As the voice trailed off, someone swept into the room like a whirlwind from outside, bringing with them a warm and fragrant breeze that filled the space.
Wan Quan was in the midst of a cold sweat, but upon seeing the newcomer, his face lit up with joy as he exclaimed, "Sister Bao Bao, are you alright?"
"I'm absolutely livid."
Bao Yun, regardless of the situation, always carried herself with a seductive charm. Even in her irritation, she exuded a certain allure. She went straight to removing the hairpin from her coiled bun, letting her black hair cascade down like a waterfall. Biting a strand of hair in frustration, she gritted her teeth:
"That guy looked all impressive, but he's nothing but a lecher—a cowardly one at that. He was all over me, stoking my anger, and then when push came to shove, he claimed he needed a rest and shooed me away..."
Wan Quan, relieved to see her return unharmed, was immensely grateful. However, he found Bao Yun's words rather unreasonable. On their way, he had intentionally taken Yu Ci to the most bustling part of Yin Cave City, hoping to find an opportunity, but he had not noticed any signs of Yu Ci suffering from the ailment of a loner.
Besides, did she really expect that... a bare-chested confrontation was the only thing that would satisfy her?
Wan Quan felt a bit embarrassed and didn't continue the conversation. Bao Yun was still fuming, but when the "maid" cleaning the Gilded Jade Vase on the desk spoke up, she immediately fell silent.
The "maid" continued to question Wan Quan, "You said that after the man exerted himself, his face turned blood red?"
Wan Quan quickly affirmed and then inquired, "Is this some sort of special method?"
Hearing them discuss serious matters, Bao Yun didn't persist with her complaints. Although she had average talent and cultivation level, she was quite interested in these topics. Still nibbling on her hair, she mumbled ambiguously about the Underground Tunnels, "Is that so? Could it be some kind of sinister technique? I've heard that up north, there's a 'Blood Spirit Great Method' that turns the whole body blood red when used. At its most powerful, it can even emit Blood Light..."
"No, this isn't a spell but rather a manifestation of Qi and Blood Rushing the Pass."
"Oh, is that so?" Both Bao Yun and Wan Quan were puzzled.
The "maid" finally finished tidying the room and removed the covers from the Bright Pearls on the walls. The room quickly brightened as light shone through. She then rolled up her sleeves and said indifferently, "Based on what Little Wan has told me about this person's temperament, he is at least someone who is quite calculating and can keep his composure. Little Wan has already shown his hand, and even if he is a lecher, he wouldn't get entangled with Bao Yun."
"Sister Lu, what do you mean by that?" Bao Yun was slightly irritated by the implication. "He clearly had the intention to..."
She stopped mid-sentence, realizing that from beginning to end, Yu Ci hadn't actually made any particularly disrespectful advances. In fact, it was she who had initiated several tests, to which he did not object, yet he maintained impeccable restraint—hmph, even if he wasn't a lecher, he was certainly no pure and innocent Young Disciple!
At this moment, Sister Lu, the attendant, inquired of her, "What is the measure of this man's strength?"
"Initial Stage of Golden Elixir," Bao Yun replied with crisp certainty. Her own cultivation was hardly noteworthy, but she possessed an innate sensitivity which Sister Lu had specifically nurtured: "I probed with the 'Mechanism Discerning Technique' and tested with the 'Five-Colored Cloud Disc'; the traces on it should still be visible."
As she spoke, Bao Yun extracted a delicate object, no bigger than the mouth of a cup, from her sachet. It resembled a compass, with sections of red, yellow, green, purple, and black arrayed upon it. At the moment, the tiny needle at the center of the cloud disc was resting within the red section.
"Indeed, as expected," Sister Lu concluded with conviction. "Thus, he is not truly frivolous, but rather it is his overly vigorous blood and qi, and your sensitivity to yang energy that are at play. It seems he likely lacks an Elixir Formula, or some other cause, for his Golden Elixir has been long in forming. His Boiling Blood and Qi Cauldron, however, is poorly regulated, resulting in his current state."
"So, it is nothing more than that."
Even though Sister Lu had corrected her mistake, Bao Yun showed no intention of altering her preconceived notions, almost taking pleasure in another's misfortune. Sister Lu paid her no mind and turned to address Wan Quan:
"The Initial Stage of Golden Elixir is indeed insignificant, but under such circumstances, the strangest thing is why the Great Hammer Hall has mistaken his identity. Little Wan, investigate this matter. Start with that Sun Wu."
Sun Wu, also known as "Fifth Brother," who had threatened Wan Quan, was no match for him in terms of cultivation level. However, in scheming and tactics, Little Wan was far superior, and he nodded in agreement to take on the task.
Sister Lu mused, "Even Sun Wu has caught wind of this affair; it cannot be concealed for long. The Great Hammer Hall might turn on us at any moment. You are in the midst of it all, and some actions, once taken, leave no room for turning back. Therefore, preparations must be made in advance. Showing some goodwill to that man today, as we did, is also not a bad choice."
Bao Yun expressed some dissatisfaction, "Being indecisive isn't ideal either. The Great Hammer Hall is known for not tolerating any dissent."
Sister Lu shook her head, "That's exactly why we should be worried. After the Great Hammer Hall achieves their goal, we need to consider the lengths they will go to in order to suppress the news."
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
"What, you mean to silence someone permanently?"
Sister Lu did not respond but continued to analyze, "If the Great Hammer Hall truly treats him as the Ethereal Rhinoceros Hermit and wants to ensure absolute success, they would need to gather all their experts. But now, with Tang He leading his strong forces northward, even if he hears the news and rushes back, he wouldn't make it in time, not to mention it might draw unwanted attention, making it difficult to monopolize the situation. I think their most likely course of action would be to call back Chu River from Thousand Banner City, and together with Su Tong, Hong Yuan, and others, they could amass about ten Golden Elixir Combat Powers. With the element of surprise, they might just succeed."
"Chu River?"
The image of a certain individual surfaced in Bao Yun's mind, and she cursed in disgust, "So you're saying, the moment that lecher Chu River returns, that's when they'll make their move?"
※※※
The green light gradually faded, and the room's brightness dimmed. Yu Ci leaned against the cool cave wall, closing his eyes to rest and recuperate.
It had to be said, the red-dressed woman who appeared outwardly warm and charming had deep-seated hostility, but the place she had arranged was quite remarkable. This place was known as the "Hundred-Turns Inn," renowned within the circle of cultivators. Named "Hundred-Turns," it naturally benefited from the proximity to the Hundred-Turn Wind Tunnel.
Indeed, it wasn't far from the Hundred-Turn Wind Tunnel, and claiming to be touched by the wind tunnel's remaining currents was somewhat credible. What was more exceptional was the effort put into the layout. By dividing the underground space vertically, each guest was afforded an independent area spanning over a mile, with layers of protective enchantments ensuring the utmost privacy. Such a place commanded a hefty price for its accommodations, but it was worth every coin.
Yu Ci had specifically requested the topmost layer, not for the quality of the location but for the convenience it afforded his plans.
The incessant nagging of Shadow Ghost buzzed in his ear, "Hurry up and deal with the Dark Golden Silkworm Cocoon. The sooner the Altar is built, the more trouble we can save ourselves."
"It's still early."
After two years of acquaintance, fully aware of his companion's scheming nature, Yu Ci's tolerance for him had grown considerably. With a slight smile, he said, "To construct a Gang Geomancy Seven Stars Altar, apart from the altar body itself, one also requires a Sacrificial Tablet, Command Token, Dharma Seal, flags, and other such items. Now that we have the Dark Golden Silkworm Cocoon, it only slightly pertains to the flags. To gather all the materials within a year or two would be quite good indeed; there's plenty of time to weave a magnificent tapestry."
"Heh, if I'm in a hurry, you should be too. Among the nine luminaries and six talismans, there's only the Soul Restoring Star Fixing Curse that falls just short of forming a Seed True Talisman, leading to the Boiling Blood and Qi Cauldron, with internal fire scorching the heart. If we had an altar, conducting a few rituals, with an unobstructed view from a high place, perhaps it would have been settled long ago..."
"Is that so? I hope it will be the case," Yu Ci replied in a relaxed tone, genuinely unconcerned.
I'll endure!
Shadow Ghost, barely keeping from grinding the teeth of the demonic creature's skull to which his soul was attached, was helpless. Yu Ci indeed had the confidence to speak so. With no choice left, Shadow Ghost changed the subject: "Even if it's a misunderstanding, the local strongman here doesn't seem like someone willing to reason. You've stirred up this trouble; have you thought about how to deal with it?"
"What's there to fear? Let's wait and see. If things get too tough, I'll just run to your disciples and live like a lord..."
Yu Ci spoke with a smile, waving his hand dismissively at the demonic creature's skull on the desk, which seemed desperate to leap up: "I'm going to meet with the daylight. Are you coming?"
Shadow Ghost, still not over his irritation, wanted to say "Who cares" with dignity, but the only word that came from his shriveled mouth was:
"Go!"
"Then let's go."
Yu Ci, who had been half-closing his eyes, suddenly opened them wide, and a cold light burst forth, turning the room stark white. A beam of pure light shot out from his brow, swirling around the room before seeping into the rock overhead, vanishing without a trace. On the desk, the demonic creature's skull remained in place, but the bright red glow in its eyes had already dimmed.
The heavily sealed rock layers could block the Divine Intent Detection of most cultivators and withstand the impact of forces exceeding ten thousand jun, but in Yu Ci's eyes at that moment, they were as clear as rippling water. The pure light, bridging the real and the illusory, seemed to possess the ability to shuttle through the void, with the rock layers posing no obstacle at all.
As the light pierced through the rock strata, it continued to transform, elongating and thickening, with delicate, crystalline shards of light spreading sequentially across its surface, slowly distinguishing head from tail.
At last, the rock layer came to an end, revealing a sandstorm that raged outside, darkening the skies. Yet the altered beam of clear light, now a long shadow, seemed to regard it as nothing, proceeding on its way and swiftly ascending into the void.
※※※
The North Wilderness never saw the light of day.
The tumultuous "Black Tempest" ravaged this barren wasteland, ceaselessly sweeping from south to north, east to west. But even it had its limits; at nearly a hundred miles up, the force of the black storm weakened, unable to reach the tranquil skies above.
Some cultivators, high in cultivation level and in haste to travel, took a risk based on this fact. They braved the Black Storm Region, ascending to this height to fly at full speed. Once reaching their destination in the skies above, they risked diving back down. This was the fastest way to travel, and it allowed them to bypass the many Sentry Posts beneath the North Wilderness. However, it must be said that, under normal circumstances, the risk was disproportionate to the reward.
The Black Tempest was more than just a storm; it was home to many Fierce Bird Demons that feared not the assault of the Flying Sand Hurricane. These powerful creatures, mostly dwelling in the high altitudes, were tired of the daily struggle for survival through mutual slaughter. Should a fresh target enter their domain, they would be more than willing to exert extra effort to claim their share from the jaws of their bloodthirsty kin.
Nonetheless, in the North Wilderness, there was never a shortage of individuals willing to take extraordinary risks. At this moment, a grey-black Shuttle-Shaped Flying Instrument was gliding just above the cresting "waves" of the black tempest. The people aboard the Flying Shuttle were well-accustomed to such maneuvers. With Yin Cave City in sight, they each made adjustments, bracing for the most perilous leg of their journey.
Just then, the cultivator responsible for observing the surroundings called out, "There's a Floating Cloud Boat to the northeast. It's not passing through; looks like a local Hunting Group..."
"Let's hide for now and assess the situation. If it comes to it, we'll wipe them out. No matter what, we must keep the news of our return to the city under wraps."
The Flying Shuttle was small, housing only five individuals, but the one seated in the place of honor spoke with no small measure of authority. The observing cultivator responded with a calm affirmation. However, moments later, his end went eerily silent. When he spoke again, his voice was strained, betraying either fear or excitement:
"A monster... a monster, indeed!"
*******
I have also posted the following more chapters on https://www.readgates.com/article/6591c0699d1bb80f3474a39e [All free]