Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Unusual

The cave was pitch-black, seemingly surrounded by a barrier that isolated it from the outside world, making the inside unusually quiet and cold.

Although Jiang Hanzheng’s cultivation allowed him to see in the dark, it was still difficult to find anything within the cave.

It seemed this place was also the lair of the white-maned beasts. They scattered in all directions, vanishing before Jiang Hanzheng could react.

Reason told him he should leave, but just as he hesitated, the cave suddenly lit up. The walls emitted a faint glow, seemingly welcoming him in. This phenomenon was too peculiar, and Jiang Hanzheng, sensing something strange, decided to venture deeper.

The further he walked in, the more he felt a faint spiritual energy flowing inside, as if some kind of treasure was calling him.

However, halfway in, a stone door blocked his path.

The stone door was covered in dense protrusions, with a massive stone disk in the center serving as a lock. It was divided into several sections, each engraved with different patterns. A circle of gears meshed tightly together.

Fortunately, Jiang Hanzheng often read books when not cultivating—not out of particular interest, but simply to spend more time with his master, who was often reading. As a result, he would sit and read alongside him.

After carefully examining the lock, Jiang Hanzheng immediately recognized that the stone disk was designed based on the principles of the Five Elements, Yin and Yang, and the changes of the Twenty-Eight Constellations. Such intricate locks were not easily solved, suggesting that something extraordinary lay beyond the door—perhaps treasure or an unknown secret.

Jiang Hanzheng grew intrigued, placing his hand on the center of the stone disk and channeling spiritual energy into it. As expected, the disk emitted a harsh sound and trembled slightly but refused to budge further.

Jiang Hanzheng realized that channeling spiritual energy was the correct approach, but the disk clearly required a cultivator of immense power to open it. His current level of spiritual energy wasn’t sufficient.

Gritting his teeth, he unleashed all the spiritual energy stored in his dantian. However, the stone disk seemed to possess a magical ability to absorb spiritual energy, firmly binding his palm and preventing him from withdrawing. Left with no other choice, Jiang Hanzheng removed the talisman sealing his inner core.

A familiar yet overwhelming sensation surged through him as the powerful Golden Core-level spiritual energy flooded his body. Though difficult to endure, the disk eagerly absorbed the energy, relieving him of some of the burden.

After several risky attempts to unlock his inner core, Jiang Hanzheng’s cultivation level had neared the Fusion Realm, surpassing Kong Huai by a minor level.

Such cultivation was enough. The stone disk began to move, rotating a full circle to the right before splitting open in the middle and sliding to either side.

As the stone door opened, the inner chamber was suddenly illuminated with soft, sacred light. The walls were neatly inlaid with fist-sized precious pearls, radiating a gentle glow.

Under this light, Jiang Hanzheng clearly saw that the walls were densely covered with characters and diagrams, leaving no space untouched. His heart surged with excitement as he dashed forward to inspect them closely.

It wasn’t the treasures that excited him but the fact that the walls contained legendary cultivation techniques and detailed diagrams of movement skills. Turning around, he saw a dusty meditation cushion in the center of the room, with a jade scroll neatly placed before it. This was clearly a place of inheritance.

Jiang Hanzheng’s eyes lit up, and he couldn’t snap out of his astonishment. Circling the room repeatedly to confirm its authenticity, he couldn’t help but marvel at the unexpected fortune that had fallen into his lap.

This sudden windfall left him dizzy, unsure of whether to first memorize the techniques on the walls, study the movement diagrams, or begin the inheritance process.

However, things were far from simple. A noise echoed through the cave, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps.

Jiang Hanzheng gripped his sword and cautiously approached the entrance. To his surprise, the visitor was none other than his senior brother, Kong Huai.

Both were somewhat surprised by the encounter, but Kong Huai’s gaze quickly shifted to the meditation cushion and the wealth of techniques in the chamber. It wasn’t hard to deduce that this was a place of inheritance.

Fortunately for Kong Huai, Jiang Hanzheng hadn’t begun the process yet, sparking a desire to compete for it.

Kong Huai had intentionally stayed near Jiang Hanzheng, mocking him earlier for chasing white-maned spiritual beasts into a dark cave. However, he hadn’t wandered far before sensing a surge of spiritual energy from the cave, at least at the Golden Core level.

Curious about such a powerful force, Kong Huai followed the trail to the cave and made his discovery.

Had he not arrived in time to disrupt Jiang Hanzheng’s plans, his junior brother might have already completed the inheritance, giving him an edge to claim victory in the competition. It seemed the heavens had no intention of granting such fortune to the younger disciple.

Jiang Hanzheng saw through Kong Huai’s intentions, his fake smile fading into a cold expression. He didn’t bother with pleasantries and said distantly, “I’m afraid I cannot hand this over.”

Kong Huai detected his shift in attitude and grew more intrigued, bowing with feigned grace. “You’re mistaken. I wouldn’t ask you to hand it over. In competitions like this, we take what we can seize.”

Jiang Hanzheng curled his lips into a smile, his eyes devoid of warmth as he locked gazes with Kong Huai. He recalled clearly how Kong Huai had behaved inappropriately toward their master before entering the secret realm.

Now, instead of settling accounts with him, Kong Huai had come to disrupt his plans.

Jiang Hanzheng, now a level above Kong Huai in cultivation, saw no reason to hold back. Especially when it came to their master, he would never yield.

In Jiang Hanzheng’s eyes, his master was sacred and untouchable. Kong Huai had once been fortunate to receive the master’s favor, and that should have been enough. Yet he continued to overstep his bounds, clinging shamelessly to someone who had already abandoned him. Could he not see that Jiang Hanzheng now stood by their master’s side?

But it didn’t matter. Jiang Hanzheng’s former weakness had allowed Kong Huai to get close to their master. From now on, Jiang Hanzheng would protect him.

Jiang Hanzheng’s gaze sharpened, an unprecedented fierceness emanating from him. The spiritual energy around him surged powerfully, exuding a pressure that didn’t seem to belong to him. Even Kong Huai felt the weight, realizing the extraordinary nature of Jiang Hanzheng’s near-Golden Core power.

Though shocked, Kong Huai had no time to dwell on it as Jiang Hanzheng lunged with his sword, a killing intent evident in his fiery assault.

Within the perilous secret realm, it was not uncommon for disciples to die. If Jiang Hanzheng truly wanted to fight to the death, there were countless ways to cover up the truth as an accident.

Kong Huai, initially dismissive, was now forced to focus entirely on the battle, even feeling a trace of unease.

Each of Jiang Hanzheng’s strikes was forceful and precise. What’s more, Jiang Hanzheng’s mastery of all five elements allowed him to unleash devastating fire techniques—Kong Huai’s natural weakness as a wood-attribute cultivator.

After only a few exchanges, Kong Huai was thoroughly impressed and abandoned the thought of competing with him.

Jiang Hanzheng’s sheer speed and power overwhelmed him, leaving him unable to counterattack effectively. Flames coiled around him, sweat beading on his forehead.

Despite his reluctance, Kong Huai’s growing dread was unmistakable. The usually gentle and reserved junior brother now seemed unrecognizable, his fierce demeanor almost demonic.

Kong Huai began to suspect the unthinkable: had Jiang Hanzheng been possessed?

Possession, where a person’s body was taken over by another spirit or entity, was a dark art often used by demonic cultivators or spirits.

Observing Jiang Hanzheng, with his wild black hair, cold gaze, and faint flicker of fire in his eyes, Kong Huai felt chills. The hatred in his junior brother’s eyes, combined with his murderous aura, made him reconsider their entire relationship.

Could it be that Jiang Hanzheng had always resented him, feigning camaraderie in front of their master and peers? Now, with no one around, his true intentions were laid bare.

Kong Huai’s scalp tingled under the relentless assault. In desperation, he summoned his prized Nine-Turn Golden Shield, gritting his teeth as he muttered, “People truly can’t be judged by appearances.”

The shield was a treasure gifted by their master, one he rarely used. Kong Huai had always assumed he would never need it.

Jiang Hanzheng smiled faintly, a gesture that looked unsettling with the gleaming sword in his hand. Perhaps he hadn’t noticed the red glow radiating from his dantian. “People change.”

Once, his weakness had made him an easy target. But now, Jiang Hanzheng was a completely different person. Shedding his vulnerabilities and hesitations had made him stronger than ever, forcing even Kong Huai to fear him.

Jiang Hanzheng couldn’t deny that he relished this feeling—holding control in his hands and seeing his opponent’s fear.

However, Kong Huai’s treasure proved formidable. As soon as it was deployed, it blocked Jiang Hanzheng’s spiritual energy, rendering his sword unable to advance further.

Catching his breath, Kong Huai couldn’t resist taunting Jiang Hanzheng. “Did I mention? This treasure was a gift from our master. Back then, he traveled to Mount Penglai for days to find me a suitable defensive artifact. You’ll never understand how much he cared for me…”

Even though he knew it was deliberate, the nostalgia and pride in Kong Huai’s tone stung Jiang Hanzheng. His grip faltered momentarily, his head lowering as if lost in thought. After a while, he sighed softly. “Is that so? Perhaps I don’t understand. Those years of closeness with our master were indeed enviable…”

Kong Huai, sensing his junior brother’s despondence, felt a moment of satisfaction. Just as he thought Jiang Hanzheng might give up, the younger disciple suddenly smiled—a complex expression—and a fierce killing intent flared in his bloodshot eyes.

“Never again,” Jiang Hanzheng murmured, his tone strange. “You and the master will never have those days again…”

Kong Huai felt a chill as Jiang Hanzheng’s voice grew menacing. “Not even a treasure from the master will protect you…”