Chapter 275 - 197: The Time of Departure

Chapter 275: Chapter 197: The Time of Departure

Shen Yunjiao’s awakening was excellent news for Zhao Zuo.

In the kitchen, Shen Yunjiao found a porcelain bowl, served herself some Spirit Rice, and sat down across from Zhao Zuo to eat.

"Why did your breakthrough take so long this time?" Zhao Zuo asked casually.

Shen Yunjiao chewed a few times and swallowed. The smile on her face faded slightly as she spoke, a lingering fear in her voice.

"Do you remember that Blood Egg we found in the Yunlan Mountain Range?"

"I do. The energy from that Blood Egg was ominous. It hadn’t even hatched, yet the power it displayed was already at the level of Qi Cultivation Perfection. We were nearly done for back then."

The situation had indeed been perilous. It was only thanks to the Clear Heart Jade Pendant and the Soul-Shaking Bell that they had managed to shatter that hyper-realistic illusion. Afterward, he had used the Sky-Breaking Saber, now upgraded to a Magical Treasure, to finish off the Blood Egg.

"The truth is, the Taotie Secret Technique never actually absorbed the Blood Egg’s energy. I spent months trying to refine and absorb it, but I failed every time..." Shen Yunjiao sighed.

"And now?" Zhao Zuo asked, worried for her.

"It’s a symbiosis, I suppose. The Taotie Secret Technique can’t fully absorb the energy, but the energy can’t get past the Taotie Secret Technique to affect me, either," Shen Yunjiao said, her words slightly muffled as she put a piece of Demon Beast meat in her mouth.

’That wasn’t a good word.’ Symbiosis meant they would influence each other. Zhao Zuo suspected the energy’s influence on Shen Yunjiao would be far greater—ominous and demonic.

"Don’t underestimate that energy. You should still try to find a way to absorb and refine it."

"I know. This energy is incredibly complex. To refine it, I think my Taotie Secret Technique will need to reach the next level. That means I have to reach Foundation Establishment," Shen Yunjiao answered with a nod, her expression turning complicated at the mention of it.

Zhao Zuo brushed the stray hair from his forehead, his eyes fixed on Shen Yunjiao. A nearly imperceptible hint of gray flickered deep in his eyes as wisps of sallow energy detached from her body and merged into the Spring and Autumn Cicada in his chest.

One wisp, two, three... six in total.

’Based on past absorptions, each wisp of Time energy represents a loss of two years of life. That means... Shen Yunjiao burned a full twelve years of her lifespan to break through to Qi Cultivation Perfection. And the maximum lifespan for the Qi Cultivation Stage is only one hundred and fifty years.’

’She doesn’t have much time left.’

Zhao Zuo lowered his head. ’To break this vicious cycle, a breakthrough is necessary. Advancing to the next Realm, Foundation Establishment, extends one’s life by fifty years. But with Perfect Foundation Establishment... you get an extra hundred years, for a total lifespan of three hundred.’

"What are the requirements for you to reach Foundation Establishment?"

"Ten drops of Taotie True Blood. Everyone who cultivates the Taotie Secret Technique to Qi Cultivation Perfection condenses a single drop of Taotie True Blood in their heart. Remember the location on that Beast Hide Scroll? It’s not the main gate of the Fangcun Demon Palace. It’s a bloody elimination ground."

’So that’s what it means.’ Zhao Zuo instantly understood. ’That drop of Taotie True Blood is an admission ticket. To advance to Foundation Establishment, you have to defeat other cultivators of the same Secret Technique, take the drop of True Blood from their hearts, and collect a total of ten.’

’The Taotie devours heaven and earth. Of course it would devour its own kind, too.’

"You’re leaving, aren’t you?" Zhao Zuo said, his tone certain but tinged with reluctance. He had waited for her to emerge from her seclusion, only for them to part ways again. The world was vast... who knew how long it would be until they met again.

"That’s right. Barring any surprises, I’ll be leaving in a few days," Shen Yunjiao replied. She appeared calm, but the slight tremor in her left hand betrayed her true feelings.

"If you can, wait one more month. I’ll help you upgrade your Magical Artifact," Zhao Zuo said. "You’re more skilled with Swordsmanship, so you need a Fire Attribute, Upper Grade Magical Artifact."

"You’re not going to charge me, are you?" Shen Yunjiao agreed almost without hesitation. Perhaps it was the reluctance in her own heart that made her accept so readily.

"You still have to leave eventually," Zhao Zuo said wistfully.

"That’s right," Shen Yunjiao answered without hesitation.

Reluctance is only natural, but Shen Yunjiao was burdened by the weight of her murdered clan. She could not possibly stay here for Zhao Zuo’s sake, especially not when her time was running out.

If she couldn’t reach Foundation Establishment within three years, she would die. It was a certainty.

After the meal, Shen Yunjiao handed her longsword to Zhao Zuo. The two of them lay on recliners in the courtyard, sipping Cold Thorn tea and watching the crimson clouds paint the horizon.

"How has your Cultivation progressed these past few months?" Shen Yunjiao asked casually.

"It’s been alright."

Zhao Zuo hid the fact that he too had reached Qi Cultivation Perfection and had even begun the path toward Perfect Foundation Establishment. It wasn’t a matter of distrust; he was just worried it would create a sense of unfairness. After all, her rapid advancement came at the cost of her lifespan, while he was basically using a cheat.

’Well... a small cheat doesn’t really count as cheating.’

"Oh? Is that so?"

Shen Yunjiao shot a sidelong glance at Zhao Zuo, a demonic red glint flickering in her eyes. Instantly, she sensed the hidden Mana fluctuations within his body, as well as the sheer ocean of his pure Mana.

"You’ve also reached Qi Cultivation Perfection, haven’t you? In fact, you’re even stronger than most at this level..."

Shen Yunjiao called him out without a second thought. Feeling awkward, Zhao Zuo immediately grabbed his cup and took several large gulps of Cold Thorn tea. But more than awkward, he was astonished. He never expected she would be able to see through the combined effects of his Hundred-Change Mask and Breath-Concealing Ring.

"Ahem, it looks like you’ve improved a lot, too..."

Zhao Zuo then recounted his experiences over the past few months: from saving Liu Heng and obtaining the Thousand-Year Red Ginseng, to killing Meng Tianhua, which in turn offended Chu Yijie and forced him to leave his Cave Mansion to seek refuge down the mountain.

"Why don’t we lure him out and kill him together."

A murderous glint flashed in Shen Yunjiao’s eyes as she spoke without a trace of hesitation.

"He’s a True Inheritance disciple of the Moyun Sect. If he dies, it’s bound to attract the attention of the sect’s higher-ups. If they send out Foundation Establishment cultivators, neither of us will make it out unscathed," Zhao Zuo said. He knew it was the most direct solution, but he was also keenly aware of the risks.

"Then I’ll do it alone. I’m leaving the Moyun Sect’s territory anyway."

Shen Yunjiao considered this and slightly revised her plan. Even knowing that Chu Yijie had already overcome the Mana Barrier, she remained supremely confident in her own abilities.

"There’s no need for you to put yourself in danger," Zhao Zuo said, shaking his head. He already had a solution in mind. In four months was the Moyun Sect’s Inner Sect competition and the duels between True Inheritance disciples. He planned to defeat Chu Yijie in a direct confrontation on the ninth day of the ninth month.

"Fine," Shen Yunjiao said, lying back down with a deflated sigh.

The Realm she had reached no longer required massive amounts of energy to sustain the Taotie Secret Technique; it was equivalent to achieving Perfection in the first layer.

"Here, take this. You can practice with it when you have time," Zhao Zuo said, pulling an item from his Storage Bag.

.......