Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Blood Spirit Demon Pool

Qing Hong rescued the children one by one, checked their conditions, and then returned to the mountain village to reunite them with their families. Seeing that night was falling, he stayed in the village for the night.

In the dead of night, Qing Hong suddenly appeared atop a nearby mountain peak, holding a Moon Essence Pearl aloft in his hand. Radiant light shimmered as a white beam extended from his palm, drawing down the bright moon like a pillar connecting heaven and earth.

“Though this isn’t a magical treasure, its efficiency in absorbing moonlight is quite remarkable.” As the moonlight poured down, the surrounding power of the Great Yin grew more intense.

Floating the pearl in midair to illuminate the area, he took out each of his magical artifacts for inspection.

Returning from the Lingwei Immortal Mansion, Qing Hong had finally acquired a Dragon Whisk Fan, a Demon-Subduing Banner, and the Moon Essence Pearl. Among them, the fan alone, a treasure of the Earth Immortals, was enough to grant him unrestricted passage across the vast lands.

“Combined with the Azure Cloud Demon-Subduing Banner, also no less than an Earth Immortal treasure, these few artifacts in my possession surpass those of many seasoned Celestial Immortals.”

Magical artifacts are divided into two classes: magical implements and treasured instruments. Magical implements primarily harness forbidden cultivation techniques of immortals and demons, inscribing Dao patterns and formations on objects, akin to shaping the sinews and bones of the body. Treasured instruments radiate spiritual light, nurturing their own sentience, akin to the essence and soul. When both body and soul are united, the artifact truly becomes a vessel of the Dao.

Both the Dragon Whisk Fan and the Demon-Subduing Banner have transcended the concept of treasured instruments. Their perfect fusion of spirit and form represents a new class of vessel for the Dao. The Dragon Whisk Fan can serve as a root immortal tree for self-cultivation, while the Demon-Subduing Banner can transform into azure clouds, absorbing the pure energies of the sky. Such treasures are prized by Earth Immortals. Some call them True Instruments, others Immortal Implements, or Dao Instruments. Regardless of name, they represent a higher realm beyond treasured instruments. They do not require their owner to refine them; they independently gather the essence of heaven and earth for cultivation.

While magical implements and treasured instruments are difficult to mend once broken, these Dao vessels can restore themselves through the imprinted great Dao, for they embody the Dao itself.

“I have the Azure Cloud Demon-Subduing Banner and the Yin-Yang Dragon Whisk Fan, but such high-grade artifacts should be used sparingly to avoid dependency.”

Excluding these two, he only had the Green Tide Pearl and the Nine Heavens Dragon Tower on hand.

The Dragon Tower, a supreme treasure of the dragon clan, demanded too much. Qing Hong had hoped to acquire the nine-faced Demon-Subduing Banner from the Lingwei Immortal Mansion but ended up with just one. Such an ancient and exotic treasure was far too valuable to be monopolized by a single person.

“However, the second artifact of the Dragon Tower, the Nine Clouds Departing Divine Talisman, only requires drawing talismans to cultivate—not difficult.” He finally focused on the Green Tide Pearl.

He favored sets of magical artifacts for their versatility, ideal for battle. Yet as his cultivation advanced, the Green Tide Pearl could no longer keep pace.

The pearl spun swiftly by his side, its spiritual radiance absorbing moonlight from the air to replenish its energy.

“Though I constantly infuse it with merit, the Green Tide Pearl is essentially a string of clam pearls, formed by absorbing the essence of sun and moon. Having reached the pinnacle of a treasured instrument, it cannot be further refined into a Dao vessel.”

Due to its materials, the Green Tide Pearl would gradually lose usefulness as Qing Hong’s cultivation grew.

“Unless I find a primordial spiritual object to refine anew, or use another pearl as a vessel to extract and replace the original spiritual light.” He looked up at the Moon Essence Pearl.

The pearl gleamed with dazzling white light, exuding a coldness like a palace in snowy wilderness.

“Unfortunately, there is only one Moon Essence Pearl. Though a single pearl far surpasses the Green Tide Pearl, the entire set of Green Tide Pearls combined still outvalues the lone Moon Essence Pearl.”

If he could find twenty-four Moon Essence Pearls, Qing Hong would have confidence in using the moon’s essence to elevate the Green Tide Pearls into true Dao vessels.

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“Alas, the treasures of the Pure Void Vast Cold Mansion are not easily obtained.” It was normal to acquire one or two Moon Essence Pearls, but a whole dozen at once? Impossible.

Nevertheless, this Moon Essence Pearl was of fine quality. Qing Hong used moonlight to refine it, inscribing a formation that captured the Great Yin’s spiritual light, treating it as a magical treasure for refining.

When Qing Hong awoke, dawn was breaking in the east. The Earth Immortals of the Taiyuan Palace had vanished—this time, completely gone.

“Not monitoring me anymore?” Qing Hong was momentarily surprised. But then he reasoned that no matter how many Earth Immortals were in Taiyuan Palace, they couldn’t be watching him every moment.

Now that Taiyuan Palace had relaxed its vigilance, Qing Hong enjoyed his freedom and continued traveling outside. As for returning to the Yinying Sect—the moment he had left, he had no desire to linger in such a grim environment.

Wandering aimlessly through the Central Plains, he once again arrived at Jin Yuan City. The Qiu family resided at the Bi Manor. Recalling their past kindness, Qing Hong decided to visit and stay there for a while.

After the events in Jin Yuan City last year, Li Jingxun had prepared medicine for Qiu Jinchai and his wife to aid them in conceiving and continuing their lineage. Now several months later, Qiu Jinchai was already pregnant.

The family held great gratitude toward Qing Hong and Li Jingxun. Upon Qing Hong’s arrival, they immediately welcomed him as an esteemed guest.

During conversation, Qiu Jinchai, with a mother’s tender heart, inquired about Bi Rong’s condition: “My youngest son is unruly. I worry that his harsh training in the mountains might provoke the wrath of the Celestial Elders.”

“Madam need not worry,” Qing Hong smiled. “He has apprenticed under an Earth Immortal master. His future on the path of immortality is promising. Elder Feng has a calm nature—a true ancient immortal who has attained the Dao for thousands of years. Would he be angered by a mere child’s temper?”

His gaze swept over the assembled. With the Nine-Spirit Demon Mother having abandoned the Bi Manor, the Bi family was no longer declining but flourishing steadily. The once fierce flames had cooled, suggesting someone was aiding them behind the scenes, allowing their wealth to grow slowly but surely.

“Li Jingxun cleverly used the Bi Manor last year to entertain various immortals—surely she had plans for the manor from the start?” Qing Hong trusted Li Jingxun’s careful mind completely.

“High Immortal, can you tell if my sister’s child is a boy or a girl?” Suddenly, Qiu Jinling spoke, hoping Qing Hong could divine the child’s gender.

Golden light flashed in Qing Hong’s eyes, a Taiji pattern slowly spinning as he focused on Qiu Jinchai’s womb. He suddenly asked, “Madam and Master, do you wish this child to be a boy or a girl?”

“Of course, a son,” Bi De replied without hesitation. “Since Rong is on the path of immortality, I need a male heir to carry on the lineage.”

Qiu Jinchai’s expression faltered but she said nothing, only smiled faintly.

Qing Hong chuckled. “Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed prematurely. You will know in time. Though cultivators of the immortal path avoid attachments and karmic entanglements, Bi Rong is your own flesh and blood—a great debt of birth that must be repaid. Elder Feng’s lineage does not practice pure Yang cultivation; it does not forbid Yin-Yang dual cultivation. Even if you arrange marriages or concubines for him in the future, it will not matter.”

Using Yin-Yang techniques to observe, Qing Hong saw that this child was a “Pearl of Vast Waters, Jade Among Clouds”—a daughter. But judging by Bi De’s demeanor, he refrained from saying so openly and planned to privately prepare Qiu Jinchai.

The elder madam seemed to understand and changed the subject, pushing Qiu Jinling forward. “High Immortal, not long ago my eldest daughter found a match for Jinling. What do you think of this marriage?”

Qing Hong used his divination manual to calculate, then furrowed his brows. Drawing the Nine Cloud Mystic Crystal Plate, he studied it deeply before asking, “Recently, have there been any disappearances of children in the city?”

“Um… I haven’t really noticed,” Bi De and his wife shook their heads. Qiu Jinling added, “When I went out to buy rouge, I overheard some beggars talking about a few children going missing lately.”

Qing Hong’s expression grew thoughtful. Qiu Jinling felt uneasy. The suitor chosen for her by Qiu Jinchai was a friend of Bi De’s, a scholar of some renown, said to be young, handsome, and talented.

“High Immortal, do you think there is something wrong with this marriage?”

“The match itself is fine, but difficulties may arise later. Is his surname Wang?”

“Yes.”

“He was born in the Renchen year, now in his early twenties—just coming of age.” Qing Hong calculated his fate. “Soon he will face a Dao tribulation. Don’t worry, I will help him dispel it and assist him, ensuring your marriage is fulfilled.”

Relieved by his words, the family relaxed. After dinner, they invited Qing Hong to rest.

Politely declining the servants’ attendance, Qing Hong slipped away into the night to search the city.

Using the Nine Cloud Mystic Crystal Plate to calculate the days, he sensed a faint spiritual pulse, as if something strange was happening in the city related to the Blood Sea of the Demon Sect. Even Qiu Jinling’s future husband’s tribulation seemed tied to the Demon Sect.

“Her fiancé was born in a pure Yang year, month, day, and hour. According to my calculations, he faces a heart-extraction disaster. Seems like another demon trying to extract a heart for cultivation.”

The Daoist sect cultivates pure qi, the primordial way refines turbid qi—these are just differences in magical attributes and do not provoke Qing Hong’s disdain. But the Demon Sect uses many unorthodox curses that harm heaven’s harmony, violating his principles.

Holding the Nine Cloud Mystic Crystal Plate with nine dragons dancing upon it, the final dragon pointed south. Riding the clouds, he headed in that direction.

After a while, he arrived at a forested mountain—once the haunt of Song Shaoming and Du Yue.

Qing Hong used the Green Tide Pearl to conceal his presence and silently entered the dense woods to gather blood qi. Eventually, he reached a withered tree. Slapping it gently, the tree trembled, ripples of light shimmering as a spatial portal gradually appeared.

“A spatial portal? Is this a Blood Sea’s secluded paradise? Could their main base be here?” Qing Hong suddenly hesitated, unwilling to proceed further.

Yet he quickly laughed bitterly. “If this were truly the Blood Sea’s gateway, would the Daoist sect have won last year? And if it was the Blood Sea’s portal, how could I sense it so easily? It must be one of their Blood Spirit Demon Pools set up outside.”

Blood Spirit Demon Pools are miniature Blood Seas constructed by the Demon Sect while traveling, formed by collecting the blood and filth of nearby living beings for cultivation. They serve as temporary bases and can be considered small paradises.

In a flash, Qing Hong entered this space.

A nauseating stench of evil qi assaulted him. Just a glance almost suffocated him. Ahead lay a boundless river of filth blocking his path.

“Ugh—” Qing Hong nearly vomited. The Demon Sect cultivates turbid qi and often consorts with filth, creating demon pools from human waste—an utterly disgusting method. These filth generate demonic qi that damages immortal bodies, and also serve as psychological weapons.

Barely inside, the filth river overwhelmed him. A careless sound drew the attention of several demon cultivators guarding behind it.

“Who’s there!” A flash of blood light, and a Blood Sea disciple appeared on a blood cloud, pointing ahead. The filth river erupted, spewing countless yellow-green wastes.

Qing Hong’s face darkened. Casting a water shield, he turned and fled, unwilling to bring out the Green Tide Pearl or Demon-Subduing Banner, fearing they would be sullied.

After some maneuvers, he evaded his pursuers and escaped the Blood Spirit Demon Pool.

(To be continued.)