Chapter 93: Stepping into Embracing Core Mid-Stage! Capturing Red Second!

The next day, early morning.

Jinchen Peak.

“Huh... huh...”

Xu Qinghuan pushed open the door, breathing heavily.

She first glanced cautiously around the courtyard; finding Jin Hai absent, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.

At this moment, her pale face glowed with an inexplicable flush—not from rouge, but a deep crimson radiating from within her skin.

Beads of fine, fragrant sweat continuously seeped from her forehead; strands of hair clung damply to her cheeks, enhancing the already alluring beauty of her face.

Her usually bright eyes held a clear trace of satisfaction and weariness.

Her eyelids were slightly darkened.

After a sleepless night, dark circles were inevitable.

The first half of the night was spent as usual—unable to fall asleep.

The second half offered her no chance to sleep at all.

If dawn hadn’t broken, she wouldn’t have been able to rise now.

“Damn that old bastard...”

Xu Qinghuan panted, gritting her teeth, murmuring softly with a flushed face, “How could he be so powerful...”

Though she cursed, her tone carried no anger—instead... a faint, self-unnoticed sweetness lingered within.

She wiped the sweat from her brow, took several deep breaths, and tried to appear normal.

Then, dragging her weary yet strangely light body, she headed toward the outer gate.

Outer Gate training ground.

The moment Xu Qinghuan appeared, a sharp-eyed female disciple rushed over.

The girl beamed, her eyes brimming with envy and flattery:

“Sister Qinghuan, your complexion is amazing! Did Brother Jin Hai bring you more tonic herbs again?”

Xu Qinghuan halted, forcing a stiff smile.

The smile on her overly flushed face looked peculiar:

“Yes... I’m practically being pampered to death...”

Her voice floated lightly, carrying a meaning even she couldn’t quite define.

No sooner had she spoken than her gaze shifted, catching sight of a cold figure in the distance.

Liu Yiyi stood alone at the edge of the training ground, her icy eyes fixed on this side, filled with unhidden contempt.

“That bitch!! What’s she pretending now!!!”

Instantly, Xu Qinghuan’s heart ignited with unexplained rage—sudden, fierce, burning hot.

She could never stand Liu Yiyi’s haughty, detached air, as if she were above mortal desires.

Staring at Liu Yiyi’s frost-white face, a wildly absurd thought flashed through her mind—what if that icy Liu Yiyi were subjected to that old bastard... could she still act so aloof?

The thought made her burst into a sudden, involuntary laugh.

The laugh echoed across the training ground, drawing several startled glances.

Tianyang Peak, Tiankui Herb Garden.

Morning light filtered through the leaves, gilding Jiang Ye’s form. He sat cross-legged on the same green stone he’d occupied countless times, bathed in sunlight, his aged eyes filled with deep thought.

He had just attempted to merge fire-element true qi with water-element true qi, to see what effect it might produce.

He tried several times—each attempt failed.

As soon as the two true qis began to merge, the water-element qi vanished like a drop falling into a scorching iron pot—“hiss”—instantly evaporated. At present, the two qis could still only be used separately; they could not coexist within the same meridian.

Why was this so?

Jiang Ye pondered long, and finally formed a few ideas.

It might have something to do with the generation and restraint of the Five Elements.

Water and fire oppose each other—that is natural law.

To make them coexist peacefully, let alone merge, would likely require the balancing influence of the other three elements.

“It seems I must fully cultivate all Five Element true qis before I can merge them.”

He nodded silently, making up his mind.

Eat a meal one bite at a time; walk a path one step at a time.

For now, having mastered both qis is a good beginning.

Then, he set aside his complex thoughts, cleared his mind, and entered cultivation.

The morning sun had just risen—the perfect time to nurture fire qi.

In the days that followed, Jiang Ye’s routine became rigid.

By day, he sat beneath the sun, practicing the Great Sun Heavenly Flame Nourishing Method, drawing in Lvlv solar fire qi to nourish the crimson-gold elixir in his dantian.

At night, he boiled secret herbs, smeared the scalding paste over his entire body, and honed his flesh according to the Golden Body Refinement Technique, tempering his sinews and bones.

In the late night, he silently slipped into Xuan Shui Peak, reached the hidden icy pool, submerged himself in its frigid waters, and practiced the Canglan True Water Nourishing Method to cultivate water qi.

To his surprise, in the following days, he never again encountered the two true disciples bathing in the pool.

The hidden icy pool had become his exclusive cultivation ground.

Time passed swiftly; seven days vanished in the blink of an eye.

On this day, in the Tiankui Herb Garden.

Jiang Ye sat cross-legged on the green stone, nurturing fire qi, when suddenly his aura began to violently tremble.

The tremors spread outward like ripples; within a hundred meters, snakes, insects, ants, and beasts all sensed something and fled in panic—even the chirping of grasshoppers ceased abruptly.

Sssss—!!!

Only the fire centipede he raised, Xiao Huo, keenly sensed his master’s aura surging.

Its slender body emerged from the soil, darting up the tallest Tiankui herb, raising its head, its twin pairs of jet-black compound eyes gleaming with excitement, emitting a series of triumphant hisses as if cheering for its master.

Moments later.

Jiang Ye’s aura gradually stabilized, like a receding tide sinking into stillness.

Then he suddenly opened his eyes.

In those aged eyes, crimson-gold and aqua-blue flashes darted simultaneously—left and right, sharply distinct—before vanishing swiftly.

He rose slowly, feeling the surging, mighty true qi within, a faint smile curving his lips.

The human body has twelve regular meridians and eight extraordinary meridians.

The cultivation of the Embracing Core realm involves using true qi to unblock these twelve regular meridians.

Each meridian opened allows true qi to flow more smoothly, strengthening one’s power.

After seven days of intense cultivation, he had finally used true qi to unblock four of them.

This meant he had entered the Embracing Core realm’s mid-stage.

Host: Jiang Ye

Lifespan: 70/170

Power: Embracing Core (Mid-Stage)

Destiny: Ascending the Divine Ladder [Effect 1: Extraordinary Comprehension!]

Nourishing Methods mastered: Great Sun Heavenly Flame Nourishing Method (Minor Completion, 188/5000), Canglan True Water Nourishing Method (Minor Completion, 386/3000)

Wu Gong mastered: Five Animal Fist (Perfected), Blood Moon Saber (Perfected), Golden Body Refinement Technique (Minor Completion, 1222/5000), True Fire Eye Refinement Technique (69/1000)

True Intentions mastered: Tiger’s Gait Like Illness, Spirit Monkey’s Thousand Transformations, Startled Deer’s Traceless Steps, Wind-Riding Flight, Blood Moon Illusory Kill

Jiang Ye glanced at the system panel and nodded in satisfaction.

After entering the Embracing Core mid-stage, his lifespan increased by another twenty years.

Compared to an ordinary human’s lifespan, he had effectively lived a second life.

Both the Great Sun Heavenly Flame Nourishing Method and the Canglan True Water Nourishing Method had reached minor completion; the two qis now coexisted peacefully in his dantian without interference.

With sufficient herbs, the Golden Body Refinement Technique had made rapid progress, drawing closer to major completion.

Only the True Fire Eye Refinement Technique lagged, hindered by the lack of Tianqing Spirit Liquid.

Without the cooling liquid to protect his eyes, each cultivation session felt like dancing on a blade’s edge—any misstep meant searing eye damage. In these seven days, he had dared to practice only a few times, and his proficiency had barely risen.

“I need to find a way to get some Tianqing Spirit Liquid.”

Jiang Ye mused inwardly.

Relying solely on the single drop the sect allotted monthly was like trying to quench thirst with a cup of water.

He even wondered if he could find out where Tianqing Spirit Liquid was produced...

Perhaps he could use the Deer True Intention to sneak in quietly and steal a bit.

The thought flickered through his mind, then he set it aside for now.

This matter wasn’t urgent—it required careful planning.

Then his gaze turned toward the distant Juding Peak, where the Scripture Hall stood.

Lately, he had been repeatedly recalling the sliver of killing intent he had Lingwu during his massacre at Heifeng Village—that utterly yin, icy, evil, and poisonous aura. Though fleeting, it had left an indelible impression.

He thought the Scripture Hall, holding countless texts, might contain information on killing intent.

Jiang Ye moved swiftly, soon arriving at the Scripture Hall with ease.

The first floor remained dim, a few oil lamps flickering feebly in the corners.

Yet the moment he stepped inside, Zhong Lao—the elder who always buried his head in books, seemingly fused with the gloom—unexpectedly raised his head and spoke: “Oh? Old Master finally shows up!”

“Old genius?!”

Hearing this “seemingly complimentary” title, Jiang Ye paused slightly.

No.

Why did this title sound so off?

He glanced at Zhong Lao’s wrinkled face, half-smiling and half-sneering, and silently shook his head.

This old man was still as sharp-tongued as ever.

But Jiang Ye had come today for a purpose—he had no interest in trading barbs with this old man.

He stepped forward slowly and spoke bluntly: “Elder Zhong, are there any records in the Scripture Hall about killing aura? For instance, can killing aura be cultivated...?”

“Killing aura?!”

Zhong Lao lifted his head slightly, his cloudy old eyes scanning Jiang Ye up and down, then chuckled hoarsely—his laugh carried both mischief and amusement: “Never would’ve guessed, old genius, you’re a killer too.”

Jiang Ye coughed lightly, his expression unchanged: “Elder Zhong, I’ve always acted kindly toward others—I’m no killer...”

Zhong Lao ignored his explanation, only waved a hand with a chuckle:

“Our Qingqing Sect is also a kind-hearted sect—why would we keep records on killing aura?”

At this, Jiang Ye silently shook his head.

It seemed the Scripture Hall had no records on killing aura.

He was about to turn and leave.

Behind him, Zhong Lao’s hoarse laugh suddenly echoed:

“Old genius, since you’re also an old man, I’ll give you a little hint.”

Jiang Ye halted in his steps.

“Killing aura? That only comes from killing people.”

“Think—within the Zhou Kingdom, who commits the most slaughter?”

Jiang Ye’s heart jolted—he spun around sharply:

“You mean... the Seven Kill Sect?!”

Zhong Lao chuckled, said nothing, and lowered his head again to his endless book.

Jiang Ye returned to the herb garden on Tianyangfeng, sat cross-legged on the green stone, and frowned deeply.

He kept thinking about Zhong Lao’s final hint.

“Could it be... the Seven Kill Sect has a method to cultivate killing aura...?”

He murmured to himself, his aged eyes filled with deep thought.

If so, then did that mean he’d have to deal with that infamous demonic sect to cultivate that sliver of killing aura?

At that moment, hurried footsteps approached from outside the herb garden, growing louder, crunching the pebbles along the path.

Jiang Ye turned to see Lu Ming, the chubby little man, running toward him, his round face glowing with barely contained excitement.

Seeing his expression, Jiang Ye knew—something major had happened in the sect.

Sure enough, as Lu Ming reached him, panting heavily, he bowed respectfully and shouted:

“Elder Jiang! Something huge has happened!!!”

He paused, drew a deep breath, his voice brimming with pride:

“The two Hua sisters from Xuanshui Peak...”

“They’ve captured Red Second, the most wicked of the Yunling Six Demons—alive!!!”