Xu Qing carefully comprehended this state, savoring the feeling as the mysteries of Baji Fist flowed through his mind. Baji Fist had originally been just an ordinary fighting style.
But now, after Xu Qing's successive upgrades, his Baji Fist, which had reached Level 7, had undergone a world-shaking transformation. It had become an extremely profound Martial Art that integrated both fighting and Training Techniques.
Moreover, after he had completely mastered it, it had even allowed Xu Qing to reach the Peak of Dark Force.
In other words, if Xu Qing could take one more step, he would be able to reach the level of 'Huajin'.
WHOOSH...
Xu Qing exhaled a breath that was as sharp as an arrow. His physical constitution had already undergone a radical transformation.
'Upgrade Life-taking Thirteen Swords.'
CLANG!
The next moment, after familiarizing himself with his Level 7 Baji Fist and his new strength at the Peak of Dark Force, Xu Qing willed it and began to upgrade his Life-taking Thirteen Swords.
The Encyclopedia of All Things flickered with fluorescent light.
It was as if the sound of countless ringing swords appeared by his ears.
Vaguely, Xu Qing saw countless small, sword-wielding figures endlessly practicing the Life-taking Thirteen Swords before his eyes. They transformed into a torrent that surged into his mind.
BOOM!
His mind trembled.
At this moment, Xu Qing's consciousness seemed to enter a mysterious space. Inside this space, he couldn't perceive the passage of time. Tens of millions of years felt like an instant, and an instant felt like tens of millions of years.
And so, Xu Qing ceaselessly practiced and deduced the Life-taking Thirteen Swords.
Gradually, from the Life-taking Thirteen Swords, he deduced the Fourteen Life-taking Swords.
CRACK!
Xu Qing opened his eyes. All sorts of comprehensions, mysteries, and wonders surged into his mind, deepening his understanding of the Life-taking Thirteen Swords.
[Life-taking Thirteen Swords Level 2: 1/60 (This was originally an extremely exquisite Swordsmanship, containing a total of thirteen swords. Each sword contains One Hundred and Eight Types of variations, emphasizing speed, precision, and ruthlessness. At the same time, each sword contains an extremely ferocious aura, representing a Swordsmanship of death and destruction. After deduction and evolution, the Fourteenth Life-taking Sword, named: Sword of Death, has been initially deduced.)]
"Fourteen Life-taking Swords."
After waking up, Xu Qing didn't practice the Life-taking Thirteen Swords. Instead, he continued to comprehend the Fourteenth Life-taking Sword. With his current Cultivation, he couldn't execute the Fourteenth Life-taking Sword at all. Even if he could, he would definitely be completely drained.
Besides, the Life-taking Thirteen Swords each contained One Hundred and Eight Types of variations, but the initially deduced Fourteenth Life-taking Sword only had thirty-six variations. It was far from complete.
Xu Qing mused, 'It's already very strong. If I can reach the level of Huajin and exert all my Power, I might be able to use this Fourteenth Life-taking Sword.'
「An hour later.」
Xu Qing had adjusted his condition.
"Upgrade Evil Ghost Mask," he said.
BOOM!
The Encyclopedia of All Things flickered with fluorescent light again, and the Evil Ghost Mask in Xu Qing's hand also began to change. It was as if Xu Qing was seeing a vision of the Evil Ghost Mask being reforged.
It was the same Temple, the same gloomy and dark environment, the same Divine Woman whose face was unclear, and the same bloody scene.
But this time, Xu Qing saw that the raw materials for making the Evil Ghost Mask were no longer the skin and flesh of animals, but living humans. A special technique was used to keep the person alive while their entire skin was flayed off whole.
A total of nine complete human skins were needed.
Therefore, nine living people were required.
Furthermore, the living person's flesh, internal organs, and bones were all raw materials for refining the Evil Ghost Mask. They were refined with a special technique, becoming the ink and pigment for drawing runes.
Before he knew it, the Evil Ghost Mask had been created. Nine complete human skins, the flesh and bones of nine living people, and the Divine Woman's special refining method had finally resulted in the creation of the Evil Ghost Mask.
Not only that, but after the Evil Ghost Mask was Refined, it turned on the Divine Woman, Devouring her soul into the mask. It then merged with the nine resentful souls of those who died tragically, transforming into an Evil Ghost.
BUZZ!
Xu Qing looked at the Evil Ghost Mask in his hand again. It had undergone a huge change, actually becoming a transparent mask. After putting it on his face, he couldn't feel or see anything.
In other words, as long as Xu Qing didn't awaken the Power contained within the Evil Ghost Mask, wearing it was like wearing nothing at all.
[Evil Ghost Mask Level 9: 402/2560 (This is a terrifying mask containing an Evil Ghost, a strange mask created by a Divine Woman who Sacrificed to a Ghost God by refining nine living people. The mask Devoured the Divine Woman's soul and merged with the resentful souls of the nine living people, ultimately becoming a Witch Evil Ghost. This has given the Evil Ghost Mask a bizarre Spirituality, allowing it not only to disguise one's face and change one's aura, but also to alter one's body and appearance, and even summon the Witch Evil Ghost.)]
Xu Qing was overjoyed. 'It can already alter my body and appearance!'
After a moment of contemplation, Xu Qing took the mask off. Strolling through the city with such a mask on would be troublesome if he encountered an expert.
Therefore, it was best not to wear this mask out during the day. He would put it on only when truly necessary and then awaken the Evil Ghost Mask's Power.
There was no need to wear a mask all day long.
Or perhaps he could wear it while sleeping at night. That would increase the Evil Ghost Mask's Experience Points.
「Meanwhile.」
Because the Ye Family was wary of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall, Xu Qing was no longer targeted or ambushed by the Ye Family's Death Warriors. Instead, he passed six very peaceful days.
However, Xu Qing had no intention of letting things go just like that.
Furthermore, Ye Yi had been investigating the whereabouts of that master of Swordsmanship these past few days but had found no clues. The master swordsman had only made a move twice, and each time he had come and gone without a trace, making him impossible to track.
「The scene changes.」
The Ye Family Mansion.
Inside the basement.
Three people were gathered.
Directly ahead.
What came into view was a Blood Pool with a diameter of one hundred meters. In the very center of the Blood Pool was a blood-black cauldron.
BUZZ! BUZZ!
Beneath the blood-black cauldron, bursts of Blood Flame burned, enveloping the bottom of the cauldron, calcining and refining something within.
Upon closer observation, there were blood-colored patterns along the edge of the Blood Pool. These patterns intertwined to form a special Blood Array, emitting a bloody and bizarre aura.
In addition, a huge lid covered the top of the blood-black cauldron in the center of the Blood Pool. Three enormous, thick chains were wrapped around the lid, extending outwards. The other end of the chains was embedded in the basement walls.
Moreover, the enormous, thick chains were also covered in dense, blood-colored patterns, like crimson runes, filled with a bloody and bizarre aura.
"How much longer?"
At this moment, the white-haired old man standing in the middle asked, his gaze burning. His face was ancient, much of his white hair had fallen out, his skin was covered in age spots, and his body was stooped. He looked like he already had one foot in the grave.
"Hee hee..."
The graceful woman on the left chuckled. "Master Ye, it would have been ready in just three days. But a while ago, we lost quite a few Corpse Ghosts, and even several Black-haired Zombies were slain. This has slowed down our collection of 'Essence of Life'."
"Such meddlesome busybodies."
Master Ye slammed his cane viciously on the ground several times. "How can the lives of those peasants compare to my own? I just want to live for another ten years! Why are so many people trying to obstruct me?!"
"Master Ye."
Suddenly, the middle-aged man on the right, who wore a black cloak and had a rather burly build, took a deep breath and said in a calm tone, "We don't have much time left."
"This business with the Corpse Ghosts has been going on for so long, and the Governmental Agency still hasn't figured it out. More and more commoners are dying. The County Magistrate is probably planning to dispatch the Demon Extermination Agency."
"When that time comes..."
The man in the black cloak didn't finish his sentence.
"Then what do you propose we do?"
Master Ye shouted, "You were the ones who approached me in the first place! It's true that I don't want to die, that I want to live another ten years, that I want to refine the 'Blood Demon Pill'!"
"But."
"It's been half a year, a full half-year! The 'Blood Demon Pill' still hasn't been Refined, and you originally said it could be done within a month."
"Also."
"The various factions in the Outer City are already secretly watching our Ye Family."
"Master Ye, don't you worry."
The graceful woman giggled. "We've actually been prepared for a while. Tonight, we will release all the Corpse Ghosts and Zombies."
"When the time comes."
"It will be enough to seize sufficient 'Essence of Life' in a single night and refine the 'Blood Demon Pill' for you in one fell swoop. After you take the Blood Demon Pill, your life will be extended by another ten years."
"What?!"
Master Ye's eyes widened. "You... you're insane?!"
"Hee hee hee..."
The graceful woman's giggle turned shrill. "How could we be insane? Oh, Master Ye! We're doing all of this for you."
SPLASH...
GLUG... GLUG... GLUG...
Suddenly, as the graceful woman's jade-like hands formed a series of Dharma Seals, the Blood Pool before them began to boil. One after another, the heads of Corpse Ghosts and Zombies emerged from beneath the surface.
There were a great many of them.
And, with the help of the Ye Family's influence, a total of nine such Blood Pools had been established in the Outer City of Qingbei Town. One of them was built in the secret chamber beneath Kaiyuan Tower.
The other seven were established within the Ye Family's various businesses, using them as cover.
"!!!"
Seeing this scene, a chill ran through Master Ye. He was jolted awake at this moment, staring in horror at the graceful woman and asking in a shocked voice, "You... Who in the world are you?!"
"You were never refining the Blood Demon Pill! You've been lying to me this whole time."
At this point, Master Ye finally realized what was happening.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
"The Blood Demon Desire Woman, Qinglian," the graceful woman said, her tone still playful.
SPLAT!
Blood splattered everywhere.
The burly man in the black cloak slapped Master Ye into a pile of bloody mush. He looked at the graceful woman and said, "Junior Sister, let's hurry."
"The only reason those people from the Demon Extermination Agency have held back this long is because they want you to make things even bigger. That way, they can claim greater credit."
"They already traced things back to the Ye Family a month and a half ago."