Chapter 209: Chilling and Desolate Spirits

Chapter 209: Chilling and Desolate Spirits

Liu Canyang bowed slightly to the Demon Sect Saintess with a respectful demeanor and said, "The Yin Season Pill is an Intermediate Elixir I refined using fifteen types of mystic medicines, including Fossil Grass and Four Seasons Sleepless Flower. It is specifically designed to expel Yin Evil. I hope the Saintess will consider using it."

Lin Zhanglao interjected, "Your Highness, the medicinal broth we brewed can still expel Yin Evil."

Liu Canyang frowned and retorted, "Elder, this isn’t ordinary Yin Evil—it’s the Chilling and Desolate Spirits. If your broth could expel it, what use would Heart Nurturers like us be?"

Lin Zhanglao thought to himself that this man was, after all, an Intermediate Heart Nurturer, while Ding Xiaosan was merely a Primary Heart Nurturer. Perhaps Liu Canyang truly had a better solution.

With that in mind, Lin Zhanglao said no more.

Seeing that the Demon Sect had specialists tending to the Martial Artists infected by Yin Evil, Ning Xiaochuan no longer worried and returned alone to the carriage to continue his cultivation.

Ning Xiaochuan had already stepped into the Transcendent Realm. According to the mysterious woman, he could now begin cultivating the Misty Profound Qi to a higher level.

Above the Misty Profound Qi lay the "Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi," the highest tier of Profound Qi.

Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi could rival the Earth Martial Essence of a Martial Venerable. With a mere flick of a finger, even Mystic Stones would turn to dust.

Profound Qi transforming into dragons and tigers—each strand of Profound Qi was akin to a dragon or tiger. Unleashing ten thousand strands would unleash the power of ten thousand dragons and tigers.

Ning Xiaochuan was on the verge of mastering the Seventh Layer of the Heaven and Earth Profound Qi. His current absorption rate of Profound Qi was fifty-two times faster, and when he fully circulated his Profound Qi, the roars of dragons and tigers would erupt from within him.

However, cultivating "Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi" was no easy feat. After spending an entire night, Ning Xiaochuan had yet to successfully cultivate even the first wisp of it.

Tap, tap.

Rapid footsteps sounded outside the carriage.

The voice of Situ Branch Leader called out, "Little Three, the Saintess wishes to see you."

Ning Xiaochuan immediately halted his cultivation and used the Demonic Sword to conceal his true cultivation level, maintaining only the First Level of Divine Body Realm.

Stepping out of the carriage, Ning Xiaochuan bowed politely and asked, "Brother Situ, why does the Saintess wish to see me?"

Situ Branch Leader’s expression was grim as he whispered, "The Intermediate Heart Nurturer the Saintess brought from White Dragon City has been infected by Yin Evil and turned into something neither human nor ghost. Even the Saintess is at a loss. We have no choice but to turn to you again."

Duanmu Linger remarked, "I knew that Intermediate Heart Nurturer was unreliable. The Intermediate Elixir he refined was utterly ineffective against Yin Evil, and he ended up getting infected himself."

"What’s the use of saying that now? Just this morning, two Martial Artists have already died from exhaustion. We can’t delay any longer. Little Three, come with us to see the Saintess at once."

Situ Branch Leader knew the Chilling and Desolate Spirits this time were exceptionally fearsome. Even if they sought Ning Xiaochuan’s help, it might be futile. But with no other options left, they could only pin their hopes on him.

Ning Xiaochuan was not one to stand by and watch others perish. He immediately followed them to meet the Demon Sect Saintess.

Along the way, Ning Xiaochuan caught sight of the Intermediate Heart Nurturer from the previous day.

At this moment, his mouth bore fangs, his face had turned bluish, and two sharp protrusions emerged on his forehead. Bound by iron chains, he let out beast-like howls. His appearance was truly pitiful.

Even an Intermediate Heart Nurturer had been invaded by the Chilling and Desolate Spirits—this crisis was indeed no small matter.

The Demon Sect Saintess stood beneath the Iron Coffin, using a purple giant cauldron to forcefully suppress it. She wore a golden mask, her figure shrouded in wisps of Profound Qi, appearing both mysterious and ethereal. She glanced at Ning Xiaochuan and said, "So you are Ding Xiaosan?"

The Demon Sect Saintess's cultivation was terrifyingly high. With just a casual glance, it seemed as though she had already seen right through Ning Xiaochuan.

Ning Xiaochuan quickly suppressed his aura once more, summoning the Demonic Sword to conceal his true strength. "Reporting to the Saintess, this humble one is indeed Ding Xiaosan."

"Can you heal Martial Artists infected by Yin Evil?"

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "If it's ordinary Yin Evil, medicine alone can cure it. But if it's the Chilling and Desolate Spirits, only the 'Heart Nurturing Hand Technique' can heal them."

"Heart Nurturing Hand Technique?"

Even with the Demon Sect Saintess's vast knowledge, she had never heard of such a technique.

Of course, this was something Ning Xiaochuan had made up on the spot. Without fabricating it, he wouldn’t have been able to save anyone.

The Heart Nurturing Hand Technique—not only had the Demon Sect Saintess never heard of it, even a Great Heart Nurturer probably hadn’t.

The art of Heart Nurturing and pill refinement was profound and intricate, far more complex than mere alchemy. Even Great Heart Nurturers hadn’t fully mastered it, let alone Martial Artists who weren’t Heart Nurturers.

Deceiving them naturally wasn’t difficult.

Ning Xiaochuan spoke boldly, "The Heart Nurturing Hand Technique is an ancient method. Most Heart Nurturers don’t know it—some may not even have heard of it. It refers to a technique where one can heal without the need for pills, using only hand gestures."

Duanmu Linger, Lin Zhanglao, and Situ Branch Leader—three Demon Sect experts—stood nearby.

"Such a miraculous technique exists in this world? Truly impressive!" Situ Branch Leader, despite his extensive experience, was hearing of the Heart Nurturing Hand Technique for the first time.

Duanmu Linger, however, wore a skeptical expression. "If it’s an ancient technique, it must be extraordinary. How did you learn it?"

Ning Xiaochuan answered smoothly, "My master taught me."

"And who is your master?" Duanmu Linger pressed.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "I don’t know who he was. He taught me for a while when I was young, then left and never returned."

Duanmu Linger wanted to question further, but Lin Zhanglao stopped her. "Little Three’s master must have been a highly skilled Heart Nurturer. Little Three, to have such an encounter is a fortune that will benefit you for life."

Ning Xiaochuan scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly. "The situation is urgent now. Let’s focus on saving people first. I’ve cultivated a Heart Nurturing Hand Technique called 'Unraveling Silk and Peeling Cocoon,' which should be able to heal them."

Ning Xiaochuan stepped forward first to Liu Canyang’s side, straightening his body. Pinching his index and middle fingers together, he pressed them toward Liu Canyang’s forehead.

Thud!

Thud!

Pretending to perform the "Unraveling Silk and Peeling Cocoon" technique, Ning Xiaochuan was actually channeling the power of the Demonic Sword.

His fingers tapped on Liu Canyang's head, neck, and spine, executing a series of thirty-six hand gestures in rapid succession.

"Whoosh!"

Ning Xiaochuan's finger pulled back, dragging a strand of Yin Evil out from Liu Canyang's body and suspending it in his palm.

He wrapped the Yin Evil in Profound Qi and absorbed it into his own body.

The three top experts of the Demon Sect stared at Ning Xiaochuan in shock. "He actually managed to extract the Chilling and Desolate Spirits!"

Both Situ Branch Leader and Lin Zhanglao were deeply impressed by Ning Xiaochuan. This was truly a master—his technique was simply too incredible, extracting the Chilling and Desolate Spirits in just a few effortless motions.

Duanmu Linger, however, remained suspicious of Ning Xiaochuan and warned cautiously, "Ding Xiaosan, why did you absorb the Chilling and Desolate Spirits into your own body?"

Ning Xiaochuan had absorbed the Chilling and Desolate Spirits to enhance his cultivation—for him, it was a potent tonic.

A single Chilling and Desolate Spirit was comparable to half an Intermediate Elixir.

Without changing his expression, Ning Xiaochuan replied, "Though the Chilling and Desolate Spirits are formidable, they are nothing to a Heart Nurturer. Using the Heart Nurturing Cauldron, they can be completely refined."

Had another Heart Nurturer been present, Ning Xiaochuan's lie would have been easily exposed. But for these Martial Artists who had no knowledge of Heart Nurturing techniques, deceiving them was no difficult task.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Ning Xiaochuan helped the second Martial Artist up and continued using the so-called "Unraveling Silk and Peeling Cocoon" Heart Nurturing Technique he had fabricated, extracting the second Chilling and Desolate Spirit before refining it as well.

Since Ning Xiaochuan had a method to extract and refine the Chilling and Desolate Spirits, the convoy transporting the Iron Coffin naturally didn’t want to delay and resumed their journey.

There were fifty-five Martial Artists infected by the Chilling and Desolate Spirits, all tied onto the back of a Fourth-Grade Mystic Beast—the Earth Lizard.

The massive Earth Lizard trudged forward slowly, while Ning Xiaochuan sat on its back, treating the infected one by one.

Over the course of an entire day, Ning Xiaochuan extracted and refined the Chilling and Desolate Spirits from eight Martial Artists—equivalent to consuming four Intermediate Elixirs.

The Profound Qi within his body surged wildly. Any other Martial Artist who gained such a massive influx of energy would have already broken through to the Transcendent Realm Second Layer.

But Ning Xiaochuan was no ordinary Martial Artist. His physique was stronger than others of the same cultivation realm, his Profound Qi was of a higher grade, and his potential far surpassed his peers. Thus, to reach the Transcendent Realm Second Layer, he required ten times more Profound Qi than others.

After healing eight, forty-seven remained.

Duanmu Linger stood at the rear of the convoy, staring at Ning Xiaochuan, who sat cross-legged on the Earth Lizard’s back.

Initially, she had held a favorable impression of him, believing him to be a righteous Heart Nurturer who acted bravely for justice. But ever since their encounter with Xiao Cheng in Tianlai Ancient City, she had grown suspicious of him.

Righteous people were not unfamiliar to her.

But someone as righteous as Ning Xiaochuan? She had never met anyone like him before.

Moreover, he was only a Primary Heart Nurturer—how could he possess such extraordinary abilities?

Duanmu Linger asked, "Liu Canyang, you’re also a Heart Nurturer. Have you ever heard of the Heart Nurturing Hand Technique?"

Liu Canyang shook his head. "Absolutely not. I consider myself well-read, having studied countless texts and traveled far and wide, yet I’ve never heard of any 'Heart Nurturing Hand Technique' in this world."

Duanmu Linger continued, "Then can a Heart Nurturer's Heart Nurturing Cauldron refine the Chilling and Desolate Spirits?"

"It's... hard to say. If it's a powerful Heart Nurturer, such as a great Advanced Heart Nurturer who has refined their True Cauldron, they might be able to harness the power of the True Cauldron to refine the Chilling and Desolate Spirits. However, a Primary Heart Nurturer's Heart Nurturing Cauldron is still quite fragile and could never refine them."

Liu Canyang was extremely displeased with Ning Xiaochuan. This unknown brat had completely stolen his spotlight.

Duanmu Linger said, "So, does that mean Ding Xiaosan is lying?"

"Absolutely lying. That kid’s background is definitely unusual. He deliberately infiltrated our group and must have ulterior motives. Shouldn’t we capture and interrogate him now?" Liu Canyang said with a sinister tone.

Duanmu Linger shook her head. "He’s still saving people. Let’s wait until he finishes. After all, he’s helped us a lot along the way. Even if he’s hiding something, he deserves a chance to explain."

Liu Canyang was somewhat disappointed, but there was nothing he could do. Although he was an Intermediate Heart Nurturer, his status in the Demon Sect still couldn’t compare to Duanmu Linger’s. He had no choice but to follow her orders.

.