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C9 Toyang City

With a resounding bang, Chi Yangzi's palm connected with Feng Yimo's chest, hurtling him through the air. Blood spewed from his mouth even before he hit the ground, and Yimo could hear the sickening crack of his own ribs. Among the blood he coughed up were fragments of his lungs. He crashed to the earth, too injured to rise again.

"What... what kind of blade is this?" Chi Yangzi demanded, his voice hoarse and bloodied, his hair and beard whipping wildly in the wind. His visage was twisted into something monstrous, all the more terrifying in the shroud of night.

Yimo, not understanding Chi Yangzi's meaning, shook his head. He was about to respond when he noticed Chi Yangzi gripping the hilt of the blade, slowly drawing the rusted weapon from its sheath. Panic surged through Yimo. How could Chi Yangzi survive such a blow? If he managed to free the blade, Yimo's life would surely be forfeit. Desperately, he tried to rise, but his body was devoid of strength, and each breath brought excruciating pain.

Then, a horrific scream pierced the air. The rusted blade burst into a sphere of grey light, rapidly draining the life from Chi Yangzi. His once ruddy complexion withered instantly, his hair turned dull and lifeless, and his muscles shrank away. In mere moments, Chi Yangzi was reduced to a skeleton, his flesh and blood devoured by the grey glow.

A gust of mountain wind scattered the remains to dust, leaving behind only Chi Yangzi's Taoist robe and the rusted blade, which clattered to the ground. Overcome, Yimo lost consciousness.

When he came to, night still enveloped him in silence. With great effort, Yimo rose, gathering the remnants of the ginseng, Chi Yangzi's flying sword, and the Storage Bag. Eyeing the rusted blade warily, he refrained from touching it, instead using his Divine Sense to sweep it into the Storage Bag. He crammed the rest of the ginseng into his mouth, chewing as he stumbled away.

Before, he had only consumed the ginseng's human-like appendages, sparing the main body. Now, its full medicinal power flowed through him, easing the pain of his injuries. Yet the potency of the ginseng's core was overwhelming. Steam rose from Yimo's forehead as if he were capped by a steaming basket. His belly felt ablaze, his body overheated, his blood boiling. Even as the Spirit Devouring Silkworm worked to consume the released spiritual energy, the intense medicinal force tormented Yimo, his skin turning a bright red, his body swelling.

Sss! Sss!

Immersed in the pond, Feng Yimo's body was enveloped in a thick mist, with steam rising all around him. The vapors danced above the water, transforming the pond into an ethereal fairyland. The cool water soothed his discomfort, his limbs relaxed, and a sense of comfort washed over him. He quickly began to practice his breathing exercises in the water, slowly reaching a state of tranquility.

...

Ling Ya was the sole daughter of Ling Fei, the lord of Earth Sun City, and wielded considerable influence within its walls. Earth Sun City, as Chu Country's second-largest stronghold, played a pivotal role in defending the border and repelling demonic beasts. For his contributions, Ling Fei was honored with the title of Marquis by the emperor. Ling Ya herself enjoyed a close friendship with the emperor's daughter, Princess Chu Ling Er, and it was at her invitation that Ling Ya was now traveling to the capital, Hundred Flowers City, to attend the Flower Blossom Gathering. A sudden downpour the day before had forced her to seek shelter in a temple, delaying her journey. Determined not to miss the festivities, she set off at dawn to make up for lost time.

"Miss, look over there. Could that be a hot spring? After getting soaked in the rain yesterday, we didn't get a chance to bathe properly. Shall we check it out? If it is a hot spring, you could take a dip and ease your fatigue," suggested Qiu Ju, the maidservant, as she drew back the carriage curtain and pointed ahead. Ling Ya followed her gaze and indeed saw steam rising not far from the road. "Uncle Hai, let's go have a look," she decided.

Ling Hai, the Ling family's butler, had watched over Ling Ya since her childhood, treating her as his own daughter. He was utterly devoted to her, indulging her every whim. He promptly steered the carriage toward the source of the steam. Following close behind were twelve cavalrymen clad in silver armor, forming a protective escort. These knights were among the elite Silver Robed Guards of the Marquis of Earth Sun, each capable of taking on a hundred foes and seasoned by countless battles. The brownish stains on their silver armor bore silent testament to the blood of their enemies, and they were more than ready to face any demonic beasts that crossed their path.

As her daughter set out on her journey, there could be no room for error. Therefore, the Marquis of Soiling Sun dispatched a dozen cavalrymen to safeguard her well-being. The trek from Soiling Sun City to Hundred Flowers City spanned two thousand eight hundred miles, demanding the utmost vigilance.

The waterhole was not far off, and they soon arrived amidst a haze of mist. Bathed in the morning sun, the area was aglow with a kaleidoscope of colors. A rainbow arched through the sky while birdsong and the scent of flowers filled the air.

With delight, Maidservant Qiu Ju raced to the water's edge and dipped her hand in to test the temperature. "Miss, it truly is a hot spring. Hurry over!"

Twenty silver-clad guards stood watch outside, ensuring that no one came within a hundred feet. Inside, under Qiu Ju's watchful eye, Ling Ya disrobed, revealing a flawless figure by the pond's edge. Her feet, like carved jade, tentatively met the warm water, which soon enveloped her completely, the hot spring's embrace bringing her profound comfort.

As Ling Ya bathed, she scanned her surroundings. Abruptly, she noticed a vague figure on the opposite side—a tall one at that. Shocked, she let out a piercing scream, "There's someone here, Qiu Ju, come quickly!"

Qiu Ju, who had been standing by the pond, dashed over, "Where, where?"

Ling Ya pointed across the hot spring, and Qiu Ju swiftly launched a sleeve arrow. But the dense mist above the water obscured their view, leaving them uncertain if the target was hit. Ling Ya, no longer concerned with her bath, rose from the water. Just then, a breeze swept through, scattering the fog and revealing the scene opposite. A handsome young man, bare-chested, sat cross-legged in the pond, eyes closed, breathing steady as if in slumber. Encircling him were butterflies of every hue—reds, blues, yellows, blacks, and patterned. They fluttered around him, some hovering above his head, others touching down upon the water's surface or resting on his body and head. As the breeze stirred, they took flight in a dance, creating a spectacle as grand as a field of blossoming flowers.

Ling Ya and Qiu Ju were both spellbound, so much so that they had forgotten their state of undress. In that instant, the young man's eyes snapped open, casting a clear and bright gaze upon Ling Ya.

"Ah, you brazen pervert, how dare you spy on the young lady bathing!" Qiu Ju quickly draped clothes over her mistress while scowling fiercely.

A deep blush spread across Ling Ya's face, her shame overwhelming. Tears threatened to spill as she grappled with the indignity of it all. Never before had she been so humiliated, her naked form exposed to a stranger's eyes. Hastily donning her garments, shoes, and socks, she seized a treasured sword and charged along the pond's edge toward the young man. Her mind was set on one thing: to slay the voyeur who dared watch her bathe!

Yet, as she sprinted forward, a flurry of butterflies took flight, seemingly responding to her murderous intent by shielding the young man. Moths, like those drawn to a flame, swarmed her in a blinding cloud, forcing her to halt and wildly swing her sword. Soon, the ground was littered with the delicate bodies of butterflies.

Feng Yimo had been busy assimilating the potency of the Human-shaped Ginseng. The pond's waters were warmed by the heat radiating from his body. The ginseng had only managed to elevate his cultivation to the pinnacle of the Qi Training Period's first level—a regrettable limitation, as he couldn't advance to the second. To make matters worse, the Spirit Devouring Silkworm had inexplicably devoured all the spiritual energy he had just gathered, reducing him to nothing more than a mere mortal.

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