Chương 117: Chapter 8: The Vile Yin Specter

"Little brother, do you truly intend to refine that Myriad Beast Venom Core just to deal with Tiandaozi in three days' time?" Yu Meiren's voice drifted out, soft and sultry, yet laced with a hint of doubt. Reyn nodded, hiding nothing from her. His voice was a low growl of conviction.

"The blood feud between me and the Qingyan Sect is beyond reconciliation. Unless they are utterly uprooted, I will never know peace." A flicker of guilt crossed his mind—if he returned to his sect immediately, perhaps this war could be averted. But the thought of the Lei Clan living under a perpetual shadow of death hardened his heart. He crushed the guilt, burying it deep.

"A wise choice. Cutting the weeds at the root is the only way," Yu Meiren agreed. As a denizen of the Demonic Path, she lived by her whims, caring little for the lives of others. Reyn's ruthlessness suited her tastes perfectly.

"However, forget the Myriad Beast Venom Core. Its potency is limited. Tiandaozi is at the peak of the Mid-stage Golden Core; he could likely suppress the toxin through sheer force of will. Furthermore, its area of effect is too broad. You'd end up poisoning the Xuanxiao Sect disciples in the crossfire, which would be... inconvenient." Reyn sighed, the frustration evident on his face. He knew she was right, but his back was against the wall.

Aside from that venomous pill, he had no other trump cards capable of threatening a Golden Core master. Detecting the faint note of playfulness in her voice, he realized she had a better idea.

"If Sister has a solution, please, enlighten me."

"Hehe, you really are a sharp one," she giggled.

"Had you not obtained that White Jade Dragon-Whiskers Rice today, I would be helpless. But now? If luck is on our side, Tiandaozi is as good as dead." Reyn's eyes lit up with predatory joy. Moments later, a complex refining mantra flooded his consciousness.

"Go, refine it. I will assist you at the final stage to ensure success." Her voice faded as she retreated to the depths of his soul, likely using the spiritual rice to mend her fractured essence. Reyn spent hours dissecting the thousands of characters in the secret technique, ensuring every mudra was etched into his mind. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed a grain of the White Jade Dragon-Whiskers Rice into the air. His fingers blurred, weaving a series of intricate seals that slammed into the grain.

Three days passed in a blur of spiritual fire and concentrated effort. Suddenly, a wave of frigid, malevolent energy erupted within the cave. A soft groan escaped Yu Meiren's lips before the atmosphere returned to a deathly calm.

"The Vile Yin Specter is complete," she whispered. Her voice remained sweet, but the exhaustion was palpable.

"The strain on my soul was immense. I must enter a deep slumber to recover. I won't be able to help you for a while." Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Guilt pricked at Reyn again.

"Rest well, Sister. Every ten days, I will provide a grain of the Dragon-Whiskers Rice to aid your recovery."

"Be careful, little brother... I hope that when I wake, you have already reached Foundation Establishment." Her voice trailed off into nothingness. Reyn's gaze was filled with genuine gratitude as he carefully stowed the Vile Yin Specter away. He swallowed several recovery pills and sat cross-legged, circulating his Qi to replenish his drained reserves. An hour later, a streak of azure light tore through the forest canopy, screaming toward the north.

"Hiss! Fellow Daoist, hold a moment! What in the heavens is happening today? Why is everyone in such a frantic rush?" A burly, middle-aged man had just emerged from seclusion. He took to the skies, only to be nearly knocked over by a swarm of cultivators flying past. He quickly intercepted a bald old man. The old man's eyes bulged, ready to snap at the interruption. However, a quick sweep of his Divine Sense revealed the burly man was also at the Early Foundation Establishment stage. He swallowed his anger.

"This news has already rocked the entire North Yue Province. Are you mocking me, or have you been living under a rock?" The old man's tone was icy, his expression dark.

"Haha, you misunderstand," the burly man laughed, scratching his head.

"I've been in closed-door cultivation for a month to break through my bottleneck. I only stepped out today. I truly have no idea what's going on. Please, enlighten me." The old man sensed the man's unstable aura—a clear sign of a recent breakthrough. His expression softened.

"I see. Since you're in the dark, fly with me. I'll explain on the way, or we'll miss the show."

"Lead the way!" the burly man agreed instantly. They streaked across the sky, side by side. Outside the gates of the Qingyan Sect, the ancient trees were practically sagging under the weight of spectating cultivators. While a few rogue cultivators meditated in silence, most were huddled in small groups, their whispers filled with a mix of excitement and dread.

"We're here, Brother Tie Chu. That's the Qingyan Sect. Looks like we made it just in time," the bald old man said. They had hit it off during the flight, their address becoming more familiar. Tie Chu's eyes widened as he surveyed the crowd.

"So many fellow Daoists... this really is a massive event!" The bald old man felt a pang of disdain. This Tie Chu might have the cultivation, but he was clearly a country bumpkin with no worldliness. His loud voice was drawing glares from the surrounding crowd, including two Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators who looked ready to cause trouble. The old man discreetly drifted a few paces away, not wanting to be associated with the loudmouth. Tie Chu didn't seem to care.

He perched on a thick branch, muttering to himself. Though the others were annoyed, no one wanted to pick a fight with a blunt, seemingly dim-witted stranger right before the main event. They simply closed their eyes and ignored him.

"Look! The Xuanxiao Sect has arrived! Those two in the purple robes—that's Ancestor Qingxiaozi and Ancestor Dan Chenzi!"

"Heavens, they aren't holding back. Two Golden Core ancestors, thirty Foundation Establishment elders, and three hundred true inheritance disciples... they've emptied the sect!"

"Both sides are evenly matched. This is going to be a bloodbath. Even the winner will be crippled."

"To be fair, Qingyan Sect brought this on themselves. A Golden Core elder kidnapping a junior from another sect? That's crossing the line."

"That disciple isn't just anyone. He's the one who shocked everyone at Dan Chenzi's ceremony. A Grade 3 Alchemist and a combatant on par with Foundation Establishment in just one year! He's the greatest genius the Xuanxiao Sect has seen in centuries. Of course Qingxiaozi is ready to burn the world down to get him back."