599 The Dao Child Arrives
The barren landscape stretched endlessly, devoid of even the simplest vegetation. It was a place inhospitable to the average person. Without hesitation, Qin Huai commanded the king corpse to sprint into this wasteland.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With every step the king corpse took, it created craters in the earth. However, its pace was lethargic.
“Lacking flesh and blood, only king bones… The offense and defense are commendable, but the speed…” Qin Huai’s brows furrowed in thought. But then an epiphany struck him. “Why am I restricted by traditional thought? Why should we behave like typical creatures?”
While he had mastered controlling the corpse to blend in unnoticed among masses, in battle, there was no need for such pretense.
In a flash, the king corpse lifted from the ground. Propelled by the force of the blood, it soared.
Swoosh!
Qin Huai unabashedly channeled the blood heart technique. Now, unfettered by earthly constraints, the corpse exhibited aerial acrobatics, needing no wings to maintain its flight. Its strikes grew wilder.
Boom! Boom!
In a short while, Qin Huai adapted to this new puppet fighting style, unconstrained by concerns about vital organs, joints, or its human body structure. As long as Qin Huai thought of a move, the king corpse would immediately execute it.
“This is it,” he said with a gratified smile. “The only problem now is that it doesn’t have enough killing power.”
Contemplating this, Qin Huai recalled a weapon he had previously set aside for the corpse. He navigated the corpse back to the secret chamber where an array of soul weapons awaited — his intended gift for the king’s corpse.
Blood tendrils from the robe swiftly enveloped the soul needles and armaments, stowing them either within the blood itself or the fabric of the robe. These tools, being compact, added bulk to the skeletal form of the corpse, rendering it more lifelike.
From his loot, Qin Huai produced a skin he had seized from the Blood Poison Gang and fitted it onto the corpse’s face. The result was a creation eerily reminiscent of a living being.
“He possesses a defense rivaling the king realm, a formidable offensive capability threatening even kings, and his speed is commendable,” Qin Huai mused, observing his creation.
Soon, he directed the king corpse to race into the distance. One mile turned to two, then three. But by the fifth mile, the corpse’s motions became increasingly rigid, and Qin Huai’s manipulation of the fresh blood waned.
“Is this the range of my control?” Qin Huai felt a little disappointed.
The blood heart technique had its limitations — control over the corpse weakened with distance. Beyond five miles, not only did the blood elude Qin Huai’s grasp, but his vision was also blurred. He couldn’t rely on the fresh blood’s sensory connection alone for precision, so this posed a huge risk to his strategic advantage.
“If I confront the white-robed king from this distance, my cover might be blown,” Qin Huai murmured.
However, a realization dawned upon him. His gaze shifted to the expansive blood sea enveloping Qingzhou City. “It might only span five miles at Lingkou Pass, but within the blood sea…”
His Kun Peng wings unfurled with a flourish.
Boom!
In moments, Qin Huai stood at Qingzhou City’s border. He directed the king’s corpse onward.
Now within the influence of the blood sea, his connection to the corpse remained unaffected even beyond the usual five-mile limit. Through the sea’s vast expanse, he could discern even the minutest details on the ground.
“Within the blood sea, I can wield the king corpse unrestrained,” Qin Huai whispered, pleased by this discovery. The guardian spirit item always held a wildcard advantage in these circumstances.
His attention was drawn to the Heart’s Eye Pavilion, the culprit who made him unable to sleep and crazily pursued his strength. In an instant, the image of the pavilion solidified before him, showing the white-robed king, seated in meditation, a spirit stone in hand.
“There must be realms beyond the third level of the spirit world,” he thought, gauging the contented aura of the king. “Possibly exclusive domains for kings…”
His own capabilities, coupled with the king corpse, made them formidable against those in the visceral prefecture realm. Yet when it came to confronting someone of the king realm, he still harbored doubts.
Despite possessing the king bones, the emperor’s force, black dragon world, and the flame longevity technique, the difference in their realms was too vast. The enemy was, after all, standing at the peak of the martial path.
Would waiting be the better strategy? The white-robed king seemed in no hurry to strike. In that case, he would just cultivate in peace. Anyway, time was on his side.
With resolute determination, Qin Huai directed the king corpse toward Lingkou Pass. As he descended the mountain path, Gou Jie rushed to greet him.
“Alliance Master,” he hailed.
“Half a month has passed,” Qin Huai mused, having developed a habit of marking time post-seclusion.
Gou Jie nodded, used to this ritual. As for the mysterious person behind Qin Huai, he didn’t ask about it since the alliance master didn’t mention it. The alliance master had his secrets after all.
“The sands of time slip quickly,” Qin Huai reflected, feeling the weight of every fleeting moment.
“Greetings, General Qin!”
“Alliance Master Qin!”
As Qin Huai accompanied Gou Jie into the city gate tower, he was met with numerous salutations from guards stationed along the way.
“These recruits are not bad,” Qin Huai observed.
Once, the Spirit Gate had lacked such protection. It had been the survivors from the five great sects who maintained a semblance of order. But now, uniformed in matching attire and exuding similar energy patterns, these guards clearly belonged to the same faction.
Their strength was obvious, placing them at the bone pattern realm. Such prowess would make them minor officials within the great sects. However, Qin Huai noticed the variation in their addresses.
“Who are these men?” he asked, glancing at the lavish spread before him on the dining table. He began to eat with relish.
Gou Jie answered, “They are warriors from the ten counties of East Qingzhou, assigned from the city lord’s mansion of Lingxia City, near Lingkou Pass.”
Lingxia City rang a bell for Qin Huai, but not as a stronghold. The city had once been seized by reckless bandits fleeing retaliation in Qingzhou City. Yet, the current status suggested a significant change in leadership.
Gou Jie, sensing Qin Huai’s thoughts, added, “Remember when I mentioned the ten counties being Qingzhou’s treasure trove? It’s a land of prosperity, fostering millions. Martial artists emerge and explode like an oil well.” Every mention of East Qingzhou brought a proud gleam to Gou Jie’s eyes.
“And Fang Huo and his team?” Qin Huai probed further.
Gou Jie’s countenance shifted, becoming more somber. “They couldn’t return. The front lines have transformed dramatically. Four major sects have launched a synchronized assault on territories under the six clans.
“Fang Huo and his team got embroiled in the ensuing chaos.” He paused, collecting himself, “Their last update mentioned heading to the central battlefield in Pingwang county, and after that, we lost contact with them.”
Noticing Gou Jie’s distress, Qin Huai assured, “I’ll handle it from here.”
“Brother Qin!” A new voice intruded upon their conversation.
Gou Jie sprang up, his expression darkening, as if anticipating a lurking threat. Turning, they were met with an unremarkable man, with another mysterious figure from earlier aiming at the newcomer’s neck.
“Ah, this brother is so scary,” the man, Zhang Youji, commented with a playful wave.
Recognizing him, Qin Huai rose calmly and cupped his hands at the latter. “So it’s you, Zhang Daozi.”
Zhang Youji’s confidence shone through. “As promised, I’m here to help you with the white-robed king of the Sacred Heart Sect.”
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