Xiao Wuchen's ascent to the Heavenly Ranking was met with great joy by none other than his nemesis: the leader of the Xuan Yin Sect, Elder Xuanji.
Elder Xuanji had suffered a severe backlash from Xiao Wuchen's "Life Force Sword Intent." He knew that, given Xiao Wuchen's talent, he would become even more difficult to deal with once his cultivation level was consolidated. At the same time, however, he also saw the potential for "yin and softness" to reach its peak in Xiao Wuchen's swordsmanship, as well as the immense allure contained within that "life force."
In a secluded cave outside the capital, Elder Xuanji spent months painstakingly refining a pill that emitted an eerie, blood-red glow. He used his own life essence and the resentment of dozens of martial artists as a catalyst.
He named this pill the "Mysterious Yin Corruption Heart Returning to Origin Pill."
"Young man, your swordsmanship is more than 'yin' in essence. Yet, it's burdened by false 'vitality.' This pill can completely cleanse the 'impurities' from your inner strength, allowing your true yin energy to return to 'pure destruction'!" The Elder Xuanji smiled coldly.
Using the remaining power within his sect, he disguised the evil pill as a top-tier healing pill for the Foundation Establishment stage — a gift from an unknown master — and secretly delivered it to Xiao Wuchen's meditation room in the palace.
One morning, an unfamiliar eunuch respectfully presented Xiao Wuchen with a sandalwood box.
"Vice Commander Xiao, this is a confidential document that the Imperial Household Department received yesterday. The messenger claims to be an old acquaintance of yours and says that this pill can help you consolidate your mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm. He also says that it was specially delivered after your challenge on the Heavenly Ranking."
Xiao Wuchen took the box and immediately became wary. He knew he had many enemies. Who would send such a precious pill to an old acquaintance?
He dismissed the eunuch and opened the box. Inside was a deep purple pill with a faint, blood-red glow that possessed a chilling allure.
Xiao Wuchen did not touch it directly but probed it with his divine sense instead. The pill contained extremely powerful energy, enough to instantly consolidate a mid-stage Foundation Establishment martial artist's realm or allow them to reach perfection.
However, it also emitted an extremely sinister aura.
System alert: A malevolent pill containing a high concentration of corrosive malevolence has been detected!
Pill Name: Profound Yin Corrupting Heart Returning to Origin Pill (Disguised)
Effect: instantly strengthens the host's yin-type true qi.
Side effect: Completely distorts the host's martial arts beliefs, causing their sword intent to fall into utter destruction. Their malevolence value instantly fills to a level beyond redemption!
Xiao Wuchen broke out in a cold sweat when he received the system's warning.
This Xuanji old man was indeed insidious! The power of this evil pill was enough to tempt any martial artist seeking power. Although his cultivation would skyrocket once he consumed it, his "Life Force Sword Intent" would immediately transform into a "Pure Destruction Intent," turning him into a ruthless demon who knew only slaughter.
Moreover, the system's warning that "Evil Deeds Value is instantly filled, irreversible" was even more fatal. This pill would distort his mind and completely strip him of the system's constraints on his "Dao Heart," turning him into a true vessel for "sadomasochism" and rendering him unable to control himself.
Xiao Wuchen picked up the pill and gently twirled it between his fingertips. Its allure almost overwhelmed his will, telling him that consuming it would grant him the power to crush everything.
"Destruction is indeed the fastest shortcut to power."
But he quickly calmed down, his eyes regaining their clarity.
"Life is my path! If I choose pure destruction, my epic will come to an abrupt end, becoming a brief and evil interlude."
Xiao Wuchen made his decision without hesitation. He channeled the pure life force of his "Life Force Sword Intent" around the pill.
*Buzz!*
The once calm pill instantly struggled as if scorched by flames. Its crimson light blazed forth as it attempted to corrode Xiao Wuchen's true energy. However, Xiao Wuchen's Life Force Sword Intent was refined to perfection and did not corrode. Instead, it slowly dissolved the evil thoughts and malice within the pill.
In his hand, the pill let out a faint, mournful cry and finally transformed into a pool of foul-smelling black liquid that dripped into the sandalwood box.
The trap had been completely exposed!
"Elder Xuanji, you ultimately do not understand. My yin and yang have long since emerged from your decaying shadow." Xiao Wuchen stared coldly at the pool of black liquid, his killing intent intensifying. He knew that the feud between the Xuan Yin Sect and him had begun an irreconcilable emotional sadomasochistic conflict.Xiao Wuchen cleaned up the black water that had transformed into the evil pill, gaining a deeper understanding of Elder Xuanji's insidious nature. He knew the appearance of the pill was no accident, but rather the result of the sect's real-time tracking of his actions.
"There must be a Xuan Yin Sect spy within the inner palace," Xiao Wuchen analyzed calmly.
Xiao Wuchen analyzed calmly. The precise delivery of the pill to his meditation room could mean only two things: either the head eunuch had been infiltrated or the messenger himself was a sect member.
Xiao Wuchen remained silent. Using his newfound power as deputy commander of the guards and the enhanced divine sense he gained from refining the Soul Strengthening Technique, he began secretly investigating the messenger.
He quickly discovered that, after delivering the pill, the messenger had claimed illness and left the palace quietly.
"Trying to escape?"
Xiao Wuchen intervened personally, using the "Wind Shadow Without Form" movement technique to leave the capital silently. Guided by the faint Xuan Yin Sect aura remaining on his person, he tracked the messenger down to an abandoned mansion on the outskirts of the capital.
Inside the mansion, the eunuch had been silenced, and his badly decomposed body was clearly an example of the Xuan Yin Sect's method of "discarding a pawn." However, Xiao Wuchen found a secret letter written with a special potion in a hidden compartment in the wall.
He carefully unfolded the letter, and its contents caused his pupils to shrink.
"Target located. His sword intent contains 'vitality,' which contradicts our sect's 'corrosion' method. The sect leader orders that we abandon traditional assassination and shift to 'resource acquisition.' The clue to the capital's spiritual vein has been found; coordinate with external forces to excavate it as soon as possible. Ignore the Heavenly Ranking warriors. The target is the spiritual vein!"
Xiao Wuchen's heart trembled.
The Xuan Yin Sect has changed its objective. They were no longer focusing their main efforts on assassinating him, a Heavenly Ranking warrior. Instead, they were shifting to "resource acquisition."
The clue to the spiritual vein: The term "spiritual vein" was beyond the comprehension of ordinary martial artists; it was a term from the cultivation world. This confirmed Xiao Wuchen's conjecture from Chapter 59 that the Xuan Yin Sect was indeed backed by a cultivation force.
"Spiritual veins... Could it be that this world is inhabited by more than just mortal martial artists?"
Xiao Wuchen realized that the Xuan Yin Sect's plot far exceeded the scope of the imperial court and the martial world. Their goal had touched upon the very foundation of cultivators' survival.
He carefully put away the secret letter. It was not only evidence of the Xuan Yin Sect shifting its focus but also his best bargaining chip to demonstrate his "value" to the emperor and the imperial preceptor in the future.
Back in the inner palace, Xiao Wuchen hid the secret letter and reported only the eunuch's disappearance to the Grand Eunuch, implying the Xuan Yin Sect's deep infiltration.
The Grand Eunuch was indeed pleased with his efficiency and caution.
At dusk, a gold-embossed invitation arrived at his meditation room.
Sender: Grand Preceptor of the Alchemy Academy, Master Miaokong.
The invitation praised his powerful vitality displayed in his battle with Gu Yuan and offered the Alchemy Academy's unique "Heart-Clearing and Spirit-Nourishing Pill" to heal his residual injuries and deepen his understanding of the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment realm.
"Healing" was just a pretext; Xiao Wuchen knew Grand Preceptor Miaokong was eager to include him in his research. After all, Xiao Wuchen was a "rising star on the Heavenly Ranking with the sword intent of life and death."
Xiao Wuchen had obtained the Xuan Yin Sect's secret report on "spiritual veins" and had also received a formal invitation from the Grand Preceptor of the Alchemy Academy.