Chapter 314: The Thousand Yin Ritual

Huhuh～

The night wind drifted gently.

Outside the Longhu Tower, Shi Yushu looked disheveled; he opened his mouth as if to speak, but the joy of reaching the fifth level vanished.

He had fought dozens of grueling battles, all to seize this rare chance to make a name for himself at Huanglong Mountain Villa—but…

"I took too long."

Shi Yushu steadied his emotions and reflected on himself, yet felt helpless.

There were no weak fighters inside the Longhu Tower; even after pouring out his full strength and taking two spiritual pills in advance, he had barely made it to the fifth level—how could speed be forced?

"Should I try again now? By tomorrow afternoon, I should be able to reach the fifth level?"

He glanced at the sky, regained his composure, and prepared to try once more; though weary, the pills' potency still lingered, and he believed another attempt posed no major problem.

Huh～

At that moment, he felt a subtle stir in his heart—he saw someone walking slowly under the moonlight: it was his own master.

"Master, why are you here?"

Shi Yushu bowed in salute.

"I happened to be passing by and came to take a look."

Jin Shengwu's expression was unusually gentle: "Yushu, among us who cultivate martial arts, talent and insight matter, but personal perseverance and effort matter just as much—do not treat talent as everything."

"Rest assured, Master."

Shi Yushu bowed deeply and replied solemnly: "Disciple remembers your teachings—I will never grow complacent or lazy because of my talent."

"… "

What nonsense is this?

Jin Shengwu, who had been comforting his disciple, froze, then couldn't help but laugh bitterly:

"What I meant was… never mind, what you said isn't wrong."

"Huh?"

Though slow to catch on, Shi Yushu finally sensed the meaning—he felt a jolt in his chest and turned to look at the stone tablet nearby.

Under the moonlight, names on it were faintly visible.

"Pei Jiu, reached fifth level of the tower… wait."

Shi Yushu instinctively found Pei Jiu's name, then suddenly noticed something odd—he looked upward and saw, far above Pei Jiu, a familiar name:

"Li Yuan, reached sixth level of the tower, Meridian Completion achieved."

Li Yuan—sixth level!

Shi Yushu was struck as if by lightning; he stood frozen for a long while, then turned slowly to look at his master, finally understanding his words.

"Li, Li Shidi, he, he…"

Shock left him stammering.

He knew Li Yuan had extraordinary talent—but this was too much.

"Huanglong Mountain Villa is not small, but compared to Dayun, to the whole world, it's but a speck. Your talent is good, yet Dayun has hundreds of millions of people, masters abound, geniuses rain down…"

Jin Shengwu sighed inwardly—this boy reminded him of himself when he first met Long Xi.

Yet those who rely on talent often suffer defeat before those with even greater talent.

"Disciple… understands."

Shi Yushu was dazed; he thought of his own arduous climb up the tower—he had failed upon first reaching the fifth level, and could not imagine how Li Yuan had stormed straight to the sixth level on his first attempt.

They seemed to differ by only one level, yet between them lay at least fifteen tower guardians!

"Long ago, your Long Shu's talent was peerless; when I first saw him, my shock was no less than yours—but then what?"

Jin Shengwu clasped his hands behind his back:

"Above county and prefecture lie the Dao provinces; above the Dao provinces lie the imperial court, and above all, the whole world."

"Your Li Shidi's talent is supreme, yet within Longhu Temple, Long Xinglie rivals him; your Long Shu, Master Nie, your Cang Shu, and others of their generation were no less gifted—and as for the world…"

He paused slightly, gently patting Shi Yushu's shoulder: "Beyond people stand greater people; beyond heaven lies higher heaven."

"Disciple remembers."

Shi Yushu took a deep breath and calmed himself: "Li Shidi's peerless talent is a great blessing for Huanglong Mountain Villa."

"Exactly!"

Jin Shengwu smiled—this was precisely why he had waited here.

In two hundred years, he had seen too many jealous rivals turn to hatred, brothers turn on brothers; though Shi Yushu had never been envious, he could not afford to overlook the possibility.

"This is the true Young Master of Huanglong Mountain Villa—my disciple!"

He clapped his hands in praise, then turned and left, leaving behind the slowly awakening Shi Yushu, who rallied himself and walked once more toward the Longhu Tower.

As he neared the entrance, he suddenly realized—he was drenched in cold sweat.

"Thank heaven, thank heaven…"

Shi Yushu wiped the sweat from his brow, exhaled deeply, and stepped inside the tower.

The revered Li Dao-ye, upon exiting the tower, was immediately swept onto a table, drowned in a sea of toasts, and nearly knocked unconscious by drink.

Xin Wenhua, Lin Tianhe, Lin Tingfeng, even Nie Ying and Dou Yue were all present; Li Yuan could not refuse, and by the end of the banquet, it was midnight.

The feigned-drunk Li Yuan was carried back to the mountains; along the river, the Longhu Sect's elders and disciples still drank, some bidding farewell, others continuing their revelry.

"Li Yuan."

Glancing at the brightly lit riverside tavern, a gray-clad man hurried away, circled through alleyways, and arrived at a large mansion in the eastern quarter of the city.

"Lord."

Inside the room, Ding Xiu, exhausted, set down his scrolls:

"Enter."

"Yes."

The gray-clad man bowed in and reported:

"Your servant has confirmed: at noon today, Longhu Temple's inner-disciple Li Yuan first ascended the Longhu Tower and stormed straight to the sixth level, reaching second place on the Dragon List…"

"Second on the Dragon List?"

Hearing the report, Ding Xiu narrowed his eyes:

"Li Yuan? The one who, upon entering, summoned the Azure Dragon's shadow—the last disciple of Long Xi?"

"That's him."

The gray-clad man nodded eagerly, adding details of the day's events at Longhu Temple—including Pei Jiu, Dan Hong, Lin Fangzhui, and others' tower attempts.

"Within a year of entry, reached second on the Dragon List, stormed the sixth level of the Longhu Tower…"

Ding Xiu's expression turned grave; having guarded Hengshan Dao for years, he knew the weight behind those few words.

In the past three hundred years, not even Long Xi, Nie Xianshan, Cang Xian, or Long Yingchan had ascended faster.

smxseedymoxboibxi4hr0wyyi8znphhceh2qntp23xyfr90qqbdnyyvb2gynk7fzab5gufq7e1yrt0bktmtzjhmttnz5wpbp6pxrcubxq5j5ocyaylze7hiqkz25f2p074b0ro0jopcssitjghx0elf7au5csdsksrzbhna4h8

smxseedymoxy0lznypjbk3yqujzfnajjqb3j5i

smxseec7gtxkukbfudgb47yicgzvtyiyuf2i9tped1z1ps

smxseedymouj0gbe64gbuaya2nacv7hqw3z5xoenj

smxseedymoxb4qyxchjkey52jyn/jzqe

smxseebouxx5s6ywggj7a1yoiizc3aicyf155vpnh1a2/0

smxseedymoxzucbxidjbkwbpubamjxijmr0ajzpnhzbudp2qmqdcgdthgjx2czfqwh6gat6unybhub5rvq5lwnoriw7u6b6iex5kcbfwjioezawf

smxseec7gtxkukbmuagbqlb5zb9xxicax269ep0/7yffh07i5cssith6vxnwofjuu5x2rtliey4vabolhqob9mttnwrq6cqaruy8nb22ljkeajmuzdnzidv2iz6qk7ubvjh04i5ddgwvb2gx0kmf7aj5cuatpynypt8bbvqsjhi

smxseec7kexowzb0mojpgcypezznhwidkp0ajzqklbbnjw05stenmsvb2gynk7c64v5yg5q5qux6jpbk7btzjzne/yz7wyco6yxzclbhm3jps4y58aejujjqb

smxseedymoxkilbewhhr09zawf

smxseeb7alxo08znypjla3yogozvx0hbmx271lp1nhygjf0accdc0vtdysy1cxc6kf7q5q4akya3ibibbtpnmkoztw56mc7czxqoeblqhjbkrypysznphigak2lnwqknybnlt1p8e

smxseecas2xkawblykgjqdbpmjacllggav2ytmpfx3bff/0k8mdoi7ugcxzxgvc40e6ysbtkipy4nbb4vrqot1kohqxbmvcasxxoilywgijlanbrcfzstbibqb25d6p2n8bffn2qmqes1uiahx3e3eigs

smxseedymouaqtyvmnjk4gyqqqze7hiqcf2qz/p23xbmb72qmdf/cz

smxseeczwjuz0hbhqxgbqmb5qdzdj2idyc0ajzpnxcbfb40ayde8rtim2x12pf7io5akytk6owi3ncyxzq5j4kdhezr2uczg9xaqcbgwhr0m

smxseedymoukutyh6agzgyyoqib9xxiiag2qdwpgbsb3fs2qmdf/cz

"If not for this, how could His Majesty harbor such deep hatred?"

Ding Xiu's face was grim; the imperial court had civil and martial examinations, yet they could not rival the great Dao sects—talents from various Dao provinces were often absorbed by the sects.

"Watch your tongue."

Hearing this, Zhu Zhongying quickly shut the door.

"Everyone knows—why be cautious?"

Ding Xiu glanced at him: "Has Sikong Xing been caught?"

"That thief is too cunning—how easily can he be caught?"

Zhu Zhongying frowned: "The loss of the Yunxiang Cauldron is a major matter; though Ouyang Ying bears primary blame, you and I are hardly blameless."

"We are hamstrung at every turn—even sealing the city and searching every house requires Longhu Temple's permission—how can we catch the thief?"

Ding Xiu slammed the table, his fury boiling over.

Zhu Zhongying sensed something was wrong—Ding Xiu was never so easily enraged.

"Brother Ding, you… have you taken up the Worship of the Gods Art?"

"The Crimson Eyebrow Monk King Art."

Ding Xiu did not hide it, but he sensed his emotions were off; he took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed them.

"Given our talents, only this path can lead us to the Dao."

"You, sigh!"

Zhu Zhongying stamped his foot, yet had no choice but to quell his inner vexation and change the subject:

"By the way, where's Marquis Yan? I heard you hosted him recently?"

"Don't mention him."

Ding Xiu's expression darkened further; he lowered his voice to say half a sentence, then switched to mental transmission:

"That man is arrogant, reckless, obsessed with lust, and additionally bloodthirsty—he's practically a… monster!"

"How… how could that be?"

Zhu Zhongying frowned deeply; he had heard rumors about Yan Chunyang, but didn't truly believe them.

After all, he was the sole disciple of the Martial Pacifier Prince.

"You don't believe me?"

Ding Xiu offered no explanation. He opened the door, clapped lightly, and soon two retainers led in several women with graceful figures.

"These are the top courtesans from the city's Rouge Rankings. Take them to see them off."

"Huh?"

Zhu Zhongying frowned sharply and transmitted mentally: "Say what you mean directly—why beat around the bush?"

"That man…"

Ding Xiu waved his hand, dismissing the retainers and the women, then turned back, visibly irritated:

"Last time, I invited him to a banquet. At first, though arrogant and unruly, he was merely eccentric—until after the feast…"

Even through mental transmission, Zhu Zhongying heard the fury in Ding Xiu's voice:

"He took six women, raped them, then brutally murdered them!"

"What?"

Zhu Zhongying's expression changed: "Could he also be practicing the Worship of Gods Art? I heard he was blessed by a hundred deities at birth…"

"I don't know."

Ding Xiu's face was cold, clearly still bitter: "I asked him why. That fiend actually said that whenever he beds a commoner woman, he never leaves her alive—lest his bloodline be tainted…"

Ding Xiu nearly laughed in rage: "Does he think he's the Crown Prince of the dynasty?"

"?!"

Zhu Zhongying was stunned. He'd seen plenty of lustful, murderous men—but this excuse was…

Ding Xiu's face remained cold; Zhu Zhongying was half-skeptical:

"How could the Prince, a peerless genius, take such a disciple?"

"Do you think I'd lie to you?"

Ding Xiu could no longer contain his rage—not just from the hidden dangers of the Worship of Gods Art, but from recalling that day; his face turned slightly green:

"I treated him with courtesy, did everything properly, showed him utmost respect—and he called me a commoner!"

"… "

Zhu Zhongying fell silent. He had worked with Ding Xiu for years and trusted him not to lie—but this was too strange.

"The Prince actually took such a disciple?!"

"If you don't believe me, go verify it yourself!"

Ding Xiu swept his sleeve and dismissed him.

"This…"

Zhu Zhongying rose to take his leave. After leaving the room, he headed toward the back courtyard, thoroughly perplexed.

"Ah!"

But before he reached the courtyard, a shrill female scream made him freeze in place.

"This…"

Zhu Zhongying's face twitched; he turned and walked away.

"Ah!"

In the night, the shrill female scream abruptly cut off.

Several guards in the back courtyard kept their heads down, as if long accustomed to it. Outside the room, a few elderly servants waited until the sound vanished, then softly knocked on the door.

One expertly dragged away the woman's corpse; another approached Yan Chunyang, who sat naked and cross-legged.

"Huh!"

A foul breath exhaled. Yan Chunyang's bare torso shimmered like flowing silver, the light traveling from his trunk into his hair, turning it instantly pure white.

But within moments, the silver faded away.

"Still no good!"

Clutching the black hair hanging before his eyes, Yan Chunyang's eyes flashed with disgust and brutality: "I've changed my blood many times—why is it still not working?!"

The elderly servant bowed respectfully, as if he'd heard nothing. When Yan Chunyang finished speaking, he pulled a letter from his robe:

"Your Grace, this is intelligence from our spies regarding Li Yuan."

"Dragon List No. 2?"

Yan Chunyang didn't even look; he shattered it into dust with a flick of qi:

"Wang Jiu, you've been in the mansion for years—surely you know my temper? Even Long Xinglie means nothing to me. What's a mere Dragon List No. 2 commoner?"

"Your Grace, this man is no more than twenty…"

"And what of it? A mere Meridian Unblocking cultivator."

Yan Chunyang stared at the servant, his gaze cold and deep:

"Will the Thousand Yin Ritual truly let me sever my tainted blood and replace it with pure blood?"

The servant kept his head bowed:

"This is the supreme ritual taught by the Sect Master. The Thousand Yin Master possesses boundless power—capable of purifying all beings under heaven and earth, all things…"

"I hope so."

Yan Chunyang closed his eyes; light flickered across his body.

The servant stepped back, his peripheral vision catching the surface of Yan Chunyang's skin—silver and crimson intertwined, two different bloods clashing and fighting within his body like opposing armies.

…

…

"Even the finest wine shouldn't be drunk too much."

Inside the room, having dispelled the alcohol's stench, Li Yuan still felt dizzy; he sat cross-legged.

Warriors have high tolerance for alcohol, yet this has led to the creation of spirit-herb wines—Bai Cao Niang is famed for its flavor.

Naturally, there are also wines famed for their potency, like "Immortal Drunk" and "Knockout Dragon."

"Huh!"

Swallowing a pill, Li Yuan sat still, regulating his breath; as usual before sleep, he listened to the voice from the Palm Sound Talisman.