Volume 1, Chapter 129 – Soul-Seizing Tower

The Earth Fiend Realm is divided into four stages: early, middle, late, and perfection.

The circulation route for the Earth Fiend Realm does not differ much from that of the Innate Realm. The key lies in the method of opening acupoints.

When a martial artist reaches the peak of the ninth stage of the Innate Realm and the qi runs through their entire body, all twelve primary meridians and nearly a hundred minor meridians within are already fully opened. What comes next is to develop the one hundred and eight key acupoints in the body.

There are hundreds of acupoints across the human body, but only one hundred and eight of them are truly crucial. Among these, thirty-six acupoints located at vital areas such as the head and chest and abdomen are death acupoints. They must not be touched in the Earth Fiend Realm. If someone forces them open, there is only one end—death.

The remaining seventy-two acupoints are on the limbs and along the spine. Once any one of them is opened, that counts as stepping into the Earth Fiend Realm.

In the method of opening acupoints that had come along with the circulation route earlier, the first was to start from the Yangxi acupoint on the left palm, then consecutively open ten acupoints such as Hegu, Neiguan, and Qingling, until finally breaking through the Great Bone acupoint between the clavicle and shoulder blade.

After all the vital acupoints along the left arm are opened, you follow the same pattern and open the twelve corresponding acupoints on the right arm. At that point, you are already at the peak of the early stage of the Earth Fiend Realm.

Ordinary martial artists, once they reach the ninth stage of the Innate Realm, even if they have a suitable cultivation art, without guidance from someone at the Earth Fiend Realm or above, will not only struggle to open acupoints, they will not even be able to find where those key acupoints are right away.

They must spend a great deal of effort, using their true qi to feel their way through their body, searching for the acupoints’ locations, and then opening them. This undoubtedly wastes a great deal of time.

Shi Lan could skip that step. The acupoint-opening method she had just received had already marked all the key acupoints. Their positions were as clear to her as the lines on her own palm. All she needed was for her true qi to become sufficiently dense, and she could begin opening them directly.

Once she finished digesting this influx of information, Shi Lan sank back into cultivation. Without the Enlightening Jade Dew, she could only rely on the spiritual energy of the spirit marrow to slowly nourish her scorched organs.

……

Nearly a thousand li south of Ancient Phoenix City lay Spiritwind City, where the Yuan clan had been entrenched for generations.

After Yuan Guanhai lost to Shi Lan on the arena, he returned to Spiritwind City at once with his father Yuan Shan to recuperate.

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Barely had their group set foot back in Spiritwind City when they heard that Shi Lan had taken first place, which made Yuan Guanhai even less able to stomach it. However, the news that came right after made him feel much better.

Because Shi Lan had taken a treasure from the Sky Thunder Hall’s treasure vault, many martial artists had set their sights on her, among them even Heavenly Astral Realm experts.

In Spiritwind City, within a quiet courtyard of the City Lord’s Manor.

Yuan Shan and Yuan Guanhai stood side by side in front of a white-haired elder in plain robes, both looking extremely respectful. Yuan Guanhai had taken pills, and in just two days his broken bones had knit. He could already walk without issue. Aside from a pale face and some loss of blood and qi, he looked no different from an ordinary person.

“I roughly understand the matter now. But with Gu Rentong’s level, there is no way he could have trained a genius like this. This Shi Lan’s background is definitely not simple. If we do not investigate clearly and rashly become her enemy, the risk is great.”

The old man stroked his beard, then his tone sank slightly. “But the injuries Guanhai suffered this time truly are severe. If we simply swallow this, you will probably brood over it for three to five years.”

At that thought, the old man could not help but sigh inwardly. This grandson of his had good talent and methods in every respect, except that his temperament was exactly like his father’s—petty and vengeful. If they glossed over this matter lightly, he probably would not be able to focus on cultivation for the next few years.

“The Sky Thunder Hall has already issued a warning, and this Shi Lan’s identity is unknown. We absolutely cannot go trouble her in the open. We must use another’s hand and first remove our Yuan clan from the picture.”

“What do you mean, Father?” Yuan Shan asked, a little unsure.

“Take three hundred thousand spirit crystals and hire the Soul-Seizing Tower. If she can be killed, kill her. If she cannot, then at least let them cause some trouble for her. I imagine there are no few people thinking about her right now.” The old man spoke slowly.

“Understood. I will see to it at once.” Yuan Shan bowed slightly and turned to leave.

Once Yuan Shan had gone, the old man waved his hand at Yuan Guanhai. “Go back and focus on healing. Wait for news.”

Yuan Guanhai answered respectfully and left the courtyard as well.

A gust of bone-chilling wind swept through,

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and the old man suddenly felt a vague unease, shivering before he realized it. It had been over a hundred years since cold and heat had affected him; he had almost forgotten the feeling. This abnormal sensation made him furrow his brow.

Why did it suddenly feel as if some great calamity was looming?

……

The Soul-Seizing Tower was the most infamous assassin organization within tens of thousands of li around. They acted without the slightest scruple. As long as the price was right, they would even accept a commission to assassinate someone like Lei Wuji.

This was because the Soul-Seizing Tower also had Myriad Phenomena Realm martial artists in its ranks.

The Soul-Seizing Tower had branches everywhere. For martial artists with even a bit of strength, it was hardly a secret.

After a simple disguise, Yuan Shan quickly found one of the Soul-Seizing Tower’s branches.

It was a small tavern by a desolate mountain road. Cloaked in a black robe with the hood up, Yuan Shan stopped at the tavern door and pushed it open.

Outside, the sunlight was blazing, but inside the tavern it was very dim. Light barely penetrated at all, and the place relied on a few oil lamps for illumination.

A few black-robed figures sat scattered around inside. At the back, beside the counter, was a reclining chair. A young man of about twenty-three lay on it, fully absorbed in caressing a dagger about two feet long in his hand.

At the sound of the door, the young man did not even lift his head. “Food and lodging, or business?” he asked mildly.

“A bit of business.” Yuan Shan’s voice was extremely low and muffled, clearly disguised.

“What business?”

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“Killing.”

Hum—

With a clear hum, the young man slid the dagger into his sleeve, rose to his feet behind the counter, and took out a sheet of gold paper as thin as a cicada’s wing. Picking up a brush from the counter, he asked:

“Who is the target?”

“The champion of the Sky Thunder Hall’s recent martial meet, Shi Lan, who is currently in Ancient Phoenix City.”

At the name Shi Lan, the young man’s brush paused. He lifted his head to look at Yuan Shan, his expression calm. “May I ask who you are?”

“It is inconvenient to say.”

“Then the Soul-Seizing Tower cannot take this commission. Please leave.”

“Why?!”

Yuan Shan was secretly puzzled. The Soul-Seizing Tower had always cared only about spirit crystals. Since when had they started asking who the client was?

The young man did not answer. He only stared silently at Yuan Shan.

After a moment of silence, Yuan Shan replied, “I am from Ancient Phoenix City.”

“Please produce proof. Otherwise, I must still ask you to leave.”

“And how am I supposed to prove that?” Yuan Shan said, growing a little impatient. “The Soul-Seizing Tower’s name is known far and wide. Now I only want to hire you to kill a mere Innate Realm woman. Why are you being so fussy? Is your reputation all for show?”

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As soon as the words left his mouth, Yuan Shan felt several icy killing intents lock onto him. It was as if one more word and he would be cut to pieces on the spot.

“How the Soul-Seizing Tower conducts its business is not for you to comment on. Either reveal your identity, or leave,” the young man said indifferently. “The Soul-Seizing Tower will not divulge any information about our clients. You may rest easy on that.”

“Spiritwind City, Yuan Shan.”

Yuan Shan sighed, pulled back his hood, and revealed his identity.

The young man lifted the brush again.

“How much are you offering?”

“Two hundred thousand spirit crystals.”

“Not enough.”

“Three hundred thousand.”

“Still not enough.”

The young man shook his head.

“Then how much do you want?” Yuan Shan’s brows drew together.

“In addition, I want the lives of everyone in your Yuan clan in Spiritwind City.”