Chapter 149

Looking at that dao sword… a demonic sword!

Bai Lu's spirit trembled again; though it seemed strange, he could still faintly discern the shadow of the Two-Principle True Meaning.

The solidity of this demonic sword far surpassed that of the Bai Yun Monastery's abbot.

How many years has it been since any Daoist Priest of Bai Yun Monastery perfected the Two-Principle True Meaning?

Moreover, the aura the opponent revealed clearly hadn't reached the peak of Embracing Elixir Realm—how had he forged this sword intent? Could he freely manipulate his inner elixir, completely disregarding the restrictions of meridians and major acupoints?

Bai Lu had no time to ponder.

Shen Yi hung suspended in midair, his ink-black robe swaying in the wind.

His eyelids twitched slightly, his eyes thick with crimson mist, lips curling into a chilling smile as he calmly gazed down at the demon below.

The next instant, the crimson dao sword became a streak of light and slashed downward!

Pfft! Before Bai Lu could react, his thigh was pierced clean through; the Two-Principle Dao Sword hovered again, spun around, and struck back!

Shen Yi pulled out his last Kong Que Elixir, swallowed it, and casually wiped the blood from his lips.

His empty Heavenly Pill Outer Elixir was replenished, returning to roughly fifty percent of his cultivation.

He vanished instantly from his spot, coordinating with the Two-Principle Dao Sword for a pincer attack.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Shen Yi delivered a whipping kick to Bai Lu's head, then punched like a collapsing mountain, brutally slamming into the demon's body.

The Two-Principle Dao Sword seized its opening and pierced straight through its body.

Each punch left another patch of flesh on Bai Lu rotting from the poison; his once noble, agile form was now pitted and soaked in blood.

His counterattacks were equally ferocious, shattering the youth's bones repeatedly.

Such horrific injuries would have killed an ordinary martial cultivator ten times over.

But under the nurturing crimson radiance, Shen Yi seemed immune to pain, an endless, tireless killing god—gradually filling Bai Lu with dread and helplessness.

Finally, with a deafening, muffled boom!

The youth seized the moment of the demon's distraction, stomped down on its body, driving it deep into the earth, then drove the Two-Principle Dao Sword into its abdomen.

The Sky-Cleaving Sunbow fell once more into his grasp.

It was one of the few treasures capable of truly threatening an Embracing Elixir Realm demon lord.

Shen Yi drew the bow instantly, as if holding a blinding sun.

Bai Lu nearly went blind—this was the first time he'd ever seen a longbow used pressed against someone's skull.

Immediately afterward, a blinding white radiance erupted from Taishan Mountain!

Most lifeforms on the mountain were temporarily deafened, as if plunged into a dead zone.

Boom—

White light dispersed; Shen Yi stared at the headless deer demon beneath him, wearily waving his hand to dismiss the Two-Principle Dao Sword.

【Slain Embracing Elixir Realm Bai Lu. Total lifespan: 8,700 years. Remaining lifespan: 3,400 years. Absorption complete.】

He glanced at the figure standing quietly at a distance.

After a moment's thought, he picked up the Yi Dao himself, bent down, and dug out the radiant golden elixir.

Fortunately, Bai Lu's corpse wasn't large, so he didn't bother processing it—he simply stored the whole thing in the silver bell.

The woman had arrived just as he made his final charge.

Then she stood silently by, watching.

It was precisely her presence that caused Bai Lu to hesitate for an instant—giving Shen Yi his opening.

"…"

Jiang Qiulan's expression remained calm, yet a flicker of emotion surfaced in her eyes.

Like witnessing an old friend grow into someone capable of standing alone.

After a long silence, she smiled faintly and shook her head: "You're very strong."

"Not bad." Shen Yi sheathed his blade and turned, wearily trudging toward the mountain peak.

He'd promised one incense stick—but he'd taken far longer.

Jiang Qiulan followed slowly behind, noticing the youth's odd state but saying nothing.

The entire Taishan Mountain had been reshaped by the battle; only the ruined temple atop the peak remained unchanged, protected by the slender, needle-like sword intent.

Jiang Qiulan retracted her Xuanbing Qisha Sword Intent but did not return it to her body.

She relit the bonfire, sat quietly beside it, then took a sealed wine cask from her waist storage treasure and placed it on the ground.

She looked at the youth leaning against the wall with closed eyes and said softly: "Come here."

Shen Yi frowned slightly, but remembering how much he'd received from her, he rose and sat beside the fire.

Yet he subtly turned his gaze away.

In his dark eyes, the dense crimson mist clung stubbornly, refusing to fade.

Jiang Qiulan transformed the needle into a blade of frozen silver, gripped it in her palm, and offered it to the youth: "Try it."

Shen Yi raised an eyebrow, hesitated long, then extended his index finger to touch it.

Instantly, an unbearable, bone-chilling cold surged from his fingertip through his entire body; his lips twitched, his expression twisted with fury—but quickly settled into calm.

He realized the resentment and savagery accumulated in his mind were being swiftly purged by this cold.

His dark eyes grew clear again.

Jiang Qiulan turned the blade back into a needle, then pierced her palm, her expression unchanged: "The imperial court has an Embracing Elixir method called Tiannan Dan Shi. Compared to other methods, the inner elixir it forms can nourish more external substances during cultivation. I recommend you choose this one."

Shen Yi paused slightly.

He realized she was referring to his Heavenly Pill Outer Elixir.

"The Rongri Treasure Furnace can connect to 350 acupoints—it greatly benefits the practice of Tiannan Dan Shi." Jiang Qiulan spoke with absolute certainty, making one instinctively trust her words.

She pushed the wine jar toward Shen Yi: "To drive off the cold, no need for politeness."

Having said that, Jiang Qiulan fell silent once more, took out a fresh wine jar, skillfully broke the seal, and drank the liquor mouthful after mouthful.

Shen Yi felt his slightly stiffened body, and no longer stood on ceremony. He took the wine jar, felt the sharp burn between throat and tongue, and unconsciously furrowed his brow.

This stuff hardly seemed meant to be savored as fine wine — it gave not the slightest pleasure.

Fortunately, once it slid down into his stomach, a strange warmth welled up through his whole body, a toasty heat that felt quite marvelous.

The two sat facing each other by the bonfire, both in a sweep of ink-black robes, both equally taciturn.

Beneath the divine statue, Xiao Qiangwei quietly opened her eyes, glanced to the side, lightly clenched her palm, then consciously closed her eyes again: "……"

Only when the wine jar was empty did Jiang Qiulan rise to her feet: "I'm heading back to Lady Yushan's commandery. Are you coming?"

After the events of last night, Shen Yi had by now roughly seen through the other's temperament.

Her inquiry was pure courtesy — about the same meaning as saying "goodbye" when parting, not a real intention to bring him along.

"No, I need to escort Elder Xiao back to Tingyang City first."

Shen Yi casually offered an excuse. If she were going to slay demons, he'd certainly have to follow, but back to Outside Qingzhou — better forget it.

"Then could you do me a favor?" Jiang Qiulan walked to the broken temple's doorway.

"What?" Shen Yi raised his eyes to look.

But he caught a faint trace of teasing flash through Jiang Qiulan's eyes: "Trouble you to make a trip to Linjiang Commandery, and tell General Chen Qiankun for me that the demons of Qingfeng Mountain have been eradicated."

Shen Yi: "……"

I'm going out for dinner tonight, so I'll post two chapters first; I'll keep writing when I get back in the evening.

This little nobody humbly begs for monthly tickets — still short by over eighty to draw the hundred-coin reward… Big shots, please lend a hand.

Wishing all you big shots a happy New Year's Eve!

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(End of this chapter)