[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h":3,"chapter-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-103":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Devouring Evil, Exterminating Demons Across All Heavens",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2267048,4426,"Chapter 103: Inner Sage, Outer King","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-103",103,"\u003Cp>The sun slanted westward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu’s wooden tub for cultivation had been moved into the locust tree courtyard, its medicinal sand glowing like yellow clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several guards were carrying in tightly sealed wine jars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The homemade liquor in Nanzhao’s taverns and inns rarely exceeded low alcohol content.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after arriving at the Zheng residence, Chu Tianshu learned that high officials here possessed a fierce liquor called “Yuhua,” its strength nearing pure alcohol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t pure alcohol only because certain herbs had been added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Legend said it was concocted by Daoist alchemists during the Wei and Jin eras.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, many aristocrats of Wei and Jin lived wild, drunken lives, treating such intoxication as refined elegance; they greatly admired it, and many also favored Five Stone Powder to revive their vigor, feeling ethereal as if drinking nectar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet overuse of Five Stone Powder caused bone and joint heat, sudden chills and fevers, insomnia and loss of appetite, even itching and sores all over the body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The alchemists, inspired by the “nectar-like” effect of Five Stone Powder, turned to wine and created what became known as Yuhua liquor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when diluted, this liquor easily induced drunkenness, erasing sorrow, filling the eyes with soft light, turning every scene into beauty, and filling the heart with boundless joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warriors with strong sinews and robust strength could drink ordinary liquor until their bellies swelled without getting drunk—but only Yuhua liquor gave them the true thrill of fiery liquor down the throat, the bliss of total intoxication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this liquor was hard to preserve in ordinary households, so it was never common among the people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only high officials kept large stocks of it, using it to attract guests and retainers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu had requested these jars, but not for drinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ordered the guards to pour the wine directly into the sand tub.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sanqi Divine Sword hummed sharply, straightening like iron, and he plunged it diagonally into the sand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hilt still extended beyond the tub’s rim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A guard struck flint and steel, sending a spray of sparks into the tub.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames surged rapidly, leaping nearly a foot high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red-and-blue flames emitted such intense heat that the guards hastily retreated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Chu Tianshu remained standing beside the tub.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tub was extremely thick, reinforced with iron bands, not easily burned through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His palm rested on the hilt; pores on his backhand and gaps between his fingers oozed beads of blood, trickling downward along the hilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood, meeting the flame, had not yet evaporated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those thin, serpentine trails winding down resembled the patterns Chu Tianshu had painstakingly drawn on the blade over many days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenjing Niangzi, seeing guards carry wine, came over to watch; she had initially lamented the precious liquor being poured away, but now she was captivated by the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood, flame, alcohol fumes, and yellow sand formed an eerie tableau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blind Cheng, though eyes closed, seemed to see it all, murmuring, “I’ve never encountered anyone cultivating a soldier’s soul this way…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood-cultivation methods produce a soldier’s soul of yin nature, while a warrior’s blood qi is yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, when the soldier’s soul is nearly formed but not yet complete—its most sensitive state—the warrior must not overdraw or visualize blood patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Chu Tianshu trained at the mass grave, he could practice for an hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the locust tree courtyard, at first he could blood-cultivate over two hours daily, reapplying blood each time the traces vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since sensing the soldier’s soul nearing completion, the Sanqi Divine Sword occasionally emitted a faint, resonant hum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His daily blood-cultivation time shrank to half an hour, then gradually to just fifteen minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This threshold demanded utmost caution, meticulous care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet somehow, today he resorted to such a crude method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood patterns vanished quickly in the fire—whether evaporated or absorbed by the blade, no one knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood beads reappeared on Chu Tianshu’s backhand and fingers, coalescing into crimson streams flowing downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haidonglai watched nearby, holding a large black umbrella.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Hui, hearing he avoided light, had chosen this umbrella—pure black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when handed to Haidonglai, he transferred a sliver of his soldier’s soul into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The umbrella’s top now glowed faintly red, like a tiny crimson cloud, its hue subtly deepening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Presumably, when his soldier’s soul fully restored, this black umbrella would become a red one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that tub his daily cultivation vessel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haidonglai mused, “If so, the medicinal sand must retain considerable yang qi, further stirred by the fiery liquor… Could he be using yang qi to transform yin qi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The theory of great yin and little yang has ancient roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To refine a trace of yang qi to stir vast yin qi—as the ancients said, stirring the turbid to raise the clear—was a method Haidonglai had once found in the Great Tang’s martial archives, meant to accelerate soldier’s soul formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no one had ever succeeded in implementing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it could only be attempted when the soldier’s soul was nearly formed but not yet complete; one misstep would waste all prior effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if someone dared to persistently experiment, a lifetime’s attempts would yield few tries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, cultivating a soldier’s soul is a deeply personal matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If powerful figures forced others to attempt this, their unwillingness would guarantee failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For those who had already cultivated a soldier’s soul, this method held no use; better to refine techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haidonglai never expected to witness this method in action during his journey to Nanzhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whooshhhhh!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames began igniting the tub’s inner walls, emitting faint crackling sounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind from the rising heat grew louder; gazing at the spot, one saw only distortion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few strands of hair at Chu Tianshu’s temples curled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He focused solely on his sword, on the blood pooling and flowing down his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow of the locust tree had suddenly become sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, even if sunlight struck the tree, its shadow should fall precisely this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the blazing fire should have illuminated the area, erasing any shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That had been the case before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, the locust tree’s sprawling branches cast a clear shadow upon the tub’s medicinal sand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow of the branches fell across Chu Tianshu’s backhand too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood as offering, yang as catalyst, yin qi expands!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A subtle qi was drawn forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crystal-white, silken light, dreamlike and illusory, rose from every stone tile, streamed toward the flames, and vanished into the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiang!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sanqi Divine Sword suddenly trembled, piercing through the thick medicinal sand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yellow sand erupted like waves and pillars; the sudden pressure extinguished the alcohol flames, plunging the entire courtyard into darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the sword remained, glowing brilliantly white, circling Chu Tianshu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agile and graceful, soft yet firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade spiraled up his right arm, brushed his spine, then moved to his left arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its hum rose slightly, then abruptly darted to his waist, coiling around it like a belt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the hilt settled precisely before his lower abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu touched the sword, feeling profound kinship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bloodline-bound, as if this blade were a sense he had lost for over twenty years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his fingertips caressed it, a sudden clarity arose—he understood the true effect of his soldier’s soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not as refined as “Void Drum Soaring Sky,” nor as wondrous as “Snow River Collapse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier’s soul inward allowed Chu Tianshu to see within his own body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the subtle awareness gained from martial training, but true “seeing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Chu Tianshu raised his left hand, he could see beneath his skin—the muscle fibers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And through sensing his soldier’s soul, he could adjust the depth of his vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could see only subcutaneous tissue and tiny vessels, or directly see his bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier’s soul outward enhanced the resilience of his entire body, improving his resistance to impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though a very plain ability, Chu Tianshu smiled with delight, already envisioning crude applications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll name my soldier’s soul…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu thought, then smiled, “Nei Sheng, Wai Wang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, he wrapped the sword around his arm; if trouble arose, he could block directly with the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, his soldier’s soul regulated his entire body; to transmit its power fastest to every part, wrapping the sword around his waist was the optimal choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haidonglai watched him and spoke: “Your plan was to conceal your progress and use the Internal Security’s reputation to achieve multiple ends.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But your soldier’s soul is newly formed, offering limited aid; our soldier’s souls differ entirely. How will you mimic my actions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu smiled: “I’ve seen the people you killed. Those brutal wounds aren’t hard to replicate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haidonglai said, “You arrived too late—the corpses were cold. But when I kill, the body remains warmer than usual for a short time after death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My soldier’s soul is called Dingfei—it causes certain blood within the body to heat violently, turning the corpse entirely red.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many in Nanzhao know this trait of mine. They can examine corpses shortly after death—you must replicate this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, \"Alright, I have an idea too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard brought him a red robe and a large crimson cloak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu put on the red robe, took the cloak, draped it over himself, watched the sunset fade, and pulled up the cloak’s hood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1550,"2026-06-19T20:45:51.976Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8057bb1939993cbc5b0ebc888687803ec1b5d09514eb27fb5bb460fcc974280d","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-104","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-102",155,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdevouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-cover.jpg"]