Chapter 119: The Star-Sucking Great Skill!

The Hunyuan Bead shattered completely!

The nine hundred and ninety-nine strands of Hunyuan Gang Qi contained within it instantly flooded into all three hundred and sixty-five acupoints throughout Qi Xiu’s body.

Such an action was nearly equivalent to the dissipation of one's cultivation. If he could not re-converge this Hunyuan Gang Qi, Qi Xiu would fall directly from the Dao-Entering Realm and revert into an ordinary mortal.

Sensing all the changes within his body, Qi Xiu’s expression remained calm.

The secret essence of the Hunyuan Dragon-Tiger True Scripture had reached 100% of the first stage. This secret essence, which he had created himself, was like a seed that had now taken root and sprouted.

A tsunami of realizations and experiences surged through his mind like a raging sea. Silently digesting this hundreds-fold increase in insight and knowledge, Qi Xiu gradually drifted into a state of "self-forgetfulness."

He rested his hands upon his knees. With every inhalation and exhalation, his chest rose and fell. A dragon coiled and a tiger crouched, Yin and Yang intermingling.

Gradually, two streams of Qi—Yin and Yang—began to swirl around Qi Xiu. Without the Hunyuan Bead to act as the central mediator, the "Hunyuan" (Primeval Unity) split once more into Yin and Yang. The two streams of Qi vied for dominance. Qi Xiu’s face turned half-black and half-white, the left and right sides distinct, looking eerie and grim, daring no one to meet his gaze.

"Pure Yang is the Sun, Yin is the Moon; the gathering and dispersing of forms creates the Stars..."

Suddenly uttering a cryptic mantra, Qi Xiu slowly opened his eyes.

A terrifying suction force erupted violently from his heart center, as if a black hole had been stuffed into his chest. Under the influence of this unparalleled suction, the Hunyuan Gang Qi that had scattered throughout his acupoints was gathered back together in one fell swoop.

The Hunyuan Bead, unscathed, condensed once again!

"All things of Hunyuan disperse into stars, in the deep valleys of the abyss hides the True Spirit! The wonder of this Hunyuan Bead is finally complete."

Looking at the Hunyuan Bead restored within his heart center, Qi Xiu moved his mind, and the bead dispersed once more into countless strands of Hunyuan Gang Qi, stored away within his acupoints.

"With the Hunyuan Gang Qi stored within the acupoints, I can extract it directly from them when needed. It is much faster and more efficient than having to mobilize it from the Hunyuan Bead as before. Hmm? Someone is coming?"

Just as he was comprehending the various mysteries of the Hunyuan Dragon-Tiger True Scripture after its promotion to the second stage, Qi Xiu suddenly sensed a chilling murderous intent rolling toward him, like a monstrous tide sweeping across a ten-thousand-mile river.

Clang—

He flicked his hand, and an invisible, body-piercing sword aura shot out, clashing violently with a steel fork shimmering with murky green flames. The deafening explosion shook the void, scattering sparks like fireworks.

"Such immense demonic aura."

Rising indifferently, Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes, a hint of purple dancing in his pupils. Utilizing the vitality of the Purple Tiger, his vision instantly skyrocketed.

A hundred miles away, twelve surging, terrifying yellow tides roared. The turbid water crashed madly against everything in its path. The currents were rapid and turbulent, tearing rocks, trees, and earth apart with immense destructive force. The once quiet and beautiful scenery of the forest had become desolate and harrowing. Thick trees were swept away by the torrent, leaving deep, gaping fissures in the ground.

Atop these twelve murky yellow tides stood twelve ugly, burly figures, their demonic aura reaching the heavens. Each held a steel fork, except for the one on the far left, who had empty hands. The fork that had just ambushed Qi Xiu must have been thrown by him!

The massive demonic aura pressed down upon him. Qi Xiu stood tall and straight, his robes snapping in the wind, his eyes like torches fixed on the murky yellow waves that seemed intent on destroying the world.

"You beast-like human, how dare you! You have killed the Prince of the Dragon Palace. We act under the orders of the Dragon King to capture you and bring you back to the Dragon Palace for punishment. Where is the Prince's remains? Hand them over, lest you suffer!"

Standing atop a wave crest and arriving above the ruined village, the Water-Patrolling Yaksha lowered his eyes to look at the dragon-patterned compass in his hand. Confirming that the person in front of him was indeed the white-robed scholar, he sneered and shouted sharply.

"You mean that dragon-descended demon?"

Looking at the aquatic demons riding the waves, a flash of understanding dawned in Qi Xiu’s eyes. That Long Tengzi was the adopted son of the Linshui Flood Dragon King. It seemed that the fake dragon had learned of his godson's demise and had dispatched these aquatic demons to seek revenge.

"You want the remains? I'm afraid I can't help you." Qi Xiu pointed to his own mouth and smiled faintly. "I've already eaten them."

"Eaten them?" The Water-Patrolling Yaksha bulged his fist-sized fish eyes, his voice shrill and his expression malevolent. "Then we shall cut open your belly! Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, go! Cut his stomach open for me!"

"Understood!"

*Boom!*

A Water-Patrolling Yaksha leaped off the wave, the ground shaking and mud splashing!

*Thud, thud, thud, thud—*

The sound of massive boulders landing echoed continuously! A total of five Water-Patrolling Yakshas stood before Qi Xiu.

The atmosphere was grim and eerie. The heavy demonic aura stirred up a cold mist, and the surroundings whistled. Even though it was nearly summer, the entire abandoned village felt as though it had entered the depths of winter, with a layer of white frost coating the walls.

"How wonderful. I just had a realization and was worried I had nowhere to test it. You gentlemen are willing to offer your lives to accompany me. Truly, this is a great kindness."

Watching the five Water-Patrolling Yakshas walking toward him, a flash of noble purple light flickered in Qi Xiu’s pupils.

*Art of Qi Observation!*

In the next instant, within Qi Xiu’s field of vision, massive clouds of black and red smoke rose behind the five Yakshas. These clouds twisted and writhed, forming the shapes of countless miserable humans they had devoured. Their bodies were shattered and incomplete, their expressions filled with despair and agony. And there, too, were the blood-soaked tiger-head shoes.

A rough count revealed nearly ten thousand!

Looking at the figures fluttering in the smoke, Qi Xiu’s gaze grew colder. These were once living, breathing people!

Watching the Water-Patrolling Yakshas press closer, their murky, heavy demonic aura thinning the very air, Qi Xiu clenched his fists and let out a cold laugh.

"I don't know why, but today, I suddenly feel like being reckless."

As the words fell, just as the five Yakshas were about to raise their hands, Qi Xiu took a heavy, thunderous step forward!

*Boom—*

The ground sank, and massive spiderweb-like cracks spread in every direction. The solid, thick earth acted like water, heaving up waves of soil, while tiles on the surrounding houses clattered down.

"Careful! This brat is a martial arts practitioner!"

With a low shout, the five Yakshas pushed their demonic miasma to the limit. The flames on their steel forks blazed, and their eyes darted around, searching for Qi Xiu’s movements.

Since ascending to the Dao-Entering Realm, Qi Xiu had rarely engaged in close-quarters combat. Talismans, sword auras, evasion arts, and Dharma artifacts—these safe and formidable means were enough for him to kill enemies with a flick of his wrist. But that was merely his tendency. In reality, having once withstood the "Heavenly Jealousy" level of the Heavenly Gang Qi tribulation, his physical body far surpassed that of many martial artists from great sects.

The Pure Yang Purple Tiger lay coiled in his Dantian, its thick, continuous purple-fire aura tempering his body at every moment, like a piece of precious iron forged a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand times!

And today, he, who was always cautious and calm, would indulge in some recklessness!

His figure exploded through the void at high speed, creating a red tail of flame as he streaked through the air like a falling meteor.

"Work together to capture him! It's best to take him alive; we must force the location of the Prince's remains out of him!"

*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Moving simultaneously, the five Yakshas turned into pitch-black phantoms. The earth and stone exploded as they launched themselves like artillery shells toward the red figure.

Collision! Engagement!

One against five, Qi Xiu’s fists, elbows, knees, and feet moved with fluid agility; the memory of his past techniques surfaced in his mind. Although his promotion to the Dao-Entering Realm had merged all his previous martial intent into one furnace, those techniques had not vanished; they remained within his mind.

Fighting fiercely, Qi Xiu’s eyes glowed with brilliance. Every strike was like a divine intervention. Facing the siege of the five Yakshas, he did not fall behind at all; instead, he countered frequently, shaking the Yakshas' demonic miasma to its core.

"What is going on? How are this guy's strikes so heavy? My demonic miasma is about to be shattered!"

The miasma shuddered incessantly under Qi Xiu’s powerful palm strike, ripples spreading endlessly. The Yaksha’s eyes were filled with horror. Is this guy even human? One against five, and he’s only getting more ferocious!

"Don't trade blows directly! This brat must be an heir to a great sect—his physical body is peerless! Surround him and wear down his protective True Gang. Once his True Gang is broken, he will have no strength to fight back."

"Agreed!"

With a unified shout, the five Yakshas instantly widened the distance between themselves and Qi Xiu, raising their flaming steel forks high and pouring their demonic power into them. The five sharp prongs of each fork instantly transformed into five fire-breathing snake heads.

*Boom—*

With a piercing shriek, five highly condensed, rainbow-like pillars of fire lunged at Qi Xiu, unleashing terrifying light and heat, intent on roasting him alive!

*Crack, crack, crack—*

The ground could not withstand such high temperatures; it cracked and melted into black-red magma. The protective True Gang, swirling with color, was swallowed by the towering flames. Such terrifying, extreme firelight! Even a Dao-Entering cultivator who had achieved the "Three Flowers Gather at the Crown" would struggle to hold out for long.

"He's dead for sure!" A cruel expression appeared on the Yaksha's face, reflecting the crimson fire.

But just as these aquatic demons were certain that Qi Xiu would be buried in the sea of fire, a calm voice suddenly drifted out from the flames.

"Is that so?"

A hand, black as ink, pierced through the sea of fire like lightning, clamping onto a Yaksha’s protective miasma. A void-like black hole in his palm suddenly released a terrifying suction force.

*Art of Star Absorption!*

"What! Impossible..."

The infinite suction force greedily devoured the Yaksha’s protective miasma like a whale swallowing water, turning the defensive barrier into something as thin as paper in a single breath.

*Pop—*

The fragile miasma was breached. Before the Yaksha could react, the large hand had clamped onto his face.

"No..."

*Art of Star Absorption!*

The massive, mountain-like Yaksha was instantly sucked dry into a thin, withered skin.

"Phew... This is much more satisfying than sitting in meditation."

Exhaling a puff of white mist, Qi Xiu clasped one hand behind his back, his eyes cold as he glanced at the other four shocked Yakshas.

The Art of Star Absorption—the wonder contained within the Hunyuan Bead. This wonder originally had no name, but because the bead condensed from the secret essence of the Hunyuan Dragon-Tiger True Scripture, it was unique in the world. The right to name it naturally fell to Qi Xiu.

The Purple Tiger was Pure Yang, the Sun. The Black Flood Dragon was Taiyin, the Moon. Hunyuan at the center was the Stars. Sun, Moon, and Stars. "Art of Star Absorption" was both natural and fitting.

The Art of Star Absorption was born when the Hunyuan Dragon-Tiger True Scripture entered its first stage. The Hunyuan Bead was born from the collision and mutual interaction of Yin and Yang, so its wonder was that great Yin-Yang vortex, capable of absorbing any power, matter, or even non-matter it touched without restraint.

However, when the scripture was at the first stage, the Art of Star Absorption was incomplete. Although it could absorb the power of others, the capacity of the Hunyuan Bead was limited. Once it exceeded that capacity, he would have to use an extremely painful and complex method to dissipate the excess Hunyuan Gang Qi, or risk shattering the bead and damaging his foundation!

It was not until the Hunyuan Dragon-Tiger True Scripture broke through to the second stage that Qi Xiu grasped the concept of "All things of Hunyuan disperse into stars," using his three hundred and sixty-five acupoints as gas chambers, while the Hunyuan Bead maintained a state of "always like an empty abyss, constantly like a deep valley."

In this way, he no longer had to worry about being blown apart by too much Gang Qi, because his three hundred and sixty-five acupoints were now three hundred and sixty-five Hunyuan Beads. And every single Hunyuan Bead could trigger the wonder of the Art of Star Absorption!

If Qi Xiu could truly cultivate three hundred and sixty-five Hunyuan Beads, then once that three-hundred-and-sixty-five-fold Art of Star Absorption was activated, even a peak Dao-Entering cultivator who had achieved the "Three Flowers Gather at the Crown" would be sucked dry in an instant!

Witnessing their brother sucked into a skin by a mere wave of Qi Xiu’s hand, the remaining four Yakshas were terrified and enraged, pointing at Qi Xiu and cursing:

"You demon! How cruel your heart is! Return our brother's life!"

Hearing their curses, Qi Xiu looked up and laughed, the sound shaking the surroundings and kicking up rolling dust: "So, you demons can feel sorrow too? When you ate my kin, did you ever think about how cruel you were? You miss your brother, do you? I'll send you to find him right now!"

Taking a step forward, Qi Xiu’s robes snapped, his wide sleeves like obscuring clouds, ruthlessly enveloping one of the Yakshas.

Having seen Qi Xiu turn his brother into a husk, the targeted Yaksha turned pale with terror, his soul nearly fleeing his body. Seeing the descending black hand, he dared not touch it and hurriedly raised his flaming steel fork to block!

*Sshhh—*

Grabbing the artifact, Qi Xiu activated the Art of Star Absorption. In an instant, the steel fork hissed and emitted thick black smoke. The power contained within it was sucked away like clouds scattered by a gale, and the once-sharp fork rusted and darkened at a speed visible to the naked eye.

With a phantom-like shriek, the standard-issue flaming steel fork crumbled into a pile of powder. Watching his prized artifact turn to dust, the Yaksha felt a sharp pain in his heart. But when he looked up, he met Qi Xiu’s cold gaze.

"Run!"

Having never seen such a terrifying opponent, the Yakshas screamed and channeled all their demonic power into their yellow waves, fleeing frantically toward their elder brother.

"Big brother, save me!" The Yakshas shrieked in panic.

"Thinking of running now? It's too late! All of you, stay here!"

Transforming into a thin line of water, with his Gang Qi replenished by the Art of Star Absorption, Qi Xiu’s reserves were overflowing, allowing him to unleash the full power of the "Small Five-Elements Water-Patrolling Evasion Light."

In an instant, he caught up to one of the Yakshas, and under the creature's horrified and desperate gaze, he clamped his palm down.

The Yaksha standing on the billowing yellow waves, hearing the cries for help, turned pale and hurriedly rushed forward—only to see Qi Xiu slowly turn around.

The Yaksha in his hand was turning into a withered skin at a speed visible to the naked eye...

(End of Chapter)