Chapter 301 - 188: True Essence Technique

Chapter 301: Chapter 188: True Essence Technique

Although the Nine Dragon True Flame Array separated them, Su Mu knew in his heart that it couldn’t stop a Tier Four Demon.

The Tier Four Demon didn’t attack. Perhaps, just as Shi Ziran had said, it had no killing intent.

"Don’t make any sudden moves. If we try to run now, we might provoke it."

Shi Ziran said in a low voice, "If the enemy doesn’t move, we don’t move."

Xu Chongyuan, Zhong Guizheng, and the others all turned to look at Su Mu.

Su Mu nodded.

This time, the Taiping Captains truly halted, no longer pressing forward.

But they didn’t lower their long sabers, instead staring warily at the Tier Four Demon.

The Tier Four Demon simply stared intently at Su Mu, completely motionless.

Just as the sky began to brighten, the Tier Four Demon suddenly moved.

However, it didn’t move forward. Instead, it turned and left, disappearing into the mountain forest in the blink of an eye after a few nimble leaps.

Several dozen breaths passed before they could be certain the Tier Four Demon was truly gone.

THUD.

THUD.

Xu Chongyuan, Zhong Guizheng, and the others’ legs gave out, and they all collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

Although they hadn’t actually fought the Tier Four Demon, the pressure from the all-night standoff had been immense.

They now felt more exhausted than if they had battled all night, completely drained of strength.

Su Mu also let out a long sigh of relief.

He hadn’t been the least bit confident he could handle a Tier Four Demon.

If the creature had actually attacked, Su Mu’s only choice would have been to activate the Nine Dragon True Flame Array and use the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow to hold it back while they tried to escape with their lives.

Thankfully, Shi Ziran hadn’t misjudged. This Tier Four Demon truly had no killing intent.

He didn’t know why, but since the creature hadn’t attacked, Su Mu certainly wasn’t going to provoke it.

"Should I call you Shi Ziran, or Shi Zizai?"

Su Mu slowly turned to look at Shi Ziran, who was lying on the ground with barely a single patch of intact skin on his body. His eyelids twitched as he spoke slowly.

Shi Ziran’s current state was horrifying, as if he had suffered death by a thousand cuts.

It was only thanks to his high cultivation and the fact that his wounds had been treated that he hadn’t already died.

’Those demons are too twisted,’ Su Mu thought. ’Did they slice off and eat his flesh raw?’

"You should just call me Shi Ziran. Shi Zizai is already dead," Shi Ziran said with a bitter smile.

"Thank you for saving my life."

"You’re thanking me too soon."

Su Mu shook his head, his voice calm. "With injuries like yours, I’m not confident I can get you out of Daxing Mountain."

"Those demons have healing elixirs on them. If you’ll trouble yourself to lend me a few pellets, I’m not dead yet," Shi Ziran said, struggling to sit up.

Hearing this, the men looked at each other in confusion.

Su Mu’s expression was odd. ’Why does that sound so strange?’

’Demons know alchemy, too?’

"I know you’re surprised, but the demons of the Demon Court are not so different from humans anymore," Shi Ziran sighed, explaining slowly. "Not only have they learned human languages, but they are also studying human Martial Arts. They’re even learning about weapons and elixirs."

"Are you sure?" Su Mu asked, his expression grave.

’Demons are already terrifying. Demons that know how to learn are ten thousand times more so!’

"I saw it with my own eyes," Shi Ziran said. "However, demons are hot-tempered and not particularly bright. Even with the Master of the Demon Court keeping them in line, not many can master anything of note.

Aside from human languages, they don’t learn other things so easily.

The elixirs and weapons in the Demon Court’s possession all came from trade with the Pure Land Sect."

"The Pure Land Sect?" Su Mu frowned.

"The Pure Land Sect was founded by traitors from our sect. Back then, they wanted to use the demons’ power to attack Da Xuan. The Sect Leader felt it was like asking a tiger for its skin and refused.

So those traitors betrayed the Sect Leader, leading to his death.

Now they’ve established the Pure Land Sect and are colluding with the Demon Court," Shi Ziran said.

"Those bastards! Colluding with the Demon Court... they deserve to die!" Xu Chongyuan cursed.

The other Taiping Captains were also filled with rage, looking as if they wanted to go and slaughter the entire Pure Land Sect right then and there.

"Your capture by the demons... was it related to the Pure Land Sect?" Su Mu asked grimly.

"Yes," Shi Ziran admitted frankly. "The Pure Land Sect sent people to form an alliance with the Demon Court. I wanted to take the opportunity to avenge the Sect Leader, but my skills were not enough."

He didn’t elaborate on the details, but everyone could tell the process must have been fraught with danger.

Judging by Shi Ziran’s current state, his revenge had obviously failed.

If he hadn’t been lucky enough to run into Su Mu’s group, he would have eventually died at the hands of the demons, and in an extremely humiliating way.

Xu Chongyuan and the others, having regained some strength, ran over to the corpse of the demon, Lord Hu. After a bit of searching, they actually found several porcelain vials.

They handed the vials to Su Mu.

Su Mu, in turn, passed them to Shi Ziran.

"What’s this?" Suddenly, Xu Chongyuan pulled a yellowed sheepskin scroll from the demon’s corpse.

Shi Ziran had just popped an elixir into his mouth. Hearing Xu Chongyuan, he looked over and said flatly, "A True Essence Technique.

It was a True Essence Technique gifted by the Demon Court’s National Preceptor to the Sect Leader of the Pure Land Sect. I snatched it from one of their members. Later, when these demons captured me, they found it on my person."

"A True Essence Technique?"

The eyes of Xu Chongyuan and the others lit up.

’This is an incredible find!’

They were all at the Rebirth Realm; a True Essence Technique was exactly what they needed.

Although the Taiping Bureau had True Essence Techniques they could learn, they all required merit points to redeem.

Now a True Essence Technique had fallen right into their laps. If it wasn’t worse than the ones at the Taiping Bureau, they could absolutely cultivate it.

To look at it another way, even if they didn’t cultivate it themselves, bringing back a True Essence Technique would still earn them a massive amount of merit.

A True Essence Technique, even the most common one, was of immeasurable value. ℴ

"The Golden Lotus True Essence Method. This also once belonged to our Fragrance Sect. I don’t know where the Demon Court’s National Preceptor got it, but to think he’d give it to the traitors of the Fragrance Sect... how could I let them have their way?"

Shi Ziran snorted coldly. "This Golden Lotus True Essence Method, while not among the strongest in the world, is still a superior technique. In your Taiping Bureau, there are likely few that are better."

As someone who had been through it, he naturally knew how tempting a True Essence Technique was to a Rebirth Realm Martial Artist.

Xu Chongyuan’s face was full of anticipation, but he didn’t unroll the sheepskin. Instead, he looked at Su Mu and offered it to him.

Su Mu had killed those demons, so the Golden Lotus True Essence Method should rightfully be his spoil of war.

"We are a team. We killed the demons together."

Su Mu didn’t reach for it, saying calmly, "Each of you make a copy. When we get back, we’ll turn it in to the Bureau."

Xu Chongyuan and the others’ faces lit up with surprise. They subconsciously wanted to refuse, but the words wouldn’t come out.

’This is a True Essence Technique!’

’How rare is a superior True Essence Technique?’

If they wanted to redeem one from the Bureau, they would have to save up merit for several years at least.

"Junior Brother Su, you’re a stand-up guy."

After a long pause, Xu Chongyuan managed to squeeze out a few words.

He was completely won over now. No wonder Junior Brother Su had such strength; just look at his generosity, his spirit.

"There’s no problem with them cultivating the Golden Lotus True Essence Method," Shi Ziran suddenly spoke up. "But I suggest you don’t."

He looked at Su Mu, his gaze complicated.

He didn’t mention that Su Mu cultivated the Four Symbols Rebirth Technique and had mastered four types of intent.

He decided to bury these matters in his heart. If Su Mu didn’t say anything himself, he would absolutely never tell anyone.

Such a world-shattering matter... if too many people knew, it wouldn’t necessarily be a good thing for Su Mu.

Shi Ziran had weathered many storms; he naturally understood the importance of keeping a secret.

"The Golden Lotus True Essence Method isn’t suitable for you. You cultivate the Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique and..."

Shi Ziran paused, then said, "I know of a True Essence Technique that would suit you best. But it’s currently in the hands of the Pure Land Sect. I wonder... would you dare to go and seize it?"