Chapter 820
Sensation, Curse Intensifies!
Chapter 820 Sensation, Curse Intensifies!
Tianku Mountain.
Xia Xuanyan looked at the Heavenly Cry Saintess, who was almost identical to the Heavenly Cry Cult Leader, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"Is this your daughter?"
"Yes and no!" The Heavenly Cry Cult Leader said calmly, "Xi Yan is the daughter I conceived using a secret method, and she is also the Holy Maiden of my cult."
"I see!" Xia Xuanyan nodded. "I was wondering why you, who have devoted your life to the Dao, been sincere in the Dao, and reached the pinnacle of the Dao, would marry and have children."
"Mother!" the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Cry said respectfully to the Lord of Heavenly Cry.
The Heavenly Cry Cult Leader nodded.
"Xia Jiayu, come with me!"
Xia Xuanyan nodded as well.
After a while.
The three of them stepped into the familiar cave once again.
We passed through a dark, winding cave.
Suddenly, the view opened up before me.
Ahead, the cave ceiling hung high, and dark blue runes seemed to writhe slowly on the rock walls like living things.
In the very center of the cave, there is an altar.
The altar was made of dark, blood-red stones.
The altar is nine stories high, tiered in shape, with a flat top engraved with an intricate array.
The center of the array is raised, forming a platform shape.
On the raised part in the center of the platform, there is a palm-sized doll.
"Greetings, Master!" As the three appeared, a middle-aged woman immediately came forward to greet them.
"Greetings, Saintess Xiyan!" The middle-aged woman then bowed to the young girl following behind the Heavenly Cry Cult Leader.
"Greetings, Patriarch Xia!" He finally greeted Xia Xuanyan.
"How is the curse killing progressing?" the Heavenly Cry Cult Leader asked.
"Reporting to the Master, we are still in the first stage. The time is not yet ripe, and we cannot fall behind in the second stage," the middle-aged woman replied.
"How is the first phase progressing?" Xia Xuanyan asked from the side.
The old woman immediately glanced at her cult leader.
Tianku Mountain is an outer force of the Tianku Sect, and it is also a force that has been supported in recent years.
Although she was the leader of Tianku Mountain, she understood that her actual status was insignificant compared to the Tianku Sect, which fought alone in a single cave.
She had been watching her sect leader for several years, and only after seeing that he hadn't made any move did she speak to Xia Xuanyan.
"Patriarch Xia, how is the progress of the first stage? I can't sense anything with this humanoid puppet. Only if I can personally meet that man named Jiang Ning can I determine how deeply the curse has eroded his internal organs."
Hearing this, Xia Xuanyan frowned.
He had only met Jiang Ning not long ago.
At that time, Jiang Ning's condition did not look good, and his aura was very weak. It was obvious that his internal organs were severely eroded by the curse.
But Jiang Ning's final actions, his indifference to life and death, and his rejection of his offer of recruitment made him realize that his initial impression was wrong.
"The Xia family head has come this time to enhance the power of the curse killing technique," said the Heavenly Cry Cult Master.
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged woman immediately looked troubled.
"Master, this is the best I can do."
“I know!” The Heavenly Cry Cult Leader nodded: “That’s why I had Xi Yan personally take charge, so you can go back for now!”
"Yes, Master!" Upon hearing this, the middle-aged woman's face immediately lit up with joy.
A curse from afar is a matter of cause and effect; going against cause and effect will result in a severe backlash.
Although she would benefit from the church's offerings by taking charge, she felt it wasn't worthwhile.
Now that she can get away, it couldn't be better for her.
After she finished speaking, the middle-aged woman took her leave, leaving only Xia Xuanyan, the Heavenly Cry Cult Leader, and the Holy Maiden Xiyan in the cave.
On the cave walls, writhing runes emitted a ghostly blue light.
"Xi Yan." The Heavenly Cry Sect Leader turned around and looked at the girl beside him, whose appearance was completely different from his own, but whose figure and temperament were like those of a model cut from the same mold. His voice was full of majesty: "From now on, you will take charge and make sure that Jiang Ning experiences the true power of the Immortal Curse Killing."
"Yes, Mother!" The girl lowered her head slightly, her peach blossom eyes showing little emotion.
She moved gracefully toward the nine-tiered black stone altar.
As she stepped barefoot onto the first step, the dark, snow-white stone seemed to awaken, with a faint light emanating from within it.
Xia Xuanyang stood quietly to one side, his refined face appearing obscure in the dim light reflecting off the cave.
His gaze was fixed on the palm-sized doll placed at the top of the altar.
A few strands of hair pierced through the doll's seven orifices.
Then, Xi Yan, the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Cry Sect, slowly climbed the nine steps and arrived in front of the puppet.
She glanced at the puppet in front of her, her hands forming a mudra, her slender, jade-like fingers flying across the paper.
"Weeping blood as a drink, cause and effect as a bridge." She slightly opened her mouth and chanted the incantation.
Then, with a flick of her finger, a drop of bright red blood shot out from her fingertip and landed directly on the needle stuck in the doll's heart.
The remaining blood also splattered heavily on the doll.
next moment.
The flying needles seemed to be focused by some force, instantly bursting forth with a dark gray light.
With the burst of light, the flying needles pierced deeper into the doll.
the other side.
backyard.
The moonlight was bright, and the chill was deep.
At this moment, Jiang Ning's body was covered with large beads of sweat.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide, his face changing drastically.
He felt as if a thousand needles were piercing his heart, the intense pain causing sweat to bead on his forehead and his face to twitch.
next moment.
He closed his eyes and focused his mind on his body.
He immediately saw wisps of gray-black, obscure and chilling energy emerging from within his heart.
It's a curse!
The power of the curse-killing technique has increased!
He immediately recalled what Xia Xuanyan had said that morning.
Then he calmed his mind and focused his attention.
Let your mind regain peace.
After a few breaths, my heart returned to its calm state.
He saw the threads of cause and effect intertwined on his body.
He found the thick, scarlet causal line that exuded an ominous aura.
This causal line originates from his internal organs and extends in an unknowable direction.
That's the causal thread that led to his death by curse.
His gaze fell upon this thick, scarlet line, stretching along its veins towards the distant south.
A moment of disorientation.
He saw that familiar cave again.
The cave ceiling is high up, and countless dark blue runes move slowly on the rock walls like living things.
In the very center of the cave is an altar made of black stones.
He saw the dolls on the altar, and the girl in front of the dolls.
The girl had a slightly pointed chin, a chiseled face, eyes like peach blossoms, and skin as white as snow. Her entire body was filled with a meticulously crafted beauty.
This kind of beauty is breathtaking.
Even Jiang Ning couldn't help but take a second look.
Then he turned his gaze to the area below the altar.
The old woman was gone, and instead a familiar figure appeared in his sight.
Xia Xuanyan.
He couldn't help but glance at Xia Xuanyan a couple more times.
Everything in my heart is now clear.
At this moment, in this situation, he fully understood that Xia Xuanyan must be among those behind the curse that killed him.
Thinking about what happened during the day, he finally understood.
All of this was a scheme orchestrated by Xia Xuanyan, a plan to have him marry into the Xia family.
"I am honored by his high regard!" Jiang Ning remained calm and did not get angry.
Although Xia Xuanyan's intentions were sinister, they actually helped him.
If it weren't for the curse that killed Xia Xuanyan, his situation would be far more perilous than it is now.
Their strength could never have grown as quickly as it has now.
The accumulation of resources by the major sects in Guangning Prefecture has played an indispensable role in their growth to this point.
If he hadn't been cursed, everyone would know that he didn't have much time left. How could he have been so calm after leaving the capital?
He also understood that different stances lead to different approaches.
From the perspective of the Xia family and the Xuanhuang Great Grotto Heaven, Xia Xuanyan's actions were undoubtedly correct.
But that doesn't mean he doesn't hold grudges.
He glanced at Xia Xuanyan a couple more times before his gaze finally fell on the combination of women and girls beside Xia Xuanyan.
Looking at her slender waist, her skin as white as jade, and the body of a young woman in her late teens, yet with the face of a middle-aged woman in her late forties, he felt a serious sense of incongruity.
And this moment.
The Heavenly Cry Cult Leader was suddenly moved. She looked up at the top of the cave and then at the surroundings.
"Strange!!" she muttered to herself.
"What's wrong with the leader? Is something amiss?" Xia Xuanyan noticed the actions of the Heavenly Crying Leader beside him and asked.
"It's nothing!" The Heavenly Cry Cult Leader shook his head, saying nothing more.
At this moment, Jiang Ning's gaze had already turned away.
Just now, at a certain moment in the void, he made eye contact with the Heavenly Crying Cult Master, and immediately felt that something was wrong.
By observing the causal chain, one can achieve success in everything.
But he did not forget his spying on the old and frail martial saint.
The martial saint had clearly sensed his presence.
The strange behavior of the Heavenly Cry Cult Leader immediately made him feel uneasy, and he stopped lingering and spying.
at the same time.
Seeing that the Heavenly Crying Cult Leader seemed unwilling to say more, Xia Xuanyan did not press further.
After a while.
"Master, I'm entrusting this matter to you! I hope I'll hear good news soon."
"Don't worry!" the Heavenly Cry Cult Leader said calmly.
Afterwards, she escorted Xia Xuanyan all the way out of Tianku Mountain.
"Mother!" When she reappeared before the Heavenly Crying Saintess, the Heavenly Crying Saintess said indifferently.
"Xi Yan, did you sense anything amiss just now?" the Heavenly Cry Cult Leader asked.
"No, Mother!" The Heavenly Crying Saintess shook her head, her expression remaining indifferent.
"I just sensed someone spying on this place. Do you think it might just be my imagination?" the Heavenly Cry Cult Leader asked again.
“My mother, having come this far, wouldn’t have such a misconception!” said the Heavenly Crying Saintess.
"I think so too!" The Heavenly Cry Cult Leader nodded.
Then, she looked at the doll on the altar with a playful expression.
"Xi Yan, do you think it could be him?"
"I don't know!" The Heavenly Crying Saintess remained indifferent.
"I wish to go to the capital to see him," said the Heavenly Cry Cult Leader.
"Mother, now that one is watching over the world, especially a special place like the capital," the Heavenly Crying Saintess reminded her.
“I know!” The Heavenly Cry Cult Leader nodded, then looked at the girl in front of her who was exactly the same as she had been, as if they were cut from the same mold: “So I need to borrow your body for a while, to go to the capital and take a look. As for this place, I will take care of it.”
"Everything I have comes from my mother. If she wants to take it away, then let her take it away!" The Heavenly Crying Saintess remained indifferent.
After a while.
A young woman of sixteen or seventeen, with a foxy face, peach blossom eyes, a slender waist, wearing a long purple dress and barefoot, walked out of Tianku Mountain and headed towards the capital.
the other side.
The backyard of the mansion.
Jiang Ning slowly calmed the strange feeling in his heart.
After the initial violent fluctuations, the subsequent dripping of the curse's power, though seemingly ineffective, still failed to have any impact on him.
"Heroes of the world are indeed not to be underestimated!!" At this moment, he was absolutely certain that the woman with the unusual appearance must have sensed something.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have shown such an expression and made such movements.
He recalled the Martial Saint's response from back then.
It was immediately obvious that his gaze had come.
"The greatest danger in the world must be the old monsters in the immortal grottoes!" He clenched his fist, feeling a sense of unease.
He understood that anyone who could walk alongside Xia Xuanyan must be an old monster from a celestial realm.
"there is always a solution to a problem!"
"With my current strength, I might not be afraid of her if we really faced each other in the outside world!"
He thought to himself.
They clearly understood the situation faced by the immortal grotto heavens.
Living in a celestial paradise, the environment is suitable for survival, and the strength of immortals may be able to reveal some of their past divine might.
However, in the outside world, the environment is limited.
Simply going out will cause one's spiritual energy to leak out, making it impossible to stay in the outside world for an extended period of time.
Even someone as powerful as Xia Xuanyan, a primordial spirit immortal, could create his own little world and thus mitigate this siphoning effect from the heavens and earth.
However, due to the external environment, their performance was significantly reduced.
"To calmly deal with future crises, we still need to strengthen our own capabilities!" he murmured to himself, then looked at the panel.
[Skill]: Indestructible Vajra Body (5 times breaking limits 47283/60000)
His gaze swept over the "Skills" section of the panel, locking onto the experience points progress of the Vajra Indestructible Body, and then he nodded secretly.
"There's enough time left tonight!"
"Once I have enough source energy points, I will be able to break through the Vajra Indestructible Body again, and my physical body will definitely be stronger at that time."
Then, his gaze swept over the section on divine power.
[Divine Power]: 147/8788
Upon seeing the change in his divine power level, his gaze suddenly sharpened slightly.
During the day, there were 129 streams of divine power accumulating in the morning, but now, late at night, the number has reached 147.
"The efficiency is even higher than I imagined!" He was pleasantly surprised.
At the current rate, he can gain more than thirty divine powers a day.
Compared to half a month ago, the efficiency has increased by an immeasurable amount.
"Indeed, the more substantial the accumulation, the higher the efficiency!"
"Even at the current rate of efficiency, it will only take me a little over two years to reach the Great Perfection of the Unity Realm."
"And this is not my limit. As my physique grows and my energy and spirit improve, my efficiency can be further increased."
Thinking of this, he felt a sudden surge of energy.
For him, the accumulation of time is his biggest weakness.
Those old monsters who had been in the Unity Realm for many years had already reached the Great Perfection of the Unity Realm.
As for the accumulation of divine power, it reaches an unfathomable level.
At this level, the longer one stays, the more powerful one's divine power accumulates, until it reaches its limit.
As for efficiency, most first-rank martial artists are not significantly different in terms of overall efficiency.
Those who reach this level possess exceptional talent, aptitude, and comprehension, qualities that surpass those of ordinary martial artists.
Once this stage is reached, the gap between them is not significant.
Therefore, it is not easy to create a gap in this aspect.
He was an exception, and he knew why.
That's why he dared not slack off.
(End of this chapter)