Chapter 212 - 208: Nine Yin Nine Yang Ten Thousand Transformations Hidden Heaven Technique

Feng Xiaoyi’s letter had arrived at the perfect time.

From then on, Du Youqian’s daily routine gained a new item: practicing the Core Formation Secret Technique.

When Master Qingqiu invited him to spar, he now had a ready excuse to decline: ’I can’t, I need to practice my Core Formation Secret Technique.’

It wasn’t that Du Youqian was afraid to fight; he truly had no choice.

Even though he possessed Core Formation Combat Power and could contend with many Core Formation Early Stage Cultivators, his body had never undergone the Spiritual Energy Inversion of Core Formation. His physical fortitude was nowhere near that of a true Core Formation Master.

Once he reached Core Formation himself, he could turn the tables and dictate the terms.

「Several years passed in a flash.」

Du Youqian had successfully practiced the Core Formation Secret Technique and had also comprehended the second Sword Intent of the Blood Slaughter Sword Scripture: Blood Food.

If he were to participate in the Sect tournament now, he could defeat the second, third, and fourth place contestants even if they all attacked him at once.

But compared to the legendary Bai Shaofeng, he still fell short.

Thus, Du Youqian didn’t grow arrogant or complacent, nor did he lose his sense of awe and caution.

’I’ve already accomplished a lot in this life. My rating upon reincarnation probably won’t be too low.’

’Even if I don’t get a four, I’ll at least get a three.’

’I’m bound to get a "B-plus," or at least a "B."’

So, after he reached Core Formation, he didn’t plan on fooling around anymore.

He planned to be a good homebody for a few hundred years, practicing all sorts of Secret Techniques and Magic to build up capital for his next life.

If he found the Jade Scroll Fragment, he would try to leave through the secret passage that Elder Liu Hua had used to enter Momenan.

If he was unlucky and couldn’t find it, then after reincarnating, he would join the Taihe Sect (or rejoin the Holy Blood Sect, that would work too). He would display the bearing of a peerless prodigy and strive to be sent to the outside world through the channels controlled by these two Sects.

With only half a year left of his duty garrisoning the Desolate Abyss, Du Youqian had started to grow a bit lax.

The main reason was that nothing major had really happened all these years.

Apart from the one Core Formation Demon Zombie he encountered in his assigned area when he first arrived, only two more had appeared in the following nine-plus years.

The rest of the time, it was just insignificant Foundation Establishment Demon Zombies that any Foundation Establishment Cultivator could handle.

Privately, many Cultivators were gossiping that the Taihe and Holy Blood Sects were being too sensitive about this issue, wasting so much manpower and resources.

Even Du Youqian was no exception.

During several salons, he had sighed that it would be better to withdraw from the Desolate Abyss and only set up defenses in the original borderlands.

He argued there was no need for Core Formation Cultivators to garrison the area; they could just be deployed to deal with Core Formation Demon Zombies or Nascent Soul Demon Zombies when they actually appeared.

A few Core Formation Cultivators were inclined to agree with Du Youqian.

Master Wu Gong of the Taihe Sect was staunchly opposed to Du Youqian’s opinion. He believed that if they did as Du Youqian suggested—abandoning the Desolate Abyss and pulling back the defensive line—any Nascent Soul Demon Zombie that appeared could easily break through to densely populated areas, causing massive casualties among mortals. It was an unacceptable risk.

Tongming Master, on the other hand, said, "Actually, just having me alone garrison the Desolate Abyss is enough."

The day was just like any other.

The sandstorm was even lighter than usual.

Du Youqian held his jade-colored Wine Gourd inside his temporary cave residence, gazing at the dusky sky outside and occasionally taking a sip of the Jade Liquid from within.

It wasn’t actually difficult to set up an Array near the temporary cave residence to block the sandstorm, but the resources consumed over the years would be substantial.

So, he could only let the sandstorm buffet his face.

’There’s no shame in losing to nature.’

Although today seemed no different from yesterday, and this tranquility would likely extend into tomorrow...

...for some reason, Du Youqian felt a sense of unease.

He performed a Divination.

With his Divination Art at Tier Two Peak, which could reach Tier Three with the boost from "Knowing the Celestial Mandate," there were few people or things in Momenan he couldn’t scry, including even Core Formation Powerhouses.

For instance, he should have been able to get a clear reading on Yin Ruozhen and Wandering Dragon, but the results were unclear, which was why they had caught his attention.

The result of this Divination was murky and difficult to interpret.

Overall, the hexagram didn’t look good, but it didn’t seem all that bad either.

’So why on earth do I feel so uneasy?’

Just then, the door to Du Youqian’s room was pushed open.

A fragrant scent wafted in.

Without needing to turn around, Du Youqian knew who it was.

"It’s not even evening yet."

Lin Sha’s voice, feigning seriousness, said, "A teacher’s duty is to impart knowledge day and night. Disciple, aren’t you going to hurry over and listen to your teacher’s wondrous voice?"

The corner of Du Youqian’s mouth twitched.

’Great, she’s roleplaying again.’

For some reason, Lin Sha was extremely bothered by the fact that he had chosen Feng Xiaoyi as his master.

That was why, out of all the roles she played, she especially loved playing his master.

Teacher Lin’s quality of instruction was truly hard to describe.

If you said her teaching was good, well, for Du Youqian, the more he "learned" and the more diligently he studied, the more mentally exhausted and physically drained he became, his Essence Qi depleted.

But if you said her teaching was poor... well, one was happy to teach, and the other was happy to learn.

All in all, it was a muddled affair.

Lin Sha leaned in close.

Her body, which looked slender but was actually soft and voluptuous, pressed against him. She stood on her tiptoes and whispered in Du Youqian’s ear, "Disciple, what do you want to learn today?"

Her fiery, seductive allure almost made Du Youqian give in.

Fortunately, he retained a sliver of rationality and gently pushed Lin Sha away. "I’m feeling uneasy today. Something big might happen. We should conserve our energy and wait quietly..."

Before he could finish, his words were sealed by a pair of soft, warm, red lips.

After a long moment, their lips parted. Lin Sha said coldly, "Disobedient disciples must be punished. Your teacher will give you one more chance to rephrase that!"

Their limbs were entwined, and Lin Sha’s face was flushed like Peach Blossoms, her eyes full of amorous feeling. Yet, the icy words from her red lips created a uniquely contrasting temptation.

’Ah, fine, fine.’

’It’s not like a moment of indulgence will cause some huge disaster...’ Du Youqian thought. Just as he was about to kiss her back, Lin Sha pushed him away. "What are you still doing with that face? Hurry up and change back into my Qing Lang!"

Lin Sha was absolutely uncompromising on this point.

Du Youqian had to take on the appearance of Qiu Yuanqing, even changing the fluctuations of his Divine Sense. Otherwise, she would absolutely not allow him any intimacy.

To this end, she had even given Du Youqian a technique said to be an incomplete Tier Five Secret Technique, the Nine Yin Nine Yang Ten Thousand Transformations Hidden Heaven Technique. It was a super-enhanced version of the Mystic Clear Concealing God Hidden Breath Skill he had learned before.

This Nine Yin Nine Yang Ten Thousand Transformations Hidden Heaven Technique was a secret of the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect—not the Momenan branch, but the main Sect in the outside world.

Only an incomplete version existed in Momenan, but as a Tier Five Inheritance, it was still exceptionally precious.

Although it couldn’t compare to a fundamental technique like the Supreme Purity Emotion Scripture, it wasn’t something just anyone could obtain.

Lin Sha was only able to redeem it after reaching Core Formation and because of her status as a True Inheritor.

As for how she was able to pass this Secret Technique on to an outsider, she must have paid a hefty price.

Previously, Du Youqian’s Mystic Clear Concealing God Hidden Breath Skill had faint flaws that could be detected by a Core Formation Cultivator.

But after practicing the Nine Yin Nine Yang Ten Thousand Transformations Hidden Heaven Technique, when he transformed into Qiu Yuanqing, even someone as intimately familiar with him as Lin Sha, his bed companion, found it hard to tell the difference.

Moreover, the Nine Yin Nine Yang Ten Thousand Transformations Hidden Heaven Technique allowed him to simulate the auras of various Realms. He could transform into a Core Formation expert in an instant—though not a Nascent Soul, as he had no idea what a Nascent Soul Cultivator’s aura even felt like.

He could also become a little rookie in the Qi Cultivation Realm.

He could even simulate the aura of other Cultivation Techniques to deceive Arrays.

He once deliberately tested it. While Master Wu Gong was away, he simulated the aura of a Taihe Sect Cultivation Technique and secretly infiltrated Master Wu Gong’s temporary cave residence.

The cave residence was set up with defensive and warning Arrays that would automatically trigger an alarm if a non-Taihe Sect Cultivator intruded.

But Du Youqian entered as if walking into an unguarded place, not triggering the alarm at all.

Such a Cultivation Technique was simply miraculous!

And this was with Du Youqian having only just crossed the threshold of practicing this Secret Technique; he hadn’t even reached Small Success.

If he were to cultivate it to Small Success or Great Success in the future, its power would be unimaginable.

What puzzled Du Youqian was, with the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect possessing such a Secret Technique, weren’t they guarded against and suppressed by the Taihe Sect and the Holy Blood Sect?

If a Golden Core from the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect practiced this Secret Technique and infiltrated the Collection Rooms of the Taihe Sect and the Holy Blood Sect, couldn’t they steal the Inheritances of both Sects in one fell swoop?

After the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped, Du Youqian couldn’t help but voice his question.

"My dear Qing Lang, you’re so silly," Lin Sha giggled, her slender, fair fingers, as delicate as spring onions, tracing circles on Du Youqian’s chest. "With the Rivers and Mountains Map and the Blood Slaughter Sword around, who would dare to even think of such a thing?"

Du Youqian was silent for a moment before retorting, "Don’t you know there’s a problem with the Rivers and Mountains Map?"

Lin Sha told him, "Mi Master said the Rivers and Mountains Map developed a problem over a thousand years ago, but it just can’t control Spiritual Qi anymore, causing the Spiritual Qi in Momenan to constantly dissipate without timely replenishment. It still has no problem dealing with a few petty thieves. As for the Blood Slaughter Sword... I spoke with Mi Master about it. Mi Master believes that after the incident at the Cyan Yang Sect Relics, the Blood Slaughter Sword must have consumed too much power and entered a dormant state to recover. But even in dormancy, it has only stopped monitoring the entire world; it hasn’t relaxed its surveillance of the Holy Blood Sect’s interior. If any troublemakers tried to harm the Holy Blood Sect, the Blood Slaughter Sword should be able to detect them."

Du Youqian thought of Wandering Dragon and couldn’t help but chuckle.

’By that logic, if there was a problem with Wandering Dragon, the Blood Slaughter Sword should have discovered it long ago. I’ve been worrying for nothing!’

At that moment, neither Du Youqian nor Lin Sha imagined that the Blood Slaughter Sword’s condition might be far more severe than they had speculated.

Lin Sha had absolute trust in her grandmaster, Mi Master, while Du Youqian, having heard the news from her, let his guard down and subconsciously accepted it as truth.

"Let’s not talk about that anymore," Lin Sha said, resting on Du Youqian’s chest. Her starry eyes were half-closed, a look of pleasure on her face. "What was that Dual Cultivation Secret Technique you got from the Hundred Flowers Sect called again? It’s really quite good."

Du Youqian laced his hands behind his head and answered lazily, "The Jielin Secret Cave Room Rejuvenation Skill."

"Teach it to me, too. If I learn this Secret Technique, I can serve you even better," Lin Sha said, suddenly propping herself up. The sight of her snow-white skin dazzled Du Youqian’s eyes. She pleaded coquettishly, "Good brother, please teach it to me!"

"No, no, absolutely not."

"Yes, you can, good brother, you can! Just teach it to me!"

Just as the two were playfully bickering, a vast, majestic aura—far surpassing that of a Core Formation Cultivator, yet tinged with a sinister feeling—abruptly appeared.

The color drained from both their faces at the same time.