Chapter 132: The Illusory Moon Demonic Flame Technique
Xu Xiaoyan, holding the Night Charm Demonic scriptures, bent down and sighed, “You’re being so nice to me, even letting me read the Night Charm Demonic scriptures. You think I’ll fall for your tricks? You think just because you’re giving me some benefits now, I’ll become yours? I’m not that naive.”
Shi Hao extended his hand, “If you’re so worried, give it back.”
Xu Xiaoyan clutched the scriptures and ran, “I’ll return it after I’m done reading!”
Shi Hao chuckled.
After admiring the moon for a while, he returned to the pavilion and glanced into the room where Xuan Feng Huanzhi, Yue Yaotai, and Sha Lingshan were still cultivating.
With the help of the Demonic Lotus Heavenly Yin, the impurities in their demonic energy were being purged. With further cultivation, they would soon reach the fourth rank.
After completing their respective demonic rituals, they would officially become fourth-rank experts.
Although still far from the Evil Lotus Sect’s peak strength, this meant three more fourth-rank experts on his side.
And the complete Night Charm Demonic scriptures would further strengthen their other members, resolving the incompatibility issues caused by the divided canons.
Not wanting to disturb the three naked women, Shi Hao went upstairs to rest.
The next morning, as dawn broke, Shi Hao sensed someone at the door and turned around.
“Yuejiao, you’re back,” he said, jumping up and pulling her inside.
Du Yuejiao wasn’t wearing her Daoist robe but a sky-blue dress embroidered with butterflies, a pink bodice peeking out from beneath a matching short jacket.
A pink sash was tied around her waist, a decorative knot hanging loosely, a sword at her side.
She looked elegant and refined, her face, however, cold and aloof, as when he had first met her, a distant, icy beauty. But as Shi Hao, ignoring her protests, pushed her onto the bed, her face flushed, and she playfully hit him.
She wanted to punch him, but her blows were soft, almost like a caress.
“Why were you gone for two days?” Shi Hao asked, holding her close, “I missed you so much.”
Du Yuejiao snorted, turning her face away, “Who knows if you really missed me?”
Shi Hao chuckled, “I missed you so much I couldn’t even focus on anything else.” He grabbed a nearby sash and began tying her hands.
Du Yuejiao asked, blushing, “What are you doing?”
Shi Hao smiled, “Didn’t I tell you? I like seeing you like this.” He tied her hands to the bedpost above her head.
Du Yuejiao struggled slightly. As a seventh-rank martial artist, breaking the sash would be easy, but for some reason, she couldn’t summon the strength, “Stop it,” she mumbled, her struggles halfhearted.
Shi Hao held her waist, preventing her from moving. Her arms, stretched above her head, her robe pulled taut, her posture was strangely alluring.
He chuckled, leaning closer, when suddenly, the window screen ripped, and something flew into the room.
Shi Hao turned and saw the Night Charm Demonic scriptures landing on the table. Xu Xiaoyan’s laughter came from outside, “Here’s your book back!”
Du Yuejiao, with a sudden burst of strength, broke the sash, pushed Shi Hao away, and rushed to the window, looking out. She saw a figure disappearing in the distance.
She turned to Shi Hao, “You were with her these past two days?”
Shi Hao said, “No.”
Du Yuejiao said sharply, “You said you missed me, but you were with her. Why would you miss me?” She turned to leave.
Shi Hao leaped forward, grabbed her waist, and, ignoring her protests, pulled her back onto the bed, showering her with apologies and sweet nothings.
He smiled, “I was in seclusion for the past two days, cultivating. I didn’t have time to be with her.”
Du Yuejiao snorted, “You said you missed me so much you couldn’t focus on anything else. And now you say you were in seclusion?”
Shi Hao thought, She’s getting smarter. He quickly changed the subject, making up a story.
He waved his hand, and the Night Charm Demonic scriptures flew from the table into his hand.
Du Yuejiao was secretly impressed. Although projecting true energy was a common ability for mid-rank martial artists and above, manipulating objects like this was much more difficult.
Pushing something away with true energy was one thing, but pulling it towards you was much harder. Even her master, a sixth-rank expert, couldn’t do that.
Thinking of her master, she remembered Zhuo Mulan’s words of comfort and advice these past few days.
Although that scoundrel had treated her cruelly, it was because he liked her. And some opportunities, once missed, were gone forever.
She bit her lip, glanced at him, and whispered, “Master told me that… that night at the Yuan Dan Huo estate, you captured her, but you didn’t harm her, and you let her go…”
Shi Hao thought, I did let her go, but not before…
He held Du Yuejiao close, “She’s your master. I couldn’t kill her, not because of you. I was forced to use both Daoist and demonic techniques in front of her that night. I knew she might recognize them. But I had no choice. She’s your master, after all.”
She hadn’t expected him to risk exposing his secret, his true nature, just for her.
She nestled in his arms, her heart filled with warmth and affection.
Shi Hao, however, didn’t dare tell her that he hadn’t exactly “spared” her master, that they had… done things that Yuejiao could never know.
If she found out, she might truly turn to the dark side.
He held her close, whispering sweet nothings, then took out the Night Charm Demonic scriptures and helped her choose a demonic cultivation technique.
Du Yuejiao chose the Illusory Moon Demonic Flame Technique, along with the corresponding Illusory Moon Movement Technique and the Silver Fiend Sword Technique.
She had chosen the Lunar Divinity path, one of the three cultivation paths of the Evil Lotus Sect.
“Hundred Blood Moon Spirit Sword, Hundred Ghosts Moon Spirit Banner,” she read the requirements for her next breakthrough, “Forge a sword from Moon Spirit Stone, stained with the blood of one hundred people, to create the Hundred Blood Moon Spirit Sword. Create a Ghost Spirit Banner, inscribe it with the Moon Spirit Diagram, and bind one hundred living souls, to create the Hundred Ghosts Moon Spirit Banner.”
She shuddered, “What kind of demonic nonsense is this? It’s terrifying.”
Shi Hao said, “That’s how demonic cultivation works. Actually, the ingredients for Daoist elixirs are much harder to obtain.”
Du Yuejiao said, “Not really. I just ask Master for whatever I need.”
Shi Hao said, “That’s because you’re in the Chongxian Sect. For those outside, the ‘unorthodox,’ it’s not that easy. Like Floating Cloud Monastery, for example. They were once a renowned Daoist sect, but without access to immortal ingredients, even with powerful techniques, they were forced to cultivate external martial arts.
“The materials required for demonic cultivation are difficult to obtain, but also… not that difficult. If you’re willing to be unscrupulous, like most demonic cultivators, they’re relatively easy to find. But immortal ingredients… you can’t just buy them anywhere.”
Du Yuejiao thought about it. He had a point.
She whispered, “Brother Shi, what ingredients do you need for your next breakthrough? I’ll ask Master if she can get them for you.”
Shi Hao thought, I can ask her myself.
He said, “I need three Dream Grasses, one Illusory Sea Lingzhi, and one Azure Sky Vermilion Fruit.”
Du Yuejiao thought for a moment, “Dream Grass shouldn’t be a problem. It’s a relatively common ingredient for lower-rank elixirs. Master should be able to find some. But the Illusory Sea Lingzhi is more difficult. Usually, lower-rank elixirs use the Illusory Sea Spirit Fruit, while the Lingzhi is for mid-rank elixirs. The sect controls them strictly. Even Master might not be able to get one.
“As for the Azure Sky Vermilion Fruit… what is that? I’ve never even heard of it.”
Shi Hao said, “If I can’t find an Azure Sky Vermilion Fruit, I can refine ordinary Vermilion Fruit instead, but I need a hundred jin.”
Du Yuejiao gasped, “A jin or two is manageable, but a hundred jin… that’s a lot. Vermilion Fruit itself has healing properties, equivalent to a Minor Restoration Pill. The sect controls it strictly, and the court also prohibits its trade. A hundred jin… that’s impossible.”
Shi Hao smiled, “There’s no rush. We’ll find a way.” He knew that obtaining ingredients for higher ranks would be more difficult.
For now, he had to focus on cultivating the Three Origins Flowing Pearl Technique and the Nine Yin Demonic Primordial Technique.
He would deal with the ingredients later. Zhuo Mulan was a valuable resource, and he could also try the Red Hill Gathering again.
And there was another pressing matter he had to deal with, which required contacting Dark Thunder.
He looked at Du Yuejiao and asked softly, “Yuejiao, if I become an enemy of the Chongxian Sect, whose side will you choose?” This was an important question.
Du Yuejiao lowered her gaze and whispered, “Master told me many things these past two days. I now know the truth about the Chongxian Sect, the darkness they hide. I trust Master, and I trust you. I’ll help you fight against the barbarian court and the Chongxian Sect.”
Shi Hao nodded slowly.
He had guessed that Zhuo Mulan would tell her the truth. After all, in these times, shattering the illusion of righteousness was a necessary step.
He said seriously, “I understand. But I still need to test your resolve.” He picked up the broken sash, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and tied her hands to the bedposts.
The girl exclaimed, “What are you doing? You…”
And then, some things happened that are best left undescribed.
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