Appraising the Ancient True Scripture, Source of Malevolent Qi

After Shen Bai asked that question, the entire room fell into an eerie silence.

The Old Daoist Priest looked at Shen Bai, his eyes filled with extreme fear.

A thought suddenly occurred to him.

Once this thought emerged, it quickly transformed into an image.

In the image, Shen Bai used the Sophora Tree's branches to create an endless number of Bizarre Entities, then used these entities to harm all of Ascending Cloud County, plunging its people into misery.

Somehow, the Old Daoist Priest increasingly felt that this scenario was highly likely to happen.

"My lord, so you're one of us. If that's the case, this humble one is willing to take you to that Sophora Tree and help you figure something out, but the chances aren't high," the Old Daoist Priest said, fawning.

"Why aren't they high?"

Shen Bai didn't deny being "one of them" and continued to ask.

This was his plan. If the Sophora Tree's branches could continuously produce Bizarre Entities, wouldn't his Malevolent Qi become inexhaustible?

The Old Daoist Priest gave a bitter smile. "Even if that Sophora Tree is a terrifying Bizarre Entity, it still has its limits. Nothing in this world can be produced out of thin air. There's also a limit to the number of Bizarre Entities."

"I see."

Shen Bai nodded, feeling a slight disappointment.

He felt his plan was good, but the Sophora Tree wasn't strong enough.

However, the good thing was that by producing more Malevolent Qi, he could gain more.

At least according to the current progress of his Cheat System, every qualitative change required Malevolent Qi. He didn't know how much would be needed for the next change, so storing it beforehand would prepare him for unexpected needs.

Seeing Shen Bai fall silent, the Old Daoist Priest's hope of survival grew.

"My lord, please spare my life. Although I currently have no limbs, there are many types of cultivators in this world. We can surely find a way to restore my four limbs. By then, I will surely be your pawn. Wherever my lord tells this humble one to go, I will go."

By this point, the Old Daoist Priest had come to believe that Shen Bai truly intended to harm all of Ascending Cloud County.

But before he could finish speaking, a gleaming longsword was already close.

In the Old Daoist Priest's disbelieving eyes, the longsword swiped across his neck.

The Old Daoist Priest's head flew up, rolled several times on the ground, and finally stared wide-eyed at Shen Bai, as if he couldn't understand what he had said wrong even in death.

"Begging for mercy from me? You think you're worthy?"

Shen Bai looked at the headless corpse, shook his head, then his longsword danced continuously, cutting the Old Daoist Priest's body into pieces.

Only after confirming that resurrection was impossible did Shen Bai quietly leave the street.

Leaving that street, Shen Bai didn't rush to the Sophora Tree's location.

Although the sky was dim, it wasn't far from daytime, making movement inconvenient.

Shen Bai returned to the Pawnshop. He was still the only one inside.

When Shen Bai lit the oil lamp, amidst the flickering light and shadows, he poured himself a cup of tea, sat in a chair, and took a casual sip, while his mind lingered on the events he had encountered that night.

"Although that Sophora Tree can't continuously produce Malevolent Qi, according to what the Old Daoist Priest said, there are probably still a few strands of Malevolent Qi lurking inside it. Malevolent Qi is absolutely beneficial to me, so I must go, but not now."

In times of chaos, when dynasties tottered, lives were as cheap as grass.

Before this, Shen Bai hadn't felt it.

But after stepping into this circle, the series of events he encountered made Shen Bai realize that to establish himself in this chaotic world, his own capabilities must first be exceptional.

He didn't want to become like that five-year-old girl, utterly defenseless.

So, before going to the Sophora Tree, Shen Bai planned to use up this last strand of Malevolent Qi.

Before Shen Bai's eyes, a wisp of mist appeared, eventually forming text.

[Ancient True Scripture]

[Appraisal Progress: 0%]

[A wisp of Malevolent Qi can quickly appraise]

"I currently have three Divine Abilities extracted: Blood Sword Dance, Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist, and Jade Evil Body."

"All three are Level 3. It will probably take some time before they can undergo a qualitative change."

"For now, the Ancient True Scripture is the most cost-effective."

Shen Bai tapped his finger on the table, thinking.

One more ability meant one more means of self-preservation. Using the Malevolent Qi on the Ancient True Scripture now was naturally the most reliable thing for Shen Bai.

Having made up his mind, Shen Bai no longer lingered. With a thought, the Malevolent Qi before his eyes swiftly disappeared.

As the Malevolent Qi vanished, new text appeared before Shen Bai's eyes in an instant.

[Heart-Cleansing Incantation lv.1 (Heart Cleansing +1): 0/100]

When the text appeared, a mysterious, unfathomable phantom emerged in Shen Bai's mind.

The phantom sat on an ancient meditation cushion, its back to Shen Bai, its features unclear.

Shen Bai felt an ancient, time-worn aura constantly radiating from the phantom.

The next moment, the sound of a wooden fish reverberated in his mind.

A scripture emanated from the phantom.

The chanting filled the heavens and earth, like a sacred melody from beyond the sky, refreshing both mind and spirit.

Several breaths passed before the phantom and the sound gradually faded away.

"Pure of heart, undisturbed by worldly matters."

Shen Bai opened his eyes, feeling a slight increase in the Qi within his kidneys.

Additionally, he had swiftly mastered the Divine Ability known as Heart-Cleansing Incantation.

"This is good," Shen Bai thought to himself. "It covers another one of my weaknesses."

The Heart-Cleansing Incantation, as a Divine Ability, came with an attribute called 'Heart-Cleansing.'

As the name suggested, cultivating this Divine Ability could ward off certain special types of harm, such as those that disturbed one's spirit and consciousness.

For Shen Bai himself, this was a passive Divine Ability, but it could also be actively used.

When Shen Bai recited the Heart-Cleansing Incantation, he could bestow a Heart-Cleansing effect upon others.

Of course, it would be somewhat weaker than when he used it on himself.

Shen Bai already had the Jade Evil Body for defense, but his spiritual defense was weak. Now, it was as if he had gained spiritual defense capabilities.

"Still need new Bizarre Items, and Malevolent Qi."

Shen Bai reined in his thoughts, feeling as though he had suddenly returned to square one.

However, this thought was fleeting, because as a dedicated grinder, he now had something new to grind.

Shen Bai rubbed his hands, planning to grind the Heart-Cleansing Incantation to Level 2 perfection tonight. After that, he would seek out the massive Sophora Tree to advance the Heart-Cleansing Incantation to Level 3.

With that in mind, Shen Bai began to softly recite the scripture.

Liuyun Lake.

Under the moonlight, the lake water was as clear as a mirror.

On the island in the center of the lake, a towering Sophora Tree floated in the wind.

On the shore, people stood in lines, each holding three sticks of incense, their expressions solemn.

A bamboo raft drifted from the island, slowly approaching the shore.

The boatman, dressed in a straw cape, propped himself with a bamboo pole and lifted his crimson eyes.

"Those offering incense, present your tribute."