CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 34: MY YOUNGER BROTHER IS QI XIU

Enshrouded in billowing white steam, Qi Xiu felt his pupils quiver, panting heavily after an intense battle, the likes of which he had never experienced. He had suppressed, avoided, restlessly endured, and accumulated a host of negative emotions through sleepless nights. These were finally vented unrestrainedly through the day’s battle.

The extreme satisfaction of body and mind caused his brain to release a large amount of endorphins. The exhilarating pleasure made Qi Xiu feel as if something inside his body had loosened a bit. It was like being halfway up a mountain and suddenly looking up to see the summit. A point of clarity emerged suddenly in his heart.

Qi Xiu invoked the skill proficiency panel with a thought, his eyes lighting up in delight. It confirmed that the Spiritual Light in his mind didn’t emerge without reason.

Aside from the skill of Alchemy, which showed little change, all other skill proficiencies had grown more or less. Some, like the Black Sand Palm, had increased by a full 10%, while even lesser ones, such as the Air-Piercing Point Strike, had grown by 3%.

After a thorough tally, the added proficiency amounted to at least ten days of dedicated practice!

It’s truly a case of ’accumulating slowly to strike swiftly.’

Looking at the rapidly increased proficiency, Qi Xiu felt a faint comprehension forming in his heart. Since he started practicing martial arts, he had only fought with others twice. Most of his time had been spent diligently practicing. A great deal of insight, along with increased proficiency, had accumulated and settled in his limbs, his bones, and within his spiritual platform—his mind.

It was like yellow soybeans crammed into a millstone. The intense battle now was like turning that millstone, grinding and blending the amassed insights, allowing for their full digestion.

Motion and stillness combined, and past insights achieved unity in this moment. This, in turn, led to the rapid rise in his skill proficiency today. After all, actual combat is a form of practice in itself, and practice naturally brings rewards.

Calming the joy and exhilaration in his heart, Qi Xiu walked towards the hall.

Watching Qi Xiu enter the hall as if to deliver the finishing blow, Jin Tai, clutching his injured shoulder, looked at his fellow sect members still standing there stunned, and bellowed with a glare, "What are you standing around for, keep fighting!"

"Oh, right."

Instantaneously, the plump Taoist and the Taibao Sect disciples were once again embroiled in battle. But compared to before, watching with their own eyes as their Temple Master was blasted into the hall by a black-clad giant, his life and death uncertain, the Taoists were all shocked to the core and devoid of any sharpness, with many already planning their escape.

「Inside the hall.」

Wu Changqing lay in a pile of rubble, covered in blood. Both his body and spirit were severely depleted, and he could no longer suppress the poison of the Black Sand Palm. His legs uncontrollably turned to bloody water, which spread across the floor, and the poison continued to creep upward, threatening to fully corrupt him.

Knowing that his end was near and his breath as thin as a thread, the weakened Wu Changqing lifted his eyes to look at Qi Xiu as he walked in.

"I never imagined that after meticulously planning for so long, after all my efforts, in the end, I would be brought down by you."

"Ye, would you satisfy the curiosity of a dying man and tell me: where exactly do you hail from?"

"Recite the incantation needed to cultivate this Magic Artifact, and I will satisfy your curiosity," Qi Xiu made his demand, pointing at the bamboo staff still held in Wu Changqing’s hand.

This bamboo staff was indeed a treasured find. It could remotely unleash Sword Qi, powerful and fast, while also imbued with demonic force. Even a Qi Condensation master like Jin Tai was struck by it when caught off guard. But a [Martial] charm consumes a tremendous amount of energy; it could not be relied on as a usual tactic. If he could acquire this Magic Artifact, then he would have another option at his disposal when facing enemies. It was just that Wu Changqing wasn’t like those two rookie Taoists. The likelihood of him carrying a handbook for cultivating Magic Artifacts was slim. Therefore, the only way to successfully obtain the cultivation spell for this Artifact was to pry it from his mouth.

"That’s simple, here you go."

Pulling out two small parchment booklets from his robe, Wu Changqing tossed them at Qi Xiu’s feet.

"So agreeable?"

Wu Changqing’s lack of hesitation surprised Qi Xiu greatly.

Has this demon been beaten senseless by me?

Reading the surprise in Qi Xiu’s eyes, Wu Changqing sneered inwardly. Anyone who commands a Demonic Artifact must suffer its consequences. Today by gifting you the Dharma Gate, I plant the seeds of retribution. You want it, then take it all. When the day comes that the Demonic Artifact backlashes against you, I will await you beneath the Yellow Springs.

"You’ve given me what I wanted; now answer my question," Wu Changqing said, staring intently at Qi Xiu, his gaze urgent.

He truly wanted to know which great family or great Sect he had been defeated by. From whence came that domineering, near brutal suppression Spell?

Stooping to pick up the two parchment booklets, Qi Xiu flipped through them briefly, and the text, capable of transmuting ordinary flesh and blood, immediately began to wriggle.

It was real.

Having confirmed the authenticity of the refining Dharma Gate, Qi Xiu slowly stepped forward, squatted in front of Wu Changqing, and with a gentle twist of his fingers at his chin, unveiled half of the Hundred Faces Mask.

"Hundred Faces? So it was you who killed Xuan Tong and the others..." Seeing the Hundred Faces Mask on Qi Xiu’s face, Wu Changqing wasn’t too surprised. He had suspected that his two disciples had died at the hands of an expert who suppressed the Jade Bodhisattva.

"My surname is Qi, with a single given name, Xiu. From Baoho County... affiliated with neither sect nor clan."

"Unaffiliated?!" Wu Changqing’s weakened gaze suddenly regained some luster as he said in disbelief, "Could this be true?"

"Not a word of a lie."

"Unaffiliated, unaffiliated..." Suddenly laughing, Wu Changqing, looking at the young-faced Qi Xiu who was at most not yet twenty, felt a twinge of regret for having passed on the Dharma Gate for refining the Demonic Artifact.

A Loose Cultivator, with no sect or clan. Such talent implied his Dao Path was broad. Perhaps one day, he might even outshine the disciples of the great families and Sects!

As these thoughts stirred, Wu Changqing’s lips parted slightly, "Remember, if you wield a Demonic Artifact, you must..."

Before he could finish, Wu Changqing’s life force faded, and his eyes dimmed abruptly. The warning, "Anyone who commands a Demonic Artifact must suffer its consequences," remained unspoken, never reaching Qi Xiu’s ears as Wu Changqing died.

Carrying the bamboo staff, Qi Xiu stepped out of the main hall. The fighting outside was also nearing its end. Seeing Qi Xiu, who had personally dispatched his master, the corpulent Taoist who had lost the will to fight didn’t even bother to engage further. He hastily threw off his opponent and scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing for his life.

"Ye, is it over?" Jin Tai walked over with the stride of a dragon and the stance of a tiger, a smile on his face. His shoulder wound was already crusted and dusted with some pale red powder. Clearly, he had used some kind of special medicine for rapid healing.

"Hmm." Nodding slightly, Qi Xiu didn’t say much to Jin Tai and prepared to leave.

Compared to Wu Changqing, who resorted to poisoning to kill, this group of Taibao Sect disciples could only be said to have a slightly higher moral baseline, but they were far from being good people. Qi Xiu didn’t want to get too involved with them.

Seeing Qi Xiu’s cold demeanor, Jin Tai didn’t press the matter. Today’s victory was largely thanks to this man’s help. He would remember this favor and might seek to return it at a future opportunity.

Halfway out of the courtyard, just as Qi Xiu was about to leave, he suddenly paused. Turning around, he changed his path and approached a dazed figure.

"Are you Qian Yuchuan?" Gazing calmly at the nervous Qian Yuchuan before him, Qi Xiu suddenly smiled and patted his shoulder twice. He also subtly released a trace of Black Sand Palm energy.

Feeling as though half his body was about to split open, Qian Yuchuan gritted his teeth in agony but dared not dodge away.

This is the formidable man who single-handedly took down that demonic Taoist. Dodge? Angering him could result in a splatter of blood with a single strike.

"Indeed, it is I, Ye. What would you command?" Qian Yuchuan managed to say respectfully, despite the pain.

"Nothing much. I have a younger brother who told me it seems you have some dispute with him. Oh, his name is Qi Xiu, without any martial arts, a mere scholar," Qi Xiu said, his tone even while pressing on Qian Yuchuan’s shoulder.

But to Qian Yuchuan’s ears, it was as chilling as a knife to his heart.

What? He’s Qi Xiu’s elder brother?! Good heavens, Qi Xiu has such a formidable older brother, why didn’t he breathe a word about it before!

"It’s all a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!" Fearing being smashed into bloody water by Qi Xiu, Qian Yuchuan forced a smile and hurriedly explained.

"A misunderstanding? But how come I heard that at the Ghost Market, you offered a thousand taels as a bounty, insisting on seeing the body dead or alive?" Qi Xiu’s eyes narrowed slightly, the cold murderous intent making Qian Yuchuan’s face numb.

"I will cancel it immediately and offer an additional ten thousand taels as an apology!" In the face of his life being threatened, Qian Yuchuan stood at attention, answering swiftly.

"And it seems he also helped you translate something, this remuneration for his writing services..."

"Another ten thousand taels!"

Finally showing a satisfied smile, Qi Xiu gently patted Qian Yuchuan’s cheek, "You have potential. But this is the last time. If I hear anything bad about you from Qi Xiu again, even the Taibao Sect won’t be able to keep you safe. I mean it."

With those words, Qi Xiu lightly tapped his foot on the ground and leaped away, leaving Qian Yuchuan behind. Drenched in sweat and dazed as a wooden chicken, it took Qian Yuchuan a while to regain his senses before he nodded in panic, "I understand, I understand! I definitely won’t do it again, I definitely won’t!"