Chapter 67

Ming (2)

Originally, cultivating another's inner energy was a dangerous act. It was called "demonic transformation."

The reason was that it was unknown what kind of conflict different inner energies might cause in the meridians.

Zheng Yanxin was different. She could immediately circulate the inner energy she had cultivated and change its nature.

This was due to her innate ability to control inner energy. This was also why she could easily absorb elixirs like the common and the zisuo pills.

She had already eliminated the essence of madness. This meant that there would be no side effects even if she used the Malakh Blood Cultivation Technique.

"Already initiated? Really...?"

Surprise spread across Qilu Dao's face.

Those who practiced the extreme martial arts of the righteous and the demonic were inevitably sensitive to similar martial arts.

The characteristics of the energy were distinct. It meant that she could immediately sense higher-level martial arts.

The Pure Blood Technique of the Pingjiao Sect was suppressed by the Malakh Blood Cultivation Technique of the Xueyan Sect.

Moreover, this place was a gathering of the Xueyan Sect.

"Such a pure aura..."

"Could it be that you are of the pure bloodline of the sect leader?"

The Xueyan Sect disciples began to bow. The sound of them kneeling echoed all around.

"Great Ancestor! Great Ancestor!"

"Lead our sect to Beijing!"

"Turn our gray heads black, and bestow upon us a more perfect Pure Blood Technique!"

Incantations burst out everywhere. The atmosphere was solemn.

It was due to the fervent and heartfelt cries born from fanaticism.

It didn't go as Gao Zongxue had intended. The place where he had been trying to stir up expectations had turned into a platform of praise and entreaty.

Zheng Yanxin stood still, using the Malakh Blood Cultivation Technique.

The momentum of the high-level blood technique, which calmed madness, exuded a serene aura.

The disciples opened their eyes wide, as if trying to engrave even the slight fluttering of her blood-red clothes in their minds.

Do they see her as noble?

At this moment, Zheng Yanxin was the Great Ancestor of the Xueyan Sect. From the perspective of the evil sect, she was entirely that.

"..."

She turned her steps to the side without responding. No one dared to approach.

She ignored Gao Zongxue's glare, who was clenching his jaw.

Only Qilu Dao followed her directly.

"I didn't expect you to achieve minor success in just one night. You, indeed, have more than just the talent for creation. Your capacity for martial arts is broad."

The unique light in the eyes of a master flickered in her crimson eyes.

Zheng Yanxin merely glanced at her and turned her gaze forward.

Then she slowly spoke.

"I need to inspect the main hall. This isn't just for this time. I need to do it regularly."

"Is there a reason?"

"To refine and organize new techniques, sitting in a room won't bring inspiration."

"Hmm."

"To sit in meditation against a wall is what Bodhidharma did. I am quite different. I can't do that. I need to feel the wind and nature. I also need to observe the energy characteristics of your disciples. The same goes for the Malakh Blood Cultivation Technique."

Suddenly, she stopped and looked at Qilu Dao.

She didn't flinch and met her gaze with a fiery single eye.

"I've never created someone else's martial arts. I need to know a lot."

Zheng Yanxin said.

"Your breathing, your steps, your movements, and the thoughts that form the foundation of your will. To circulate inner energy through the optimal path, I need to know everything about the practitioner. It's not something that can be grasped just by sitting."

"Yes, what you say..."

"The Pure Blood Technique is the same. To transform it into a more versatile martial art, I need to experience the atmosphere of the Xueyan Sect."

Qilu Dao's breathing quickened. She seemed very excited.

Perhaps she felt elated. After all, Zheng Yanxin had used the pretext of refining martial arts.

'Really, they see me as a captured prey.'

The words that seemed unlikely to be understood by a fanatic had resonated.

She gained the freedom to move. It seemed she could go anywhere with Qilu Dao.

"Starting with the inner courtyard of the sect leader's hall."

Zheng Yanxin moved without hesitation as she spoke.

'I trust my nature, but precautions must be taken.'

Realistically, the Yellow Emperor City wouldn't be able to mobilize much force immediately.

The Jianghu was filled with endless incidents. It was rare for even a third of the seventeen major sects to gather in the city.

They were spread across the Central Plains, performing their duties.

She was inside the Xueyan Sect. She had to do everything she could.

"Wait."

She said to Qilu Dao.

"Okay."

She nodded and stood still, strangely obedient. Her single eye glowed red with Zheng Yanxin's image.

"Great Ancestor."

The thirty-six steps leading to the sect leader's hall. The Xueyan Sect guards briefly bowed as if on guard.

She only nodded in acknowledgment.

Zheng Yanxin placed her hand on the railing and drew up her inner energy.

The spreading aura couldn't be hidden, but she had explained it.

The reason she was brought to the Xueyan Sect became the justification for such moments.

The talent of a grandmaster in creating martial arts could rationalize all actions as inspiration.

'Extermination of Demons with the Azure Gang Technique.'

Just as the aura of spiritual power was about to rise, Zheng Yanxin changed the circulation path to the Malakh Blood Cultivation Technique.

Whoosh.

The inner energy changed strangely. The essence of the Extermination of Demons with the Azure Gang Technique was deeply embedded within the blood technique.

Her control of inner energy had reached a miraculous level. She had taken another step forward.

At this moment, she could harmonize the intricate structure of inner energy with the sense of a grandmaster.

'The magnitude of power isn't affected, but...'

In essence, it was a deception. The power of the Extermination of Demons with the Azure Gang Technique was wrapped in the shell of the blood technique.

Even a supreme master couldn't imagine the true nature.

She leaned slightly against the railing and raised her hand. Zheng Yanxin asked casually.

"Marble, I see. Where did you get it from?"

"From the fallen Dali Kingdom in Yunnan before its destruction, Great Ancestor."

A Xueyan Sect guard standing to the side answered respectfully.

She nodded and swept her hand along the railing. At the same time, she planted the power of the Extermination of Demons with the Azure Gang Technique, disguised as blood technique energy.

It wasn't the end. She drew inspiration from the Blood Flame Spirit Formation that surrounded the main hall of the Xueyan Sect.

It was an art of formations. She sealed the infused energy to prevent it from dispersing.

The power immediately melted in, sinking deep without emitting even a trace of aura.

"Sturdy."

She stroked the smoothly carved wall and said.

She couldn't store a large amount like an elixir.

However, if her plan succeeded, she might receive a piece of the fruit of the Heavenly Tree.

"I'll come again."

The Xueyan Sect guards bowed in response to Zheng Yanxin's greeting.

Qilu Dao smiled and followed.

"You have some discernment. All the structures of our sect have preserved at least several decades of history. If you look closely, you might find items imbued with spiritual essence. I'll show you the revered and divine scenery that can only be seen in our sect."

"All of that is inspiration. Indeed, it's quite impressive."

Zheng Yanxin replied with an indifferent expression. Qilu Dao smiled brightly.

* * *

Time passed.

Two weeks had gone by. The sunset and dawn had crossed over thirty times. The Xueyan Sect disciples had become quite accustomed to the young Great Ancestor.

Zheng Yanxin repeated the same actions for a month.

Railing, steps, beams, earthen floors, rooftops... She planted the Extermination of Demons with the Azure Gang Technique throughout the Xueyan Sect.

She mainly focused on the sect leader's hall.

She also pondered various formations, including the Blood Flame Spirit Formation.

'If it's not activated, the formation medium is just an object. Even a Jianghu person can't sense it. The same goes for the sect leader.'

It was uncertain how a noble clan member would react.

However, there were no noble clan disciples in the Xueyan Sect. It seemed they were a lineage closely tied to the imperial family from the beginning.

Meanwhile, Qilu Dao was dispatched.

She came with an excited look, her body radiating a fierce aura.

"The situation is clear. Bringing you here was a considerable risk for both me and the sect. You must have scoured the area from Qingya Valley for about a month, whether to reclaim you or to destroy our sect."

"Both, I suppose."

Zheng Yanxin, who had been sitting in meditation, replied nonchalantly.

'The operation has begun.'

She felt it when she went outside today. The main hall of the Xueyan Sect was in turmoil.

Martial artists were searching the surroundings on a large scale.

"Only Shaolin, Zhongnan, and Huashan have been reported. Even the minor sects nearby have gathered. There are at least five hundred, and some of the White and Blue from the Yellow Emperor City are among them."

Qilu Dao's eyes narrowed as she spoke.

She extended her white hand.

Her long fingers swept down Zheng Yanxin's head, each joint exuding formidable power.

The heavy aura was overwhelming.

"I won't give it to anyone. Don't harbor any futile hopes. You are already mine."

"Here. A place no one has discovered in hundreds of years."

"Right."

Qilu Dao's lips curled up.

"The Blood Flame Spirit Formation is not a supreme technique of the mortal world. Even a million troops would not recognize it."

"..."

To Zheng Yanxin, their formation seemed beyond the realm of humans.

Just by comprehending a part of its structure, she could use the formation's key techniques, which made the Xueyan Sect worthy of absolute trust.

They were backed by a supreme formation. She needed to understand their strategy.

He stared at Qilu Dao and spoke.

"Still going out? Wouldn't it be better to wait quietly for the storm to pass? Revealing yourself would only confirm your location."

"Are you worried about me? My dear! I am very pleased!"

She lunged to embrace her, her eyes filled with madness.

Whoosh!

Zheng Yanxin summoned the Extermination of Demons with the Azure Gang Technique in her meditation.

The technique was so refined that it was hard to hit, but if it did, it could inflict fatal damage.

Just like when she took the woman's eyes.

"When will you subdue your arrogance?"

She found Qilu Dao's pouting face disgusting and stood up. Despite being there for quite some time, her disgust for the Xueyan Sect only grew.

These people's staple wasn't food but humans.

Every day, they captured martial artists and civilians to suck their blood and inner energy.

They even had medical skills to burn the bodies to prevent epidemics.

She shook her head inwardly and organized her tasks.

'I requested a meeting with the Xueyan Sect leader.'

She had decided to plant the power of the Extermination of Demons with the Azure Gang Technique in the sect leader's hall today.

"Shouldn't we know the location of the righteous scum to continue our activities? I'll take a short trip outside. You stay here and behave."

Qilu Dao answered belatedly. Zheng Yanxin left the room without a response.

The end was approaching. Her intuition told her so.

Even facing an unpleasant face, she felt no particular emotion.

"At this point, I have this thought."

Gao Zongxue, the son of Samsa Dao, stroked his thick chin and blocked her path.

He had been trying to undermine Zheng Yanxin's position for a month. He couldn't be underestimated.

His accumulated skills were so powerful that he could suppress even a formidable Xueyan Sect guard within ten seconds.

"I heard you have the qualities to discuss the first under heaven."

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"I don't know how you managed to bewitch the sect leader's divine eyes. I have been bowing to you, but without any significant contributions, I am deeply concerned as a disciple."

Perhaps because he had been suppressing his provocations, his recent actions and words had become more overt.

"Say what you want to say."

Zheng Yanxin said. The response came through a mental message.

-Commit suicide. Worthless thing.

His words were strange. Everyone knew that Qilu Dao was accompanying the Great Ancestor.

Was he planning to ambush her while she was away?

Just then.

'Hmm?'

A gust of wind blew past, as if alive, closing his collar.

The gentle breeze that brushed past her ear seemed to whisper something.

It was a familiar sensation. It was from her first mission. When Qingming demonstrated the divine technique, the power of the noble clan had approached as a subtle wind.

"Think as you will."

Zheng Yanxin said in a flat tone and turned around.

She didn't care if the man flew into a rage or followed her.

She headed to the outskirts. Her steps were resolute.

She arrived immediately.

Whoosh.

It was the place where she first encountered the Blood Flame Spirit Formation with Qilu Dao. The space seemed to ripple, exuding a mysterious atmosphere.

Beyond that barrier, she was there.

"Ah."

She involuntarily gasped.

She could see her clearly. The moment she came into view, her image was etched in her mind.

Her lifeline. Her salvation.

A woman in a long, light green martial robe that resembled a palace gown.

She slightly lifted her head, showing her profile.

Her porcelain-like pale skin gleamed smoothly.

The surrounding scenery seemed to lose its color. The sunlight wrapped around her delicate nose, creating a halo.

The rustling bushes around her seemed to form a single body.

Her light green hair, like a spring breeze, fell to her back, spreading a sense of mystery.

It wasn't the presence of a human. Even if she completely concealed her inner energy, she exuded a formidable aura.

Finally.

She turned her head.

Her green eyes, reflecting the brilliant sun, were revealed. They held an overwhelming depth.