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Chapter 10: The Female Thief

On the way to Jin Prefecture, many tenant farmers could be seen toiling in the fields.

Calling them tenant farmers didn’t change the fact that these lowest-class Chinese people were practically serfs.

Large families or wealthy landowners like those in Small Han Mountain City, who maintained a certain degree of autonomy, certainly existed.

After all, the barbarian court couldn’t kill all the Chinese landlords and gentry. For the sake of stability, they still needed to appease them to some extent.

Thus, the truly pitiable ones were these helpless common people at the bottom.

Shi Hao had also considered taking advantage of Small Han Mountain City’s remote location to develop agriculture and secretly accumulate strength.

However, this was a world of supernatural abilities and martial arts. Even ten years of secret development wouldn’t be enough to withstand a single blow from the barbarian court’s chancellor, let alone the barbarian “Supreme Emperor” who had lived for three hundred years.

In this world where power resided in the individual, personal strength was paramount.

As the city gates came into view, a large troop of soldiers suddenly charged out.

They rode their horses, recklessly pushing through the people outside the city gates, causing chaos.

Shi Hao saw the mounted soldiers split into several groups, one of which was heading towards them.

They moved to the side of the road, and the captain leading the group stopped in front of them, arrogantly demanding, “Where are you from?”

Master Lu cupped his hands and said, “We are from Small Han Mountain City, summoned by the Marquis to Jin City.”

The captain quickly scanned them, took out a wanted poster from his bosom, and unfurled it before them, “Have you seen this woman on your way?”

Shi Hao, Master Lu, and the others looked at the poster. It depicted a young woman, seemingly a girl, with her face covered, a five-petaled flower tucked into her hair.

Master Lu smiled, “Sir, this girl’s face is covered. Even if we did see her on the road, it’s unlikely she would still be dressed like this. How would we recognize her?”

The captain flipped the wanted poster over, chuckling at his own words, “You’re right. With a drawing like this, where are we supposed to find her? It would be better if they didn’t give us a drawing at all and just told us to ask around for a girl with a flower in her hair and a covered face. Once she takes off her mask and removes the flower, we wouldn’t know who she is anyway.”

He shook his head and continued on with his men, clearly aware he was wasting time, but his superiors had ordered the search, so he couldn’t disobey.

As Shi Hao and the others entered the city gates, they saw the same wanted poster displayed on the notice board. Many soldiers were scattered throughout the city, comically holding the drawings and asking from door to door.

“As if they’ll find her like this!” one of the hunters whispered beside Shi Hao.

Master Lu said, “I wonder what this girl did to cause such a commotion. To commit such a serious crime and escape, prompting a citywide search, she must be no ordinary person.”

The Small Han Mountain City also had a residence in Jin City. After settling in, Shi Hao took a visiting card and headed to the Marquis’ residence.

Along the grand avenue, the surrounding buildings were imposing and magnificent, with colorful palanquins passing by.

Across the river, however, the houses were low and shabby, the area dirty and impoverished, as if the two sides of the river belonged to different worlds.

And the wealthy young masters and noble ladies on this grand avenue never saw the other side.

The verse “Behind vermilion gates, wine and meat go to waste; out on the road lie the bones of the frozen dead” seemed eternally relevant.

Arriving at the resplendent Marquis’ residence, he presented his visiting card and was quickly led inside, but made to wait in a corner before the main hall.

After a quarter of an hour, Shi Hao vaguely sensed someone secretly observing him.

He couldn’t figure out who was watching him from the shadows, but he simply stood there, motionless, pretending to be completely unaware…

---

“Is that the young master of Small Han Mountain City?” A girl’s voice came from a corner atop the high wall. “He’s not bad looking, but he’s a commoner.”

The voice was sharp and tinged with displeasure, “Why do I have to marry someone like that?”

The Marquis’ residence was vast, divided into inner and outer sections by a high wall with watchtowers on either side.

Three girls stood near one of the watchtowers. The one who had spoken was called Wusu Ya Nu.

Although her appearance was ordinary, she was still of “royal” blood.

Now, because of the Jin-Xia Family Harmony decree, she was about to be married off to the young master of Small Han Mountain City, which filled her with resentment.

One of the other girls smiled, “He looks quite handsome, and you’ll be the young mistress of Small Han Mountain City.”

Wusu Ya Nu spat, “Who cares about being the young mistress of some backwater mountain stronghold? Marrying a commoner makes me a commoner too. Look at the difference between people.

“Look at Wusu Li Tong. She’s the same age as me, and the Marquis is holding this Red Tong Banquet specifically to find her a suitable husband, inviting young masters from prominent families in neighboring prefectures so she can choose for herself. Why don’t I get a choice?”

The other girl whispered, “That’s different. She’s a county mistress.”

Wusu Ya Nu snorted, looking at the young man in the distance with disdain and resentment.

She had no complaints about his looks, only his background. If she married him, their children would be considered commoners.

Ignoring her companions’ attempts to persuade her, she angrily flung her sleeves and left.

---

“Jin and Xia as one family. It’s easy to say, but not so easy to do,” Marquis Wusu Baoteng said, setting down his teacup in the luxurious hall. “Since the founding of the dynasty by the Supreme Emperor, the entire Jin clan has been royalty, other races are considered middling, and the Chinese are considered lowly. Although official documents don’t use the term ‘commoners,’ after so many years, we’ve all gotten used to it.

“The royal clan has been on top for so long. Now the chancellor wants to promote family harmony, and the major families are all dissatisfied. Except for the Yue Ke Tai clan, who fully supports the chancellor, the other families are all secretly resisting. I wonder what will become of the chancellor in the future.”

Wusu Baoteng sighed, “But it has to be done. I met Young Master Chong Liang of the Yue Ke Tai family a few days ago, and he told me something. The Jin-Xia Family Harmony policy must continue, and even now, it’s too late. It should have been done a hundred years ago.”

His brother, Wusu Bao Di, was listening beside him.

Wusu Bao Di asked, “Brother, why do you say that?”

Wusu Baoteng said, “You know yourself how corrupt the so-called royalty has become, abusing their power. Where does their power come from? It’s all bestowed by the Supreme Emperor. Without the Supreme Emperor’s formidable martial arts, there would be no Great Jin Dynasty.”

“But, to put it bluntly, how much longer can the Supreme Emperor protect us? Those people don’t understand. We, the ‘royalty,’ are sitting on a volcano that could erupt at any moment. We may seem high and mighty, but once the volcano erupts, we’ll be blown to smithereens, with no place to be buried.”

“Suppressing the Central Plains martial world, destroying their laws and traditions, eradicating their martial arts scriptures, uprooting their foundations… These measures have indeed been effective. But as we can see, one wave subsides, and another rises. The resistance never ends.”

“On the other hand, the major families of the royal clan, relying on the Supreme Emperor’s favor, possess powerful martial arts manuals and formidable magical weapons. But over the years, eroded by power and status, their roots have rotted, their will has weakened, and the spirit of their ancestors who followed the Supreme Emperor to conquer the world is long gone.”

“The Chinese resistance, though scattered and unorganized, has never truly ceased in these three hundred years. They have never compromised.”

“The purpose of the Jin-Xia Family Harmony policy is to win over the local gentry, divide the Chinese, and use the Chinese against themselves. They don’t understand the chancellor’s good intentions, saying he’s ruining the royal clan, polluting the royal bloodline, and weakening royal authority.”

“They just don’t understand that the chancellor is helping us descend from this volcano that could erupt at any moment. Lowering our stance a little, treating the Chinese better, showing sincerity to those in the Central Plains martial world willing to join us, this is for the good of all of us.”

Wusu Bao Di smiled wryly, “Brother, the reasoning is sound, but it’s not that simple. Take Small Han Mountain City, for example. I have three daughters, and none of them are willing to marry there. I have to choose someone from the clan and force her to ‘marry down.’

“They consider themselves royalty. How can they marry a commoner? Some even say…”

He hesitated and stopped.

Wusu Baoteng picked up his teacup and snorted, “Are they saying that if I want to follow the chancellor’s decree and promote this Jin-Xia Family Harmony, why don’t I marry Li Tong off myself?”

Wusu Bao Di said, “Brother…”

Wusu Baoteng set down his teacup again and waved his hand, “Forget it. Their complaints are not entirely unfounded. Although I speak eloquently about this policy, I wouldn’t be willing to marry Li Tong off either.”

“It’s not that I disagree with the decree, but I have to consider my daughter’s happiness… and everyone else thinks the same way.”

“Let’s not talk about this anymore. Have they caught that female thief from last night?”

Wusu Bao Di said irritably, “Catch who? The Ming Kun Monastery hasn’t even said what was stolen. In the middle of the night, that female thief, with her exceptional light-foot skills, slipped in and out. The Daoists didn’t even see her face, only that she had a mask and a flower in her hair.”

“Because of the Yue Ke Tai family’s order, I’ve distributed her portrait and ordered a prefecture-wide search, but I doubt we’ll find her.”

Wusu Baoteng frowned, “What exactly did the Ming Kun Monastery lose? Why did it alarm the Yue Ke Tai family, yet they refuse to explain clearly?”

Wusu Bao Di said, “Brother, since they’re not being clear, let’s just go through the motions. We can’t be blamed if we don’t catch her, can we? The abbot of Ming Kun Monastery has plenty of men; let him handle it.”

Wusu Baoteng nodded, sitting back in his luxurious sandalwood chair, “Have Shi Hao come in. Although Small Han Mountain City isn’t a martial arts sect, they have a large population and provide a significant amount of grain and taxes every year. They represent the hearts of the people in West Shu, so we should try to win them over.”

Wusu Bao Di went out and had the steward invite the young master of Small Han Mountain City in.

Soon, Shi Hao entered the hall and paid his respects to the Marquis.

Wusu Baoteng nodded, inquired about Small Han Mountain City, and offered some words of comfort.

He then said, “Tomorrow, there will be a banquet at Red Mountain, north of the city. Several young masters from prominent families in the prefecture have also been invited. You should come too.” He had the steward write an invitation for Shi Hao.

Shi Hao accepted the invitation and took his leave. After he left, Wusu Bao Di said, “Brother, you invited him to the Red Tong Banquet as well?”

Wusu Baoteng said, “After he marries Ya Nu, he will be your son-in-law, a member of our Wusu family. Besides, I’ve heard that although Shi Hao is just a scholar, he’s quite capable. He’s achieved remarkable results in developing Small Han Mountain City in the past few years.”

“Since he has the talent to govern, he might become a valuable asset to our Wusu clan in the future. Have Ya Nu attend the banquet tomorrow as well. By the way, since we’ve invited the young master of Small Han Mountain City, what about Deng… Deng… from the Yuan Rong Merchant Guild?”

The steward beside him said, “Are you referring to Deng Liang of the Yuan Rong Merchant Guild, my lord?”

Wusu Baoteng said, “Yes, him. Write an invitation and have it delivered to the Yuan Rong Merchant Guild. They’re all young people; the more the merrier.”

The steward replied, “Yes, my lord!”

---

Shi Hao left the Marquis’ residence, invitation in hand.

He opened the red invitation and looked at it, thinking, “Red Tong Banquet?”

Red Mountain, north of the city, was a famous scenic spot in Jin Prefecture, but it had long been occupied by the Wusu clan, who had built a pleasure palace there. It was practically a “no commoners or dogs allowed” zone, and to the so-called royalty, the Chinese people were “commoners.”

He hadn’t expected Wusu Baoteng to invite him to the Red Tong Banquet. It seemed the barbarian court was truly determined to implement the “Jin-Xia Family Harmony” policy.

While at the Marquis’ residence, he had suppressed his inner energy, not wanting to reveal his martial arts skills.

Now, walking outside, the Immortal Ice Technique and the Mysterious Charm Technique circulated within him simultaneously, allowing him to cultivate even while walking.

He thought to himself, “I need an opportunity to break free from the Wusu clan without implicating Small Han Mountain City.”

Back at his residence, he took out the Jade Clarity Stone and placed it on the roof, allowing it to absorb the essence of the sun and moon as instructed by the Holy Jade Immortal and the Enchanting Fire Witch. After half an hour, he retrieved it.

Not wanting to attract too much attention, he stayed in for the night.

The next day, after calculating the time, he changed into new clothes, took the invitation, and headed to the banquet…

Chapter 9: Marriage Alliance Matters

Ghost Hook Rat and Blade Wing Bat exchanged glances. Blade Wing Bat leaped into the air, while Ghost Hook Rat burrowed into the ground.

Amidst the torrential rain, Blade Wing Bat spread what looked like blood-red wings, slashing downwards with his blade, the blade light tumbling and churning, filling the sky.

Ghost Hook Rat, with a flurry of hook shadows, swept across the ground, erupting upwards from the earth and stone like a chilling, inverted waterfall.

Blade light and hook shadows formed a inescapable net, like a roaring chariot, intent on grinding the young man to pieces.

Neither Ghost Hook Rat nor Blade Wing Bat dared to prolong the fight, so they immediately unleashed their hidden killing move, “Heaven Slaughters, Earth Severs.”

They had secretly honed this move for years, a desperate measure against powerful foes, rarely used.

So far, they had used it only three times, against opponents far stronger than themselves, and it had always been a fatal blow.

Heaven unleashes killing intent, Earth severs the path of life.

The young man’s escape routes, both above and below, were completely sealed. He was trapped within the grinding mill, with no escape but death.

However, through the Soul Chasing Locking Steps, the duo’s rotating energy flows, amplified by their killing move, felt like two magnets.

Below the cliff, the critically injured martial artist and the terrified siblings watched as the young man stood motionless amidst the overwhelming attack.

Suddenly, a force pulled him, and in the next instant, he was behind Blade Wing Bat, having escaped the killing move.

It was so bizarre, so uncanny, as if he had done nothing, and Blade Wing Bat himself had pulled him out.

The injured martial artist and the siblings wondered if they had imagined it, if they had missed some detail, or if some frames had been skipped, preventing them from seeing clearly… What they had witnessed defied logic.

Blade Wing Bat was even more shocked. The moment the young man escaped, he felt his own movements falter, his internal energy disrupted. The next moment, the young man was behind him.

The inescapable net he and Ghost Hook Rat had created couldn’t stop the young man’s escape. At that moment, the young man’s speed had inexplicably increased.

Behind him, the young man extended a finger.

Sensing danger, Blade Wing Bat focused his internal energy and plummeted downwards.

Ghost Hook Rat’s sweeping iron hook almost caught him.

Blade Wing Bat landed with a thud and turned to face the young man. The young man floated down in the rain, looking at him coldly.

Ghost Hook Rat emerged from the ground and landed beside Blade Wing Bat, whispering, “Be careful, this kid… What’s wrong?”

Ghost Hook Rat looked at Blade Wing Bat, whose body was trembling in the rain.

The young man’s finger had lightly touched his back. That seemingly insignificant touch had set Blade Wing Bat’s meridians on fire.

Suddenly, Blade Wing Bat coughed up blood, stumbled forward, and collapsed, mud and water splashing around him.

The young man had merely touched his back, but the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Finger had already extinguished his life force.

Terror gripped Ghost Hook Rat’s heart. The rain poured down, lightning flashed, and thunder roared. His heart sank into an abyss.

The young man glanced at the corpse on the ground, a look of surprise on his own face.

He seemed surprised by the sheer power of his simple finger strike, a single touch capable of ending a life without any resistance.

With a roar, Ghost Hook Rat hurled his iron hook at the young man and, channeling all his energy, turned and fled through the rain.

He was terrified, no longer daring to face the young man.

The young man dodged the incoming hook and watched Ghost Hook Rat flee.

If Ghost Hook Rat had run like an ordinary person, he might not have been able to catch up.

But Ghost Hook Rat was using his full power to accelerate, and under the guidance of the Soul Chasing Locking Steps, it was as if he was inviting the young man to kill him.

The young man’s figure flickered, and the next moment, he was behind Ghost Hook Rat. He extended a finger, piercing through the downpour, striking Ghost Hook Rat’s back.

Ghost Hook Rat ran for another ten zhang before stumbling. He collapsed in the rain, convulsed, and died.

A scream came from the other side. The young man quickly turned and saw Zhao Haisong leaping towards the cliff face.

Seeing both the Rat and Bat Duo killed by this mysterious young man, Zhao Haisong knew he had no escape and was attempting to take the siblings hostage.

The young man moved, but he was too late.

Suddenly, he turned his head and saw a flash of blade light in the darkness.

A blade flew through the air, thin as a cicada’s wing, spinning before embedding itself in Zhao Haisong’s throat.

Zhao Haisong clutched his throat, his eyes wide, letting out a hoarse gasp before collapsing.

Shi Hao focused his gaze and saw a woman emerge from the darkness, dressed in light grey, her feet splashing through the water as she approached Zhao Haisong’s corpse. With a gesture, the flying knife embedded in his throat returned to her hand.

She flicked her wrist, and the knife disappeared.

From below the cliff, the gravely injured middle-aged martial artist said in a low voice, “It’s… really dark here.”

The woman turned to look at Shi Hao, who stood motionless in the rain.

She turned back to the martial artist and the siblings and whispered, “Even in this darkness, the thunder never ceases.”

The middle-aged martial artist smiled weakly, “You… finally arrived. I can… rest now.” His head drooped.

The girl and boy, supporting his cooling body, cried, “Uncle Zhao, Uncle Zhao…”

The woman’s expression turned somber. She crouched beside the siblings and said, “I’m sorry, I’m late.”

Taking their hands, she said, “We can’t stay here long. More Six Gates lapdogs will come. Come with me.”

She pulled the children up and looked at the young man standing silently in the rain, “Thank you for your help, kind sir. May I ask for your name?”

Amidst the roaring storm, Shi Hao said calmly, “I am but a passerby who couldn’t stand for injustice.”

The woman and the children bowed to him, “Thank you for your assistance, kind sir. The martial world is a dangerous place. If fate allows, we will repay your kindness in the future. You should leave this place quickly as well.” With that, she hurried away with the children.

Watching their figures disappear into the rain and darkness, Shi Hao relaxed and looked back at the corpses of the Rat and Bat Duo and the Six Gates constables.

This was the first time he had killed, but he felt no remorse, only that he hadn’t killed enough of these villains.

He bent down and searched the bodies of the Rat and Bat Duo for anything useful.

He found quite a bit of silver and some miscellaneous items. He wasn’t interested in the silver and left it behind.

He then searched Zhao Haisong’s body and found a wanted poster with the pictures of the siblings, labeled “Daughter of rebel Wu Zheng” and “Son of rebel Wu Zheng.” Clearly, Wu Zheng was their father, arrested and sentenced to death for writing rebellious poems, his entire family, including his children, condemned.

Shi Hao then found a stone carved in the shape of a tiger, covered in runes.

He thought, “This seems to be the magical weapon the Holy Jade Immortal and Enchanting Fire Witch mentioned. But Zhao Haisong didn’t use it. Did he already use it today?”

He tucked the tiger-shaped rune stone into his robe and, ignoring the corpses, continued running through the rain.

Along the way, he put his shirt back on and undid the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique, returning to his original appearance.

He took out the magical weapon and, using the methods taught by the Holy Jade Immortal and Enchanting Fire Witch, studied the runes and focused his consciousness into it.

He quickly understood its function.

—Magical Weapon: Earthly Valor Tiger

—Divine Crystal: Earthly Valor Star

—Effect: Grants a divine body and divine power for a short period, multiplying physical strength and power. Limited to one use per day.

—Remaining Uses: Five

Divine crystals themselves couldn’t be used; they had to be forged into magical weapons or absorbed by the body.

The divine crystal used in this weapon was called the “Earthly Valor Star.” “Earthly Valor Tiger” was just a name given by the crafting master after forging it into a tiger shape.

The light within the weapon was dim, indicating it had indeed been used today. Perhaps Zhao Haisong had even stolen it from someone else.

After running for several li, the rain subsided. Near the giant pit, Shi Hao heard Master Lu and the hunters calling out, “Young Master! Young Master!”

He took a detour and then pretended to emerge from the mud, rejoining them.

Relieved to see him safe and sound, Master Lu and the others escorted him down the mountain in the rain.

They didn’t know that in this short time, their young master was no longer just a weak scholar—

---

In a small town outside the mountain, Shi Hao soaked in a hot bath at an inn.

He took out the Jade Clarity Stone and the Earthly Valor Tiger, examining them once more. It was now morning, the sun shining brightly in a clear sky.

It was as if yesterday’s storm had washed away all the impurities from the heavens.

Surrounded by steam, soaking in the hot water, he felt extremely comfortable.

He thought to himself, “Although I’m already an eighth-rank martial artist, to advance further, I need to cultivate both the Immortal Ice Technique and the Mysterious Charm Technique to their peak. I also need to find the ingredients for the seventh-rank Immortal Formula. I wonder if there’s a place to buy these things?

“And this trip to Jin Prefecture is also troublesome. As the young master of Small Han Mountain City, I’m being forced to marry a woman from the Wusu clan. If I refuse, I’ll offend the Marquis, and Small Han Mountain City’s situation will become even more difficult.

“But if I do marry her, Small Han Mountain City will become a vassal of the Wusu clan, and I, a Chinese, will become the son-in-law of barbarians.”

He frowned deeply.

Since Lie Zunyi’s invasion, the entire Jin clan had been designated as “royalty,” while the Chinese people were considered lowly commoners. Intermarriage between the two groups was forbidden.

However, after so many years, the so-called “royal” upper class had become increasingly corrupt, and the various forms of resistance among the Chinese people had never ceased.

Until Futu, the barbarian court’s chancellor, whose martial arts skills were said to rival those of the Supreme Emperor, took control of the court and began implementing the “Jin-Xia Family Harmony” policy, promoting intermarriage between the Jin and Chinese people.

This policy had reportedly caused strong discontent among the Jin clan’s upper class.

But the Supreme Emperor Lie Zunyi had been in seclusion for a long time, no longer involved in court affairs. The current barbarian emperor, Zu Chi Wu, followed the chancellor’s every word, and the “Jin-Xia Family Harmony” policy was forcibly implemented.

This marriage alliance between Small Han Mountain City and the Wusu clan was a result of this policy.

However, Wusu Baoteng, the clan leader and Marquis of Jin Prefecture, would never allow his own daughter to marry a “commoner.” So, he had his younger brother choose a girl from the clan, adopt her as his daughter, and marry her off to the young master of Small Han Mountain City.

For Small Han Mountain City, this was undoubtedly a humiliation, but the Wusu clan considered it an honor for Small Han Mountain City.

Twenty or thirty years ago, Small Han Mountain City wouldn’t even have had the opportunity to marry a woman from the Wusu clan.

Speaking of which…

Shi Hao, scrubbing himself in the hot water, thought self-deprecatingly.

He had set out for Jin Prefecture for a marriage alliance, but somehow, along the way, he had lost his virginity.

He wondered if his two “wives” in the Primordial Grotto Heaven were fighting again.

With their abilities, if he could quickly reach the fourth rank and help them escape, they would undoubtedly be a great asset to China.

Provided they didn’t continue their “internal strife” after coming out.

After his bath, he sat cross-legged on the simple wooden bed in the room, preparing to cultivate. He wondered whether to practice the Immortal Ice Technique or the Mysterious Charm Technique first.

Suddenly, it occurred to him that although those two women had played with his life, they had indeed established the foundations of both techniques within him.

With this in mind, he attempted to cultivate both techniques simultaneously.

The normally incompatible Daoist and demonic techniques, within his body, were like two intertwined yin and yang fish, opposing yet working in perfect harmony.

More importantly, they stimulated and challenged each other, both growing rapidly.

Even as he lay down to sleep, they continued to circulate in this delicate balance, suppressing and promoting each other without pause.

In the history of the martial world, no one had ever cultivated both Daoist and demonic foundations simultaneously. Such a wondrous thing was probably beyond the imagination of even the Holy Jade Immortal and the Enchanting Fire Witch.

The next morning, Shi Hao woke up feeling not only refreshed but also full of energy.

The power of the Immortal Ice Technique and the Mysterious Charm Technique within him had increased significantly, the speed of his progress startling him.

If he continued cultivating like this, perhaps it wouldn’t be long before both techniques reached their peak.

Chapter 8: The Hidden Dragon Emerges from the Abyss

Rain lashed against the collapsed temple, splattering against the scattered bricks and stones. Not far away, a towering figure, over two meters tall, stood covered in blood, swaying unsteadily.

Daoist Lan He was drenched in blood, wounds crisscrossing his body. Several corpses lay around him, their bones shattered, victims of his divine power.

However, Zhao Haisong and the “Rat and Bat Duo” merely harassed him from the periphery, avoiding direct confrontation with his divine power.

“I don’t know what you’re fighting for,” Zhao Haisong sneered disdainfully. “Just to save two useless children, you’re making an enemy of the court and throwing your own life away.”

Daoist Lan He roared, “Scum!” He threw a punch, his enlarged fist descending towards Zhao Haisong’s head like a falling boulder, rain scattering around it.

Wielding his goose-feather saber, Zhao Haisong moved like a fish in the rain, dodging the attack.

Ghost Hook Rat and Blade Wing Bat, the Rat and Bat Duo, attacked simultaneously, a hook and a blade striking Daoist Lan He’s back from both sides.

Even with his divine power protecting him, Daoist Lan He stumbled amidst the spray of blood.

Finally, a cold light flashed, and he reverted to his original form, no longer the towering figure. The wounds on his body seemed to find new openings, blood spurting out.

His Daoist robe tattered, Daoist Lan He, still enraged, spun around and punched Ghost Hook Rat.

Blade Wing Bat chuckled, and with a flash of his blade, Daoist Lan He’s arm fell to the ground.

Swish! Zhao Haisong’s goose-feather saber pierced Daoist Lan He’s side, exiting through his chest. He quickly withdrew the blade, blood gushing out.

Staggering, Daoist Lan He lunged at Zhao Haisong, trying to strangle him with his remaining hand.

Zhao Haisong slashed again, severing his other hand. He kicked Daoist Lan He to the ground, pointing his saber at his throat with a sneer of disdain, “Any last words?”

Gasping in the storm, Daoist Lan He said, “You… you barbarian lapdogs… will meet your end… your end…”

With a flash of his blade, Zhao Haisong slit his throat, watching him breathe his last with contempt.

Ghost Hook Rat swung his black iron hook and laughed, “He was a tough one.”

Zhao Haisong sneered, “He overestimated himself and brought this upon himself.” He bent down and searched Daoist Lan He’s body, quickly finding the tiger-shaped rune stone.

He turned around and saw the Rat and Bat Duo staring at the stone in his hand. Zhao Haisong smiled, “Don’t worry, I won’t keep this magical weapon for myself. But there’s only one, and it’s not easy to divide among three people. After we catch those two children, we’ll go back, have it appraised, and split the value.”

Blade Wing Bat laughed, “Brother Zhao is righteous. We trust you, of course.”

Ghost Hook Rat chuckled, “Let’s catch those two brats first. Hee hee, that girl is quite pretty.”

Turning their backs on the corpse, they continued their pursuit. Ghost Hook Rat cursed, “Damn this rotten weather! The rain was lighter just now, and now it’s pouring again.”

Their clothes were soaked through. Lightning flashed and thunder roared above, illuminating the world. The deep pit on the other side remained shrouded in darkness, even the lightning unable to penetrate it, as if shadowy figures could emerge from its depths at any moment.

After running for a while, they found two more bodies. One was a constable from the Six Gates, the other one of the four martial artists who had accompanied Daoist Lan He.

The martial artist’s body was covered in wounds, barely a single part intact. His eyes glared wide open, an iron blade embedded in the constable’s chest. This dying strike had caught the constable off guard, and despite having several companions, he hadn’t been able to avoid it.

Zhao Haisong muttered, “A bunch of useless fools.”

They continued forward, running through the rain. They found the body of another martial artist, and a little further on, the third.

Both had been hacked to pieces, but even so, their faces, stained with blood that the rain couldn’t wash away, were frozen in expressions of defiance.

Zhao Haisong cursed, “These desperate fools. Fighting so hard for two useless brats.”

He couldn’t understand their thinking, finding it utterly ridiculous.

Ghost Hook Rat chuckled, “Three down, only one left to protect those kids. Looks like we won’t have to lift a finger… Uh.” His voice suddenly stopped.

They had been talking as they moved, covering more ground. They found another body, this time one of their own constables from the Six Gates.

The constable lay on the ground, his face frozen in shock.

Zhao Haisong crouched down and examined the body. There were no other injuries except for a hole in his forehead, the skin around it charred black, as if burned by fire.

Zhao Haisong said, “What kind of technique is this?”

Blade Wing Bat said, “Looks like a demonic sect technique.”

Zhao Haisong stood up and continued running with the Rat and Bat Duo. Soon, they found another body, another one of their own.

This constable clutched his throat, but there was no blood between his fingers. His face was contorted in terror.

Zhao Haisong pried his hands open and saw another charred black hole, not very large.

The previous corpse had bled from the hole in his forehead, but this one only had the ugly black charring, no blood at all.

Ghost Hook Rat said, “What a strange finger technique!”

Zhao Haisong frowned, stood up, and continued running. Soon, they found two more bodies.

These two lay together.

Ignoring the dead constables, Zhao Haisong stepped over them and pressed forward.

A bolt of lightning illuminated the cliff ahead, revealing a tall figure standing with his back to them, facing the cliff face, unmoving.

From the back, it appeared to be a young man, shirtless, his discarded shirt tied around his waist.

Four bodies lay around him. The last of Zhao Haisong’s men were all dead.

Further down the cliff, huddled together, were the girl and boy they were pursuing, supporting a middle-aged man between them.

The man was also covered in blood, a blade protruding from his chest. He wouldn’t last much longer.

Their gazes were fixed on the young man.

The Rat and Bat Duo looked at the young man’s back, their eyes filled with caution.

Zhao Haisong quickly searched his memory, trying to match the young man’s figure to anyone he knew.

But no one in his memory matched the young man’s back.

He then remembered the young man he had chased out of the temple earlier, the one who seemed to have no martial arts skills.

Could it be him? His eyes narrowed.

The young man slowly turned around. He had a high forehead and a slightly hooked nose, his features sharp and angular, completely different from the young man who had left the temple.

Zhao Haisong realized he was mistaken and discarded the idea.

Gripping his goose-feather saber, he took a step forward and shouted, “Who are you? Do you know this is official Six Gates business? Do you want to make an enemy of the court?”

The young man stood in the rain with his hands clasped behind his back and said coldly, “Barbarian lapdogs deserve to be killed by anyone.”

A bolt of lightning struck, illuminating the young man’s figure.

He was like fireworks suddenly blooming in the night, dazzling and brilliant.

“Arrogant!” Zhao Haisong shouted. His goose-feather saber sliced through the rain, water spraying from both sides of the blade as he thrust it towards the young man’s throat.

The young man suddenly vanished before his eyes, reappearing beside Zhao Haisong in a flash, a finger aimed at his armpit.

Alarmed, Zhao Haisong used all his power to shift his position.

The young man followed him like a shadow, dodging Zhao Haisong’s saber, his fingertip flickering with a strange flame, striking at him from various angles with incredible speed.

Ghost Hook Rat and Blade Wing Bat watched the fight. Initially, the two seemed evenly matched, but gradually, Zhao Haisong found himself in increasing danger.

The young man’s finger technique became more and more bizarre and profound, his speed increasing.

Blade Wing Bat’s eyes flickered, “Is he using Constable Zhao to test his moves?”

Ghost Hook Rat frowned, “It seems so.”

They both remembered the strangely killed corpses they had encountered along the way.

The first victim had a finger strike to the forehead, the wound bleeding. The second had a finger strike to the throat, the wound cauterized, clearly indicating the energy had penetrated the body, sealing the throat with the flame from his finger.

Later, there were two more victims, and now, four bodies lay around the young man, all close together, clearly killed in rapid succession.

Now, as he fought Constable Zhao, his flaming finger strikes became more precise, his footwork more profound. The fight had shifted from a close-quarters combat to a one-sided suppression.

He seemed to be using his opponent to familiarize himself with his own martial arts, rapidly improving in the process.

The Rat and Bat Duo flickered, approaching the young man from the sides. The moment they moved, the young man’s speed increased dramatically. He flashed behind Zhao Haisong.

Zhao Haisong was shocked, unable to block in time. He was forced to counter with a backhand strike.

Sizzle! His left palm was pierced, smoke rising from the wound as a burning energy surged up his meridians.

The Rat and Bat Duo attacked simultaneously, their hook and blade sending waves of rain crashing towards the young man.

Zhao Haisong seized the opportunity to retreat, trying to regain his composure, but a mouthful of blood spurted out.

Although only his palm had been pierced, all the meridians from his hand to his internal organs felt like they were being burned by flames, an unbearable, searing pain. He sealed his acupoints, horrified.

If that finger had struck his back, he would have died instantly.

What kind of bizarre and terrifying technique was this?

Who was this young man?

---

Shi Hao hadn’t expected that after spending so many days in the Primordial Grotto Heaven, only a moment seemed to have passed in the outside world.

The Primordial Grotto Heaven was truly mysterious and wondrous, beyond comprehension.

Now, he faced the Rat and Bat Duo alone, his movements ghostly, his finger strikes sharp and precise.

The Rat and Bat Duo’s iron hook and blade worked in perfect harmony, creating streaks of light around him. They occasionally clashed, changing their tactics mid-move, launching surprise attacks from unexpected angles.

Raindrops hitting the swirling blade left white trails, spinning and spreading like wings.

Blade Wing Bat’s blade was as fast as lightning, flashing around Shi Hao.

Ghost Hook Rat’s iron hook, however, was black, hidden in the darkness, lurking in the corners of Shi Hao’s vision, darting out like a venomous snake, hooking and jabbing from treacherous and unpredictable angles.

Shi Hao used the Soul Chasing Locking Steps taught by the Enchanting Fire Witch. This technique was truly bizarre and profound. Although called “steps,” it was actually about sensing and manipulating energy flows.

Any opponent, as long as they were channeling energy, would have an “energy flow.” The Soul Chasing Locking Steps could acutely sense this flow, allowing him to pinpoint the enemy’s location and even their current posture.

Although the Rat and Bat Duo worked seamlessly together, one direct and one cunning, their dazzling blade light and hidden hook attacks were all clearly perceived by Shi Hao thanks to the Soul Chasing Locking Steps’ energy sensing ability.

When the Enchanting Fire Witch taught him this technique, he hadn’t realized how powerful it was. Now, facing his enemies, he truly understood its profoundness, its sheer incredibility.

The more they fought, the more the Rat and Bat Duo felt a chill in their hearts.

They couldn’t understand how the young man was doing it, what kind of footwork he was using.

No matter how hard they tried, using all their skills and tricks, the young man always managed to evade them with unpredictable speed and seemingly precognitive awareness.

More importantly, they could sense that his strength was rapidly increasing.

It was as if he was still familiarizing himself with this ghostly, phantom-like footwork. Initially, he had been like a fish in a shallow pond, barely able to maneuver in the limited space.

But gradually, the small pond became a vast ocean to him, his figure seemingly omnipresent.

It hadn’t been long, but it felt like they had gone from a two-on-one attack to being “surrounded” by this single young man.

Lightning flashed and thunder roared above, and the young man’s movements were like the sparks of lightning, surrounding them from all sides.

Their every move was like bait, failing to catch him but instead feeding his rapid growth.

In a short time, the young man had transformed from an elusive carp into an invincible dragon.

This feeling made their scalps tingle with fear.

Chapter 7: You Two Decide

Shi Hao subconsciously repeated, “Simple and direct, yet extremely dangerous?”

Su Mei said, “The Daoist sects always say the demonic sects are the evil path. Although I’m a member of the demonic sects, I have to say…hee hee, they’re not wrong.” She pouted, looking rather smug.

She continued, “The Daoist sects emphasize mental state and comprehension. Demonic cultivation is much simpler, exchanging power from the Demonic Realm through specific rituals. The Demonic Realm has various heavens, and the demons in different demonic realms have different needs, but all are evil and cruel.

“Take the Mysterious Charm Technique, for example. You’ve saved yourself a lot of trouble because I directly imparted part of the foundation to you. But normally, after establishing the foundation for the Mysterious Charm Technique, one needs to perform a specific ritual using the corpses of nine men and six women to exchange for demonic essence from the Night Enchanting Heaven in the Demonic Realm. Only after absorbing the exchanged demonic essence can one truly enter the ninth rank.”

Shi Hao said, “So, the Daoist sects mainly rely on self-cultivation, while the demonic sects obtain power from the Demonic Realm?”

Su Mei said, “Wrong! To be precise, the Daoist sects rely on self-cultivation… and a vast amount of heavenly and earthly treasures. The higher the cultivation level, the more resources are consumed. In other words, the Daoist sects use a large number of resources from the world to exchange for their cultivation, while the demonic sects obtain resources from the Demonic Realm, which is outside the world, through ‘rituals.’

“In fact, with sufficient resources, you can even exchange for anything from the Demonic Realm, including history, knowledge, and all sorts of special knowledge or demonic objects not found in the mortal world.

“For example, the demonic essence I used to refine the Pleasure-Inducing Powder this time was obtained from the Fifth Heaven of the Demonic Realm by sacrificing many lives through an extremely complex ritual. You saw it yourself, even someone with Ye Zi Yin’s mental fortitude couldn’t resist the demonic drug.”

The corners of her mouth curled up slightly in a smug smile.

Then, she looked a little dejected… She hadn’t been able to resist it either!

Shi Hao said, “Since you’re dealing with Yin Demons from the Demonic Realm, what if they go back on their word after the sacrifice is made?”

“Good question!” Su Mei said, “That’s why demonic cultivation is both direct and dangerous. These Yin Demons cannot enter the mortal world themselves. They wander in the Grey Realm outside the three realms, suffering from extreme cold and torment. Given the chance, they wouldn’t hesitate to use your ritual to invade your body.

“So, the ritual must be performed flawlessly, and there can be no interruptions during the process. If there’s a mistake, the Yin Demons will seize the opportunity to gradually erode and replace your three souls and seven spirits. In the demonic sects, this is called ‘succumbing to demonic influence.’

“You have to understand, although we are demonic cultivators, our goal is to use the Demonic Realm to enhance our own strength, not to become demons. As the saying goes, ‘When the Dao rises one foot, the Demon rises ten feet.’ If a Daoist cultivator lacks comprehension or resources, they can’t progress.

“But it’s different for demonic cultivators. Even if the ritual goes wrong, there’s still a high chance of obtaining the required demonic essence and greatly increasing their strength. However, during that process, the cultivator’s three souls and seven spirits might be devoured and replaced by the demons of the Demonic Realm, leading them to succumb to demonic influence and become violent.”

“When all the souls and spirits are completely replaced, the cultivator’s body remains, but they are essentially dead. Occupying their body is a complete demon from the Demonic Realm. For example, Emperor Zhou, fifteen hundred years ago, in his pursuit of power, dabbled in demonic arts and ultimately became a ‘flesh vessel’ for a descending Demon King.”

Shi Hao’s expression changed… Why would anyone choose such a cultivation path?

Su Mei tilted her head, resting her left elbow on the armrest and her chin on her hand.

She smiled, “But don’t worry, our Evil Lotus Sect has specific partners in the Demonic Realm, Yin Demons from the Third Heaven – the Night Enchanting Heaven. Every ritual for advancement is clearly defined and flawless.”

“As long as you follow my instructions and advance step by step, you don’t have to worry about succumbing to demonic influence.”

“We even possess many unknown demonic scriptures that can be used through specific rituals to obtain resources from other heavens that are impossible to find in the mortal world. Wealth, immortality, secret drugs that can turn celestial beings into lustful women, demonic pills that can transform children into frenzied monsters… As long as you’re willing to pay the price, anything is possible.”

“More importantly…”

She giggled, “The price isn’t your own.”

Shi Hao pondered her words, “Not my own?”

Su Mei couldn’t help but laugh, “For example, you’re currently at the eighth rank in the demonic path. According to our Evil Lotus Sect’s practices, to advance to the seventh rank, you need to sacrifice at least one hundred living souls. A living soul is a soul that has been killed within an hour. You wouldn’t be foolish enough to kill your own family and relatives, would you?”

She spread her hands, “Of course, you would just find an unnoticed village and slaughter everyone!”

Looking at her charming, unrestrained smile, Shi Hao shuddered.

He began to understand why the Holy Jade Immortal had said, “Having been intimate with me, if he joins the demonic sects, I would rather kill him myself.”

Sacrificing countless lives to cultivate demonic arts… Wasn’t this the typical villain in every story?

Su Mei laughed, “Now you’re having second thoughts about cultivating demonic arts? Too late.”

Shi Hao said, “Too late?”

Su Mei said, “Indeed. You now possess the foundations of both the Immortal Ice Technique and the Mysterious Charm Technique. Whether you like it or not, you are now a dual cultivator of Daoist and demonic arts. More importantly, Dao and demon are incompatible, but they are currently in balance within your body.

“But if your Daoist foundation continues to improve while your demonic foundation stagnates, the Daoist energy will relentlessly destroy the demonic energy within you, and you will die. The reverse is also true. Didn’t your little wife tell you this?”

Shi Hao said, “So, I have to improve both cultivation methods simultaneously?”

Su Mei said, “That’s right. Once your Daoist foundation reaches the seventh rank, your demonic foundation must also reach the seventh rank within three days. Otherwise, you’ll either die or become crippled. Hee hee!”

Shi Hao forced a smile, “I understand.”

The Enchanting Fire Witch tilted her head, “You don’t mind?”

Shi Hao sighed and said self-deprecatingly, “Would it change anything if I did?”

The Enchanting Fire Witch giggled, “Of course not. By the way, since your little wife taught you the Six Immortal Lightning Strikes, I can’t be stingy either. I have the ‘Severing Meridian Burning Heart Finger’ and the ‘Soul Chasing Locking Steps,’ which perfectly complement the Mysterious Charm Technique.

“Also, there’s a unique secret technique called the ‘Evil Shadow Disguise Technique.’ It uses demonic energy to control and alter your facial muscles, allowing you to change your appearance slightly so others won’t recognize you at a glance.

“Since you’re now a dual cultivator, perhaps you can use the two normally incompatible foundations within you to achieve some unexpected results.”

Shi Hao then began to learn the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Finger, the Soul Chasing Locking Steps, and the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique from the Enchanting Fire Witch.

Unlike the Six Immortal Lightning Strikes, the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Finger didn’t have fixed moves but focused on energy channeling techniques. Although called a finger technique, it could also be applied to saber and sword techniques.

With a saber in hand, it became the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Saber.

With a sword in hand, it became the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Sword.

The Soul Chasing Locking Steps was a unique light-foot technique that locked onto an enemy’s energy, its power amplified when used with the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Finger.

“Not bad, you learn quickly!” After Shi Hao mastered all the techniques, the Enchanting Fire Witch laughed, “It seems you truly have a talent for martial arts. You’re worthy of being our man.”

The Enchanting Fire Witch continued, “Remember, you must cultivate the Mysterious Charm Technique to its peak before advancing to the seventh rank. If the Mysterious Charm Technique hasn’t reached its limit, rashly advancing to the next rank will prevent you from fully absorbing the demonic essence required for the seventh rank.”

“In that case, there’s a high risk of succumbing to demonic influence. Although many people become even more powerful after succumbing, your soul and mind will be eroded by Yin Demons, and you will gradually cease to be yourself.”

“As for the ritual required to advance to the seventh rank, besides one hundred living souls, you also need a place of extreme Yin…”

She began to teach Shi Hao the ritual for advancing to the seventh rank, along with some miscellaneous secret techniques of the demonic sects that might prove useful. These techniques were bizarre and wondrous.

---

“Main ingredients: one Great Cold Peony Immortal Bud, one Water Moon Exquisite Lotus, three Blazing Sky Leaves. Supplementary ingredients: three liang of borneol, two liang and seven qian of Northern Wild Chrysanthemum, three liang of Ice Stone Vine…” Shi Hao memorized the Immortal Formula written by the Holy Jade Immortal.

The other ingredients were manageable, but he had never even heard of the Great Cold Peony Immortal Bud, Water Moon Exquisite Lotus, or Blazing Sky Leaves.

The paper also contained the method for refining the elixir, but Shi Hao had never tried it before and wasn’t sure if he could actually refine the seventh-rank Immortal Formula even if he found the ingredients.

The Holy Jade Immortal, standing a zhang away, said, “If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can come back in again, and I’ll teach you.”

Shi Hao asked in surprise, “I can come back here again?”

The Holy Jade Immortal glanced at Su Mei. Su Mei laughed, “There’s nothing to hide now. Besides, we’re counting on him to help us escape after he reaches the fourth rank.”

The Holy Jade Immortal turned back to Shi Hao and said, “After you leave, you’ll find a small grey stone, perfectly round. You’ll know it when you see it. It’s placed on a pillar. Wait beside it until it falls on its own, and then take it with you.

“That stone is called the Jade Clarity Stone. Every day, you need to expose it to sunlight for half an hour and moonlight for half an hour. Even on cloudy or rainy days, it’s fine as long as you leave it outdoors. It will naturally absorb the essence of the sun and moon.

“It’s the medium for entering this Primordial Grotto Heaven. On the night of a full moon, focus your consciousness into the stone, and we will sense you and bring you here.”

The Enchanting Fire Witch giggled, “Don’t lose that Jade Clarity Stone. If you do, we won’t spare you when we get out.”

The Holy Jade Immortal added calmly, “Also, the flow of time in the Primordial Grotto Heaven is different from the outside world. It exists outside the three realms and beyond the five elements. You’ll understand after you leave.”

The Enchanting Fire Witch winked at him and laughed, “Your little wife and I will be waiting for you here. Don’t disappoint us.”

The Holy Jade Immortal said coldly, “Even if we are both his wives, you can only be the junior wife.”

The Enchanting Fire Witch giggled, “That’s not for you to decide.”

The Holy Jade Immortal raised an eyebrow and snorted, “Nor is it for you to decide.”

Then, both of them stared at Shi Hao.

Startled, Shi Hao quickly bowed repeatedly to them, “My ladies, you decide, you decide…” He didn’t dare to get involved in their argument.

The Enchanting Fire Witch laughed, “Coward!”

The Holy Jade Immortal glanced at Shi Hao and said softly, “Let’s send him out.”

The two women rose into the air. The Holy Jade Immortal, her white clothes fluttering, was breathtakingly beautiful. The Enchanting Fire Witch was charming and alluring.

A chilling aura emanated from the Holy Jade Immortal, while flames flickered around the Enchanting Fire Witch.

They exchanged glances and then struck each other with full force. Icy energy and flames collided. Although Shi Hao now possessed the foundation of an eighth-rank martial artist, cultivating both Daoist and demonic arts, the earth-shattering power still made his scalp tingle.

A rift opened amidst the exploding energy. The Holy Jade Immortal and the Enchanting Fire Witch shouted simultaneously, “Go!”

Shi Hao channeled his energy and shot towards the spatial rift, just large enough for one person to pass through.

Shi Hao flew out of the black and white rift. The light vanished in a flash, and he landed in darkness.

He took a deep breath and waved his hand, a flame appearing in his palm.

By the light of the flame, he discovered he was in a mysterious underground palace.

Ye Zi Yin and Su Mei were gone. He saw bronze walls carved with mysterious patterns. In front of him was a stone platform with a pillar on it, and on the pillar was a round stone.

The stone was about the size of a pigeon egg, perfectly spherical.

Shi Hao knew this was the Jade Clarity Stone mentioned by the Holy Jade Immortal.

Using the flame in his hand, he stood before the platform and waited. After a short while, a soft click came from within the Jade Clarity Stone.

He didn’t know what the two women in the Primordial Grotto Heaven had done, but he saw the Jade Clarity Stone fall from the pillar.

Shi Hao quickly reached out and caught it. In his hand, the Jade Clarity Stone looked like an ordinary greyish-white pebble, but its perfectly round shape made it seem unique.

It was a strange impression, as if at first glance, one could tell that nothing else in the world could be so perfectly round.

The underground bronze palace began to shake.

Not daring to stay any longer, Shi Hao used the Soul Chasing Locking Steps, his figure flickering like a phantom, a mysterious flame trailing behind him as he sped away.

As soon as he emerged, torrential rain poured down. A bolt of lightning snaked across the sky, illuminating the night.

Shi Hao looked back and saw the mysterious bronze palace collapse, engulfed by cascading earth and stone.

As he ran, he wondered, “Why is it still night outside? Still raining?”

He had clearly spent many days in the Primordial Grotto Heaven, yet upon returning, it was the same familiar downpour, the same familiar night.

Lightning flashed across the sky, the rain poured down, and thunder rumbled.

A bolt of lightning struck from the sky, dazzling and bright, as if bringing unprecedented change to the darkness.

That fleeting brilliance illuminated the world—

Chapter 6: Cultivating Both Dao and Demon Arts

The cold energy surging upwards felt like it was tugging at all the nerves in his head, making Shi Hao feel like his skull was about to explode.

The hot energy flowing downwards created a completely different sensation, as if he was being split in two from his chest, a pain akin to being cut in half at the waist.

Every cell in his upper body felt frozen, while his lower body burned inside and out.

This duality of ice and fire made him feel like he was in hell, every moment an agonizing torment.

He knew this was a life-or-death situation, so he gritted his teeth, not daring to move a muscle.

He didn’t even let out a single groan.

The two energies, converging in his upper and lower dantians, reached their peak and then, like an exploding universe, surged through his meridians, washing over his insides.

He felt like molten lava in a high-pressure furnace, past its critical point, only held back from exploding by their forceful suppression.

This made the pain, the feeling that death would be a welcome relief, even more terrifying and agonizing.

He didn’t know how long this torment lasted; it felt like an eternity.

Finally, the Enchanting Fire Witch’s laughter reached his ears, “Not bad, you’re quite resilient.”

The Holy Jade Immortal’s voice also softened, “Just hold on a little longer, it’s almost over.”

Shi Hao began to feel the excruciating pain gradually subside.

He could sense two spheres of energy, one at the center of his forehead and the other in his lower dantian, rotating continuously but no longer causing him discomfort.

Two mysterious auras guided them, circulating through his meridians.

The Holy Jade Immortal’s voice came again, “Memorize the path and sequence of their flow, and cultivate on your own later.”

Shi Hao silently committed the flow of energy within his body to memory.

---

Shi Hao sat cross-legged beneath the seemingly sky-piercing stone pillar, his body emitting both scorching heat and chilling cold.

To his side, the Enchanting Fire Witch still had her legs crossed, her crimson skirt swaying with her swinging foot.

The Holy Jade Immortal stood quietly beneath a collapsed eave, where the remnants of a fire-eating beast could still be seen.

Both women stared at Shi Hao, their gazes filled with surprise.

The Enchanting Fire Witch laughed, “I didn’t expect him to actually circulate both the Mysterious Charm Technique and the Immortal Ice Technique simultaneously, unifying Dao and demon arts, achieving something no one has ever done before. Although we each gave him a portion of our foundational essence, his talent is still quite remarkable.”

The Holy Jade Immortal pondered for a moment and nodded… In truth, they had been grasping at straws, and deep down, she hadn’t believed it would work.

After a long while, the young man beneath the towering stone pillar suddenly let out a long howl and leaped into the air, soaring three zhang high. Even he was startled by his own jump. He had inadvertently reached such a height that he was about to fall back down.

The Holy Jade Immortal quickly said, “Focus your energy on your Shenting and Fengchi acupoints, release your true energy outwards, empty yourself, and control your energy with your mind.”

Shi Hao’s energy followed his thoughts, and a cold aura enveloped him. With the help of this icy wind, he slowly floated back down. When he landed, the cold air spread across the ground, forming a thin layer of ice particles.

He asked in astonishment, “What is this…”

The Enchanting Fire Witch, switching the leg she had crossed, kicked her skirt and laughed, “Don’t be so surprised. You received a small portion of our power, although it’s just a tiny fraction, in terms of foundation, you’ve already surpassed most eighth-rank martial artists.

“You could say you’re quite lucky. Normally, we would at most help you establish a basic foundation, assisting you in entering the ninth rank. The rest would be up to you to cultivate and breakthrough. But now, you’ve luckily skipped the ninth rank and reached the eighth rank directly. And because you’re cultivating two normally incompatible techniques simultaneously, your power surpasses that of ordinary eighth-rank martial artists. You’re truly fortunate.

“Of course, if you were unlucky, you’d be a pile of exploded flesh and blood before us right now.”

The Holy Jade Immortal said softly, “You currently only possess the power, not the corresponding martial arts techniques. We will each teach you a set of techniques that complement the Immortal Ice Technique and the Mysterious Charm Technique before sending you out.”

Shi Hao asked in surprise, “We can leave? Then why are you still here?”

Su Mei glanced at the Holy Jade Immortal, snorted, and said, “Working together, we can naturally send you out, but we can’t leave ourselves for the time being.”

Ye Zi Yin said impassively, “You were able to enter this place because we temporarily opened a spatial rift, inadvertently letting you in. Unfortunately, only one person can pass through this rift.

“We need to combine our powers to open the passage. If one of us leaves first, the other will be trapped here.”

And neither of you is willing to let the other leave while staying behind? Shi Hao thought to himself.

Su Mei smiled, “That’s one reason. The other reason is that we haven’t been able to unravel the secrets of ‘Primordial,’ so we’re not willing to leave just yet.”

Shi Hao asked, “Primordial? What’s that?”

Su Mei said, “This place is called the Primordial Grotto Heaven. Legend says it’s the ‘first Divine Ruin’ of all time, existing outside the three realms and beyond the five elements. We suspect that if we can unlock its secrets, we’ll be able to understand the origins of all the Divine Ruins and the divine crystals they contain.”

She sighed deeply, “Back then, I used the secrets of the Primordial Grotto Heaven as bait to lure the Daoist sects into a trap. But at that time, I thought this Primordial Grotto Heaven was fake. I made it look real, but it was just a trap.

“That woman over there, she also knew this ‘Primordial Grotto Heaven’ was fake. She was simply playing along. But neither of us expected… that it was actually real.”

Ye Zi Yin’s expression remained unchanged, but her tone was laced with regret, “The conflict between Daoists and Demons isn’t a recent development. In the beginning, we were just trying to outsmart each other, to severely weaken the other side. However, after discovering that this Primordial Grotto Heaven was actually real, the situation spiraled out of control. Countless people from both sides died, and in the end, after a fierce battle, we were trapped here.

“Thinking back now, the catastrophe that led to the Central Plains falling to the barbarians could have been avoided… Alas!”

Su Mei winked at Shi Hao and giggled, “But things are different now. Whether it’s an accident or punishment for the catastrophe we caused in the Central Plains martial world, you are now our man, our husband in all but name, and you’ve learned our techniques.

“We need you to do something for us after you leave. It might unravel the secrets of this Primordial Grotto Heaven and release us.”

Shi Hao asked, “What is it?”

Su Mei shook her head, “It’s too early to tell you now. Wait until you reach at least the fourth rank cultivation level.”

She glanced at Ye Zi Yin and giggled, “Now, who will teach him first, you or me? Oh, and should we decide who’s the senior wife? Hee hee!”

As a demonic witch, although she had been forced to lose her virginity, since it couldn’t be undone, she decided to use it to provoke the always-noble Holy Jade Immortal of the Taisu Immortal Pavilion.

Ye Zi Yin, aware of her intentions, refused to be easily provoked. Maintaining a calm demeanor, she said indifferently, “You’re younger than me, so even if we were to choose, you would be the junior wife.”

Su Mei pouted, “Oh my, little sister Zi Yin, such matters aren’t determined by age, but by who came first. Although it was a chaotic mess back then, if I remember correctly, at that time…”

A triumphant smile spread across her pretty face, “It was clearly me first!”

Ye Zi Yin clenched her fists…

---

Shi Hao followed behind Ye Zi Yin, keeping his eyes on her back.

Her figure was tall and slender, her posture graceful, her movements light and ethereal, radiating an otherworldly beauty, as if she could ascend to the heavens at any moment.

They arrived at a secluded spot with a waterfall cascading from an unseen void, forming a lake amidst the ruins and broken pillars.

Clearly, this was where the Holy Jade Immortal had bathed earlier.

Ye Zi Yin turned to face him, her expression serene, her gaze icy, her demeanor immortal-like and noble beyond words.

Shi Hao didn’t dare to show any disrespect because of their previous encounter. He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed in a gesture of discipleship, “Immortal!”

Ye Zi Yin said softly, “Although I have established the foundation of the Immortal Ice Technique within you, Daoist cultivation is different from unorthodox paths. The scriptures are complex, the rules numerous, and every step is arduous. Initially, the difference between it and other martial arts sects might not be significant, but the longer you cultivate, the stronger your foundation becomes. Even achieving the effects of preserving youth and prolonging life is not uncommon.”

“Generally, orthodox Daoist cultivation focuses on both internal and external refinement. External elixirs are divided into nine ranks, from highest to lowest: Natural Dragon Embryo Elixir, Jade Embryo Nectar Paste, Purple Radiance Essence Pill, Vermilion Light Azure Cloud Pill, Red Radiance Divine Pill, Grand Clarity Golden Elixir, Nine Transformations Frost and Snow Pill, Nine Cauldrons Cloud Essence Pill, and Cloud Light Stone Flow Elixir.”

“Because I have directly instilled the foundation within you, you no longer need to refine the ninth-rank Cloud Light Stone Flow Elixir or the eighth-rank Nine Cauldrons Cloud Essence Pill. Next, you need to continue cultivating the Immortal Ice Technique to its peak, until you condense energy and form an elixir within your body.”

“I will also write down the ingredients and refining method for the seventh-rank Nine Transformations Frost and Snow Pill for you in advance. After you leave, while cultivating your internal elixir, remember to gather these ingredients beforehand. The ‘Nine Ranks Immortal Formula’ is essential for Daoist cultivation, but different sects, combined with different internal elixir cultivation methods, have their own variations of the formula.

“If it were before, if I were outside, such immortal branches, spiritual leaves, profound roots, and wondrous materials could be easily delivered to you. But now, times have changed. You’ll have to gather the ingredients for this seventh-rank Immortal Formula yourself.”

Shi Hao said, “Thank you, Immortal! I understand.”

With the Chongxian Sect controlling the Daoist school with the support of the barbarian court, finding the ingredients for the Daoist Immortal Formula would indeed be troublesome.

But the Holy Jade Immortal, trapped here, couldn’t help him.

As for him, having accidentally become intimate with her and directly skipping the ninth rank to enter the eighth rank, he couldn’t ask for more.

Ye Zi Yin said, “I will also teach you a sword technique called the Six Immortal Lightning Strikes, which can be used in conjunction with the Immortal Ice Technique. Practice the first three strikes with me here, and you can cultivate the remaining three on your own after you leave.”

Thereupon, Ye Zi Yin began to teach him the Daoist scriptures, the art of internal and external elixir cultivation. After he memorized everything, she carved a stone sword and guided him step by step through the first three strikes of the Six Immortal Lightning Strikes: “Ice Crystal Phantom Sword,” “Mysterious Firefly Flying Sword,” and “Ephemeral Sword Radiance.”

After he mastered these three strikes, she taught him the oral formulas and energy channeling methods for the remaining three strikes, along with a brief explanation.

---

Shi Hao passed through a tilted archway. When he saw the Enchanting Fire Witch Su Mei again, she was sitting on a jade armchair.

The armchair was exquisitely crafted, but one of its legs was broken and had been replaced with a stone.

She wore a light red robe, revealing her jade-like arms and delicate collarbone.

Her skin was clear and radiant, her demeanor relaxed, with water droplets still clinging to her.

Behind her was a ruined palace, with mist emanating from within, its contents unknown.

She reclined languidly in the comfortable jade chair, her hands clasped beneath her breasts, and smiled, “What did your little wife teach you?”

She seemed to relish the idea of being the “senior wife” and the Holy Jade Immortal the “junior wife.”

This made her feel like she had undoubtedly one-upped the Holy Jade Immortal.

Shi Hao answered honestly, “The Six Immortal Lightning Strikes.”

Su Mei chuckled, “It seems she didn’t hold back, teaching you the secret sword technique of the Taisu Immortal Pavilion right away. She must have also explained the Daoist Nine Ranks Immortal Formula and internal elixir cultivation, right?

“Daoist cultivation is extremely troublesome, and their scriptures are incredibly complex and difficult to understand. It requires immense comprehension and is a profound martial art. Our demonic cultivation, on the other hand, is much simpler, requiring only ‘rituals.’”

Shi Hao asked, puzzled, “Rituals?”

Su Mei said, “That’s right, rituals! Do you know about the Demonic Realm?”

Shi Hao shook his head, “I’ve heard the term, but I don’t know much about it.”

Su Mei, reclining in the jade chair, spread her hands, “The Demonic Realm lies beyond the three realms and the five elements. It’s filled with countless Yin Demons, neither living nor dead, an extremely bizarre existence.

“It’s where the world’s negative karma gathers, the destination of the souls of countless cultivators who have succumbed to demonic influence throughout history.

“Since ancient times, countless demonized cultivators, upon death, have had their souls dragged into the Demonic Realm. There, their souls are torn to shreds, then constantly reassembled and reformed, transforming into endless Yin Demons. Of course, some are exceptionally powerful and become Demon Kings within the Demonic Realm.

“The Demonic Realm also contains vast and mysterious powers. Mortals cannot enter the Demonic Realm, but they can obtain these powers through specific rituals. These are the rituals of the demonic sects, simple and direct… and extremely dangerous!”

Chapter 5: They Want to Murder Their Husband

Shi Hao sighed, “What is there to say? If I have to describe it, I can only use the word ‘dark.’ Lie Zunyi is still alive, still the Supreme Emperor of the barbarian court, while the martial artists of China are either dead or crippled.

“Over the past three hundred years, many sects in the Central Plains have been eradicated by him. Now, the ones helping the barbarian court suppress the Central Plains martial world are the Chongxian Sect…”

Su Mei crossed her right leg over her left, swinging her foot, “Chongxian Sect? What’s that?”

Shi Hao said, “I heard it used to be called Chongming Sect…”

Su Mei scoffed and laughed, “Chongming Sect? Isn’t that the small sect from the Daoist school? Back then, they couldn’t even rank among the eight major righteous sects.”

Shi Hao said, “With the help of the barbarian court, the Chongxian Sect unified the Daoist school and sought justification for the Jin clan’s rule over the Central Plains. They deceive the people, claiming the Jin clan is ordained by heaven. For these three hundred years, the Chongxian Sect has helped the barbarian court maintain stability and control the Central Plains martial world, while the barbarian court has empowered the Chongxian Sect, transforming it from a small sect into the current symbol of the Daoist school.

“Under the barbarian court’s rule, a large number of Central Plains people have become serfs, ten households to a li, collectively responsible for each other. Many people don’t even deserve names, only identified by numbers after birth.

“I’ve heard that the Chongxian Sect, with the help of the barbarian court, has been confiscating magical weapons and martial arts manuals, suppressing righteous martial artists. Over the past three hundred years, under the purges of Lie Zunyi and the Chongxian Sect, the Central Plains martial world has been slaughtered time and time again. Now, the land is filled with martial world scum who have surrendered to the barbarian court, while true heroes can only hide in the shadows.”

Su Mei said, “You say Lie Zunyi has lived for over three hundred years and is still alive? That’s not something achievable through martial arts alone. He must have either cultivated some evil technique or obtained some kind of special divine crystal.”

Shi Hao asked, puzzled, “Divine crystal?”

Su Mei laughed, “You don’t even know about divine crystals?”

Shi Hao said, “I’m not a martial artist. There are some martial artists in the mountain city who have traveled the martial world, but most of them have limited skills, probably not even ranked if we’re talking about martial arts levels. I’ve never heard them mention ‘divine crystals’ before.”

Su Mei opened her lips, about to explain, when a cold and clear voice came from the other side, “Divine crystals are, as far as we know, the source of all magical weapons and supernatural abilities. No one knows exactly how many there are. They are scattered throughout a place called the Divine Ruins, and over the past thousand years, they have gradually been discovered and unearthed.”

Shi Hao followed the sound and saw Ye Zi Yin, dressed in white, walking slowly from behind the ruins.

Her Daoist hairstyle was undone, her hair dripping wet, hanging down her back. She had clearly washed herself before coming over.

She held a wooden comb in her right hand and her hair in her left, slowly combing it.

Her demeanor was still as cold as ice, her voice calm and unhurried, “These divine crystals can be forged into magical weapons by crafting masters or absorbed by the human body. If a person absorbs a divine crystal, they become a supernatural ability user, wielding a specific power.

“Almost every divine crystal grants a different supernatural ability, and so far, there haven’t been any duplicates.”

Su Mei, sitting on the stone, kicked her skirt and laughed, “If a divine crystal is forged into a magical weapon, anyone can use it, but there’s a limit to the number of uses, only once or twice a day. And over time, it will gradually deplete and break down.

“If a person absorbs a divine crystal and becomes a supernatural ability user, they can use the granted ability without limitations. But there’s a catch: a person can only absorb one type of divine crystal, and once absorbed, it can’t be changed.

“More importantly, supernatural ability users can only use their own abilities and no other magical weapons. So, one must carefully consider whether or not to become a supernatural ability user.”

Shi Hao pondered, “So, supernatural ability users can use their powers without restrictions, which is their advantage. While non-supernatural ability users can use various magical weapons, but the weapons themselves have usage limitations?”

Su Mei spread her hands, “That’s right. Of course, it’s not easy for ordinary martial artists to even possess one or two magical weapons. So, if they manage to obtain a divine crystal, becoming a supernatural ability user and enhancing their own strength is a good choice.

“But supernatural abilities also have ranks, and the powers granted by different divine crystals vary greatly. Many of them offer quite limited enhancements to strength. True experts are unwilling to become supernatural ability users unless they encounter a supreme-grade divine crystal that truly appeals to them.

“Oh, and one more thing, all divine crystals are indestructible.”

Shi Hao said, “Indestructible?”

Ye Zi Yin, standing beside them, said indifferently, “When a supernatural ability user dies, or a magical weapon reaches its usage limit and breaks down, a pure energy will be released. The used divine crystal will reappear within a hundred-mile radius, in the same shape and color as before it was absorbed or forged. It will also grant the same supernatural ability when forged or absorbed again. The reason for this is unknown.”

Su Mei snorted, glaring at Ye Zi Yin, “Why do you always have to interrupt?”

Ye Zi Yin’s expression remained unchanged, “I’m speaking my mind. What does it have to do with you?”

Su Mei glanced sideways, then suddenly flickered, appearing before Shi Hao like a ghost.

Before Shi Hao could react, she struck his chest with her palm.

Immediately afterward, a series of explosions echoed.

Two beautiful figures flitted around him.

“What are you doing?” Ye Zi Yin’s cold voice rang out. She had been on his left just a moment ago and was now on his right.

“Don’t worry, no matter what, he is the man who took both our virginities,” Su Mei’s laughter echoed around him. “I won’t just kill him like that. I’m going to impart the Mysterious Charm Technique to him, have him join my Evil Lotus Sect, and once he leaves, revive the demonic sects.”

Ye Zi Yin snorted, “If he’s joining any sect, it will be my Daoist sect. Step aside. I will impart the Immortal Ice Technique to him, making him the only male disciple of my Taisu Immortal Pavilion, and he will shoulder the responsibility of upholding righteousness in the martial world.”

The Enchanting Fire Witch retorted, “Nonsense! My man, Su Mei’s man, would never become a hypocrite of your Daoist sect!”

The Holy Jade Immortal said, “Having been intimate with me, if he joins the demonic sects, I would rather kill him myself.”

The two figures circled Shi Hao like a spinning top, making him dizzy.

He stood there, relatively unaffected, but the surrounding bricks and tiles were constantly being sent flying. Unknowingly, air currents swirled around him, forming small tornadoes that swept outwards in all directions.

Shi Hao wanted to say, your strength has recovered quickly, and even more, could you please ask for my opinion?

He shouted, “Both of you, don’t…”

Suddenly, he felt a tightness in his chest and back. The Enchanting Fire Witch pressed her hand against his chest, “Channel your energy through your meridians. I’ll help you open your eight extraordinary meridians.”

The Holy Jade Immortal’s hand pressed against his back, “Focus your energy and hold it within. I’ll help you open your twelve primary meridians.”

Should he channel his energy or hold it within? The eight extraordinary meridians and the twelve primary meridians weren’t the same thing at all, were they?

Shi Hao felt a burst of flames surging into his chest, spreading to his limbs. Soon, most of his body was filled with a burning heat.

But from his back, a cold energy flowed directly into his dantian, circulating through specific, subtle meridians.

The two energy flows, one hot and one cold, clashed within him. The hot energy churned on the outside, while the cold energy condensed into a sphere, radiating outwards.

At first, they didn’t interfere with each other, but then they began to clash. His body alternated between hot and cold, the pain almost tearing him apart.

The Enchanting Fire Witch shouted, “Move aside! Aren’t you the noble and supreme immortal of the Daoist sect? Are you really fighting me over a man?”

The Holy Jade Immortal said coldly, “You should be the one to move aside. Your demonic sects harm the world and cultivate all sorts of evil. I won’t let you lead him astray.”

Both women intensified their efforts simultaneously. Shi Hao felt as if a volcano was erupting within him while a glacier was simultaneously freezing him. The volcano and glacier collided, and he felt as if his body was about to explode.

Under the impact of the two energy flows, his meridians continuously widened, and many acupoints opened with crackling sounds.

The two women, refusing to yield, clashed within him, each trying to suppress the other’s power and expel it from his body to pave the way for their own cultivation method.

But neither could defeat the other, and in their stalemate, Shi Hao felt despair.

It was as if a sea of fire and an iceberg were rushing towards him simultaneously, creating a vast chasm in the rumbling collision, and he was falling into the abyss, doomed forever.

“I get it, you just want to murder your husband!” Knowing he was about to die, Shi Hao, in his final moments, threw caution to the wind and shouted his accusations, “If you want revenge, just say it! Don’t torture me like this. Fine, if you want to kill me, then kill me. Just remember, we were husband and wife for a night, so don’t forget to burn some paper money for me next year.

“My family line has only one heir for three generations… I know, you’ve probably already forced out what I left inside you with your internal energy, so I don’t expect you to bear my…”

Su Mei interrupted, “Shut up!”

Pressing her hand against his chest, her smile vanished, her expression unusually serious, “Don’t worry, there might still be a way.”

The Holy Jade Immortal, behind him, also frowned, “Hold on a little longer. We’ll think of something.”

Shi Hao: “…” Am I really going to die?

The Holy Jade Immortal and the Enchanting Fire Witch weren’t actually trying to kill him; otherwise, he wouldn’t have survived this long.

They were merely using their supreme powers to establish the foundational cultivation methods of their respective sects within him, preventing him from cultivating the other’s techniques.

However, both of them simultaneously building his foundation, one with Daoist techniques and the other with demonic arts, was inherently incompatible. And neither was willing to back down.

Initially, one focused on the dantian, circulating energy through the twelve primary meridians, while the other occupied the rest of his body, channeling energy through the eight extraordinary meridians. And somehow, both systems were actually functioning.

But now, their powers had converged at Shi Hao’s middle dantian, spiraling out of control in their collision.

Shi Hao felt like he was being torn apart… and he wasn’t wrong.

His heart meridian had been “accidentally” severed by the two.

If they hadn’t realized the gravity of the situation and cooperated to stabilize his shattered heart meridian, forcibly guiding his life force, he would have died instantly.

Even so, his heart meridian was as fragile as the last layer of thin ice under the scorching sun, about to break at any moment.

If they withdrew their powers now, without doing anything else, he would collapse immediately.

More importantly, their Daoist and demonic energies were simultaneously circulating within him, locked in a stalemate.

At this moment, the two energies maintained a delicate balance. If either of them retreated even slightly, the other’s energy would surge like floodwaters finding a breach, rampaging through the meridians opened by the other.

In that case, Shi Hao would undoubtedly explode.

The first man in their lives would be blown to smithereens before their eyes… Although they didn’t particularly care about his death, being accused of “murdering their husband” before he died still made them feel uncomfortable.

Shi Hao fell silent. He had shouted “murdering their husband” earlier, hoping to make them restrain themselves.

Now, with their responses, he realized he was truly about to die!

He quickly shut up, afraid of offending them… He felt he still had a chance to survive.

Like a frozen image, everything stopped. The two stunning beauties, one in front and one behind him, remained motionless. He too was frozen, not daring to move a muscle.

The Holy Jade Immortal and the Enchanting Fire Witch quickly considered their options.

Just like the conflict they had instigated within the martial world years ago, leading to an irreversible catastrophe, their current dispute was about to destroy the man who had taken their virginity.

This made them both feel somewhat regretful.

Suddenly, the Holy Jade Immortal said, “At this point, there’s only one way. He must cultivate both Daoist and demonic arts simultaneously.”

The Enchanting Fire Witch frowned, “Easier said than done. How can we make his body circulate two opposing cultivation methods at the same time?”

She paused, then added, “Unless…”

The Holy Jade Immortal said, “We each use a portion of our foundational essence, instill it into his upper and lower dantians, directly break through to the ninth rank foundation for him, raising him to the eighth rank cultivation level. Then, we use that power to repair his severed heart meridian, simultaneously establishing the foundation for both the Immortal Ice Technique and the Mysterious Charm Technique.”

Shi Hao thought, what severed heart meridian?

What have you done to me?

Can I still be saved?

The Enchanting Fire Witch actually laughed, “Are you serious?”

The Holy Jade Immortal said calmly, “Do you have any other ideas? Or should we maintain the current situation, continuously expending our energy until we’re both exhausted, and then watch him explode into pieces?”

The Enchanting Fire Witch said, “Fine! But I’ve never heard of anyone cultivating both demonic and Daoist arts. I don’t know if it will actually work.”

She turned to Shi Hao, “Bear with it, honey. It’s going to hurt a lot!”

Shi Hao felt two streams of energy, one ice and one fire, intertwining at his Dantian (or chest/middle dantian)  acupoint. One surged upwards, the other downwards.

The next moment, a searing pain tore through him…