Heaven Crippled, Earth Lacking, Killing Intent Enters

If outsiders saw the Azure Flame Fire Crow Liu Dongqing held aloft, then of ten people, nine probably wouldn't connect it to the Demon Refining Mystic Sect's evil arts.

But Liu Dongqing knew.

In this world, things often went wrong because of that one or two people.

With Liu Dongqing's cautious nature, he felt this "flaw" was still far too obvious.

And so, the pleased expression lasted only a moment before he fixed his bright gaze once more upon the Azure Flame Fire Crow hanging overhead.

"The Azure Flame Fire Crow is already very good, but it still isn't concealed enough. The shape of a fire crow is simply too obvious. Even someone who doesn't know the Demon Refining Mystic Sect's methods could easily associate it with demon beasts."

"No matter how exceptional one's talent, giving one's spells a spiritual form requires a process—a foundation."

"Besides, although this method replaces the Azure Light Fireball and makes what was once my killing move something more commonplace, excessive power isn't necessarily a good thing. While I'm still insignificant, it's best not to be so conspicuous and draw trouble."

"How can I reduce its power somewhat, so it better matches the standard of the fourth level of Qi Refining?"

"And make the characteristics of the Little Azure Light Incantation more pronounced within it, while further weakening the formula's traits from the Crimson Crow Spirit Incantation."

"That would make it useful in any ordinary battles that might arise."

"It could also conceal Liu's true strength, allowing me to erupt with the Azure Flame Fire Crow at full power when necessary and deliver the decisive blow."

As he pondered this, two vast torrents began to surge madly through Liu Dongqing's calm mind.

One came from the inheritance jade slip: the complete inheritance of the Crimson Crow Spirit Incantation, along with the manuals left behind by predecessors who had gained insights through cultivation across the generations.

The other came from Liu Dongqing's years of practicing the Little Azure Light Incantation—from the painstaking thoughts he had exhausted himself over, driven by resentment and anguish whenever the water vapor in the sky extinguished his flames and he refused to let his cultivation regress.

The two vast torrents began to converge and overlap within Liu Dongqing's mind.

Amid the surging collision of invisible waves, a hazy, indistinct train of thought began to emerge faintly in Liu Dongqing's mind.

But inspiration came quickly, true enough.

Yet Liu Dongqing still felt that vague line of thought was too ethereal, never able to condense into a tangible, clear thread.

"My foundation in cultivation is still too shallow."

"The inheritance of the Crimson Crow Spirit Incantation is profound, but I've only just come into contact with this supreme mystic art. I lack the necessary experience to fully comprehend and integrate such an enormous inheritance."

"Though my experience practicing the Little Azure Light Incantation is abundant, I was only an outer sect disciple, kept under Manager Hou's thumb for years with no avenues to seek advancement. Back then, I was taught only the formula itself, lacking far too many Inheritance Manuals containing the lofty insights of those who came before."

"This is Heaven's Crippled against Earth's Lacking. In the end, it's still missing that one breath."

"Unless I can give this inspiration an even greater stimulus..."

As he considered this, Liu Dongqing stared blankly at the Azure Flame Fire Crow, lost in thought, utterly unaware that the sky beyond the window had shifted abruptly from dusk to deep night.

And it was precisely at such a time, when all sounds had fallen silent.

Suddenly.

Swish—

The sound of robes whipping nearby rang out sharply, jolting Liu Dongqing awake from his contemplation.

Almost instantly.

The hand seal in Liu Dongqing's hand scattered, and the Azure Flame Fire Crow winked out in an instant.

Then, as the entire bedroom plunged into deep darkness, Liu Dongqing swiftly crouched beside the edge of the wide-open window and peered outside.

Only then did the sound of tiles breaking ring out in succession.

Immediately after came a pained muffled groan and a low curse.

Hearing the commotion, Liu Dongqing's heart settled slightly.

Rather than use the front door, he planted a hand on the windowsill and vaulted out of the bedroom. Rolling as he landed, he rose directly into the shadows farther from where the sounds had come.

The instant he steadied himself, Liu Dongqing looked over by moonlight and saw that this uninvited guest had suffered almost exactly as he had imagined—

Along the edge of the courtyard wall, Liu Dongqing had long ago dug a deep trench close to the wall.

The trench's placement was exquisitely calculated. Walking normally through the two plots of farmland, one wouldn't step into it; walking tight against the wall was also safe. Only someone climbing over the wall, then rolling as they landed, would come down directly atop that trench.

Inside the trench, Liu Dongqing had taken unused iron tools from past years, along with branches left over after batches of Jade Cloud Fruit plants had withered, sharpened them all, and planted them upright in the pit.

The trench was covered with sheets of poor-quality tile, then concealed perfectly beneath a layer of loose earth.

This method had originally been meant to guard against Manager Hou arriving uninvited.

Who would have expected the tiles to shatter tonight instead?

And the one who had fallen into the trap was a strange middle-aged Daoist Liu Dongqing had never seen before.

At that moment, the middle-aged Daoist was struggling to pull one leg from the ditch. The night was simply too dark, and Liu Dongqing couldn't make out the condition of that leg.

The middle-aged Daoist had some quick wits as well. After pulling out his leg, he didn't move from where he stood. He merely turned toward the sound, standing steadily as he looked in Liu Dongqing's direction, no longer crying out in pain.

"My master sent me on an errand. This old man watched your little courtyard from afar, quietly, for more than ten days, and never once saw your gate open.

I couldn't tell whether you were some stupid fool who only knew how to bury his head in cultivation, or a ruthless bastard hiding ghostly schemes and dark secrets.

Watching the days drag on like this wasn't an option, so this old man finally decided to take a look tonight. Heh... turns out you're just worthless scum with a little petty cleverness!

If your cultivation were truly exceptional and your spells truly vicious, why would you need such lowly, disgraceful tricks to protect yourself?

Damn it, this old man actually fell victim to your vile move, and now you've crippled one of my legs. Come on, then! This old man will stand right here and fight you!"

As his words fell, the middle-aged Daoist's brow unfurled.

The instant a point of green light blossomed, six layers of halos burst forth, circling and entwining as they illuminated his sinister face with perfect clarity.

The middle-aged Daoist's words sent Liu Dongqing's thoughts spinning.

But at such a critical moment, it wasn't yet time to consider what lay behind all this.

And the man's final words made Liu Dongqing hesitate. Had he not said them, Liu Dongqing truly would have believed one of his legs was crippled.

But since this man had deliberately said so, Liu Dongqing's excessively cautious nature instead made him suspect the man was trying to deceive him.

Was his leg truly lame or not?

In that moment of uncertainty, a thought like a sharp sword cut through the tangled troubles in Liu Dongqing's mind.

Whether he's lame or not, I'll treat him as if he isn't!

Our realms are right here. If my strike misses and he evades with some superior movement technique, then I'll be the one at a disadvantage.

The initiative—even life and death—rests in this instant!

Therefore, before the hammer falls and the verdict is set, I must make him lose the possibility of evasion.

The Crimson Crow Spirit Incantation?

No!

It's the Heavenly Light Bewildering Spirit method Manager Hou used!

I used it on Yan Rong before. It worked very well.

In a flash of lightning and fire, that sword-like thought rooted itself in Liu Dongqing's mind. In an instant, it flourished wildly, blending with the killing intent surging from him at that moment, as well as the tension and stimulation between life and death, piercing through that hazy train of thought from before.

Instantly.

Azure light shone from his brow, and as four layers of halos spread outward.

Four tiny Azure Flame Flying Birds, each no larger than sparrows and so roughly formed they were almost impressionistic, suddenly condensed from the four layers of Sky Light.

Immediately after.

The four Azure Flame Flying Birds suddenly traced different exaggerated looping paths beneath the dark night sky, drawing trails of dazzling azure Sky Light before shooting toward the middle-aged Daoist.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged Daoist was gathering green Sky Light around the hand seal in his hands. Before he could launch it at Liu Dongqing, he saw those dazzling trails of light.

Those pair of cold, sinister eyes became entranced in an instant.

"This..."