Volume 1, Chapter 72 – Transforming Qi

Jade Phoenix Sword!

When Bai Xiang swallowed the pill, the two fiends showed no expression.

But the moment she took hold of the white‑jade short sword, both their faces shifted—and they lunged at her in a burst of speed!

As expected.

Seeing this, Bai Xiang knew she’d bet right again.

Granted, these two fiends were so sly you could hardly guard against them, but with the Chai father and daughter so treacherous and vicious, there was no way they wouldn’t judge others by themselves.

They might not have anticipated the monk’s remnant soul, but the cicada demon was an obvious threat in plain sight; Chai Jingyuan and Chai Xuan couldn’t possibly have placed all their trust in it!

They had to have a countermeasure against the cicada demon—and there was a good chance that counter protected soul and will, blocking a body‑snatch!

Then it could only be this!

Jade Phoenix Sword!

The instant the white‑jade short sword settled in her grip, Bai Xiang felt a gentle warmth transmit from her palm into her heart meridians.

In less than half a breath, that warmth completed a circuit of the grand circulation through her body. Wherever it passed seemed to take on a white‑jade sheen, and her torn wounds began knitting at speed.

Worthy of a “peerless healing treasure” indeed—its efficiency was even fiercer than she’d imagined!

On the first breath, the Jade Phoenix Sword’s energy was a mere trickle.

But with each breath she took, that power doubled on its last—by the fourth breath it was a great river, crashing violently into her body!

Nourished by the Jade Phoenix Sword, her Heart Flow swelled wildly.

Bai Xiang locked her eyes on the two charging fiends, and with her soul ability forced her gut to digest the tablet—then—forced her body to start absorbing the medicinal power!

This was a move only she could pull off! It existed only in theory, and it would absolutely exact severe damage on the body!

Under normal circumstances Bai Xiang would never have dared, but with the Jade Phoenix Sword in hand—knowing any injury could be mended at a moment’s notice—and with a deadly foe pressing, she truly couldn’t afford to care!

Thirty‑one percent…

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Thirty‑two percent…

Her Transforming Qi progress was still capped by tolerance, but she brute‑forced it with sheer dosage!

She pushed it along bit by bit by injuring her heart meridians and even her organs—then repairing them with the Jade Phoenix Sword!

[Amitabha…]

The monk’s remnant soul closed first. Leisurely chanting the Buddha’s name again, his whole body became like a transparent kasaya; whoosh—he drifted up to Bai Xiang and wrapped around her, clinging like a back‑ghost!

But not completely.

Look closely: between that phantom remnant and Bai Xiang’s body was a white barrier, a soft radiance spilling from the Jade Phoenix Sword—like a close‑fitting gauze robe draped over her, guarding her from any soul invasion.

An instant later, the cicada demon also drove Chai Xuan’s body at Bai Xiang.

“Drop the sword, now!” She seized the iron sword in Bai Xiang’s right hand and shouted, “The Jade Phoenix Sword can indeed nourish body and soul—but at the cost of your life force!”

“That so…” Bai Xiang forced down the crisscrossing pain in her body, the corner of her mouth curling coldly. “Afraid I’ll wring my life force dry—and ruin your future prospects after you take me over?”

“You—” The cicada demon’s pupils tightened, then she quickly forced a wry smile.

“I’m kindly trying to save you!”

“Fine! I admit this requires temporarily occupying your body! But only that can keep you from being seized by that bald monk!”

“You’re Bai Muying’s descendant! Bai Muying once saved my life! Even if I slaughtered the whole world, I’d never harm you!”

“I don’t believe you,” Bai Xiang said, enunciating each word as she stared at her.

The cicada demon first froze, then her expression twisted against her will.

What a stubborn little thing…

If not for that superb body of yours—so perfectly suited to my lineage—why would I have let you live until now!

She was just about to exert force and snap Bai Xiang’s limbs when the cicada demon’s face changed again.

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What…?

Why did the Jade Phoenix Sword’s light go out?

The soft white glow cloaking Bai Xiang dimmed by degrees. Seeing this, the monk’s remnant soul roused, murmured scripture under his breath, and, like smoke, pierced the soft radiance to wind around Bai Xiang, already seeking to pour into her seven apertures.

Can’t let that bald monk Daokong get there first!

With such a perfect body—if he got it, I’m finished!

Seeing that, the cicada demon panicked. Controlling Chai Xuan, she opened her mouth and shot a beam of gold light, which likewise pierced the soft radiance and went straight between Bai Xiang’s brows.

Two wills descended into Bai Xiang’s inner landscape at the same time. They stared at her Heart‑Aspect with covetous eyes, yet each was deeply wary of the other.

“Amitabha.”

The monk congealed a form within the inner landscape and inclined in a bow toward the golden light.

“Grievances of a former life should end with that life.”

“Little Cicada, if you’ll help me attain the Dao, I can swear to return your freedom thereafter.”

“Pah!” The golden light took on the cicada demon’s outline. “This ancestor won’t be fooled a second time!”

“Then we do this the hard way?”

“There’s no lousy sword to save you here! Come on—what, think I’m afraid?”

The air between them tightened; they were about to clash—when both forms trembled and they turned to glance again at Bai Xiang’s Heart‑Aspect.

At some point the Heart‑Aspect Seed that shone with white light had manifested into Bai Xiang’s likeness; even her skintight combat suit was perfectly reproduced—only, it was white.

“Impossible!”

At last the monk lost his composure.

“You haven’t even forged a sword—how could you have nurtured a ‘Spirit Embryo’?”

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The cicada demon’s face was blank, but judging by how fast her wings vibrated, she too had taken a heavy hit.

“You don’t think that Jade Phoenix Sword’s ‘shield’ was to protect me, do you…”

Her will seated within the inner landscape, Bai Xiang, leaning on her soul ability, looked coolly at the two “guests.”

Use it on one alone and the other, seeing how it worked, would never come in.

She’d only been waiting for a chance—for both enemies to enter together.

Sensing things had gone wrong, the monk and the cicada demon both turned into streaks of spirit‑light, trying to flee.

Too late.

As Bai Xiang’s mind stirred, the Jade Phoenix Sword’s soft radiance blended with her mighty Heart Flow, surging like a tsunami through the fissures of her heart meridians. The very first wave rolled both streaks of spirit‑light into the tide.

“Ah…!”

“No—!”

The spirit‑light had only begun a scream when it cut off mid‑syllable and merged straight into the Heart Flow, turning into a vast, pure soul energy that poured into the pure‑white “Bai Xiang” within.

At once!

Her Transforming Qi progress spiked!

From barely sixty‑six percent to ninety‑seven, ninety‑eight—on the verge of complete metamorphosis!

Outside, in the gloomy cave, Bai Xiang’s body suddenly released an invisible ripple.

The unconscious Chai Xuan… the remains on the ground… gravel—every obstacle and loose scrap… even the Jade Phoenix Sword!—were swept aside by the ripple.

The invisible power didn’t dissipate, either; it held her up, seating her upright in the air as she floated.

Bai Xiang’s flesh had lost consciousness, but her legs naturally folded into full lotus, her eyes closed, her white hair lifting lightly. Not far away, Chai Jingyuan’s remains—along with the broken wooden sword stuck through its eye socket and the “Zhenyuan” sword embryo clutched in its hand—rose as if guided, swept to hover fore and aft of Bai Xiang, and began to orbit her.

Suddenly.

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The invisible distortion cocooning Bai Xiang vanished.

Her hair fell; the vision faded; both swords clanged to the ground.

But her body didn’t drop; she still hung there in midair.

As if another power—something more advanced than the invisible distortion, wholly transmuted—were holding her aloft.

By now.

Success.

Opening her eyes, Bai Xiang stepped down onto nothing; the first thing she did was sweep out an invisible Qi sword that drilled into Chai Xuan’s skull and burst it apart.

“So this is Qi…”

She lowered her gaze to her palm, savoring the feel.

Far more condensed than invisible distortion—and far sharper.

A brand‑new energy evolved through humanity’s unique gifts—Heart‑Aspect, heart meridians, Heart Flow—its strength, too, is tied to the Heart‑Aspect.

In short, the stronger the will, the more unstoppable Qi’s cut becomes.

She looked down at the wooden sword and the sword embryo and murmured, “Common denominator… they’ve both tasted my blood, haven’t they.”

Come to think of it—though she’d already consumed its soul—the Startling‑Spirit Cicada’s thousand‑year Egg Case was still lying ahead…

With a lift of her hand, a thread of Qi hooked the wooden sword. Bai Xiang closed her fingers around the hilt and gently stroked the battered blade.

“You’ve worked hard.”

For once, a gentle look surfaced on her face.

“Don’t worry.”

“I’ll remake you right away.”