Chapter Nineteen: Taking Lives

Accompanied by Die Shang, Yun Yufeng wandered aimlessly around the Muzha camp, truly experiencing the so-called exotic customs, which also gave him a better understanding of the Zichen Continent.

By evening, Yun Yufeng returned alone to the inn. After shutting the door behind him, he sat quietly to regulate his breathing. He had gained some insight into the commotion from the previous night and sighed inwardly. It seemed that cultivation could not be undertaken carelessly—at the very least, he needed to find a secluded spot, away from disturbances. Since he could not take any more Essence Gathering Pills today, he decided instead to study the Slaughter God Ancient Pagoda. Constantly remaining within his sea of consciousness felt like a waste of its potential.

Focusing his mind, Yun Yufeng’s consciousness entered the sea of consciousness, only to find that it had grown larger. Where once he could vaguely glimpse the distant shore, now sky and water seemed to meet, with only a faint black line marking the horizon.

After a moment’s contemplation, he understood—the expansion of the sea of consciousness must correspond to his advancement in cultivation.

The silver waters surged like tides, the Slaughter God Ancient Pagoda still suspended in midair, rising and falling. Silver droplets occasionally dripped from the base of the pagoda, merging into the ocean below. With a thought, Yun Yufeng’s consciousness swept out in all directions, stirring the silvery sea and raising towering waves that crashed outward.

In an instant, the complete circular shape of his sea of consciousness appeared before his mind’s eye. All around were pink, membranous walls, and above them, a barrier of ethereal energy rose endlessly, as if reaching toward the heavens. Wisps of silver mist formed within the energy barrier, drifting gradually into the sea of consciousness, seemingly drawn toward its center by some invisible force.

The entire silver ocean was confined within these membranous boundaries, waves beating against the walls and sending up spray.

Yun Yufeng approached the Slaughter God Ancient Pagoda, attempting to slip in beneath it, but was unexpectedly repelled. Though nothing seemed to bar his way, he simply could not get close; the pagoda naturally exuded a force that rejected him.

After several fruitless attempts, Yun Yufeng could only circle the pagoda. The sea of consciousness was vast, especially the sky above, which seemed boundless. Yun Yufeng felt as though above him was only emptiness, akin to the illusory energy barrier that surrounded his sea of consciousness.

The Slaughter God Ancient Pagoda floated in midair, and up close, it was just as imposing as it had appeared in the inheritance space—a giant structure a hundred zhang tall, radiating an aura of slaughter.

Yun Yufeng was puzzled; he hadn’t felt this way when he last entered the sea of consciousness. Could it be that the recent battles and killings had infused his aura with murderous intent, which the pagoda was now absorbing?

With this question in mind, Yun Yufeng made his way to the top of the pagoda, recalling the vortex of energy he had once seen there. Perhaps, he thought, this was an entrance.

Yet, as soon as he touched the pagoda’s pinnacle, an immense force seized him, holding him fast against the spire. Though firmly bound and unable to move, Yun Yufeng felt no threat—instead, a wave of comfort washed over him.

At that moment, a violent storm swept through his sea of consciousness. All the silver mist was drawn toward the pagoda, forming a massive vortex that was ceaselessly sucked into it; the entire structure seemed to greedily consume the mist.

Yun Yufeng sensed these dramatic changes, but he was unable to move. What intrigued him most was that, despite the enormous amount of silver mist swallowed by the pagoda, not a single droplet was returned to the silver ocean below, as logic would dictate.

The Slaughter God Ancient Pagoda spun rapidly in midair, like a colossal beast devouring the sky, ravenously absorbing the silver mist. As the killing aura of the pagoda grew more intense, Yun Yufeng found the sensation increasingly pleasant, while the force holding him gradually diminished until he could move freely once more.

The pagoda eventually ceased spinning and stopped absorbing the silver mist—for there was nothing left to absorb; the entire sea of consciousness had been cleared in that brief span.

As the murderous aura thickened, a faint bloody glow appeared on the surface of the pagoda. Suddenly, a portal opened at its base, and rays of blood-red light shone from within. At a thought, Yun Yufeng entered through this open gate, only to find an empty chamber inside.

Examining the walls, he found them inscribed with numerous archaic characters. Focusing on one passage, Yun Yufeng felt a surge of consciousness pierce his mind as sigils began to form and align. Then, a domineering voice boomed in his head: “The Nine Slaughter God Forms—First Form, Slaughtering Life…”

The flow of battle energy techniques played before Yun Yufeng’s mind like a series of lantern slides, each display revealing an extraordinary, ingenious manipulation of power. The mysteries of battle energy unfolded in ways beyond imagination.

A sequence of images coalesced into a complete understanding within Yun Yufeng’s mind, elucidating the use of battle energy with divine clarity. This was true martial skill, far superior to the crude methods he had previously devised. With such a technique in the dueling arena, he would never have needed to trade injury for injury.

As Yun Yufeng finished absorbing the First Form—Slaughtering Life—the archaic characters on the first floor’s walls began to glow like golden tadpoles, streaming into his consciousness.

Receiving so much information at once overwhelmed Yun Yufeng, and his awareness was plunged into a deep, restful slumber. Only when he had fully assimilated the knowledge would he awaken and depart from his sea of consciousness.

In the pitch-dark room, Yun Yufeng sat cross-legged, shrouded in a faint silver glow—especially around his head, which shone brilliantly. Little Greedy Wolf curled up in a corner of the bed, staring blankly at Yun Yufeng, as if unable to bear the strange changes occurring in him.

Through the window, the morning sun finally broke, casting a slanting beam across the table. Outside, birds began their morning chorus, and willows danced lightly in the breeze, drops of dew sliding down slender leaves to the lake’s surface, sending ripples across the water.

Yun Yufeng remained motionless, as if in deep meditation, eyes closed, breathing steady but with a trace of weariness on his face.

Gradually, the sunlight on the table grew stronger, and the birdsong faded into silence.

At the eastern city gate, a group of mercenaries and a merchant caravan awaited something. Impatience was etched on their faces; if not for the restraining presence of their captain, they would have set out long ago.

“Captain, just who are we waiting for?” a burly man grumbled.

“A rather interesting young man,” replied the bearded captain, gazing down the road. This was none other than the man who had arranged to meet Yun Yufeng at the Mercenary Guild. The red-dressed maiden stood nearby, muttering constantly and idly kicking pebbles onto the road, while Die Shang stood anxiously by her side.

The mercenaries, though clearly discontent, obeyed their captain without question and waited patiently. The steward of the merchant caravan, an old man, leaned against a wagon, resigned to his fate.

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone rapped at Yun Yufeng’s door, but he remained motionless.

“Brother Yun, are you in there?” The familiar voice was Ji Nanshan, returned at last.

Knock, knock, knock.

After knocking for some time and learning from the innkeeper that Yun Yufeng had not left his room all night, Ji Nanshan grew concerned and pushed the door open.

[Editor’s promotional note omitted.]