I Can Upgrade Everything Infinitely-Chapter 85 - 84: Blood for Blood

To Xu Qing’s surprise, Yu Hu was becoming increasingly sharp. His aptitude and talent for martial arts were growing by the day. In just four short days, he had already mastered Level 4 Baji Fist. He no longer needed to come to Xu Qing for lessons and could now practice on his own at home.

"Master."

BUZZ!

Xu Qing had summoned the Witch Evil Ghost to ask about the situation. The Witch Evil Ghost replied, "The fluctuations of the Magic Spell in Yu Hu’s mind are growing more distinct. This means the old Daoist master behind the scenes has started to make his move."

"Mm."

Xu Qing nodded and recalled the Witch Evil Ghost. His expression grew slightly solemn as he muttered, ’He’s started to make his move, has he?’

In fact, Xu Qing had still never met the Daoist who had placed the curse on Yu Hu. He knew nothing of the man’s origins or his true strength.

Regardless, Yu Chen was Xu Qing’s first disciple. He couldn’t just stand by and watch Yu Hu be harmed, so he would naturally find a way to stop it.

The best method was to find the Daoist who cursed Yu Hu and kill him directly. That would completely remove the Magic Spell from Yu Hu’s body.

SWISH!

With a thought, Xu Qing’s consciousness connected to the Encyclopedia of All Things.

Then, information about the Dapeng Root Method appeared.

[Dapeng Root Method (Fragmented) Level 5: 7000/3200 (Upgradeable!)]

’Upgrade the Dapeng Root Method,’ Xu Qing commanded.

BUZZ!

The moment the command was given, the Encyclopedia of All Things began to flicker with a fluorescent light.

The next moment, Xu Qing’s mind trembled. His consciousness was seemingly pulled into a mystical space where he continuously practiced the Dapeng Root Method.

Finally, Xu Qing achieved a breakthrough.

BOOM!

Xu Qing’s eyes snapped open. He felt as if he had been struck by a sudden wave of enlightenment. The aura around him surged and intensified, and his Innate Gang Qi swelled, growing ever more powerful.

[Upgrade Successful!]

[Dapeng Root Method (Fragmented) Level 6: 3800/6400 (...)]

"Hooo..."

Xu Qing exhaled a turbid breath. His Innate Gang Qi had broken through to the Great Success stage. He could now infuse more of his will into his Gang Qi, allowing for much finer control. Furthermore, he could now draw upon more of the Heaven and Earth Energy, more than doubling the range of his influence.

"Excellent."

The corners of Xu Qing’s mouth lifted into a satisfied smile.

In addition, after reaching the Great Success stage of Innate Gang Qi, the speed at which Xu Qing could perform the Dapeng Root Method had increased. Although it wasn’t a dramatic improvement, it was still noticeably faster.

’Dapeng Root Method.’

Xu Qing began to practice it.

He soon discovered that he could now complete a full set of the Dapeng Root Method in fifty seconds. Back when he had just reached the Initial Entry stage of Innate Gang Qi, it had taken him a full minute.

In other words, there was still some improvement.

At this rate, Xu Qing could practice the Dapeng Root Method seventy-two times in an hour. Over a full day of sixteen hours, he could complete it a total of one thousand one hundred and fifty-two times.

This meant that if Xu Qing dedicated a full day to practicing the Dapeng Root Method, he could gain one thousand one hundred and fifty-two Experience Points for it.

"Not bad."

Xu Qing was increasingly pleased. ’Another small improvement.’

「Meanwhile.」

In a secret underground chamber in the Jiang Mansion, within the Inner City of Qingbei Town.

BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!!!

Inside, one could see that Daoist Qingyun, with Jiang Feiying’s help, had long since gathered the necessary materials and constructed a Blood Pool in this secret chamber.

Over the past half-month, Daoist Qingyun had been successively capturing children born on days of extreme Yin—children he had been searching for over the years. He threw them into the Blood Pool, refining "Nine Yin Secret Text" runes from their bodies.

"Old Daoist," Jiang Feiying arrived. "How much longer will you be?"

"Soon."

Daoist Qingyun looked up. His eyes were scarlet, and his face and body were covered in blood-red markings. A state of mental frenzy gleamed from within his eyes.

However, he was suppressing this frenzy with a sliver of rationality.

Clearly, refining the "Nine Yin Secret Text" had the side effect of eroding one’s mind and soul.

"I need a specific timeframe." Jiang Feiying frowned.

"Twelve days!" Daoist Qingyun shouted. "Just give me twelve more days!"

"Fine."

Jiang Feiying nodded, her patience clearly wearing thin. "I will give you twelve more days. If you haven’t finished by then, I’ll make you wish you were dead."

With that said, Jiang Feiying turned and left.

"..."

Daoist Qingyun lowered his head, the madness in his eyes growing even more pronounced.

「Elsewhere.」

In the Outer City of Qingbei Town.

After consuming the Celestial Bridge Pill given to him by Ye Langtian, Huo Yi went into seclusion for only seven days before successfully breaking through. He had entered the Outer Gang Realm, becoming an Outer Gang Powerhouse.

Subsequently, Huo Yi took charge of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall, temporarily assuming the position of Hall Master.

From then on, with many factions eyeing it covetously, the Cangying Martial Arts Hall’s situation finally began to stabilize. Huo Yi personally took action on multiple occasions, killing off those predatory opportunists.

However, once Huo Yi had stabilized the Cangying Martial Arts Hall, its rules began to change. It no longer accepted ordinary people; one could no longer join simply by paying the fee.

Anyone who wanted to join the Cangying Martial Arts Hall now had to pass an assessment set by Huo Yi.

Not only that, but even the existing Outer Courtyard Students had to undergo Huo Yi’s assessment again. All those who failed were expelled from the Cangying Martial Arts Hall.

Furthermore, many new students of unknown origin suddenly appeared within the Cangying Martial Arts Hall. All of them were personally recruited by Huo Yi and became students of the hall. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

In reality, ever since Huo Yi consumed the Celestial Bridge Pill and broke through to the Outer Gang Realm, he had fallen under Ye Langtian’s control. Faced with a pain akin to death by a thousand cuts, Huo Yi had ultimately surrendered.

In less than a week, the Cangying Martial Arts Hall appeared unchanged on the surface. But in secret, it had already become a stronghold for the Blood Demon Sect in Qingbei Town—turning a leading Martial Arts Hall in the Outer City into one of their bases.

’The Qingbei Town Government Office.’

Late at night, Ye Langtian stood on the roof of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall headquarters. He gazed toward the Qingbei Town Government Office, his eyes gradually turning scarlet as the blood-red markings on his face grew more sinister. ’You annihilated my entire family, beheaded them all and put them on public display. For the crime of wiping out my clan, I will make you pay with your blood.’

Apparently, after being saved by Du Cangying, Ye Langtian had fled Qingbei Town and unexpectedly joined the Blood Demon Sect. Furthermore, Ye Langtian’s unique constitution was exceptionally suited for the Blood Demon Sect’s Cultivation Techniques.

Now, Ye Langtian’s strength had reached an extremely high level. After cultivating the Blood Demon Sect’s Demon Techniques, he had become the sect’s leader in Qingbei Town in less than a year.

"Everything for a peaceful and prosperous age..."

Ye Langtian raised his hands as if to embrace the heavens, crying out a precept of the Blood Demon Sect.

Everything for a peaceful and prosperous age!

「Qingfeng Town. The Inner City. Xu Qing’s residence.」

In the courtyard.

RUSTLE... RUSTLE...

Xu Qing heard a sound, and the Evil Ghost Mask in his robes began to vibrate. Every night, Xu Qing would summon the Witch Evil Ghost to stand guard in the courtyard.

Tonight, there was finally a disturbance.

’What’s coming will come. It was only a matter of time.’

Xu Qing opened his eyes. He took the Evil Ghost Mask from his robes and placed it on his face. His form shifted, transforming into that of a Sword Immortal in flowing white robes.

CLANG! CLANG!

With the ringing of two swords, Xu Qing took his Level 10 Wandering Dragon Sword and Level 10 Iron Sword with him.

In a flicker, Xu Qing left the room.

Just then, two figures appeared in the courtyard of Xu Qing’s residence. They stood on opposite sides of the courtyard wall, facing each other expressionlessly.

"I heard the last operation failed."

Of the two, the man in black with his arms crossed over his chest, wearing a black, clawed gauntlet, was the first to speak.

"Mm."

The other was a woman. Her tight black clothes perfectly revealed her graceful figure. She wore a black mask and carried two crossed Long Blade Swords on her back.

"They ran into a Sword Dao expert of mysterious origin. He was able to kill Black Shadow and his three subordinates, so he must have reached the Innate Gang Qi level."

"To be honest, the boss had placed a Silence Spell on Dian Hongbo. Even though Dian Hongbo got away, with his level of strength, there’s no way he could have broken the boss’s spell. It should’ve been impossible for him to reveal that secret."

The man in the black, clawed gauntlet shook his head. "Unfortunately, the boss is just that cautious. He absolutely cannot allow for any accidents."

"And so."

"Dian Hongbo’s entire family must die. And anyone who had close contact with him, anyone who could have possibly learned the secret, must also die."

"Interesting."

BUZZ!

Suddenly, a figure in white appeared. His arrival was abrupt, as if he had materialized out of thin air atop the wall by the courtyard gate. With his left hand behind his back, he held a chilling longsword in his right, its tip angled toward the ground. He exuded an aura that was both transcendent, like an immortal’s, and yet incredibly fierce.

"I happened to overhear your conversation, and it has made me quite curious about this secret you mentioned. I wonder if you two would be so kind as to do a good deed and resolve this humble Sword Immortal’s confusion?"

Xu Qing had already used the Evil Ghost Mask to alter his form, assuming his previous alias: the Sword Immortal, ’Li Bai’. "If you do," he continued, "this Sword Immortal might consider granting you a less painful death."

One had to understand that even though the Blood Demon Sect was a rapidly growing Demon Sect, experts at the Innate Gang Qi level were still relatively rare within a county. Mobilizing two such masters would certainly not have been easy.

Moreover, the two people before Xu Qing had originally been assigned tasks in two other counties but were temporarily reassigned to Qingfeng Town.

And their purpose for being reassigned was singular: to cut the weeds and pull up the roots.

They were here to annihilate Dian Hongbo’s entire family.

At the same time, because Xu Qing was a friend of Dian Hongbo and had met with him shortly before his death, Xu Qing also had to die. That was why they had come to his residence.