Malicious Schemes Backfire and Aid the Offering

Qin Haoxuan stayed in Xu Yu's room until nightfall, when Xu Yu finally finished explaining Elder Chu's Eight Trigrams Numerology. Although she explained it in great detail and added many of her own insights and understandings, Qin Haoxuan still only half-understood it.

Seeing that night had fallen, and it was not appropriate to stay in a young lady's room for too long, even though they were both pure and chaste, people might still gossip. So, he bid farewell to Xu Yu. After once again solidifying his nickname "rice bucket" at the cafeteria, Qin Haoxuan, full and satisfied, didn't plan to return to his dormitory. Instead, he headed to the bushes from last night to practice.

However, before he even reached the bushes, Gu Yunzi was already waiting for him there.

As the Hall Master of Gu Yun Hall, he was a high-ranking figure in the Taichu Sect. How could he possibly appear in such secluded places as Spirit Field Valley? Moreover, judging by his demeanor, he was clearly here for him.

"Disciple Qin Haoxuan greets Hall Master Gu," Qin Haoxuan said respectfully, despite his surprise.

"Rise," Gu Yunzi said, extending his right hand with a kind smile. Qin Haoxuan felt a strong force lift him up from his bow.

"Qin Haoxuan, I've come specifically to find you today. I've been observing you for many days and find you to be very persistent with a firm Dao Heart, capable of great things. Although you are only a Weak Seed and don't meet the requirements for entering Gu Yun Hall, I can teach you personally. As long as your cultivation improves, I can legitimately admit you into Gu Yun Hall as a formal disciple."

Gu Yunzi got straight to the point, which surprised Qin Haoxuan.

During the test, Gu Yunzi hadn't paid much attention to him. After discovering he was a Weak Seed, he hadn't even glanced at him again. Yet today, he specifically sought him out and spoke of personal instruction, which felt inexplicably strange.

Gu Yunzi, as one of the four Hall Masters, deigning to personally guide a newly initiated Weak Seed disciple was an incredible opportunity for anyone else. They would surely be overjoyed. Although Qin Haoxuan didn't refuse, he only thanked him politely, his reaction neither lukewarm nor ecstatic, with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Gu Yunzi, who had initially been testing Qin Haoxuan, was satisfied. This Qin Haoxuan was just as the rumors described: firm Dao Heart, exceptionally stable temperament. It seemed the recent widespread news of him fighting to a mutual destruction with an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf cultivator was true.

With this thought, Gu Yunzi smiled with satisfaction and said, "Haoxuan, if you have any doubts, feel free to ask. I can resolve them for you."

Qin Haoxuan did have some doubts. Since Gu Yunzi was offering guidance, he decided to take advantage of it. Without hesitation, he began to ask his questions. Gu Yunzi answered them all, without reservation, and with considerable enthusiasm. This eagerness to recruit talent only deepened Qin Haoxuan's suspicion.

There were so many people with better talent than him. For a high-ranking figure like Gu Yunzi, wouldn't it be as simple as snapping his fingers to recruit anyone other than those few strong seed disciples? Why would he put so much effort into him?

Despite his doubts, Qin Haoxuan wisely kept them to himself. He knew he couldn't afford to offend a high-ranking figure like Gu Yunzi.

As Gu Yunzi answered Qin Haoxuan's questions, he hesitated again. Although this young man was a Weak Seed, he had an innate sense for cultivation. The questions he raised were much deeper than Zhang Yang's. If he were to be turned into a Corpse Soldier...

Gu Yunzi felt increasingly reluctant. While he had used his position over the years to do things for his own benefit, he had never truly harmed any disciples of the sect. Turning someone into a Corpse Soldier would be too against the natural order... However, if this disciple didn't become a Corpse Soldier to disrupt the mental states of the three Purple Seeds, Zhang Yang would have difficulty becoming Sect Master in the future. His lineage had never produced a Sect Master.

After a long period of contemplation, Gu Yunzi gritted his teeth. "Fine! Even if Zhang Yang becomes Sect Master, he can only suppress the Purple Seeds for a while. It won't harm the future of Taichu, and it will bring prestige to my lineage. Sacrificing one Weak Seed is worth it! When I pass away someday, I'll go to the founding ancestors to apologize."

After resolving some of Qin Haoxuan's doubts, Gu Yunzi pretended to ponder for a long time before saying with difficulty, "Your physique is special. Cultivating these most basic techniques is truly a waste of talent. I have an extremely rare Spirit Technique that I obtained while traveling in my youth. It's very suitable for you to cultivate."

Gu Yunzi took out a bottle of pills he had prepared and poured one out for Qin Haoxuan. "This pill is called Spirit Strengthening Pill. After taking it, combined with the technique I will teach you, it can greatly enhance your physical strength."

Qin Haoxuan held the bean-sized pill, hesitant to take it. But Gu Yunzi's eager gaze intensified his suspicion, and he didn't know how to refuse.

"Do you think I would harm you?" Gu Yunzi asked. As Qin Haoxuan opened his mouth to answer, just as he uttered the word "I," another bean-sized pill shot from Gu Yunzi's fingertip, flying directly into his mouth. The pill melted upon contact, and Qin Haoxuan had no chance to spit it out before it turned into a clear stream and entered his abdomen.

As soon as the pill entered his body, he felt a burning sensation all over. It happened to counteract some of the heat from the One-Leaf Golden Lotus within him, making Qin Haoxuan want to groan in comfort.

At this moment, Qin Haoxuan couldn't worry about Gu Yunzi's intentions anymore. Since the pill could offset some of the heat from the One-Leaf Golden Lotus, it was better than nothing.

"Quickly guide the Qi according to my instructions," Gu Yunzi said, placing a hand on Qin Haoxuan and injecting a stream of energy into his body, forcefully circulating the spiritual energy within him. In just a short time, Qin Haoxuan felt his muscles significantly strengthen and harden, and his strength increased considerably.

All of this was done with Gu Yunzi's "help," and Qin Haoxuan couldn't refuse. Although he felt Gu Yunzi was a bit strange, he couldn't pinpoint why.

Seeing that Qin Haoxuan had obediently swallowed the pill and begun cultivating the Corpse Refining Great Method, Gu Yunzi was satisfied. Before leaving, he instructed him, "This technique was obtained when I was traveling in my youth. The Taichu Sect has strict rules and doctrines, strictly prohibiting the cultivation of external sect techniques. Therefore, you must not reveal this matter to anyone, as it will bring you nothing but harm."

Gu Yunzi's words, half instruction and half threat, made Qin Haoxuan feel even more suspicious. Since he knew that the Taichu Sect strictly prohibited cultivating external sect techniques, why would Gu Yunzi, a respected Hall Master and a high-ranking figure of the Taichu Sect, break the law himself? There must be something fishy going on.

However, if he were to report Gu Yunzi, Qin Haoxuan knew his status was far inferior to the latter's. Even with the rules of Taichu, he feared he would be killed before he could report anything.

After Gu Yunzi left, Qin Haoxuan immediately returned to his dormitory. Under the dim candlelight, he recalled Gu Yunzi's technique and recorded it. Then, feeling bored, he meditated in the dormitory for several hours. Once everyone else was asleep, he possessed his soul into the Little Snake, carried the paper with the recorded technique in its mouth, and quickly headed to Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley.

Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley was as gloomy and oppressive as ever. Qin Haoxuan, who hadn't been there for some time, felt an immense pressure like a tidal wave pressing down on him the moment he stepped into the valley entrance, as if trying to crush him into powder.

Carrying the paper, Qin Haoxuan approached the Undying Witch Demon. Seeing the little snake carrying a piece of paper, the Undying Witch Demon found it strange. It forced its eyes open and scanned the paper roughly, then let out a cold laugh and said in a weak, feeble voice, "This technique is called the Corpse Refining Great Method, a technique from a sinister sect called the Heavenly Corpse Sect. Along with this technique, there should be auxiliary cultivation pills, right? This type of pill is called Corrosion Pill. Long-term consumption can make your body impervious to blades and spears, making your entire body stiff like a zombie, but greatly increasing your attack and defense power! It will also erode your consciousness, and soon you will become an unconscious walking corpse, completely controlled by others."

Qin Haoxuan, unable to speak, was horrified. Although he had sensed Gu Yunzi's ill intentions, he never expected that within the supposedly righteous Taichu Sect, there would be such a sinister and malicious person who would use such a vile technique to harm him. He, the dignified Hall Master of Gu Yun Hall and a high-ranking figure of the Taichu Sect!

His mind raced as he pondered Gu Yunzi's motive. Even if he were turned into a Corpse Soldier, his cultivation was not strong, so the resulting Corpse Soldier would surely be of the lowest grade. Gu Yunzi, with his strength, wouldn't possibly value such a thing. If he didn't value it, why would he harm him in such a way?

Could it be for someone else?

Qin Haoxuan suddenly thought of Zhang Yang's seven-day rooting, a progress comparable to that of a Purple Seed disciple. It was impossible for him, a mere Gray Seed, to achieve this alone. Therefore, someone must have been helping him from behind the scenes. And since Zhang Yang was already designated as Gu Yunzi's disciple, it was reasonable to assume that Gu Yunzi was the one helping Zhang Yang root. Gu Yunzi's actions towards him must have been instigated by Zhang Yang!

Understanding the situation, Qin Haoxuan felt a chill run down his spine. The cultivation world was truly too dark. A Hall Master with high status and great power would stoop to such despicable acts!

"It's so much easier when you have connections!" Qin Haoxuan lamented in his heart. Ever since he came to the Taichu Sect, he had been schemed against. In the past, when Zhang Kuang and Li Jing plotted against him, he could simply work harder to cultivate and reach a certain level of strength to not fear them. But now, Gu Yunzi was plotting against him, which was beyond his ability to handle.

As the old saying goes, "Unsolicited kindness is either a trap or theft!"

He secretly warned himself to be more vigilant towards others in the future. Those who were inexplicably kind to him must have ulterior motives. Otherwise, with so many people in the world, why would they specifically target him instead of any random person they chose to show kindness to?

With this thought, Qin Haoxuan's gaze unintentionally fell upon the Undying Witch Demon's bloated and ugly form. His heart suddenly jolted. This old demon had also been inexplicably kind to him. Could this old demon also have ulterior motives?

Coincidentally, the Undying Witch Demon also opened its mouth and said in a weak voice, "Although the Corpse Refining Great Method is vicious, you can continue to cultivate it. The Great Dao Heart Seed Demon Technique I taught you is peculiar enough to remove the toxicity of that Corrosion Pill and turn it into a true spirit pill for tempering the body!"