Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

[Purifying Malice +500]

Within the seal, the Malice Spirit had long since been purified, and the malice in the area was barely detectable—only some faint red-black energies lingering imperceptibly in the air.

The Empress looked at Qin Yu with a gaze tinged with satisfaction.

Though this junior cultivator from the Cyan Mist Hall region possessed obvious flaws, he laid them all bare, never concealing anything.

Aside from that, whether in temperament or other aspects, there was almost nothing to criticize.

Thus, the Empress could entrust Yan Yu to Qin Yu without worry.

Still, caution was necessary.

After all, this fellow entered Danxin Herb Hall and promptly took his master’s wife and junior disciple with him. When he arrived at Cyan Mountain Sect, it was even more outrageous—not only did he take the Saintess, but also the Sect Leader and the Elders... He swept up everyone!

So, upon learning of Ling’Er’s situation, the Empress had the Empress Dowager keep close watch.

But still...

The Empress couldn’t shake her unease.

Yet, the Flame Guards were already stretched thin, and the only people close enough to Ling’Er were herself and the Empress Dowager—there was simply no other option.

The Empress felt a headache coming on.

It wasn’t that Qin Yu welcomed everyone; after all, Bai Yaoyin’s overt attempts to befriend him hadn’t moved this tributor.

Still, he dared to sneak a look at even herself!

If only just for one fleeting moment.

This seemingly honest man might not hesitate to fixate on the Empress Dowager, too.

After all, the Empress Dowager, like a Fairy of the Cold Palace, was an irresistible force for any man.

She cast aside her idle thoughts.

With a wave of her hand, the Empress quickly drew in the array around them, gathering the last lingering malice into a single compact form.

Qin Yu, seeing this, channeled true essence and purified it.

As the array faded, the Purple Mist Hall, once shrouded in black-red energy, finally emerged unobstructed before the three.

But what met their eyes was only a bleak scene—crumbling walls, broken beams, and the mottled traces left by the ancient array.

The Empress stepped forward, slowly moving toward that damaged ancient array. As she moved, a unique and arcane Dao Rhyme surged quietly around her.

Wherever she passed, the chaotic and battered ruins seemed to be gently brushed aside by an invisible hand; even dust dare not approach within several yards of her.

Qin Yu and Yan Lin followed close behind. Soon, they arrived at the site of the ancient array.

There, a dried-out skeleton lay prostrate, its body shriveled like skin stretched over bone, with its flesh seemingly vanished and its face utterly unrecognizable.

Most chilling of all was a grotesque wound at its chest, with faint tendrils of black qi winding about it.

”Death Qi?!”

Qin Yu’s pupils contracted at the sight, immediately recalling the black-robed enemies who once ambushed him and his companions.

This death qi—there was no mistake!

”You’ve already guessed?”

The Empress seemed to sense the shift in Qin Yu’s expression.

”The mastermind is likely connected to those black-robed ones whom the Empress Dowager killed before.”

Qin Yu nodded, replying.

”Heh!”

The Empress’s eyes grew icy, coldness radiating, ”Their scheme thwarted, they stoop to such vile actions, venting their private rage!”

As she spoke, a frightening aura swept forth, enveloping the whole zone and oppressing the mind with tremors.

The Great Yan Immortal Country, vast and boundless. Though the Empress had already grown vigilant and laid careful defenses, the hidden hands possessed deep resources—mere preparations could not prevent everything.

Even refining her response to the very first moment, it was already too late.

Around the Purple Mist Hall, within a hundred miles, all was devastation.

”Damnable rats!”

The Empress likened them thus, because although the mastermind was not ordinary, he still could only lurk in the darkness and cause great harm, yet dare not stand in the light.

If his true self was revealed, it would become a situation where all wanted him dead.

Comparing them to rats could not be more fitting.

”Repair this ancient array, then come with me to two other places.”

The Empress took a deep breath, tamping down her rage and sorrow, the oppressive weight loosening slightly.

Hearing her, Qin Yu did not hesitate, immediately setting about repairing the ancient array.

There was little else he could do; in other matters, he had no ability to intervene.

”Yan Lin, handle all affairs here as you see fit.”

Once the ancient array was fully restored, the Empress instructed Yan Lin, who had been waiting nearby.

This region had suffered near-total destruction, but it still could not be forsaken—after all, it was territory of the Great Yan Immortal Country.

Therefore, cultivators had to be relocated from other regions.

”Yes!”

Yan Lin answered respectfully and withdrew.

...

Along the way.

Qin Yu focused his senses on the flame seed.

[Flame Point: 273875]

[Root Bone: Middle Grade Dao Bone (Flame Point 273875/400000)]

[Spiritual Power: Refining High Tier (Flame Point 273875/100000) ready to breakthrough]

Aside from the flame points accrued in these past months, this round of purifying the Malice Spirit and malice had just netted Qin Yu nearly two hundred thousand more!

Even with so many beauties as wives now, originally, it would have taken him a year or two.

But this was only seven days.

Of course, while the process appeared tranquil, it was only because the Empress had shielded him from all storms.

The fallen Hall Master was proof enough.

If it had been Qin Yu alone, not even countless lives would have been enough.

Next.

The Empress led Qin Yu to two adjacent regions.

The ancient arrays here were all damaged to varying degrees; the difference was that the arrays weren’t fully destroyed. In one sealed area, however, turbulent traces of terrifying power were visible.

Qin Yu glanced a few more times, feeling uneasy. When he heard the Empress speak lightly about killing an ”invisible rat” with a casual blow, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Casual kill...

Qin Yu swallowed, gazed at the palm seal below—nearly a thousand meters in size—and from his place at the rear, he grew even more respectful.

Too ruthless!

No wonder the Empress Dowager always called her a tyrant.

Good thing he had never offended the Empress; otherwise...

Qin Yu glanced at the crimson earth beneath the palm imprint.

With such a glaring precedent, he felt the Empress’s stature even more imposing!

Next came the tiresome process of purification.

The malice sealed in these two regions was less than that of the Purple Mist Hall, but together amounted to more than two hundred thousand.

[Flame Point: 493965]

[Root Bone: Middle Grade Dao Bone (Flame Point 493965/400000) ready to breakthrough]

[Spiritual Power: Refining High Tier (Flame Point 493965/100000) ready to breakthrough]

Qin Yu glanced at the flame seed.

Flame points were enough for him to upgrade his Root Bone again!

Hardly hesitating, Qin Yu chose to refine his Root Bone first.

After all, even after advancing his Root Bone, it wouldn’t be long until he could boost his Spiritual Power as well.

”Breakthrough!”