Chapter 12: Beauty is Justice
Although his spirit power had not increased by a large numerical value, the benefits of the Ghost Valley Breathing Technique were already making themselves known. His cultivation speed had made a qualitative leap forward, improving by at least 50%.
He could close his eyes and feel the spirit power in his surroundings rushing toward him, filtering through his body with an eagerness that wasn't there before.
Furthermore, he could vaguely sense that the meridians within his body had become much clearer and more resilient. The flow of his spirit power was no longer a rushing river; it was a pressurized, high-speed current.
Once all his 8 extraordinary meridians were fully opened and tempered by this technique, his future cultivation speed would only get faster and faster.
Even his spirit power itself would undergo a qualitative change, becoming denser and purer than that of a Spirit Master at the same level. He confidently believed that within 2 months, he would be able to advance to Level 55.
This was a terrifying concept. The further one progresses in cultivation, the harder it is to increase spirit power. At the Spirit King stage, a normal Spirit Master who can advance 2 levels in a single year is already considered a top-tier genius. Advancing 3 levels is extremely rare, the mark of a monster.
Qin Xuan had only broken through to Level 54 a month ago.
This meant that in the coming year, he would be able to advance at least 4 spirit power levels, and perhaps even 5.
This, coupled with the Longitudinal and Horizontal Swordsmanship, gave Qin Xuan the confidence to handle even a Spirit Douluo with ease in the Slaughter City—a closed World where Spirit Abilities were completely sealed.
After all, the power of the Hundred Steps Flying Sword and Traverse the Eight Directions was not just talk.
[Inorin's Note: The Longitudinal and Horizontal Swordsmanship, Hundred Steps Flying Sword (Gai Nie), and Traverse the Eight Directions (Wei Zhuang) are all signature techniques from the "Ghost Valley" school in the Chinese 3D animation Qin's Moon (Qin Shi Mingyue). This is a crossover element.]
The former was a legendary assassination technique, known as 'One Blade Severing the Throat, Hundred Steps Flying Sword'. The latter, its horizontal counterpart, possessed a destructive area-of-effect power not inferior to the former.
They were the ultimate killing swords in the Ghost Valley philosophy.
In terms of sheer explosive expressiveness, they might not compare to the world-bending 10,000-year or even 100,000-year Spirit Abilities of the Douluo Continent.
But one must not forget: the use of Spirit Abilities on the Douluo Continent is fundamentally based on the use of one's Spirit and spirit rings. In Slaughter City, that foundation is removed.
The metal weapons used by Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang in their world, even if they were famous and considered rare sharp weapons, were still just mundane steel. They were far from comparable to the powerful Tool Spirits of the Douluo Continent, especially one like his, bonded with 5 high-quality spirit rings.
If he could use his Changming Sword—a top-tier Spirit in its own right—to unleash the combined attack of Hundred Steps Flying Sword and Traverse the Eight Directions, a strategy of vertical alliance and horizontal integration...
Excluding the factor of a huge difference in spirit power, their destructive force would probably be no less than the 8th or even 9th Spirit Abilities of those Titled Douluo.
It was pure, unadulterated sword skill, amplified by a divine weapon.
Having obtained the Longitudinal and Horizontal Swordsmanship and the Ghost Valley Breathing Technique, Qin Xuan was in a great mood. He opened the interface for his third and final blind box.
"This is…" Qin Xuan's breathing suddenly quickened.
If the second blind box gave Qin Xuan enough confidence to pass the hundred consecutive victories in Slaughter City, then the third blind box directly guaranteed it.
It was a large chrysanthemum. Its color was a deep, noble purple, with fuzzy, velvety petals. It was strange, as it emitted no scent whatsoever. The central stamen was half a foot taller than the petals, standing proudly. The entire plant looked like a natural, integrated whole, carved from purple jade.
Qin Xuan recognized the origin of this chrysanthemum at a glance. It was a neutral-aligned Immortal Herb.
It was the Quirky Nimbus Chrysanthemum.
[System: Host has obtained [Quirky Nimbus Chrysanthemum].]
Consuming it would circulate qi through the limbs, forcefully clear all 8 extraordinary meridians, strengthen the physique from the inside out, and immediately increase spirit power.
Moreover, it would consolidate the foundation and cultivate the origin, with absolutely no side effects.
Perhaps this was not the most perfectly suitable Immortal Herb for his Vermillion Bird attribute, like a fire-based herb would be, but it was exactly what he needed most at this moment.
Slaughter City was simply too dangerous. In addition to achieving a hundred consecutive victories, he also needed to pass the dreaded Hell Road.
During this period, he would need to contend with Spirit Douluo-level powerhouses, all without his Spirit Abilities.
On the Hell Road, he would also need to ensure he killed the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent.
That inner core was simply too important to him.
To some extent, it even concerned his future potential. The Vermillion Bird sealed in his sword was an ancient beast, but it was still just a soul. The Serpent's core, an item of ultimate Yang and fire, could potentially give it a true, physical form, evolving his Spirit entirely.
In short, the more strength he gained before entering, the more assured his chances of success would be.
Suppressing his eagerness to consume and absorb the herb on the spot, Qin Xuan's gaze sharpened, and he looked around the room. He was still in his chambers in the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
Absorbing an Immortal Herb was a top priority, but doing it here was a fatal risk.
The energy fluctuation from an Immortal Herb was immense and uncontrollable. Once he encountered a Titled Douluo—like his two teachers, or worse, Qian Xunji—his new spirit power level would be instantly exposed.
He would have no way to explain the origin of an Immortal Herb, a treasure that even Titled Douluo coveted. It would invite a disaster he could not handle.
He rummaged through his boxes and cabinets, finding an exquisite, empty jade box. He carefully placed the Quirky Nimbus Chrysanthemum inside, sealing its aura, and put it into his spirit tool storage belt.
Only then did he open the door and windows, letting the fresh air in as he formulated his new plan.
Before absorbing the herb, he needed to buy the 2 life-saving items from the mall: Phoenix Fire and Thousand Faces. Then, he would try his luck with the lottery.
After that, he might as well pay a visit to his two "cheap teachers" for some benefits. Who knows, they might be sentimental enough to give him a Spirit Bone for his "suicide mission" to Slaughter City?
Even if the age was low, it didn't matter as long as it improved his strength. The big roulette could draw Spirit Bone replacement coupons, and he didn't believe he would never draw one in his life.
If he was lucky, he might even be able to get some benefits from... Xiao Gang. Or perhaps, he could take a risk and get something from Qian Xunji.
He opened the mall, his Emotion Value well over 60,000 thanks to Yu Xiaogang. He quickly found his targets.
He selected Phoenix Fire, a set of robes that possessed spirit power and could defend against blades, guns, and miasma, for 50,000 Emotion Value.
He also selected Thousand Faces, a mask that could change his appearance and aura, for 10,000 Emotion Value.
Then, without any hesitation, he clicked purchase.
Inside the room, a red light and a white light flashed one after another. A bright red, impeccably styled long coat and a blank, porcelain-white mask appeared from nothing, floating in the air.
The air in Slaughter City was filled with trace toxins released by the infamous Bloody Mary drink, and the Hell Road was a concentrated area of those toxins.
This was why Hu Liena, even after Tang San helped her, was still deeply affected by the Hell Road. It caused her killing intent to spiral out of control and almost turned her into a fallen, mindless monster.
Poisonous gas is also a type of miasma.
With this Phoenix Fire robe, which could passively defend against all miasma, his safety in Slaughter City would undoubtedly be greatly guaranteed.
And Thousand Faces could help him better conceal his identity, preventing Qian Xunji from making a move against him or tracking him after he escaped.
However, what he truly needed to rely on was his own strength.
"The style is not bad," Qin Xuan remarked, storing the Phoenix Fire and Thousand Faces. He then opened the big roulette.
It showed 1 draw opportunity, each costing 1,000 Emotion Value.
On the big roulette, the items were bizarre, ranging from daily necessities like "A box of instant noodles" to god-tier items like Immortal Herbs, Spirit Bones, Spirit Ring Age Replenishment Cards, and Spirit Bone Replacement Cards.
Some things, even Qin Xuan, who had read countless texts, couldn't figure out what they were.
Qin Xuan directly clicked "draw." A flash of white light suddenly appeared, materializing from nothing and landing in front of him. He reached out his right hand. In his palm rested a milky white pill the size of a longan, glowing faintly.
[Congratulations, Host, you have obtained [Youth-Preserving Pill].]
"Can I even draw this thing?"
Qin Xuan was a little surprised. At the same time, he was more delighted.
Youth-Preserving Pill, as the name suggests, could preserve youth and grant eternal beauty, locking his appearance at its current state forever.
With this, when he absorbed the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent's inner core later, he wouldn't have to worry about turning into a red-haired, mutated punk like Ma Hongjun.
Moreover, whether he was strong or not was just a matter of time and effort, but whether he was handsome or not... that was a lifelong matter.
"Looks are justice," Qin Xuan comforted himself with the modern-day idiom.
Qin Xuan walked to the full-length mirror in his room and nodded with genuine satisfaction. In terms of appearance, he was truly flawless.
His net height was close to 1.9 meters, and with shoes on, he was exactly 1.9 meters tall.
His long black hair cascaded like a waterfall, his eyebrows were dark and sharp, his nose was slender and straight, his lips were thin, and his facial features were well-defined. His skin was fair. He had a truly, undeniably handsome face.
Coupled with his lean body and long legs, he might not be a top-tier handsome man by some standards, but he was simply good-looking and enduringly so. The contour of his half-profile face was like it had been polished by a mountain spring. If he didn't frown in a cold manner, he looked gentle and clear.
Although Spirit Masters don't age easily, who wouldn't want to keep their appearance at their most handsome?
His Spirit contained the Vermillion Bird. He was planning to absorb the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent. Both were extreme-Yang, extreme-fire beings. Who knew if he would end up mutating like Ma Hongjun after consuming the inner core?
Even Bibi Dong, as powerful as she was, her appearance in the original work remained frozen around 30 years old. Although she was still very beautiful, he, Qin Xuan, did not want to become a 19-year-old who looked like a middle-aged uncle.
Without much hesitation, Qin Xuan flicked his finger. The Youth-Preserving Pill flew into his mouth and melted instantly.
He didn't feel anything unusual, only a pleasant, warm current flowing through his body, reaching his limbs and meridians. He shivered once, but quickly returned to normal.
"Have I already achieved eternal youth?" Qin Xuan narcissistically stroked his face, which felt exactly the same.
He smiled, walked out of the room, and hurried towards the Elder Palace.
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