With a Thought, Dharma Power Was Born

A golden spirit-light burst forth from deep within Yang Huai's brow, protecting his soul.

It was the Heavenly Circuit Spirit-Light Protective Incantation.

Yet an endless stench of nausea still surged in through his pores and into his limbs and bones, bearing down on Yang Huai until the three blossoms of blood-fire above his head flickered like candle flames.

No evil ghost or vengeful ghost could compare to the savagery of this black tiger.

Killing intent surged from the depths of Yang Huai's brow. Two streaks of white light shot out from his eyes, instantly pinning the charging black tiger in place. With a flash of white light, the black tiger immediately let out a pained howl.

The red-robed Daoist appeared behind him. Watching the white light shining from Yang Huai's eyes, his gaze flickered.

"It seems to be the Wind Clan's Soul-Calming Spirit-Severing Technique, but he has not entered its gate. Yet he has already cultivated an intent of slaughter!"

"That is not enough!"

He watched the scene with composed ease.

After its pained howl, the black tiger demon soul, already steeped in resentment, transformed into a foul wind and surged into the depths of Yang Huai's brow in an instant.

Countless chaotic thoughts rushed from the depths of his sea of consciousness toward Yang Huai's soul. Fortunately, the Heavenly Circuit Spirit-Light Incantation deep within his soul was protecting it, preventing those innumerable stray thoughts from flooding into his soul and disrupting his mind.

But that evil intent and immense pressure still filled him with tremendous strain.

What should I do?

Yang Huai's thoughts raced, and a strange panic rose within him. He had never experienced such a bizarre and terrifyingly vicious fight.

No. Hidden Dragon Adept said that the sea of consciousness is the core of a cultivator. It can store diagrams for visualization, contemplate all sorts of inconceivable powers, connect with the spirituality of heaven and earth, and strengthen the soul. If so, can it be used in battle?!

As the thought arose, the black tiger's claws tore through the air toward him. The Heavenly Yang Golden Light Talisman instantly took shape in the depths of his sea of consciousness and fused with his soul. In that moment, Yang Huai felt himself merge with the golden spirit and yang spirit powers of heaven and earth. He seemed to cross a thin membrane, drawing in an exceptionally astonishing spirituality of heaven and earth. At the same time, it gave rise to the aspect of the golden spirit—a massive golden axe illuminated his sea of consciousness, while streams of innate essence surged from the depths of his Niwan Palace and merged with it.

Rumble!!

The supremely hard and supremely yang power seemed to cleave open the void as it crashed violently into the black evil tiger that had charged inside.

"Kill!"

The corners of Yang Huai's eyes nearly split apart.

"Roar!"

In an instant, the black tiger's two claws were severed. Yet its heart was filled with evil thoughts, and it still transformed into a black wind, opening its jaws to devour him. What met it were several strikes from the massive axe, which forcibly annihilated it in the depths of his sea of consciousness.

Yang Huai opened his eyes, cold sweat seeping layer by layer from within his brow.

The qi and blood throughout his body also began to quake violently along with the Heavenly Circuit Heart Method. Layer after layer, his qi and blood vibrated rhythmically within him, expelling and refining countless strands of black aura from all across his body through his pores.

But Yang Huai also discovered that, with the impact of the black tiger demon soul, his natal Heavenly Yang Golden Light Talisman had already fused into one with his soul and even the essence throughout his body. A supremely hard, supremely yang, harmonious aura slowly descended from the Niwan Palace in his brow through his entire body. Yang Huai could sense that with a single thought, he could summon the golden spirit, yang spirit, and pure spirit powers of heaven and earth, merge them into his body, and nourish his whole being.

Though weak, it was unfathomably wondrous.

This was dharma power!

Yang Huai's eyes shone brightly. At the same time, the Heavenly Yang Golden Light Talisman in the depths of his sea of consciousness had indeed vanished completely.

It had not truly disappeared. Rather, it had fused into the depths of his soul. Layers of golden light now grew within his soul, making it exceptionally vigorous and blazing.

Of course, only its outer layer was vigorous and blazing.

He was still far, far away from the True Adepts' state of refining away all yin dross and making the Primordial Spirit purely yang.

Still, Yang Huai was overjoyed to have refined the talisman seed in a single step. This had saved him at least ten days to half a month of cultivation. After refining the talisman seed, he could finally learn Daoist arts.

Yang Huai also saw the red-robed Daoist standing calmly at his side and immediately clasped his hands in salute.

"Thank you for your guidance, Martial Uncle!"

By now, Yang Huai had also realized that if the other man truly bore him ill will, he would not have merely let such an ordinary demon soul harm him. He would surely have brought out something far more vicious.

Still, he found this method rather hard to bear.

Was this how the Barbarian Daoist expressed his enthusiasm?

He silently grumbled to himself.

The red-robed Daoist merely snorted coldly.

"What a waste of such talent. Is this how the spirituality of heaven and earth is meant to be used? Is the power of the golden spirit truly only supremely hard and supremely yang?"

Yang Huai cursed inwardly. He had only cultivated for a few days. If he had not been quick-witted, who knew how wretchedly he might have ended up? But after a moment, something stirred in his heart, and he hurriedly clasped his hands in salute.

"Please instruct me, Martial Uncle Flame?"

The red-robed Daoist glanced at Yang Huai and said flatly, "Impacts from resentment like that black tiger's are commonplace in the Slaughter Hall. You truly need a special secret art for nourishing the spirit and stabilizing the soul if you are to establish yourself here. But I need not teach you. The scroll Hou Feng Daoist gave you contains a secret art for stabilizing the spirit, specially used for cultivation in the Slaughter Hall. So long as you can cultivate it successfully, you will have no difficulty handling ordinary situations. If you can bring it to great mastery, the demons in the Slaughter Hall will not be able to plot against you!"

"Yes!"

Yang Huai immediately agreed.

The red-robed Daoist continued, "You may keep looking around the other areas of the Slaughter Hall, but I do not advise you to approach those beast pens just yet!"

Yang Huai's expression shifted slightly at those words. He looked toward the iron-barred chambers outside the Slaughter Hall, sealed by countless golden talismans. Within them, innumerable wisps of black qi coiled faintly, carrying an endless evil intent comparable to that brought by the First Forbidden Zone.

"The Slaughter Hall is actually this dangerous?"

He drew a deep breath, feeling as though he were treading on thin ice.

Then he turned and left, beginning to explore the empty, deep, and eerie Slaughter Hall.

As Yang Huai left the main hall and entered a side hall, Hou Feng Daoist appeared in the main hall. His gaze rested on Flame Daoist with some surprise.

"Senior Brother!"

At the sight of Hou Feng Daoist, Flame Daoist's unrestrained demeanor immediately tempered somewhat.

Hou Feng Daoist had already taken in everything that had just happened. Shaking his head, he said, "It seems Senior Sister Jade Palace miscalculated!"

Flame Daoist's gaze swept across the empty Slaughter Hall, ghostly as a phantom, and he sighed faintly.

"All the senior brothers cultivate pure spirit qi and fear that these matters of slaughter will disturb their tranquil cultivation. None are willing to take over this hall, so this poor Daoist can only think of a solution himself!"

"Senior Sister Jade Palace wanted to trade a mere Bodhi Spirit-Body Diagram for the Slaughter Hall's only inner disciple. She thinks too little of this poor Daoist!"

Hou Feng Daoist shot him a glance, only to hear Flame Daoist sigh again.

"At the very least, she needs to add another White Jade Bodhi Seed!"

"Or an Azurewood Bodhi Seed of one grade lower would do. She is a woman, after all. How can one accomplish great things by pinching every penny and scraping every coin!"

"..."

Hou Feng Daoist was rendered speechless. This was the Flame Daoist he knew.

He would never care about matters of inheritance. After he was gone, who cared whether the inheritance endured or not? So long as the benefits were sufficient.

After making a circuit of the Slaughter Hall and witnessing many terrifying implements of torture, Yang Huai returned to his quiet dwelling.

He then took out the beast-hide scroll Hou Feng Daoist had given him.

The Slaughter Hall was so dangerous that, for now, he could only place his hopes on the secret art in this scroll helping him in the days ahead. He had no desire to die inexplicably within the Slaughter Hall.

If he died just like that, not only would he fail to obtain the Innate Sword Bone fate, but according to the information provided by the Bronze Mirror, his soul would inevitably be wounded, his foundation severely damaged, and he might even be unable to use the Bronze Mirror again in the future. That was a price he could not accept.

Thus, he could fail the mission, but he absolutely could not die.

Yang Huai's eyes were calm. He did not actually find it difficult; rather, all the unknowns gave him a hint of unprecedented excitement.

At last, his gaze fell upon the beast hide in his hands.

This beast-hide scroll recorded many forbidden matters within the Slaughter Hall, as well as numerous kinds of demonic beasts and exotic beasts frequently slaughtered there. But what Yang Huai valued most was the secret art for stabilizing the spirit recorded at the end of the scroll.

"Suiren Spirit-Aspect Visualization Diagram!"