CHAPTER 34: THE BLOOD OF A CORE FORMATION CULTIVATOR

Dong Xian stepped forward with a respectful expression. "Greetings, Senior Brother Qi Yuan!"

Qi Yuan glanced at him, instinctively taking half a step back. "It’s you?"

People who reeked of a "main-character aura" like Dong Xian were best kept at a distance.

In every drama and anime Qi Yuan had seen, a minor character’s sudden kindness to the protagonist only ever meant one thing. They’d soon get stabbed, resulting in the protagonist awakening some hidden power in a fit of rage.

In fact, comments online often called it Fated Cannon Fodder. Qi Yuan wasn’t an old man, nor did he want to be stabbed just for playing the wrong role.

Dong Xian said cautiously, "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, I have a bold request. I don’t know if I should ask you..."

Qi Yuan cut him off immediately. "Then don’t." [1]

Dong Xian froze, his words stuck in his throat.

Qi Yuan, however, studied him seriously.

[He’s just an ordinary youth. The remnant soul inside him has awakened, an artifact refiner. That refiner has set his eyes on your vegetable knife.]

Qi Yuan patted Dong Xian’s shoulder. "Young man, there’s a cluster of strange fires at the Divine Medicine Peak’s kitchens. I feel it suits you quite well."

With that, he turned and left, deliberately masking his knife’s aura. The remnant soul’s interest merely triggered his vigilance.

Dong Xian stood there, utterly baffled. "Strange fire? What’s that supposed to mean?"

Then, the old soul’s voice echoed in his mind. "Be wary of that Qi Yuan. He’s not as simple as he looks."

"Huh?"

"Just now, at such close range, I could sense it... his vegetable knife is stained with blood."

"Blood? Isn’t that normal?"

The Artifact Master said solemnly, "The blood of a Core Formation cultivator."

Dong Xian was stunned. A Core Formation cultivator? That vegetable knife had killed one?

In Great Shang, Core Formation cultivators were revered like royal offerings. Yet, that seemingly ordinary knife had tasted such blood? Could it have been a reward from the Seven-Colored Peak Master? No wonder the Artifact Master had insisted the knife was extraordinary.

The Artifact Master said slowly, "Remember, this Qi Yuan can only ever be a friend, never an enemy."

What he didn’t add aloud was that the blood was fresh.

Dong Xian chuckled, "Why would I pick a fight with the chief disciple of a peak?"

***

On the Seven-Colored Peak...

Jiang Lingsu seemed surprised. "Senior Brother, you’re leaving the sect?"

Qi Yuan nodded. "I’ve already spoken with the Sect Master. He agreed to let me go out and build my foundation."

"Why must you do it outside the sect? Can’t you do it here?" she asked in puzzlement.

Qi Yuan replied while stroking his chin, "Reading ten thousand books can’t compare to traveling ten thousand miles."

Jiang Lingsu blinked. "You sound quite reasonable at times. Still, I refuse to believe that you’re leaving just to build your foundation."

Qi Yuan sighed dramatically. "Haa... In truth, I’m running for my life, gambling for a chance to live."

He felt like those tragic heroes in stories, wagering everything for immortality.

Jiang Lingsu was deadpan. "Speak in human language."

Qi Yuan relented. "I’m afraid the Black Mountain Sect will suspect me of killing Chu Tianxiong and the others. If the Black Rooster Demon leads people to surround our peak, wouldn’t I be trapped and doomed? Better to hide outside and wait until the storm passes, then return."

Jiang Lingsu gave him a long look. "Senior Brother, just leave. If I spend too much time with you, I’ll lose my mind."

She waved him away with visible distaste. Then, she frowned. "Still, be careful outside. The Black Mountain Sect might get desperate and really come after you."

Qi Yuan declared with righteous conviction, "Exactly! Great minds think alike. I’ve long suspected their wolfish ambition!"

"... Honestly," Jiang Lingsu muttered, "if you were mute, you’d be the most handsome man of the century. Everything’s ruined the moment you open your mouth."

Well, not that his voice was unpleasant, just the nonsense he spoke.

***

A young female cultivator’s clear voice rang through the spirit ship. "There are two spots for Heaven-class seats left! If anyone wants an upgrade, now’s your chance. It’s only one spirit stone!"

The ship was bound for Bloodless City. It was a chaotic city in the northernmost reaches of Great Shang territory, bordering the Black Mountain Sect. Few righteous cultivators ever went there.

Outside Bloodless City, lay blood crystal deposits, a highly valuable resource for fueling cultivation. Both rogue cultivators and disciples of major sects flocked there to mine them.

Qi Yuan sat quietly aboard the spirit ship. The ship itself was a spirit item, but unlike most, every upgrade had gone into sheer speed.

When he heard the stewardess’s call for first-class seats, his heart stirred. Having recently struck it rich from looting corpses, he was tempted to try the luxury. However, he recalled that he was on serious business. A man with great plans needed to stay low-key. Hence, he smothered the impulse.

Someone said melodiously beside him, "Fellow Daoist, are you also headed to Bloodless City for blood crystals?"

Turning around, Qi Yuan saw a graceful woman, beautifully dressed. Her hair was coiled in a high bun, pinned with a peachwood hairpin. Her robe was plain yet refined, exuding calm elegance. She was obviously wealthy.

Qi Yuan sighed inwardly. Even after using disguises to lower his appeals by ninety percent, people still recognized the essence of his handsomeness.

"I’m but a humble rogue cultivator," he said modestly.

The woman’s tone carried wistful nostalgia. "Nothing wrong with that. Rogues have spirit and drive. I was once a rogue cultivator myself. Only later, when age caught up with me, did I join a sect for stability."

Qi Yuan said smoothly, "Elder Sister, you’re still in your prime."

After all, when young, one mistook lolis for treasures. It was only later that they realized the worth of mature older sisters.

The woman laughed, her eyes sparkled. "You’re good with words. But I cannot compare to the vigor of youths like you."

She studied his tall, strong frame with faint reminiscence. Then, with a contemptuous gaze, she warned in a low voice, "If you’re going to Bloodless City, beware of the Black Mountain Sect. Offend the city lord, and maybe only you’ll die. Offend the Black Mountain Sect, and your whole family might perish."

Qi Yuan’s expression stiffened. Would they really hunt down my family back on Blue Planet?

Then, he remembered that he didn’t even have a family. He was all alone, and only his name was on the household registry. Too tragic!

"Black Mountain Sect is powerful and domineering," she continued, "we aren’t just required to hand over ten percent of our blood crystals to the city government, but twenty percent to them. Sometimes, even more."

Her voice shook with suppressed anger.

Qi Yuan slammed his hand down. "Bloodless City isn’t even their territory! How dare they?! They are more ruthless than capitalists; they should be strung up on street lamps!"

The woman’s eyes widened in alarm. "Careful! Don’t let them hear you."

Qi Yuan, however, was already convinced. I am not being selfish. This isn’t just my revenge. I am enforcing the will of Heaven!

With such moral clarity, his path felt righteous.

The journey passed quickly with their conversation. Of course, not because of Qi Yuan’s EQ, but solely because of his good looks and youth. After five hours, the ship descended. Numerous cultivators got off the ship.

The beautiful lady invited him. "If you have nowhere to go, you can stay at my house."

Qi Yuan glanced at the sky and shook his head. "No need."

If he didn’t want to miss the last ship back, he better move fast. Not like he was going to stay here overnight, especially with a mission to complete. Kill and run. Never linger.

Just then, someone called out unhappily, "Mother, I’m here."

A young woman in an ornate palace gown approached, followed by a Foundation Establishment realm attendant. She eyed Qi Yuan with subtle hostility.

Baffled, Qi Yuan simply cupped his hands before turning to leave. "Farewell."

The girl in the palace gown took her mother’s arm. "Mother, who was that man?"

The beautiful woman smiled. "Little Rou, you are too wary towards people. He’s just a rogue cultivator that I chanced upon. He came to Bloodless City to mine blood crystals. Isn’t he handsome? That’s why I chatted with him. You are getting older, it is about time to find a partner."

The girl sighed impatiently, her wariness gone. "Mother, the blood crystal mine left behind for me is a mess. I barely have time to manage it. Besides, even if I’m not extremely picky, I won’t just pick some random rogue off the street? Haa... I still have work to do. After seeing you home, I must join the other mine owners. We’re expected at the Black Mountain Sect in two hours."

The beautiful woman’s eyes clouded with a deep, lingering gloom.

1. 😂 ☜