If the other side doesn't tear up the agreement and keeps providing him with Demonic Qi, he wouldn't need to break it off.
If we must speak of right or wrong, how can there be any harmony left?
These words hit a hidden nail, leaving Sun Shigang a bit speechless.
How could he admit he came to kill Wu Jinliang, especially since he had fallen into the other's hands? In an instant, his intense anger turned to stubborn denial, "I don't know what you're talking about!"
Not getting the desired answer, Shi Chun asked another question, "Are you still willing to provide me with Demonic Qi?"
Only half a month had passed out of the three months intended.
If the other side was willing to supply Demonic Qi to solidify his cultivation base, he was content to spend more time practicing here.
"Haha..."
Sun Shigang laughed up to the sky, a laugh filled with bitterness, ridiculing his own foolishness as he retorted, "You can cultivate with Demonic Qi. Now that I know your secret, do you really think you can let me leave alive?"
As soon as those words left his mouth, Shi Chun's eyes flashed.
He swiftly grabbed Wu Jinliang and dove to the ground.
A beam of light shot from Sun Shigang’s mouth, just missing Shi Chun’s previous standing position.
Boom! A loud impact resounded, creating a bowl-sized hole at the bottom of the stone wall.
Just a single spit had power far exceeding arrows, even in his severely weakened and diminished state.
Wanting to burst out again, Sun Shigang found he could no longer see Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, as the thick chains binding him blocked his view.
It wasn't just luck that Shi Chun escaped; he had been on high alert from the start.
"Ah!" Sun Shigang roared towards the sky, the chains holding him bounced, collapsing the stone beam, and the iron tower-like chains crashed towards the ground.
That was all.
The rubble landed with a heavy thud, but the iron chains floated mid-air, an Immobilization Talisman smacked onto the chain ball.
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang stood up with dark expressions.
Although they knew Sun Shigang was desperate, yet another Grade Three Immobilization Talisman was wasted.
It was their last one.
This particular Grade Three Immobilization Talisman was quite potent.
Severely depleted and diminished in strength, Sun Shigang struggled to move.
Without a word, Shi Chun sprang onto the chained ball and dealt a blow to Sun Shigang's head, knocking him out.
He then clattered the chains loose, freeing Sun Shigang.
Binding him with multiple restrictions, he reclaimed his long sword and dagger.
Seeing this, Wu Jinliang swept away the lingering dust with a flick of his sleeve, questioning with surprise, "Even if he was willing to go all out, do you expect him to confess anything?"
Shi Chun remained silent, dragging Sun Shigang out of the chaos and smoke, laying him in an open area.
Focused, he closed his eyes, using his own Blood Qi to confront the Purple Misty Fog Qi within him.
When the fog rotated, his right eye's ability activated anew.
Staring at the unconscious Sun Shigang, he saw the black flame-like object at Sun Shigang's dantian.
Scanning through Sun Shigang’s body, he found no trace of Demonic Qi.
Thus, his gaze fixed on what he tentatively named the "Demonic Flame".
He didn't actually know what it was, just guessed it was the key to generating Demonic Qi.
The Demonic Flame had lost its previous ferocious momentum, appearing rather withered.
As Wu Jinliang approached, ready to speak, he suddenly saw Shi Chun kneeling beside Sun Shigang, placing a palm over Sun Shigang’s dantian, and held back his words.
Mirroring the method used to help Wu Jinliang expel Demonic Qi, Shi Chun targeted the Demonic Flame, hoping to extract it.
His technique indeed triggered the flame, but as he attempted absorption, the flame resisted, struggling fiercely.
The Demonic Flame's struggle seemed to stir Sun Shigang’s emotions, causing a pained expression as if trapped in a nightmare.
With increased effort, Shi Chun intensified his pull, finally drawing a fine stream from the Demonic Flame, channeling it into his own meridians.
A sensation of comfort emerged, akin to his first absorption of Demonic Qi.
The feeling confirmed his guess, so he absorbed with all his might.
Suddenly, Sun Shigang's eyes snapped open, as if waking from a nightmare, exclaiming in horror, "What are you doing?"
This abrupt reaction almost frightened Shi Chun senseless, thinking Sun Shigang might have broken free.
Realizing he hadn’t, Shi Chun continued to absorb without pause.
The terror in Sun Shigang's eyes grew increasingly apparent.
Even confined, he could clearly sense years of foundational cultivation draining rapidly.
What is happening? How could this be?
He had never felt anything like it, the fear gripped him more than a knife at his throat, causing him to scream repeatedly, "Stop, what are you doing? Stop..."
Shi Chun, meanwhile, reveled in the pleasure of absorption, an indescribable satisfaction overtaking him.
If absorbing Demonic Qi was like inhaling mist, he was now drinking water with abandon.
Wu Jinliang squinted, realizing Shi Chun was doing something that terrified Sun Shigang, a scene that initially startled even him.
Sun Shigang’s vitality visibly waned, and even his cheeks and eyes appeared mildly sunken.
What manner of thing is this?
"Stop, stop..."
Before long, Sun Shigang weakened to the point where even speaking was arduous.
Drawing out the last trace of black flame into his own body, Shi Chun took a deep breath, finally ceasing the extraction.
The Purple Misty Fog Qi dissipated, freeing him from the painful extraction of Blood Qi, though a profound weakness from significant Blood Qi depletion remained.
Ignoring that for now, he collected himself, sitting cross-legged with an expression of utter satisfaction, relishing the unexpected delight.
Sun Shigang, on the other hand, seemed deflated by a whole size, face pallid, eyes vacant, drifting off as if on the brink of death, muttering incoherently.
Wu Jinliang recognized it as the result of Shi Chun's technique, secretly astounded.
Indeed, demonic cultivation lived up to its notorious name.
Shi Chun's technique seemed intimidating.
"I may need a few days in seclusion. As for him and the others, you handle the questioning. Do as you please, try to extract any useful information," Shi Chun stated, downing three longhua pills in one gulp.
"I'll manage."
Wu Jinliang nodded, dragging the half-dead Sun Shigang away.
In the Shengshen Prefecture's capital, in the martial arena half a month later, the atmosphere had shifted, becoming one of constant vigilance among the sect members present.
Several armored guards entered the open grounds, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
As expected, one guard released several corpses from a Universe Pouch onto the ground, announcing, "Clear Wave Sect, come and claim your dead."
A collective sigh of relief washed over many, while three individuals quickly darted into the grounds.
Identified, the corpses were claimed, and the bracelets at their wrists were cut and reclaimed by the guards using divine weaponry.
The sect members, somberly carrying their dead, withdrew from the scene.
Such occurrences, initially happening daily, were now constant, leaving every sect on edge.
As more Insect Essence Crystals were discovered, inevitably driven by desire, killings had begun.
Some were even witnessed in real-time projections at the martial arena.
The Western Extremes had also seen the Imperial Court's forces enter the scene, not to interfere in the contest, but to investigate the Mountain and River Map's unmoving points, often signifying a casualty.
The purpose was to provide closure for involved sects and recover talismans and bracelets.
With the sheer number of participants, early recovery efforts were necessary to avoid confusion later.
"Elder, it's here. Look, Sister Bian and Brother Gan."
An accompanying disciple pointed out, alerting Elder Ke Yizong.
The scene they paid to watch had finally been displayed.
Unable to maintain their composure while deaths from various sects kept being reported back, they worried about Bian Weiying and the group's safety.
Being the sect leader's daughter, concern was inevitable.
Initially finding the expenditure laughable, participating sects now scrambled to pay for the glimpses, resulting in long queues even at night, content just to see their disciples safe.
Spotting Bian Weiying and Gan Tangyu unharmed, accompanied by a large group, gave Elder Ke a measure of relief.
A disciple couldn't help but express doubt, "Elder, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang are gone. They're not among the group."
Elder Ke, stroking his beard, noticed the absence, unsure if they stood afar unseen or faced misfortune.
It was also possible Bian Weiying acted on his suggestion to eliminate them.
In the cloaked viewing area, Fengchi also watched, spotting her concern, Xiang Lan'er, only to find the absence of Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang unsettling.
Had Sun Shigang succeeded in his mission? Would Sun Shigang have done away with Shi Chun too?
On the hillside, Miao Yilan noticed, suddenly speaking, "Mother, it's the Wukang Mountain people. Why are Shi Chun and the big guy missing?"
Lan Qiaoyan hadn’t paid attention initially, but acknowledged after her daughter's prompt, confirming through Xiang Lan'er's appearance.
Earlier, when the courtesan headliner had been introduced, she’d carefully examined her, curious what attracted men to her.
Not seeing Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, she speculated, "Perhaps they're standing further away, out of view."
A mild concern remained, given past investments and the long-standing acknowledgment of Shi Chun's call to her as "mother."
Miao Dingyi hadn’t noted other outsiders, but trusted the mother-daughter confirmation, offering a rational solace, "Don't worry; deceased are being returned here."
The logic reassured both women.
"Again, Wukang Mountain's four, Shi Chun, have Mr. Yang skip the queue."
Young Master Nan's voice suddenly arose behind, prompting the family to turn, seeing him directing the hill's authority to discreetly proceed, who promptly complied.
"Brother Miao, you're too humble," Miao Dingyi chuckled awkwardly.
It’s not like he couldn’t afford the fee; he just saw no need.
"No need for formalities, Brother Miao," Young Master Nan downplayed it with a wave, addressing Miao Yilan, "Lanyan, if you want to watch, just notify the authority. I've arranged for instant access."
His informational connections weren’t simple, having deduced the family's ties to Shi Chun, realizing Shi Chun might become Miao Dingyi's son-in-law.
Initially thinking this preposterous, deeming Shi Chun too lowly, reality suggested otherwise.
For one like Miao Dingyi to wager a hundred thousand gold couldn’t denote mere acquaintance, understanding Miao Yilan's concern, yet unable to grasp the family's choice in a son-in-law.
What charm did this low-grade candidate possess?
(End of Chapter)