Chapter 22: Departure to the City of Slaughter
The 10-Headed Lieyang Serpent Inner Core.
Qin Xuan reflected on the items in his system inventory. In the original novel, Ma Hongjun had only barely succeeded in absorbing it at the Spirit Sage level, and that was under the triple guidance of Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, and the amplification of Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Although Ma Hongjun's usual neglect of cultivation was a significant factor, the raw, violent power of that Inner Core was undeniable. To absorb it, one's physique needed to reach at least the Spirit Saint level.
And currently, without a full set of Spirit Bones to enhance his physique, simply using the Ghost Valley Breathing Technique to clear and temper the meridians throughout his body was the best, albeit slowest, choice.
Thinking of this, Qin Xuan couldn't help but sigh. It seemed he still had a long way to go.
But he didn't get discouraged. He had to remind himself that his memory recovered late, and he had been thrown into a hellish start, almost costing him his life.
Now, he possessed the advanced cultivation technique of the Ghost Valley Breathing Technique. He also had the Longitudinal and Horizontal Swordsmanship, which would be a dimensionality-reduction strike in a place like Slaughter City, where Spirit Abilities were suppressed.
Even if the system suddenly disappeared, Qin Xuan firmly believed that he could achieve accomplishments far beyond the original Tang San.
[OOC warning, OOC warning. Detecting host's desire to unbind the system. The system will automatically unbind in three seconds... 3... 2...]
"Damn it!" Qin Xuan's eye twitched. "I was just casually showing off, do you have to take it so seriously? Cancel! Cancel!"
He quickly turned to the system mall page, eager to get on with his preparations.
He spent 30,000 emotional points to buy a large batch of high-grade detoxification pills, fast-acting hemostatic powder, rapid regeneration pills, and other internal and external healing medicines. He carefully organized them into his waist-mounted spirit tool.
Then he walked to the full-length mirror in the cultivation room. He activated the [Phoenix Fire] and [Thousand Faces].
The [Thousand Faces], which could disguise his appearance and aura, was adjusted to mask him as his usual self, but he suppressed his spirit power fluctuation to around Level 56.
The [Phoenix Fire], which could prevent miasma and disguise his Spirit and spirit rings, was far too flamboyant in its true style. He willed it to transform, and the fiery light condensed into a heavy, black robe that could completely cover his body, complete with a deep hood that cast his face in shadow.
"I never thought I'd reach the point where I needed to disguise myself to survive," Qin Xuan mused, checking his reflection. He confirmed there were no oversights.
He let out a long breath, laughed mockingly at his own shadowy figure, and walked out of the room.
At this time, two days had passed since Qin Xuan obtained the Mind Condensing Wisdom Skull.
On the day he received the Spirit Bone, his teacher, Jiangmo Douluo, had excitedly pulled him aside to try the Martial Soul Fusion Technique multiple times. After failing to replicate the phenomenon, a disappointed Jiangmo Douluo left him alone.
Qin Xuan had then asked Qian Jun for an unused room on the top floor of the Elder Palace.
This wasn't just a room; it was a top-tier cultivation chamber and an artificial simulated training ground. It could completely isolate internal spirit power fluctuations, allowing those inside to perceive the outside, while those outside could not perceive the inside.
In addition, the massive Angel God statue in the main hall had the passive effect of calming the mind and increasing the absorption rate of spirit power.
These factors made the Elder Palace a sacred ground that countless Spirit Masters flocked to, though few were ever granted entry.
Qin Xuan was Qian Jun's disciple and, more importantly, his and Jiangmo's hope for breaking their own bottlenecks. His teacher naturally wouldn't refuse.
Qin Xuan had spent these two days completely undisturbed, refining the Yearning Heartbroken Red and absorbing the Mind Condensing Wisdom Skull.
When he walked out of the Elder Palace's main hall, Yue Guan and Gui Mei—who had been ordered by Qian Xunji to escort him to Slaughter City—had already been waiting for a very long time.
"Little Qin Xuan." A somewhat sharp, effeminate voice entered his ears.
Yue Guan was leaning against a pillar, clad in his golden armor, high heels, and claw gauntlets. His appearance was, as always, indistinguishable between male and female.
He and the silent, wraith-like Gui Mei stood in a corner not far from the entrance, waving at Qin Xuan.
"Senior Yue Guan, Senior Gui Mei."
It seems our Supreme Pontiff is really worried about me... These two probably arrived yesterday. Qin Xuan had already guessed their intention was to ensure he entered the city of no return, but he still pretended to be surprised and walked over quickly.
"You brat, you really made us wait," Yue Guan scolded with a smile, though his eyes were sharp.
Although he said so, there was no real trace of complaint in his words. Instead, there was a sense of relief, and a deep, complicated curiosity.
Who told this kid to have such powerful talent and an even more terrifying background? It was fully imaginable what terrifying achievements Qin Xuan would attain in the future, if he walked out of Slaughter City.
"En." Gui Mei, shrouded in his black mist, softly responded and slowly nodded, as if in reply.
Just as Qin Xuan had guessed, they had arrived yesterday morning on the Supreme Pontiff's direct orders.
Who would have thought that Qin Xuan wouldn't come out for two whole days?
The Elder Palace was a forbidden area for those below Titled Douluo, and they had no right to enter without being summoned by a High Priest.
As for going back to the Supreme Pontiff? If they couldn't even handle this small matter of "escorting" someone, going back would purely be asking for a scolding. Therefore, they could only wait.
"Sorry, sorry. My spirit power was already close to breaking through to Level 55. After I broke through, I needed to absorb the Spirit Bone, which took a lot of time. I made you two wait," Qin Xuan spoke the excuse he had prepared, bowing respectfully.
"Does that mean... in these two days, you continuously advanced two levels?"
Yue Guan's eyes widened. Absorbing a Spirit Bone could also increase spirit power. Although a 50- or 60,000-year-old Spirit Bone was not comparable to a 100,000-year-old one, it was more than enough to raise a Spirit King by one level.
Yue Guan released his mental force to carefully sense Qin Xuan, and his face instantly soured. "His spirit power has already reached Level 56! And... his mental force..."
Gui Mei chimed in from the side, his voice a low rasp. "Indeed. His spirit power fluctuation has reached Level 56. And his mental force is not much inferior to ours."
"It seems that Spirit Bone gave you a considerable boost." This sentence was directed at Qin Xuan.
"A Spirit Bone... it really makes one envious." Yue Guan was genuinely jealous, his words having a double meaning. He envied both Qin Xuan's talent and his new Spirit Bone. "Why am I, who is about to break through to Titled Douluo, still without one?"
Gui Mei couldn't stand Yue Guan's whining and urged, "Alright, stop blabbering. We've already delayed a lot of time. Let's quickly send Qin Xuan to Slaughter City so we can report back to His Holiness the Supreme Pontiff."
The three set off. Gui Mei walked in front, a silent shadow setting a relentless pace. Yue Guan, clearly bored, glided alongside Qin Xuan.
Qin Xuan, not annoyed by the Elder's presence, saw an opportunity. He knew that Yue Guan was one of the very few people on the Douluo Continent who recognized Immortal Herbs, thanks to his own Spirit.
He subtly used his Spirit, the Odd Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, to bring up the topic. "Senior Yue Guan," he asked, "your Spirit is a plant, correct? I once read in a very old text about a flower that could judge a person's heart... I think it was called the Yearning Heartbroken Red?"
As expected, Yue Guan stopped dead in his tracks. He turned to Qin Xuan, his eyes wide, his flamboyant demeanor replaced by sharp intensity. "Where did you read that name?"
"Just an old, damaged scroll I found in the archives, Senior. It didn't say much," Qin Xuan lied smoothly.
Yue Guan seemed to have found a kindred spirit. He launched into a passionate, ceaseless lecture. "Ignorant boy! That is an Immortal Herb! A treasure of heaven and earth! People think plants are weak—they are fools! The true path to power lies in the flora of the world!"
For the next ten days, as Gui Mei silently scouted ahead, Yue Guan ceaselessly lectured Qin Xuan on the properties of rare and divine herbs. At the end of the journey, he even gave him a catalog of Immortal Herbs he had researched for many years.
This was an unexpected, but massive, bonus.
After leaving Spirit City, they headed north. The three followed a remote mountain path, and the air gradually grew colder and more desolate. As high-level Spirit Masters, the external cold was nothing to them, but the atmosphere grew oppressive.
They traveled during the day and camped at night.
After nearly ten days of roughing it, the three finally arrived at a small, dilapidated town.
This town was not large, but it was strange. The few passersby on the street all exuded a special kind of chill—a deadness in their eyes, a predatory malice.
Qin Xuan knew this well. He knew they were about to enter Slaughter City, so he put on his hood early, concealing his true appearance.
It was late autumn. Dead leaves scattered across the muddy street, and the sun was setting. The evening glow in the west, a smear of blood-red, contrasted with this dilapidated town, making it appear particularly desolate.
Led by Gui Mei, the three entered the town.
What slightly surprised Qin Xuan was that the imagined tavern face-slapping scene did not occur. There was no tavern, and Yue Guan and Gui Mei clearly had no intention of making him drink the "Bloody Mary."
Of course, he realized. I'm not a random challenger. I'm a Spirit Hall genius being personally escorted by two quasi-Titled Douluo. This isn't a test; it's a delivery.
Gui Mei merely stood at the door of a dilapidated civilian house, pulled out a black-and-gold Spirit Hall token, and held it up.
Soon, a noisy sound of grinding gears and mechanical vibrations came from within the house. The entire wall of the civilian house split open, revealing a dark, descending staircase.
An 11-person team rushed out of the door, lining up neatly in front of the three. All were dressed in heavy black armor, and even their faces were completely covered by iron helmets and masks shaped like weeping ghosts.
Ten of them held an iron ghost-mask shield in their left hand and a spear in their right. The leader, sitting on a gaunt, armored horseback, held the reins and made way, silently signaling Qin Xuan to enter the darkness.
[Inorin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep translating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/InorinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
This translation is my full-time passion, and your support is what makes it possible for me to dedicate myself completely to bringing you this story. Thank you for reading!
As a special offer, I've opened a few limited-time tiers at a discounted price! You will get all the benefits of "The Plot Uncoverer" (normally $25), but at a much cheaper rate.
These slots are extremely limited:
"The Dedicated Fan": $9.99 (Save 60% / $15.01) - Only 3 slots
"The Lore Diver": $14.99 (Save 40% / $10.01) - Only 7 slots
"The Founding Pillars": $19.99 (Save 20% / $5.01) - Only 15 slots
Grab your slot before they run out! Besides membership, you can also donate via Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/inorintl].
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]