Life True Water

It had been only a little over three months since the Demon Sect's Vermilion Bird Envoy had died at the hands of Divine Fist Sect's Supreme Elder, Fang Yaoyang, yet another Grandmaster of the Condensing Gang Realm had fallen in Ningyun City. The news once again set all of Great Gan ablaze.

Although the incident in which Ximen Xue of Ningyun City killed Dan Cao Hall's Second Hall Master, Yang Chaoxing, was not as grand in scale as the previous attack on Jin'an City by Divine Fist Sect's Supreme Elder Fang Yaoyang, Demon Extermination Society President Ying Tianqing, and the others, when seven Grandmasters of the Condensing Gang Realm had gathered together—

the killing of Dan Cao Hall's Second Hall Master, Yang Chaoxing, by Ximen Xue of Ningyun City still had its own legendary aspect: he had slain someone above his level.

This time, Ximen Xue had actually defeated Yang Chaoxing, Dan Cao Hall's Second Hall Master, who was in the early Condensing Gang Realm, while possessing only a late True Qi Realm cultivation. One had to know that a vast chasm existed between the True Qi Realm and the Condensing Gang Realm.

Yet Ximen Xue had managed to cross that vast chasm and slay someone above his level. The shock this caused in people's hearts could be imagined.

After learning the news, quite a few martial artists could not stop their blood from surging. They sighed, "A martial artist ought to be like Hero Ximen!"

Previously, Ximen Xue had only enjoyed some fame in Ningyun Prefecture and a few nearby prefectures. This time, after stepping on the corpse of the Condensing Gang Realm Grandmaster Yang Chaoxing, his name had resounded throughout Great Gan.

It was now the third day after Yang Chaoxing's death, and Bi Changsheng had finally found some free time.

After completely wiping out Dan Cao Hall, Bi Changsheng had begun overseeing the reconstruction of Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion and compensating the shops along nearby Gold-Sprinkled Street.

At first, all the shop owners hurriedly refused the compensation Bi Changsheng offered, afraid to accept it. Only after Bi Changsheng forcefully insisted did they agree to take it. As for the compensation money, it naturally came from what had been looted from Dan Cao Hall. One had to admit that Dan Cao Hall was truly wealthy; even after paying the compensation, Bi Changsheng still had some left over.

Of course, this was also because Bi Changsheng was only compensating the shops for their reconstruction costs. If he had compensated them according to the value of the shops, ten Dan Cao Halls probably would not have been enough.

With Ximen Xue's powerful reputation behind him, Bi Changsheng had rallied quite a few people to repair and rebuild Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion and this section of Gold-Sprinkled Street. In just two or three days, the second floor of Crimson Blood Pill Pavilion had already been restored, and reconstruction of this section of Gold-Sprinkled Street was nearing completion.

During these days, quite a few forces in Ningyun City had wanted to visit and curry favor with him, but Bi Changsheng found it troublesome and rejected them all.

At that moment, Bi Changsheng was sitting in the courtyard, flipping through a book. The words Creation Condensing Yuan Skill were written in large characters on its cover. This was the cultivation technique Bi Changsheng had obtained when he eradicated a Yellow Heaven Cult stronghold in Ningyun Prefecture.

On the journey back to Ningyun City from Ningyun Prefecture, Bi Changsheng had already studied the technique. After comprehending it and trying it out, he discovered that this technique, which the people imprisoned in the underground palace had considered extremely difficult, came as naturally as instinct to him. He learned it at once.

With a thought from Bi Changsheng, Creation Condensing Yuan Skill began circulating automatically within his body. A year of lifespan was immediately extracted, then transformed into a strange energy that felt somewhat familiar to Bi Changsheng as it gathered in his right hand. Finally, it changed from incorporeal to corporeal, condensing into a drop of emerald-green liquid the size of a bead.

This was the Life True Water mentioned in the cultivation technique.

The reason that energy had felt familiar was that it resembled the energy produced when Bi Changsheng practiced Life-Spending Cultivation, though it was also somewhat different.

Although Bi Changsheng had already mastered how to condense Life True Water, he felt that he had not yet fully grasped Creation Condensing Yuan Skill. It contained even deeper mysteries, so whenever he had free time, he often took it out to study.

Bi Changsheng had also experimented with the Life True Water. So far, he had discovered two uses.

The first was that when Bi Changsheng deliberately cut his own hand and then drank the Life True Water, he discovered that it could rapidly heal wounds. The second was a plant-promoting effect. When Bi Changsheng poured Life True Water onto a weed by the roadside, the weed grew wildly in a short period, leading him to discover this effect.

Both effects were extremely useful to Bi Changsheng. Rapid healing could strengthen his ability to survive, while stimulating plant growth was even more extraordinary. It could help him further cast off his dependence on external objects and advance even farther along the path of Life-Spending Cultivation.

The patch of wasteland in the courtyard that Uncle Fu had originally used to grow vegetables had now been commandeered by Bi Changsheng. He had planted it entirely with medicinal herbs useful for his cultivation. Under the stimulation of the Life True Water, they were all growing exceptionally well, and he believed they would soon be ready for harvest.

With a thought, Bi Changsheng stored Creation Condensing Yuan Skill and that drop of Life True Water in his Storage Ring. He then took out another book. The words Calculations Sutra were written in large characters on its cover.

This was one of the two books the owner had thrown in when Bi Changsheng bought spirit crystals and Spirit Grass at the immortal cultivation ghost market. Bi Changsheng had also studied the Calculations Sutra over the past few days. It was divided into four volumes, each covering complicated subjects such as arithmetic, space, and the Five Elements. Since the contents were interlinked, one had to begin studying from the first volume.

The Calculations Sutra was like a cultivation technique, yet not quite like one. Bi Changsheng had even less idea of its specific effects, because he had not yet entered the threshold of the first volume.

With Bi Changsheng's comprehension, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation, so he had considerable interest in the Calculations Sutra. Fortunately, he had already grasped some clues. He believed it would not take long before he could enter the threshold of the first volume.

"Woof! Woof!"

A bark startled Bi Changsheng, who had been absorbed in his book. He shifted his gaze from the pages and saw Little Black looking at him ingratiatingly. The moment he saw Little Black's expression, Bi Changsheng knew exactly what it was thinking.

"I couldn't possibly forget you. Don't worry."

Smiling as he spoke to Little Black, Bi Changsheng took a drop of Life True Water from his Storage Ring and dripped it into Little Black's mouth.

After drinking the Life True Water it had been longing for, Little Black barked happily several more times. It then ran off to one side, lay down, and began meditating and cultivating.

It turned out that after Bi Changsheng had rushed back that day, both Liu Zhengqing and Little Black had been seriously injured. Bi Changsheng had given each of them a drop of Life True Water, allowing their injuries to recover rapidly.

Moreover, the Life True Water seemed to offer Little Black some other benefit as well, so Little Black had come to discuss with Bi Changsheng the possibility of receiving one drop every day.

Bi Changsheng had witnessed Little Black's performance that day. In addition, condensing Life True Water did not consume much of him, costing at most some time, so he naturally agreed.

"Young Master."

Bi Changsheng had only just resumed reading when he heard Liu Zhengqing call out to him again. Looking up, he saw Liu Zhengqing standing before him, fidgeting awkwardly.

"Young Master, I..."

When Liu Zhengqing saw Bi Changsheng looking at him, he wore an expression of wanting to speak but stopping himself.

"Sit down first."

Bi Changsheng smiled gently at Liu Zhengqing before telling him to sit down.

"Young Master, I want to take Old Fang as my master."

After sitting down, Liu Zhengqing was finally encouraged by Bi Changsheng's smile to work up the courage and say what he wanted to say.

"It's because of what happened that day."

Bi Changsheng was startled at first, but after turning the thought over, he more or less guessed the reason.

"Yes. I want to be able to help you, Young Master."

Liu Zhengqing replied firmly.

"You don't need to force yourself. You still have me for everything."

Hearing Liu Zhengqing's reason, Bi Changsheng felt warmth in his heart as he gently tried to persuade him.

"Although everything is fine under your protection, Young Master, I still want to be able to help you."

Thinking of how everything he had now had been given to him by Bi Changsheng, yet he could not help Bi Changsheng with anything, Liu Zhengqing looked at Bi Changsheng with a resolute gaze and spoke firmly again.

"All right. Then I'll respect your decision. But don't forget—I'll always be behind you."