Chapter 69: Condensing Evil Energy

This evil energy was extremely pure and cold, turning into droplets of water. Mu Yuan reached out and grabbed a few drops of the refined evil water. It seeped directly into his skin through his pores. Mu Yuan shivered all over. He felt a cold and icy energy that was even harder to resist than the Ice Soul Divine Light. Mu Yuan ran his Tidal Flow several times. He used his vast Zhenqi to submerge and dilute it, then melted and absorbed it. Soon, he felt a cold energy surge up, rushing into his Mud Pellet Palace. His three ethereal souls and seven physical souls were affected by it, and they immediately became a bit more refined!

“Truly a supreme and wonderful method, the way of condensing evil energy!” Mu Yuan murmured in his heart. This evil energy was essentially tailored for the Dragon Clan. It was inclined toward the path of Northern Water and also had the nature of wind and thunder, but these were very weak. For Mu Yuan, it was the ultimate refined evil energy to refine his Tide True Qi!

“So, how is this place’s refined evil energy for the two of you?” Ao Lie saw Mu Yuan’s reaction and asked with a smile.

Mu Yuan nodded. It was indeed a high-grade, pure refined evil energy. He clasped his fists and said, “Thank you, Brother Ao!”

Ao Lie waved his hand. “Since that’s the case, why don’t the two of you stay here for a few more days? The work of condensing evil energy should be done steadily over time. There’s no need to rush.”

Mu Yuan agreed. Ao Lie said, “Then I won’t disturb you anymore. I’ll take my leave now. There are two living quarters nearby. You can rest and sleep there. I’ll have the maids bring you daily necessities. Let’s meet again when the two of you have completed the condensing of evil energy!”

After saying that, Ao Lie left with a loud laugh. Qi Wei frowned and said, “This is Yin Cold Ice Evils. The most suitable refined evil energy for our sect is the one on Round Pot Mountain. Why waste time here? Besides, this person seems straightforward, but who knows what he’s really thinking? Aren’t you afraid he might secretly scheme against you?”

Mu Yuan chuckled. “It’s fine. Round Pot Mountain is where generations of our sect’s disciples condense evil energy. Although it’s suitable, it only works for our sect’s mental cultivation method, the Longevity True Qi. We also practice Tidal Flow. Refining the Tide True Qi here is also a good thing. Besides, water can nurture wood. It will be very beneficial for cultivating the Longevity Art in the future. It’s not a bad thing. As for Ao Lie, I can guess his thoughts. He probably sees that our cultivation levels are good and wants our help. If it’s not too difficult, helping him out is fine. After all, we’re overseas, not our long-term home. We don’t have to fear offending anyone. But having a place to stay here is never a bad thing!”

Qi Wei nodded. “It’s best that you have a plan. Before we left, our master told me to listen to your opinion more. There must be a reason for that!”

Mu Yuan smiled slightly. “Enough talk. Since we have this opportunity, of course we shouldn’t let it go. Senior Sister, you go first.”

Qi Wei’s beautiful eyes shifted, glowing with radiance. She stared at Mu Yuan meaningfully for a while. Her direct gaze made him a bit uncomfortable. Suddenly, she said, “You go first. Anyway, we have plenty of time. There’s no need to rush. I’ll go consolidate my cultivation first. Besides, although we’re both at the Qi Refining Third Layer’s perfection stage, your current depth is several times greater than mine. I don’t know how you cultivated!”

Mu Yuan sighed inwardly. He thought, after all, we’re senior sister and junior brother from the same sect. He couldn’t keep all the benefits to himself. Moreover, even though this senior sister seemed cold and as if she had some issue with him, she was still from the master’s sect. The two branches were like one family. Mu Yuan had grown up in the Longevity Palace since childhood. The brothers and sisters got along harmoniously, like one family. So he didn’t have any thoughts of hiding things. Besides, although cultivation depended on personal opportunities, having an open mind was also a form of training for one’s cultivation. After thinking about it, he said, “I won’t hide it from you, Senior Sister. Some time ago, I met a disciple of True Lord Guangyuan. I traded a set of talismanic scripts for the mental cultivation method of the Forge Furnace Art. Although it only goes up to Elixir Formation, it can integrate with the Longevity Art and Tidal Flow. The three mental cultivation methods complement each other and can continue to accommodate Zhenqi. Now, all the Zhenqi in my Dantian has undergone qualitative change, and it’s related to this!”

As he spoke, he used his Zhenqi to manifest the mental cultivation method of the Forge Furnace Art. Countless runes drifted and trailed in mid-air, floating up and down. Qi Wei’s beautiful eyes focused, memorizing all the complex incantations. The mental cultivation method in the air slowly dissipated.

Qi Wei closed her eyes and recalled. She felt that not a single word was wrong. Then she regained her focus and looked at Mu Yuan. Her gaze seemed to grow a bit colder. “Such an important mental cultivation method is your own opportunity. Why tell me?”

Mu Yuan could naturally see the coldness in her eyes. He smiled bitterly inwardly, thinking, why didn’t you say that earlier? You waited until you memorized everything before saying this. Besides, it wasn’t like he was taking advantage of her or stealing her magic treasure. What had he done to offend her? But he said, “We are disciples of the same sect. I naturally won’t keep secrets from you!”

Qi Wei stared at him again, making Mu Yuan’s heart uneasy. But he couldn’t get angry. He slightly lowered his head and said, “Um, Senior Sister, you go and refine your Zhenqi first. I’ll go down to condense the evil energy!”

After saying that, he jumped into the deep well without looking back. Instantly, the refined evil energy churned violently from Mu Yuan’s stirring. Water vapor spread, so thick it was like an impenetrable dense fog. Nothing could be seen anymore. Only the light from the formation spun and shot out in all directions. It was very distinct in the thick fog, like a guiding light.

Qi Wei let out a soft sigh. She turned and went back to her room to quietly practice the Forge Furnace Art. Condensing evil energy was not a short process. Qi Wei reckoned that since both her Tidal Flow and Longevity Art had reached the third layer’s perfection, the Forge Furnace Art shouldn’t take too long either. After all, the first three layers were only about clearing the meridians and refining the acupoints. The only differences were the variations in Zhenqi, the types of spiritual energy absorbed, and the differences in essence and meaning.

Meanwhile, Mu Yuan leaped into the deep well. First, he withdrew his Longevity True Qi and Refining Furnace True Qi back into his Dantian. Zhenqi had very high requirements for refined evil energy. If the evil energy wasn’t compatible, it would only pollute the Zhenqi, making it impure. The Yin Cold Ice Evils here were most suitable for refining with Tide True Qi. There was some conflict with Longevity True Qi and Refining Furnace True Qi. Even the Dragon Clan’s Dragon King’s Dynamic Force wasn’t considered high-grade refined evil energy. It was actually inferior to Tidal Flow! It could be said that this place was specially tailored for water-attribute techniques like Tidal Flow.

Mu Yuan released his Tide True Qi outside his body, forming layers of halos. Then he activated the Qi Vortex Slash. Countless vortex-like Zhenqi whirlpools collided with each other. They crowded and rubbed densely around Mu Yuan’s body. He silently contemplated the method of condensing evil energy from Tidal Flow.

In fact, no matter which cultivation method it was, the process of condensing evil energy and refining Qi didn’t differ much. It was nothing more than mixing earthly evil energy essence with one’s own Zhenqi to refine it and increase its power. Once the Zhenqi melted the evil energy, it rushed up to the Mud Pellet Palace. Using the Yin energy of heaven and earth, one refined the soul and spirit, transforming them into a Yin Spirit and expanding one’s Spiritual Sense.

It could be said that only after Condensing Fiend and Refining Yang did one truly step into the threshold of cultivating the Dao. The Spiritual Sense divided into countless parts. The Zhenqi contained the ultimate principles of heaven and earth. When attacking enemies, it became more powerful. Not everyone could have Zhenqi as abnormally strong as Mu Yuan’s, enabling them to kill cultivators who had completed Condensing Fiend and Refining Yang while being at a lower level.

The surrounding Yin Cold Ice Evils rolled and surged, so dense they were almost solid. When he was above, Mu Yuan had only casually taken a few drops of the condensed evil water, and it made his whole body freeze unbearably. Now, it was even more intense. If not for the protection of his Tide True Qi, he would have long been frozen into ice scraps.

In the deep well, no one knew where it led. There were also gusts of strong wind blowing up from the depths, stirring the Yin Cold Ice Evils into even greater chaos. It was just like violent deep-sea currents. Luckily, Mu Yuan’s Zhenqi was stable. Otherwise, it would be hard to even stand firm inside, let alone condense evil energy.

Sitting cross-legged in the Void, six Sword Pills floated beneath him, emitting faint light. They formed an invisible cushion, supporting Mu Yuan’s body. The chaotic Yin Cold Ice Evils around were already spreading everywhere. Moreover, with the wild suction force generated by Mu Yuan’s Qi Vortex Slash, they all surged over continuously like rivers converging into the sea!

Mu Yuan firmly maintained his clear Dao Heart, resolving each Yin evil energy one by one. However, condensing evil energy was a long process. Tempering evil energy was even slower and more tedious. Powerful evil energy rushed over. The evil energy that couldn’t be absorbed in time spread within the Tide True Qi outside Mu Yuan’s body. It dyed his originally purplish-black Zhenqi into pitch-black halos. He looked like a huge cocoon, constantly expanding and growing!

The ice evils passed through the Qi Vortex Slash and were melted by Mu Yuan into his Tide True Qi. They circulated through his cycles, over and over again, endlessly. The icy power within the Tide True Qi gradually permeated these evil energies. Then, like tiny firecrackers, they shattered and exploded. The dense Yin Cold Ice Evils all melted into the Zhenqi, leaving only tiny, extremely pure evil energy specks. They rushed up into his Mud Pellet Palace, floating and rising, wandering and turning in all directions!

Time passed bit by bit. The evil energy within Mu Yuan’s Mud Pill Palace grew more and more. Dense specks of light connected into radiant long lines, like silk threads from a silkworm. They strung together Mu Yuan’s vague, illusory, and real Soul and Spirit. Then, using the method of transforming evil energy with his Spiritual Sense, Mu Yuan melted them, little by little turning them into points of Spiritual Sense, completely merging into his Soul and Spirit!

The Tide True Qi droplets in his Dantian also underwent strange changes. Originally, they were floating, scattered drops of water. But as countless evil energies poured in, were refined, and fused, they eventually gradually linked into a majestic and grand river. The water of this river danced with waves, no longer the illusory image formed when Mu Yuan’s three types of Zhenqi coexisted. Instead, it manifested internally and externally through infinite Zhenqi, existing as if real!

His Spiritual Sense expanded, and his Zhenqi underwent strange changes. The Tide True Qi outside Mu Yuan’s body also changed accordingly. Originally just a few layers of halos, they now gradually flowed together, interconnected like flowing river water. And Mu Yuan’s Dantian was like the sea where all rivers converge!

The Qi from the Dantian surged into the meridians, dispersed through the pores, and then rushed back into the Dantian from the outside. Between the inside and outside, it seemed an invisible connection was established! It was like seawater evaporating, rising to the sky, forming clouds and rain, falling into rivers and lakes, and finally flowing back to the sea again. A concept of endless, cyclical change quietly emerged, incredibly profound. In Mu Yuan’s clear Dao Heart, he felt as if he had momentarily merged with the world outside his body. The changes in the Zhenqi within his body were also like the transformations of Northern Water in the natural world, shifting between the forms of cloud, rain, fog, snow, ice, frost, and dew. But no matter how it changed, it was still just derived forms of water. In essence, it remained the Essence of Northern Water condensed from the Tide True Qi within Mu Yuan’s body!