Chapter Thirty-Nine: Blood Shadow Escape

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Within the bamboo grove, Elder Sun imparted to Qi Fei the cultivation insights he had gathered over many years, along with several profound techniques of the Danxia Sect. He continued, “In these next few days, your master and I will discuss sending someone to Moonwatch Peak to invite the Seven Absolutes Sect to join forces against Xuan Zhen Monastery. If all goes well, we should hear word soon.”

Qi Fei nodded and said, “If we hope to deal with Xuan Zhen Monastery, allying with the Seven Absolutes Sect alone won’t suffice—we must also rely on the authority of the Marquis of Might. Has there been any news from Elder Huo, who is stationed below the mountain?”

A flicker of concern crossed Elder Sun’s face. He sighed, “I fear things are not going well with Elder Huo.”

Qi Fei was surprised. “What do you mean? Does Huo Zhongmou have no intention of vying for the position of Sect Master of Danxia?”

Elder Sun shook his head. “Over the past few days, Elder Mo sent disciples down the mountain to investigate, and they brought back troubling news. Huo Zhongmou has not, in fact, won the Marquis’s favor. The Marquis of Might has ruled over the nine counties of Yong Prefecture for many years, and countless experts serve under him. Huo Zhongmou’s cultivation has only reached the third level of the Profound Gate’s Divine Powers, the Out-of-Body stage. Earning the Marquis’s esteem is no easy matter. As it is, Huo Zhongmou has merely attached himself to the Marquis’s son, Chu Qingyun. Previously, he used the Marquis’s renown to cow Xuan Zhen Monastery into not acting rashly at Qingyang Peak. Now that Xuan Zhen Monastery supports Yang Zheng’s rise, they must already be well aware of the true state of affairs.”

“So that’s how it is. Still, if Huo Zhongmou can persuade the Marquis’s son to oversee Qingyang Peak, and with the Seven Absolutes Sect intervening, perhaps we can yet turn the tables atop Qingyang Peak,” Qi Fei mused. Having mastered the unrivaled Vital Energy of Heaven and Earth, he was confident that even when facing the formidable power of Xuan Zhen Monastery, he could find a way to contend.

“Let us hope so,” Elder Sun sighed, then roused himself and began instructing Qi Fei in the foundational techniques of the Profound Gate.

Under Elder Sun’s guidance, Qi Fei gradually understood how to harness the Vital Energy of Heaven and Earth within himself for the Daoist arts. After an hour, he could easily wield the skills of Daoist talisman magic.

Elder Sun, observing Qi Fei’s cultivation, was secretly astonished. The depth of Qi Fei’s Profound Gate True Essence was as unfathomable as his martial prowess. To think that amidst the sect’s many tribulations, such a peerless prodigy had arisen filled Elder Sun with hope for the sect’s future revival.

Having already witnessed Qi Fei’s supernatural abilities, Elder Sun could not help but advise, “Qi Fei, now that you have forged your Spiritual Soul and possess a body filled with Profound Gate True Essence, when you reach the second level of the Profound Gate’s Divine Powers—the Pure Yang realm—your Spiritual Soul will undergo yet further transformation.”

“I ask for your guidance, Elder Sun.”

Seeing Qi Fei listening intently, without a trace of arrogance, Elder Sun nodded approvingly and said, “After forging the Spiritual Soul in the Profound Gate arts, much like the Martial Soul, further transformations await. To reach the Pure Yang realm, you must first produce the most subtle Pure Yang Qi within your Spiritual Soul.”

“Fusing this Pure Yang Qi with your Profound Gate True Essence, you practice the righteous sect’s techniques. The Spiritual Soul then produces a Primordial Spirit called ‘Divine Will.’ Divine Will is suffused with upright energy, and when it leaves the body and takes form, it has an incomparable majesty that even gods and ghosts dare not invade. If, however, you practice demonic arts, the Primordial Spirit forged from your Spiritual Soul is known as ‘Demonic Fiend.’ When perfected, a mere gesture exudes overwhelming demonic power, as if capable of destroying heaven and earth. There are also those in the Profound Gate who cultivate ghostly arts—the Primordial Spirit they forge is called a ‘Yin Soul.’”

Qi Fei recalled that his master, Lord Bloodshade, who died with deep hatred, practiced the Heart Demon Sect’s demonic arts and had reached the fourth level of Profound Gate’s Divine Powers, the Shapeshifting stage. No doubt, his Primordial Spirit was a Demonic Fiend. As for his mortal enemy, the Hundred Ghosts Daoist, skilled in corpse poisons and turning the corpses of martial artists into demonic slaves, his Primordial Spirit must certainly be a Yin Soul.

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After Elder Sun’s detailed explanation, Qi Fei found himself uncertain. The Heart Demon Sect’s secret manual he possessed was the supreme technique of the Profound Gate, but if he pursued these arts and one day his cultivation soared, forging a Demonic Fiend as his Primordial Spirit, would he not become the very demon that orthodox sects would unite to destroy? Yet to give up the Heart Demon Sect’s supreme arts was something he could not bear. For a while, Qi Fei was trapped in a painful dilemma.

With the affairs of the outer sect pressing and now managed by only Mo Zhanpeng and Elder Sun, the latter, seeing that Qi Fei was beginning to grasp the mysteries of the Profound Gate arts, took his leave after some final instructions.

Watching Elder Sun depart, Qi Fei sighed inwardly and cast aside his distracting thoughts, continuing his cultivation in the bamboo grove for several more hours.

Now, with his ever-increasing command over the Vital Energy of Heaven and Earth, Qi Fei’s every gesture radiated the ethereal grace unique to Daoist cultivators. Having forged his Profound Gate Spiritual Soul, and with the True Essence within enhanced by the wondrous effects of the Spirit-Linking Jade, his martial energy and Daoist essence had fused into an even purer Vital Energy of Heaven and Earth. A bold notion flickered through Qi Fei’s mind—the Spirit-Linking Jade was a peerless treasure. If he exercised the “Lingxi Technique,” perhaps he could one day conceal the demonic aura of the Demonic Fiend.

After much deliberation, Qi Fei could no longer suppress his curiosity and decided to attempt cultivating the Heart Demon Sect’s supreme arts.

The manual his master, Lord Bloodshade, had given him was the “Illusory Heart Dao Record,” the Heart Demon Sect’s ultimate scripture. The “Lingxi Technique,” which could instantly hide one's cultivation with the aid of the Spirit-Linking Jade, originated from this demonic text.

Qi Fei silently recalled the myriad techniques within the “Illusory Heart Dao Record,” and after a moment, he selected an art: “Bloodshadow Escaping Technique.”

This technique involved unleashing one’s true essence to transform the body into a cloud of blood mist, instantly fleeing a hundred miles away—a demonic art ideal for both ambush and escape. It was likely that Lord Bloodshade’s name derived from this very technique.

Qi Fei had yet to reach the fourth level of the Profound Gate’s Divine Powers, the Shapeshifting stage, and could not hope to escape a hundred miles as blood mist. But according to the “Illusory Heart Dao Record,” the Bloodshadow Escaping Technique was so profound that even those at the first level, the Spirit-Concentration stage, could teleport within a hundred paces.

For Qi Fei, currently at the Spirit-Concentration stage, the Bloodshadow Escaping Technique was undoubtedly a life-saving art. He circulated his vast Vital Energy of Heaven and Earth and began to practice this supreme demonic technique.

As the Vital Energy surged, Qi Fei could feel the subtlety of the Bloodshadow Escaping Technique. As soon as he activated the formula, his Vital Energy erupted. The moment the demonic art was set in motion, strange crimson rays flickered over his body. In the next instant, his figure became a blurred afterimage, vanishing from the bamboo grove. Immediately after, a startled cry rang out from above the grove.

Qi Fei, having disappeared suddenly, found himself materializing in midair. Fortunately, he had been prepared—he quickly used his martial lightness skill to steady himself as he plummeted, landing safely.

Though delighted at his success, Qi Fei dared not use the technique recklessly again. If he ever used the Bloodshadow Escaping Technique to flee and accidentally crashed into a cliffside, it would be a joke for the ages.

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Within the bamboo grove, as Qi Fei pondered the mysteries of the Bloodshadow Escaping Technique, Elder Sun and Mo Zhanpeng were discussing in a side room of the sect’s outer courtyard how best to ally with the Seven Absolutes Sect against the powerful Xuan Zhen Monastery.

Elder Sun mused for a long time before murmuring, “The Seven Absolutes Sect’s leader, Sima Yan, is a martial master of innate skill. If we can gain his support, Xuan Zhen Monastery will have to tread carefully. However, not long ago, the Seven Absolutes Sect and Xuan Zhen Monastery joined forces to demand medicine from us. Since our sect master disappeared, the Seven Absolutes Sect has watched as Xuan Zhen Monastery seized our sect’s ancestral grounds at Qingyang Peak—surely there are hidden reasons behind this. Sending mere disciples to Moonwatch Peak with a letter will not persuade them.”

Mo Zhanpeng, ever forthright, quickly replied, “Then let me go to Moonwatch Peak in person and beg Sima Yan for his help.”

Elder Sun frowned. “To move Sima Yan, not only must you go yourself, but our sect will have to make sacrifices.”

“What do you mean, Elder Sun?”

Elder Sun sighed. “When you reach Moonwatch Peak and meet the Seven Absolutes Sect’s leader, tell him that if his sect helps us reclaim the position of sect master, Danxia Sect will offer sixty percent of our annual medicinal pills to them. If Sima Yan still refuses, promise him eighty percent.”

Mo Zhanpeng was alarmed. “Elder Sun, this will ruin the foundation of our sect!”

Elder Sun gave a bitter smile. “Do you think I wish to hand over our hard-earned pills? But Huo Zhongmou’s silence shows he fears Xuan Zhen Monastery. If we cannot get the Seven Absolutes Sect to intervene, then with just the two of us and a few outer sect disciples, trying to take on Xuan Zhen Monastery would be suicide.”

Mo Zhanpeng fell silent for a long time before sighing, “So be it. For now, we must first drive out the thieves on Qingyang Peak and reclaim our ancestral grounds. We’ll deal with the Seven Absolutes Sect later.”

The two made their decision. That very night, Mo Zhanpeng, accompanied by his chief disciple Luo Dingshan and two others, slipped out of the valley under cover of darkness, heading for Moonwatch Peak where the Seven Absolutes Sect resided.

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