Chapter 187: White Bone Demon Body: Acquiring the Yin Fire Sha

Chapter 187 White Bone Demon Body: Acquiring the Yin Fire Sha

The Qingxiao Sect was gone.

The event had unfolded so suddenly that no one was prepared.

Logically, as one of Hezhou’s Three Great Sects, it should have endured for millennia. Yet when Xiao Chen followed the fleeing crowds to the outskirts of Qingxiao Mountain, the sight before him was apocalyptic.

Jagged cliffs towered skyward, the terrain split open as if torn apart. Waterways had dried up, their currents now suspended in the air, creating a dizzying, surreal spectacle.

A torrent of pitch-black demonic qi surged heavenward, transforming a ninety-nine-mile radius into a Demon Domain devoid of any spiritual energy. The surrounding two to three hundred miles saw spiritual energy concentrations plummeting, their levels still slowly dropping. If unchecked, this land would eventually become a barren wasteland.

“This…”

Xiao Chen felt a pang of shock. He had come to Hezhou but hadn’t even begun interacting with the Qingxiao Sect yet. He hadn’t met Shao Mingyou, the sect’s chief disciple with a heavenly spirit root and widely regarded as a Golden Core prodigy. He hadn’t seen Qingxiaozi, the elder famed for cultivating the Wood Dao Golden Core Formation, nor the other two Golden Core Zhenren. Even the Qingxiao Waterfall, whose illustration he’d once glimpsed in the Hezhou Travel Notes, had vanished into legend.

The scene before him was undeniably real.

It was clear—the Qingxiao Sect had become history.

“So it goes. Prodigies are nothing if they don’t survive to bloom.”

Xiao Chen muttered this to himself, a reminder to stay humble.

Until now, nearly everyone in Hezhou had believed Shao Mingyou would surely form a Golden Core and inherit Qingxiaozi’s legacy. Who could have predicted such a catastrophe?

Likewise, though Xiao Chen possessed hextech reinforcements and the potential to ascend to immortality, he still needed to tread carefully until that day came.

For now, he had to uncover what had happened to Qingxiao Mountain. Who—or what force—had obliterated the Qingxiao Sect with such ruthless efficiency?

White Bone Gate likely lacked this capability. Xiao Chen worried that a new faction might have intervened, but he couldn’t identify which one. Until he learned the truth, rushing in to hunt malevolent qi would only waste his Night’s Blade.

Using the Seal Acupoint and Conceal Breath Technique to mask his aura, he positioned himself on a small hill over twenty-five kilometers away. He found a crevice between rocks to hide and began observing from afar.

Whatever had occurred here, others would surely come to investigate.

Sure enough, soon a group of sword-riding cultivators arrived, speeding into the Demon Domain without hesitation. They plunged directly into the newly formed Qingxiao Valley, where the mountain had split open.

Shortly after, clusters of cultivation cultivators appeared, each wearing a simple storage bag and carrying oversized sacks on their backs, ferrying supplies into the valley. Their attire marked them unmistakably as demonic cultivators from the White Bone Gate.

This puzzled Xiao Chen.

Was this White Bone Gate’s doing? It seemed unlikely.

Everyone knew the White Bone Gate lacked Golden Core experts. How could they possibly eliminate the Qingxiao Sect’s three Golden Core Zhenren?

White Bone Giants were formidable, but only against Foundation Building cultivators. Against Golden Core Zhenren, they were little more than oversized toys.

The situation remained murky. Xiao Chen resolved to stay hidden, patiently waiting.

Two days later, two streaks of blinding light tore across the sky. They circled Qingxiao Valley, clearly probing its depths.

It was Qianzhu Zhenren and Mingyue Zhenren.

After Mingyue Zhenren ascended to Golden Core, the two had secretly agreed to aid the Spirit Origin Sect against the Divine Flame Cult, swayed by Yao Hua Zhenren’s persuasion. Unlike other Zhenren, they had no estates or sects to protect.

By setting up a formation in Qianzhu Bazaar to intercept bandit cultivators, they could act freely as hidden or surprise forces.

Unfortunately, the Yellow Spring Palace crisis erupted suddenly, catching the Orthodox Dao side unprepared.

Their original plan had been to open an escape route for trapped Foundation Building cultivators. But the Forbidden Realm’s sealing formation collapsed entirely, and the Demonic Dao Golden Core experts, led by Niejing Zhenren, had unleashed their full strength without hesitation.

Caught off guard by the Divine Flame Cult’s ambush, Qianzhu Zhenren and Mingyue Zhenren never even got to fight, forced instead to reinforce Xunmei Mountain and Luoyan Mountain.

Worse still, those two mountains fell as well.

The Spirit Origin Sect lost another critical defensive barrier.

If things had ended there, it would have been a localized defeat. With time to recover, the Golden Core Zhenren could heal and maintain the stalemate.

In this crisis, the Spirit Origin Sect even considered reaching out to the Qingxiao Sect.

Better to concede some interests and enlist Qingxiao Sect’s Golden Core Zhenren to counter the Divine Flame Cult. If successful, they might reclaim Xunmei Mountain and Luoyan Mountain.

But events spiraled beyond expectations.

Almost simultaneously with the Yellow Spring Palace disaster, the Qingxiao Sect was annihilated overnight.

The news stunned the Spirit Origin Sect.

After all, Wan Hua Valley’s current generation was already weak, with only two Golden Core cultivators. The Spirit Origin Sect’s recent losses had left Hezhou’s power weaker than even Li Zhou’s.

Not that Li Zhou fared better.

After Jin Jian Zhenren retreated from Yellow Spring Palace to Li Zhou, Mingyan Zhenren was forced to return to Lihuo Sect to hold the line.

The entire situation teetered on the brink.

At this critical juncture, the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion’s Gongliang Master proposed: “Regardless of everything, we must first uncover the truth behind Qingxiao Sect’s destruction.”

“Understanding the situation will help us prepare and avoid further losses.”

“Secondly, if we confirm it was a demonic sect’s doing, we might even persuade Golden Cudgel Fellow Cultivator and Bright Flame Fellow Cultivator to return.”

Many had already lost faith in Jin Jian Zhenren but held their tongues for the greater good.

Lei Yin Zhenren wanted nothing more than to sever ties with Cangyan Sect. Yet with so few allies left, he could only pretend indifference.

After deliberation, they chose Qianzhu Zhenren, a neutral party, to lead the investigation. His impartiality would also help convince Jin Jian Zhenren.

Despite the manpower shortage, Mingyue Zhenren was assigned to accompany him for safety.

---

Deep within Qingxiao Valley, in an expansive underground cavern, the White Bone Gate Sect Leader Gu Weiyuan sat atop a massive altar.

Beneath him lay a sea of white bones, while droplets of Vital Blood floated around him like fireflies. With each breath, the cavern’s dense demonic qi surged in rhythm, as if the entire space had become an extension of his body.

“Hahahaha! What boundless power!”

Gu Weiyuan laughed wildly, reveling in his newfound might. “I’ve finally pierced the veil of secrets. Now I possess true greatness!”

His chilling laughter echoed through the cavern, sending shivers down the spines of White Bone Gate disciples outside, their hairs standing on end.

“Elder, what exactly is happening inside?”

A Great Perfection disciple asked after dumping a crate of bloodstained bones, curiosity getting the better of him.

Though the cave entrance was pitch-black, he felt an inexplicable chill, as if his very bones had grown damp.

“Mind your own damn business! Work, and stop asking questions!”

The elder snapped, though he himself had no answers.

No one understood why the Sect Leader forbade entry.

Yet all obeyed, directing disciples to feed crate after crate of spiritual materials into the cavern.

Soon, the eerie, sinister aura within intensified, thickening like a living fog.

The demonic qi shielded the interior completely.

Mingyue Zhenren and Qianzhu Zhenren’s spiritual senses could only vaguely detect cultivators moving at the valley’s mouth, blind to what lay deeper within.

“Senior Sect Brother, cover me while I infiltrate the valley,” Mingyue Zhenren urged.

“No! It’s too dangerous!”

Qianzhu Zhenren refused outright. “The Qingxiao Sect’s Golden Core cultivators are missing, likely already fallen.”

“Do you think you have more lives than them?”

Mingyue Zhenren frowned. “But the demonic qi shrouds the valley. How else can we investigate?”

Qianzhu Zhenren countered, “Our mission is to gather intelligence. We’ve already confirmed White Bone Gate’s involvement.”

“As for the fog’s secrets, we’ll find other ways back home.”

“The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion can divine the truth once we provide clues. Let them take the risks, not us.”

In truth, divining with only one clue was extremely difficult.

But Qianzhu Zhenren had no intention of gathering more intelligence.

As he’d warned, the Qingxiao Sect’s Golden Core Zhenren were likely dead. Their own safety was far from guaranteed.

Mingyue Zhenren had two reasons for wanting to contribute more effort: first, he had recently ascended to the Golden Core stage, and second, he harbored deep hatred for demonic cultivators.

He glanced around and proposed, "Senior Sect Brother, I noticed White Bone Gate is transporting Spirit Herbs. What if we intercept their supplies and observe their response? This way, we might deduce their situation from the seized goods or even lure them out."

Qianzhu Zhenren pondered briefly before nodding in agreement. He too was willing to take initiative if it meant minimal risk. However, he emphasized, "Let's intercept their supplies from a safe distance. Remember not to approach within ten kilometers of Qingxiao Mountain."

The two quickly devised their plan and split up, hunting the demonic cultivator squads transporting supplies. Within a short time, they severed all supply lines.

The sudden disruption soon drew attention from within Qingxiao Valley. However, after several Foundation Building demonic cultivators lost their lives and realized two Golden Core experts were lying in wait, the rest retreated into hiding. Many of them carried Holy Pills distributed in advance by Gu Weiyuan, and most were willing to sacrifice their lives for the Holy Sect. Yet facing Golden Core Zhenren with mere white bone giants was simply unrealistic. Even the most fanatical cultists wouldn't throw their lives away recklessly.

When they withdrew, Gu Weiyuan suddenly noticed the Spirit Herb supply had stopped.

"My bones! Where are my bones?!" he roared, sending his eye balls flying out to investigate. Seeing the cultivators cowering in the valley, he raged, "Worthless! All of you are worthless! If you can't even handle such a simple task, what use are you to me?!"

"If there are no bones, then you'll have to do!"

Suddenly, countless hair-thin threads shot from the cave. Each wrapped around a cultivator's neck, dragging them screaming into the cavern. Some struggled desperately, even drawing Flying Swords to resist. But the Foundation Building cultivators around them displayed eerie fanaticism.

They chanted in unison: "Death is not an end, but rebirth! The time to sacrifice for the Holy Sect has come! Do not resist! Do not resist!"

As they repeated these words, they struck down the magic artifacts of resisting cultivators before willingly stepping forward to the cave entrance, offering their necks to the noose.

Many White Bone Gate cultivators at the Cultivation Great Perfection stage finally realized the truth too late. They now understood why every disciple had to undergo "instruction" from the sect leader before reaching Foundation Building. But their awakening came too late to mount any resistance.

Soon, every demonic cultivator in Qingxiao Valley had been dragged into the cave. Their bones were stripped from their bodies, becoming part of the sacrificial altar.

"My bones! Where are my bones?!" Gu Weiyuan raged, his frustration mounting as he searched for fresh bones. "Where can I find white bones? Wait! There must be bones outside!"

He immediately "stood up", moving toward the exit. The massive bone altar suddenly transformed, twelve massive pillars piercing through the cave ceiling as it emerged into Qingxiao Valley.

Despite the thick demonic qi, it instinctively locked onto the three figures outside.

"White bones! Wait, jade bones! That's jade bone!" Gu Weiyuan's gaze swept toward Xiao Chen's hiding spot, but was immediately drawn to the two Golden Core Zhenren.

"Leave the jade bone! It's mine, mine!" he screamed, lunging his skeletal arms toward the two Golden Core experts.

To Gu Weiyuan, his current physical changes felt like normal transformations following Golden Core formation. He felt powerful, invigorated, and craved even greater strength. To achieve this, he needed more bones - better, stronger bones.

But to outsiders, Gu Weiyuan had completely lost his human form. He had become a monstrous altar of bones, supported by twelve pillars, spanning a hundred zhang across. Its surface bristled with countless eyeballs, hairs, and fingers, emitting ear-splitting shrieks that made one's head pound as if their skull would shatter.

"Quick! It's the legendary Demon Body Incarnation! Junior Sect Brother, flee!" Qianzhu Zhenren shouted, hastily fleeing on a beam of light without attempting combat.

Mingyue Zhenren hesitated, puzzled. Judging by the aura alone, this bone altar monster was merely at the early Golden Core stage. Why was Qianzhu Senior Sect Brother so terrified? He didn't act recklessly, suppressing his doubts and following the retreat. Answers would come once they reached safety.

"Demon Body Incarnation?" Xiao Chen heard Qianzhu Zhenren's warning. He recalled reading about it in the Spirit Origin Sect's Scripture Pavilion - records of a similar incident from 214,000 years ago in the Southern Domain. The records emphasized: "No fewer than several Golden Core Da Yu Man cultivators working together could defeat it. Any underestimation of the Demon Body would only increase future difficulties in dealing with it."

It also noted that while the Demon Body Incarnation consumed vast resources to advance, it had no cultivation bottlenecks. With sufficient resources, it could rapidly ascend to the Golden Core Late Stage or even Nascent Soul Stage. The specific resources depended on the Demon Body Incarnation's type.

Xiao Chen observed the exterior. This Demon Body Incarnation clearly required bones.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The altar's weight shook the surrounding mountains with each step. Gu Weiyuan fixated on the fleeing jade bone, chasing relentlessly. But with so many eyeballs, one swept over Xiao Chen's position.

"White bone? No. Golden bone? Also no." Gu Weiyuan didn't stop, but "casually" reached out to snatch this strange bone.

At his thought, countless hair-like threads shot toward Xiao Chen.

Something's wrong! It's coming for me! Xiao Chen realized his exposure. His Seal Acupoint and Conceal Breath Technique, even enhanced by hex magic, couldn't hide him from Golden Core Zhenren, let alone a Demon Body Incarnation.

He barely activated his top-grade magic artifact in resistance before more hairs bound him like a dumpling. Then Night's Blade triggered.

Thankfully, this hex had saved him multiple times.

"Bone? Bone!" Gu Weiyuan felt the white bone disappear, hesitated briefly, then resumed chasing Qianzhu Zhenren and Mingyue Zhenren, driven by instinct.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The massive altar thundered northward. As it departed, the surrounding demonic qi lost containment, rapidly dispersing and clashing with spiritual energy until fading.

A cool breeze revealed Qingxiao Valley - or rather, Qingxiao Gully - with its collapsed cave system. Soon, only Xiao Chen remained within a hundred li radius.

"Ah, this cave must have been Qingxiao Sect's main spirit vein", Xiao Chen mused. Now that the hidden danger had fled, wasn't this place safe? His initial patience had paid off - he'd found the perfect opportunity to scavenge.

Xiao Chen waited another hour. When the demonic qi had fully dissipated and he confirmed no one remained inside, he entered the cave system searching for malevolent qi.

Navigating winding passages for an hour, he descended dozens of li underground. The environment changed completely, unaffected by surface events. Avoiding stalactites, he swam through an underground river to reach deeper chambers.

Inside, the space opened into breathtaking grandeur. Giant stone curtains spanned the walls like skies, stone pillars rose like forests, and the air carried a faint sulfurous scent. The damp chill faded as temperatures rapidly increased, soon rivaling the Yan Chi Secret Realm's interior.

The only strange aspect - or rather, the eerie one - was the complete absence of fiery energy.

When something defies normal patterns, something unnatural lurks.

Xiao Chen immediately activated the Xuantian Consumption Secret Method's detection technique, meticulously searching the area.

Three full days passed in this search. After extensive investigation, he finally found a completely sealed cave at the bottom of the dried-up main spirit vein. Using spiritual sense through the rock wall, he detected a space at least thirty zhang across.

"Three days and nights without sleep - finally found it", Xiao Chen muttered. He first rested against the rock wall for three hours, replenishing his energy. Then he carefully dug a finger-sized hole in the wall.

"Pop!" Like puncturing a balloon, a surge of invisible malevolent qi rushed out. With his secret technique, Xiao Chen saw dark purple flames charging toward his face.

Fierce and surging, the flames shimmered with purple light and searing heat - the legendary Youyan Sha, precisely the Yin Fire Sha he desperately needed.

Xiao Chen quickly activated the Xuantian Consumption Secret Method at full capacity, absorbing all the escaping malevolent qi. The cave must have stored immense quantities, as this process lasted another three days and nights.

Though a cultivator, the prolonged high-intensity technique use exhausted him. Fortunately, those three hours of rest had prevented collapse.

"Finally done!" Xiao Chen exhaled deeply after absorbing all the malevolent qi. Using spiritual sense to examine his dantian, he saw a new Yin Fire Seal had formed, perfectly overlapping with his previous Yang Fire Seal.

Together, they formed an incredibly profound pattern. Just gazing at it, he felt entranced, standing motionless for a long time before snapping back to reality.

"Marvelous! Truly wondrous!" he couldn't help exclaiming. "I wonder what cultivation stage the Xuantian Immortal Palace master who created this secret technique had reached."

Without exaggeration, within that pattern he seemed to glimpse every flame shape he'd ever seen.

"Of course, most importantly, the Yin Fire Sha is now secured."

"As long as I comprehend the Wood Dao, I can attempt to breakthrough to Golden Core!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end