Chapter 9: Dawn Approaches

Before igniting the Dao root, Zhong Wei had been at a disadvantage; the black-clad woman, a fifth-stage Spirit Refiner, was indeed formidable.

As the essence within the Dao root was extracted, a sudden surge of power arose within him.

The woman in black, her face concealed, revealed a noticeably grave expression in her exposed eyes, yet she remained composed. Her long sword twirled lightly, sword qi rippling outward, her movements graceful as the wind as she pressed the attack relentlessly.

Her swordsmanship flowed like a mighty river—both graceful and forceful.

Each stroke of her blade sliced through the air with a piercing whistle; the clash of sword and blade sent sparks flying across the courtyard.

“This sword technique…” Qin Liang was momentarily distracted, having likely deduced her identity upon witnessing her style.

Therefore, he could not afford to leave directly.

Turning swiftly, he ascended to the second floor, entering the previously disordered chamber, summoning the Primordial Abyss Cauldron. He tossed five corpses inside, initiating their refinement to extract the spiritual essence within.

Zhong Wei, burning his Dao root, was strong; although the woman in black was a fifth-stage Spirit Refiner, she could not sustain the battle for long. Thus, he had to buy time to complete his own third-stage refinement and rush to aid her.

While the Primordial Abyss Cauldron refined the remains, Qin Liang gathered all five spatial pouches.

Moments later, the room’s bloodstains cleared, and Qin Liang drank the blood-red spiritual essence from the cauldron, immediately circulating his cultivation technique.

A sudden hum rang out—like a great ancient bell resonating through time and space.

Qin Liang felt as if his head might explode; a piercing pain struck him, his soul jolted as if struck by lightning.

“What’s happening? Could it be the Primordial Abyss Cauldron…” His eyes glowed with a crimson hue, a fierce murderous desire swelling within. To suppress it, he frantically operated his Supremely Heavenly Technique without pause.

The Primordial Abyss Cauldron was shrouded in mystery and antiquity, its information vast and complex.

Faintly, Qin Liang envisioned a sacred treasure cauldron inverted between heaven and earth, exuding a majestic aura and divine radiance, subjugating countless heroes on the spot before commencing refinement.

Then, the cosmos overturned, a blood rain cascading across the sky, all absorbed by it.

Among those powerful beings were creatures born of heaven and earth, yet before the cauldron, they were as insignificant as ants.

“Resentment… murderous intent…”

Qin Liang finally understood what was affecting him.

These centuries-old grudges and killing intents had been refined for thousands of years, now only remnants of their power remained. Seizing the moment when Qin Liang absorbed the spiritual essence, they surged into his soul, as if seeking revenge for their ancient suppression.

Fortunately, the “Primordial Mysterious Dao Technique” did not disappoint, barely suppressing the turmoil.

“Phew…”

Only after absorbing all the spiritual essence did Qin Liang exhale heavily, drenched in sweat and inwardly shaken.

***

“After this, I must cleanse the resentment within swiftly. I can no longer recklessly refine corpses,” Qin Liang resolved with regret.

The spiritual essence contained in corpses was substantial—a great loss if left unused.

Resentment was also a form of fixation; if left in the Primordial Abyss Cauldron, it would eventually be refined away. However, after tens of thousands of years, those grudges remained unfinished, and Qin Liang doubted he possessed such patience.

Now that the resentment had infiltrated his soul deeply, it could not be withdrawn back into the cauldron.

Enduring such resentment for long would inevitably drive him mad—posing a grave hidden danger.

That said, he had finally completed his third-stage spirit refinement. Not only had his strength and speed increased, but his physical body had become tougher. Should he encounter those two assassins again, he could dispatch them easily.

“The dawn is near.”

He lifted his twin blades, unable to conceal the killing intent burning in his eyes, and strode out of the room.

In the courtyard, Zhong Wei and the woman in black battled fiercely.

After burning his Dao root and extracting its potential, Zhong Wei could barely match the black-clad woman’s attacks. His assault showed no sign of waning, as if he could continue indefinitely—truly worthy of a second-grade Dao root.

“Even with your face covered, I know you’re a beauty. Pity I can’t share a pillow with you, because today, you must die.”

Zhong Wei’s feet seemed to barely touch the ground as he swung his blade with the force to cleave a mountain.

The clash of blade and sword sent both opponents reeling.

Unexpectedly, the woman suddenly groaned and coughed up a mouthful of blood, her condition deteriorating rapidly.

“Oh? So you’re hiding an internal ailment,” Zhong Wei mocked with a sneer.

No wonder a fifth-stage Spirit Refiner had fought him for so long despite him being only fourth-stage—it was illogical otherwise. If he pressed his advantage now, the woman’s death was certain.

Just as he moved to strike, a shadow flickered across the courtyard, coming to the woman’s side.

Her internal injuries were severe; after coughing blood, she fainted. Qin Liang hurriedly steadied her and felt her pulse—his expression darkened sharply.

“Cold energy… the meridian blockage has worsened.”

“Just when I was about to find you. Perfect timing—let’s die together!”

Zhong Wei raised his blade and charged, his strength formidable and angle cunning, aiming to kill both at once.

Qin Liang placed the woman gently in a corner and drew his twin blades to meet the attack.

Had this been the Qin Liang of before, he could not have faced such a strike head-on. But now, having completed his third-stage refinement, his power had soared.

With swift movements, his blades danced like silver serpents. Their fierce collision balanced in strength.

“How is this possible?”

Zhong Wei was terrified, unable to believe the opponent’s power had surged so drastically in such a short time.

Although his Dao root was nearly exhausted, he was no ordinary fourth-stage Spirit Refiner.

Yet now, he was being pushed back by a mere third-stage Spirit Refiner—if word got out, no one would believe it.

Qin Liang pressed the assault, his speed like wind and lightning.

Clang! Clang!

Two strikes rang out; Qin Liang’s left blade deflected Zhong Wei’s broadsword, while his right blade thrust toward Zhong Wei’s chest.

Zhong Wei’s expression shifted slightly but he reacted swiftly, slapping both palms forcefully together.

With a loud bang, Qin Liang’s blade broke under the four-thousand-pound force—his blades were mere iron, unable to withstand such power. Moments later, the other blade was also snapped by Zhong Wei’s brute strength—truly astonishing.

“Want to kill a fourth-stage Spirit Refiner? With you?” Zhong Wei sneered in contempt. “A third-stage Spirit Refiner trying to kill a fourth-stage is nothing but a dream.”

“Is that so?”

Qin Liang’s body radiated killing intent. He discarded the broken blades and raised his fists to attack.

He unleashed his Seven-Star Fist to its utmost, layering a fifth level of hidden strength atop the four levels he already wielded.

“Foolhardy!”

Zhong Wei’s voice turned cold, believing he could easily dispatch Qin Liang without weapons.

He clenched his fists, pushing off forcefully with his legs, charging forward for close-quarters combat.

Each of Qin Liang’s Seven-Star punches contained five layers of hidden strength. In moments, he unleashed countless blows, each striking flesh and bone. His movements were agile and fluid, embodying the grace of a youthful grandmaster.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

After a brief exchange, Zhong Wei realized dozens of hidden strength attacks had penetrated his body—but it was too late.

With muffled pops like roasted beans, Zhong Wei’s Dao root essence was fully exhausted, his meridians shattered by Qin Liang’s hidden strength. He spat a mouthful of fresh blood, staining the pre-dawn sky crimson.

“F-five layers of hidden strength… this is impossible…”

He died unwillingly, unable to accept that he had been slain by a mere third-stage Spirit Refiner.

Qin Liang retrieved Zhong Wei’s spatial pouch from his waist, returned to the corner, and gently lifted the woman in black.

“Xue’er, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

He stepped out of the courtyard into the morning glow.

Her mask fluttered in the breeze, revealing glimpses of a breathtakingly beautiful face stained with blood—adding a poignant elegance. If not Jiang Xuehan, then who?