This is no joke; he came with a longing for demonic Qi.
As for whether the demonic Qi differs between individuals, he couldn't be absolutely certain.
After all, his only experience was with the demonic Qi of Feng Chi, and his understanding was shallow at best.
But under normal logic, there shouldn't be any problems.
To be sure, he had to try it first.
Sun Shigang thought of another issue, "Why do you say I'm from the demonic path?"
Shi Chun replied, "Alright, maybe you're not from the demonic path, that's my mistake. Come on now, let’s see some demonic Qi."
Wu Jinliang cracked a wide grin, finding it amusing how the Big Boss sometimes showed compassion.
Sun Shigang was speechless and stubbornly said, "I'm not from the demonic path, so where would I get demonic Qi for you?"
Shi Chun pointed at him, "I'll say this one last time: either you give me some demonic Qi now, or I'll go to Xiang Lan'er to get it. You choose right now."
How could he choose? Sun Shigang was at a loss, never having encountered a situation like this.
He'd heard of robbing money or affection, but not demonic Qi.
He wanted to be firm, but the problem was that they weren't even asking sensitive questions, so was there a point in being stubborn? You have to consider what you're giving up, after all.
Losing some demonic Qi didn't seem like much.
Getting tortured or killed over something trivial wasn't worth it.
He decided it was wiser to give up some demonic Qi and gauge the situation.
He retreated a step, asking, "How do I know you'll let me go afterward?"
Shi Chun replied, "If you don't trust me, then even if I promise, you won't believe me. The point is, if you're willing to help me, I'll abide by the Three-Lineage Covenant. If you're not, then we're not on the same path. It's that simple. So choose: give or not?"
"Ah," Sun Shigang sighed, then suddenly said with anger, "You already crippled my limbs."
Shi Chun responded, "In the cultivation world, that's not a big deal. As long as you're alive, they'll heal. So, are you saying you won't give it?"
He flipped his hand to bring out a third-grade Immobilization Talisman, preparing to attack.
He didn’t dare touch the iron chain directly.
Given Sun Shigang's cultivation, even using the chain as a medium, wouldn’t kill him, but could still cause serious injury.
The reason for hanging him in mid-air was simple.
Having witnessed Feng Chi injuring Cen Futong by channeling force through the ground, he realized suspending someone amidst iron chains, beams of stone, and cave walls would make harming people extraordinarily difficult.
Seeing his adversary bring out the Immobilization Talisman once more, Sun Shigang felt inwardly furious.
But in reality, he was at the mercy of Shi Chun, and had to face the facts reluctantly.
Moreover, Shi Chun hadn’t done anything that crossed his bottom line.
Sun Shigang had no choice but to silently operate his cultivation method.
Soon, a faint black mist started to seep out from the iron tower-like chain, gradually intensifying.
As the black mist enveloped them, Shi Chun felt a sense of elation and euphoria as it touched his skin.
His cultivation technique automatically began absorbing the mist.
He closed his eyes and inhaled a deep breath of demonic Qi, his expression one of utter bliss.
Across the mist, Sun Shigang cursed inwardly, recognizing Shi Chun as a person of the demonic path.
Witnessing Shi Chun's enjoyment, Wu Jinliang grew curious.
As the mist approached, he instinctively inhaled a tiny amount.
That small whiff almost caused his eyes to bulge out.
His mouth open, he sputtered "Gah gah," as if a fishbone lodged in his throat.
His airway and lungs felt as if filled with molten lava, burning him breathless and close to suffocation.
In an instant, snot and tears ran down, his eyes veined with red, the sensation overwhelming.
Unable to remain in the mist, he grabbed his throat and stumbled away.
As he reached the outer room, he collapsed, desperately casting a spell to dispel the inner agony.
Others, upon encountering demonic Qi, would cast spells to hold their breath, avoiding inhalation.
But here he was, willingly breathing it deep into his lungs.
Talk about seeking trouble.
Realizing the demonic Qi was still flowing, he struggled to crawl towards the cave's entrance.
Soon he felt lightened; someone had scooped him up — and he didn't need to look to know who it was.
The sky outside was bright.
He was flung to the ground alongside his hefty saber.
A hand pressed against his chest, heat surging into his lungs, expelling the agonizing demonic Qi.
Relief washed over him, lying on the ground, gasping.
Beside him, Shi Chun looked at his own palm thoughtfully, hatching an idea: if he could extract the demonic Qi from Wu Jinliang, could he also draw it out of Sun Shigang?
After catching his breath, Wu Jinliang groaned like a dying dog, "I say, Brother Chun, you can ingest such agonizing stuff and even enjoy it! You’ve really put me through the wringer."
Shi Chun chuckled bitterly, understanding now why Feng Chi had figured him to be of the demonic path.
There was no need to explain.
He instructed, "Once I'm back inside, block the entrance, but leave a few air holes. Don't let the demonic Qi leak out and be discovered. Keep those four others alive for now; don't kill them. It's best if you also dig a hole to hide in."
Wu Jinliang clutched Shi Chun’s sleeve, whispering, "Are you really poisoned?"
Shi Chun whispered back, "I need to cultivate a demonic technique. The demonic Qi benefits my cultivation."
Wu Jinliang blinked at him, bewildered, "No wonder you insisted on bringing that Sun fellow here. Couldn’t you just tell the truth straight up?"
Shi Chun apologized, "And say what? Eight Uncle taught me demonic techniques, would that be enough?"
Wu Jinliang winced as if in pain, "No wonder we couldn't master it; turns out you need a naturally demonic disposition. By the way, how long will you stay here?"
Shi Chun answered, "Not sure, but sharpening the sword is always right. Everything outside is in your hands for now."
Wu Jinliang nodded, "Alright, you focus inside. I'll alert you if anything's awry."
Shi Chun, satisfied, checked his stash of cultivation pills, then returned to the cave.
He sealed the entrance after him, leaving only a small hole as a precaution.
Once he consumed the pills, he made Sun Shigang continue releasing demonic Qi for treatment.
He sat down outside the interior space, separated by a thick stone wall for additional safety.
As the demonic Qi wafted towards him, Shi Chun embraced it, letting his cultivation technique absorb it joyfully, like a fish returning to water after a long drought.
Outside, Wu Jinliang quickly noticed demonic Qi seeping from the tiny entrance.
Alarmed, he grabbed his weapon and reduced the opening, only stopping once no demonic Qi was visible.
After checking on the four captives, he took some medicine himself and sat down to meditate, intending to recuperate.
In the Western Extreme competition grounds, dawn had broken, while in the Shengshen Continent's royal capital, it was still night, bustling with activity in the martial arena.
After the feast, Miao Dingyi, encouraged by his wife and daughter, came by again despite knowing it was just the beginning and wouldn't be particularly exciting.
They were curious about the ongoing events and a bit concerned about Shi Chun, having seen his frail state for the first time.
Miao Dingyi, cherishing his vacation time with his wife and daughter, didn't object, choosing to spend and accompany them during their holiday cheerfully.
They avoided the crowded martial arena, instead heading to the hilltop acquired by Young Master Nan.
The pavilion and towers were deserted at night since the nobility wasn't present, leaving only a solitary figure nursing a drink by the railing — it was none other than Young Master Nan.
Surprised, the family exchanged glances.
Known for enjoying life, it wasn’t like him to seek solitude, so they approached to greet him.
Upon hearing footsteps, Young Master Nan turned, forcing a smile, "Brother Miao, sister-in-law, you've come."
He nodded politely at Miao Yilan.
"What’s troubling you?" Miao Dingyi queried as they stood alongside.
"Nothing," Young Master Nan replied offhandedly.
Taking his word for it, Miao Dingyi let the matter drop, focusing instead on the vibrant scene unfolding in the light display — mostly showing the handsome men and beautiful women from the Primordial Origin Sect, interspersed with brief glimpses of others.
Watching for a while, Miao Dingyi gradually grasped why the usually cheerful Young Master Nan seemed downcast here, and jokingly inquired, "Are many people betting on the Primordial Origin Sect?"
That hit the mark, and with a sigh, Young Master Nan admitted, "The wealthy are being cautious; it’s ten to one odds. Though the large bets aren't concerning, the sheer number of small bets from ordinary folks is terrifying. Honestly, even from the common bettors alone, nearly a hundred billion has been staked. I'm afraid this time, I might lose everything, even my underwear."
Seeing so many had bet, Miao Dingyi quirked his lips in amusement, "No need to worry. Your wealth, Young Master Nan, should cover this loss easily."
Young Master Nan scoffed, "You, Brother Miao, manage affairs for the Bowang Pavilion, so you should understand; when it comes to something like this, the gains and losses aren't mine alone. The issue is, some people are allowed to earn, but not to lose."
Lan Qiaoyan, beside him, expressed her confusion, "Didn’t Young Master Nan say that searching in this field isn't solely about martial prowess? It’s only just begun, so why do you seem certain about incurring a loss already?"
Miao Dingyi laughed, nodding towards the image in the light display, "Predicting is never flawless; unexpected events are quite normal. If you compare the scenes from the Primordial Origin Sect and other sects, haven't you noticed? Primordial Origin Sect seems to have gathered a significant following, seemingly leading others in Xuan Prefecture.
If I’m not mistaken, the various factions in Xuan Prefecture have united under Primordial Origin Sect's command. In contrast, other regions haven’t managed this cohesion; at most, they assemble small groups. The problem is that no single sect is strong enough to dominate others in the regions.
All wish to be the top, and don’t concede inferiority to one another. Thus, while the Primordial Origin Sect inherently leads thanks to its strength, adding the united front from Xuan Prefecture means there should be no doubt about the final outcome. Based on ten to one odds, Young Master Nan, you might lose quite a bit, hence your melancholy."
Young Master Nan made a wry smile, bowed, pleading not to further mention it.
Understanding dawned on Lan Qiaoyan, and she looked at Young Master Nan with sympathy.
Miao Yilan made a quick mental calculation and stuck out her tongue playfully at the considerable sum he might forfeit.
(Chapter concluded)