Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Evil Art, So What? Can It Be More Unorthodox Than I Am?
’Huh, she actually has a protagonist’s halo. It doesn’t seem to be a full one, though. Maybe... one-seventh of it?’
Qi Suian realized something after killing the female survivor.
’Wait, don’t tell me I just killed one of the heroines!’ A flicker of joy crossed Qi Suian’s face.
It was just like the Reborn One and the Lucky Sister Flowers—the former was the male protagonist, the latter the female protagonist, except the female protagonist was split in two and was constantly being drained by the male protagonist.
The female survivor he had just killed was in the same situation as the latter.
As for how he could sense it was only one-seventh, it was purely a feeling that emerged after he killed her and absorbed her protagonist’s halo.
After looting her body, he found an Ancient Martial Technique called the "Soul-Devouring Palm".
A quick look revealed that it was complementary to the "Soul-Devouring Fist" he already possessed.
It also had three realms: Ghost Cat, Fierce Leopard, and Vicious Tiger.
A classic example of a dragon-and-tiger pairing.
’Definitely an Evil Dao Ancient Martial Technique,’ he thought.
The manual for the "Soul-Devouring Palm" also contained annotations from Cao Li, detailing his understanding of these two techniques.
Ancient Martial Techniques were divided into two paths: Righteous and Evil. The Cao Clan’s "Yanyi Fist" was a quintessential Righteous Dao technique; even if your training went awry, it wouldn’t be fatal.
It built a solid foundation and ensured orderly advancement, but its main drawback was that progress had to be made step-by-step.
This was a fundamental characteristic of all Righteous Dao techniques.
As for Evil Dao techniques, their main characteristic was rapid advancement. However, they came with all sorts of negative side effects, such as an unstable foundation, cruel cultivation requirements, life-threatening training methods, and insidious, vicious fighting styles that defied human reason.
The "Soul-Devouring Fist" and "Soul-Devouring Palm" that Qi Suian now held could be cultivated together to form the "Soul-Devouring and Spirit-Eating Evil Skill", one of the absolute top-tier techniques in the Ancient Martial World.
The only technique that could compare was the Righteous Dao’s "Eternal Undying God-Demon Scripture".
However, that powerful Ancient Martial Technique had long been lost.
As for where Cao Li had obtained these techniques, Qi Suian had no idea.
Furthermore, very few people could even recognize the "Soul-Devouring and Spirit-Eating Evil Skill". But as fate would have it, Cao Li’s Yanyi Cao Clan had records of it.
That was why Cao Li had planned to switch his cultivation path after obtaining these two techniques.
’The Cao Clan’s heirloom, the "Yanyi Fist"? It couldn’t even compare to one of these techniques trained alone, let alone the evil skill that resulted from combining them.’
Unfortunately, his talent was limited. Even with the "Yanyi Fist" providing a foundation, he was only able to cultivate these two Evil Dao techniques to the Huajin realm.
As a Huajin Ancient Martial Artist, he had a natural advantage when studying techniques at or below the Huajin level, allowing him to progress quickly. However, since he had never broken through to the Danjin realm himself, he stood no chance of mastering an even higher-quality Ancient Martial Technique.
Of course, their "Yanyi Fist" was not ranked low among Ancient Martial Techniques; it was considered a first-class technique.
After all, with the decline of ancient martial arts, becoming a Danjin Grandmaster was an exceedingly rare feat. Even reaching the Huajin realm was enough to make one a prominent figure.
’This is definitely not something a normal person can practice. Perhaps only the Ancient Martial Protagonist of the Ancient Martial World could master it.’
From cultivating the "Soul-Devouring Fist" and "Soul-Devouring Palm" just to the Mingjin level, Qi Suian knew that an ordinary person attempting it would be dead in three days, tops.
’Perhaps the "Eternal Undying God-Demon Scripture" is also in the hands of the Ancient Martial Protagonist. Then he could combine it with the "Soul-Devouring and Spirit-Eating Evil Skill" to cultivate both Righteous and Evil Dao techniques simultaneously.’
’That would allow him to directly break through to the Ancient Martial level beyond the Jiejin realm.’
Qi Suian understood the tropes. Of course a treasure like that would fall into the hands of a protagonist.
Then again, hadn’t he just obtained the complete "Soul-Devouring Fist" and "Soul-Devouring Palm" himself?
’First kill the heroine, then steal her secret manual... I’ve probably made an enemy for life,’ Qi Suian mused.
’But does this mean the so-called ’fated opportunity’ wasn’t the "Soul-Devouring and Spirit-Eating Evil Skill", but the female survivor herself, the heroine?’
’These two top-tier Evil Dao techniques were just a prerequisite. The real prize was the one-seventh of the protagonist’s halo.’
’Do the remaining six-sevenths of the heroine’s protagonist halo also come with similar opportunities?’ Qi Suian wondered.
His greatest gain wasn’t the top-tier "Soul-Devouring and Spirit-Eating Evil Skill". It was the indirect knowledge he’d acquired about the other protagonists and, of course, the one-seventh of a protagonist’s halo.
’As long as I keep strengthening my own protagonist’s halo, forget the "Soul-Devouring and Spirit-Eating Evil Skill"—even the "Eternal Undying God-Demon Scripture" could fall right into my lap.’
[Based on your speculation, the probability is as high as seventy percent.]
[The true purpose of the Treasure Map of the Lost is perhaps to guide you to and locate protagonist halos.]
The AI offered its speculation at the perfect moment.
Otherwise, it would all be too coincidental.
A coincidence of this magnitude was no coincidence at all—it was the work of a protagonist’s halo.
’Weaken the heroines first, then kill the male protagonist. It’s the equivalent of eliminating his support system.’
Qi Suian didn’t even need to guess to be certain that the lost "Eternal Undying God-Demon Scripture" was in the hands of the Ancient Martial Protagonist.
As for coveting it, he wasn’t particularly interested. The "Soul-Devouring and Spirit-Eating Evil Skill" he already had was more than enough to keep him busy.
’Alright, next up is to find a place and convert all of this into actual power.’
Luck could be an aid, and Qi Suian certainly relied on his protagonist’s halo, but if his own strength wasn’t sufficient, he would likely be the one getting killed.
After all, luck was only a part of one’s strength, not the whole. If he relied solely on luck, it was only a matter of time before everything came crashing down.
In the end, you had to have solid skills to back it up.
Qi Suian, of course, understood this principle.
[A safe house has been located. Proceeding to destination...]
The AI satisfied Qi Suian in every respect, especially since it seemed to evolve in tandem with the Tai Sui God’s own upgrades.
Using the Wind Master aviation system, the Tai Sui God sped along, quickly arriving at the pre-selected location.
The temperature here was about twenty degrees lower than outside.
Aside from being underground, dark, and dry, it had few other drawbacks.
What other choice was there? At present, only going underground offered any escape or insulation from the extreme heat.
But even with the insulation, it was still hot.
[Lifeform detected. Comparison suggests subject is a survivor.]
[Execute termination protocol?]
"Don’t kill it. Capture it alive. I need intel on Ancient Martial Techniques," Qi Suian said directly.
His decision to wipe out the Cao Clan at the Jade Dragon Association was because they were an entire organization.
Expecting them to reveal the secrets of their Ancient Martial Techniques after he had slaughtered their entire clan would have been pure fantasy.
A lone individual like this, on the other hand, would most likely talk under torture. Not that their words could be fully trusted, of course.
However, the AI could act as a lie detector by analyzing micro-expressions and other physical tells. It wasn’t one hundred percent accurate, but it was a useful tool.
"Hands on your head. Now squat down," Qi Suian’s mechanical voice echoed.
As he stepped inside, he saw a tall woman watching the Tai Sui God with a wary expression.
"Stop, trespasser!" the woman snapped without hesitation, her demeanor a mixture of warning and confidence.
[Comparison of physique, stance, and opening posture indicates a ninety percent probability that the subject practices the Ancient Martial Technique: Yanyi Fist.]
[Preliminary judgment: Remnant of the Yanyi Cao Clan.]
The safe house the AI had selected was located about seventy kilometers from the Cao Clan’s Jade Dragon Association, somewhere on the path toward where he’d killed Cao Rou.
So, after killing Cao Rou, they were now heading back.
It was only natural, then, for a member of the Cao Clan to be hiding here. After all, the temperature wasn’t as high as it was outside.
Qi Suian grumbled internally, ’Why is it another beautiful woman?’
’Could the protagonist’s halo I inherited from the Reborn One have some kind of effect that attracts women?’
Running into a woman wasn’t strange, but constantly running into beautiful ones was.
She practiced the "Yanyi Fist". He wasn’t expecting a body full of corded muscle, but she shouldn’t have been so curvaceous and well-proportioned either.
She looked for all the world like a prize being served up on a silver platter.
After a moment of consideration, Qi Suian decided to stick to his plan.
The Tai Sui God moved instantly, injecting her with a dose of anesthetic meant for three people.
First, he’d restrain her. Then, he’d interrogate her for the information he wanted. If she didn’t talk, he’d move straight to torture.
What other choice did he have?
Just go along with the protagonist’s halo, and saddle himself with a burden and a weakness?
This was the apocalypse. After natural and man-made disasters, the most dangerous thing was a companion.
The memory of the Reborn One being backstabbed was still fresh in his mind.
"You—!" The woman instantly tried to counterattack with a move from the "Yanyi Fist", but she was a step too slow.
She had only just raised her hand when the anesthetic was injected into her body.
Her eyes rolled back into her head, and she fainted on the spot.
’The dosage was a bit much...’ Qi Suian sighed.
Fortunately, it was only a triple dose. There shouldn’t be any major problems for now.
He promptly tied her up and tossed her in a suitable spot.
’She’s just a test subject. No need to treat her like she’s made of glass.’
Three-legged toads might be hard to find, but two-legged Ancient Martial Survivors are everywhere.
Of course, actually finding another one that was all alone would be a hassle.
With that, he sat down and began to further study the two Evil Dao techniques, the "Soul-Devouring Fist" and the "Soul-Devouring Palm".
As for the "Soul-Devouring and Spirit-Eating Evil Skill", he would have to master the basics of the individual techniques before he could even think about practicing them in tandem.
’It looks like two Ancient Martial Techniques, but it’s actually three. The combined technique is its own distinct art; it doesn’t mean the "Soul-Devouring Fist" and "Soul-Devouring Palm" simply become part of the "Soul-Devouring and Spirit-Eating Evil Skill".’
’The "Soul-Devouring and Spirit-Eating Evil Skill" is more like the general principles, while the fist and palm techniques are complementary branches. All three are indispensable.’
Of course, Qi Suian wanted to practice them. He estimated that cultivating these three top-tier Evil Dao techniques to the Jiejin realm would definitely boost his attributes.
Under normal circumstances, of course, he would never be able to master them, since he lacked the so-called "Jin Force."
But there was good news. Cao Li had used the Power of the Limit, combined with his own Huajin, to successfully break through to the Danjin realm.
This meant Qi Suian had a precedent. He could modify both himself and these three top-tier Evil Dao techniques, adapting them into something he could use.
As for the Righteous Dao techniques, Qi Suian dismissed them. Their progress was far too slow.
Mastering them required relentless, year-round training, and it would still take twenty or thirty years to see any results.
The Evil Dao techniques were different. If you didn’t see results in three days, it was probably because you were already dead.
If you weren’t dead and were still training diligently, it meant you had definitely reached the entry level.
Reaching the entry level for a Righteous Dao technique was impossible in less than two or three months.
