Qi Dynamic

“Found her.” Xu Yuan looked down at the willow ghost blade in his hand, an unconscious smile tugging at the corners of his lips. That strange sense of familiarity had not originated from himself, but had been discovered through the medium of this willow ghost blade. It seemed that twenty thousand years ago, in order to control this ghost blade, Tianye had employed some kind of secret sacrificial refining art to bind herself tightly to it. Regardless, Xu Yuan was now certain that Tianye—the woman who had tangled with him in the illusion for over a decade—was indeed still alive. He simply did not know what method that enchantress had used to survive from twenty thousand years ago until now. Luo Xiran had transformed herself into a spiritual essence spirit and sunk into a deep slumber to preserve her spirituality. Old Man Luo had studied aberrant ghosts to modify his soul body, then specially nurtured disciples to seize opportunities for possession in pursuit of longevity. None of that mattered for the moment, however. Through the connection between this willow ghost blade and Tianye, Xu Yuan could sense that she had not yet awakened. According to ordinary reason, nothing in this world was perfect. Gaining certain things meant that you had to lose others. Most methods of prolonging life inflicted irreversible damage upon one's cultivation and strength. This was true for Old Man Luo, and equally true for Luo Xiran. Once he returned to the Imperial Capital from this journey, he would directly call his maternal uncle over to the Qionghua secret realm to corpse-camp her. His mind made up, Xu Yuan looked back at the young girl beside him. Meeting her gaze, he offered a gentle smile. “That woman, Tianye, should still be inside the Qionghua secret realm. Once we return to the Imperial Capital, I plan to bring my uncle along to kill her.” “The Qionghua secret realm?” A flicker of surprise appeared in Tianyan’s eyes, and she frowned slightly. “I didn't detect any trace of her in the Qionghua secret realm before.” “Who knows?” Xu Yuan shrugged, gazing in the direction of the Qionghua secret realm as he spoke faintly, “Back then, such a massive disaster occurred in the Qionghua secret realm. The surviving higher-ups of the other sects would inevitably have organized experts to enter and investigate the truth. Given how meticulous that enchantress was, there is no way she wouldn't have anticipated this. Perhaps she concealed herself using some secret technique.” Saying this, he twirled the willow ghost blade through the air in a flourish. “None of that matters, though. Once my cultivation rises a bit higher, it shouldn't be difficult to track down her hiding place through this ghost blade's connection to Tianye.” “Hmph.” Hearing his words, Tianyan gave a soft snort. “You do make sense. Given the current situation in Di'an City, your uncle will most likely not be able to accompany you. Should I arrange some personnel from the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion?” Xu Yuan fell into silent thought. At present, Di'an City—and specifically the Chancellor's Manor—was the eye of the storm for the entire world. Peak combat strength had to remain stationed within the Imperial Capital. The Overseeing Heaven Pavilion, however, was different. It might sound a bit insulting, but the current positioning of the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion within Great Yan was essentially that of a troublemaking agitator. Though it had emerged into the world, it had not drawn too much hatred. Consequently, with Tianyan’s status, summoning a few high-ranking cultivators would not be difficult. At this thought, Xu Yuan still rejected the proposal. “Tianye’s identity is far too special to your Overseeing Heaven Pavilion.” An ancestor who had saved the world twenty thousand years ago reappearing, and one who was a Saint Tier possessing the caliber of a 'Tianyan' at that. Once exposed, Xu Yuan felt that with the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion Master's near-divine cold-bloodedness, he might even choose to abandon Tianyan in order to preserve Tianye. Hearing his decision, Tianyan did not press the matter further, instead asking softly: “After absorbing the Saint Tier yin origin into your cultivation technique, did you experience any discomfort?” Yin ghosts were a taboo among taboos, the very embodiment of destruction and slaughter. Seeing Xu Yuan absorb and devour it, Tianyan worried that it might affect his temperament. Xu Yuan casually waved his hand at this, raising his fist before his eyes and clenching it with a satisfied smile. “I’ve never felt the world be so clear and transparent.” As he spoke, Xu Yuan turned his narrow eyes back toward the room and chuckled softly: “All the energy and matter in this world—it feels as though I can see it all now.” He was very pleased with his current state. From a born cripple incapable of cultivating back then, to now integrating the traits of humanity, aberrant ghosts, the Heavenly Yan divine soul, and yin ghosts into one body, Xu Yuan felt more and more like a monster. It truly was worthy of being a blood-colored cultivation technique. “Then do you still need me to hold onto this willow ghost blade for you?” Tianyan gently suggested, “With your current cultivation...” Xu Yuan shook his head, glancing at the willow ghost blade Tianyan had gifted him, and said with a light smile, “No need.” Silence fell. Tianyan looked at the young man before her, a trace of worry showing on her delicate, refined face. Xu Yuan smiled nonchalantly and offered gentle comfort: “Now that I share the same origin as it, it won't affect me.” He understood Tianyan’s thoughts. Wielding this willow ghost blade with his current cultivation was roughly equivalent to handling a Level 120 weapon in Cangyuan while only at Level 50-something in his previous life. Furthermore, this weapon bore the modifier of 'backbiting its master.' Never mind using it against an enemy; a moment of carelessness would see him done in by his own blade first. Now, however, he had already devoured a portion of the Thousand-Thorns Ghost Willow’s Saint Tier yin origin. As he continued to consume it, he could even assimilate this ghost blade into a part of himself. At this thought, Xu Yuan suddenly felt an urge to test the ghost blade’s might. The Qingyu sword his maternal uncle Feng Jiuxuan had given him was excellent, but ultimately, it was merely a sharp spirit sword forged from extremely precious metals, lacking any additional effects. Yet this ghost blade in his hand had once, in Tianye’s grasp, directly driven an existence like Yuchu into a raving lunatic stripped of all reason. Of course, Xu Yuan did not believe his current cultivation could match Tianye’s from back then. Even so, relying on this divine ghost blade whose power far exceeded his current realm, leaping ranks to slay someone in the Flesh Integration Realm ought to be effortless. Yet the moment the idea arose, Xu Yuan dismissed it. Right now, in the entire Xuanying attic pavilion, Third Prince Li Junqing was the only one in Flesh Integration. It wasn't as if he could just go downstairs and hack him down with a blade, could he? Amused by the thought, Xu Yuan smiled inwardly, but then his expression instantly froze. Without any warning, a profound, wondrous qi dynamic descended from the sky, enveloping him completely. Expanding his spiritual vision, Xu Yuan’s brow furrowed tightly. Under the perception of his spiritual vision, two faint, ephemeral strands of qi dynamic directly cocooned him and Tianyan beside him. What was this? Subconsciously, Xu Yuan glanced at Tianyan’s expression. Yet the washboard Saintess seemed to have noticed nothing at all. Seeing his peculiar gaze, she even returned a somewhat puzzled look. Even with her Heavenly Yan divine soul, she couldn't perceive it? Seeing this, Xu Yuan’s heart sank. In the Charm God Illusion realm, thanks to Tianye, he had learned several pieces of classified intelligence regarding the inner workings of the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion. Among them... was the Lingtian Instrument.