Chapter 57: Volume One: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 57: Pacification Envoy

Volume One: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 57: Pacification Envoy

The "Ignition Technique" is indeed not difficult.

When Kong Yanxing and Zhao Chan arrived at Youju Town in the dead of night, he had once asked if Zhao Chan wanted to learn the "Fireball" technique. Zhao Chan said he did, and Kong Yanxing said he would teach him once he broke through to the Qi Gathering Realm and possessed True Qi. That fireball was formed by the "Ignition Technique." Now that Zhao Chan is at the Lower-grade Qi Gathering Realm, Kong Yanxing did not break his word and duly taught him the technique.

"The Flame Talisman is made using the 'Ignition Technique' as a blueprint. Once you have mastered the 'Ignition Technique,' it is equivalent to being able to produce Flame Talismans at will.

But you must remember, techniques are techniques, and talismans are talismans. Talismans are especially important when you are in a critical situation and your True Qi is insufficient.

The Body Refining Realm talismans the Demon Slayer Division gave you are too weak. Once you return to the Yang County Demon Slayer Division and select the Qi Gathering Realm talismans, you will understand why I say talismans can save your life."

It does not have to be a talisman that only a Demon Slayer at the Qi Gathering Realm can use; the Flame Talisman, Ice Condensing Talisman, and Wind Summoning Talisman alone provided Zhao Chan with immense assistance. Facing the four outsider cultivators who were hunting him, without these talismans, Zhao Chan might not have been able to kill them in return.

The "Ignition Technique" belongs to the Fire Element techniques. Kong Yanxing explained: "The Five Elements generate and overcome each other: Fire overcomes Metal, Metal overcomes Wood, Wood overcomes Earth, Earth overcomes Water, and Water overcomes Fire. Just now, I used the Wood Element 'Bimu Zhaohua' technique to counter the old cultivator's 'Dilong Tunshen Method.' Even in my severely injured state, the effect was immediate."

He flipped through the "Dilong Tunshen Method" again. "Although I look down on this Earth Element technique, upon careful reflection, it is still quite formidable. You saw it yourself; it is as if an earth dragon is turning over, swallowing gods and devouring ghosts. Once swallowed by it, one will inevitably become withered bones in the earth."

"What about Brother Kong's 'Bimu Zhaohua'?"

"'Bimu Zhaohua,' eh? If I were to cast it at my peak, I could make the entire Youju Town bloom with spring, with lush branches and leaves for a full day and night! If an Upper-grade Knowing Fate Realm cultivator were to cast it, it would be more than just a day and night; I reckon it would last ten days or half a month."

"I want to learn 'Bimu Zhaohua,'" Zhao Chan asked in a low voice, seeking his opinion.

Kong Yanxing pondered for a moment. "Your contributions are certainly enough for Thousand-Household Official Yan to appoint you as a Captain, but exchanging them for 'Bimu Zhaohua' might be a bit short. Don't forget, compared to 'Bimu Zhaohua,' I believe the Four Divine Monarch Talismans are more suitable for you. Regardless of which Divine Monarch's talisman it is, it can allow you to instantly contend with a Knowing Fate Realm cultivator. Whether you can kill them is another matter, but you will have no problem escaping."

Zhao Chan nodded. "When you were fighting the old Jiao of Wangqing River, Brother Kong, you were standing on a small boat. Is that boat a Dharma Artifact?"

"Haha... *cough, cough, cough*..." Kong Yanxing took a gulp of strong liquor, and after a moment, caught his breath. "The small boat is called 【Reed River】; it is my High-grade Dharma Artifact. This treasure lacks offensive means, but it allows me to face enemies in the air and pursue them, and it also has the function of protecting its master. Relying on this boat, the Foundation Establishment Realm demon that was abducting people outside Yang County a few days ago was pursued and killed by me without any effort."

After finishing, he realized, "I almost forgot to mention: this Feishi Sword of yours is a Low-grade Dharma Artifact. Besides its toughness being far superior to ordinary weapons, when you fight with an enemy, you can also inject True Qi into it to increase the lethality of your sword moves.

Most Dharma treasures in the world, whether they are Dharma Artifacts or Spirit Artifacts, as long as they are swords, blades, spears, or horse lances, have relatively singular functions. They are nothing more than enhancing the user's True Qi or expanding the power of their moves. The Feishi Sword is the latter. The same move, when executed with the Feishi Sword versus an ordinary weapon, is completely different.

However, it is a Low-grade Dharma Artifact after all, so the increase in power is limited. If it were a Low-grade Spirit Artifact, you could kill all the invading enemies with one sword, but the True Qi required for a Low-grade Spirit Artifact would be massive for you."

"So that's how it is." Zhao Chan nodded, as if listening to a storyteller's tale. He knew nothing about the cultivation world; he had only learned a few things in the past few days, and even now, he only had an impression rather than a true understanding of what it was all about.

Take the peach branch and the Feishi Sword, for example. In his view, the peach branch, which looked like it would break if bent, was definitely not comparable to the Low-grade Dharma Artifact Feishi Sword.

Kong Yanxing said, "I've said what needed to be said. Go and try the 'Ignition Technique.' You have just learned the incantation; now is the time for practice, not for rushing for success. Even if this technique is simple, don't forget that you haven't been a cultivator for long. You must understand the principle that too much is as bad as too little."

"Okay."

Zhao Chan walked into the courtyard, silently reciting the incantation. The True Qi flowing through his twelve main meridians and eight extraordinary meridians allowed Zhao Chan to guide the Qi with his intent to the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian.

Fire Element techniques all rely on the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian; after all, fire corresponds to the heart, the heart belongs to fire, when fire is prosperous, the heart is prosperous, and when fire is extinguished, the heart is extinguished.

He opened his palm.

A ball of fire ignited from his palm with a *bang*.

Kong Yanxing opened his eyes wide. Zhao Chan was as skilled as an old hand who had practiced the "Ignition Technique" for many years, not a green novice who had just come into contact with techniques.

He threw the fireball.

It smoothly ignited the corpses on the ground, and with another *bang*, the rolling flames burned fiercely.

After using the "Ignition Technique" to burn these outsider cultivators into ashes one by one, Zhao Chan turned to look at Kong Yanxing, who had returned to his normal state and was drinking.

Kong Yanxing's expression did not change; he nodded slightly, as if he had known he would learn it as soon as he tried. "Not bad. Come over; I will teach you another move, the 'Wind Rolling Formula.' Blow all the ashes outside the town so that a gust of wind doesn't blow them everywhere and disgust people for no reason."

The "Wind Rolling Formula" is more difficult than the "Ignition Technique." Zhao Chan listened to the incantation, and Kong Yanxing explained the details of casting the technique in great detail.

The trace of True Qi in his body was slightly insufficient. After gathering and refining True Qi for a while, the young man formed seals with both hands.

Kong Yanxing stared closely at his every move.

If he learned the "Wind Rolling Formula" at once, he would have to consider that sword manual that the Demon Slayers of the County Division "ignored."

The Yang County Demon Slayer Division has a sword manual called "Cold Spring Sword Howl." One starts practicing it from the Qi Gathering Realm, and according to normal steps, one can only reach great completion at the Knowing Fate Realm.

Since the County Division obtained this sword manual, it was not that no Demon Slayers wanted to practice it, but let alone reaching small completion, even entering the door was difficult. As time passed, no one asked about it anymore, and it became a technique "at the bottom of the box."

The wind blew slowly.

Kong Yanxing's expression was dazed; the surprise Zhao Chan brought him gradually made him numb.

It was the genuine "Wind Rolling Formula," exactly the same as the one Kong Yanxing cast himself.

Once this technique was formed, it had the momentum of a wind rolling away clouds. Zhao Chan controlled the rolling wind according to his own will, blowing the ashes and scattering them toward the wilderness of Youju Town.

He cleaned up the inside and outside of the courtyard.

Kong Yanxing took a big gulp of strong liquor and sighed, "Comparing people to people is infuriating! When I was your age, my mind was full of beautiful young ladies; where was there any slaying of demons or practicing to break through realms?!"

Zhao Chan said, "But Brother Kong still became a Hundred-Household of the Demon Slayer Division, eliminating harm for the people and protecting the borders."

"Haha... *cough, cough, cough, cough*..." Kong Yanxing spat out some stagnant blood casually and took a gulp of liquor. "Not bad, not bad; I like hearing that. People, sometimes you have to push yourself. I only made up my mind to sweep away demons and joined the Demon Slayer Division to become a Demon Slayer after seeing demons break into the village and slaughter wantonly, and I have struggled until now as a Hundred-Household."

Zhao Chan's left hand burst into a rolling fireball, and his right hand rolled up a constantly rotating gale. He silently felt the amount of True Qi consumed by the "Ignition Technique" and the "Wind Rolling Formula." He is currently at the Lower-grade Qi Gathering Realm and can cast both techniques at the same time, but not for long, persisting for about seventeen breaths. However, he had just broken through his realm, and as his True Qi grew, he might be able to make some other changes, such as using two things at once: holding a sword in his right hand to attack and forming seals with his left hand.

The difficulty of forming seals to cast techniques is simply not on the same level as using talismans.

Holding a sword in one hand and using a talisman in the other, he could do that now.

Kong Yanxing watched the young man casting techniques with two minds at once, and suddenly he didn't want to say anything.

He thought to himself.

If this child were placed in the Lancang Prefecture Demon Slayer Division, facing so many geniuses, he would definitely stand out.

The Demon Slayers of the Prefecture Division are all selected from the entire Yushan Commandery, and the Demon Slayers called geniuses there can be said to be dragons and phoenixes among men.

Kong Yanxing knew that a year ago, two Thousand-Household Officials came to Yu River County from Lancang Prefecture and selected six young people, all of whom were genuine geniuses. The Yu River County Demon Slayer Division was so heartbroken that they almost ran to the Prefecture Division to file a lawsuit to get them back.

Zhao Chan must be watched carefully; don't let the Prefecture Division snatch him away too.

The Yang County Demon Slayer Division is having a very hard time; it faces many demons, the pressure is great, and manpower is stretched thin.

The young man couldn't help but disperse the fireball and the rotating gale, and couldn't help but take a few steps back.

The way Kong Yanxing looked at him was as if he were looking at a cute little white rabbit.

"Who is Lao Liu?" Huangfu Changqiu asked Bai Yuqing.

Bai Yuqing shook her head; she also didn't know who Lao Liu was.

Just now, Huangfu Changqiu had found a few old people in the town and used some hypnotic means to make them honestly tell Zhao Chan's life story, among which Lao Liu was mentioned the most.

Xun Lan also understood the unusual nature of it. She also found two commoners in Youju Town who lived closer to Zhao Chan's house, and what they said the most was still Lao Liu.

Who is Lao Liu?

"Fairy Bai has had a lot of contact with Zhao Chan; don't you know who Lao Liu is either?" Xun Lan said without hesitation, asking quickly.

"I don't know," Bai Yuqing said.

Huangfu Changqiu looked at Xun Lan. "This person Lao Liu is the master who taught Zhao Chan to gather lacquer. I think he might be a mountain cultivator who doesn't show his face."

Xun Lan was silent for a long time. After a while, she said slowly, "Such an explanation can explain why Zhao Chan breaks through realms like drinking water. First it was the Body Refining Realm, then the Qi Gathering Realm. Looking at this child's foundation, it won't take long before he is at the Upper-grade Qi Gathering Realm."

"Senior Sister Xun, is Lao Liu really dead?" Huangfu Changqiu asked suspiciously.

"Dead? What dead? He probably went to Eren Mountain and then left."

"Why leave? Zhao Chan lives alone in Youju Town and has fallen into such a dangerous situation. Is he not afraid that Zhao Chan will die young?"

Bai Yuqing's eyes suddenly lit up, and she had a vague guess. Holding Bai Youjun's hand, she jumped off the eaves and walked into Nongsui Lane.

The two watched their figures, and Xun Lan said strangely and slowly, "What does Fairy Bai want to do?"

Huangfu Changqiu sneered, "She won't let us take Zhao Chan; why bother about her!"

"Wu Ting and Chen Xianggu are already good. It is a great merit for us to take them to apprentice in the sect."

"Should we notify Zhao Chan? So that we don't leave abruptly and be hated by him."

"That's fine."

"Senior Sister Xun, we agreed, right? Wu Ting belongs to Baoyu Studio, and Chen Xianggu belongs to Hengwu Pavilion."

Xun Lan laughed and said, "Chen Xianggu might not be worse than Wu Ting."

"Why don't you and I, as senior and junior sisters, make a bet in private?"

"Okay."

"Let's bet on who becomes a Middle Five Realms cultivator first."

Huangfu Changqiu jumped off the eaves, and Xun Lan followed closely behind.

"What's there to be afraid of? Why not add a stake?"

"A Mid-grade Spirit Artifact, one that must have a spirit."

"Is it a deal?"

"It's a deal."

They caught up with the Bai sisters and walked into Zhao Chan's small courtyard with the collapsed wall.

"Congratulations on becoming a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator," Bai Yuqing said.

Bai Youjun let go of her sister's hand and ran to Zhao Chan's side, looking him over. "Does the injury on your body hurt?"

"Thank you for your concern, Miss Xiaobai; it doesn't hurt," Zhao Chan said politely. "Thank you, Miss Dabai."

Since Bai Yuqing had come, Kong Yanxing didn't care about the pain in his body and stood up with a *swoosh*. He clearly wanted to pay his respects to Bai Yuqing, but with Zhao Chan by his side, he held it back.

The Bai Pacification Envoy had not revealed her identity; how could Kong Yanxing dare to expose her on his own initiative?

"Have you seen me before?" Bai Yuqing looked at Kong Yanxing and asked.

He bowed respectfully and performed a salute. "I have, in Lancang Prefecture..."

"Oh, I remember now. The Grand Pacification Envoy gathered a group of Demon Slayers from the County Division to assign tasks. The Yang County Demon Slayer Division sent you, right?"

"Yes."

Kong Yanxing glanced at Zhao Chan.

Bai Yuqing said, "It's okay, tell him my identity."

"As you command. Zhao Chan, hurry and pay your respects to the Bai Pacification Envoy of the Baize Hall of the Demon Slayer Division. She is one of the few Pacification Envoys in our Yushan Commandery, second only to the Grand Pacification Envoy."

Finally, Kong Yanxing explained, "Although the Pacification Envoy is an Eighth-Rank official position in the Demon Slayer Division, it is above the Thousand-Household. You must never compare the official rank of the Demon Slayer Division with the official rank of the imperial court. The Eighth-Rank Pacification Envoy is already a high-ranking and powerful official! And above the Pacification Envoy, there is a Grand Pacification Envoy, because the Eighth-Rank Pacification Envoy includes two realms..."

Bai Yuqing interrupted his words. "The Demon Slayer Division's official system does not have the term 'Lower Eighth-Rank,' so the position of Eighth-Rank Pacification Envoy is divided into Pacification Envoy and Grand Pacification Envoy. Just like in the Ninth-Rank, there are four positions: Warrior, Captain, Hundred-Household, and Thousand-Household."

Zhao Chan looked at Bai Yuqing, then at Bai Youjun, and bowed. "Zhao Chan, a Demon Slayer of the Youju Town Demon Slayer Division, pays his respects to the Bai Pacification Envoy."

Bai Yuqing said indifferently, "You have done well these past few days, but I bear a heavy responsibility and cannot easily take action... Let me tell you one more thing: the things I carry on my shoulders are far more important than the lives of the people of Youju Town. It doesn't matter if you don't understand now; you will know soon."

Zhao Chan pondered. "This subordinate understands."

Bai Youjun really wanted to talk to the young master alone, but she couldn't get a word in.

"Do you have any other questions?"

"Previously, Miss Xiaobai mentioned that you are from Da'e Mountain in Wuchuan Commandery..."

"Pacification Envoys are not divided by region; they are assigned to guard a place by the National Division. I have been assigned to your Yushan Commandery."

"Is the Mountain Ghost very important to the Demon Slayer Division?" Zhao Chan asked in a low voice.

"Not as important as you. If you want to kill it, then kill it. The Demon Slayer Division doesn't care about a mere evil Mountain Ghost."

"Anything else?"

"Not for now." Actually, he had many questions to ask for advice, but seeing Huangfu Changqiu and Xun Lan standing behind Bai Yuqing, he stopped talking.

Bai Yuqing turned around and reintroduced them. "Huangfu Changqiu of Baoyu Studio and Xun Lan of Hengwu Pavilion. With me here, you don't need to care about them."

"Yes."

Huangfu Changqiu giggled. "Fairy Bai, that's not right. We came here to tell the young master something."

Bai Yuqing raised her eyebrows and said heroically, "About those two young girls?"

"Exactly. Zhao Chan, I know you have a good relationship with Wu Ting, so I'm notifying you in advance. Wu Ting has excellent talent, and I am going to take her to apprentice at Baoyu Studio. Don't worry, she will definitely be very safe. Perhaps after Wu Ting practices in Baoyu Studio, in a few years, her cultivation will surpass yours. Haha..."

Zhao Chan looked calmly at Xun Lan, who said, "Chen Xianggu has very good talent, and I am going to take her away. Hengwu Pavilion will never treat her unfairly." ===== CHAPTER 58 =====