---
Qi Yuan extended his hand, channeling a stream of spiritual power to retrieve Wang Chan's storage bag. Without hesitation, he swallowed a few healing pills, allowing his drained spirit to recover.
Using his qi and blood to control the spirit of a level-five monster had consumed a significant amount of energy.
Even so, this was merely a remnant of the monster's soul. Had it been whole, the strain would have been far greater — potentially draining his life essence entirely.
The rapid aging of Xia Bing had long puzzled Qi Yuan, but now the reason was clear. Frequent use of the Yellow Dragon Spirit had damaged his foundation, like glue repeatedly applied to a fragile structure — eventually causing it to crumble.
"Master, this is the storage bag of another demon cultivator. Please take a look."
Duobao flew over, presenting several storage bags with a respectful expression.
In that moment, her loyalty to Qi Yuan solidified. After witnessing his strength firsthand, she knew defiance would only end in disaster.
Qi Yuan glanced at her, then took nine of the bags, leaving one for her. His gaze turned cold.
"Since you've chosen to follow me as your master," he said, "you must offer a small portion of your soul to me for control. Only then will I devote myself to training you. If you refuse, the storage bag I gave you will be your compensation. But remember this — if our interests ever clash in the future, I will show no mercy. Consider it carefully."
Duobao's heart pounded as though struck by a hammer. She stood frozen, overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty.
Huadaowu's poisons were deadly, but antidotes existed. Sacrificing her soul, however, was irreversible. If things went wrong, madness or death awaited her — and her fate would be forever bound to Qi Yuan.
For a long moment, she struggled in silence.
Qi Yuan, sensing her hesitation, said nothing more. Without urgency, he turned and flew toward Jingu Courtyard.
"Master, wait!" Duobao cried suddenly. "I'm willing... I'll surrender my soul and follow you wholeheartedly!"
Her voice trembled as she closed her eyes, exposing her spirit for Qi Yuan to seize.
In her heart, she knew this was a gamble — a dangerous one. But something about Qi Yuan convinced her that this path, though perilous, offered the best chance of survival.
Qi Yuan smiled faintly. With a flick of his fingers, he cast a spell and tapped Duobao's forehead, drawing out a fragment of her spirit. He stored it alongside Yan Ruyan's soul within his Chaos Cauldron.
Protected by the cauldron's power, their souls remained secure, safe from external harm.
Duobao staggered backward, her face deathly pale and drenched in sweat. Her body trembled violently from the pain.
Qi Yuan withdrew a few pills, helping her swallow them before channeling his spiritual energy to ease her suffering.
Moments later, Duobao managed a weak yet sincere smile. "Thank you, Master... for your kindness."
This time, her gratitude was genuine.
Qi Yuan handed her another demon cultivator's storage bag. Since her life was now tied to his, investing in her growth was essential.
For a lone cultivator, trust was rare. Balancing strict discipline with occasional rewards ensured loyalty — and Qi Yuan knew it well.
Duobao's face brightened with joy as she opened the bag. The treasures inside were impressive — magical tools, rare herbs, and resources abundant enough to fuel her cultivation for months.
Suddenly, she seemed to remember something. Lowering her voice, she asked, "Master... about the matter I promised you in the Blood Forbidden Land... when would you like the results?"
Ah, yes — her great-aunt.
Qi Yuan smiled faintly. Was Duobao truly unafraid that her Jindan-stage relative might one day strike her down for this betrayal?
"When you're certain of success," Qi Yuan replied. "Come to me then."
Duobao paused, surprised by his response. She had expected a demand, not patience.
"Alright," she said quietly. "I'll send word when the time comes."
Inwardly, she wondered if this could be an opportunity. Qi Yuan's swift progress suggested he might soon reach the Jindan stage himself. If so, perhaps her great-aunt would view him as a valuable ally rather than an enemy.
Perhaps... one day, that bond could even help her regain her soul.
---
Jingu Courtyard had once been a front-line base camp. Upon returning to his tent, Qi Yuan set up protective wards before heading to a small spirit beast room on the left side.
Inside, two blood jade spider cubs — barely an inch long — scurried about playfully.
Spotting Qi Yuan, they eagerly crawled to him, their tiny bodies radiating warmth and affection.
To the newly hatched spiders, Qi Yuan was their first familiar presence — a figure they instinctively treated as a parent.
He scattered spirit-feeding pills for them to eat, refilled their food bowls, and lingered with them for a while before departing.
Later that night, Qi Yuan carefully examined Wang Chan's storage bag. He erased the spiritual imprint left behind and sifted through its contents.
The spirit stones and common magical tools were of little interest to him. The talismans were mostly ordinary, save for two particularly malicious ones. Those, he discarded without hesitation.
Among the cultivation methods, the Blood Spirit Technique stood out. It was the Ghost Spirit Sect's signature art, powerful but vicious.
Qi Yuan skimmed the text. The technique absorbed qi and blood — any living creature could be sacrificed for cultivation.
He scoffed and pushed the book aside. Such techniques were better left untouched.
One entry, however, caught his eye.
The Blood Lotus Secret Technique.
Recalling the devastating attack that had shattered his Thousand Mountains Tower, Qi Yuan recognized its power — equal to that of a Jindan stage cultivator's strike.
If used skillfully, it could even catch a Core Formation cultivator off guard.
The technique required one's own blood to condense a blood lotus seed. Once planted, the lotus could bloom anywhere with a mere thought — invisible to spiritual senses until fully formed.
No wonder it had evaded his detection.
Yet the process was dangerous. Creating the blood lotus drained immense qi and blood. The text warned of cultivators who, attempting to force the technique, withered into dried husks when their vitality ran dry.
Replenishing lost blood and energy required rare pills — fortunately, Qi Yuan knew exactly how to obtain them.
With a year's worth of earned merit, he could easily exchange it for high-grade qi and blood elixirs.
At the Merit Exchange Office, a crowd of disciples bustled with excitement. A wooden sign stood prominently outside, marking the tent's entrance.
As Qi Yuan landed nearby, a voice called out from the crowd.
"Senior Brother Qi! Over here!"
"Brother Qi, how many demon cultivators have you killed this time?" another disciple shouted.
"I saw him fight last month!" someone else chimed in. "That demon cultivator didn't even last a breath before Brother Qi cut him down like a watermelon!"
Laughter rippled through the gathering as Qi Yuan smiled faintly and stepped forward.
He knew better than anyone — true power was measured not in words, but in blood spilled on the battlefield.
(End of Chapter)