Chapter 63: Chongyang Tower

Chu Danqing listened to Cheng Wei’s description and realized that Guo Ming and Cheng Wei had clearly misunderstood the true identity of Xiongquan.

They thought he was a knife in the hands of the mastermind, but in truth, he was not.

As for the Blood Shadow chapter of the Military Way Scripture, Chu Danqing now understood the general situation.

It was called a deviant path because practicing only this chapter without completing the full Military Way Scripture caused qi and blood depletion.

Though Blood Shadows were born from shadows, they required blood qi to sustain themselves—the more Blood Shadows, the greater the depletion.

Over years of practice, problems were inevitable, so daily massive replenishment of qi and blood was necessary.

The second reason it was kept within the imperial palace was that it allowed rapid cultivation through dark means, and its spread would cause far-reaching harm.

Only the imperial household’s trusted white gloves were trained in this legacy to carry out shadowy tasks.

This made Chu Danqing consider a possibility: the top three items in the faction shop might also conceal certain quests.

For instance, if he obtained the Lu family’s Heaven-Fire Scorching Scripture, he might unlock another high-reward hidden quest.

The Blood Shadow soldiers’ stats were low because they could inherit only half of the commander’s stats and one-tenth of their equipment effects.

This made Chu Danqing truly envious, but upon further thought, it wasn’t suitable for him.

The Blood Shadow soldiers’ stats, skills, talents, and equipment all came from the commander.

If they could fully inherit, they’d be extremely valuable; but with limited inheritance, the summoned creatures created by equipment became a disorganized mob.

Especially with only one-tenth of equipment effects—a crossbowman’s summoned troops would have only 0.6 stats, their gear likely unrecognizable, and their skills reduced to one-tenth.

Summoning basics couldn’t save them; they were better suited for non-summoning builds to fight against large groups, as they possessed skills to enhance their own combat power and compensate for the Blood Shadow soldiers’ weaknesses.

As for the claim that they’d become stronger in the mid-to-late stages once Chu Danqing’s power grew, that was another paradox.

If he already had greater power, why would he limit himself to a fine-tier legacy skill?

He could simply use a higher-quality legacy skill.

“Brother Chu, proceed with caution from now on,” Guo Ming muttered softly: “Xiongquan, the County Captain, has an unusual background.”

“Make Da Bao alert—don’t let him stray far from the three of us. If anything stirs, evacuate immediately.”

In his view, the other party clearly knew they were going to seek Bai Yao, hence waiting for them en route.

Since you’re going to clean up the mess, they needn’t join—any danger could be avoided by simply withdrawing.

“Exactly, keep your distance and let him play the hero himself,” Cheng Wei chimed in.

With the battle over, the two fell silent immediately; Xiongquan recalled his Blood Shadow soldiers and hurried back.

“What’s wrong?” Xiongquan sensed the odd atmosphere and asked.

Chu Danqing smoothed it over: “Nothing—just stunned by your strength.”

Xiongquan still felt something was off, but he had no time to say more, as Cheng Wei had already led the way ahead.

There were corpses on the street; riding in a carriage was no longer appropriate.

Besides, the remaining distance was short; clearing a path for the carriage would take longer than just walking.

“Master Chu, what’s going on with these two?” Xiongquan was baffled but noticed Guo Ming and Cheng Wei’s demeanor.

“We’re not familiar with you, so we’re awkward and quiet,” Chu Danqing replied.

He was telling the truth, though there was deeper meaning beneath it.

Xiongquan, after hearing the explanation, didn’t care much—he saw them as mere natives.

With Cheng Wei leading, they soon arrived at a tavern.

Above its entrance were the characters “Chongyang Tower.”

Chu Danqing recognized it—it was the very tavern Guo Ming had planned to treat him to.

They had come, but unfortunately not to eat.

Xiongquan kicked open the door and stormed inside with fierce intent.

But he stopped just inside, his gaze fixed on a figure lounging lazily on a grand chair at the back of the hall, face obscured.

“Guo Erlang, Cheng Dalang,” the figure turned and sat upright, speaking with a complex tone: “Why must you two wade into this mess?”

Guo Ming’s eyes hardened: “Bai Yao, it’s not us wading into the mess—it’s you who won’t let us go.”

The figure was Bai Yao, the one they’d been searching for—calmly seated at the back, eating and drinking.

From his demeanor and appearance, he clearly wasn’t kidnapped as they’d suspected.

Bai Yao, upon hearing this, froze for a moment, then twisted his face into a snarl and smashed his wine cup onto the table.

“I won’t let you go? You’re the ones chasing death.”

“Now, all of us—each one—have no hope of survival.”

With that, Bai Yao stood and stepped forward.

Only now, under the moonlight, could they clearly see Bai Yao’s appearance.

His body remained human, yet swollen enormously, his skin yellowish and covered in patterns resembling tadpole script.

“You’ve gone mad!” Cheng Wei was startled: “You’ve defiled the Son of Heaven with dark arts, and forced yourself into a vessel to seal and drain his power.”

“Such profound disrespect—how can you repay the cultivation and mentorship of the Grand Master of Tai Ping and the Dao Master of Ren Gong?”

Xiongquan ignored the tangled grudges among the three and immediately summoned his Blood Shadow soldiers into battle.

“What’s there to be sorry for?” Bai Yao sneered at Xiongquan and his Blood Shadow soldiers, forming a hand seal.

Piercing wails emerged from his body, causing his skin to crack along the script patterns, oozing yellow-and-red flesh.

Wind and thunder followed, creating a wide-area damage effect.

Da Bao reacted swiftly—he grabbed Chu Danqing with his left hand, seized Guo Ming with his right, and clamped the unluckiest, Cheng Wei, under his armpit as they fled Chongyang Tower.

Xiongquan and his Blood Shadow soldiers inside the tower had no time to escape.

A yellow wind swept in, shattering their formation; golden lightning leapt among the Blood Shadow soldiers, inflicting heavy damage.

Xiongquan watched in horror.

Combined range and high damage rendered the Blood Shadow soldiers powerless—many had already dissolved into dark crimson shadows amid the yellow wind and golden lightning.

Chu Danqing swiftly cast a probe spell—the bad news: no names appeared, only question marks.

“Da Bao, return to the Lu mansion immediately—don’t stop for a moment,” Chu Danqing was certain: even a full-strength Grievance Mother wouldn’t stand a chance against Bai Yao.

Crash~

Xiongquan was blasted out of Chongyang Tower, rolled to his feet, and turned to flee, pulling two healing consumables from his storage space and swallowing them.

But he didn’t follow Chu Danqing and the others—he chose a direction entirely opposite theirs.

“The bigger the chaos, the safer my father will be,” Bai Yao’s gaze settled on Guo Ming and Cheng Wei.

(End of Chapter)