On both banks of a dark yellow, viscous great river, deep crimson seven-petaled flowers blood in overwhelming profusion.
A monstrous figure, bull-headed and a man’s body, stood a zhang tall, wielding an iron hoe as it ceaselessly dug into the mud along the shore. Once it had shoveled out a deep pit, a chunk of black iron emanating whirling, ghostly Yin energy imdiately caught its bovine eyes.
Instantly overjoyed, the bull-headed monster let out a grunt. In a flash, a gray fla burst from its nostrils, engulfing the entire chunk of black iron.
This fire was the renowned ’Samadhi True Fla’; only when one’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit all reached Great Perfection would they transform into Primordial Essence, Primordial Qi, and Primordial Spirit—each giving rise to a unique fire. When all three blazes fused, Samadhi True Fla was born.
The burning power of Samadhi True Fla was extraordinary, but that naless block of black iron was exceptional as well. It took a full seven days and nights of relentless burning before the whole of it lted into molten iron. Under the minotaur’s control, the liquid slowly took shape, finally morphing into a double-bladed fork several feet in length.
The bull-headed monster stretched out its hand to grasp the air. Imdiately, water from the Yellow Springs River coiled forth like flying serpents, slamming into the gleaming double-bladed fork.
Hiss hiss hiss!!!
The double-bladed fork sizzled on contact, the refinent by Yellow Springs water bestowing it with divine and supernatural might—it could snatch souls, unimpeded anywhere, possessing also a soul-quelling force: any soul pierced by that fork would be paralyzed, unable to escape.
...
Qin Yuesheng slowly returned to himself, having witnessed the entire process of the minotaur forging the Yinsha Double-Bladed Fork, imprinted deep into his mind.
This thod of forging, though he was unable to perform it now for lack of Samadhi True Fla, was indelibly etched into mory, impossible to forget. Soday, when his own Essence, Qi, and Spirit each reached Great Perfection, he could then command Samadhi True Fla and put it into practice.
Beyond gaining those mories, Qin Yuesheng also learned from the bull-headed apparition’s fragnted recollections the true purpose of the Netherworld Soldier Seal and the Yin Soldier Fate Star.
Every living thing has a Fate Star—be it demon, monster, human; plants and trees; birds and beasts, all are endowed with one.
The Yin Soldier Fate Star, however, is a rare and special type. With it, one can command ghosts, the dead, even corpses—making them serve at their will. When confronted with fiends and spirits, this Fate Star exerts a suppressive force, aweing all kinds of evil entities.
Truly, a hundred evils fear it, a hundred hexes cannot touch it.
As for the Netherworld Soldier Seal, only those in possession of the Yin Soldier Fate Star may wield it; with it in hand, one can appoint and command three thousand Netherworld Shadow Soldiers—who can transform into crows to fly, their bodies as hard as iron and stone, their gaze enough to wear down the spirit. They are also called the ’Three Thousand Crow Soldiers’.
However, this is effective only against common folk—in the face of true masters, the Netherworld Shadow Soldiers are of limited use.
Clutching both the Yin Soldier Fate Star and the Netherworld Soldier Seal, Qin Yuesheng mused silently: "These two objects are not of much use to . For to keep the Yin Soldier Fate Star makes little sense. It would be better to cultivate an outsider to wield it."
In addition, Qin Yuesheng possessed the Snake-Armored Army’s legacy—the blessing of the Snake Empress. With this, plus the Netherworld Soldier Seal, it would be a perfect pairing for conquest, an ideal combination for vying for supremacy.
Qin Yuesheng himself held no interest in becoming Emperor, but he was willing to install soone he controlled upon the throne of the Nine Provinces of this world.
Just then, a very suitable target appeared vividly in Qin Yuesheng’s mind.
It was none other than his apprentice, Sanhuang, who currently resided in the Twelve Linked Rings, bearing the aura of the dragon.
To let one marked by Dragon Qi sit idle and not strive for the world’s mastery—was that not an unforgivable waste?
Yet Sanhuang, being half an orphan—though his mother yet lived, she did not acknowledge, raise, nor instruct him.
Thus, Sanhuang’s learning was woefully lacking. Should he ever beco Emperor, he might well end up a rogue on the throne.
"Right now the world is in turmoil. Mysterious forces like the White Lotus Saint Sect and Yellow Turban Immortal Sect support rebels and stir up trouble in secret. Why not muddy these already turbulent waters a bit more, let pull the strings from behind—then perhaps Sanhuang will be able to vie for the Central Plains," Qin Yuesheng decided, stowing away the two items as he set his plan in motion.
Ah Jiu’s wind-cold affliction was severe. After examining her and prescribing several rounds of dicine, the doctor Qin Yuesheng found soon left. With Linghua dead, there was no longer anyone at Ah Jiu’s side for close attendance.
During bouts of wind-cold and fever, the body inevitably breaks out in sticky sweat. Frequent assistance is needed—wiping the body, bathing, changing and arranging clothing.
Although Dong Zhou was charged with Ah Jiu’s protection, naturally he was not suited for such tasks. Aware of the difference between n and won, Qin Yuesheng, as soon as the sun rose, had Dong Zhou, in his own na, fetch from the Qin Mansion his four personal maids—Chunfeng, Xia Yu, Qiushuang, and Dongxue—so they could care for Ah Jiu.
Originally, Qin Yuesheng would have attended to these duties himself, but given his current stunning looks, who knew how many proper ladies and innocent maidens would, upon glimpsing his handso face, fall instantly and hopelessly in love—so lovesick that, deprived of seeing him, they would pine and fade away with neither appetite nor joy.
To avoid these young won suffering the fate of ’falling for Yuesheng at first sight and ruining their lives’, Qin Yuesheng could only trouble others to act on his behalf.
Morning sunlight poured down from the heavens, making the figure of Huang Ting standing in the courtyard blindingly bright.
As Qin Yuesheng approached, Huang Ting imdiately turned and announced, "Young Master Qin, I descended from the West Qi Mountain Temple only after I saw another’s Life Star enter Cyan Yang City. Fearing it ant danger rather than aid, I ant to lend you assistance. Now all matters are settled, it is ti for to return to West Qi Mountain for further cultivation."
"Thank you so much, Daoist Priest." Qin Yuesheng clasped his fists in gratitude.
"Young Master Qin, I am unworthy of such thanks. I claid I would help you, but last night contributed little of substance. In truth, I am quite ashad," Huang Ting replied.
"Hahaha, Daoist, you are an honest man," Qin Yuesheng chuckled. "Then I won’t see you off. Next ti I’ll visit West Qi Mountain Temple and share so tea. The spirit tea you grow there is truly sothing special."
"I see that Young Master Qin is not yet well versed in the ways of the Life Star. You are a rare individual who possesses one. If you cannot wield its power, unleash the Life Star Realm, it would be a real pity. Last night I copied down from mory so records about the Life Star from our temple. I hope you will study them carefully; perhaps they will help you learn to unleash the Life Star Realm."
Seeing Huang Ting draw a thick sheaf of papers from his robes, Qin Yuesheng was both astonished and moved. Such dedication was heartwarming!
"Thank you, Daoist Priest—rest assured, I will study them thoroughly and not let your labor go to waste," Qin Yuesheng said earnestly.
At these words, Huang Ting nodded calmly, then took his leave with the bearing of a true master.
Having stashed away the sheaf of papers, Qin Yuesheng promptly departed Cyan Yang City from another direction.
Last night, he’d obtained Inner Strength Pills from Yuan Wudi and those two eunuchs, but had been too busy to consu them. Now, with ti to spare, it was the perfect opportunity to take the Inner Strength Pills and attempt to break through another major acupoint.
Yuan Wudi was a powerhouse of the eighth level of the Inner Power Realm, and those eunuchs both had the fourth. Ingesting the pills from all three would provide Qin Yuesheng enough power to advance further.
But the disturbance created in breaking through the Nativity Acupoint would be far too conspicuous for Cyan Yang City itself. Instead, Qin Yuesheng sought out a grassy hill outside the city, sat down cross-legged, and began swallowing the Inner Strength Pills.
Down went the first pill. Instantly, a warm current surged through his body, rushing into his Dantian and transforming into his own Inner Strength.
A second, third, fourth pill...
By the ti the final Inner Strength Pill was swallowed, Qin Yuesheng’s whole body was flushed and tuscent, muscles as hard as iron.
There was no room for hesitation. Without delay, he mobilized all the Inner Strength in his body and forcefully charged at the seventh Nativity Acupoint—the ’Kaiyuan Acupoint’.
Crack!
A barely perceptible snapping sound rang out. Qin Yuesheng felt his mind swell and ache, vision spinning, stars dancing before his eyes.
The higher one’s Nativity Acupoints open, the more intense the impact on a Martial Artist’s body during each breakthrough.
Without caution, one not only fails but may end up bedeviled or grievously wounded.
Fortunately, Qin Yuesheng’s spirit was extraordinary, his physique formidable. After three successive attempts, a torrent of Inner Strength burst forth from the Kaiyuan Acupoint at his back, piercing a nearby boulder more than two zhang in height—this marked Qin Yuesheng’s formal advance into the seventh layer of the Inner Power Realm.
Seven white rings appeared behind him, as vast quantities of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi surged in from all directions, flooding into his body, endlessly supplying him with Inner Strength.
"At the Inner Power Realm’s tenth layer, only the final three Nativity Acupoints remain. Yet, to this day, I have never sensed the existence of my Essence, Qi, or Spirit, and I do not know to what extent these three have developed. How far am I from achieving Perfection, to transform them into Primordial Essence, Primordial Qi, and Primordial Spirit?" Qin Yuesheng mulled, taking out a Replenishing Essence Pill. After a mont’s contemplation, he tried swallowing it as a test.
Unlike the Inner Strength Pill, the Replenishing Essence Pill spread a wave of comforting heat to every corner of his body.
Essence is the foundation of the body; when essence flourishes, one’s blood and vitality surge. Should a man be overly robust, Yang overwhelms Yin in the body.
At such tis, the balance among the five viscera asserts itself, with the kidneys playing a dominant role.
Qin Yuesheng’s eyes turned bloodshot—he was truly on the brink of madness from pent-up energy. In haste, he began practicing the Profound Celestial Scripture and Primordial Yang Skill, trying to rein in the wild changes within him.
But the effects were minimal—one Replenishing Essence Pill was ultimately too fierce in its power.
In desperation, Qin Yuesheng suddenly recalled that since the Replenishing Essence Pill had co from the bull-headed Yin Soldier, perhaps the [Spiritual Sense Hundred Refinent Skill] he’d extracted from the sa source might help.
At that thought, Qin Yuesheng set about cultivating the Spiritual Sense Hundred Refinent Skill.
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