---
Qi Yuan stared at the several storage bags floating before him. Luck had been on his side—had he chased Wang Chan instead of Tian Buque, his gains might have been far less rewarding.
Wang Chan may have been the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, but that sect was barely surviving in the shadows of the evil world. Compared to the Hehuan Sect—the dominant force in the demonic path—it was nothing.
Qi Yuan began sorting through the contents. There were fifty or sixty mid-level spirit stones and over a thousand low-level ones. He couldn't help but wonder how much of this wealth came from exploiting others—Tian Buque had surely used his status as the second son of the Hehuan Sect to squeeze others dry.
The storage bags contained more than twenty high-level talismans, along with a variety of mid- and low-level ones. Among them were three or four lower-intermediate talismans and one stronger, intermediate-level talisman.
It seemed Tian Buque had already exhausted his escape talismans. What remained were primarily offensive and defensive tools.
Qi Yuan's fingers paused as he pulled out two exceptional magical instruments: a pink jade flute and a purple broadsword, both imbued with treasure-grade materials.
Pink and purple? Qi Yuan snorted to himself. Was Tian Buque... flamboyant?
Continuing his search, he uncovered several other magic tools of various quality, a dozen spiritual medicines aged two to three hundred years, and three rare herbs nearly five hundred years old.
He smirked. Compared to Tian Buque's stash, Lei Wanhe's resources seemed almost pitiful. It was no wonder the evil sects managed to thrive for so long—wealth like this kept their power alive.
Then Qi Yuan's eyes landed on something unexpected—a pink jade slip engraved with delicate words: The Book of Hehuan.
His breath caught. He snatched it up and examined it carefully. The slip contained over twenty dual cultivation techniques, seven or eight of which were highly advanced.
Yanyue Sect, the most powerful sect in Yue State, only possessed a dozen or so top-level techniques—yet here Tian Buque alone had nearly half that number.
But it wasn't just the volume that surprised Qi Yuan. One technique stood out: The Dao Seed and Demonic Spirit Technique.
This method had been developed by an ancestor of the Hehuan Sect—a balance of Taoism and demonic cultivation. Practicing this technique allowed one to plant a Dao seed in their partner. While the seed couldn't control the other person, it created a powerful attraction between them, strengthening their bond over time.
It was said this method had been created to mend the destructive nature of demonic cultivation. By blending Taoist harmony with demonic power, the sect's ancestor had forged a technique that promised stability instead of chaos.
Yet success was rare. The method could only be attempted once—failure meant no second chance. Few in the Hehuan Sect's long history had succeeded, and those who did had long since passed away.
Qi Yuan's curiosity stirred. If he could master this, perhaps...
The technique itself was short—barely a thousand words—but deeply intricate. He memorized it quickly, his mind easily engraving each detail.
With a deep breath, Qi Yuan closed his eyes and formed complex hand gestures. A strange energy stirred inside him, rising from his kidneys. His Lei Yang Yuan surged in response, roaring like a violent storm.
Moments later, two opposing breaths flowed from within him, twisting together until they fused. A trace of Taoist energy flickered to life—tinged with demonic power.
The energy condensed into an ancient-looking door, inscribed with the word "Tao." Above it, a yin-yang symbol swirled, black and white chasing one another. Dark demonic energy clung to the doorposts, and behind it, flickering purple lightning crackled, threatening to break free.
Qi Yuan frowned. The technique was supposed to create a Dao seed—a simple bead. Why had his taken the form of a door?
He carefully examined his body, confirming that the strange energy was stable... for now.
Maybe he should test it.
His gaze shifted to Nangong Wan, still resting quietly.
A complicated feeling rose within him—part excitement, part unease. He had succeeded where so many had failed, yet his result seemed... different.
For now, it would have to wait. Pushing his questions aside, Qi Yuan returned to exploring Tian Buque's storage bag.
His hand found a leather-bound book hidden among the items—a diary.
Curious, he flipped through it. Most pages were filled with Tian Buque's sordid affairs and embarrassing gossip about the Hehuan Sect's upper ranks.
Typical.
But then, something caught his eye—the original text of the Dao Seed and Demonic Spirit Technique.
His heart pounded. The diary claimed this was the only existing copy. If true, then...
A surge of magical power flowed from Qi Yuan's fingertips, and the technique's text vanished in a wisp of energy. If Tian Buque's claims were accurate, this made him the only person in the world capable of using the Dao Seed technique.
He finished sifting through the remaining items—just clothes and other odds and ends. Destroying them all with a simple spell, Qi Yuan ensured nothing remained to trace him back to Tian Buque's fate.
Later, Nangong Wan examined the magical weapons and elixirs for hidden marks.
"Little guy, you've hit the jackpot," she said with a sly smile. "I took care of any suspicious items. You're safe."
Relieved, Qi Yuan stashed the treasures away. With Nangong Wan's assurance, he could finally relax. Yet even as he settled in, his thoughts drifted back to the strange door he had formed.
"Sister Wan'er," he said, his voice low, "I'm still injured. Won't you... help me recover?"
Nangong Wan shot him a sharp look, but her faint smile betrayed her amusement.
Moments later, Qi Yuan scooped her into his arms and carried her toward the tiger-skin blanket.
---
In the aftermath of the Yanling Fort incident, tensions between the Yue State sects and the demonic path escalated. Conflict ignited in Jiang State and Cheqi State, plunging both regions into war.
The six righteous sects established a forward base at Jinduiyuan, using it to funnel reinforcements into the heart of the conflict. At the same time, diplomatic efforts expanded—envoys urged Yuanwu Kingdom and Zijin Kingdom to join the fight, warning that if Yue fell, they would be next.
Both nations responded, sending powerful cultivators to bolster Yue's defenses.
Despite the war's eruption, Qi Yuan remained away from the frontlines. As Hong Fu's disciple, he was tasked with overseeing supplies and managing logistics—demanding work, but safer than the battlefield.
For now, his path kept him far from bloodshed. Yet with the Dao Seed stirring inside him, Qi Yuan knew that his true challenge was only beginning.
(End of this chapter)