Qi Refining

"Second Young Master! This is no time to throw a tantrum!"

At Tong Yi's shout, a flicker of anger crossed Deng Zhongzhi's face. Inwardly, he wished he could smash Tong Yi's mouth with a slap so he would never speak again.

"What tantrum? When have I, Tong Yi, ever thrown a tantrum?"

Tong Yi managed to turn his head and look at Chen Heng. "Let me go, and I won't hold you accountable for cutting off my arm! If the Mount Yang Daoist is dead, then he's dead. He was only a lackey of the Tong Household. Why should I give up my life for him?!"

"I can see you've attained Embryonic Breathing too. Like me, you have the makings of a cultivator. If you spare me, once I enter the Five Radiances Sect, I'll tell my elders there and have them admit you to study the Dao as well. How does that sound?"

Forcing down the murderous intent in his heart, Tong Yi began coaxing him patiently:

"The Five Radiances Sect has a Primordial Spirit True Person living in this world! Once you're there, you might soar into the heavens in a single flight, attain the Purple Mansion and Cavern Mystery realms, and become a great Refinement Master whose name resounds throughout the land. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Hmph!"

Behind Chen Heng, Tu Shan Ge sneered.

"So you do know the Five Radiances Sect has a Primordial Spirit True Lord living in this world? The Southern Territory is notoriously impoverished even within Eastern Maitreya Province. You're merely a subject of a tiny kingdom in that barren backwater. How dare you claim you're certain to enter the Five Radiances Sect? Do you truly think your talent is extraordinary enough to rival Jun Yao of the Jade Dawn School?"

"You..." Tong Yi seethed.

Until then, Chen Heng had merely watched with his hands tucked into his sleeves. Only after Tong Yi had been questioned into speechlessness did he smile faintly.

"The Five Radiances Sect may be fine, but I only care about the benefits before my eyes. A Talisman Artifact would still be more useful to me."

"Damn you!"

Provoked by Chen Heng's half-smiling gaze, Tong Yi felt blood surge straight to the crown of his head. He had grown up surrounded by countless people fawning over him. When had anyone ever treated him with such contempt? He lost all reason at once.

"You damned pretty boy! Just because you're handsome, you think you can treat me like a child?! If you dare lay a finger on me, I'll have my father sell you to a brothel, where you'll serve as a kept man every day and take customers day after day!"

Tong Yi's eyes reddened with rage as he unleashed a torrent of abuse:

"With that face, I'm sure all those noblewomen in the capital would adore you. The children you father would surely be pretty too. I'll make your whole family serve as male concubines for generation after generation, you-"

Before he could finish, the sword drew a deep, bloody line across his neck. A little more pressure, and it would bite into him.

"I..."

Tong Yi shuddered all over. His blazing fury went out as though a basin of cold water had been poured over it.

Tu Shan Ge shrank back his neck, certain this man was truly finished.

"Ah, in truth, I don't wish to make an enemy of the Pillar of the State Great General either. After all, I'm only a commoner. How could I possibly withstand the might of an entire kingdom?"

Looking at Deng Zhongzhi, who stood braced as though facing a formidable enemy, Chen Heng let out a leisurely sigh and said:

"But I truly can't bear to part with the Talisman Artifact. Tell me, what should I do?"

"...What do you propose?"

"I'm well versed in hand-to-hand combat too. Why don't we pit our strength against each other? Whoever wins takes a Talisman Artifact. How does that sound?"

Tu Shan Ge knew at once that there was a trap in those words, but to play along with Chen Heng, he still put on an expression of disbelief.

"Well..."

Deng Zhongzhi hesitated.

Before he could think further, however, Chen Heng drew the sword across Tong Yi's neck again, making him howl in pain.

"Hand-to-hand combat only. This is a gentleman's agreement! I hope you'll keep your word!"

Seeing Tong Yi's wretched state, Deng Zhongzhi's heart softened. He abandoned the thought of turning tail and fleeing, and agreed.

"Rest assured. I've always been a man of my word, a gentleman whose deeds match his words."

Chen Heng said calmly:

"Please."

Tu Shan Ge hurriedly took the sword Chen Heng handed him and continued holding Tong Yi captive. Meanwhile, Deng Zhongzhi roused himself, arched his back, and slowly advanced on Chen Heng like a tiger.

Once they were less than thirty feet apart, Chen Heng wasted no words. With a sweep of his sleeve, a bolt of lightning came crashing down on Deng Zhongzhi's head!

"...Despicable scoundrel!"

At that distance, there was no dodging it. Shocked and terrified, Deng Zhongzhi exhaled all his embryonic breath through his mouth and nose, forcibly condensing it before him.

But the mass of embryonic breath failed to withstand even three bolts before it scattered. Deng Zhongzhi collapsed, his entire body charred black, his flesh mangled and bloody. He was already breathing out more than he breathed in; plainly, he would not survive.

"You deceived me... no gentleman would do this..."

Deng Zhongzhi mustered a breath and spat out the words.

"To tell you the truth, I don't have much embryonic breath left either... If you'd been determined to flee, stopping you would have been difficult indeed. I could only resort to this inferior stratagem. Forgive me."

Chen Heng rested a hand against a great pillar in the hall and bent slightly forward. Even he felt dizzy after spending so much embryonic breath in one go:

"Still, if you're willing to tell me about Tong Gaolu, the Pillar of the State Great General, perhaps I can spare your life."

"Spare my life?"

Deng Zhongzhi gave a bitter laugh and lowered his gaze. The lightning had split open his abdomen, exposing the organs writhing inside.

With injuries like these, no one could save him unless an immortal descended.

"I'm already dying, and you still want to deceive me?"

He struggled to bark the words.

Chen Heng smiled without answering.

"Second Young Master..."

Deng Zhongzhi summoned the last shred of his strength and looked at Tong Yi. Seeing his pitiful, vacant expression, he sighed inwardly.

The man who had killed him acted decisively and cared nothing for appearances. Clearly, he was utterly ruthless and merciless.

After killing him, someone like this would certainly not spare the Pillar of the State Great General. And Tong Yi lacked resolve. Unable to endure torture, he might reveal the general's secrets.

Since that was the case.

There was only one choice...

With a furious shout, Deng Zhongzhi suddenly snatched up several pieces of gravel and, mustering the last of his strength, hurled them at Tong Yi's head.

But he was already at death's door. Chen Heng reached out and caught the stones, stopping them all.

"Old Deng... you want to kill me?"

Tong Yi murmured.

Deng Zhongzhi did not answer. He merely gave Chen Heng one last, long look, then his head slumped to one side, and he breathed no more.

"You bas-"

Before Tong Yi could finish his curse, Chen Heng knocked him unconscious with a palm strike.

"Keep a close watch on him for the time being. Don't let the Pillar of the State Great General's people notice anything amiss."

"Wait, master."

Hearing this, Tu Shan Ge grew anxious. "We've killed the Pillar of the State Great General's man. Shouldn't we flee now? Why stay on Blazing Mountain?"

"We'll decide whether to fight or flee in a few days."

Chen Heng stood silently with his hands behind his back for a moment, then said, "We'll make the decision after I break through to Qi Refining."

"What?!"

Five days later, outside the cave abode deep within the mountain where Chen Heng was cultivating in seclusion.

Tu Shan Ge paced anxiously back and forth, trampling the few yellowed stalks of withered grass left after the snow had melted, grinding them underfoot countless times.

Suddenly, a brilliant light shone out from the cave abode. Within moments, it rose gently, like countless flecks of starlight and streams of fireflies converging in one place, their radiance mingling.

"He's done it!"

Tu Shan Ge clapped his hands, delight spreading across his face.