Chapter 267: Chen Chan

The woman at the bow wore a lake-colored hundred-fold silk skirt; her features were delicate and beautiful, her eyebrows like faintly brushed distant mountains, and atop her cloud-like bun rested only a single Bai Yu hairpin, resembling black clouds enveloping snow, her complexion exquisitely lovely.

All under Master Qiao Ting's gaze.

Chen Heng offered a faint bow with clasped hands, treating it as a greeting, yet spoke no further words.

"..."

Seeing this, Master Qiao Ting fell into a brief silence, feeling an inexplicable stifling oppression in her heart yet finding no excuse to vent her frustration.

Thus, she could only turn her face aside, her expression suddenly turning cold.

Meanwhile, Cui Cui Jingzhong observed that Chen Heng beside him remained as calm as drifting clouds and gentle breezes, showing no change; to prevent the atmosphere from becoming awkward, he forced himself to step forward and smooth things over.

However, before he could speak further, Chen Heng suddenly opened his mouth and said:

"Senior Brother Cui, that Yin-Yang Demon of Chen Chan's repeatedly manages to locate you; could it be that she secretly tampered with you?"

Upon hearing these words, Cui Cui Jingzhong could not help but fall into contemplation.

Even Master Qiao Ting turned her head, her gaze sinking slightly.

After a long moment, Cui Cui Jingzhong slowly shook his head and helplessly replied:

"Junior Brother Chen, what you mention is something I have indeed suspected, yet no matter what method I employed, I could detect no trace of anything; it is truly bizarre."

Chen Heng frowned slightly, but at that moment, a sound suddenly rang out from within his sleeve, followed by a burst of rosy light shooting forth, circling several times in midair before landing on Chen Heng's shoulder.

"Since you say that this Chen Chan hails from the Xiantianmo Sect, why her Yin-Yang Demon can repeatedly find you might well be due to the Five-Pouch Worm..."

Sitting on Chen Heng's shoulder, the Five Qi Peng Qian Kun Circle shook its head and swayed as it spoke:

"The cultivation method of the Five-Pouch Worm is a secret transmission of the Xiantianmo Sect, extremely difficult for outsiders to know; it was only because Master Qiao Ding was an old rival of several figures from the Xiantianmo Sect in years past that he knew the truth."

"Five-Pouch Worm?"

Seeing a plump child wearing a five-colored bellyband and with a face as full as the moon suddenly leap onto Chen Heng's shoulder, Cui Cui Jingzhong was slightly startled.

Yet this was no time for idle chatter; bowing solemnly with clasped hands toward this abruptly appearing artifact spirit, he respectfully asked for instruction:

"May I ask what art or technique this is, and how might it be broken?"

"As the saying goes: Heaven uses the Qi of the Five Elements to give birth to all things, while humans employ all things to accomplish myriad affairs; without mutual restriction, there can be no mutual employment, and without mutual harm, nothing becomes useful. If Metal does not harm Wood, Wood cannot be put to use; if Fire does not refine Metal, Metal cannot become a vessel; since Metal cannot become a vessel, all things must harm and benefit one another.

And once worldly people comprehend the supreme principle of how the Five Elements mutually restrict and benefit, oppose and complete each other, they too can participate in and assist the transforming and nurturing power of Heaven and Earth!"

After delivering this lengthy discourse with great flourish.

The Five Qi Peng Qian Kun Circle suddenly pointed a finger and shouted at Cui Cui Jingzhong:

"The so-called Five-Pouch Worm is an extremely unconventional Mo Gong that can transform the quintessence of the Five Elements within an opponent's five viscera into evil creatures named 'Five-Pouch Worms'!

These worms nestle within the body's shell, undetected by spirit or ghost, growing by drawing upon primordial truth and blood qi; by the time the host perceives their presence, they have already grown robust and merged completely with the five viscera, so removing them would be akin to plucking out one's own organs, causing severe damage to one's primordial qi.

However, damaging primordial qi is not even the main issue; the greatest function of these 'Five-Pouch Worms' lies in their ability to probe an opponent's true circumstances.

In years past, disciples of the Xiantianmo Sect relied on these worms during campaigns beyond the heavens, proving invincible; often, just as an enemy's strategies and arrangements were spoken aloud, the news had already spread throughout the Xiantianmo Sect's camps, known to all."

"There exists such an evil art?!"

Hearing this, Cui Cui Jingzhong was greatly shocked, feeling a chill run down his spine.

As for Master Qiao Ting, realizing such an evil creature might reside within her own body, she also felt a wave of revulsion, her delicate eyebrows unconsciously knitting together.

"How could there not be? The Xiantianmo Sect has always been the leader among the Modaoliu Sect; being an ancient Qianguxuan Sect like this, it certainly lacks no rare or strange methods."

The Five Qi Peng Qian Kun Circle spoke with an air of aged superiority:

"Every word we speak now might well be transmitted via the 'Five-Pouch Worm' to the ears of that Chen Chan, heard by her with perfect clarity... however, accomplishing this step consumes immense spirit, so there is no need to worry too much."

Cui Cui Jingzhong bowed deeply and said: "I beg this senior to instruct me; how exactly can this 'Five-Pouch Worm' be broken?"

"Very simple: just maintain greater vigilance and prevent alien qi from entering your body."

The Five Qi Peng Qian Kun Circle yawned as it replied.

"..."

In his heart, Cui Cui Jingzhong rolled his eyes, thinking that this child had truly spoken a useless statement.

The Five Qi Peng Qian Kun Circle continued:

"And since the wood is already made into a boat, there are still methods of retrieval; aren't you, young man, an alchemist? You should know the principle of 'repairing bamboo with bamboo.' Either weaken the primordial truth within your body so that the 'Five-Pouch Worm,' unable to endure starvation, reveals its tracks, allowing you to destroy it at leisure, or—"

"Or else use methods such as consuming pills to strengthen the primordial truth within the body; since emptiness cannot accept supplementation, this would cause the 'Five-Pouch Worm' to suddenly become overfed, thereby revealing its whereabouts?"

At this moment, Chen Heng suddenly interjected.

The Five Qi Peng Qian Kun Circle first stared blankly, then nodded repeatedly, affirming orally.

Yet although these two methods sound easy, either one would cause considerable damage to the body.

It could be described as an action that kills a thousand enemies while injuring eight hundred of oneself, hardly a superior approach.

At this moment.

Master Qiao Ting suddenly shifted her gaze, fixing it upon the Five Qi Peng Qian Kun Circle, and diverted the topic by asking:

"If I remember correctly, the Five Qi Peng Qian Kun Circle should be a magical treasure of the Master Qiao clan of Mishan? How did you appear here?"

"Oh... My master shares a deep friendship with Little Master Qiao and once saved her life; in repayment of this debt, the Master Qiao clan naturally gifted me away."

Lifting an eyelid, the Five Qi Peng Qian Kun Circle glanced lazily at her and replied.

"Master Qiao Rui..."

Master Qiao Ting's heart jumped in surprise; hearing this, she fell silent for a long while, as if recalling something, her gaze unconsciously growing even colder.

However, before she could speak.

A faint voice suddenly rang out in the area:

"There is no need for such trouble; simply seek out and consume a Red City Pill, guiding it to the Root Orifice, the Restoring Life Gate, through the Tail Gate, and up to the Niwan, and the 'Five-Pouch Worms' within your bodies will naturally vanish; not only will there be no harm, but it will even serve as a tonic."

When these words rang out, both Cui Cui Jingzhong and Master Qiao Ting were greatly startled.

A trace of sharpness flashed briefly in Chen Heng's eyes; with his divine sense, he secretly gripped a Yuanyu Subduing Demon Sword Talisman, while simultaneously summoning his three magical treasures for defense.

"No need for such measures; if I truly wished to kill them, I would have acted long ago; this is merely a minor punishment as a warning."

That female voice chuckled softly again, and suddenly a cluster of Jin Jin Guang appeared in the void, scattering starry points of bright light that fell plunging into the sea.

It was like thousands of strange flowers falling colorfully with the wind, momentarily breathtakingly beautiful.

"A Great Teleportation Talisman?!"

Five Qi Peng Qian Kun was startled, hastily spreading its body to transform into clouds of five-colored smoke, shielding Chen Heng squarely in the center.

Within that Jin Jin Guang, the faint figure of a slender woman could be seen; she took out a flower basket, gave it a gentle shake, and from within Cui Cui Jingzhong and Master Qiao Ting, a beam of five-colored radiance shot out from each, vanishing into the basket.

Once this light departed,

the two felt a subtle looseness within their bodies and realized that the radiance must be the so-called "Five Pouch Worms," filling them with even greater dread.

"Di Si Jing, Purple Palace level eleven; the Yuan Yuan Fayan of you two elder brothers was indeed flawless..."

The woman turned her gaze to Chen Heng at the side and smiled as she said:

"Because of you, I specially sacrificed a Great Teleportation Talisman and even pardoned the disrespect of these two.

Now, should you not call me 'elder sister'?"

(End of Chapter)