Chapter 11: The Spoils of Deceit
"Then I'll be waiting to see." Bibi Dong forced a sweet smile, a mask of strained civility that didn't quite reach her eyes. The lingering fear and anger from her encounter with Qin Xuan was still a cold knot in her stomach. She turned to Yu Xiaogang, her voice softening. "Xiao Gang, come with me over there. I'll treat your wounds."
She gently pulled a still-dazed Yu Xiaogang towards the nearby rock clusters, her touch light and caring.
Qin Xuan watched them go, his face an unreadable mask. He had no interest in watching their nauseating, flirtatious banter. He knew their dynamic well. They would, at most, hold hands and exchange teary-eyed promises. Yu Xiaogang, for all his theoretical bluster, was a coward at heart. He didn't have the guts to go any further with the Holy Maiden, even if she invited him.
He's a temporary problem, Qin Xuan thought, his gaze cold. A useful tool for farming rewards, but his days are numbered. I'll get rid of him eventually.
Once the pair had disappeared into the rocks, far out of sight, Qin Xuan finally relaxed. He looked up at his surroundings, the dense canopy of Supreme Pontiff Mountain. He briefly identified his direction, then gathered his spirit power at his feet.
With a light tap on the ground, his body shot upward, and he once again experienced the exhilarating feeling of being "light as a swallow." He landed silently on a branch more than ten meters high. With the agility of a jungle cat, he swiftly moved through the treetops, a red shadow flitting towards the foot of the mountain, his mind already on the prizes he had won.
As soon as Qin Xuan left, the jungle on the mountainside returned to its quiet, peaceful state.
...
Bibi Dong helped Yu Xiaogang sit down on the mossy ground, his back resting against a knee-high rock. She very thoughtfully took out a roll of clean gauze and a small bottle of medicinal powder from her personal spirit tool.
[Inorin's Note: A Spirit Tool is a spatial storage item, similar to a 'bag of holding,' used by Spirit Masters to store items.]
"Xiao Gang, I'll just treat these wounds simply for now," she said softly, dabbing the powder onto his split lip and bruised cheek. "I'll find you a healing-type Spirit Master later, and you should be fully recovered by tomorrow. But... you can't do this again in the future. You can't be so reckless."
Bibi Dong carefully bandaged his head where a cut was bleeding, all the while admonishing him in a gentle tone.
"Mm... hiss..." Yu Xiaogang responded softly, wincing as the sting of the medicine seeped into his raw wounds. The physical pain was sharp, but the humiliation in his heart was a far deeper, burning ache.
"What, did I hurt you?" Bibi Dong asked, her hands freezing, her eyes wide with worry.
"No, it's just the medicine... it stings a bit." Yu Xiaogang's right cheek was still severely swollen. Moving his mouth even slightly sent a jolt of pain through his jaw. He could only speak with the left side of his mouth, making his words a bit incoherent.
"That... Bibi Dong, there's something I want to ask you…" he mumbled, his eyes avoiding hers.
"Mm. Go ahead and ask." Bibi Dong nodded with a smile, though her heart was pounding in her chest. She was terrified. She was worried Yu Xiaogang would ask her about what really happened in the small forest with Qin Xuan. What would she say? That he kissed her? That he threatened her?
But Yu Xiaogang, for all his arrogance, was not stupid. He had seen the look in Qin Xuan's eyes and the terror in Bibi Dong's. He knew something had happened that he was powerless to stop, and his pride couldn't bear to have it confirmed.
He indeed wanted to ask about that, but seeing Bibi Dong's forced smile, he quickly gave up, skipping the topic that was eating him alive.
"I just heard you say... that Qin Xuan seems to be going to a very dangerous place. Can you tell me about it?"
Bibi Dong was startled. The City of Slaughter?
She then breathed a massive, internal sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't about the forest, it was fine.
She immediately became cautious. She remembered how her teacher had warned her about secrets. She considered that the City of Slaughter, while having a cooperative relationship with Spirit Hall, was a place used for thousands of years to banish and settle evil Spirit Masters. It was little known even within Spirit Hall. It was, absolutely, a secret.
To prevent Xiao Gang from falling into danger again because she 'leaked Spirit Hall secrets,' Bibi Dong chose her words carefully.
"I'm sorry, Xiao Gang. Knowing about that place will not help your theoretical research at all," she said firmly, her voice serious. "On the contrary, knowing about it will only bring you great danger. My teacher's secrets are not to be trifled with."
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I can only tell you that it is an extremely dangerous place. A place of pure evil, where survival is a slim chance of one in ten. Almost no one who enters ever comes out again. Even a Titled Douluo... even someone as strong as my teacher... risks falling there."
"Even a Titled Douluo risks falling?" Yu Xiaogang's eyes instantly lit up. The fog of pain and humiliation that had clouded his mind vanished, replaced by a bright, vindictive clarity.
The humiliation he had previously suffered from Qin Xuan, the feeling of being utterly crushed and helpless, instantly evaporated.
At the same time, his mind began to race, imagining why this lick-spittle, this sycophant who used to only follow Bibi Dong around like a puppy, had undergone such a drastic, arrogant change overnight.
It turned out he was being sent to his death!
He was being sent by Spirit Hall to a place where survival was almost impossible. A place that could kill even a Titled Douluo!
From this perspective, Qin Xuan was a dead man walking. After today, he would no longer be able to threaten him. He would be gone, forever.
He, Yu Xiaogang, could still freely access Spirit Hall's top-secret knowledge, protected by Bibi Dong. He could continue to expand his invincible theories.
A cold, smug smile settled on his face, twisting his swollen features. The only thing he needed to pay attention to was to be more careful next time. He couldn't be caught by the pigtail and threatened again, being humiliated with nowhere to appeal.
He had to swallow his broken teeth this one time. But he would be the one to have the last laugh.
After descending Supreme Pontiff Mountain, Qin Xuan did not rush to the Elder Palace to find those two "cheap teachers" of his. His mind was entirely focused on one thing.
He immediately returned to his own residence, following the muscle memory of his new body. It was a small, quiet, and elegant courtyard, far from the main palace but well-appointed—a privilege granted to him as a disciple of two Priests.
He entered, barred the main gate, and then tightly closed the doors and windows of his personal room, plunging the chamber into shadow. Only then did he feel secure.
He sat cross-legged on his meditation mat and summoned the system. A transparent blue screen, visible only to him, materialized in his vision.
"Qin Xuan—"
"Age: 19"
"Spirit: Changming Sword"
"Cultivation: Level 54 (Spirit King)"
"Spirit Ring Configuration: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black"
"Physique Level: Spirit King (Low)"
"Mental Force Level: Spirit King (Mid)"
"Talent: S+"
"Self-created Spirit Ability: None"
"Emotion Value: 63,216"
"Blind Box: Silver Blind Box × 1, Gold Blind Box × 2"
He stared at the Emotion Value, and a genuine, cold laugh escaped his lips.
"This Yu Xiaogang... he truly is the best candidate for fleecing. He's a walking treasure chest. With the first binding, in just one encounter, he actually contributed over 60,000 emotion points to me."
Qin Xuan clicked his tongue, thoroughly pleased. The fear, rage, humiliation, and vindictive joy Yu Xiaogang had felt had all been converted into pure profit for him.
[Detected that the host currently possesses one Silver Blind Box and two Gold Blind Boxes. Would you like to extract them?]
"Extract."
As his words fell, three objects materialized from nothing, hovering in the air before him. One was an ornate silver treasure chest, embossed with intricate patterns. The other two were larger, heavy gold treasure chests that seemed to absorb the light in the room, glowing with a faint, oppressive aura.
[Once extracted, treasure chests cannot be recalled and are for host use only. Blind boxes exist for only one hour and will disappear after that time. Please open them as soon as possible.]
Qin Xuan's heart beat a little faster. An hour timer. He wouldn't waste a second.
He reached out and willed the first silver treasure chest to open. It clicked, and the lid flipped open, revealing not an item, but a single silver card, which floated out.
"What is this thing?"
Qin Xuan took the card, and the blind box automatically disappeared.
A silver light flashed on the card's surface, resolving into an image. It showed a figure in a tight-fitting black and purple outfit, with a fluffy, opulent black-feathered cape. The figure's face was sharp, handsome, and cold.
[Mo Ya]
[Spirit: Mo Ya (Not Awakened)]
[Spirit Power: Level 55 (Internal energy converted to spirit power, approximately equivalent to Level 55)]
[Physique: Spirit Grandmaster (Level 28)]
[Spirit Ring Configuration: None]
[Introduction: A character from the Qin's Moon prequel, Nine Songs of the Moving Heavens. He is the top expert of the "Hundred Birds" organization under General Ji Wuye of Han. Along with Bai Feng, he is Ji Wuye's personal guard and Bai Feng's most trusted friend and superior. He excels in lightness skill, acts ruthlessly, and never procrastinates. He deeply influenced the young Bai Feng, prompting Bai Feng to constantly break through his limits. He ultimately died protecting Bai Feng.]
[Inorin's Note: Nine Songs of the Moving Heavens (Tian Xing Jiu Ge) is a Chinese 3D animation and a prequel series to Qin's Moon, detailing events in the Han State before its fall to Qin.]
[Mission Difficulty: B-rank]
[Mission Requirement: Bring Mo Ya back before his demise.]
[Mission Reward: Mo Ya's absolute loyalty. One 4,000-year Wind-Chasing Left Leg Spirit Bone.]
[Mission Validity Period: Three years.]
"It's an interdimensional recruitment card... that's something," Qin Xuan thought to himself, his mind racing. He knew the character well. Mo Ya was a top-tier assassin.
"But... without the blessing of a spirit ring, this physique seems a bit weak. A Level 55 cultivation, yet the physique is barely at the Spirit Grandmaster level."
He analyzed the data. "Ah, it's internal energy converted to spirit power. His body hasn't been tempered by spirit rings or the spirit-awakening process. He has the power and skill of a Spirit King, but the durability of a Spirit Grandmaster. He's a glass cannon."
He looked at the mission. "But since there are still three years, there's no need to rush. I know exactly when he dies. It won't be too late to go after I break out of the City of Slaughter. A Level 55 assassin with absolute loyalty... he'll be my perfect hidden blade."
Qin Xuan carefully put away the card, placing it in the spirit tool at his waist. He then turned his attention to the first gold blind box.
He opened it.
The blind box disappeared, and three ancient bamboo slips, glowing with a faint golden light, appeared before his eyes.
Qin Xuan reached out and touched them. The moment his fingers made contact, they transformed into three specks of golden light and shot into his glabella, merging with his mind.
An avalanche of information, techniques, and profound insights flooded his consciousness.
"Ghost Valley Breathing Technique—A superior internal cultivation breathing method, allowing one to cultivate internal energy, move silently, and be unaffected by toxic gases for a period of time."
"Horizontal Sword Technique—Furious as the wind, fierce as the waves. It embodies dominance and aggression. Earth-shattering momentum, brimming with killing intent, swift as lightning, ever-changing, every move lethal, giving the opponent no chance to breathe."
"Longitudinal Swordsmanship—Simple and unadorned. It embodies simplicity and efficiency. A single strike to kill, without excessive display or embellishment. A perfect, terrifying combination of speed, power, and accuracy."
[Inorin's Note: The Longitudinal and Horizontal Swordsmanship techniques are from the Ghost Valley School in the Qin's Moon universe. They are two of the most powerful sword arts in that world, practiced by the rivals Ge Nie (Longitudinal) and Wei Zhuang (Horizontal).]
Qin Xuan's eyes instantly lit up. This was a game-changer. This was a complete combat system, far beyond what any Spirit Hall academy could teach.
He didn't hesitate. He immediately sat down cross-legged and began to circulate his energy according to the Ghost Valley Breathing Technique. He could feel a new kind of power, separate from his spirit power, begin to cultivate in his Dantian.
Finally, he turned to the last, most opulent gold blind box. He took a deep breath and opened it.
There were no slips or cards this time. The box vanished, leaving behind a single, pulsing orb of crimson-gold light, about the size of a marble. It radiated an intense, ancient, and vital aura.
Qin Xuan reached out and touched it. The orb instantly dissolved, flowing into his palm and spreading through his entire body like molten gold.
[Ding! Host has received: True Dragon's Marrow (Minor)!]
[Description: A drop of diluted marrow from an ancient True Dragon. It will reforge the host's bones and cleanse their meridians, permanently increasing physique and talent. Perfectly compatible with the Ghost Valley Breathing Technique.]
An intense, burning pain erupted from every bone in his body. Qin Xuan gritted his teeth, refusing to make a sound as he felt his skeleton being cracked, purified, and reformed.
He continued this for nearly half an hour, his entire body drenched in a foul-smelling black sweat. When the process finally ended, he felt... reborn. His body, which had felt strong but clumsy, now felt light, incredibly durable, and perfectly in tune with his mind.
He checked his status again.
"Physique Level: Spirit King (High)"
"Talent: S+ (Peak)"
The Dragon's Marrow had elevated his physical foundation to match his spirit power.
He stood up, took a fine iron long sword from the spirit tool at his waist—a sword he used for daily practice—and stepped into the center of his room.
He took a breath, circulating the Ghost Valley Breathing Technique. The energy flowed smoothly, powerfully, through his newly forged meridians.
He moved.
He practiced the Longitudinal Swordsmanship first. It was one simple, unadorned thrust. But the air tore in front of his blade. It was fast, silent, and aimed at a single, fatal point.
Then, he shifted his stance, and his aura changed completely. He unleashed the Horizontal Swordsmanship. His movements became a ferocious, overwhelming storm of steel, full of killing intent, designed to dominate and destroy.
He lost himself in it, practicing for what felt like hours.
Only after both sets of sword techniques were completed did he finally stop, his face flushed with exertion and excitement. A smile that was impossible to hide spread across his face.
"This really is like someone bringing a pillow when you're sleepy." He laughed, the sound low and dangerous in the quiet room.
"It's actually the Ghost Valley Longitudinal and Horizontal Swordsmanship, an internal cultivation method, and a physique enhancement to use them... all from the Qin's Moon world."
He gripped the sword, no longer a simple Spirit King, but a true swordsman with the techniques of a grandmaster. The City of Slaughter no longer seemed like a death sentence. It was a forging ground.
[Inorin Note:
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