Chapter 61: Jiu Yin Xuan Sha Gong

"Rong Mama, why did you follow me?"

Cang Yunning was clearly surprised to see the visitor, but the old woman merely shook her head and said:

"This is not the time to speak. This woman's identity is not simple, and now she has learned of Young Master's affairs—this matter must be reported to Young Lady immediately and handled properly."

Saying this, she seized Guan Shanxue and leapt down from the tree branch, saying:

"The commotion just now was already considerable. Please, Young Master, come with this old servant and leave quickly."

Hearing this, Cang Yunning frowned slightly but nodded, turning his gaze toward the woman on the bed behind him.

He immediately stepped forward, snatched the quilt with one hand, wrapped the woman tightly in it, then slung her over his shoulder and leapt out of the room.

The old woman glanced at him but said nothing, leaping ahead continuously to scout the path, while Cang Yunning followed closely behind.

They traveled without incident, returning to the Marquis Marquis Cangyuan Hou Fu without alerting any servants, heading straight to a courtyard filled with strange and exotic plants.

"Young Lady."

The old woman called softly, and the previously dark room in the courtyard lit up with lantern light; soon, a woman's voice replied:

"Come in first, then speak."

At once, the old woman and Cang Yunning pushed open the door and slammed it shut behind them.

…

Meanwhile, Cang Yin Yue used a hairpin to unlock the several heavy locks securing the iron door, finally escaping from the secret chamber.

She quickly assessed the direction within the mansion, then activated the Ling Cang Ying Jue, her form dissolving into shadow as she sped toward a certain location within the Hou Fu.

Not long after, Cang Yin Yue arrived at the location of Marquis Marquis Cangyuan's study.

The study before her was immaculate, with calligraphy, paintings, and books neatly arranged.

Cang Yin Yue knew her father chased fame and fortune, feigning elegance—this study contained every kind of writing utensil and ink treasure, even collecting numerous expensive masterpieces.

Yet Marquis Marquis Cangyuan hated reading and never wrote or painted; he rarely came to this study.

But Cang Yin Yue knew this study held secrets.

As a child, she had once secretly seen her father vanish from within this room.

Cang Yin Yue approached a series of wooden shelves laden with ancient porcelain and rare curios.

She began probing carefully, searching for the study's hidden chamber.

Since marrying that wicked woman, Cang Yuan had become a registered disciple of the Taiyin Yuan Zong; though his martial talent was mediocre, he had not neglected any of the required martial arts.

He likely practiced the Shi Gu Yin Feng Zhi as well—perhaps he had hidden the manual in a secret chamber.

After searching a while, Cang Yin Yue's eyes suddenly brightened; her finger touched a hidden compartment, and she immediately surged her internal Qi into it.

Instantly, a section of the wall behind the shelves slowly sank, revealing a narrow passage just wide enough for one person to pass.

Seeing this, Cang Yin Yue's face lit up with joy; she immediately transformed into a shadow and slipped silently inside.

After Cang Yin Yue departed, the study fell silent. After a while, the silhouette of a middle-aged man slowly emerged from the shadows in a corner.

The man wore a luxurious deep-purple brocade robe, a jade crown on his head, his partially gray hair combed with meticulous precision.

He stared at the entrance to the secret passage Cang Yin Yue had entered, and his aged face twisted into an eerily strange smile.

…

In the room where candlelight flickered, Cang Yunning and the old woman stood side by side.

The woman wrapped in the quilt and Guan Shanxue lay dumped on the carpet before them.

Lady Zhu Fenglan, the chief lady of the Marquis Marquis Cangyuan Hou Fu, sat cross-legged on the bed, flanked by two purple-clad maids.

The room was carpeted with expensive, exquisite rugs; in the center, a pure gold incense burner emitted thin wisps of white smoke.

The smoke gave off no heat, no fragrance—instead, it released faint chilling energy, making the room noticeably colder than outside.

Zhu Fenglan had a round, Bai Xi face; though middle-aged, only a few faint lines creased her eyes.

She looked at Cang Yunning and said coldly:

"I've told you before not to cultivate that demonic cultivation technique—you ignored me. If I hadn't sent Rong Mama to follow you, how would you have handled tonight?"

Cang Yunning lowered his head, yet showed no remorse, saying:

"I was wrong, but Mother should know—the 'Earth Scroll' of the Taiyin Zhen Jing cannot satisfy my ambitions, and the Taiyin Yuan Zong refuses to teach the Heaven Scroll—so I had no choice but to seek another path."

Due to Zhu Fenglan's influence, Cang Yunning had been admitted into the Taiyin Yuan Zong since childhood.

The Taiyin Yuan Zong ranked among the four great sects of the Jianghu; countless martial artists would kill to join it, and Cang Yunning was proud to be a disciple.

Moreover, his martial talent was no small thing—he had already reached the Master realm at a young age, making him one of the most promising among the sect's younger generation.

Yet compared to the sect's absolute top disciples, he still lagged far behind, preventing him from becoming a core disciple.

The Taiyin Yuan Zong's greatest treasure was the Taiyin Zhen Jing, which was divided into Heaven, Earth, and Human Scrolls.

The Heaven Scroll was the purest, the true Taiyin Zhen Jing—the supreme divine martial art.

The Earth and Human Scrolls were modified and compiled over generations by the sect's martial masters, simplified versions suited for disciples of varying talent.

The Taiyin Yuan Zong did this not only to tailor teachings to each disciple's aptitude, but also to prevent the true Taiyin Zhen Jing from leaking out.

Only the core disciples with the strongest martial talent were ever permitted to cultivate the true Taiyin Zhen Jing.

Cang Yunning did not reach that level—he could only cultivate the Earth Scroll.

But he was unwilling to accept it, so in the sect's scripture library, he chose a demonic cultivation technique called the Jiu Yin Xuan Sha Gong.

According to the sect's elders, this technique was no weaker than the Taiyin Zhen Jing, but it easily drove cultivators mad—only those with iron will could endure it.

Cang Yunning had dismissed this warning, yet problems arose during cultivation.

He was consumed by the Fire of Desire's Corruption and had to absorb a woman's Yuan Yin to suppress it.

This was why he became a flower thief.

Yet Cang Yunning unexpectedly discovered this demonic method accelerated his cultivation immensely—far faster than his previous slow, methodical Qi absorption.

He had only just entered the Master realm, yet now he was nearing the Banbuda Sect level—his progress was more terrifying than even the sect's most gifted martial prodigies.

Because of that, he grew increasingly addicted to seizing primordial yin to cultivate, and the cases in Shangyang City were not actually his first crimes — before this, he had committed at least several dozen offenses in other prefectures, and had never once been caught.

He just hadn't expected that tonight he would be spotted by Guan Shanxue.

(End of chapter)