Lin Xueyan noticed Meng Yao’s hesitation and knew it was because of Fang Chen.
"Meng Yao, what are you still hesitating for?" she asked. "Do you really believe he can cure you?"
Elder Tian also looked toward Ling Fan. He had heard about Ling Fan from Lin Xueyan and found the idea of curing Meng Yao by touching her abdomen utterly ridiculous. If the Body of Desiring Indulgence were that easy to resolve, so many talented young women would not have failed to live past the age of twenty. Naturally, as a master alchemist of his generation, he didn't even deem Fang Chen worth mocking.
"Fang Chen really can cure me," Meng Yao said.
Seeing this, Fang Chen spoke up: "Miss Meng, you should take this Skyfire Spirit Pill first. If it can resolve the issue in one go, that would be for the best. Currently, I am unable to resolve your physical condition in a single attempt."
Naturally, he hoped Meng Yao could be cured; after all, if she hadn’t intervened to help him two days ago, he would likely still be in the Law Enforcement Hall.
Meng Yao hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "Alright."
It wasn't that she didn't trust Fang Chen; it was just that the Body of Desiring Indulgence had tormented her for over a decade, and each wave of pain made her feel as if death would be a relief. Now that there was a chance to resolve the issue once and for all, she was naturally unwilling to give up.
She took the pill bottle from Elder Tian, poured a golden spirit pill into her palm, and swallowed it with her small, cherry-red mouth.
A wave of intense warmth surged into Meng Yao’s dantian. The Body of Desiring Indulgence seemed to sense a threat and immediately reacted, beginning to erupt! The two energies collided instantly, like two armies clashing in a blood-soaked battle!
The medicinal power of the Skyfire Spirit Pill was immensely strong, surprisingly forcing the yin energy of the Body of Desiring Indulgence into a retreat, as if it were about to be completely suppressed!
"It seems to be working!" Meng Yao said with delight.
Hearing this, Lin Xueyan was also slightly pleased. She glanced at Fang Chen on the side, her eyes showing a hint of smugness, as if to say, "Kid, you want to take advantage of Meng Yao again? Keep dreaming."
But the very next second, the Body of Desiring Indulgence seemed to be fully triggered! A more terrifying yin energy emerged, devouring the medicinal power in a crushing manner and growing even stronger!
In an instant, Meng Yao’s face flushed a burning red. Wisps of white smoke rose from her body, and she began to tremble, wracked with agony.
"Meng Yao!" Lin Xueyan panicked. "Elder Tian! What is happening?"
Elder Tian’s expression shifted, and he hurried to Meng Yao’s side to take her pulse. But the moment he touched her wrist, a terrifying burst of yin energy surged out and forced its way into his body!
Elder Tian let out a muffled groan and spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with horror. "What terrifying energy! My pill's medicinal power was swallowed by that yin energy! It has completely triggered the Body of Desiring Indulgence!"
Lin Xueyan was frantic. "What should we do? Elder Tian! Didn't you say you could treat Meng Yao?"
"This..." Elder Tian’s expression was awkward and grim; he had not expected the Body of Desiring Indulgence to be this troublesome and dangerous. "The only way now is for someone else to absorb the yin energy from her body. But this energy is too violent; no matter how good someone's constitution is, they cannot withstand it."
"I’ll do it!" Lin Xueyan said, rushing toward Meng Yao, only to be blocked by Elder Tian.
"Your constitution is too weak," Elder Tian said. "Even if you tried to absorb it, you would only manage half a percent. It wouldn't help at all, and you would only be throwing your life away."
"But I can't just watch Meng Yao..." Lin Xueyan’s eyes reddened. She never imagined she would be the one to cause Meng Yao’s death.
Just then, Fang Chen appeared at Meng Yao’s side and took her hand.
Seeing this, Lin Xueyan was furious. "At a time like this, you’re still taking advantage of her!" She rushed over, intending to kick Fang Chen away, but was stopped by Elder Tian.
"Wait! He is absorbing the yin energy from her body."
"What?" Lin Xueyan was stunned. She then saw streams of red yin energy flowing out of Meng Yao and into Fang Chen.
Fang Chen’s face contorted in pain, but he gritted his teeth and held on.
"Are you trying to die? If you keep this up, you'll be killed!" Lin Xueyan shouted.
Fang Chen did not answer. He was channeling the remaining half of his Demon Sword blood, simultaneously refining the energy while resisting the terrifying yin force. Fortunately, his Demon Sword blood was powerful enough to hold out.
"This!" Elder Tian’s eyes were filled with shock. "Anyone else would have been killed by this yin energy by now. To think this Fang Chen can actually hold on—is his constitution really that strong?"
"Perhaps! He might actually be able to withstand this yin energy!"
But just then, a surge of even more terrifying yin energy erupted violently from Meng Yao’s body!
"Oh no!"Elder Tian's expression changed slightly, and he retreated from the hall, taking Lin Xueyan with him!
Immediately, several array flags appeared out of thin air in his hands and shot toward the perimeter of the hall!
The hall was instantly sealed off, preventing the Yin energy inside from leaking out.
However, this also trapped Fang Chen and Meng Yao inside, making it impossible for anyone outside to see what was happening.
At this moment, Fang Chen's brows were tightly locked; the eruption of the Indulgence Physique far exceeded his imagination.
"It's so uncomfortable... I want it, I want it so badly..."
Meng Yao suddenly hugged Fang Chen, her delicate hands roaming continuously across his back. At the same time, she kissed his neck directly, the fiery touch causing a ripple in Fang Chen's heart and an urge to press Meng Yao beneath him.
Yet, when he saw that Meng Yao's alluring face was filled with pain, he suppressed the turmoil within his heart.
Seeming to sense that Fang Chen was not cooperating, Meng Yao's slender brows furrowed slightly. Exhaling a fragrant breath, she began to undress with her hands, pressing her feverish, alluring body continuously against Fang Chen.
When Fang Chen saw that Meng Yao's upper body was left with only a pink undergarment that wrapped around her voluptuous curves, his face turned even redder.
Gazing at the delicate body drenched in a fine layer of fragrant sweat, he could not help but swallow hard.
Fortunately, his reason remained in command of his sea of consciousness, and he did not lose control.
Knowing that this could not go on any longer, he gritted his teeth and wrapped his hands directly around Meng Yao's waist!
"Ah... mn..."
A soft gasp, seductive to the extreme, rang out immediately, causing ripples of emotion to churn endlessly in Fang Chen's heart.
"Forgive me."
He said through gritted teeth, hesitating no longer as he fully urged the remaining Sword Demon Blood within his body!
The two streams of energy collided instantly, continuously consuming each other's pure Yin and pure Yang energies.
Meng Yao lost every ounce of strength in her body, collapsing into Fang Chen's arms.
At the same time, she could feel that supremely comfortable sensation in her Dantian appearing once more, causing her to involuntarily emit one suggestive, delicate gasp after another.
Fang Chen was suffering inwardly; Meng Yao's voice was naturally seductive to begin with, and uttering sounds like this was simply lethal!
Fortunately, this process did not last too long. After about half an hour, the Yin fire erupting from Meng Yao was once more suppressed.
Fang Chen let out a heavy breath of turbid air, smiling bitterly to himself.
The Sword Demon Blood inside his body had been completely refined, but not daring to let his physical body digest this energy for fear of being unable to bear it, he channeled all of it into the Heavenly Dao Demonic Bone.
Right now, the demonic energy of the Heavenly Dao Demonic Bone surged with incomparable might, giving Fang Chen a faint sensation of once again comprehending a Dao Pattern.
"Hm? Why did it stop?"
Meng Yao slowly regained her sobriety, deeply dissatisfied that the wonderful, comfortable sensation from just moments ago had lasted for only half an hour.
Yet when she woke up to find herself nestled in Fang Chen's arms, her upper garment long since gone and only her undergarment remaining, the blush that had just faded instantly rushed back in a flash of red!
"You!"
Assuming that Fang Chen was responsible, she wanted to slap him across the face!
However, upon seeing Fang Chen's pale and weak complexion, she realized that he had done this solely to treat her injuries.
Then, noticing the faint rouge-red mark on Fang Chen's neck—one that she had actively created herself—her face flushed even brighter. That bashful expression was full of varied charms, alluring and captivating.
"Thank you for saving me once again. To repay the debt of saving my life, how about I become your Dao companion?"
She gazed directly at Fang Chen with bewitching eyes, an expression capable of stirring the hearts of countless men.
Fang Chen's face turned slightly red under Meng Yao's captivating gaze, and he did not dare meet her eyes directly.
"Miss Meng is too polite. I promised to come treat your illness, so how could I stand by and watch you die?" he said in a flustered manner.
Seeing Fang Chen's flustered appearance, Meng Yao burst into a giggle.
Yet immediately afterward, she pouted and feigned anger as she said, "Didn't we agree? I call you Brother Fang, and you have to call me Meng Yao."
"This—"
"Hurry up and call me that!"
"Meng... Meng Yao..."
Under Meng Yao's warning gaze, Fang Chen ultimately chose to yield.
Only then did Meng Yao nod with satisfaction before saying, "Well then, thanks to you, I managed to survive. I can promise you any request you want—any request at all, you know."
At the end of her sentence, Meng Yao's voice was once again filled with temptation.
It sounded as though she would agree even if Ling Fan made some improper demand.
Hearing this, a thought stirred in Fang Chen's heart. He had been fretting over his inability to enter the scripture pavilion to select cultivation techniques. With Meng Yao's assistance, wouldn't that be a breeze?
Thus, he spoke, "I want to enter the scripture pavilion!"
"The scripture pavilion?"
Meng Yao blinked her large, watery eyes, thinking she had misheard.Fang Chen nodded. "Yes, I am currently only an outer disciple and not qualified to enter the Scripture Pavilion, so I want to go in and select a cultivation technique."
Meng Yao's face was full of disappointment. This Fang Chen really wasn't a man; with a great beauty like her right in front of him, he actually chose the Scripture Pavilion.
"Fine."
In the end, she had no choice but to agree. A flash of light flickered in her palm, and an archaic token appeared, which she handed to Fang Chen.
"Just show this token when you reach the Scripture Pavilion, and you can enter without any restrictions."
Fang Chen took the token and thanked her: "Thank you. Once I get the technique I want, I will return it."
"There's no need for that."
As Meng Yao dressed, she said, "I have plenty of tokens like this. Consider it a gift; you don't have to return it."
"This."
Fang Chen wanted to refuse, but after receiving a glare from Meng Yao, he shut his mouth.
Fine, he couldn't beat her and couldn't afford to offend her either; when it was time to concede, he had to concede.
Once Meng Yao was dressed, the two of them left the formation together.
This formation only kept outsiders out rather than trapping insiders inside; it was a formation commonly used by alchemists, so the two of them faced no restrictions.
Seeing Meng Yao walk out safe and sound, even the usually icy Lin Xueyan showed a look of wild joy.
"Meng Yao, are you alright?"
Meng Yao comforted her, "I'm fine. Thanks to Fang Chen, I survived by a stroke of luck."
Lin Xueyan looked at Fang Chen. Even with all her disbelief, she had to admit that Fang Chen had saved Meng Yao.
Just as she wanted to thank him, she noticed lipstick marks and kiss traces on Fang Chen's neck! She instantly flew into a rage: "You really were up to no good in there! You took advantage of Meng Yao!"
Only then did Fang Chen remember that the traces on his neck hadn't been cleaned up yet.
Meng Yao's face flushed red, and she hurriedly pulled Lin Xueyan aside, saying, "Xueyan, this—this was because my Body of Rampant Desire flared up and I threw myself at him. He really didn't do anything to me."
Lin Xueyan refused to believe it. She assumed Fang Chen had approached Meng Yao out of greed for her beauty and status.
Yet, for the sake of Fang Chen having saved Meng Yao, she didn't press the matter further.
However, her vigilance toward Fang Chen only grew, and her resolve to have Meng Yao take back the betrothal letter became even firmer!
Elder Tian stepped forward, and seeing that Meng Yao was unharmed, he apologized: "Miss Meng, I am truly sorry. I never expected this medicinal pill would end up harming you."
Meng Yao shook her head. "Elder Tian, you are too polite. You were only trying to save me."
Elder Tian let out a long sigh, shook his head, and said to Lin Xueyan, "This human favor doesn't count. If you need any help from this old man in the future, just say the word."
Then he looked at Fang Chen and said, "This old man misjudged this little brother today. Thanks to you, otherwise my reputation would have been ruined in a single day. This old man owes you a favor. If you ever come to the Tiandan Spirit Tower, you can look for me, and I will surely reward you handsomely."
Tiandan Spirit Tower!
Fang Chen was slightly startled. This was the number one alchemical faction in the Shendong Domain! It was a powerful existence that even the Tianyu Divine Sect had to treat with three parts respect.
He hurriedly cupped his fists and said, "Senior is too polite. This is only what a junior should do."
Elder Tian did not linger. After recalling the formation, he departed.
"Then I should be leaving as well."
Fang Chen also cupped his fists in farewell; he still needed to go to the Scripture Pavilion to select a suitable cultivation technique for himself.
"I'll walk you there," Meng Yao said.
Lin Xueyan, however, blocked her path. "I have something to say to you."
"We can talk when I get back," Meng Yao said.
"No." Lin Xueyan grabbed her hand instead.
Seeing this, Fang Chen said, "There's no need, I can go by myself. Meng Yao, you've just recovered and need a good rest."
Hearing Fang Chen address Meng Yao by her name, Lin Xueyan furrowed her delicate brows.
Without lingering any longer, Fang Chen left the estate.
Watching Fang Chen leave, Meng Yao felt a lingering reluctance.
Meanwhile, Lin Xueyan pulled her back into the room and interrogated her: "Meng Yao, you cannot afford to be reckless. He came here with designs on you. Did you hear what he called you just now? He called you straight by your name!"
Chapter 11: Ling Li Demon Sword Art
Meng Yao's face flushed slightly; she didn't dare tell Lin Xueyan that she was the one who had asked Fang Chen to address her that way.
So she said, "What's wrong with that? He has saved me twice already—"
"No!"
Lin Xueyan said firmly, "No matter what, I cannot let him succeed!"
In her heart, she was certain that Fang Chen was simply here to take advantage of Meng Yao, and she was even more determined not to let her good friend fall into misery.
After leaving, Fang Chen headed straight for Wuzi Peak and arrived at the Scripture Pavilion.
The Scripture Pavilion had nine stories: the lower three, the middle three, and the upper three.
The lower three stories were open to all disciples of the sect, the middle three stories were open to inner disciples and above, and the upper three stories could only be entered by core disciples.
At that moment, quite a few disciples were inside the pavilion. Fang Chen walked straight up to the counter, where an elder sitting in a grand master chair was dozing with narrowed eyes.
Fang Chen bowed respectfully: "Elder, I wish to go to a higher level."
With that, he took out the token Meng Yao had given him.
The elder lazily opened his eyes a crack, but when he saw the token in Fang Chen's hand, he paused slightly.
"A Heaven-grade token!"
The Heaven-grade token was the highest-level token among sect disciples, holding immense authority; entering and leaving the mere outer sect Scripture Pavilion was naturally effortless with it.
Yet very few people possessed this token; only core disciples and above could have one, numbers so low they could be counted on one's fingers.
As for someone impersonating or picking one up, that was even more impossible. This token was extremely unique, and if a user did not obtain the consent of its owner, it could not be used.
The token in Fang Chen's hand was emitting a faint spiritual glow, which proved that Fang Chen was qualified to use it.
The elder took a deep look at Fang Chen and then said, "Go on in. The Scripture Pavilion will not place any restrictions on you."
Fang Chen knew the token Meng Yao gave him was extraordinary, but he hadn't expected it to be this useful.
"Thank you."
He cupped his fists in gratitude and headed straight for the upper levels.
Cultivation techniques on the Qitian Continent were divided into: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, Yellow, and Mortal. Mortal Grade was the weakest, and Heaven Grade was the highest, with each grade further divided into one through nine tiers.
The lower three stories of the Tianyu Divine Sect's outer sect Scripture Pavilion held Mortal Grade Tiers 1 through 5, the middle three stories held Tiers 5 through 9, and the upper three stories held the first three tiers of the Yellow Grade.
Fang Chen was in no rush to go to the upper three stories; he first arrived at the middle three stories to select a technique.
The number of people here was much smaller, since anyone able to come up this high was an inner disciple.
He first searched around the fourth floor. Most of the techniques here were Mortal Grade Tiers 5 and 6, but they were mostly very ordinary techniques that failed to catch Fang Chen's eye.
Without hesitation, he went straight up to the sixth floor. The techniques here were all Mortal Grade Tier 9, which were vastly superior to the floors below.
Fang Chen glanced around, still shaking his head.
There were some sword cultivation techniques inside, but most of them cultivated orthodox swordsmanship, which didn't suit him at present.
After all, he now possessed the Sword Demon Physique, making demonic sword techniques much more suitable.
Unfortunately, the amount of Sword Demon blood he had absorbed was currently too small. If he could awaken the innate techniques of the Sword Demon bloodline, he wouldn't have to search bitterly here for a technique.
Seeing that the sixth floor yielded nothing, Fang Chen ascended directly to the seventh floor.
Up here, there was practically not a single person.
The Tianyu Divine Sect had more than one Scripture Pavilion; the inner sect had one as well, and it was even more advanced, but that one was newly built, while the one on Wuzi Peak was from the older generation.
Still, the techniques here were quite comprehensive. Of course, new techniques were no longer copied and transported here.
Therefore, when Fang Chen came to the seventh floor to look, he found that the covers of the techniques here were all very old, and many places were covered in dust, making it look as though no one had cleaned them in a long time.
He continued searching for a technique and actually found a few decent demonic cultivation techniques.
Alas, none of these techniques belonged to the sword path, and Fang Chen had no choice but to give them up with a sigh.
After walking around once, he continued upward to the eighth floor and walked over to a bookshelf in a corner.
This area held entirely demonic cultivation techniques, numbering about seven or eight.
After looking them over, Fang Chen's gaze landed on a particular technique, and a flash of light instantly crossed his eyes.
He picked up the technique and opened it to read.
Ling Li Demon Sword Art, a Yellow Grade Tier 2 technique with a total of nine layers.
When the sword is drawn, it is fierce and piercing; the fierceness turns into malice, and with a single sword strike, all is slain.
Note: This technique is a demonic art. Although its power is immense, it easily leads to deviation into demonic obsession. Practitioners must exercise utmost caution.
Fang Chen read through it. This technique used demonic arts to enter the sword, then transformed the demonic sword into a fierce and aggressive offensive, with every move and stance executed in wide, sweeping arcs.
In essence, it focused on one thing: every single sword strike had to maintain its fierce edge, and as every sword grew fiercer, its power would multiply.
However, if one lost their mind, it was extremely easy to suffer a cultivation deviation or go mad during practice or battle, resulting in bodily death and the dissipation of one's soul.
Yet a flash of light crossed Fang Chen's eyes—this technique was practically tailor-made for him.
As for going mad and suffering a deviation? Right now, he was a demon; how could there be any question of him becoming obsessed?
"This is the one."
Fang Chen made his decision directly, though after a moment of thought, he decided to go up to the ninth floor to take a look anyway.
Unfortunately, the ninth floor only held scattered, random manuals, and there were no demonic cultivation techniques at all.
Thus, Fang Chen returned directly to the counter, placed the technique on the desk, and said respectfully, "Elder, this disciple has chosen a technique."
Then he produced two spirit stones.
Borrowing techniques required paying spirit stones; two spirit stones a month could be considered a conscientious price.
However, if the item was damaged, compensation had to be paid at full value.