Chapter 5: Your Head Will Be Mine

Finding a secluded spot, Xia Jiuxuan examined the three manuals he had just acquired.

The first two were truly basic—one might even say abysmally so. Yet he had no other choice. Even these low-level techniques, once mastered, would push his body to its current limits. Of course, having fully cultivated them, the power he could unleash would reach the pinnacle of his current realm.

"Innate Third Level—how interesting," he mused.

Upon inspection, he found that the spirit crystal he’d provided earlier had been completely consumed by the four puppets. His cultivation had advanced from the Innate Second Level to the Third. Given the drawbacks of the Desolate Heaven Body, advancing from the third to the fourth level would require ten times the effort and spiritual energy. But as things stood, Xia Jiuxuan hadn’t cultivated himself at all; his advancement was entirely the result of the puppets’ cultivation being transferred to him.

Thus, the usual limitations of the Desolate Heaven Body simply didn't exist for him.

"These puppets have all reached a state of selfless cultivation," he noted.

Deprived of emotion, thought, or distraction, the puppets, even if mediocre in life, now cultivated with a speed ten times faster than before. That was why, in just the span of an hour, four puppets had exhausted a spirit crystal and elevated Xia Jiuxuan by an entire level.

He supplied them with four more crystals and let them train without further interference; the puppets would cultivate relentlessly, needing no guidance.

"The Profound Dragon Spear Intent—when I reach Innate Sixth Level, I should be able to wield it to the utmost. Killing an Innate Ninth Level opponent will be effortless."

To master a martial art without harming his own body was, of course, the best outcome.

"The Eight Desolation Spirit-Locking Array, combined with the Profound Dragon Spear Intent, will boost my combat power even further."

These two arts, considered abstruse and challenging even for the sect’s Grand Elders, were as simple as arithmetic to Xia Jiuxuan—one plus one equals two. A glance was all it took for him to comprehend them fully. There was no need for deliberate practice.

The third manual, however, the Bloodburst Nine Lives Art, was intriguing. Even Xia Jiuxuan couldn't grasp it directly. The reason was simple: the human constitution and that of demon-blooded beings were vastly different, their cultivation paths wholly apart.

Why choose this manual, then? Xia Jiuxuan already had a plan. Since only demons could cultivate it, he would let demons cultivate it on his behalf. He intended to kill a few powerful demon beasts, bind their souls into puppets, and have them practice the art for him. Problem, solved.

Ordinary humans had never witnessed the strangeness and might of demon-blood cultivation. Employing arts unfamiliar to one’s enemies was the surest way to gain the upper hand.

For this reason, Xia Jiuxuan chose this technique as his trump card, ensuring he’d have a surprise in store should anything unexpected happen during his confrontation with Xia Zhong.

Preparations were nearly complete, and he knew exactly where to hunt for demon beasts. The Xia family had a longstanding business in demon hunting; he was intimately familiar with it. The Blackwater Mountain, a hundred miles away, was teeming with such beasts. In recent years, the families had nearly wiped out those on the outskirts, so one would have to go deeper to find worthwhile prey.

He planned to set out the following day.

In the chamber—

"Young Master, you’ve come."

Xia Ran had already awoken, and the maid Linghua was feeding her soup.

"Second Uncle, I want a hug!"

Seeing Xia Jiuxuan enter, Xia Ran stretched her chubby little arms and threw herself into his embrace.

"Good girl. This soup smells wonderful—will you let Second Daddy try some?" Xia Jiuxuan teased her.

"Okay!"

Xia Ran bounced over, ladling out a spoonful for him.

"Haha, what a thoughtful child. You make all my affection worthwhile. But I was only joking—drink it yourself, so you’ll grow up tall and strong."

"Will I really grow tall? Second Daddy, when I’m grown up, will those bad uncles stop bullying me?"

Her innocent eyes were shadowed with fear.

"Of course. And with Second Daddy here, no one will ever dare bully you again."

"Hehe, you’re the best!"

She nestled her little head against his chest, feeling utterly safe.

The scene brought back memories of his own childhood—how his elder brother had made him feel so secure, so warm.

"Young Master, the young miss was frightened earlier. I’ve prepared a calming tonic for her. Please rest; I’ll take good care of her," Linghua, the maid, said, bringing over a bowl of medicinal soup.

"Very well, take good care of her."

"Don’t worry, Young Master."

As Xia Jiuxuan glanced at the medicine in Linghua’s hands, his brow furrowed.

"Linghua, how long have you served in the Xia household?"

"Young Master, I was sold here as a child. I can’t even remember how long it’s been. Why do you ask? You’re not going to send me away, are you?" Tears shimmered in Linghua’s eyes.

"Second Daddy, please don’t send Sister Linghua away," Xia Ran pleaded, pouting.

Xia Jiuxuan merely snorted, saying nothing. He picked Xia Ran up and carried her into another room.

"Young Master, what are you doing—"

Smack!

Turning, Xia Jiuxuan struck Linghua with a single blow, sending her sprawling.

"Wretched creature, still not giving up? Seeking death, are you!"

His gaze was icy, and murderous intent surged.

Linghua crawled up, tears streaming, looking utterly pitiful.

"Young Master, what’s wrong? I’m Linghua—why did you hit me?"

Xia Jiuxuan ignored her pitiful act, seized her by the throat, and squeezed.

Linghua screamed in terror and pain.

Outside, an elder happened to pass by and heard the screams and desperate cries for help from within Xia Jiuxuan’s quarters.

"This boy really is hopeless. He’s gone mad—he won’t even spare his own maid. There’s no saving him; he’s possessed."

Better to avoid trouble, the elder thought, leaving on his own. Soon enough, when Young Master Zhong returned, this one would be dead. Why get involved?

Inside, Linghua was already a bloodied mess, but Xia Jiuxuan showed no sign of stopping.

"Young Master, what’s wrong? What did I do wrong?"

"Very good! Still trying to deceive me? Dare to lay a finger on my niece, and I’ll see you all dead!"

A tremor filled the air as a terrifying will descended from above.

"Dare to use a sorcerer’s trick to kill my maid and steal my niece? If you act against me, don’t blame me for acting against you.

Be suppressed!"

Under the crushing force of his will, Linghua’s face split and twisted, morphing into the hideous visage of a man.

"Brat, you saw through my spell. You’re not as simple as you seem."

This was not Linghua at all, but a sorcerer who had seized her body; the real Linghua’s soul had long since been destroyed.

Sorcerers were notorious in this world.

As the creator of this world, how could Xia Jiuxuan not recognize such a paltry soul-stealing art?

"It was that dog of an alchemist, Xu Wen, who sent you. Am I right?" Xia Jiuxuan asked coldly.

"So what if you are? Just because you’ve discovered me doesn’t mean you can kill me. Hand over the little girl, or I’ll make you a living corpse, longing for death but unable to die!"

Though exposed, the sorcerer showed no fear—his true body was elsewhere; no one could touch him, and his prey could not escape.

"Very well. You may die now.

Before you go, deliver a message to that alchemist beside you: I will have his head!"

"You laughable fool! You’re just a martial cultivator—what can you possibly—ahhh!"

The sorcerer’s bravado was cut short by a scream of agony.

"You! You can trace my soul to my true body? No… How did you do this?!"

His face contorted with pain and terror.

"The dead need not know so much."

Bang!

Xia Jiuxuan’s powerful will reached through the spiritual connection, shattering both the soul fragment and the sorcerer’s true body.

In a secret chamber of a mansion in the southern part of the city, blood and flesh exploded, covering a richly dressed middle-aged man like paste.

He was utterly stunned, his very soul seemed to tremble with dread.

"That damned brat has ruined me again! I want him dead! I want him wiped from the face of the earth!

Summon Old Ghost at once—I will tear that wretch limb from limb!"

This man was none other than Alchemist Xu Wen. In all his years in the city, no one had ever threatened to take his head—until now.