A Pawn's Passage

Qi Xuansu no longer attempted to rely on his own understanding to interpret the changing situation. Instead, he turned to observe Madam Qi’s expressions.

At this moment, Madam Qi’s calm demeanor carried a hint of amusement, suggesting there was no cause for concern.

Reassured, Qi Xuansu relaxed slightly and asked, “Madam Qi, what are the Eclipse Method and the Umbra Method?”

As a Guizhen-stage Martial Arts Practitioner, Qi Xuansu’s hearing was extraordinary. Even at a distance, without other distracting noises, he could clearly hear Marshal Thunder’s words.

Madam Qi explained, “They are forbidden techniques of the Daoist Order. The Eclipse Method and Umbra Method are equally renowned. The Umbra Method reverses the flow of energy, making the user the negative pole to attract the positive pole, thereby absorbing the opponent’s energy for personal use.

“The Eclipse Method, on the other hand, transforms the user’s three Dantians into voids like a bottomless abyss, similarly absorbing the opponent’s energy for personal use.”

“Each has its pros and cons. The Umbra Method is akin to a sea to which all rivers flow into. However, if the user’s cultivation is inferior to their opponent’s, forcibly absorbing energy, the reverse will occur, akin to the sea flooding into the rivers, forcing one’s own energy into the opponent’s body, resulting in great losses.

“The Eclipse Method stores qi in the meridians. While it lacks the dangers of the Umbra Method, it presents a different problem. If too much foreign qi is absorbed without integration, there is a risk of backlash. Moreover, the absorption power of the Eclipse Method is significantly weaker than that of the Umbra Method and requires close physical contact.

Qi Xuansu mused, “These seem specifically designed to counter Qi Refiners.”

“It’s not surprising. Qi Refiners are the cornerstone of the Daoist Order.” Madam Qi added. “But it works equally well against Banished Immortals and Rogue Cultivators.”

Qi Xuansu asked again, “Does Qing Xiao have a way to counter it?”

Madam Qi did not give a direct answer. “See for yourself.”

Zhang Yuelu’s palm struck Marshal Thunder’s chest. Marshal Thunder employed the Eclipse Method with full force, absorbing Zhang Yuelu’s true essence.

After the initial shock, Zhang Yuelu soon regained her composure. She then allowed her true essence to flow into Marshal Thunder’s body.

Suddenly, Marshal Thunder’s expression changed drastically as he sensed six streams of foreign qi entering his body and merging with his qi.

He had forgotten about Zhang Yuelu’s Six Void Tribulations. As he used the Eclipse Method to absorb her true essence, she countered by letting him absorb it fully. Not only that, she amplified the Six Void Tribulations, rapidly channeling its power into Marshal Thunder’s body.

This was the simplified version of the advanced Xiaoyao Six Void Tribulations. As a Heavenly Being, Zhang Yuelu’s simplified Six Void Tribulations evolved slightly. Instead of merely depleting her opponent’s innate qi, blood qi, magical power, or divine power, the foreign streams of qi could integrate with the opponent’s energy source, causing self-destructive chaos and turning the opponent’s own qi against them.

Marshal Thunder countered the Six Void Tribulations with the Eclipse Method. If his cultivation had surpassed Zhang Yuelu’s, it might have been akin to luring a thief into the house through an open front door. But with their levels evenly matched, it was no different than inviting a wolf into the house.

All he felt was the six streams of foreign qi invading his body, so he immediately attempted to break free. However, Zhang Yuelu’s palm generated a suction force, making escape impossible.

That was when he realized his innate qi was crumbling, shocking him greatly. If it were merely a depletion of innate qi, it would not have been a problem, as recovery was not difficult. However, overdrawing innate qi to the point of harming his core would result in an irreversible loss of cultivation. The best case scenario would be dropping a cultivation level, while the severe case would cost his life.

The Earthly Preceptor Xu Wugui created the Xiaoyao Six Void Tribulations inspired by the Eclipse Method.

The Eclipse Method harmed others for personal gain, absorbing another’s qi for one’s use. However, there were some limitations. Once the user reached their capacity, they could not absorb more energy, hence halting its destructive potential.

Thus, the Earthly Preceptor devised the Xiaoyao Six Void Tribulations, which did not absorb the opponent’s qi but instead destroyed it entirely. Thus, it was unrestricted and limitless, with six extended variations.

The Xiaoyao Six Void Tribulations was a technique created by Xu Wugui to counter formidable enemies, not meant for passing down the generations. Thus, mastery of this technique theoretically required the cultivation level of an Immortal.

Later, the Holy Xuan simplified it into the Six Void Tribulations, lowering the threshold of practice but reducing it to only three variations.

Marshal Thunder felt the six streams of foreign qi coursing through his meridians and nearing his Dantians. Terrified, he desperately sought to escape Zhang Yuelu’s grasp. He resolutely chose to destroy his own Middle Dantian to forcibly interrupt the Eclipse Method, shutting down the gate of the abyss he had opened.

To Marshal Thunder’s surprise, this action only stopped the influx of the Six Void Tribulations. The foreign streams of qi already inside his body had merged seamlessly with his own innate qi, disappearing without a trace. So he had no way to expel it.

Zhang Yuelu thrust another palm toward Marshal Thunder’s chest. As he moved to block it, the previously vanished six streams of qi reappeared, disrupting the flow of his innate qi. This momentary lapse allowed Zhang Yuelu’s palm to strike his chest directly. The force shattered his heart and damaged his internal organs.

However, Marshal Thunder was a Heavenly Being, so he could use his innate qi to sustain his life and avoid immediate death.

But Zhang Yuelu was relentless, delivering another palm strike.

Marshal Thunder felt the force of Zhang Yuelu’s palm strike bearing down on him like the weight of five mountains. He hastily moved to defend himself. However, the six streams of qi surged again within his body, shifting unpredictably and wreaking havoc.

Whenever he attempted to counterattack, the foreign qi would vanish, merging back into his innate qi. Already at a disadvantage against Zhang Yuelu, and further hindered by the Six Void Tribulations, Marshal Thunder was disarmed by Zhang Yuelu’s next palm strike, which sent his ancient sword flying.

Zhang Yuelu followed through with another palm strike that landed squarely on the top of his head.

Marshal Thunder fell to his knees, blood streaming from his orifices.

That was when Zhang Yuelu swung her paper sword, severing Marshal Thunder’s head.

Only a headless corpse remained, still kneeling upright.

To be fair, Marshal Thunder was a formidable figure, with a high cultivation level and considerable strategy. Yet, he ultimately lost to the unexpected variable that was Madam Qi.

Otherwise, according to his original plan, if Marshal Tianpeng were still blocking the front entrance of the dungeon, the situation would not have been like this. Even if Zhang Yuelu advanced to become a Heavenly Being, her best chance would have been breaking through the pincer attack in a desperate retreat because she was no match for two Heavenly Beings.

Qi Xuansu was about to speak to Madam Qi when he realized she was nowhere to be seen. At some point, she had vanished without a trace.

A night breeze rose, stirring the dust on the ground. The dust settled into a line of elegant small writing in front of Qi Xuansu. It read, “I’m off to see an old friend. See ya!”

Zhang Yuelu picked up Marshal Thunder’s ancient sword, Azure Thunderbolt, and with a leap, she appeared before Qi Xuansu. “Tian Yuan, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Qi Xuansu replied, snapping back to his senses.

Zhang Yuelu followed Qi Xuansu’s earlier gaze but saw nothing.

The moment Zhang Yuelu arrived, another gust of night wind erased the writing on the ground.

Zhang Yuelu furrowed her brows, sensing something amiss but unable to pinpoint what it was.

In truth, she had noticed Qi Xuansu earlier but, under the constant bombardment from Marshal Thunder, she had not had the chance to check on him. From her perspective, Qi Xuansu had been standing alone, watching the battle from start to finish, with no one else present.

Qi Xuansu instantly realized Madam Qi’s intentions and changed the subject. “You’ve advanced to the Xiaoyao stage of Heavenly Beings?”

Zhang Yuelu nodded. “Fortunately, the Spirit Pill my master gave me allowed me to advance to a Heavenly Being at a critical moment. But merely killing Marshal Thunder won’t be enough.”

Qi Xuansu turned his head. Apart from their immediate area, flames were raging everywhere else.

The entire Zhenwu Temple had turned into a sea of fire.

Qi Xuansu sighed. “Those Heavenly Court members were equipped with Sun-Shooting Rifles and Grade-B Series One Dragon Eye Bullets. The Spirit Guards in Zhenwu Temple couldn’t possibly hold them off.”

With that, Qi Xuansu recounted his experience but omitted the part where Madam Qi killed Marshal Tianpeng. Instead, he simply lied that when he returned, Marshal Tianpeng was already gone.

As she listened to his account, Zhang Yuelu gazed at the inferno before them in silence.