Spiritual Qi Is Toxic

Not having received the answer he wanted, Qi Yuan felt a bit disappointed. "May I ask how many Great Venerables there are in the Canglan Realm?" Qi Yuan looked at the white-robed woman with anticipation. Having finally encountered someone qualified to be his white moonlight, he had to thoroughly fleece her! The white-robed woman said in a heavy voice, "Perhaps there are, perhaps not. Facing the Great Tribulation, even a Great Venerable dares only go into hiding from the world. Whether there are any or not, what difference does it make?" She held little optimism for the Canglan Realm's future. Only by leaving the Canglan Realm and following that path would there be a glimmer of hope. "Your Excellency, why not come with me and leave this land of strife?" the white-robed woman urged once more. Because that path was fraught with peril, walking it alone would be exceedingly difficult. Qi Yuan smiled without speaking, which expressed his stance. The white-robed woman could not help sighing. "Facing the Great Tribulation, even Great Venerables dare only turn a blind eye. Your Excellency... alas." "Is the Great Tribulation really that terrifying?" Qi Yuan could not help asking. "The Great Tribulation is a great horror in itself, but what is even more terrifying..." The white-robed woman looked up at the sky, gazing at the sea of stars. "...is that above it, there are immortals and gods." The white-robed woman had stayed in the Canglan Realm for nearly ten thousand years. Though she had never met a Great Venerable, she vaguely sensed that Great Venerables were certainly lying dormant within the realm. Yet when confronted with the Great Tribulation, these Great Venerables remained indifferent, retreating into their shells like turtles. First, they feared the Great Tribulation; second, they feared the immortals and gods above it. Otherwise, if immortals and gods descended to the mortal realm, what could the Canglan Realm possibly use to resist? Qi Yuan also looked up at the sea of stars. He glanced at the moon, his thoughts turning. A momentary melancholy flashed through him, but his eyes lit up immediately after. "Big Boss, since you're leaving the Canglan Realm anyway, do you have any junk you don't need that you can clearance out for a garage sale?" Qi Yuan looked expectantly at the white-robed woman. This was a Yin God big boss. The foundation of a big boss was exceptionally profound. She was worth ten thousand Po Langs! No, Po Lang was nothing. Truly, there were no wrongly chosen names in this world—Po Lang was just scrap copper and rotten iron; how could he possibly compare to a Yin God? The white-robed woman was taken aback. Looking at Qi Yuan, she said, "They are merely worthless trinkets, likely of no use to you." "I'm not a picky eater." Qi Yuan rolled up his sleeves and flexed his muscles. "I eat anything. I'm sturdy as can be—slim with clothes on, but ripped underneath." The white-robed woman was utterly speechless. After pondering for a long while, she finally waved her jade-like hand. A piece of half-ring jade fell into Qi Yuan's hand. "Meeting is destiny. Take this jade piece to the Extreme North, find any inn, and present it to the innkeeper. Your Excellency need only state your requests, and those keepers will do their utmost to fulfill them. If Fellow Daoist has spare time, please look after my sect a bit..." The white-robed woman sighed softly. Compared to staying alive, a sect where she had stayed for nearly ten thousand years truly amounted to little. She merely felt a shred of sentimental attachment. In any case, after she departed, other factions would surely covet her sect, so it was better to give it directly to the Blood-Robed Sword God. Qi Yuan glanced at the jade piece and beamed. "One must yield to the hand that feeds them—I'll certainly look after it!" If he absorbed the entirety of a Yin God's foundation, Qi Yuan could hardly imagine the gains. "Fellow Daoist, until fate brings us together again." With those words, the white-robed woman's figure slowly dissipated beside the lake. Qi Yuan gazed at the lake before him, his eyes clear. "A Great Tribulation that even Great Venerables dare not face is indeed troublesome. Most importantly, according to what this big boss just said, it can call for backup—and celestial immortals and gods at that! A crowd of immortals and gods ganging up on a tiny Golden Core like me?" An image immediately surfaced in Qi Yuan's mind: him, a mere Golden Core, battling a sky full of immortals and gods! "One star doesn't seem like enough, does it?" "No, I've got to find a way to call for backup too—or summon stars! We'll see who can summon harder and stronger!" ... Returning to the Chuang Kingdom, Qi Yuan landed atop the city wall. A map detailing the Moluo military camps had already appeared in his hands. Looking at the others, he could not help remarking with feeling, "Big bosses truly are generous. Before fleeing, she didn't forget to hand over her sect's wealth to me." As Qi Yuan spoke, he deliberately glanced at Jiang Ya. He seemed to be hinting: you should be more generous too. Jiang Ya was slightly startled. "What big boss?" The Blood-Robed Sword God possessed a foundation at the Yin God level. Just how strong was someone he would call a 'big boss'? A Yin God? "A Yin God," Qi Yuan answered without concealing anything; she had not asked him to keep it secret either. "She said the Great Tribulation is coming and was preparing to pack up and flee this place." "Flee?" True Monarch Dazhi wore an uncharacteristically grim expression. "She can't escape it. Does she truly think she can evade the Great Tribulation simply by leaving the Canglan Realm?" "Oh? What makes you say that?" Qi Yuan looked at True Monarch Dazhi. "Based on my years of observation, I have discovered a horrifying truth." True Monarch Dazhi's expression was grave. Qi Yuan's heart tightened slightly. The others present also looked toward True Monarch Dazhi, filled with curiosity. Though True Monarch Dazhi was eccentric, he was genuinely a favored pride of heaven; otherwise, Old Man Wutian would not have sought to take him as a disciple. Everyone stared at True Monarch Dazhi, only to see him open his mouth with that grave face and say, "Spiritual qi is toxic!" Jiang Ya froze. Xu Tongchen was dumbfounded. "According to my observations, every single person who uses spiritual qi to cultivate has ended up dead in the end. Evidently, spiritual qi is toxic!" True Monarch Dazhi said solemnly. Jiang Ya could not help rebutting, "Cultivating to the Great Venerable realm grants virtually immeasurable longevity, sharing the lifespan of heaven and earth. Great Venerables also cultivate using spiritual qi; how come we have never seen them die of old age?" "Have you ever seen a living Great Venerable?" True Monarch Dazhi asked faintly. Jiang Ya choked on her words. "...No, but I've never seen a Yang God either. Does that mean Yang Gods don't exist?" True Monarch Dazhi looked up at the stars across the sky. "Who knows whether they exist or not?" Qi Yuan, on the other hand, was deeply shaken. Whether spiritual qi was toxic or not, he did not know. However, the cultivation techniques of the Canglan Realm truly had issues. After cultivating them, one would become sustenance. This True Monarch Dazhi was truly a genius! Suddenly, Qi Yuan thought of Blue Star. On Blue Star, hadn't everyone who ever breathed oxygen died? Didn't that mean... oxygen was toxic? "The Great Tribulation approaches, and all living beings will wither. Running away solves nothing," True Monarch Dazhi said. "I support True Monarch Dazhi's words. Once I become stronger, I must sneak into the Great Tribulation's lair and chop off its dog head with a single blade!" Qi Yuan said earnestly. True Monarch Dazhi's eyes brightened. "Senior, could you take me along? I want to see the Great Tribulation's dog head too!" Qi Yuan pondered. "It just so happens I'm missing a suona player. When I chop off the Great Tribulation's dog head, you can play a tune for me!" "Splendid!" True Monarch Dazhi nodded vigorously. Jiang Ya remained silent. These two... could truly boast. Without the strength of a Great Venerable, who dared face the Great Tribulation head-on? There were only a few hundred years left until the Great Tribulation. No matter how much of a prodigy the Blood-Robed Sword God was, he would never reach the Great Venerable realm in that time. "Let's go. Slay the Moluo!" Qi Yuan announced. "Senior, I'll play the suona for you right now so you can get used to it beforehand!" "Senior, may I join in as well?" Xu Tongchen asked weakly. His master's job was about to be snatched away! He felt a sense of crisis and had to join in. "Sure, no problem." Qi Yuan was delighted. He looked toward Jiang Ya. "Do you want to join too? I'm missing a cheer squad!" Jiang Ya shook her head violently. There was absolutely no need! ... Five days later, in a pitch-black valley, yin winds howled with fury. Within the valley, colossal beasts four to five meters tall were deep in slumber. Their jet-black scales reflected faint glimmers of light, appearing exceptionally eerie in the dead of night. These members of the Moluo Clan were all asleep. If Qi Yuan were to come here and witness this scene, he would surely praise them for not snoring in their sleep. At this moment, within a cavern. Five terrifying figures appeared. The auras emanating from their bodies seemed out of place with the surrounding environment, faintly repelled by the heavens and earth. However, because this world's Heavenly Dao was flawed, the repulsion was not particularly severe. "The Canglan Realm has broken its word and acted in bad faith, actually letting a Purple Mansion cultivator take the field to slaughter our clansmen at will. Utterly detestable!" "Who will strike and take down that Purple Mansion cultivator?" "Why not all five of us strike together? After all, they were the first to break faith!" "Agreed. Once that Purple Mansion is slain and the Wangyue Continent is subdued, why don't we invade the Canglan Realm?" one Purple Mansion expert proposed, eager to try. After all, in their eyes, the Canglan Realm was far more powerful than the Wangyue Continent. Such a world also possessed vastly more resources. "Forget about that matter..." a veteran Purple Mansion cultivator spoke up. "The waters of the Canglan Realm run deep. Even Yin God Venerables are cautious about entering, let alone us." This veteran Purple Mansion cultivator had ancestors who reached the Yin God realm, giving him the highest standing among the five Purple Mansions. "Mm, let's forget about the Canglan Realm for now and kill that Purple Mansion cultivator first!" "I hear that Purple Mansion cultivator's cultivation is profound. Should we plan more thoroughly?" "One late-stage Purple Mansion and four mid-stage Purple Mansions—afraid of him?" The five Purple Mansions chatted among themselves, reached an agreement, and prepared to set out from the mountains. Yet right at that moment, a deep, heavy voice resonated: "Lately, I have read quite a few storybooks from the Wangyue Continent, especially the tale of that Faceless Sword God slaying extraterrestrial demons. This Venerable has been pondering: if an extraterrestrial demon had struck directly before the Faceless Sword God grew to maturity, would he have been defeated?" The earth split in two, and a member of the Moluo Clan, smothered in fat like a mountain of flesh, dragged itself out from underground. It had copious amounts of blubbery, flabby fat, yet the scales covering its spine were densely packed, conveying a sense of invulnerability. Upon seeing the newcomer, all five present revealed expressions of reverent awe. "Greetings, Venerable Mohui!" The arrival was none other than a Yin God of the Moluo Clan, Venerable Mohui. Venerable Mohui's figure was bloated, inducing disgust at a single glance. Now, its eyes were piled with smiles. "Having been bored lately, this Venerable shall accompany you to take a look at that so-called Blood-Robed Sword God." It was thirsty and hungry, and prepared to go out for some snacks. "Why would the Venerable need to take action personally?" the late-stage Purple Mansion Moluo spoke. "We can capture the Blood-Robed Sword God and present him to the Venerable!" Venerable Mohui narrowed its eyes in a smile. "According to the latest storybooks I read, if you go hunt the Blood-Robed Sword God, you might just be feeding him experience. This Venerable is different. Striking personally, I will nip his chance to grow in the bud." Venerable Mohui spoke casually. It was merely using an excuse to go outside. "But Venerable... the Moon Dynasty's blockade..." the late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator hesitated. "No matter. With my elder brother there, the people of the Moon Dynasty... cannot leave," Venerable Mohui said with absolute certainty. "Once the Moon Dynasty falls, it will be time for the Wangyue Continent to take a new name." Seeing this, the Purple Mansions pressed no further. ... A crimson sword swept across the sky. Accompanied by a bleak, chilling sound of slaughter, countless billows of blood qi and sword rays fluttered. Within the Moluo army's encampment, innumerable Moluo clansmen were slaughtered by the sword light. Continuous military camps were smashed to pieces by a single sword strike. Beneath this strike, whether Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment, Origin Core or Divine Infant, none had any chance of survival. Before Qi Yuan's sword, all living beings were equal. He gazed upon the devastated continent with gentle eyes. In an instant, the former battlefield was once again covered in green hills and clear waters. The suona music grew all the more vigorous, resounding with rising fervor. Qi Yuan looked back at the dozens of people playing suonas behind him, a look of regret in his eyes. "If only all of you were Purple Mansions, that would be wonderful." If Purple Mansions played the suona, it would look much grander. Yet among those playing suonas behind him, the strongest were merely Divine Infants, and only a handful at that. The rest were mostly Realm Two or Realm Three cultivators. Zhao Ci of the Chuang Kingdom was among them. Qi Yuan had intervened and saved the Chuang Kingdom; with no other way to repay him, Zhao Ci had joined the suona-playing contingent. Later, as Qi Yuan intervened more frequently, more and more people joined the suona ensemble. Of course, Qi Yuan kept the numbers capped within a certain limit; otherwise, it would impede his traveling speed. Jiang Ya stood to the side, her expression complicated. Everyone else was playing the suona, leaving her as the only one who wasn't, which was quite awkward. Right now, she felt extraordinarily bizarre inside. If True Monarch Dazhi joining the suona ensemble was something she could barely comprehend, then later, when they traveled to other kingdoms and the Blood-Robed Sword God casually mentioned it, commoners and noble royalty alike eagerly signed up, desperate to join the Blood-Robed Sword God's musical troupe. It was as if they regarded joining the troupe as the supreme honor of their lives. She dearly wanted to ask the emperor of a major kingdom in the troupe: "Instead of ruling as an emperor, you ran off to play in a band?" She simply could not understand. That emperor of a great kingdom—she had only observed him briefly, but she could tell he was an ambitious and strategic sovereign. And this was the result? "Senior, what kind of spell did you cast on them that even emperors come to play the suona for you?" Having grown familiar with Qi Yuan's temperament during this period, Jiang Ya spoke rather boldly. "Isn't it completely normal for an emperor to play the suona? I've seen a carpenter emperor before. I've even seen countries where comedians became the top leader," Qi Yuan remarked casually. Now, less than half a month remained before he completely regained control of the Heavenly Dao. He was also drawing closer and closer to the Moon Dynasty. A feeling of homesick apprehension welled up in his heart instead. Right then, Zhao Ci stepped out from the suona troupe, his expression deferential. "Senior, an emissary of our Faceless Cult wishes to pay his respects to you. He says there is an urgent matter to report." Qi Yuan heard this. His diehard fan? "Send him over." When dealing with fans, Qi Yuan had always been welcoming. Before long, a middle-aged man wearing an embroidered black robe appeared. He looked at the Blood-Robed Sword God, a trace of doubt flitting across his eyes. "Greetings, Senior!" "Oh? What do you seek me for?" "Senior, according to information obtained by our Faceless Cult, the Moluo Clan has already noticed you and will dispatch five Realm Five cultivators to besiege you. We urge Senior to leave this place immediately, lest you be trapped here," the Faceless Cult emissary said. At the same time, curiosity stirred in his heart. For some reason, seeing this outsider, the Blood-Robed Sword God, he felt an indescribable warmth and familiarity. This was something he had never experienced before. "Five Purple Mansions?" Qi Yuan looked helpless. "Why can't other realms' cultivation manuals work?" Otherwise, these five Purple Mansions would have been five white moonlights. The kind he would love to obliterate. Qi Yuan reflected on this. He felt that from now on, the criteria for being a white moonlight needed an added rule: they had to originate from the Canglan Realm. "We urge Senior to conceal your identity. Our Faceless Cult will escort you to the Moon Dynasty through a special passage!" the emissary said solemnly. Escorting the Blood-Robed Sword God to the Moon Dynasty would require the Faceless Cult's external members to serve as decoys, likely incurring horrific casualties. Yet the emissary knew that every member of the Faceless Cult was fearless of death and willing to fight for the Wangyue Continent! "I will go to the Moon Dynasty, but there's no need for you to escort me." Qi Yuan did not place five Purple Mansions in his eyes. Hearing this, the emissary grew apprehensive. This senior wasn't willing to go with him? Anxious, he wanted to urge him further. Yet he saw the Blood-Robed Sword God lift his head, look up at the firmament, and say slowly, "It's too late to leave now, because... their people have arrived." Qi Yuan had already sensed the arrival of the Moluo Clan's powerhouses. Unfortunately, none of them were white moonlights who could deliver cultivation techniques, leaving Qi Yuan thoroughly uninspired. The crimson sword behind him, seemingly sensing the arrival of formidable foes, let out a clear chime. The emissary's face went instantly pale. "So fast... We're finished." Five Realm Five cultivators—what could the Blood-Robed Sword God use to resist them? Everyone present would likely perish here. Yet right then, a booming voice crashed like thunder, and the last vestige of color drained from the emissary's face. Because... he saw a Yin God! A deity of legend! "Jiejiejie! Fortunately this Venerable came along; otherwise, all five of you would have just fed him experience. This one clearly isn't an ordinary late-stage Purple Mansion!" Standing fifteen meters tall, Venerable Mohui appeared, looking down upon Qi Yuan with a mocking expression, like a cat watching a mouse. The five Purple Mansions from earlier looked toward Qi Yuan, chill creeping into their hearts. Following beside Venerable Mohui, they resembled mere lackeys. At this moment, seeing Venerable Mohui, everyone present felt an instinctive terror rising in their hearts. It was the instinct of a weak creature beholding a mighty predator. The emissary, in particular, had turned completely bloodless. With a Yin God taking action, the Blood-Robed Sword God had no chance whatsoever of reaching the Moon Dynasty. Qi Yuan was also sizing up that Yin God, his gaze full of resignation. "A dignified Yin God like you picking on a humble Golden Core cultivator like me—aren't you shameless?" "What an amusing human. Your first thought upon seeing this Venerable isn't to kneel and beg for mercy. Could it be... you really have a problem in the head?" "You're the one with a problem in the head! Your whole family has a problem in the head!" Qi Yuan couldn't bear it. If a Yin God cursed him, he had to curse back. Venerable Mohui did not grow angry, continuing to watch Qi Yuan with an amused look. The five Purple Mansions beside it, however, could not help barking: "Offending a deity is a crime punishable by death!" "Sharp-tongued fool, accept your death obediently!" Not far away, Jiang Ya watched this scene with both shock and curiosity. She wanted to know what the Blood-Robed Sword God's trump card actually was. Meanwhile, Qi Yuan shrugged helplessly and snapped his fingers. "Strike up the music! Play a joyous tune." This time, they couldn't play funeral music. Behind him, True Monarch Dazhi raised his suona and started blowing. The people of Wangyue Continent behind him seemed devoid of fear before a deity's oppressive might; under the divine being's watchful gaze, a joyful, somewhat bizarre melody rang out. Beside them, Jiang Ya fell silent. Facing a Yin God... and still playing music. This Blood-Robed Sword God truly was no ordinary mortal! No, those Realm Two and Realm Three cultivators playing music were no ordinary mortals either! After all, who would dare provoke a deity like this? Even Purple Mansions wouldn't dare. Yet these people actually did! She was thoroughly baffled!