervened! "Stop, fool! Are youpletely stupid?!" The Empress could not suppress the chill in her spine when she saw the power of this lightning: "Don''t interfere! Otherwise, your disciple, and you yourself, will die!" "SHUT UP! SHUT UP! MY XIE QING!" Yu Longfeng gritted her teeth. Xu Mei went into hysterics, and if Yu Longfeng hadn''t been strong enough, the woman would have broken free and intervened in the Heavenly Retribution. "How difficult! Cursed be the day I decided to meet this kid! If a second life exists, I will definitely reincarnate as a dog!" Yu Longfeng frowned. Xu Mei almost went mad when she saw that Xie Qing''s entire body was covered in deep wounds. His hair had long since burned off, and he looked more like a corpse than a living person. If it weren''t for the fact that his thread of life still existed, Xu Mei would have lost her mind from anger and despair. Yu Longfeng could only pray that the youth would be able to ovee this difficult trial. *** How much time had passed? Maybe a week, a month... or even a year. Xie Qing had long lost count of time, for it was pointless to count the seconds that felt like hours in this unending pain. His mind had long since gone into hibernation, trying to protect itself from the shock. Surprisingly, his soul was still whole and unharmed. Heavenly... Divine Lightning, Blood-red lightning. The strongest lightning that struck only once ¨C when the race of Deities was exterminated, from the young to the old. But why? Why did such lightning strike Xie Qing? Did he have a past life, and was his great sin the destruction of the Dao itself? s, no one knows the answer to this question. We can only hope that everything goes smoothly. In the pitch darkness, in Xie Qing''s soul... a me ignited. [Detected fluctuations of the Primordial Soul... 1%... 4%... 67%... 78%... 89%... 100%! Sessfully suppressed... System returned to its normal state]. [Suppression of the Primordial Soul... sess...] *** In the outer world, a week had passed. Xie Qing opened his eyes on the first day of the second week, when the sun was setting below the horizon. Xu Mei, first of all, tried to ask him about his condition, but found that the youth was just staring nkly at the ceiling. "This..." The woman frowned. His mind was in shock! Gritting her teeth, Xu Mei could barely contain her anger. "Heavens!" The only reason she didn''t try to go against the Heavens was her own weakness and helplessness. Because of this, Xu Mei''s mood was the worst. If it weren''t for the fact that Xie Qing had restored his body after a sessful breakthrough, she would have gone mad! After a few minutes, Yu Longfeng appeared in the room, and seeing Xie Qing''s condition, she too was gloomy. "Unfortunately, I''m not sure I can heal the mind... the soul is one thing, but the mind is still considered an unreachable zone..." Yu Longfeng sighed. Xu Mei fell silent. Who, if not her, would know about such things? During the great war against the devilish cultivators, she had seen people who had lost their minds. Even if their souls were healed, they remained forever on that battlefield. Such shock was incurable. However, it seemed they were somewhat mistaken. Because all this time... Xie Qing was conscious. It''s just that in his current state, with his entire body suffering from pain, he himself could neither speak nor move his facial muscles. However, part of his mind was indeed damaged. "How boring..." he thought, spending the whole day in the same pose: "Heavenly Lightning... Divine Lightning, Blood-red lightning ¨C if we go by the System''s words. Who would have thought that I would be struck by it... and awaken some strange memories". At the moment the lightning struck him, some memories began to awaken in his mind. It was nothing supernatural, just five years of the life of a person very simr to him, who lived in a vige. However, what was strange about these memories was that Heaven and Earth were connected to each other... although, the meaning of these words Xie Qing still did not understand. "How mysterious. Are these my memories? I''ve heard of the concept of reincarnation, but I''ve never encountered anything like it... I wonder who I was in my past life, that the lightning kicked me so hard?" The only saving grace was that at the moment of breaking through to the next stage, his body had been restored. Otherwise, it would have been too hard to live... as a walking piece of charcoal. Looking out the window, Xie Qing was speechless. "This is... a view of the imperial castle..." the youth didn''t know what to say: "As far as I know, this ce... is Yu Longfeng''s personal estate?" Chapter 217: Dao Embryo Xie Qing had no strength at all. As soon as he moved his hand slightly, his entire body trembled with pain, and he exhausted all his Qi, losing consciousness. And at that moment¡­ he had another strange dream. *** Heaven and Earth were connected, immortals flew on clouds, and a luxurious pce stood on the Heaven. Sometimes on cloudy days, when it rained, one could see dragons, and during journeys, fishermen often encountered sea demons following them, craving fresh flesh. The world of cultivation was united, there were no restrictions on Immortals and mortals, everyone lived in one ce and enjoyed the bright moments of life. Rumble¡­ rumble¡­ The sky rumbled as if angered by something. Smoke rose from a deste valley. An ordinary mortal vige was aze, and the vigers burned alive in the aggressive mes. What was this if not a hellish sight? Even the calmest person would be shocked by this sight. Dressed in a tattered robe covered with patches of rough material, he knelt, and in his ck eyes, there was despair. He was a hundred meters away from the vige, and the only thing he could do was to watch in shock as his home, acquaintances, and children were consumed by the fire. He wanted to save them but couldn''t ¨C his heart screamed, but his mind was silent. Therefore, until nightfall, until it started to rain, the youth knelt, looking as if his soul had left his body. "Why¡­" he could only mutter in a monotonous voice with a hint of helplessness. Years passed. The youth of those years became a man, he had no children, no wife ¨C he was alone in life. The sky was his nket, and the earth was his bed! Over time, his foot stepped on the territories of different dynasties. He saw immortals, saw dragons, was a step away from death. His life was not peaceful, but interesting. However, even this did not heal his wounded soul. Deep at night, under the cover of darkness, the man crept into a deep cave. Stctites hung over his head, but there was nowhere to go ¨C the entire cave resembled a ce where sinners were destined to live until the end of their days. Pressing himself against the wall, in the ce where there were the fewest stctites, he fell asleep, covering his mortal body with only a thin piece of torn cloth, on which there was an innumerable number of patches. Day and night changed ces¡­ but the man did not wake up. A week passed, two weeks passed, and in an instant, a month flew by, but not a single muscle of his twitched during all this time. Was he dead? Unknown. There was only a faint breath, and even that was barely perceptible if one approached closely. Was this the fate of a mortal ¨C to die alone, in the middle of nowhere? The only thing that could protect his corpse ¨C in these ces, there were no predatory animals. Another month passed¡­ two months passed. Finally, after a long time, the ''corpse'' showed some reaction. The little finger of his left hand twitched. Because the man had not eaten or drunk for a long time, his body resembled a skeleton, which looked very frightening. "Mmmh¡­" Mumbling something to himself, the man opened his eyes, which seemed to be covered with a white film. "Aaaa¡­" He let out a weak growl, like a wounded beast. The man discovered that his vision was blurred, as if covered with fog. His arms and legs did not move, and he was one foot in the grave. "Uuuh¡­" The only thing he was capable of was iprehensible sounds made by his dry lips. His condition was more like the life of the undead. The man closed his eyes ¨C as if he had resigned himself to his fate. What else could he do? His whole body was numb, and he could not even clearly see the path in front of him, so how could he live and get out of this cave? The only thing left was to pray to the Deities in the hope of help. And so the days passed¡­ and the man began to notice something strange. Although he himself was hungry, wanted to drink, and his whole body was paralyzed¡­ he did not die. So much time without food and water ¨C this would make any mortal die. However, he himself, although he felt terribly ufortable, his mind still existed, and his soul had not dissipated into dust. "Did the prayers help?" he could only think, attributing his own changes to the will of God. After two weeks, something strange happened. Despite the fact that his vision was blurred, he saw what no one else could see ¨C these were small light blue particles floating in the air, like fairies circling around his mortal body. He himself could not touch them, but even so, he felt a slight chill, and the previous thirst and hunger disappeared, as if they were a terrible dream. On the fifth day, the man opened his eyes and found that he was standing and could walk freely. His vision returned to normal, and he stopped seeing the mysterious particles. The next day, he set off on his journey again, as if nothing had happened. His path was the path of travel. After a year, the man reached a city where he stocked up on food and tools. His hair had grown to his cyx, and his clothes looked tattered. In his youth, he was beautiful, like the sky, and a crowd of girls followed him. However, now he looked no better than a corpse. "Hey, tell this beggar to sit in the corner. In return, we will treat him to rice and cabbage¡­" the owner of the eatery whispered to his employee. "Understood." The employee nodded and conveyed this news to the man, who did not refuse and sat in the corner. A few minutester, they brought him a bowl of rice and cabbage, and as a sign of apology ¨C a cup of cheap wine. Starting his meal, the man listened to the rumors with one ear. "Have you heard that immortals havee to the city?" "Well, how else! Now everyone who is notzy knows about it. Even my dog knows!" someoneughed at another table: "They say there are two immortals ¨C one is a young man, and the other is a beautiful girl. Even the Emperor himself bowed before them!" "Ah, how enviable. I would also like to be a cultivator, to conquer the Heaven and rise above the Earth!" "Pfft, dream on! We mortals will never understand their secret." The man sighed, eating his rice. Immortals were a sore subject, for over the years he had learned that the cause of the destruction of his vige ¨C a cultivator oveing Heavenly Grief. Even if he was guilty, no one would use him. For how could a vige of mortalspare with a cultivator? I''m afraid even the dirt under his fingernails would be more valuable than all the mortalsbined. And bing a cultivator ¨C a task not easy. Even if you manage to be a cultivator, without a patron, you will be doomed to eternal persecution. It is believed that only noble people who have received permission from the Heavens can cultivate immortality. And therefore, obtaining cultivation techniques is limited only to wealthy families and sects of immortals, who by their nature are xenophobes, and only people with a good background can get a chance to be a cultivator. "Such mortals as I are doomed to eternal very under the feet of cultivators. The only thing we can do ¨C eternally plow thend, waiting for the arrival of our death." The sad fate of mortals was unenviable, but no one dared toin. Immortals have always been objects of worship and wereparable to Deities, which acted as a kind of protectors of the Earthly realm ¨C mortals. However, was such a life good ¨C to be eternally under someone''s protection, not having the strength to protect oneself? "¡­" I''m afraid no one knew the answer to this question. And if they knew, they preferred to keep it in their heart. *** A hundred years for mortals ¨C a day for immortals. The man''s life cycle wasing to an end again. He fell into a deep sleep and did not wake up the next day. A month passed¡­ two months passed¡­ a year flew by. However, he did not wake up. Bright lights enveloped his body and transported the mortal body to the foot of a mountain, burying it two meters underground. The Heavenly Dao fell silent, the world froze, and time turned back. "Why¡­" the youthmented, standing before the burning vige. Is life the beginning of everything, and death ¨C the end of everything? But if death is the end of everything, why does reincarnation exist? If life is the beginning of everything, why can''t it be the end, and death ¨C the beginning? Do we live in the present or see the remnants of the past? Are we the original soul or the continuation of something? Does the Dao exist? If it exists, what are itsws? Is the life of a mortal something that does not enter the Dao? If not, why are mortals forced to be born as nobodies and die as nobodies? A hundred years will pass ¨C dynasties will rise and fall. And the Immortals will still be alive. So why can''t mortals touch the Dao? Does the Heaven have a mind? If it does, won''t it grow old over time? The world is soplex¡­ and so closed. *** Xie Qing blinked his eyes. His body glowed with gold, as if he were a Deity. In his head, various chants sounded. [Daoprehension detected¡­ attempt to ignite Dao Spark¡­ failure¡­] [Dao Root was merged with the soul¡­ sess] [You have received the Dao Embryo. Continue your path] Chapter 218: My Heavenly Punishment continues? Thank you very much for supporting the book GT! Gwim_Weaper, Garciadan98, Twilight_Sparkle, Ankit_Gupta_9584, Nawake_Din, Luciferial, DimiitrivG, Honey_Pie_9687, Garciadan98, Naomi_Rundel, swcowboy! ====== After Xie Qing woke up from his sleep, his vision was blurry, and his thoughts were a jumbled mess. There was a slight feeling of dizziness, as if he were in a drunken state, and attempts to focus his thoughts led to only one result - failure. Nevertheless, Xie Qing felt something extremely small in his soul, in the deepest parts, resembling a golden watermelon seed. Deep silence reigned in the room where Xie Qing had been living for the past four weeks. Two dayster, his mind cleared, as if his body and soul had reunited. Although some fragments of his dream memories were still present, most of them had been forgotten. Two hours after he woke up, Xu Mei entered the room with a tray on which was a bowl of rice porridge made from a special kind of spiritual rice, considered a luxury even for influential families. "Master..." Xie Qing said in a hoarse voice, though it was more like a whisper. "Disciple!" However, the woman was a cultivator - her ears could pick up sounds beyond human capabilities. She ced the tray on the table and rushed to Xie Qing. First, Xu Mei checked his condition and, seeing that it was almost perfect, sighed in relief. "You''ve slept for so long. Your body is in excellent condition after being nourished with Qi, and your cultivation level has stabilized," Xu Mei smiled and pinched his cheek: "Congrattions, you are now in the higher league of cultivators." "Ahem... And is there a reward for this?" Xie Qing coughed. Xu Mei smiled and licked her lips. *** Yu Longfeng clenched her teeth, barely restraining her desire to smash her own throne to pieces. Of course, in her estate, every room had special formations that detected any movement and informed her if necessary. So, it didn''t take a genius to figure out the reason for her anger. "These lustful rabbits! Damn, they seriously did ''that'' in this Queen''s estate?" Yu Longfeng muttered, looking annoyed: "Hmph! Ungrateful... So annoying... No respect! Pfft!" There was something strange about Yu Longfeng''s behavior, as if she had caught her beloved cheating. But, more likely, she was just angry that her favorite estate had been turned into a love nest. A few hourster, the duo of Master and disciple appeared before her in the main hall, looking refreshed, their skin seemingly glowing. Yu Longfeng''s left eye twitched, but she held back her desire to express all her thoughts. "Hm, it seems your cultivation level has stabilized. And, apparently, your body is also in good condition," the woman said with a slightly sarcastic voice. "Your Majesty, this young master is grateful for your kindness and will never forget what you have done for him!" Xie Qing said righteously, sping his hand and fist. "It''s nothing, hm..." Yu Longfeng pursed her lips. Xu Mei, all this time, was just clinging to the young man''s arm, pressing her two arguments against him. "Shameless!" Yu Longfeng sighed. Xie Qing felt quite refreshed, and also very hungry, which was surprising. At his level of cultivation, food no longer had any value, except for aesthetic purposes. However, his stomach was rumbling, demanding food. Yu Longfeng noticed this and ordered the table to be set. "I''m sorry for this," Xie Qing said, a little embarrassed. "It''s fine. Although we cultivators don''t need food, there are special cases when a hearty meal is required," Yu Longfeng said calmly, waving her hand: "Better tell me, how do you feel? Usually, after a breakthrough, it''s hard to concentrate even a little Qi, and even the lightest use of techniques will consume a lot of energy." "Well, there''s something like that, but it didn''tst long - only two days," Xie Qing recalled, tilting his head to the side and furrowing his brow: "Is that normal? I haven''t tried my techniques, but I''m confident they work fine." "What?" Yu Longfeng couldn''t hide her reaction and showed disbelief on her face. But seeing Xie Qing''s sincere expression... She was speechless. In her time, she was also considered a genius, and her abilities were astonishing. But even so, it took her a year of rigorous training to learn to control Higher Qi. And when Xie Qing imed that he had strengthened his control over Higher Qi in just two days... Yu Longfeng began to doubt her life. Xu Mei showed no reaction - she was naturally carefree. "Oh, as expected from my disciple," was all that could be read on her face. Soon, the table was set, and Xie Qing and the others were invited to dinner. Surprisingly, the young man ate with such an appetite for the first time in his life. It felt as if he had been starving for many years, and although he tried to maintain etiquette, it still looked funny from the side. Of course, no one pointed this out - who would dare? A young man who reached Spiritual Ascension at the age of twenty is something extraordinary. Yu Longfeng''s expression remained shocked even after the meal ended. *** Two dayster. Lu Yin arrived at the imperial pce, looking quite nervous. "Don''t worry, Her Majesty is a person of great heart!" said the apanying Xie Qing, who stood out with his mysterious aura. "''Great heart, huh?''" Lu Yin muttered something under her breath. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. It seemed like another love drama was unfolding for him¡­ "What a sin... why was I born so handsome?" he thought, puffing out his chest. It''s a shame, of course, that the Heavenly Punishment didn''t kill him to hell that day, but we have what we have. Passing through the inner part of the pce, they went through a strict check and only after twenty minutes found themselves in the throne room. Making a half-bow - as thews exempted the direct heirs of the main sects from the need to bow to the waist, Lu Yin and Xie Qing sat on chairs brought by servants. Soon, the hall emptied - the guards and eunuchs were ordered to leave the hall. Only Xie Qing, Lu Yin, Yu Longfeng, and Xu Mei, who was lying on the bed and eating ripe apples, remained. "Could you not be so carefree? You are in the presence of your juniors," the Empress frowned, seeing Xu Mei''s carefree behavior. Then she looked at Xie Qing: "And you, don''t indulge her too much!" "Hahaha..." Xie Qingughed awkwardly, as the bed belonged to him. However, how could he refuse his Master, who was too bored with all this formality? Lu Yin, watching the whole situation, also began to rx. She thought it would be a very formal meeting, but everything turned out to be much simpler. Yu Longfeng gave up all her attempts to reason with these two, concentrating all her annoyance in a quiet sigh. Then, turning her gaze to Lu Yin, she regained her calm expression. "Lu Yin, being a disciple of the great alchemist Liu Yang, your achievements have reached even my imperial court," Yu Longfeng said, behaving majestically, as befits an Empress: "Stories of your kind heart are widespread, and your skills are known to all but the deaf and blind. It must be said that after your teacher, you are the most talented person on the path of alchemy." "Your Majesty is too kind!" Lu Yin said excitedly, looking happy. "Yes... hm... by the way..." Yu Longfeng''s tone became strange, and her previous majestic aura disappeared when she started looking back and forth between Xie Qing and Lu Yin: "Between you... there is a friendship, right?" "Ah?" Lu Yin made a strange sound, not quite understanding the meaning of the Empress''s question, but did not dare to remain silent. "Your Majesty is right. We and young master Xie Qing are old acquaintances and can be considered CLOSE friends!" Lu Yin said with a bright smile, for some reason emphasizing the word ''close.'' "I see..." the corner of Yu Longfeng''s mouth twitched when she saw the girl''s satisfied face. She asked a second question: "I very much hope that you maintain a sufficient distance between a man and a woman, right? After all, one should not forget about etiquette... even if you are CLOSE friends." "Your Majesty has a kind heart, but you don''t need to worry. I only allow young master Xie Qing to be so close to me!" Lu Yin replied again. Surprisingly, when it came to Xie Qing, Lu Yin lost her submissive behavior, bing as aggressive as a hungry tigress. Sparks seemed to fly between Yu Longfeng and Lu Yin. Xie Qing, meanwhile, was sweating. "Heavens... my Heavenly Punishment continues?" Although, fortunately for him, everything soon calmed down. Yu Longfeng narrowed her eyes and said: "In any case, did you inform us of Liu Yang''s desire to meet?" "Yes, Your Majesty!" Lu Yin replied and looked at Xie Qing: "However, his personal request... was criticized and denied." Chapter 219: Wow, this is so hot! Xie Qing was not even surprised when he heard that his proposal to test the pill on his own body was rejected by Liu Yang. Whether it was a good side of her or not, the renowned Sect Master of the Nine Pills had a kind heart and at least did not want to harm the disciple of her friend. "What is this about?" Xu Mei, who suddenly appeared next to Xie Qing, was puzzled: "What kind of proposal?" "It''s about the pill that Miss Liu Yang created. Since the process has stalled, I proposed to be the test subject," the young man replied, averting his gaze. Immediately after that, he felt a slight chill and a strong squeeze on his left shoulder. He sighed. "Don''t be angry, Master. What can I do? I was the initiator of all this, so how can I stand aside and wait for blessings from the heavens for my Dao?" Xie Qing said, gently stroking Xu Mei''s arm, which was squeezing his shoulder: "If I don''t step forward, we can still use other people. My option is just much more efficient." "Hmph!" Xu Mei snorted, clearly displeased, but nevertheless did not make a scene and chose to remain silent. Xie Qing sighed with relief. Thest thing he wanted was to upset his Master. Yu Longfeng watched this scene and shook her head. "That''s what I''m talking about, young man. Although I am confident in Liu Yang''s abilities, the recipe you provided has its roots in ancient times, and back then, pills often had miraculous effects but dangerous consequences," Yu Longfeng said, turning her gaze towards Lu Yin: "And I am sure that your Master herself would be happy to use the pill on herself, but it is likely that this thing will have no effect on her due to her extremely high level of cultivation." "Your Majesty is correct," Lu Yin nodded, exining the situation: "The recipe provided by Xie Qing is extremely interesting and diverse, so even a genius like my Master needed a considerable amount of time to prepare the pill. But since the ingredients, although of high quality, have no effect on the Master''s body." Xie Qing was already getting confused, but in short, he understood - this crazy woman was so strong that the pill simply wouldn''t work on her. "And that''s why I am sure that I am the best choice!" the young man said, insisting on his position, looking determined: "With all due respect, but among all the avable test subjects, only I have a satisfactory level of cultivation. If you are concerned, we can still test it on prisoners." Yu Longfeng and Lu Yin had no objections to this. Although Xu Mei was displeased, what could she do? If Xie Qing had set his mind on something, he would see it through to the end. *** "No." The sharp refusal from Liu Yang was quite painful for Xie Qing. Despite his persuasion, the woman stubbornly refused. "I will not give you the pill, don''t even ask," she said with a frown and a clear expression of displeasure, poking the young man in the nose: "Lu Yin should have exined to you. The pills in ancient times always had unpleasant side effects. Although the effect is significantly stronger. The truth is that without initial tests on people, I can''t even think about letting you try it." "But again, you refuse to conduct experiments on people," Xie Qing was puzzled and frowned, crossing his arms over his chest: "With all due respect, Miss Liu Yang, but your actions have stalled the counterattack against the devilish cultivator. I am sure that the Empress will agree to provide us with criminals sentenced to death. I am sure that among them there will be several cultivators." Yu Longfeng, who was sitting in the corner drinking tea, nodded, confirming Xie Qing''s words. "Ugh..." Liu Yang grimaced but could not find any justification. If she felt sorry for ordinary people, then criminals sentenced to death could not be considered virtuous. "Alright, I understand!" Liu Yang said with a sigh, surrendering, and this was apanied by a symbolic raising of both hands. "Excellent. Your Majesty, please!" "Alright." Yu Longfeng and Xie Qing exchanged nces, and then the Empress waved her hand. Liu Yang felt a bad premonition and suddenly... "Aaaaagh!" From the air, about five meters high, an old man fell, who had gray hair and red eyes. He was dressed in tattered clothes with numerous patches and was barefoot. "Liu Yang, this manmitted a massacre in a mortal vige and worships the devil. I wanted to give him a cruel death, but before that, I will allow this trash to do a good deed," Yu Longfeng said, pinching her nose, as if unable to bear the stench of the old man. Xie Qing frowned, as did the others. As cultivators, they could see karma, and this man definitely had bad karma. Therefore, even the eternally kind Liu Yang had no doubts. A few minutester, she returned with a small bottle in her hand, containing a single pill. The pill was round in shape, and its main color was burgundy with gray patterns. Although the patterns looked like some scribbles left by a three-year-old child, upon closer inspection, one could discover something more in them. Xie Qing was impressed by the sight of this pill and wondered what it would look like if the original ingredients were used. "By the way..." Xie Qing began, addressing Liu Yang: "What are the chances of creating the next pill?" "If we follow the same steps, then 59% with the support of more than twenty alchemists," the woman calmly replied, and then clenched the jaw of the old man who was struggling and trying to escape. Unfortunately for him, his mind was easily taken under control, and Liu Yang sessfully fed him the pill. After two minutes, the effect urred. The negative karma around the old man disappeared, and he himself turned into a young blond with a charming appearance. Moreover, the old man''s cultivation level before this was at Core Formation, and now it was only at Foundation Building. And the most amazing thing was that even Xu Mei, Liu Yang, and Yu Longfeng - at their level of cultivation, could not see through the illusion! "Amazing!" Xu Mei eximed: "For the first time, I see such an incredible pill! Not only did the appearance change, but the aura and cultivation level also changed." "Indeed. Sect Master Liu Yang, congrattions. You have done an excellent job with the task. Rest assured, I will continue to finance your research!" Yu Longfeng said with satisfaction. Lu Yin''s eyes sparkled when she saw Liu Yang surrounded by two women who kept praising her. The young man smiled and then began to carefully observe the old man. And he noticed something. "Hmm? So that''s it..." Xie Qing grimaced and shuddered: "How terrible. This pill absorbs Yang energy. I''m afraid if you don''t cultivate the Yang attribute, you will soon resemble a mummy." I don''t need to remind you what Yang Qi is in men, right, guys? So, the pill absorbed it, but also the life energy of the victim. For example, the old man''s life was shortened by ten years, which for a cultivator was a small period, but still harmed cultivation. After thirty minutes, the old man returned to his usual form, but obvious changes were that his left arm had withered and resembled a branch of a dead tree. Also, his life energy was weakening with each second. "Hmm. Interesting. The effectsted only half an hour, which is not bad since the pill is still imperfect. The only thing that concerns me is the obvious problems with side effects, which need to be eliminated," Liu Yang concluded, taking out a notebook and looking focused. She kicked the old man''s left arm, and it turned to dust: "The life energy of the arm dried up by 100%, and the life force in the test subject reached low levels. Most likely, he will die closer to the evening." Yu Longfeng nodded and added: "Don''t worry about the test subjects, I will provide them to you. Just in my dungeon, there are plenty of sinners." "T-thank you?" Liu Yang didn''t know what to say. *** "I never thought I would be sold for a bottle of spiritual wine," Xie Qingmented, sighing. "''Sold'' is a strong word. Strengthen your fire, please." "Understood..." Xie Qing shook his head. An hour ago, Liu Yang ''bought'' Xie Qing from Xu Mei for a while. Since the young man''s alchemical me was special and had good qualities, Liu Yang asked him to help with the preparation of pills. Therefore, he was here as a walking gas stove... Indeed, it sounds terrible. Thanks to a special technique, Xie Qing''s alchemical me was easily controlled by him. And considering the recent breakthrough, the efficiency had noticeably increased. "Wow, this is so hot!" "..." Chapter 220: Hao Shen, Ma Lu Days passed. Xie Qing helped Liu Yang prepare the pill¡ªhis main task was to maintain the alchemical me. A month flew by unnoticed. After twenty attempts, an improved version of the pill was finally prepared. The side effects were only mild difort for a week after use, and the pill''s effectsted for six months. Five such pills were prepared¡ªwith the all-around support of the Empress, resources became much easier to obtain. And considering Liu Yang''s natural talent, she had already be skilled and could make one pill in two attempts. Gradually, everything wasing together for the n to begin. "How do you feel?" Xie Qingy in his room, with Lyu Lyu sitting on his back, massaging his shoulders. "Very good, thank you," Xie Qing said with a smile. "Hehehe." In a week, the n to spy on the devilish cultivators would be executed. Xie Qing knew the identities of the chosen people, and they were mainly personal subordinates of Her Majesty. Their cultivation level was at least at Soul Integration, which met the pill''s requirements. But these people did not know about each other''s existence, and many details were kept secret to avoid the risk of exposure. A seal was also ced on Xie Qing''s mind, and if someone tried to read his memories, the seal would activate and lock everything away. Was it dangerous? Hell yes. They were literally walking into the tiger''s mouth, so even Xie Qing couldn''t hide his nervousness. But at the very least, he was d because after this dangerous mission, he would gain many benefits. Lyu Lyu suddenlyy down on his back and bit his ear, whispering softly. "Are you going to leave me in this state?" Xie Qing smiled. The night was "lively." *** At the appointed time, Xu Mei, Liu Yang, Zhang Mei, and the Sect Master of the Resting Eagle gathered at the barrier. Their appearance caused some unrest among the devilish cultivators. "Heh, these bastards are watching us," Xu Meimented, smirking boldly. A whirlwind appeared. The image on the other side of the barrier became clear, and two human shadows appeared, each about four meters tall. "Your move was expected. In fact, I am surprised that you have remained silent and done nothing until now," a hoarse male voice echoed as if from the depths. "I was worried about when you would appear¡ªand if you would appear at all. But you did not disappoint me¡­ especially you, Xu Mei. We still have an unresolved conflict." Xu Mei smirked, ignoring the provocation. Soon, each of them¡ªXu Mei, Feng Gu, Zhang Mei, and Liu Yang¡ªbegan to enhance their aura. In response, the people who were Hao Shen and Ma Lu also began to release their aura. The pre-prepared group of cultivators who needed to enter the barrier territory were stunned and could barely breathe due to this pressure. Xie Qing also found it difficult¡ªXu Mei and the others were not holding back, causing the surrounding environment to dry up and all living things to die before their eyes. Even Xie Qing could have lost about a hundred years of his life if not for the protective amulet given to him in advance. "You were arrogant! The fact that I had to restrain myself infuriates me to death!" Xu Mei snorted, then struck the barrier. Boom! A deafening explosion resounded for thousands of miles, and the earth shook. An earthquake of about eleven on the Richter scale destroyed the surrounding environment, trees fell, and previously built structures, from which residents had been evacuated, copsed into ashes. Xie Qing was two hundred meters away and clearly felt every movement in the ground. And considering that they hadn''t even started fighting, the consequences were already frightening. "No wonder you rarely see cultivators at the Transcendence level fighting¡­" Xie Qing thought, narrowing his eyes: "Wouldn''t this lead to the destruction of the mortal world? I''m afraid only a small part of the poption will survive¡ªand they will all be cultivators." While the young man pondered the situation, the situation at the barrier was getting worse and worse. Despite the formation being covered in cracks, it was still functioning. "Hm!" One of the two devilish cultivators, who were long-time enemies of the righteous path, stepped forward and suddenly, unexpectedly, managed to step outside the barrier! "This¡­" Xu Mei''s eyes widened in shock. However, in a split second, she regained herposure and attacked in response. Boom! Her fist collided with the jaw of one of the giants, sending him flying, but without significant damage. "Incinerate!" Ma Lu shouted, pointing at Xu Mei. A concentrated beam of crimson light reached Xu Mei in less than a second and almost hit her, but¡­ "Hmph!" A cold snort was heard. Zhang Mei waved her hand, and a formation appeared in front of Xu Mei, blocking the attack. "Ma Lu, you worthless worm! You even abandoned your human form for the sake of the devil?!" Zhang Mei shouted, her face contorted with disgust. Indeed, after the "person" named Ma Lu used his technique, his disguise fell off. The world saw a person¡­ no, a monster¡­ or something indescribable. It was just flesh. A creature made of flesh¡­ but every piece of flesh, every muscle, even the internal organs¡­ they all belonged to different beings! "How disgusting!" Xu Mei could barely hold back her urge to vomit. Liu Yang frowned, then waved her hand. An image of a huge cauldron appeared in the sky, under which a crimson alchemical me burned, and after two seconds, a pill flew out. "Explode!" Liu Yangmanded. "Damn!" Ma Lu, visibly shocked, tried to dodge, but the pill pursued him relentlessly and even elerated, instantly piercing his exposed heart. "Quickly, this pill will restrain him for ten seconds!" Liu Yang shouted, visibly sweating. "Understood!" Xu Mei licked her lips, then drew her sword. The girl made a single swing, but¡­ "Hm?" Hao Shen, who still maintained his disguise and was restrained by Zhang Mei''s formations, frowned. "Damn!" Gritting his teeth, Hao Shen suddenly let out a battle cry. The formation began to crack, and all of Zhang Mei''s attempts to restore it failed. Soon, a monster emerged from the formation¡­ for there was no other way to describe it. The head of a goat, the arms of a tiger, the legs of a lizard, and the tail of a scorpion! "***! What a shitty taste these guys have!" Xie Qing, watching from afar, was speechless. Nevertheless, the appearance now was of little concern to those fighting. Xu Mei waved her hand. Hao Shen frowned and looked up at the sky¡­ the clouds stretching to the horizon disappeared, and a projection of a huge sword appeared in the sky! Every serration, every scratch was clearly visible, as if under a microscope. The whole world saw this sword. A mysterious mountain located in the interworld. "Oh? This is the legendary technique ''Sword Princess Strike''" a female voice chuckled: "Who would have thought I would see it in action again. Mei-Mei hasn''t lost her touch, how wonderful." Ma Lu sweated profusely when he saw the huge sword above his head. He was familiar with this technique¡ªin fact, in the past, he had suffered a serious injury from it! And the reason Xu Mei hadn''t used this technique before was simple¡­ "***!" Hao Shen grabbed Ma Lu and tried to escape, but¡­ it was toote. There wasn''t even a sound, not even an explosion. Just dead silence. Time seemed to slow down, and the wind stopped. Xie Qing lost consciousness from this overwhelming energy. His body shimmered and disappeared into space, as did the bodies of the other participants in this raid. The world fell silent. *** Two dayster¡­ finally, a loud explosion was heard. This explosion was heard everywhere, no matter where you went. Even in other realms. "Quickly, Liu Yang!" For the first time in many years, there was genuine panic on Zhang Mei''s face. Liu Yang also looked nervous. Xu Mei sat in the lotus position in the air, with blood pouring from her nose, ears, and mouth in a shocking stream. Liu Yang quickly prepared a pill and threw it into Xu Mei''s mouth. Only after twenty days of continuous treatment did Xu Mei stop bleeding. "What a horror¡­ this technique is powerful but also dangerous!" Zhang Mei thought, feeling a slight tremor. Her reaction was still calmpared to Feng Gu, who was so frightened that he could only speak on the twentieth day. And regarding these two guys¡­ Zhang Mei frowned. "Escaped, bastards. Although they suffered serious injuries. It''s extremely difficult to kill someone at the Transcendence level unless you are one of ''them''¡­" Looking at the cracked barrier, Zhang Mei waved her hand. Since there was no one to stop her¡­ she slightly altered the formation, restoring its previous functions. "Who would have thought they made such a hole. Now I have blocked their ability to go outside and installed a spatial jammer. Plus, I added the ability to enter freely from our side¡­ although I''m sure after today, the area around the barrier will be closed with special formations" Zhang Mei thought, sighing. She looked towards the barrier: "I hope you survive there, kid¡­" Chapter 221: Devils World [I] Xie Qing opened his eyes on the second day after being thrown into this space. He narrowed his eyes, feeling slight wounds all over his body, but what bothered him most was a slight itch in his head. "The seal has been activated¡­ I''m inside the barrier," Xie Qing realized. A special seal blocked his memories regarding things like the locations of sects, countries, important natural resources, and so forth. This was done to prevent information leakage. After all, devilish cultivators have many ways to read memories, so this precaution was necessary. His first actions were to quickly check his surroundings and where he hadnded. Although he had no map, and no information due to the ce being too isted. The only thing the young man discovered was a dpidated house built in an old style, a small pond, and a broken well. But, unfortunately, there were no signs of life here, as if everything around had died out. Xie Qing didn''t even find any bones, perhaps this ce had been long abandoned. "Hmm? People must have lived in this ce. As far as I remember, the old map showed this area as a dead zone, where arge amount of malicious energy was concentrated. As it turned out, devilish cultivators were conducting mass ughter and absorbing the souls of the local residents." This happened before the great war, so it was difficult for Xie Qing to match the area. Many changes had urred¡ªin terms of terrain and buildings. Distinctive changes included the air being much heavier, the Qi being less abundant, and the devilish Qi being plentiful. "I wonder what I look like?" the young man pondered and looked into the pond: "Oh?" His appearance was quite good¡ªthe young man before him had white hair and red eyes, his physique was thin, his skin pale, his nose neat, and his eyebrows looked sinister. Such a sinister appearance was quite fitting. The young man smiled and checked his cultivation. "Oh, I see. A cultivator at the Soul Nascent second stage? It must have been chosen as a medium level to avoid suspicion!" Xie Qing nodded to himself, then discovered something curious: "By the way, devilish Qi naturally gathers around me. Is this the effect of the pill?" Surprisingly, with his Qi, he could not only control it but also absorb it¡ªwithout harm. Usually, if a righteous cultivator stays in an environment with too much devilish Qi for too long, their soul begins to be infected, and their Dao Heart bes covered in malice. This is why all devilish cultivators are so crazy. "Interesting!" Xie Qing smiled. There was a lot of devilish Qi within a hundred miles. He sat in the lotus position and began to meditate. After two seconds of meditation, his Qi was replenished, and all his wounds disappeared. A whirlwind of devilish Qi formed around him. If one looked closely, one could see that as the Qi entered Xie Qing''s dantian, it was purified. After two hours, he suddenly broke through to the second level of Spiritual Ascension! "Amazing¡­" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, feeling a slight tremor in his body¡ªevery cell trembled with excitement from the level increase: "I suppose this environment is very good for me. Although I feel disgust, power is neither sinister nor righteous. And if I find the Source of Evil¡­" The young man licked his lips. The devilish cultivators, unknowingly, had let a hungry tiger into their nest. *** "Damn!" Hao Shen cursed, mming his left hand on the table. His right hand was missing. Ma Lu was in no better condition, half of his body was cut off, making him look like a Geod*de. The atmosphere was gloomy, and the mood of these two was grim. As leaders of the devilish path, they had lost to the leaders of the righteous path. Yes, there were three of them at the time, while their opponents were four cultivators. However, in the eyes of ordinary people, this made no difference. Therefore, Hao Shen felt insulted. "Also, we let in moles!" he angrily snorted, not knowing what to do with himself. "Get rid of them, that''s all. Since when can righteous cultivators withstand the pressure of devilish Qi? Besides, they will be discovered immediately if they can''t control the devilish Qi," Ma Lu replied calmly, looking grim. "You''re right, but¡­" Hao Shen shook his head. Their defeat still left many scars on his soul. The wounds inflicted by Xu Mei had not healed yet. "Bastards¡­" A strong anger filled his heart, but there was nothing he could do. Issuing an order to closely monitor every suspicious person, Hao Shen went into secluded cultivation. Ma Lu looked in the direction where Hao Shen had gone and shook his head. "Useless son of a bitch." *** Xie Qing reached out and grabbed an apple hanging from a tree. He curiously examined it. "***! Everything about these bastards is devilish, even the apple!" Xie Qing cursed in his thoughts, looking at the ck apple with veins inside: "How disgusting. I don''t even want to eat it!" He had been walking for about twenty kilometers and was near the ruins of a city. There was an apple tree here, and he thought it would be nice to have a snack, but in the end, his appetite waspletely gone. Sighing, the young man turned around and started walking towards the city ruins. Suddenly, when he reached a certain distance, the city began to change its appearance and turned from ordinary ruins into¡­ a somewhat strange but lively city. Noise andmotion could be heard beyond the city gates, which was somewhat different from Xie Qing''s expectations. The young man narrowed his eyes and checked everything with his spiritual consciousness, realizing that he had passed the test and could see the true face of the city. "Interesting. So, they check you for devilish Qi and only then let you pass? Maybe if something like this is turned into a more normal form, it can avoid the interference of evil? It will be interesting!" Taking out a notebook, Xie Qing examined the formation and wrote down everything he saw. Thanks to his level of cultivation in this world, there was little he couldn''t see. So, the formation was soon recorded. The gates were unguarded, and entry was free. The first thing Xie Qing saw was the city''s residents. They, surprisingly, looked rtively normal, but¡­ thanks to his special vision, he could see that their true identities were monsters! "Animal spirits¡­ evil spirits. Amazing!" In terms of cultivation level, they were only at the first to fifth stage of Enlightenment, which was too weak. However, it was amazing that someone had gathered so many evil spirits in the city! The buildings were quite ancient¡ªthis style was used in ancient times, so it was surprising to find something like this. However, considering the history of this area, it wasn''t that surprising. The young man smiled, feeling the intense gazes on him. He pretended not to notice the pursuit, then went between the buildings, where there was a dead end. "Hehe, kid, hand over your belongings and we won''t touch you¡­ we swear by the Heavenly Dao! Hahahaha!" "Damn, who would have thought we''d meet a human? Don''t you know? The city of evil spirits hates humans. me yourself for being stupid, ahahaha!" Xie Qing turned his head and saw two burly men, about three meters tall. They were dressed in chainmail armor, looking like guards. These two evil spirits were wolves. "What?" Xie Qing smiled and fully turned to face them, curiously examining them: "Wolf evil spirits, interesting. They say that if you absorb their souls, you can get a small blessing from the Moon!" "Huh?" "What?" The two wolves looked at each other, were silent for a few seconds, and then began tough loudly, clutching their stomachs. Theyughed as if they had heard about a pig bing immortal. "Hahahaha! Brother Cao, look who we found! How funny!" "I heard, I heard! Brother De, he underestimates us. Hahaha. Absorb our souls? Pfft! Hahahaha!" Xie Qing also smiled and began tough. Compared to the two wolves, who had a roughugh¡­ the young man''sugh was beautiful, like the singing of birds. "Why are youughing? Is it hysteria before death?" said one of them, named Cao, who smirked: "Listen, kid, we two brothers will generously allow you to say yourst words! And then we''ll eat you with your bones, hehehe!" "What?" The young man chuckled, looking interested. He took two steps forward, but in the eyes of the wolves, these two steps seemed like hundreds. The two wolf brothers felt something appear behind them. They looked around and saw that a wall blocked their path. A bad feeling arose in their hearts. "This¡­" Turning their heads, the two thieves saw Xie Qing, who was smiling brightly at them, looking friendly. From this smile, they felt so terrified, as if they had wandered into a tiger''s den¡­ and the exit was blocked! Chapter 222: Devils World [II] "Aaaa!" "Brother De?!" The young manughed as he watched the actions of the wolf named De and shook his head. He clenched his fist and... Boom! Brother De himself fell to the ground, headless. The young man chuckled, swinging his hand and sheathing his Nameless Sword, which shone brightly. The young man raised an eyebrow. "Hm?" Ding! [Nameless Sword has evolved!] [Nameless Sword] | [Rank: Legendary (evolving)] | [Description: An extremely sturdy sword. Can return to its owner, consuming Qi. Can split into forty copies and freely change size as long as the user has enough Qi]. "Oh, little one, you''ve finally evolved! I haven''t used you in a long time!" Xie Qing smiled contentedly: "I''ll buy you some excellent sheaths to celebrate! But let''s save that for better times..." The young man smiled and looked towards the remaining evil spirit named Cao. Cao helplessly fell to the ground, bowing so that his forehead touched the ground. He hit his head against the hard floor several times. "W-wait, bro. I have a lot of loot, I''ll give it to you, just forget about my rudeness? Everyone makes mistakes!" Cao said in panic, speaking so fast he was almost rapping, swallowing the ends of his words: "Well? What do you say?" "Very kind of you, haha..." Xie Qing smiled, and when he saw a glimmer of hope in the evil spirit''s eyes, his smile turned into a smirk: "But it''s easier if you die. Sorry." "Eh?" Cao felt a touch on his head. He tried to lift his head but felt a strong pressure. "AAAAAAA!" His loud scream echoed. The evil spirits walking the streets shook their heads. They thought the scream belonged to that person, so they paid no attention. After a few minutes, Xie Qing emerged from the corner, surprising the passersby. One of them called out to him. "Hey, human, where did those two evil spirits go?" Xie Qing indifferently looked at this evil spirit and, without answering, went about his business. "***! What an arrogant guy! Pfft!" Although the questioning evil spirit felt offended, he... still wanted to live. If this person could kill someone at the peak of Enlightenment, what chance did he have? Xie Qing had been targeted for theft forty-five times during this period, which had be somewhat annoying. So, he lured his victims into an alley and killed them, then stole their memories. This was a forbidden technique, and in the outside world, he would be condemned for it, but he was on a mission and considered it right to steal memories to better orient himself. As expected, it turned out to be quite useful. People in this ce were rare, but there were many evil spirits and ghosts within the barrier. The main organizations in this world were the Hao Dynasty and the Ma Dynasty. Currently, the young man was in the Ma Dynasty. "The Ma Dynasty... belongs to Ma Lu. They have no taste? What a shitty name," the young man was speechless. Although these guys called thends they controlled dynasties, there was nothing but ruins and wastnds here. Ordinary evil spirits did not possess information that these people came from the outside world. And that most people here were devilish cultivators from sects or their descendants. "Interesting. Moreover, this evil wolf spirit heard that the Ma Dynasty and the Hao Dynasty had implemented a special regime and stopped every suspicious person," Xie Qing thought and smiled: "Old dogs, not a bad move. But you won''t be able to recognize spies. After all, this pill is very powerful." Thanks to Liu Yang, these pills could provide them with an effect for four years. If that wasn''t enough, Xie Qing had three more in reserve. However, only he had such pills, as the other spies were for greater efficiency. If Xie Qing and the others couldn''t achieve anything in four years, they were to send a message using a special token that only the young man possessed. "Hm... these guys are quite a distance from me," Xie Qing thought, taking out the token that only he had: "Their Qi is not contaminated, they are fine. It seems the protective amulets are working properly." Before the mission, they were equipped with first-ss protective amulets, tokens, and armor. The effectiveness was good, so they could resist devilish Qi. And since Xie Qing hadn''t needed to use his amulet yet, that was a great start. "Let''s start with the information... it seems the sects are hiding. The dynasties or whatever they call them are just a way to control the evil spirits that are consumed by devilish cultivators. So, they are just livestock." Fortunately, these two brothers had a connection with an organization in the neighboring city. They were the ones selling evil spirits to devilish cultivators. "Interesting! Very interesting!" Xie Qing clenched, then opened his palm, where forty-seven souls of various colors floated. They belonged to evil spirits. "If I were a devilish cultivator, absorbing these guys would give me a small breakthrough, but... sigh. Besides the difficulty of purifying their evil nature, after purification, the small amount of Qi would be insignificant and negligible." So, the young man just smiled and clenched his palm, destroying these spirits. In any case, they were just a nuisance, so this was the only right choice. Soon, Xie Qing left the city. No one stopped him, no one bothered him ¨C he had proven his strength, and in this ce, strength was everything. The neighboring city was a hundred miles away, quite a distance. However, with Xie Qing''s physical abilities, he elerated and covered this distance in two days. "Ugh, what a stench!" Pinching his nose, Xie Qing passed through the gates. This city was like a dump, with lots of trash, corpses, and filth on the streets. The city''s residents looked as if they had lost their souls. Cries and sobs could be heard somewhere. Every scene was a nightmare ¨C this ce was an ideal description of hell with a minimal budget. The only impressive thing about this ce was the very dense negative karma. One could only imagine how many beings had been killed for such strong resentment to linger in the air. ording to the wolf''s memories, this organization sold evil spirits. Moreover, this was not considered illegal; on the contrary, it was secretly supported by the Ma Dynasty and its officials. "Interesting. These evil spirits think this organization is illegal. On the surface, the authorities try to fight them, but in reality, it''s just a one-man show!" Xie Qing smiled, understanding the politics of devilish cultivators: "Smart! They breed evil spirits like livestock, consume them, and be stronger! Moreover, by arranging massacres, they increase the likelihood of new evil spirits being born! Very smart!" In his opinion, devilish cultivators, following their evil nature, should have exterminated everyone on the first day. But they turned out to be smarter and calmer, taking a wait-and-see approach. Xie Qing wandered around the city for about an hour but could only count ten residents who were evil spirits. For some reason, they all feared him and ran into their houses. "I''m not cool enough for my travels in the neighboring city to be known. So... they fear people. Devilish cultivators here don''t hold back at all, yeah..." the young man smiled, not bothered by the situation. In any case, he had no intention of interfering in this matter and ying the noble. That way, he would easily reveal his identity, and did he need that? Of course not. Sitting on a bench, the young man began to observe the city. Everything here was in ruins, the houses looked as if they had been built in ancient times and had never seen restoration. Surprisingly, in such conditions, evil spirits even felt better. But what else could be said about beings that are born feeding on evil? Xie Qing expected nothing more from them. After half an hour, someone approached him from behind. The young man turned his head indifferently. It was a tall man dressed in a business suit. His red hair was neatlybed back, and his cunning green eyes glowed in the darkness. He was neither human nor evil spirit. "Jiangshi? Hm, no, for a jiangshi, you''re too strong. I guess you''re a mutated type," Xie Qing said aloud, looking uninterested: "So, what do you want?" "The master''s gaze can see through illusions. Please ept the admiration of this humble jiangshi. You may call me Jian He, sir!" The jiangshi smiled and folded his hands in greeting. When he walked, his knees did not bend, so it was more like flying or gliding: "I saw the master sitting alone in this filthy ce. I felt ashamed that I allowed such a respected person to sit here. If the master does not mind, I can take you to a more suitable ce. Of course, it is entirely up to you." "Oh?" Xie Qing smiled and stood up. Although his cultivation level was hidden, his own aura was still impressive. He looked at Jian He. "Not bad, good manners. And in your ce... hm... are there flowers?" Xie Qing asked with a smile. "The master is too kind. I am just a servant!" Jian He smiled lewdly and replied: "Of course... we have flowers!" "Then that''s great. Will you escort me?" "It will be my honor!" Jian He was excited. He was not an important figure in Jianfeng City, so if he brought a devilish cultivator to their business ce... he would get a promotion! Excited, Jian He did not notice Xie Qing''s sly smile. Chapter 223: Lian Qingyi Jian He led Xie Qing to the deepest part of the city. Inparison, the houses here were more presentable, and there was less ruin. He led the young man to arge red pavilion with six floors, from which noise emanated. Xie Qing almost coughed up his lungs when he smelled the sharp scent of tobo and sex with his keen nose. Well, as expected, it was a brothel. They entered, and the guards rather carelessly let them in without asking too many questions about their identities. It seemed that Jian He was not a stranger here. The first floor was something like a strip club. Dressed in revealing underwear, or perhaps even naked, girls danced, receivingpliments and apuse from the crowd. Most of the patrons were evil spirits, as were the dancers. Although they had a more or less normal appearance, thanks to his special vision, Xie Qing saw their true form, which was simply disgusting. Therefore, he did not show much excitement, which somewhat surprised Jian He. However, he thought that this young master was used to such a sight, which is why he was not impressed at all. Going up to the second floor, Xie Qing squinted. There was nothing but an orgy here. No one restrained themselves; desires of each went beyond their own mind and were realized by the body. "Aaaaaaaah!" "Oh yes, baby!" "Mmmmmf!" Xie Qing shook his head. Such lust... as expected from evil spirits. Most of them did not restrain themselves at all. Nearby was a girl who took on ten men at once and moaned passionately with madness in her eyes. "I apologize for such a sight, but in this ce, it is normal," Jian He said with an apologetic face. "These guys don''t know how to restrain themselves. I will make a remark to them." "No need, I don''t care," Xie Qing replied calmly, showing no emotions on his face. "The young master is very kind!" Jian He sighed with relief. Most young cultivators from humans were alienated and did not like such scenes. The third floor was much calmer, resembling a restaurant. However, all the staff, as well as the guests, were naked. Only the waitresses wore aprons, but the ardent clients quickly tore them off. "Aaaaaaah!" Xie Qing was amused by this picture. This restaurant served food and alcohol, looking ordinary in this regard. However, it allowed clients to harass the staff, who were mostly women. For female clients, there were also men, but there were not many such clients. "A funny idea you have, though. I admit, I am impressed," Xie Qingughed, watching as an evil spirit tore an apron off a waitress and then roughly entered her. "It seems these evil spirits are under a lot of stress." "Does the young master not know? In this ce, there is a shop selling evil spirits and supplying them to respected masters. Unfortunately, someone recently spread rumors, and the residents found out. But they cannot leave here, so they enjoy life while they can," Jian He said with an evil grin, rubbing his hands. "And it only benefits us, as the quality of the goods only increases!" "Not a bad method. Turned misfortune into fortune," Xie Qing nodded. Although he did not like brothels where girls sold their bodies, he found this business frighteningly sessful. However, this brothel... was frighteningly depraved. But their ideas were funny, and Xie Qing even smiled. "And these evil spirits know how to have fun, haha," he thought, shaking his head. "But is the fruit tasty if it has been eaten from the inside by hundreds of worms?" The fourth floor was much calmer. There was a dance floor, and at least for now, all the guests were dressed. Xie Qing noticed that the guys, without much resistance, were hitting on the girls, and they liked it even more. They rubbed against each other, showing their passion, although they did not rush to go to a private room. "Here, they mainly dance and ignite lust in themselves. These girls and guys," Jian He said, pointing to certain evil spirits; there were both guys and girls. "They are specially trained to ignite the me of lust in the bodies of clients. Some evil spirits cannot properly ignite their lust, so such methods have to be used." "Hm? Cannot?" Xie Qing did not quite understand. "Most evil spirits... so to speak, are impotent from birth. This is due to thews of Heaven, so it is quite difficult for them to live and reproduce. But we came up with a special technique and were able to ovee this small inconvenience," Jian He proudly smiled, puffing out his chest. "Now we do not have to worry about a shortage of goods." "I see." Xie Qing nodded, although he did not quite understand everything. Jian He smiled and led him to the fifth floor. And here... hmm, it was quite sparsely popted. "This floor is intended only for cultivator masters, respected... ah, as far as I remember, I do not know your name? I will create a discount card for you!" Jian He politely smiled, but there was a cunning look in his eyes. "Cheng E... that''s what I''m called," Xie Qing mysteriously smiled. "Cheng ... E*... um... a beautiful name, young master!" Jian He tteringly smiled, although there was bewilderment in his eyes. He added, "I will step aside to create your card. Please, take a seat somewhere!" "Um." Xie Qing waved his hand and took a sofa. The fifth floor resembled a living room with a personal bar, contained a tform with a pole, and a cab with alcohol. Devilish cultivators, as Xie Qing understood, were beings of the higher order here. They lived a wonderful life, exploited others, and enjoyed life. "This is even somewhat annoying. Haha, these guys turned this ce into a kind of kingdom. What a horror!" Xie Qing wanted tough but restrained himself. "Interesting. It will be very fun if I destroy their empire and then punish the guilty. The main thing is not to get caught by these two strongmen, otherwise, I won''t be able to gather my bones..." Xie Qing sighed. Considering the wounds of these two, he had a year or two of time, so he felt rushed. In any case, he needed to scout everything out first. And while the young man was in thought, someone began to approach him from behind. "Hm? Who would have thought that I would find a devilish cultivator here! What luck!" Turning his head, Xie Qing saw a beautiful woman. Her white hair was neatly tied with a jade hairpin. She looked like an immortal descended from the heavens. Bright red eyes looked at the young man with indifference. In general, it seemed to him that even herrge breasts were looking at him... ahem. "My name is Lady Lian Qingyi... young master, do you mind if I sit next to you?" thedy smiled affectionately. "I don''t mind,dy," Xie Qing smiled and introduced himself. "My name is Cheng E." "Cheng E? What an... unusual name!" Lian Qingyi showed surprise on her face. Xie Qingughed, but in his thoughts, he sweated. After all, this woman... "Hm? Do I have something on my face?" Lian Qingyi asked with a gentle smile. "No, nothing." The young man frowned. This woman... was at the level of Transcendence! *** Jian He watched this spectacle from the sixth floor. He licked his lips. "Another victim. Hmph, these devilish cultivators think they are the greatest? Pfft!" As it turned out, the whole situation initially smelled burnt! Jian He just enjoyed the time, watching as Lady Lian seduced the young man. "Cheng E, pfft! What a stupid name. After Lady Yan absorbs your Negative Karma and soul, I will be able to enjoy your body... hehe..." *** Xie Qing was also not stupid and suspected that all this was a pre-nned scam. Of course, it could not be otherwise, there were too many coincidences. Lian Qingyi smiled affectionately and even "identally" touched his hands from time to time. Each touch made Xie Qing''s body be hot, which was abnormal, and he could not even get rid of this effect. Here, the young man began to worry about his life. After all... this woman at the level of Transcendence could easily turn him into dust. But, it seemed, her goal was different. She was trying to seduce him... hmm... and gradually absorbed the devilish qi that swirled around him. "She treats me like food..." the young man mentally could not help but be annoyed, but all he ultimately felt was helplessness. "Seriously, why am I so unlucky?" Lady Lian smiled, leading idle conversations, and even flirted with him. An ordinary man should have already lost his mind when such a beauty paid him such attention, but... "Damn!" Lian Qingyi was internally annoyed, but outwardly still smiled. "Does this guy have a heart of stone? Even his ''little friend'' did not show any reaction! Is he impotent?!" Xie Qing smiled and answered Lian Qingyi''s questions, when suddenly he felt as if an invisible arrow pierced his body. "Em?" === Cheng E (Ch¨¦ng ¨¨) = to punish evil. Chapter 224: Nine-tailed fox Xie Qing and Lian Qingyi were chatting merrily. If one were to look at them from the side, they would appear to be a friendly couple. Anyone would be charmed by this sight, but... the reality was much simpler. Xie Qing broke into a sweat, sensing a strange cherry aroma that even made him, a cultivator at the Spiritual Ascension stage, feel slightly dizzy. Gathering his thoughts became increasingly difficult. Lian Qingyi was in deep confusion. The appearance of Xie Qing had surprised her too much, and besides, this guy¡­ had absolutely no reaction to her technique. "How¡­ strange! I can''t capture his mind? But¡­ my technique directly controls the soul. It''s strange how this guy can have a soul stronger than the limit of my abilities, before which even most Transcendence-level cultivators are helpless?" she thought with slight irritation, but outwardly disyed a seductive smile and asked, "Master Cheng, I''ve heard that devil cultivators possess immense ''power''¡­ may I have a look at ''it''?" Her sweet voice was like nectar, capable of driving anyone mad. Xie Qing felt a slight shiver down his spine when he heard her velvety and seductive voice, and excitement in her red eyes. Lian Qingyi symbolically licked her lips and leaned forward so that the youth could feel her hot breath on his lips. The atmosphere quickly became intimate. Although his male part indeed wanted to lose control, Xie Qing did not lose his vignce. Despite her beautiful appearance and ''kind'' nature, Lian Qingyi was dangerous! "If I resist her seductions, I will only seem more suspicious," the youth sighed mentally, feeling a slight reluctance: "Oh well. Although it''s a bit immoral, I can''t afford to get exposed so quickly." Taking a deep breath, the youth blinked. In that brief moment, desire appeared in his eyes, and his behavior suddenly became lustful and aggressive. "Oops!" Lian Qingyi let out a coquettish cry when Xie Qing "identally" fell onto her ample chest. She giggled and helped the youth sit back in his ce. "Master Cheng must be very tired from talking to an old woman like me," she charmingly giggled, covering her mouth with a long sleeve, and smiled. When she giggled, her chest shook, and Xie Qing did not even try to hide the direction of his gaze. Of course, the woman noticed this very quickly. "Hehe¡­ you won''t be able to escape my trap," Lian Qingyi licked her lips and leaned forward, pressing her chest against Xie Qing''s left shoulder, and her cherry lips smacked near his ear as she whispered, "Master¡­ wouldn''t you like to rest a bit? Qingyi wants¡­ to keep youpany¡­ is that okay?" Her voice was "wet" and gentle, and her whisper made Xie Qing''s ears involuntarily tremble. Mentally, the youth cursed when this woman discovered his weak spot, but outwardly, he behaved like a lustful animal. "Hehe¡­ since thedy asks¡­ who am I to refuse?" the youth said with a brazen smile, boldly embracing her waist. "Hehehe¡­" Lian Qingyi affectionately giggled, although there was coldness in her eyes. "Dirty brute, how dare you touch me?!" she thought, barely containing her anger, but¡­ to absorb his Negative Karma, Lian Qingyi restrained herself. Although this slow method was strange, she actually enjoyed deceiving devil cultivators who considered themselves the peak of the world, tormenting other beings within the barrier. So this was a kind of revenge. Soon, embracing Lian Qingyi by the waist, Xie Qing entered a secluded room. He immediately felt a formation activate and seal the door and walls. He couldn''t help but sweat. "***! I can swear I saw a cold gleam in her eyes! I did this out of habit!" the youth screamed internally. He just wanted to look as realistic as possible, but¡­ in the end, he angered this devil woman. "Hehe¡­" Lian Qingyiughed as she pulled the youth onto the bed and pressed him down, cing her leg near his crotch. The youth could swear he saw her pupils turn oval, resembling the pupils of a fox or cat! And in the next second¡­ "Sleep a little¡­" With her sweet murmur, Xie Qing, although resisting, still fell asleep. *** Lian Qingyi licked her lips. It must be said, she was extremely annoyed that she couldn''t immediately put him into an illusion after so much time. Although it was pleasant to see people turn into lustful animals from a few of her touches, she was too hungry. Licking her lips, the girl waved her hand. Suddenly, ck smoke began to emanate from Xie Qing''s body¡­ "What dense Negative Karma!" Lian Qingyi said with contempt, but also with joy in her voice, and her fox eyes brightly shone: "What a joy! I found a treasure! Finally, I can eat properly. Recently, these bastards have been shitting in their pants and not even visiting my brothels! I haven''t had food for so long!" Her excitement could be seen on her face. The woman licked her lips, then opened her mouth wide. The Negative Karma (?) from Xie Qing''s body began to flow directly into her mouth. After two seconds, Lian Qingyi let out a loud moan, and her body trembled. Suddenly, behind her, snow-white tails began to appear, and soon¡­ there were nine tails. A nine-tailed fox! Holy shit! Kurama?! Jokes aside, nine-tailed foxes were very rare creatures. They were simr to evil spirits but also greatly different. They could be called divine beasts because, despite their evil origins, they always consumed Negative Karma as food and thus purified the world. However, they also harmed cultivators, so opinions about them were tooplex and not fully understood. And Lian Qingyi was a nine-tailed fox of this mortal world. Her appearance was already extremely unusual. At first, for about a minute, the woman enjoyed her meal, but on the fifth minute¡­ she suddenly started coughing. "Kha¡­ kha¡­ kha!" Her eyes widened, and blood began to flow from the corner of her mouth. From her appearance, it could be said that she was shocked. "W-what the hell! Did this guy kill hundreds of millions of people? Where did such dense Negative Karmae from?!" Lian Qingyi couldn''t help but express her shock aloud, feeling her Monster Core begin to crack: "Damn! Is this a trap?!" Lian Qingyi began to panic. Although her cultivation level was high, if she had to fight Ma Lu, it would end in her defeat. After all, she knew nobat techniques other than her innate abilities. And now, with her cultivation level weakening, she couldn''t help but panic. "Nooo!" she screamed loudly, so loudly that even the formation began to crack. Her Monster Core was rapidly being seized by the terrifying Negative Karma. After a few minutes, shey on the floor, bleeding. "Ugh!" Lian Qingyi''s body trembled with fear and pain. Although she managed to stabilize her Monster Core, the Negative Karma still hadn''t disappeared. This was just terrible! "What the hell! Who is this guy anyway? I''ve never seen mortals capable of containing such dense Negative Karma. And his soul¡­ it''s strange! I can''t even sense it! Is he a monster?" the woman desperately muttered, trying to calm herself: "This is a trap! Did those two find out about my existence?! Damn, but they were supposed to be injured! Is someone hunting me?!" For the first time in a long time, she began to panic. Nine-tailed foxes were always a desirable "guest" for people, mainly due to their seduction techniques. Thest thing Lian Qingyi wanted was to be caught and made into a ve! She stood up, trying to escape, but¡­ "***! Damn it, why won''t this door open?!" Lian Qingyi was stunned. Even with her physical strength, she couldn''t destroy the door¡­ but then she darkened. "This is the formation I set up! ***! Now I have to wait another two hours for this thing to open!" Two hours, locked in a room with a strange cultivator with dense Negative Karma? Nuh uh! Lian Qingyi categorically did not want that! However, it seemed that the Negative Karma didn''t feel much sympathy for her. Soon, Lian Qingyi darkened, feeling a new storm inside her Monster Core! "W-what is this?!" she cried out in confusion, feeling as if¡­ her Core was merging with something? Looking around, she discovered an almost invisible spiritual thread leading directly to¡­ Xie Qing? "***!" Lian Qingyi darkened. She exerted all her strength to resist, but couldn''t even concentrate a drop of Qi. And then¡­ "FUUUUUUUUUUCK!" she couldn''t help but scream. Because her Core¡­ um¡­ had merged with Xie Qing''s dantian, forming a spiritual pact. In other words, a master and pet contract. "What the hell?!" Lian Qingyi desperately screamed, looking at the heavens, using them of injustice. "What the hell! Why did such nonsense even happen. The heavens are unfair!" How insulting, this is just a plot barrier¡­ However, s, for the woman herself, no excuses could quell her anger, which then turned into despair, and then into helplessness. "I, a noble nine-tailed fox, have be¡­ a pet?" Chapter 225: I’ve seen this raw strength only once before! Since Xie Qing lost consciousness, an hour had passed. The young man came to his senses due to a sudden burst of powerful energy within his dantian. It was both painful and exciting. "Hm? My cultivation has improved a bit," Xie Qing discovered, and then, opening his eyes, he raised an eyebrow: "A fox¡­?" Indeed. Before himy a fox about 45 cm (18 inches) tall. What was remarkable was that it had nine tails. "Hm? Strange, where did this foxe from¡­" Xie Qing wondered and felt a slight difort: "Why do I feel like this fox is staring at me?" The young man took a deep breath and exhaled, rubbed his eyes, and then looked at the fox again. He¡­ saw annoyance in its eyes? "What a fu-¡­" he almost swore but caught himself mid-sentence: "Nine tails¡­ hm¡­ how strange¡­ do foxes have nine tails?" This fact puzzled him, but after a few seconds, Xie Qing began to sweat when he remembered a certain legend. In ancient writings, there was a tale by some nameless bard about a fox with nine tails. It was neither good nor evil¡ªit seduced men, and there were cases of mass murder by these creatures. On one hand, they consumed souls for sustenance; on the other hand, they cleansed the world of Negative Karma. If one were to weigh the scales, they would be neutral evil¡­ but that didn''t mean these creatures were friendly. "Wait¡­ I remember entering this room with that crazy woman¡­" Xie Qing said aloud and, with a slow turn of his head, like some rusty mechanism (or a plush toy slowly turning its head), he looked at the fox. "Hmph! Crazy woman?! How dare you address thisdy in such a rude manner?!" the fox shouted with obvious displeasure and anger. "Holy shit¡­" Lian Qingyi¡­ it was her! The voice matched perfectly! Xie Qing looked at her a bit more and suddenly raised an eyebrow. "Hm? Why do I feel like¡­" he suddenly gasped. This feeling¡­ almost the same as between him and Zhang Mei! "Tsk!" The nine-tailed fox snorted in annoyance, looking like it was ready to perform an anti-revival at any moment. Xie Qing remained silent. He clearly felt that he could control this fox''s life. Although this was good, but¡­ how the hell did this happen? Even if they swore by the name of the Heavenly Emperor''s wife, Xie Qing would never believe that Lian Qingyi was the initiator. "I mean¡­ just look at how she''s looking at me! Ready to tear me apart at any moment!" Xie Qing thought, addressing someone unknown. Several minutes passed before Xie Qing snapped out of his thoughts. He looked at Lian Qingyi in confusion and said aloud. "Am I that handsome?" "¡­" Lian Qingyi didn''t even want to answer his stupid question. She just snorted. Now her Qi was exhausted, and if it weren''t for the contract that happened at thest moment, she would have died. Therefore, the woman decided not to waste her time on chatter and closed her eyes, falling asleep, leaving Xie Qing in confusion. *** Five hourster. Jian He was sweating when he discovered that after so much time, the two had note out of the room. "Could it be¡­ that Lady Qingyi decided to have a little fun with him before consuming him?" he thought and frowned: "How annoying. I''ve been trying to win her attention for so long, but the most I got was a fleeting nce filled with indifference. It turned out that this guy seriously wanted to have a rtionship with Lian Qingyi¡­ without realizing her level of cultivation, as the woman hid it very well. The only reason Xie Qing knew her level of cultivation was that he had previously sensed this special energy and Qi behavior in such cases. "Hm¡­" To his great fortune, the door soon opened, and Lian Qingyi emerged, crossing her arms over her chest. She looked¡­ a bit annoyed. Jian He initially wanted to run to her and greet her, but¡­ he stopped and frowned. "Why is this guy still alive?!" he wondered. Apparently, this young man had greatly pleased Lady Lian! Jian He was filled with envy! "Mistress¡­ this¡­" the man tried to ask Lian Qingyi something, but¡­ he only received an annoyed nce in response. Like a lifeless corpse, he fell to the floor. The man''s expression was incredibly funny¡ªfilled with shock, anger, and shame. However, he didn''t dare to utter a sound in response, fearing he would be killed in the next second. Jian He was forced to watch the young man walk away with the beautifuldy. "I will avenge you, bastard!" the man thought, but in the next moment, he felt a strange coldness on his neck: "Kh¡­" Making an iprehensible sound, his head was cut off from his neck, and then his entire body exploded. *** The young man smiled. In fact, the reason for this man''s death was partially rted to him. He tried his techniques and realized that he could give orders to Lian Qingyi. In the end, she killed him herself. "Amazing, Lady Lian. Your skills are wonderful!" he said with a smile, behavingpletely carefree. "Shut up. Don''t talk to me," Lian Qingyi replied unfriendly. "What''s with the anger? It''s not my fault that you made a spiritual pact with me, okay? I was sleeping at the time," Xie Qing said with a hint of helplessness: "And besides, you haven''t even exined to me how this happened. Who knows, maybe I can even help you break this contract." "Hm! Unlikely! As soon as you break the contract, I''ll kill you!" "Then I won''t break the contract," the young man replied nonchntly. "¡­" The fox felt annoyed and didn''t say anything. Her head was already aching from all these events. They went up to the sixth floor, which turned out to be the control point of the entire pavilion, as well as the ce where Lian Qingyi lived. Snapping her fingers, Lian Qingyi summoned an evil spirit in the form of a beautiful woman with ck hair and green eyes with voluptuous forms. "Mistress!" the woman bowed to the floor, respectfully lowering her head. "Hm. Bring me some alcohol¡­ and make it strong!" "As youmand!" The evil spirit bowed again and left for some room. The young man watched her go and was surprised. "Wow. Cultivation level at the first stage of Soul Integration." "Hm? You can sense her cultivation level?" Lian Qingyi narrowed her eyes and then concluded: "I see. Your cultivation level is significantly higher. What a strange technique, even I can''t see through it." "Oops¡­" Xie Qingughed cheerfully but didn''t answer her question. Lian Qingyi snorted, not wanting to pry information out of him. The young man looked at the woman with interest, which increasingly annoyed Lian Qingyi. "What do you want?" "Listen¡­ can you manifest your¡­ hm¡­ fox traits in human form?" Xie Qing asked, looking as serious as possible. "¡­" Lian Qingyi didn''t know what to say. This question seemed too strange to her, but she nodded. "Seriously?!" the young man''s eyes sparkled, and he smiled: "Will you show me?" "No... ***! Bastard!" Despite Lian Qingyi''s refusal, suddenly her appearance changed. Behind her, nine snow-white tails were visible, and on her head were two white fox ears. "Wow!" Xie Qing eximed in admiration. "I''ve seen this raw strength only once before!" "???" The young man''s reaction was too strange, which even made Lian Qingyi''s annoyance begin to fade, reced by curiosity. "Have you never seen this before?" she asked. "Of course not. Although I''ve heard that some spiritual beasts can transform, they haven''t been seen for hundreds of thousands of years, let alone someone like me, who''s barely twenty," the young man replied, with sadness in his eyes. "¡­" Lian Qingyi didn''t pay attention to the rest, but focused on the information about his age. "Twenty years¡­ considering everything, he''s at least at the Soul Integration stage. Could it be that a monster has appeared among humans?" she wondered. Of course, this information would forever remain between the two. At the very least, the spiritual pact forbade betrayal on the part of the spiritual beast, which led to such a situation. Soon, strong alcohol was brought, and Lian Qingyi began to drink like she was out of her mind. Xie Qing didn''t particrly want to drink¡ªwho knew what was in this alcohol that even a cultivator at the Transcendence stage started to get drunk? After a few minutes, Qingyi began to behave like a drunkard, clinging to the young man. "Come here, sister will teach you everything¡­ but in return, you will give your soul, hehe¡­" Xie Qing was at a loss for words. The woman copsed onto him with her body, and her powerful arguments pressed against his face. It wasn''t that he was against it; on the contrary, he didn''t resist at all. It was just that the whole situation made him somewhat embarrassed. "I''m usually the one who takes the initiative¡­" he thought: "But sometimes it''s not bad to rx." Qingyi rubbed her hot body against him, making his little brother sing praises. The young man shook his head. Chapter 226: New energy [I] Xie Qing left the city in proud solitude, squinting as he gazed towards the horizon. Well, although he could sense Lian Qingyi''s aura, this woman was very skilled at concealing her presence. She disappeared after two or three drinks. The young man could clearly feel her thirst for murder, which was barely restrained. Therefore, he decided to leave the city. Although he could indirectly influence her, it was extremely difficult topletely ensure his safety. It was important not to forget that, due to the circumstances, the opponent was at the peak of cultivation in this world. Therefore, the young man decided not to get involved with her and to leave this ce as quickly as possible. At the very least, they parted on a rtively... peaceful note. Although the fox showed a desperate desire to kill him, she restrained herself due to the restrictions of the contract. Entering the path, the young man smiled and shook his head. In any case, he needed to continue his journey to the central area. As soon as he thought about it, his expression immediately became serious, and the carefree smile vanished from his face. "The central area... the ce where these guys live..." Devilish sects! *** As expected, after so many years, the devilish cultivators had managed to seizends for themselves and even ensure maximumfortable living. They had multiplied and spread throughout the perimeter of the barrier. The total number of devilish cultivators or their descendants reached twenty million, of which only ten million were cultivators. Nevertheless, the numbers were frightening. This was abnormal even by the standards of the outside world, where there were also many cultivators, with the distinctive difference ¨C most of them were not so united! As they say, in times of trouble, peoplee together, creating trust among each other. Here, a simr philosophy was at work, for under the pressure of the "light," the "darkness" had gathered in one ce. And the denser the darkness, the harder it was for the light to ovee it. Xie Qing snorted. He sat near a stream... or what was left of it. The dried-up shallow channel led far into the mountains, and its source was from the ins, beyond which one could see a high mountain range. ording to the map, he was in a dead zone where no one lived. This ce was called the ''Jueming Mountain Range.'' And the name perfectly reflected the entire situation in this area. Even with his sharp spiritual sense, Xie Qing did not feel a drop of life energy in the vicinity. Everything here was dead, from thend to the nts. "Judging by the fallen trees and roots in the ground, there used to be a forest here... but even more curious is that there is Qi in the ground! Moreover, it''s devilish Qi and... Superior Qi!" A battle. The first thing the young man could think of was that a battle had taken ce here, and on a terrible scale. Even for a cultivator of his level, it was unsettling to focus on the residual Qi in the ground. "Oh... the cultivator with Superior Qi was likely a step away from achieving Transcendence, and the other was already at that level. Nevertheless, the devilish Qi ultimately lost... which is very surprising." At the level of Spiritual Ascension, it was not difficult for the young man to analyze the residual Qi and draw his own conclusions. In any case, this ce was indeed very interesting. The destruction had urred so long ago that few remembered it. Even the annals contained no information. The young man could only guess when this great battle had taken ce. But, of course, the main reason he was here was not because of some battle. He was more interested in the rumors. "They say someone left their legacy here. Although these are just ordinary rumors, there were many traces of other beings here... which already gives one pause for thought," the young man mused. He still had four years of time. Therefore, Xie Qing was currently trying to maximize his study of the surrounding environment, which had changed significantly. And perhaps he might even find useful artifacts for himself? Jumping over a small depression in the ground that was once a river, the young man began to leap from tree to tree, carefully examining everything. Although at his level of cultivation, flying was no problem... the young man still preferred to walk on his own feet, especially if he needed to explore everything around him. "Damn..." But to his great disappointment, there was nothing useful here ¨C just dried-upnd and fallen dry trees that would turn to ash at the slightest touch. The young man activated his spiritual sense and decided to gradually examine everything around him. To his surprise, there was still a drop of Superior Qi in the ground, which perhaps protected this area from copse. The second discovery for him was that there were some strange currents under the ground ¨C neither Qi nor devilish Qi, but something more alien. "What... strange energy!" Xie Qing was surprised. His body trembled for some unknown reason ¨C whether from excitement or fear, the young man could not tell. This happened when he touched his spiritual sense to the inexplicable flow under the ground. And... "My level of cultivation... oh! It started to increase? Just from a slight touch?" This time, the young man was shocked, not expecting this at all. What kind of energy could do this? He tried to remember everything that was even remotely simr, but it was all useless. "Interesting! Unknown energy! Although I cannot consider myself omniscient, I have read a lot. And I have never seen anything like this..." Xie Qingmented to himself with curiosity. He narrowed his eyes, and a stream ofpressed Qi shot out from his index finger, making a round, neat hole in the ground. The peculiar bullet of Qi collided with this unfamiliar energy at a depth of ten meters. What happened next... the bullet simply disappeared without a trace! "Hm? Dissolved? Surprising. Superior Qi is not something simple, ordinary energy cannot dissolve it..." The young man was surprised and at the same time pleased: "If I can obtain this energy...!" He was interrupted in his thoughts as he felt a slight tremor under his feet. The young man frowned and jumped up,nding gently on the top of a tree without damaging the branch. His piercing gaze, filled with coldness, was fixed on a creature that looked angry. "What the hell? A scorpion?" the young man could not help but be surprised: "Around it, there is such dense devilish Qi. The level of cultivation of this scorpion reaches Soul Integration, somewhere around the third stage... how surprising." Xie Qing raised an eyebrow. Such a monster in the outside world would cause a lot of trouble, but here it was ¨C casually walking around, even attacking people. The young man did not dy and entered the battle. One wave of his hand made the scorpion''s body contract, and then a terrifying gust ofpressed wind shattered the poor creature''s body into a mess. Spiritual Enlightenment ¨C the true line and entry into the category of the strongest in the mortal world. Any levels of cultivation below this could only be considered weaklings, unworthy of attention. It was all because of Superior Qi! Surpassing ordinary Qi, it was much more terrifying, more oppressive, and stronger! The young man smiled contentedly and jumped down from the tree. He even felt a bit embarrassed about his exaggerated reaction, but there was nothing else he could do. Being in the enemy''sir, every suspicious movement made the young man wary. Soon, the remnants of the scorpion were swept away by the wind, and the young man continued his study of this mysterious energy. *** Ordinary sight could not perceive the energy. The same was true for what Xie Qing had found. Only spiritual sense gave a slight impression of what this new energy was like. "Dense, even denser than Qi, possessing pressure and... hmm... having a golden hue?" This was very unusual. Normally, any energy was colorless, including Qi (referring to the ordinary kind that permeates the air and the ground), so the golden hue was something extremely unusual. Moreover, for some reason, the young man''s blood trembled as if in excitement. He squinted. "My bloodline belongs to the Golden Dragon, but my blood contains only a small part of it. And it is this part that reacts to this energy!" Xie Qing was surprised by his own discovery: "This energy... is it rted to dragons? Seriously?" Any mention of dragons, no matter how small, always caused chaos. If someone found out that such unusual energy was flowing in this ce¡­ I fear disorder would be inevitable. What was even more shocking was that the young man could absorb this energy. And the result was evident! Whoosh¡­ A whirlwind of Qi appeared around Xie Qing. Initially, his brows were furrowed, and his expression was extremely serious. But as soon as the wind stopped, his brows rxed, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. ''Yes! Third stage of Spiritual Ascension!'' he said with a hint of excitement. Da fuck? He really broke through! What the hell! At the moment the young man absorbed this mysterious energy, his dragon blood trembled and then began to grow rapidly! Beep! [Golden Dragon Bloodline: 3%] Chapter 227: New energy [II] Xie Qing entered a deep state of semi-consciousness. Inside his spiritual channels, Superior Qi surged likeva in a volcano''s crater. This reaction was linked to the sudden changes within his blood. Despite the fact that the dragon blood, as reported in the system notification, had only reached a mere 3%, the young man felt a distinct reaction in his body. With each passing second, his body grew stronger and stronger. Sometimes this even caused him pain, which only subsided after a week of focused cultivation. Xie Qing opened his eyes on the second week. Although he had not broken through to a new level, his physique had be robust and could bepared to that of cultivators at the peak stage of Spiritual Ascension. Standing up and dusting himself off, Xie Qing did not even try to hide the excitement that flickered in his ck, onyx-like eyes. With a slight smile, he took a deep breath and then exhaled. "What a wonderful feeling. Is this the power of a dragon? I can''t even imagine what it would be like if my blood were to awaken to 100%!" the young man thought, somewhat excitedly: "This is incredible! Considering that I''m not far from the first transformation¡­!" Dragons had three stages of transformation, at least for those living in the mortal world. The first transformation ¨C Spiritual Ascension, ninth stage. The body bes significantly stronger and more powerful, the same goes for the soul. Lifespan¡­ increases to a million years! For a moment, such a lifespan was only achievable by cultivators at the level of Transcendence! And the young man could achieve the same at Spiritual Ascension! Dragons were long-lived ¨C this was a well-known fact. Therefore, those who inherit dragon blood also be long-lived! Unfortunately, Xie Qing did not know about the second stage. This was due to restrictions. Until he broke through to the required level, everything would remain vague and limited to hints. "However, I am sure that if I continue on the path of awakening dragon blood, I will be able to obtain immortality and incredible power!" this thought made Xie Qing excited. A month had passed, but Xie Qing was still in the same location, not changing it for trivial reasons ¨C he simply could not leave such a golden vein! In addition to the new energy, which he decided to temporarily call "Dragon Qi" due to its effects of awakening dragon blood. "At the moment, my dragon blood upies 3.03%! It increased by 0.03% after I absorbed it over the course of a month. The main reason for this phenomenon is my weak cultivation level¡­" Xie Qing muttered with a somewhat annoyed expression, sighing heavily. As it turned out, dragon blood had a¡­ finicky nature. As soon as it sensed that Xie Qing''s cultivation was not up to par, it immediately stopped growing. "Although, what else could be expected from an ancient bloodline. I must not forget that Golden Dragons, before their extinction, were considered Children of the Heavens, and they could rightfully be called the legitimate controllers of the Nine Realms!" after careful consideration, Xie Qing regained his motivation and shook off his gloom. In any case, he had managed to strengthen his body. His cultivation was still at the third stage of Spiritual Ascension, which was a rtively good result. "Hmm, not bad!" the young man smiled and stretched. After he finished, he looked at the ground with some longing: "It''s a shame that the energy haspletely depleted! I no longer feel its presence! Moreover, all my attempts to preserve it in the form of a stone failed. Therefore, the only option was to absorb itpletely!" Xie Qing simply could not allow devilish cultivators to gain ess to this wonderful energy. Although he doubted they could gain as much benefit as he did, caution was still necessary. All good things ¨C to me, all bad things ¨C to them! The young man smiled and, slightly restoring his Qi, set off on his journey. *** The world beyond the barrier was still filled with silence. Although the sudden evacuation, enormous pressure, and the sword in the sky had caused concern for hundreds of millions of souls, it soon subsided. People are creatures capable of quickly adapting to everything. Therefore, very quickly this topic became boring to everyone, and discussions were mainly held in cultivator circles. After all, for them, it was clear as day that this was a legendary technique of the Dao of the Sword! There was something else strange. For some reason, the main sects remained silent, not even bothering to exin or investigate this incident. This could only mean one thing ¨C they had a direct connection to this event! This caused fear in many. Minor sects felt the pressure. No matter how much they did not want to admit it, the four main sects were always a sharp de at their throats. Their existence was both a blessing and a curse at the same time! *** Due to the fact that the vision of the sword in the sky clearly belonged to the Dao of the Sword, it aroused obvious interest among many cultivators ¨C whether they were beginners or experts. Therefore, the Sect of Heavenly Sword was forced to receive crowds of guests who were interested in seeing what the Dao of the Sword was like. There were even tours of the sect, although they were limited to the outer court. If Xie Qing had seen this, he would definitely have smiled from ear to ear. Because in this short time, the sect had earned a huge number of spiritual stones! Moreover, the number of neers wishing to join had increased exponentially! Considering that Xu Mei had just recently recovered and seen the situation, her stony heart softened. She passed on several basic (in her opinion) techniques, which became an entry reward for talented neers. If one were to limit the description of what was happening, it was a true rise of the Heavenly Sword. As a young sect (by cultivator standards), it was powerful but clearly inferior to the other three sects. However, since the ascension, the average level of disciples and even elders had significantly increased. This was a true dawn! *** Xie Qing, of course, knew nothing about the news of the Heavenly Sword. He wandered through the spacious meadows, where some semnce of life had been preserved. Of course, there were no animals, but strange nts grew there. They had a somewhat dark, ck hue, and in some ces, there was even a flower that resembled frozen,rge drops of blood. "What a strange flower. It has an iron scent. Is this real blood? Could this thing have once absorbed the blood of some cultivator? It emits Qi¡­ remarkable!" The young man stroked his chin in surprise. He took out an encyclopedia from his spatial ring and checked all the pages, but found no matches. This was a new species. The young man''s eyes sparkled. "I need to preserve it! I have the necessary equipment¡­" Squatting down, the young man pulled out his tools. After two minutes, he had a vial in his hands. To avoid any issues, he ced the flower, along with its roots and soil, into the vial to preserve it in its natural state. Although the vial appeared ordinary at first nce, it actually had a special formation that served to preserve and ensure effective transportation. Under the current conditions, the flower would be preserved for ten years without any problems. "Miss Liu Yan will be pleased¡­ and I will be even more so! I''ll sell it at a good price!" the young man smiled, his eyes gleaming with spiritual stones: "We''re making money, booooi!" What a¡­ strange fellow. *** Two weekster, Xie Qing sighed as he sat on a boulder. Thanks to his enhanced vision, he could clearly see the town walls. Finally, after so much time¡­ a town! Considering that the young man wanted to explore everything around him, the journey here had taken a long time. However, he did not regret it, as he had found many new nts that needed to be studied. "As far as I remember, this town was called¡­ Jue Wang? What a name, indeed¡­ despair. Although, what else could be expected from one of the human cities?" Indeed. This town was mainly inhabited by humans. Although evil spirits were also present, they were mostly in the minority. This ce was home to many descendants of devilish cultivators! And only now could the young man begin to engage in espionage. Before this, he had only been skimming the surface. "Interesting! A town of humans¡­ it''s been a while since I''ve seen them. On my journey, I''ve only encountered mindless ghosts, monsters, and a few other abominations. In short, it''s been boring¡­" The young man smiled and headed towards the town . Following his thoughts, devilish Qi began to swirl around him. Now he was indistinguishable from any other devilish cultivator. "I wonder what awaits me here?" Chapter 228: Zhang Xin [I] The town of Jue Wang. This ce truly lived up to its mood. However, this only applied to a minority, such as evil spirits. Devilish cultivators were rarely seen, and even then, by Xie Qing''s standards, they were very weak and not worth his attention. However, there were indeed many people here. Comparing the mortals here with those in the outer world, the youth saw a difference only in that they lived much longer and possessed greater physical strength. Other details, unfortunately, were unknown to Xie Qing. Most of this information was what he had managed to dig up. At the entrance to the city, there was also a special formation. Xie Qing distinctly felt his aura being scanned three times, and with each scan, the attempts to prate his soul became more and more distinct. Of course, the youth would have been foolish to allow someone to examine his soul, so he merely snorted and resisted. Surprisingly, the formation or whoever was behind it was not very persistent and retreated after checking the devilish Qi in his body. Xie Qing was a bit surprised. "Hmm, I thought they would demand to open my soul for examination. Who would have thought they would retreat?" the youth pondered as he entered the city through the unguarded gates. The entire city had quite a developed architecture, and there were clearly more entertainments here than in the two cities Xie Qing had visited during his short stay in this ce. To his great surprise, there was also a red-light district here, where a brothel operated under the same name as in the previous city. "A branch of that vixen?" the youth thought for a moment, then shook his head: "In any case, I won''t go there. I don''t need any more trouble on my soul." Last time, he immediately encountered an abnormally strong individual. If it weren''t for the strange circumstances, he would have been exposed. In the worst case, he would have been killed. Therefore, the youth decided to distance himself from such dangerous ces where individuals with strange pasts gathered. *** In one of the bars in the town of Jue Wang. For inexplicable reasons, the usually quiet establishment was now inplete chaos. The bartender looked at the person in front of him with obvious fear, who was twirling a ss in his hand. His name was Zhang Xin. With long, pitch-ck eyes like coal, his disdainful gaze pierced the skin of every passing evil spirit. However, he was much more weing towards humans. And not without reason, for he himself was a human. But he was also... a devilish cultivator. Because of this, the bartender feared him. Being an evil spirit, most of them had to be either ves of devilish cultivators or food. Either way, it was not the best fate¡ªeven as ves, they would never see good days. Evil spirits were strong from birth, that was true, but... devilish cultivators had a hundred and one ways to counter them. It was not umon for a superior evil spirit to end up as a ve of a devilish cultivator. And today, the bar named "Bar Ming," which meant darkness, was filled with a gloomy atmosphere. In normal times, evil spirits liked to gather here and have a few sses of strong alcohol. But with the arrival of the uninvited guest, Zhang Xin, most of the patrons fled, afraid of bing ves or, worse, food for the cultivator. "Pfft!" Zhang Xin let out a disdainful snort as he felt the cautious and frightened gazes of the evil spirit staff. It was toote for them to run away. The bartender was sweating as if it were 80 degrees Celsius (176¡ãF) outside. "Hmph. What is this crap? Is this your signature alcohol? I thought it would be at least a little tasty, but this is just swill for cheap ves. Pfft, even my horse drinks better alcohol than this!" Zhang Xin said in a disdainful and irritated voice. Waving his hand with clear cruelty in his eyes, he threw the ss against the wall. Pieces of ss flew in all directions, injuring several members of the staff, but no one dared to make a sound. "I-I''m sorry, sir! This humble servant will do everything possible to find the best alcohol for you right away! P-please, don''t kill..." Looking at the bartender who bowed and apologized, Zhang Xin licked his lips. He enjoyed this feeling¡ªsuperiority over others. "Hahaha!" Zhang Xinughed out loud, chuckling unhealthily, thinking: "Finally! I went through the preparation in the sect and can now go outside! I''m so tired of enduring the humiliations from the sect elders... I had to act like a servant in front of those inner court disciples! Inside the sect, I''m an insignificant person, but in the outer world, I''m a king!" Zhang Xin belonged to the Sect of Bone Circle, which was managed by Ma Lu. The special cultivation technique of this sect required careful preparation. The most important thing was that they paid the most attention to people who brought the most sacrifices! Because... Zhang Xin was at the Soul Nascent stage of cultivation, which was already a certain requirement for entering the main court! However, in the sect... he was only an outer court disciple. "Sigh... but I''m still on a mission. I need to bring a hundred thousand souls, or else I won''t see a promotion!" Zhang Xin frowned and snorted, looking annoyed: "Or else go to that abandoned region! The Devil''s Blood Flower only grows in the Jueming Mountain Range! It''s dangerous even for a cultivator of my level..." Zhang Xin sighed. The Devil''s Blood Flower was a special type of nt that could concentrate arge amount of devilish energy. They also grew quickly. If arge number of them were nted near a cultivation cave, one could quickly achieve a breakthrough! Therefore, for outer disciples, this flower was almost a blessing. Moreover, if one "gifted" this flower to an elder, one would not have to worry about being bullied within the outer court! Zhang Xin licked his dry lips and smiled. "Come on, bastard, bring me something decent. If I''m not satisfied, I''ll punish your soul!" "Y-yes, sir!" The bartender rushed off as if a herd of enraged bulls were chasing him, which greatly amused Zhang Xin. He chuckled and sprawled out on a chair. "Hey, you," he said in azy voice, pointing at an attractive waitress who was an evil spirit. "Y-yes?!" the girl replied in a squeaky, shocked voice, clutching the hem of her dress. "Hehe¡­e here," the man said with a slight lustful gleam in his eyes, licking his lips. He looked over her body and stopped at herrge breasts, then chuckled like a hyena: "You know, it''s been a long time since I''ve rxed¡­ and you''re going to help me with that." "G-gentleman¡­ I¡­" The waitress almost cried when she heard the man''s words. She looked hopefully at one of the staff members, but he could only turn his head with a heavy expression. Seeing this, the girl''s face showed despair, and her eyes seemed to be empty. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. On one side was her lover who had abandoned her, and on the other was the lecherous devilish cultivator. "I¡­" The girl bit her lip and was about to take a step forward, but¡­ the door to the bar suddenly creaked open, and a calm, deep male voice sounded. "Hey, is this bar open? I''m tired of looking for ces to drink. All the others are closed for some reason." And this voice brought confusion to everyone. Zhang Xin was furious, and his mood suddenly plummeted. He turned his gaze towards the door and was about to shout, but he quickly stopped himself. "This¡­" First, he was shocked by the beauty of the unexpected guest. And then¡­ he sensed his aura. "Soul Nascent ¨C 6th stage! How is this possible! Could it be that another member of the sect hase to this city?" Zhang Xin began to feel nervous. Thest thing he wanted was to be polite to the strong. That would be too humiliating, especially considering his performance just minutes ago. The man standing at the door raised an eyebrow when, even after a minute, there was no response to his question. He shook his head, and his long white hair covered his right eye. "Hmm? What''s with the strange silence, are you all deaf?" the youth frowned, acting as arrogant as possible. Then he let out an interested sigh, turning his gaze to Zhang Xin: "Oh?" "¡­!" Zhang Xin inexplicably became nervous. Although the difference in power between them was not that great¡­ just one look from the youth drained the man of his strength. It felt as if Zhang Xin had encountered an elder from the main court! However, just as suddenly as the feeling had appeared, it vanished just as quickly. The youth''s cold gaze turned friendly. "So, you are a fellow Daoist. How should I address you?" Xie Qing asked with a smile, not bothering to mention his own name. This sudden warm attitude towards him made Zhang Xin stand up, not daring to show his rudeness. He introduced himself with a strained, maximally false, and ttering smile. "What a pleasant encounter. I am Zhang Xin from the Sect of Bone Circle!" Chapter 229: Zhang Xin [II] Zhang Xin was quite nervous. Although the difference in power between them was not that great, Xie Qing had an inexplicable serene and mysterious aura around him. They both sat down at a round table near the bar counter. The staff almost fainted when they found out that the neer was another devilish cultivator. However, they had no choice but to serve them. "Hmm? There aren''t many people here, are there, Brother Zhang? When I was walking down the street, the surrounding establishments suddenly started closing. Haha, I''ve never seen anything like it. Interesting phenomenon, don''t you think?" Xie Qing said with a faint smile. "Oh? That''s strange. I don''t know what the reason could be," Zhang Xin replied with a forced smile, sipping his wine, while cursing him in his thoughts: "Of course they''re closing. Have you felt your own aura? You''re too abnormal!" Of course, thoughts remained thoughts. How could someone like Zhang Xin dare to offend Xie Qing with his power? "Hmm, so you''re from the Sect of Bone Circle, right? My Master once proudly told me about the strength of this sect. I myself am quite impressed by it," Xie Qing said with a smile. "Your words are truly wonderful, Senior Brother! Our sect is d to know that there are people in the outer world who respect it!" Zhang Xin replied with a smile. Of course, one shouldn''t trust this smiling face too much. Although Zhang Xin appeared polite, he was particrly diligent in trying to extract any information about Xie Qing. And to his great regret, his interlocutor was devilishly cunning. He himself didn''t reveal much, skillfully evading questions, but he managed to get a lot of information from Zhang Xin. In the end, the cultivator from the Sect of Bone Circle couldn''t stand it anymore and asked a question. "Senior Brother, where are you from? Are you from the Sect of Shadowed des?" "Sect of Shadowed des?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow and then smiled, answering casually: "Oh, no, of course not. Brother Zhang, I am just a wandering cultivator. It so happened that my Master, in his old age, decided to take me as a disciple and pass on his legacy. Thus, I traveled from city to city, cultivating and rarely appearing in public." "A wandering cultivator? What a rarity! Although, I''m sure it''s all thanks to Senior Brother''s talents! After all, you are a Soul Nascent cultivator!" Zhang Xin''s eyes sparkled. He thought: "A wandering cultivator¡­ how did he manage to be so strong under such conditions? He even looks younger than me! And it took me a hundred years to be this strong!" Zhang Xin burned with envy inside, but outwardly showed a ttering smile. Well, Xie Qing''s talent could make even Buddhists jealous, let alone devilish cultivators, who were always honest in their desires. Feeling a slight difort, Zhang Xin sighed, pretending to be admiring. "Brother, you are simply amazing! I''m sure with your abilities, you could easily be an inner court disciple of our sect!" "Really? Although I haven''t tried to join, I would probably be rejected," the youth shrugged and asked with interest: "Brother, do you think I could join the Sect of Bone Circle?" "Hmm?" The man did not expect the conversation to turn in this direction. He remained silent for a moment, then nodded. "I think you would have no problem. In our sect, the level of cultivation is secondary. What is valued much more are your abilities in secret arts and sacrifices," Zhang Xin briefly exined the situation, then his eyes sparkled: "Brother Cheng¡­ if you want, I can help you join. But in return, I will need your help!" "Oh?" Xie Qing smiled faintly. He was interested in the man''s proposal. "Then let''s have a good drink first. And then we can discuss this topic!" "Hahaha, I was rude, Brother Cheng! I will punish myself with two sses!" "Hahaha, no need, Brother Zhang!" Both men politely smiled at each other, although in reality¡­ they were ready to devour each other at the first opportunity. These were the realities¡­ of devilish cultivators! *** Zhang Xin and Xie Qing left the bar. They didn''t even need to pay. The bartender was so afraid of these two that he used the excuse of free service to avoid any trouble. If the first one behaved naturally, as if it were meant to be, Xie Qing did not show his merciful behavior, considering that he needed to maintain his disguise. "Ah, brother, you are too merciful! These ves don''t know how to properly treat us, superior beings! Evil spirits are just food, why bother with them?" asked Zhang Xin, who looked a bit drunk. "Merciful?" Xie Qing sneered disdainfully: "That was not mercy. I just got bored of such scenes. It doesn''t bring pleasure." "Ah? Hahaha, well, you''re right¡­" Zhang Xinughed, looking foolish, but in reality, he was a bit surprised. This guy behaved like a calm and reasonable person¡­ but it seemed he was not much different from him! He was just as arrogant and ruthless. Xie Qing walked alongside Zhang Xin, who told him he would take him to a suitable ce. What a surprise it was¡­ ¡­when they found themselves in front of a brothel? *** Sitting in a private room, Xie Qing drank wine. In front of him sat Zhang Xin, surrounded by two girls who were passionately moaning in his ear, behaving coquettishly. Xie Qing himself was surrounded by six girls. These were not the workers of the brothel, but visitors. "Handsome, don''t you want to spend the night with this sister? I swear by my life that I will help you rx¡­" "Hehe, who needs you, old hag? Wouldn''t the gentleman prefer a pleasant night with me?" "Hmph, arrogant sluts!" "Ah, you!" Xie Qing felt a headache. His beauty was a blessing, but also a curse. The increased attention to his person was too distressing. However, he couldn''t do anything about it. The pill had made him take on this appearance¡ªhe had to dance ordingly. Fortunately, Zhang Xin came to his senses after seeing the slight annoyance on Xie Qing''s face. Driving away the unwanted guests, he apologized. "I''m sorry, Brother Cheng! I couldn''t stop them, you understand!" "No need for apologies. I''m used to it," Xie Qing replied with a faint smile. "¡­" Zhang Xin was speechless. "Brother, are you bragging?!" *** "Hmm? Devil''s Blood Flower?" Xie Qing''s expression became strange when he heard this name. What a disgusting name¡­ who even named this flower? Let me fill you in. It turned out that Zhang Xin desperately wanted to obtain this flower. In return, he promised to do everything possible to help him join the sect. As it turned out¡­ Xie Qing had this flower. Inrge quantities! "Oh? Brother Zhang, is this the flower you''re looking for?" Xie Qing asked curiously, taking out a Devil''s Blood Flower from his spatial ring. "Th-this¡­ Devil''s Blood Flower! It is!" The man''s eyes sparkled. What luck! He had actually managed to find such a valuable ingredient! This was nothing short of a blessing! "Brother Zhang, it seems this is indeed what you need. Do your words still stand?" Xie Qing asked with a faint smile, twirling the flower in his hands as if tempting Zhang Xin. "Of course! Brother Cheng, may I be cursed with eternal suffering if I deceive you!" Zhang Xin swore. "Haha, no need for such oaths, I trust you¡­" Xie Qing inwardly scoffed disdainfully. He would be a fool to trust the words of a devilish cultivator. Therefore, he proposed another option. "Brother Zhang, how about this? To reinforce our verbal agreement¡­ we will make a Blood Oath." "A Blood Oath?! Oh..." Zhang Xin blinked, and his eyes secretly sparkled. He himself wanted to propose this, but he was afraid that Xie Qing would be angered. Therefore, he eagerly nodded. "Of course, of course!" Very quickly, the two signed the contract. Zhang Xin''s gaze was filled with joy. Finally! If it weren''t for this chance encounter, he would have had to work hard! "Haha, now who will dare to bother me in the outer court?" Zhang Xin smirked to himself, *** After agreeing to meet the next day, Xie Qing went for a walk around the city. Although he appeared calm, he was actually very excited and nervous. Joining the sect of devilish cultivators was just the first step in executing his n. Was there a more effective way to learn about his enemies than by visiting them directly? Xie Qing himself would never have embarked on such an adventure if it weren''t for the fact that Ma Lu and Hao Shen were severely injured. Considering his level of cultivation, he only needed to be wary of cultivators at the Divine Transformation stage¡­ who, of course, were present in both sects. "But¡­ I wonder if I can cause some trouble¡­ huh," Xie Qing thought, narrowing his eyes. The Sect of Bone Circle¡­ it will be very interesting. Chapter 230: Sect of Bone Circle [I] Under normal circumstances, sects would not ept just any passerby simply because their disciple vouched for their reliability. However, the Sect of Bone Circle turned out to be much simpler than it initially appeared. After paying a certain sum, Xie Qing was able to obtain a disciple''s uniform and a token without any issues. ''¡­'' Sitting in his room, in a small house in the outer court¡­ Xie Qing looked as if his face was carved from stone. It turned out that one could enter here simply through bribery¡­ this¡­ was absurd! "What nonsense. How could a sect be so strong with such shockingly ugly control methods?" Xie Qing wondered, and then suddenly remembered Zhang Xin''s face: "Hmm, wait. That guy was also surprised and even tried to exin something to me, but I was too shocked and missed his words. Could it be¡­ hehe¡­" It wasn''t difficult to put two and two together and realize that the problem was due to the sect leader, Ma Lu, being absent because of his injuries! And considering that there was no strict supervision in the outer court, no one was particrly concerned about maintaining even the appearance of order. On the way to this house provided by the sect, Xie Qing noticed battles between five disciples who looked like they wouldn''t stop until one of them was down. The absurdity of this process was something unfamiliar to Xie Qing. Although he understood that devilish cultivators had no sense of belonging, who would have thought the situation was so intricate? "But, one way or another, this works to my advantage¡­ at the very least, now I need to think about how to make the elders cover for me if something happens¡­" On the way, Zhang Xin had mentioned that even before Ma Lu''s injury, the elders often engaged in bribery. Therefore, if Xie Qing wanted a peaceful life in the sect and for no one to bother him, he first needed to pay tribute. "How greedy and unprincipled. Although, what else can you expect from devilish cultivators?" Xie Qing sighed, shaking his head. He rested for a bit and then left his house. Suddenly, a glow appeared in the distance, and the youth tilted his head with an expressionless face, indifferently gazing into the distance. Behind the building, the indistinct silhouettes of three disciples could be seen. They were looking straight at Xie Qing. Moreover¡­ Behind him, a short dagger with something green on its tip was stuck in the door. The youth didn''t need to think hard to realize that the de was poisoned, and he had be a target. "Pfft." Xie Qing let out a disdainful snort, looking towards the surprised disciples who began to emerge from their hiding ce. As soon as they were within ten meters, Xie Qing shook his head, looking disappointed. "Just a few brats at the Core Formation stage. Ehh¡­ I thought it was someone strong." His disappointed expression was not hidden, so the disciples who had attempted the assassination were enraged! "Bastard! Brothers, let''s teach this neer a lesson!" "Hahaha! You brought this on yourself by getting in the way of the three Jia brothers! Hehehe¡­!" "Hahaha, let''s kill him and take his stuff!" Xie Qing snorted, then raised his hand. When the trio was within arm''s reach, the youth swung his hand. P-pwoosh! A sharp gust of wind sounded. The brothers froze for a second and¡­ fell to the ground! But that wasn''t the end. Their bodies... Heavens! They were sliced into neat pieces, resembling sliced ham. Xie Qing didn''t even bother to burn their remains, simply stepping on them indifferently and continuing on his way. The disciples who witnessed this spectacle were shocked. What was that? Just one swing of the hand and ¨C whoosh, all gone! Those annoying guys who terrorized the weak neers in the outer court were as if they had never existed! Now they were in such a pitiful state¡­ that even the Heavens couldn''t save them! *** Xie Qing''s reputation, although not widespread, still instilled some fear in his neighbors. The youth casually strolled and, without realizing it, found himself at the hall of the elders in the outer court. In front of the pavilion doors was a long line. The number of people wishing to meet with the elders was enormous. Among them was none other than Zhang Xin. "Oh! Brother Zhang!" Xie Qing called out with a smile to the man who turned with an annoyed expression on his face, but seeing that it was Xie Qing, his face smoothed out. "Oh, Brother Cheng, what a coincidence! Are you also here to meet with the elders?" Zhang Xin asked with a smile, though in his thoughts he cursed: "Damn, now everyone knows I''m associating with this guy. If he causes trouble, it''ll alle back to me!" "Ah, yes¡­" Xie Qing nodded. He looked at the long line and raised an eyebrow. "Is it always like this?" "Hmm?" Zhang Xin was distracted from his thoughts and nodded, looking ahead: "Yes. After all, the elders of the outer court are¡­ ''very respected'' individuals, you know, hah¡­" The man''s voice was clearly filled with a hint of annoyance, and this alone made it clear that the elders of the outer court were far from pleasant people. Xie Qing smiled, catching the hint in Zhang Xin''s words. They didn''t engage in further conversation, just stood silently. Zhang Xin didn''t even try to start a dialogue, acting as if he didn''t know Xie Qing. This reaction seemed very amusing to the youth. He shook his head and began to look around. There were forty people in the line, and with Zhang Xin and him, there were forty-two people wishing to meet with the elders. This was because in half a year, all the disciples of the outer court would face a crucial moment. The inner court examination. Zhang Xin had briefly mentioned this, but in short, it was extremely important to gain the favor of one of the elders. Preferably ¨C more than three. For some reason, in the sect, Devil''s Blood Flower had be popr among the ingredients. Although this flower was difficult to obtain and therefore considered rare, it couldn''t be said to be the ambrosia of the gods. Xie Qing had his own perspective on this situation, although for now, he could only call it a hypothesis. "It''s quite likely that this is for Ma Lu. After all, he suffered severe injuries that will be difficult to heal even after two years. And these flowers are good at gathering devilish qi and concentrating it in one ce. Inrge quantities, this could speed up his recovery." Xie Qing nodded to himself, as if with each word he was convincing himself of his own correctness: "And these elders want to use the disciples to obtain these flowers to please the sect leader. They might even be able to raise their own status." Xie Qing smiled and shifted his gaze to the semi-transparent panel of the shop. His eyes gleamed. *** Finally, after six hours, the line reached Xie Qing. He was quite tired of waiting. He was escorted to the second floor by a beautiful girl in revealing clothing, but on her attire was the token of an outer court disciple. Xie Qing immediately understood. "Well, this is one of the easiest ways to raise your status¡­" he thought, sighing to himself. Of course¡­ this was somewhat repulsive to him. But not that he med them for it. After all, status in the sect determines how far you will go. So, he took it more than calmly. On the second floor, behind a round table, sat five men. Their age was difficult to determine, but they appeared to be not far from their thirties. Looking at Xie Qing, they expressed surprise. "Hmm. Strange. I don''t recall you. Your cultivation level is at the sixth stage of the Soul Nascent¡­ are you a neer?" The man with long chestnut hair and blue eyes spoke to Xie Qing. His voice was rough, as ifing from the depths. "Elders," Xie Qing bowed politely, then answered the question: "Elder Zhang Hong is wise. I indeed joined today." "Oh? You know my name? Hahaha, it seems this old man''s fame has spread far and wide!" the manughed loudly, looking pleased. Then he narrowed his eyes at Xie Qing and continued his questioning: "So? What is your purpose? I warn you, if this is just an attempt to get acquainted, you''d better get out of here. Otherwise¡­" Zhang Hong''s eyes shed with malice. A moment ago, he had been acting like a kind person, but now he was directly threatening Xie Qing. "Hypocritical old dog¡­" Xie Qing thought with irritation, but he didn''t show it. Taking a deep breath, the youth responded. "Sir, this disciple has brought a gift for the elders¡­ to express my respect." Xie Qing bowed again, then took out from his spatial ring five flowers with leaves resembling frozen drops of blood. "This¡­ Devil''s Blood Flowers! And of such high quality¡­!" Chapter 231: Sect of Bone Circle [II] Zhang Hong was in shock, but even more so, he was overjoyed! Finally! After all this time, someone from the outer court had finally brought him something decent! Devil''s Blood Flower¡­ although it couldn''t be considered something supernatural and extremely valuable, due to its rarity, it was difficult to obtain this nt. Some time ago, Elder Hong learned that the Sect Master required these very flowers. And this was his long-awaited opportunity! Zhang Hong''s eyes gleamed with gold as he looked at the flowers in the young man''s hands, but then he restrained his excitement. "Indeed. I cannot be too greedy. However, these flowers¡­ hmm¡­ I must take care of thisd," the elder thought and nced at his astonishedpanions. Then heughed out loud, saying, "Well, since the junior asks, this senior will graciously ept your act of respect¡­ hmm¡­ catch!" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow and effortlessly caught the round object flying towards him. As soon as he opened his palm, he saw what the item was ¨C a round token made of dark wood with five characters engraved on it. "Hahaha, boy, now you can be sure that no one will bother you in the outer court. Of course, you must not use it as a means to threaten the disciples of the inner and main courts. Do you understand?" the elder''s eyes shed with steel as he issued the warning. "So, I can threaten the disciples of the outer court?" Xie Qing thought with disdain, but outwardly maintained a serious expression and nodded, "The elder''s words are full of wisdom. This disciple would not dare to defy your will." "Hahaha! Good, excellent! You have made me very happy! You said you live in the western part? Hmph, how dare those bastards ce my dear nephew in such an ugly ce?" Zhang Hong feigned anger and disappointment on his face, then turned to the other four with a righteous expression and said, "Brothers, I have checked and this disciple has a very pure heart, and his talent is undeniable. I believe we should assign him to the eastern part!" "Hahaha, Elder Zhang, those were my words! How can we let our dear nephew live in such a terrible ce as the western part? Immediately move him to the eastern part!" "How righteous, my brothers! I agree with you!" "Ah, what would the disciples do without us, the kind elders¡­ ha-ha-ha¡­" The five eldersughed heartily, looking as if they were enjoying their own performance. "¡­" Xie Qing''s left eye twitched. *** The process¡­ turned out to be much faster than expected. The female disciple who greeted him at the entrance was actually a member of the outer court''s housing management, so she quickly arranged his amodation and handed him the keys. The most pleasant news was that he would be the only one living in the house, with no roommates. This was exactly what he needed most. In the house where he was initially ced, there was another roommate who was absent due to matters in the outside world. And Xie Qing least wanted to interact with suspicious individuals, especially in such close proximity. Leaving the pavilion, Xie Qing saw a long queue and¡­ hmm? Severalrge-bodied men in outer court disciple robes approached him with obvious hostility on their faces. Xie Qing cast them an indifferent nce, then turned to go to his house, but¡­ "Stop, bastard! Where are you rushing off to? Hahaha, did you piss your pants? But when you killed my juniors, I didn''t see any nervousness on your face!" The speaker was none other than arge, bald man over 6''7" (200 cm) tall, who looked down at Xie Qing''s face with obvious arrogance. "Pfft, just a neer. I thought, I even worried that these idiots had offended someone important and I would have to bury their corpses without proper revenge, but fate! Turns out you, bastard, are strutting around here, alive and carefree, while my brothers were given to the mes! Hahah! The nerve!" Therge man''s expression changed from contempt to irritation, and then to anger. From the side, he looked like a schizophrenic. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. Who would have thought that trouble woulde so quickly? In this sect, it seemed that above one sky, there was another, and so on to infinity. Shaking his head, he sighed. "What foolish people¡­ only at the Soul Nascent stage, yet they act as if they are the kings of the world¡­" Xie Qing''s dismissive gesture definitely infuriated the men when they exchanged nces and shouted. "Fuck your mother, do you think you''re tough?" "Pfft, another bastard! We will torment you to death and the Jia brothers can rest in peace!" V-vshuuu! In a matter of moments, the aggressive men charged at Xie Qing, their attacks containing Yin Qi¡­ no, it would be more urate to say, devilish Qi! In his movements, the young man was limited. He did not want to reveal his main skills so quickly, so he was a bit puzzled, choosing the right technique. Boom! In two seconds ¨C that''s how long it took for the thugs to strike Xie Qing. Dust appeared around them, obscuring the view of the bewildered onlookers. After a few seconds¡­ "AAAHH! M-my arm!" "T-the fuck?! This guy''s body is made of stone? Fuck, my leg!" "Aaaaagh!" Suddenly, a whirlwind swept away the cloud of dust. Revealed to the world was Xie Qing, who held the severed heads of two of the thugs in his hands with obvious indifference in his eyes. The othersy on the ground, their bodies convulsing. Their skin had turned purple, and foam wasing out of their mouths. "Pathetic insect" Xie Qing clenched his fist and¡­ crushed the heads in his hands! Boom! With a loud bang, shreds of flesh, blood, and other debris flew in all directions, even hitting some of the bystanders, causing screams. Xie Qing stood there for a few more seconds before leaving the scene, looking maximally uninterested in cleaning up after himself. In any case, even if he didn''t use any techniques, he could still use nts and physical strength. Thetter he had in abundance. The crowd remained silent for a long time, not knowing what to say. This whole spectacle was something otherworldly, as if not of this world. The only reason they didn''t make a fuss ¨C fear of disturbing the elders'' peace. Fortunately, after a few minutes, the responsible personnel cleared away the body parts without showing a single emotion on their faces. Seeing their actions, the people in the queue continued to move forward. *** On the second floor, Zhang Hong watched the departing Xie Qing with curiosity, and wisdom appeared in his eyes. "What an unusuald. It would be no trouble for him to enter the inner court. Considering his resources¡­ hmm! It''s beneficial to befriend such a person!" the elder thought with a smile, then his expression darkened: "But¡­ how unusual. This is the first time I''ve seen such terrifying physical strength. Is he a body cultivator? Otherwise, it''s inexplicable how his physical strength surpasses the normal limits of Soul Nascent cultivators¡­" Zhang Hong felt that there was an aura of mystery surrounding this neer. Even he, a cultivator at the Soul Integration stage, felt a bit ufortable when he met thisd''s gaze. This was the reason why the elder and the others restrained themselves and did not sumb to greed. Something in the young man''s eyes seemed to hold them back. "Forget it. I''m just an old man. Myst battle was a hundred years ago. I don''t need these troubles," Zhang Hong thought, dismissing all his worries into the trash can. He looked at his thoughtful colleagues and curled his lips in disdain, "Indeed, you won''t miss such an opportunity. If thisd bes their disciple, there is a chance that they will enter the main court as elders who have made a contribution to the sect¡­ but I won''t allow it! Thisd is mine!" A stern gleam appeared in Zhang Hong''s eyes. He could not let others reap the benefits. "He belongs to me alone! And to no one else! Otherwise¡­ no one will have him!" Unconcealed cruelty shed in the predatory eyes of the elder, who had long lost his disguise as a kind old man. Xie Qing was unaware of what was happening behind his back, and even if he had known, he wouldn''t have cared. The strength of these elders was decent, but not enough to pose a significant threat to him. In a fight against all five, Xie Qing could have gotten away with just a few cuts, and that would be it. Speaking of our protagonist, this guy opened the door to his house and then entered. Calling it a house would be somewhat of an understatement. It would be more urate to call it his own courtyard. A private garden, a pool, and furniture of decent quality. "Not bad, they live well here. An outer court disciple with a special status lives it up like there''s no tomorrow¡­" Xie Qing thought, plopping down on a chair in the courtyard. He looked around: "Hmm. Not bad. There''s a garden here, though¡­ oh? These flowers seem to be infused with devilish Qi. But it''s not like they y any significant role here, just decoration." Chapter 232: Sect of Bone Circle [III] Sitting on the soft and springy bed, Xie Qing immersed himself in his thoughts, contemting his n. His primary intention was to create chaos among the devilish cultivators to separate them and cause a rift between the two factions. It sounded easy, but it was extremely difficult to implement. Firstly, these individuals were already quite chaotic, but at least in times of danger, they were willing to unite. Xie Qing wanted to bring their rtionship to the point where none of them would even want to look at each other. To achieve this, he needed to take much more significant steps. "Ma Lu and Hao Shen¡­ only a small circle of people know about them, and most disciples have never seen their faces, let alone know their names. To them, these two are like something mythical and unattainable, like the Heavens," Xie Qing pondered, then frowned. "So, spreading rumors about these guys would be useless. Everyone would still be indifferent, even if I told them about their wounds. On the contrary, it would only unite them more when the public finds out that we managed to ess the barrier." Xie Qing''s head began to ache. All these ns, thoughts, and schemes required deep contemtion. "I shouldn''t act rashly. It would be best if I first think carefully about how to be a disciple of the inner court. There will be more resources and a wealth of information there. If I be a disciple of the main court¡­" the young man''s eyes gleamed, "then there will be a chance to meet the sect master¡­ or gain ess to the altar!" He had indeed discovered something that piqued his curiosity. Some time ago, Zhang Xin had spoken about the altar in the main court. Surprisingly, even an outer court disciple like him had information about it. And it didn''t seem to be a particrly well-kept secret. On the contrary, it was openly discussed. "And¡­ this altar must definitely be destroyed!" Xie Qing thought, narrowing his eyes and looking somewhat worried. "The altar helps one obtain the bloodline of a demon, turning people into hybrids! This makes them stronger, but they lose their minds! This must be nipped in the bud!" A mad altar that helps a person be ten times stronger¡­ of course, many think this is a good bonus! They aren''t even afraid of losing their minds¡ªthat was what was frightening! Xie Qing frowned and shook his head, looking helpless. "It''s too early to think about that now. I need to first get into the inner court, and then¡ªwe''ll see." *** Xie Qing''s days in the sect flowed quite peacefully, and even after a week, no one came to bother him. Of course, this wasn''t due to his fame or anything like that, but rather because of the protection of the elders. The disciples found out about this after someone tried to break into Xie Qing''s courtyard and kill him, but was caught and then executed by order of the elders. This alone made it clear that the neer was not an ordinary person, and messing with him meant breaking one''s own neck! Xie Qing spent his days in meditation and asionally went out to take a walk and refresh himself. Because of this peaceful lifestyle, many began to look down on him. They thought that aside from the influence behind him, the young man was not capable of much else. Of course, this didn''t mean that anyone was willing to confront him. After all, the words of the elders and their protection were not something to be taken lightly or disregarded. It was only in the second week that Xie Qing ended his seclusion and left his residence, lookingpletely refreshed, as if he had taken a cold shower on a hot summer day. Ignoring the stares, the young man looked at the gloomy clouds and raised an eyebrow. "I don''t get it? Why is the sky¡­ hmm¡­ so strange? I sense devilish qi from these clouds. Could it be¡­" The young man didn''t even finish his thought when suddenly there was a rumble. Somewhere in the distance, ten miles away from his location, a whirlwind of devilish qi appeared and quickly dissipated. However, in that brief moment, Xie Qing saw something. This¡­ "Ma Lu! This is undoubtedly that bastard''s aura! So, he is in the sect and¡­ judging by the looks of it, his wounds have started to heal a bit¡­" Xie Qing frowned. He was a bit displeased. This guy was recovering too quickly. Nevertheless, as if remembering something, the young man smiled and shook his head. *** Main court, eastern part, enclosed by high walls. This was the personal space of the sect master, who preferred to be close to his sect, fearing that Hao Shen might be plotting something. Therefore, there was no doubt that he would prefer to lick his wounds here. His severed limbs had not yet recovered, but there were some changes in his fallen cultivation level¡ªhe was slowly recovering. "Hmm¡­ that bitch¡­ her strength is still abnormal. Even after bing a demon hybrid, I can''t kill her?" There was a hint of helplessness in the man''s voice. Actually, it was still a mystery how he could speak without a mouth. But let''s not think about that too much. Ma Lu flew towards his bed and "sat" down. He let out a sigh of relief. "It''s good that the elders of my sect brought me a good batch of nts. At least I can speed up my recovery. Maybe I can even surpass Hao Shen¡­" Ma Lu''s voice was somewhat gloomy, but there was also a hint of impatience and excitement. Hao Shen and he had always been rivals. In the past, their sects had even been enemies. However, due to external threats, they had to form an alliance. It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say that it was only because of this that they managed to survive, while other devilish sects werepletely wiped out. However, this didn''t mean that they trusted each other enough to let go of their own desires. Ma Lu was significantly weaker than his counterpart, so he was always in a subordinate role or something simr. Therefore, when the opportunity arises¡­ "I will definitely get rid of you!" *** Xie Qing was unaware of Ma Lu''s thoughts and didn''t care. He was walking around the outer court when suddenly¡­ "Hey, guy!" Someone called out to him, and Xie Qing looked over his shoulder. It turned out to be a guy and a girl. They looked calm, didn''t exude a bloodthirsty aura, and surprisingly appeared friendly. Someone suddenly called out to him, and Xie Qing looked over his shoulder. It turned out to be a guy and a girl. They looked calm, didn''t exude a bloodthirsty aura, and surprisingly appeared friendly. "¡­" Xie Qing remained silent, then tilted his head to the side, looking indifferent. "What?" "Haha, sorry for the rudeness. I''m Liang Junjie. I was walking around and saw that everyone is avoiding you. I thought, maybe I''ll talk to you, maybe you''re a fun guy!" Liang Junjie said with a bright smile, looking friendly. Heughed loudly. "Although, judging by your look, I''m bothering you, right? Sorry, hahaha!" "And I''m Yang Jia. Brother, don''t you want to be my partner in dual cultivation? Sister will make you feel good!" "¡­" Xie Qing looked as if he was about to punch these two. "Haha, sorry for the rudeness. I''m Liang Junjie. I was walking around and saw that everyone is avoiding you. I thought, maybe I''ll talk to you, maybe you''re a fun guy!" Liang Junjie said with a bright smile, looking friendly. Heughed loudly. "Although, judging by your look, I''m bothering you, right? Sorry, hahaha!" "And I''m Yang Jia. Brother, don''t you want to be my partner in dual cultivation? Sister will make you feel good!" "¡­" Xie Qing looked as if he was about to punch these two. After briefly looking at the two, the young man turned away without a word and started to walk off. Yang Jia and Liang Junjie looked stunned. Then, as ifing to his senses, Liang Junjie shouted, "Brother, p-please wait! I heard from an acquaintance that you have the Red Salvation, so I decided to visit you! Sister Yang is also here for that! We were just joking!" Xie Qing frowned. "Red Salvation" was just an alternative name for the Devil''s Blood Flower. There were only six people who knew he had this flower. Zhang Xin could be ruled out because he hadn''t left his house for a long time. That left only¡­ "The elders of the outer court. Fuck them. I didn''t expect them to leak the information, considering it would be more beneficial to keep this secret. This could only mean that the status of these two annoying weaklings isn''t simple¡­" the young man scoffed and turned back to the two, saying in an indifferent voice, "This isn''t a suitable ce for a conversation. Let''s move somewhere else." Chapter 233: Trouble [I] Yang Jia and Liang Junjie behaved quite carelessly, not even caring that their words might provoke enmity between them and Xie Qing ¨C it seemed they didn''t even think about it. Although, the young man was not surprised, considering they were disciples of the inner court. Understanding this was not so difficult. From their manner of speech, to how they carried themselves, and the frightened nces of those around them. All of this easily gave them away, so Xie Qing didn''t have to think too much about it. "They need Devil''s Blood Flower? Strange, this thing isn''t very effective in small quantities, and the cost is too high. What do they even need it for?" Xie Qing wondered. In fact, he had plenty of these flowers. One of his spatial rings was filled with them. And¡­ "Actually, there''s a frenzy for these things in the inner court. Although I could go and get these flowers right now, I''m just toozy, dude¡­ but I heard from some acquaintances that you gave them a small amount¡­" Liang Junjie smiled and rubbed his hands, saying calmly: "Share with us¡­ brother?" "¡­" Xie Qing frowned. Of course, he couldn''t expect anything good from these two. After all, they were devilish cultivators, so kindness from them was not to be expected. With a smile on his face, he threatened Xie Qing. Although at first nce, Liang Junjie appeared friendly, polite, and forgiving¡­ however, appearances are always deceiving. "I don''t have any more of these flowers, if that''s what you came for," Xie Qing replied indifferently ¨C his voice was even, almost monotonous, and he looked not the least bit frightened or nervous. It got to the point where Liang Junjie couldn''t even tell if the young man was lying to him or not. Therefore, the man''s first reaction was a frown with a hint of irritation. It seemed to him that this guy from the outer court was trying to y him. Yang Jia had been sweetly smiling all this time, attracting the attention of many passersby. Despite the fact that Xie Qing and these two were in a rather remote and deserted ce, for some reason, disciples were gathering here, curiously watching them. The girl smacked her lips and licked them, moistening her dry lips. She smiled gently and spoke in a voice as if honey had been applied to her tongue. "Come on, brother¡­ won''t you help your sister? I swear, I''ll repay you¡­ and do whatever you ask¡­" Yang Jia leaned forward so much that Xie Qing could clearly see her cleavage and even her soft pink nipples. The disciples watching this made a strange sound, and their eyes showed excitement. Xie Qing barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes. He couldn''t believe this girl was so bold. She was even trying to seduce him in front of so many people! "Sister is too kind¡­" Xie Qing said in the same calm voice and uttered words that instantly wiped the smile off Yang Jia''s face: "However, I don''t have any more flowers. This is my final answer." "Hm!" Liang Junjie snorted, releasing his aura. He turned out to be a cultivator at the seventh stage of Soul Nascent! The burst of aura ruffled Xie Qing''s hair, who still stood in ce, showing no sign of excitement, fear, or even nervousness on his face. Like a stone, watching what seemed to him nothing more than a circus. Therefore, at the moment when Liang Junjie jerked his hand, Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. Boom! A loud explosion sounded along with Yang Jia''s scream. "W-what happened?!" "Is that... was that guy from the outer court killed? Damn, as expected, you can''t offend anyone from the inner court. Otherwise, you''re asking for trouble!" "What a show-off! If you didn''t have the flowers, just go get them! A request from the inner court disciples is not something to be ignored!" "Yeah... poor guy..." "Poor guy? Hmph! You don''t know him? He''s that bastard who received the elders'' favor! I''ve wanted to teach him a lesson for a long time, but I was afraid of offending the elders! Haha, serves him right!" Loud conversations, whispers, and the like spread through the crowd. Many were gloating, while some showed discontent ¨C they found it unbearable to see the inner court disciples humiliating them, but... what could they do? In this sect, there has always been a clear hierarchy. As long as you have enough contribution, you can advance. Ordinary cultivators did not have such power and wealth! The Sect of Bone Circle practices dark rituals, and for that, they require a vast amount of resources ¨C not just natural, but also human! And most of the inner court disciples are people of high status or very powerful cultivators! Everyone fears them, and the outer court disciples¡­ well¡­ they are just another source of freebor. To the surprise of the disciples, there was no smell of blood¡­ After a few seconds, another gust of wind swept away the cloud of dust, allowing everyone to see an astonishing sight. "This¡­" "How is this possible?" What the disciples saw was Xie Qing,pletely unharmed, still standing in the same spot. In front of him was none other than Liang Junjie, who looked somewhat worse for wear. "H-how¡­" The man''s arm was bent at an unnatural angle, but that was not what frightened him! His attack¡­ had beenpletely nullified! And yet, Xie Qing hadn''t even moved! And he hadn''t suffered a single scratch. This¡­ what an absurdity! "How is this even possible? Are you a monster?" Yang Jia shouted, looking as if she had seen a monster ¨C her pupils dted, and her body trembled. Xie Qing''s indifferent gaze swept over her terrified face, but he didn''t linger for long, just a second. Throughout all this, he hadn''t even moved his hand. Normally, he could simply kill these two for their rudeness, but¡­ he didn''t want to cause any unnecessary trouble now. "Hm¡­" Making a strange sound, Xie Qing began to dust himself off, which only infuriated Liang Junjie more, but¡­ he didn''t move. He was afraid to attack the youth again and suffer the consequences. "You''ve done enough. I''ll overlook your rudeness since you''re an inner court disciple. However, next time such a prank will cost you your life," the youth''s eyes shed with malice, and he released his aura, which was twice as strong as Liang Junjie''s. "Got it?" "Kh!" Liang Junjie gritted his teeth, his gaze filled with bloodlust and a desire to kill, but¡­ there was also helplessness and fear. What could he do? Even if he hadn''t attacked with full force, such an attack should have been able to kill his opponent almost instantly. However, instead of his opponent''s death, Liang Junjie ended up with a broken arm. ring malevolently, he turned around and walked away towards the west. Although he walked at a calm pace¡­ it seemed as if he was fleeing. Yang Jia only reacted after a few seconds. She looked at Xie Qing with narrowed eyes and then left, appearing thoughtful. The youth stood there for a few minutes before leaving. His gaze was grim. It would be surprising if Xie Qing didn''t face any trouble after such an incident. That very evening, Elder Zhang Hong summoned him for a talk. In a secluded room, there were only the two of them. Zhang Hong looked grim as he gazed at Xie Qing, who bowed and folded his hands in greeting. "Boy, do you think you can be rude to the inner court disciples just because I have shown you kindness?" the elder''s raspy voice was filled with slight disappointment and irritation. "I, Zhang Hong, am a man who stands by his words. And let me tell you, if it weren''t for my efforts, your dantian would have been destroyed, and then you would have been tortured to death. Even after death, your soul would suffer! Don''t you understand that messing with the sect elders is not a wise move?!" Xie Qing remained silent. Outwardly, he appeared calm, but in reality, he was greatly annoyed. This elder was weaker than him, a weakling whom Xie Qing could defeat in twenty minutes ofbat. However, now he was forced to listen to this reprimand and show such respect¡­ it was sheer madness for someone as arrogant as Xie Qing! But he could do nothing about his helplessness. The other party was an elder, and offending him directly was not a wise decision. Zhang Hong snorted maliciously. In truth, he was not as angry as he appeared. In fact, he was even pleased! As an old fox, he had connections with the elders in the inner court. And the fact that those two from the inner court had encountered him was part of his n! What is the easiest way to gain someone''s trust? Help them in a desperate situation! Other elders preferred not to get involved and offend other elders, but¡­ Zhang Hong decided to take the risk! "Hm, let it be known, boy, that only I among the five of us decided to support you! Your respectful behavior that day impressed me¡­ so of course, I couldn''t let my junior suffer!" Zhang Hong spoke as if he were not a devilish cultivator but a saint. He looked at Xie Qing, and his eyes gleamed with cunning. "Of course, this incident is very difficult to erase, but¡­ hm¡­ a few red salvations should suffice." Xie Qing smiled, but his smile was hidden due to the position of his head, so Zhang Hong saw nothing. "Want to use me?" Xie Qing''s eyes filled with cruelty. "Hah, then don''t be surprised by the consequences!" Chapter 234: Trouble [II] Zhang Hong knew what he was doing. His eyes narrowed on the youth as he smiled just as kindly as a benevolent old man, but... there was a cunning in his eyes that he tried to hide. His smile, his movements, his voice ¨C all were fake. The only thing he wanted was to worm his way into Xie Qing''s trust and seize his treasures. And when he became useless... He would discard him like a lizard sheds its tail. This was the face of devilish cultivators. Trusting them was like soaping your own neck for the executioner. And Xie Qing was nning to exploit this situation to the fullest. *** "This¡­" The youth raised his head, and his face clearly showed a struggle ¨C worry, greed, and... desperation. In the end, Xie Qing gritted his teeth and waved his hand. His spatial ring shed. "This!..." Elder Zhang Hong widened his eyes, looking at the contents of Xie Qing''s hand. Another flower, but... such dense devilish Qi? This... was of amazing quality! "Hoo¡­!" The elder''s smile began to widen, twisting into an ugly grimace of greed. "Well, I''ll ept this gift... and your spatial ring," Zhang Hong smirked and extended his hand. He tilted his head up to the right, looking down at the youth: "So... be a good nephew." "Y-yes¡­" Xie Qing''s expression reflected desperation, but he obediently handed over the spatial ring. Zhang Hong''s eyes gleamed with greed as he took the flower. "Tsk¡­" Checking the ring, Zhang Hong found only two low-quality flowers. He put the flower in his own spatial ring and the youth''s ring in his pocket. Then he dismissively waved his hand, as if shooing away an annoying fly. "Nephew, I have verified your reliability and am confident that you pose no threat to our sect. You may return to your quarters." Xie Qing bowed and then left. As soon as he closed the door, Zhang Hong smiled brightly. "Hahaha! What luck! Bastards, see? This is what patience looks like! At least, I made him understand that only I can help him! And no one else!" The elder''s n was simple ¨C to make Xie Qing believe in him and rely on him as a lifeline. This would help him control the youth for his own purposes. He could even im some of the youth''s achievements. Zhang Hong smirked at the thought. Looking at his spatial ring, he couldn''t help butugh, which sounded simply disgusting. "Hahahahaha!" Zhang Hong was already celebrating his victory, but... is there ever free cheese in a mousetrap? *** Xie Qing returned to his quarters. He wasn''t worried about what Zhang Hong might be plotting against him. In any case, if he didn''t like it, he could simply leave ¨C it wasn''t that difficult. In any case, for some reason, items rted to alchemy had started appearing in the system after absorbing the pill. And there were pills that had a masking effect. That''s why Xie Qing wasn''t worried about concealing his identity. In any case... he had a double skin. Sitting on the bed in a lotus position, the youth closed his eyes and began to meditate. "In any case, an interesting show awaits me." *** Surprisingly, Zhang Hong turned out not to be all talk. After that, no one bothered him. This made Xie Qing wonder ¨C did this guy really have connections? Although, considering the flower that Xie Qing had given him, such a minor incident could easily be smoothed over given the benefit. Devilish cultivators were vengeful, but that didn''t mean they couldn''t be reasoned with. Xie Qing got up from the bed and cracked his neck. "What disgusting Qi¡­" Although he could absorb devilish Qi and refine it, the devilish Qi in the outer court was just too... poor! Seriously, it wasn''t even enough to break through to the next stage! This was one of the main reasons why Xie Qing wanted to enter the inner court. And for that... he had to wait six months! *** Half a yearter. The Sect of Bone Circle remained unchanged, although a notable change was that a formidable figure had appeared in the outer court. Chang E. Someone with such a... strange name attracted a lot of attention, but not because of his name. He was strong. Damn strong. And his cold, indifferent demeanor when he dealt with the former top dogs of the outer court made many disciples interested in him, and for the girls, he became an object of desire. Because of this, Zhang Hong was forced to set up protection around the youth''s house, as every night crazy fans tried to break in. Of course, with Xie Qing''s strength, it was impossible for anyone to enter his room, so he easily stopped the girls and threw them out. But... This only excited them more! After that incident, even more girls started flocking to him, as if they had gone mad! Elder Zhang Hong''s head was aching terribly. Xie Qing was a problematic disciple. Although he spent most of his time meditating ¨C as soon as he went outside, trouble started immediately. Notably, the youth somehow managed to beat up forty disciples in one day! In. One. Day! Zhang Hong gritted his teeth. He sat in his room, and women''s clothes were scattered on the floor. Lately, he had been under a lot of stress because this guy, Xie Qing, literally had no leverage. "Elder Zhang! Elder...ins that your nephew has caused bodily harm to his disciple and demands an exnation!" "Elder Zhang, this... girls are flocking to that disciple''s house again, and the boys areining that their partners are leaving them! The outer court is in chaos!" "Elder Zhang, your nephew..." "Elder..." "..." "..." Zhang Hong frowned and looked at the door, and then... "AAAAAAAAGH!" He grabbed his head. How many times had it been today? He had already heard fortyints from his colleagues or disciples. This guy... had absolutely no sense of responsibility! "How annoying! Can''t he spend one day without causing trouble?!" The worst thing... was that Zhang Hong couldn''t even reprimand him! This guy had a simply disgusting character! Moreover, Zhang Hong couldn''t even beat him ¨C this kid... was just disgustingly strong! "AAAAAAAGH! I''m so tired!" Unfortunately for the elder... Xie Qing didn''t miss the opportunity to get back at him for the rudeness Zhang Hong had shown him. Here''s the tranted text with the given glossary and instructions: But soon¡­ A turning point came. The inner court exam. *** The inner court exam. Well, it sounds quite intimidating, but the requirements were rtively simple. Cultivation level: Soul Nascent - 1nd stage minimum, wealth, and¡­ the approval of the elders. Xie Qing stepped into the building where the exam was being held. It was a pavilion. The first floor was fully upied by seats where those waiting for their turn could sit. In a normal situation¡­ Xie Qing would have had to wait for a long time. However! "Young master Cheng, it''s good that you''vee! We have registered a ce for you!" Silence. Until then, the first floor was filled with noise. But as soon as Xie Qing stepped through the doorway with his usual indifferent face, suddenly all the disciples fell silent. The guys looked at him with fear and caution, and the girls with abnormal adoration. The recent rising star of the outer court. Even the disciples of the inner court would find it difficult to pick a fight with him. Firstly, they would get beaten up. Secondly¡­ this guy somehow caught the attention of one of the inner court elders. Since then, no one had really caused him any trouble. But the thing is¡­ this guy¡­ he challenged the top of the outer court, which angered them. But then¡­ he easily beat them all up. Nodding at the servant''s words, he went up to the second floor. Only when his back disappeared did the people manage to sigh in relief. "Phew! Finally, that storm has passed!" "Damn, his aura is so terrifying! He''s like a block of ice!" "Aura? Hmm? Why didn''t I feel anything? If I hadn''t seen that guy beat up the Heart Thief, I would have thought he was an ordinary person!" "Pfft, of course! You just broke through and can''t properly use your Qi. That''s why you can''t see that terrifying aura..." Nheless, regardless of how terrified people were of this guy, everyone considered him a target. Both for emtion and for defeat! *** "Haha,e on in, sit down, nephew!" Zhang Hong, of course, was among the examiners. He smiled amiably, but inwardly, he was seething with anger. "There you are, you bastard! If it weren''t for your usefulness, I would have strangled you long ago!" Compared to Zhang Hong''s reaction, the other elders were more indifferent, some even openly despised him. However, they did not want toplicate the task for the ideal candidate for the inner court. Except for the fact that the young man was obviously wealthy, his strength had already proven itself. The elders would face dire consequences if the inner court found out that they were holding back a talented disciple due to personal grudges. Chapter 235: Inner court [I] Thank you to the readers Chewwie666, Sami_Akbas_6673, Marcus_hykes, DaoistTrumpet, kanderson2084, Garciadan98, and Aegis11 for their support with GT! Enjoy your reading! *** "Hmph!" Someone among the elders let out a loud snort, in which contempt and hatred could be clearly heard. Xie Qing turned his attention to this man. His name was Lin Fen. His disciple had been beaten by the young man several times because he was too arrogant. Therefore, there was enmity between them. "Zhang Hong, I don''t see a single drop of talent in this guy. If it weren''t for his high cultivation level and wealth¡­ pff, he wouldn''t even have a ce in the outer court!" "Hmm¡­" The other elders responded weakly, but they did not say anything¡ªneither denying nor confirming. Zhang Hong frowned. Was this guy trying to throw a stone at him? Just a moment ago, he had reassured his "nephew" that there were no problems, and then this Lin Fen intervened. This¡­ made him lose face. "Lin Fen, restrain yourself. Have you fallen so low that you''re trying to use personal grudges to hinder a talented disciple? Don''t let hatred cloud your judgment!" Zhang Hong said with a dark expression, not caring about politeness. "You!..." Lin Fen let out a loud cry, and his face contorted with anger, but in the end, he could only frown and snort, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair: "Pff, do as you please, I don''t care anymore!" Xie Qing smiled secretly. In any case, his contribution was quite good. If the conflict had continued, the other elders would probably have tried to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. In any case, the final assessment was¡­ "You have passed, Disciple Cheng E!" The elders, except for Lin Fen, smiled and congratted him as if they had been friends for ages. Although Xie Qing despised their hypocrisy¡­ well, he too was part of this little charade. *** Entering the inner court turned out to be much easier, and it did not affect Xie Qing''s mood at all. He simply felt that it was natural. "Of course, I shouldn''t behave so arrogantly in the inner court. There are already elders of my level, and some disciples have higher status and are difficult to offend¡­" the young man squinted and descended from the second floor. As expected, the noise immediately stopped. Xie Qing nced at the gathering of devilish cultivators and then looked away, finding nothing interesting. Mainly, he was trying to find someone very talented who could cause trouble in the future, but¡­ there was no one like that. So, he had no choice but to leave the pavilion. And, as expected¡­ "Phew! I was incredibly nervous!" "Ah, when will it be my turn¡­" "I was so nervous¡­ damn" "Yeah, you can say that again¡­ when he looked at us, I almost shit my pants¡­" "Ew¡­ brother, ew..." *** Xie Qing achieved what he wanted¡ªto be a disciple of the inner court. As expected¡­ it felt too boring. "Maybe it will be very difficult for me to enter the main court. Here, not only connections are needed¡­ but also the practice of dark arts." Xie Qing frowned. This was a problem. He did not want to taint his Dao with dark arts, which could lead to Negative Karma that would be a problem for him in the future. "Well, let''s not think about that for now. I need to first change into the new uniform and go to the inner court." At the exit, he was given a set of clothes and an updated token. Now he was officially a disciple of the inner court. With his cultivation level¡ªthe one he showed¡ªit was probably not a problem to enter the Top-100 disciples. However, for now, Xie Qing wanted to create the appearance of diligent cultivation. Therefore, he focused on behaving more modestly. So, after an hour, he had already changed and headed towards the gates separating the outer court and the inner court. There stood two elders who were at thete stage of Soul Integration. Their eyes instantly fixed on the young man approaching them. Despite the distance of three kilometers, these two clearly saw him. "Hmm, so you''ve already be a disciple of the inner court? Impressive. A little more and you would have broken the record." One of the elders knew him. His name was Xu Long. Unlike his other colleagues, he was more indifferent in nature and rarely interfered in conflicts between disciples, nor did he engage in patronage. "I''m not interested in records," Xie Qing calmly replied, shrugging. "Such things don''t concern me." "It shows. Go on, then. From now on, the outer court will be quieter, pff. Finally, some peace." "Hahaha¡­" Xie Qingughed carelessly. Although he and Elder Xu Long couldn''t be called close, it could be said that he foundmon ground with him. Of course, there could never be friendship between them. Xie Qing still did not trust the devilish cultivators. The massive gates opened with a heavy ng. Soon, Xie Qing saw the inner court before him. The differences¡­ hmm, were significant. Starting from the luxurious pavilions to the devilish Qi, everything was of a higher order. Nodding to the elders, Xie Qing walked inside, and the gates closed behind him. Xu Long narrowed his eyes and shouted loudly, "Scram, you bastards!" "!!!" The disciples hiding on both sides of the gates began to flee in panic. Xu Long snorted but did not pursue them. This was amon sight. When the gates of the inner court opened, quality devilish Qi seeped out, and for the disciples of the outer court, this was the best opportunity. Therefore, after a few minutes, everything returned to its peaceful state. *** Xie Qing raised an eyebrow. Although it was slight, his cultivation had improved since he stepped into the inner court. This¡­ was great! "My cultivation level will likely break through to the fourth stage very soon. About a week!" Xie Qing''s eyes widened at this realization. Damn, he would have given anything if he had known he could raise his level so easily! But¡­ why was this happening? "Could the Golden Dragons have some connection to demons? But how could that be¡­" Xie Qing couldn''t imagine such a thing. How could it be? The Golden Dragons were natural enemies of demons. Therefore, he immediately dismissed these doubts. Moreover, it was clear that his cultivation technique did not absorb but purified the devilish Qi. Therefore, it could be assumed that¡­ he could purify negative energy! In the past, he had not even been harmed by using a spiritual item with the Yin attribute. This meant that his cultivation technique was sufficiently capable of resisting negative energy! "This¡­ is awesome!" Xie Qing licked his lips. *** The inner court was interested in the news. A neer at the Soul Nascent sixth stage had appeared. It wasn''t that this level was considered anything special, but there were indeed few such people. Therefore, many paid attention to this neer. Even more intriguing was the fact that he had offended the Fateful Maiden and the Fierce Fist, yet emerged unscathed! This piqued the interest of many disciples. Some woulde and challenge him. But every single one¡­ suffered defeat! This only drew more attention to him. However, Xie Qing himself was not particrly pleased with this. On the contrary, he was utterly exhausted. Every day, disciples woulde to challenge him. Of course, everything was within the realm of the Soul Nascent stage, but this could not help but irritate the young man. He had to restrain himself to avoid identally killing someone. Because of this, even more disciples began to approach him. If he wasn''t killing anyone, then there was no need to be afraid¡ªor so the disciples thought. Compared to the past, the elders of the inner court paid no attention to him and made no attempt to help. Therefore, Xie Qing felt helpless. Sitting on his bed, Xie Qing was engaged in meditation. Outside his door, there was a crowd¡ªa whole line of people waiting. Usually, the young man would go out and beat them all up, but¡­ Now, he was focused on his own breakthrough. Closing his eyes, he began to condense his Qi. At his cultivation level, a lot of time had to be spent on cultivation. Superior Qi was difficult to condense, so he was still not used to it. However, after two hours¡­ BOOM! "Ahhh!" The people standing in line were shocked. They were calmly waiting and chatting when suddenly there was a loud noise. For a moment, a terrifying aura appeared, only to disappear almost instantly. And although it was just a moment, it could not help but rm the disciples. Even though Xie Qing had not intended to do so, he was definitely pleased to sense that the aura of the disciples had vanished. Finally, some peace¡­ or so the young man thought. For this situation¡­ Had caught the attention of the elders. Chapter 236: Inner court [II] Among the elders of the inner court, one stood out: Li Su, known as the "Indifferent Killer." Despite the rather peculiar nickname, it perfectly captured his essence. In his youth, he hadmitted numerous murders. The people he killed could form a small mountain if gathered in one ce. Because of this, despite his rtively low influence, this elder stood out, and few wanted to have problems with him. And today, to his surprise, during his meditation, he sensed a pressing aura. If one were to think about it, the pressure was as if from a cultivator at the fifth stage of Soul Integration at the very least. Considering that this burst was so short, it was impossible to gather more information. However, Elder Li Su, sensitive to changes, felt something deeper in this Qi. It was a faint sense of danger, as if he had encountered his natural enemy. This was the reason he left his cave after two hundred years of secluded cultivation. Scr-r-r¡­ The boulder blocking the entrance to his cave trembled and moved to the left on its own, revealing a circr entrance six meters in diameter. And then¡­ soft footsteps could be heard, so soft that without keen hearing, one could not detect them. Therefore, the disciples guarding the ce did not immediately notice the changes. They began to chat idly. "Hey, have you heard about the recent incident? They say more and more people are gathering around a neer." "Tsk, don''t remind me. I''m so envious. That guy has captured the attention of the girls, pff¡­ But my Qing''er remains faithful, how I love her!" "Qing''er? You mean the girl with two pigtails and short stature?" the disciple asked, and seeing his friend nod, he suddenly burst outughing loudly: "Hahahahaha!" "W-what?! Wait..." "Dude, I saw her yesterday at that guy''s house. She looked like a lovesick maiden when that guy came out and beat his opponent!" "W-what¡­ h-how is that possible? L-liar!" Elder Li Su, who had emerged from the cave, watched these two disciples with an indifferent face and listened to their words. "Hm? Someone brilliant has appeared? It''s been a long time. It seems the inner court will be lively." Li Su shook his head and, taking two steps forward, disappeared. The disciples suddenly looked at each other, appearing puzzled. "Eh? I swear I felt a faint breeze¡­" "Oh? Maybe your horns have be sensitive to the wind? HAHAHAHA!" "Shut the fuck up!" *** Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. He distinctly felt a cultivator at the first stage of Spiritual Ascension approaching him. Getting out of bed, he waved his hand, and food appeared on the table. It was what he hadn''t finished the day before, and since he was toozy to clean up, he decided to put it in his spatial ring. Then, sitting down at the table, he began to finish his meal. Thanks to the special properties of the spatial ring, the warmth was preserved, and the food hadn''t spoiled at all. Suddenly, the entire house was under someone''s curious gaze. It was quite an ufortable feeling, as if someone was trying to investigate him, but Xie Qing pretended not to notice anything¡ªas befitted someone of his level. And, as expected, the curious gaze soon disappeared. Xie Qing finished his lunch, gathered the dishes, and simply tossed them onto the table. "I''ll wash themter," he assured himself, although he knew he definitely wouldn''t. Then, leaving the house, he decided to take a stroll in his courtyard. One way or another, going outside right now was extremely troublesome. For some unknown reason, there was intense attention focused on him. And just as he sat down on the couch to enjoy his garden, a man''s irritated shout suddenly rang out. "Hey, you bastard, get out here!" "¡­" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow. Would he never be able to enjoy some peace? Seriously. People were alwaysing to him with problems. Having no other choice but to go out to these guys, the young man opened the gate and looked at them with an indifferent expression. It turned out to be a group of four people¡ªall men. In terms of appearance, they looked quite decent, tall, but not as tall as Xie Qing. Seeing him in person, these four looked angry. One of them, with ck hair and green eyes, snarled viciously. "Bastard! Who are you to try to win the attention of my Juan''er?! Don''t you know she is the woman of me, young master Wang Xue!" "¡­" Xie Qing felt tired. Why were these guys trying to reach him instead of their own girls? All he did was lie on his bed and meditate. It wasn''t his fault that they tried to get into his bed. So he didn''t even know what to say. And this, in turn, was taken as a sign of weakness. "Haha, what''s the matter, didn''t think there would be consequences? Thank young master Wang Xue! He said to break your arms, but we''ll leave your legs alone so you can still walk!" said one of his henchmen, adding angrily, "And what the hell were you trying to seduce my girl for!" "Hmph, my Yue''er¡­" "My Wei''er¡­" "¡­" "¡­" Xie Qing looked at these four with an indifferent face, but the corners of his eyes and shoulders were trembling. He... was trying to hold backughter! "How did I manage to give them horns if I didn''t do anything? But damn, they look so funny! However,ughter aside, Xie Qing''s face gradually darkened as these guys, without regard for honor, tried to insult him. He snorted and released his aura. "Y-you¡­" Of course, this did not leave the young men indifferent. They immediately became rmed and released their own auras. They were all cultivators at the Soul Nascent stage, ranging from the third to the fifth level! It seemed their main confidence came from the fact that Xie Qing was alone, while there were four of them. So the guys looked confident, despite the hint of fear in their eyes. "What funny guys," the young man finally said, looking at them with an indifferent face. "Do you know what they say about people like you in such situations? A big pig''s hoof." "¡­" "¡­" There was a brief silence. The four exchanged nces, and then¡­ their faces simultaneously turned red with anger! "You bastard!" "Brothers, attack him!" Xie Qing sighed. He had insulted them out of habit, but¡­ hmm¡­ he even enjoyed it. Standing in a fighting stance, Xie Qing didn''t even bother to draw his sword¡ªthis was his way of showing that the opponent was not strong enough. Soon, he met the strike from Wang Xue, who was using a short sword. The de was instantly destroyed by Xie Qing''s fist. "I-impossible!" The disciple was stunned. How could this be? His de was an item that... However, Wang Xue was not given time to think¡ªa single punch to his jaw sent the disciple flying through the air. After traveling ten meters, hended on the cold, hard ground with a loud thud. A cracking sound could be heard¡ªseveral ribs were definitely broken. However, Xie Qing still controlled his strength to avoid identally killing someone. The other disciples abruptly stopped and then began to turn around¡ªit looked so ridiculous that it was almost funny. But to their great regret¡­ "Hey, didn''t you want to teach me a lesson? Hmm? It seems your enthusiasm has vanished¡­ that won''t do. What kind of men are you if you can''t defend your honor?" Xie Qing smirked. He knew that someone powerful was watching him, but he didn''t care. After all, what was the problem if he was just beating up those who disturbed his peace? Getting used to such a daily routine¡­ well, it was something terrifying. But he couldn''t help it! Most devilish cultivators were people with a chip on their shoulder¡ªthey wouldn''t rest until someone gave them a good beating. So, Xie Qing, as a righteous disciple, helped his peerse to their senses. Turning around, the young man closed the gate and entered the courtyard. Either way, he didn''t care. *** Li Su fell silent, watching as a single, seemingly thin young man beat up those four disciples. He pondered. "His strength is no joke, and his control is perfect. He made sure not to leave them with too serious injuries, which is already a good sign. Interesting. It''s been a long time since I''ve encountered such talent¡­ hmmm." As an elder, Li Su should be concerned with the affairs of the disciples, but he... He didn''t care. He had earned his status after demonstrating high talent. Despite his Master''s hopes that his disciple would help him consolidate his power, Li Su didn''t concern himself with such matters. His only goal was cultivation and achieving Immortality. Among the devilish cultivators, he was probably the calmest, but... That was just an appearance. Li Su narrowed his eyes. "This... If I can obtain such talent¡­" Chapter 237: Li Su As Xie Qing had anticipated, someone did indeed join him for breakfast the next morning. It was none other than Li Su. "¡­" "¡­" He calmly sipped his tea. The elder appeared to be a middle-aged man with graying temples. His aura was tranquil, and it was rare to catch even a trace of his Qi¡ªhe consciously restrained it. Although most devilish cultivators preferred to unt it. In some ways, they were simr. For Xie Qing himself¡­ preferred to conceal his Qi rather than disy it openly. However¡­ hmm¡­ the atmosphere was somewhat sour¡ªnot very cheerful. In fact, it seemed that Elder Li Su''s visit was too sudden. He had arrived at Xie Qing''s residence early in the morning, stating that he was willing to be his patron. This puzzled the young man somewhat. "I cannot read his emotions. But I cannot hope that in this ce there are people who would help out of pure intentions," Xie Qing thought, calmly sipping his tea. Despite his outward calm, he was actually very nervous. His opponent was a cultivator who surpassed him in experience¡ªthis was already a big problem. Although Xie Qing possessed Superior Qi, Li Su possessed Superior Demonic Qi. And these two energies were like Yin and Yang. Therefore, he could not easily deal with Li Su if necessary. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. After a few minutes, it seemed that Li Su had gathered his thoughts and began the conversation. "I heard that you managed to enter the inner court in six months, correct?" Li Su asked indifferently, as if he had started this conversation just for the sake of it. His red eyes narrowed: "How remarkable. If it weren''t for the fact that you arrived a bit earlier, you would have broken my record." "Elder Li Su tters me. I am merely a talentless disciple, blessed by the grace of my seniors," Xie Qing replied, appearing submissive. In his thoughts, of course, he was not as modest as he tried to seem. He scoffed disdainfully. "Of course. You''re trying topare me to yourself?" he thought. What an arrogant motherfu-¡­ Anyway. Li Su smiled faintly. It seemed he liked that the young man was not acting arrogantly. However, then his smile disappeared, as if it had been just an illusion. He tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. "So, Disciple Cheng¡­ may I ask you something?" Li Su asked a rhetorical question and continued almost immediately. His eyes shed, and his index finger tapped rhythmically on the table, as if mimicking an elerated heartbeat: "What was that surge of energy at your residence? Do you know anything about it?" "Here it is!" Xie Qing smiled¡ªwith this, he tried to hide his eyes, full of coldness. Li Su had definitely sensed that surge due to his level of cultivation. The young man was helpless. He could do nothing. That time, he had been too excited, causing his Qi to escape. The only thing that was fortunate¡ªhe did not forget to suppress it, so many only saw the Soul Integration stage, which was not as shocking. Therefore, in response to Li Su, Xie Qing came up with a rather vague but sufficiently convincing answer. "Elder Li, I am not sure myself, but¡­ perhaps it was because many disciples often gather around my residence, wanting to fight. Therefore, such a surge of energy can be exined by their aggression!" "Hmm? Are you telling the truth?" the elder narrowed his eyes even further. "Indeed! I swear on my father''s soul!" Xie Qing said solemnly, cing his hand on his heart. "Uh¡­" Li Su was at a loss for words. Why did he see such¡­ pure sincerity on this young man''s face? Although he wasn''t particrly knowledgeable about such things, even for devilish cultivators, their parents are figures of respect. And such an oath would naturally be serious. But¡­ Why was this young man so happy? Didn''t he fear that Heavenly Retribution would strike his father if he lied? "Anyway¡­" Li Su gave up. He was only interested in this question out of pure curiosity, and delving into it further was too bothersome, so he resolved the issue with a rather simple method¡ªhe forgot about it! He chatted with Xie Qing a bit more and then left, saying he would visit the young man in two days to discuss the matter of patronage. Xie Qing stood by the gate and waved his hand, watching Elder Li Su leave. His face bore a wide smile that did not reach his eyes. He snorted when the elder''s aura disappeared. "Old coot. I can''t even figure out what he wants. Reading people''s emotions is not my strong suit," Xie Qing muttered, turning around and returning home. For some reason, he found himself mired in shit before he could leave the house. "Damn it!" *** Two dayster. Li Su indeed proved to be a responsible person and visited him again. He entered the house and ced a wooden tablet on the table. The tablet was rectangr in shape, and it depicted a fist in blood. Xie Qing raised an eyebrow. "What a tasteless piece of crap¡­" "This is my elder''s tablet," Li Su said indifferently,pletely unaware of Xie Qing''s thoughts. He tried to act cool, saying, "Although I don''t have much attention, many elders will have to give me face!" "Wow, you''re so cool, Elder Li Su!" "Hmph!" Li Su disyed a carefree smile on his face, looking pleased. It seemed that what he enjoyed most was hearing ttery. Although his outward demeanor appeared indifferent, Li Su was actually very pompous and arrogant. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes as he conversed with him on some topic. Li Su was recounting tales of his youth, and the young man pretended to listen. Li Su was around 700 years old, give or take. In the world of cultivation, he was considered a teenager by those standards. Achieving the level of Spiritual Ascension at that age was considered a very good result, almost genius-level. And if Li Su''s words were to be believed, he was only holding back from breaking through further to betterprehend the Dao. Of course, Xie Qing couldn''t care less. Any genius would have to kneel before him¡ªhe was only twenty years old. Many geniuses at that age had barely reached Core Formation. And he was already at Spiritual Ascension, and at the fourth stage at that. This was too shocking. *** Two months had passed. At this time, the young man was sitting on his bed. He had just emerged from a month-long meditation. During this time, nothing interesting had happened in his life. Since he was being pestered with challenges to fight, he decided to go into secluded cultivation. Fortunately, this was the right decision. The young man closed his eyes, feeling his body creak. "What a pleasure. All this Qi¡­!" And just as the young man was ready to immerse himself in meditation again. A loud shout echoed. "Disciple Cheng E, you have been invited to an official duel!" "¡­" The young man closed his eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled, then gritted his teeth. "FUCK!" *** An official duel. It was the easiest way to boost one''s poprity and resolve conflicts with other disciples. Moreover, it helped to raise one''s ranking. In the inner court, there was a ranking system. The top 1000 disciples were engraved on a massive rock. And every day, the rankings changed¡ªall thanks to a special formation. And Xie Qing, thanks to countless battles, had sessfully climbed to the 876th spot! However, despite the benefits of an official duel, there was a downside. If you were challenged, you could not back down! The only way out was to fight! That was exactly why Xie Qing looked so gloomy right now. He was too exhausted! Couldn''t these people just leave him alone? Every day, he was bothered by trivial matters. He even started to feel like he was cursed. It was too annoying! He began to suspect that this was part of someone''s n! Arriving at the battle site, the young man noticed that the arena was packed¡ªspectators eagerly watched as he entered the stage. "This¡­" Xie Qing was at a loss for words. Had someone gone to such lengths to gather this entire crowd? It seemed they were quite confident in themselves. And while he was lost in thought, someone addressed him. "Hey, you!" A high-pitched voice, reminiscent of a girl''s, sounded in front of him. Xie Qing looked up and saw a tall, muscr man approaching him. The young man''s expression became strange. "You''re Cheng E, right? Hmph, arrogant bastard! I challenged you to a duel because I think your ranking is undeserved! How dare you disce me from my pedestal? I, Wu Da, will not tolerate this humiliation!" With each word Wu Da spoke, Xie Qing''s expression grew stranger and stranger, and his shoulders began to shake for some reason. "Hmm? Why are you silent? Are you afraid?" Wu Da smirked. Xie Qing suddenly turned away and¡­ "Pff-... hahahaha!" Beganughing loudly! Chapter 238: Duel Wu Da remained silent, and so did the spectators. They were all thinking the same thing¡ªthis guy is a crazy bastard! Heughed when Wu Da tried to threaten him. At first, they thought he was expressing his contempt. However, some understood the reason. "He''sughing at his voice, which doesn''t match his appearance¡­" "Ahem¡­ well¡­ Elder Wu Da¡­ is unique." "Ahem, ahem¡­" Some who realized this began to cough awkwardly. More and more people tried to suppress theirughter. "Y-you¡­" Wu Da turned red with anger. His voice had always been a big problem, but because of his strength, few dared tough at him! However, now¡­ "Hmph, die!" Rushing forward, Wu Da swung his sword. Xie Qing''s eyes shed. Just as the sword was about to touch the young man''s neck, he suddenly disappeared. "W-what?! W-where did he go?" Confused, the muscr man began to look around. However, Xie Qing was nowhere to be seen. Did he run away? The spectators were also surprised. They hade to watch this spectacle because someone had decided to teach the arrogant neer a lesson. Who would have thought that this neer would be so strange! "Hmph, coward! Where are you? Stop hiding!" "I''m not hiding." "What¡­" BOOM! A loud sound echoed as if something had been struck. The spectators fell silent for a long time, with no one speaking for a full five minutes. For¡­ in one attack, Wu Da had passionately kissed the arena floor. The force of the blow knocked him out. And in this case¡­ the victory goes to Xie Qing! But¡­ um¡­ this was too strange a fight. It felt more like a performance than something worthwhile. So the spectators were indignant. "What the hell was that?" "Pfft, that guy is crazy! He took out Wu Da with one swing, as if swatting a fly!" "Hey, maybe this scene was staged? Will there be a new star in the inner court?" "Star, my ass. Wu Da is the son of an elder. Who has the status to use him as a stepping stone?" "Who knows. This is only the first battle, and it''s already so absurd!" Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. He listened to the chatter, trying to figure out if there was more to this official duel. And, as expected, he discovered something. "This¡­ is only the first duel? Hmm. So there are others," the young man''s neutral face began to contort with the realization that he had been handed a pile of crap: "Damn. Why do these bastards love to fight so much? I can''t just let them beat me to get rid of the annoying bastards?" Of course, the idea of offering his neck to be beaten was just sarcasm. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, looking displeased. "Bastards. They''re testing my patience!" However, even so, he was helpless. Technically, all formalities were observed¡ªan official duel is official because it is approved by an elder. Therefore, Xie Qing had no choice but to ept his fate. "There is only one way to prevent the stream of annoying worms! That is to enter the Top 100! Because disciples cannot challenge another disciple if the difference in their rankings is more than 50!" Xie Qing''s eyes lit up. He truly did not want to stand out so soon, but what could he do? He had no choice but to go all the way! *** There was something strange. Although Xie Qing''s opponents were not bad, their rankings were not high, and their strength was even morecking. In reality, they were quite weak. So he was puzzled. Was it necessary to go to such lengths to use so many people? The young man was already certain that someone was behind this. However, he did not understand who. "Did I offend someone? I admit, my actions may seem arrogant, but I did not cause trouble first! Rather, everyone was annoying me!" Xie Qing was genuinely puzzled. He tilted his head, casually beating his opponent: "Do they want to test my strength? But why? I don''t have an outstanding status. What''s more, why would someone go to such lengths for me¡­" For some reason, at that moment, Xie Qing remembered Elder Li Su. He had a feeling that this old man was trying to test his strength. "Does he doubt me? Does he think that burst belongs to me?" Xie Qing wondered, tilting his head to dodge his opponent''s attack. Then he swung his fist and punched his opponent in the face. "Ugh!" "Enough games. Too boring," Xie Qing snorted, grabbing his opponent''s clothes and tearing them, then rubbing his fist: "You''re dirty as shit. Go take a bath." "Y-you¡­" His opponent trembled with anger, pointing at him with his index finger, and then fell to the ground unconscious. This¡­ "V-victory goes to Disciple Cheng E¡­" Too strange! Too stupid! *** "Interesting." Not far from the arena was a tall pavilion. This was considered the dining hall for the elders. And now, on the highest floor, there were many people sitting around a round table. "Something interests you, Elder Li Su?" someone from the crowd asked. "Hm? No, I wouldn''t say that," Li Su replied casually. "Oh? You looked interested. Anyway, Elder Li, why arrange all this duel drama? Just for some disciple?" the same elder continued, looking puzzled: "I admit, he is indeed talented, but is it worth the effort?" "Well¡­" Li Su smiled faintly. He himself realized that he was reacting strangely, but he couldn''t help it. He wanted to see what kind of progress this young man would make. His talent had captivated the elder, making him envious. Therefore, Li Su, being a stingy old man, wanted to torment the talented brat a bit. This was something he had done even in his youth. So, among the elders, he was not particrly liked. "Li Su, I heard you came out of secluded cultivation and I couldn''t believe it. And now? My eyes do not deceive me. You really dragged your stinky ass out of that musty cave, hahaha!" "¡­" Li Su slowly turned his head to the person who dared to speak to him so rudely. He frowned as he recognized him. "Yang Shui. Your rotten character is still as disgusting as ever. You reek of cheap perfume. Spent the whole day in the brothel again?" Li Su said in an irritated voice and covered his nose, as if expressing his protest. "Oh,e on! All those young girls are so beautiful, hehe." Yang Shui grinned, and his grin was almost devilish. He licked his lips: "And you''re still the same. Sitting in your cave and jerking off your dantian. You''re over three hundred years old. Maybe you should find a wife? And when you have fun with her, you can share her with me, hahaha! You know, brothers should share¡­" "Shut up, you talentless pig." "Pfft!" Yang Shui snorted in annoyance. Li Su''s words had hit a nerve, but he didn''t want to show it, so he clicked his tongue disdainfully and sat back in his seat. There was an awkward atmosphere at the table. Although the elders might appear united, few of them got along. They had all been ssmates in the past and knew each other. There was a lot ofpetition among them, so it was no surprise that some had unresolved karma. However, due to their status, they had to restrain themselves. Therefore, they remained silent for most of the time. Even Yang Shui, who had been noisy just a minute ago, now looked as if he was ready to fall asleep at any moment. However, he could do nothing about it. The gathering of the elders, or the banquet¡ªcall it what you will¡ªwas a mandatory event and a tradition. In the past, the elders would discuss sect affairs and share news with each other, but now¡­ it seemed more like a strange attempt to make quarreling children get along. Li Su quickly lost interest in this event. In any case, he was not particrly focused on socializing with others¡ªthat was not in his nature. "Hm? The boy is already finished. Interesting. It seems I chose some weaklings. Although they are at the same cultivation level, this boy''s physique is abnormally strong. Is this rted to his cultivation technique? Or does he have a bloodline?" Li Su''s eyes gleamed. If it was a bloodline¡­ well, the elder was excited. In these times, it was rare to find people with bloodlines. For as time passes, the degradation of blood does not stand still. Among the devilish people, there are those with demon bloodlines, but¡­ they are extremely weak and barely stand out. "How many surprises will you bring me, Disciple Cheng E?" *** Xie Qing sneezed. Suddenly, it felt like some bastard was thinking about him. "Anyway¡­" he thought, wiping his nose, "it seems like there isn''t a single worthy opponent in this ce. They''re all low-ranked disciples. I managed to raise my ranking to #871. But this is fucking bullshit. Seriously¡­" In this world of weaklings¡­ Xie Qing felt alone! "Can I challenge an elder to a duel?" he thought with a serious expression. Chapter 239: It [I] After the duel¡­ Xie Qing began to feel drowsy. "Hm?" Sitting in the lotus position on his bed, the youth narrowed his eyes. His consciousness seemed foggy, and he felt tired. "I¡­ feel sleepy? Strange. This is extremely strange¡­" The only reason he hadn''t fallen asleep was his cultivation level. Therefore, he suspected that this strange phenomenon was artificially induced rather than something physical. And after observing his surroundings a bit¡­ Xie Qing wrinkled his nose. "Does this old man want to rest in peace so soon? Does he think I won''t kill him?" Li Su. The main reason for his drowsiness was this annoying old man. Although the old man presented himself as a straightforward warrior who would go directly at the enemy without hesitation¡­ Xie Qing suspected that he was quite cunning, as evidenced by the duel incident. Therefore, he was on guard. "Should I pretend? But what if he wants to kill me? Then I''ll have to fight back. And afterward, it will be hard to exin where I got such strength and why I can hide it so well¡­" the youth put his hand on his forehead, feeling a headache. However, for now, he decided to pretend to be affected by the old man''s technique. Of course, he couldn''t just pretend to be asleep; Li Su would notice. So the youth actually had to fall asleep, but he enhanced his six senses just in case. *** "Hm¡­ not bad. This kid managed to resist my sleep technique for so long¡­ definitely talented," Li Su rubbed his chin, looking satisfied. He turned his gaze to the gate and, pushing it open, entered. Now, he was most interested in verifying his thoughts. He was curious¡ªdid this kid have a bloodline, as he suspected? If so, then¡­ "I can absorb his bloodline! Make it mine! And increase my talent! I will be invincible!" The greed in Li Su''s eyes was unmistakable, as if he had cast off his mask of a kind old man helping the younger generation. "My devouring technique should work. Although I haven''t used it in a long time¡­" Li Su frowned. In fact, he was a bit worried because he hadn''t used the absorption technique in a long time due to some issues. However, he couldn''t stop, considering the benefits he could gain. Originally, he was a man without talent. Only by chance and luck did he find the corpse of a cultivator and absorb his Qi, allowing him to be a cultivator. Then, by killing his enemies and absorbing their Qi and life energy, he advanced to the Spiritual Ascension stage. However, this technique had serious consequences, and each time Li Su''s lifespan was shortened if he didn''t replenish it. Ordinary cultivators at his level could live for a hundred thousand years, but he only had a few thousand years left. And considering he was already over eight hundred years old¡­ The old man was very worried. And finally, he had found a talent among the dirt. Entering Xie Qing''s room, Li Su looked around and checked for any dangers. His cautious nature had always saved him¡ªso he didn''t forget to be cautious. "Hm. Nothing suspicious or dangerous. I worried for nothing," Li Su thought, shaking his head: "Ah, how pathetic I''ve be, fearing some weakling at the Soul Nascent stage¡­" Li Su''s face darkened. The past few years had been torturous for him. Not a single breakthrough in over a hundred years. It was driving him mad. However, when he remembered his goal, the darkness faded from his face, and he ced his hand on the youth''s abdomen, examining the dantian. "Hm?" Li Su furrowed his brows, and his face looked shocked. "Wh-what is this¡­" His hand trembled. "WHAT IS THIS?!" *** The dantian. In general understanding, it is a reservoir for Qi, from which a cultivator draws energy to perform techniques. And, logically, the dantian should contain only Qi. But¡­ "Wh-what¡­" Li Su trembled. His face was a grimace of pure terror, and his skin turned pale as a sheet of paper. He couldn''t believe his eyes. At that moment, as he tried to examine the youth''s dantian¡­ he felt an overwhelming aura. As if something alien was watching him. It was a powerful, heavy, and murderous existence. Like a reflection of darkness itself. However, it was not evil¡­ Li Su didn''t sense anything demonic. But what was even worse¡­ This existence. Was even more terrifying than demons! "I-I¡­" Li Su stuttered, and his body shook. His feet seemed rooted to the ground, and every movement of his fingers became difficult, as if they were paralyzed. Greed? Desire? Joy? All these emotions had long vanished from Li Su''s face. Only fear remained¡ªperhaps the purest and most genuine human emotion. "W-who are you?" Li Su asked in terror. Unknowingly, this question escaped his lips. For his mind could notprehend what he was seeing. "Hm¡­" A soft hum. It seemed insignificant, yet¡­ "Kha!" The old man coughed and fell to his knees, clutching his dantian. First, he was ovee by intense pain, and then¡­ despair. "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Li Su screamed, so loudly that even the Heavens would have gone deaf from his cry. His voice was filled with despair and pain. For¡­ his dantian had been destroyed. And that meant only one thing. The death of his future as a cultivator. *** Xie Qing regained consciousness after twenty minutes. The first thing he saw was Elder Li Su lying on the floor. His face bore an expression of pure despair, pain, and anger. And he¡­ was dead. "What?" The youth furrowed his brows, and his pupils dted. What did this mean? Why had this old geezer suddenly kicked the bucket? "Did he have a heart attack? Well, he was quite old¡­" ¡­let''s not discuss how absurd his thoughts were. Nevertheless, although Xie Qing tried to joke, his face was grim. He felt as if someone had defecated in his garden. "What should I do? How can I exin ''this''? No matter who I tell, they''ll say I''m guilty. Oh, damn¡­" The youth rubbed his forehead, which throbbed with pain. Even after his death, Elder Li Su continued to cause him trouble. Most importantly, Xie Qing didn''t even understand how he had killed this guy. He had been asleep! "How strange! I feel like this has happened before¡­" Although he was puzzled, the youth was now concerned with only one problem ¨C what should he do with the body? "Burn it? Bury it? Damn, how can I just cover up the death of an elder? They''ll easily find him! There must be some special technique on his body¡­" Xie Qing was lost in his thoughts when he suddenly felt a surge of energy flowing towards his residence... he frowned. "Damn." *** Thirty minutes earlier. The elders were still in their meeting. It had been going on for a week, so many of them had chosen to take a nap or engage in cultivation. However, they were all startled by a sound. More precisely, a scream. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The sleeping elders jolted awake, and those who were cultivating opened their eyes. "What was that?" "Who screamed?" "The voice sounds familiar..." "I almost had a heart attack!" The elders frowned, looking worried. Suddenly, one of them shouted after a brief silence. "Damn! That''s Li Su''s scream!" "Li Su? That''s..." "How could this happen? Who attacked him?" "Ha, maybe he tried to absorb a disciple''s Qi again and couldn''t handle the consequences?" "Shut up. The situation seems serious." After a brief argument, they rushed out of the pavilion and headed towards the source of the scream. "This...?" The elders were surprised. They saw that the scream came from the residence of a disciple. Could it be that old man Li Su really tried to absorb someone but failed? Soon, more than twenty elders entered Xie Qing''s residence. Due to their gathering, the Devilish Qi in the air became denser. Entering Xie Qing''s room... the elders were puzzled. "What nonsense is this?" The elders'' expressions turned strange. They saw Xie Qing lying on the bed, with Li Su clutching his throat, his face contorted with emotion. Moreover, the old man looked as if all the blood had been drained from his body. "Could you be right, Old Zhao?" "Hush, I''m shocked myself..." Elder Old. That was the name of the elder who had suggested that Li Su tried to absorb a disciple. "Hmm..." A bald elder with a long white beard stepped forward. His red eyes expressed genuine bewilderment. His name was Zhao Zedong. If an analogy were to be drawn, he was a sort of leader among the inner court elders, and his cultivation level was at the eighth stage of Spiritual Ascension. In his long experience... he had never encountered such a situation. "Could he really have failed and suffered bacsh from his technique? It sounds like a pitiful death," thought Zhao Zedong, frowning. He was displeased with the situation: "This Li Su... all he does is cause trouble. Couldn''t he have waited just once?" Zhao Zedong''s head began to ache. He simply couldn''t allow the sect to find out about the death of an elder. It could cause numerous problems. "Handle this. Set up restrictions around the residence and keep the disciples away. I will try to resolve this situation," Zhao Zedong ordered. "Yes, sir!" Chapter 240: It [II] As expected, Li Su''s scream attracted the attention of many disciples who, out of curiosity, decided to take a look¡ªperhaps there would be something entertaining? But to their great disappointment, the elders had gathered there, preventing them from peeking. Therefore, the disciples were forced to leave in dismay. *** "Haaah¡­" Zhao Zedong, to be honest, felt angry. Li Su''s actions had caused such amotion and attracted too much unnecessary attention, especially considering that the sect was going through difficult times. "This bastard is just like his foolish Master. They don''t know when to stop?" Zhao Zedong rubbed his temples, looking at Li Su''s lifeless body, whose eyes were still wide open in shock. The elder pondered, "What shocked him so much before he died? It''s as if he saw a monster. Does this disciple have a protector? Strange, but I don''t sense his aura. That''s unlikely¡­" Zhao Zedong couldn''t understand something. Why were Li Su''s final moments so strange? He knew that Li Su and his Master''s special technique allowed them to absorb others'' Qi, life energy, and even steal talents. However, this technique had serious consequences. With each use, one would be increasingly insane, and the chances of losing one''s mind approached 100%. Moreover, it severely depleted one''s life energy, shortening one''s lifespan¡ªthe body simply couldn''t withstand the sudden increase in Qi. "Everything written by the Heavens is absolute. Therefore, a worm like Li Su, who tried to take what was not given to him, is just a fool dreaming of the stars while standing in the abyss," thought Zhao Zedong and sighed. He was a bit saddened. Due to his age, he had watched Li Su grow. Although this guy''s character was, honestly, bad, he caused the least trouble and spent most of his time cultivating. However, in the end, he was consumed by madness. Add to that theplexes from being unable to make a breakthrough for a long time, and it all turned into an obsession and reckless use of his technique. "Ah!" The elder shook his head. Finally, he rid himself of regrets and looked at the disciple who was currently being examined by the elders. "Amazing. Apart from a slight depletion of Qi, he is unharmed. What luck!" thought Zhao Zedong, rubbing his chin with his index finger and thumb: "And his face¡­ hmm. Isn''t he that neer? I heard he entered the inner court in just half a year, on his first attempt. Although nowadays anyone can do that. Tsk, tsk. The sect haspletely rotted to the core¡­" The Sect of Bone Circle was once an extremely strict sect. They studied dark arts, followed Death, and were meticulous. However, over time, even the juiciest apple will eventually rot. Most of the elders simply decided to indulge in pleasures instead of diligently cultivating and attending to sect affairs. The Sect Master was no exception¡ªhe spent his time drinking and entertaining himself. Despite being very strong, one cannot exclude the fact that Ma Lu had be veryx over the past few hundred years. "That''s why the Sect of Shadowed des is now ahead of us¡­ ah!" Zhao Zedong sighed and shook his head. What''s the point in crying over spilled milk? It would be better to get to work. *** As soon as Xie Qing woke up, he was immediately subjected to questioning. "W-what? Elder Li Su is dead? H-how is that possible¡­ ah!" "The wise say it truly. The Heavens take the best!" "What a tragedy¡­ seniors, forgive me, this junior is a bit saddened¡­" In reality¡­ this interrogation was entirely unnecessary. It was more of a formality to check off a box in the report. However, the elders conducting the interrogation looked strange. "Either this guy is an actor¡­ or an idiot," they thought. But, of course, they didn''t care. After two hours, Xie Qing returned to his room. He sat on the edge of the bed, ced his elbows on his thighs, and rested his chin on his hands, looking thoughtful. "To be, or not to be¡­" Such wise words¡­ but Xie Qing''s expression quickly changed to that of someone barely holding backughter. "Pff¡­ Hahahaha!" He startedughing loudly, unable to contain himself any longer. In truth, it was utterly absurd. His acting skills were still terrible. Remembering the expressions on the elders'' faces, heughed even harder. "What funny faces they made. Well, I can''t me them, I was barely holding backughter myself¡­" thought Xie Qing, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes: "Oh, what a goodugh. At least something useful came out of today." The incident with the old man''s death was unexpected¡ªthat much was clear. How he died was unclear. Xie Qing could swear by the name of the Heavenly Emperor that he hadn''t nned it. So it was strange that something like this had happened. "Maybe¡­" the youth turned his gaze to his right hand and pondered: "The ck dragon is sealed in my¡­ well, stop. That''s just cynical." ¡­In ordinary circumstances, someone would start to panic if a person suddenly died in front of them for no apparent reason. However, Xie Qing epted this fact rather quickly. "Well, he was old, maybe he had a heart attack," he thought. ¡­If Elder Li Su were alive, he would have died of anger. *** Xie Qing''s daily life returned to its usual routine. He spent his days cultivating, gathering information, and studying his surroundings. And during this time, he managed to find information about the main court. "One of the criteria is the cultivation level at Soul Integration¡ªthe ninth stage¡­ what an absurdity." In righteous sects, this requirement was much more lenient, probably because reaching such a level was very difficult. However, in devilish sects, it was easier. There were a thousand and one ways to raise one''s power to this level. The cost, however, was terrifying¡ªalmost the loss of the chance for reincarnation and the loss of one''s mind. And as you understand, all the efforts of a cultivator would be useless if they lost both the chance for reincarnation and their mind. Therefore, Xie Qing felt a slight irritation. "If I increase my power in a few months, they will treat me like a lunatic and try to eliminate me. This is not the outer world where, despite attempts at murder, most will not think of your death¡­" Xie Qing frowned. He had limited time. And he couldn''t spend it all on one sect. Therefore, he began to think intensely. "I need toe up with a story!" he thought. How else could he exin the rapid increase in his level? It''s very simple! He just needed to spin a tale for the elders. "Once, I was a warrior following the path of righteousness¡­ no, bloodlust. In the end, I encountered my enemy who killed the grandfather of a good friend of my cousin''s friend. And I decided to take revenge, but in the end, I received a severe injury and had to suppress my cultivation level. And now I have been able to restore it¡­ damn, I even believe this story myself!" Xie Qing smiled. What a genius he was toe up with such a perfect story. "Could there be anything more suspicious in my story?" No, dude¡­ could there be anything NOT more suspicious than your story? *** Six more months passed. Xie Qing opened his eyes after cultivating. His face looked expressionless. "Now I''ve turned twenty-one¡­" he thought, shaking his head. He was still young by cultivator standards¡ªeven if drawing analogies, he would be considered a child. "But¡­ why do I feel so old?" he thought, at a loss for words. A slight feeling of mncholy overcame Xie Qing. He was filled with memories of how he had reached this point. In the end, all his emotions poured out in a sigh. "My journey is just beginning. Years will pass, and I will be as old as the Master, but¡­ I will always be young. Well, considering that Lady Zhang Mei, Miss Liu Yang, and the Master are as old as the world¡­ hmm¡­ damn, I am very young!" It seemed thatparing himself to his elderly acquaintances brightened Xie Qing''s face. ¡­Pray they never find out, buddy. Otherwise, not even I can help you. Anyway. Xie Qing stepped out of his house, feeling light on his feet. There had been no breakthrough, but he had strengthened his power and cultivation base, making him even stronger. His cultivation level, the fake one, had reached the ninth stage of Soul Nascent. Of course, this caused a stir, but the exnation about the injury helped to calm things down. The elders were initially suspicious, but Xie Qing even showed them the wound on his chest, and they had to believe it. ¡­Of course, the wound was a fake, created with the help of a special pill from the system''s shop. However, the elders didn''t need to know that. And as he walked¡­ Xie Qing noticed something strange. For some reason, the inner court was unusually noisy today. Chapter 241: Qi Concentration Obsidian Compared to the outer court, the inner court was much less active. Therefore, it was surprising to see that most of the disciples now had a look of excitement on their faces. Xie Qing furrowed his brow in confusion. The easiest way to understand what was happening was to follow the crowd. And his decision proved to be correct. As it turned out¡­ everyone had gathered around some kind of stone. Xie Qing initially mistook it for amon obsidian the size of a two-meter boulder, however¡­ "Hm?" As soon as he took a closer look, he sensed an astonishing amount of devilish Qi emanating from this obsidian. "What is this?" he wondered. He was even more puzzled by the excitement with which the disciples were watching the obsidian, as if they had seen a beautiful naked girl. The young man examined the stone, but apart from the astonishinglyrge amount of devilish Qi, he saw nothing. "Do they want to absorb the devilish Qi from this obsidian? Well, that''s possible, but it could very well end in death¡­" he thought. Realizing this only confused him more. So, Xie Qing simply decided to ask the first person he encountered. That person turned around, looked at Xie Qing, got scared, and¡­ ran away! "What¡­" What the hell? Xie Qing was speechless. Was he really that frightening? And the worst part was that this happened several times until someone at the Soul Integration stage answered his question. "This is a Qi Concentration Obsidian, an extremely useful item. It is said that our sect was built over a deposit of such obsidians. Therefore, every few hundred years, an obsidian can emerge from the ground due to its special properties. Although we are not allowed to absorb its Qi, just standing nearby without touching it is also not bad, right?" "In other words¡­" Xie Qing turned his gaze to the obsidian and asked, "You just didn''t want to miss the chance?" "That''s right." "I see." Xie Qing squinted his eyes. So, such a thing existed in this world. To be honest, he had never heard of such a natural resource that could absorb devilish Qi and condense it, and then release it. This was literally the same behavior as some spiritual nts. Therefore, Xie Qing was puzzled. "Can it concentrate Superior Qi?" Xie Qing thought with a hint of amusement. Of course, he knew that this was practically impossible. After all, Superior Qi was extremely rare, and there were only two methods to obtain it. 1. Refine ordinary Qi into Superior Qi. 2. Absorb natural Superior Qi. The second option was extremely difficult because there were few ces left in the outside world with this energy. And the first option was so time-consuming that three hundred years between breakthroughs to the next minor realms was something ordinary. If it weren''t for Xie Qing''s talent¡­ I''m afraid he would have remained at the first stage for centuries and would not have been able to advance until he concentrated a new batch of Superior Qi. Twenty minutester¡­ Xie Qing sensed the aura of an elder at the second stage of Spiritual Enlightenment. As soon as the old cultivator released his aura, the disciples scattered, afraid of offending the elder. Although Xie Qing felt a bit regretful, he decided to leave, not wanting to get into an unnecessary conflict with the elder. And just as he was about to turn around¡­ "Wait, young man." "Hm?" The elder addressed him. *** The elder''s name was Wang Haoyu. If one were to speak of his reputation, most disciples considered him a bothersome old man who was very strict about formalities. "Elder," Xie Qing greeted the elder, bowing and sping his hands, "Junior greets Elder Wang Haoyu." "Haha, no need to be so formal, young man!" the old man said with a light and carefreeugh, like an owl, apparently pleased with the humble behavior of the young disciple. He continued, looking into Xie Qing''s eyes, "Master Zhao ordered me to take this stone and give it to the main court, but¡­ hm¡­ he also added that he wouldn''t mind leaving a small piece for you." "Eh?" Xie Qing was surprised by the elder''s words. Leave it for him? A person who had only recently joined the sect? This seemed strange to him, but Elder Wang didn''t seem to care. "Here," the old man said and broke off a piece of obsidian with his hand. In his hand was a fragment of obsidian the size of a pebble, "Consider thispensation for the minor inconvenience." "Ah¡­ the elder is too kind¡­" Xie Qing said in a humble voice and, bowing, took the pebble with both hands. "Hm. Now I will leave. Farewell." Wang Haoyu stroked his beard and, taking two steps back, disappeared along with the obsidian. In the ce where there had been noise just a minute ago, no one remained except Xie Qing¡ªexcluding the curious gazes in which one could notice envy and hatred. "Indeed." Xie Qing was not worried about being attacked out of greed. If someone were to find this obsidian fragment, it would not be difficult to put two and two together and realize that it had been stolen from Xie Qing. Therefore, no one dared to attack him, despite the insane desire¡ªwhich wasmendable, considering how usually insane devilish cultivators were. Putting the obsidian into the inner pocket of his robe, Xie Qing turned around and began walking towards his home. Apanied by envious gazes, he disappeared into the mist. "Tsk¡­" In the deep silence, a soft clicking of the tongue could be heard. *** Crossing the threshold, Xie Qing closed the gate and entered the house with unhurried steps. Although he was bothered by the envious gazes, he chose to simply ignore them. After all, who would be so insane as to try to steal a gift from an elder? The young man doubted such people existed. And if they did, they could be easily killed. "I''ve been thinking all this time about how to exin the breakthrough to Soul Integration," the young man curiously examined the pebble-sized obsidian and smiled, "And here''s the perfect excuse. It would be a sin not to celebrate." Qi Concentration Obsidian¡­ a material previously unknown to him, which could also release purified devilish Qi. Although the word "purify" was difficult to apply to this type of Qi, you understood the meaning. Since Xie Qing knew of no other methods of using it besides absorbing all this Qi into himself, he began to do just that. Concentrating his mind and calming his heart, he focused on purifying the supplied devilish Qi. The process of absorption and purification was not something quick. It required meticulous work. Although Xie Qing''s cultivation technique made the task significantly easier, the young man did not want to test his endurance by allowing devilish Qi to slip into his dantian. Therefore, the absorption and purification took him two weeks. "Hm¡­" Xie Qing stood up and cracked his neck. Although there were no changes in his cultivation level, he was still satisfied with the progress. "Not bad. Not bad. I''ve increased my strength. This obsidian is truly a treasure." Just from the time it took him to absorb and purify this Qi, one could tell that even such a small fragment contained a vast amount of it. And if he had this thing¡­ "¡­" Xie Qing licked his lips, "I suddenly have the urge to dig up the ground¡­" ¡­of course, these were just obsessive thoughts and nothing more. Xie Qing merely entertained the idea and quickly forgot about it. "By the way, the old man said he would send this to the main court?" Xie Qing rubbed his chin. He smiled and suddenly raised his cultivation level to the second stage of Soul Integration, "Risky, of course, but the story about the injury should help." He was a bit excited. From what he knew, there would be an exam for the main court at the end of the year. This exam was much stricter than the inner court''s. Ordinary assistance from the elders would not help. One had to demonstrate their own skills and¡­ dark arts. "This is a minor problem. I don''t want to taint my body with that filth¡­" Xie Qing curled his lips. Dark arts mainly involved experiments on souls, necromancy, and curses. In other words, things that would instantly turn your Karma into Negative Karma. And even the slightest contact with dark arts would cause one to acquire Negative Karma. "That''s the problem¡­" Xie Qing rubbed his chin. He truly had no idea how he could endure the tainting of his Karma. However, after a brief moment of thought, he sighed. "In any case, I can purify my Karma in the future. Therefore, I will have to make a sacrifice¡­" *** Two dayster. "Damn¡­" Xie Qing tilted his head to the side, carefully examining the ck book in his hands, which had no text on it. Then he opened the book and¡­ "What is this crap?" Chapter 242: Collapse [I] Frankly, Xie Qing could be considered a genius, especially given his talents and learning speed. Even techniques that took others a lifetime to master were a matter of seconds for him. However, for the first time in his life, he encountered a technique he couldn''t understand. "ck... magic? What the hell?" Not a single word in this book made sense to him. It was as if he were reading some strange novel. "Maybe... it''s because I don''t have the aptitude?" The chances of this were high. In most cases, if a cultivator didn''t have the aptitude for a particr technique, they would have trouble learning it. And it seemed that Xie Qing had no talent for devilish arts¡ªthough it would be surprising if he did. Moreover, there was a feeling that something deep within his body rejected the idea of studying dark arts. "Hmm..." Tilting his head to the side, Xie Qing began to think about how to get out of this situation. He narrowed his eyes. "What a problem..." *** While Xie Qing was busy thinking about how to learn the dark arts, the elders of the inner court were very busy. "..." Silence hung in the Elders'' Pavilion. Zhao Zedong, who usually had a haughty and indifferent demeanor, was now kneeling and sweating profusely. Not only him, but all the elders of the inner court were kneeling, their heads bowed. In front of them, a man sat on a chair. He had short gray hair and red eyes. His appearance was neither handsome nor ugly¡ªjust average. If you saw him on the street, you would simply pass by. However, no one dared to underestimate him. For he was an elder of the main court. And his cultivation level... Divine Transformation. "Interesting. So, you''re telling me that an elder of the inner court died like a dog from his own technique? That''s such an embarrassing death that I''d rather have killed him myself. What a disgrace, what a horror!" said the man¡ªthe elder of the main court, with a stern gaze, looking at the elders of the inner court and turning his gaze to Zhao Zedong: "Hey, you. I entrusted you with the task of taking care of the inner court elders. So what is this? Why are there now rumors that one of the inner court elders has died? How do you exin this?" "This..." Zhao Zedong sweated. His back was drenched in cold sweat. In truth, he himself didn''t fully understand where this rumor came from. All the elders kept their mouths shut and even signed a contract, but... um... "I-I... don''t know, sir. All the elders signed a high-level blood contract. Therefore, they couldn''t tell anyone about it." "Oh, really? For your information, this technique is not perfect, and hints can be given without fear of death. So here''s the next question¡ªare you sure there''s no rat among you bastards?" "This..." The old man didn''t know what to say. Indeed, he didn''t quite understand how to react to this situation. His first suspect was Xie Qing, but... this guy signed a contract that forced him to keep quiet. So it was impossible. Although the shackles weaken on strong cultivators, on a weakling like Xie Qing, these shackles are like the will of the Heavenly Dao. So this option was immediately dismissed. "Sir, I swear to resolve the situation immediately..." Zhao Zedong said, gritting his teeth. He bowed his head even lower and bowed: "Due to our foolishness, such an incident urred, leaving a stain on the history of our sect. In return, this old man is willing to offer you a medium-quality Qi Concentration Obsidian..." "Oh?" The elder of the main court suddenly paused, and his eyebrows raised. "Seriously?" "This junior wouldn''t dare to lie to you..." "Hehe..." The elder of the main court smiled and sat back. Then he said, "Alright, let me see it." "As youmand." As expected, even a cultivator of Divine Transformation found it hard to resist the temptation of Qi Concentration Obsidian, which had astonishing effects. When the inner court elders brought an obsidian the size of a boulder... "Ho..." The elder of the main court smiled and licked his lips. He couldn''t believe his eyes¡ªsuch arge obsidian? This was the first time in so many years. It seemed he didn''te here in vain. "Good. This will be a significant reason why I shouldn''t punish you," the elder of the main court said calmly. "The lord is merciful!" Zhao Zedong sighed in relief as he watched the ticking time bomb leave. Although he was the king of the inner court, before the elder of the main court, he was nothing more than a humble disciple. This was the strict hierarchy of the Sect of Bone Circle. The main court was the highest ce, where all disciples, including the elders, aspired to be. However, this was extremely difficult. Incredibly difficult. The main requirement to be an elder of the main court was to be a cultivator of Divine Transformation. And that was an extremely challenging task. Only one out of a hundred thousand cultivators at the Spiritual Ascension level could reach this stage. This was because even the smallest mistakes on the path of cultivation could be serious obstacles. That was why this was an insurmountable wall. For Zhao Zedong, the Spiritual Ascension level was the end. "Haaah..." *** Tang Xun. That was the name of the man who had recently taken arge piece of obsidian from the inner court. In the main court, he was not an insignificant figure. Thanks to his strength and disciples, he was at the top of the main court. And now he was a bit puzzled. Who... was this person? Devilish Qi. Extremely aggressive energy that could consume its own user. At this moment, this aggressive energy... was behaving unusually calmly, being controlled by the youth. He was a handsome young man with long white hair and a slender body. And now he was sitting not far from the gates of the main court, cultivating. "Is this a disciple of the inner court?" Tang Xun noticed, seeing the flow of Qi around the youth. He fell silent as he realized how good the control of this guy was: "Strange. He has such a good cultivation level¡ªfourth stage of Soul Integration. He could have be a disciple of the main court. And considering his control over Qi, it''s even stranger that he is still here..." Tang Xun had a knack for taking talented individuals under his wing. Thanks to this, he had nurtured many geniuses who elevated his status as an elder. That''s why he felt a strange tingling in his hand. "This... what talent!" His hand. Every time it itched, it could only mean one thing¡ªa very talented person was nearby! So, he decided to approach the young man and talk to him. "Hey." *** Xie Qing opened his eyes and looked at the man in front of him. No Qi emanated from him, but... "My sixth sense. It''s screaming danger. This guy... I can''t beat him!" Xie Qing''s face threatened to darken, but he caught himself in time. Then, standing up, the youth politely bowed, sping his hands. As expected, this brought a smile to the strange man''s face. "Haha, what a polite disciple. I am Tang Xun. And you are?" "This disciple is named Cheng E, sir." "Cheng... E? Hmm... unique name." Tang Xun''s smile almost faltered when he heard the youth''s name. However, he didn''t dwell on it. "I haven''t seen you before. Are you new?" "Yes, sir. I joined the inner court about half a year ago..." "Oh? Impressive..." Tang Xun rubbed his chin. The longer he looked at this guy, the better he felt. He was pleasing to the eye. "Young man... I have a proposal. Would you like to hear it?" "Yes?..." Xie Qing responded with a questioning tone. He didn''t know what this man wanted from him, but the next question only confused him more. "Would you like to be my disciple?" Tang Xun smiled confidently. Upon closer inspection, he saw that this disciple indeed had excellent talent. Moreover, his handsome appearance would certainly please thedies. Xie Qing fell silent. This was a rather difficult choice for him. After all, his Master was Xu Mei. And a Master, like a parent, should not be betrayed. Therefore, he was a bit confused. Tang Xun saw his hesitation but did not get angry. He simply smiled patiently. "I know it''s hard for you to make a decision. However, if you agree, I will show you my capabilities. Then it will be easier for you to decide." "If it is not too much trouble for you, sir." "Haha, of course not!" Tang Xun''s cheerfulughter was apanied by a smile. He looked towards the gates of the main court andmanded, "Open the gates." "Y-yes, Elder..." The guards were, frankly, surprised by Elder Tang Xun''s behavior. He usually walked around with a cold expression, as if the whole world belonged to him. Therefore, his friendly demeanor startled them. However, duty was duty. Opening the gates, Tang Xun turned and extended his hand with a smile. "Come on, junior. I will show you that I am worthy of being your Master." Chapter 243: Collapse [II] Main Court The main court is an unattainable ce for most disciples. Some may spend their entire lives in the outer court, never reaching the main court. This was a harsh reality. Even inner court disciples, who were closest to the main court, were far from bing part of it. And although Xie Qing had a rare opportunity, he could not simply be a main court disciple. For... "To be a main court disciple, you must eternally serve the sect. Otherwise, no one will grant you ess," Tang Xun said calmly, ncing at Xie Qing, who maintained a neutral expression. "Both I and the other elders, as well as many main court disciples, have taken this oath. Therefore, our futures are limited. But there is one easy way to bypass this limitation... be the disciple of a main court elder." "So..." "Yes. If you be my disciple, you can be a main court disciple, albeit not a full-fledged one," Tang Xun nodded and smiled, continuing his exnation in a matter-of-fact tone. "But I must warn you in advance. Most will not trust you because you are an outsider. No matter how hard you try, the fact that you have not taken the oath will make others wary of you. You will be denied ess to most ces. This is your fate if you were to follow an ordinary elder." "..." Xie Qing did not respond. He listened attentively. The fact that such a talented young man showed obedience and politeness could not help but please Tang Xun, who immediately threw out a hook. "But... I, Tang Xun, am not thest person in the main court. You can gain ess to some forbidden ces. I will also ensure your future advancement," Tang Xun said and paused briefly, showing two fingers. "Two centuries. That is how much time you will have to decide whether you want to be a full member of the main court or not... that is what this opportunity is for. You understand." "Yes." The young man nodded. Tang Xun smiled and continued walking, ending the conversation. Xie Qing himself did not initiate further conversation, only attentively observing the main court. And, to be honest, he was surprised. This main court seemed so... lonely. There was not a single soul here. This greatly puzzled him. Shouldn''t life be bustling here? "This is normal. Most disciples are in their caves cultivating, rarely interacting with each other. This is a small problem, of course, but the fact that they achieve good results with this lifestyle, we decided not to interfere," Tang Xun patiently exined, seeing Xie Qing''s curiosity. He smiled and added, "Of course, there are disciples who like to take walks from time to time. But I would not advise you to talk to them for now, considering your... status." "Understood." Xie Qing satisfied his curiosity and asked no more questions. Although his current position in the main court would not be easy, he was not particrly worried. After all, he was only interested in one thing... "The altar." The young man''s eyes gleamed, but even the attentive Tang Xun noticed nothing. *** "The altar... you say?" Xie Qing was puzzled, hearing Tang Xun''s words, who continued to smile amiably. "Yes. I can give you a chance to experience the effects of the altar," Tang Xun said, crossing his legs andfortably leaning back in his chair. He said, fanning his face with a fan, "Everyone who enters the main court gets a chance to use the altar. Of course, all under strict supervision. Normally, it would be difficult for me to gain ess, considering your outsider status, but a recent opportunity has arisen. Do you want to take advantage of this?" "..." Xie Qing did not know what to say. To be honest, he did not even expect to gain ess to the altar so quickly, so he was a bit confused. However... "If Master wants something in return... just say it, and the disciple will do it right," the young man said and bowed. "Hohoho..." Tang Xun smiled contentedly, stroking his chin as if trying to feel a long beard. His eyes narrowed into slits as he looked at Xie Qing. "A hundred years. That is how long you must serve me. Nothing more, nothing less. Do you agree?" "..." Xie Qing fell silent for a moment. It seemed he would have to make an agreement, but... turning his gaze away, he saw a system message. [Shackle-Breaking Peach] | [Price: 1,456,345 Spiritual Stones] | [Description: A special type of peach that erases a Blood Oath chosen by the host. Can be used once a year]. Bingo. That was exactly what he needed. Xie Qing smiled and bowed his head, hiding his gleaming eyes. "This disciple will follow Master''s advice." "Heh." *** While Tang Xun was preparing everything for the altar ceremony... A special zone in the main court, essible only to a select few. This was the residence of the sect master, Ma Lu. "Kha-kha..." Coughing up blood, Ma Lu clenched his hand, feeling unbearable pain. His wounds were still bleeding profusely, causing him both physical and emotional suffering. When Xu Mei became serious, she could ignore the difference in stages. This was why she was so feared. Ma Lu gritted his teeth. "I was reckless. That stupid bitch is too dangerous. Even Hao Shen won''t be able to recover in such a short time." Ma Lu looked around. He was sitting in a garden, surrounded by flowers. These were Devil''s Blood Flowers and something simr with a simr effect. "Good, very good. Thanks to the wise actions of the elders, I''m starting to recover faster... hm?" Ma Lu was puzzled. For some reason... there was a strange sensation in his dantian. Like a storm. "This... DAMN IT!" Roaring like a wounded beast, Ma Lu felt incredible bitterness. From within his dantian, a powerful Superior Qi with a distinct Yang attribute began to release. It was so pure that it was astonishing. "AAAAAAAHHHHHH!" The sect master''s deafening scream immediately attracted the attention of the elders, who rushed to the makeshift garden. Entering, they shouted: "Sect Master!" The two elders were shocked. Ma Lu was writhing on the ground, and steam was rising from his body. And with each second... his aura was weakening! "Summon the elders of the main court! Immediately!" Ma Lu roared. "Y-yes!" The Superior Qi of the Yang attribute was tearing him apart from the inside, and there was no way to expel it. Ma Lu looked around in panic and noticed that five Devil''s Blood Flowers were glowing brightly with a golden light. They had been nted just two steps away from him. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Traitors! There are traitors in the sect! Could those bastards from the Righteous Dao have nted rats here? How is this possible?!" ### *** Such a thing cannot be. All the elders were subjected to a strict curse, and at the slightest thought of betrayal, they would immediately die. Therefore, there could be no possibility of a spy here. "Now is not the time for this! I need to calm this Qi as quickly as possible!" Ma Lu trembled. *** Tang Xun had just finished exining the process when his expression suddenly became serious. He looked at Xie Qing and said in a stern voice, "Stay here and don''t move. Do not do anything until I tell you. I need to leave for a moment. Do you understand me?" "Yes, Master!" Xie Qing bowed respectfully. Tang Xun nodded and rushed out with another elder, leaving Xie Qing alone. The young man stood in that position for a few seconds. He then snapped his fingers. Poof. An unknown ck gas began to rise from his body. It was a curse. "Damn old man. He ced seven curses on me. If I hadn''t removed them, he would have been able to monitor my actions," Xie Qing thought and smiled weakly. "But by the time you sort out your problems, I will have done what I need to do." Copse. The name Xie Qing gave to his n (he just wanted to look cool). And this n began when the young man handed the Devil''s Blood Flowers to five elders and one disciple. For in these Devil''s Blood Flowers... was an incredibly pure Yang Attribute with Superior Qi. This n had blossomed in his mind since his immersion in this ce. Therefore, he had taken care to gather the Superior Qi of the Yang Attribute, knowing it would help him in future battles. "There''s no such thing as a free lunch. You thought you were the pinnacle of the Heavenly Dao, but you forgot one simple thing!" Xie Qing''s eyes shone, and he smirked. "The higher you are, the harder you fall!" Then he took out one item from his spatial pouch. It was a semi-transparent pill that looked extremely ordinary. The young man wiped the smile from his face and assumed an indifferent expression. "I didn''t n to do this so soon. But since the opportunity has arisen..." Tossing the pill into the air... Xie Qing smiled. "Let there be an explosion." BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! Chapter 244: On the brink of death [I] BOOM! The elders, who were rushing to the Sovereign''s chambers at great speed, suddenly stopped upon hearing a loud explosion¡ªone so powerful it could easily deafen anyone. Suddenly, each of them felt a weakness. "This¡­" "D-damn¡­" "I can''t believe it¡­" Tang Xun clutched his chest. He was shocked to discover that the Demon Seed he had obtained after long preparation from the altar¡­ was beginning to lose its power. "N-no¡­ could it be¡­" In panic and hope, Tang Xun looked at his curses¡­ and then shouted loudly. "CHENG! E!" The other elders looked at Tang Xun in confusion. However, he was too enraged. Activating his cultivation at the Divine Transformation stage, Tang Xun ran back. "Hey¡­" They tried to call after him, but Tang Xun didn''t care. All he wanted was to catch and kill the culprit! *** Xie Qing smiled, though his smile was slightly nervous. He had long since fled the sect¡ªno one had stopped him because of his main court token. Using all his speed, he had run a thousand miles away from the sect. Of course, he hoped this scenario wouldn''t happen, but¡­ "He''sing." Tang Xun. His approximate level was at the third stage of Divine Transformation. This was not an opponent Xie Qing could defeat. So he was nervous. However, he couldn''t run anymore. One of the curses suddenly activated and became stronger¡ªthis was because Tang Xun was sacrificing his life energy to strengthen it. So the youth was helpless. Either he solved this problem here and now, or he could say goodbye to his own life. And a few secondster¡­ A scorching heat reached Xie Qing. He frowned. "This level¡­ it''s slightly lower? As if it dropped by one stage. Is this rted to the destruction of the altar?" Xie Qing still didn''t fully understand what this altar was. He only knew that it was very important to the Sect of Bone Circle. So he had destroyed it without hesitation. And now he had to face the consequences. "Youuuuu!" A voice, neither a scream nor a growl, echoed from the sky, like a decree from the Heavens themselves. Then someonended in front of Xie Qing with such force that the ground shook, and a crater formed at the point of impact. A man appeared before the youth. His entire body was engulfed in bright crimson mes, like blood. And this man looked at him with anger. "Why!? Why?! Why?! How?!" His voice was chaotic, distorted¡ªas if he was barely restraining himself from killing Xie Qing. This fact made the youth smile. "Why what?" he asked calmly, secretly gathering his Qi. "Why¡­" Tang Xun roared and in the same instant appeared in front of the youth, raising his fist and shouting: "¡­did you destroy the altar?!" BOOM! A powerful explosion resounded within a hundred-mile radius, causing all the creatures to be rmed. The impact was so strong that even though Xie Qing managed to block it, the ground beneath his feet sank by a meter. "Bastard!" Tang Xun shouted, his voice filled with anger. Superior Devilish Qi burst from his body, creating a terrifying pressure. "Kha!" Xie Qing coughed up blood. His chest was broken, and he had internal injuries. No matter how much he wanted to dodge, the opponent was too strong. "Dragon''s Gaze!" Xie Qing shouted to himself, looking into Tang Xun''s eyes. "Hm?" Tang Xun felt darkness gathering around him, and his Qi and body stopped obeying him. However, he snorted, and it all suddenly disappeared. He had broken Xie Qing''s technique! The effectsted only a second, but it was enough for Xie Qing to break the distance. He tossed some pills into his mouth, and his wounds began to heal rapidly. From his spatial ring, the Nameless Sword flew out, which he swung forward. "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens - de of Infinite Apathy!" In this situation, the technique was weakened, but the youth couldn''t afford to hesitate. Swoosh! A gust of wind almost instantly reached Tang Xun. He frowned and raised his hand, blocking the attack. Pssh-sh¡­ There was a sound as if something had been cauterized. Xie Qing''s attack was stopped by Tang Xun''s hand, which only received a small cut. "Hmph! Is this your strongest attack? How¡­ hm?!" Tang Xun was already acting arrogantly when he suddenly felt the wound starting to ache, and his Qi was being obstructed. Focusing his attention, he was surprised to discover that it was something like tiny golden swords. "Will of the Empress of Swords? This is interesting. So you''re a swordsman? And quite talented. It will be a real shame to kill you, but¡­" Tang Xun''s eyes gleamed with malice and hatred: "You did something you shouldn''t have. And for that, I will punish you." "Punish your own ass, son of a bitch," Xie Qing scoffed, already tired of such arrogant speeches: "Come on, attack, bitch. Stop acting like a pussy. Is your special technique to bore people to death? Pff, how amusing¡­" "You¡­!" Tang Xun''s veins bulged on his forehead. He was enraged. This guy''s mouth was definitely rotten. From Xie Qing''s words, veins bulged on Tang Xun''s forehead. He was enraged. This guy''s mouth was definitely rotten. Whoosh! A gust of wind appeared. Along with it came a terrifying heat. Xie Qing soon discovered that all his clothes had begun to catch fire. He frowned. With a wave of his hand, his Will of the Empress of Swords tore the clothes off him, leaving him only in his underwear. Then he snapped his fingers, and a special armor flew out from his spatial ring. This was a snow-white robe with an unremarkable appearance, adorned with golden engravings. However, it was not just ordinary clothing. [Ten Revtions of the Dao] | [Rank: Legendary] | [Description: Special armor personally created by Zhang Mei and a mysterious forging master. Provides protection to block attacks from a cultivator at the Divine Transformation stage¡ªlimited to ten attacks.] Xie Qing gritted his teeth and leaped to the side. In mid-air, he used a special technique to don the armor. Then, gripping his sword more firmly, he looked towards the enraged Tang Xun. Tang Xun stood, surrounded by mes, as if he were a demon from the underworld. Before their battle, this ce had been quite beautiful¡ªflowers and grass along with fertile soil. But now it had turned into a wastnd, burning with bright crimson mes. "Impressive, impressive. Your mouth is rotten, but your skills are not bad. Until now, I thought about leaving you alive, but¡­" Tang Xun''s eyes gleamed, and he gritted his teeth: "Your mouth is too rotten. I must rip it out!" "Rip dick out of your ass, whore¡­ Ugh!" Xie Qing managed to dodge his body from the trajectory of Tang Xun''s fist at thest second. He instantly closed his mouth. The youth had no choice but to increase the distance between them. But¡­ "Hmph!" However, his opponent was not ordinary. Instantly, a ring of fire with a diameter of ten meters appeared around them. The mes soared to the heavens, and the temperature rose to approximately ten thousand degrees Celsius. "Fuck that shit," Xie Qing couldn''t help but curse. Now he was definitely in deep trouble. *** The battle between Xie Qing and Tang Xun was not as important as the condition of Ma Lu. Despite the assistance of over a hundred elders, his state was simply terrible. "Aaaaagh!" A painful scream escaped his throat. His dantian began to crack. And at the moment when the elders lost hope¡­ "What is happening here?" A deep and distorted male voice echoed from the heavens. Looking up, the elders shuddered. "Elder Hao Shen!" "Hm?" Despite the elders'' polite greetings, Hao Shen paid attention only to Ma Lu''s condition. His face contorted as he saw what was happening. "What is this? Where did this Superior Qi of the Yang attribute in your dantiane from?" Hao Shen asked, furrowing his brows and flying directly to Ma Lu, cing a hand on his shoulder. Then the man let out a surprised sigh: "And of such purity!..." "I don''t know! It seems there was a spy from the Righteous Dao in the sect! He managed to secretly slip me five flowers with this damnable Qi!" Ma Lu cried out, trembling with pain. "A spy?" Hao Shen frowned. However, he then shook his head. "Regardless. Trust me. I will help you." "Alright!" Hao Shen nodded. Then he focused his Qi and began the healing process. His expression grew increasingly grim. "This is serious. The only choice... you will have to disperse all the Qi from your dantian¡­" "This¡­" Ma Lu trembled. This process would certainly harm his cultivation and create even more injuries, but¡­ "Alright!" He could only helplessly agree. The situation was not in his favor. He could only grit his teeth and ept the fact that he would likely need to recover for even longer. Hao Shen frowned as he observed the process. He was beginning to feel that the situation was no longer under his control. "Righteous Dao¡­" he pondered. *** Meanwhile¡­ "Kha¡­" Xie Qing fell to his knees, clutching his stomach. His body was covered in wounds, and his internal organs were in a dire state. He had only 20% of his Qi left. The situation was desperate. Tang Xun frowned. He stood some distance away from Xie Qing. His body was covered in deep cuts, but he paid them no mind. "This guy¡­ why is he so strong?" Chapter 245: On the brink of death [II] Tang Xun couldn''t understand what he was seeing. The person before him was definitely not consecrated by the altar, but possessed such power, surpassing the norms. All his techniques were deadly, and even that strange technique could stop his movements. Despite Tang Xun managing to seriously injure Xie Qing, his own condition was also not simple. This guy had the Will of the Empress of Swords, and together with it, the small golden swords were hindering his wounds from healing, and the flow of Qi was impeded. "Tsk. That''s why I hate sword masters," Tang Xun thought. However, he then confidently smiled: "However, he cannot ovee the limitations of cultivation. He is only at Spiritual Ascension. He may have power, but that''s all. This brat is incapable of more." Confidence. Arrogance. Joy. Tang Xun felt exactly these emotions. What he had loved since childhood was humiliating the talented and showing them their ce. Although he loved geniuses, he also hated them. Because he was very petty. If someone who possessed talent greater than his did not be his subordinate or disciple, then¡­ most likely, Tang Xun would humiliate them and eventually kill them. That was his character. His creed. Step by step, he began to approach Xie Qing. His stride was confident. Each of his steps was apanied by a burst of me, and the ground beneath his feet turned ck. The smell of scorched earth filled the air, and the pressure of a cultivator at the Divine Transformation stage was unbearable. The man had a slight smile on his face. The sight before his eyes was simply beautiful. The youth kneeling before him was younger and far more talented. Nevertheless, the only thing he could do was to ept his fate. The fate of being another stepping stone for Tang Xun. "You are tired. You have no more strength. Your regeneration cannot cope with the wounds, and your spirit is broken. It''s so pathetic. And yet, half an hour ago, you were not shy in your expressions, insulting me and acting arrogantly," Tang Xun smirked and step by step began to approach Xie Qing. He squatted down andughed loudly: "How do you like it? Funny, isn''t it? Fate is such a bitch. If you were a bit smarter and stronger, perhaps I would have had a hard time. I would probably have lost my life trying to defeat you. But you know what? In reality, it''s pointless to specte ''what if.'' Understand?" Tang Xun behaved extremely arrogantly ¨C whether it was in his gestures, words, or facial expressions. He enjoyed the pitiful sight of Xie Qing, who was on his knees trying to recover. Grabbing the youth by the throat, he lifted him into the air. Tang Xun smirked. "That''s it. Your path ends here. It''s a pity, a great pity. If you were a bit smarter¡­ you would have survived. Say yourst words." Xie Qing coughed. He looked at Tang Xun and with a suffering voice said, "P-please¡­ spare my family¡­". "Oh? You have family?" Tang Xun''s eyes gleamed ¨C he was clearly up to no good. But outwardly, the man smiled: "Fine. You''ve amused me. Tell me their names and I promise not to touch them." "Zhang Xin¡­ kha kha¡­ and¡­ kh¡­ Zhang Hong¡­ I value them greatly¡­ kha kha¡­ p-please¡­" "Hahaha. Good. Zhang Xin and Zhang Hong, right?" Tang Xun smirked and suddenly, with a devilish expression, said, "I''ll make sure they turn to ashes! They will suffer before they die! And I''ll start my revenge with you!" "N-no¡­" Tang Xun''s eyes gleamed, and starting from his shoulder, fire began to spread down his right arm. Slowly but surely, the fire reached his palm. And soon¡­ The firepletely engulfed Xie Qing''s body. Tang Xun smirked, expecting screams, but¡­ he suddenly widened his eyes. His fire instantly dimmed. When the fire disappeared¡­ "This¡­" The man, speechless, looked at the straw dummy in his hand. The dummy''s throat was burned, and on its chest was a note with the inscription: [Fuck yourself in the ass, son of a cheap whore]. "¡­" Tang Xun''s eyes twitched. He couldn''t believe what was happening. All the words he was about to say vanished instantly. "How¡­ is this possible?" Tang Xun frowned. Then his face flushed with anger and shame: "You can''t hide from me!" Tang Xun activated his curse. This way, he could track where Xie Qing was. And when he tried to do so¡­ "¡­" The man turned his head to the straw dummy. The trace of his curse emanated from it. "..." *** "Kha¡­ kha!" Xie Qing coughed, clutching his stomach. Barely standing, he dragged his exhausted body into a cave on the mountain. Landing on the cold and hard floor, he sighed wearily. His body was covered in countless wounds ¨C from the smallest cuts to deep gashes where bones were visible. Almost his entire body was filled with burns ¨C it was not easy to stand against a cultivator who could use fire. Xie Qing gritted his teeth. "Fire¡­ no, the Law of Fire. Divine Transformation allows one to obtain one of the six attributes¡­" Xie Qing sighed. Attributes. Perhaps this was something one was born with, or obtained during Divine Transformation. Unfortunately, he was not so lucky. He had no affinity for any attribute. Therefore, he could only hope for a breakthrough. Assessing his condition, Xie Qing couldn''t even make a cynical joke. For the first time in a long time, he had been beaten one-sidedly. If it weren''t for his caution, today could have been his end, as Tang Xun had said. Remembering that guy¡­ Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. "I won''t forget this, Tang Xun. Wait for the day when Ie for you and personally kill you, putting an end to this karma." Hatred. Anger. The strongest emotions Xie Qing felt at that moment. He had never before experienced such dark emotions, not so intensely. An abyss of emotions and a vivid feeling ¨C helplessness. At his level of cultivation, Xie Qing truly was not all-powerful. Today had been a lesson for him. "I have no more lifesaving items. That was thest one," he thought, gritting his teeth so hard that they creaked. "I must be cautious. There won''t be a second chance. If I lose this time¡­ perhaps, this is where I will meet my end." Sure, here is the tranted text adhering strictly to the glossary provided: It was difficult. Xie Qing would have had to work hard. His next destination was the sect of Hao Shen ¨C the Sect of Shadowed des. "After this incident, it will be difficult. Very difficult. Ma Lu must have suspected that there is a traitor within the sect. Tang Xun will also talk about me. I need to change my appearance and find a way to harm the altar¡­" Xie Qing became serious. He tried to stand up, but a sharp pain instantly struck him, forcing him to copse to the ground with a contorted face. "Ah," he sighed helplessly, taking out pills and healing ointment. "I need to heal first¡­" *** And while Xie Qing was spending time healing¡­ the Sect of Bone Circle was in utter chaos. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Outer court. Disciples who looked even slightly suspicious were instantly killed, without anyone bothering to listen to their pleas. Screams, pleas, prayers ¨C all of it blended into a monstrous and chaotic melody that pleased the ears of the elders of the main court. "Do not me us. This is the Sect master''s order," an elder said indifferently, gripping a disciple''s throat. Then he applied some force and crushed it. Ma Lu''s order was simple ¨C conduct a purge. The other details would be decided by the elders on the spot. And as soon as Ma Lu''s words left his mouth, the outer and inner courts turned into chaos. The number of those killed exceeded ten thousand, and this number only increased with time. The incident with the poisoning and the new injuries to Ma Lu filled him with great anger. Therefore, he decided to thoroughly deal with all the spies this time. Sure, here is the tranted text adhering strictly to the glossary provided: However, what Ma Lu did not know was that there were no spies from the righteous sects within the Sect of Bone Circle. Therefore, this entire spectacle was pointless. "P-please wait¡­" A pleading voice was heard. It was a disciple kneeling before two elders. "E-elders, this disciple has never vited the sect''s rules and cannot possibly be a traitor! P-please, have mercy!" "Hmph, do you think your words can convince us? You sound just like a spy!" one of the elders snorted, looking at the disciple with contempt. "Hah. Alright, exin yourself. First, tell us your name." "I-I¡­ I am Zhang Xin, elders!" A familiar name. The man bowed to the ground and began to tter. Due to his posture, he did not notice the strange look on the faces of the two elders. "Zhang¡­ Xin, you say?" one of them said in a strange voice. Chapter 246: The lizard sheds its tail [I] Upon hearing his name, Zhang Xin began to nod his head, like a chicken pecking at grain. He did not dare to look up. The two elders exchanged nces. Then one of them smiled¡ªhis smile appeared kind, like that of an angel. He extended his hand. "Little one, you have convinced me. Follow us." "Y-yes?!" Zhang Xin was stunned. It worked? He immediately stood up and began to follow the elders. Watching his fellow disciples being killed, he felt relieved. "At least I survived," thought Zhang Xin, feeling no sympathy. In reality, as disciples of the same sect, they never considered each other part of the same whole. There was no such nonsense as ''we are one family, h h h.'' Eternal opposition, eternal struggle, killings, and malice. This was the source of sustenance for devilish cultivators, a form of spiritual food. The only thing Zhang Xin felt at that moment was relief. Relief that he had managed to save his own skin and nothing more. And he was so absorbed in his thoughts that he did not notice. The contemptuous smirks on the faces of the elders. He was walking into the tiger''s den, thinking he was returning home. *** The Elders'' Pavilion. Before the great incident in the Sect of Bone Circle, this ce was a symbol of power, an untouchable ce. And the elders sitting there were almost like gods. However, now... these gods had fallen. They were dying, choking on their own blood. The bloody spectacle of hundreds of elders falling lifeless to the ground was a nightmare for anyone, regardless of age. "Tsk..." There was a clicking of the tongue. It was none other than Tang Xun, who sat on a mountain of corpses, propping his chin with his hand, arrogantly looking down at the man kneeling amidst the corpses. "So you say you have no close rtionship with this bastard? How can I believe you, huh? You''re just a dog. Maybe you''re just trying to wash your hands clean. That''s also possible, you know?" The kneeling man trembled. His entire body was covered in blood, but it was not his own. It was the blood of his colleagues. This man was none other than Zhang Hong. He looked at the corpse to his right with aplex expression. "Lord Lin Tao..." It was Lin Tao, the head elder of the outer court. Just a few days ago, they had celebrated his marriage. Now hey deader than dead. The corpse waspletely burned. "Hm? Hey, bastard, you dare to be distracted when I''m asking you a question?" "This... I-I''m sorry!" "Hm, sick bastard. Have you lost all fear?" Zhang Hong trembled, bowing deeply. His mind was in turmoil¡ªhow could such a terrifying person exist in the world. And remembering the reason for his state... Zhang Hong gritted his teeth. "Cheng E. Of course, you became my nightmare. And I had hoped that with his help, I would be a star. I could raise my status..." Zhang Hong gritted his teeth, feeling anger: "Because of you! All because of you! I have to die because of some bastard! I hate it!" Hatred. The only emotion Zhang Hong felt at that moment. His body trembled, and his face turned red. His hands clenched into fists. "Hey, bastard..." However, Tang Xun''s words brought Zhang Hong back to his senses. He bowed deeply. "L-lord. This guy set me up. I am not his rtive!" Zhang Hong pleaded. "Are you kidding me, punk? Do you think I''m stupid? That I don''t know? A week ago, you were very proud to call him your nephew, boasting that he had made it into the inner court. And now what? Balls hurt? Pants warm? Why are you silent? Lost your tongue?" Tang Xun''s words were like a de. Each word cut into Zhang Hong''s already wounded body, who could only tremble in fear, cursing himself for his arrogance and Cheng E (Xie Qing) for his treachery. Indeed. Over the past six months, he had significantly elevated his status. Since his ''nephew'' had be a disciple of the inner court, his status had greatly increased. Even Lord Lin Tao had started to befriend him. And Zhang Hong enjoyed it. He found it extremely pleasant to realize that the attitude towards him had suddenly changed. Previously, his colleagues had avoided him, especially when he began to patronize Xie Qing. Even his friends, those four elders, had avoided him. But as soon as Xie Qing became a disciple of the inner court, they immediately started to tter him. And when rumors spread that this guy had a high ranking in the inner court, it made most of the elders desire friendship with Zhang Hong. "If I had known... if I had only known..." That he would never have gotten close to this guy¡ªthat''s what Zhang Hong wanted to say. However, Tang Xun interrupted him with a cold voice. "Shut up. It seems there will be another performance here," the man said and turned his face towards the entrance. There stood a disciple whose knees were trembling: "Heh..." There was a stark contrast between the terror on Zhang Xin''s face and Tang Xun''s smile. "Come on,e over here, punk," said Tang Xun, settlingfortably. His eyes gleamed as if he was expecting a good adventure. Zhang Xin approached Zhang Hong with trepidation. Initially, the disciple was shocked by the elder''s pitiful state but did not dare to say anything and merely knelt down. Tang Xun looked at them with an amused gaze. He could not understand what Xie Qing was aiming for. "Want to get rid of them using my hands?" Tang Xun guessed and smirked: "Not bad. Imend you. I think this time I''ll pretend I didn''t understand your scheme. However, next time..." Tang Xun''s eyes gleamed. He could not help but feel annoyed. This guy was damn slippery. It was as if he was fishing and caught a fish, but it slipped out of his hands. It was unpleasant. "Brat." "Y-yes?!" Zhang Xin shuddered when Tang Xun addressed him. The man looked at the disciple with a malicious smirk. "Cheng E." "Hm?" "Cheng E," Tang Xun repeated with a malicious smile: "Do you know this name?" "This..." Zhang Xin fell silent. How could he forget? This person was his nightmare. It was Zhang Xin himself who had brought him into the sect, but in the end, he remained in the outer court while this guy became a disciple of the inner court after just six months. The emotions Zhang Xin felt towards Xie Qing were envy, dark and heavy envy. After all, Zhang Xin had been stuck in the outer court for centuries. Therefore, hearing that name again, the envy in Zhang Xin''s heart red up anew. Tang Xun couldn''t suppress a smirk when he saw this reaction. "Indeed, your ugly sheep face is more expressive than a hundred words. Envy, huh? Well, no wonder. While you, a failure, have been trying your best to enter the inner court for centuries, this guy managed to achieve more than you in just six months. You know, he could have even be a disciple of the main court," Tang Xun said with a cunning smirk. As expected, his words provoked a strong reaction from Zhang Xin. He gritted his teeth with hatred. "Why! Why!" Why him... and not me?! That''s what Zhang Xin thought. His envy consumed him from within. He couldn''t believe that some bastard hade out of nowhere, entered the sect, and immediately be a disciple of the inner court, while he himself had been trying to achieve this for ages! Moreover, what was even worse, he was the one who had brought him into the sect! This only infuriated him more. Zhang Xin felt a deep sense of injustice. He had dreamed of the inner court, while a guy who had been in the sect for less than a year could already enter the main court. "It''s not fair! I tried so hard, worked diligently, but why wasn''t I chosen? What makes me worse?!" Seeing Zhang Xin''s emotions, Tang Xun felt better. At least it was good when someone else suffered instead of him. Looking at these two men, he snorted. "Punk, you are the reason this guy entered the sect. Zhang Hong, you patronized him. Both of you..." Tang Xun''s eyes turned cold, contrasting with the rising temperature in the room: "...are sentenced to death." "P-please wait..." "I..." The helpless cries of the two were interrupted by their own screams. Fire fiercely consumed their bodies, burning them from within. Their helpless cries, pleas, and convulsions¡ªthis scene was so horrifying that even a mentally strong person would feel sick. "Hahahahaha!" Tang Xunughed loudly. He was surrounded by fire, the entire room was aze. It looked as if Hell had descended upon the world. A sight worthy of its own book. "Consider this a gift for your cunning, bastard. Next time..." Tang Xun gritted his teeth and stood up, disappearing into the mes: "...I will get rid of youpletely. Chapter 247: The lizard sheds its tail [II] Xie Qing wearily stood up. His entire body ached, and his wounds were still not properly healed. Despite his body being very sturdy, like that of a Spiritual Ascension ninth-stage cultivator, he was still weak against the Law of Fire. "Hm. The burns are gone. It took a month to heal¡­" the young man thought with a grim expression. His condition was pitiful, but there was nothing he could do about it. Opponents at the Divine Transformation stage were in apletely different league, so he could only sigh and heal his wounds. Sitting in the lotus position, Xie Qing closed his eyes and began to meditate. His breathing was slightly erratic, as he had recently experienced tremendous pressure on his internal organs. A month passed in healing. Fortunately, thanks to the pills and other items, Xie Qing recovered quite quickly and effectively. And once his treatment wasplete, he set off for the next city. *** Modu City. At first nce, this city was inhabited by ordinary people with no cultivation. But in reality¡­ This ce was the headquarters of the Sect of Shadowed des. And it was here, beneath this city, that the evil sect of assassins resided. How did Xie Qing find out? It was simple. Upon entering the city, he was attempted to be robbed and then killed. But he managed to kill his enemies and gather information. "I never would have thought they were hiding in such a ce. Like moles¡­" Xie Qing frowned. "P-please spare me¡­" "Hm?" A sudden hoarse voice brought him out of his thoughts. As it turned out, he had momentarily forgotten that he was clutching the throat of his enemy. Xie Qing looked at him and smiled. "Nuh uh." "¡­P-ple-" "You talk too much." Crack! Xie Qing tightened his grip and mercilessly crushed the assassin''s neck. Tossing the corpse aside, Xie Qing emerged from the narrow alleyway, looking as if nothing had happened. His current appearance was ordinary. Short ck hair, brown eyes, and pale skin. The only thing that stood out about him was his tall stature, and that was it. Someone like him, if encountered in a crowd, would not even be noticed. That was precisely why Xie Qing chose this technique. "Hm. This pill shouldst for a year. Even a cultivator at the Transcendence stage would have difficulty seeing through it, so I can be confident," the young man thought and nodded, feeling relieved. "Good, now I just need to figure out how to join this sect. I''m sure my earlier actions onlyplicated the task¡­" The young man licked his dry lips with a hint of mncholy. He was truly getting tired of all these machinations, but there was no other choice. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the fate of the future depended on his actions at this moment. "The altar. It must be destroyed!" Xie Qing thought, and his eyes gleamed. "At any cost! Even if I have to kill innocents!" His gaze turned grim, and he strode forward. *** A gust of wind brushed against Xie Qing''s face. He sat down on a bench and propped up his chin, looking towards a tall pavilion. "The main entrance. At first nce, it''s just the residence of the City Lord, but in reality, the basement hides a descent into the underground realm. Hm, how clever. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn''t be able to sneak in quietly. There are numerous formations there," he thought and rubbed his brows. "At the city entrance, there was also an enhanced version of the devilish Qi check. It even felt like they were trying to check my soul. But, pfft, how can one easily check the soul of a Spiritual Ascension cultivator?" Xie Qing sneered contemptuously. He thought that the leaders of the devilish cultivators probably considered him just a slippery worm. Not that they were entirely wrong¡ªfrom a power perspective, he was indeed a worm. But even one worm could harm the harvest. Xie Qing cracked his neck. "Now I need to think about how to get inside. I reviewed the memories of those guys, and they joined the sect by chance. You could say they only take in the desperate and those with no one to rely on," Xie Qing rubbed his lips with his left hand, while the index finger of his right hand rhythmically tapped the armrest of the bench. "Think, think¡­ how to infiltrate?" Xie Qing''s eyes narrowed into slits, turning into crescents. He was deeply engrossed in thought, paying no attention to his surroundings. *** "Wang Dongyang." "Yes, Master." "Two disciples have died. Investigate the situation." "Hm?" Underneath the city, in one of the pavilions located in the inner court of the sect, there were two men. One of them, cloaked from head to toe in a ck robe, knelt before a man whose face was blurred. "Master, there is no need to pay attention to the disappearance of a few disciples. Most likely, those fools were causing trouble and were killed by some expert¡­" Wang Dongyang, the one in the ck robe, said with confusion. "Wang Dongyang." "¡­" The one whose face was blurred, whom they called "Master," merely spoke his disciple''s name in a calm voice in response to Wang Dongyang''s words. However, this was enough to make the disciple sweat, and then he immediately bowed and disappeared into the air. The ''Master'' remained alone in the room, gazing indifferently at a painting on the wall. It was unclear what he was thinking. *** Wang Dongyang exited through a secret passage and irritably clicked his tongue, kicking a servant who bowed to him as he left the basement. "Get out of my way, bitch," the man said with displeasure, looking annoyed. "Y-yes¡­" "Pfft, stop yapping, you fucking freak!" Wang Dongyang snorted and kicked again, so hard that the servant flew against the wall and coughed up blood. In response, Wang Dongyang only sneered contemptuously and left, looking smug. The servant dared not say anything and merely returned to his ce, trembling. Wang Dongyang stepped outside and took a deep breath. "Aaah! Such beautiful, clean air. I''m so tired of spending time in that rotten ce!" Wang Dongyang smiled and rubbed his chin. "Hah, I don''t know who those idiots were, but thanks to their deaths, I can take a little stroll. Consider yourselves to have died a noble death. Hahaha!" Some time ago, approximately more than a month, the sect issued an order not to let anyone outside without the permission of the elders. This left the disciples bewildered, as there were simply no reasons given. However, few dared to disobey. But "few" does not mean there were none at all. For example, two disciples from the outer court escaped outside, evading the guards who were toozy to chase after them. As a result, they died, which immediately triggered a reaction from the sect. After all, each disciple is obligated to split their soul and ce it in a special artifact that helps track whether they are dead or alive. As a result, Wang Dongyang had to go outside. As a disciple of the inner court, he considered it demeaning to clean up after the disciples of the outer court, but he did not dare to express disobedience. "And why does the Master even care about some outer court disciples? They''re just a bunch of trash, not even worth burning," Wang Dongyang thought and sighed. "Ah, I''d rather be having fun with the junior sister-disciples¡­" Indeed¡­ his thoughts were simply corrupt. But his power could not be underestimated. After all, this guy¡­ Was at the sixth stage of Spiritual Ascension. Approaching the main square, Wang Dongyang snapped his fingers. His eyes gleamed, and a book appeared before him, rapidly flipping through its pages. His gaze sparkled. "Found it!" Wang Dongyang smiled, pleased with the result. This book was a special artifact that helped locate someone using the Heavenly Mysteries. Of course, his Master had given him this item. He clearly saw the Qi trail of the two disciples and their approximate location. Taking two steps forward, Wang Dongyang found himself in the alley where the murder had taken ce. The first thing Wang Dongyang noticed was the scent of blood and vani. Looking down at his feet, he clicked his tongue in amazement. "Who did this to them? Wow, how brutal. Did he torture them before killing them? What a terrifying guy," Wang Dongyang thought, yet despite his thoughts, he smiled brightly. "Hahaha, I think we''ll get along just fine! Of course, that is if he¡­ doesn''t be an enemy of our sect." The man''s eyes narrowed, and the aura around him turned cold. "I really hope you''re not our enemy, brat." *** Xie Qing, of course, did not yet know about Wang Dongyang, and even if he did, he would not be particrly concerned. At the moment, he was aimlessly wandering around the city, trying to memorize various locations and make mental notes. He even sketched out a rough escape route. At one point, he felt a piercing gaze on his back, and when he turned to check the source, the gaze immediately vanished. "Hm? For some reason, this gaze feels familiar¡­" Xie Qing was puzzled, but he had no choice and returned to his stroll. Chapter 248: Place of the second altar [I] There will be one more extra chapter today. Thanks to webnovel433 for the support. Enjoy! ==== Evening. Wang Dongyang narrowed his eyes. After a long investigation, he concluded that the one who killed his fellow disciples was in the city, but their exact location was hard to determine. "What audacity. He killed the disciples of the Sect of Shadowed des and doesn''t even worry about being pursued," Wang Dongyang marveled, smiling for the first time in a long while, feeling a slight excitement. "I like this! Boldness, recklessness, whatever! It''s a shame that as an assassin, I can never understand these emotions¡­" The Sect of Shadowed des. For as long as the sect had existed, they had acted as hired assassins. If one were to make aparison, they were the least known among the wider circle of people. They were feared by all¡ªbe it their own or outsiders. Dwelling in the darkness, they were beasts ready to tear the throat of their prey. Simultaneously reliable and terrifying individuals. However, over time, their activities became less active. Currently, they only serve as the special forces of the Hao Shen Dynasty, doing dirty work and eliminating unwanted individuals. That''s how their days passed. But today, Wang Dongyang felt a strong curiosity. "This is a first for me. Few have escaped my senses¡­" he thought, licking his lips, his eyes gleaming. "If he turns out to be boring, I''ll kill him. If not, we might even be friends." *** Xie Qing was walking through the city when he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. He turned his gaze towards a tree, or more precisely, towards its shadow. His eyes shed. "Come out. I''ve noticed you for a while now," Xie Qing said, coldly snorting. "¡­" There was no response. From the outside, it looked as if the young man was crazy¡ªwhich is exactly what the passersby thought. However, Xie Qing was not deterred. He furrowed his brows and released his aura. Even those who had shown contempt for him a moment ago were forced to kneel, trembling all over. In response to Xie Qing''s released aura, the person hiding in the shadowsughed. A few seconds after theughter, a glow appeared from the shadow, and a man dressed in a ck cloak emerged in front of the young man. "Don''t think badly of me, I was just curious about someone with such power who doesn''t mind walking among the lowly," the man said with a loudugh. Although Xie Qing couldn''t see his face, he could sense that the man was smiling at him. This made him narrow his eyes. "Come on, I was just following you out of curiosity," the man waved his hands and smirked, dropping a verbal bomb on Xie Qing. "After all, it''s rare to see the killer of my fellow disciples acting so carefree." Xie Qing showed no reaction and only thought, "As expected." In truth, a sensible person would have hurried to leave the city after such a confrontation. However, he wasn''t in a rush because he specifically wanted to see the person who came after him. "My name is Wang Dongyang. And yours, brave one?" "Qu An," Xie Qing replied with a faint smile. "Qu¡­ An¡­" Wang Dongyang repeated with a strange voice. But he soon regained hisposure. "Strange name. But anyway¡­" Xie Qing blinked. In the next second, he and Wang Dongyang were teleported outside the city. "Teleportation formation? Not bad," he thought, shaking his head. Although he had sensed hints of Qi fluctuations in the air, they were so minor that he hadn''t paid attention. And that''s how it happened. "Don''t misunderstand me," Wang Dongyang suddenly said and disappeared from his spot. S-swoosh! A gust of wind hit Xie Qing in the face, followed by a bright metallic gleam. The young man tilted his head to the side and struck the de with his fist. ng! "I don''t want to kill you at all. And I hold no grudge," Wang Dongyang continued, appearing ten meters away, swinging his sword and flicking off a few drops of human blood. His eyes gleamed. "I just want to fight. To test your strength. If I can defeat you¡­" Wang Dongyang cracked his neck andughed. "You will be my subordinate." "¡­" Xie Qing remained silent. He squinted and asked. "And if I win?" "You?" Wang Dongyang smiled faintly and said, "Then I will fulfill one request of yours." "Deal." Xie Qing nodded indifferently. He didn''t even notice the bloodied fist that had blocked the sword. His wounds healed very quickly. Then, his ring glowed, and a sword emerged from it¡ªa very ordinary-looking one. "Time to fight again,rade," Xie Qing murmured and sighed. This was a battle, but not a duel. However, Wang Dongyang was surprisingly polite and did not attack. Xie Qing smiled. "I will show you respect," the young man said and wiped the smile off his face. Then he gripped the hilt with both hands and raised the sword vertically. His eyes gleamed as he murmured, "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens - Sword God Strike." The Nameless Sword was notrge, nor was it a two-handed sword. Its de was about a meter long. From the outside, it didn''t seem supernatural. However¡­ At the moment Xie Qing raised his sword into the air, Qi began to swirl around him. This Qi was so overwhelming that Wang Dongyang trembled. This feeling greatly surprised him. "This¡­ is fear? Amazing! Amazing!" the man''s eyes gleamed with madness. Despite the danger, he did not move from his spot. "Good. I will take your strike!" Xie Qing closed his eyes. And then¡­ he swiftly lowered his sword. There were no bright shes, no loud sounds. There wasn''t even an overwhelming Sword Aura. Silence. Xie Qing''s sword was pointed down, its tip touching the ground. Wang Dongyang was puzzled. Had his opponent deceived him, and was this all a bluff? "You¡­" Wang Dongyang wanted to say something but stopped dead in his tracks. His body began to tremble, and then¡­ Pffsh! "Aaaaagh!" Countless wounds appeared on his body, and blood began to gush out like a fountain. "Aaaa!" Wang Dongyang''s loud scream was the only sound. Xie Qing showed no emotion. "I-it hurts!" the man gritted his teeth. From the tips of his toes to his head¡ªhis entire body was covered in blood. From a distance, it looked as if he had been painted with red paint. Moreover, his Demonic Qi in his dantian was exhausted, and his internal organs were severely shocked. Wang Dongyang didn''t know how to react to this situation. Even he, at such a high level of cultivation, couldn''t resist such a powerful strike. Soon, Wang Dongyang''s legs could no longer support him. To be honest, he even began to regret giving his opponent the chance to attack first. But, as they say, there is no medicine for regret. Wang Dongyang gritted his teeth. "You''re ruthless, kid¡­" he finally said, feeling shocked. "My body is like a frozen oak tree. I can''t even move my little finger. I have to admit, you''ve impressed me. Following our agreement¡­ ah, I surrender." Xie Qing smiled. He approached Wang Dongyang and squatted down, then looked into his opponent''s eyes. "The altar. I want to know its location." "O-oh, where did you¡­" Wang Dongyang was shocked. There shouldn''t be much information about this thing, as the two sects had hidden its existence. Unless it was the disciples of the sect¡­ "A-ah, right. You must have read the memories of those guys. No wonder their brains were blown out," Wang Dongyang suddenly remembered andughed. He looked into Xie Qing''s eyes and was surprised. "But¡­ you look desperate. Do you need the altar that badly?" "¡­" The young man did not answer and only looked at Wang Dongyang with an indifferent expression. "Fine," the man grimaced. He knew he wouldn''t get an answer. Despite his carefree appearance, Wang Dongyang was very afraid. His current condition was so dire that he couldn''t even hope for survival. Therefore, without hesitation, he revealed the information. "The altar is not in this city," he said, and seeing the puzzlement in Xie Qing''s eyes, he added, "It is in the capital of the Hao Shen Dynasty, under the control of the imperial family. If you need the baptism, you will have to obtain the approval of the ruling family." *** Xie Qing looked towards the walls of Modu City. His gaze turned cold. "Hm. So I came here for nothing. I checked that guy, and he definitely shouldn''t be lying," the young man thought. Of course, his confidence came from the fact that he had simply killed Wang Dongyang. Keeping him alive was dangerous. Naturally, Xie Qing was certain that after this, he would attract a lot of attention. At the moment of death, an eye appeared on the forehead of the man from the Sect of Shadowed des, which looked at Xie Qing and then disappeared. "They know my appearance and aura. Under normal circumstances, I would panic," Xie Qing thought, then popped a pill into his mouth. In the next second, his appearance and aura changed. "But I''m not particrly worried about it. Because I have this." The young man smiled and looked to the west. Therey the capital. "The altar¡­" Chapter 249: Place of the second altar [II] 1/1 Additional Chapter Thank you webnovel433 for your support. Remember that with donations, you can request the author to publish additional chapters. 100 Coins = +1 chapter 500 Coins = +2 chapters 1000 Coins = +3 chapters 2000 Coins = +5 chapters 5000 Coins = +10 chapters Enjoy your reading. ++++ Capital City. Xie Qing couldn''t even imagine how to describe this ce. Perhaps it was a developed city where evil spirits were used as food, and the local residents prospered? Unfortunately¡­ All these assumptions were far from reality. Entering the capital city for the first time after a rigorous inspection, Xie Qing encountered a gloomy atmosphere and the sullen faces of the local residents. A thick Negative Karma hung in the air. Xie Qing furrowed his brows in confusion. Why did all these people have expressions as if a disaster had struck? When he asked one of the residents, the person looked at him strangely and shook their head in confusion. "Is this your first time in the capital? Life here is so bad that people barely survive. Leaving the city is impossible. Once you''re born here, you''ll live here until the end of your life¡­" "Is it that strict?" Xie Qing was puzzled. Was there really a need to make life so difficult for their own residents? The passerby shook their head and returned to their work. Xie Qing did not bother them further. Besides him, there were other tourists. This was evident from their expressions, which clearly stood out in contrast to the faces of the local residents. Xie Qing continued to stroll through the city and visited its establishments to conduct a small investigation and understand the structure of the capital. To his great surprise, this ce turned out to be much more mysterious. "Formation? And such a strong one¡­ wow¡­" Xie Qing was genuinely impressed. From the perspective of formations, the one who built it was definitely an extraordinary person. "Although¡­ the formation itself is terrible," he thought, scratching his beard¡­ ah, yes, now he looked like a bearded middle-aged man. The purpose of the formation was to monitor the life of each resident and block their exit from the city. Such methods were too suspicious. "I didn''t see anything suspicious in the city residents¡­ hmm?" Xie Qing was lost in thought when he suddenly froze, feeling his blood boil. His ck, obsidian-like eyes turned golden. "This is¡­ holy shi-" Dragon Qi! Indeed, Xie Qing discovered that this energy flowed beneath the entire city! "How did I not detect it?" Xie Qing wondered and looked at the formation. It had glimmers: "This¡­ it absorbs Dragon Qi? Could it be¡­" Xie Qing''s eyes shed with understanding. So, this formation automatically sustained itself. That''s how it worked¡­ He crouched down. Around him appeared a simple but extremely effective formation, blocking curious gazes. He ced his hand on the ground, and his eyes sparkled. Bvu-u-u¡­ A strange vibrating sound appeared, and the Dragon Qi first stopped, then began to flow into his hand. When the young man felt the powerful Qi flowing through his spiritual channels directly to his dantian, he couldn''t help but smile. "Hahaha! What luck! What a damn luck!" *** "Hmm?" Imperial Castle. Hao Shen sat on the throne. He suddenly felt a slight sensation, as if something was brewing. The man''s appearance was more human-like. He looked like an ordinary middle-aged man with white hair and red eyes. His eyes shed, and his Superior Spiritual Consciousness scanned the city. Not even an ant escaped his gaze. However, he still could not find the cause of this sensation. "Did I imagine it? But how could that be?" Hao Shen wondered. Recently, he had a lot on his te. Considering the condition of Ma Lu, who was currently in a deep sleep and recovering, he had to take care of four forces ¨C two sects and two dynasties. Despite his subordinates helping him, it did not reduce the pressure. Hao Shen snorted. While the man was lost in thought, someone entered the throne room. "Your Majesty." "Hmm?" Hao Shen raised an eyebrow. The only one who could enter the throne room without permission was his assistant. "Xiao He. What happened?" Hao Shen asked curiously. Usually, this quiet-looking assistant never bothered him unless something serious was happening. "The Sect of Bone Circle requests ess to the altar, as their altar is currently¡­ inoperative," Xiao He murmured. "Huh? What the hell are you talking about?" Although his assistant spoke in a rather quiet voice, Hao Shen heard him clearly, and his first reaction was annoyance. "Seriously? Those bastards are so shameless that they dare to look at my altar? Pfft, they couldn''t even protect their own altar. Why should I help them?" Hao Shen snorted in annoyance. "¡­" Assistant Xiao He, naturally, did not respond. He was just a servant and could not interfere in the affairs of the powerful. Hao Shen clicked his tongue. "How annoying. Those bastards should just be incinerated. They can''t do anything. And I told that bastard Ma Lu to clean up and make the sect more disciplined. But no, he didn''t listen to my words and decided to do it his way ¨C he ignored everything. Now there''s a problem when only one altar is left¡­" Hao Shen could barely contain his anger. Although he understood that in the end, he would still have to allow these people to use the altar, the situation itself angered him. Building the altar had required so many resources that it was maddening. Building a second one was impossible. There were no more materials. "What do you think, can we open the altar?" Hao Shen asked, narrowing his eyes. "From a security standpoint, considering the recent incident, it is not impossible that there are spies among the disciples of the Bone Circle. Allowing them ess to the altar would be dangerous. However, refusing them directly is not an option, as it would only create internal conflict, which the enemy could exploit," Xiao He calmly replied and continued, not hearing anything from Hao Shen: "Following these facts, we need to postpone any use of the altar for about a year. This time should be enough for us to create a formation. And using mysterious energy to power it, we can be sure that the chances of the altar being destroyed will be zero¡­ but this is just an approximate estimate." Despite his long and somewhat gloomy speech, Xiao He still expressed his concerns and proposed a good solution. Hao Shen''s eyes shed as he considered what his subordinate had said. "You''re right. Do you think you can build a good formation that can withstand the attack of a cultivator at the peak of Divine Transformation?" Hao Shen asked and smiled. Xiao He bowed, then calmly said, "Of course." *** Xie Qing contentedly rubbed his belly, although it was somewhat out of ce. He had finished absorbing Dragon Qi. If he could purify it, he would likely make another breakthrough. All the Dragon Qi in this area had been depleted. Xie Qing tried to make his actions less obvious. His knowledge of formations, which he had studied in his free time, helped him in this. "I wonder if there is Dragon Qi in other ces as well?" Xie Qing licked his lips. If he could absorb it all¡­ that would be wonderful. It would help him remove the effects of the formation and make a series of breakthroughs at the same time. "But¡­" Xie Qing licked his dry lips and shook his head: "I shouldn''t be greedy. The sudden disappearance of Dragon Qi would arouse Hao Shen''s suspicions. With his sharp senses, he would easily notice it. And I don''t need that right now." Currently, Xie Qing''s primary task was to find a ce to spend the night. He did not stay in the city and went beyond its limits. Only then could he breathe a sigh of relief. Setting up camp ten miles from the city, the young man began to cultivate. As expected, the Dragon Qi had a much stronger effect than Superior Qi and was the most suitable for him. Inside his dantian, there were two energies: Superior Qi and Dragon Qi. One was trying to absorb the other, so they swirled around each other. But¡­ there were no results yet. The reason was simple. Xie Qing''s cultivation technique was suppressing them, forcing the two ipatible energies to restrain each other. Of course, there woulde a time when Dragon Qi would rece Superior Qi. But that time was still far off. Xie Qing understood that his cultivation level was not quite up to this task. After two weeks, Xie Qing opened his eyes, which gleamed with a golden light and then dimmed in the same instant. Standing up, the young man rubbed his neck. "Sixth stage of Spiritual Ascension¡­" he said in a calm voice, as if it were something ordinary. Although in reality, he could barely contain his happiness. Xie Qing couldn''t help but smile. "This is a damn gold mine." Chapter 250: Mysterious energy depletion [I] Thank you JinTian, DaoistTrumpet, DaoistMiRVYk, Weerea, FDHS, isaiah_man123, Sami_Akbas_6673, _The_Big_Dog_91, Sami_Hussain for your support with GT. ==== Xie Qing left his dwelling ce after two hours. To his great fortune, he managed to leave before Xiao He arrived at the same location. Xiao He looked around with an expressionless face and narrowed his eyes as he looked beneath the ground. "This Qi... is depleted. How strange. Could there be some issues with the underground currents? But that can''t be, right?" Xiao He wondered. Surprisingly, he didn''t even consider the possibility that someone might have simply absorbed this energy. After all, even he, as a cultivator at the Divine Transformation stage, did not possess the qualifications to even attempt to touch this energy. The same applied to Hao Shen, who almost lost his arm during his first attempt to make contact. They conducted an investigation and realized that as long as they didn''t touch this energy, everything was rtively safe. It was precisely because of this that Xiao He had the courage to use this energy as fuel for the formations. Therefore, seeing the sudden disappearance of the fuel, he was annoyed and surprised. "This... is a problem. If I can''t restore the currents, then one of the four formations will go into sleep mode and be useless," Xiao He thought, rubbing his chin. "I''ll have to resort to extreme measures." *** Xie Qing woke up early in the morning and yawned. His cultivation level had undergone changes, and he was now at the sixth stage of Spiritual Enlightenment. It seemed that his journey into the devilish world¡ªlet''s call the space beyond the barrier that¡ªhad brought him many benefits, despite the dangers. Therefore, his mood was high from the very morning. He would have liked to drink a little to celebrate, but he thought that drinking alone was too lonely. "Speaking of loneliness..." Xie Qing''s eyelids drooped as he remembered the female silhouettes and their warmth. He sighed, "I miss them. A bit of softness, but what can I do? I never liked being alone..." Scratching his cheek, the young man stood up. Anyway, what was the point of sitting andining about life? He still had to figure out how to ess the altar. That was his primary goal. "Something that can transform people into demon hybrids. Even if it''s just a tiny part of the blood, I can''t be reckless. Even an ant can defeat an elephant if there are many of them," Xie Qing thought and furrowed his brows, which met at the bridge of his nose. "After I destroyed the altar of the Sect of Bone Circle, the main altar is likely the one with Hao Shen. My goal is to figure out how to infiltrate there and destroy it as soon as possible. This time, it won''t be so easy." Xie Qing was not naive enough to think he could eliminate the danger alone. To be honest, the chances of sess were so slim that it was even irritating. Moreover... "Only one is left," he couldn''t help but sigh. Those who had infiltrated the devilish world with him. Only one of them was still alive. It seemed that this world was much more dangerous. Especially after his step, everything had likely be moreplicated. "I am partly to me for their deaths. However, these are necessary sacrifices. I will also be a sacrifice if needed," the young man thought, and his face darkened. The thought of death scared him. Of course, he couldn''t hope that he would always be lucky. Someday, there woulde a moment when he would be in such a bad situation that death would be the only salvation. This was the life of a cultivator. On the edge of life and death, fighting to the end. Xie Qing sat by the extinguished fire and pondered. *** "And... depleted?" Hao Shen uttered a puzzled sound. "Yes, Your Majesty. I think it could be due to changes in the underground currents, which is not umon for Qi. Of course, it''s hard to say if this is true for this new energy. But I will try to conduct an investigation and provide a report," Xiao He said politely, bowing his head with a calm voice. "Haaah... what an unpleasant incident. Could this be why my nerves are on edge?" Hao Shen voiced his thoughts aloud and shook his head. He did not hesitate to show weakness to his assistant. After all, he had made a contract with him that was not easy to break. That was why Hao Shen did not restrain himself. Looking intently at his servant, Hao Shen propped up his chin (in human form) and asked curiously, "Do you think we can restore the current to its previous state?" Hao Shen asked, although it was more of a rhetorical question. Xiao He did not answer immediately¡ªafter all, despite his confidence, he could not know much about the mysterious energy that had been discovered only three hundred years ago. Such a period was quite short, and considering all theplexities, even a thousand years would seem like a brief time for research. Therefore, Xiao He gave a brief but fair and honest answer. "It''s difficult." "Hmm, I see." Hao Shen was not disappointed. He had not held much hope for this fleeting thought and did not intend to force Xiao He to work on it. In any case, the formation could always be powered using the souls of evil spirits, which would provide them with long-term energy. Hao Shen sighed. Lately, his life had be noticeably moreplicated. Besides the numerous problems that could not be easily solved, there was also the depletion of energy. Who knows, maybe other ces would follow suit? And while he was lost in thought¡­ "Your Majesty, a messenger from the Sect of Bone Circle requests an audience..." Xiao He said, looking surprised. "Oh? Really? I thought they would wait a little longer... pfft," Hao Shen scoffed and disdainfully curled his lips, looking towards the gate. Then he waved his hand, as if it was too much trouble to show anger. "Let him in, let him tell us why he hase. Although I already have a rough idea why." "Yes, Your Majesty." *** Following Hao Shen''s words, Xiao He admitted the elder of the Sect of Bone Circle. His name was Elder Mao. He walked towards the throne and stopped at a distance of twenty meters, then respectfully bowed. His status allowed him to avoid the tedious formalities of kneeling and bowing to the ground the entire time. Hao Shen looked at Elder Mao with an indifferent gaze. Although there was neither anger nor pressure in his eyes, the messenger from the Sect of Bone Circle still felt the pressure. "L-lord... I havee to convey information regarding the Sect of Bone Circle. Our elders, together with the Sect master, respectfully request that Sovereign Hao grant mercy and allow a group of disciples to participate in the ritual," Elder Mao announced and began to sweat and tremble towards the end. After all, with each word he spoke, the pressure on his mortal body increased. This was not good for his old bones, but what could he do? The other elders had buried their heads in the sand like ostriches, afraid that they would be devoured, bones and all. Hao Shen secretly smiled. As expected, these guys were not very restrained, and despite the trouble they had caused, they dared to behave so shamelessly and pitifully. "Elder Mao, correct? As a representative of the Sect of Bone Circle, you should be aware of why I am so reluctant to open the altar to you," Hao Shen finally spoke, and it seemed that with his words, the pressure on the old man only intensified. The man narrowed his eyes and continued, "For your information, even my patience obviously has its limits. Not only did you lose the precious altar, but you also ask me to give you ess to the only remaining altar. Don''t you think this is too shameless?" "This¡­" Elder Mao could not find the words to respond to this usation. Logically, Hao Shen was right. They hadmitted a serious sin, and even if it was the fault of a spy, the Sect of Bone Circle also bore responsibility for not adequately protecting their altar. That was why they found themselves in such a difficult situation, almost having to beg their rival for help on their knees. Did it look pitiful? Of course, it did. Elder Mao clenched his teeth. Even this simple action required a great deal of effort, given the immense pressure he was facing. However, this step was necessary. "P-please, Your Majesty..." he finally managed to say, before copsing onto the carpet, unconscious. "Tsk." Hao Shen clicked his tongue. What he saw was so pitiful and disgusting that he felt no sympathy at all. However, it would be foolish to simply reject their only ally, considering they were still in the minority. "Xiao He, wake him up." Chapter 251: Mysterious energy depletion [II] Xiao He blinked, then nodded. "As you wish, Your Majesty." He approached the unconscious Elder Mao and then squinted. After a few seconds¡­ Whoosh¡­ A fierce wind rose in the throne room. And then, a strong pressure. "Aaaah!" Elder Mao jumped up and clutched his heart. He had probably just experienced the greatest fright of his life. Shaking all over, he looked at Xiao He and trembled. His previous emotions¡ªfear, shock, and anger¡ªvanished in an instant. "T-the Shadow King¡­" "Hm¡­" Xiao He''s brows furrowed at the mention of this title, which only intensified the pressure. Elder Mao immediately shut his mouth and bowed. Only then did the pressure disappear. When Xiao He left, the elder found his heart beating wildly. "How could I not have noticed him? But then again, if it''s the Shadow King¡­ it''s no wonder." The Shadow King. The title of the strongest assassin of all time, excluding Hao Shen. He hadmitted over a hundred million registered murders, and it was possible that the number could exceed a billion. He had lived for a very long time. Even during the birth of Xu Mei, he was already a renowned cultivator, striking fear into the hearts of the cultivation world. However, about two thousand years ago, he suddenly disappeared. No one knew the reason, despite the efforts of his former clients to find him. The disappearance of the famous assassin brought joy to the Righteous Dao and despair to the Devilish Dao. And who would have thought that such a renowned figure would be working as a mere assistant? Elder Mao found it absurd. Of course, he did not dare to voice his thoughts. Xiao He''s mood was soured, but he took no further action. Perhaps in the past, he was the Shadow King, but now he was just an assistant to Emperor Hao Shen. "And so¡­" Hao Shen smiled, narrowing his eyes. "We can return to the dialogue. Actually, despite your rather audacious request, I will not refuse you just because you made a mistake. Although it would be fair to say that I am disappointed in you, I will still need your help in the future. Therefore, I give my consent, but¡­" "''But''?" Elder Mao repeated, then almost immediately closed his mouth. His behavior was¡­ rather rude, but Hao Shen paid it no mind. The man simply crossed his arms and said indifferently. "Two hundred thousand evil spirits per year. That is your payment." "This¡­!" Elder Mao was speechless. Such a price¡­ was simply absurd. For example, the Sect of Bone Circle "earns" only twenty thousand per year. And such a price¡­ would likely deal them a serious blow. Gritting his teeth, Elder Mao said, "Allow me to consult about this." "Of course. Xiao He, escort him to the private room and give him the Communication Stone," Hao Shen said with a carefree smile, resting his chin on his hand. There was a hint of contempt in his smile. Xiao He nodded and turned his gaze to Elder Mao, who looked as if he had swallowed a fat insect. "Follow me," he said in a cold voice, making it feel as if the temperature in the air had dropped to negative values. *** The Communication Stone. A rather effective way tomunicate with someone over a distance. If the frequency is set correctly, it can even facilitate something akin to a group conversation. This is exactly what Elder Mao intended to do. He took out his own Communication Stone¡ªnot the one given to him¡ªand then connected the call. Within just two seconds, a rectangr projection appeared above the stone, showing five men and five women sitting around a circr table. All of them looked expectantly at Elder Mao, who secretly sweated under their hopeful gazes. "I have conveyed your request to Sovereign Hao Shen¡­" Elder Mao began his report, then continued, seeing the attentiveness of his interlocutors. He bit his lip and added, "He agreed, but he has set a condition." In response, after just a few moments, disgruntled murmurs could be heard. "Of course, he would set conditions. What else can you expect from a malicious tyrant who only knows how to oppress our sect?" "This is expected. Sovereign Hao Shen has always had a cunning and decisive character. If he didn''t like something, he never did it. He hates working for free. To ensure the growth of our sect''s average strength, we will have to shed a lot of blood," someone replied in a calmer tone than their predecessor. "Even so, his actions are extremely selfish. He just wanted to tighten the noose around our necks and use our weakness as leverage. Isn''t he too greedy?" someone said with obvious displeasure. "Quiet!" Elder Mao frowned. This guy had gone mad. Even if he set up a hundred formations, he wouldn''t be sure he could escape Hao Shen''s gaze and ears. "Oh¡­" The one who had just criticized Hao Shen began to sweat coldly. Well, that was obvious, especially when dealing with someone who had reached the peak of cultivation in the Mortal World. Elder Mao snorted, marveling at the foolishness of his colleagues. Then he continued, looking as if he had lost a hundred years of his life. "He has set only one condition for us, and that is two hundred thousand evil spirits per year. Only then will he grant permission to use the altar." Elder Mao''s voice was as calm as still water, but inside him, emotions of indignation and irritation raged. For a few seconds, no one spoke, and it felt as if the Communication Stone had broken. However¡­ "What the¡­ hell!" "Two hundred thousand? T-two hundred thousand?" "Did he actually say that with his own mouth? How did his tongue even move to say such a thing!" "Two hundred thousand, damn it! We''ll have to exhaust all our reserves just to use the altar. This is robbery!" "Damn it!" Elder Mao sighed. As expected, his colleagues'' reaction was fitting. Not that he hadn''t anticipated it. He himself was shocked, and only his willpower helped him restrain himself from making any unnecessary movements. The heated discussion continued, but Mao had no particr desire to join in. The number of his gray hairs had increased exponentially today. In this situation, all he wanted was to hide from the world and sleep. However, one way or another, the Sect of Bone Circle was simply forced to make concessions and pay such a frightening price. Even if they had to do it while vomiting blood. *** "We agree." As soon as Elder Mao''s calm voice echoed in the throne room, he bowed, lowering his head. Therefore, he did not see the faint smile that appeared on Hao Shen''s indifferent face. Even Xiao He, eternally indifferent, let out a contemptuous smirk. Of course, the fish had taken the bait. The Sect of Bone Circle and the Sect of Shadowed des were ancient enemies, and only circumstances forced them to cooperate. Therefore, it was pleasing to see their enemy suffer. Of course, they limited their actions, as it would be unpleasant if their allies became so weak that they turned into dead weight. "A very wise decision, Elder Mao. I am sure that our cooperation will bring many benefits," Hao Shen said with a smile, rising from the throne. "Yes¡­" Elder Mao replied, biting his lip so hard that blood flowed from it. This time, the Sect of Bone Circle had received another heavy blow. *** Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. He had discovered another source of Dragon Qi. Ignoring the boiling of his blood, he pondered. "I''m sure the enemy has noticed my suspicious actions. Either way, I shouldn''t take any action for now to avoid trouble." The young man nodded and left. It was too suspicious to linger around one of the control points of the formation. Although ordinary onlookers couldn''t see him, Xie Qing''s vision was special, and it wasn''t difficult for him to notice even carefully hidden things. "Quite an interesting scheme. Dividing the formation into several key parts and then using a natural energy source to power it. What is this if not a convenient setup?" Xie Qing thought. Although his knowledge of formations was not particrly advanced, he was sufficiently trained to understand that such types of formations were much harder to hack and break.\\ "It would be interesting to see who created this," Xie Qing thought and walked away. Suddenly¡­ A ghostly silhouette formed in the distance. Xiao He! "Strange fellow. The primary illusion formation didn''t affect him?" Xiao He wondered. The illusion formation was simple¡ªit distorted perception and helped residents bypass the formation. This was done to prevent idental deaths or unauthorized ess to the formation scheme. However, it seemed that the illusion formation had no effect on this person. "This means his cultivation level is at least at the Enlightenment stage. Not bad. I''ll remember his aura just in case¡­" Xiao He thought and disappeared, his entire body turning into ck smoke. Chapter 252: Dark Mark Xie Qing spent a week familiarizing himself with all the streets of the city. Although he felt a slight difort, he did not show it. "Someone is watching me," thought Xie Qing as he returned to his makeshift camp. His senses were sharp. Although he did not feel the presence of a pursuer, his sixth sense screamed danger. This could only mean one thing¡­ "A cultivator at the Divine Transformation stage. Tsk, what a misfortune," he thought. Outwardly, his face remained calm, though in his thoughts, he was cursing the pursuer with every possible expletive that would shock even a shoemaker. Eventually, upon reaching his camp, Xie Qing began to cultivate. He closed his eyes and muttered something. The camp fell silent. *** Xiao He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. He had been observing this youth for a week, who apparently was not a native of the capital. "He lives outside the capital? Why? This is quite suspicious." There were plenty of inns, and now there was even a shortage of visitors. So, a free room would certainly be avable. "Is he poor?" was all Xiao He could think, and then he sighed. He felt like he was doing something wrong. Even if this guy were twice as strong as him, he would not be able to detect the formations. If some kid could see through his formations, Xiao He would have to tear open his dantian and lose his cultivation out of shame. ¡­as they say, ignorance is bliss. "From my observations," thought Xiao He, rubbing his chin. He stood in the shadow of a tree, and despite not exerting much effort, his presence was extremely hidden: "This guy is just a tourist who likes to stroll around. The fact that he wandered into the ce of one of the key formations is a simple coincidence. He is most often found strolling in the square and the garden. Quite¡­ unusual and surprisingly normal." Xiao He was puzzled by how normal this guy was. Usually, devilish cultivators either went to brothels, tormented evil spirits, or just drank all day. But this one didn''t even trip over his own feet. He either sat in the garden and cultivated or strolled around the main square and bought sweets. "It''s hard to believe he''s a Spiritual Ascension cultivator. He looks more like a mortal," Xiao He shook his head. He had already lost interest in this person: "Whatever. I don''t think he''ll be a threat. In any case, if he does something suspicious, I''ll kill him immediately." Xiao He waved his hand, and a small ck drop, resembling a drop of ink, appeared from his hand. It quickly flew towards Xie Qing''s forehead and absorbed into his skin, disappearing. Surprisingly, the youth showed no reaction¡ªnot even a frown. "That''s it. Now I can return," thought Xiao He and smiled: "Anyway, the ''Dark Mark'' will help me track his location. I can go back." Havingpleted his "mission," Xiao He turned around and headed towards the capital, not noticing that in thest moment, Xie Qing''s eyes opened with a golden glow, revealing a cold stare. *** [A curse ''Dark Mark'' has been ced on the host] [Effects: Tracking, Partial mind-reading] [Erase the mark?] | [Note: This may alert the enemy]. "Leave it for now," thought Xie Qing, his eyes shing with coldness: "I don''t know who it was, but it''s clearly someone at the Divine Transformation stage. I fear I have encountered a formidable opponent." The youth couldn''t help but click his tongue. It seemed to him that if someone didn''t try to step on his shoes during his adventures, the Heavenly Dao would simply copse, and time would stop. This was so irritating that the usually calm youth could barely contain his annoyance. The feeling of being watched with every step was unpleasant. And considering the second effect¡ªPartial mind-reading¡ªit turned into something truly hellish. "It''s dangerous, of course, but¡­ I won''t remove this mark now. In any case, it could trigger an immediate reaction from the cultivator. He would instantly realize that the mark has been removed," thought Xie Qing, rubbing his nose as he stood up: "I need to think¡­" *** While Xie Qing was preupied with his thoughts, the Sect of Bone Circle was not wasting any time. They had already reached the capital. Hao Shen was slightly taken aback. These guys were truly shameless and extremely strange. Even after he had stated such strict conditions, they epted them and came to him with such enthusiasm. Now, more than a hundred people were gathered in the throne room, ny of whom were disciples, and the rest were elders of the main court. "Your Majesty," said the person standing at the head of all the elders. He bowed his head and said with a smile, "Hearing of Your generosity, we did not dare to keep You waiting and disrupt Your schedule. Therefore, we decided to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. Regarding the payment, we sincerely hope that you will give us time until the end of the year to calcte everything." "Heh," Hao Shen chuckled and nodded, waving his hand, "Good. This Emperor is not a tyrant and knows how to make concessions. The Sect of Bone Circle has exactly six months to pay everything down to thest evil spirit." "O-of course," replied the chief with a strained smile. Hao Shen also smiled. He really enjoyed this situation, especially when he was in the position of power. It was simply an iparable feeling. And what he enjoyed even more was their expression when he said, "But I never said I would open the altar immediately, right?" "What?..." The chief elder thought he had misheard. He looked at Hao Shen in shock, who was still smiling. Seeing the shock and confusion on the others'' faces, the Emperor smirked. "Seriously? Guys, I actually need a year to prepare everything. You know, safety measures and all that¡­ You don''t think I have resources for the baptism just lying around, especially for so many people?" Hao Shen shook his head and sighed. He looked guilty: "Ah, this Emperor is at fault for not informing you in advance. But, what can be done¡­" "You¡­" The chief elder gritted his teeth. He was not an inexperienced boy. Of course, it was easy to see the mockery in Hao Shen''s eyes. He had deliberately not mentioned the one-year dy just to make the Sect of Bone Circle look bad. After all, they hade with so many people, looking like beggars who were given hope and then suddenly denied help. The faces of the elders turned red, and the disciples looked at each other in confusion. This incident made the elders leave in disgrace. They gritted their teeth, said a few farewell words, and left. Hao Shen smiled as he watched therge crowd disappear beyond the city walls. When they were gone, he couldn''t help butugh. "Hahaha, what funny faces. Don''t me me for being cruel; I just want to benefit myself. Otherwise, it would be quite unfair. You''ve brought me so much trouble, and you only got a small fine. Pfft, what a¡­" Xiao He shook his head. Naturally, he had seen this scene with his own eyes and could say that Hao Shen''s actions were somewhat strange. Of course, no one noticed him, and it was simple. As long as Xiao He himself did not want to be noticed, even Hao Shen would need a few milliseconds to notice his presence¡ªwhich already proved his professionalism. "Your Majesty, I have tracked all the suspicious individuals and ced the Dark Mark. I cannot say for sure that I have found anyone guilty, but just in case, for safety reasons, I will monitor them with all my might," Xiao He reported. "Excellent work, Xiao He. It''s good to have someone as responsible as you by my side. Hahaha!" Hao Shen smiled contentedly, and his eyes sparkled as he squinted at Xiao He: "What reward do you want?" "Your Majesty''s happiness is the best reward for me," the assistant immediately replied, bowing politely. "Cut the crap, man. As if I don''t know you. Tell me honestly, what do you want?" Hao Shen waved his hand, looking bored. He was not moved by Xiao He''s ttery. "Then¡­ do you remember my request from a hundred years ago?" Xiao He''s eyes sparkled. "A hundred years ago?" Hao Shen showed confusion on his face, then slyly smiled: "Ah, you mean that fox? Haha, so you haven''t forgotten about her? I won''t promise, but I''ll try. You''ll just have to wait another five hundred years while I sort out the problems. It''s not advantageous to bother her now, understand?" "Xiao He does not mind waiting." "Well, thank you." Xiao He bowed. His eyes sparkled, and he involuntarily licked his lips. "Lian Qingyi¡­st time you managed to slip away from me. The worst part is that you even became stronger than me. I had forgotten about this karma for so many years, but my patience is running out. me yourself for this!" Chapter 253: Kaboom? Yes Xie Qing, Kaboom [I] _The_Big_Dog_915 sent Massage chair, thank you for that. Additional chapter for a donation. 1/2 ==== Xie Qing opened his eyes. He had been in meditation for two months. And today, his sixth sense was activated again. He felt as if he was being watched. The System confirmed this. [Dark Mark activated. Host''s location obtained by the other party]. "Tsk¡­" Outwardly, Xie Qing showed no reaction, but in his thoughts, he couldn''t help but click his tongue in annoyance. He had to admit, this guy was too cautious. Every week, he tracked his location and didn''t miss a single day. The young man didn''t know whether to praise his unknown enemy for his diligence or scold him for his excessive persistence. Xie Qing sighed. "How annoying. I''ve been in this ce for almost two years," he thought and shook his head. "And I''ve turned 22." From an inexperienced youth, he had grown into an adult. Of course, this was in the perception of mortals. For a cultivator, he was still a child. However, mentally, the young man felt much older than twenty-two. This was probably due to the conditions he had been living in these past few days. Despite the festive day, Xie Qing''s mood was gloomy. "I''m starting to get tired¡­" It was mentally exhausting. He would literally have to destroy the altar under the nose of a Transcendence-level cultivator. "Hmm¡­" *** Early morning. Three months had passed since Xie Qing had been tracked by Xiao He. And today, he was gloomy. His goal was to find the location of the altar and then somehow break it. Of course, it sounded much easier said than done, but in reality, it was extremely difficult. Firstly, the young man doubted that there wouldn''t be strong guards nearby. After all, this was the only altar. That''s why he pondered what he could do. He didn''t have a good enough n for this situation because the circumstances were tooplex. Xie Qing sweated, scratching the back of his head. "How annoying. I don''t even have any allies," he thought and shook his head. Among his "countrymen," only one person remained, and he was too far away. Moreover, his cultivation level was so low that calling him was practically pointless. "Thest resort¡­" Xie Qing twisted his lips and snapped his fingers. Darkness surrounded him, shielding him from any prying eyes. He tossed a spatial ring into the air, and a tokennded in his hand. It looked like an ordinary wooden token with a single engraving of a sword. However, as soon as the tokennded in Xie Qing''s hand, the young man winced. A deep cut appeared on his hand, reaching all the way to the bone. Shaking from the pain, Xie Qing focused his Qi and protected his hand. "Still a dangerous thing. Even though I''m at this level of cultivation," Xie Qing smiled weakly. Of course, it was a bit strange to smile in such a situation, especially with such a serious cut on his hand, but his heart was calm. After all, this token belonged to Xu Mei. "This token can release the aura of the Master and summon her projection once. This will help me buy time. However, after that, I won''t be able to use it again," the young man thought and hesitated for a moment before putting the token back into the ring and sighing, looking weak. "I need to prepare." *** The days flew by unnoticed. Finally, the deadline that Hao Shen had given to the Sect of Bone Circle arrived, and the elders and disciples returned once again. Their reunion was not as warm and cheerful as thest time. Both sides were in a bad mood. Xiao He stood silently in the corner, carefully observing the situation. His right hand looked cut, which was quite shocking. Hao Shen himself looked annoyed but didn''t show it on his face. Looking at the representative of the allied sect, he asked, "90 disciples, just like before, right? Although there is a need for work on the altar, considering how diligent you have been, I can allow its use." Hao Shen continued with a nk expression, ignoring the discontented murmurs. "The altar is ready. You may proceed. Xiao He, escort them and oversee the process, understood?" "Yes, Your Majesty." "!!" Xiao He, emerging from the shadows, greatly frightened the elders. They exchanged nces and saw doubt in each other''s eyes. Some of them were also cultivators of Divine Transformation, but they had not detected the man''s presence. This greatly frightened them. The man who had caused their fear didn''t seem to care much about it. He simply waved his hand and said briefly, "Follow me." Then, turning around, he began to walk towards the exit. His face was indifferent. The elders exchanged nces and, after a moment of hesitation, followed him. Soon, everything fell silent. Hao Shen indifferently averted his gaze and sighed. "As if I didn''t have enough of my own problems, now this crap," he thought and shook his head, looking as if he had swallowed a fat fly. "Mysterious energy¡­ hmm¡­" Half a year ago, the entire reserve under the capital had disappeared. The formations required external energy, which was extremely expensive. Hao Shen rubbed his head. The mysterious energy under the capital had been their gold mine. But with each passing day, its quantity had decreased more and more, eventually disappearingpletely. And the worst part was that they hadn''t even had time to react to it. Literally, in a matter of days, it was all gone! It was too abnormal to be called a coincidence, but also too mysterious to be called intentional. Xiao He''s first assumption was that the energy might be changing its own flow. In that case, Hao Shen was helpless, as even he could not touch this energy without harming his cultivation. However, if it was intentional¡­ if someone else had done this... His eyes gleamed maliciously. "I will kill him. If this is truly someone''s n¡­ I won''t even leave bones. I''ll eat him alive, flesh and all! Fucking eat him alive!" *** "The rules are simple. No crowding, enter one by one, and don''t cause any trouble," Xiao He finally spoke in an indifferent voice, then continued without paying attention to the elders'' bewilderment. "If I see anything suspicious, I''ll kill you. If you make noise, I''ll kill you. If you even try to touch the altar with a finger, I''ll torture and kill you. Understood?" "Uh¡­ y-yes¡­" The elders were speechless. They understood that they were not in a position to ask for anything, but such rudeness¡­ was too horrible! They were being treated like children. And although they didn''t like the man''s threats, none of them dared to utter a sound. After all, his status was too formidable. Xiao He shook his head, seeing their fear. He didn''t care about any of this anyway. If it weren''t for Hao Shen''s order, he wouldn''t be dealing with this crap. Chapter 254: Kaboom? Yes Xie Qing, Kaboom [II] Xiao He waved his hand, standing before a wall deep within the imperial pce. ck smoke slipped from his hand and prated the wall, disappearing. Soon, a creaking sound was heard. The tform behind the wall slid to the side, revealing a hidden passage. "Proceed," Xiao He said indifferently. Despite their surprise, the elders did not dare to linger and instructed the disciples to quickly enter. Only when thest disciple entered the passage did Xiao He follow them. Then the passage closed. *** Flicker. Flicker. Flicker. Lights began to ignite, illuminating their path. It was a long corridor, five meters wide and ten meters high. There was a smell of dampness, iron, and decay, as if it were some abandoned ce. However, none of the elders showed any sign of difort. Being sufficiently strong, they could understand that this was just a disguise. Knowing the truth did not change what they saw; they still saw stone walls covered in moss. Even the smell remained the same. This was the power of Xiao He, who, besides being a renowned assassin, also possessed excellent skills in formations. And so¡­ After twenty minutes, the group reached their destination. The disciples held their breath, sensing Negative Karma and something even more terrifying. Even the experienced elders felt suffocated. The altar¡­ was entirely made of blood, bones, and flesh of some strange creature. In the center were runes of unknown origin. The whole situation reeked of danger and something forbidden. A stark contrastpared to what the Sect of Bone Circle had. This altar felt much more dangerous and powerful. Gulp. The elders swallowed, feeling cold sweat trickle down their foreheads. At the same time, they were extremely excited. If they had undergone the ritual with this altar back then¡­ perhaps they would be at apletely different level of cultivation now. "Halt." Suddenly, Xiao He''s cold voice rang out, snapping the disciples and elders out of their thoughts. "Eh?" One of the disciples noticed that Xiao He had somehow moved in front of them. He looked at them with an indifferent expression and continued, ignoring the crowd''s surprise. "I have exined the rules. Enter one at a time, no more than one person. Those who have previously undergone the altar ceremony must turn back and leave, including the elders. That is all." Xiao He waved his hand, and a ck wall with a single door appeared in front of the altar. The elders exchanged nces and, after a moment of hesitation, decided to leave. Even after they left, Xiao He said nothing and merely looked coldly at the disciples. "I made myself clear. Those who have undergone the altar ceremony must leave the room immediately. Are you deaf?" The man released his Qi, which immediately forced the guilty to their knees. Looking at about twenty people, Xiao He said coldly, "Get out. You are lucky that I am in a good mood today. However, the next time, the only result will be death. Understood?" "Y-yes¡­" "S-sorry¡­" "Please¡­" The disciples could barely make a sound. Their bodies seemed to disobey them. Then Xiao He waved his hand, and a strong wind appeared, selectively blowing the lying disciples out. Only then did he begin to let the disciples enter one by one. The first disciple entered the room with obvious nervousness. Xiao He followed him. The door opened and closed by itself, as if it had a mind of its own. Beside the altar, it was hard to breathe, and there was a feeling as if the blood was boiling. The gloomy atmosphere immediately gripped the disciple''s heart, making him sweat as if in the summer heat. Xiao He merely nced at him and then snapped his fingers. Bwoo-woo-woo¡­ A vibrating sound with a hint of a horn echoed. Following this, the sound of boiling liquid was heard, and a small ck drop, resembling blood, appeared in the center of the altar. As the disciple approached, suddenly! The drop vibrated and then struck the disciple''s forehead with great force. The impact sent him flying to the wall, and he coughed up blood¡­ wait, that was too much blood! Blood flowed from his mouth, not just in small drops, but in a stream, as if a dam had burst. Soon, the disciple''s skin began to turn white, then suddenly turned ck with a hint of purple. Red veins covered most of his body. "Hm¡­" Xiao He let out a soft hum. The altar ceremony was cruel, harsh, and likely only ten out of so many would be able to live fully after this. Some might even die. There were high chances of bing a mindless monster. But if he could survive¡­ then this disciple would reap the benefits. However¡­ "Failure," Xiao He muttered indifferently. And in response to his voice, as if expressing its anger¡­ "Graaaa!" The disciple suddenly grew in size and charged at Xiao He. With the same indifferent expression, Xiao He shook his head and sighed. Pfu-u-u¡­ A light mist from his mouth quickly caught up with the giant, and at that moment¡­ BOOM! The body of the disciple, who had turned into a monster, exploded into a thousand pieces! His remains hit the walls and, surprisingly, were absorbed by them! Blood flowed directly to the altar and, turning into steam, disappeared. Xiao He shook his head. In any case, these disciples could at least serve some purpose ¨C to give their blood to the altar, thereby strengthening it. Then the second disciple entered. When he did not see his fellow disciple, a grimace of fear and doubt appeared on his face. However, he quickly regained hisposure. ¡­of course, he felt no sympathy. It was more fear that he would share the fate of his predecessor. Xiao He did not care. After twenty minutes¡­ "AAAAAAAAGH!" A loud, desperate scream echoed as the disciple''s body exploded. This time, he died almost instantly after receiving the ck drop. Xiao He shook his head. This scene repeated many times. The first batch of twenty people yielded the following results: 10 ¨C dead (turned into monsters). 5 ¨C exploded. 5 ¨C survived but lost their minds. Overall, it was not very encouraging. Xiao He shook his head. He was already getting tired because almost none of the disciples met the criteria. In the end, it was a waste of resources. And then, the next batch¡­ a sessful disciple appeared. "Congrattions," Xiao He said, ncing at the disciple who had instantly broken through to the ninth stage of Soul Integration, having previously been at the first stage. "Now you possess decent talent. You might be of some use." Although Xiao He''s tone was as cold as ice, his words were impressive enough for the disciple, who bowed politely and left with an excited expression. Following him, another disciple entered. He stood out for being tall ¨C almost two meters in height. His eyes were sharp, and his gaze was cold and calcting. He had a muscr build and a decent appearance. "I greet you," the disciple said, then approached the altar. Xiao He said nothing and raised his hand to activate the altar, but¡­ "Hm?" He suddenly stopped. His gaze shifted to the disciple, who looked at him in confusion. "Is something wrong?" the disciple asked. Xiao He narrowed his eyes. For some reason, his sixth sense was screaming danger. Therefore, he immediately activated all his power and¡­ BOOM! A deafening explosion sounded. The floor cracked, and the walls shook. Xiao He gritted his teeth, looking at the disciple in front of him. He had been¡­ deceived! "Who are you?!" "Hahaha¡­" Laughter echoed from the cloud of dust. "Who am I? I don''t know, ask your mother or your sisters¡­ they should know ''very well'' who I am, son." "What?..." Xiao He frowned. Spy! That was the only word that came to Xiao He''s mind. There was a spy among the disciples! But how was that possible? "Tsk." From the cloud of dust came an annoyed clicking of the tongue. Immediately afterward, a whirlwind swept the dust away, revealing the disciple with blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. "A cultivator of the third stage of Divine Transformation with the Law of Darkness. An impressive opponent," a calm, hoarse voice sounded. "You are quite bold to have blocked my strike instead of dodging," Xiao He calmly replied, narrowing his eyes. "I''ll ask again. Who the hell are you? And how did you manage to hide from my Divine Sense?" The unknown person, disguised as a disciple, smiled faintly. "Where you learned, I taught." Xiao He''s eyes shed with irritation. He felt a slight annoyance. This guy had a foul mouth. "You are either fearless or stupid. I think thetter suits you better," Xiao He finally said after a moment, scoffing. "But no matter. I will help you gain the manners your parents or Master failed to instill in you." "You are either dumb or smart as fuck. If you''re so tough, why don''t you try to kill me? Or you got no balls? Chapter 255: A fox hiding in the shadows [I] Xiao He raised his hand. Although the opponent had a cultivation level roughly equivalent to Spiritual Enlightenment between the seventh and eighth stages, he was not afraid. The reason was simple. A cultivator with thews of Divine Transformation is considered elite, and they are literally one stage away from reaching the peak of this world. Therefore, although Xiao He did not show it, he was arrogant enough to be offended by the spy''s arrogant behavior. Blinking, Xiao He suddenly disappeared, while the spy remained in ce ¨C there was a significant difference between them in both physical and spiritual power. "Why is he so calm? What could this be?" Xiao He wondered slightly. Usually, those who faced him had only one emotion ¨C despair. For despite their efforts, it was extremely difficult to fight against an enemy they couldn''t even see. However, this spy was surprisingly rxed. This enraged Xiao He, who was already irritated by recent insults. And then, the moment came. When Xiao He approached the spy ¨C they were only an arm''s length apart, suddenly the space under Xiao He''s feet lit up. "What the¡­" Before he could even curse, a bright light enveloped his body, and then a spatial distortion urred. Xiao He shuddered, feeling his Qi being drained. And in the next second¡­ Thump. A strange sound echoed, as if something light, like a pillow, had fallen to the ground. It was Xiao He''s spatial ring and clothes. The spy smiled, then fell to his knees. His face showed clear exhaustion. "Finally. This formation is too heavy. If it weren''t for the fact that I have a lot of Qi, I wouldn''t have been able to deceive this bastard," the spy thought. Then his appearance began to change, and he became an ordinary person with amon appearance: "Now it''s time to start the n¡­" It was Xie Qing! Although, I think you already figured that out. His n was simple ¨C to blend in with the crowd of disciples and enter. Initially, the n included eliminating witnesses, but fortunately, he managed to avoid unnecessary noise. Of course, despite his rxed appearance, the young man¡­ or rather, the man now, was very anxious inside. After all, his life could be cut short at any moment. For this one moment ¨C the destruction of the altar, he recklessly spent many tokens and currency to buy the things he needed. And now, at this moment, he had only one suitable move. Taking two steps forward, Xie Qing touched the altar. Immediately, something foreign, simr to Negative Karma, tried to enter his body but was repelled by a mysterious energy ¨C Dragon Qi. "I think it can rightly be called demonic blood. Their ritual is incredibly terrifying and frightening, and from a survival standpoint, few can survive after the baptism. Although, the risks are worth it, yes¡­" Xie Qing thought and sighed. He waved his hand, and ten tokens flew out of his spatial ring, surrounding the altar. Each token had an image of a waterfall, and the items radiated bright and hot energy. This was Yang energy. Then, ten more tokens with an image of the moon flew out of the young man''s spatial ring. Immediately, the temperature began to change and drop. However, it was not cold, rather something between heat and cold. For the tokens literally trembled in the air, as if they could not bear each other''s presence. These were Yin and Yang tokens, each filled with energy of maximum purity. Usually, they are used for cultivation, but today Xie Qing had other ns. He bit his lip so hard that he drew blood ¨C it had the same red color, but deep within, one could see barely visible golden specks. "It''s time," the man thought, sighing. *** Hao Shen sat in the throne room, reviewing the affairs of his own sect, when suddenly, twenty thousand miles away from the capital, a spatial fluctuation appeared. "Hm?" The man frowned in puzzlement. Spatial distortions could be used by cultivators of his level for instant teleportation over long distances, but this consumed a lot of energy. Moreover, traveling this way was dangerous and sometimes even led to conflicts. Therefore, without much thought, Hao Shen immediately disappeared and appeared right where the spatial fluctuation had urred. And his surprise knew no bounds when, under the bright night sky, illuminated by the Moon¡­ His trusted aide fell to the ground with several wounds and a withered dantian. What was more important, he was naked. "What¡­ is going on here?" Hao Shen wondered. He descended and approached Xiao He, who slowly stood up. His appearance was not the best ¨C he looked exhausted, as if all his blood had been drained. "Y-Your¡­ cough¡­ Majesty!" Xiao He croaked, trying to stand up. "Stop. Don''t get up," Hao Shen said immediately, seeing the naked Xiao He, and snapped his fingers, pulling out a nket from his spatial ring: "What the hell is going on here? How did you end up here?" "S-Spy!" Xiao He suddenly realized and looked at Hao Shen, saying with a wild look: "Your Majesty, there is a spy among the disciples of the Sect of Bone Circle! And right now, he is near the altar!" "What?!" Hao Shen instantly darkened. Had he let a rat into his basement full of food? Xiao He was about to turn around when suddenly¡­ "Are you in a hurry to leave?" A cold, female voice, giving the sensation of a de pressed against your throat. Hao Shen stopped dead in his tracks, then looked at the woman who had appeared from behind Xiao He. "Y-you¡­" Hao Shen was shocked. How did this lunatic get here? Beautiful, shiny ck hair cascading down a slender, willowy back. Gorgeous blue eyes and long eyshes. A mature, slender figure and a face that could charm anyone. Xu Mei, the Sword Princess. *** Xie Qing left the castle using a secret method. He looked around and sighed. "All of this will be destroyed by me. But so be it." Soon, almost immediately, his mood returned to its previous state, and he snapped his fingers, sending amand. And in the next moment¡­ BOOOOOOM! A loud explosion painted the castle in the colors of hellish mes, and the people inside instantly turned to ash ¨C they felt no pain or suffering, they didn''t even realize death hade for them. The capital was aze. Many houses were destroyed. And in this chaos, one of the luxurious pavilions, where the brothel was located, looked too quiet. It did not copse, but stood proudly, as if nothing could touch it. And on the very top floor, where no one was present, a murmur could be heard. "So, there you are¡­" *** Hao Shen frowned. Although the opponent was strong, she was not powerful enough to bring him to despair. And that was what was strange. It was as if his sworn enemy did not want to kill him, but¡­ to dy him? "Xiao He!" Hao Shen roared during the battle, looking like a wounded lion. His ugly appearance began to show again: "Immediately! Return! To the castle!" The loud, almost desperate cry brought Xiao He to his senses. Finishing dressing, he immediately ran towards the capital. Thanks to his developed strength and speed, he reached it in just ten minutes. And when the walls of the capital came into his view, when a relieved smile appeared on his face¡­ BOOOOOOOOOM! A loud explosion, like thunder on a clear day, rang out, taking with it the lives of the city''s inhabitants, its walls, buildings, and¡­ the smile from Xiao He''s face. "N-no¡­" He didn''t even have time to despair. Xiao He kept running towards the capital. Leaping over the walls, he activated his Divine Sense, and his eyes shed with anger. "Found you!" Like a arrow, he elerated and flew towards the southern part of the capital, where one of the exits was located. And without paying attention to the crowds of fleeing residents, he crashed into one of the passersby at full speed. Ba-bang! Another explosion made the already chaotic situation even worse. Many civilians simply died from the impact, and a huge crater appeared around the southern gates, with the walls and gates reduced to dust. The only path to safety was blocked. "Bastard!" Xiao He''s furious shout stood out even amidst the chaotic explosions and screams of the residents. He red with rage at the person whose left arm was injured and hung limply from his shoulder like a dead weight. It was Xie Qing. When he tried to escape, his opponent caught up with him unexpectedly and struck with such force that the young man had to endure the blow with his own body. "You''re like diarrhea on a good day¡­" the young manmented aloud, wearily rubbing his neck. He looked at Xiao He''s condition and smiled: "Looks like you got quite a beating too, huh? Not bad, not bad. The spatial formations I created aren''t very safe. In normal situations, this would be a disadvantage, but¡­ hehe¡­ I think in your situation, it''s quite fitting¡­" Xie Qing spoke quickly, not even pausing for breath. Because of this, his tone was so carefree that it greatly irritated Xiao He. "Die!" Chapter 256: A fox hiding in the shadows [II] Was Xiao He strong? Oh, yes, incredibly strong. Each of his strikes reached Xie Qing with such ease, as if he wasn''t even trying. Even if the youth tried to dodge, it only resulted in injuries. Moreover, most of Xiao He''s attacks were so powerful and hidden that if it weren''t for Xie Qing''s sharp senses, he would have been a rotting corpse on the ground long ago. Thud. Thud. Thud. Loud sounds echoed as something heavynded on the ground. These were the remnants of buildings that were already on the verge of copse, but due to the battle between Xiao He and Xie Qing, they lost their support and fell to the ground. Xie Qing turned his head to the side, dodging Xiao He''s invisible attack, and jumped to the side, swinging his sword. A whirlwind of Sword Aura appeared, creating a barrier in front of him, allowing him to catch his breath. The youth''s condition was pitiful. His left arm hung limply from his shoulder, having been seriously injured during countless attempts to block his enemy''s attacks. "Of course, it''s too early for me to face this guy. I am only a cultivator at the eighth stage of Spiritual Ascension..." Xie Qing thought and sighed. His condition was unsatisfactory, but what could he do? The opponent was far more experienced and stronger than him. It was already surprising that he hadsted this long. Whoosh! Suddenly, the barrier of Sword Aura copsed, revealing a ck human shadow with eyes filled with blood. "Well, not feeling so good now, are you? I admit, you''re not bad, but it''s too early for you to face me. You''re weak, helpless, worthless!" Xiao He sneered, appearing five meters away from the youth. The contempt on his face was evident: "The difference between a cultivator of Divine Transformation and Spiritual Ascension is huge, understand? It''s a different world. A world you will never reach! Hahaha!" Xie Qing did not react to his words and only snorted. If Xiao He knew how quickly he had reached his current level, he would be apologizing for his words now. However, the youth had no intention of discussing his talent with him. Now was not the time for that. Xie Qing jumped to the side, then raised his sword high vertically. He looked towards Xiao He. "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens... Sword God Strike." Whoosh... There were no light shows or anything simr. There was only silence and... a gentle breeze. Xiao He, despite this, frowned and squinted, as if something was causing him pain. And then... "Kha..." He coughed up blood, which fell to the ground and melted the stone pavement. Wiping his mouth, Xiao He clicked his tongue. "Not bad. An attack that kills unnoticed. If I were weaker than you, or at the peak of Spiritual Ascension, I would have died easily..." he noted with some irritation: "Very good. But... not strong enough to kill me." Xie Qing smiled. It wasn''t that he didn''t understand. This was his signature attack, on which he had ced many hopes. It was a bit sad that the opponent didn''t die immediately, but... that wasn''t his goal. Xiao He straightened up and looked at Xie Qing, then suddenly froze, feeling as if a storm was brewing inside him. "Khaaaa!" Letting out a loud cry filled with pain, Xiao He, clutching his stomach, helplessly fell to the ground, and then, shuddering, began to scream mercilessly. "AAAAAAAGH!" Xie Qing smiled weakly. As expected, it worked. For in his attack was concentrated... Yang Qi. For ordinary cultivators, this energy is extremely beneficial and helps them be physically stronger. But for those who have taken the blood of evil... It is the most deadly poison. "Aaaaaaaagh!" And no matter how strong you are. No matter how much power you possess. "AAAAAAAAA!" Against your natural poison. "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens - de of Infinite Apathy." There is no antidote. Thud. Xie Qing turned his head to the side, watching as a lone severed human head with pain on its face rolled away. Then he looked at Xiao He''s headless body. "Of course, you''re still alive," he said aloud to his thoughts and shook his head: "Are you sure you don''t regret it? Bing a monster and losing your humanity for power... it''s too pitiful." "You don''t understand anything," a distorted voice replied from the severed head. "In what sense?" Xie Qing approached the severed head and, lifting it by the hair, asked curiously. "There is no evil or good power. Power is power. What difference does it make what Qi you use to kill others like yourself? It''s all just more hypocrisy..." Xiao He said, his voice bing deeper and more inhuman. "You''re right," Xie Qing nodded, then continued, gazing into Xiao He''s eyes: "However, I don''t care. You were just getting in the way of my n, but otherwise, I bear you no ill will. You can live for another two weeks, but... I think it would be better if I just kill you. In your next life, you''ll have a chance to start over." "Hahaha..." Xiao He let out a roughugh, but Xie Qing did not flinch. He simply took out a token and broke it. Bright Qi began to gather around the headless body and head, prating their upper and lower dantian. "AAAAAAAGH!" A twist of fate, indeed. Xiao He possessed the Law of Darkness, which was rted to Yin Qi. And Yang Qi was its worst enemy. Especially if this Yang energy was obtained from one of the top Transcendent cultivators ¨C the Sect Master of the Sect of Resting Eagle. Xie Qing sighed, watching as thest particles of Xiao He''s soul disintegrated, turning into dust, and the Karma between them faded away. And just as he was about to leave... "So you''re the little bastard who dared to deceive me?" A deep male voice sounded behind him, and then... BOOM! Xie Qing was hit by an incredibly powerful blow. He was sent flying hundreds of miles away, and the damage was so severe that he instantly lost all ability to move. "This...?" The youth was still in a state of confusion. What just happened? Why was he thrown aside? However, all his questions vanished when he saw the monster in front of him. "Hao... Shen..." "That''s right, you little shit. I am Hao Shen. And knowing this, you dared to pull off such a scheme behind my back? Huh? Stupid bastard, tell me, who are you? Are you close to the Sword Princess?" Xie Qing smiled. Now he had a huge problem on his hands. Hao Shen snorted, returning to his human form. He swiftly grabbed Xie Qing''s mouth and lifted him into the air. "You''re quiet, huh, bastard. You don''t seem to understand who you''re dealing with, snob. Know what happens to people like you? You won''t find peace even after death. I''ll make sure of that, bastard. I''ll rip out all your bones, shove them up your ass, and burn your entire family alive!" Hao Shen''s eyes burned with hatred and shame. This kid had destroyed the altar ¨C the only one of its kind. And he had done it behind his back, deceiving him ¨C Hao Shen, who was rightfully considered the strongest devilish cultivator at the moment. His opponent was just a pitiful cultivator at the Spiritual Ascension stage. But he had managed to deceive him. That was why Hao Shen was so enraged. "I''ll send your corpse to that bitch Xu Mei. I''ve studied the Heavenly Secrets a bit and saw that you have a connection with her. Just for that, you deserve to die," Hao Shen said and coldly smirked: "So, what will be yourst words?" "Heh..." Xie Qing let out a sigh, then smiled, coughing up blood: "Son of a cheap whore, don''t utter her name with your filthy, cheap mouth." "Haa..." Hao Shen sighed, then gripped Xie Qing''s face tighter. With a furious smile, he said: "Bastard, you''re done for." Hao Shen tightened his grip even more, but suddenly... "Hm?!" Just as Hao Shen attempted to kill Xie Qing, his hand abruptly froze, and the space around him stilled. Everything before him turned ck. When he came to his senses, the first thing Hao Shen felt was the emptiness in his hand. "This...?" He gritted his teeth. This scent, this aura... "Nine... Tailed... Fox!" Hao Shen roared in fury, causing the heavens to tremble with his rage. *** The quiet night sky, untouched by any smoke. Clean air and beautiful nature. This was what Xie Qing saw immediately after waking up. And turning his gaze to the left... He saw long white hair, like a reflection of the Moon itself, and fathomless, red eyes that resembled rubies. The Nine-Tailed Fox, Lian Qingyi. "So you''re awake already?" she asked with clear coldness in her voice. Xie Qing looked at her in confusion, then suddenly took her hand and stroked the inside of her palm. "Wh-what are you doing?!" Lian Qingyi pulled her hand away, looking at Xie Qing with irritation. He responded with a puzzled expression. "Am I in hell?" "¡­" Chapter 257: Lian Qingyi [I] Thank you, swcowboy, for the donation. I will try to release additional chapters by September 12. Your support is very important to me! *** Let''s rify the situation. At the very moment the altar exploded, Lian Qingyi felt the capital beginning to crumble. Her first thought was to protect her building and then understand the situation. To her great surprise, she discovered that countless formations, which even she found difficult to break, had beenpletely wiped out. It seemed that whoever was behind this was quite capable. And as she was casually leaving the city, her gaze fell upon none other than Xie Qing. How did she recognize him if the guy was disguised? It was simple. The contract. Thanks to her keen senses, she was able to easily detect that this guy was the one who had deceived her. And she wouldn''t have saved him even if she had known. The reason was simple. If the master dies, the pet will suffer greatly. Usually, in such cases, the subordinate dies almost immediately after the master''s death, but due to the difference in cultivation, Lian Qingyi could survive. And so. Seeing his situation, she was forced to save him. It was a risky move, considering her opponent was none other than Hao Shen, known for his cruelty and strength. However, the opponent was in a weakened state due to his injuries. That was why the girl managed to escape his clutches. And at this moment, the woman sat before Xie Qing, who was meditating. His wounds were very serious, and if not treated in time,plications could easily arise. "Hmm. This guy is quite battered. It''s no surprise. His opponent was originally Xiao He, a notorious killer known throughout the devilishmunity. It''s even more surprising how he managed to kill him¡­" Lian Qingyi thought and narrowed her eyes. "Most likely, the explosion is rted to him. Hao Shen will never let him go. He will kill him, even if it costs him his life. That''s how important the altar is to them." Lian Qingyi knew a bit about the altar. Simply put, it was built from special materials and formations, capable of extracting demonic blood, which helps transform into something else. Not into a demon, of course, but there''s a chance to be its hybrid. And this allows even the weakest cultivator to be strong almost instantly. "And this idiot actually destroyed the altar¡­ I heard from my spies that the altar of the Sect of Bone Circle was also destroyed. I assume it''s connected to this brat." Lian Qingyi didn''t even know how to react to this news. Should she admire him or scold him for his recklessness? She didn''t know what to do. However, there was one undeniable fact ¨C she needed to protect this idiot, or else her soul would suffer a serious blow. Out of curiosity, the woman looked closer. Her eyes began to take on a pink hue. And, as expected¡­ "Thick Negative Karma. How is this possible? I thought righteous cultivators actively avoided such things. And yet, he is covered in such thick Negative Karma that even Hao Shen doesn''t possess. This is strange!" For something like this to happen¡­ this was a first in her memory. Moreover, this Negative Karma didn''t seem to bother him at all, and the young man didn''t even notice its presence. "I''m done," a deep male voice sounded. It was Xie Qing, who had awakened from a brief meditation. He didn''t make any unnecessary movements for fear of reopening his wounds. Looking at Lian Qingyi, he asked, "Why?" "Why?" Lian Qingyi echoed and snorted, adding to his question, "Why did I save you? Well, on a whim, you understand? Today I was in a good mood, and anyone would make me lose it at the sight of an insect''s corpse." "Oh,e on," Xie Qing grimaced, filtering out her rude words, and then continued with a smile, "Probably because our lives are connected? I just clearly felt the contract during my meditation. And, as far as I know, if I die, you won''t be in good shape either." "Kh¡­" Lian Qingyi gritted her teeth when Xie Qing hit the nail on the head. This made her irritation re up again, but thanks to her experience, she managed to restrain her anger and, sighing, rubbed her chin. "Anyway. You''re a reckless idiot. Did you really think you could escape Hao Shen''s clutches? Let me remind you, he''s a cultivator at the peak of this world and can crush you with one finger. And you even dared to insult him. I don''t know if you''re brave or stupid¡­" Lian Qingyi said with an indifferent expression, twirling her hair around her finger. "I don''t care. What do I have to be afraid of? I didn''t have to beg for forgiveness," Xie Qing snorted and tried to stand up, but immediately stopped. His face contorted slightly. "What, does it hurt?" Lian Qingyi smirked, apparently enjoying his suffering. "Sadist¡­" Xie Qing grimaced. But truth be told, his action was quite reckless. However, what could he do? Running away was not an option, and begging for forgiveness was too pathetic. So, he had no choice but to resist. Unfortunately, Hao Shen was not particrly friendly. Although, after Xie Qing''s words, how could he be friendly¡­ "Phew. Do you have any healing ointment? Thest time I was beaten like this¡­ um¡­ wait, I seem to be getting beaten quite oftentely¡­" "Yes, yes¡­" Lian Qingyi snorted. She waved her hand, and dozens of pills flew into Xie Qing''s hand. The scent of herbs filled the room, carried by the winding from the house. "Thank you. You''re actually kind," Xie Qing remarked sarcastically and began to consume the pills. "Watch it, or I might change my mind, idiot," Lian Qingyi snorted. Xie Qing smiled weakly and began to meditate. After two hours, he opened his eyes and sighed. Only minor injuries had healed, and the rest would take at least a year to recover. Fighting against a cultivator at the level of Transcendence was definitely beyond Xie Qing''s current abilities. Even handling those who had reached Divine Transformation was a challenge for him. With each new level, the difficulty increased, and the power gap was undeniable¡ªthe evidence was clear. Xie Qing sighed and closed his eyes, while Lian Qingyi went somewhere else. "I don''t even know where I am," the young man thought, rubbing his chin. "Unfortunately, I can''t even move right now. I can only hope that this vixen won''t harm me¡­" *** The next morning, Xie Qing opened his eyes and the first thing he saw was Lian Qingyi''s indifferent face looming over him. He blinked several times and rubbed his eyes, but the scene remained unchanged. "Don''t you have anything better to do?" he finally said, slowly getting up. His wounds screamed in pain at that moment, but the young man was tolerant enough to suppress his cries. "Me? I have a ton of work to do, you know. But because of a certain troublemaker, I had to put them off, hmph!" the woman said with a displeased tone. "Oh, of course, graciously forgive me," Xie Qing said dryly and turned his head to look out the window. He remained silent for a moment, then quietly said, "...thank you." Lian Qingyi fell silent and looked at him with some surprise. Her gaze fell on his ears, which were barely noticeable but had turned slightly red. A faint smirk appeared on the woman''s face. "How shy you are. I thought you were one of those alpha males who aren''t embarrassed by anything." "I''m starting to regret thanking you¡­" Xie Qing''s annoyed voice sounded as he shook his head. "Hehe." After a few minutes, Xie Qing stopped sulking and began questioning Lian Qingyi. "Where are we?" "Hmm? We''re in my secret base," Lian Qingyi replied casually, leaning back in her chair. "Even Hao Shen won''t find us here. So you can be at ease. I''ll take care of your safety." Xie Qing fell silent for a moment, then looked at her with a calm gaze. "What do you want, fox? I already know you''ve figured out my true identity. So speak up while I''m in the mood." "Heh. It''s a pleasure dealing with smart people," Lian Qingyi smiled, then arched her back, looking at the young man with an alluring gaze. "A few conditions and I''m willing to help you and provide protection for the duration of your stay here." "Go ahead." Xie Qing waved his hand. In any case, he never expected to be saved for free. So, it actually made him feel better when Lian Qingyi decided to present her conditions. The woman,pletely unabashed, said, "First, I want to absorb your Negative Karma during this period." "My what?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, then waved his hand, deciding to discuss itter. "Fine." "The second condition¡­" Lian Qingyi''s eyes sparkled, and she smiled predatorily. "I want those on your side to help me kill Hao Shen. And, of course, hand his body over to me." "Ho-o-o¡­" Xie Qing lost his smile and looked at Lian Qingyi. "Now, tell me more." Chapter 258: Lian Qingyi [II] Xie Qing moved his hand, which felt much better than before. He was in the courtyard, walking on the snow-covered grass. The hem of his white robe had long since be damp, not to mention his hair, which was covered in snowkes. "This ce is always in the snow," Lian Qingyi''s voice sounded from behind. "Is it?" The young man turned his head, his eyes narrowing at the woman. Lian Qingyi was dressed in a light, loose red dress that did not entuate her figure at all. However, her beauty was not diminished in the slightest. On the contrary, she was so beautiful that it took one''s breath away. Nine-tailed fox. Apart from their not-so-positive past, they had a reputation as seducers who could easily corrupt the mind of even the purest monk. That''s why they were feared and adored at the same time. After all, who could hate such beauty? Regardless of gender¡ªbe it a woman or a man¡ªseeing such beauty, one involuntarily forms an understanding of something beautiful and sublime. Xie Qing''s eyebrows rxed as he recited an inner mantra. Although he was reluctant to admit it, even he, who was used to feminine beauty, was captivated by Lian Qingyi''s beauty for a moment. "My personal space, where there is eternal cold and snow. It snows every day, without stopping for a second," Lian Qingyi continued. Barefoot, she stepped on the snow and, inexplicably, left no traces on it. "Did you know? Yin energy generates cold. Negative Karma has the same nature, but more malicious. That''s why a ce where such arge amount of bad karma is concentrated will be cold and lifeless." "You mean..." Xie Qing trailed off mid-sentence. Indeed, as soon as he focused, he felt the air be heavy. However, a secondter, this feeling disappeared as if it had never been there. The young man looked at Lian Qingyi and asked, "Are you controlling whether I feel the Negative Karma or not? Quite skillful, if that''s the case." "What a pleasantpliment. You''re right. I wanted to show you," Lian Qingyi smiled faintly¡ªit was not an irritated or forced smile, but a very beautiful and alluring one. "Well..." Xie Qing sighed. Perhaps he had lost his mind from long solitude, otherwise, it was hard to exin why he so often lost his concentration. Without asking any more questions, Xie Qing started walking around. Lian Qingyi followed him. Neither of them spoke. Surprisingly, halfway through, Xie Qing''s footsteps on the snow also became invisible. This was because he started walking with the steps of a swordsman, not his usual ones. "Not bad," Lian Qingyi was impressed. Although she had guessed that this guy was a swordsman, she didn''t know he was of such a high level. If this guy''s cultivation level were higher, he would undoubtedly be a formidable swordsman. Xie Qing looked around. This ce was quite deste, and he couldn''t sense anyone''s aura. Either no one really lived here except Lian Qingyi, or this woman had simply restricted his Spiritual Consciousness, which was also quite possible. Suddenly, his eyes fell on a ce. It was a half-ruined wooden house. The roof had copsed inward, and the windows were destroyed. "This?" Xie Qing pointed his chin towards the ruined ce and asked curiously, "Some special ce?" "Hmm?" Lian Qingyi was distracted from her thoughts and looked at the ce Xie Qing was pointing to. She fell silent, then added, "This is my home, where I was born. Of course, it''s just an imitation. The real one was destroyed long ago." "Seriously?" The young man didn''t know much about how foxes were born. Indeed, few in this world knew about it. After all, Nine-tailed Foxes had an extremely mysterious origin. Lian Qingyi, seeing his doubts, said nothing. In any case, she was not ready to talk about everything, even if the other party was her ''master''. Xie Qing did not insist further. He looked at the ruined house. A quiet ripple appeared in his eyes, which disappeared in the same second. Sitting on the snow-covered ground, the young man tilted his head, looking up at the sky. Snowkes danced, falling slowly to the ground. Some were alone, others in pairs. Several snowkes fell on Xie Qing''s nose. His eyes took on a vacant look. Lian Qingyi silently looked at him, seeing that the young man had been sitting in the same position for a long time, not moving even a little finger. "Enlightenment. Not bad." The woman shifted her gaze to the sky. No matter how long she looked, she could not understand what had brought the young man to enlightenment. I suppose this will remain a mystery. "There are three thousand Daos, and each is mysterious. It is unlikely that one person''s Dao can be understood by others. I suppose this is the path of the cultivator..." Lian Qingyi thought, rubbing her cheek where a snowke hadnded. She turned her gaze to the motionless young man: "And it seems he has also begun to seek his own Dao. Quite quickly, considering it is done at the stage of Transcendence..." Indeed. Even Lian Qingyi had not been able to find her own Dao, and this was a big problem. Even Hao Shen had only a vague idea of his own Dao, let alone the others. Perhaps many of them would have to stop at this stage, and some might be lucky enough to advance to the next level of cultivation. "Immortality. It is quite unusual that there has been no news from these guys for so long..." Lian Qingyi pondered and turned her gaze to her house. A rare coldness appeared in her eyes: "I suppose everything has its time." *** A day passed. Xie Qing was still sitting in the same position. A considerable amount of snow had umted on his shoulders, not to mention his head. Lian Qingyi passed by, examining him. A week passed. Xie Qing still did not move. Three weeks passed. Still no change. And then... Nine months passed. Surprisingly, Xie Qing was clean, with not a single snowke around him. Lian Qingyi sat on a branch of a snow-covered tree, her long, slender legs dangling down. She was eating a candied apple, swinging her legs. Her appearance had be much younger, around the age of an eighteen-year-old girl. She silently watched Xie Qing. Nine months. That''s how long this guy had been in a state of enlightenment. It was understandable; usually, this process took no less than a year. Sometimes, someone would be in this state for no less than a century. The more genius a person is, the longer they will be in this state. Lian Qingyi turned her gaze to the side¡ªshe was looking at the invisible walls. "Two days have passed in the outside world," she thought, making a conclusion with the help of Heavenly Secrets. Her special space was special because of its ability to slow down time inside. This was not created by her, but thanks to a special artifact. And she was very curious. How long would this guy remain in this state? Jumping off the tree, Lian Qingyi spun around and stood on both feet, looking at the snowfall. And so... A year passed. Two years passed. Three years passed. And finally... five years passed. Xie Qing had already turned twenty-seven years old. And on his birthday... he opened his eyes. And his cultivation level... Was one step away from Divine Transformation. "How much time has passed?" was the first thing the young man thought about. He examined his wounds. They had long since healed. This meant that at least several months had passed. Xie Qing''s eyes became ssy as he pondered. Compared to when he entered the state of Enlightenment, his appearance was more detached and calm. "Ninth stage of Spiritual Ascension. I suppose this is me. Although, I didn''t think it would be this close," he thought and stood up. The snow on his shoulders instantly melted, and his white robe, which had be damp from the snow, also dried. He looked around. "I remember. The space of that fox," he thought and cracked his neck, turning his head back. He met the gaze of the girl sitting on a branch. Her white hair and red eyes fit quite well with the snowy weather. "Well, hello," said Xie Qing, and his eyelids closed slightly: "How much time has passed?" Lian Qingyi blinked and jumped off the branch,nding right in front of the young man. She looked him in the eyes and replied. "Five years." "Five years? That''s serious," the young man responded and sighed, rubbing his forehead: "Twenty-seven years, huh? I''m getting old before my eyes." "...I don''t even know what to say." "You don''t need to say anything," Xie Qing replied and regained his detached look, gazing at the girl: "So. Let''s return to our conversation about your conditions." "Hmm?" Lian Qingyi didn''t immediately understand what he was talking about. But then the pieces fell into ce in her mind. "You mean Hao Shen''s body?" "That''s right," Xie Qing replied and turned his gaze back to the same ruined house. A ripple appeared in his eyes: "As you know, for us, his corpse is the main proof of victory. Moreover, devilish cultivators, especially those at the stage of Transcendence, can be reborn even from a drop of blood. Therefore, we cannot simply entrust his corpse to you, understand?" "I understand." The woman nodded. In any case, she didn''t expect her request to be approved so easily. "However¡ª" "But I''m not against it," Xie Qing replied, turning to her and looking her in the eyes: "Only if you have a method to finish him off once and for all. Otherwise, I must refuse." Chapter 259: Welcome back, my disciple [I] "Kill him once and for all?" Lian Qingyi paused, then smiled faintly. There was cruelty in that smile. "Of course, there is a way. Do you underestimate me? I just need the help of other cultivators." "Ha¡­" Xie Qing shook his head. He had forgotten that there could be a significant difference in power even among those at the same level. This was an oversight on his part. Even if his Master could inflict serious harm on Hao Shen, she still couldn''t kill him. It was understandable, as cultivators at their level could regenerate from a drop of blood, which was quite annoying. "How much time has passed in the real world?" the young man finally asked the question that concerned him the most. Lian Qingyi had already exined the peculiarities of this space to him, so there was no need to worry. "A year," the girl replied, twirling her hair around her fingers. She nced at the young man and smirked. "And someone from the Righteous Dao has already infiltrated this barrier''s territory. They say this cultivator even fought Hao Shen in an equal battle and managed to inflict serious injuries on him." "Oh¡­ who could that be?" Xie Qing asked with a faint smile. "Xu Mei. The Sword Princess," Lian Qingyi replied, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the young man. "You know her, right? You have a very¡­ strong Karma with this woman." "It''s not very polite to pry into someone''s personal life, fox." Xie Qing pursed his lips, and Lian Qingyi simply shrugged. They fell silent for a while until Lian Qingyi suddenly turned towards the south and narrowed her eyes. Around her space, a ripple appeared and then disappeared almost immediately. "Ho-o-o¡­ is this the Master of that brat? Impressive power. However, no one can bypass my formations. This is the legacy of the ancients, not some toy," Lian Qingyi thought, rubbing her lips. "And¡­ what a terrifying aura. I''ve heard of the Sword Princess, but I never thought she would be this powerful. Well, a reputation isn''t born out of nothing." And while Lian Qingyi was lost in her thoughts, an intense struggle was taking ce on the other side. *** Hao Shen gritted his teeth as he looked at the woman in front of him. Despite her beautiful appearance, she filled him with more terror than admiration. This was Xu Mei, the Sword Princess. "H-how?! How did you manage to break through?" Hao Shen asked in shock, almost going mad. "Eighth stage¡­ eighth stage¡­" Xu Mei looked at him indifferently. The Qi around her was overwhelming. Even the Heavens trembled under her power. This was because, after so many years, she had finally broken through to the eighth stage of Transcendence, which was truly remarkable. Even the Empress was impressed by her progress. And her breakthrough did not please Hao Shen, who was already weakened after the destruction of the altar. He scowled angrily at Xu Mei. "Vile creature! First, you destroyed my wealth, my progress, and now you''re trying to kill me? You bitch, you''re asking for it!" Hao Shen''s aura exploded in the literal sense of the word. An overwhelming amount of his Qi burst out, sweeping away all the flora and fauna, turning the surrounding area into a wastnd. Xu Mei merely looked at this scene indifferently. In fact, her task was to dy Hao Shen and Ma Lu, but since this guy was alone, it was much easier for her. Uninterestedly turning her gaze away, the woman squinted. Her eyes pierced through hundreds of thousands of miles, and when she tried to calcte something, the Heavenly Secrets copsed, and her Divine Sense was cut off. "Tsk. I can''t find this guy. Where is he hiding?" the woman muttered, scratching the back of her head. "Is he hiding? Hm. How skillful. Even I can''t read the Heavenly Secrets. Foolish disciple, your Master is worried about you." The woman pouted, looking like a sulking girl who hadn''t received enough attention from her beloved. Well, it was somewhat true. "Y-you¡­" Hao Shen, who hadn''t received enough screen time, was enraged to the point that his aura began to distort. The surrounding environment started to melt. "Bitch!" His loud cry of insult at Xu Mei did not leave the woman indifferent. Her blue eyes shed brightly, and then the entire sky trembled. The Heavens cracked, and from these cracks fell a huge sword that almost instantly descended right onto Hao Shen. BOOM¡­ The sound was so loud that even Xu Mei''s hearing was temporarily lost. She squeezed her eyes shut, preventing dust from getting into them. Her attentive gaze examined the ce where the sword had struck. "Aaahhh!" When her hearing returned, the first sound was a bitter cry of pain. Xu Mei drew her sword and swung it, sending a wave that instantly swept away all the dust. Soon, the sight of Hao Shen impaled by the sword was revealed. "Aaaghhh!" The pain was unbearable¡ªthis could be seen from Hao Shen''s expression as he helplessly twitched. "Useless attempts to free yourself from my technique. You''ll have to wait a bit. I promise, I''ll make you die in the most brutal way!" Xu Mei said,nding next to the man. Then, she raised her foot, and her heel plunged into Hao Shen''s chest, piercing him through. "Aaaaaghhh!" "Scream, suffer, pig. You''ve been the cause of my annoyance for many years. Back then, the Heavenly Dao of this mortal world saved you because there was a need for evil. But you know what? I''m ready to destroy this Heavenly Dao that stands in my way!" Xu Mei''s eyes took on an imposing glow, and her aura only intensified. The Heavens rumbled, seemingly displeased with her words, but even so, no lightning struck. Xu Mei smirked. For the first time in a long while, she had found satisfaction in her revenge. In the past, many of her subordinates had been killed by Hao Shen. So this could be considered a good revenge. "A pity, a real pity. Completely killing you is unlikely. We''re just too resilient at this level," Xu Mei said with a hint of bitterness¡ªshe truly looked disappointed. But then a cunning smirk appeared on her face. "But you know¡­ this is even better. You won''t be able to die, even if you want to. How about the idea of warming yourself over the Sacred Yang me for a hundred thousand years? I''m sure you''ll enjoy it very much. Hahaha!" Hao Shen gritted his teeth so hard that there was an audible crunch. Despite his anger, he couldn''t say anything. Xu Mei''s heel had pierced his heart, thereby also hitting his middle dantian, which slowed the flow of his Qi. Then Xu Mei looked around. Behind her was the barrier that separated the devils and the righteous. And on this barrier, ripples appeared, and then people entered. Zhang Mei, Liu Yang, the Sect Master of the Resting Eagle, and Her Majesty Yu Longfeng. Their first reaction was to nce at Hao Shen, and then they looked at Xu Mei with expressionless faces. "Seriously?" "Sadist." "Crazy. One hundred percent this time." "Indeed¡­" Xu Mei pursed her lips and removed her heel. Zhang Mei shook her head and looked at Hao Shen. Her eyes narrowed. Then, raising her right hand, she snapped her fingers. Around Hao Shen appeared a huge cube, on which there were ten to twenty thousand symbols of varyingplexity. "Restriction, teleportation barrier, Qi gathering barrier, weakening, Qi absorption, Curse of Luck, Heavenly Secrets Seal, Divine Sense block¡­" Various words came from Zhang Mei''s mouth, which were understood by her or those who knew about formations. In the end, there were a thousand restrictions. Zhang Mei''s forehead was covered in sweat. This perfectly showed how difficult it was for her. Yu Longfeng looked around. In the cold eyes of the Empress, curiosity was visible, although such a reaction was shared by everyone. Only the Sect Master of the Resting Eagle looked grim¡ªunderstandably, as these had once been his territories. "Interesting ce they chose for themselves," Liu Yang said in a neutral voice, then looked at Xu Mei. "Where is your little husband?" "L-little husband?" Xu Mei blushed but still answered, "I don''t know. I can''t find him, even using the Heavenly Secrets." "What?" Liu Yang frowned and tried to calcte his karma, but her face immediately soured¡ªshe couldn''t do it. "Indeed. Where is that brat hiding? I can''t find him either." "Probably in the arms of some beautiful woman," Yu Longfeng added venomously, and Zhang Mei nodded. Xu Mei was speechless. "What do you all take my disciple for?" she asked, clearly annoyed. "Hm? A charmer, a heart-stealer. Girl Fucker 3000." "Annoying, clingy, handsome, but annoying." "Strange¡­ sociable, talented¡­ lustful." "Cute young man." "¡­" Xu Mei fell silent, then looked at Zhang Mei, who averted her gaze. "Hey, what''s this ''Girl Fucker 3000'' about?!" Xu Mei shouted at Zhang Mei, who pretended to be deaf. Xu Mei snorted in annoyance. Chapter 260: Welcome back, my disciple [II] "Xu Mei frowned. Sometimes she felt that her acquaintances had be too unrestrained. However, before she could delve deeper into the topic, she suddenly narrowed her eyes and looked back. Ssh-sh-shk¡­ A spatial crack appeared behind her. Then, a slender leg emerged, stepping onto the air. A momentter, a beautiful woman appeared from the spatial distortion. Long, silky white hair fluttered in the wind, and beneath those eyes were seductive, not at all frightening red eyes with narrow pupils, like those of a cat. "Hm? Second stage of Transcendence?" Zhang Mei raised an eyebrow and looked at the uninvited guest. Her beautiful eyes narrowed: "Who are you?" The intruder flicked her hair and looked at what were probably the main representatives of the Righteous Dao. "I am Steav-... Lady Lian Qingyi, Nine-Tailed Fox,'' the girl introduced herself briefly and, looking them over, asked: ''You look carefree. Have you caught Hao Shen yet?" "Ha-a-a? Hey, nine-tailed something, are you trying to interrogate us?" Xu Mei snorted and in an instant appeared in front of Lian Qingyi. Her blue eyes gleamed darkly: "Even if you are a representative of a rare race, that doesn''t give you the right to be so arrogant, understand? So, exin yourself, what do you want?" "¡­" Lian Qingyi fell silent. Despite her indifferent appearance, she was very nervous¡ªthat was obvious. Before her were cultivators who surpassed her by at least several stages. And this uncultured woman who immediately attacked her was just a step away from the peak of Transcendence. And it seemed that the atmosphere was so heated that a fight was about to break out, when suddenly. Bzz-z-z¡­ The portal emitted an electric sound, and a tall man began to emerge from it. His face had be much more masculine, almost losing its innocent youthful look. Recing the soft appearance was a masculine and handsome one. With more pronounced muscles, a straight back, and a confident aura, the man walked towards Xu Mei and then sped her hand. A faint smile appeared on his stern and handsome face. "I missed you, Master." "Eh¡­" Xu Mei looked at the man in front of her and opened her eyes wide, in which tears were visible. Her body trembled, and the aura ready to cleave the Heavens immediately dissipated. Lian Qingyi sighed in relief. Zhang Mei raised an eyebrow, looking at Xie Qing. Her calcting eyes could not immediately see through his disguise. "Eh? Peak of Spiritual Ascension? And he has already begun toprehend thew? How absurd¡­" she muttered. Liu Yang, who was standing nearby, was no less surprised, and Zhang Mei''s words only reinforced her shock. Even if Xie Qing was already twenty-seven years old (which in her eyes was stillparable to an infant), his achievements in cultivation were absurd. Even Xu Mei, the universally acknowledged genius in the history of cultivation, had to spend over a hundred years to reach Spiritual Ascension¡ªand that was already considered an incredibly fast result. Therefore, against the backdrop of the sensual reunion of Master and disciple, who were embracing and whispering sweet nothings to each other¡ªthose who knew about the overall situation could only remain silent. *** Like a ko, Xu Mei clung to Xie Qing and refused to let go, even considering Liu Yang''s strictness. All her elegant, frightening appearance disappeared the moment this guy appeared. Lian Qingyi could only remain silent, seeing such an oue. At the moment, active negotiations were underway¡ªof course, discussing the fox''s proposal. "Hm. You mean you can absorb his soul along with all the Negative Karma, thus depriving him of reincarnation?" Liu Yang said in surprise, waiting for Lian Qingyi''s confirmation. She, in turn, silently nodded. Zhang Mei squinted, and with her cold face, it looked quite tense. In fact, such an ability was dangerous for them as well. Therefore, Zhang Mei''s first thoughts were about how to restrict this fox somehow. In any case, they were strong enough, so there was no need to worry. Lian Qingyi knew their thoughts, but she had nothing to add. In any case, being the weakest among them, she had to make concessions to achieve her goal. "Hmm..." Zhang Mei rubbed her chin. She nced at Hao Shen, then looked at Lian Qingyi: "You want to take his body, right?" Again, the fox nodded. Zhang Mei continued, seeing her nod. "But knowing that his very existence is quite dangerous and any mistake could lead to even more deaths, you still insist on this?" Zhang Mei continued, this time releasing her pressure. Lian Qingyi hesitated but still nodded. Zhang Mei''s pupils narrowed: "How amusing. So you, little fox, possess sufficient abilities to be so confident? Or is it pointless pride? Let me tell you, any mistake of yours could cause countless deaths that will hang on your fox neck, and in that case, you will suffer, and envy of the dead will be just a trivial thought during your sufferings." "...I have enough confidence in my abilities. And I can show it. Besides, weren''t you nning to capture Ma Lu as well?" Lian Qingyi said this time with much more confidence. "Hooo..." Xu Mei let out a surprised sigh and finally freed herself from her disciple''s embrace. She looked at the fox with curiosity. "I''ve heard something about you. They say you''re quite an influential figure here, right? And... you definitely have something on Ma Lu, since you mentioned him?" Xu Mei''s eyes sparkled, and a battle-ready, bloodthirsty aura appeared around her: "Answer. Where is that bastard? If you cooperate with us, I''ll give you a chance to prove yourself." Lian Qingyi looked at Xu Mei, then at Xie Qing, who was watching everything with peripheral vision. Meeting Lian Qingyi''s gaze, he just smiled. "Tsk..." The woman clicked her tongue in annoyance. She looked at Xu Mei and, biting her lip, replied. "Blood Mountain. He was in its very heart. Although, it would be more urate to say that it was his essence. The physical body was destroyed because he was poisoned by a spy with pure Yin Qi." "What?" Xu Mei clicked her tongue. Her expression immediately became disappointed and annoyed. "Seriously, some bastard managed to poison him when I was so excited to break his face? I wonder who this spoiler is... hmm? Why are you looking at me like that?" The woman looked at her colleagues. Even Lian Qingyi was looking at her with a strange gaze. Then, Xu Mei turned to Xie Qing, who looked a bit shocked. "Uh..." And then it dawned on her. The person she was talking about, the one she was cursing... was her disciple! "Ha-ha, as expected from my disciple, always so genius and cunning!" Xu Meiughed awkwardly, then changed the subject: "So, where is your Blood Mountain located?" "..." What shamelessness... *** Blood Mountain. Previously, it had apletely different name, which was a bit longer ¨C Mountain Piercing the Heavens. This was because the height of the mountain reached the Heavens, piercing the clouds. No one knew what was on its peak ¨C it was incredibly difficult to get there. Once, there were legends that by climbing this mountain, even an ordinary mortal could be a cultivator. Therefore, many skeletons could be seen at the foot of the mountain. Unfortunately, all these legends were just legends ¨C there is no such way to achieve Immortality. "Ah, what nostalgia. I climbed this mountain to its very peak, but in the end, I found nothing good. I remember, I even wanted to destroy it, I was so angry," Xu Mei cracked her neck and shared the terrible memories with a bright smile. "I remember such a thing..." Liu Yang shuddered and looked at Xu Mei with annoyance, who averted her gaze: "At that time, I had to use my artifact to protect the mountain. If I hadn''t done that, everything within a radius of tens of thousands of miles could have be part of history." "I was young, all that stuff..." "Indeed..." Xie Qing pursed his lips. It seemed his Master was much more feisty than he thought. Compared to her, he seemed like a harmless creature who wouldn''t hurt a fly. And when they reached the foot of the mountain, Xie Qing could only marvel at how enormous it was. What impressed him the most was that within thousands of miles around the mountain, there was not a single trace of devilish Qi, which was already something incredible. It was as if it were an otherworldly realm, unconnected to anything. Perhaps this was why many believed that by climbing this mountain, there was a high chance of bing immortal, even if you were an ordinary mortal. "I''ve never seen such a huge mountain," thought Xie Qing, scratching the back of his head. "I can''t even imagine how it''s possible ¨C to climb such a mountain. Seriously, it looks endless." Bright glints of sunlight and clouds obscured the view of the mountain''s peak, like a majestic maiden, detached from the world, veiling her face. Chapter 261: The end of Ma Lu A gentle breeze caressed the unkempt hair of Xie Qing, who stood atop what was perhaps the highest mountain he had ever seen. Have you ever stood on a height so great that even skyscrapers appeared small? Then you must understand the sensation Xie Qing was experiencing. "How beautiful," he thought, narrowing his eyes. "Even the vileness of devilish interference cannot diminish the beauty of nature. It is worthy of admiration." Thesends had developed over hundreds of millions of years. The heavens, however, had been there almost since the creation of all things. Xie Qing blinked. He felt a slight sense that he had understood something, but what it was, he did not know. "Let''s not rush," he thought, tying his hair into a ponytail so it wouldn''t bother him. "With slow steps, we will reach the peak." *** Lian Qingyi stopped at the mouth of the volcano. Although it was called a mountain, it was only because it was too quiet and resembled an ordinary mountain from the outside. Even Liu Yang and Xu Mei had never seen it erupt. "Here," said the fox, pointing with her index finger at the mouth of the volcano, or rather, its center. Zhang Meinded not far from Lian Qingyi and looked in the indicated direction. Her eyes narrowed coldly as she saw a dirty, ck sphere levitating above the ground. "So this is its essence. Quite bold to ce it here. Is this a special invitation?" Yu Longfeng finally spoke after a long time. Her noble attire as the Empress of Swords shimmered, and behind her were two ribbons suspended in the air. "Quite curious. I doubt there are no traps here." "There are, just invisible. I checked the Heavenly Secrets and discovered that if I try to enter, I will receive a minor injury, Xu Mei will remain unharmed, Zhang Mei will only damage a few hairs, and the fox might get burned," added Liu Yang, waving her hand to show a pearl bracelet, one of which was cracked. "So we should be careful and not make any unnecessary movem-..." BOOM! Xu Mei turned her head in confusion and looked at the others. "Did you say something?" "..." "..." "..." Everyone fell silent. Xie Qing averted his gaze, pretending not to know this person. *** "Who...?" The residual soul of Ma Lu awakened as the formation was damaged. He activated his Divine Gaze. "This...!" If he had a physical body, his heart would have started beating wildly with nervousness. For right before his essence, about five people had gathered, and all of them were his enemies. "How... is this possible? Our barrier..." Ba-boom! Another crash sounded, and Xu Mei snorted, breaking thest formation that held Ma Lu''s essence. She grinned maliciously as she sensed her enemy''s fear. "What, already shitting your pants? Haha, my disciple really messed with you. That''s definitely my signature, hahaha!" "Y-you!" Ma Lu clenched his teeth in anger. He cast his Divine Gaze on the only weak person and frowned. "You... what the hell? Only at the ninth stage of Spiritual Ascension?" Ma Lu''s voice grew dark, and he fell silent for a moment, then roared in anger, "Me... the great Ma Lu, dared to be poisoned... by a mere weakling?!" B-Boom! His aura burst out. It seemed he was trying to self-destruct, unable to bear the shame¡ªthe cause of his suffering was a weakling he could have crushed at any moment. And, as if that wasn''t enough, he was now surrounded on all sides. All he could do was reincarnate into a specially prepared body, and then... Ma Lu was already imagining his revenge when suddenly... his Divine Sense was cut off. He tried to summon it again, but... it was futile. And then, as if that wasn''t enough, suddenly his essence began to tremble and... rapidly started to shrink. "N-no! No, no, no! Bitch! Bitch... aaaaaaagh!" His cultivation level dropped with each second, but all Ma Lu could do was scream in pain and try to resist, though the resistance was futile. And it didn''t even take twenty minutes for his consciousness, along with thest remnants of his soul, to vanish. There was no grand exit for the viin and no subsequent rebirth after several hundred chapters¡ªonly a dishonorable death. Perhaps this was the best ending for a viin? Perhaps. *** Zhang Mei watched closely as Ma Lu''s essence was absorbed by Lian Qingyi. Liu Yang, Xu Mei, and the Empress Yu Longfeng watched this process intently. For them, it was important to verify the woman''s words, but it was equally important to ensure that this fox did not pull any tricks. After all, it was difficult to trust Nine-Tailed Foxes. Their reputation was too uncertain, and it was said they could go mad at any moment and do something malicious. Of course, all of this was based on legends and a few records, so no one could be sure of its truthfulness, but what if? And then, the moment arrived. Zhang Mei was one of the first to notice the fluctuation in the Heavenly Secrets¡ªas if they had closed for that second and could not track the fox''s subsequent actions. Along with the Heavenly Secrets, the Heavenly Laws, which governed the order of reincarnation and the preservation of the soul, were also disconnected. Soon, Zhang Mei realized everything. "So this is... the special ability of the Nine-Tailed Foxes." To hide from the Heavenly Secrets and be able to control the Heavenly Laws. This was something beyond the norm. "Perhaps even immortals would find it extremely difficult to replicate what she has done," Zhang Mei concluded and frowned. Of course, this was just a feeling, and she could not say for sure if it was true. After all, no one in her circle had ever seen an immortal. Even her talented Master had died of old age trying to find them or even a trace of them. Lian Qingyi remained silent for a moment, then waved her hand. Her aura instantly strengthened and even broke through to the fourth stage, but it was only for a moment. Soon, everything calmed down. Then, turning to the spectators, she asked, "Do you believe me now?" And there was no negative response from anyone. For what they had seen today was good proof that Lian Qingyi''s abilities were beyond doubt. Zhang Mei stepped forward. "Let''s begin the contract." *** Xie Qing did not participate in all these intricacies. Starting with the fact that he did not have enough power to participate, and ending with the fact that he was not curious about it at all. Xu Mei shared his opinion, so they sat together on the grass and talked about various topics. The woman told him about the days in the outer world, while Xie Qing shared his adventures and difficulties. Xu Mei''s facial expression was very vivid¡ªlike an open book, she was anxious when the youth talked about his hardships, angry when he mentioned his injuries, and jealous when he spoke of his poprity in the Sect of Bone Circle. This almost childlike behavior amused Xie Qing, who, after a long time, felt as if a huge boulder had been lifted from his shoulders. This was his first experience in such a dangerous ce, and he had been on the brink of death many times. Was it worth it? The youth could say that it was. After all, his efforts had helped to eliminate the looming threat once and for all. Even now, as they were finalizing the contract with Lian Qingyi, arge number of righteous cultivators were fighting in fierce battles. "And..." Xu Mei smiled weakly, moving closer to her disciple. A me could be seen in her eyes. "We... missed you very much. So, hubby, you will have to work very hard to ease our loneliness. Understand?" "Ah, yes..." Xie Qing pursed his lips. It seemed his fate was not particrly colorful. However, he did not refuse. To be honest, he liked it too much. Gently stroking Xu Mei''s head, he squinted his eyes, watching the endless shes in the distance. Today, with his help, one of the world''s main conflicts had been resolved. *** It was decided to split up. Each leader of their sect had to control the troops and attack the enemies, destroying them and cleansing thends in the process. At least two powerful cultivators had to guard Hao Shen''s formation. As it happened, Zhang Mei and Xu Mei were assigned to this task. While the first had a static expression, the second looked sour, as if she had eaten a lemon. "Tsk. And why should I waste my precious time sitting with this bastard? I wanted to cuddle with my disciple so much..." Xu Mei sighed. "Control yourself," Zhang Mei replied indifferently, rolling her eyes. "I don''t want to! I won''t! I''ve done so much work, and you''re asking me to do more? This is too cruel!" Xu Mei pouted in annoyance. "As if you weren''t enough. Or are you not confident in your formations?" "I am confident in my formations, but caution never hurts, understand? So stop whining, you''re an adult woman, be more responsible." "Yes, yes..." Chapter 262: The love of Master and Disciple [I] This is the author. Before starting the chapter, I would like to thank everyone who supports the book. From those who support PS and GT to those who donate. I won''t hide it, if it weren''t for this, I would have abandoned this work altogether. I am a bit tired, but at least I will try to finish the book and then I can rest. Until then, please don''t forget to support the book. It really gives me strength. Thank you for your attention and sorry for the inconvenience. ==== The painful night of the gloomy sky was so unappealing that even the romantic mood vanished as if someone had waved their hand. Not far from where Hao Shen was imprisoned, special artifacts were used to quickly construct a dormitory where people tasked with surveince and giving orders would live. The bitter truth was that soldiers had to stay in tents. Even if they wanted to, building barracks on the battlefield was too inefficient. All these guys were driven by a special contract that promised mary rewards, their ownnd, and a chance to enter one of the four sects. For most cultivators, these were already quite good conditions, and for those who were already in a sect, a status upgrade was promised. For example, an outer court disciple could be an inner court disciple and so on. With his strength, Xie Qing could easily take the position of the chiefmander, but Xu Mei, Zhang Mei, and the others asked him not to think about it. The thing was, his body had already begun to absorb Qi and form aw within itself. If he dyed this and missed the precious opportunity, it was quite possible that he would never get it again in his life. Therefore, he was now sitting in his room and meditating. The interior was very modest ¨C a bed, a nightstand, a small window, and a table with a chair. Although he was entitled to a more luxurious setup as one of the most talented cultivators, Xie Qing preferred this arrangement. Over time, he had matured. In his youth, he liked wealth, extravagance, and the like. However, since the beginning of the n to spy in the devilish world, he had be indifferent to such things. Moreover, as Xie Qing said: "The fewer things that distract me, the better." "Hmm¡­" Letting out an inarticte groan, the man opened his eyes. There was a slight spark and indifference in his eyes, and his eyes glowed gold ¨C the color was much purer and brighter than usual. "How difficult¡­" escaped his lips, which immediately twisted into a displeased grimace, as if he had swallowed something distasteful: "Forming aw is quite a difficult task. Simply imagining its form is not enough; one must understand the studiedw down to the smallest details. If wepare my opponents, one had me, and the other had Darkness. And their level of control was very terrifying, clearly showing that thew was fully mastered." What, first of all, was thew of nature? In Xie Qing''s opinion, it was the natural order of things, and if we take darkness as an example, it was omnipresent. However, when it came to exnations ¨C detailed exnations, the man fell into a stupor. "I know what a shadow is and have a small understanding of how it appears. But is that enough?" Xie Qing bit his lower lip, and his right index finger tapped on the nightstand, creating a special rhythm that partially matched his heartbeat: "It''s hard. I think I''m still immature. For me, things have only a superficial appearance, and their depth I, unfortunately, cannot yetprehend¡­" Feeling bitterness, Xie Qing decided this time to stop his meditation and attempts to understand how thew works. The most bitter thing was that even Xu Mei and the others, who had gone through this path, could not exin it to him. After all, everyone''s Dao is unique. And trying to repeat someone else''s sess often leads to failure, and most likely, Divine Transformation will be his stopping point. Turning his gaze to the window, the man''s eyes fell upon the gloomy night sky, devoid of stars. It was such a depressing sight that it even affected him slightly. Curling his lips, Xie Qingy down on the bed and stared nkly at the ceiling. Feeling the soft mattress and pillow, he sighed. "When was thest time I slept? I can''t even remember. Now, it''s a luxury for me to close my eyes for a few minutes," Xie Qing thought, rubbing his tired eyes. He was a cultivator, a physical force that could destroy mountains with ease and changendscapes. However, even so, he had to deal with stress for a long time. Was it an unpleasant experience? Yes. Was it a bad experience? No. It allowed him to grow up, rethink, and change his outlook on life. Much of his philosophy had changed. Before, he tried to run away, chasing the unknown like a headless chicken. However, now? It would be more urate to say that he stopped running and took a step back. Looking back at the past, he did not ignore it but took it into ount and analyzed it. And then he looked to the future, carefully considering his steps. "Maybe... I really have grown up..." *** Xie Qing was writing when the door to his room burst open with such force that it flew off and mmed into the wall. The man finished writing and turned his gaze to the door. His eyebrows furrowed. "Master, why do you break the doors? By the way, recing them every time is too much trouble. I feel sorry for those workers who can''t sleep because of the frequent rampages of cultivators," Xie Qing said, putting down his pen and ink, and getting up from his seat. "Uh..." Xu Mei was embarrassed, finally realizing her mistake. Her cheeks flushed as the realization dawned on her. Because the woman was too excited, her brain stopped functioning for a moment. "I''m sorry..." was all she could say with a dejected look. "Oh? It''s okay. Just try not to break the door next time," Xie Qing replied in a rather rxed tone. He simply couldn''t be angry at her when the Master made such a puppy face. "Sit on the bed while I fix the door." "Y-yes? Okay!" As soon as Xu Mei heard Xie Qing, a bright smile appeared on her face, and she excitedly sat on the edge of the bed, looking around like a junior school student going on an excursion for the first time. "How cute," Xie Qing thought and silently began to fix the door. He could have called the servants, but...tely, the man wanted to be more down-to-earth. This was good for his Dao. Quite surprisingly, he fixed everything rather quickly. However, this was not surprising, as he often read books on craftsmanship, and fixing a door with such knowledge was a breeze. "Hmm. Seems to work fine," Xie Qing thought, moving the door back and forth. Satisfied that everything was in order, he muttered something under his breath, and the walls of the room turned white. This was a formation responsible for maintaining the personal space of the dormitory residents. Thanks to the Sect of Starry Stream, this became possible. "And how was your day?" Xie Qing asked, flopping down on the bed. He looked at his Master, and his face softened. "I heard that you now have to spend almost all your free time every day watching to make sure Hao Shen doesn''t escape." "Good," Xu Mei replied to the man''s first question with a smile, but when he said the following words, her face immediately turned sour, and she leaned over, falling into his arms. Then, taking on an aggrieved look, she began toin, "I have to stand next to that jerk all my free time. I''m so bored! And I miss you so much, and they don''t even let me see you! It''s so cruel!" Xie Qing smiled, and his hands gently caressed Xu Mei''s soft face. He brushed the hair away from her face as he responded. "There''s nothing to be done. Lady Lian must prepare before devouring Hao Shen. This will take a week or even a month, which is already quite fast," he replied, seeing Xu Mei''s sour expression. He leaned in and kissed her forehead, gently rubbing her cheek. "And I greatly appreciate that, despite your annoyance, you are still fulfilling your duties." "A-ah..." Xu Mei blushed deeply, like an innocent maiden who had just been kissed by her beloved for the first time. Her hands went to her forehead, to the spot where Xie Qing had kissed her. Her heart was pounding wildly. If Xie Qing''s words were to be believed, he had spent an additional five years in the special space of the Nine-Tailed Fox, making him already 27 years old. Moreover, the trials he had gone through helped him be more mature. And this feeling... Xu Mei liked it very much. "He''s so cool!" Chapter 263: The love of Master and Disciple [II] [R-18] Before starting the chapter, I''ll give a warning just in case: The chapter contains scenes of a sexual nature and may also have dirty words in it. 18+ ==== The bed was small for two adults, especially considering Xie Qing''s height. However, Xu Mei simplyy on his chest, gently rubbing against his neck like a affectionate cat ¨C this position allowed them to liefortably on the already small bed. Even with his calm demeanor, he was a bit embarrassed, but still enjoyed the sight. His restless heart seemed to have found its peace after so long. At the same time, the young man felt heat, well¡­ it doesn''t take long to exin why. "How embarrassing. It seems that so many years of loneliness have affected me," Xie Qing thought with a slight shame. However, Xu Mei was not much different herself. Her desire was perhaps even greater than Xie Qing''s. Considering the circumstances and such, she first wanted to enjoy his caresses without any perversions. Of course, as a fairly straightforward woman, she soon couldn''t resist and began to undress. Watching this sight, Xie Qing smiled faintly, and the fire in his heart burned again. Removing herst line of defense, Xu Mei exposed her beautiful, voluptuous breasts and aroused nipples with a tender pink circle around them. "Please¡­" she whispered in a slightly aroused voice, her ears turning red as she knelt and approached Xie Qing, thrusting her chest so that it was at the level of his mouth. "¡­" Xie Qing paused for a second, then smiled: "Then I ept the offer." "Aaah!" His warm breath touched her already aroused nipples, making Xu Mei shudder. It seemed that her younger sister was sweating from just one small sigh ¨C this showed how much she had missed him. Xie Qing parted his lips, then mped her beautiful nipple between them. Above his ears, he heard a heavy sigh and hot air seemed to touch his ears, making him shudder. In this situation, the temperature of their bodies began to rise, which only increased their arousal. As if for the first time, Xie Qing very gently, but at the same time passionately, sucked on her right nipple, simultaneously teasing the left with his free hand. "Aaah¡­" Her heavy, hot moans were like a melody to the ears ¨C an unsurpassed masterpiece that Xie Qing was ready to listen to until the end of time. "Aaah¡­ y-yes¡­!" Xu Mei ced her hands on the man''s head and squeezed them lightly, with passion. Gently stroking his crown, slowly moving down to the back of his head, and then to his muscr back, the woman enjoyed the firmness of his body, the sensations on her nipples, and this feeling of obsessive love. "Y-yes¡­" was all she could moan, as if she had forgotten any other words: "Aaaaaah¡­" The moan mixed with a long sigh as her body shuddered and her muscles experienced a slight spasm. Inside her cave, it was very wet, to the point that such precious nectar flowed from her thighs, spreading its scent throughout the room, as if trying to say ¨C "this is my territory." "Aaah¡­?" Removing his lips from her beautiful nipples, Xie Qing licked them a few more times, then slowly began to descend, kissing her skin along the way. "Aah¡­ y-yes¡­" Xu Mei squeezed Xie Qing''s head ¨C this time much harder than before. Xie Qing''s kisses were light, like a peck, but they caused the woman great arousal. Slowly descending ¨C starting from her breasts, ending at her stomach, the man soon lowered himself to her pubic area. And when he kissed her pearl, Xu Mei''s eyes widened, and her legs reflexively tightened. And then¡­ "AAAAAAAH!" Letting out a loud, eagle-like cry, Xu Mei held herself, tightly embracing Xie Qing''s head, pressing him to her groin. She distinctly felt the man''s wet lips on her clitoris, and this sensation was so beautiful that it immediately made here. "Ha¡­ haaa¡­" Xu Mei''s breathing was heavy, as if she had run a whole marathon. Her eyes were half-closed, and her eyshes trembled ¨C for the first time in so many years, she had experienced such strong pleasure. Every day, every hour, besides the eternal loneliness and the longing to see her beloved and disciple, she also felt an emptiness inside her womb, desiring it to be filled by him. And because of how long she had abstained, her body was sensitive, and every small touch to her genitals could cause a strong reaction. "Aaah¡­ p-please, wait, I beg you¡­ AAAAAAH!" Her plea was interrupted by a sharp moan that escaped her own lips. She felt something wet ¨C Xie Qing''s tongue ¨C touch her clitoris, and then herbia minora, which of course made here again. The man could clearly feel her muscles trembling, and lubrication began to flow from her cave. "Uuuf¡­" Xu Mei trembled helplessly. If it weren''t for Xie Qing being quite strong and sturdy, she probably wouldn''t have been able to stay in ce. Her eyes were blurred with tears ¨C there was emptiness in them. Her lips trembled, and saliva dripped from the corners, while her entire body shivered in one way or another. Especially her vagina. It seemed that at any moment, Xu Mei might go crazy. Her hands gripped Xie Qing''s head, pressing it to herself ¨C perhaps she was afraid that if she let him go, she wouldn''t be able to enjoy this feeling again. "It seems she''sing to her senses," Xie Qing thought, licking his lips, tasting his Master''s juice: "Sweet¡­ which is a bit unusual." His experience with sex with other women proved that most of their juices were either slightly sour or faintly salty. *** "Haa¡­" Xu Meiy on the bed, covering her face with her forearm, her breathing heavy. Her heart was beating so fast that Xie Qing could hear it with his bare ears. He sat in his underwear, his robe neatly folded on the bedside table. "Are you okay, Master?" he asked with concern. Xu Mei''s condition was quite unusual, and he had never seen her in such a state. She was breathing heavily, couldn''t speak clearly, and even small movements were difficult for her. "Um¡­" was all that could be heard from her. Xie Qing smiled bitterly. It seemed he had gone a bit too far, and he hadn''t considered the fact that due to her long loneliness, she was extremely sensitive. Therefore, he decided not to rush and wait until the Master came to her senses. Well, it wasn''t worth underestimating the endurance of a Transcendent-level cultivator. After just five minutes, despite a slight tremble, Xu Mei took Xie Qing''s hand. "I-I¡­ am ready," she whispered in a slightly hoarse voice, like someone suffering from dehydration. "Are you sure?" Xie Qing asked with concern, gently kissing the back of her hand. "U-uhm¡­ Y-yes¡­" From his kiss, Xu Mei trembled, but still nodded, looking at him with her moist eyes, which had a strange charm. Xie Qing nodded and instantly undressed. His hand rested on the mattress, next to Xu Mei''s waist, and then he leaned over her. "I''m starting, Master," he warned in a whisper, and then leaned forward. "Mmm¡­" His lips touched Xu Mei''s sweet lips, and his jade rod rubbed against the entrance to her vagina. Herbia majora seemed to try to capture the head of his rod, and lubrication kept flowing from Xu Mei''s vagina, thus moistening Xie Qing''s rod. "Mmm¡­ aaah¡­" Xu Mei and Xie Qing kissed passionately. Their tongues intertwined around each other, and his bold hand wandered over her body, gently squeezing each part. Xie Qing treated her with tenderness and attention, which gave Xu Mei a sense of protection and arousal. Her heavy sigh, her moist eyes, and her nails scratching Xie Qing''s back ¨C Xu Mei''s passion was unbridled, and her arousal seemed to reach the Heavens. "I love you¡­" she said between breaths, repeating it like a mantra. She kissed his nose, forehead, cheeks ¨C his entire face, as if trying to leave her mark on it. In her beautiful blue eyes, there was obsession, longing, and pure love: "I want you¡­ I want your child¡­" "I love you too¡­" Xie Qing replied to her first words, but upon hearing her request, he couldn''t help but widen his eyes in surprise: "This¡­" "Please¡­" she kissed him on the lips again ¨C gently kissing, and said, "I''ve waited for this for a long time, thought about it a lot¡­ and loneliness helped me understand that¡­ I want to be with you forever¡­ so¡­" Xie Qing fell silent, as did Xu Mei. They looked into each other''s eyes, as if possessed. The man remained silent for a while, and the storm in his heart gradually turned into a free, warm wind. "Alright," he said with a slight smile, caressing Xu Mei''s cheeks. "You''re not lying?" Xu Mei said in an excited tone and grabbed his right hand: "You''re not lying? You won''t deceive me? You promise?" The man smiled. He gently wiped the tears flowing from Xu Mei''s eyes like a stream. He whispered softly, "I''m not lying. I won''t deceive you. I swear on my life." And then the moment came. Xie Qing thrust his hips, and his jade rod spread herbia, entering her. Everything went smoothly and without problems, as Xu Mei had already lubricated sufficiently beforehand. "Aaaaaah!" With her moan, which escaped during a pause between kisses, their sex began. Not dual cultivation, but sex between two lovers who passionately desired each other. === Note: I hope that I have somewhat improved my skills in writing bedroom scenes. I have studied this issue a bit better and will try to work on it. I would be d to see yourments and ratings. Chapter 264: The love of Master and Disciple [IV] [R-18] Before starting the chapter, I''ll give a warning just in case: The chapter contains scenes of a sexual nature and may also have dirty words in it. 18+ ==== "Ooh¡­ Heavens..." Xie Qing couldn''t help but moan as his jade rod entered inside. The walls of Xu Mei''s vagina tightly wrapped around his dick, as if trying to squeeze everything out of him. The man had to grit his teeth and restrain himself¡ªthat''s how difficult it was. Xu Mei''s passion was too intense, and her excitement reached its peak. It seemed that upon hearing his promise, the woman became very active. After waiting a few seconds, Xie Qing ced her legs on his shoulders and then began to prate her, like a drill piercing her heavens. "Aaaah¡­ y-yes, dear! Fuck me, destroy me! Fill me up!" From the excitement, Xu Mei lost her previous elegant demeanor, as if everything before had been just a pretense. In fact, Xie Qing himself was no less surprised. But nevertheless, the contrast between her usual self and her current state was extremely thrilling. "Aaah? W-wait, honey, I¡­ AAAAH! H-heavens... AAAAH!" And it was no wonder that Xie Qing then began to move much harder, and each of his movements made Xu Mei feel intense excitement. The woman rolled her eyes with pleasure and clutched the sheet, feeling everything inside her mixing. "Aaah¡­ aaaaah¡­ mmmh... ohhhh¡­" Chaotic moans, very loud moans, seemed to turn the atmosphere in the room into something so passionate that Xie Qing couldn''t restrain himself. Soon, despite all his attempts to prolong the pleasure, he was forced to release his fluid inside her womb. "Cing¡­" Xie Qing grunted with a look of annoyance on his face. "Aaaaah!" Xu Mei let out another moan and gripped the sheet tighter, then arched her body like a bow. Then, rolling her eyes and breathing heavily, she trembled and began to breathe heavily. It took about forty seconds for Xie Qing to fill her to the brim. Pulling out his jade rod, which was still hard as before, he looked at the scene before him. Helplessly lying on the bed, Xu Mei was breathing heavily. Her ample breasts rose and fell, her eyes were rolled back, and white liquid from Xie Qing was flowing out of her vagina. Spasms ran through her body, and asionally moans escaped her lips. There was so much semen that it continuously flowed out of her vagina like a waterfall. Xie Qing sat on the edge of the bed and tried to calm his rapidly beating heart. If this had been ordinary sex, he wouldn''t have thought much about it, but¡­ now they were trying to make a baby. "I can''t believe I agreed to this," Xie Qing thought and smiled bitterly: "I don''t regret it, of course, but¡­ I don''t know if I can be a good parent?" *** "I can''t believe I passed out." These were the first words Xu Mei said when she came to her senses. The woman was half-sitting, leaning against the headboard of the bed, and then she touched her vagina. "You filled me to the brim¡­ mmm¡­" Xu Mei smiled contentedly and rubbed her belly, then licked her lips: "Of course¡­ before another round, we need to clean up your friend a bit, right?" It seemed that since Xie Qing agreed to her desire to have a child, Xu Mei had be much more active and cheerful. She leaned forward, ignoring the semen flowing out of her cave, and then kissed the head of Xie Qing''s dick. "I missed this little rascal so much," she said and licked her lips, slightly parting them and holding the head between them. She made small sucking movements and moved the head, stimting Xie Qing''s urethral opening. "Uh¡­" Xie Qing ced his hands on the woman''s head, which made her smile¡ªof course, her lips didn''t move, but her eyes clearly smiled. Then, as if finishing the preparation, she opened her mouth wider and swallowed his penis. "Uumm¡­" she made an iprehensible sound, and then continued. With each second, Xie Qing''s jade rod disappeared into her mouth. In the end, Xu Mei managed to swallow itpletely, touching his pubic area with her lips. "Uugh¡­" she made a guttural sound, then lifted her head up and down again. Xie Qing groaned, gently gripping her head, asionally helping to push up and down. Xu Mei happily obeyed his mands'' and eventually offered her mouth to him in submission. Seeing her signal, the man could only agree. Then, he gripped her head tighter, and after that, he began to roughly fuck her mouth. "Um¡­ um¡­ ugh!" Xu Mei made guttural sounds as Xie Qing fiercely prated her mouth. The woman''s eyes teared up a bit, but thanks to her endurance and special body structure, this did not cause her difort. On the contrary, while Xie Qing satisfied himself with her mouth, the woman actively rubbed herself, and her eyes began to tremble. "Uh¡­ I''ming!" Xie Qing announced in advance, and Xu Mei seemed to be even more active in helping him. Soon, Xu Mei closed her eyes. The man''s warm milk flowed into her mouth, going straight down her throat. Despite its slightly viscous texture, her disciple''s milk was delicious. "Ummm¡­!" It seemed that Xu Mei''s pupils turned into little hearts. From her little sister, a love liquid gushed out¡ªthis was a full-blown squirt. Without anyint, with strong pleasure, Xu Mei swallowed everything that Xie Qing gave her. Her eyes rolled back, and her back arched. At the moment when Xie Qing gave her everything he had, he pulled his dick out of her mouth. It seemed that Xu Mei did not want to let him go, because her lips sucked on the head of his jade rod a few more times before finally releasing it. Xie Qing breathed heavily. Xu Mei swallowed everything that the man had poured into her mouth, and she did it with such strong pleasure on her face, as if she were eating a dish prepared by the greatest chef in the world. Finally, after swallowing everything, Xu Mei fell back onto the mattress and smiled contentedly. Her eyshes fluttered, and where she had been kneeling, there was a huge puddle. *** "Aaah! Aaaah!" The second day, early morning. Xie Qing and Xu Mei, like rabbits, had not slept all this time and had only been having sex. The woman, leaning against the wall, was on all fours, and Xie Qing was fucking her from behind, gripping her waist. "Aaaaah!" Her loud moans were so deafening that if it weren''t for the formations, almost everyone would have heard. You might ask: "Why him and not me?", "Aren''t they tired yet?", "Were their ancestors rabbits?"¡­ The first question was quite fair, envy takes over. As for fatigue¡­ If we use crude examples, they could continue doing this for a hundred years without getting tired. This is the terrifying endurance of cultivators. The most frightening thing was that their arousal seemed not to subside for a second. "AAAAAH!" A loud moan interrupted my thoughts. It was Xu Mei, who hade again with Xie Qing. "Y-yes, damn it¡­ I love it when your semen flows into me¡­" Xu Mei muttered and turned around, kissing Xie Qing on the cheek with a bright smile: "Thank you, dear. This was the best night." "You''re wee," Xie Qing smiled weakly, then pped her on the left buttock, causing ripples on her flesh. "Aaah¡­ do you want more, hubby?" Xu Mei whispered with shining eyes, swaying her buttocks. "Ah, you¡­" In short, they continued doing this for several more hours until nightfall. *** Zhang Mei angrily paced around the formation where Hao Shen was sealed. Her furious gaze immediately shifted to the left when someone''s presence appeared there. "Bitch!" "Eh? The hell?" Xu Mei blinked in confusion and raised her hand, blocking the sudden attack that came at her. A slight earthquake urred, and dust rose into the air. However, with a wave of Xu Mei''s hand, the dust disappeared. There was confusion on her face as she looked at Zhang Mei. "What the fuck are you doing?" "What. Am. I. Doing?!" Zhang Mei repeated angrily and switched to shouting: "THAT''S MY FUCKING QUESTION! Bitch, do you even understand what the word ''responsibility'' means or what?! Where have you been? I clearly said we have to spend every day, every hour here!" "I-I¡­ was just teaching a disciple, what''s wrong with that?" Xu Mei snorted, turning her face away and puffing her cheeks. "Teaching? TEACHING?!" Zhang Mei grabbed Xu Mei''s face and pointed at her lips with disgust: "You could at least wipe off the traces, you stupid bitch! How disgusting! Hmph!" Zhang Mei turned around and walked away, stomping angrily on the ground. Her ears were red. Xu Mei touched the corner of her lips, feeling the wetness¡­ "Oh. I forgot to clean it up," she thought and licked the remaining semen of Xie Qing. Chapter 265: Enemy [I] Before the Chapter Begins: Only now did I notice that the views have reached 1.8 million, and the word count is around 440,000. I must say, it''s quite unusual to see, considering how difficult it was for me to even write a measly ten chapters before. Anyway, thank you for your support, and I hope you will continue to support me in the future. Don''t forget to support the book in your own ways; it helps me a lot. Enjoy your reading. === Early in the morning, none of the cultivators living within the territory of the demonic sect''s barrier were asleep. Boom, boom... crash! Loud noises and a cacophony of sounds were so irritating that they could easily drive one mad. Moreover, there were continuous human screams. The area where the battle was taking ce was deste. Apart from a few elevations, everything was t, as if this ce had been prepared in advance for today. The heroes of this spectacle were righteous cultivators and devilish cultivators, fighting each other to thest breath. The shing of swords and the sparks created by the sword strikes were like part of a grand light show. However, the bloody spectacle, the severed flesh, the rotting internal organs, and the trampled corpses proved that this was not some joyful performance. It was a tragedy. Although the righteous cultivators managed to gain the upper hand with their special techniques and artifacts, the devilish cultivators had the advantage of numbers, making the battle somewhat difficult. The righteous side suffered enormous losses. The enemy was like an ant that, upon seeing it couldn''t handle the situation alone, called the entire colony--thus creating a horrifying scene. There were only a hundred survivors out of the original ten thousand. The average level was around Spiritual Ascension. This level was already quite impressive, but still not enough to put up a good fight. "Hehe..." From the enemy''s ranks came a loudugh, filled with contempt and obvious mockery. The devilish cultivators parted, clearing a direct line. Soon, a tall man emerged from the enemy crowd. If Xie Qing were here, he would definitely recognize him. It was none other than Tang Xun--an elder of the main court of the Sect of Bone Circle, who once wanted to take a man as a disciple but instead got stabbed in the back. The man had a smug smile on his face. It was clear that he was enjoying the desperate expressions of his enemies, who just days ago were full of confidence in their victory and strutted around like eagles, killing the disobedient and ughtering the disciples of the devilish dao. "D-Divine Transformation... we''re doomed..." someone from the righteous dao cultivators said, helplessly falling to their knees. The others also lost their fighting spirit. Many gritted their teeth, realizing that their situation was so dire that it simply couldn''t get any worse. After all, their opponent was a cultivator at the Divine Transformation stage, who had already formed aw, meaning he was so strong that he could easily kill a thousand Spiritual Ascension cultivators with a simple wave of his sleeve. And the realization of this fact was enough for the righteous dao cultivators to lose theirst hope. In any case, they didn''t even think about escaping--where would they run when they were surrounded on all sides? Even the sky was filled with cultivators. "Hahaha. What a pleasant sight. I never tire of watching the arrogant bastards of the righteous dao lose hope and be like pathetic worms, waiting to be crushed," Tang Xun said with a deep smirk, hinting at a grudge. It was clear that he had his own disagreements with the Righteous Dao. Given his level of cultivation, the man must be quite old, which could have allowed him to witness the moment when they were driven out like cattle into a pen and locked up, as if to show--you have no hope! And this was amon sentiment. And that''s why Tang Xun''s face became cruel. "You, worms, from this second, will find yourselves in hell. You will suffer, even if your body is turned into pulp and even if your soul disappears, until the veryst seconds, I will make sure to torment you. Slowly, mercilessly. So much so that even death will seem like an unattainable dream!" Tang Xun loudly proimed. Behind his fiery speech, the encouraging cries of the devilish cultivators could be heard, along with their usual evilughter. The righteous cultivators turned pale with fear, like ghosts, and some even tried to beg. "P-please, don''t kill me. I can serve you, I will be useful..." "N-no, don''t listen to him! Master, I will serve you even after death! So, please, have mercy..." A pitiful sight, where half of the righteous cultivators, kneeling and rubbing their foreheads against the dirty, dusty, and hard stony ground, begged for forgiveness, cried--wailed. And the more people begged Tang Xun, the wider the smile on his face became, until it reached his ears--and this expression was not figurative, but literal. "Hahaha..." His malicious, somewhat foolish, but terrifying due to the situation,ughter sent shivers down the spines of the righteous cultivators. Most of them were still kneeling, so they couldn''t see his face, but those for whom honor was more important than life couldn''t hide the expression of pure horror at the sight of this malicious, disgusting smile. "Hahahaha... HAHAHAHA!" Then, from a not-so-loudugh, as if unable to hold back any longer, Tang Xunughed so loudly that even the earth shook. Hisughter was distorted, and if one listened closely, one could even hear white noise. The terrifyingbination of his wide smile, which had stretched so much that it tore his face, was horrifying and could easily be a nightmare even for an adult and mentally stable person. In fact, it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say that even his own people feared Tang Xun. After all, even under all circumstances, if they were just madmen, then... Tang Xun was a genuine bloodthirsty psychopath. His reputation had always been dark, and although he always smiled, his past would never allow him to be treated normally. "Hahahaha! How fun! How damn fun! I missed this sight so much, to be honest. It reminds me of my youth," Tang Xun said with a smirk and stuck out his tongue, which was twice as long as normal: "Alright. I''m in a good mood. I can even give you a chance to survive." "R-really?" Despair. This emotion often clouds thoughts, makes one lose reason, and prevents one from thinking clearly. After all, in a normal situation, one should doubt... Those in despair believed in any light. Their eyes would sparkle, their lips would widen in a relieved smile, and their pupils would dte. The hope of survival would cloud their eyes, preventing them from seeing the whole picture. Who cares about being cautious? Who needs to know that there''s no such thing as a free lunch? For them, the bright light blinds the eyes, and from the light, a hand appears. And when they reach for that hand, they might be able to survive. However, all this would be in vain. Because... "It''s simple..." Everyone who feels hope in a desperate situation... "To survive..." Everyone whose mind is clouded... "You just need to..." Very quickly forgets that... "Kill each other." Asking the devil for a blessing... "And the survivor can leave." An extremely foolish decision. *** Hearing Tang Xun''s words, the righteous cultivators exchanged nces, and their faces contorted with understanding. No one would simply pardon them. That was simply impossible. On the contrary, the enemy wanted to enjoy every second, even making them kill each other. However, no matter how absurd it sounded... People blinded by a glimmer of hope would act beyond reason. "AAAAAA!" "W-wait, Brother Xiao, I..." "Die! Die!" "Sister Lian, I... I''m sorry!" A massacre. A horrifying massacre. A scene where cultivators killed each other for survival could truly be something out of nightmares. But for Tang Xun, it was an extremely beautiful sight. A deep smirk appeared on his face again, reaching his ears. "How pleasant. How good!" he thought, hugging himself. It had been so long... "How long has it been since I enjoyed this? Seeing them kill each other... mmm... I could watch this forever!" Sadism. Pure sadism. Tang Xun was a psychopath who enjoyed killings. His reputation was so bad that even his own people disliked him. The only reason he could coexist in the Sect of Bone Circle was his good acting, as if "he had reformed." However, one should not be deceived. A leopard does not change its spots. And the situation here was the same. And then, when only forty people were left alive... suddenly, a pressure descended on the battlefield. And then a cold voice sounded. "And you, son of a bitch, are having a lot of fun, aren''t you?" Tang Xun frowned and looked up at the sky. Then his face became distorted, like a devil''s. Because there was his enemy. The one who had brought him shame. "Bastard!" The man who had deceived him and destroyed the altar. "Cheng! E!" Chapter 266: Enemy [II] High in the sky, surrounded by dark clouds, a man with long ck hair tied in a ponytail hovered. His cold ck eyes indifferently observed the battlefield, which hade to a halt the moment Tang Xun shouted his name. "W-who is that?" asked one of the exhausted cultivators. His body was covered in blood, flesh, and countless cuts. The others who had survived did not know the answer¡ªthis person was unfamiliar to them, and especially his name waspletely unknown. Tang Xun gritted his teeth, and his eyes filled with blood. Then, a pure infernal me began to rise from beneath his feet and spread into the sky. Soon, a massive column of fire engulfed the heavens. "Hahaha¡­ hahaha¡­" a sarcasticugh filled with contempt, anger, and joy echoed. It belonged to Tang Xun, who hung high in the sky, smirking at Xie Qing. Waving his hand, the man summoned a ming spear, which he then directed at his enemy: "Excellent, just wonderful! You came into my hands of your own ord, and I will surely break your legs. Hahaha! Who would have thought you would be so foolish as toe to me! You are asking¡­ for death!" As if responding to Tang Xun''s anger, the column of fire he had summoned burned even brighter, beginning to consume everything around it. The cultivators of the righteous side who had survived were not foolish enough to stay¡ªthey had long since fled. Xie Qing cast a brief nce at them. That was enough for him to remember all their faces. Then, the man turned his head towards his enemy, Tang Xun. "And you haven''t changed at all. Still the same despicable son of a bitch," Xie Qing began his speech with insults, instantly provoking Tang Xun. "Hmph! Still as rude as ever? I''ll break every bone in your body!" The enemy was not patient enough to talk for long, so he almost immediately channeled all his power and thenunched his attack. A crimson spear exploded with bright mes, colliding directly with Xie Qing''s body. He, waving his sword, summoned an invisible stream of energy that pierced the crimson spear and scattered it to the sides. The temperature instantly rose to terrifying levels¡ªenough to incinerate an ordinary person in two seconds. However, under these extreme conditions, Xie Qing and Tang Xun continued to fight, still maintaining their peak state. Especially surprising was Xie Qing, who this time could put up a fairly good fight. Tang Xun narrowed his eyes, in which both surprise and irritation were visible. ng! A sound rang out as something metallic shed. It was Xie Qing''s Nameless Sword and Tang Xun''s me-formed spear, which regenerated each time. "Not bad at all," Tang Xun said, gripping the spear tighter and applying more force, gradually gaining control of the situation. His spear began to press against Xie Qing''s sword, forcing him to retreat: "Last time, you were like a worm. I could crush you at any moment, but you were very agile and slipped out of my hands. This time, it won''t happen. Today, on this spot, I will graciously arrange your funeral." Pf-f-f-shss¡­ The spear zed with renewed strength, and the temperature of the air rose higher and higher, even affecting the Qi in the air, which began to distort and burn under the influence of the absurdly high temperature. Xie Qing retreated ten steps, then firmly grasped the hilt of his sword. He looked at Tang Xun, who had taken a stance¡ªhis spear began to form an aura around it. "Aplex technique. I suppose I''ll have to work hard to counter it," Xie Qing thought and sharpened all his six senses. Soon, everything from slight changes in the air, the crackling sounds of the fire, the smoke, even the distant noise¡­ He reached maximum concentration. Then, raising his sword into the air, Xie Qing muttered. "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens¡­ Punishment of a Thousand Swords." Shu-u-u-u-u¡­ Suddenly, the flow of air stopped, as if under someone''s control. From such changes, even Tang Xun narrowed his eyes, but still did not stop his attack. Then, to his amazed gaze¡­ In the sky appeared thousands¡­ no, hundreds of thousands of swords, the size of a ssic Chinese sword. All of them shone like golden ingots, and since the sun still shone brightly in the sky, it was almost blinding. And all these swords were behind Xie Qing. And all of them, forming something like a dome, pointed at only one person¡­ "Ugh¡­" Tang Xun swallowed hard. Even he found it difficult to withstand the pressure from a hundred thousand swords, each of which was imbued with an overwhelming quality and quantity of Sword Aura. "And this is controlled by only one person?" Tang Xun gritted his teeth, then gripped his crimson spear more firmly: "Here we go!" His eyes shed with me, and then explosions began to sound in the air. The spear suddenly increased in size and seemed to cover the Heavens. The sun was obscured by crimson mes. "So this is how you y, huh?" Xie Qing thought and narrowed his eyes. Then, straightening his back, he gripped the hilt of his sword, with which he had spent much time training. And, raising it horizontally into the air, he pointed the tip of the sword at Tang Xun: "So be it. Feel the power of a hundred thousand swords." Tang Xun smiled fearlessly and waved his hand. The enormous crimson spear began to tremble, falling towards Xie Qing. "Feel the power of my me, brat!" The heavens trembled, the earth cracked. Even those who were thousands of miles away could feel the overwhelming heat and the terrifying sharp energy that seemed to cut through everything it touched. In the distance, standing on a small hill, Zhang Mei narrowed her eyes, intently watching the battle. Her eyshes fluttered, and her eyes were filled with unknown emotions that were hard to read. "It seems we underestimated him a bit¡­" she thought and licked her dry lips. Her index finger twitched: "I guess¡­ the prediction was true? What a pain in the ass, tsk¡­" *** The enormous crimson spear and the hundreds of thousands of swords, which had merged into a single gigantic sword, collided with each other. At first, immediately after the collision, there was no sound. However, after five seconds passed, suddenly¡­ Ba¡­ BAAM! A loud, deafening, and terrifying sound of an explosion resounded throughout the area¡ªeven beyond the barrier, this sound could be heard. Almost all continents were stunned, causing many to panic. Moreover, the shockwave was so terrifying that everything within a hundred thousand miles was turned to dust, and all living beings died instantly¡ªamong them were those surviving righteous cultivators. Unfortunately, they could not escape. But the same situation urred with the devilish cultivators, of whom there were simply a huge number. Even considering theirrge numbers, this was still a huge blow. And, of course, this rmed the influential figures of the world. The acting devilish dao cultivators, responsible for controlling the cultivators under theirmand, were frightened. "W-what the hell?!" In a narrow, small room where all the items¡ªfurniture, carpet, clock, and the like¡ªwere on the ground, there were five people. Two of them were representatives of two great sects, and the other three were independent leaders. "What was that?" one of them asked with obvious fear. "How should I know? For a moment, I thought someone at the Transcendence level had decided to enter the battle¡­" "Don''t talk nonsense, they have their restrictions. No one would use their power, considering all the dangers." The five devilish dao cultivators were at the Divine Transformation stage¡ªfrom the first to the fifth stage, respectively. Despite their high level of cultivation, they themselves had long forgotten how to fight. That''s why they sat in theirirs, afraid toe out. The only thing they could do was give orders and nothing more. After all, Hao Shen and Ma Lu¡ªall of them had disappeared. And most of the devilish cultivators, if not for the good rewards they were given, and the good progress they made¡­ They were afraid that everything would end in failure. *** Xie Qing looked at his left hand and clicked his tongue. It was covered with numerous burns that, at first nce, could be serious if not taken care of. Then, he turned his gaze, in which there were no emotions¡ªonly apathy. There was something strange in this gaze, and his behavior instantly became much more detached. "Everyone who opposes me¡­" The earth trembled. "Everyone who looks at me askance¡­" The heavens roared. "Everyone who dares to disturb my peace¡­" Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, looking ahead. "Will face death." His cold gaze was directed at the enemy¡­ Whose body was pierced by hundreds of thousands of swords. He had long since died. Then, the man looked around. Hatred appeared in his eyes. Opening his mouth, his voice echoed through all dimensions. "Remember, Heavens. The Executioner has returned." Chapter 267: Zhang Mei and hot springs [I] The destruction caused by Xie Qing was frightening enough to attract the attention of the leaders of the Righteous Dao, who had to set aside their affairs ande to the battlefield. When they arrived, they were shocked to see that everything within a thousand miles and beyond had been destroyed, and thend was burning with bright mes, as if a meteor had recently fallen here. Moreover, there was no air at all, as if someone had deliberately removed it. Even the Qi was so poor that one might think this ce was its own space with individualws within. Zhang Mei stepped forward and, in a few steps, found herself where Liu Yang, Yu Longfeng, and the Sect master of the Resting Eagle had gathered. They looked at the lone figure sitting in the lotus position in the air with aplex expression. "Well¡­ this territory won''t recover even after a thousand years. What a waste ofnd¡­" sighed the Sect master of the Resting Eagle, surveying the surroundings. Perhaps that was why his expression was soplex. After all, these territories once belonged to him, and now¡­ unfortunately, there was little left of use. "You sure know how to make a ruckus," Zhang Mei said, appearing behind Xie Qing. The hem of her robe fluttered in the wind, and her indifferent face was slightly furrowed. "You and your Master are like one entity. Always causing trouble." Xie Qing opened his eyes, which shed for a moment, and then turned his head to look at Zhang Mei with a hint of confusion. "And what am I guilty of? Besides, I just got rid of an enemy," he replied rather carelessly. "¡­" This speech made Zhang Mei''s eyebrows furrow, while Liu Yang chuckled softly. The Sect master of the Resting Eagle averted his gaze and sighed, muttering, "They are indeed two peas in a pod¡­" *** Xu Mei smiled and leaned on her Disciple, gently caressing his face. Zhang Mei, watching this, could only angrily purse her lips. "He should be scolded, not praised. Because of him, the already barren territories have be uninhabitable¡­" "Who cares. It''s just a piece ofnd, why the drama? Stop acting like a frigid bitch, give my Disciple some praise," Xu Mei snorted in response. "Bitch, you''ve really lost your mind¡­" Zhang Mei gritted her teeth, snorted, turned away in offense, and left. "Hmph!" Xu Mei didn''t even pay attention to her departure, and Xie Qing said nothing. In fact, he was too absorbed in groping his Master''s butt¡­ something in his spirit. The woman didn''t mind ¨C on the contrary, as if encouraging him, she wiggled her buttocks, and a sweet and yful smile yed on her cherry lips. Her gentle hands felt Xie Qing''s muscles, which were as hard as stone. Especially the sensation of a certain hard thing, even through thick clothing, was too exciting for Xu Mei. So it''s no surprise that a few minutester, they returned to the room and started kissing each other, and then immediately undressed. Zhang Mei, who stood in the corridor and witnessed their passion, silently closed the door with red ears. Then she ran away, covering her face. "What shamelessness! And they''re not even engaged! What nonsense!" ¡­she sounded like stereotypical grandmothers, but considering her age, more like a great-great-great-great-great-grandmother. *** Xie Qing sighed refreshingly. He left his room while Xu Mei slept peacefully on his bed. The woman was satisfied enough to sleep contentedly. The man himself was a bit tired. After all, this time Xu Mei didn''t lower her cultivation level and didn''t reduce her own endurance. Because of this, the sex was like training. Sweating profusely, the man initially wanted to get rid of the sweat in the usual way ¨C by using a technique, but today he felt like taking a bath. They say that especially for high-ranking officials, of which he is one, there is an opportunity to rx in hot springs. "Although, this is a bit unfair to the other cultivators who are now fighting¡­ but what can you do, that''s life," Xie Qing thought and entered the men''s locker room, taking off all his clothes. He approached the mirror ¨C it was installed for unknown reasons and was so high that even Xie Qing could see himself fully. And, to be honest, he himself was amazed. "Wow. I didn''t know my body looked like this," he thought with a hint of surprise. Pure, white skin without any ws. Beautiful, bnced muscture that was toned and pleasant to the eye. Although one might think he was a wimp because of his robe, in reality, his body was muscr and powerful. "Hm." Smirking, Xie Qing began to pose in front of the mirror ¨C not even knowing why he did it. Every time he moved, his developed muscles stood out, and objectively, he looked very attractive. And while he was lost in thought, the door to the locker room suddenly opened. The man reacted toote, as he was too busy admiring his abs, but he was distracted by someone''s hup. "Huh?" Turning his head, he looked at the entrance and saw¡­ "Lady Zhang Mei?" Xie Qing tilted his head to the side. He felt no embarrassment, nervousness, or anything simr. Rather, he was puzzled. His face said: "What is she doing here?" Zhang Mei froze in ce, like a deer seeing a high-speed cultivator on a sword approaching. Then, a sound like words came from her mouth. "I-I-... um¡­" "Hm? Did you forget something? By the way, I remind you, this is the men''s locker room, so if you made a mistake, you can leave through that exit to avoid misunderstandings," Xie Qing politely said and pointed to the ck exit meant for staff. "I-I¡­" Zhang Mei trembled, not knowing what to say. Her violet eyes darted around the room but mostly stopped at the area below Xie Qing''s waist. "¡­" The man smiled bitterly. He pretended not to see her gaze. He suddenly remembered his Master and their first night, when suddenly¡­ "Ah?!" A surprised gasp sounded, and Xie Qing shuddered,ing to his senses. He looked at Zhang Mei in confusion, who was now openly staring at his member. Then he looked down himself. And then he cursed. "Fuck." The dragon proudly looked at the Heavens, as if it held the whole world in its hands. Under normal circumstances, Xie Qing would be proud of his little brother, but the situation was different now. "¡­So, did you need something?" he continued with a forced smile. Now even he felt awkward. Zhang Mei sighed and averted her gaze ¨C although it was difficult for her. Then, with a voice that sounded hoarse, she said: "Actually¡­ the women''s baths are currently closed due to some minor repairs. So only the men''s bath is open. And I have already informed the staff in advance." "Oh? Now that I think about it, I didn''t see any staff, so I thought it was normal here," Xie Qing suddenly remembered and, taking a bath towel, wrapped it around his waist, covering the jade rod. "Eh¡­" The man fell silent. He could swear he just heard a disappointed sigh. Then, he slowly turned to Zhang Mei. "If you want, I can leave and wait until you finish. I''m not in a hurry anyway," he said, trying to resolve the terribly awkward situation. Zhang Mei fell silent, and then she said: "No¡­ we can bathe together. After all, the hot springs arerge¡­" "Excuse me?" Xie Qing asked in confusion and, seeing her embarrassed look, felt as if something in his brain had cracked: "She¡­ can be embarrassed? This is the first time I''ve seen her emotional database updated with new emotions¡­" And not knowing how to react to this proposal, Xie Qing simply nodded. He was too tired. *** "Aaah¡­" Immersing himself in the warm water, Xie Qing instantly felt all the fatigue from his mortal body disappear, and a sense of calm filled his heart. "How nice. If I had known it would be so pleasant, I would havee here long ago," he thought and stretched his legs: "But¡­" Xie Qing shifted his gaze. Next to him, at a distance of two outstretched arms, sat Zhang Mei with her usual cold face. She waspletely wrapped in a bath towel that covered her from her knees to her corbone. "Quite¡­ awkward," he thought and averted his gaze. There was a slight awkwardness in his heart. Under normal circumstances, Xie Qing would feel excited or something simr. After all, next to him was such a beautiful woman. But Zhang Mei was different. Despite her beauty, she had a rather cold personality and did not allow any man to be near her. So initially, Xie Qing had no thoughts about her. Rather, he considered her simply a great person with quirks. And now, this great person was bathing with him, and the only thing covering her body was a thin bath towel. "And¡­" Xie Qing looked at his crotch with a heavy gaze. His face reflected awkwardness. "Why did you even wake up¡­" Chapter 268: Zhang Mei and hot springs [II] Xie Qing''s younger brother, seemingly oblivious to the atmosphere, awoke and attempted to rise to the Heavens. This only further embarrassed him, as a simple thin bath towel could not conceal the protruding tent. "It would be too much if I showed her my erection for the second time. She is, after all, one of the leaders of the Righteous Dao," the man thought and sighed. Despite his attempts to distract himself, it seemed his younger brother did not know the word ''chill'', and kept trying to rebel against the poor bath towel. Zhang Mei, unaware of anything, was bathing and enjoying the hot springs. Although her body was covered by a towel, the situation alone made Xie Qing feel a slight excitement. Moreover, the sight of water droplets sliding down her healthy pale skin and her wet hair swaying with the slightest movements, revealing her slender neck¡­ Well, the response to this spectacle was the tent on Xie Qing''s towel. He sighed and averted his gaze. "What a shame. It seems I''m bing more absurd with time," he thought and sighed in disappointment. Although he was lustful and acknowledged it, but¡­ "Maybe the environment has influenced me? Considering everything I''ve seen before¡­ sigh! Damn!" ¡­In truth, there was nothing to me him for. Zhang Mei possessed first-ss beauty and was so stunning that it was hard to express in ordinary words. Just her purple eyes could captivate souls, and even her usual cold face could make hundreds and thousands of men fall in love with her. However, she did not use this and was not interested in it at all. Therefore, her poprity was not particrly high, and everyone regarded her only as a sage, not as a beautiful woman. Xie Qing himself also considered her a sage first and foremost, but to see her as a woman¡­ until today, his attitude had been more indifferent. "But, I suppose she has her own charm," Xie Qing thought for a moment, and a slight ripple appeared in his heart, which quickly disappeared. His intense gaze did not go unnoticed, and Zhang Mei noticed it. However, despite this, the woman continued to pretend that she did not notice at all. Her thoughts were also confused. "How embarrassing! How embarrassing! How embarrassing! Damn it!" Surprisingly,pared to her appearance, her own voice in her thoughts was more girlish and bright, instead of the usual cold and static female voice. Moreover, her words and the way she spoke them were more cute and resembled the speech of a young girl. "I didn''t expect anyone to be here today. And I did warn everyone to stay away!" she thought with a slight disappointment, and a redness appeared on her cheeks, showing her embarrassment. She clenched her hands and lowered her gaze: "Moreover¡­ I-I¡­" Her eyes closed, and immediately she imagined the sight ¨C Xie Qing''s muscr body and no less "muscr" younger brother, which was quite impressive, even shocking Zhang Mei. Despite her age, her experience with men was limited to mere formal interactions. Although she was very popr in her youth and many wanted to court her, everyone received a strict refusal. This was because the woman was never interested in rtionships, and due to her Master, who was very strict and considered even simple physical contact with a man uneptable. And because of this strictness¡­ "I don''t know what to do!" ¡­Zhang Mei was in despair. Her gaze kept shifting to the side, looking at Xie Qing, or more precisely, at the bath towel. Her face turned red, and her heart beat faster as she imagined what kind of monster was hidden under that thin cloth. "He¡­ was so big. This¡­" Zhang Mei bit her lower lip, which looked very sexy, and involuntarily brought her hand to her stomach: "And will it¡­ even fit? How can Xu Mei interact with¡­ ''that'' thing?" This time, Zhang Mei could not help but admire Xu Mei. She even felt a moment of envy. It was undeniable that Xu Mei was literally the perfect example of a wless person ¨C her natural talent, appearance, character, cultivation level¡­ Even her man was a powerful cultivator with a promising future. And Zhang Mei, for all her years, had never felt any love, was lonely, and only chased after the illusory concept of Immortality. And because of this, her life, while quite interesting,cked color ¨C and doubts crept into her heart. "Maybe¡­ I should find a man?" she suddenly thought, and this thought was like poison seeping into her mind. However, she soon shook her head: "No, it''s pointless. Rtionships would only be a hindrance, that''s what even Master believed, who died alone¡­ um¡­ alone?" It seemed that a thought had urred to Zhang Mei, and her face paled. She clenched her hands. Her Master was a renowned cultivator of the past and a sage who had created many techniques. However, despite all her achievements, her personal life was very dull. She didn''t even have any real friends. In the end, she died trying to make a prediction, and her face at the moment of death was filled with regrets, and the name of some man escaped her lips. Zhang Mei shuddered. Just imagining herself in her Master''s ce made her body tremble uncontrobly. "Am I¡­ really right?" *** Xie Qing turned his gaze to Zhang Mei. She looked lost in thought, and her mood seemed to have noticeably worsened ¨C moreover, a clear grimace of horror could be seen on her beautiful face. "What''s wrong with her?" Xie Qing wondered, puzzled. From the side, she seemed lost in thought and suddenly began to tremble, as if something had frightened her. This behavior could not help but worry Xie Qing. So, out of politeness, he asked, "Are you alright?" "Ah?" Zhang Mei startled and looked at Xie Qing. For some reason, her expression looked more lively, but seeing his concerned gaze, the woman blushed and then turned away. "Yes, I''m fine¡­" she replied in a weak voice. "Are you sure? If something is wrong, you can always talk to me. Although I''m young, I understand a lot about human psychology," Xie Qing said sincerely. "Ah¡­ no, it''s not necessary¡­" Zhang Mei still refused, and Xie Qing could only sigh. In any case, it was his duty to offer. Even if he was very worried about her condition, pushing the issue was not the best idea. Moreover, after five minutes, Zhang Mei seemed to have regained herposure, and her face became cold again, but it seemed as if the ice had melted. "Is she¡­ alright?" Xie Qing wondered. *** Finally, after an hour that felt like a day to Xie Qing ¨C such was the exhausting experience ¨C it ended. He stepped out of the hot springs and dropped his towel, then noticed someone''s gaze directed below his waist. "Ah¡­" The man could only bitterly smile. In any case, openly pointing out this fact to Zhang Mei would be too rude and create unnecessary awkwardness. And Xie Qing wanted to avoid that as much as possible. Then, he took his robe from his spatial ring and pondered. "Maybe I should buy a new one? It''s already quite worn out¡­" the man thought. The robe indeed looked like it had seen better days. He had been using it for several years, and unfortunately, its time hade. "Hey¡­" "Hm?" Xie Qing snapped out of his thoughts, hearing someone call him. Turning his gaze to Zhang Mei, his jaw dropped. "This¡­ to be honest¡­" the woman said with a red face, and then disappeared. Xie Qing fell silent and felt the blood rushing to his jade pir. Then he looked at the bath towel lying alone on the floor. "She¡­ is so beautiful," the man murmured. Zhang Mei was not as "mature" as Xu Mei and others, but she was very slender, resembling a porcin doll. Her long legs and neat, small face were very attractive. Her breasts were neither toorge nor too small ¨C just right and could easily fit into an average man''s hand. Moreover, Xie Qing learned a new fact about her¡­ "She¡­ is very smooth ''there''¡­" And remembering her cute pink nipples, Xie Qing sighed as he looked at his pir, which was fully ready. "It seems Master will have to work again today¡­" *** At the same time, Zhang Mei teleported to her room and then fell face-first onto her bed. Her facended right in the pillow. Without moving for about a second, she suddenly grabbed the pillow and screamed loudly. "AAAAGHHHHHH!" Her legs started kicking the bed, and her ears turned red. It looked as if a young maiden was experiencing intense embarrassment and didn''t know where to release it. Despite Zhang Mei''s cold, detached, and unfriendly demeanor¡­ In reality, she was still an innocent maiden. "How shameful! How awful! Why did I even take such a step?! Aaaagh!" ...and after her desperate cry, she continued to kick the mattress with her feet until she calmed down. Chapter 269: Zhang Meis unit [I] After a rather awkward experience with Zhang Mei, it seemed they should have avoided each other for a long time, but as if fate itself was against them, Xie Qing was assigned as her assistant. "Lady Zhang Mei, the Master has sent me here to assist you in controlling the soldiers due to some disturbing actions by these people," Xie Qing''s monotonous voice sounded in one of the meeting rooms, where only Zhang Mei sat, working with papers. Hearing the man''s words, she looked up and frowned. "I do not require any assistance. You may leave," she coldly replied, and her indifferent and sullen behavior seemed to worsen. "Do not make this difficult for me, this is the Master''s order¡­" Xie Qing sighed. "Pfft¡­" Zhang Mei snorted in annoyance but seemed to stop insisting on his departure. Xie Qing sighed in relief. In any case, he himself did not expect this request. *** An hour earlier¡­ "Zhang Mei''s unit has some problems. The army''s strength is over a hundred thousand, and they are more of a support unit, whose role is to supply formations with their Qi and create traps, etc. However, recently, there have been conflicts among them, which is hindering the operation," Xu Mei said,pletely naked. She was wiping fluids from her body while exining: "I find the soldiers'' behavior uneptable, and Zhang Mei is too busy to spare time. Her generals are not coping because their cultivation levels, let''s say, are not very satisfactory. Therefore, I am assigning this task to you." "To me?" Xie Qing was puzzled. He was just getting dressed when he froze, hearing Xu Mei''s request. "Yes. You are one step away from Divine Transformation, making your aura truly frightening. Moreover, you know how to take control of the situation, which is why I want to ask you to do this," Xu Mei nodded briefly, not averting her gaze and continuing her task: "Besides, this is an excellent opportunity to strengthen your authority. There are still people who are hostile towards you and doubt your abilities." "Hmm¡­" Xie Qing was not overly surprised. After all, he had not been seen on the surface for a long time, and when he suddenly appeared, he was dered a hero who helped start the operation to eliminate the devilish cultivators. However, many viewed this with obvious prejudice, believing that they were simply trying to raise the reputation of the Princess of Swords'' disciple. After all, Xie Qing''s recent achievements, although impressive, were not enough to make many cultivators, especially those above Soul Integration, start worshipping him. "So, your task is to subdue them. Understood?" "Yes, Master." Xie Qing smiled bitterly. In such situations, they were not lovers but Master and disciple. Therefore, he simply could not refuse her. *** And so, returning to the present time, Xie Qing stood on a hill not far from the camp where Zhang Mei''s army was located. It should be mentioned that seeing such an impressive number of soldiers was unusual. "I think I underestimated the righteous path," Xie Qing expressed aloud and nced at the three men beside him: "So. I need an exnation of the situation. Preferably brief." "Yes, young master." One of the men, General Liu Hao, stepped forward and bowed respectfully. He was a cultivator at the fifth stage of Spiritual Ascension and had vast experience. "The situation is as follows. The soldiers are dissatisfied with how the battle is going andin that they have to work too much. Moreover, most of them have, well¡­ ''desires'' that they cannot satisfy. Because of this, there was a conflict with the alchemists'' unit, where there are many girls. Fortunately, the vitors were calmed down in time, and a scandal was avoided." "Hah¡­" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow. From his point of view, these lustful urges in the conditions of the battlefield were understandable, but understanding and epting are different matters. Therefore, his eyes immediately turned cold. "Commendable. They are confident enough to try to as**ult someone from the Sect of Nine Pills," Xie Qing said, and despite his own words, it seemed that coldness appeared in his eyes: "First, gather these vitors, and then I will appear before the army and give them an order. Understood?" "Yes, sir!" The men bowed and left, carrying out Xie Qing''s order. Although they initially doubted him, his power was convincing enough. *** Xie Qing looked at the twenty men standing at attention in a single line. All these people, due to their lust, had sneaked into the alchemists'' unit''s tents and tried to as**ult them. Therefore, upon meeting them, Xie Qing''s face became grim and sullen, and his previous carefree demeanorpletely disappeared. His posture was straight, his shoulders broad¡ªoverall, he gave the impression of a strict and powerful man. And considering that over time, his face had be more masculine, and including his height¡­ the soldiers became nervous. "So, it seems these are all of them, General Liu?" Xie Qing asked calmly, but his face remained just as cold. "Yes, sir. Starting from the left, this is soldier He¡­" "I am not interested in their names; you need not bother," Xie Qing interrupted the general sharply, who simply nodded and stepped back. The man turned his gaze to the soldiers and narrowed his eyes: "So¡­ animals. You have vited the regtions, attempted tomit a crime. As a result, you could have caused a serious conflict that would have slowed down the operation. Moreover, attempts to provoke other soldiers were noticed, which resulted in a brawl." As Xie Qing read out the charges, the soldiers'' faces became gloomier and gloomier, and when the man fell silent and looked at them with a piercing gaze, those with weak psyches trembled and lowered their eyes. "Hmm. It''s amusing that you fear someone who is decades younger than you," Xie Qing smirked and continued, turning his gaze to the general: "Under normal circumstances, we would simply treat them as sinners and imprison them. However, during wartime, imprisoning someone is too costly. Therefore, there is only one¡­ execute them." "Wh-what?!" One of the soldiers, shocked, could not hold back his cry, and even General Liu Hao was surprised and darkened. In any case, it was the truth. During wartime, imprisoning someone is a trivial waste of resources. However, executing them was too cruel. But¡­ "Understood, sir." Liu Hao did not intend to argue with Xie Qing. Initially, the entire situation was mainly due to him. However, the general was not punished because he always responsibly performed his task. "N-no¡­" Hearing that the general agreed with their punishment, the soldiers paled and began to resist. However, soon¡­ Thud. Their headsnded on the ground, and the cut was so clean that even Xie Qing whistled. "Good job," he said and smiled, walking past General Liu Hao and patting him on the shoulder: "I will make sure to request a promotion for you. Count on it." "T-thank you, sir!" It seemed that from this one promise, General Liu Hao''s face brightened. *** Xie Qing stood on a small hill and looked down at the assembled soldiers¡ªthere were a hundred thousand of them, and it seemed like there was no end in sight. "So, soldiers. I am Xie Qing, the heir of the Sect of Heavenly Sword, an imperial censor, and also one of the greatest geniuses of this generation," Xie Qing said calmly, but with unmistakable arrogance in his voice. The soldiers frowned. Of course, it was unpleasant to see someone younger mocking them, but they remained silent¡ªthey had no other choice, as even General Liu Hao, whomanded them all, stood silently behind. This meant that the status of this arrogant man was not simple. The soldiers simply hoped there would be no foolish orders. "So, I won''t dy and say this. An order hase from Sovereign Zhang Mei for me to oversee the discipline among the soldiers," Xie Qing said, and hearing a few smirks, he also smiled, and then¡­ BOOM! ¡­he released his aura. "Aaagh!" "C-can''t¡­ b-breathe!" "Damn¡­" The soldiers, who a second ago had looked at the arrogant man with a smirk, now could barely stand on their feet. This was due to Xie Qing''s aura, which was at the brink of Divine Transformation. Even Liu Hao, with his high level, could not help but tremble with fear. There was a huge difference between him and Xie Qing, who had already begun to touch upon thews. Observing this amusing, in his opinion, scene, Xie Qing loudly proimed, "I hope that all of you will know your ce and obey the rules and orders. By following the rules, you ensure your future. I can guarantee that obedient soldiers will receive an increase in mary rewards, and those who achieve many aplishments will have the right to make an individual request." Xie Qing calmly smiled and withdrew his aura, allowing the soldiers to recover. This method of intimidation was not the most effective, but ifbined with a reward, everything should be in order. After all, everyone who came here harbors only one hope¡ªto achieve sess and return home, and then live a prosperous life. Chapter 270: Zhang Meis unit [II] The initial disturbances had subsided, which was a relief. At the very least, the soldiers had stopped openly fighting with each other, and the number of fights had decreased by almost 90%. Of course, despite the promising start, Xie Qing did not harbor any false hopes that things would remain this way forever. On the contrary, it was not impossible that, figuratively speaking, in a month or two, conflicts would start again. Where there are people, there is war. Therefore, the best way to upy the soldiers and prevent them from engaging in meaningless actions. "What¡­ send them to the front lines? But¡­" General Liu Hao, after listening to Xie Qing''s proposal, could not help but frown. Undoubtedly, this method was the best ¨C the soldiers would be exhausted and would not have time for personal conflicts. But now the situation on the front lines was alreadyplicated, and sending more soldiers could only make the situation worse. Moreover, most of the people in Zhang Mei''s squad were oriented more towards support rather than directbat. Therefore, Liu Hao resisted a little. "I am not insisting on this, I repeat again," Xie Qing said calmly while ying mahjong, humming happily to himself. He looked at Liu Hao, who was standing at attention, and added: "So the choice is yours. I know that sending them to the front lines is like giving the enemy a juicy steak, but I have no other thoughts. That is why I am not insisting, but proposing. Are my exnations clear to you?" "Yes, sir¡­ but in my humble opinion, there is no point in sending a support squad to such a critical area where their help is not needed at all," Liu Hao replied, puzzled. "It is up to you, sir. I may seem like a very smart person, but in matters of war, I defer to you. Therefore, the final word will be yours in this situation," Xie Qing exined slowly and calmly, lowering his gaze to the game and continuing to y. In passing, he added to his thought: "However, I do not think leaving them here is a smart idea. There are some areas that require attention, and I have marked them on the map. You can check for yourself." "What? Uh¡­ yeah... y-yes, sir!" Liu Hao, although confused about which areas Xie Qing was referring to, rushed to the strategic map and¡­ "Hm? This..." He indeed saw markers with added exnations, quite detailed ones. The man blinked and then began to read. [Devil Ancestor Canyon ¨C a ce where, ording to legends, the Devil Ancestor, the first devil cultivator, was sealed. Although these are legends and their truth has not been proven, the fact that there is an abundance of devil qi there is rming. Rmended actions ¨C purify the devil qi using high-quality Yang Qi] "This¡­ oh..." Liu Hao let out an admiring sigh. As a general, he valued information the most, and considering that Xie Qing had been on a mission in this area for about four years, he knew everything very well. And the canyon he noted indeed existed. However, this was not the end, and other areas were also listed. [Abyss River ¨C located in ''¡­'' and appears to be an ordinary river, but with ck water. If a normal person drinks this water, they will instantly die from organ failure, but for devil cultivators, it is like divine dew. It has strong healing properties, which, however, have a drawback ¨C they lead to severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression¡­] And then another. [Jueming Mountain Range ¨C at first nce, apletely arid and lifeless area, of no use. However, in reality, the highest mountain in this mountain range is a dormant volcano, in the crater of which, after eruptions, a special type of obsidian appears - Qi Concentration Obsidian. ording to my observations, it absorbs surrounding Qi, purifies it, and then makes it possible to absorb. After the cultivator absorbs the energy, the obsidian cracks and turns into dust. Also, new types of flowers grow here, which can grow in arid conditions¡­] The more Liu Hao read, the more he admired Xie Qing''s analysis, which had managed to find out about all these ces. Moreover, most of the notes emphasized beneficial resources and even critically important, supplying devil cultivators'' bases and natural sources. This information alone could be decisive in a war of attrition, when the enemy''s resources be depleted and, due to the inability to replenish them, significant changes ur in the enemy''sposition. Realizing all these facts, Liu Hao''s hand trembled with excitement, and his teeth chattered. "Sir¡­ Xie Qing. Can I take this n to the other generals?" Liu Hao asked with a trembling voice. "As you wish, it doesn''t matter to me," Xie Qing casually waved his hand and continued ying. "T-thank you, sir!" Liu Hao bowed deeply and then rushed out of the tent, flying away. Xie Qing only gave a brief nce and then, shaking his head, returned to the game. *** "Ho-o-o¡­" Zhang Mei was sitting in her office when she suddenly received a copy of the map with Xie Qing''s notes. She was impressed by the details, and there were many strategic points. "I underestimated him. I must admit, his skills are good. If it were Xu Mei, she wouldn''t even bother to make a deep analysis of the enemy," Zhang Mei thought. Although it may not sound like it, her praise was of the highest order, especially if she wasparing someone to Xu Mei. ¡­She herself did not fully realize that for her, Xu Mei had be something like an "ideal," so she unconsciouslypared others to her. But we will return to thister. After carefully reading all the notes, the woman sincerely sighed in admiration. Here was all the information they needed for the next two years, which could significantly change the situation. "Hm¡­ we can''t leave him without a reward, right?" Zhang Mei thought, tapping on the table: "We need to think of something." Zhang Mei''s character was such that she preferred to pay off all debts immediately to feel good. Most of all, she hated unpaid help, which in the end turns out to be very much "paid." Therefore, she racked her brain over what would please this guy? However, she had no ideas, as if everything that could suit him ¨C he already had. For some reason, during her thoughts, Zhang Mei recalled the incident at the hot springs where she had exposed her body. "N-no, no, no! Damn it, no!" Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Ahem¡­ what were we talking about? Zhang Mei began to bang her head on the table, her face turning as red as a tomato. The memories of that day made her shudder, and the forgotten feeling of shame returned with renewed force. At that time, she was a bit out of her mind. A strange heat, probably due to the hot springs, muddled her head and thoughts, leading her to take such a bold step. "I won''t! I won''t do that again. It was so embarrassing that I wanted to die!" she pleaded desperately: "Maybe I''m just going crazy from loneliness, right? Sigh!" Zhang Mei disappointedly bit her lip, imagining what the Master''s reaction would be if she saw her current state. To behave so desperately out of loneliness¡­ The woman blushed deeply and ignored the slight heat below her abdomen. She covered her red face. "How embarrassing¡­" *** Xie Qing cracked his neck, watching as Zhang Mei''s squad step by step moved towards their designated locations. The decision had been made to seize control of important strategic points, and for this, formations would also be needed. As a result, seeing the recently full camp now half-empty was indeed unusual. "Lady Zhang, your actions are truly wise. I can assure you that by capturing these points, we will be able to make a huge leap towards victory," Xie Qing said and looked at the woman beside him. Due to her height of 169 centimeters, she looked very petite and cute next to Xie Qing, like a doll. Blinking her eyshes, Zhang Mei rolled her eyes. "ttery won''t help you. I am still not pleased that you decided to execute the vitors without my permission." "Don''t be a grump. In such situations, one must show firmness to prevent such things from happening again. If you cut a weed in half, it will still grow back over time. Don''t you agree?" Xie Qing replied calmly, without flinching. "I can''t argue with that." Zhang Mei sighed. Her face becameplex as she sank into thought. And then¡­ "¡­reward." Her soft voice was heard by Xie Qing, though he only caught one word. The man politely bowed his head and then politely asked. "I''m sorry, I was distracted and didn''t hear you. Could you repeat that?" Zhang Mei wrinkled her nose, and the tips of her ears turned red. Then, with a much louder voice, she said. "What reward do you need?" "Hm?" Chapter 271: Lady Zhangs lips Xie Qing''s face was like an open book, perfectly disying his confusion. He looked at Zhang Mei and politely asked, "What reward are you referring to,dy?" "Ugh¡­ you know what I mean," Zhang Mei frowned and added specifics: "Your help with the map. That''s what the reward is for." "Ah, I see." Xie Qing nodded, finally understanding what she was talking about. But he could only scratch his cheek in bewilderment. "Actually, I didn''t expect a reward in the first ce," he replied honestly, then weakly smiled and made a joke: "But, if thedy agrees to kiss me on the cheek, that would be a great reward for me." "¡­" Zhang Mei remained silent and did not respond, her eyebrows furrowing even more. Xie Qing could only smile awkwardly. "It was just a joke. I don''t need a reward, believe me." Then, he straightened his posture and added with a smile: "It''s my duty as a righteous cultivator." "Hmm¡­" Despite Xie Qing''s joke, Zhang Mei''s face surprisingly became serious, and she looked as if she was deeply contemting this. "She''s hard to talk to¡­" Xie Qing thought, turning away with a crooked smile and scratching his cheek: "Well, it''s no wonder. I''m like a child to her, and the Master is an exception, always behaving like a young girl." And while he was lost in thought, suddenly a clicking sound rang in his ear, followed by a gentle and warm touch on his cheek. "Hmm?" Xie Qing startled and looked at Zhang Mei in confusion, who had stepped back from him with moist eyes. The woman made strange sounds, then blushed and disappeared, using teleportation. "What¡­ was that?" Xie Qing touched the spot on his cheek where Zhang Mei had kissed him, looking as if he had lost touch with the world. "I¡­ the one who always had control of the situation¡­ ended up on the losing side?" he thought, then bitterly smiled: "They say a girl''s heart is fickle, and a woman''s heart is like a fog." However¡­ Xie Qing smiled weakly¡ªthis time it was a happy smile. "It seems even thousand-year-old ice can melt if given time, huh?" he thought and squinted, suddenly wondering: "Wait, is this a sign that I can court her? Or is it just part of the reward? Hmm?" He had never been so confused in his life. *** If Xie Qing took the whole situation much more calmly than one might expect, Zhang Mei''s reaction was quite the opposite¡ªmuch more agitated. She locked herself in her private room, burying her face in a pillow, then, like a flustered young girl, kicked her feet against the mattress, mercilessly beating it. If one looked closely, they would notice her ears were flushed red, and her cheeks were burning, turning the color of a ripe apple. "I''m going crazy¡­" Zhang Mei thought, astonished by her own actions. Being the sect leader for so many years, and considering her age, she never expected such boldness from herself. However, instead of feeling only shame, Zhang Mei also felt emotions akin to embarrassment and joy. This greatly puzzled her. Perhaps this sudden change was rted to the man bing much stronger and more manly? Unfortunately, the woman experiencing theseplex emotions did not quite understand the meaning of her own feelings. "How embarrassing. I don''t want to be a fox who steals another woman''s husband, especially my acquaintance¡­" Zhang Mei pursed her lips, awkwardly lifting her head from the pillow and turning onto her back, looking at the ceiling: "Sigh¡­" *** The next day, as if nothing had happened, Zhang Mei returned to her usual behavior and showed no sign of embarrassment, despite directly interacting with Xie Qing. The man was quite pleased with this fact, although he did not notice how Zhang Mei''s ears had turned red. And so, sitting at the table and having lunch, he felt quite calm and cheerfully discussed topics rted to the battle with the devilish cultivators. "Lady Zhang, I received a message from General Liu Hao, which said: ''Thanks to the significant help of Mr. Xie Qing, we have captured some particrly strategic areas, including the enemy''s secret bases. There were casualties, but their number did not exceed a thousand. We will inform you of everything daily in the form of a report. Sincerely, Liu Hao.'' That''s what he wanted to convey," Xie Qing ryed Liu Hao''s report. "Hmm, hmm. Good, it seems my trust in him was not misced," Zhang Mei said in a satisfied voice, pleased with her general''s work. "Indeed. General Liu Hao is not only an open-hearted person but also possesses outstanding skills¡ªboth in the realm of cultivation and in terms of character," Xie Qing said, giving a brief but highlyplimentary assessment. "Oh? This is the first time I''ve heard you praise someone else. You''re usually so arrogant," Zhang Mei pursed her lips, hinting at a smile. "Don''t tease me like that, I was young and foolish back then, couldn''t see beyond the first heaven." Xie Qing pursed his lips when reminded of his youthful mistakes. Indeed, back then, he was so narrow-minded and proud that he paid no attention to others and rarely praised anyone, considering most cultivators beneath him. However, that time had long passed, and so many years of solitude and constant practice had helped him reevaluate his own values, leading to the current situation where he could think rationally and assess the whole picture. Seeing Xie Qing''s awkward face, Zhang Mei chuckled. "Oh,e on, I''m just joking." "Can you really do that?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow. "Rude." "Hehe." Xie Qingughed cheerfully, looking as if he had achieved a small revenge. Zhang Mei could only purse her lips in displeasure. The only thing she thought was that this guy really resembled his Master. "By the way, is Xu Mei your biological mother?" "¡­" The man decided to remain silent. *** "Damn, it''s cold!" Xu Mei climbed under the nket on Xie Qing''s bed, wrinkling her cute nose and shivering all over. The man nced at her and sighed. "You''re a cultivator at the Transcendence stage. Just will it, and the cold won''t affect you." "It''s not the same thing!" Xu Mei said, wrapped in the nket, now looking like a sushi roll. She snorted in displeasure, sniffing: "I hate the cold. However, if you don''t feel either heat or cold, you can''t enter the perfect state of enlightenment." "You''re just creating a problem for the sake of it." Xie Qing shook his head, looking helpless, and returned to his writing. This had be a habit for him¡ªrecording all his actions in a journal. It helped him reevaluate his steps, and in the future, it could serve as a reminder. "What are you writing?" a curious voice sounded near Xie Qing''s ear. He merely tilted his head slightly to the side and saw that Xu Mei had rested her chin on his left shoulder. He smirked and replied, "A journal. It''s be a habit to fill it out since I was on a mission. It helped me cope with loneliness." "Oh¡­" Xu Mei looked touched and gazed at her disciple with moist eyes, which held a spark. She grabbed his hand and then pulled him onto the bed. "Um¡­" "Hehe¡­ just lie down calmly, disciple," Xu Mei leaned in and licked her lips, looking at the bewildered Xie Qing. She tossed the nket aside and then, like a predator, bared her teeth: "The master will help you make up for all those years of loneliness!" "Can you handle it?" Xie Qing asked with a provocative smile. "Pff, easily!" ¡­It is said that on that night, the guards noticed a slight tremor in Xie Qing''s room, from which an exhausted Sovereign Xu Mei eventually emerged. Although some rumors circted, everyone concluded that Xu Mei was simply diligently teaching her disciple. Although, hmm¡­ it was actually a bit the other way around. *** The course of the war had significantly shifted. Now that most of the crucial points had been captured, and rumors were spreading among the devilish cultivators that the desired rewards might not exist and their leaders had long since perished¡­ The morale of the enemy army began to falter, which became a solid reason for the Righteous Dao to make a significant advance, annihting enemies in its path. Had the war been long? Yes, a year had already passed. Xie Qing was now 28 years old, and his cultivation level was indeed stuck at the ninth stage of Spiritual Ascension¡ªjust one step away from Divine Transformation. And mentioning Xie Qing, one could not overlook his current situation. Sitting in the lotus position, naked, he was absorbing Xu Mei''s Yin Qi. Initially, due to his low cultivation level, it was extremely difficult and ineffective to use the Dual Cultivation technique. But now¡­ "It seems I am ready¡­" Xie Qing murmured, and confidence gleamed in his eyes as his hands gripped Xu Mei''s soft buttocks: "Now I can form thew!" Chapter 272: Divine Transformation Laws A special form, inferior to the Dao, but superior to the ssic attributes embedded in the spiritual root from birth. The Law of Fire, the Law of Ice, the Law of Darkness¡­ in the ssical sense, there can be many suchws, but the main ones still have simrities with the basic attributes of nature and Qi. At the threshold of Divine Transformation, a cultivator must determine whichw they can best align with. And often, the most suitablew will be the one that corresponds to their most developed attribute. Xie Qing did not have any attributes as such ¨C his spiritual root was nothing special, which is why the ssic style of Qi did not suit him well. Therefore, he needed a long time to think and find the most suitable one. Thunder, thunder. Choosing the right location, devoid of any life, he began to prepare for the Heavenly Punishment. "Damn. Can''t they cut off this annoying thing? From Spiritual Ascension onwards, every breakthrough will be apanied by Heavenly Sorrow. Another problem on my exhausted ass," Xie Qing thought, aggressively scratching the back of his head. His mood had been spoiled since the morning, but the fact remained ¨C oveing Heavenly Sorrow was the first step to bing a cultivator of Divine Transformation. The main reason for his dy was that he had previously hit a wall because he had little understanding of how thews worked. But, whether it was due to the environment or something else, he managed to gain a slight enlightenment. "There were hints that I would be able to understand the essence of myw during Heavenly Sorrow. What a fortune teller¡­" *** Closing his eyes and calming down, Xie Qing waited for an hour. During this time, the sky thundered, and dark clouds began to gather over his head. Any cultivator passing by would immediately flee upon realizing that someone was trying to ovee Heavenly Sorrow. And then, when the heavens turned darker than night, lightning struck. "Now!" Xie Qing''s eyes shone, and a golden dome appeared around his body, serving as the first defense. Thunder. THUNDER! And the Heavens, as if seeing this act as disrespectful, thundered with renewed force, and then lightning, colored in sky-blue, descended from the Heavens, its brilliance literally blinding the onlookers. And, with a loud thunder and the shaking of the earth, as if a titan had jumped, Xie Qing met his first lightning strike. The golden domested a maximum of five minutes, which was not enough for full preparation, but it was enough to at least mentally prepare. With a dyed thunder, the lightning struck directly into Xie Qing''s crown, as if there was an antenna there, and then prated his body, causing chaos inside. "Ugh!" Xie Qing''s face contorted in pain ¨C but the expression was not so harsh, rather just annoyed. He gritted his teeth so hard that there was a familiar crunch. "Damn!" At the moment when Qi rebels against its master, it causes serious injuries, as in this situation. Blood began to flow from Xie Qing''s nose, which he sessfully ignored. Then, something deep in his blood began to awaken, and all the lightning that entered his body began to flow into the circtory system and suddenly be consumed by something. Xie Qing could only sigh in relief. He opened his eyes and wiped the cold sweat. "This is really tough. With each new level, Heavenly Sorrow bes harder and harder to ovee. Ugh¡­" And then, politely interrupting hisints, the familiar sound of a system notification rang out ¨C ding! [Golden Dragon Bloodline: 8%] "E-eight?!" Xie Qing''s eyes widened in shock. He had, of course, assumed that dragons could absorb Heavenly Lightning, but he never thought it could help his bloodline. A smile involuntarily appeared on his face¡­ Thunder¡­ thunder¡­ BOOM! ¡­which disappeared immediately after the second strike. "Ugh!" Groaning like some old man, Xie Qing resentfully pursed his lips when his hour of fun was interrupted by lightning that struck his body again. The pain was such that it felt like every particle of his skin was being slowly but surely torn off. And the scene repeated itself. Although the Qi in the spiritual channels initially became tangled to such an extent that it began to involuntarily leak out of the body of its user, that is, Xie Qing¡­ Further, things went much smoother. The lightning was again captured in the circtory system, the golden red blood cells began to absorb the Essence of Lightning, and then with lightning speed began to "multiply". Ding¡­ Another notification came, but Xie Qing could not concentrate. He was tormented by severe pain, which seemed toe from the depths of his soul. The only thing that helped in this situation was his self-control, which had been honed over so many years. And so¡­ Two days passed. The eighth lightning strike, which Xie Qing managed to absorb with difficulty, struck. From the side, all his clothes now looked like the rags of a beggar, and his own exhausted appearance and blood-soaked eyes, lips, and nose were definitely not the most pleasant sight. Moreover, his body had significantly thinned, which was associated with numerous exhaustion of Qi that leaked out of his body under the influence of the chaos within the spiritual channels. Thunder¡­ thunder¡­ "Son of a bitch¡­" Xie Qing wearily groaned, even his voice became much quieter and hoarser, as if he had been suffering from thirst for hundreds and hundreds of years. However, the Heavens seemed to mock him, sending another lightning strike that hit his poor crown, once again causing chaos inside his body. *** "Hey¡­" Xu Mei trembled, and her hands clenched into fists as a furious gaze filled with hostility turned to the beautiful silver-haired woman in front of her. "What the hell are you doing?" Xu Mei almost growled. "What am I doing? That''s my question, stupid bitch. Where are you going?!" Zhang Mei replied with obvious irritation. "I. Am. Going. To. Help. My. Disciple!" Xu Mei, in response, hissed each word through her teeth, as if resolutely exining her position, and with furious steps approached Zhang Mei almost face to face. Zhang Mei, not at all taken aback, just snorted, looking at the woman with contempt. "It seems you don''t trust him very much? What the hell. You''re acting like you''re his mother. Remember, bitch, he''s already in his twenties! He''s an adult! Growing a flower in a greenhouse, he won''t survive in the outside world!" "You¡­" Xu Mei frowned, but after Zhang Mei''s words, her aggression decreased somewhat. After all, the woman was not entirely wrong. Her attitude towards Xie Qing was indeed somewhat overprotective, as she did not want to see even minor wounds on him. However, by doing so, she did not realize that she was simply depriving him of the most important quality for a cultivator ¨C experience! "Do you think you''re the only one who finds it unpleasant to see him suffer?" Zhang Mei continued, her eyes narrowing, which made her look very piercing in this situation. "I also care, because this brat''s Heavenly Sorrow has always been abnormal. However, I won''t do anything until he faces REAL danger. Do you understand?" "Hmph. What do you understand?" Xu Mei dismissively waved her hand, truly looking angry. "I can''t just sit and watch him suffer. I¡­" "We suffered too!" Zhang Mei roared in anger, making Xu Mei jump in surprise. Seeing the shock on her friend''s face, Zhang Mei clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Of course, we are inferior to him in talent, even you, Xu Mei. However! We have endured many hardships! We have suffered worse injuries, been on the brink of death, while our peers enjoyed life. But look at us now! Those who squandered money and did nothing are now six feet under with their families, while we are still alive and have every chance to be Immortals!" "¡­" "You''re trying to help, but no! You''re hindering! Hindering his development. If he remains at the same level, whose fault is it? Whose, if not yours, Xu Mei?!" It seemed that the sudden outburst of anger and raised voice from the usually calm Zhang Mei was so confusing that Xu Mei froze and simply listened to everything she was being told. Liu Yang silently hovered in the sky, watching the quarrel between the two. At first, she wanted to intervene, but it seemed there was no need. She turned her gaze to Xie Qing and smiled bitterly. "One young man, so many problems. And who would have thought that Zhang Mei¡­ sigh¡­" The old woman could only sigh and shake her head. Her friends had long grown up and started to be independent. And most importantly¡­ A new light had appeared in their lives. Liu Yang blinked her eyes and, seeing the quarrel of the two women, thought. "I should make my disciple show more persistence." Liu Yang''s head began to ache with pain. On one side were mature women, as old as the world, and on the other, her disciple, an absolute sweetheart, but very young." Chapter 273: Jealousy... Zhang Mei? A week. That was how long it took Xie Qing to ovee the Heavly Sorrow that had be tormting him reltlessly. It was impossible to count the number of lightning strikes that had hit his mortal body, causing him so much pain and suffering. Fortunately for him, the clouds dispersed, and the thunder grew quieter and quieter until it disappearedpletely. "Ha-a-a¡­" A deep breath filled with suffering and helplessness was heard from Xie Qing, who now looked like charcoal. He tried to stand up¡ªat least, he attempted to. His body trembled, and th he fell back to the same spot. Every bone in his body ached, and ev the slightest movemt of his little finger caused him unbearable pain. "Damn lightning. I must have done something terrible in my past life," Xie Qing thought to himself with self-pity and closed his eyes, feeling exhausted. "Can''t I ev control my younger brother? Damn, this is so tiring." And while he was healing, three people suddly appeared behind him¡ªLiu Yang, Zhang Mei, and Xu Mei. "This¡­" Ev the two wom who were particrly resilit to brutal sces couldn''t help but frown at the sight of his miserable state, let alone Xu Mei, who almost fainted at the sight of Xie Qing. "!!!" Xu Mei''s heart seemed to leap out of her chest, and her face turned pale. Running to her disciple... no, her beloved, she hugged him tightly, and tears began to flow from her eyes, her nose sniffling cutely, expressing the depth of her suffering. "Everything... is... fine¡­" was all Xie Qing could say in a hoarse voice, gtly stroking Xu Mei''s back. Although the touch couldn''t be called gtle, as his hands had long since withered and looked like bones. Ev so, for Xu Mei, it was the most soothing and warm touch. "Sister Liu!" the woman cried out with a sobbing voice, addressing Liu Yang, who nodded briefly. Among them, there was probably no better doctor than Liu Yang. Therefore, Xu Mei, ev though she was very reluctant, stepped away from her beloved and allowed her frid to begin the treatmt. Zhang Mei, surprisingly, did not quarrel with Xu Mei this time but instead showed tderness and couraged her frid. Liu Yang examined Xie Qing''s body and sighed in relief, cing her hand on her chest wh she saw that nothing serious had happed and the man''s life was not in danger. "Everything is fine, it''s mainly just external injuries that can be removed with pills in a few hours," Liu Yang made her diagnosis and looked at Xu Mei with a gtle smile, whose face began to regain its color little by little. "So don''t worry. I won''t leave your hubby in trouble." "T-thank you very much, Sister Liu." "Hehe¡­" Liu Yang teasingly smirked wh she saw Xu Mei blush at the word "hubby," but she didn''t dy itpletely. She returned to the treatmt. "Can you undress? I''m afraid you''ll need to take off all your clothes¡­ if this rag can be called clothes, of course," Liu Yang said and blushed slightly. "Ugh¡­" Xie Qing made a guttural sound and th nodded. Liu Yang looked at Xu Mei. "Undress him." "Huh?" "Undress him," Liu Yang repeated, seeing the incredulous look on the woman''s face, and said sharply, "Quickly! Am I supposed to apply the ointmt through his clothes?!" "Oh, right!" Xu Mei blushed. In fact, she had some concerns, considering that there were too many pottial rivals a her. However, hearing Liu Yang''s sharp words, she quickly got to work. Soon, the tattered clothes were thrown aside, and Xie Qingy on a special cotpletely naked. His tire body was burned, but¡­ Liu Yang looked at his manhood with disbelief and some curiosity. "How¡­ did it ev survive?" she blushed and struggled to look away. "And that size¡­ oh¡­ how does ''it'' ev fit inside Xiao Mei?" The woman looked at Xu Mei''s groin and blushed ev more as her imagination ran wild. She shook her head. "I need to focus on the treatmt!" ¡­In fact, not only Liu Yang was charmed and puzzled by the state of Xie Qing''s gitals, which were perhaps the only intact part of his body. Zhang Mei frowned, but it was just an attempt to control her facial expression. "It''s still so big¡­ and how the hell did his pis survive wh the rest of his body is in such a miserable state?" she looked at Xu Mei, who, seeing the intactness of Xie Qing''s pride, smiled conttedly. Suddly, a thought urred to Zhang Mei, and she paled, looking at Xu Mei in shock. "Hey, don''t tell me¡­" "Huh? Yes, I used the Invincibility Bell relic on him¡­" "You¡­" Zhang Mei fell to her knees, her mind in disarray. She wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn''te. "The Invincibility Bell. There are only twty of them from ancit times, and it can be used for a specific part of the body that will be invincible to most attacks for thousands of years¡­ you had six out of twty, but..." Zhang Mei trembled, and tears almost began to flow from her eyes. "You used one of them to protect his cock?..." "Huh? I didn''t expect you to use such vulgar words!" Xu Meiughed cheerfully and th nodded. "Yes, what''s wrong with that? You know, male pride also needs to be protected. He has several bells on his body, hehe." "''Hehe''? ''HEHE'', damn it?!" Zhang Mei gritted her teeth in anger and th roared, barely restraining herself from strangling Xu Mei. "Are you stupid?! This is a precious artifact, one of a kind, a legacy of antiquity! And you used it to protect your disciple''s pis?!" "Oh,e on, Master also approved it¡­" "AAAAGH!" Zhang Mei clched her fist and struck the g. Well, her reaction is understandable, as the Invincibility Bell is considered an artifact of antiquity, and only a few practitioners in the world possess ev one part of it. In reality, ev she, the leader of a famous sect, did not have a single bell, while Xu Mei had six. "How¡­ how depressing¡­ to waste an artifact on something like this¡­ my life is meaningless¡­" Well, I don''t know what to say. Hang in there, okay? *** "Hmm¡­" Liu Yang was deaf to the dialogue betwe Zhang Mei and was only focused on the treatmt. As a result, in two and a half hours, she sessfully healed all the scars, burns, and the like, restoring the body to its usual appearance. Xie Qing himself, thanks to taking the appropriate pills, was able to improve his condition. "Thank you," Xie Qing said sincerely. Liu Yang politely smiled, but her gaze, for some reason, did not linger on Xie Qing for more than two seconds, and if it did, it was clearly not on his face. "Hmm?" The man was initially puzzled by Liu Yang''s mysterious behavior, but wh a cold wind blew¡­ "¡­" He siltly took out his clothes and began to dress. Only th could Liu Yang make eye contact with him. "Xie Qing!" As soon as he walked a little, a sh suddly appeared before him, and his tire body felt softness, as if sinking into a bed. "I''m so d you''re okay!" The gtle and clearly emotional voice of Xu Mei reached Xie Qing''s heart, making him smile tderly as he lovingly stroked her back. Liu Yang and Zhang Mei merely watched from the side. If the first had a gtle smile on her face, the second had a sull expression. "Hmm?" Liu Yang raised an eyebrow and looked at Zhang Mei, curiously asking, "What''s wrong with you? Your mood has worsed." "¡­Just some trivial things," Zhang Mei muttered reluctantly under her breath. "Oh?" Liu Yang politely smiled, understanding that something was bothering the woman, but she decided to wait until she was ready to talk about it herself. Zhang Mei, observing this peaceful sce, felt ufortable. "What is this¡­ feeling¡­" she thought. *** Xie Qing cracked his neck and looked back. There was a barrier to the devilish worlds. "It feels like an eternity has passed," the man said aloud and sighed, gtly squeezing the woman''s hand. Xu Mei remained silt. For her, who had waited helplessly for so many days for her beloved to return, those days had be so long that sometimes it drove her mad. Xie Qing smiled and looked ahead. His face softed as he looked forward. "It''s always nice toe home." Ahead were¡­ Li Yun, Lu Yin, Huang Jing, Yu Yang, Fang Lan, Lyu Lyu, Xie Meiling, Xie Yu (Xie Qing''s cousin), Lian Xin (an elder from the early chapters), Lian Lin (Xie Qing''s mtor sister), and the disciples of the Heavly Sword. Taking a deep breath, Xie Qing smiled. "I''m back." It seemed as though an eternity had passed. As if all those days were a dream. Xie Qing suddly felt as if a burd had be lifted from his shoulders. He had left as a youth, knowing little of the world. And now he was still just a young man, yet to see the world. However, this experice had helped him in many ways. From this momt on... a new chapter in his life begins. Chapter 274: Welcome banquet To meet Xie Qing, the girls who had romantic rtionships with him had to unite, despite personal conflicts and animosity based on feelings of rivalry. They prepared for a long time and arranged the best reception, one that the Sect of Heavenly Sword had never seen before. Even Xie Qing, who was ustomed to luxurious banquets, was amazed. "How do you like it?" A beautiful female voice sounded. Xie Qing turned his head and smiled when he saw a beautiful girl with hair like sea waves and eyes like the clear sky. It was Lyu Lyu. Dressed in a beautiful gown that matched her hair, she looked very elegant and was the epitome of "true innocent beauty." "You look absolutely stunning, Lyu," Xie Qing said tenderly, taking the girl''s hand and gently rubbing her palm. "T-thank you." Lyu Lyu smiled shyly, and her smile, like a medicine, made Xie Qing sigh in relief and feel as if he were about to ascend to the Heavens. "And¡­" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, infusing his Qi into Lyu Lyu''s spiritual channels. "Mmm!" "Haha¡­ you''re at the peak of Soul Nascent!" Xie Qing ignored Lyu Lyu''s alluring moan and only expressed his admiration for her cultivation level, which had undergone so many changes in a rtively short time. Hearing the sincere praise in her man''s voice, Lyu Lyu also became happy and nodded excitedly. "Yes! I cultivated diligently, and thanks to my zither, I am now a true cultivator at the peak of Soul Nascent!" "Well done. To reach this level in such a short time¡­ you''re a genius!" From the man''s broad smile, one could tell how pleased he was when praising Lyu Lyu, and she epted his praise with a bright smile. Of course, as a fairly popr person, he had to spend time not only with Lyu Lyu. He socialized with many people, drinking, dancing, and the like. Although it was rather immoral to enjoy oneself while most of the cultivators'' military force was fighting against the devilish cultivators, Xie Qing did not care about this. Anyway, they would be rewarded for it. *** "Finally free." Huang Jing nced at Xie Qing and took a sip of wine. "I''m quite popr, nothing to add," Xie Qing replied and sat down on a chair, sighing in relief: "Phew! I''m as tired as a dog, honestly¡­ I''ve never liked such events." "You''ll have to. You wanted to be the sect master, right? That will also require a lot of time." "No, I''ve changed my mind." "Huh?" Huang Jing raised an eyebrow, hearing Xie Qing''s words. He couldn''t believe that the always ambitious youth would say such a thing. "Are you serious?" the man sighed and rubbed his brows: "Many ns will go down the drain¡­ sigh!" "My ns have always been long-term. Don''t worry, I won''t stop supporting you," Xie Qing replied casually and nudged Huang Jing with his elbow: "Right¡­ head of the family?" "Don''t tease me, okay? I''m so tired of all this crap¡­" "Come on. You''re already at the fourth stage of Soul Nascent and have be the head of the family. That''s impressive," Xie Qing replied with a carefree smile. Indeed, Huang Jing, with Xie Qing''s support during his absence, had be the head of the family. Thanks to Huang Jing''s good character, intelligence, and the support of the main representative of the geniuses of this generation¡­ His father did not refuse his son and, after two years, passed on the position. And it seemed that the goal was achieved, but¡­ "Dude, I don''t know what to do!" Huang Jing almost cried, leaning against the wall. He clutched his heart: "My wife is about to give birth to our second child! I hope this time it''s a boy, otherwise, because of the stupid family rules, I won''t be able to pass on my position in the future." "Haha¡­ ha¡­ ha?" Xie Qingughed and then froze. He widened his eyes and then looked at Huang Jing in disbelief. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! You have children?!" It seemed that his shocked cry attracted quite a bit of attention, but seeing that it was Xie Qing, everyone simply ignored it and returned to their business. Huang Jing was no less puzzled. It seemed he did not understand the reason for Xie Qing''s surprise. "What? Why such a strong reaction?" "Y-you¡­ already have children?" Xie Qing asked in shock. "Yeah, dude, she''s one year old. She''s so cute, haha, my little princess!" It seemed that Huang Jing immediately became cheerful after his daughter was mentioned. He grinned and pulled out a portrait from his spatial ring, drawn by a skilled artist. Resembling her father exactly, the girl had ck hair, although it was curly. Her eyes, however, were yellow, just like Huang Jing''s. "Damn, she looks like you," Xie Qing marveled. "What are you even surprised about, freak? She''s my daughter, of course, she''ll look like me," Huang Jing curled his lips and snatched the portrait from the man''s hands: "Her name is Huang Bing. She was born with the ice spiritual attribute, hence the name." "Yellow ice*? Dude, you''re gross." "¡­I can''t even beat you up. You''re annoying," Huang Jing was at a loss for words. Xie Qing waved off the irritated Huang Jing. He still hadn''t recovered from the shock that his friend had a family and even a daughter. Although, considering that the heads of families must have children in case of sudden death¡­ I guess it''s not surprising. "Where did Fan Lan go?" Xie Qing asked casually, sipping his wine. "You mean the head of the Fan family?" Huang Jing added with a smirk and answered Xie Qing''s question: "On the balcony, discussing business with a sect. She''ll be back soon." "Am I the only carefree one in our group?" Xie Qing said with a downcast look and wiped away non-existent tears. "Yeah." "¡­" *** Xie Qing decided to take a walk and chat with other people, as Huang Jing was invited for a private conversation with some influential people to discuss business. People rarely approached Xie Qing ¨C mostly only high-ranking individuals, but even they were nervous when talking to him. This was because, in their eyes, Xie Qing was nothing less than a monster who had surpassed the limits of the concept of a prodigy and be a Divine Transformation cultivator at the age of 27. "Ah? It seems you''re not having much fun." As Xie Qing was casually strolling around, he was suddenly addressed by a gentle female voice. He turned his head and saw that it was Lu Yin and Li Yun, who were cheerfully waving at him. "Bored?" Li Yun asked with a smile, using her usual soft voice. "Um¡­" Xie Qing smiled bitterly. He couldn''t very well say that he hated such formalities, could he? After all, they had prepared this banquet for him, even though it had turned into an official gathering. "It''s fine, don''t worry," Xie Qing replied, waving his hand dismissively. "We just wanted a private banquet, just for ourselves, but¡­" Li Yun sighed and ced her hand on her cheek, saying with sadness in her voice, "The Sect Master and the others insisted that we should use this opportunity to boost the people''s morale and showcase our achievements." "I understand, don''t worry." Xie Qing waved his hand again. He wasn''t particrly concerned about such matters; it didn''t bother him. "Shall we sit somewhere?" Lu Yin suggested. "Ah? Sure." Xie Qing nodded, and they took a table in the corner. A waiter brought them wine, poured it into their sses, and then left with a bow. "I heard about your adventures. I wanted to go to your barrier myself, but the Sect Master forbade it," Li Yun said with a pout. "And rightly so," Xie Qing noted, swirling the liquid in his ss. He looked at Li Yun, "Your cultivation level has increased, that''s true, but there''s no need to take unnecessary risks. Even for me, with my cultivation level, it''s dangerous there, let alone for you." "I understand, but¡­" "Enough, don''t worry. If I needed help, I would have asked you," Xie Qing said with a smile, gently patting Li Yun''s head. "Pfft!" The girl turned away in annoyance, looking displeased. Lu Yin, however, smiled carefreely. *** The banquet ended on a pleasant note¡ªnot surprisingly, given the excellent security and the carefully vetted guests. The banquet hall eventually emptied, and Xie Qing, having seen Huang Jing off, returned to his mansion. "Wee back, master!" There, servants lined up on both sides of the entrance and respectfully bowed their heads. Xie Qing looked them over from head to toe and noticed that there were new servants, but the old, loyal ones were still there. "Thank you for your wee," he said briefly and smiled, looking ahead: "Mother. It''s alreadyte, you could have gone to sleep." Standing there was a woman with facial features simr to his. Hearing his voice, she smiled gently. "You''re returning after a long time. How could I not greet you properly? Because of the banquet, we had to postpone our warm wee." ==== * The surname Huang, specifically in this case, means "yellow," and the name Bing (b¨©ng) means ice. Chapter 275: Caring mom [R-18] Upon returning home, Xie Qing was greeted by another banquet, but this time it was intended for family and servants. As the man was in a good mood, he gave everyone a bonus. The amount was so enormous that it made many servants fall to their knees and worship him as if they had seen a god. And at night¡­ well¡­ *** Xie Qing opened his eyes. He had finished meditating and strengthened his cultivation level, bing a cultivator at the first stage of Divine Transformation. "This was tough. Thew¡­ has formed." Xie Qing raised his hand, and lightning began to dance on his palm. Hisw was Lightning. "It seems this is because I absorbed a lot of lightning, hence the result. But it''s not bad. Since ancient times, lightning has been considered one of the most ''royal'' attributes, so I quite like it. Moreover, the lightning attribute pairs well with the sword." Xie Qing thought and rubbed his chin thoughtfully: "Moreover¡­" Dragon Awakening. At the moment of his breakthrough, he hadn''t noticed much, but his blood had reached new heights. [Golden Dragon Bloodline: 8%] [First stage of awakening achieved¡­ calcting possibilities¡­] [Lifespan increased by 1,000,000 years. Significant improvement in physical body and soul¡­pleted by 3%]. "No wonder I felt my body be stronger and my mind clearer. Due to the minor disorder, I had to ignore these notifications, but I missed so much!" The man sighed in admiration. Even though he was usually quite reserved, he couldn''t help but be impressed by the gains he had made. "And¡­ a million years of life? Damn, can I even live that long? I haven''t seen anyone older than ten thousand years. This world is still young." The man thought and scratched the back of his head: "Although, among immortals, there might be those who are over a million years old. It''s not impossible, as they usually have long lives. Living that long¡­ is it a curse or a blessing?" A million years of life. Just imagine. A person living that long would usually have such a strong mind that it''s hard to even imagine. However, this was what all cultivators aspired to. To live forever and rise above the clouds, control their destiny, and point the way. Xie Qing patted his chest and stood up. "Hm?" Or at least, he tried to stand up. He discovered that something was holding his body down. More precisely, someone. "This¡­ is it Mother?" Xie Qing was embarrassed. How had he not noticed her presence? The woman was sleeping peacefully, apparently havinge here while the man was busy cultivating, and decided not to disturb him but to wait until he finished meditating. "Mother, wake up." Xie Qing gently stroked her hair. "Mmm¡­" Letting out a long moan, Xie Meiling stretched and then looked at her son with a sleepy gaze. She yawned, covering her mouth with her hand, maintaining her manners like a truedy. "You were cultivating, and I thought it would be nice to sleep with you again, especially considering how much time has passed," Xie Meiling exined, rubbing her eyes, and then added: "But in the end, I fell asleep. Did you increase your cultivation time?" "Yes¡­ hm¡­" Xie Qing was embarrassed. Now that his mother had emerged from under the nket, it was revealed that she was wearing an extremely revealing negligee, through which her slender figure and tworge mounds with delicate pink nipples could be seen, which looked aroused. At this sight, Xie Qing''s younger brother immediately began to move, and the blood flow once again opened the station "organism-penis." "Oh?" Of course, as an attentive woman, Xie Meiling immediately noticed the tent in her son''s groin area, and a sly smile appeared on her sleepy face, as if this were part of her grand n. "Well, well. Look at that. Did you get aroused seeing your mommy''s body?" Xie Meiling said with a gentle and at the same time excited smile, leaning in and resting her shoulder against Xie Qing''s shoulder. Her hand gently stroked his tent, and she whispered to him: "This sounds¡­ like a treat for me, son." Without waiting for Xie Qing''s reaction, Xie Meiling threw his clothes into the spatial ring ¨C this alone showed that she was extremely aroused, as the woman usually enjoyed a slow entrance. read-more-at-MvLeMpYr But who knows how many years had passed, and Xie Meiling had missed her son too much. Enjoying hispany and conversation, of course, her secret desires awakened at night. "Aaam¡­" Opening her mouth wide, Xie Meiling showed her mouth and then swallowed the base of Xie Qing''s jade rod, sinking lower and lower, going down. Soon, she touched her nose to his pubic area. "Ugh¡­" Feeling the saliva envelop his younger brother and how the woman skillfully moved her tongue, Xie Qing experienced something akin to lightning running through his body. He let out a rough sigh, grabbing Xie Meiling''s head, and then began to roughly lift and lower it, fucking her hard. "Ug¡­ ug¡­ ug¡­" Xie Meiling''s eyes watered, but she didn''t ask him to stop; instead¡­ liquid began to squirt from her vagina, showing that she even enjoyed it. "I-I''m...ing!" Xie Qing grabbed Xie Meiling''s head more firmly and then pushed it all the way down. Xie Meiling, closing her eyes, enjoyed the sensation of her son''s milk entering her throat, making her moan and shudder with pleasure. *** "AAAAAH!" A loud, almost deafening moan echoed through Xie Qing''s room. Holding Xie Meiling in his arms, he thrust into her with quick and precise movements, making her body tremble. The woman''s mind seemed to leave her¡ªher rolled-back eyes filled with tears and her mouth dripping with saliva were evidence of this. "Aaaah!" Finally, Xie Qing made hisst "thrust," and then released his seed inside her. Xie Meiling, as if awakening from a dream, let out a sweet, seductive moan, arching her back. If not for Xie Qing supporting her, she would have fallen down. Having experienced several orgasms, the woman fell heavily onto the bed, herrge breasts heaving up and down as semen dripped from her vagina. "Phew¡­ this is the feeling I missed¡­" she said, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Oh? You missed this even more than your son?" Xie Qing teased with a smile. "Of course not, silly." "Heh." Xie Qing cracked his neck. Either way, he was just joking. Sitting next to his mother, he idly began to y with her breasts¡ªsucking on her nipples and kneading the other free breast with his hand, teasing her nipple. "Aah¡­ w-wait¡­ aaaah!" Of course, still aroused and sensitive, Xie Meiling was not ready for this, but contrary to her words, Xie Qing only continued his actions. He even used his Qi to enhance her sensitivity. "P-please wait, I beg you¡­ AAAAH! I-I''m cuming!" However, even after her plea, nothing stopped the man, and she came, arching her back like a drawn bowstring. Fluid gushed from her semen-filled pussy. Xie Qing pulled back and smiled, seeing his mother''s exhausted state. His physique was good enough to endure long-term "dual cultivation," but this wasn''t always the case for his partners. Although it was quite enjoyable to have sex, Xie Qing couldn''t continue right now, even though he felt quite aroused. He looked at his tired mother. "I need to remember that I''m not the same as before. I need to be more careful," he sighed. *** "How are you?" Xie Qing asked, pouring wine into a ss and handing it to his mother, who looked very tired. "I''m fine, just didn''t expect you to be so aggressive," Xie Meiling replied with a wry smile. "Sorry, it seems only I am feeling the pleasure." "Oh? No, don''t worry, I''m enjoying it too. Just seeing you so exhausted makes me feel proud, haha." "Pfft, brat¡­" Xie Meiling pouted at Xie Qing''s joke, but a soft smile appeared on her face. She took the wine and, after taking a sip, expressed her opinion. "As always, it''s very delicious. Your wine collection is still excellent." "You know how to makepliments. I spent a lot of money on this wine, somewhere around 5,000 Spiritual Stones," Xie Qing honestly replied. "Pff-ff-ff! S-stop, how much? FIVE THOUSAND SPIRITUAL STONES?!" Xie Meiling''s reaction was immediate, and she looked at her son in shock, then grabbed his ear and started twisting it. "Ow¡­" "Brat, didn''t I tell you not to spend money on such useless things? Any wine, no matter how delicious, is not worth that much money! How can you be so wasteful?!" "Ow-ow-ow¡­ s-sorry, but what can I do? Habits, you know¡­ ow!" "Habbits my ass!" Xie Qing smiled sheepishly, listening to his mother''s scolding. Nevertheless, this only meant one thing. He was home¡­ "By the way, have you rested enough?" "You¡­" Xie Meiling was left speechless by his shamelessness. It was no wonder many men disliked him. But as a woman, especially considering how attentive and wonderful he was¡­ "Let''s do it in five minutes¡­" she replied, embarrassed. "Yes, ma''am!" Xie Qing smiled and sighed in relief. "Good thing I managed to change the subject." Chapter 276: Huang Jings family Early in the morning, Xie Meiling fell asleep with a tired look, and Xie Qing himself, wearing a thin robe and holding a ss of wine, sat on the balcony, gazing at the stars in the sky. "I... am still not satisfied..." he thought, scratching the back of his head. Dragon''s bloodline... it had its pros and cons simultaneously. A strong physical body seemed to be a hindrance in this situation, so even after a long and active session, Xie Qing remained unsatisfied. "What aedy..." he sighed. *** Early in the morning, Xie Qing went out to the garden and began his exercises. Was this at his level of cultivation? Of course not. However, it was part of his daily routine. "Phew¡­ phew¡­" Doing push-ups on the grass, Xie Qing had already done two hundred. He was shirtless, which attracted the attention of the female servants. "Phew!" Getting up from the ground, Xie Qing blinked, seeing a towel extended towards him. "Here. You''re a bit sweaty." "Oh?" The man smiled when he saw the familiar face. It was Fang Lan, who hade to Xie Qing''s estate after finishing her own affairs. "I thought you had forgotten about me," Xie Qing said calmly, wiping himself with the towel given by Fang Lan. "N-no, of course not!" The girl seemed to panic upon hearing his words and waved her hands: "It''s just that my family''s affairs have been a bit troublesometely, and I had to focus on that¡­ I''m sorry for not paying attention." "It was a joke. I don''t mind, don''t worry." Xie Qing spoke in the same calm voice. In any case, he truly no longer cared about such things and understood that not everyone could always pay attention to him. With age, everyone has more things to do. Throwing the towel over his shoulder, the man looked at Fang Lan, who appeared gloomy ¨C it seemed his joke had hurt her. He sighed. "Let''s go inside. I have a few topics to discuss with you." "With me?" "That''s what I said." "¡­" *** "Ah? Seriously, he''s already having a second child?" Fang Lan seemed to know about the existence of Huang Jing''s first child, but she had no idea about the second one. "Yeah. I was already shocked that he became a father, and now he''s having a second child. I must say, Brother Huang has surpassed me in personal life, hah." Xie Qing smiled, recalling the happy face of Huang Jing when he talked about his daughter: "He cares about her very much. It feels like that perverted Brother Huang has be much calmer after getting married. Hahaha!" "You''re quite the joker. This marriage became real because of you, you know?" Fang Lan said, pursing her lips and taking a sip of tea. "Ah, yes... I just wanted to y a prank on him back then. Who would have known, who would have known..." Now that this fact was pointed out, Xie Qing felt embarrassed. He even felt guilty for such an unthoughtful act, but remembering the happy Huang Jing, his heart calmed down. "What do children like in this era?" Xie Qing suddenly asked. He met Fang Lan''s puzzled gaze and added: "I want to give a gift to Huang Jing''s daughter. We consider ourselves brothers, and I haven''t given her anything. I feel awkward." "Hm... I don''t really know, I''ve never had children..." Fang Lan replied. "Hm?" Xie Qing met Fang Lan''s mysterious gaze, in which, it seemed, one could see excitement. He thought for a moment and pursed his lips. "...Let''s discuss thister. First, let''s figure out what we can give to a child? I have no ideas at all..." the man bitterly smiled. "Heh." Fang Lan, on the other hand, brightened up after the man''s hint and began to think intensely about the gift, offering ideas. Xie Qing listened attentively, propping up his chin, gazing into the green eyes of his beloved. *** "I''m back, dear." Huang Jing entered his bedroom with a smile and saw a beautiful woman sitting at the dressing table. She had long chestnut hair, beautiful blue eyes like a precious gem, and a slender body like a willow. "Wee back, dear." The woman turned her head with a gentle smile. Her name was Zhao Yuyi, Huang Jing''s wife. As soon as she turned, Huang Jing immediately noticed the ratherrge protruding belly. He approached and knelt on one knee, pressing his ear to her belly. "Hehe... I can almost hear it," the man said with a happy face. "Hehe, dear..." Zhao Yuyi looked at him with a happy smile. They cooed like this for a while until Zhao Yuyi sighed and remembered something. "Oh, yes. You recently received a letter. It was marked as extremely important. I saved it in your personal cab." "Oh? Who could it be..." Huang Jing raised an eyebrow. His servants usually marked letters, and in some cases, extremely important markings were given only to influential officials. However, there were few such letters. Taking the envelope with the letter from the cab, Huang Jing carefully read the sender and raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Xie Qing? What does this guy want from me?" His sworn brother was quite strange but a good guy. And usually, he hated writing letters and preferred to meet in person. Given his wealth, this was a matter of minutes. "So..." Huang Jing opened the letter, feeling a bit curious. He was interested in what this guy, who hated such formalities, had written to him. [I have finished my business at the estate, so I decided to visit you. Let''s skip the luxurious dinner, I want to meet your family. I will arrive tomorrow at three in the afternoon.] "¡­" Huang Jing put the letter back in the envelope and began to sweat. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead onto the floor. "Dear?" Zhao Yuyi was puzzled by his reaction. "This... is a disaster..." "W-what happened, dear?!" *** Xie Qing looked puzzled at Huang Jing, who was greeting him and Fang Lan at the gates of his estate. "What''s wrong? You look pale," Xie Qing asked, puzzled, examining Huang Jing and stopping at his eyes: "Didn''t you sleep? You look tired." "D-don''t worry... it''s just..." Huang Jing hesitated and, looking at Xie Qing''s puzzled face, gathered his courage and awkwardly said: "Could you... cover your face somehow? Just in case..." "What?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, surprised by such a sudden request. Cover his face? Why? "Ah..." Fang Lan seemed to immediately understand what Huang Jing meant and gave him a sympathetic look. Only Xie Qing did not fully understand what was going on. "What for..." "Your face. It''s too attractive. He''s afraid you''ll seduce his wife," Fang Lan whispered, making sure Huang Jing didn''t hear. "Ah? Why would I do that?" "The problem is that... it''s not even up to you." "¡­" Xie Qing fell silent. He truly did not understand why Huang Jing was so worried. "Don''t worry, everything will be fine," Xie Qing assured him: "I''m not some jerk who would flirt with my friend''s wife." "Well..." Huang Jing smiled bitterly, and Fang Lan just rolled her eyes. Xie Qing felt offended. "But I''m not lying!" "We know..." "It''s just that... again..." Fang Lan sighed and, waving her fan, opened it and covered half her face, leaving only her eyes, which narrowed at the handsome face of her man. She blushed: "You''re just too handsome. It will attract any woman." "¡­" *** Xie Qing still refused to wear a mask, as he found it too strange. Huang Jing sighed but did not try to persuade him further. "Sir, the table is set, and the Lady and the youngdy are waiting for you..." the maid said, bowing. "Very well." Huang Jing nodded sternly, then turned to his two guests with a smile and waved his hand. "Follow me. I will introduce you." They began to ascend the stairs and, after making several turns, reached a spacious hall where a long table stood in the center of the room. Next to the table stood two people ¨C a pregnant woman and a little girl who clung to her mother''s hand and leaned against her thigh, looking both interested and nervous. "Brother Xie, Sister Fang. This is my family... allow me to introduce them," Huang Jing said gently, standing next to the pregnant woman and cing his hand on her back: "This beauty is my wife, Zhao Yuyi. Brother Xie should remember her brother..." "Pleased to meet you, esteemed ones..." Zhao Yuyi nodded to them with a gentle smile: "Forgive me for not being able to bow. In my condition, it is quite difficult..." "Do not worry," Xie Qing waved his hands and smiled: "You are the wife of my brother, so I would feel ufortable if you bowed. My name is Xie Qing, and this is my beloved." Fang Lan bowed elegantly and introduced herself with a smile. "Fang Lan. Although I have only seen you from afar, you are indeed beautiful, Lady. Huang Jing is very fortunate." "I am the fortunate one," Zhao Yuyi giggled, covering her mouth as sheughed. Then she pointed to her daughter: "And this is our daughter, Huang Bin" see NovelBin,em,pyr for more Chapter 277: Uncle Xie Qing and Fang Lans request. As expected, Huang Bing looked very much like her father. With the same ck hair and yellow eyes, she perfectly fit the description of the Huang family. Xie Qing smiled and knelt down so that his eye level was even with the child. He took out three spatial rings and gently asked, "Will you hold out your hand?" "Ah?" The child let out a surprised gasp, seeming to understand Xie Qing''s words. Huang Bing looked at her mother, who nodded with a gentle smile. Only then did the little girl extend her hand. Xie Qing chuckled at this cute sight and ced in her hand three high-quality spatial rings, each worth 70,000 Spiritual Stones. "Brother Xie, this is too much¡­" Huang Jing hesitated. Huang Jing was embarrassed when he saw the spatial rings. As a businessman, how could he not know about these rings? Even he only had one. And here, the young man was giving away three. "Stop it," Xie Qing replied and stood up, looking at Huang Bing, whose eyes sparkled when she saw the beautiful rings. The man smiled and patted her head, simultaneously answering his sworn brother: "In the first spatial ring, there are over a thousand spiritual items for different cultivation levels, from Enlightenment to Soul Integration. In the second spatial ring, there are about five thousand spiritual nts of the Yin attribute that can help her. In the third spatial ring, there are 504,000 Spiritual Stones. This is her pocket money for the next twenty years." "¡­" "¡­" Everyone fell silent. Even Fang Lan, who knew her man was preparing a gift, was speechless. Only Huang Bing, in her innocence, couldn''t understand what was going on and was simply admiring the shiny rings while Xie Qing gently stroked her head. Huang Jing even trembled. He looked as if he had seen the Buddha himself. "Brother Xie, you are too generous¡­" he finally blurted out and clutched his chest, saying with a bitter smile, "I will owe you forever." "Thank you very much¡­ sir!" Zhao Yu tried to bow, but Xie Qing stopped her. So, she simply bowed her head: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart." "No need for formalities!" Xie Qing waved his hands tiredly, seeing their excitement. He looked at Huang Bing andughed: "See? It''s better to react like her." Huang Jing looked at his daughter and pursed his lips. She looked so happy and content that now it was impossible to refuse the gift. "Hahaha¡­" Xie Qingughed heartily, and Fang Lan sighed heavily, but in her eyes directed at the man, there was an unconcealed question. "When can I have your child?" *** "Thank you for visiting, Brother Xie! I raise this ss to you!" Huang Jing started the dinner with a ss of wine. Xie Qing raised his ss and smiled. Except for Zhao Yu, they all drank wine and began to feast. The main dinner consisted of meat, expensive fruits and vegetables, as well as delicacies like crabs and lobsters, which were, of course, spiritual creatures. "Aauu¡­ auuu¡­" "Hehe, you can''t have that. Your tummy will hurt," Xie Qingughed, watching as Huang Bing, sitting on hisp, tried to reach for the ss of wine. Fang Lan put the ss aside. "Auu!" "Now, now, don''t be angry. Do you want Uncle to make you some apple puree? It''s very tasty." "Auu! Auu!" "As you wish. Fang Lan, pass the apples." "Alright¡­" Huang Jing smiled, watching the caring Xie Qing who was immersed in his role as an uncle, and Fang Lan, who was helping him, looking very much like a wife. Even Zhao Yu couldn''t hide her gentle smile. Today was quite unexpected for Huang Jing, and despite the slight shock from Xie Qing''s gifts, he was very happy to have introduced his sworn brother to his family. "He will be a good father, don''t you think?" Zhao Yu whispered with a giggle. "Yes, definitely¡­ although this guy said he wouldn''t be much of a father¡­" Huang Jingughed heartily. They watched as Xie Qing carefully fed Huang Bing the apple puree he had prepared himself. The scene of him slowly feeding her and wiping her mouth with a napkin was so cute that Fang Lan couldn''t look away. Today, they learned a new fact. Xie Qing was a good uncle. *** "Aguu! Aguuu!" "Shh, shh¡­ Uncle wille again. No need to be upset, okay?" "Aguu¡­" "Good girl. Next time, I''ll bring you more pretty rings. Deal?" "Agu!" "Of course! I swear by the Heavens!" Xie Qing waved goodbye and, getting into the carriage, set off. Huang Jing and Zhao Yu watched them until the carriage disappeared into the clouds. "Your brother is very unique, but a good person, husband," Zhao Yu said with a smile and looked at Huang Bing in her arms, who looked sad: "Hahaha¡­ just look at her. Are you sad because Uncle left?" "Agu!" Huang Bing nodded. "Hahaha!" *** Xie Qing broke into a sweat when he noticed Fang Lan''s predatory gaze. He had been trying to ignore it since they left the estate, but it was still difficult. So, he sighed and raised his hands as if in surrender. "I give up. I really did change my mind, so I agreed to the Master''s request¡­" "Hm. No wonder she''s been in such a good moodtely," Fang Lan crossed her arms and snorted, asking, "So, how''s it going? Any progress?" "Not yet. Because of the high level of cultivation, it''s very difficult to get pregnant unless someone invents a pill for it," Xie Qing sighed in response: "And there aren''t any such pills yet." "Then¡­" the woman leaned forward and touched Xie Qing''s cheek, asking in a seductive voice: "Can you make me pregnant?" "Ugh¡­" Xie Qing sighed heavily. He knew that the moment it was discovered he was ready to be a father, there would be a struggle among his women. "I know you are destined for greatness. You will be number one in all fields, but I want to have your child. I can''t keep up with you, but¡­" Fang Lan trembled and gently touched Xie Qing''s cheek: "I will at least have a part of you. That will be¡­ enough for me." "¡­" Xie Qing fell silent. This was a sore subject for him. He was going to be immortal, but s, not all women could follow him. This path required not only talent but also time. Who knows if they could reach such a high level as Xie Qing in a short time? So, it was no wonder they wanted to get pregnant by him. It would be proof that these girls had participated in his life and left a trace. Xie Qing grabbed Fang Lan and ced her on hisp, then embraced her. The woman said nothing and leaned against his chest, crying softly. The man looked out the window and smiled bitterly. Perhaps this was his punishment. *** "Oh? Where is this?" Fang Lan and Xie Qing jumped out of the carriage,nding on a high mountain. From this spot, there was a beautiful view. "During one of my journeys, I noticed this ce. It has clean air, high Qi concentration, and a pleasant environment," Xie Qing replied, scratching the back of his head, continuing: "And I n to move here." "Seriously? You didn''t like such secluded ces before," Fang Lan raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Yes, but that was before. Now I want peace and tranquility." Xie Qing smiled bitterly. After seeing Fang Lan''s tears, he felt guilty, so he decided to lighten the mood a bit. "And¡­ Lan. It''s not that I don''t want you to be the mother of my child. On the contrary, it would be an honor for me¡­" Xie Qing began, immediately capturing the girl''s attention, who listened intently to his words: "I just think that leaving a pregnant woman to raise my child alone¡­ that goes against my principles. So, it''s difficult for me to make that choice." Fang Lan nodded understandingly. However, she then replied, "But I don''t mind. Do you know how many girls dream of having your child? And I am one of them. I just want proof of our love to exist, do you understand?" Fang Lan said, moving closer to Xie Qing. She embraced him and, standing on her tiptoes, kissed him on the lips, wrapping her arms around his neck. After a passionate kiss, they pulled away, and the girl sighed: "And I will wait for you to return." "You¡­ uhh¡­" Xie Qing smiled bitterly, gently caressing her face and kissing her forehead. He said, "Alright." Hearing Xie Qing''s positive response, a wide smile appeared on Fang Lan''s face, and she jumped into his arms, clinging to him like a ko. "Thank you so much," she murmured, burying her nose in his neck. "I will always love you." "And I will always love you," Xie Qing smiled, gently stroking her back. "And I won''t abandon you. Let the Heavens remember this oath." Chapter 278: Alchemy with Zhang Mei A Small Request from the Author Please don''t forget to support the book "Power Stones." It''s just one click, but it already gives me enough motivation. Thank you for your attention and enjoy your reading. ===== "Lady Zhang Mei¡­" "Hm?" "You know, I''m not bad myself, and I agreed to help you, but¡­" "What?" "I''m tired¡­" Xie Qing pursed his lips, channeling his Qi to maintain the optimal level of fire and temperature for his alchemical me. He was at Zhang Mei''s estate and hade here at the woman''s request to help her with pills. As it turned out, Zhang Mei also engaged in pill refining and could be considered quite sessful in this area, although she was a few levels below Liu Yang. Nevertheless, she was still highly sought after. At first, Xie Qing didn''t mind helping her, considering she was a friend of his beloved and Master, but¡­ well, who would have thought he would be exploited? "You know, this is childbor exploitation¡­" the manined, though he continued to maintain the fire. "Childbor? You''re already 28, you''re an adult," Zhang Mei replied nonchntly, tossing new ingredients into the cauldron. "But when it''s not convenient for you, I''m a child, right?" Xie Qing pursed his lips and, seeing the woman nod, was left speechless and blurted out, "Has anyone ever told you that you''re very shameless?" In response to Xie Qing''s question, Zhang Mei merely nced at him and returned to her work. The man couldn''tin, as he had agreed to this dirty work himself, so he continued to help until he exhausted all his Qi. Sitting in the lotus position, he began to absorb the Qi around him to recover. Sweat appeared on his forehead due to the heat in the room. And one can only imagine how hot it was if a cultivator of his level felt the heat. Zhang Mei looked at the exhausted Xie Qing and felt a pang of guilt. In truth, she was a bit excited because Xie Qing''s fire was extremely rare and helped her purify the pills to near perfection. So she thought hard about what to give him. "Maybe some pill? Xu Mei recently asked me toe up with a pill that increases the chances of pregnancy¡­" Zhang Mei suddenly remembered and her face froze in realization, "Wait, so that''s why¡­ damn, so they already?!" The woman was left speechless. She suddenly felt danger¡ªmostly because Xu Mei would surpass her and be a mother while she hadn''t even found a lover yet. "Hmph, cunning woman! No wonder she''s been glowingtely! So that''s what it is¡­" Zhang Mei turned away sullenly, returning to the cauldron. She opened the lid and pulled out a clean white pill with no ck spots. Her eyes shone brightly at the sight. "Perfect purity! Damn!" Even with her restraint, Zhang Mei couldn''t hold back a cry. A bright, satisfied smile appeared on her beautiful face, which was so charming that it could easily captivate men''s hearts. Xie Qing woke up at that moment and raised an eyebrow, seeing Zhang Mei''s smile. "Is it going to snow tomorrow?" *** "Done!" Zhang Mei plopped down in her chair, holding a vial with ten clean pills. These pills helped heal even the most serious wounds, and considering their purity, they could be sold at a very high price, no less than 100 million spiritual stones. "Thank you for your help. Your fire is truly amazing," Zhang Mei said with a faint smile, addressing the exhausted Xie Qing. "No problem¡­ and the reward?" he muttered hoarsely, sitting down in the neighboring chair and letting out a long sigh. He drank a cup of water and then licked his dry lips, "I''m as tired as a dog. The alchemical me consumes my Qi in twenty minutes. It''s absurd." "That''s natural," Zhang Mei replied, twirling a lock of hair between her index finger and thumb. She brushed her hair aside, adding, "Alchemy is an extremelybor-intensive process that requires knowledge, strength, and concentration. Therefore, any alchemist in the world is worth their weight in gold." Xie Qing nodded briefly. Even when he practiced alchemy under a pseudonym, he had many clients, and even if some had to wait a long time, no oneined, considering the quality of his pills was always high. "I can''t even imagine how many orders you have, Lady Zhang Mei," the man asked curiously, turning his gaze to Zhang Mei, who happened to be looking at him. "H-huh?" The woman blushed, meeting his gaze, and then, hesitating a bit, touched her index finger to her lips and thoughtfully muttered, "Let me count¡­ Iplete between one hundred to five hundred orders a day, so it''s quite difficult to calcte the exact number, you know¡­ well, over twenty thousand a month is certain¡­" "T-twenty thousand? Seriously¡­" Xie Qing couldn''t hold back a shocked cry. Twenty thousand orders a month, and that''s not even the final number. He looked at Zhang Mei in horror, who simply tilted her head to the side in confusion, which looked quite cute and innocent. "Listen¡­ maybe you''re not really human? That could exin why youplete so many orders in such a short time and still don''t have a rtionship¡­" Xie Qing muttered, rubbing his forehead. "¡­I''ll wring your neck, bastard." Zhang Mei snapped at Xie Qing''s joke and growled, grabbing his cheek and pulling him towards her. "Ow¡­ sowwy¡­" Xie Qing said in a muffled voice. "Hmph!" Although the woman looked displeased, she let go of his cheek, which had turned red, and averted her gaze, pouting in offense. "It''s not my fault that all the men around me are such cowards¡­" she whispered softly. "Cowards? Listen, ma''am, climbing into bed with you is like sticking your head into a tiger''s mouth¡­ ow!" "Bastard!" And he still doesn''t learn from his mistakes¡­ sigh. Nevertheless, despite the clear displeasure in Zhang Mei''s eyes, one could see that she was quite amused. As if her youthful energy had returned. *** "You''re mine for two months. I got permission from your Master." One fine day, while Xie Qing was training in the garden, Zhang Mei visited him and suddenly blurted this out, catching him off guard. "What do you mean ''yours for two months''? Excuse me, I don''t provide gigolo services¡­" Xie Qing replied with clear confusion, stopping his sword training. "Are you serious?" Zhang Mei narrowed her eyes and coldly continued, "Stop fooling around. I need your help with making pills. And your ''services''¡­ hmm¡­ save them for your girls, they''ll need it." "Come on, you don''t get jokes?" Xie Qing rolled his eyes but didn''t outright refuse. Anyway, he was bored at the estate, Xu Mei was busy meditating as she had recently gained enlightenment, and most of his women were working diligently. During this period, the Righteous Dao had undergone many changes, and there were many matters to attend to. For example, the Xie family was trying to negotiate a move to the capital to raise their status. Since Xie Qing was ayman in management matters, his mother mainly took care of everything, while he mostly provided reputation and money. "And this time, will there be a reward?" Xie Qing asked with shining eyes and rubbed his hands, "Maybe some rare pill?" "Pill? Maybe I should give you something for your libido?" Zhang Mei asked, squinting slyly. "Huh? No, thanks, I don''t have a problem with that. Want me to prove it?" Xie Qing replied nonchntly, sheathing his sword. "Uh¡­ n-no, no need¡­" Zhang Mei said, blushing. She regained herposure after seeing the faint smile on the young man''s face. Clearing her throat falsely, she continued, "Anyway, let''s go. I don''t have time for your jokes." "Yes, yes¡­" Xie Qing wearily raised his hands in surrender. This woman was so sensitive. And so, after twelve hours of diligent work on the pill, they finally managed to create it. "Finally!" Zhang Mei eximed excitedly, retrieving the pill from the cauldron, which was as crystal clear as the previous samples. "Finally, I can boast to Liu Yang that I''m slowly catching up to her!" "Thanks to me, of course," Xie Qing replied, scrunching his lips and wearily rubbing his brows. "By the way, why do you bother with pills? I heard there''s a much higher demand for formations." "Creating pills is my hobby, that''s why," Zhang Mei dismissed his question. "Cultivation is your hobby too, right? Most of your time is spent in bed." "Wow, so you can joke too." Xie Qing rolled his eyes. The more he interacted with this woman, the more tired he became. He sat in the lotus position and closed his eyes, immersing himself in cultivation. Therefore, he didn''t notice the strange look that Zhang Mei was giving him. And it seemed that her previously cold face was no longer as cold. As if the ice had begun to thaw little by little. "A reward, yes¡­ what reward should I give¡­" Zhang Mei pondered, her gaze bing stranger and stranger. Chapter 279: Date with Zhang Mei [I] "A reward?" Xie Qing looked skeptically at Zhang Mei, who, oveing her embarrassment, still asked about the reward. "Indeed. You have helped me a lot, and it would be too awkward for me not to give you something in return. Besides, I always adhere to the policy of equal exchange, which is why I am asking what you would like," Zhang Mei said sincerely, sipping her tea. They were in her private estate, located high in the mountains and essible only to a select few. Sitting on the balcony at a round table, the two were drinking tea with desserts. Xie Qing chuckled, thoughtfully tapping on the table, which coincidentally matched the rhythm of Zhang Mei''s heartbeat, as she began to imagine something. "A reward, yes... even if you ask, my answer will be ''I don''t know'' in any case. I, you see, need very little," Xie Qing replied somewhat uncertainly, stopping his index finger a few centimeters above the table and looking at Zhang Mei. He added, "Besides, despite my jokes, I never expected and will not expect a reward for trivial help. You are, after all, a friend of my Master. How could I possibly take anything from you?" "Um..." Zhang Mei fell silent, not knowing what to say. On one hand, she was impressed by Xie Qing''s words and manners, but on the other hand, she felt awkward, thinking she was taking advantage of his kindness. "Nevertheless, I want to do something in return, and as I mentioned earlier, I adhere to the policy of equal exchange. So please, think about what you would like," Zhang Mei replied with a serious expression, although her thoughts were filled with fantasy. "I really don''t know..." Xie Qing scratched his head in confusion, encountering such a stubborn person for the first time. However, he was somewhat pleased that someone wanted to do something for him in return. So, after a moment of thought, he made a request that was mostly a joke. "How about this... would you go on a date with me? I''m bored anyway, so..." "..." Zhang Mei fell silent, and her face became unreadable, so even Xie Qing didn''t know what she was thinking. He was just d to change the subject. Enjoying his tea, Xie Qing put a piece of cake on his te and took a bite, then looked up at the sky. "...I agree." "Huh?" "I... agree..." Xie Qing slowly lowered his head and looked at Zhang Mei, who was looking at him with a serious gaze. He furrowed his brow. "Really?" the man thought but did not say it aloud. After a brief silence, as the two tried to ovee the awkwardness, they continued drinking tea as if nothing had happened. *** And the next day... Zhang Mei proved that her words were not a joke. And in the morning, Xie Qing found her in a beautiful red dress that entuated her beauty and dignity. "Huh?" His first reaction was confusion, and his second was admiration. Say what you will, but Zhang Mei was beautiful and unique, reaching the same level of beauty as Xu Mei. If Xu Mei had a mature beauty, then Zhang Mei''s was more like the beauty of a young girl who had juste of age. Simultaneously innocent and vibrant. Like a flower that had just bloomed. "You look lovely, Lady Zhang. In that dress, you look even more beautiful," the man began the conversation withpliments, being well-versed in manners. "Thank... you," Zhang Mei replied, somewhat hesitantly. Her appearance was quite awkward¡ªit was evident from her unimaginable gaze. It was clear that the girl was not used to wearing a dress. "No wonder you are so popr," Xie Qing said casually, rubbing his stiff neck. He blinked and tilted his head to the side. "Why don''t you wear a dress more often? I won''t lie, if I were seven years younger and we met under different circumstances, I would undoubtedly fall in love with you." "Um..." Zhang Mei blushed, and her eyes sparkled as she heard Xie Qing''spliment and realized how sincere he was. Even Zhang Mei''s cold heart began to melt under his beautifulpliments. So she smiled weakly, revealing her even white teeth and the shine of her cherry lips. "Thank you..." she murmured, shyly lowering her head, which made it even more charming. "Xie Qing sighed and turned away. When someone known for their coldness suddenly bes sweet... it''s frightening for the heart." "Shall we go?" he said, turning back with a smile. "Yes..." Zhang Mei replied softly. *** Since the Righteous Dao''s great victory, not much time had passed, but the results were visible to the naked eye. Already, one could notice the improved mood of the residents. There was no longer any gloom, fear, or humiliation. Even the mortals, for whom the war between the two Dao factions was something distant, were happy. Of course, there would always be dissatisfied people, but the fact remained¡ªthe result of the victory had caused the fighting spirit of the Righteous Dao''s poption to undergo positive changes. "I heard that during the war, everything was gloomy," Xie Qing whistled and smiled, looking at Zhang Mei. "We should thank one of the great masters of the sect for the victory, right?" "It''s nothing," Zhang Mei rolled her eyes, and a faint smirk appeared on her face. "Although, you should also be thanked. Without your data, the war would have been dyed for a long time." "Exactly. I ept payment in spiritual stones. You can start paying now." "..." Zhang Mei wanted to tease Xie Qing, but she didn''t consider that he was shameless himself. So, at the first opportunity, he extended his hand with a business-like smile, as if eagerly awaiting profit. Therefore, the girl just pped his outstretched hand and snorted, brushing it off. "You''re not one to mince words. You could pretend to be generous," Zhang Mei said, snorting. "Will that be paid for?" "No!" Xie Qing shrugged, saying, "Nothing can be done about it." Zhang Mei just remained silent, notmenting on his shameless remark. They decided to stop at a restaurant that was quite expensively furnished. After ordering a table, they settled in a private room. By the way, Zhang Mei had a special technique, so her presence was dulled, and her appearance seemedpletely different to everyone except Xie Qing. "It''s tough being popr, isn''t it?" Xie Qing asked with a faint smile. "You think?" Zhang Mei took the menu in her hand and nced at the waitress, who was openly staring at Xie Qing. She cleared her throat, making the workere to her senses. "Young miss, bring us these dishes..." "Y-yes, right away!" The waitress blushed with embarrassment, then rushed out of the room, looking as if she were escaping death. Xie Qing watched her go, and seeing that the door closed again, he looked at Zhang Mei, raising an eyebrow. "What?" the girl asked, furrowing her brows. "...Nothing, really." Xie Qing propped his chin on his hand, smiling faintly and looking into her eyes, which seemed to have a ripple in them. Zhang Mei snorted at his behavior and muttered something discontentedly. Xie Qing could swear that it was something like: "Is he that popr?" However, not wanting to embarrass her, the man pretended not to hear anything. Soon, the waitress brought the dishes and did not leave immediately. She looked at Xie Qing and squirmed awkwardly, then finally voiced her thoughts. "Please... would you mind hugging me? I''m your fan..." "Huh?!" Zhang Mei shouted loudly, looking at the waitress with furrowed brows, which scared her greatly. Xie Qing was also surprised by such a request. "Hug... you?" he repeated and, seeing the girl nod again and her sincere gaze, hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "I''m sorry, I can''t." "Sigh..." The waitress let out a sad sigh, then apologized and left, closing the door behind her. Zhang Mei fell silent for a moment, then asked, "I thought you would agree." "Me?" Xie Qing looked at her in surprise and replied, "No, of course not. First of all, I''m on a date with you right now. And it would be rude if I paid attention to someone else besides you..." "Um..." The girl, hearing Xie Qing''s words, blushed deeply, and sparks and ripples of emotions appeared in her beautiful violet eyes, while her heart pounded wildly. On her face appeared a shy expression, and her feet rhythmically tapped the floor. However, as if it were all an illusion, she returned to her usual demeanor when it was time for lunch. The main dish ordered was meat. Xie Qing had only recently learned that Zhang Mei was a fan of meat, especially if it was spiritual meat, and she even spared no expense to employ the best chefs. Although this was somewhat surprising, as Xie Qing had always thought of her as a woman solely focused on work and the Dao, it was quite pleasant to see that she had such normal interests. Chapter 280: Changes in Zhang Meis character "10, 12, 13, 14, 15¡­ seems like that''s all. Oh, wait, here are more¡­ 16, 17, 18¡­" Xie Qing mentally counted the number of meat pieces Zhang Mei had eaten by the bones and finally silently turned his gaze to his own te. Throughout this time, he had only eaten one slice. Shrugging, he returned to drinking his wine. In any case, pointing out to Zhang Mei that she was eating quite a lot would be too uncultured, so the man remained silent. "Here," was all the man said, handing over a napkin. "Huh? Uh¡­ thank you." Zhang Mei, after finishing her portion¡­ portions, finally came to her senses and felt embarrassed. However, she did not refuse Xie Qing''s gesture. *** After paying for themselves at the restaurant, they went outside and started strolling through the bustling city. The day was approaching evening, and the sky was tinted orange, creating a romantic atmosphere for all beings. Xie Qing and Zhang Mei walked side by side, and their height difference created quite an interesting contrast. They exchanged opinions about the Dao. "I heard that you are one of the most active immortality seekers, Lady Zhang?" "Immortality seekers? An amusing way to put it, but yes, I am one of them. And I work on it almost every day," Zhang Mei chuckled at Xie Qing''s question but still gave a proper answer. Then she added, "Though without impressive results." "Without¡­ impressive results, you say?" Xie Qing squinted and then, rubbing his thumb against his index finger, asked another question: "Does¡­ true immortality really exist?" At this moment, Xie Qing could easily live for a million years, and in the eyes of an ordinary mortal, that might indeed be immortality. But what about cultivators? Many of them, including Xie Qing, yearn to see true immortality, where you can live without fear of old age catching up to you, and even the best pills cannot extend the time of death. Were there any results in the research of true immortality? "Possibly." Zhang Mei''s answer was neither positive nor negative. "I see¡­" Xie Qing sighed deeply, helplessly lowering his hand. Although the possibility was a good answer instead of a firm "no," it was still puzzling. Seeing Xie Qing''s disappointment, Zhang Mei only smiled faintly. "Anyway, nothing is lost and nothing is found, everything is in the future. The first step to immortality is to be a cultivator of our level," the woman said and patted him on the shoulder: "Everything is ahead." "Heh. I didn''t think you would encourage me like this," Xie Qing chuckled. "Pfft." Zhang Mei pinched his cheek and, rolling her eyes, quickened her pace. Xie Qing looked in her direction and rubbed his cheek. "Why¡­ do they like pinching my cheek so much? Is this a form of flirting?" *** Xie Qing looked at Zhang Mei with an inexpressive gaze as she bathed with him in arge tub. In fact, this was not the first time she had behaved this way. "I am¡­ puzzled by the sudden change in her mood. In the past, she didn''t even bother to smile at me. And now she even goes to such lengths as bathing together¡­" To say that Xie Qing was puzzled would be an understatement. Although he suspected that the woman might have fallen in love with him, but¡­ "It''s impossible. How can a stone suddenly be a beauty?" he thought. In principle, on one hand, it was quite strange, but on the other hand, it was understandable. After all, Zhang Mei''s changes were abrupt, as if she had stopped restraining herself. "Do I like this? Well, I won''t argue, yes. However, it still seems quite unusual to me, so¡­ I don''t even know¡­" Xie Qing sighed and averted his gaze from her body. Of course, she was still covered with a towel, but the man himself was naked from the start and had no intention of putting anything on. And Zhang Mei took full advantage of this fact. She didn''t even try to hide her intense gaze that devoured Xie Qing''s body. "She looks like an old pervert," Xie Qing thought, pursing his lips, but he could only sigh. In fact, this happened more and more often, and one day Zhang Mei didn''t even put on a towel as she usually did and appeared naked. "Uh¡­" Xie Qing was shocked, and his mouth opened, but he quickly came to his senses and allowed himself to run his gaze over her gorgeous body. Although it wasn''t the first time he had seen it, but¡­ hmm¡­ "From this position, I see everything I need to see¡­" the man thought and averted his gaze, using all his strength to control the awakening of his little brother. Soon, Zhang Mei immersed herself in the tub and let out a sultry moan, closing her eyes and enjoying the sensation of the hot water. Xie Qing nced at her. Zhang Mei''s body, as expected, was very slender and beautiful. She often felt self-conscious about the size of her breasts, but Xie Qing himself thought they were perfect. Moreover, the cute pink nipples and are drew the gaze, and Xie Qing barely controlled his lust. "How embarrassing¡­" he thought and crossed his legs to prevent someone from revealing themselves in all their glory: "I''m behaving like a teenager in puberty. Ugh¡­" "Even if his mind understood, it seemed that Xie Qing''s little brother was intent on having a serious conversation, which made things a bit moreplicated for the man and created an awkward situation. Zhang Mei, still oblivious, enjoyed the warm bath and bathed to her heart''s content, not at all shy about showing her beautiful body to Xie Qing, and instead seemed to have cast off all restraints. Xie Qing wished he had the superpower to read women''s minds, but unfortunately, such a technique had not yet been invented. "As it happened, after some time, their bodies ended up close enough to each other that their shoulders were touching. Zhang Mei showed no reaction, only lowering her head so that her facial expression could not be read. Xie Qing also did not react excitedly to this simple touch of skin, although he was a bit stirred. Praying to all the gods, Xie Qing restrained himself with all his might to avoid doing something foolish. As if it were aedy, Zhang Mei had exactly the same thoughts¡­ *** "Aaagh!" After bathing, Zhang Mei immediately returned to her room and, with a now familiar motion, jumped onto the bed and covered her face with a pillow. She began kicking her feet against the mattress, trying to calm her nerves and her wildly beating heart. "Now it''s much worse¡­ because of a sudden impulse, I took a shameful step, and now I even feel embarrassed to look him in the eye," the woman thought, feeling dejected. After a long time, she had finally found a malepanion who could talk to her as an equal and not feel awkward. She liked Xie Qing''s honesty, and she couldn''t deny that his beauty also influenced her impression of him. Love? Hmm, well, her feelings for Xie Qing could be considered as such. But along with love, there were also feelings of kinship, attraction to his appearance, behavior, lust, and the desire to alleviate loneliness. Therefore, in the ssical sense, their rtionship could not be called love. And it would remain so until they went on a date. "I must admit¡­ it was fun." All they did was go to a restaurant, walk around the city, talk, exchange thoughts, joke, and so on. However, this was enough for Zhang Mei to feel happy. "I haven''t had this much fun in a long time¡­" the woman thought, sighing heavily. The day after tomorrow, Xie Qing is returning home. This means that their next meeting will not happen for a while, and they will see each other less and less frequently. "I don''t like this¡­" Zhang Mei muttered, clutching the pillow: "I also want to be happy¡­" Chapter 281: A hug, a kiss, a goodbye Thank you Chuckalotapus for 18 GT and Pablitoe for the gift. ===== "Ha-a-a!" In the training hall, Xie Qing was practicing his sword strikes. Each swing was filled with an aura of mystery, a testament to his rich experience and diligent training. Zhang Mei watched him from the balcony, sipping tea. Her eyes intently studied the man who was training bare-chested, not wanting his clothes to hinder his movements. She unconsciously licked her lips, which looked extremely sexy and provocative from the side. Perhaps the woman herself realized how indecent she was behaving, but whether intentionally or not, she made no attempt to restrain herself. Tomorrow, Xie Qing would return to his estate, which could not help but upset Zhang Mei. Therefore, it seemed that today she was in a much more extreme mood. Did the man sense her gaze? Well, frankly, yes. As a swordsman, all his six senses were very sharp, and even the slightest change in the air did not escape him. What to say about human gazes. Was he worried? Partially. As a man who had seen women, how could he not discern the emotions of his interlocutor? "She doesn''t even try to hide her interest¡­ What made the eternally cold Zhang Mei be like this? I can''t understand¡­" sighed Xie Qing and threw the wooden training sword aside: "Women are trulyplex creatures." From total ignorance to burning interest. Perhaps something in Zhang Mei''s life had changed, or perhaps Xie Qing had begun to meet her requirements. After all, although Zhang Mei did not show it, she greatly respected Xu Mei for her strength and talent. And Xie Qing, although talented,cked the strength that made him not bright enough to catch her eye. However, the stage of Divine Transformation was infinitely close and infinitely far from the stage of Transcendence. Achieving this stage at such a young age made Xie Qing a monstrously talented cultivator and a shining example of a great genius, even whenpared to ancient times when geniuses were a dime a dozen. "If he bes a cultivator of my level, perhaps¡­" thought Zhang Mei. *** "Take care of yourself, Lady Zhang. It''s time for me to return home and cultivate intensively again." It was evening when Xie Qing stood in front of the gates of Zhang Mei''s estate and said goodbye to her, dressed in a clean, snow-white robe with long sleeves, while a elegant ck belt with dragon engravings was around his waist, to which his sword sheath was attached. Zhang Mei was dressed in a green dress that was very conservative and covered almost all her skin except for the neck and corbone area. Instead of her usual t shoes, she wore high heels. A cold wind blew, gently ruffling the woman''s hair. Xie Qing smiled at her silence. "During this time, I learned a lot from you, for which I am immensely grateful. Moreover, I am d that we got to know each other better," he continued, seeing that Zhang Mei did not respond. Seeing a small change on her face, he joked: "I learned that I need to order ten portions at once to satisfy your taste¡­" "Wh-what?! Ahem¡­" Zhang Mei initially raised her voice and blushed, hearing Xie Qing''s joke, but seeing his carefree smile, she cleared her throat and, turning her head away, muttered under her breath: "I don''t eat that much, actually¡­" Xie Qing did not respond to this and only smiled. Then, looking at her, he added. "In any case, thank you. Of course, this is not ourst meeting, so there is no need to be sad and miss me." "Pfft! Sad and miss you?!" Zhang Mei snorted and, curling her lips disdainfully, continued: "Nonsense!" "Haha¡­" However, the man justughed cheerfully and, seeing Zhang Mei''s annoyed face, he suddenly leaned forward and¡­ "Huh?" There was a soft sound, something like a tongue click, and then a gentle but firm sensation. "Wh-what?!" Zhang Mei barely suppressed her bewildered cry after Xie Qing kissed her on the forehead and then hugged her. Her face turned red, and her ears twitched. She froze in ce like a statue, her arms pointing down, her posture like that of a soldier. When Xie Qing let her go and said goodbye, Zhang Mei still had note to her senses. She muttered something under her breath, and her beautiful and gentle face was flushed with embarrassment and happiness. It seemed that even the weather had changed to match her behavior ¨C it had be warmer and morefortable. "He¡­ ah¡­" Zhang Mei bit her lower lip, clearly hearing her heart singing love songs, and the previous bitterness of parting was overshadowed by iparable happiness. *** Upon returning home, Xie Qing immediately went to his room. "You''re back already?" "¡­yes." Xie Qing did not ask Xu Mei and his mother why they were suddenly in his room, as their intentions were expressed not only by their facial expressions but also by their revealing attire. However¡­ "Let''s¡­ not today, okay? I''m a bit tired," he said apologetically. It would be extremely rude of him to immediately switch to another woman after embracing another. Therefore, he was forced to refuse the two women, oveing a sense of guilt. "Huh? W-well¡­" Xu Mei stammered and took on a shocked expression, while Xie Meiling just shrugged and stood up, preparing to leave. However, Xie Qing grabbed her by the hand. "Let''s just sleep together. We haven''t done that in a long time." "Hmm? Alright." Xu Mei and Xie Meiling exchanged nces and then nodded to each other. They got into bed and, embracing each other, fell asleep. Surprisingly, these two slept very soundly, which was especially surprising for Xu Mei, who, even with Xie Qing''s help, could barely fall asleep due to her level of cultivation. That night was surprisingly calm, cool, and pleasant. And Zhang Mei, on the other hand, also slept well, and the next day her mood was good, and many difficult things that she could not learn for a long time became easier to master. The days passed joyfully and carefree, and a stable period began in Xie Qing''s life, allowing him to focus on cultivation, socializing, and having fun. But, as it is known, everythinges to an end, and nothingsts forever. The peace that had settled after the war was once again reced by tension. *** "An increase¡­ in crimes, you say?" Xie Qing sat in a luxurious restaurant, face to face with a beautiful woman with silver hair ¨C Yu Longfeng. She sipped her tea and, looking at Xie Qing, nodded. "That''s right. Kidnapping, theft, fraud, and the like. It''s also significant that there are more and more battles between cultivators, as if they have been unleashed. This is causing a lot of trouble for the guards," Yu Longfeng replied calmly, as if it were an everyday matter, and added: "Well, there have been deaths. Both on the side of the guards and the offenders." "What''s gotten into them?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow. And Yu Longfeng, seemingly not caring about her image, simply shrugged and smirked. "Maybe it''s a spring re-up?" "If a spring re-up manifested like this, I would kill them all¡­" Xie Qing rolled his eyes. Yu Longfeng,pletely carefree, giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. She looked as if she didn''t care about the situation at all. Xie Qing, however, became more serious. He couldn''t understand the reason for such abrupt changes, especially since everything had been stable before. Although he didn''t want to propose any conspiracy theories, there was something off about this situation. "Hmm¡­" Seeing Xie Qing''s thoughtful expression, Yu Longfeng couldn''t help but ponder as well. For someone of her level, mass battles among weaklings were no more than children''s y. Therefore, her position and disdain were understandable. However, it could not be ruled out that if this problem was not resolved in time, it could turn into something more significant. "What to do..." murmured Yu Longfeng. Chapter 282: You, scum, are looking for death After hearing the news from the Empress, Xie Qing couldn''t help but be interested in the situation. So, he asked his acquaintances to conduct an investigation. Although he didn''t get enough information, at least Yu Longfeng''s words proved to be reliable. "This is strange, Your Majesty. Although these disturbances are currently minor, I believe we should nip them in the bud," the man said the next day after their conversation, now with his own information. "Oh? Well, actually, I''ve also been thinking and realized that this situation has the potential to be a problem, so I''ve been considering how to resolve it," Yu Longfeng replied calmly, sipping her tea. Just like the day before, they were in her garden, sitting at a table surrounded by beautiful flowers and animals. What was called a garden was so vast that even Xie Qing, with all his wealth, could only marvel at the Empress''s rich purse. "And how? Have you found a solution?" Xie Qing asked, rhythmically tapping on the table, creating a mysterious, tense melody, his eyes narrowing. "Hmm?" Yu Longfeng smiled seductively, then replied, "No." "¡­" Xie Qing sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose. He really didn''t know how to deal with this woman. She was¡­ so carefree! "And you¡­ Empress¡­ sigh¡­" "That was a joke. Stop being so serious," Yu Longfeng said with a squint, letting out an annoyed snort. She continued, ignoring the skeptical expression on her interlocutor''s face: "I''ve already taken measures, and all those who caused the disturbances have been arrested and are being interrogated. Moreover, I''ve asked Lady Zhang Mei toe and strengthen the formations, as well as add new ones focused on surveince. She will arrive soon." "Hmm, if Lady Zhang is handling the formations, there''s no need to worry," Xie Qing continued calmly and looked at the report he received after the reconnaissance teampleted their search. He narrowed his eyes: "But¡­ is everything really as simple as it seems on paper? I think there''s more to this, we just can''t see it." "More to it? Do you suspect someone''s n? That someone wants to divert our attention?" Yu Longfeng raised an eyebrow and sat up straight: "Well, that actually sounds logical¡­" Xie Qing leaned back in his chair and looked at Yu Longfeng, who had fallen into thought. He didn''t just suspect, he was certain. That''s what his intuition told him, and it rarely lied. So, from the beginning, after reading the report, Xie Qing was convinced that someone was likely involved in this situation. Because, no matter how well thought out it was, one couldn''t ignore the fact that the sudden increase in disturbances was extremely suspicious. "But who?" Xie Qing wondered, rubbing his nose, his eyes narrowing: "Who exactly is behind this? And why?" *** In a spacious, dark hall, where the only source of light was a single candle standing on arge round table, there was a deathly silence. Around the table were more than forty seats, twenty of which were upied by people in ck hoods. One of them suddenly twitched, then with a groan, as if he were an old man, he muttered. "It seems Yu Longfeng has started to act. Indeed, as the Empress, she won''t allow disorder on hernds." His voice was unpleasant, grating on the ears, and it felt like someone was rubbing two stones together. However, no one in this hall was bothered by his unpleasant voice. They were only discussing Yu Longfeng. "Well, that old bitch is quite resilient. I was born twenty years after her and am already dying of old age, but she is still as strong as she was several thousand years ago." "Comparing yourself to a cultivator of the Transcendence level? You have strange hobbies. If it weren''t for that person''s help, you would have died of old age two hundred years ago¡­" came a sharp reply. "Well, I won''t deny it¡­" Most of those gathered here were cultivators who had not surpassed the level of Divine Transformation, so they did not pose a significant threat. But¡­ "The master ordered us to cause disturbances to divert attention. Will this work?" one of them asked. "In the short term, yes, but in the long term, it''s unlikely. Yu Longfeng is not stupid, she will sense that something is not right. Don''t forget, when she ascended the throne, she eliminated all dissenters and parasites. Therefore, we must be careful with her," someone else said, and everyone nodded. Then he added: "Moreover, remember that monster who caused the fall of the Devilish Dao? He must also be feared. Even the Ultimate Being was shocked to learn of his talent." "You mean the disciple of the Princess of Swords?" "That¡­" Everyone immediately fell silent. The existence of Xie Qing was too strange and iprehensible for all of them, who had been preparing for this n for centuries. In the past, the problem was the Princess of Swords, who represented an unprecedented talent that forced this mysterious organization to halt its ns. And now, a hundred yearster, the Princess of Swords had disappeared, and the world of cultivation had be sluggish. But¡­ The expected effect did not materialize. When they were ready to cause disturbances, a war broke out, giving them a chance, but¡­ All attempts to cause disturbances ended in the death of those involved. They were all killed by Xu Mei, who during this period looked so devilish that the devilish cultivators nervously smoked on the sidelines. And now, in ce of this, Xie Qing had appeared, whose talent had even surpassed Xu Mei, shocked the Ultimate Being, and continued to grow stronger and stronger, bing a potential threat. "Maybe¡­ we should join forces and kill him?" one of them suggested. "Agreed." "Agreed." "I''m in too." "Agreed." "¡­" "¡­" "¡­" In general, almost everyone agreed to this n. In the end, one of them summarized the meeting and gave the order. "Send the Hunter." "Understood." *** "Agh!" Xie Qing, with an indifferent expression, grabbed the fallen enemy and, squeezing his head, lifted him into the air to the level of his eyes. "Well? How does it feel to cause disturbances? Admit it, it''s quite fun, isn''t it? I also like to mess with people''s nerves from time to time. And you?" Xie Qing said in a matter-of-fact, calm tone, but his cold ck eyes alone could make people lose consciousness and fear. This was experienced by the defeated enemy, who twenty minutes earlier had attacked a remote vige with the intention of looting and having fun, but encountered a wall in the form of Xie Qing. "I-I¡­ m-mercy¡­" "Mercy? Come on, don''t be some, we''re just getting started. You''re a cultivator at the Soul Integration stage, so you can resist for five seconds. At least, thest one like yousted that long. But when I killed him, he looked a bit sad. Can you guess why? He broke the record, he should be proud of that¡­" Xie Qing, as if devoid of all emotions, yed with his enemy''s nerves in an extremely cruel way, using intimidation. This was not for thought, he was just annoyed. "Seriously, guys, what''s wrong with you? If you want to act tough, why not try attacking a city? Or are you afraid your asses will be impaled on spears? Huh?" Xie Qing''s rough tone, his grip that tightened with each second ¨C all this created a desperate situation for the cultivator who had been optimistic just minutes earlier. "P-please¡­ I¡­" "Not interested." Thud. The enemy''s head was crushed in Xie Qing''s hands, and the headless body, like a bag of shit, fell to the ground. Stepping over the corpse, Xie Qing looked at the vige and noticed the terrified gazes upon him. "To them, I''m probably just as much of a monster," Xie Qing thought and snorted: "Worthless mortals¡­" Then, turning around, he snapped his fingers, and suddenly a bolt of lightning struck the viin''s corpse with a loud crash, turning it into dust. And Xie Qing, under the terrified gazes, disappeared into the distance. Such a scene repeated itself not once or twice. In one day, Xie Qing dealt with twenty scoundrels, who were turned into dust along with their souls, deprived of any further chance of reincarnation. And during one of his expeditions¡­ Crash. Xie Qing indifferently tilted his head to the left, dodging a fierce spear thrust, holding the shaft between two fingers. Looking at the burly man in armor, whose face bore a bloodthirsty grin, Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. "You, scum, are looking for death." Chapter 283: Yang Su [I] The opponent immediately closed the distance, and Xie Qing continued to watch him with a cold gaze. Clenching his fingers, which held the shaft of a spear, he used lightning and turned the weapon into ash that gently scattered, falling to the ground and a little into his palm. Swinging his hand, Xie Qing caught the sword that flew out of its sheath, then looked at the opponent with a piercing gaze, who was already preparing for the next attack. "I wonder who you are, worm? Someone at your level of cultivation shouldn''t have anything to do with me. But look at you¡­ attacking me without reason. Tsk." Xie Qing cracked his neck in irritation, and a vein popped out on his forehead. Standing in a stance, he attacked without hesitation. Boom! Boom! Dark clouds gathered above them, and then the sound of thunder echoed everywhere, deafening the listeners. The man who attacked Xie Qing squinted and clicked his tongue, deflecting the attack with his spear. "You''re strong," said the bald enemy and smirked, knocking away Xie Qing''s sword and arrogantly raising his head: "My name is Yang Su, the unique king known as ''The Hunter.'' You''ve earned the right to know my name, and now¡­ prepare to die!" B-Boom! The ground shook as Yang Su stomped his foot¡ªa deep crack appeared where he stepped, threatening to engulf Xie Qing. "Pf!" Xie Qing gripped the hilt tighter, soothing his aching wrist, and prepared to attack. The battle was not easy, as the opponent was at the fifth stage of Divine Transformation. It seemed like only four stages of difference, but it was already quite difficult for Xie Qing. Moreover, the opponent had thew of the earth, whichplicated matters. "Ha!" As Xie Qing tried to dodge the cracks, a soft, barely audible sigh sounded behind him, and a gust of wind along with a sharp spear aimed at his back. ng! However, partly due to intuition and partly due to his sharp senses, Xie Qing managed to stop the attack with the tip of his sword, which looked extremely dangerous and reckless. Then, a bright sh appeared from Xie Qing''s hands, and the heavens thundered, with a bright glow appearing in the clouds. "Tsk¡­!" Yang Su clicked his tongue in annoyance and, arching his back, applied force and pushed away Xie Qing''s sword. Then, nting the spear in the ground, he used his supernatural strength and leaped to the side. And, as if Xie Qing had been waiting for his move, in the same second, lightning struck him, making the bald man sweat profusely. "Aaaaagh!" Xie Qing''s lightning power was no joke. One such lightning strike could incinerate even a cultivator at the Spiritual Ascension stage, and for someone at the Divine Transformation stage, they would not escape without serious harm. The same was true for Yang Su, who, although able to withstand the lightning strike without suffering too serious injuries, was still thrown off bnce. Therefore¡­ "Aaaagh!" He didn''t notice Xie Qing approaching him, and then he struck¡ªa sword sh. Blood sprayed into the air as Xie Qing left a deep cut on Yang Su''s chest, almost reaching the bones. However, the enemy''s mad regeneration, considering his endurance, did not allow him to easily break through the bone and reach the heart. "Bastard!" Yang Su roared angrily,ing to his senses after this sudden attack that caused him great pain. The wound began to heal slowly, but it would take a very long time for full recovery, because¡­ "Aagh, damn! Sword Aura, damn it!" "Supreme Sword Aura, that''s its name, fool," Xie Qing sneered at Yang Su''s exmation, swinging his sword and thus wiping the blood off it: "Don''t get it wrong." "Wh-what? You learned this too? No wonder they want to kill you so badly, hah!" Yang Su licked his lips and stood up, ignoring the pain from the wound that couldn''t heal due to Xie Qing''s efforts. Then, the man stood in a stance and pointed the tip of the spear directly at Xie Qing''s face. Yang Su chuckled. "I''ll start with your pretty face, and end with¡­" he lowered his gaze, stopping at the groin area: "And cut you¡­" BOOM! "Ow!" However, before he could finish his sentence, his entire body was suddenly thrown aside like a ser ball. Xie Qing looked indifferently at Yang Su lying on the ground. "Pretending, bastard," he thought and frowned. All this time, his opponent had been acting like some idiot, as if deliberately trying to weaken Xie Qing''s vignce. However, Xie Qing always kept an eye on his opponent''s behavior. And, as it turned out, he was right. Xie Qing felt his sixth sense screaming danger, and then he quickly ducked down and swung his sword vertically. ng! The sharp spear was stopped a few centimeters from Xie Qing''s neck. "Kh-h!" The force Yang Su applied was so strong that Xie Qing had to work hard to push the opponent away. ng! Another sound of shing metal rang in Xie Qing''s ear, and the feeling of heaviness, as if something was pressing down on him, disappeared. He jumped back, but was forced to defend and block the opponent''s attacks again. ng! ng! ng! Sparks and the sounds of shing created a specific spectacle, and the force with which they attacked each other made the surrounding environment crumble. Xie Qing, on one hand, was fighting evenly, but if you looked closely, you could see that he was gradually yielding to Yang Su. "Hahaha! How do you like that? Huh? Strong, right?! You can''t do that! Because you''re just a brat who was lucky to be born talented! But you know, I''ve killed so many geniuses¡­ and, heh, you''re no different!" Xie Qing clicked his tongue and said nothing¡ªthere was no point in arguing with such people. He just pushed his enemy away and then stood in a stance. "Lord of the Nine Realms and Heavens - Sword God Strike!" The endurance of the attack was not long, so Xie Qing did not attack with full force. However, even so, Yang Su had to be serious and use Qi techniques to deflect this blow. "Ugh!" Summoning a semi-transparent barrier in the shape of a dome, Yang Su took the brutal strike, and his hands shook from the pain. He frowned and looked at Xie Qing. "Ah, you¡­ eh?!" However, the next attack was an invisible stream of air that actually contained the Sword Aura, which was rapidly advancing on Yang Su with the intention of killing him. "Damn it!" Cursing, Yang Su reinforced the barrier, but¡­ Crack! Boom! His defense was immediately breached, and countless sharp, knife-like attacks pierced his body. "Aaaaagh!" Chapter 284: Imitation of Heavenly Punishment Pierced by thousands of attacks from the Sword Aura, Yang Su suffered serious damage and could not help but scream in pain. Xie Qing, frowning, leaped into the air. Crack¡­ crack¡­ And not in vain. The ground beneath him almost instantly copsed, forming a pit that led to nowhere ¨C there was literal darkness, as if staring back at you. Before being struck by Xie Qing''s attack, Yang Su did not forget to counterattack. "Not bad¡­" Xie Qing muttered, thinking his attack was over, but soon he frowned and built a protective dome around himself: "Damn!" Boom! Boom! Still in flight, Xie Qing failed to stop the attack in the form of an earthen spike, which was so sharp that if not for his protection, he would have been pierced through and it would have been very bitter for him. Crack! "Fuck!" Xie Qing''s barrier immediately broke when it collided with the sharp earthen spike, so the man immediately swung his sword vertically. "Ha-a-a-a-a!" He applied a lot of force to cut off the sharp tip of the earthen spike, and then, when he seeded, the mannded on the neatly cut peak. Your next journey awaits at m v|l-e''-NovelBin "Hm". Taking a deep breath, Xie Qing looked towards Yang Su and found him standing, leaning on his spear. He had quite a few minor wounds from which blood was flowing, but apart from the slight pain from the corrosive Sword Aura, he was trembling. "I won''t argue, there is a difference in experience and level between us. But know this" Xie Qing squinted and arrogantly snorted, raising his sword in the air and looking down on Yang Su with contempt, as if in his eyes he was just a worm: "I can''t kill you, but you are not strong enough to kill me. But time will pass and then you will not be strong enough to be my opponent." "Tsk!" Yang Su clicked his tongue, then straightened his back and pulled out the spear stuck in the ground. He took a stance. "You talk too much¡­" the man muttered with an irritated voice, and his face looked furious. Xie Qing frowned, seeing the stubbornness of his opponent. Although he could not kill him, as Yang Su''s defense was too strong, this did not mean that the enemy would get away without wounds. "How annoying. Some people like to throw shit at the fan, but they are not ready to take responsibility" Xie Qing rolled his eyes, saying this sarcastically. And then¡­ Fshu-uh! A sharp stream of air appeared next to his cheek and a sharp spear passed by him, barely grazing his cheek and leaving a small cut from which fresh scarlet blood began to ooze. Xie Qing tilted his head to the side and looked out of the corner of his eye at Yang Su, who was flying ten meters away, licking his lips bloodthirstily and looking satisfied. "Eh¡­" The man shook his head, then took out a hair tie, tying his hair into a ponytail. He looked at his enemy with a neutral expression, slowly raising his sword in the air, and then¡­ ng! ¡­blocked the next attack that was aimed directly at his heart. Xie Qing snorted, using almost all his strength to push the enemy away, and then, catching the moment when he lost his stance, tried to stab Yang Su in the heart, but¡­ ng! ng! Sparks flew into the air as the two metals shed with furious force, and then the two opponents frowned, feeling each other''s strength. "What a monster you are, damn it. Your physical strength is not like that of the first stage¡­" Yang Suined aloud. "¡­" Xie Qing, in response, remained silent, only applying all his strength to kill Yang Su. If before he was ready to let the enemy go, not wanting toplicate everything¡­ Boom! Boom! The heavens, which had been covered with dark clouds since the beginning, thundered, and this sound echoed in Yang Su''s heart, as if someone had touched his strings. "Damn!" Cursing loudly, Yang Su tried to run away, but a sudden attack on his back forced him to parry. "Fuck!" Gritting his teeth in disappointment, the man tried to activate the barrier, but the Sword Aura in his wounds, controlled by Xie Qing, blocked the possibility of using Qi. "What¡­ is this¡­ so you specifically targeted my spiritual channels? Bastard!" Yang Su shouted in shock, realizing the seriousness of what was happening. In response to his disappointed cry, Xie Qing only smiled faintly and said nothing. And now, the moment of truth hade. Boom¡­ boom¡­ BOOM! Lightning struck Yang Su, hitting his spiritual channels and trying to take control of the Qi and cause a copse inside his body. Did Yang Su resist? Of course. Thanks to his level of cultivation and experience gained during the Heavenly Tribtion, he knew how to deal with such an attack, but something else surprised him¡­ "How did this guy replicate the mechanics of the Heavenly Tribtion? Damn monster!" His disappointment knew no bounds. Before this, he thought that this guy had great wealth and support, which is why he was able to reach this level so easily. But it turned out that it was not just talent and money, but also the power that he could manifest in a real battle. And not just any power, but terrifying power! The Heavenly Tribtion, releasing its lightning, was a nightmare for all cultivators, and Xie Qing, managing to replicate the effect of the Heavenly Tribtion¡­ I''m afraid to imagine what potential danger he could pose. "Aaaagh!" Feeling hopeless, Yang Su released all his Qi ¨C at least, he had enough strength for this action. A wave of powerful Qi pushed Xie Qing away, and he had to use a dome to prevent the enemy''s attacks. In the next second, Xie Qing noticed Yang Su clenching something in his hands, resembling a square token, and then¡­ "Eh?" Pling¡­ With a strange, inexplicable sound, as if someone was ying on a taut string, Yang Su disappeared in a sh. Xie Qing instantly checked the surrounding area for his aura but could not find it. He frowned. "Teleportation token?" Immediately, without dy, he took out a scroll and threw it into the air. The scroll levitated in the air for about five seconds, then ignited and turned into ash, and from the ash, a sh appeared and struck Xie Qing''s head. He closed his eyes and opened them only after a few minutes with a grim look. "Coordinates not found. He''s hiding well, the bastard. I think this guy is connected to those bastards who caused trouble. I need to report him." The scroll that Xie Qing had just used was invented by Zhang Mei and was intended to track the location of teleportation. It was considered quite valuable. But it could not work under conditions where the opponent could hide their own coordinates. "Tsk!" *** "Ho? Someone managed to avoid detection by my scroll? That means the person is not ordinary¡­" Zhang Mei raised an eyebrow, setting aside the parchment and the tool with which she was making an engraving. "Yes. He used a token and disappeared in a sh. I don''t know what material was used for this item, but it withstood my lightning calmly," Xie Qing replied, watching Li Yun diligently treating the wound on his cheek from the corner of his eye: "Come on, Sister Li, it''s just a scratch." "Don''t say that! You need to take care of yourself!" Li Yun frowned and scolded him sternly, gently applying ointment to his cheek: "Besides, an open wound can get worse if not taken care of." "Come on. I''m a cultivator, what can happen to me?" Xie Qing was at a loss for words and added with a smile: "Besides, scars adorn a man, don''t they?" "A? Why do you need scars? You are beautiful without them," the synchronized voices of the two women sounded. At such a sincere response, even with his confident nature, Xie Qing could not help but blush. Chapter 285: Big Moon Day festival [I] "There, now you''re as good as new!" dered Li Yun, gently rubbing the cheek of Xie Qing, where a small wound had been. She looked pleased that she had managed to heal the man''s wound and now sat beside him, swinging her legs in the air while perched on a high stool. Zhang Mei merely cast a silent nce at the two and muttered something under her breath before continuing her work. Experience new stories on m v|l e''-NovelBin *** "Festival?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, sipping tea on the balcony. Beside him sat Li Yun in her usual white, closed dress, smiling gently and "looking at him." Well, "looking" was not quite urate, but it seemed as if she was staring at him. "Yes. The festival is called ''Big Moon Day,'' when the moon is at itsrgest for the year. So our sect celebrates it with as much enthusiasm as the New Year," exined Li Yun, giggling and adding, "The festival features top-quality wine, dancing, food, and the like. It starts in the evening andsts until dawn." "Ah, well... you are schrs, so it''s no surprise," Xie Qing nodded and, leaning towards Li Yun, asked with interest, "Is it interesting, this festival of yours?" "Of course!" Li Yun proudly puffed out her chest, looking truly confident. At this sight, Xie Qing merely smiled and shrugged. "Since my sister invites, I, a humble servant, dare not refuse," the man said in a righteous tone andughed. Li Yun giggled. *** The Big Moon Day Festival was just as Li Yun had described¡ªbright, unique, and noisy. Moreover, against this backdrop was an enormous moon, shining brightly in the sky, as if trying to stand out from the rest. Shu-shu-shu¡­ There was quite a bit of noise, as the festival involved not just a hundred or two hundred people, but over a thousand disciples from the Sect of Starry Stream, and not only them. Of course, not everyone had ess to the festival held in the sect-controlled city of Wuxian; only a limited circle of people fromrge or medium-sized sects were allowed. And since there was a lot of jostling, it was worth noting that this event was indeed very popr. "Lively here," a voice suddenly sounded at the very entrance to the festival area. Although it was quite soft, strangely, it attracted the attention of many people. It was a tall man, his long ck hair tied in a neat ponytail. And it was tied, to put it mildly, in a rather strange... thing. "A bow? He tied his hair with a bow? How cute!" whispered a woman softly. "Hehe, that guy is quite the looker... ah, m-my husband, wait! I was just joking!" "Sister Zhou, where are you looking so intently?" "Ah? Brother He, I... um..." Of course, the person who had drawn so much attention was none other than Xie Qing, who stood proudly near the entrance, waiting for his partner. He wore a white robe with long sleeves adorned with ck dragon engravings. With his attractive appearance, he looked like a prince who could capture the hearts of young maidens with just one nce. "Brother Xie, sorry for the dy! Putting on these clothes was quite a task...!" came a sweet female voice from behind the man. He didn''t even need to guess who the voice belonged to. He smiled and turned to look at Li Yun, his eyes widening. A festive hanfu, adorned with beautiful blue patterns and lotus flowers on neat, white fabric¡ªher outfit was uniquely beautiful, elegant, and cute at the same time. Although the girl had only applied light makeup¡ªlipstick, blush, and mascara¡ªshe literally enhanced her beauty by a hundred percent, stunning all the men, including Xie Qing. "Um..." Perhaps this was not the first time he had been left speechless by beauty, but it was one of the strongest sensations he had felt in a while. "This..." the man didn''t know what to say; it seemed as if all the words he had prepared vanished from his mind in an instant. His incoherent speech, strange expression, and stiff movements, as if he were a wooden mannequin, caught Li Yun''s attention, who initially expressed her confusion. Then, slightly opening her empty eyes, she blinked and blushed. "This..." "Hmm?" Xie Qing came to his senses when he heard Li Yun''s soft muttering. He saw the embarrassment on her face, and it seemed to help him regain hisposure. "You look... um..." Xie Qing covered half his face with his hand and, coughing, added, "...very beautiful. I was even speechless for a moment." "I-I..." Such sincere, unadorned praise could not but leave a pleasant feeling in the girl''s heart. It seemed that from such sweetness in her stomach, she could faint. From embarrassment, from joy, and from slight dizziness, she fell into the man''s arms and leaned against him, hiding her blushing face on his chest. "Sister Li? Is something wrong?" Xie Qing puzzledly raised an eyebrow, gently cing his hand on her back and asking with concern. In response, he received only a soft muttering from Li Yun, who apparently needed a little cooling off before continuing the conversation. The man smiled awkwardly and gently stroked her back. As for the onlookers... "Ahh..." "Why are the Heavens so cruel?!" "What a beautiful couple..." "Damn! I''m a virgin at 40 because I want to be a great sage, not because I''m a loser, got it?!" The men were extremely envious of Xie Qing¡ªfrom his appearance to his partner, who was so beautiful that even married men could not take their eyes off them (but they had to, or their heads would be separated from their necks by their wives). As for the girls... "Damn, I''m so jealous of that girl!" "I want to be with such a handsome guy too." "I wish I could lean against his chest. Oh, what a tragedy!" They envied Li Yun. Well, it''s no surprise, considering that Xie Qing was very handsome, and in this world, probably few could match him in that regard. Their pair was like poison to both genders. They were very beautiful. It is said that on that day, there was a record number of divorces and breakups. *** "Sister Li, would you like some tangulu?" asked Xie Qing, nodding towards a stall with candied fruits. "Tangulu?" Li Yun widened her eyes and shyly covered them, softly replying, "...yes." Xie Qing silently looked at her and then approached the stall, taking two tangulu. He thoughtfully nced at the waiting Li Yun. "Is she still embarrassed about her eyes?" he thought and sighed. Her blindness was still a burden on his shoulders. No matter how much he wanted to, curing the Heavenly curse was an extremely difficult task. Even Zhang Mei, with her level of cultivation, could not do it, so what could he do? "If only... a celestial being could intervene," Xie Qing thought and immediately dismissed the idea: "No, I can''t let any celestial being touch her. Even if they do exist, how could ancient beings who have lived so long easily agree to help without a good reward? Only a fool would believe that!" Xie Qing''s expression darkened for a moment, but then he regained hisposure and returned to Li Yun, who was waiting alone. "I bought it, Sister Lu!" Xie Qing eximed with a smile, running up to the girl and handing her the sweet: "Here." "Thank you very much, Brother Xie!" Li Yun replied with a gentle, loving smile, carefully taking the tangulu from Xie Qing''s hands. The man extended his hand, and Li Yun, using her technique, saw his movement and shyly lowered her head, wrapping her arm around his and leaning against his shoulder for support. They walked together through the festival. Strangely, wherever they went, the crowd did not block their path. Chapter 286: Сuteness OVER 9000. As Li Yun had described, the festival was truly joyful. The noise of the crowd, the vibrant colors, thenterns¡ªall of it created an incredible festive atmosphere that swept you up in a whirlwind of events. Unknowingly, Xie Qing allowed himself to rx during the festival. He didn''t think about the dangers that awaited him; neither the future nor the past concerned him. "Brother Xie, look! Thisntern is so beautiful." The man smiled, watching Li Yun holding a beautiful Chinesentern with a lit candle inside. Thentern was indeed beautiful, but it couldn''t be denied that the girl shone a hundred, even a thousand times brighter than thentern. "Very beautiful," Xie Qing nodded, either agreeing with the girl''s opinion or something else. "Yes!" Li Yun happily smiled and, grabbing the man''s hand, began to lead him to the stalls, buying decorations and food¡ªin short, she enjoyed this day to the fullest. Xie Qing indulged her in everything, going wherever she wanted and paying for everything she took, despite the girl asking him not to worry about it. The festivalsted until dawn, and no one left until the veryst moment. At the end of the festival, fireworks wereunched, which soared into the air with a loud whistle and then exploded grandly in the sky, illuminating everything with beautiful colors. "I wish I could see this¡­" Li Yun murmured so softly that even Xie Qing, with his sharp hearing, had to strain to hear. "¡­" He remained silent. His gaze rested on Li Yun''s sad face. Despite being able to "see" the objects and people around her (though it was more like sensing), anything beyond forty meters was a serious problem. Xie Qing wanted to say something, to support her, but in the end, he could only gently squeeze her small, soft hand, conveying his warmth to the girl. Li Yun smiled tenderly, leaning her head on the man''s shoulder and lovingly rubbing his palm with her thumb. It seemed that this small gesture from the man melted the girl''s heart and relieved her sadness. At least, the festival ended on a cheerful and pleasant note. *** A light morning breeze blew strands of hair off Xie Qing''s face. He was training in the mountains, in a ce where almost no one was around. Li Yun watched him, resting her elbows on her knees and her chin on her hands, "looking" in his direction. Because he was within twenty meters of her, the girl couldn''t clearly see all his movements, but she could sense the swings of his sword and the changes in the wind, as well as his stance, thanks to her technique. "Ah¡­" Lately¡­ A storm had begun in her heart. It was a mix of love and despair. "I wish¡­ I could be normal. See his face and travel the world with him, enjoying the beauty of this world¡­" the girl thought, letting out a long, sad sigh, twirling a strand of hair between her index finger and thumb, and then releasing it, bending her head down, hiding between her knees: "But now¡­ I can''t even properly watch the fireworks with him. Enjoy their beauty¡­" Sadness overwhelmed her. If before she had epted her fate of being blind for life, now she was trying to restore her sight, even if it meant spending arge part of her life on it. But nothing helped. Rare herbs, minerals, tokens, blessings¡­ all were useless. Having spent so much time, Li Yun found nothing useful. Everything around was illusory, and all hopes for recovery turned to dust. "How disappointing¡­" she whispered, holding back tears. The only thing that brought her joy was the presence of her beloved, whose warmth she could enjoy. Whose words made her happy. "But I don''t want to be a burden¡­ it''s so hard." Sometimes Li Yun thought that her blessing¡ªthe ability to see fate and glimpses of the future¡ªwas actually a curse from the Heavens. To be blind to the present but sighted to the future? What a sad fate. V-Vshuu! A fierce gust of wind brought Li Yun out of her thoughts. She used her technique and discovered that it was Xie Qing, who had finished his training. She stood up from the ground, brushed off her buttocks to remove the dirt, and ran to him. "Good job!" she said with a bright smile, taking a damp towel and a ss of water from her spatial ring. "Thank you very much," Xie Qing raised an eyebrow in surprise, epting Li Yun''s care and taking a sip of water, then began to wipe his body, which had be a bit sweaty from the training. Li Yun just smiled tenderly, taking the towel from his hands and starting to wipe his body carefully, with attention, looking like a caring wife. Xie Qing watched her behavior, and the corners of his lips curved upwards. For the past week or two, he had spent time with this girl because he was very worried about her mental state. It was clear that she felt lonely, but in his presence, Li Yun blossomed like a spring flower. For him, it was not difficult to spend a month, a year, or even a century with her. He enjoyed herpany, epted and cared for her. "Thank you very much, Sister Li. Your help is invaluable," the man said, tenderly rubbing her cheeks, then leaning down to kiss her forehead, whispering affectionate words. "Aaa¡­ um¡­ this¡­" Li Yun blushed¡ªfrom her cheeks to her ears¡ªand her lost pink eyes darted to the side, avoiding any eye contact with Xie Qing, who only smiled faintly at her embarrassment. The girl hid her face on his chest, and Xie Qing just tenderly hugged her, gently stroking her slender back, resting his chin on her head. Despite her embarrassment, which was evident from her eyes to her gestures, Li Yun felt an indescribable joy, peace, and love. Her heart was beating wildly, so much so that you could hear her heartbeat without any effort. "My face is burning¡­" the girl thought. *** "Oh? Did you cook this?" Xie Qing was still on the same mountain, and Li Yun hadn''t left his side for a moment, taking care of his needs and spending her free time with him. The man had built a small house a few weeks ago, where three people could live at the same time, which was enough for the current conditions. And after training, returning home, he found Li Yun in the kitchen, using special devices to heat food that were sold at the market. "Yes. I always cook for myself and the Master. She loves my cooking very much. I hope you like it too!" the girl said with a bright smile, her face shining with happiness. "Really? Since you say so, I believe you." Xie Qing sat down at the table and looked at Li Yun, who began to set the table. He helped her when possible, and within two minutes, the table was set, and they both sat down to have dinner. "Wow. The appearance of the food alone looks incredibly presentable!" Xie Qing marveled. "Thank you¡­ it''s nice to hear!" Li Yun giggled, happily rubbing her cheeks, making her cuteness reach OVER 9000. Chapter 287: My Li Yuilan [I] "Thank you for the time we spent together. I heard you''re going into closed cultivation?" It was evening. Xie Qing and Li Yun descended from the mountain to the nearest town and, being in a restaurant, ordered a private room and were now dining together. Li Yun, who was like a little bird, ate the meat in small bites, chewed the food, swallowed, and nodded, wiping her mouth with a napkin. Only after that did she speak. "Yes. Although I don''t want to, Master insisted on it. Moreover, Master obtained a high-quality pill for me that will elerate cultivation, so I simply must enter secluded cultivation," the girl reported, slightly pursing her lips, expressing her displeasure. She bowed her head and muttered, "I wanted to spend more time with you." "It''s nice to hear," Xie Qingughed loudly and gently grabbed her hand, rubbing her palm. The man smiled, saying in a tender voice, "Don''t worry, the next two days I am all yours. Is that a good enough reward?" "This¡­" Li Yun widened her eyes in surprise, then her cheeks flushed and she sweetly smiled, eximing, "More than enough!" *** The next few days they spent walking together through cities, through forests¡ªin general, they had a great time, spending almost every second with each other. This feeling was quite refreshing for Xie Qing. Compared to other women he had been close to, Li Yun was more calm andpliant, gentle and especially caring. With her, he felt as if they had been married for a century. And so, the days flew by unnoticed. The night of the second day arrived, and Xie Qing and Li Yun were in a hotel in a fairlyrge city on the Western Continent. They sat in Xie Qing''s room, enjoying wine. "I didn''t expect you to want to drink with me. I thought you didn''t like alcohol," Xie Qing said, pouring wine into the girl''s ss, then cing the bottle on the table and returning to his seat, sitting on a chair opposite Li Yun. The girl blinked her charming empty eyes and, like a curious cat, brought the ss to her nose and sniffed. Her eyes widened, and her ears twitched¡ªtruly like a cat. "This¡­ smells sweet! Amazing! Master''s wines smell strange, immediately bitter¡­" Li Yun expressed her thoughts, rubbing her nose in surprise. "Well, naturally. Lady Zhang prefers strong alcohol, and the taste should be either sour or bitter," Xie Qing replied with a calm expression, pouring himself wine, and then he added with a smile, looking at his ss, "I know you love sweets, so I bought something sweet with a little alcohol content." "Oh¡­ I''m sorry, you had to spend money because of me¡­" Li Yun said apologetically, bowing her head. "Hm?" Xie Qing raised his eyebrows, looking at her, and stared at the girl in confusion. Only after a few seconds did the man think to respond. "Ah, sorry. I didn''t understand what you meant at first. Do you really still worry about money with our rtionship?" Xie Qing shrugged in bewilderment and, seeing Li Yun''s bowed head, he propped his chin with his left hand and sighed, half-closing his eyelids, "Do you really need to worry about such things with our rtionship? Listen, you''re not some random girl from the street, you''re Li Yun. My Li Yun." "Eh¡­ ''your¡­ Li Yun''?" The girl whispered to herself, repeating Xie Qing''s words, and her beautiful face turned red, her lips trembling. However, if Xie Qing usually allowed her to step back from this, this time he was much more assertive. The man grabbed the chair and moved to sit next to the girl. "Eh¡­?" Li Yun shuddered, raising her head and looking at Xie Qing with a puzzled expression as he sat down next to her. Then, the gentle touch of his hand fell on the girl''s shoulders, slowly, like a snake, his fingers rose up her slender and delicate neck, reaching her soft and red cheeks, which seemed as soft as moths. Then, Xie Qing gently rubbed her cheeks¡ªLi Yun shuddered, and her eyes widened, showing her shock, but she only clenched her fists, cing them on her thighs, leaning to the left, towards the man, as if encouraging him to continue. "Mmm¡­" the girl let out a weak moan and shuddered when Xie Qing''s gentle touch and caress descended to the back of her head. The man gently stroked her silky pink hair, which she had taken great care of. He carefully brought a strand of hair to his nose, then gently kissed it. "Li Yun¡­ no, Yun. I know what you feel. You have many doubts and often restrain yourself¡­" Xie Qing began to speak, releasing the strand of her hair and smoothing her hair, fixing it. He lifted his head, being in a slightly inclined position, so the girl looked at him from above. He fell silent, as if trying to think deeply about his thoughts before expressing them. Then¡­ "I love you, Yun," the man finally said and straightened his posture, taking the girl''s clenched fist in both hands, gently stroking her clenched fingers with his thumbs, "I love your beautiful eyes, I love your voice, your happy face. Everything about you attracts me, does not let go, and intoxicates. Although I am not the best man who would deserve you, I sincerely want to be a part of your life and¡­" "Ha-ah¡­?" Li Yun widened her eyes¡ªagain and again, Xie Qing''s words pierced her heart with an incredible pleasant effect, making her heart tremble with excitement and happiness. Her throat went dry, so the girl let out a hoarse voice, her shoulders trembling as she looked at the man. His eyes were deep, ck in color. To someone, these eyes might seem frightening, as if you are looking into the abyss. And although Li Yun could not see his face, she felt the man''s intent gaze. And she was sure that in his eyes at that moment there was only her reflection. That''s why she trembled, and her emotions burst out. "This¡­" Xie Qing blinked, and his face was filled with panic when he saw tears streaming from the corners of Li Yun''s eyes. "Uh¡­" "W-wait, did I say something wrong? Did I offend you?" Xie Qing asked in a panicked voice, gesturing exaggeratedly. He thought his words might have upset her. "N-no¡­" was all Li Yun could say with a slight hoarseness, wiping away tears with the wrists of both hands and bowing her head, hiding her face with her hands, muttering in a muffled voice, "I-I''m sorry¡­ I¡­ am very happy¡­ sorry for my behavior¡­" Xie Qing sighed in relief, cing his hand on his heart. He really got worried seeing her tears. Usually, everything happened very easily and without extra emotion. "It''s okay," the man replied to her changes and, standing up, knelt down in front of her, gently stroking her hands, which still covered her face, "With me, you don''t have to restrain yourself." "Y-yes¡­" the girl said in a trembling voice, interrupted by sobs. The man smiled tenderly, gently stroking her head until the girl calmed down. Chapter 288: My Li Yuilan [II] It took approximately five to ten minutes for Li Yun to regain herposure after being moved by Xie Qing''s confession. She wiped away her tears and straightened up, assuming a more ordinary appearance. Despite her attempts to hide her embarrassment and joy, she wasn''t very sessful¡ªevery now and then, a cheerfulugh would escape her lips. Xie Qing seemed to have endured a cmity¡ªhis face showed relief after Li Yun stopped crying and regained herposure. He felt too awkward seeing someone from his circle cry. He moved to sit beside the girl and, taking her hand, silently stroked her palm with his thumb. Li Yun leaned against him, resting her head on the man''s chest. They were silent, but their heartbeats spoke for them. *** Early in the morning, Xie Qing woke up to the pleasant scent ofvender and a soft sensation on the left side of his body. Turning his head, he saw the beautiful girl Li Yun sleeping peacefully, quietly dozing. "Oh, right¡­" Last night, the girl had mustered enough courage to ask to sleep with him. Well, although nothing happened and they truly just slept, Xie Qing felt refreshed. "Even her breathing is cute¡­" Xie Qing thought, feeling her warm breath on him, and he smiled softly, gently stroking her hair, doing so carefully so as not to wake her. But whether the man was not careful enough or for some other reason, Li Yun opened her eyes slightly, then closed them again and, letting out a weak moan, whispered softly, "Brother Xie, is it morning already¡­?" Her tired, sleepy voice was so cute that Xie Qing felt as if a sword had pierced his heart. He smiled and, gently stroking her head, replied, "Yes. But you can sleep a little longer." The man noticed that it was close to six in the morning. Although he usually got up for training at this time, today¡­ "Really? Then¡­ lie down with me, okay?" Li Yun whispered and, hugging Xie Qing, pressed her nose against his chest. Perhaps, still half-asleep, she didn''t quite understand her actions and acted more decisively and boldly than usual. Therefore, the man was a little surprised but still did not refuse her soft embrace. So theyy there until one in the afternoon. When Li Yun finally woke up and realized her actions, she clutched her head, her face red as a tomato, trying to hide from Xie Qing. "How embarrassing! How awkward!" she muttered incessantly, still refusing to show her beautiful face to Xie Qing, who watched her actions with amusement. In any case, he did not mind her tenderness¡ªwhy not? He himself enjoyed sleeping like that, as sleep for him was just a method to pass or while away time. "Come on now," Xie Qing soothed with a calm voice, restraining himself from teasing her further, which would only embarrass the girl more, "It''s alright. Isn''t it good that you were able to sleep well?" "N-no, that''s not it¡­" Li Yun replied softly. She bit her lower lip and clenched her fists, her face red¡ªit seemed to be even redder. Such a strong reaction made Xie Qing tilt his head in puzzlement. It seemed that seeing Xie Qing''s puzzlement, Li Yun only became more embarrassed and hid her face in the pillow, as if trying to hide from the whole world. The man looked at her and could not understand what was happening. "Sometimes I really don''t understand what''s going on in women''s minds. I think even the Heavenly Emperor has trouble with this skill," Xie Qing thought, expressing rather dangerous thoughts with a carefree face. What Li Yun was thinking was quite unusual for her character. Despite being a shy girl¡­ "I couldn''t prepare for this night and just fell asleep from the stress. And I even prepared pills to prevent pregnancy¡­" ¡­she had very bold thoughts. Well, although it might not seem like it at first, she had grand ns forst night. Xie Qing''s words had ignited a passion within her, and her love had be so intense that it turned into a burning desire to unite their bodies. In Li Yun''s mind, when a man and a woman unite their bodies, it is the highest form of expressing love. Therefore, her thoughts were not about lust but rather about the desire to express her love¡ªto respond to Xie Qing''s feelings. However, she was so nervous that she couldn''t resist and fell asleep from the stress, ultimately missing her chance to give her first time to the man she loved. This feeling of disappointment in herself only intensified her embarrassment and frustration. After all, she had to return to her Master today. "Maybe next time¡­ I''ll still see him again after the end of the seclusion¡­" the girl thought and smiled, but then a realization struck her: "But¡­ I''m not the only one for him, right? Brother Xie still has other women, and there are many who want to be his wife. Who knows if he will have time for me next time." These thoughts were like a virus, infecting her entire mind in seconds. The realization that she might ultimately be overshadowed by other women¡­ Li Yun ced her hand on her heart, feeling a sharp pain. "Kh¡­" She gritted her teeth in frustration. Her insecurities began to surface, and her negative feelings intensified. And all of this culminated in a single action. One that even Xie Qing did not expect. -wah. "Eh?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, and his eyes widened as he felt a soft, warm, and moist touch on his lips. Before him was Li Yun''s face, her closed eyes, anxious breath, and delicate, seemingly fragile, yet strong enough hands wrapped around his back. And her prolonged, innocent, yet passionate kiss, which was limited to the touch of lips to lips, but no less beautiful because of it. The sweetness Xie Qing felt was as beautiful as honey. And the scent ofvender from Li Yun''s hair, her warm breath, her gentle hands¡­ Every particle, every touch was reflected in his mind a hundredfold, making his heart race. "Ah¡­" He was shocked into silence. Xie Qing never expected that the first one to initiate a kiss would be none other than Li Yun. Her character was too shy for this. However, despite his shock, the man gently embraced her waist and then responded to her kiss with much greater passion. His hands gently caressed Li Yun''s body¡ªit was not vulgar but rather a tender touch. "Mmm¡­" Li Yun liked it. She moaned through clenched lips, making the sound muffled but no less cute. Her breath quickened, and her eyelids opened for a fraction of a second and closed almost immediately. "Mmmh!" Li Yun shivered as she felt Xie Qing''s attempt to turn the ordinary, light kiss into something more passionate. At first, the girl was too embarrassed and only responded weakly, but then she bravely opened her mouth, allowing Xie Qing''s tongue to enter. And then came the moment of X, their tongues intertwined like snakes, and their passion was conveyed in every breath and every particle of their bodies. Soon enough, without even realizing it, both Xie Qing and Li Yun found themselves on the bed. And then, Li Yun, realizing her position, merely swallowed after the kiss and, with anxious breath, said, "Please¡­ ha-a-a¡­ m-make me your woman." Chapter 289: My Li Yuilan [III] [R-18] Li Yun, whose beauty was already incredible, revealed a new side of herself with this cute and shy behavior, which also showed very resolute traits. Xie Qing gently touched her body, which was still in a light dress ¨C the girl had fallen asleep in her clothes due to her embarrassment. "May I¡­?" the man asked softly, gently stroking her face. His voice was gentle and quiet. "Mm-hmm¡­" Li Yun nodded softly, letting out a faint moan and cing her hand on top of Xie Qing''s, gently stroking his fingers. "Yes¡­" Her soft, shy whisper, along with a slight fear that appeared because this was the girl''s first time, was clearly heard by Xie Qing''s ears. The man nodded ¨C partly to himself. He gently began to undress her, first removing the straps of her dress, and then, with Li Yun''s assistance, who helped with a bit of embarrassment, he undressed her, leaving only her underwear. Her dudou was pink, like the girl''s hair, and the patterns on the underwear were images of lotuses. Xie Qing looked at her appearance in awe. The slender body, always hidden under a loose dress, was revealed before his eyes, and this sight belonged only to him. The man''s heartbeat quickened. When was thest time he felt this way? He couldn''t remember. His eyes seemed to have a life of their own and were fixed on this beautiful and graceful body. Her beauty unfolded again and again, like a bud, and captivated Xie Qing''s heart each time. "Beautiful¡­" he murmured, although it would be more urate to say that this word escaped his lips on its own. The heavens cursed Li Yun, depriving her of sight ¨C this was the price for her unique ability. But could part of the reason also belong to this beautiful and beautiful body? "Yun, you are very beautiful¡­" Xie Qing murmured softly with notes of adoration, leaning forward and cing his knee between the girl''s slightly parted legs. He lowered his torso and pressed his lips to hers. "Mmm!" The girl opened her eyelids in surprise, once again revealing a view of her empty eyes, but soon she closed them and let out a deep, sensual sigh, as if beginning to be filled with their passionate kiss. "How beautiful¡­" thought Li Yun, feeling dizzy. "As if my body has be light as a feather¡­" This was not just a touch of lips. As if their souls had touched each other, that''s how Li Yun felt. Complexes? Fears? Doubts? At this moment, all of that turned into nothing. All that mattered was the man who was gently caressing her body, and each of his touches was so careful and attentive that it even intoxicated Li Yun. "His gaze, his touches¡­ ah¡­ all his attention is focused on me?" she thought, and the index finger of her left hand twitched. Then, her arms wrapped around Xie Qing''s back, gently pressing him to herself so that now the man''s pelvis and his sensitive part touched her naked body. "Aaah¡­" Li Yun let out a soft moan, in which a slight sadness could be heard. Xie Qing''s lips parted from hers, ending that passionate kiss that made the girl''s head spin. She sighed deeply when Xie Qing leaned in again and this time kissed her on the neck. "Mmmm¡­" she moaned, interrupted by short breaths. Xie Qing gently stroked her body, not rushing, as if trying to enjoy every piece of her beautiful body. Feeling the soft skin with his own lips, he slowly moved down, finally reaching the dudou. "Yun¡­ may I¡­ take them off?" the man asked, whispering right next to her ear. "Mmmh!" the girl shuddered, and her ears turned red ¨C apparently, this was also her sensitive spot. She sighed and whispered, "¡­yes." Despite her soft voice, in Xie Qing''s ears, it sounded as loud as normal speech. He smiled and with a deft movement of his hand, which showed his professionalism, easily untied the dudou. The piece of fabric covering Li Yun''s chest slid down, and the man carefully set it aside on the bedside table. Then his gaze turned to the two small hills. The size of Li Yun''s breasts was notrge, if speaking approximately, it was a B-cup. Nevertheless, they were still beautiful. Xie Qing smacked his lips, moistening his dry lips. Then, he leaned forward, and his lips gently kissed Li Yun''s right nipple. "Hiiii?!" There was an instant reaction from her ¨C a scream that urred due to the surprise. She suddenly squeezed her legs and trembled, cing her hand on her intimate ce, covering it. "Hm?" The man followed her hand and raised an eyebrow, seeing a small wet spot on the fabric covering her pussy under her fingers. "Is she¡­ so sensitive?" the man wondered, arching his eyebrow. "I need to not be too pushy¡­" Making a mental note, the man pressed his lips to her nipple and squeezed it between his lips, starting to suck. "Aaah?!" Li Yun moaned loudly and trembled, cing her hands on Xie Qing''s crown. Her slender and beautiful body trembled, as if she had been struck by an electric shock. Her eyelids opened wide, as if showing how sensitive Xie Qing''s action was for her. She bit her lip, taking deep breaths and exhales, interrupted by soft moans. "Aaah¡­" "Mmm¡­" "Ooh¡­" Xie Qing, meanwhile, continued to suck her cute nipple and run his tongue around the pink are. He raised his second free hand and began to gently, without unnecessary roughness, squeeze and rub her left nipple. "Aaah¡­" Li Yun moaned softly, and a floral scent spread through the room ¨C although it was still a faint scent. This time there was no such strong reaction, Li Yun gradually began to get used to Xie Qing''s caresses, although, of course, his stimtions brought her to strong arousal, which was shown by the increasing spot on her panties. And after a minute of Xie Qing sucking her nipple, he suddenly stopped teasing her left nipple, and his hand began to slowly crawl down, like a snake, approaching her intimate area. "Mm?!" Li Yun, of course, felt this movement and only squeezed her legs tighter ¨C it was just a reflex. However, when Xie Qing began to gently rub her thighs, at the same time stimting her lust with his tongue, Li Yun rxed her legs and allowed Xie Qing to remove thest piece of fabric. And then¡­ "Uh¡­" Li Yun felt a light chill hit her intimate area. This meant that she was about to lose her virginity. The girl was very nervous, which was shown by her heavy breathing. Meanwhile, Xie Qing parted from her nipple, and then began to gently rub herbia. "Aaah?!" Li Yun cried out loudly. Her legs squeezed again, squeezing Xie Qing''s hand, but feeling his caress, she initially with slight hesitation, but still rxed her legs, as if giving him a sign: "I am ready." The man stopped teasing herbia, and then looked at his two fingers. They were covered with her fluids. The man made sure that she was ready. Moreover, he took out incense from his spatial ring and lit it, cing it on the bedside table. Then, throwing his clothes into the spatial ring, the man kissed the girl and whispered: "I''m starting." The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!