Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Gathering Form and Scattering Qi

"I *am* a Holy Sect Disciple! What makes you think I’m not?!"

His identity exposed by Qi Yun, the man’s pupils constricted. He fought through the excruciating pain of his crushed throat and the Nanming Demon Fire burning him alive, forcing out a hoarse, instinctive denial.

"Heh heh... you’re a stubborn one." With a pleasant smile, Qi Yun tightened his grip. The Nanming Demon Fire rapidly ate away at the man’s flesh and bone, plunging him into absolute agony.

"I can’t claim to know every disciple in the Holy Sect." Qi Yun looked down at him, his voice calm yet filled with a chilling, absolute confidence.

"But as luck would have it, in the entire Holy Sect’s Outer Mansion, from the Disciples down to the very servants, there are few who don’t recognize my face."

He paused, his every word like a cold iron nail being hammered into the man’s heart.

"If you really are a Holy Sect Disciple, you’d better think long and hard right now.

Who... gave you the audacity to ambush *me*?"

With a sickening CRUNCH, Qi Yun crushed the man’s throat and casually tossed him aside.

Twitching and convulsing, the man stared resentfully at the young Cultivator before him, trembling as he forced out his last words.

"Who... in the world... are you...?"

Gazing down at the man about to breathe his last, Qi Yun flicked his sleeve, recalling the cloud of Abyssal Iron Sand.

"The Champion Scholar of the Holy Sect’s Outer Mansion, Qi Yun."

"Wha—" Hearing this, the man’s eyes shot wide open. He finally understood the meaning behind Qi Yun’s words.

’That’s right... If I were really a Holy Sect Disciple, would I have had the audacity to ambush the top Champion Scholar of the Outer Mansion?’

’My luck is just the worst...’

With this final lament, the man’s head slumped to the side. He was dead.

The instant he died, a faint pink glimmer shot out from the back of his hand and flowed into the back of Qi Yun’s.

And the number on the back of Qi Yun’s hand suddenly increased by a large amount.

"Hm?"

Looking down at the new number on the back of his hand, Qi Yun raised an eyebrow.

’So, killing an opponent lets you steal their Spirit Points...’

After absorbing the scoundrel’s Spirit Points, Qi Yun’s total had climbed to [3,759].

His gaze returned to the clusters of light manifested by the bird-headed, human-bodied statue. Qi Yun no longer hesitated. With a wave of his hand, he spent three thousand Spirit Points to take the orb of light that resonated with the Clear Wind Technique.

The orb of light landed in his hand and gradually transformed into a miraculous Spiritual Object, shifting between tangible and intangible, resembling a glistening piece of jade-colored fat.

He seized it!

Instant Refinement!

The next moment!

The Magic Technique Panel vibrated again, just as it had during the major update for Basic Sword Qi.

The words for the Clear Wind Technique began to glow with a faint golden light. The light grew brighter and brighter until it completely engulfed the text, which then vanished.

’What will it become?’

Staring intently at his Magic Technique Panel, Qi Yun felt a little apprehensive.

’After all, the Clear Wind Technique was the foundation of my success. Without this Magic, I would have died long ago in that valley during the sect’s entrance trial. The grass on my grave would be head-high by now.’

’After several updates, the Clear Wind Technique had also become increasingly versatile. It was already an outstanding Magic.’

’If it weren’t for the fact that I can’t truly master a Magic and internalize its power without undergoing a major update...’

’I really wouldn’t want to risk updating the Clear Wind Technique.’

’After all, my Cultivation can barely keep up with my Magic’s updates as it is...’

The cautionary tale of the Nanming Sword Demon had taught Qi Yun that when it came to Magic, stronger wasn’t always better.

The more powerful the Magic, the heavier the burden of its inherent Daoist Intent on the user.

It was like a foal pulling a heavy cart—bound for disaster.

All he could do was try his best to raise his Cultivation to adapt to the updates to his Magic.

Hands clasped behind his back, Qi Yun quietly waited for the Clear Wind Technique to finish updating.

Fortunately, the process didn’t take long.

[Magic auto-update complete. This is a major version update. Magic effect has been reworked.]

[Clear Wind Technique removed.]

As he read the words appearing on his Magic Technique Panel, Qi Yun subconsciously flexed his fingers.

Just like the update process for Basic Sword Qi, the Clear Wind Technique was removed after its major update.

’Next... should be a brand new Magic.’

[New Magic Added—Gathering Form and Scattering Qi]

[Gathering Form and Scattering Qi: Leave behind a decoy body and escape by dissolving into Pure Qi. Come and go like smoke.]

The instant the new text appeared on his Magic Technique Panel, a massive tide of Daoist Intent and information flooded into Qi Yun’s mind.

Having gone through it before, Qi Yun was much more composed this time. As the torrent of Daoist Intent flooded in, a wisp of a carefree and free ’Intent’ slowly emerged within him.

This was the very Daoist Intent he had accumulated over his long practice of the Clear Wind Technique.

Guided by his own Daoist Intent, the nascent form of the new Magic was swiftly conceived, constructed, and perfected within his Sea of Consciousness.

At the same time, his physique, sinews, and vital energy began a subtle metamorphosis. Reshaped by this vast power, his body grew more attuned to the newborn Magic.

The entire process took nearly ten minutes.

Feeling the monumental changes within his body, Qi Yun glanced at his Magic Technique Panel. The next instant, his form suddenly shot backward.

His true form instantly dissolved into an elusive wisp of cyan smoke, silently dissipating on the spot.

And at that same moment, a "decoy"—identical to his true form in appearance, clothing, and even aura fluctuations—appeared precisely where he had just stood. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Even the subtle expression on its face was identical!

’A built-in instant cast?’

Qi Yun was taken aback. He had successfully cast Gathering Form and Scattering Qi with just a thought.

Apparently, this Magic was innately designed to skip the cumbersome process of hand seals and incantations. It could be cast without them.

’But if it just creates a decoy, it doesn’t seem that much stronger than the Clear Wind Technique.’

As Qi Yun stared at the identical decoy before him, frowning in thought, a new perspective suddenly opened up in his mind.

’Is this... the decoy’s perspective?’

His focus sharpened. Qi Yun’s true self followed this new perspective and tried to control the decoy before him.

Raise a hand, walk, cast a spell... spell-casting didn’t work.

’I see... The decoy can’t cast Magic independently, but it can perfectly execute physical actions and misdirection.’

Qi Yun nodded in understanding and voluntarily broke the fine control.

The decoy immediately began to act on some kind of preset instinct, slowly pacing on the spot. Its eyes moved intelligently as it observed its surroundings, revealing no flaws whatsoever.

’So this is the "Gathering Form"... then what about the "Scattering Qi"?’

Looking down at his body of cyan smoke, Qi Yun was about to test the Magic’s other effect when he heard what sounded like movement behind him.

With a flick of his finger, the active decoy dissipated without a sound. Qi Yun’s eyes shifted as he remained in place, a silent wisp of cyan smoke.

He waited for them to arrive.

...