Chapter 85

Wei Shizhe was slightly taken aback, unsure of what to say.

Would this be a tragic story? Though she was his niece, she was actually an illegitimate daughter, much like the tragic fate of the uncle and nephew with the surname Ouyang. After the death of her brother and sister-in-law, the niece, like a rootless water plant, had to take care of her legitimate daughter, whom she could not acknowledge. She introduced her to the Immortal Capital, but disaster struck from the heavens. In the Kunlun Mountains, she was possessed by a three-eyed spirit cat and had to shed tears as she injured her, feeling as if her heart was being cut by a knife. Even thirty years later, when the spirit cat came seeking revenge, she still could not bear to harm its life... Wei Shizhe imagined countless scenarios, then felt how boring he was.

"I originally wanted to take care of her, but I ended up harming her. If she had stayed in her hometown, she might have married and had children, living a peaceful life. By now, she would probably have a large family. She was unwilling to live an ordinary life and was determined to transcend the mundane world, but ended up with this fate. In fact, she didn't see through it. We are all in the mundane world, and no one can escape it. The universe is a furnace, creation is the craftsman, yin and yang are the charcoal, and all things are the copper. But these things she wouldn't understand. People can only see as far as they have walked..." Xi Huzi was a bit talkative, as he was old and had hidden injuries. Touched by his heart, he couldn't help but feel a bit melancholy. Normally, he wouldn't have said these things to a trial disciple.

Wei Shizhe could only listen silently.

"That day, when Ruan Jing asked to meet you, what did she say?" Xi Huzi seemed to realize his own indiscretion and asked casually to change the subject.

Wei Shizhe's mind raced, and he said, "Immortal Ruan asked about the Moon-Howling Technique I was cultivating and gave me some guidance."

"What did she say?"

"The Moon-Howling Technique originates from the demon race's Great Yin Swallowing Sea Technique, which is not suitable for humans to cultivate. The demon race can refine their bodies to the extreme, achieving states like 'Crystal,' 'Vajra,' 'Iron Sandalwood,' or 'Jade Crystal.' The human body's meridians are too complex, and even with a lifetime of effort, it's impossible to open all 365 acupoints and refine the body to the extreme."

Xi Huzi raised his eyebrows. He knew some of Ruan Jing's background, and these words, coming from her, were likely not false.

"The Moon-Howling Technique on the animal skin fragment is incomplete, with only the Governor Vessel meridian, and it stops at opening the acupoints. Immortal Ruan speculated that the next step should be to condense 'Primordial Fluid.' In the demon race's Great Yin Swallowing Sea Technique, condensing a drop of 'Primordial Fluid' in an acupoint is called the first level, two drops are the second level, and three drops are the third level. Powerful demons can cultivate up to the thirty-third level. Immortal Ruan said that my aptitude is dull and unsuitable for the 'Great Unity Foundation-Building Scripture.' The Moon-Howling Technique, though a defective body-refining technique, is the best choice for now."

Xi Huzi nodded and asked, "So, how far have you progressed in cultivating the Moon-Howling Technique?"

"I have opened eleven acupoints and made no further progress. Later, I found another animal skin fragment on Hu An, which, as Immortal Ruan said, contained the method to condense 'Primordial Fluid.' I followed the images on it and have already achieved the fourth level. If I continue, and reach the eleventh level, according to the last image on the animal skin fragment, I should be able to condense the Dao Embryo." Wei Shizhe said he had opened eleven acupoints to hide the fact that he was a postnatal impurity. He had to pretend to have the inferior aptitude of a single acupoint to avoid exposing his Bashe bloodline.

"How long will it take to reach the eleventh level?"

Wei Shizhe hesitated for a moment and said, "I estimate it will take about half a year."

"Good. Go to the Heavenly Capital Peak to cultivate. When you condense the Dao Embryo, come to Immortal Cloud Peak with this ring to see me." Xi Huzi took out a ring from his sleeve, similar to the token Deng Shouyi had given him, but with three additional dark golden cloud patterns.

Wei Shizhe took the ring with both hands, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "If I encounter Miaozi again..."

"Don't worry. This time, she is more seriously injured. The sword light entered her body. Unless someone from Kunlun helps her, she will have to come back to me."

Wei Shizhe understood his intentions, bowed respectfully, and took his leave.

The long night had passed, and the sun rose in the east, casting thousands of golden rays. Wei Shizhe squinted, watching the Immortal Cloud Peak gradually immerse in the light, feeling that the past night had been incredibly long. After walking so many roads, killing so many demons, and seeing so many people die, he had finally entered Xi Huzi's field of vision and become a significant pawn. In the past two years, he had revealed some things and concealed others, playing different roles before different people. Sometimes he showed his true self, and sometimes he acted hypocritically. He didn't know if his choices were right, but he knew he was gradually becoming stronger.

But he wasn't strong enough yet.

Just as the rising sun illuminated the Immortal Cloud Peak, some ideas illuminated his path, making it clearer. He needed to achieve the twelfth level as soon as possible, condense the Dao Embryo, and become an inner disciple of the Immortal Capital. He needed to stand out in the Red Dawn Valley sword discussion, find Yu Yao of the Yunya Sect, and obtain the complete Moon-Howling Technique, whether by deception or force.

But before that, he just wanted to see Qin Zhen.