CH 45

Jiang Chao Ge was somewhat surprised, but upon careful thought it was also reasonable. Unless it was something extremely important, why would he shoulder the grim reputation of killing a woman and look for Blood Temple to assassinate Ruan Qian Xiu. No matter how many reasons there were for Ruan Qian Xiu to die, if such news were to spread it’ll influence Qi Ling Feng’s reputation anyway. He quietly waited for Ruan Qian Xiu to continue.

Ruan Qian Xiu said heavily: “I really did intend to steal a Qi Clan cultivation manual at the start. If the cultivation manuals of the four big clans aren’t passed down, they’ll be lost. But that one was one that was not passed to people of a different surname. After Qi Ling Feng brought me back to Qi mansion, he practically didn’t care about me anymore. I learnt martial arts from guests of Qi mansion since childhood. Spiritual cultivation techniques were also learnt here and there and were combined without a system. By the time I wanted to break through the Foot Yang Ming Stomach Meridian and obtain the strength of a level three spirit weapon user, I discovered that I couldn’t accomplish it no matter what. So much so that because I was too irritable and carelessly moved spiritual power, I almost deviated . At that time, I realised I needed an orthodox spiritual cultivation technique, thus I became interested in the idea of Qi Clan techniques. I planned for no less than a year and snuck into the secret room Qi Ling Feng used to house rare treasures passed through family and took a the first Qi Clan cultivation manual.”

Zhi Xuan clutched Jiang Chao Ge’s collar. Their eyes met, seeming to have some sort of premonition.

Ruan Qian Xiu continued: “The first cultivation manual of Qi Clan, was written by the first founder of Qi Clan. That manual could only be read by each successive clan leader. It could only be imparted to the disciples of Qi Clan through mouth and ear. That time I still didn’t know I had taken such an important thing. When I got the first manual, I immediately memorised the techniques. But when I turned to the last part I discovered that other than orthodox cultivation techniques, Qi Clan actually also had unorthodox techniques. That was the cultivation technique of getting past the legendary Eight Extraordinary Meridians.”

Jiang Chao Ge froze and muttered: “Eight Extraordinary Meridians…..” He’d initially heard about the Eight Extraordinary Meridians cultivation path at Old Meng’s place. The reason this cultivation path was called unorthodox was because of one word: demonic. It’s cultivation speed was at least two times faster than the twelve orthodox paths. Additionally, the lower the spiritual power, the faster the improvement. If paired with high level spirit pills, one can reach a cultivation level that takes others several years to reach. Of course, although this kind of demonic path sounds alluring, not many people have dared to try it. Some spirit weapon users’ expressions even change upon hearing about it. That was because the majority of spirit weapon users that walked this demonic path ultimately ended up deviating and dying unnatural deaths. Additionally, walking the demonic path of Eight Extraordinary Meridians, doesn’t even have a proper manual to this day to allow people to safely break through each meridian. The higher the level of spiritual power, the more difficult it is to increase cultivation. In the end, in order to pursue a promotion in levels, many people will take a desperate risk, forcefully breaking through the meridians. There were once many promising spirit weapon user that gradually disappeared because they went on the demonic path of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. From then on, almost no one had dared to try that demonic path.

“You also know that cultivating the path of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, there is not a single ‘complete’ one. Those without knowledge could very possibly deviate while trying to break through the second meridian. Those more advanced could break through the Second Yin Heel Meridian and would practically already reach the strength of a level six, seven spirit weapon user and have little opponents. However, no one has ever broken through Second Yin Heel Meridian. There also isn’t a complete Eight Extraordinary Meridians manual to teach you how to break through the last two meridians and reach the perfection of a level nine spirit weapon user.” Ruan Qian Xiu took a deep breath, “But within this Qi Clan manual, there actually is.”

Jiang Chao Ge’s heart beat extremely fast. No matter how risky it was, extreme power always sounded incomparably alluring to people, particularly this kind that allowed one to cut corners, “You mean, that Qi Clan manual was a complete manual of how to cultivate the Eight Extraordinary Meridians path including how to break through the last two meridians?”

Ruan Qian Xiu nodded: “That’s right. When I discovered this, I realised I’d seen something I shouldn’t have. Although I was also very tempted, I didn’t dare try because I’d heard and seen too many examples of failure and yet not one of success. The reason why Qi Clan could dominate the north and become the most powerful military force of the aristocrats in all of Tian Ling was because the cultivation method of Qi Clan was the fastest and most effective at improving a spirit weapon user’s strength. Other clans, like Fan Clan of the west and Que Clan of the east, their cultivation methods put more emphasis on the cultivation of spirit priests and spirit weapon masters. Only Qi Clan is specifically for spirit weapon users. It can be said that in the whole of Tian Ling, you can’t find a spirit weapon user cultivation manual better than Qi Clan’s. But precisely because it’s like that, each successive leader of Qi Clan has guarded the secret of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians demonic path manual, not daring to try it for themselves, but also not daring to let it be passed down. This is more than enough to prove some things and that is with regards to the safety of this method, they also don’t have any certainty.”

Jiang Chao Ge nodded: “Indeed, not using such a good manual would be such a shame.”

“Elder brother Jiang, I trust that you understand my meaning when I tell you this. I told you about this demonic method. Whether you use it or not is up to you.”

Jiang Chao Ge took a deep breath: “Why did you decide to tell me? Even if Qi Ling Feng wanted to kill you, you didn’t plan on leaking this manual right?”

“Of course. This demonic method could send the whole continent into upheaval, how could I leak it? Only Qi Ling Feng would never believe me, so he wants to kill me. I can understand.” A trace of grief crossed Ruan Qian Xiu’s jade like face. “the reason I told you isn’t because I want to get revenge for Jiao Jiao. More importantly, seeing the devastation in Da Liang City today, thinking that that monster has no one to stop him and could potentially destroy countless Da Liang Cities. Even the gradual awakening twelve ancient rare beasts, without knowing how many of these monsters there are, I just…..”

Zhi Xuan curled his lip, “I’m different from Xiao Xue.”

Ruan Qian Xiu said gravely: “Before, when I heard you wanted to stop the ancient rare beasts from reawakening otherwise the human world will sink into chaos, I actually thought it had nothing to do with me. But today….. I realised that it’s impossible for this calamity to be irrelevant to anyone.” She looked at Jiang Chao Ge, eyes blazing like torches, “You are the only one I trust and has the ability to stop Xiao Xue. Only you are still way too weak. I want you to become stronger.”

Zhi Xuan frowned: “This demonic method could very possibly kill Jiang Chao Ge. What kind of intentions do you harbour?”

Ruan Qian Xiu said sternly: “In comparison to the demonic path, getting chased by Xiao Xue is more imminent, more deadly right? Ren Wang will part ways with us sooner or later. At that time if we were found by Xiao Xue, what could we use to protect ourselves?”

Zhi Xuan said arrogantly: “I only need to protect Jiang Chao Ge. What does your life or death have to do with me?”

Jiang Chao Ge patted his back reassuringly and whispered: “There is logic in her words.”

Zhi Xuan looked at him with wide eyes, “Don’t humans die when they deviate?”

“It’ll be fine as long as I don’t try to break through the last two meridians. I only hope to have enough spiritual power to summon your true form. I’ve never thought of reaching the perfection of a level nine spirit weapon user. But if I remain as weak as I am now, it’ll shorten my life instead.” For him, he only wanted to survive and return to his world and didn’t want to reach great heights in this world at all. As long as he doesn’t try to forcefully break through that meridian this vein, wouldn’t he be safe?

Ruan Qian Xiu shook her head, “Matters are perhaps not that simple. Otherwise many spirit weapon users could just stop after breaking through the second meridian, why would they still seek to improve? When you really reach that boundary, you won’t be satisfied with the present.”

“I can, because what I pursue is completely different.” Jiang Chao Ge said resolutely: “In my world, spiritual power is useless. I don’t need that much spiritual power.” As long as he could return home!

Zhi Xuan frowned severely, also conflicted.

Ruan Qian Xiu sighed: “Elder brother Jiang, this demonic path could very well kill you. You have to think it through.”

Jiang Chao Ge smiled: “I don’t think there is anything more unfavourable than my current situation.” This kind of weak and powerless feeling was worse than death to him. He’d rather deviate than die uselessly

Ruan Qian Xiu fished out a pouch from her waist: “You have to promise not to spread it to a third person.”

“I promise.”

She threw the pouch to Jiang Chao Ge: “Burn it after you memorise it.” She sighed seeming to have released a burden only to take up a new one.

Jiang Chao Ge squeezed the light thing in his hand, yet his palms began to sweat. The danger of demonic cultivation, Ruan Qian Xiu had already told him clearly. But what other choice did he have?

“Elder brother Jiang, I’ve decided to go with you to Kun Lun Fairylands. I can’t die now, at least not at the hands of Blood Temple.”

“Alright!” Jiang Chao Ge was just about to say something. Zhi Xuan leapt down from his lap, transforming into his adult form in an instant. He seized the pouch in his hands, then turned around and walked towards the house.

“Zhi Xuan?” Jiang Chao Ge froze and hurried chased after him.

Zhi Xuan’s back faced Jiang Chao Ge as he said coldly: “You really plan to use this?”

Jiang Chao Ge looked at Zhi Xuan’s cold figure and discussed: “Don’t you want to materialise earlier?”

“But I don’t want you to die early!” Zhi Xuan turned his face around, anger written all over it.

Jiang Chao Ge walked over, pressed Zhi Xuan’s shoulder and said calmly: “Zhi Xuan, I’m already at death’s door. Not just me, every single one of us has a knife to our throats. Although Yu Ren Shu and Tian Rong are powerful, they are no match for Divine spirit beasts. Just like Ruan Qian Xiu said, next time we meet Xiao Xue without Ren Wang, how will we protect ourselves? Ren Wang already saved us twice, there won’t be a third time.”

“But I…..”

“Perhaps you have a way to save me, but what about others? I can’t just watch them die. Additionally, your method is definitely as a last resort. I can’t always rely on you. I want to use your true strength, otherwise it’ll be harder and harder for us in the future.”

Zhi Xuan gritted his teeth, a single hand grabbing his waist, pulling his body into his embrace: “Why would you rather use such a dangerous method than….”

“Than….what?”

Zhi Xuan swallowed, seemingly as if he was too embarrassed to say it, a blush slowly crawling up his cheeks. He said fiercely: “Than willingly mate with me!”

Jiang Chao Ge’s entire body stiffened. After being petrified for a while, he asked cautiously: “Do you….. actually want to?”

Zhi Xuan said angrily: “Who said I want to!”

Jiang Chao Ge released a breath: “That also isn’t some right path either. Since we both don’t hold any interest, why….”

Zhi Xuan’s big hand suddenly caught the back of Jiang Chao Ge’s head, neck and forcefully blocked his lips.

Jiang Chao Ge frowned, surprise flashing across his eyes, expression becoming somewhat serious. He could sense that Zhi Xuan’s feelings towards him had changed. This wasn’t some good omen. They were a man and beast and originally weren’t living beings from the same world. They shouldn’t grow any cumbersome feelings otherwise when the day came for him to leave, how could he leave cleanly?

After Zhi Xuan held onto Jiang Chao Ge’s lips, he began trying to suck, gnaw and bite. On hand steadied Jiang Chao Ge’s head, one hand tightly grabbed the clothes on Jiang Chao Ge’s back. He seemed somewhat nervous as his strength was rather rough. Jiang Chao Ge pushed lightly a few times, discovered it couldn’t be moved and could only give up, not daring to anger him.

Zhi Xuan’s kissing technique was young and inexperienced, yet it was no match for that concentration and earnestness. Jiang Chao Ge hadn’t been intimate with anyone for a long time. Although the one kissing him right now was male, the lips had the same softness, breaths also held the same warmth. Slowly, his mood actually became somewhat aroused, only awkwardness and worry covered up this sliver of arousal. He ultimately didn’t do any form of reciprocation, allowing Zhi Xuan to taste something new from the inside and out.

After Zhi Xuan released him, his breathing was uneven, cheeks bright red, golden pupils dyed with a bit of embarrassment. He stared at Jiang Chao Ge unblinkingly, somewhat humiliated yet also somewhat expectant.

Jiang Chao Ge didn’t dare rebuke him but also couldn’t have a reaction. He only calmly pushed him away: “What’s going on with you today?”

Zhi Xuan was astonished. He didn’t expect Jiang Chao Ge to have such a calm reaction as if the two had just eaten a meal. Both Jiang Chao Ge and Zui You had told him that kissing was for expressing fondness. If placed in the context of the beast world, wouldn’t it be equal to seeking a mate? Could it be he misunderstood? Why didn’t Jiang Chao Ge look any different? For an instant, he didn’t even know if he should be angry or disappointed. He thought that something was somehow off yet couldn’t express it. He pushed Jiang Chao Ge irritably and said incoherently: “What do you mean!”

Jiang Chao Ge was baffled: “What do you mean what do you mean?”

Zhi Xuan couldn’t express it, grabbing a teacup on the table in haste and smashing it on the ground angrily.

“Zuzong ah, take it easy. This is the only room that didn’t collapse.”

Zhi Xuan met his eyes angrily. After glaring at Jiang Chao Ge for a while, he suddenly took a step forward, pressing Jiang Chao Ge to the wall and said with heavy breaths: “I want to.”

Jiang Chao Ge couldn’t process it for a moment: “What?”

“What do you think!” Zhi Xuan’s face was flushed a bright red. That appearance of him gritting his teeth looked as if he wanted to swallow Jiang Chao Ge.

Jiang Chao Ge suddenly understood what Zhi Xuan ‘wanted’. He felt nervous in his heart but looking at Zhi Xuan’s irritable yet inexpressible manner, he simultaneously felt the urge to laugh. He didn’t know if autumn had arrived. This thousand year old rare beast actually developed feelings towards him? What should he do, he didn’t want to!

Zhi Xuan said angrily: “You speak!”

Jiang Chao Ge could only act dumb: “You want to what?”

Zhi Xuan flared up, using his mouth to bite Jiang Chao Ge’s neck. He currently couldn’t be compared to when he was in child form. This bite was in the midst of anger and didn’t control his strength, making Jiang Chao Ge give a pained cry.

Zhi Xuan jumped and looked at the row of teeth marks on the neck which was already bleeding. He blinked, looking at Jiang Chao Ge’s grimaced appearance and felt a little guilty.

Jiang Chao Ge stretched out his hand to touch it. Zhi Xuan caught his hand, pressed against his side, dipped his head and began using his tongue to lick the wound on his neck. One after another, movements extremely tender. That soft tongue slid across the torn skin and felt somewhat stinging. But Zhi Xuan’s saliva had healing properties and it slowly felt less painful.

Jiang Chao Ge sighed, thinking to himself what kind of devil had he created? How did he and Zhi Xuan end up in this awkward situation?

After Zhi Xuan finished licking, he licked his lips wanting to continue somewhat and whispered: “Does it still hurt?”

Jiang Chao Ge nodded.

Zhi Xuan hugged his waist, resting his head on his shoulder and said lightly, “You deserved it.”

Jiang Chao Ge didn’t know whether to cry or laugh: “Why did I deserve it?”

“……. You just deserved it.”

Jiang Chao Ge softly tugged at that pouch in his hands. Zhi Xuan clenched his fist, not wanting to give it. Jiang Chao Ge advised: “Zhi Xuan, I need this. We all need this.”

Zhi Xuan was silent for a long time before loosening his hand: “You can’t break through whatever that meridian was. As long as you have the spiritual power to summon my true form to fight, that’s enough.”

“Relax, I understand.”

Zhi Xuan said awkwardly: “Back then, did you feel good?”

“Mn?”

“Kissing. Did it feel good?”

Jiang Chao Ge gloomily discovered that he couldn’t avoid this topic no matter what and could only say: “It felt ok.”

“What do you mean ok? Zui You said as long as you do it right, it’s a happy thing. Was it not done right? Then let’s…..”

“Enough!” Jiang Chao Ge said hurriedly: “It felt good, it felt pretty good.”

Zhi Xuan revealed a satisfied expression: “I also felt good.” He lowered his head, “Then let’s do it again.” Enveloping Jiang Chao Ge’s lips after speaking and beginning to kiss earnestly.

Jiang Chao Ge was awash in a cold sweat. He knew perfectly well that indulging in Zhi Xuan like this was dangerous, yet he couldn’t simply push the devilish brat away. Before they formed a contract, he didn’t dare offend Zhi Xuan in any way. But with this current trend, Zhi Xuan was becoming increasingly interested in the other method of forming a contract with each passing day. Did he really have to sacrifice himself? He had never done it with a man and didn’t know if he’d be able to stand up to it……

Just as Zhi Xuan was beginning to gnaw more vigorously, kissing Jiang Chao Ge’s lips swollen, Ren Wang returned at the right moment.

Jiang Chao Ge obtained a great pardon and hurried pushed Zhi Xuan away. If they continued to kiss like this he wouldn’t be able to control it anymore: “Ren Wang has returned!”

Zhi Xuan emitted an unsatisfied mutter, “So what if he’s returned, what does it have to do with you?” He hugged Jiang Chao Ge, refusing to let go.

“He must’ve brought Zhao Zun back, I must go look.”

Everyone that could still move in the compound had all walked out. Ren Wang carried a deathly pale person and threw him into the courtyard and actually said in surprise: “He seemed to have been scared stupid.”

Jiang Chao Ge looked at the middle aged person sitting paralysed on the ground and felt somewhat sympathetic. He helped Zhao Zun up: “Sir? Sir?”

Zhao Zun returned to his senses: “What’s going on?” He surveyed his surroundings seeming to be looking for something, “That’s, that’s the White Tiger?”

“Sir please come in.” Jiang Chao Ge forcefully pulled him into the room and pointed at Uncle He lying in bed: “You listen, I’ll explain in detail.”

After Zhao Zun saw Uncle He, he seemed to have understood something but was still full of questions: “How did Da Liang City become this way? Also what did you bring me here for?”

Uncle He pointed at Jiang Chao Ge weakly: “Zhao Zun, this youth is the same as us and is also possibly the last hope of us returning home.”