Free Web NovelChapter 103: Chapter 85: Qi Yang Delivers Another Treasure
He tried his best not to get too angry. After all, rage was bad for one’s health.
’Who’s strong and who’s weak right now is only temporary. There’s still a long road ahead; we’ll see who has the last laugh.’
「Ten more days passed in a flash.」
Xu Lei had found Qi Yang.
In fact, Xu Lei had been secretly tracking and observing him for several days now.
’That old bastard Qi Yang... to think he could find an opportunity like this!’
Xu Lei was growing excited. ’If I can obtain it!
Will it be just as the ancient texts describe? Will I no longer have to suffer the torment of abstinence?
I’ll be able to pursue the Dao and immortality while also living a life of pleasure and freedom!
Zhi Jian said it was incredibly difficult to find, yet I never thought Qi Yang would actually stumble upon it!
In that case, getting afflicted with his Black Seal wasn’t a complete disaster after all!
If it weren’t for the seal, I wouldn’t be able to sense and track him, and I never would have come across an opportunity like this!’
That’s right!
One’s luck can’t be bad forever.
After his recent misfortune, it seemed Xu Lei’s luck was finally turning around.
He had discovered that Qi Yang had found another opportunity.
And this time, the opportunity Qi Yang discovered was one that could free a Cultivator from the torment of celibacy!
Xu Lei couldn’t help but be thrilled.
’A firm Dao heart? Single-minded devotion to the Buddhist Sect? So what!’
’Who would want to live like this if it weren’t absolutely necessary for Cultivation?!’
’If you could feast on meat and wine, ride chargers by day and bed beauties by night, all while still pursuing the Dao and immortality...’
’...who would be willing to spend year after year in cold, bitter Cultivation?!’
Xu Lei was no different.
The only reason he had been able to endure it was the thought that even if he abstained in this life, he could indulge in the next.
He was enduring the suffering of this life in exchange for happiness in the next.
But if he could enjoy those same pleasures in *this* life without any negative consequences, Xu Lei was naturally overjoyed!
And he would no longer have to turn away from the tears of that beautiful young woman who had sworn to give her all to him!
This so-called opportunity was none other than the Phoenix True Flame!
Having lived two lifetimes, Xu Lei had naturally read many of the Buddhist Sect’s books on Cultivation and learned a great deal.
The Phoenix True Flame was mentioned in the biography of an ancient master from the Daoist Sect.
It was said that back when the Phoenix Demon had not yet gone extinct, it could refine a type of Origin True Flame within its body—the so-called Phoenix True Flame.
After that master of old obtained the Phoenix True Flame, he refined it and integrated it into his own Origin.
From then on, with the True Flame imbued in his very being, he was no longer bound by the suffering of a Cultivator’s abstinence!
He could eat meat, drink wine, sleep with women, and still cultivate as usual!
This was because the Phoenix True Flame could incinerate any impurities from substances consumed.
Any negative side effects on one’s Cultivation from eating meat or drinking alcohol were completely eliminated.
For the same reason, celibacy was also no longer necessary.
The original reason for celibacy was that indulgence would consume the body’s vital essence.
With the Phoenix True Flame, however, one only needed to eat more to replenish their nutrients, which would compensate for any depleted vital essence.
One’s digestive abilities would also far surpass those of an ordinary person.
It could even help refine Spiritual Qi and increase one’s Cultivation speed to a certain degree.
In any case, the records stated that this master of old lived the free and easy life of a normal person even while he cultivated.
However, that master of old ultimately perished during his Ascension Thunder Tribulation.
After all, the Phoenix True Flame could only aid Cultivation and free a Cultivator from the suffering of abstinence; it was no guarantee of attaining the Dao.
Since then, many Cultivators had tried to find a Phoenix, but none had succeeded.
Xu Lei had no idea how Qi Yang had managed to find one.
He decided to continue lying in wait, observing quietly and waiting for the right moment to act.
After all, Xu Lei now had the Locust Leaf Flying Ship, and it was incredibly fast!
This was his advantage!
Even Hui Ming wasn’t as fast as Xu Lei when he was piloting the Locust Leaf Flying Ship.
And even if Hui Ming were here, he couldn’t just use his Magical Power to forcibly suppress both Qi Yang and the Phoenix to seize the Phoenix True Flame.
He would have to do the same thing: lie in wait and act when the time was right.
At this moment, Xu Lei and Qi Yang were deep in the mountains, in a valley shrouded by a thick mist.
Perhaps because of its high-ranking bloodline, the Phoenix was unable to take human form.
However, when it traveled, it disguised its appearance, turning its feathers black to look like a large eagle.
If he hadn’t been sensing Qi Yang and watching him follow this "eagle" for days, Xu Lei would never have realized it was actually a legendary Phoenix.
「Another dozen or so days passed in a flash.」
Xu Lei still hadn’t made a move, observing patiently.
Likewise, Qi Yang also remained hidden, lurking patiently.
The Phoenix, on the other hand, seemed to be constantly setting up an Array.
Xu Lei guessed that the Phoenix was probably preparing to enter seclusion for some special Cultivation.
On this day, seeing that the Phoenix had almost finished its preparations, Qi Yang threw out his black alms bowl, which shrouded the top of his head.
It actually made him invisible to Xu Lei’s naked eye!
Then, Qi Yang secretly slipped in before the Phoenix closed the Array.
If it weren’t for the sense provided by the Black Seal, Xu Lei would have completely lost track of him.
Xu Lei was rather surprised. ’I can’t believe that old bastard Qi Yang has a trick like this up his sleeve!’
’But it makes sense. After so many years, it’s impossible for him not to have improved.’
Although Xu Lei could sense Qi Yang, he wasn’t monitoring him around the clock for years on end.
For long stretches of time, Xu Lei was focused on his own Cultivation.
The sense he had of Qi Yang was merely an awareness of his general location, hundreds of miles away.
’Qi Yang must be planning to ambush the Phoenix during its Cultivation, force it into a state of Qi deviation, and then kill it to seize the Phoenix True Flame!’
Xu Lei thought, ’But I can’t just let him get what he wants.
It would be in my best interest for them to grievously wound each other...
Things might not go exactly as I hope, but I have to try!’
Having made up his mind, Xu Lei brought two fingers together, sending his Lotus Treasure Fragments flying.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!
They slashed at an Array Base of the outer Array the Phoenix had set up.
Xu Lei’s goal wasn’t to break the Array, but simply to cause a disturbance and put the Phoenix on high alert.
Then, it would most likely conduct a thorough internal inspection and discover Qi Yang!
What would happen then? Xu Lei just had to wait and see.
Therefore, after completing his maneuver, Xu Lei immediately retrieved the Lotus Treasure Fragments.
He then quickly stepped onto the Locust Leaf Flying Ship and retreated a considerable distance.
He hid in a dense thicket of trees at a good observation point.
He took out a Telescope from his Qiankun Cloth Bag to watch.
Xu Lei couldn’t see what kind of fierce battle was unfolding between Qi Yang and the Phoenix inside the cultivation cave.
The Restriction concealed the cave from outside view, distorting the space to make it look like an ordinary cliff face.
At this moment, Xu Lei was like a young boy on Earth during the New Year who had lit the fuse of a firecracker.
He only heard an angry, suppressed screech from that direction!
Then, the sounds of collisions, BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! continuously echoed from within the cave.
These collision sounds resounded for two full hours!
The intensity of the fight was plain to see!
BOOM!!
Finally, even the Restriction concealing the cave shattered with a blast, allowing Xu Lei to see the aftermath.
Both Qi Yang and the Phoenix were covered in blood.
Patches of Qi Yang’s body were even scorched black!
His eyebrows were gone, and his clothes were mostly burned to cinders.
And yet, somehow, Qi Yang had come out slightly ahead!
He was clearly weakened, but the Phoenix had already collapsed to the ground!
The Phoenix struggled to rise and flee, but it could only twitch before collapsing again.
Xu Lei had originally thought this mysterious Phoenix would be victorious and that old dog Qi Yang would meet his end in there.
Xu Lei wouldn’t have lost out either way.
After all, once the Seal Master died, the entanglement of the Black Seal might automatically be removed.
’And what if I couldn’t handle the Phoenix and get the True Flame? I could always make another plan, like asking Hui Ming for help.’
But now, it was Qi Yang who had won!
Just as Xu Lei was growing wary, he noticed that even though Qi Yang had clearly won, he didn’t immediately rush over to kill the Phoenix and seize its Phoenix True Flame.
Instead, he immediately sat cross-legged and began to meditate and regulate his Qi.
Clearly, his injuries were also severe!
’That old dog Qi Yang is unexpectedly strong!’
Xu Lei thought, ’But are they truly both crippled?’
’Then again, it makes sense that things are going my way. After all, I’ve just been hiding and letting Qi Yang do all the work.’
’I’ll risk it!’
Then Xu Lei steeled himself. ’Fortune favors the bold!’
With that thought, Xu Lei immediately jumped onto his Locust Leaf Flying Ship and sped toward them.
WHOOSH!
Then, Xu Lei charged straight in.
At the same time, seven Lotus Treasure Fragments swirled around his body.
They formed a sharp, spinning wheel of blades that slashed directly at the Phoenix’s body!
’The Phoenix’s body is massive. Dragging the whole thing away would slow me down!’
SLICE!
After slicing open the Phoenix’s body, Xu Lei shouted, "Phoenix True Flame, retrieve!"
He immediately had the Lotus Treasure Fragments wrap around a flame-wreathed Inner Core inside the Phoenix’s body and pull it toward him.
