Chapter 426: Seal Script 'Control': The Instant Kill

More than ten days later...

Zhou You was surrounded by a dozen or so Tiger Thralls, each one ugly enough to be earth-shattering, each with its own unique features.

Some were sorrowful, some had sunken noses and protruding lips, others looked as if their facial features had been flattened by a punch...

That unique ability to dye the surrounding light into a gloomy, cyan aura, making it look like a ghost realm regardless of day or night, was also no simple feat.

If this continued, he himself would be affected in turn, becoming cold and dark.

Relying on the profound foundation of his Outsider Profound Heart, he had managed to train over a dozen Tiger Thralls in one go without harming others, feeding them entirely with his own abundant blood—this could be considered unprecedented and unlikely to be repeated.

Even if the powerful warriors of Dayin Mountain came, they would not recognize that the head-balloons before them had any connection to their secret arts.

"That is enough."

As soon as Zhou You opened his mouth, the head-balloons shattered one after another, turning into wisps of fine silk that burrowed into Zhou You's chest.

A moment later, a cold mass of Qi the size of a coin appeared on Zhou You's chest, with all dozen or so Tiger Thralls coiled within.

Do not underestimate these ugly things; at a critical moment, they can truly be put to use.

"Pavilion Master, you..."

Zhou You had just walked out of his room, feeling that the sunlight shining on his body felt truly good; his whole body felt warm, except for the Tiger Thralls coiled in his chest, which were not very satisfied.

Liu Bing walked toward him and was greatly startled upon seeing him, feeling that Zhou You was several degrees colder than usual, which was very unsettling.

"I haven't seen the sun lately, so I'm just soaking it in."

Bathed in the sunlight, Zhou You began to practice his fist techniques, his limbs stretching with strength and his blood and Qi flowing to dispel the discomfort brought by the Tiger Thralls.

Hearing the dissatisfaction and resistance of the Tiger Thralls in his chest, he not only felt nothing wrong with it, but instead felt he had done the right thing.

This kind of evil stuff, no matter how useful, can only be utilized; one must not be influenced by it or allow it to undergo uncontrollable changes.

Tiger Thralls are like petty people: they can be used but not trusted, and certainly not drawn close to!

Upon realizing this relationship of interests, a 'ding' notification sound rang in Zhou You's ears.

"You have comprehended the fourth character, 'Control'!"

A Seal Script character as large as a peck emerged in his field of vision, with countless strokes and characters appearing around it to provide annotations and interpretations.

This was one of the 14 Seal Script characters rubbed from the tree burl, and one of the 6 relatively complete ones.

'Control' is a governing relationship from top to bottom; in ancient times, people domesticated wild beasts to drive them, and later, hierarchies of superior and inferior were divided within the human race, with the Monarch standing high above to rule over all directions.

The power derived from this character includes suppression, driving, mastery, commanding, and so on.

Through his use of the Tiger Thralls, Zhou You comprehended the meaning of this Seal Script character, mastering the power of suppression most skillfully, while the other aspects of its power still required a process of familiarization.

In this way, the equipment of his second avatar, Moyunzi, had been upgraded once more.

Fully mastering 4 Seal Script characters, with a single talisman for 'Zang' (Concealment) into Heavenly Secrets stuck to his body, a storage pouch at his waist, and driving the gloomy, cold Tiger Thrall head-balloons under his feet.

Tsk tsk, the Golden Immortal Dao is about to welcome this year's strongest newcomer!...

Liu Tianxian was the Clan Head of the second branch of the Liu family, a prestigious family in Fucheng; his rank was second only to the Clan Elder, yet he had always acted in a low-key manner, restraining the women, children, and servants of his branch, being humble and respectful in his daily life, and even treating the gardeners with great courtesy.

Inside and outside the manor, anyone who had met him would raise their thumbs and praise him, saying, "Second Master Liu is benevolent and righteous."

He had a detached temperament, did not practice fist techniques, did not covet wine, was not fond of women, and had no desire for power; he spent his days in the study flipping through books and playing with small trinkets.

Such a harmless family patriarch could be called an anomaly.

"Father, the fifth branch is nothing; they dared to snatch the concubine I had my eye on. So what if I broke his leg? What if there was blood spilled? It's not like I killed him personally, just finished off a few of his Gate Guests."

A Yumian Gongzi (Jade-Faced Young Master) spoke with a cold expression.

This was the study, and Liu Tianxian sighed, "Son, how many times have I told you: be low-key, be low-key."

"Alright, I know you are still angry. Go out of the city to the manor and play for a while; I will handle the apology to the fifth branch." In front of his son, he was also very polite, without the slightest reprimand.

The Yumian Gongzi was used to his father's demeanor and emphasized, "I must have that concubine; you help me get her home first."

"Huh?"

Liu Tianxian asked, "Which family's daughter is she, that you are so fond of her?"

"She came from Caojiang Cheng, the granddaughter of a folk martial artist. She is a beauty like a jade carving; I have never seen a person with such exquisite skin, just like a living jade beauty."

Before leaving, the Yumian Gongzi did not forget to remind him, "Father, don't forget this matter."

Liu Tianxian sent off his troublesome son, lamenting that not everyone had his elder brother's good fortune to have a heaven-sent prodigy like Liu Fengji.

He picked up a golden crown on the table, observed the concave carvings finer than a hair, and having gained some insight, he picked up a brush to trace the characters.

"The Golden Immortal Dao is indeed still entangled with the Witch Tribe. You, a member of the Dao, are also researching Totems."

Hearing this, Liu Tianxian put down the object, his expression remaining as usual, "If you have something to say, come out and say it."

An old man with white hair and beard walked out from the shadows, with several blurred human faces looming in the black shadow behind him.

Liu Tianxian frowned, "Why have you not yet revealed your true form?"

He clearly felt that although the old man before him appeared to be right in front of him, he could not actually capture his specific location; it was as if he were a projection of some terrifying existence, not a physical entity.

"I have already revealed myself."

Moyunzi, which was to say Zhou You in disguise, spread his hands. That's right, he had used the single talisman.

Liu Tianxian exhaled and asked, "Guest, you are looking for me; is there anything you need help with?"

"Nothing much, I just wanted to ask about Kunpengzi."

Hearing the name Kunpengzi, Liu Tianxian's shoulders tensed, then relaxed, "You are Moyunzi?"

"Correct. After the battle of Gongliang, there has been no trace of Kunpengzi. I want to know where he is hiding."

"Sorry, I don't know either."

Liu Tianxian shook his head, "You are also a person of the Dao; you should know that although we bear the name of the Golden Immortal Dao, there is not much contact between internal members, and we often have nothing to do with each other until death."

"Is that so? I don't believe it. Which school are you from?"

"The Microscopic School," Liu Tianxian explained, "We are different from the madmen of the Yuan Ding School; we only engage in research and do not involve ourselves in slaughter."

"One last question: what characters do you possess?"

Liu Tianxian revealed a smile, "Do you really want to know?"

The next moment, he vanished from where he stood; a white light flashed within the room, and in an instant, a terrifying lethality descended.

Zhou You blinked his eyelids, a scream rang out in his ears, and the Tiger Minion closest to him turned into a puff of smoke on the spot and dissipated.

Tiger Minion Substitute Stiffening Technique, passively activated, one life lost.

This seemingly harmless gentleman of a noble family, Liu Tianxian, had killed with a flick of his finger in the blink of an eye, with a speed that made it impossible to react.

Swish, the white light dissipated, and Liu Tianxian returned to his seat, "Instant!"

"The Seal Script I have mastered is 'Instant'."

To travel ten thousand miles in an instant, to kill with a flick of a finger—such sharp methods were not the Liu Tianxian of ordinary days, or rather, his usual temperament and behavior were all a disguise.

"Moyunzi, your Excellency, you broke my Instant Kill without a sound; I admire you, I truly admire you."

(End of this chapter)