Chapter 182: Chapter 151: Bing Ding Fire Usurps the Light of the Sun and Moon, Marriage is Fated by Heaven

Demon Cultivators of this age often scoff at those "ancestors," claiming far more of them died from the backlash of their cultivation than were ever slain by Immortal Cultivators.

’Mixed Refining Origin! It truly is the master key to helping me build an unprecedentedly solid foundation! Even if it means I’ll face tribulations in the Qi Cultivation Realm, it’s worth it!’

Jiang Yi gradually began to appreciate the power of this Dao Inheritance. In the future, no matter the type of Spiritual Aura or the nature of the region, his cultivation would be unaffected.

In fact, the more Spiritual Energy he absorbed, the more substantial his own foundation would become.

A Qi Cultivation method this flawless, this perfect, was a cut above even the First-Grade essential techniques of the Ancestral Sects.

No wonder True Master Xuanmiao had called it "heaven’s envy."

’With Mixed Refining Origin in hand, the Underworld feels like a place where I can thrive, like a fish in water.’

Jiang Yi closed his eyes, shifting his attention to the Dao Embryo.

Having absorbed the pure yin energy from the entire ghost village, over a dozen new gushing springs of Spiritual Liquid had instantly appeared in his Inner Mansion. Added to what he had accumulated from his cultivation before, he had now gathered the number of the Earthly Fiends.

’Cultivators from the Inner Sects and Branch Sects can probably attempt to reverse their postnatal state and condense True Qi once they’ve accumulated between sixty and eighty springs.’

Jiang Yi mused, curious about what form the True Qi refined and condensed by his Mixed Refining Origin method would take.

’But I need the ultimate yin number of six hundred sixty-six, and the ultimate yang number of nine hundred ninety-nine. Only by combining the two can I truly condense my Qi.’

Jiang Yi silently calculated that he would probably have to devour and refine the better part of this Wanshou Country to gather enough.

’Improving my cultivation is a long and arduous journey. I wonder how my Merit is coming along.’

He shifted his gaze. Seventy-two gushing springs of Spiritual Liquid steamed and swirled, releasing clouds of Primordial Qi. Like thick, delicate cotton clouds, this energy enveloped a brilliant, magnificent, and faintly visible archaic seal character.

A closer look revealed what seemed to be dragons and phoenixes coiling within, its light dazzling. At times it was like a Great Sun hanging in the sky; at others, it flickered like a lamp’s flame.

This was the Innate Fire Virtue Body that Jiang Yi had formed in the Kitchen God’s temple.

From that point on, the Bing and Ding fire energies merged into one, becoming indistinguishable. All of it was now used to refine and strengthen this archaic seal character.

’Now, whether I’m studying fire techniques, drawing in and refining fire-aspected Spiritual Energy, or using Fire Attribute Spiritual Objects, my capabilities have been boosted to one hundred and twenty percent.’

Jiang Yi took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

With the Bing and Ding fire energies combined, all other fire techniques in the world were now inferior to his.

This was the kind of true foundation that could solidify his base and broaden his path on the Dao.

Even better, the process of forming his Innate Fire Virtue Body had also successively raised the grade of his Fire Manipulation Technique.

As revealed by the Celestial Book, the Cultivation Technique had been upgraded from the Sixth-Grade Mixed Refining and Forging Yuan Fire Control Technique to the Second-Grade "Mixed Refining Spiritual Brilliance Sun Lord Divine Technique."

As Jiang Yi briefly contemplated it, an offensive Spell named "Bingding Crimson Divine Light" faintly emerged in his mind.

’Use Bing Ding Fire to usurp the light of the sun and moon, venerating oneself as the "Divine Sun Lord."’

He was stunned for a moment, then it dawned on him: 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

’That Shao Yang True Monarch’s life’s work was entirely focused on how to challenge Tai Yang.’

Jiang Yi had intended to use this free time to immerse himself in understanding it.

In the past, comprehending a Daoist Skill from a Technique would have required immense effort, yet this one had taken shape in an instant. It was a clear sign that his Dao Wisdom had improved significantly.

But after a quick perusal, he felt dizzy and his head swam. The grand script of the Dao was profoundly complex; just deciphering a few lines rapidly consumed his mental energy.

’Forget it. I’ll just let the Celestial Book handle it. We’re two parts of the same whole, anyway. Its Dao Wisdom is as good as my own understanding.’

Jiang Yi opened his eyes, picked up the Cat Master, and walked over to the thrall-ghost he had captured. He asked softly,

"Tell me, what other villages are nearby, and which Fierce Fiends are entrenched there?"

The thrall-ghost trembled, not daring to take a breath as it honestly confessed,

"Fifty li to the east are Jia-Er Village and Jia-Yi Village. Dongxiang originally had twelve villages, but they’ve all fallen to ruin. Only three or four are left.

"The tiger fiend had several other sworn brothers: a great black ox, a human-headed roc..."

Jiang Yi listened carefully, then jumbled up the questions and interrogated it again to cross-reference the answers. Only after confirming there were no inconsistencies did he smile and say,

"Walk in front. And lead the way properly."

The thrall-ghost trembled so violently with fear it couldn’t even think of disobeying.

Who knew where this monster of a man had come from? He was more vicious and ruthless than any ghost!

Since time immemorial, it was always ghosts who ate humans. Who had ever heard of a human eating ghosts!

...

...

「An hour later.」

"Spare... me!"

A waterfall of Bingding Firelight poured down. The black ox Fierce Fiend, a necklace of hundreds of human skulls around its neck, was instantly incinerated, its soul obliterated.

「Three hours after that.」

The human-headed roc, just as it was about to take flight, was stomped out of the air. Its corporeal form collapsed like smoke, only to be grabbed by a large hand and stuffed directly into a mouth.

「In less than two days.」

All the ghosts in the territory of Shangcao Prefecture had heard of a great villain who feasted on Fierce Fiends. He was said to have the head of a leopard and ring-like eyes, an iron-dark face and a beard like a twisting Qiu.

Rumor had it he was accompanied by an old man and a beast. The old man’s brows were heavy with killing intent, his eyes held a vicious gleam, and he was said to be a bringer of unforeseen disasters and unnatural calamities.

As for the young beast, it had a gaping, blood-red maw, teeth like saws, and could tear the sky asunder with a single swipe of its iron claws.

...

...

「In Shangcao Prefecture, inside a vast residence.」

Though a grim yin energy permeated the air, the residence wanted for nothing, complete with pavilions, terraces, and towers, as well as waterside gazebos and ponds.

"Grandmatriarch, I’ve brought you all the living men from a thousand li around, but you weren’t satisfied with a single one! You said none of them were worthy! This lowly one truly cannot find ’that person’ you spoke of."

The thirty-foot-tall ghost king, towering like a mountain, lay prostrate outside the residence in utmost reverence.

This Fierce Fiend was at the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer, with eyebrows like flames, a mouth like a blood basin, and teeth like a row of copper coins. A single glance told you he was a ruthless character not to be trifled with.

Yet at this moment, his forehead was pressed to the ground and his voice was a low whisper, terrified of disturbing the grandmatriarch within. He was as docile as a house dog.

"Keep searching!"

A lazy voice drifted from inside the residence:

"And remember! You are not to injure anyone, not to take any lives, and you absolutely must not draw blood! If you ruin this for your grandmatriarch, I’ll throw all of you into the Twenty-Four Hells to be tormented for a century!"

The red-browed Ghost King trembled with fear and repeatedly agreed,

"This lowly one will obey your every command!"

He then hesitated before adding,

"It’s just, Grandmatriarch, there are so many living humans in Fengdu lately. Many of the ghosts go mad just from the scent of their vitality. Now that they’re forbidden from touching them, they’ve all become restless and unruly..."

Before he could finish, the entire mansion suddenly shook. A chubby girl with pigtails sticking straight up and wearing a bright red padded jacket strode out of the main gate.

She narrowed her eyes at the prostrate Ghost King, who felt his spirit about to flee his body, as if he were already a meal on a platter.

"Unruly? Tell me, who exactly is being unruly?"

The chubby girl asked in a chilling tone.

"This..."

The Ghost King’s heart pounded in terror. This grandmatriarch had descended from the Eighteenth Hall; her origins were extraordinary, and her fearsome power was even more so!

"It seems there are too many unruly ones. Fine! Your grandmatriarch will help you sort them out!"

The chubby girl didn’t waste any more words and immediately revealed her true form.

Nine monstrous heads, each as large as a mountain range, appeared. They spewed thick smoke from their mouths and gushed flames from their nostrils. The sound of their movement was like the rumbling of chariot wheels and the crash of thunder.

A hurricane suddenly swept through all of Shangcao Prefecture City, sending the legions of ghosts tumbling and scattering as they shrieked and wailed.

Immediately after, a tremendous suction force erupted. All the Fierce Fiends and yin-creatures stained by the aura of blood were transformed into a murky torrent and swallowed into her belly.

Shangcao City, which had just been teeming with a million ghosts, was instantly rendered empty.

"BURP!"

The chubby girl, only half-full, said with satisfaction,

"I’m keeping you around only because you’re still useful. If you fail to accomplish the task your grandmatriarch has given you, I’ll swallow you whole too!"

The red-browed Ghost King was utterly terrified and hastily promised,

"This lowly one will definitely find that man for the Grandmatriarch!"

Even though he was screaming a thousand complaints internally—for example, how could she be so certain that man would even appear in Shangcao City?

Or how was he supposed to find him when the grandmatriarch didn’t even have a portrait, nor had she provided any details like age or attire? All he knew was that he was looking for a "living person" who was also "male."

In this vast, bottomless abyss, just where was he supposed to start looking?

But having witnessed the chubby girl’s savage display of swallowing hundreds of thousands of ghosts whole, the red-browed Ghost King didn’t dare utter another word of protest.

"Hmph!"

The chubby girl returned to the residence and flopped comfortably onto a divan. Sprawled out, she began flipping through a human storybook while munching on fruits and pastries. Beside her, inside a square box made of thousand-year-old peach wood, lay a single, quiet red thread.

’A yin-fate across a thousand li, all tied to a single thread. That new Shao Yang Lord will definitely come! Let Gui’er get a good look at him and see what kind of fine man is worthy of a living marriage with my Mistress!’