Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 59

The disciples of the Xuan Kong Sword Sect, who were unaware of the situation, had no authority to speak and followed the orders of their elders. They took the two individuals to a location that was clearly not the main headquarters of the Xuan Kong Sword Sect on Beidou Peak but rather a building at the foot of the mountain. The entrance was guarded by many disciples, heavily fortified, resembling a private prison.

The disciples locked them in a dark room but dared not leave, exchanging glances and standing guard at the nearby door, while a few went to inform Ren Bozhong and others.

He Lang’s eyes shifted slightly as he bent down and coughed softly. Ao Li, sensing the disturbance, turned alertly and stared at him. Understanding his unspoken meaning, Ao Li slightly channeled his energy.

In an instant, Ao Li’s true qi cleared all the obstacles in his acupoints, restoring his ability to move. With a swift movement, several dark energies shot out silently and swiftly, knocking out the guarding disciples.

The entire process was silent and surprising to He Lang, but he quickly regained his composure. He bent down to listen intently and, with his keen hearing, detected the sound of hurried footsteps and children crying from a certain direction.

He looked sharply at Ao Li, who, although in a strange state, still complied and confirmed that there were many auras coming from the east, mostly from untrained individuals, likely children.

After confirming the location, they followed the path and encountered several passing disciples, who fell silently as Ao Li made a quick gesture, ensuring that no one was disturbed. They proceeded to a stone door.

The path leading to the stone door was no longer guarded, and the door itself was locked, indicating that it was not accessible to everyone. While He Lang pondered how to unlock it, Ao Li smashed the lock with a powerful blow.

He Lang had already heard faint children’s voices before reaching the stone door. When it was finally opened, he was shocked to see several dozen children confined in a large cage. The interior was disordered, with leftover buns on the floor, and the environment was harsh, accompanied by the children’s cries.

Although the children seemed unharmed, He Lang could sense that their blood essence had been drained, leaving them visibly fatigued and their cries weak.

Unable to bear the sight, He Lang quietly closed the door. He knew that they could not simply take the children and leave at this moment without risking being intercepted by Ren Bozhong and encountering even more difficulties.

To ensure the safe rescue of the children, he decided to devise a more thorough plan. He nodded and left the path quietly, with Ao Li following curiously behind.

As He Lang reached the entrance, he encountered the Xuan Kong Sword Sect members storming into the path in search of them. Among them was Ren Bozhong.

When they met again, He Lang remained calm, but Ren Bozhong immediately held his breath, recalling that this person knew his secret. Fearing he might reveal it in front of the disciples, Ren Bozhong quickly attacked He Lang with a swift and deadly move.

Without a word, he struck directly. This unexpected attack caught everyone off guard. He Lang could not avoid it in time. Though he used his arms to partially block the blow, he was violently thrown against the stone wall with a crash.

Without having had time to channel his internal power for protection and facing Ren Bozhong’s lethal attack, He Lang experienced a sharp pain in his head, dizziness, and a sense of nausea. The collision affected his spine, leaving him unable to straighten up.

Ao Li, arriving a step late, looked on with a blank expression, staring at He Lang. Seeing blood at the corner of He Lang’s mouth, Ao Li anxiously fidgeted with his clothing, eyes welling with tears. “I didn’t protect you well…”

“Master? This…”

Several young disciples, seeing the blood, were unfamiliar with Ren Bozhong’s angry expression. They exchanged shocked glances and seemed somewhat hesitant.

Ren Bozhong, frustrated, scolded, “This person has long fallen to the evil path. If we don’t kill him now, when will we?”

Ao Li suddenly turned his head, his eyes narrowing dangerously, and the dark aura around him emitted a suffocating pressure that overwhelmed everyone present.

His expression twisted for a moment, and he asked seriously, “Kill?”

Although Ren Bozhong was the sect leader and a rare expert who had absorbed children’s blood essence to cultivate, he still broke out in cold sweat when facing Ao Li. Generally, martial artists’ true qi flows in their bodies, enabling their internal strength. If one forcibly absorbed another’s internal energy and true qi, it could cause death. The pure true qi of the Mixed Yuan Demon’s body naturally aligns with the human meridians, which is why Ren Bozhong had been coveting Ao Li’s Mixed Yuan Demon body, collaborating with the Left Protector to achieve this.

But in the actual confrontation, Ren Bozhong was easily overpowered by Ao Li.

He Lang felt a warming sensation in his dantian, his blood and qi replenishing and healing the damage from earlier, granting him considerable strength.

Thinking it over, He Lang recalled the blood-replenishing pills made from Xuan Vine he had taken earlier. He remembered the brief warmth they had provided in his organs.

It seemed their effect was not just replenishing blood but also rapidly healing injuries, filling depleted true qi, and ensuring smooth blood flow, continuously generating internal strength.

During this brief period, Ren Bozhong and Ao Li had already engaged in battle. Only in this true expert duel did He Lang witness the real power of the Mixed Yuan Demon’s body.

The two fought hand-to-hand, without weapons, but their blows released an immensely powerful aura, causing the corridor at the foot of the mountain to show signs of collapse.

Ao Li’s moves were fierce, with a broad range of damage. Unable to fully unleash his power in the confined space, he jumped to the open area outside, where Ren Bozhong engaged him in a fierce fight.

Taking advantage of the situation, He Lang quietly left.

Ao Li, catching a glance from He Lang, understood and deliberately gave Ren Bozhong a few extra moves, as if to allow him to continue the fight.

Ren Bozhong, unaware of the deliberate advantage, thought Ao Li was showing signs of fatigue and pressed on with all his might, believing he could defeat him. He exerted all his energy, using every trick in his repertoire.

When his internal energy was nearly exhausted, Ao Li stopped appropriately. Ren Bozhong’s eyes widened in excitement as he moved forward, unleashing dazzling palm strikes.

Just as he thought he had succeeded, the sound of approaching people from a distance caused the fight to cool down instantly.

Ren Bozhong was shocked and turned to see several esteemed elders from the Xuan Kong Sword Sect, as well as the Heart Piercing Hall Master Mo Qun and the young caretaker from the Tian Xiang Sect, among others from the righteous path.

These righteous figures had received the news and followed the dark energy to this hidden place, only to find it clearly belonged to the Xuan Kong Sword Sect.

He Lang had somehow managed to enter the cell and free the children, who now tasted freedom after a long time. Their joyful shouting and cries for their parents filled the air, causing the others to stare in astonishment.

“Master?!” The guarding disciples began to waver, frantically calling for Ren Bozhong.

The righteous figures quickly realized the situation, their faces stern as they questioned why the missing children were here, their weapons ready and fingers on the hilt of their swords.

The situation changed drastically. Facing the questions from everyone, Ren Bozhong tried to remain calm and took a stance, saying, “Everyone! Please calm down! These children… were rescued from this demon!” He pointed resolutely at Ao Li standing aside.

His claim was dubious, and the Tian Xiang Sect caretaker remained skeptical. They quickly checked the children, finding them weakened and lacking vitality, their appearance yellowish and sickly.

For a moment, everyone present had different thoughts.

The so-called demon remained indifferent, showing no concern for the situation. His gaze, youthful and lazy, was fixed on He Lang, conveying a sense of wanting to go home and sleep, as if everything happening around him was irrelevant.

In stark contrast, Ren Bozhong was agitated and irritable. His mind raced with countless thoughts, the most malicious being to eliminate He Lang to prevent him from revealing any more dangerous secrets.

Determined to resolve everything, Ren Bozhong stared intensely at He Lang and declared with righteous indignation, “This fallen demon is here; let me deal with him!”

Without waiting for the astonished reactions of those around him, Ren Bozhong snatched a steel sword from a nearby disciple and launched a powerful, deadly strike toward He Lang, creating a bright and sharp sword light.