"Watch your step!" Xu Chen shouted angrily.
The next moment, a devouring force surged out from his palm. The expression on the red-skirted woman's face froze. Her beautiful eyes gradually widened, and then she stared at Xu Chen in disbelief.
She could clearly feel that the blood poison within her body was actually being rapidly extracted by Xu Chen. How did he manage this?
The Devouring Emperor Scripture could devour and refine all things in the world. Blood poison was also a form of energy, so it could naturally be devoured and refined. Xu Chen operated the Devouring Emperor Scripture with all his might, frantically devouring the blood poison inside the red-skirted woman. Very soon, the poison in her body was completely devoured by him.
The blood poison had been meticulously condensed and refined by Blood Protector. Every single drop contained terrifying energy. After Xu Chen devoured and refined the blood poison inside the red-skirted woman, his cultivation actually advanced a bit, breaking through from the Early Stage of the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation Realm to the middle stage of the fourth layer—quite an unexpected bonus.
As he devoured and refined the very last trace of blood poison, Xu Chen deliberately bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of blood with a soft spurt. The blood was pitch-black and emitted a foul stench.
When the red-skirted woman saw Xu Chen vomit blood, her expression changed drastically, and she asked anxiously, "Are you alright?"
"I, I'm fine."
Xu Chen feigned weakness. As soon as he finished speaking, he collapsed straight into the woman's arms. His head conveniently buried itself right against her chest.
Xu Chen could swear to the heavens that he really hadn't done it on purpose, nor was he a lecherous scoundrel. He simply wanted to sell the act completely. After all, being able to easily suck out the blood poison and then act as if nothing had happened—anyone with half a brain would be able to see through his special circumstances. He certainly didn't want to expose the secret of the Devouring Emperor Scripture.
Flustered by her concern, the red-skirted woman failed to push Xu Chen away immediately. Xu Chen lingered in that warm haven for several breaths before reluctantly pulling away. He raised his head and said feebly, "I've already transferred the blood poison from your body into mine. But you don't need to worry about me; I've already forced the blood poison out of my own body."
With that, he pointed at a puddle of foul-smelling black blood at his feet.
"Thank you."
Without the erosion of the blood poison, the red-skirted woman's complexion looked much better, and her voice regained a sliver of strength.
"No need to thank me. If not for you, I'd probably be dead in the Shui Mansion right now," Xu Chen replied, waving his hand.
Then, pointing at the red-skirted woman's attire, he said, "I had no choice but to tear your clothes earlier to apply medicine for you. I'll go outside now so you can take the opportunity to change into a clean set."
Xu Chen walked out of the cave. The red-skirted woman looked down at her torn garments, and her mind involuntarily conjured the scene of Xu Chen extracting the blood poison for her, only to plunge straight into her arms. A blush crawled uncontrollably onto her cheeks, and even her porcelain-white skin was soon dyed a faint shade of pink.
Chapter 19: Qingling Sect
Outside the cave, a bonfire crackled to life. Xu Chen retrieved the carcass of the Wood Spirit Python from his Storage Ring, cut off a slice of snake meat, washed it with clean water, skewered it on a branch, and propped it over the bonfire.
Footsteps suddenly echoed from inside the cave, followed by a wafting fragrance.
Xu Chen turned his head to watch the red-skirted woman walking gracefully toward him. This woman seemed to have an exclusive fondness for red dresses. The original dress had been ruined, and at his suggestion, she had put on a new one—though it was still red.
The red-skirted woman sat down opposite Xu Chen, stared at the half-roasted snake meat over the bonfire, and smiled softly, "You've got quite some nerve, daring to steal the carcass of a Wood Spirit Python."
Xu Chen felt a sudden wave of awkwardness. Come to think of it, the Wood Spirit Python had been slain by the red-skirted woman, making it rightfully her spoils of war. Facing her now, he felt the embarrassment of a thief caught red-handed.
"I collected it fair and square," Xu Chen argued sophistically.
The red-skirted woman smiled without a word.
Xu Chen hurriedly changed the subject. "My name is Xu Chen, just a rogue cultivator. And you?"
"Su Yun."
The red-skirted woman cast a surprised glance at Xu Chen, then replied with a smile.
After a brief exchange, the two fell into silence, both pairs of eyes fixed on the snake meat continually turning over the fire.
The snake meat had been roasted to a golden brown on both sides. Sprinkled with a pinch of salt, the aroma became even more enticing. The meat of the Wood Spirit Python was naturally a top-tier culinary ingredient; simple roasting followed by a pinch of salt made its flavor comparable to delicacies from land and sea.
The mouth-watering aroma of meat drifted through the air. Su Yun seemed to have been starved for a long time; unable to resist the temptation, she secretly swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
With Xu Chen's exceptional hearing, he caught the sound of Su Yun swallowing and turned his head to look at her with an amused smile. Su Yun's cheeks flushed red, and she proudly turned her head away.
It wasn't until Xu Chen handed the roasted snake meat right in front of her that she dropped her reserve, tore off a piece of the meat, and placed it in her mouth to chew slowly.
"Blood Protector is not dead. He has awakened from his slumber. Although his strength hasn't recovered to its peak, it's safe to predict that Taishang Country won't be peaceful from now on."
Su Yun took the initiative to strike up a conversation, her expression gradually turning solemn by the end of it. "You should be more careful in the future. It's best if you join a sect to seek protection."
"Mm," Xu Chen nodded.
"Blood Protector seems to be a protector of the Blood God Cult. Is the Blood God Cult very strong? How come I've never heard of it?" Remembering how the Black-robed Man had claimed to be a member of the Blood God Cult that day, Xu Chen took the opportunity to ask Su Yun about it.
With a low voice, Su Yun explained, "The Blood God Cult... an extremely terrifying faction. At its peak, its influence spanned dozens of grand regions and hundreds of lesser regions, showing a momentum to sweep across the entire Qing Continent. Countless factions were destroyed, and hundreds of millions of living beings were brutally slaughtered. Finally, six thousand years ago, countless factions united and, after many years of bitter struggle, finally annihilated the Blood God Cult."
A chill ran through Xu Chen's heart. The Blood God Cult at its peak—spanning dozens of grand regions and hundreds of lesser regions—was truly a terrifyingly massive force. One had to realize that Taishang Country was merely one of countless inconspicuous countries within the Huang Region, and the Huang Region itself was only a minor region. The five major sects of Taishang Country were probably not even worth as much as a speck of dust in the eyes of the Blood God Cult.
Such a formidable faction, even in destruction, possessed surviving remnants that could not be underestimated. A centipede dies but never truly falls. Once targeted by the remnants of the Blood God Cult, the consequences would be simply unthinkable.
Su Yun consoled him, "You don't need to worry too much either. Powerful though the Blood God Cult was six thousand years ago, after the continuous suppression by various factions, its sphere of influence shrank repeatedly. By today, the remnants of the Blood God Cult no longer dare to easily show their faces. They cower in the shadows and dare not make a blatant move against you."
"Besides, after my battle with that Blood Protector, his injuries are not light either. He won't make a move again in the short term."
Xu Chen let out a sigh of relief. He had killed the Black-robed Man and destroyed the blood pool the Blood Protector used to heal his wounds; the latter would definitely not let him off. Fortunately, the enemy had been injured by Su Yun and couldn't strike at him anytime soon.
After finishing the roasted snake meat, Xu Chen stretched his limbs, walked aside, and sat cross-legged on the ground, preparing to begin his cultivation.
"You're a rogue cultivator, right?" Su Yun suddenly asked.
Not understanding why she would ask this, Xu Chen looked at her in surprise, but ultimately nodded.
"Interested in joining the Qingling Sect?"
The Qingling Sect was one of the five major sects of Taishang Country. The five major sects of Taishang Country were: Heavenly Sword Villa, Liuyun Sect, Beast Taming Sect, Red Leaf Gate, and the Qingling Sect.
Xu Chen replied, "The Qingling Sect is one of the five major sects of Taishang Country, so of course I'd want to join. It's just that the Qingling Sect has already finished recruiting disciples, and the next recruitment won't be for another two years."
Hearing that Xu Chen wanted to join the Qingling Sect, Su Yun smiled faintly but didn't elaborate further.
Seeing that Su Yun had stopped talking, Xu Chen didn't press the matter. He closed his eyes and began to cultivate.
When his cultivation session ended, Xu Chen slowly opened his eyes, stretched his body, and stood up to look around—Su Yun was nowhere to be seen. He walked into the cave, still finding no trace of her, but he discovered two letters and a token left inside.
Xu Chen picked them up to take a look. One letter was addressed to him, while the other was a recommendation letter. The token was made of bronze, with a graceful character "Yun" engraved in the center.
Looking at the two letters and the token in his hand, Xu Chen seemed to realize something. He opened the letter Su Yun had left for him and began to read.
Sure enough, Su Yun had returned. The blood poison in her body had been cleared; although her injuries looked severe, to a True Qi Realm martial artist, they were no longer a major obstacle. She needed to report the news of the Blood Protector's resurgence back to her sect in a timely manner, which was why she had departed without saying goodbye, hoping Xu Chen would not hold it against her.
At the very end of the letter, she mentioned an invitation for Xu Chen to join the Qingling Sect. Armed with the recommendation letter and her token, Xu Chen would be accepted into the Qingling Sect as a disciple by special exception.
"Joining the Qingling Sect is a good choice."
"Qin Qingrou is already a disciple of the Liuyun Sect. If I kill her, the Liuyun Sect behind her will definitely not let me off. Therefore, either my strength must grow to a level that makes the Liuyun Sect wary, or I must have a faction of the same caliber standing behind me."
"Joining the Qingling Sect gives me a sect as backing, so I won't have to fear the Liuyun Sect's retaliation. With the sect's support, I can also grow rapidly."
"Right now, I'm dying to kill Qin Qingrou, but since she is within the Liuyun Sect, my strength is still far too weak. Marching on the Liuyun Sect would be no different from seeking death."
"By now, Qin Qingrou should already know the news of Qin Jing and the others' deaths. Based on my understanding of her, she certainly won't be leaving the mountain easily anytime soon."
"Hoo—" Xu Chen clenched his fists in frustration. "I really am unwilling to accept this."
"But unwillingness changes nothing. I can only let her cower for a little longer. Once I am strong enough to defy the Liuyun Sect without fear, even if she hides inside the sect, she won't escape death!"
"What I need to do right now is join the Qingling Sect, and then use the sect's resources and influence to boost my strength as quickly as possible!"
Having made up his mind, Xu Chen prepared to set off for the Qingling Sect, but a sudden thought crossed his mind.
"Right."
He took the necklace out from his Storage Ring and muttered, "She didn't notice the necklace was missing..."
"This necklace is a good thing—a supportive Spirit Artifact. I can't just waste it."
With that, he put the necklace around his neck.
Instantly, his mind cleared, his thinking became agile, and even his initial trace of fatigue vanished in an instant.
"Good stuff!"
...
The Qingling Sect was located in the western part of the Taishang Empire, a journey of over a thousand miles from where Xu Chen currently was—and he was unfamiliar with the roads.
Xu Chen set out the next day. Traveling day and night, he walked for three whole days before finally reaching the sphere of influence of the Qingling Sect.
The Qingling Sect was built atop a peak a thousand zhang high. The mountain was called Qingling Mountain, its terrain steep and craggy, with layer upon layer of peaks, majestic momentum, and spiritual energy lingering in a dense mist.
Looking up at the thousand-zhang spiritual mountain, Xu Chen felt a deep yearning.
After staying at an inn at the foot of the mountain for the night, early the next morning, following a night of rest, all the fatigue from continuous travel had completely faded, and his vigor and spirit had returned to their peak.
After washing up, Xu Chen touched his stomach and felt a bit hungry. He hadn't had a proper feast in a long time. Coincidentally, there were quite a few restaurants at the foot of the Qingling Mountain; he decided to fill his stomach before heading up the mountain.
Acting with the boldness of wealth, Xu Chen deliberately picked the largest and most luxurious restaurant around.
Xianlai Grand Hotel.
In a private room on the third floor, Xu Chen ordered a table full of wine and dishes, eating with great relish.
The ingredients used by the Xianlai Grand Hotel were all quite particular. Every single dish used the meat of Monster Beasts. For instance, the dish Xu Chen was currently picking at used the meat of a Wood Spirit Rabbit.
The Wood Spirit Rabbit was a low-tier Grade 1 Monster Beast. Its attack power wasn't high, but its meat was tender and juicy, making it one of the most beloved culinary delicacies on a martial artist's table. Because it was tender and juicy and deeply favored by martial artists, the value of the Wood Spirit Rabbit had been rising steadily all the way; the value of a single Wood Spirit Rabbit was even slightly superior to some mid-tier Grade 1 Monster Beasts.
This table of exquisite delicacies had cost Xu Chen a full 86 spiritual stones.
Eating a single meal that cost 86 spiritual stones would make even a Qi Condensation Realm martial artist's heart ache, but for the wealthy Xu Chen, it caused not the slightest ripple of psychological burden.
"Esteemed guest, this is your last dish—'Heaven Swallowing Sun'. Please enjoy!"
After placing the dish down, the waiter respectfully exited the private room and closed the door. But the moment the door shut, an undisguised look of envy flashed in his eyes.
To be able to afford such a table of delicacies, this young man's family background was definitely extraordinary.
The waiter closed the door of the private room, went down to the first floor, and suddenly saw two men and a woman walking into the restaurant.
Upon recognizing their faces, the waiter's expression immediately turned ingratiating. "Young Master Suyue, what wind blew you here? Hurry, hurry, please come in!" the waiter fawned over the leading youth.
"Cut the crap, get me a private room, and bring me all your best food and drinks," Young Master Suyue, whom the waiter addressed, was a youth of eighteen or nineteen. He had a fair, beardless face and handsome features, but an arrogant air hung between his brows. He looked at people sideways, acting as if he held everything in contempt—he was utterly overbearing.
Yet the waiter wore an expression of one entirely accustomed to it.
"What are you standing there for? Lead the way!" Seeing the waiter frozen in place, Suyue frowned and scolded.
"Young Master Su, I'm terribly sorry, but the private rooms are all full," the waiter offered a smile that was uglier than crying.
Chapter 20: The Dispute Over the Private Room
Suyue flew into a rage. "What?! The private rooms are full? Are you kidding me? I'm in a good mood today, bringing my junior brothers and junior sister here to eat, and you tell me the private rooms are full? Are you deliberately making things difficult for me?"
"N-No, it's not like that, Young Master Su. The private rooms really are full. How about you bear with it and dine in the first-floor hall..." the waiter said in terror and trembling.
Suyue glared. "You want me to dine in the first-floor hall? I think you really are making things difficult for me! If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation today, believe me, I'll smash this restaurant to pieces!"
Seeing that Suyue was genuinely angered, the restaurant manager knew that if he didn't step out now, Suyue really would smash the place. He hurried over with a flattering smile. "Young Master Su, calm your anger, calm your anger. The waiter is ignorant, don't hold it against him, it's not worth it, truly not worth it! I'll clear out a private room for you right now. Just wait, give me a moment."
With that, he pulled the waiter aside.
"Senior Brother Su's prestige is truly immense. As soon as you get angry, even the manager has to come out and apologize," flattered a youth who had come along with Suyue.
The young girl by Suyue's side also chimed in, "Senior Brother Su is naturally extraordinary. Leaving aside a tiny restaurant like this, even the elders of our Qingling Sect have to show Senior Brother Su some respect."
Flattered so thoroughly by the two of them, Suyue felt light as a feather and refreshed in spirit.
On the other side, the restaurant manager pulled the waiter aside, whispered a few questions, and then climbed to the third floor. Pushing open a private room door, he rubbed his hands together and apologized with a smile, "Young counselor, I'm terribly sorry to disturb your meal, but there's a matter I need to discuss with you. I hope you can cede this private room to the guests outside. Your dining expenses in our establishment today will be cut in half."
The restaurant manager had originally wanted to comp Xu Chen's meal entirely, but upon seeing the table full of dishes the latter had ordered, he instantly downgraded the comp to a fifty-percent discount.
Xu Chen was enjoying his meal pleasantly when he was suddenly disturbed and asked to give up his private room. Instantly, irritation flared in his heart, and he sneered, "This young master has plenty of spiritual stones; I don't care about that bit of discount you're offering."
Seeing Xu Chen adopt such a hardline attitude, the restaurant manager's smile stiffened slightly. He knew he was in the wrong here, but Young Master Su was waiting outside; he had no other choice. Gritting his teeth, he pressed on.
"Young master, Young Master Suyue is waiting outside for a meal. I hope you can show some understanding." The manager brought up Suyue, hoping Xu Chen would recognize the difficulty and back down.
"Are you threatening me?" Xu Chen put down his chopsticks and looked coldly at the restaurant manager.
Sensing the oncoming chill, the manager couldn't help but shiver. Regret began to churn in his heart. He had previously called the waiter over to inquire about the guests in each private room, ultimately deciding that Xu Chen looked like the easiest one to push around. But never in his wildest dreams had he expected that this young-looking boy would make him feel the aura of death with just a single glance.
This was a youth he could not afford to provoke.
Suyue and the other two had grown impatient of waiting and walked upstairs, crying out in dissatisfaction, "Manager, isn't it ready yet?"
The manager immediately turned around and fawned, "Young Master Su, just a little longer, wait just a moment."
"Wait, wait, wait—how long are you going to make me wait?" Suyue glared, then shoved the manager aside. Glancing sideways at Xu Chen, he said unceremoniously, "If you know what's good for you, get lost right now. Don't make me do it myself."
Xu Chen sized Suyue up and let out a cold snort. "You don't have the capability for that!"
Being looked down upon by someone even younger than himself, Suyue stamped his feet in anger and shouted, "Brat, what did you say? Do you know who I am?"
Xu Chen calmly replied, "I don't know who you are, but I do know that besides dogs, no other animal barks loudly outside a door while someone else is eating."
Suyue flew into a violent rage. "You dare insult me? Brat, you're finished!"
Xu Chen stood up, his gaze locked coldly on the other party, reeking of a trend where a single disagreement would lead to a brawl.
The young man and woman by Suyue's side shook their heads. This person hadn't even heard of Suyue's name, meaning his background was clearly lacking, yet he was utterly lacking in tact and had provoked Suyue into a rage. He was certainly in for a world of hurt now.
Sensing that the situation was turning south, the manager grew anxious. He wasn't worried about Xu Chen's life; what he feared was that once a fight broke out in his establishment, his restaurant would be smashed into ruins in a matter of minutes!
"This young master, Young Master Suyue is an inner sect disciple of the Qingling Sect, and also a direct descendant of the Su Family—one of the Eight Great Families. He's not someone you can afford to provoke! Take my advice: immediately give up the private room and apologize to Young Master Suyue, otherwise, the consequences are not something you can bear," the manager said at once.
Every word conveyed a single meaning: Suyue was an existence he couldn't afford to cross, and if he didn't apologize, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Xu Chen remained unmoved. He had not only beaten up descendants of the Tang and Su families among the Eight Great Families, but he had even killed a few. Right now, he didn't mind teaching a Su Family scion a lesson in how to behave.
"Manager, get out of my way, this is none of your business! Whatever gets broken, I'll pay for it at full price afterwards!"
Even though the manager had already stated his identity, Xu Chen remained entirely indifferent. Suyue was now utterly enraged; he prepared to make a move to teach this unbridled, heaven-defying brat a lesson.
The young man and woman by Suyue's side stepped back, looking at Xu Chen with pity in their eyes.
Suyue stepped forward, the aura around his body erupting in an instant. A surging spiritual power burst from within him and soared into the sky, its momentum astonishing, causing the tables, chairs, and stools to rattle violently while the teacups shattered in response.
Xu Chen stood in place without moving, calmly watching Suyue. To outsiders, it looked as though he had been struck dumb and paralyzed by Suyue's momentum.
"Ignorant brat, don't blame me if you die!" the restaurant manager thought to himself.
"Brat, next time you go out, polish your eyes. Not just anyone can be offended." Spiritual power converged on his right hand as Suyue clenched it into a fist, producing the crunching sound of air being squeezed to the breaking point.
The next moment, he threw a punch straight at the bridge of Xu Chen's nose.
"Rumble!"
Before the punch even landed, the generated wind pressure caused the entire restaurant to begin shaking.
The manager and the youth and maiden accompanying Suyue closed their eyes in unendurable pity.
"Bang!"
A dull impact resounded. Wind whipped through the room. The surrounding floorboards cracked, and the tables and chairs inside the private room were torn to shreds by the fierce wind, wooden splinters flying everywhere.
"Whoosh!"
A figure was sent flying backward, finally crashing with a loud bang against the restaurant wall. Cracking sounds echoed as spiderweb cracks spread across the wall.
"If I'd known it would come to this, why bother in the first place!" The manager sighed, opened his eyes, and then froze.
Why was that ignorant brat still standing in the exact same spot, and why did he look completely unscathed?
Where—where was Young Master Suyue?
He followed the direction of the sound and looked over, his eyes widening abruptly.
Young Master Suyue was plastered flat against the cracked wall like a painting.