Eighth Qi-Nourishing Layer

After nightfall, Liu Yuanchen left the Spirit Realm.

He used the Jia Wood Withering-and-Flourishing Art to cultivate several large trees and test the limit of the distance over which they could transmit messages.

After many attempts, he finally determined that the Scout Spirit Plants cultivated by the Jia Wood Withering-and-Flourishing Art could transmit information to one another across a maximum distance of ten li.

From Bluestone Mountain to the Azure Elixir Sect's mountain gate was only a little over six hundred li.

To transmit information between the two locations, he only needed to cultivate more than sixty spirit plants with the Jia Wood Withering-and-Flourishing Art.

Furthermore, the detection range around cultivated spirit plants was also related to the size of the plant.

He specifically used the Jia Wood Withering-and-Flourishing Art to cultivate a large tree. Its detection range extended sixty zhang around it.

Moreover, that distance was the upper limit.

He cultivated both smaller and larger spirit trees, but their detection ranges were all sixty zhang.

That distance happened to be the same as Liu Yuanchen's own range for sensing the life force of plants.

Whether there was any connection between the two was still difficult to determine.

If he specifically cultivated tall spirit plants, a range of sixty zhang was already sufficient for gathering intelligence.

Given the chance, he could spread his intelligence network across hundreds of li.

If anything happened around Bluestone Mountain, he would be able to discover it promptly even while inside the mountain gate.

After proving that his idea was feasible, Liu Yuanchen did not immediately begin using the Jia Wood Withering-and-Flourishing Art everywhere.

Although constructing an intelligence system was possible, it would require a great deal of time and effort. It was not something that could be completed overnight.

Moreover, he still needed to cultivate and develop the Spirit Realm, leaving him little time for other matters.

For now, it was best to establish a small intelligence network in important locations first.

After returning to the Spirit Realm, he used the Jia Wood Withering-and-Flourishing Art to properly cultivate those Toxic Thorn Vines as well.

These were spirit plants truly suited for combat. Once they had been cultivated into Wood Spirits, they would also be especially suitable for placing outside to suppress Spirit Nexuses.

For the next period of time, Liu Yuanchen merely cultivated several large trees around Bluestone Mountain each day.

The rest of the time, he remained in the Spirit Realm to cultivate diligently and tend to those higher-value spirit plants.

Especially the spirit plants used to refine Meridian-Fixing Pills. Even if he could buy Meridian-Fixing Pills from the sect in the future, one could never have too many strategic resources like those pills.

A month passed quickly, and Liu Yuanchen was sitting cross-legged in meditation.

Suddenly, the spiritual power within his body began to stir restlessly.

He immediately understood that he was about to break through.

In truth, his cultivation had already reached the brink of a breakthrough more than half a month ago.

However, he felt that if conditions allowed, it was better to break through through natural accumulation, so he had not rushed it.

For the past half month, he had cultivated steadily as usual.

Today, it had finally come to fruition naturally.

He calmed his mind and focused his spirit, steadily condensing his spiritual power before slowly channeling it into his Middle Dantian.

After a wave of stabbing pain, the space within his Middle Dantian expanded considerably. All the spiritual power remaining in his meridians surged toward the Middle Dantian.

The breakthrough succeeded, but Liu Yuanchen felt no great emotional fluctuations.

Instead, he continued circulating his cultivation technique to consolidate his realm.

Half a day later, after consolidating his realm, both his physical body and spiritual power had improved noticeably.

"Having broken through to the Eighth Qi-Nourishing Layer, I'll need at least another half year of accumulation before I can break through to the Ninth Qi-Nourishing Layer.

It's already late autumn. It's time to find a forest full of fallen leaves and comprehend the Withered Wood Longevity Art."

Liu Yuanchen left the Spirit Realm and arrived at Bluestone Mountain outside, using his Divine Sense to sense the surrounding conditions.

After breaking through to the Eighth Qi-Nourishing Layer, his own range for sensing the life force of plants had increased from sixty zhang to seventy zhang.

He sensed the Scout Spirit Plants on Bluestone Mountain to see whether his sensing range had increased as well.

After testing it, the Scout Spirit Plants he had originally only been able to sense within ten li could now be sensed within eleven li.

He thought to himself, *As expected, the upper limit of my sensing distance is related to my cultivation realm.

Although the increase isn't much, it's still better than nothing.*

He then checked the detection range of the Scout Spirit Plants. Sure enough, all of them had expanded to seventy zhang.

"The detection range of Scout Spirit Plants is linked to my distance for sensing plant life force.

As long as my cultivation continues to improve, both my sensing distance for Scout Spirit Plants and the plants' detection range will increase."

He then left Bluestone Mountain.

He arrived beside the Qingshui River and traveled downstream along its bank.

After a month without traveling outside, the banks of the Qingshui River had once again become bustling.

Before he had gone very far, he received a forwarded distress message from Qinghe Town.

Moreover, the person requesting aid was not far from him, only around thirty li away.

After not fighting for a month, Liu Yuanchen's hands were itching.

Furthermore, his cultivation had advanced, and he was looking for someone to test himself against.

He used Wind-Riding Evasion and hurried toward the location of the person requesting aid.

Unfortunately, no trees had been planted there before, so he could not observe the battle from afar.

Upon arriving nearby, he used his Divine Sense to investigate, but found no trace of any rogue cultivator.

There was only a corpse lying on the ground, still dressed in the Azure Elixir Sect's daoist robes.

There were few signs of battle nearby. This fellow disciple had encountered a rather strong opponent and had not struggled much before dying.

When he stepped closer and glanced at the corpse, Liu Yuanchen was startled. The body had actually become a desiccated corpse.

He had rushed over as soon as he received the distress message, and only a quarter of an hour had passed.

In other words, this fellow disciple had died no more than half an hour ago.

Yet in such a short time, he had already become a desiccated corpse.

It seemed the killer's circumstances were rather unusual.

Just then, a streak of light flew over from the direction of Qinghe Town to the north.

The light landed beside Liu Yuanchen, revealing the figure of a young cultivator.

Liu Yuanchen cupped his hands in greeting. "Disciple Liu Yuanchen greets Uncle-Master."

Among cultivators of the same sect without a master-disciple relationship, seniority was determined by cultivation.

This man was a Sea of Qi Realm cultivator, so Liu Yuanchen naturally had to address him as Uncle-Master.

The young Sea of Qi Realm cultivator put away the flying boat beneath his feet and waved a hand. "Junior Brother Liu, there is no need for such formality. I am Liang Yaoguang, a manager of the Guard Hall. Just call me Senior Brother Liang."

The treatment of personal disciples and managers was nearly identical. Once personal disciples reached a certain age, even the worst of them could become managers.

It was reasonable for the two of them to address each other as peers.

Liu Yuanchen nodded slightly and pointed at the corpse. "Senior Brother Liang, I received the distress message a quarter of an hour ago and rushed here immediately.

But when I arrived, I found only this fellow disciple's corpse.

Moreover, there is something strange about it, so I did not dare act rashly."

Liang Yaoguang released his Divine Sense and carefully investigated. "Another desiccated corpse. This has happened five times over the past half month. This is the sixth."

Hearing this, Liu Yuanchen pondered, It seems those rogue cultivators are stirring up some new trick again.

Liang Yaoguang stored the desiccated corpse in his storage pouch. The two returned together to Qinghe Town and arrived at the Mission Office of the Azure Elixir Pavilion.

Seeing that there were only the two of them, Mo Lianshan asked, "Couldn't save him?"

Liang Yaoguang sighed and took the desiccated corpse from his storage pouch. "He was already a desiccated corpse."

Mo Lianshan said angrily, "I truly don't know what demon or fiend is behind this, using such bizarre methods.

The disciples who died in battle had not a single wound on their bodies, yet every drop of blood in them vanished without a trace."

Even Mo Lianshan had never heard of such a method. It was likely not an inheritance native to the Red Wasteland. Liu Yuanchen suddenly recalled the Blood Bat Sect his master had mentioned before.

Moreover, the Blood Bat Sect cultivated by drinking human blood.

The murdered fellow disciples becoming desiccated corpses could also be connected to the Blood Bat Sect's methods.

Furthermore, the Blood Bat Sect had supported the Demoncloud Sect.

It was only reasonable for them to target Azure Elixir Sect disciples now.

These people came from beyond the Red Wasteland and used bizarre methods. It was normal for the locals of the Red Wasteland not to have seen them before.

Thinking of this, he asked, "Elder Mo, what were the cultivation levels of these disciples who became desiccated corpses before their deaths?"

Mo Lianshan answered without hesitation, "They were all in the Late Qi-Nourishing Realm. The weakest among them were at the Eighth Qi-Nourishing Layer."

Upon hearing that, Liu Yuanchen became even more certain of his suspicions.

"Killing people for blood without leaving external injuries is something some higher-cultivation cultivators can also accomplish.

The killer likely needs blood for cultivation, or to nourish something.

If so, the blood of Sea of Qi Realm cultivators must certainly be much better than that of Qi-Nourishing Realm cultivators.

They have not targeted Sea of Qi Realm cultivators, which means the killer is not confident in taking down Sea of Qi Realm cultivators.

Therefore, this killer should also only be a Qi-Nourishing Realm cultivator.

The reason he has slain so many fellow disciples in the Qi-Nourishing Realm is merely because his methods are bizarre."

"I once heard my master mention a rogue cultivator force skilled in similar methods.

Moreover, that rogue cultivator force has connections with the Demoncloud Sect."

Mo Lianshan's face darkened slightly. "With the Demoncloud Sect receiving support from such a force, won't our Azure Elixir Sect be in trouble?"

Liu Yuanchen shook his head. "I cannot be certain either. I still need to ask my master."

If it truly was the Blood Bat Sect, their methods of killing were so bizarre.

Without a way to counter them, it would be best to remain obediently in Qinghe Town from now on, lest he die inexplicably the moment he went outside.

A hint of delight appeared on Mo Lianshan's face. "Deputy Hall Master Zhao is knowledgeable and experienced. He must have a means of dealing with this."

Liu Yuanchen took out his Eight Desolations Pavilion disciple token and sent Zhao Hong a message, informing him of what had happened here.

Before long, a message came back from Zhao Hong.

After reading it, Liu Yuanchen said, "Master says it truly is the work of that rogue cultivator force. The one acting should be a junior in the Qi-Nourishing Realm and poses little threat to Sea of Qi Realm cultivators."

Liang Yaoguang breathed a sigh of relief.

Mo Lianshan remained deeply worried. He was the second-in-command of the sect's operations in Qinghe Town.

The Qi-Nourishing Realm disciples had suffered severe losses, and he bore responsibility as well.

"The Qi-Nourishing Realm disciples here in Qinghe Town need to go out on patrol frequently.

Without a way to counter this, their casualties will be severe."

Liu Yuanchen waved a hand. "Elder, do not worry. Master also explained the weakness of this rogue cultivator method.

This method is called the Demon-Soul Blood-Transforming Art. It requires killing a demonic beast, extracting its soul, and refining it through secret techniques."

"When the technique is used, the demon soul hides around the target and continuously releases a kind of blood poison invisible to the naked eye.

The blood poison enters living beings through breathing and merges into their blood.

Once enough blood poison has entered the body, it suddenly attacks, and the target instantly loses all ability to resist.

At that point, the demon soul hidden in the darkness strikes, entering the target's body and draining all of its vital energy, blood, and physical essence.

Once the demon soul leaves, the target becomes a desiccated corpse."

Upon hearing this, both men inhaled sharply.

Mo Lianshan was horrified. "This is the first time I have heard of such a bizarre method.

This method is extremely covert. How should it be countered?"

Liu Yuanchen replied, "It is actually simple. Though this blood poison is unusual, it is still a type of poison.

Many Antidote Pills and detoxification spells can suppress it.

As long as one carries some Antidote Pills, there will be no danger to one's life.

As long as the poisoned person does not die on the spot, given some time, they can expel all the blood poison."

"Furthermore, that demon soul is only skilled at sneak attacks. Its ability in direct spell combat is weak, and it can only deal with one person at a time.

When patrolling, they only need to travel in groups of two or three and watch out for one another. The blood soul will certainly not dare act rashly."

Hearing this, Mo Lianshan finally relaxed. "That is good. Qinghe Town has stockpiled quite a few Antidote Pills, and there are many more within the sect. It should be enough.

Patrolling in groups of two or three is no difficult matter.

By the way, Yuanchen, did Deputy Hall Master Zhao say how to deal with this demon soul?"

Liu Yuanchen sighed softly. "Master says the caster is merely a minor lackey and told me to kill him while I'm at it.

Leave the matter of dealing with the demon soul to me."

Mo Lianshan finally smiled. "Since Deputy Hall Master Zhao has said so, I cannot say much.

But do you need help? I can send two Sea of Qi Realm cultivators to protect you."

Liu Yuanchen shook his head. "The enemy is hidden while I am exposed. To catch him, I must lure the snake from its hole.

That little thief is also a Qi-Nourishing Realm cultivator. If I bring two Sea of Qi Realm cultivators, how would he dare show himself?"

Mo Lianshan casually took out two pill bottles. "That rogue cultivator's methods are bizarre. You must not be careless.

These are second-rank Antidote Pills. They can suppress many poisons.

Carry them with you in case of emergency."

Liu Yuanchen did not refuse. He accepted the pills, thanked him repeatedly, then left Qinghe Town and headed downstream along the Qingshui River.

Although he knew how to deal with Blood Bat Sect disciples, he was still deeply worried.

It was not that he feared being unable to defeat a Blood Bat Sect disciple, but that he feared the war escalating.

As an outside force, once the Blood Bat Sect acted, it would likely draw even more outside forces into the conflict.

At that point, a melee between experts might break out.

If it affected the Blackcloud Ridge Great Spirit Vein, his Spirit Realm would be affected as well.

It seemed his plan to expand the Spirit Realm needed to be carried out as soon as possible.

Liu Yuanchen had left the Bluestone Mountain Spirit Realm this time in order to comprehend the Withered Wood Longevity Art while late autumn approached.

Although the Blood Bat Sect incident had arisen, he had no intention of changing his plans.

Zhao Hong had already told him how to counter the Demon-Soul Blood-Transforming Art. Though the technique was bizarre, it was not particularly profound.

As long as he knew their weaknesses, they were nothing more than petty tricks that could not be shown in public.

When he left Qinghe Town, he no longer concealed himself. Instead, he rode a flying boat and swaggered downstream.

Before long, a vast stretch of lush vegetation appeared before his eyes.

Liu Yuanchen was quite familiar with this verdant area.

More than two years ago, when he heard that his father had been injured, he had rushed back to the clan.

While traveling aboard the clan's cargo ship, he had encountered rogue cultivators blocking the river to rob them.

This was where he had fought those rogue cultivators.

The terrain here was low-lying, and the river curved through it, forming a swamp roughly ten li across.

Three small streams also flowed into the northern side of this swamp, hence its name, Three-River Junction.

The spiritual energy here was rather thin, and some of the large trees already had yellowing leaves. It was suitable for cultivating the Withered Wood Longevity Art.