CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: CULTIVATING BOTH LAW AND MARTIAL ARTS

The quaint and elegant courtyard had turned into a deadly gladiatorial arena.

Shattered bricks and stones lay strewn about, while the trees and flowers, corroded by the poisonous fog, dripped with foul-smelling mucus.

The bloated daoists under Wu Changqing fought fiercely with the disciples of the Taibao Sect.

The bloated daoists were adept in Evil Methods, capable of spewing toxic smoke and controlling venomous snakes and vermin.

However, having experienced the first ambush, the disciples of the Taibao Sect were prepared. They paid close attention to every attack, and as soon as they detected a bloated daoist ready to use Evil Methods, they would immediately dart away, denying him the chance to launch a surprise attack.

For a time, neither side could gain the upper hand.

...

"I haven’t wronged Benefactor Ye in the least. Why must you persist in pressing me so?"

Facing two Condensation Realm warriors, the confidence and arrogance had vanished from Wu Changqing’s face. This was especially true with the appearance of Qi Xiu.

That mercilessly cruel and toxic Black Sand Palm, which could rot bones and erode flesh, seemed even more vicious than those of a Heretic Cultivator like himself.

"Haven’t wronged me? Hardly."

With a faint smile, Qi Xiu took out a stack of "Suppress" Characters and gently shook them.

"It was you?!"

His pupils suddenly turned vertical. Wu Changqing had not expected Qi Xiu to be the one who had applied the suppression Spell to the Jade Bodhisattva, his face turning grim.

"Dual cultivation of martial arts and Spells? You have quite the talent, I see."

"It’s fine. I’m just more diligent than most."

Casually tossing some of the "Suppress" Characters to Jin Tai, Qi Xiu’s hands were entwined with Qi Force, faintly glowing as cracks appeared.

"Can you use them?"

Jin Tai was also amazed at Qi Xiu’s identity as a cultivator of both martial arts and Spells.

Spells and martial arts. They were entirely different paths. To cultivate both, one needed exceptional talent and had to invest one hundred and twenty percent of their energy. Otherwise, one would end up mediocre in both, excelling in neither. Yet, judging from the strength Qi Xiu has shown so far, he evidently is a true cultivator who has mastered both martial arts and Spells.

"Of course."

Looking at the thick stack of at least five or six "Suppress" Characters in his hand, Jin Tai revealed a ferocious smile towards Wu Changqing.

This time, you’ve really got it coming.

"Then... let’s go!"

Before he finished speaking, Qi Xiu suddenly stomped, his legs surrounded by Qi Force, transforming into a phantom in an instant.

Tempering Power Light Skill?!

Jin Tai’s eyebrows shot up. He didn’t hesitate; he bent his knees slightly and, with a thunderous sound, blasted off the ground like a cannonball.

TAP TAP TAP—

The sound of rapid footsteps approached like falling rain.

Two phantoms assaulted from both sides, converging on Wu Changqing in a pincer attack.

Faced with the pincer attack of two Condensation Realm warriors, Wu Changqing’s expression turned grave, and he rapidly shook the Corpse-Control Bell in his hand.

DING DING DING DING!

The dense sound of the bell rang out. The remaining two corpse boys quickly retreated, attempting to intercept Qi Xiu and Jin Tai.

The corpse boy that Qi Xiu’s palm had flattened into a hide also started to wriggle again, gradually recovering.

Demonic Artifact—Jade Bodhisattva. As long as the main body of the Jade Bodhisattva was not destroyed, its three corpse boys would be undying and indestructible; even if ground into mincemeat, they could gradually recover!

"Brother Ye, these corpse boys’ hands are smeared with deadly poison. Don’t let them injure you," Jin Tai warned in a grave voice, worried Qi Xiu might be at a disadvantage.

"Got it. And don’t call me brother, call me Ye."

Qi Xiu acknowledged him, then lifted his hand and delivered a terrifyingly powerful palm strike filled with strands of black qi, grim and horrifying.

Seeing Qi Xiu’s palm strike radiating billowing black qi, Jin Tai couldn’t help but grimace inwardly. This was definitely not the Black Sand Palm. How could that martial technique possibly have such power?

SMACK!

The palm struck the corpse boy’s chest. The terrifying, wave-like force caved its chest in by the size of a washbasin, and its body went limp, turning into a mere sheet of human skin.

Seeing Qi Xiu dispatch a corpse boy in a single exchange, Jin Tai stopped holding back, and glowing cracks also appeared on his hands.

Hunyuan Monument Smashing Hand!

Compared to Qi Xiu’s vicious and venomous Black Sand Palm, which was enveloped in billowing black qi, Jin Tai’s Hunyuan Monument Smashing Hand leaned more toward being fiercely aggressive and domineering.

BANG BANG BANG BANG!

His palms struck like wild dragons emerging from the sea, causing clouds of blood mist to erupt from the corpse boy’s body. Its entire body was directly smashed into pieces and scattered across the ground.

In the blink of an eye, they had wiped out the two corpse boys blocking their way.

Qi Xiu and Jin Tai’s momentum was overwhelming, their killing intent surging as they quickly closed in on Wu Changqing.

Damn it! The Jade Bodhisattva had just been unsealed and had yet to be nourished with a Blood Meal; the corpse boys’ recovery time was too slow.

Watching the flattened corpse boys struggling and wriggling on the ground, Wu Changqing’s face darkened slightly.

Shaking his sleeve, Wu Changqing began to rapidly chant low, obscure sutras.

RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE—

Scalp-tingling crawling sounds arose from all directions as a multitude of insects began to emerge from the corners.

These insects were of various types: spiders covered in feelers and barbed hairs, ants with multi-segmented red bodies and massive pincers, and beetles clad in black carapaces emitting piercing screeches.

A dark tide of insects swarmed towards Qi Xiu and Jin Tai, threatening to engulf them alive.

"Follow my lead."

Muttering softly, Qi Xiu held aloft a "Suppress" Character, allowing it to sense these insects nurtured by Evil Methods. As the "Suppress" Character’s golden light overflowed, its Divine Marvel began to awaken.

Qi Xiu fiercely pressed all the "Suppress" Characters into the ground.

HUM—

In an instant, golden light transformed into circular ripples, spreading out indiscriminately in all directions.

SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!

Swept over by the golden light, the insects shrieked miserably as they emitted black smoke and died.

"Understood!"

Tucking away one talisman, Jin Tai imitated Qi Xiu and pressed his "Suppress" Characters onto the ground, creating a halo of light that swept out and exterminated the approaching insects.

Large swarms of insects perished within the golden light.

Just as they finished dealing with all the insects, Jin Tai suddenly felt the hairs on his body stand on end, as if some danger was rapidly approaching. He looked around alertly, but before he could detect anything, a vivid red Sword Qi suddenly flew in, streaking across the sky and heavily piercing through his shoulder.

"Urk—"

A hole the size of a bowl had been torn in his shoulder, and an eerie, evil force burrowed into his flesh. Jin Tai spat out a mouthful of blood, which twisted like maggots upon hitting the ground.

Feeling the flesh on his shoulder beginning to writhe on its own, Jin Tai quickly pressed the "Suppress" Character he had just tucked away onto the wound.

The golden light vibrated.

Only then did the strange sensation of his flesh writhing disappear.

"You damned Daoist, still holding back!" Gritting his teeth, blood foaming in his mouth, Jin Tai glared coldly at Wu Changqing.

Wu Changqing stood there expressionlessly. His original, white jade-like horsetail whisk was nowhere to be seen. In his right hand, he held a slender bamboo staff, pale red in color, with seven nodes, and wreathed in a faint aura of blood qi.

"You forced my hand. I had prepared this Autumn Sandalwood Bamboo Staff to suppress the wandering Demon outside the city. But you have been relentlessly aggressive. Under such circumstances, I have no choice but to offer you as a sacrifice to this Magic Artifact today."

Looking at the Autumn Sandalwood Bamboo Staff in his hand, Wu Changqing’s eyes revealed a trace of pain.

To suppress the ferocity of this staff, he had deceived the County Magistrate of Baoho County into gathering nearly one thousand able-bodied young men. He then used their virile blood to finally contain this Magic Artifact’s malevolence. Now that he was using it, its malevolence would slowly revive. All his previous hard work would be in vain.

"Magic Artifact? Heh." Silently observing Wu Changqing’s Autumn Sandalwood Bamboo Staff, Qi Xiu suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

"What are you laughing at?"

Wu Changqing’s eyes darted, and he gripped the bamboo staff tighter.

He bit his fingertip and imprinted a "Martial" Character onto the palm of his hand.

Qi Xiu’s aura swelled, and a strong wind suddenly whipped up around him from all directions.

The sky darkened significantly. Thin threads of black qi gathered above his head, forming what looked like a heavy, oppressive dark cloud looming over the city.

...