Chapter 54: Volume I: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 54: Lower Grade Qi Gathering Realm

Volume I: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 54: Lower Grade Qi Gathering Realm

When Su Shen and Fang Xia walked into Nongsui Lane, the expressions of Bai Yuqing and the others, who were watching from the sidelines, did not change much.

They were indeed cultivators of the Upper Grade Qi Gathering Realm, but Zhao Chan was not without a chance to defeat them in battle.

Xun Lan dawdled and said, "Fairy Bai, I suddenly have an idea. I don't know if I should say it or not?"

"Speak."

"If Zhao Chan kills them by his own strength, could Hengwu Pavilion regularly allocate a portion of cultivation resources to be sent to Zhao Chan? The Demon Slayer Division just needs to clarify the origin of the resources."

Her suggestion was not bad.

Zhao Chan was still a Demon Slayer of the Patrol Platform of the Demon Slayer Division; Hengwu Pavilion could just treat it as placing a bet on him.

Bai Yuqing shook her head: "The Xiuyi Guard and the Goucha Envoy cannot even get involved with Mountain Sects, let alone a Demon Slayer."

"Some rules should be changed. You are an Eighth-Rank Pacification Envoy; you have a say even in the Lancang Prefecture Demon Slayer Division. Why refuse Hengwu Pavilion's good intentions because of such a trivial matter?" Xun Lan said slowly.

While she was speaking, Bai Yuqing turned her head to look at Caiyan Street, where Pan Xiansheng of the private school was drinking from a full jar of Xueyu Wine as he walked.

Huangfu Changqiu reminded her: "It is a heterodox technique similar to 【Peeling Soul Granting Life Technique】."

Bai Yuqing first answered Xun Lan: "I cannot make the decision to change the rules of the Demon Slayer Division. If Hengwu Pavilion wants to form an alliance with the Xitang Kingdom Demon Slayer Division, you can very well have your Elders who can make decisions go to the National Division in the capital to discuss it."

"Hehe, many thanks to Fairy Bai for the good idea you gave me." Xun Lan was furious and spoke with cold sarcasm.

According to the habits of the Demon Slayers, the Demon Slayer Division of a county town is called the County Division, the one in a prefecture city is the Prefecture Division, and the one based in a kingdom is called the National Division.

"It doesn't look like the Peeling Soul Granting Life Technique," Bai Yuqing murmured to herself. "I have seen this technique. Those who have been subjected to Peeling Soul Granting Life are like fierce ghosts with clear consciousness; they seem to be able to linger on after their lifespan is exhausted, but they lose the chance for reincarnation. Very few people are willing to pay such a heavy price."

Zhao Chan was still shirtless. When he saw Su Shen and Fang Xia step into the small courtyard, his expression, however calm it had been before, changed slightly: "Uncle Su, Aunt Fang, you have come."

Daguan Lane is the lane where the wealthy people of Youju Town live. If one had to say who among them had a closer relationship with Zhao Chan, it could only be Su Shen and Fang Xia.

They had settled in Youju Town for three years. Perhaps they felt that Zhao Chan's background was truly pitiful, so the two of them would help him out from time to time, usually by sending some freshly cooked home-style meals. They had wanted to give Zhao Chan money, but the boy refused to take it no matter what.

As Zhao Chan grew up, through lacquer gathering and doing odd jobs at the Sunset Inn, food and drink were no longer pressing issues, and their interactions gradually faded. However, Zhao Chan always remembered the kindness they had shown him.

Kong Yanxing, who was sitting in the room, glanced at them and sneered: "Kid, this time you must muster twelve points of spirit. Both of them are cultivators of the Upper Grade Qi Gathering Realm. Their True Qi flows endlessly through their Twelve Main Meridians and Eight Extraordinary Meridians, and they have opened at least three hundred and sixty acupoints in their bodies.

Furthermore, they have come with killing intent. They will not stop until they kill you. Weigh it yourself and see."

Fang Xia took a deep look at Kong Yanxing and asked: "A Hundred-Household of the Yang County Demon Slayer Division?"

"Wrong! I am a Hundred-Household officer of the Patrol Platform of the Yang County Demon Slayer Division, Demon Slayer Kong Yanxing!" He stood up slowly and asked in return, "You are over fifty; you must be at the age of Destiny Knowing, right? If you don't reach the Zhuji Realm Realm Realm Realm now, you will never have another chance."

Fang Xia laughed: "That is correct. We heard that there are countless treasures in the Hundred Treasures Immortal Cave, so we came to see if we have any fate."

Kong Yanxing nodded: "I understand your urgent feelings. Unfortunately, you want to take action against the people of Youju Town. Right and evil cannot coexist. Zhao Chan and I are Demon Slayers, so we can only fight you all."

"Hundred-Household Kong, our target is you. If you are killed by us, given our friendship with Zhao Chan, we will not make things difficult for him."

Kong Yanxing asked Zhao Chan: "Kid, do you believe them?"

Zhao Chan slowly shook his head.

While shaking his head, he unexpectedly charged toward Fang Xia.

The courtyard was not large, and the two were already only two or three steps away. In the blink of an eye, the tip of his Feishi Sword was pressed against Fang Xia's throat. If he pushed it forward just a little more, she would die instantly.

But the sword tip stopped one inch from Fang Xia's throat, unable to pierce in even a little bit.

Zhao Chan looked at Su Shen in confusion.

He had already formed a hand seal.

Su Shen smiled lightly: "Zhao Chan, you are a child of bitter fate. Do you really not cherish your own life, wanting to fight us?"

The boy did not answer and pulled his sword to strike again.

He answered his question with his actions.

Traces of sword marks appeared before his eyes.

Zhao Chan did not know very profound sword techniques; he only understood the basics of slashing, stabbing, lifting, poking, flicking, and chopping.

This time, he attacked Fang Xia directly with a "lift."

How could she be restrained by Zhao Chan time and again? Instead of retreating, she advanced, drew a short blade from her waist, and engaged in battle with Zhao Chan.

The short blade was as cold as a chilly moon, and as it collided with the Feishi Sword, the clanging sounds were incessant.

Zhao Chan tried his best to cope, but he still felt that the force of the short blade was unimaginably great. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Su Shen and Fang Xia forming hand seals at the same time.

He hurriedly threw out two Wind Summoning Talismans.

Like Fang Xia, he was multitasking, forming hand seals with his left hand.

They were one step faster.

A spring breeze suddenly blew through the small courtyard, and specks of osmanthus flowers fell from the sky.

Fang Xia erupted with True Qi to force back Zhao Chan, who was gripping the Feishi Sword, and opened her mouth to blow.

Thick black smoke gushed out from her mouth.

Zhao Chan also finished the hand seals for the Wind Summoning Talismans.

A gale arose, rolling the black smoke back.

In an instant, he felt his body become unbearably itchy.

Kong Yanxing shouted: "Hundred Flower Technique! He wants to kill you with the pollen of the osmanthus flowers! Use the Ice Condensing Talisman to freeze the pollen to death, quick!"

Not daring to delay, he hurriedly formed the hand seals for the Ice Condensing Talisman.

The temperature in the small courtyard dropped immediately.

A layer of frost formed on the ground.

The unbearable itching sensation disappeared instantly.

Su Shen looked at Zhao Chan in surprise, performed the technique again, and chanted the incantation urgently.

A gale raged in the courtyard, carrying the black smoke Fang Xia had sprayed, blowing down the courtyard wall and rushing into Nongsui Lane, the wailing wind sounding like ghosts crying.

Fang Xia held her short blade and stepped forward to kill, but Zhao Chan avoided the fight, circled around her, switched the Feishi Sword to his left hand, and pointed it straight at Su Shen.

"A lefty?" Fang Xia said. "Then you're dead; don't blame me!"

The short blade swiped toward Zhao Chan's neck.

She suddenly saw the youth pull a peach branch from the sword scabbard on his back with his right hand.

The peach branch slashed, as fast as lightning.

Fang Xia thought to herself, what could be strange about a peach branch that would break at a single bend?

Immediately, the edge of the short blade met the peach branch.

Kong Yanxing suddenly burst into loud laughter.

The peach branch was like a knife cutting through tofu; it easily split the short blade in two, its momentum undiminished, and the peach branch sank into her head, reaching deep into her chest.

"Kid, you used too much force; use less next time, it's purely a waste."

Su Shen gritted his teeth and retreated several steps.

The spell was complete.

The gale blew so hard he could barely open his eyes, and he shouted, "Where is the Warrior?"

A blurry Yellow Turban Warrior beat Zhao Chan back.

With a heavy stomp, the frost formed by the Ice Condensing Talisman instantly melted, and the gale blown by the two Wind Summoning Talismans also calmed down.

"A Yellow Turban Warrior?" Kong Yanxing's expression was solemn as he said to Zhao Chan, "Leave this Yellow Turban Warrior to me."

Through the hazy body of the Yellow Turban Warrior, Zhao Chan saw Su Shen leaning over with his hands on his knees, gasping for air, while this Yellow Turban Warrior, as Brother Kong called it, had a face like red jade and a beard like black velvet, estimated to be ten feet tall, standing before Zhao Chan and pressing down on him so he could barely breathe, yet he could not clearly see what kind of armor the Yellow Turban Warrior wore, nor did he know if what coiled around its arms was a snake, a flood dragon, or a legendary true dragon.

He pulled the peach branch back from Fang Xia's body, hot blood splattered onto his cheek, and he sheathed the Feishi Sword, taking a deep breath under the pressure of the Yellow Turban Warrior and slowly exhaling.

Kong Yanxing, who was walking over, saw this and stopped in his tracks.

Zhao Chan felt that gathering Spirit Qi was actually no different from going into the mountains to gather lacquer.

You use a lacquer knife to cut a cross-shaped incision in the lacquer tree and wait for the tree lacquer to flow out.

Gathering Spirit Qi seemed a bit more troublesome than gathering lacquer, but it wasn't much harder; it was nothing more than repeatedly gathering Spirit Qi into one's own body.

The Yellow Turban Warrior's bucket-sized fist smashed down.

Zhao Chan dodged nimbly and asked, "Brother Kong, how do I refine Spirit Qi into True Qi?"

"Be focused and sincere, let no thought arise, let no thought be tainted, concentrate your mind and breathe, and use your intent to guide the Spirit Qi that has entered your body, so it does not run wild and collide with your meridians and internal organs.

The human body is like a furnace, and the dantian is the firewood that burns unceasingly; you can now make your dantian boil, and use the power of the dantian to refine Spirit Qi into True Qi.

Then guide the True Qi to first return to the Twelve Main Meridians; do you know where the main meridians are?"

Kong Yanxing shouted.

Zhao Chan shook his head, dodging the Yellow Turban Warrior's double-fist strike to the ground by a hair's breadth.

Kong Yanxing pointed to his own left arm: "First store the True Qi in the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian of your left arm; here are Jiquan, Shaohai, Tongli, Shenmen, and Shaochong! Guide the True Qi from Jiquan... the positions of the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian on your right arm and left arm are the same..."

Zhao Chan followed suit, his physique like a furnace, refining the Spirit Qi he had gathered; in a brief moment, wisps of True Qi returned to Jiquan, flowing smoothly all the way, reaching Shaochong from Jiquan without any obstruction, like a tiny snake, and then drilling into the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian of the other arm.

Kong Yanxing stared at the youth, dumbfounded: "Your Hand Taiyin Heart Meridian was already opened?"

When a cultivator first breaks through to the Caiqi Realm Realm Realm Realm, they must be extremely cautious; not to mention the more dangerous Eight Extraordinary Meridians, even the twelve main meridians must be opened one by one in an orderly fashion.

"Watch out!"

The shadowy Yellow Turban Warrior threw a punch with all its might; Zhao Chan rolled on the ground, and the fist hit the tethered horse; by the time the Yellow Turban Warrior withdrew its fist, the horse was already dead.

"Here is the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian: Zhongfu, Chize, Kongzui, Lieque, Taiyuan, Yuji, Shaoshang... Here is the Hand Shaoyang Triple Burner Meridian: Yangchi, Waiguan, Zhigou, Guanchong, Zhongzhu... Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian... Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian..."

As the True Qi flowed through more and more main meridians, Zhao Chan's movements became increasingly agile, nimbly dodging the Yellow Turban Warrior's lethal strikes.

"Watch closely, the Eight Extraordinary Meridians! Governing Vessel, Conception Vessel, Thoroughfare Vessel, Girdle Vessel, Yang Linking Vessel, Yin Linking Vessel, Yin Heel Vessel, Yang Heel Vessel. The eight meridians are different from the main meridians; they are neither directly connected to the internal organs nor do they have interior-exterior pairing relationships, so they are called 'extraordinary' because they follow a different path.

First, open your Conception and Governing Vessels! The other six vessels can be planned for slowly!"

Using intent to control Qi, the True Qi drilled into the Conception Vessel, still moving without obstruction, sliding into the Governing Vessel as if walking on flat ground; Zhao Chan had no experience in circulating a Small Heavenly Cycle through the Conception and Governing Vessels to strengthen his True Qi, so he proceeded to the Thoroughfare Vessel, Girdle Vessel, and the other six vessels.

The refined wisp of True Qi had already circled through the twelve main meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians once; this was a Large Heavenly Cycle.

And a Small Heavenly Cycle was the circulation around the Conception and Governing Vessels.

Kong Yanxing's original intention was to let Zhao Chan first store True Qi in the Hand Taiyin Heart Meridian, deal with the Yellow Turban Warrior before him, and then methodically open the twelve main meridians and eight extraordinary meridians; he could never have imagined that his main meridians and eight vessels were already opened, just waiting for True Qi.

"Lower Grade Qi Gathering Realm," he muttered to himself.

In an instant, he shouted: "Use your True Qi to slash the eyesore of a Yellow Turban Warrior! This Yellow Turban Warrior is all show and no substance!"

The youth held the peach branch; perhaps because he had a wisp of True Qi, the buds on the peach branch gained a bit more color.

One sword strike.

Sword marks appeared one after another.

The peach branch picked upward and severed the Yellow Turban Warrior.

True Qi overflowed from the peach branch.

A tiny bit of True Qi condensed without dispersing, rushing into the clouds.

A cloud happened to drift by.

The blurry, transparent Yellow Turban Warrior, along with the cloud, was slashed in two by Zhao Chan.

Kong Yanxing looked up at the cloud, "Broken Cloud? Broken Cloud!! What a sword technique! What pure, condensed True Qi!!"

Su Shen, who had summoned the Yellow Turban Warrior, finally recovered some True Qi, the expression on his face frozen in shock, until Zhao Chan gently placed the peach branch beside his neck, and he asked in disbelief: "You... are you Lower Grade Qi Gathering Realm?"

Zhao Chan thought for a moment and nodded: "I suppose so."

"You don't even have a Qi Gathering Realm cultivation technique, yet you broke through from the Body Refining Realm to the Qi Gathering Realm?" Su Shen thought this was a fantasy, completely unreal, as if it were fake.

Kong Yanxing sneered: "I have heard that brilliant geniuses do not need Qi Gathering Realm cultivation techniques; they can gather Spirit Qi and open meridians based on their natural talent alone. Unlike you and that woman, who only reached Upper Grade Qi Gathering after fifty, aren't you ashamed?"

Su Shen was speechless; what else could he say?

With Zhao Chan having no Qi Gathering Realm cultivation technique, he had watched him open his main meridians and eight vessels to become a Lower Grade Qi Gathering Realm cultivator; any further words were reduced to a single sigh.

Comparing people to people will only make one die of frustration!

With such jaw-dropping natural talent in a youth, let alone the Foundation Establishment Realm, even the fourth level of the Lower Four Realms, the Knowing Fate Realm, is no difficult task for him.

Kong Yanxing asked, "Kid, whether to kill him or not, you decide for yourself."

Zhao Chan nodded.

The Peach Branch sliced across Su Shen's neck, separating his head from his body.

"You don't care about the kindness he showed you?"

Zhao Chan said, "Lao Liu once said that one must distinguish between minor kindness and great evil; one cannot ignore the greater crimes a bandit has committed just because he gave me a bowl of rice to eat."

"Haha... interesting, this Lao Liu actually understands good and evil quite well. What else did he say?" There was one mouthful of wine left in the Wine Gourd; Kong Yanxing did not drink it, but handed it to Zhao Chan.

The youth drank it all in one gulp, savoring the wine: "I asked Lao Liu, are there more good people in the world, or more evil people?"

"He said there are more good people."

"I asked again, if there are more good people, why is this world still so broken?"

"He said, kindness that does not distinguish between right and wrong is an accomplice to evil."

Kong Yanxing repeated in a low voice: "Kindness that does not distinguish between right and wrong... is an accomplice to evil... If Lao Liu were not dead, I would surely invite him to drink his fill, until we were both drunk and unable to return!!"

Zhao Chan lowered his head to look at Su Shen, then turned his head to look at the tragically dead Fang Xia: "Uncle Su and Fang Shen did indeed provide for me, and I have always felt grateful, but compared to the hundreds and thousands of fellow villagers, I choose to save the villagers."

Kong Yanxing patted the youth's shoulder, which aggravated his internal injuries, making him wince in pain, "You kid are now... hiss, a bona fide Captain of the Yang County Demon-Slaying Division's Patrol Platform, not just in cultivation, but also in having a kind heart. The people under the jurisdiction of Yang County are fortunate."