Chapter 58: Reaping the Benefits

Regarding the wager proposed by Youqiong, Qingxu was quite intrigued by the method. After all, if he were to win, things would be resolved simply; otherwise, even if he forced his way with power, hidden dangers would inevitably linger. A peaceful solution was, of course, preferable.

“You must be aware that my brother and I possess secret arts of the Witch tribe,” Youqiong said, avoiding a direct explanation of the wager and instead steering the conversation elsewhere.

Qingxu replied, “I have heard some rumors, and witnessed your brother’s battle soul technique earlier—it was truly formidable.” He wasn’t in a hurry to learn the terms of the wager, so he followed Youqiong’s lead. This was hardly a secret; most of humanity knew, though he couldn’t fathom why Youqiong felt the need to ask.

“My brother and I cultivate a Witchcraft method known as the Celestial Witch’s Secret Art…”

Thus began Youqiong’s tale. He seemed to forget the wager for a moment, lost in nostalgia, recounting the origins of his fate. Qingxu listened and soon understood the whole story.

It turned out that not long after the Sage Nuwa created mankind, Youqiong had left Wanqu to hunt and encountered a minor demon at the transformation stage. At that time, he was only at the Golden Core level and no match for the demon, so he naturally fled for his life. The demon, slow-witted, couldn’t outpace Youqiong; the chase led them from Wanqu deep into the wilds of Canghuang Mountain. Luck favored Youqiong, for he managed to plunge through layers of poisonous miasma, driven by his will to survive, while the demon, possessing transformation-stage cultivation, easily followed.

Man and demon entered the valley before them. As Youqiong despaired and prepared for a last stand, he discovered an entrance to the earth’s veins and, between life and death, entered without hesitation. The demon, still in its original form with a massive body, couldn’t fit through, but lingered at the entrance, determined not to leave. With the demon guarding the exit, Youqiong faced certain death if he tried to escape, so he ventured deeper into the earth’s veins, where unexpected fortune awaited him.

Along the way, Youqiong discovered the skeleton of a Witch tribe member, six or seven zhang in length. Within the remains, he found a tome documenting the Celestial Witch’s Secret Art. Sadly, time had eroded much of it; only three or four parts out of ten remained. Yet even such a fragmentary text allowed Youqiong to reach the mid-stage Earth Immortal realm in just sixty years.

“A Witch tribe manual, incomplete by more than half, allowing one to reach the mid-stage Earth Immortal realm in only sixty years? Incredible! If it were complete, what extraordinary power would it bestow?” Even Qingxu couldn’t help but envy Youqiong’s fate.

As Qingxu marveled at the Celestial Witch’s Secret Art, Youqiong, after a pause, continued, “This wager concerns the earth’s veins of Canghuang Mountain, whose sole entrance lies within this very valley. If you can enter and extract a strand of the earth’s vein essence, you win. Otherwise, I ask you to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of my people.”

Enter the earth’s veins? Extract a strand of its essence?

“This… seems far too simple, doesn’t it?” Qingxu found it hard to believe that the wager could be so straightforward, suspecting he’d misheard or misunderstood.

Sensing Qingxu’s doubt, Youqiong sneered, “I forgot to mention: when that Witch tribe member died, his postnatal turbid energy transformed into a yin-turbid aura that sank and mingled with earth fiends, forming a barrier of yin-turbid earth fiend energy blocking the way.”

“What?” Qingxu was startled.

In the primordial era, the twelve ancestral Witches were born of Pangu’s twelve drops of heart’s blood mixed with innate turbid energy, nurtured over countless millennia. Other Witches were created by the twelve ancestors themselves, using Pangu Hall as the foundation and their own blood as catalyst, deriving from postnatal turbid energy. Thus, apart from a few exceptional great Witches endowed with innate turbid energy, the rest possessed only postnatal turbid energy.

“The Witch tribe skeleton in the earth’s vein passage should emit postnatal turbid energy, but combined with the lingering yin spirit and earth fiend, its power is formidable.”

Indeed, it made sense. Youqiong was at the mid-stage Earth Immortal realm, and cultivated Witch tribe secret arts; his resistance to the yin-turbid earth fiend energy far exceeded that of Daoist cultivators. Yet even he couldn’t pass through—it spoke to the terrifying strength of that barrier.

Yin-turbid earth fiend energy was a mutated, vicious force, combining postnatal turbid energy, the yin evil of the departed, and earth fiend energy. It was supreme in both yin and evil; be one immortal or mortal, a touch would annihilate body and soul. Even immortal treasures couldn’t withstand it—if tainted, they’d instantly become mere iron.

“If you fear it, so be it. My cultivation is insufficient; whether you kill or spare me is your choice. But the matter of merging our tribes will not be easily resolved.” As the saying goes, “When the people no longer fear death, what threat can death pose?” Youqiong had cast aside all thoughts of life and death—what could he not dare? If he opposed the merging of tribes, relying on his reputation, the Youqiong clan would surely not submit easily. Conflict would be inevitable, with countless casualties, and the karmic burden would fall upon him.

“Chief, you’re too harsh. I accept your wager, but I hope you won’t go back on your word.” The yin-turbid earth fiend energy was indeed savage and overpowering; even a True Immortal would struggle against it. Yet Qingxu possessed the Xuanmo Sword, for which such energy was not an obstacle, but a nourishing supplement.

With both the chance for gain and victory, it was a win-win for Qingxu—why not accept? He readily agreed.

“Rest assured, my word is as weighty as the mountains. If you win, not only will I allow the merging of our tribes, I will even serve you as your slave if you wish.” Youqiong appeared supremely confident. In his mind, the yin-turbid earth fiend energy was so terrifying that Qingxu, no matter his cultivation or powers, could not possibly pass through the earth’s vein barrier.

“In that case, lead the way, Chief.” Qingxu was eager, anticipating the nourishment his Xuanmo Sword would soon draw from the yin-turbid earth fiend energy. He could hardly wait.

“This Daoist is rushing to his death,” Yousin sneered inwardly. He knew well how dreadful the yin-turbid earth fiend energy was, and more so, how thick it was in the earth’s vein passage. Below the rank of Grand Golden Immortal, no one could cross it; any who tried would perish, with no second chance.

“Immortal?” Taiji, who had remained silent, was both anxious and surprised. From his perspective, with immortal cultivation, Qingxu could have simply subdued the Youqiong brothers—why risk such danger? If something went awry, wouldn’t that be disastrous? But the immortal was not someone he could sway.

“No need to speak further. The merging of our tribes is of utmost importance; whatever happens, I must attempt this wager.” It was a joke—such benefits were practically handed to him; how could he let them slip away?

“Alas!” Taiji sighed, his heart heavy, silently praying that Qingxu would win, or at least escape unharmed.

Regardless of Taiji’s worries, the Youqiong brothers exchanged glances, each breaking into a smile, convinced their scheme would succeed. Their mood was excellent.

At once, the Youqiong brothers led the way, with Qingxu following behind, all three heading deeper into the valley.