Blessing in Disguise

"Awooo!"

A suppressed roar rang out within the Daoist temple, carrying the struggle before death as a [Force Servitor] erupted with everything it had.

The sound continued for a moment.

Only after the rain had ceased and the clouds withdrawn, when the [Force Servitor]'s outburst had ended, did the doors of the temple's main hall quietly open, and the neatly dressed You Daoist Nun strolled out.

In her hand was a [Force Servitor] riddled with holes. As a tool, it had clearly been completely scrapped. Its body, which should have been impervious to blades and spears, had been utterly ruined, with not even the lingering strength to cast a spell and recover. Yet even so, the expression on the [Force Servitor]'s face remained peaceful.

There was even a trace of joy.

Because being reduced to this state meant that You Daoist Nun had truly adored it. As a [Force Servitor], the value of its human sacrifice had received the greatest possible recognition.

Not far away, Wang Ping's scalp went numb as he watched.

Because he had witnessed that great battle from beginning to end. The one that had been ruined was undoubtedly the finest among the ten [Force Servitors].

Especially its perfected [Qi Suppression].

"Impervious to blades and spears..."

Wang Ping was one hundred percent certain that even Shouchong's flying knives, powerful enough to blast apart an ornamental rockery, could not have left so much as a scratch on it.

What did that mean?

"A [Force Servitor], a tool that can only serve as hard labor for disciples in the Immortal Sect—if placed in Great Shun, could it easily become invincible beneath heaven?"

This was no longer a gap.

It was an outright chasm.

Like heaven and earth that would never intersect, merely understanding it was enough to drive one into despair. It also made Wang Ping increasingly anxious and restless.

"If this continues, I'll only follow in its footsteps."

Six days had passed since he became a [Force Servitor]. During that time, You Daoist Nun selected a [Force Servitor] at random every day to spar with her.

Wang Ping had naturally been chosen once as well. But his quality as a [Force Servitor] was neither high nor low. He was not the worst, yet he was far inferior to the one that had now been completely scrapped. Even giving his all, he could not satisfy You Daoist Nun's needs, so he had only sparred with her once.

But even that one time...

The wear inflicted upon the tool afterward had forced him to shut down for three days. He had only barely recovered yesterday, and his physical condition remained sluggish.

"Look on the bright side."

"At least after lying in bed for three days and desperately circulating [Qi Suppression] to repair the damage, my mastery of this spell has improved greatly. It counts as a blessing in disguise."

Wang Ping found amusement amid bitterness as he pondered inwardly:

"The art of [Qi Suppression] can transform essence, qi, and spirit into [True Qi]. Its effects, from lowest to highest, are stopping bleeding and regenerating flesh, reconnecting bones and tendons, and becoming impervious to blades and spears."

"My current body is a [Force Servitor]. The relevant knowledge of [Qi Suppression] was directly carved into my instincts at the moment of refinement. An ordinary person learning this spell would have to begin with stopping bleeding and regenerating flesh, advancing step by step. But I don't need to deliberately learn it—I can begin at the highest level, impervious to blades and spears."

This was both a good thing and a bad thing.

The benefit was naturally that learning spells required no cost. The downside was that everything depended entirely on the body of a [Force Servitor]. Without it, he was nothing.

"Fortunately, things are different now."

"I've figured out all the key principles behind [Qi Suppression]. Even without the enhancement of this [Force Servitor] body, I'm confident I can cast it again."

Of course, its effects would be drastically reduced.

At the very least, he could no longer attain the realm where True Qi protected the body and rendered it impervious to blades and spears. But stopping bleeding and regenerating flesh should still be possible. In any case, it was another means at his disposal.

"That works too. Once I return to Great Shun, with this skill of stopping bleeding and regenerating flesh, I can at least earn the title of divine physician and never worry about food or drink for the rest of my life..."

Just then.

"Thud!"

Inside the warehouse, You Daoist Nun casually tossed the battered [Force Servitor] aside. It fell to the ground, and the light in its eyes gradually faded amid joy.

At the same time, You Daoist Nun paid it no mind. Her gaze, still carrying unfulfilled desire, swept across the other [Force Servitors] before she selected another one.

At that sight, Wang Ping no longer hesitated.

"...Time waits for no one."

He had survived six days because the highest-quality [Force Servitor] had borne the brunt up front, taking on most of You Daoist Nun's exploitation and risk of death.

But now, it had been scrapped.

"The remaining [Force Servitors] are far inferior to it. They probably can't even last a day. If this continues, whether I live or die will depend entirely on luck."

Perhaps You Daoist Nun would choose him tomorrow and exploit him until he dropped dead. Or perhaps the day after tomorrow, or the day after that. No matter which day it was, death was ultimately unavoidable. The countdown before then was merely a cruel torment. Thinking of this, Wang Ping did everything he could to overcome his fear.

Time ticked away.

The sun sank beyond the western hills. Night fell. The cries echoing through the Daoist temple ceased once more. Clearly, You Daoist Nun had used up the [Force Servitor] she had just taken away.

"Now!"

Wang Ping's heart raced. Based on his observations over the past six days, after every sparring session, You Daoist Nun would enter a relatively long period of silence.

More importantly—

"Midnight has passed. The seventh day is finally over!"

His consciousness sank into the [Morgue]. Seeing the [Otherworldly Celestial Demon] on that towering book finally regain its radiance, Wang Ping nearly broke down and cried aloud.

"I lack nothing now!"

Without a doubt, this was the best time to escape.

If he succeeded, he could explore the world of the Immortal Sect from another angle. If he failed, he could still return to the Great Shun Dynasty with the [Qi Suppression] spell and crush the weak.

"If the fish dies, the net breaks. I'm leaving tonight!"

With that thought, Wang Ping immediately focused his attention on his body, sensing his arms and legs. The entire process felt like dispelling the numbness from his limbs.

"Move for me...!"

His consciousness drove his limbs and bones, bypassing the [Force Servitor] talisman within his body... At last, Wang Ping barely opened his eyes and laboriously stretched his limbs.

"Success!"

Although crushing pressure came from every inch of his body, he had successfully regained the ability to move without triggering the [Force Servitor] talisman.

What came next was simple.

"Run!"

First, leave this damned Daoist temple. Then find somewhere nearby, dig a hole, bury himself in it, shut down and hibernate, and lie low for a year or so before emerging.

This was Wang Ping's entire plan. It was crude, direct, and heavily dependent on luck, yet it was the only method he could think of. Staying in the Daoist temple meant death anyway, so he might as well try to escape... Filled with anticipation, Wang Ping stepped toward the warehouse exit.

Yet at that very moment—

"Interesting."

That familiar tone was soft and seductive, as though she had been standing behind him from beginning to end. Her voice sounded like a lover whispering by his ear:

"So Heaven and Earth Pavilion's products really do fail quality inspection."

"Exactly how much have those vermin pocketed?"

"For a mere [Force Servitor] refinement, they didn't even clean up the raw material's memories... Very well. Afterward, I'll demand a huge compensation payment from them."

"..."

Wang Ping's body suddenly stiffened. He slowly turned around, only to see You Daoist Nun beneath the hazy moonlight. Her temperament was cold and aloof as she stared straight at him.

"Misery!"

Wang Ping did not cry out that wail of despair, yet You Daoist Nun seemed to have caught his thoughts. She actually patted his shoulder gently.

"This isn't really your fault. After all, you had very few choices. Escaping was the only viable option. But naturally, I could think of what you could think of, so I set this trap for exactly that from the beginning. If I still couldn't catch you under such circumstances, that would only prove my incompetence."

At those words, Wang Ping immediately understood.

"So that's it. The silent period after sparring was a smokescreen. In reality, after every sparring session, this poisonous woman would quietly lie in wait here in the warehouse..."

She was waiting for a hare to crash into a tree stump!

Wang Ping was instantly furious. A dignified Immortal Sect disciple had deliberately targeted him, scheming against a mere tool, a [Force Servitor]. Was there any justice left in the world?

Who would play games of wits against a tool?

With that thought, Wang Ping lost all hope. Instead, he no longer felt afraid. He simply closed his eyes, while a hint of curiosity remained in You Daoist Nun's gaze.

"You... do you have any last words?"

Wang Ping shook his head, his face resolute. "I have nothing more to say. Do it quickly."

"Very well."

As soon as she spoke, You Daoist Nun formed a hand seal and activated the [Force Servitor] talisman inside Wang Ping's body, instantly cutting off his control over it.

Yet she was in no hurry to destroy this defective [Force Servitor]. She still needed to seek compensation from Heaven and Earth Pavilion afterward, and given what she knew of those vermin, they would never pay without irrefutable evidence placed before them. Therefore, Wang Ping still had some use to her.

"What should I do next?"

With one concern settled, You Daoist Nun was in high spirits as she began considering how to maximize her gains. After all, it had not been easy to seize a weakness of Heaven and Earth Pavilion.

"I need to make this big!"

"If a mere [Force Servitor] refinement goes wrong, even if Heaven and Earth Pavilion admits it, it will only be a minor matter. They can fob me off by casually paying a few Dharma Coins."

How could that do?

Very quickly, You Daoist Nun organized a draft in her mind:

"Shocking! You Xuexin, disciple of Immortal Peak of Ultimate Bliss, recently uncovered an espionage conspiracy meticulously orchestrated by the [Brahma Kingdom] against the Immortal Sect!"

"Under the guidance of her master Mingyou, You Xuexin fully demonstrated the exemplary qualities of a True Disciple. With lofty conviction, absolute loyalty, and keen intuition, she discovered a Brahma Cultivator who had assumed a mortal body, disguised himself as a [Force Servitor], infiltrated the Immortal Sect, and attempted to steal crucial secrets."

"Upon investigation, this Brahma Cultivator's methods proved exceedingly cruel."

"His main infiltration method was body-snatching mortals. Heaven and Earth Pavilion, which refined them into [Force Servitors], had neglected quality inspection and failed to discover his presence..."

A moment later, You Daoist Nun nodded in satisfaction.

"This is much better."

At most, poor [Force Servitor] quality would earn three cups of punitive wine. But allowing Brahma Cultivators to infiltrate the Immortal Sect was a matter of grave importance. At the very least, it constituted severe dereliction of duty.

Then she only needed to stir up public opinion, making the matter as serious as possible. Since the [Force Servitor] truly did have a problem, with just a little guidance, public opinion would naturally tilt in her favor, placing pressure on Heaven and Earth Pavilion and forcing them to submit.

Next came manufacturing the evidence.

Thinking this, You Xuexin glanced again at Wang Ping, who had fallen into a shutdown state. "Hmm. Simply claiming he is a Brahma Cultivator isn't terribly convincing."

She needed to add some material.

After all, the Immortal Sect would definitely send people to investigate such a matter. She had to leave behind some evidence connected to Brahma Cultivators; otherwise, it would not be convenient to frame him.

After pondering for a moment, You Xuexin slipped a hand into her sleeve.

Then she took out a golden, gleaming scripture from her robes. Three wildly dancing characters covered its book cover, faintly shifting with rainbow hues.

[Heavenly Book of Self-Transformation and Sovereignty Over the Desire Realm]!

You Xuexin had obtained this scripture after killing a Brahma Cultivator during the Immortal-Brahma Sword Duel. It was only an incomplete volume, but it was specifically suited to her Blissful Immortal Physique.

"Indulging in pleasure is emptiness? What crooked, heretical nonsense!"

As a loyal True Disciple of the Immortal Sect, You Xuexin naturally loathed the Immortal Sect's old adversary, the [Brahma Kingdom], and completely rejected its ideals.

She had kept this cultivation technique mainly because it involved certain principles of dual cultivation and bliss, which offered useful parallels for her own cultivation. Moreover, the scripture recording the technique was made of excellent material. She had intended to melt it down and reforge it when refining a Dharma Treasure in the future.

"I'll use this."

You Xuexin formed hand seals and chanted an incantation, gradually drawing out the profundity within the scripture. For a time, tranquil and distant Buddhist chants seemed to rise throughout the surroundings.

"Go!"

Immediately afterward, You Xuexin poured every word of this cultivation scripture from the [Brahma Kingdom] into Wang Ping's mind, forcibly making him memorize its contents.

That settled the identity of the Brahma Cultivator spy.

Just as You Xuexin was smugly considering how she would extort Heaven and Earth Pavilion afterward, Wang Ping in her grasp suddenly began convulsing.

"Hm?" You Xuexin lowered her eyes.

What was happening?

Before her eyes, Wang Ping's body continuously burst forth with radiance. Dense cracks appeared across his face, and his expression grew increasingly pained.

"This is rejection? Impossible. Even if the raw material used to refine this [Force Servitor] retained memories, at most there would be fragments of personality. For rejection to occur, that personality must be extremely complete and highly independent... Is this a joke? Did Heaven and Earth Pavilion not even process the material at all..."

In a flash of lightning and fire, the radiance intensified.

"...Not good!"

Only then did You Xuexin react. Her expression shifted slightly as she immediately changed her hand seals, attempting to extract the scripture she had just injected back out.

But it was too late.

The next second—

"Boom!"

With a deafening explosion, Wang Ping's body detonated amid the radiance. His flesh and blood collapsed, then dissolved without a trace, as though he had never existed at all.

Only You Xuexin remained where she stood.

The unexpected change left that beautiful face entirely blank. Only after a moment did she recover, whereupon her expression visibly twisted.

"He committed suicide?"

"Not only was his personality complete, he was also determined to die?"

The leverage was dead, and her extortion scheme vanished with it. Her envisioned overnight fortune evaporated in an instant. That contrast completely broke You Xuexin.

Moreover, she discovered that with Wang Ping's sudden death, the scripture from the [Heavenly Book of Self-Transformation and Sovereignty Over the Desire Realm] that she had injected into his mind did not return. Instead, it was destroyed along with him. Even the scripture that bore those passages lost its profundity and began crumbling apart bit by bit.

In other words—

After all that trouble, not only had she gained nothing, she had lost a [Force Servitor] and a valuable cultivation scripture?

"Clang!"

Within the Daoist temple, a clear sword cry rang out. Then brilliant light surged into the heavens, dividing yin and yang, cleaving dusk from dawn, and lingering between heaven and earth for a long, long time.