244: Chapter 243 Concentration

He raised his right hand, a thought flickering in his mind.

In his palm, a clump of dark golden flame quietly emerged.

As the flame churned, its edges held both crimson heat and deep blue frost, along with a golden sharpness.

But now, at the core of the flame, an extra wisp of dark red light appeared. That light was extremely faint, yet it contained an indescribable majesty and dominance.

Bing Fire.

The most rigid and intense flame in the world.

He clenched his fist, and the flame dissipated.

Then, he stood up and walked out of the cultivation room.

The moment he pushed open the stone door of his Immortal Cave, a figure was standing outside.

It was a young man of about thirty years old, with a slender build and a cold expression, wearing the blue and white martial attire of a Heavenly Sword Peak Inner Sect Disciple.

A long sword hung at his waist; the scabbard was entirely pitch-black without any extra decoration, yet it emitted a heart-palpitating cold light in the gloom.

His aura was deep as an abyss, and standing there, he seemed to blend into the surrounding air. If not for seeing him with the naked eye, one could not perceive his existence with Divine Sense alone.

Heavenly Sword Peak's Chief Disciple, Han Qing.

Peak Primal Elephant Realm.

Behind him stood two other Heavenly Sword Peak Disciples, one male and one female, both at the Late Yuanxiang Stage. Both looked at Jiang Hanzhou with undisguised hostility.

“Jiang Hanzhou,” Han Qing spoke, his voice as calm as water. “Congratulations on being the top of the Inner Sect rankings.”

Jiang Hanzhou looked at him without speaking.

Han Qing waited for a few breaths. Seeing that Jiang Hanzhou didn't respond, a slight smile curled at the corner of his mouth. That smile was faint, yet it carried an indescribable chill.

“Junior Brother Jiang, there is no need to be nervous,” he said indifferently. “I, Han, have not come to find trouble.”

He took out a Jade Slip from his robes and tossed it to Jiang Hanzhou.

Jiang Hanzhou caught it. He was in no hurry to check it, only looking at him.

Han Qing continued, “This is an invitation to the Heavenly Sword Peak Inner Sect Disciple Sword Discussion Assembly. Last time, Junior Brother Jiang refused. This time, I have come personally to invite you.”

Jiang Hanzhou put the Jade Slip into his sumeru pouch and said indifferently, “For Senior Brother Han to come personally is truly flattering. However, as I said, I am busy with cultivation and have no time to attend.”

Han Qing's smile remained unchanged, but the chill in his eyes grew thicker.

“Junior Brother Jiang certainly puts on airs,” he said slowly. “The top of the Inner Sect rankings is indeed different.”

Jiang Hanzhou looked at him and suddenly smiled. That smile was faint, but it caused the two Disciples behind Han Qing to shudder for no reason.

“Senior Brother Han, speak plainly,” Jiang Hanzhou said. “There's no need to beat around the bush.”

Han Qing was silent for a moment, then nodded.

“Good. Junior Brother Jiang is a straightforward person, so I won't hide anything either.”

He took a step forward, looking directly at Jiang Hanzhou:

“You defeated Ao Zhan and disrupted Elder Chu's plan. No one in the Heavenly Sword Peak will forget this.”

His voice was calm, but every word was like a blade's edge, chillingly cold:

“But I am not Ao Zhan. I won't lose my Dao Heart over a single victory or defeat, nor will I lose my composure because of a newcomer.”

He paused, saying word by word:

“Jiang Hanzhou, you are now at the Peak Primal Elephant Realm, only one step away from the Dragon Fetus Realm. On the day you step into the Dragon Fetus Realm, I will come for you.”

“At that time, there will be no arena, no rules, and no referee.”

“Only you and me.”

“Life or death, it matters not.”

After saying this, he turned and left.

The two Disciples behind him quickly followed. After a few steps, Han Qing suddenly stopped and said without turning back:

“By the way, Junior Brother Jiang, that ultimate move of yours is indeed quite powerful. But it has a fatal flaw.”

“Fusing four types of True Intent requires your full concentration. If someone interferes with a Divine Soul attack at the critical moment—can that strike still be unleashed?”

Jiang Hanzhou's pupils constricted slightly.

Han Qing spoke no more and strode away, disappearing into the depths of the maple forest.

Jiang Hanzhou stood before his Immortal Cave, watching the receding figure, remaining silent for a long time.

Han Qing's words were not a threat, but a probe.

He was testing Jiang Hanzhou's Divine Soul cultivation, testing the limits of the Heart Blade, and testing whether the flaw in that strike truly existed.

And his final sentence clearly meant: I know you have Divine Soul attack methods. But I have them too.

And mine are stronger than yours.

Jiang Hanzhou withdrew his gaze and turned back into his Immortal Cave.

The stone door slowly closed.

He sat cross-legged in the cultivation room, eyes closed in deep thought.

He didn't care about Han Qing's challenge. But the flaw Han Qing mentioned did indeed exist.

Fusing four types of True Intent required his full concentration. If he were interfered with by a Divine Soul attack at that moment, at best the ultimate move would be interrupted, and at worst, he would suffer a True Intent backlash and his Meridians would be completely ruined.

Although the Heart Blade could resist Divine Soul attacks, it was, after all, a Divine Soul artifact that had only recently taken shape. Facing a Dragon Fetus Realm-level Divine Soul attack, it might not be able to protect him.

He needed stronger Divine Soul power.

But just then—

The communication talisman in his robes suddenly vibrated!

The vibration was extremely intense, like a startled rabbit jumping wildly in his robes.

Jiang Hanzhou took out the jade talisman and probed it with his Divine Sense.

Master Xue Mu's voice came through:

“Han Zhou! Bloodfang Old Monster has broken through to the Dragon Fetus Realm!”

Jiang Hanzhou's brow furrowed sharply.

Master Xue Mu continued:

“An hour ago, Blood Shark Island released news that Bloodfang Old Monster forcibly refined the Dragon Qi remaining in the ancient flood dragon remains using an evil technique and broke through to the Dragon Fetus Realm. He has already issued a bounty order, offering a hundred thousand Spirit Stones for the 'three Dragon Abyss Palace Inner Sect Disciples' who disrupted his plans.”

“You, Zhou Lie, and Liu Ningshuang are all on the bounty list.”

“The Sect has already ordered that starting today, the three of you are not to act alone and will be protected personally by the Elders of each Peak.”

“Stay in Hanzhou Residence and do not go out. I will arrive immediately.”

The voice faded, and the light in the jade talisman dissipated.

Jiang Hanzhou held the jade talisman, remaining silent for a long time.

Dragon Fetus Realm.

Bloodfang Old Monster has broken through.

Although it was a forced refinement using an evil technique and his Foundation was unstable, the Dragon Fetus Realm was still the Dragon Fetus Realm.

That is an existence one whole major Realm higher than the Primal Form Realm.

If Bloodfang Old Monster were to take action personally—

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

Fear was useless.

Now the most important thing was to become stronger—strong enough to face an enemy of the Dragon Fetus Realm.

He closed his eyes and continued to regulate his breathing.

Inside his body, the great water-fire cycle slowly operated. The power of Bing Fire fused with the Heavenly Fire True Intent, making that three-colored flame deeper and more dominant.

But it was still not enough.

Far from enough.

Just then—

A familiar aura came from outside the Immortal Cave.

Master Xue Mu had arrived.

Jiang Hanzhou stood up and pushed open the stone door.

Master Xue Mu stood before the Immortal Cave. Behind him were two Inner Sect Deacons from Red Fire Peak, both at the Dragon Elephant Realm.

The two stood on either side, vigilantly watching the surroundings, each holding a Formation Plate, ready to set up a defensive formation at any moment.

Master Xue Mu walked into the Immortal Cave, and the stone door closed behind him.

He looked Jiang Hanzhou up and down, a flash of gratification in his eyes.

“Bing Fire has entered the body, and the Heavenly Fire True Intent has reached Major Achievement,” he nodded. “Not bad. But it's still not enough.”

He took out a dark green Jade Slip from his sumeru pouch and handed it to Jiang Hanzhou.

“This is a Divine Soul Cultivation Technique I obtained in my early years, the 'Nine Nether Soul Devouring Art'.”

Jiang Hanzhou took the Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Sense.

After a moment, his brow furrowed slightly.

The Nine Nether Soul Devouring Art, when cultivated to the limit, can condense Divine Soul power into nine Soul Devouring Blades, each containing the power to swallow the opponent's Divine Soul.

When cultivated to Major Achievement, one can swallow the Divine Souls of a hundred people in a single thought; its power is extremely terrifying.

But—

At the end of the technique, there was a blood-red annotation:

“Cultivating this technique requires feeding on the Divine Souls of others. The more one swallows, the stronger the power. However, if too many are swallowed, the cultivator's own Divine Soul will also be eroded by evil thoughts, leading at best to a drastic change in personality, and at worst to Qi Deviation, becoming a demon who only knows slaughter.”

Jiang Hanzhou looked up at Master Xue Mu.

Master Xue Mu's gaze was complex. “Han Zhou, I have had this technique for thirty years and have never cultivated it. Because it is too evil; cultivating it is like dancing on the edge of a blade.”

“But your current situation does not allow you to slowly Cultivate those orthodox Divine Soul techniques. Bloodfang Old Monster has broken through to the Dragon Fetus Realm and could come for revenge at any time. Han Qing is watching like a tiger, and we don't know how many people on the Heavenly Sword Peak want you dead. There is also that Black-Robed Person and the Ten Thousand Gu Sect—”

He paused, saying word by word:

“You need power. You need enough power to strike first before those enemies can act.”

Jiang Hanzhou was silent for a long time.

He stared at the dark green Jade Slip in his hand, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.

Feeding on the Divine Souls of others.

The more swallowed, the stronger the power.

Erosion by evil thoughts, drastic change in personality.

Qi Deviation, becoming a demon.

He thought of the Blood Shark Island Disciples he had killed, the Silver Wing Family assassins who died by his blade outside Bibo City, and the Heavenly Sword Peak Disciples who had looked at him with hostility before the Yuelong Hall.

He did not regret killing them. The hands of those people were all stained with the blood of the innocent.

But swallowing their Divine Souls was another matter.

That would be integrating all their resentment, obsession, and malice into his own Divine Soul. Over time, those negative emotions would erode his Heart-Nature like poison, turning him into a bloodthirsty madman.

He looked up at Master Xue Mu.

“Master,” his voice was calm, “I will not Cultivate this technique.”

Master Xue Mu looked at him without speaking.

Jiang Hanzhou continued, “I need power, but I cannot give up my own Dao for the sake of power. If I were to Cultivate an evil technique today for quick success, how would I be any different from those evil cultivators in the future?”

Master Xue Mu was silent for a long time.

Then, he smiled.

In that smile, there was gratification, pride, and an indescribable... sense of relief.

“Good,” he patted Jiang Hanzhou's shoulder. “I knew you would say that.”

He took out another Jade Slip from his sumeru pouch and handed it to Jiang Hanzhou:

“This is the Spirit Concentration Art, the orthodox Divine Soul Cultivation Technique of the Dragon Abyss Palace. Its cultivation speed is ten times slower than the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Art, but its strength lies in its solid Foundation and lack of hidden dangers.”

“I showed you the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Art just now not to have you Cultivate it, but to let you know that in this world, there are fast paths and slow paths. Fast paths often lead to the abyss, while slow paths, though difficult, allow one to go far.”

He paused, looking directly at Jiang Hanzhou:

“I am very happy that you can hold onto your original heart.”

Jiang Hanzhou took the Spirit Concentration Art Jade Slip and bowed solemnly.

“I will keep it in mind.”

Master Xue Mu nodded and turned to walk out of the Immortal Cave.

When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and said without turning back:

“Han Zhou, the Sect will handle the matter of the Bloodfang Old Monster. Until things settle down, do not leave Red Fire Peak. As for Zhou Lie and Liu Ningshuang, I have already arranged for personnel to protect them.”

“As for Han Qing—his strength is more than a level above Ao Zhan's. Moreover, he has mastered a strange Divine Soul secret technique specifically targeting the opponent's Sea of Consciousness. If you truly fight him, never give him a chance to get close.”

After saying this, he pushed open the stone door and strode away.

Jiang Hanzhou stood in the Immortal Cave, watching the receding figure, silent for a long time.

Then, he looked down at the two Jade Slips in his hands.

One dark green, one translucent white.

One was an evil technique, one was the Righteous Path.

He put the dark green one deep into his sumeru pouch and held the translucent white one in his palm.

Then, he walked back to the cultivation room and sat cross-legged.

The formulas of the Spirit Concentration Art flowed through his Sea of Consciousness. He followed the instructions, bit by bit condensing the Divine Soul power within his Sea of Consciousness.