[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dao-dust-pearl":3,"chapter-the-dao-dust-pearl-the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-83":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dao Dust Pearl",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2359584,4614,"Chapter 83: Blood River Art","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-83",83,"\u003Cp>The Ear God stood timidly on Qian Chen’s collar, eyes wide as he watched these tiny creatures like himself slaughter the wolf pack clean through, his face filled with disbelief; he looked down at his own small fists, cried “ya ya” twice, assumed a horse stance and threw a straight punch—yet not even a whisper of wind stirred. Qian Chen flicked his finger, sending the creature tumbling off his collar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ear God slunk back dejectedly into Qian Chen’s robe pocket, joining the Gold and Silver Children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the wolf guardian hidden among the pack finally moved—a massive wolf, nearly twice the size of an ordinary demon wolf, burst from the darkness into the sinister miasma. Qian Chen ignored it, merely casting a glance at the Yan scholar, who gave a slight nod, signaling he could handle it—let it come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, halfway across, the demon wolf leapt upward, its body swelling several times in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its fur stretched taut as if inflated by flesh beneath, thinning to a mere membrane through which the frenzied, surging blood and muscle could be seen—then it exploded. Blood and minced flesh sprayed evenly across dozens of zhang, and where the flesh fell, black demonic fire ignited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon wolves stained by the demonic fire went berserk, their eyes crimson, charging recklessly toward Qian Chen and the other two, trapped at the temple entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black demonic fire consumed all paper men, paper horses, and talisman soldiers; Master Zhiqu’s face paled as the spell backlash forced him to spit a mouthful of blood…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen’s gaze instantly snapped to a direction in the distant darkness. He murmured, “This demonic art’s power exceeds the norm… Could the wolf pack’s leader be a demon beast?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yan scholar shook his head. “Demon beasts revere strength. Though the beast is cunning, its body is frail—it’s unlikely to become a pack leader. But this demon beast’s technique is indeed formidable. If it appeared among the pack, the wolf king should have feared and killed it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the paper men and horses gone, the seven-spirit banner’s black serpent of miasma could no longer block most of the wolves. Dozens surged forward, half breaking through the barrier, closing in on the three. Among them, several guardian demon wolves suddenly transformed—they writhed, growing to nearly ten feet tall, rising upright as wolf-men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These wolf-men moved with astonishing speed, directing other demon wolves to cover them. One wolf-man’s crimson claws suddenly lashed out two crimson claw-beams, piercing straight for the Yan scholar’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two other wolf-men ascended the temple steps, one left, one right, lunging to seize the Yan scholar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the wolves bit at legs, tore at anuses… Especially the latter—Qian Chen couldn’t help straightening up, thinking: “Are these demon wolves graduates of African schools? This trick isn’t ordinary!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolves attacked en masse; the Yan scholar had only one sword—how many could he block? Yet instead of panicking, he sneered: “The demons are out of tricks!” The high-quality sword pellet, instead of retreating to defend, accelerated further. As the demon wolves neared, the Yan man swept the sword-light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That single sword-light split into five—up, down, left, right, and center—shattering the air and clouds, spinning back to slash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sword-light division!” Qian Chen never expected to witness this elite sword art—even he hadn’t mastered it… The Yan scholar might be the greatest swordsman he’d ever seen. To have achieved sword-light division, he was a true master of sword cultivation, even among Golden Core cultivators of the Central Lands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Realm of Rebirth truly hides dragons and tigers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The divided sword-light effortlessly slaughtered the guardian demon wolves; Master Zhiqu finally caught his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen spotted something sinister writhing in the darkness, and kicked the corpse of the Rebirth traveler in the buttocks. “If you keep feigning death, I’ll throw your body out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wound on the corpse’s throat writhed, healing as if never torn. The Rebirth traveler rose, face grim, bowed to Qian Chen, then silently scattered a few sparks. Where they touched the demon wolves, they ignited—efficient killing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword immortal Yan man chuckled: “So it’s a Soul Altar technique… You’ve sharp eyes, young brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Soul Altar witchcraft resembled Qian Chen’s past-life wraith phylactery—both involved refining one’s soul into a dark spirit, hiding it within a talisman. The body was merely a vessel, cultivated like a magical artifact. Normally, one controlled the body to fight; even if dismembered, it could be restored through cultivation. As long as the talisman holding the soul-spirit remained intact, even if the body was reduced to ash, one could possess another or forge a new vessel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Legends said a mortal in the Central Lands mastered this art, becoming a bandit who was captured and beheaded multiple times, always reviving. Local magistrates grew desperate… Once captured again, they still only beheaded him—until an old woman arrived at the office holding a jar, claiming she was the bandit’s mother, and that her son practiced a strange art allowing his soul to hide within the jar. After each beheading, he merely returned to his corpse and restored fully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old woman, having suffered abuse from her son, brought the soul jar to report him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The magistrate smashed the jar, then inspected the bandit’s corpse—it instantly rotted, reeking foully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhiqu saw this but ignored Zhou the witch’s feigned death, smiling reassuringly: “So Brother Zhou is unharmed? Good. Your skills are truly remarkable. With our combined strength, we’ll make sure these demon wolves come but never leave… avenging the innocent folk near Tiansha Peak!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen shook his head slightly. “It’s not that simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the heavily wounded wolf pack retreated into the darkness beyond the temple. The hundreds of emerald eyes showed no sign of thinning—as if more wolves had arrived to replenish them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet they began to clear a path directly before the temple, forming a corridor by retreating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pair of blood-red eyes ignited in that direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhiqu, Zhou the witch, even the Sword Immortal Yan—all felt a deep chill upon meeting that gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gaze was profoundly evil… and drew nearer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a wolf-headed, humanoid demon wandered slowly from the darkness, its face half-wolf, half-human, radiating a chilling malevolence. Its nails grew long as claws, flanked by several guardian demon wolves. The demon extended a hand, scratching the thick fur of a towering guardian wolf with its nails, sneering: “You’ve killed so many of my descendants—do you still think you can leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Side Quest—Four Generals: Kill the Blood Demon’s Four Generals. Each kill rewards five Virtues. (General Lang \u002F ???)”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Five Virtues… Ten times Hong Sihai’s bounty!” Qian Chen sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even by the simplest calculation, General Lang was roughly ten times stronger than Hong Sihai. Hong Sihai had condensed the Dry Heaven Pure Qi, equivalent to a weak Golden Core cultivator—so General Lang likely possessed high-grade Golden Core cultivation, matching a rare demon wolf that had formed a superior demon core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his appearance, the General’s overwhelming demon qi made everyone shudder. A powerful, icy sensation surged forth; countless agonized screams seemed to echo in their ears, and thick bloodlust rose skyward. The bloodied resentment swirling around him suggested at least ten thousand lives had been slaughtered by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhiqu’s eyes bulged; he bit his tongue and spat a mouthful of blood onto his palm, scribbling a divine talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered hoarsely: “You demon, how many have you killed? Today, I summon my ancestor’s divine talisman—even if I suffer grave cultivation damage, I’ll kill you. Friends, when I cripple this demon, strike at once…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon wolf general sneered cruelly. Master Zhiqu felt an indescribable terror. The Sword Immortal struck—ten sword-light fragments split from the pellet, hiding the strongest one within, alternating strikes against the wolf general. The sword-light linked head to tail, forming a long rainbow of thunder, unstoppable in might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood surged across the demon wolf’s body, swirling with countless faces—old and young, male and female—all twisted in agony and hatred. These faces poured from the demon wolf, the bloodlight swelling violently, coalescing into a river of ten thousand souls, surging upward to drown the sword-light rainbow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword-light kept slicing through the grotesque faces, but each slain face immediately regenerated from the blood river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the clear sword pellet gradually became tainted by the bloodlight, its movement sluggish… From his sleeve, Qian Chen sent forth a jet of black-gold sword-light, merging with the Sword Immortal’s pellet to resist the blood river’s might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blood Demon’s Blood River Art!” Master Zhiqu’s face paled in shock, nearly miswriting his talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shouted: “Friends, hold on! This demon is a remnant of the Blood Demon! Let me summon my ancestor…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen frowned inwardly. This sudden turn disrupted his plans—he now had to consider whether to use a hidden trump card if these others couldn’t hold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he used it, the observer in the shadows—Miao Kong—might catch on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never underestimate his vigilance. One trump card might cause him to reassess Qian Chen’s threat level. Originally, Qian Chen was hidden, Miao Kong exposed. But this wolf ambush turned Qian Chen from shadow to light. Miao Kong still hadn’t moved—Qian Chen could only prepare for the worst. This man acted only after careful planning; even against insignificant pests he could kill with a flick, he possessed the patience to observe and maneuver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood river surged with boundless power, yet the demon wolf did not wait idly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Master Zhiqu finished his talisman, the demon wolf slashed the air, crimson claw-force lashing toward the three, while letting out a wolf howl—a distortion of space rippled outward from its mouth, spreading like moonlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around them, the Sword Immortal, Zhou the witch, Master Zhiqu, even Qian Chen—all sensed the eerie nature of the howl, raising their magic power to shield their souls. But the moment their soul shields touched the moonlight-like force, they shattered instantly—their spiritual senses were struck as if by lightning, blanking out in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Master Zhiqu regained partial awareness, he found his soul weakened, blood spurting from nose and mouth, all seven orifices aching faintly, his crown palace feeling as if it would split open—his palm talisman now blurred by blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, the Sword Immortal and Qian Chen barely held their ground; the sword-light, now dulled, barely held back the blood river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen’s hair hung wild, disheveled; the Sword Immortal fared slightly better, yet still wounded… But Zhou the witch collapsed outright under the wolf’s howl, his soul grievously injured—his soul jar couldn’t save him. He’d need years of arduous cultivation to heal such damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhiqu wiped blood from his face, laughing bitterly: “This time, we’re likely doomed! I’m sorry to drag you all down… But the news of the Blood Demon’s remnant must reach the world. Now I can only send my yin spirit out to alert my sect—send elders to eradicate this demon. But even my Kunlun sect alone may not suffice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This wolf demon’s cultivation likely rivals our Sect Master’s. We’ll need a coalition of sects!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope I can take enough evidence with me when I die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Friends, I owe you all a debt,” Master Zhiqu said calmly. “I’ll burn my body and magic power to tear open the blood river—perhaps I can send one of you out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Immortal said: “The sword lives, the righteous path lives. Earlier, I held back to protect you. Now, let me send him out—I’ll merge body and sword, strike once more. Even if I can’t kill this demon, I can escape safely. You can also send out your yin spirit… But your yin spirit isn’t yet perfected. Using this technique to escape will surely scatter your soul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If death serves a purpose, what is death?” Master Zhiqu said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good!” the Sword Immortal praised. “You have the spirit of a sword immortal. Here, I have a talisman—it may protect your yin spirit somewhat, at least ensuring rebirth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such a precious talisman must be meant for your own tribulation. Now your life hangs in the balance—how could I take what’s tied to your fate?” Master Zhiqu shook his head, refusing. The Sword Immortal snapped: “So hesitant? That’s not the way of a sword immortal!” He pressed the divine talisman onto Master Zhiqu’s forehead. Qian Chen frowned: “Shangqing Crimson Scripture Talisman? You’re an overseas sword cultivator…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Immortal turned to Qian Chen, bowed: “So you’re from the Central Lands!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen shook his head. “I won’t leave either. This temple seems a death trap, but it isn’t. Escaping the wolf demon’s grasp seems like life—but often, it’s no life at all. Once you enter Rebirth, there’s no retreat. Since you say we have a chance, I’ll fight too. Two fighting together might raise our odds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Immortal said: “When I fight to the death, I can’t even protect myself…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t need your protection,” Qian Chen said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since none of you will leave, I’ll fight with you!” Master Zhiqu bowed. Then a weak voice spoke: “I… I want to leave!” From the belly of Zhou the witch’s corpse came a voice: “Friends, please send out this bell… it holds my soul!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corpse opened its mouth and spat out a red bell. Master Zhiqu took it, unable to help a wry smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen nodded. “Then the three of us will try—see if we can tear open the blood river and send out this bell!” He looked at the black-gold hook and sword pellet entangled in the blood river, unfastened something from his neck, and said to the two: “I have an object here—strange origin, somewhat sinister. I’m using it now to fight for our lives. Don’t be offended.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved his hand, sending forth a white bone stupa…\u003C\u002Fp>",2294,"2026-06-21T05:39:58.326Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2409276a30c6dbdf41d82ecc192e2a4fe8cfff0f4742c7fb09da8dcded823cf0","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-84","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-82",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dao-dust-pearl-cover.jpg"]