The pain of others can be understood but never truly experienced.
After a casual glance, the family of three bid farewell to Young Master Nan, leaving him in his melancholy.
As they descended the mountain and boarded the carriage pulled by spirit beasts, Lan Qiaoyan whispered to her husband, "Setting up such a big plan without proper estimation beforehand? How could there be such a big loophole?"
Miao Dingyi replied, "The possibility of different compensations means there must have been some estimation. Each region's situation was likely considered, but it was underestimated. They were too optimistic. After all, those guys are used to making easy money and are capable of handling trouble. Under normal circumstances, they could probably disrupt Primordial Origin Sect's win. However, they didn't expect Primordial Origin Sect to rise so dramatically. Their small tricks failed, and afraid to resort to extreme measures, they met their match in Shengshen Prefecture's first major sect. It was bound to be uncomfortable."
Lan Qiaoyan chuckled and shook her head in amusement.
Miao Yilan stayed silent, listening quietly.
She realized her parents no longer avoided her in these discussions.
As dawn broke, Xiang Lan'er, part of the departing team, looked back several times but received no response from Sun Shigang.
Throughout the night, she had sent several signals using sandalwood flame Qi.
She was unsure what had happened on Sun Shigang's end.
It felt strange not to be able to contact him.
She felt uneasy, as Sun Shigang was the link to the other twelve teams.
If anything happened to him, she might lose contact with them since her identity wasn't disclosed unnecessarily.
The fighting for the Insect Essence Crystals had just begun.
No need for conflict yet; no accidents should have occurred.
There was still the mysterious disappearance of Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang.
Were these isolated events or interconnected? Did Sun Shigang take action after all?
The teams, as planned, dispersed.
Twenty or so sects spread out searching for Insect Essence Crystals.
Bai Zhuchuan kept Wukang Mountain's remaining three members close for easy contact.
"Still hasn't neutralized the poison?"
Shi Chun, who was meditating, heard Sun Shigang's repeated shouts from within the cave and replied as always, "Not that fast. This poison requires gradual neutralization."
Sun Shigang complained, "I've been circulating demonic Qi for nearly a day. My vitality is severely depleted. I'm already injured."
He wasn't just bluffing.
The demonic Qi was indeed diminishing.
Shi Chun got up, entered the cave's inner chamber, tossed sandalwood gold on the ground for light, noticed Sun Shigang's pale complexion, and tossed him some pills, "Open your mouth; I'll give you a boost."
Sun Shigang, exhausted, opened his mouth at the sight of the pills.
Shi Chun, cautious of close contact, flicked the pills into his mouth from afar, saying, "No hurry. Restore yourself first. We'll continue after a rest."
Continue? Swallowing the pills, Sun Shigang reluctantly asked, "How long will this demonic poison take to neutralize?"
Shi Chun answered, "Do you think I want this either? I don't know exactly how long it will take. It seems to be effective and shouldn't be too long. Rest up, and we'll continue later. I'll check on your partners to provide more demonic Qi."
Sun Shigang was confused, "Where would they get demonic Qi?"
Shi Chun questioned, "Aren't they your demonic path partners?"
Sun Shigang explained, "Partners, yes. But not every demonic path cultivator practices demonic techniques. Without them, there's no demonic Qi. They're just peripheral members in Falling Moon Valley."
Understanding this, Shi Chun said no more, urging him to recover.
He left a piece of sandalwood gold for light and exited.
The demonic Qi had faded enough for Shi Chun to venture outside without suffocating.
Nearby, Wu Jinliang was startled by his emergence.
They exchanged a few words, walked a bit further away, and Wu Jinliang asked, "Why come out?"
Shi Chun replied, "The guy's exhausted after a day of demonic Qi release. Let him rest."
Wu Jinliang curiously asked, "Is there progress with demonic Qi training?"
Shi Chun, excited, said, "Very obvious progress, supplemented with pills, faster than before. It's an exhilarating feeling."
Wu Jinliang shared his excitement, contrasting the unorthodox method with traditional cultivation, "Using demonic Qi for cultivation—such an unconventional approach. No wonder it's demonic craft."
"Anyone come by?"
"None so far. It's been quiet."
The two chatted casually, climbed the canyon to stargaze, and felt the wild breeze.
At dawn, Shi Chun returned to the cave, urging Sun Shigang to resume demonic Qi release.
Despite reluctance, Sun Shigang complied, having already submitted.
Days passed like this, with Sun Shigang's spirit dwindling.
Even within the purple flame Qi, his paleness was apparent.
Daily, Sun Shigang would ask when the poison would be fully neutralized.
Shi Chun assured him it would be soon, urging patience, conscious of Sun Shigang's endurance for freedom from this tormenting routine.
Half a month passed quickly.
One day, a sudden burst of bone-joint cracking sounds erupted from Shi Chun, like each joint was adjusting repeatedly.
In the cave, Sun Shigang, closed-eyed, instantly sensed something amiss; realization struck him with anger, "You broke through! You've been using me for cultivation!"
An experienced cultivator himself, he recognized the sound of breaking through to the Advanced Martial Realm—a telltale restructuring of muscles and bones.
He was furious at the deception, recalling the ordeal of these days.
Indeed, Shi Chun had broken through.
It was like emerging from a cramped box, venturing into a vast space, previously restricted limbs now free to stretch and move.
His heightened senses catapulted to a new level, yet he remained unswayed by Sun Shigang's fury, detecting anomalies within himself.
The enhancement sharpened his perception, revealing a mist within his spine extending to his head—purple, barely visible.
Attempting to touch it with magic proved futile, recalling the time in the mine with the purple sparkling nebula—an experience unattainable physically, only reacting to his blood then.
Blood? He immediately gathered Blood Qi to probe.
As Blood Qi flooded, the purple mist spun like a nebula, inciting more peculiarity.
He opened his eyes, and in his right eye, the mysterious vision re-emerged—now painless, absent was the spine-gnawing agony or excruciating head pain.
He spotted the white shadow of Wu Jinliang at the cave's entrance, drawn by Sun Shigang's angry cries.
Elated to discover pain-free activation of his right-eye ability, Shi Chun intended to cease magic flow, standing up, yet was abruptly seated by familiar pain.
What was happening? Retracing steps, he sensed the mist's demand for Blood Qi, akin to a famished infant nursing.
The spinning purple mist consumed Blood Qi when supplied, explaining the agony when withheld.
Keeps spinning, consuming life force, tethered to veins and arteries, causing anguish when forcefully extracted—a revelation cemented as the purple mist halted, dissipating his vision.
Aware now, he realized his right-eye power required his Blood Qi, explaining previous post-activation weakness.
The Blood Qi loss was substantial; fortunately, his demonic cultivation bolstered physical strength and swift recovery; an ordinary person's side effects might be greater.
Dazed by faint purple light, he opened his eyes, confirming Wu Jinliang's presence outside.
Sun Shigang's shouting persisted.
Eyeing the situation cautiously, Wu Jinliang approached with a worried look, "You alright?"
With stolen Blood Qi, Shi Chun nodded, "I'm fine."
Wu Jinliang queried, "That guy's shrieking about your breakthrough?"
Shi Chun smiled, "Yes, I broke through!"
Excited, Wu Jinliang clapped and laughed, feeling more secure with his leader's improved strength.
Shi Chun extended a hand; Wu Jinliang pulled him up.
Together, they entered the inner cave.
Enraged, Sun Shigang saw Shi Chun and roared, "You deceived me! Used me for your gain!"
Shi Chun calmly said, "I didn't deceive you; I was indeed poisoned by a strange venom. It blocked my progress for years, necessitating demonic Qi for resolution. You're unaware of its nature. Let's discuss things you know—don't assume we're oblivious to your game with Xiang Lan'er. What were your intentions with us?"
With cultivation advanced, Shi Chun no longer feared probing the truth—no more need for restraint.
(End of Chapter)