Heavenly Master's Blessing

On the high platform.

The Great Sage Teacher, clad in a white Daoist robe, sat cross-legged atop the golden lotus, his entire body shrouded in dazzling rosy light.

In a stirring and peculiar tone, he continually worked the rhythm of the entire crowd.

All around, the youths and their Dao Protectors raised their arms and shouted, weeping and howling, tears streaming down their faces.

Their emotions gradually reached a fever pitch!

Yet no one noticed that Yang Xiao, sitting in a corner, had eyes filled with shock.

At this moment, in Yang Xiao's mind...

A skinny old man with a slightly hunched back and a hateful, hideous face was sitting upright on the high platform, amid countless bizarre masses of flesh and finger bones.

"Isn't that the cruel, hateful old thief from the cellar behind the cloth shop?"

Yang Xiao lowered his head, forcibly suppressing the boiling killing intent in his heart.

These were troubled times, with morality in ruins. Good people simply did not live long; those with simple minds could only be bullied.

But the strange old man's cruelty and detestability still succeeded in igniting the fury in Yang Xiao's heart.

This man had to die!

But not now.

Yang Xiao intended to avenge the innocent women who had died miserably at the strange old man's hands.

But the premise was that Yang Xiao first had to ensure his own safety—that he could survive!

"I remember Old Liu's granddaughter was called Xiao He. Since this strange old man has appeared here, Xiao He has probably met with disaster..."

Yang Xiao's heart bled, and he could not help but sigh.

Old Liu made a living selling soup dumplings. He had fled from Jinmen to the capital of the Great Yan Kingdom, his sons and daughters all dead, with only this one adorable, clever little granddaughter left at his knees.

If Old Liu learned that he, the white-haired one, had to send off the black-haired one, he probably would not be able to withstand the shock.

"Next, may all the heavenly prodigies who are about to undergo blood exchange, together with your Dao Protectors, step forward."

"The Great Sage Teacher will bestow blessings upon every prodigy and present you with the secret blood-exchange medicine!"

A high-pitched, stirring voice suddenly rang out in every direction.

At once, all the youths present became excited.

The three hundred Dao Protectors were also flushed with excitement, their faces glowing red.

This sudden scene also forced Yang Xiao to interrupt his thoughts.

"Old Zhao, our luck's not bad. I'm number fifteen."

Zhang Long glanced at his token and immediately grew wildly excited.

"Congratulations, big brother."

Yang Xiao put away the killing intent in his heart and plastered a smile across his face.

"Old Zhao, before I officially undergo blood exchange, you must keep the secret blood-exchange medicine safe."

"After you receive the medicine later, immediately transfer it into this jade box. Do not delay."

Zhang Long took out a jade box he had prepared in advance and carefully handed it to Yang Xiao.

The jade box was only the size of an infant's fist, very small and delicate, yet extremely exquisite.

The moment the jade box entered his hand, Yang Xiao's palm immediately sank.

"Big brother, what exactly is this jade box? How is it so heavy?"

Yang Xiao estimated its weight and was immediately shocked to discover that this small, unremarkable-looking jade box actually weighed a full dozen-plus jin.

"This is Mystic Jade. From every thousand jin of Mystic Black Stone, only one jin of Mystic Jade can be extracted."

Zhang Long could not help saying with some pride, "Ever since my Zhang Family's ancestor pledged loyalty to the Holy Sect, three hundred years have passed to this day."

"Although within Qingzhou territory, my Zhang Family is only a small cultivation clan and cannot compare with great aristocratic families like the Li Family and Huo Family, we can still be counted as local magnates of a county. Even the county magistrate has to breathe through my Zhang Family's nose!"

"Yet even so, only through the Zhang Family's accumulated wealth over many years, plus spending a precious favor, did we finally obtain this jade box by a lucky chance."

This jade box was actually so precious?

Yang Xiao grew even more startled and could not help carefully examining the jade box in his hand.

This jade box had clearly been carved with great care by a master craftsman from a single complete piece of jade.

The runes on the jade box were extremely mysterious and complex, faintly spreading a sacred and solemn aura.

From the entire jade box, there also emanated a thread of cold air invisible to the naked eye.

This cold air was actually somewhat similar to the white qi among the phantom's black and white qi after Yang Xiao activated the Myriad Phenomena Heaven-Swallowing Art!

"The demons of the Peace Sect mainly cultivate the Yellow Heaven Body Casting Scripture: Warrior Chapter. Although this art can also summon a phantom, that phantom only has black qi."

"After that black qi devours flesh and blood, it can't purify the malice and filth within it, so the longer they cultivate, and the higher their cultivation grows, the more turbid the blood qi throughout their bodies becomes, and the more violent their tempers grow."

"I'd always wondered how the Peace Sect balanced out the side effects of the black qi. Now it seems... so that was it!"

Yang Xiao quickly figured everything out, and couldn't help feeling a little moved.

Yang Xiao had originally thought that the white qi of his illusory figure, while capable of purifying the side effects of the black qi, was just that—nothing especially remarkable.

But only now did Yang Xiao understand. How was that merely remarkable?

That white qi was practically heaven-defying!

Not to mention, the black and white qi had now completely merged, transforming into the Taiji feng shui fish that swallowed all things.

"Pity my white qi can't be used on others. Otherwise, if I used it to help people purify the side effects of black qi, I'd definitely rake in money until my bowls and pots were overflowing..."

Yang Xiao couldn't help thinking, his heart burning hot.

Of course, this thought was only something Yang Xiao casually entertained in his heart. Naturally, he could never put it into action.

"Ding No. 1!"

Suddenly, that high, ringing voice sounded again.

The crowd instantly quieted down.

Everyone looked toward the lucky one who, with his protector, was the first to walk toward the high platform.

Under countless staring eyes, a grotesquely fat, bloated young man rushed forward, grinning from ear to ear. He dropped straight into a sliding kneel, skidding on his knees all the way to the base of the high platform.

"This lowly one is Zhou Tao. Greetings, Great Sage Teacher!"

Thud!

Zhou Tao immediately gave a resounding kowtow on the spot, his face full of fawning smiles.

"A child who can be taught!"

On the high platform, the old Daoist nodded slightly. With a sweep of his broad sleeve, a ray of rosy light instantly fell from the firmament on its own and revolved around the old Daoist's palm.

The old Daoist pointed through the air. That rosy light instantly turned into a pillar of light and, in a flash, sank into Zhou Tao's forehead, vanishing from sight.

Yet through the Spirit Cicada Transformation, Yang Xiao "saw" it very clearly.

That so-called "rosy light" blessing was pure nonsense!

It was a disgusting black maggot, disguised as rosy light through stinking blood qi, and it was driven straight into the forehead of the young man named Zhou Tao!

After the black maggot sank into his forehead, Zhou Tao's whole body trembled. His blood qi boiled all over, and his aura climbed with it.

"My strength has increased by at least ten percent! Haha, hahahaha!"

Zhou Tao burst into loud laughter on the spot, then hurriedly knelt and kowtowed, saying a few more nauseating words of flattery.

"This humble Daoist has already bestowed a blessing upon you. Leave this place at once and find somewhere safe to enter seclusion. Attempt to use the secret medicine to exchange your blood."

With a wave of the old Daoist's large hand, a medicinal pill immediately emerged from his sleeve and drifted lightly down behind Zhou Tao, into the jade box held by his protector.

"We take our leave."

Zhou Tao and his protector both saluted, turned, and left.

"Ding No. 2!"

"Ding No. 3!"

As that high, ringing voice continued to sound.

One youth after another brought their protectors forward, each of them excitedly accepting the old Daoist's blessing and gifted medicine, then leaving in wild joy.

"Ding No. 15!"

The moment he heard this, Zhang Long hesitated no longer and walked excitedly toward the high platform.

Yang Xiao kept his expression perfectly calm and followed close behind.

Very soon, the two of them were standing beneath the high platform.

The old Daoist wasted no words. He pointed straight at the sky, and a ray of rosy light instantly fell between his fingers, transforming into a pillar of light that was about to sink into Zhang Long's forehead.

Yet right at that moment.

Yang Xiao was shocked to discover that the disgusting black maggot within that rosy light had suddenly changed direction and was charging headfirst toward his forehead...