Chapter 119: The Invincible Golden Radiance

"Overseer Baili, what brings you to the Governor's Mansion today?"

Zhong Ziling maintained a calm expression, yet her heart was in turmoil. Gazing at the young, jade-faced man before her, she felt the crushing pressure radiating from him. He had grown even stronger. Before the battle at the Flower Alley, Baili Feihong had felt like the scorching sun in the sky—intense, yet observable. Now, he felt like the vast, boundless star-filled cosmos, deep and unfathomable. If he wished, he could crush her with a single hand.

"With the establishment of the Suppression Demon Division, the Chief Division will be granting our provincial prefecture a batch of books. Beyond humanities, geography, history, and biographies, these consist primarily of martial arts techniques, Daoist classics from various sects, and the cultivation experiences of our predecessors."

A maid brought in steaming hot tea. Baili Feihong took a sip. The fragrance lingered on his palate; the Governor's Mansion was indeed different. Drinking this spiritual tea regularly could nourish one's inner spirit and enhance potential—a rare treasure within the Great Yuan Empire.

"Overseer, if you have come for our library, I must say that I am powerless to help. The library of the Southern Suppression Naval Fleet is a classified military site. Even as an Overseer, you cannot force your way in." Zhong Ziling rejected his request without hesitation. The Governor had already instructed her to handle the matter at her own discretion, and since this involved the core foundations of the fleet, she did not wish to play the villain.

With Governor Yan's intellect, he must have realized that if Baili Feihong came to collect debts, it would be for these martial arts texts. How many in the military had stepped into the true wonders of martial arts because of the Suppression Demon Division's library? Back when the fleet bullied the Division, it was precisely because they coveted those very books. A single martial arts manual leaking into the civilian world could trigger a bloody storm. The Division’s library contained tens of thousands of such volumes, ranging from Blood Refining to the Yuan Embryo Realm, and from basic techniques to supernatural martial arts. Such a massive treasure trove would tempt anyone—Yan Fei included.

Zhong Ziling’s own breakthrough to the Yuan Embryo Realm had been achieved through a martial arts masterpiece gifted by the Governor, sourced from that very library. If she agreed to Baili Feihong’s demand today, the news would spread through the fleet by tomorrow, and she would instantly become an enemy of the Southern Suppression Naval Fleet. These were their treasures—treasures worth more than gold. The Governor letting her handle this was a calculated move; she was soon to leave the fleet, and this was a way to erode her influence. Otherwise, once she became a Prefect, her prestige within the fleet might threaten the Governor’s position. Even knowing his intentions, she still refused Baili Feihong.

"Nangong Zhen of the Primordial Demon Sect—I suspect he is a supernatural-level evil practitioner. His 'Primordial Demon Heart Seal' is extremely vicious; even experts in the Yuan Embryo Realm can have their minds easily controlled, becoming his puppets." Baili Feihong ignored her refusal and spoke instead of the Primordial Demon Sect's outer sect elder. His tone was flat, yet beneath that flatness, Zhong Ziling heard an implication that made her blood run cold.

"Even more terrifying is that the Heart Seal he masters is obscure and difficult to detect. Once controlled, the victim's soul, body, and cultivation all become sacrifices for the seal, instantly igniting to erupt with dozens of times their normal power. This method is one of the most evil supernatural arts of the Primordial Demon Sect." Baili Feihong picked up the tea and drained it in one gulp, unbothered by the heat. "The duty of the Suppression Demon Division is to slay demons and eliminate evil."

Cold sweat beaded on Zhong Ziling’s forehead. An invisible killing intent shrouded the mansion.

"I came to the Governor's Mansion to investigate whether Nangong Zhen is lurking here. The matter of the books was just a passing thought. Since Governor Yan is occupied with military affairs, I shall not disturb you further. After all, victory is in sight; perhaps after the war, Governor Yan will be recalled to the Military Ministry, becoming a Minister of Military Affairs and a high-ranking official of the Imperial Court. My Division will even need to dispatch men to guard your side, just in case of accidents."

Baili Feihong flicked his sleeves and departed. "In three days, the Suppression Demon Division will provide the Governor's Mansion with an investigation report."

His voice shook the entire mansion. The terrifying aura, like dark clouds pressing down, engulfed the building. Such an overbearing and unscrupulous approach left many generals within the mansion chilled to the bone. That Nangong Zhen of the Primordial Demon Sect had appeared on Feiyuan Island was an undeniable fact.

"Feiyuan Island is rampant with demons and infested with evil cults. The Black Heaven God Sect, the Primordial Demon Sect, the Flower Pavilion... That brothel madam is lucky; due to a moment of negligence on my part, this former disciple of the Flower Pavilion managed to escape. I wanted to ask her about the Flower Pavilion's involvement in the 'Great Opium Case.' After all, Chu Qingyi, the Apostle of the Black Heaven God Sect whom I killed, was the son of Chu Tianxing, one of the masterminds behind the case."

He spoke as if to himself, but the information revealed was explosive. The brothel madam, Wang Qin, was a disgraced disciple of the Flower Pavilion, yet she was colluding with the Black Heaven God Sect. And the Black Heaven God Sect's apostle was a sea merchant mastermind behind the opium case. It was hard to believe Wang Qin was merely a defector; she looked more like a liaison between the two evil organizations.

Zhong Ziling couldn't help but think of the woman, Yu Meiniang. She would implicate the Governor, becoming a weakness for enemies to exploit.

"Hmph!" Yan Fei let out a cold snort, sweeping his arms across the desk and sending brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and military maps crashing to the floor. "He goes too far! Calling a stag a horse, turning black into white, framing and scapegoating—he’s actually dared to pull this stunt on my Southern Suppression Naval Fleet’s mansion."

It was no wonder Yan Fei was so furious. Baili Feihong had truly pushed them too far. It had always been the fleet bullying others; now, he was being suppressed by Baili Feihong. He had lost all face and could not hold his head up in front of his subordinates. After he had finished venting and smashing the room’s contents, Zhong Ziling stood before him.

"Ziling, what do you think?" Yan Fei returned to his chair and asked, his voice now calm.

"Governor, he will kill me, and he will kill you," Zhong Ziling said through gritted teeth. "The Opium Case involves the Grand Princess. When he mentioned Wang Qin, he was using Meiniang to warn you. The court situation is treacherous; if we lose the war, it will be the catalyst for my fate, and if we win, it will be the day I must leave the fleet. For you, Governor, either path is a dead end."

Yan Fei's tone was icy. If he could defeat Baili Feihong, he would disregard everything and execute him for treason. The methods were the same; it was just that he had backers in the capital, while Baili Feihong did not.

"Baili Feihong is a lone wolf. If the court blames him, he can just leave the Division and walk away. Any conventional method is useless against someone like him, unless we kill him," Zhong Ziling said coldly. The humiliation of the day had ignited her anger, but she understood that her rage was nothing more than the fury of the powerless. She could not influence Baili Feihong in the slightest, and to him, she was merely a weak creature to be slaughtered at will.

"Go. Tell Lu Zhiwei to arrange for the library books to be sent back to the Suppression Demon Division," Governor Yan said with a weary wave of his hand. "As for the prefectural matters, intervene as soon as possible. The Spirit Eagle will reach Feiyuan Island tomorrow; at that time, I will accompany you to the prefecture. Do not involve yourself in the affairs between the Division and the Fleet any longer."

"Governor, are we really going to let Baili Feihong run wild?" Zhong Ziling asked resentfully.

"The mountains are high and the Emperor is far away—that used to describe us. Now, it applies to the Overseer. If he truly intends to kill, by the time the court sends investigators, he will have had enough time to gather evidence and nail us to the Great Yuan Empire's wall of shame for eternity." Governor Yan laughed dryly. How similar their fates were. Before, the fleet had bullied the Division, and because the Division's men weren't strong enough, they had to seek help from the Chief Division. But Feiyuan Island was far from the empire, and by the time investigators arrived, the Overseer would have died for no reason—killed by demons, becoming a hero. The court would grant meager rewards that only deepened the grief of the family. Now, the tables had turned.

"Governor, I understand. I will seize control of the prefecture as soon as possible and coordinate with the fleet to maintain control of Feiyuan Island. As for the Suppression Demon Division, if Baili Feihong wants to slay demons, let him stay busy so he has no time to mind us." Zhong Ziling’s clear eyes gradually turned cold and sharp.

"No matter. Baili Feihong’s days are numbered," Yan Fei said, suppressing his inner frustration to comfort her.

...

"The Governor's Mansion... Hmph, do they really think that after a great victory, they can ride on the heads of my Suppression Demon Division again? Clearly, they have forgotten what kind of world this is." Baili Feihong knew his words had thoroughly offended the entire mansion, but so what? His cultivation was superior to Yan Fei's, so Yan Fei had no way to deal with him. A siege? He feared nothing more than being besieged. To deal with those accustomed to bullying, one had to treat them with their own methods. Even if the fleet didn't want to return the books, they would have to deliver them to his doorstep.

"It is time to digest the power of the Desire-Class God." Refining was a grueling process. The Cauldron of All Things was powerful, but the Desire-Class God was no pushover. Converting its power took a great deal of his energy. Feeling the accumulated "Cauldron Mother Qi" in his body, he considered whether to continue expanding his inner Yuan Qi or inject it into his body to raise his physical tempering to a new order of magnitude.

"In the sea of misery, the physical body is the boat, and the soul is the passenger. The boat carries the person, sailing toward the other shore." This was cultivation. A theory from his previous life surfaced, and combined with his own insights, he realized that to drift on the ocean, the boat must be sturdy. If the foundation wasn't solid, no matter how skilled the passenger, they wouldn't cross the boundless bitter sea.

Could he add another layer to the Six Desolations? The Thirteen Golden Light Hard-Qigong? At this moment, the Hard-Qigong had already merged into the Cauldron of All Things, but Baili Feihong felt that by isolating it as an independent technique, he could effectively strengthen it when adding skill points.

[Golden Light Invincible Hard-Qigong: Level 1 (1/500,000)]

The Thirteen Golden Light Hard-Qigong he had practiced was already at its peak. Now that it was isolated, the Skill Book evaluated it as Level 1. Yet, even at Level 1, this "Golden Light Invincible" version already surpassed the original. Insights into the technique flooded his mind—beyond the skin tempering of the original, it now fused with Golden Jade Bone. Its connection to the Cauldron of All Things remained, meaning continued practice of the Cauldron would still strengthen this technique. It was not displayed as a Supernatural Ability, but its grade was not low. It existed as a component of the Cauldron.

"Skill Book, upgrade Golden Light Invincible Hard-Qigong." Baili Feihong’s intent flickered. He began consuming skill points to bolster his advantage. His advantage lay in his body—his flesh, tendons, and bones. His blood was already powerful, but his flesh and bones were relatively weaker. While nourished by his blood, they were far superior to any other martial artist, but in Baili Feihong’s eyes, they were still weak. He wanted to forge the strongest shell—the strongest boat.

[Deducting 500 Skill Points. Golden Light Invincible Hard-Qigong promoted to Level 2.]

Scalding energy surged through his body. A sensation like countless ants gnawing at his flesh traveled through his nerves to his brain. It hurt—it hurt immensely. The ultimate goal of this technique was to cultivate the "Invincible Golden Body." Gold meant immortality.

"Only 500 points?" He reflected that previously, a dozen points were enough to bring his Blood Yuan Technique to its peak. Now, one level required 500; it was already quite a lot. "It’s because as my strength grows, the points required for enhancement increase. My current foundation is so strong that I could break through on my own if I practiced for a while. Therefore, the stronger my foundation, the fewer skill points I need."

Realizing the mechanics of the Skill Book, Baili Feihong felt relieved. He had feared that as he progressed, the cost would force him to become a killing machine. It seemed he was still a blank slate regarding the book's true nature. "If I incorporate more techniques and evolve the Cauldron of All Things, this masterpiece will become even stronger, while the cost will decrease."

"Skill Book, continue to upgrade Golden Light Invincible Hard-Qigong."

[Deducting 5,000 Skill Points. Golden Light Invincible Hard-Qigong elevated to the peak of Level 3.]

"If I continue, my skill points will be exhausted. I cannot continue yet; I need to practice on my own for a while to strengthen my foundation before using points for another breakthrough. The power of this technique is equivalent to a Grade 3 Supernatural Ability." A Grade 3 ability might not even be able to break his defense. Feeling the pure power from his flesh, he realized his mastery over his blood energy had become more thorough. Previously, erupting with all his blood energy put a certain burden on his body. Now, that deficiency was compensated for.

A sudden realization surged: his Eleven-Fold Blood Refining had long reached its peak. The Cauldron of All Things devouring the origin power of the Desire-Class God hadn't triggered a breakthrough yet, but it was infinitely close to the critical point. With the strengthening of his body, the flesh, tendons, and bones had all improved significantly, and the path to Twelve-Fold Blood Refining naturally manifested.

"Cultivation is a systematic discipline," he mused. "Strengthening only one aspect leads to an imbalance of energy." As his physique was tempered, his spirit and soul were naturally reinforced. This was a supply chain issue: a strong, healthy body provided sufficient energy for the mind.

Closing his eyes, he retracted his aura. Even a powerful martial artist nearby would find it difficult to detect the blood energy or Yuan Qi emanating from him. His body was now "sealed," preventing the dissipation of his essence and spirit. This profound state delighted Baili Feihong. Coming to Feiyuan Island was the right move; being overseas, he could cast aside all restraints, unleash his power, and farm skill points. He could never have progressed this fast through experience alone.

The Skill Book had two cheats: Experience Proficiency and Skill Points. Using Skill Points was truly "hacking." Experience Proficiency locked in the fruits of his labor, ensuring his efforts were rewarded. These were two paths. If he chose Experience Proficiency as his main route, he would have to hide, be patient, and dedicate every ounce of energy to cultivation. If he chose the Skill Point route, he had to strive to earn points by slaying demons and evil. If one day he grew weary of slaughter, he could switch to the former. But for now, surrounded by enemies, he had to consider how to survive and transcend.

Driving Baili Feihong’s carriage was Ma Baichuan, whose father had been a member of the Division, dying under the claws of a demon. At thirty, Ma Baichuan had opened a martial arts school in the city, but when the Division reopened, he had joined. He was now a trainee, a martial artist with seven blood-refining cycles. Having started practicing the Blood Yuan Technique, he would soon convert his blood energy into Blood Yuan and truly enter the Blood Refining Realm.

The carriage sped on. Ma Baichuan’s expression grew increasingly uneasy. He knew the Overseer was cultivating and dared not disturb him. They had been on the road back to the Division headquarters for an hour, but the scenery on both sides had become increasingly eerie. He no longer recognized the familiar path.

"Sir," Ma Baichuan whispered, knowing he hadn't taken a wrong turn, yet feeling certain this road did not belong on Feiyuan Island. "We have taken the wrong path." He had broken his silence and disturbed the Overseer.

"We have not taken the wrong path. You are merely being deceived by an illusion, and have brought me to the Western Island," the young Overseer’s voice came from the carriage, carrying a magical quality that soothed his anxious heart.

"Sir, what should we do now?" Ma Baichuan asked.

"Keep going. Do not let our hosts be disappointed," Baili Feihong said calmly.

"Understood, sir." Ma Baichuan whipped the horses, urging them to accelerate. The horses purchased by the Division had the bloodline of beasts but no demonic aura. Each one was worth a thousand gold pieces—expensive, but incredibly fast, capable of traveling a thousand miles a day without tiring. Ma Baichuan followed the road deeper into the Western Island.

Finally, a tree over a hundred feet tall came into view. Only then did Ma Baichuan believe he had entered the most dangerous region of Feiyuan Island. While the Northern Island had been explored by many pioneers due to its mineral resources, the vast Western Island remained less than ten percent explored. Everyone knew the landmark of the Eastern Island was the Feiyuan Chamber of Commerce building—which had been sliced in half by the very man in the carriage behind him. The landmark of the Western Island was this tree, the "Feiyuan Sealing Pagoda Tree."

A hundred-foot-tall giant tree, shaped like a mountain-like pagoda, stood in the center of the Western Island. No resident dared approach it. Powerful martial artists who had ventured into this area had all gone missing. In everyone’s eyes, those who sought the Pagoda Tree were as good as dead. And the road they were on seemed to be constantly approaching it.

In the past, Ma Baichuan would have been terrified. But now, with the Overseer protecting him, he felt his safety was assured. As for whether there were still demons on the Western Island, he couldn't guarantee, but it seemed the Overseer’s previous sweep of blood energy had cleansed the entire island of filth. The horses grew more excited, running faster and faster. Ma Baichuan found it hard to slow them down, as if something ahead was beckoning them, filling them with vitality.

"Which blind demon has offended the Overseer? Are they tired of living?" Ma Baichuan wondered. The Overseer hadn't been on the island for long, but his reputation was fierce—far more so than Governor Yan’s. It was a reputation carved out in blood. Gradually, the residents of Feiyuan Island had accepted the current Overseer. Even if they didn't, they had no choice; he was simply too powerful. "Father, if you were still here to see the Suppression Demon Division now, you would surely be proud." His father had died too soon, and too humiliatingly.

"As expected of someone on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Audacious—knowing he’s been caught in our illusion, he still dares to come," said a handsome man in white, holding a fan. He was brimming with smiles, watching the road ahead. The fan flickered in his hand, causing streams of light to vanish and distorting the surrounding environment into a wide, clear path.

"Baili Feihong... the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers Town once mentioned that his blood energy is like the sun. Under his 'Blood Suppresses Mountains and Rivers' ability, everyone in Hundred Flowers Town was directly purified. To achieve such an effect, his ability must have reached the second stage. Not to be underestimated." A figure in black robes, blending into the shadows of the trees like a phantom that didn't exist in the human world, spoke up.

"Senior Brother, 'Blood Suppresses Mountains and Rivers' might work against martial artists below the supernatural realm, but against a fellow expert ranked sixth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking like you, no matter how talented Baili Feihong is, he will die today," Shi Jingxuan said with a ferocious grin, his killing intent surging. He had spent a great price to move his sect’s senior brother to hunt Baili Feihong. He himself was ranked one-hundredth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking—at the very bottom. His cultivation had reached the late stage of the Supernatural Realm. He was already over forty-eight; if he didn't break through to the Dharma Image Realm by fifty, his martial luck on the ranking would dissipate. The ranking was a double-edged sword: it granted great cultivation speed, but if one failed to break through by fifty, they would be trapped at the Supernatural level forever.

Shi Jingxuan knew that with his resources, he could reach the Dharma Image Realm in two years, but his chances of ever reaching the Martial Saint level were slim. If he could reach the top ten of the ranking, he would gain more martial luck, and with the backing of the Flower Pavilion, his chances of reaching the Martial Saint level would be at least twenty or thirty percent.

Xue Ming did not speak. The Dharma Image elders of the Flower Pavilion had promised him that if he helped Shi Jingxuan kill Baili Feihong, he would get what he wanted. He was already ranked sixth. Even then, he only had a fifty percent chance of becoming a Martial Saint. But without massive resources, what was the point of being top of the ranking? The Dharma Image realm was a bottleneck that trapped all supernatural masters in the world.

"Junior Brother Shi, do not interfere. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee your safety during the battle," Xue Ming said coldly.

"Senior Brother, I leave it to you."