Chapter 498: Insidious Madness

Zuo Fan led his men from Azure Flame Peak to deal with the Seven Kills Disciples within the Yanghuang Sect’s territory.

As more and more people cultivated the *Blood Sea Scripture of Slaughter*, these Spirit Masters adopted a name for themselves.

Since their legacy came from the Seven Kills Zhenren, it was only logical that they called themselves the Seven Kills Disciples.

As for who the Seven Kills Zhenren was, neither the nine major sects nor the Seven Kills Disciples themselves had a conclusive answer.

It was as if he had appeared out of thin air, his origins completely untraceable.

The main issue was the peculiar way the *Blood Sea Scripture of Slaughter* spread; no one knew on whom it would appear next.

Even with exhaustive investigations, they could find no clues, so they could only take things one step at a time.

It wasn’t just the Yanghuang Sect; the other eight major sects had also begun purges. As for the results of these purges, it would take some time to see.

While the number of new converts was rising, their total population was constantly decreasing.

Not only were the sects hunting them down, but the infighting among the Seven Kills Disciples was also constantly depleting their numbers.

After all, a fellow Seven Kills Disciple made for much better “nourishment” than an ordinary person.

But since the rage born from all kinds of injustice still existed, the number of people obtaining the *Blood Sea Scripture of Slaughter* continued to grow.

Therefore, the major sects were also actively trying to address the root cause. However, resolving such a source was not so easy.

It would easily infringe upon the sects’ own interests, so they could only postpone any effective solutions.

This was a case of treating the symptoms, not the disease.

Still, being able to delay the problem was good enough. Otherwise, a large-scale outbreak would have been a massive headache for the major sects.

But none of this had much to do with Qi Suian.

No such disciples had appeared in the territory governed by Azure Flame Peak, not because Qi Suian had deliberately arranged it, but because the living conditions there were genuinely good.

Shi Hanwen, the former Peak Master of Azure Flame Peak, had been a very strong administrator. After Zuo Fan inherited the position, he continued to follow the original system of governance.

Some turmoil did occur during the transition of power, but Zuo Fan suppressed it all with force.

“I didn’t expect the Sect Leader to actually get Peak Master Zuo to hand over the Flame Demon Body Refining Technique to you. I wonder what benefits you promised to persuade him,” Qi Suian said, passing a cup of tea to the Sect Leader of the Yanghuang Sect, who was visiting incognito.

Xu Ziyang accepted it politely but did not drink. He placed it on the table and said, “Peak Master Zuo understands the bigger picture and the needs of the time. Although he often speaks of Boss Tang, he is still willing to work hard to strengthen the Yanghuang Sect.”

“So, what brings the Sect Leader here for this visit?” Qi Suian ignored him and took a sip of his own tea.

“First, I’ve come to thank Boss Tang for his generous gift. Second, I was hoping to inquire about Boss Tang’s ancestors.”

“After all, the three Spiritual Techniques Boss Tang has produced… to put it bluntly, even the Sect’s Spiritual Technique of our Yanghuang Sect cannot compare.”

“Naturally, I wanted to get to know Boss Tang.” Xu Ziyang didn’t hide his intentions, speaking very directly.

He was very curious about the man before him. In his eyes, this was just an ordinary person, with no Spiritual Power and no knowledge of Spiritual Techniques.

Yet he could produce so many powerful Spiritual Techniques. It gave one the feeling that his talent was his crime.

“I accept your thanks. It would have been even better if the Sect Leader had brought a gift.”

“As for my ancestors, they actually have some history with the Yanghuang Sect. But my family has fallen on hard times, so there’s no point in talking about it now.”

“Get to know me? I’m afraid I’m not worthy of associating with the Sect Leader.” Qi Suian deftly parried the question.

Xu Ziyang had already reached the initial stage of the Flame Demon Body Refining Technique, and his mind and temperament were beginning to change subtly.

The deeper his cultivation progressed, the more unhinged he would become.

If he were to stop cultivating now, he would at most become a bit more paranoid. However, Xu Ziyang had already experienced the power of the Flame Demon’s true form; how could he be willing to give it up?

“Boss Tang certainly has a clear view of himself. That’s why I just wanted to ask.”

“I was wondering if there are any other Spiritual Techniques passed down from your ancestors, any hidden treasures? I am willing to pay a high price to purchase them.”

“If Boss Tang doesn’t want money, that’s fine too. Name your price. As long as it’s within my power to grant, I will agree to it.”

The true purpose of Xu Ziyang’s visit was to find out if Qi Suian had any other Spiritual Techniques.

If he did, he would naturally take them all.

As the saying goes, the man is innocent, but his treasure makes him guilty. ‘An ordinary person like you possessing so many powerful Spiritual Techniques is surely a case of virtue not matching position.’

“If I were to say I have no more, the Sect Leader surely wouldn’t believe me.”

“The candy shop is only so big. If the Sect Leader can find a fourth Spiritual Technique, then it belongs to you,” Qi Suian said calmly.

‘I don’t have one now, but that doesn’t mean I won’t in the future. I’m making all this stuff up as I go.’

Seeing Qi Suian’s confidence, Xu Ziyang of course… began to search.

‘What if he’s using reverse psychology? That would play right into my hands.’

But after a thorough search yielded no results, he asked doubtfully, “Are you sure there are no more?”

“Didn’t the Sect Leader already search? Why are you still asking me?” Qi Suian retorted.

At this, Xu Ziyang could only give up.

“Indeed, the fault was mine. I will send compensation afterward and will certainly not disappoint Boss Tang.”

“Business on Azure Flame Peak seems a bit worse than on Red Sun Peak. Has Boss Tang ever considered moving Tang’s Candy Shop to Red Sun Peak?”

“I could even bring a customer or two your way,” Xu Ziyang said, thinking of bringing Qi Suian to Red Sun Peak, which was completely under his control.

But Qi Suian shook his head. “The Sect Leader must be joking. Every inch of land on Red Sun Peak is worth a fortune. My small shop could never squeeze in.”

“Besides, staying on Azure Flame Peak, with Peak Master Zuo looking after my business, I imagine it won’t be much worse than Red Sun Peak.”

“What’s more, the Sect Leader is a busy man. You couldn’t possibly be as attentive as Peak Master Zuo, could you?”

‘Even a fool wouldn’t agree to this offer. His intentions are clearly malicious.’

‘Even without that factor, if I went to Red Sun Peak, once I was settled in, I’d never be able to find Xu Ziyang if I needed him.’

‘But it’s different on Azure Flame Peak. Not only does trouble stay away, but people even come to curry favor.’

‘Even if trouble does arise, it gets dealt with before it can even reach my door.’

Everyone knew that Zuo Fan, the Peak Master of Azure Flame Peak, respected the owner of Tang’s Candy Shop. Who else would dare to cause a disturbance?

This privileged position would surely vanish without a trace if he left Azure Flame Peak.

Xu Ziyang had considered forcibly abducting him, but out of respect for Zuo Fan, it was not a good move.

Demanding the Flame Demon Body Refining Technique from him had already caused discontent. If he did this too, they would definitely have a falling out.

That outcome did not align with his interests, so he could only try to find a way to make Qi Suian move on his own.

Now that he had been refused, Xu Ziyang could only let it go.

“Since Boss Tang has his own ideas, I won’t insist.”

“Red Sun Peak will always have a shop reserved for you. You are welcome anytime, Boss Tang.”

“I’ve troubled you enough today. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I will not stay any longer.” Since Xu Ziyang had achieved his purpose, he had no intention of wasting any more time with Qi Suian.

He turned and left immediately, without a hint of hesitation.

“Tsk, what a user. Nice to your face when he needs you, turns his back when he doesn’t,” Qi Suian couldn’t help but curse.

‘Then again,’ he thought, ‘I’m the same way with people I find useless.’ He had inadvertently cursed himself as well.

But thanks to his double standards, he simply ignored the hypocrisy.

Then, his gaze fell back upon the Fei. The Fei had been advancing through the cosmos and had now penetrated deep into the core region of the unknown alien species’ colonized territory.

Fragments of massive space-borne structures had appeared here, though they were all damaged. Qi Suian had the Fei inspect them, but naturally, it found no useful information.

As for analyzing their technology, they were just fragments, good for nothing more than being burned as fuel.

Having drifted in space for who knows how long, what value could possibly be left?

‘Once I pass through this colonized zone, I should be able to reach the species’ home world. I wonder how much farther it is.’

Qi Suian hadn’t obtained a star chart or anything similar. The rest of the equipment was damaged beyond repair, unable to yield any useful information, so of course, he had no idea.

‘It seems to be biotechnology, primarily plant-based? What is this all about?’

The fragments of the massive space structures resembled branches and trunks, possessing the texture of wood.

At the same time, they were interspersed with mechanical and partial energy structures. The former still existed, while the latter was something Qi Suian inferred from clues and traces detected by the Fei.

‘Perhaps I can try using the Spiritual Power from a Spirit Master’s body or the genes from a mixed-blood lineage as a medium.’

‘No need to rush. I’ll have the Fei gather more intelligence first.’

‘It seems the Tang Clan only has these three Spiritual Techniques.’

‘I was being too suspicious. Obtaining three such powerful Spiritual Techniques is already a blessing from the heavens. How could there possibly be a fourth?’ Xu Ziyang thought to himself after returning to Red Sun Peak.

Even the Yanghuang Sect, the number one sect in the world, only possessed two slightly inferior techniques. If the Tang Clan had four, wouldn’t that title have to be handed over to them?

‘Zuo Fan wasn’t lying, but he underestimated the Flame Demon Body Refining Technique. Even without using the Flame Demon’s true form, just cultivating it subtly changes my mind with a desire to kill.’

‘Today, I felt the urge to kill the owner of Tang’s Candy Shop several times. If my will weren’t firm enough to suppress this murderous impulse, everyone on Azure Flame Peak would have died.’

Xu Ziyang’s expression was grave. He knew, of course, that this desire for slaughter could not be indulged.

It wasn’t something that could be stopped by simply venting it through killing. On the contrary, the more he killed, the stronger the desire would become. If he gave in to a frenzy of slaughter, he would eventually become nothing more than a killing machine.

‘Such a powerful Spiritual Technique… and yet I can’t stop. I must find a way to protect my mind with other Spiritual Techniques.’

‘Otherwise, I’ll be lost to the slaughter long before I master the Flame Demon Body Refining Technique.’

He actually knew that the truly terrifying part was how this desire for slaughter changed him silently. If not for Zuo Fan’s warning, he would never have noticed there was a problem with his own mind.

It was precisely because of this that he suspected Qi Suian had a fourth Spiritual Technique—one specifically designed to counteract the drawbacks of the Flame Demon Body Refining Technique.

‘Of course, it’s very likely that such a technique existed but was lost, which is why Qi Suian doesn’t have it.’