Chapter Seventy: Cultivation of the Heart Technique (Part One)

Xie Yingying had no inkling of any of this; she was utterly unaware that someone had broken into the Demonic Sect. She had already entered the mountain cave earlier, the formation was specifically laid down so that the demonic cultivators could meditate and train in seclusion, naturally blocking Huo Tianqing's voice transmission. Unless the situation was dire and someone, or some spirit, came to her directly, she would remain oblivious.

After leaving Huo Tianqing’s main hall, she hurried back to her own chambers, continuing her search in the study. This time, however, her aim was not to find a way to resolve the primordial force of the Celestial Fox, but to seek out the most sinister and forbidden cultivation method of the Demonic Sect.

After searching for several hours, her efforts finally paid off. Xie Yingying discovered a tome tucked away on a bookshelf, one that documented the Demonic Sect’s secret technique. She took it in haste into the mountain cave, beginning her secluded cultivation to withstand the force of the Primordial Yang.

In truth, as she embarked on the practice of the Demonic Sect’s method, Huo Tianqing's words echoed in her mind. She pondered for a long time, finally gritting her teeth with resolve: if death was inevitable, she might as well try and see if this would work. Perhaps, at least, she might die with some comfort, without so much regret.

Having made up her mind, she swiftly memorized the contents of the demonic method, closed her eyes, shifted her spiritual power, and silently recited the incantation.

Soon, she felt a chilling, sinister energy gradually invade her body, merging with her spiritual power. Her already cold constitution now became even more pronounced, causing her whole body to shudder, goosebumps rising across her skin.

Xie Yingying could clearly sense her limbs and flesh turning icy cold. Instinctively, she ceased reciting the incantation, but the sinister chill continued to seep into her body.

If it had been anyone else, they would already have perished under such cold, but her constitution allowed her to barely endure it.

Her face was now deathly pale, and the chill began to descend, ready to enter her dantian. Xie Yingying felt a surge of joy—at last, the two forces would confront each other!

The chill entered her dantian, her whole body growing even colder, her blood and spiritual power sluggish, every inch of her feeling utterly uncomfortable, as if she might freeze to death then and there.

Yet she endured, refusing to dispel the invading force.

Soon, the sinister chill reached the edge of her rounded golden core, preparing to penetrate further.

At that instant, the formidable and domineering “native resident”—the Primordial Force of the Celestial Fox—within her golden core suddenly lunged outward, startling the sinister energy into retreat.

Refusing to be driven off, the chill attempted to invade again, but this time the Primordial Force transformed into a golden fox, engaging in fierce battle with the sinister energy.

The sinister energy, unwilling to yield, became a red-eyed fiend, baring its teeth at the golden fox.

The two forces fought fiercely, but Xie Yingying could not withstand their turmoil within her dantian. The taste of blood flooded her mouth; she swallowed it down directly.

Outside the Demonic Sect, skeletons continued to brawl atop the boiling river of blood.

Shen Ruru had just received Ning Qingqing’s warning and was heading toward the river. The disciples who followed her recalled the sight of charred corpses and began to tremble, hastily kneeling before Shen Ruru and pleading humbly.

The leader said anxiously, “Please think carefully! If you go to the Demonic Sect, you’ll be injured!”

“He’s right,” added one who usually disliked him, now echoing, “My Lord, if we go to the Demonic Sect unprepared, we’ll surely lose our lives.”

“Yes, ever since Xie Yingying left, the Young Emperor’s temperament has grown even more unpredictable, punishing the guards severely from time to time, and now burning those corpses—”

The last speaker, pitifully, didn’t finish his words. Shen Ruru’s expression soured, and with a wave of her hand, his head fell to the ground, his body crumpling, blood pooling on the earth and attracting hordes of ghosts to bow and lick at it.

The concealment talisman drifted from his corpse and Shen Ruru caught it in her palm.

She looked at the talisman, let out a cold laugh, and said with icy menace, “Good, that saves me a talisman. Otherwise, it would be a waste.”

The others, seeing this, dared not utter another word, their shoulders trembling, faces frozen in terror.

Shen Ruru swept her gaze over them, letting out a disdainful hum, its meaning unclear.

They hurriedly knelt, kowtowing to her, shouting with unwavering loyalty, “We will follow you wherever you go, My Lord!”

“Very well, you said it yourselves. If you lose your lives, don’t come back to haunt me,” she replied, her voice cold as frost.

With that, Shen Ruru strode away, the group scrambling to follow her toward the Demonic Sect.

Not long after, Shen Ruru came upon Ning Qingqing, lying on the ground, barely alive and coughing up blood. Her brow furrowed.

Though she harbored some dislike for Ning Qingqing, the latter had helped her before. Shen Ruru was always clear in her debts and grudges. She stepped forward, produced some pills from her Universe Pouch, and stuffed them into Ning Qingqing’s mouth.

Ning Qingqing was delighted at Shen Ruru’s arrival, thinking she was saved, but to her dismay, Shen Ruru shoved the whole pill in without crushing it first. Her throat burned painfully, and she lacked the strength to swallow. She looked at Shen Ruru, helpless and bitter.

Unable to swallow, the pill melted in her mouth, its bitterness numbing her tongue. She closed her eyes and spat out another mouthful of blood.

With that spitting, the remaining medicine pulp left her mouth. She felt somewhat better, blinking away tears as she asked in grievance, “Do you hate me so much? If I hadn’t warned you, would you even be here?”

“In my presence, you’d better drop that pitiful act. Besides a few men, no one finds it interesting,” Shen Ruru replied bluntly, angrily flicking her sleeve and standing up. “And anyway, I haven’t properly punished you for what you did a few days ago. Giving you medicine now, you should be grateful.”

She noticed that the blood Ning Qingqing spat out carried faint tendrils of black mist.

Her brow twitched, a sense of unease rising. Her tone turned cold as she asked, “What happened?”

Ning Qingqing, prompted by the question, recalled Huo Tianqing’s sudden appearance, hatred surging. “It was Huo Tianqing!”

“Huo Tianqing?” Shen Ruru sneered, mostly at Ning Qingqing, then laughed coldly and retorted, “You dared provoke him? You deserved it!”

“How was I to know he’d appear so suddenly?!” Ning Qingqing, now frustrated, said, “I just wanted to take a look, but ended up startling him out!”