Ancient Strengthening Technique

AST 2243 – Demon Lord Stabbed Qing Shui, Heavily Injured, White Hair

“The Demon Gate claimed that she was an existence with the Demon Divine Body. The Demonic Saint Blood in her has completely awoken and the Mo Clan has been destroyed by her. She’s now the patriarch of the Demon Gate, and there are many other strong warriors who are joining the Demon Gate as we speak. There’s also a rumor that even the Nine Continents Demon Gate’s top experts might not be a match for her, and perhaps, she might merge with the Nine Continents Demon Gate.”

Qing Shui was at a loss about what to do upon Beihuang Fan’s words. Tantai Lingyan was able to destroy the Five Tiger Immortal Palace and claim back the Demon Gate. What kind of potential must she have had to do that?

Qing Shui had always thought that he would be able to claim vengeance on her behalf and while he wasn’t there yet, he was slowly reaching his goal. However, now that she was back, she had resolved the issue all on her own just like that.

He didn’t know if he should be happy or disappointed.

He was happy that she was finally able to get her revenge but disappointed that she was no longer the cold but familiar woman he knew. She was now a Demon Lord. The spokesperson of the Demon God and the successor.

Qing Shui was on the path of the Battle God, and she was on the path of the Demon God. They stood on opposing lanes with no possibility of reconciliation.

Her Demonic Saint Blood had been awakened. Qing Shui knew that there was no way he could change her. There was no one who could, except for herself.

Just like that, Qing Shui stood defeated. He wasn’t angry, but he hated his own incompetence at helping with her vengeance, that he was unable to resolve the pent-up frustrations she had which hastened her process of becoming a Demon Lord.

Shen Huang and Beihuang Fan watched Qing Shui quietly. They could tell from his unstable aura that he was upset. Shen Huang took his hand into hers. “Don’t be upset anymore. Some things are more complicated than they seem, and it would have happened sooner or later. Perhaps it was better that it happened sooner. The more she suppressed it, the stronger it would’ve been.”

“I’m fine. I want to visit her,” Qing Shui replied softly.

The two ladies knew that there was no point in stopping Qing Shui when the news of Tantai Lingyan’s return first reached them. Hence, they didn’t object and replied, “We’ll go with you.”

“I want to go by myself,” Qing Shui declined, gently but firmly.

Northern King Domain!

Qing Shui was now in the airspace of the Northern King Domain. The sun hung high, and the flock of birds flew in the distance as they chirped along. He didn’t have much desire to appreciate his surroundings. Qing Shui focused on getting to the Demon Gate.

Arrival at Demon Gate.

From his point of view, the Demon Gate covered the entire mountain above a monastery.

Despite being in an unconcealed position in the sky above, Qing Shui merely stood there silently as he watched the land below.

There were many who saw him and recognized him as the Divine Palace’s prodigy, Qing Shui. They were aware of the mighty Guardian Vine who he had awakened and even his role on the annihilation of the Golden Yakshas.

After two hours, a woman approached him. She had long, red hair and a scarlet gown which looked just as astounding as her. The gown didn’t make her seem passionate. Rather, it made her look increasingly cold and distant.

Qing Shui felt a pang of sadness. She had taken off her Goddess Divine Set. Right now, as he looked into her calm eyes, there wasn’t the slightest shift. She was looking at him as she would a stranger.

“Lingyan!” Qing Shui called out once before running towards Tantai Lingyan.

The sword in Tantai Lingyan’s hand was refined by Qing Shui, but at this moment, it plunged towards him instead.

Thump!

With a whistle and the flash of the sword, Qing Shui’s body recoiled from the impact. He stared blankly as he allowed his body to be knocked backward. She had taken aim at his heart without hesitation or restraint, and he didn’t take any precautions either. If it wasn’t for the Paragon Golden Armor, perhaps he would have already died.

Qing Shui was as pale as a sheet of paper. His mind replayed the moment Tantai Lingyan struck with her sword, while he continued staring at her in a daze.

Just as Tantai Lingyan was about the swing her sword again, an old man’s voice rang out, “You can’t kill him. He’s Qing Shui.”

The old man sighed. It was the Old Turtle.

There was a shift in Tantai Lingyan’s eyes; her sword sliced across Qing Shui’s shoulder.

Qing Shui didn’t move an inch. He stayed staring at this woman motionlessly. He couldn’t believe that she would kill him; the words she had once said to him resurfaced in his mind.

“Would you kill me one day?”

“No. Even if I had to kill myself, I’d never kill you.”

Yet now, her sword had sliced through his body. The sword that he had refined for her.

A stream of blood gushed from the corner of his lips, but he couldn’t feel any pain. He was numb as though his heart had shattered. No matter how injured he was during combat with an enemy, he had never felt as exhausted as he did right then. He felt as if every bit of his energy had been sapped away.

The sword was still in Qing Shui. Tantai Lingyan could feel his Battle God aura from before. With the awakening of her Demonic Saint Blood, she was sensitive to those with the Battle God’s blood. Now that she had met one, it was only natural that she would aim to kill him.

“It seems you’ve forgotten everything about me,” Qing Shui said bitterly. The hoarseness of his voice was foreign even to him.

“How were we related?” Tantai Lingyan frowned.

Her words felt like lightning strikes to Qing Shui.

Qing Shui didn’t know how to answer her, but Tantai Lingyan continued, “There are many things which I have forgotten, but I have no intention of recalling them. You should go. It’d be best if we don’t meet again or my instincts might be the death of you.”

Thereafter, Tantai Lingyan retracted her sword; his blood spilled as she turned and left.

Qing Shui’s body was shaking. Half of his black hair turned white in an instant. Old Turtle approached Qing Shui as his heart ached for the latter, but even he was helpless.

“Take care, Qing Shui,” He sighed and said.

Turning his gaze towards Old Turtle, Qing Shui forced out a simple response of gratitude, “I’ll be on my way.”

The old man watched Qing Shui as he left. His straight posture was now slouched forward. Qing Shui was a strong person; no matter the circumstances, he had never been one to cower.

Not far away, Beihuang Fan and Shen Huang were approaching on the Sun Phoenix. At the sight of Qing Shui, they were both startled as they hurried forward to hold him. “What happened, Qing Shui? Who did this to you?”

Qing Shui flashed a bitter smile before passing out.

It was as though he went into self-isolation. It was a defense mechanism during times of trauma, one beyond a person’s capacity to handle.

The two women’s hearts ached as they took in the sight of Qing Shui’s white hair, his pale face, and the gaping hole in his shoulder. Tears welled in their eyes as they brought him back to the Divine Palace in haste.

Qing Shui’s body was able to heal his physical wounds quickly, so those weren’t critical.

It was the wound in his heart that nobody else could help in mending.

The people were shocked at his state when Qing Shui was returned to the Divine Palace. It was apparent that he must have been really hurt to have sunken into the extent of self-isolation. Even his black hair had turned almost all white now.

Even if he went into self-isolation, there was still a chance that he might not make it out from the labyrinth of misery.

“Relationships and emotions, those are his deadly weaknesses.” The Golden Battle God sighed.

Nuo Lan hugged Qing Shui as tears streamed down relentlessly. “Qing Shui, wake up. You must wake up. We’re all waiting for you.”