The Dao Of Time

One year later, in Han Bamboo City.

Qingzhu, a disciple of Daoist Bitter Bamboo, bowed respectfully to two women.

"We are deeply grateful, Seniors, for your help in suppressing those who practice wicked techniques and maintaining stability in Han Bamboo City these past few days," he said. "Now, we humbly request Senior Miao's assistance in eliminating the last remnants of their forces."

Facing him were Shan Qin and Miao Lishan of the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild.

Miao Lishan, dressed in her usual cool attire, didn't even deign to glance at Qingzhu as he spoke.

Undeterred, Qingzhu turned to Shan Qin with a smile.

Shan Qin, wearing a long crimson robe with her dark hair cascading down her back, turned slightly toward Miao Lishan. "Aunt Miao, please go," she said. "Senior Red Beard specifically instructed us not to let a single Blood Body escape. Qin'er still has Father's trump card—ordinary cultivators can't harm me."

Miao Lishan knew Shan Qin spoke the truth. Once activated, that talisman would take even her considerable strength a long time to break through.

Yet her original mission had simply been to protect this young girl. Now, however...

"Aunt Miao, if you're worried, why not lend Qin'er that talisman treasure?"

Miao Lishan chuckled. "You little rascal, trying to trick your Aunt Miao!"

Her tone held no reproach, only indulgent affection. She extinguished her pipe and pressed a gleaming golden talisman treasure into Shan Qin's hand. "Alright, I'll go investigate," she said softly, ruffling Shan Qin's hair. "If you're attacked, activate this talisman treasure immediately. Aunt Miao will rush back at once. Don't be reckless."

Shan Qin nodded.

In an instant, Miao Lishan transformed into a streak of escape light, pursuing the fleeing Blood Bodies. One of them was heading straight for Sea Moon Lake.

Seeing Shan Qin gaze longingly at the vanishing light, Qingzhu nudged her gently. "Miss Shan, rest assured. Senior Miao's mana is immense. Those mere Core Formation Blood Bodies are no match for her."

"You're right," Shan Qin replied, turning to ask, "How is Fellow Daoist Kuzhu doing?"

Over the past few years, the Blood Sea True Monarch's legacy techniques had wreaked havoc across Han Bamboo City. While no one had obtained the true inheritance, many had cultivated the Blood Body Technique, a method for creating Extracorporeal Incarnations.

This situation had given rise to numerous Blood Bodies of Demonic Cultivators. Years ago, Daoist Bitter Bamboo was ambushed and severely wounded by one such Blood Body and was still recuperating.

The daily affairs of Han Bamboo City were entrusted to another Core Formation elder and Qingzhu, Daoist Bitter Bamboo's Foundation Establishment disciple.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior," Qingzhu said. "Master is still recovering from his injuries. His Dharma Body was damaged, and he will likely need more time to heal."

Shan Qin frowned. She and Aunt Miao had been in Han Bamboo City for a year, yet they had only seen the city lord once, upon their arrival. After all their help to the city, his lack of courtesy was unacceptable.

"The Chamber of Commerce has a Medicinal Pill that can regenerate flesh and bone, effective even for Core Formation cultivators. I'll request one from the guild at a later date... Just prepare the spirit stones."

Qingzhu's face lit up with delight. "Thank you immensely, Senior Shan Qin. The city has mostly stabilized now, but I have pressing matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave..."

Shan Qin waved him off, and Qingzhu retreated.

Leaning against the door of the main hall, Qingzhu's bloodshot eyes flickered as he lamented inwardly, "I can't stay in Han Bamboo City any longer. How did those old fogies Red Beard and Bai Heng get involved? Did they discover traces of Demonic Art within my Cultivation Technique?"

Over the years, while the Blood Body Technique had brought misfortune to countless cultivators, it had never escalated to the point of alarming Spirit Transformation experts.

Could it truly be out of concern for the common people? Qingzhu thought skeptically. I've never believed such nonsense. To Spirit Transformation cultivators, those beneath them are likely no different from ants.

Glancing back at the massive golden gate behind him, Qingzhu hesitated for a moment before deciding to leave.

This situation is too thorny to handle. Best to steer clear. I've already lured that Nascent Soul cultivator surnamed Miao away. Now I need to escape this place quickly. If those two Spirit Transformation experts return, I won't be able to hide anymore.

Qingzhu slipped through layers of guards and arrived at a black, spire-like tower.

The tower's tiers stacked upon each other, resembling a colossal black bamboo stalk rising from the ground. A plaque at its base read: "Demon Suppression Tower."

Knocking cautiously on the tower's door, Qingzhu called out, "Master, your disciple seeks an audience."

The black gate creaked open, allowing Qingzhu inside before silently closing behind him.

To his astonishment, the tower's interior was filled with a thick white mist, and the temperature was significantly lower than outside.

Qingzhu waved his sleeve to disperse the fog, revealing an aged Daoist seated cross-legged on a Cold Bed. The mist emanated from the bed itself.

The Daoist's complexion was dark, and his head was completely bald. His magic robe hung half-open, revealing a torso drenched in blood.

Most horrifyingly, the blood on his body writhed like living creatures, relentlessly consuming his intact flesh. This forced Bitter Bamboo to maintain a constant flow of his Cultivation Technique, simultaneously drawing upon the frigid energy from the Cold Bed beneath him to counteract the invading blood.

"How is the city's purge progressing?" Bitter Bamboo asked, his eyes still closed.

Over the past few months, Qingzhu had been reporting on the city's affairs at regular intervals, leaving the final decisions to Bitter Bamboo before carrying out the directives.

Now well-versed in this routine, Qingzhu stepped forward and recounted the recent developments.

"Several months ago, Yun Ji..." he began, "...with his assistance, the city is nearly purged. The only remaining issue is..."

"What is it?" Bitter Bamboo interrupted, sensing Qingzhu's hesitation. He opened his eyes just as a crimson Treasure Sword, about a foot long, shot toward him.

Fury and shock surged through him. "You dare!"

As Bitter Bamboo's spiritual energy surged within him, threatening to connect with the entire tower, Qingzhu remained calm. With a decisive hand seal, he seemed to issue an unspoken command, causing the strange blood on Bitter Bamboo's body to seethe with renewed intensity.

The grotesque transformation of Bitter Bamboo's flesh couldn't stop his desperate attempt at self-preservation. Gritting his teeth against the searing pain, he instantly linked his spiritual energy to the Demon Suppression Tower.

Layers of talismanic patterns lit up within the tower from top to bottom, and even beneath Qingzhu's feet, spiritual light bloomed.

A peculiar smile curled Qingzhu's lips. "I've been waiting for you to make this move."

With a light tap of his foot, as if triggering a hidden mechanism, the talismanic patterns within the tower flickered erratically. After three breaths, a crimson hue began to seep into the glowing runes.

"I've maintained this Demon Suppression Tower for years," Qingzhu said. "Would it make me look foolish if I let you activate it so easily?"

Like a drop of blood-red ink spreading through water, the crimson stain rapidly saturated every talismanic pattern.

The crimson tide even surged against Bitter Bamboo's spiritual energy, infiltrating his body and intertwining with the blood on his skin to form a dense, blood-red net that enveloped his entire being.

"Hmph!" Bitter Bamboo grunted in agony, his body and spiritual energy sluggish under the oppressive crimson web.

Realizing escape was impossible, he resolved to ignite his Core Formation, ready to perish in a blaze of mutual destruction.

But when his divine sense probed inward, he discovered a crimson light blocking the path between his spiritual energy and the Core Formation. Bitter Bamboo had lost control of his own Core Formation.

Qingzhu had, as it turned out, driven the blood-red Treasure Sword deep into Bitter Bamboo's abdomen.

He murmured, "I came for your Core Formation. Why would I let you destroy it so easily?"

Bitter Bamboo's face twisted with despair at these words.