Chapter 458: Heavenly Transformation Forty-Nine

Those words didn't sound false.

The premise was just not matching the tangled expression on her face.

Cui Hao sneered coldly, staring indifferently at the woman before him.

"..."

Ye Wenxuan averted her gaze from the other party.

She indeed wanted to stay alive.

Nor did she feel she had any bond left with those people from the General Nanyang Sect.

The reason she didn't speak.

Was simply that her instinct told her that if she offended Shen Yi, her fate would likely be even worse; even with the status of an Executive, she might not be able to save herself.

This was a pure intuition with no logic to argue.

But she had always followed her intuition; it hadn't brought any improvement, but at least she hadn't perished up to now.

"Whatever."

Cui Hao withdrew his gaze, walked inside again, casually took out a jade slip, and began contacting the Elder.

Moments later, as if receiving a response, he strode out and casually tossed the storage bag onto the table.

He turned to Zheng Qian with an apologetic smile: "Sorry, the Crimson-Eyed Profound Phoenix essence blood is in short supply and must be prioritized for our sect's disciples; we are truly unable to help the Meng Sect."

"You're lying!"

Zheng Qian's expression turned serious: "Tell me, which disciple... no, which Outer Gate Elders would be willing to trade heavenly treasures and earthly gems for this? Could it be that some direct disciple has taken all the essence blood?"

"It really is." Cui Hao dropped his smile: "Next, do you want to ask which direct disciple? Executive Zheng, you have quite the authority."

Elder Liu's meaning was clear: regardless of whether the General Nanyang Sect needed it, as long as nothing was given, there would be no problem.

If they really wanted it, let that young cultivator surnamed Shen come get it himself; he didn't even need to trade anything, just a word would suffice.

"I didn't mean that." Zheng Qian frowned tightly.

"It doesn't matter."

Cui Hao turned around, looking at the despondent Ye Wenxuan walking out, as his smile returned to his face: "Our sect's Crimson-Eyed Profound Phoenix essence blood is meant to be awarded to the most diligent Executives, such as our Daoist Friend Ye."

Having said that, he casually took out a jade slip and threw it over: "Handle this matter, and you'll be awarded two portions of essence blood; if you add these treasures, exchanging for five portions is more than enough. I'll also give you Executive status. This is the Elder's promise, but if you can't handle it, don't come back."

"Me?"

Ye Wenxuan, stunned, caught the jade slip.

"Which Executive doesn't go out on missions? Don't you agree?" Cui Hao looked calmly: "You will lead this matter. You can find as many Executives to help as you can, or even invite Outer Gate Elders to intervene; we only care about the result."

A traitor who climbs out from within; since she can't forget the General Nanyang Sect, why come to the Heavenly Sword Sect to show such eagerness?

Taking this opportunity, the Elder also wanted to deal with this trouble.

"Who can I find..."

Ye Wenxuan was completely stunned in place; she was new here, had always been doing things for Cui Hao, and knew absolutely no one.

She closed her eyes to sense the contents within the jade slip, then exclaimed in surprise: "Suppressing a rebellion? Killed Fanxu Level Five?"

This was hardly giving her a chance.

It was clearly forcing her to choose between seeking death and getting out.

"Enough, stop wasting words." Cui Hao spread his hands, but his peripheral vision noticed Zheng Qian quietly leaving, and the corner of his lips rose slightly.

Was she going to report back? Could there be an unexpected gain?

Whether it was setting up the Qingyue Sect or dragging that cultivator surnamed Shen into the pit, it would be a great merit for him.

"..."

Zheng Qian walked out of the Heavenly Sword Sect Executive Hall, holding the jade token, and reported everything in detail: "Yes, five portions can be exchanged. What does Shen Zongzhu think?"

The other end of the jade slip pondered for a long time.

Finally, only a single simple word came through.

"Good."

Hearing this, Zheng Qian clicked her tongue; was he really serious?

That was suppressing a rebellion.

They said Killed Fanxu Level Five, but since they dared to rebel, who knew what demons and monsters were hiding behind it.

Did Shen Zongzhu gain confidence from the last time, or was he truly desperate for essence blood?

But since the other party had already spoken.

Zheng Qian shook her head, dispelled the sound-sealing formation technique, walked back into the Executive Hall, looked at the dazed woman, reached out, and patted her shoulder: "What's wrong?"

"I..." Ye Wenxuan looked at the other party who was asking the obvious, and her expression grew even more stiff.

She even regretted why she had eavesdropped just now.

Before, even if she couldn't become an Executive, mixing around inside the Heavenly Sword Sect would at least keep her safe.

If she was really kicked out, that would be miserable.

"What's the rush."

Zheng Qian smiled, then turned her gaze to Cui Hao and said word by word: "Didn't he say he only cares about the result? I'll take this matter! Five portions of essence blood, have them ready for me, miss. If there's one less, I'll go directly to the Elder to complain."

"Be my guest."

Cui Hao spread his palm, but his heart was overjoyed.

A mere Zheng Qian, where did she get the confidence to speak like that? It must be that Liu Shiqian had intervened.

This Elder from Bai Yujing was really going all out.

"Notify me when we set out."

Zheng Qian removed her hand from Ye Wenxuan's shoulder, turned around, and left the Executive Hall with a free and easy stride.

Glancing back with the corner of his eye.

He found he had already moved far beyond Cui Hao's line of sight, so he hurriedly quickened his pace and fled the Heavenly Sword Sect in a wretched state.

Oh no, oh no, this time I've oversold it!

But... it was quite satisfying.

Zheng Qian patted her chest, her face a complex mix of emotions, wondering how she had somehow dug herself into trouble again.

Never mind, let's first see how many allies Shen Zongzhu can summon.

Inside the Ancestral Master Hall of the Southern Hong Sect.

Li Xuanqing watched Shen Yi put down the jade slip and asked curiously, "What happened again?"

He noticed this young sect master seemed to be busy all the time.

Even during his own peak years of fame, he had never received invitations this frequently.

"It concerns the Spiritual Body Technique."

Shen Yi held nothing back, recounting the story of the Unfading True Body of the Celestial Phoenix in detail.

Li Xuanqing listened quietly, then raised his gaze and said, "I have met Baohua Xianzi a few times; she is also a fire-elemental bird demon incarnation. I just don't know if she is still in Hongze... This time, it seems I cannot help you."

"It's fine, I'll try."

Shen Yi gathered his thoughts; regarding the Heavenly Sword Sect's harassment, he had actually expected it all along.

Ever since the day he left the Southern Hong Sect.

He had discovered that among the Seven Sages of Southern Hong, the Heavenly Sword Sect held the most decisive attitude, almost writing their desire for the Southern Hong treasures right on their faces.

"However, I have dabbled slightly in the Spiritual Body Technique, but later found it too time-consuming and of little use, so I simply abandoned it. If you like it, I can teach it to you."

Li Xuanqing extended his fingertip; seeing Shen Yi had no intention of refusing, he lightly tapped his forehead.

Until that wisp of spiritual light spread out in his mind.

Shen Yi's expression finally changed.

He thought Xuanqing was transmitting just one technique, but he never expected the other party to transmit all the insights along with it.

This was far more terrifying than merely lecturing on the Dao.

Li Xuanqing withdrew his fingertip; his eyes, already stiff, suddenly became even more dull: "What were we just talking about... oh, right, you need to go out."

"..."

Seeing this scene, Shen Yi suddenly recalled the time the other party gifted him the Hongmeng Purple Qi.

It seemed Senior Xuanqing used some secret method to pack all his foundation into this wooden body, ready to be dismantled at any time.

So, has the other party already forgotten this technique?

"Thank you, Senior Xuanqing."

Shen Yi clasped his hands in salute and said no more.

"Why be so polite? Did I give you something? It doesn't matter; I can't use it anymore." Li Xuanqing recovered some memory, smiled gently, though his voice carried a hint of loneliness.

"Why?" Shen Yi rarely asked about others' affairs, but this time, he turned his gaze sideways to look.

"Because... the sky is too high, I cannot reach it... Below the sky, everything is useless."

Li Xuanqing seemed to recall something unpleasant from the past; suddenly he covered his forehead with his hand, and his voice became hoarse: "I want to report..."

Halfway through speaking, he suddenly came to his senses and said with a hint of fear, "No, I don't want to."

"Okay."

Moved as he was, this matter seemed quite serious.

Shen Yi nodded slightly and decisively averted his gaze.

He also reminded himself to try not to go out under the Southern Hong Sect's name in the future, as it easily invites trouble.

He stood up, bid farewell to Xuanqing, and stepped out of the Ancestral Master Hall.

Immediately, he opened his panel, looked at the newly popped notification, and then his breath suddenly stopped.

【Killed Fanxu (Spirit). Tianyan Sijiu: Not Entered】

Looking at that brand-new suffix, Shen Yi instinctively glanced at the remaining lifespan of the demons, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

【Remaining Demon Lifespan: One Hundred Forty-Nine Thousand Years】

Fortunately, there were still the insights and experiences gifted by Senior Xuanqing.

Shen Yi closed his eyes and experienced them for a while.

He nodded thoughtfully.

So this was a fist and palm technique designed to be used with the Spiritual Body Technique.

Hmm... the rest is not entirely clear to me.

But what can be seen is that Li Xuanqing did not seem to have deeply studied this path; he stopped after just barely entering the door.

Indeed, cultivators who truly reach the peak are beings who know very clearly what they need.

Fortunately, Shen Yi also possesses a talent for Fist and Palm Mastery.

This is one of the few areas he excels in.

Thinking of this, Shen Yi casually soared to the cliff peak, sat cross-legged, and felt the howling mountain wind.

He poured the remaining demon lifespan into this Tianyan Sijiu technique.

With Senior Xuanqing's insights, this time he could save one Demon Treasure Crystal.

【Year One: You begin to digest the insights regarding Tianyan Sijiu in your mind. That obscure understanding makes your head feel swollen, even making you want to vomit.】

Shen Yi's expression changed slightly, and his chest suddenly felt oppressed.

This was the first time the panel's feedback had come so quickly and so intensely.

Recently, he had spent all the lifespan of the demons and evil spirits on the suppression stone and the demon souls, so it had been a long time since he experienced a feeling like this.

The numbers on the panel rapidly drained away.

Shen Yi's face grew even paler.

The so-called Great Dao is fifty; Xiang Tianyan derives forty-nine, leaving one to escape.

This fist and palm technique strives for perfection, forcing the enemy to desperately seek that one escaping element, only to be trapped and killed in a trap woven in advance.

And in this world, nothing is harder to pursue than the two words "perfection."

The conception of this technique was too lofty, which is why it attracted Xuan Qing's attention; yet after entering the basics, he found it to be an extremely stupid path and thus abandoned it.

Shen Yi, however, did not pick and choose.

To him, as long as the grade was high, it was certainly a good thing.

As for how to practice, he left it entirely to the lifespan of the demons and evil spirits to handle.

【In the twenty-ninth millennium, you finally broke through this technique to the entry-level realm by relying on the realization in your mind; your comprehension of fist and palm arts has increased】

【Returning to Void (Spirit). Xiang Tianyan Sijiu: Entry-level】

Shen Yi swallowed, adjusted his breathing, and immersed himself completely in that mysterious state.

He directly condensed a demon treasure crystal and continued to deduce further.

How could it be so difficult? As long as there is enough time, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished.

(End of this chapter)