Chapter 140: Chapter 136: If I Don’t Go to Hell, Who Will?
He balanced the Flying Sword on one finger, letting it wobble gently left and right before it settled.
This was a method from the Mortal World for testing a weapon’s center of gravity and quality, but for a Flying Sword, it was pretty much useless.
Du Youqian was simply acting out of habit.
He stared at the Flying Sword with intense focus.
Not with his eyes, of course, but by extending his Divine Sense to explore every inch of the weapon.
He inspected the Flying Sword’s texture, checked for any minute structural imperfections, and felt the delicate balance within it.
He then channeled his Magical Power into it, carefully sensing how the Flying Sword handled the influx.
"Perfect!" he couldn’t help but exclaim.
Tan Quangong stroked his fine beard, pleased.
But the thought of the price paid for that "perfect" made his heart ache.
That true Artifact Refining Master demanded an exorbitant fee every time he worked.
Tan Quangong told himself that he definitely didn’t give up more than half his profit to hire that Artifact Refining Master for a single session—to overcome the most difficult step and perfectly elevate this Flying Sword to Upper Grade—out of fear of Chun Xiao Master, who stood behind Du Youqian.
No, it was merely for the pride of an Artifact Refiner Master.
Whether Du Youqian believed it or not, he himself did.
Stroking his fine beard, he said through the pain in his heart, "Fellow Daoist Yu, since you’re satisfied, remember to come back next time you need something refined. I’ll give you a discount."
"I’ll be sure to do that." Du Youqian exchanged a few more pleasantries with him, then took the Flying Sword and left, satisfied.
Of course, Du Youqian’s set of equipment wouldn’t consist of just a single Spiritual Artifact.
However, he didn’t plan to have others craft the rest. Instead, he intended to find time to forge them himself in secret, which would also serve to hone his skills.
If he could actually forge a full set of suitable Spiritual Artifacts for himself, his Artifact Refining Art would be on the verge of advancing to Tier Two Upper Grade.
At present, Du Youqian’s Array Dao and Alchemy were both at Tier Two Peak. As long as his Divine Sense strengthened a little more... well, a lot more, he could naturally break through to Tier Three.
His Artifact Refining Art was at Tier Two Upper Grade, and his Talisman Making was at Tier One Upper Grade.
His Divination Art, thanks to frequent use—performing a Divination whenever he had a spare moment—and perhaps a boost from the Great Divine Abilities "Knowing the Celestial Mandate," was now at Tier One Peak and could break through to Tier Two at any time.
His Spirit Plant Art was at Tier One Lower Grade.
As for Beast Taming and the other skills he had previously planned to learn, he had yet to actually start practicing them.
Bound by the restriction of having to break through to the Nascent Soul realm within ten reincarnations, Du Youqian often felt that time was slipping away. How could he dare waste it learning things that were currently useless?
Over the next few years, Du Youqian needed to break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage as quickly as possible and master that Concealing Breath Secret Technique. ’Actually, calling it a Concealing Breath Secret Technique isn’t quite right,’ he thought. ’It allows a Cultivator to alter their aura and Divine Sense fluctuations, which is truly marvelous.’
’Perhaps calling it a Disguise Secret Technique would better suit its nature.’
After reaching the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, Du Youqian planned to spend some time carefully contemplating how to combine the three Life Burning Secret Techniques he had learned: the Blood Burning Art, the Reverse Blood Qi Transformation Technique, and Thousand Miles in One Line. Ideally, he would also find a way to obtain the Red Blood Seven Transitions Technique to create a Life Burning Secret Technique perfectly suited for him.
His ideal Life Burning Secret Technique had only one requirement: it had to drain his lifespan at the most terrifying rate possible in exchange for immense combat power and survivability.
That way, even if he encountered a Core Formation Ancestor, he could hold on for a moment before his life expired and he reincarnated.
It would be even better if the Life Burning Secret Technique he created could be used without any Magical Power.
That way, even if he had a bad start after reincarnating and faced extreme danger, he could immediately choose to reincarnate again, using up one of his chances to escape a fatal crisis.
With that, Du Youqian had completed all the items on his to-do list for his return to the Sect.
Before departing for his Garrison post, he once again went to Feng Xiaoyi’s abode to pay his respects.
She was his greatest backer at the moment; he couldn’t afford to be neglectful.
With his Cultivation at the mere Foundation Establishment Early Stage, on what basis could he become a Guardian Envoy?
It was all because he had a good master.
Other Core Formation Ancestors would demand their disciples compete for the position of True Inheritor.
Only someone like Feng Xiaoyi, who played by her own rules, would allow him to take an external Garrison post, far from the brutal competition and infighting within the Sect.
Among the hundreds of Cultivators from the Holy Blood Sect serving in external Garrisons, Du Youqian’s background was second to none.
Other Garrison guards and Guardian Envoys, at best, curried favor with a Core Formation Ancestor, forcing a slight connection through gifts and other means. The more fortunate or socially adept might manage to become disciples of a Core Formation Ancestor’s disciple, or even a grand-disciple.
Even though they were one or two generations removed, they could ultimately claim some connection to a Core Formation Ancestor, which was necessary to be assigned to a lucrative Garrison post.
But how could that possibly compare to Du Youqian, a Direct Disciple of a Core Formation Ancestor?
For Du Youqian to become a Guardian Envoy was, simply put, a curb stomp.
Du Youqian was well aware of his current advantage, so he had to maintain a very close relationship with Feng Xiaoyi. That way, he could invoke her name whenever needed.
Hai Tang went inside to announce him.
As Du Youqian was admiring the ever-blooming flowers in the courtyard, Feng Xiaoyi’s lazy voice drifted out. "Come in."
Du Youqian’s heart skipped a beat. ’Don’t tell me... my master has finally decided to unleash her inner beast?’
But after only a moment’s hesitation, he strode resolutely into the room.
’As a disciple, I must have faith in my master’s character.’
’And even if Master really does unleash her inner beast... as her most favored disciple, if I don’t descend into hell, who will?’
The scene inside the room was slightly different from what Du Youqian had imagined.
Inside a hollowed-out Golden Auspicious Beast Incense Burner, a stick of Rose Incense known for its mind-clearing and spirit-calming properties was burning, releasing a fragrance of just the right intensity.
A sheet of snow-white Xuan paper was spread out on the table.
The petite Hai Tang stood by the table, grinding ink.
Feng Xiaoyi was leaning forward slightly, a wolf-hair brush in hand, painting on the paper.
Her style of dress was not much different from usual.
Her clothes weren’t overly revealing, but they outlined her figure in a way that was just right.
Especially now, as she leaned forward, a glimpse of full, pale flesh was visible through her loose collar.
It was a breathtaking sight.
Du Youqian, of course, did not stare.
He stole a single glance before looking away.
"Come here, stand by my side."
Du Youqian did as he was told.
"What do you think?" Feng Xiaoyi asked.
In the life where Du Youqian had been a Prime Minister, he had spent some effort learning the art of painting.
Though his own skills were average, he still knew how to appreciate good art.
Feng Xiaoyi was painting a landscape.
The brushwork was delicate, yet the artistic conception within the painting felt grand and magnificent. It could be considered a superior work.
Du Youqian naturally did not hold back his praise, flattering her generously.
Because his compliments hit all the right notes, which clearly showed he had a solid foundation in the Dao of painting, his flattery was particularly pleasing to Feng Xiaoyi’s ears.
"Hehe. Hai Tang, you may leave us."
"Yes, Ma’am!" Hai Tang took a few steps, then glanced back to give Du Youqian a smile before swaying her hips as she walked out the door.
When Du Youqian looked away from her, he found Feng Xiaoyi watching him with a faint, enigmatic smile.
"Staring so intently... you like her, don’t you? If you really like her, I can give her to you as a gift."
Du Youqian hurriedly refused. "Thank you, Master, but my ambitions do not lie in that direction."
"Hehe," Feng Xiaoyi gave a noncommittal, lazy laugh. "Do you think this painting has any room for improvement?"
Du Youqian thought for a moment, then pointed to the upper right corner of the paper. "There’s too much empty space here. If you were to add something, the composition would feel more complete."
"Is that so." Feng Xiaoyi took two steps back, studied it for a moment, and nodded.
"You’re right." She bent over, lifted her brush, and began sketching a pavilion halfway up the mountain in the upper right corner.
A fresh, elegant, and subtly alluring fragrance drifted from her body.
Du Youqian’s gaze drifted downward. Below his master’s slender, graspable waist, her full hips appeared even more pert and pronounced than usual due to her current posture.
Like a ripe peach, they could practically weld a man’s gaze in place.
Du Youqian suspected that the thin gauze skirt served no purpose in concealing anything at all.
Rather, through its "now you see it, now you don’t" enticement, it was designed to draw out a man’s most primal desires.
Du Youqian took one look and tore his eyes away.
It wasn’t that his self-control was strong, but that he knew his own limits.
A few more glances, and he would have truly embarrassed himself.
In truth, although Feng Xiaoyi’s fame as a beauty was widespread, in Du Youqian’s eyes, she possessed a beauty that was stunning without being vulgar, delicate without being frail.
She was alluring, but not overtly seductive.
In his presence, she had never deliberately exuded her charm.
But it was precisely this unintentional charm, revealed in her every move, that was the most captivating.
Du Youqian focused his gaze on the tip of his nose and his mind on his heart, each second feeling like an eternity.
Finally, Feng Xiaoyi finished painting the pavilion. She placed the wolf-hair brush on its stand, then rose and turned to Du Youqian. "Last time you came, I was pondering some difficult problems in my Cultivation and didn’t pay you much mind. I hope you weren’t offended."
Du Youqian smiled. "Master, you’re being too formal. I came today to bid you farewell. I will be heading to the Wu Kingdom tomorrow morning."
Feng Xiaoyi looked Du Youqian up and down, nodding repeatedly, her smile growing wider. She looked extremely satisfied.
Her attitude was a world of difference from the last time.
"I know all about your affairs. You’ve done well over there, and you haven’t neglected your Cultivation. You should be advancing to the Foundation Establishment Third Layer soon, right?"
"Indeed." Du Youqian took out a Storage Treasure Pouch.
"What’s this?"
Du Youqian smiled. "This is just a small token of your disciple’s appreciation. I made a little income during my years in the Wu Kingdom and wanted to show my respect to you, Master. The gift is small, but the sentiment is great. Please accept it with a smile!"
Feng Xiaoyi took it, opened it for a look, and her face bloomed into a radiant smile. "You call this a small gift? This is worth at least two thousand Spiritual Jade, isn’t it? You probably only made a few thousand Spiritual Jade from your plundering in the Wu Kingdom these past two years. You’ve given it all to me, so what about yourself?"
Du Youqian said respectfully, "Everything I have was given to me by you, Master. You have also granted me many life-saving measures before. Now that I have gained some benefits, it is only natural that I prioritize showing my respect to you."
Feng Xiaoyi pressed her lips together, her smile as dazzling as a blooming flower. "Alright then. For the sake of your sincere devotion, I will accept it. But if you start to regret it, you can always come and ask for it back."
