132: Please, Little Witch Master, curse Han Qing to death!

Han Qing's seclusion spot was at the Eye of the Spiritual Vein in Hundred Flowers Valley, surrounded by layers of Restrictions that isolated him from the world's clamor.

Inside the secret room, the spiritual mist had almost condensed into a physical substance.

Immortal flowers and exotic herbs breathed out glowing radiance, and the thick fragrance made the place feel like a grotto-heaven and blessed land.

Han Qing sat cross-legged on the Thousand-Year Cold Jade Bed. Before him, two jade talismans floated in the air, their profound light swirling; they were the Heaven-Grade Cultivation Techniques gifted by Lu Jinbei—the Nine Heavens Dragon Controlling True Art and the Myriad Transformations Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art.

"I'll try this Nine Heavens Dragon Controlling True Art first."

With a slight thought, a wisp of Divine Sense quietly probed into the jade talisman of the Nine Heavens Dragon Controlling True Art.

In an instant, the Profound Truths of the technique rushed straight into his Spiritual Platform and Sea of Consciousness!

Even though his Divine Sense far surpassed that of his peers, his Sea of Consciousness felt a splitting pain at this moment. However, he forced himself to endure, immersing his full attention in this supreme mystery.

His previous cultivation was merely an ordinary Earth-Grade initial-stage technique. Now, he had suddenly gained insight into a method like the Nine Heavens Dragon Controlling True Art, which pointed directly to the Origin of the Great Dao.

He felt as if the mist before his eyes had completely dispersed; places that were once obstructed were suddenly clear, as if he had glimpsed the profound mysteries of heaven and earth!

After an unknown amount of time, Han Qing slowly opened his eyes, and two rays of divine light flashed in his pupils before vanishing.

Having only preliminary insight into the General Principles and the first layer of the Mind-Cultivation Technique, he could clearly perceive that the speed at which he condensed True Essence had surged by more than ten times.

"As expected of a Heaven-Grade High Grade technique. If it reaches Major Achievement, just how Heaven-Defying would that cultivation speed be?"

Han Qing's heart surged with excitement. He suppressed the urge to circulate the technique and turned his gaze toward the Myriad Transformations Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art.

"Next, it's your turn."

He calmed his mind and sent out his Divine Sense once again.

Unlike the grand and majestic nature of the Nine Heavens Dragon Controlling True Art, the moment he made contact with the Myriad Transformations Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art, a treacherous demonic intent that seemed to swallow the heavens and devour the earth rushed toward him.

This technique seemed to be born for plunder and existed for devouring!

Of course, he disdained to follow the Evil Path of devouring the essence and souls of living beings.

What he valued was the extraordinary refining effect of this technique.

The mantras of the Myriad Transformations Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art contained a unique 'Refining Demonic Rune' that could forcibly dismantle, melt, and condense the energy absorbed into the body in a near-plundering manner, finally transforming it into the purest Origin True Essence to be stored in the Dantian and Qi Sea.

This conversion capability was more than several times, or even dozens of times, higher than the techniques he had practiced in the past.

One governed cultivation speed and the quality of True Essence, while the other specialized in devouring and conversion.

"With these two divine techniques, supplemented by the cultivation resources in my hands, let alone reaching the Nascent Soul stage in three years, I might even be able to explore the Soul Transformation realm!" Han Qing's eyes erupted with unprecedented confidence.

He immediately began his formal seclusion, starting by circulating the Nine Heavens Dragon Controlling True Art.

In an instant, the spiritual mist in the secret room surged, transforming into thousands of milky-white Qi dragons. Drawn by an invisible giant force, they roared and drilled into various acupoints across Han Qing's body!

The torrent of Spiritual Qi followed his meridians, racing along the profound trajectory of the Nine Heavens Dragon Controlling True Art. In just one circulation, the True Essence in his Qi Sea became a wisp more solid.

He then attempted to circulate the Myriad Transformations Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art, taking out a High-Grade Spirit Stone from his Storage Ring and holding it in his palm.

As soon as his thought moved, the devouring mantra quietly began to operate.

In the next instant, the High-Grade Spirit Stone in his palm rapidly turned gray-white, while the pure Spiritual Qi within it frantically poured into his body!

In just three to five breaths, the Spirit Stone turned into a handful of spiritless powder that slipped through his fingers.

He made a quick estimation; the time taken to absorb this single Spirit Stone was dozens of times shorter than before!

This meant that in the future, whether he was drawing from Spirit Stones or refining Medicinal Pills and Spiritual Plants, his speed would experience a leap!

"Hahaha... Heaven is truly helping me!"

Han Qing felt wild joy in his heart and let out a long roar toward the ceiling, making the secret room hum with vibration!

He could already see his cultivation level soaring. "Three years at most! I will surely condense my Nascent Soul and become a giant of the region!"

While Han Qing was immersed in the joy of his strength growing by leaps and bounds during his seclusion...

Hundreds of millions of miles away, inside an ancient hall, the atmosphere was grim and treacherous.

In the center of the hall stood a burly figure with two horns on his head, surrounded by a towering Demonic Qi. This was one of the Eight Great Demon Venerables of the Misty Forest and an 'old acquaintance' of Han Qing—the Black Wind Demon Venerable.

At this moment, the Black Wind Demon Venerable's face, which was covered in ugly scars, was filled with a smile that even carried a hint of flattery.

Below him, the other seven Demon Venerables also stood with their heads bowed, holding their breath.

And in front of them floated a mass of strange black mist that constantly churned and wriggled.

Within that black mist, some extremely troublesome existence seemed to be hidden.

"Little Witch Venerable."

The Black Wind Demon Venerable said politely, "We have investigated clearly. That Han Qing is currently in the Hundred Flowers Valley of the Zhilan Domain."

"This brat has a high cultivation level and treacherous methods. His strength is unfathomable, and he is especially skilled in spatial Divine Abilities, making him impossible to guard against."

"Furthermore, he is ruthless and vengeful. Some time ago, he used thunderous power to kill several of our Yao Race's Nascent Soul Subordinates and even forced us to sign a humiliating treaty, extorting a massive amount of resources."

As the Black Wind Demon Venerable spoke, he quietly peeked at the movements of the black mist, his heart filled with unease.

The "Little Witch Venerable" before him was the contemporary successor of an ancient Witch-Priest Tribe that had been passed down for tens of thousands of years within the Yao Race, and her cultivation was unfathomable.

"This scoundrel is truly a great threat to our Yao Race! If he is allowed to grow, he will surely become a disaster that topples our Yao Race in the future."

"But this fellow is as slippery as a loach and possesses those Divine Abilities. We wish we could skin him alive and pull out his tendons, but if we startle the snake and he escapes, I fear it will invite even more frantic retaliation from him."

"When that time comes, the billions of citizens in our Misty Forest will likely suffer this calamity!"

The Black Wind Demon Venerable spoke with great emotion, depicting Han Qing as a peerless, malevolent demon, and the other seven Demon Venerables chimed in one after another.

The churning black mist remained silent for a moment after listening to the accusations.

After a long while, a seductive female voice drifted slowly out of the black mist:

"So, you trash were toyed with by a human junior to the point of coming to my place to wag your tails and weep?"

The female voice wasn't loud, but the mockery contained within was like an invisible whip, lashing hard against the faces of the eight Demon Venerables, making them feel ashamed to death.

The Black Wind Demon Venerable quickly gave a dry laugh. "The Little Witch Venerable's reprimand is correct. It's just that the thief Han Qing's methods are too treacherous and unpredictable. We were at our wit's end, which is why we dared to come and beg for the Little Witch Venerable's help."

"After all, looking at the entire Yao Race, only the Little Witch Venerable's supreme curse arts can completely curse that thief Han Qing to death in an invisible and formless manner, eradicating this heart-bound trouble for our Yao Race!"

This bit of flattery was executed to perfection.

The female voice in the black mist was silent for a moment before speaking again, seemingly a bit pleased as the mockery faded slightly: "Humph, at least you have some eyes."

"Fine, since this brat is such a threat to my Yao Race, then I shall reluctantly take action on your behalf and deal with him."

"Thank you, Little Witch Venerable! Thank you, Little Witch Venerable, for granting this!"

The Black Wind Demon Venerable was immediately overjoyed and led the other seven Demon Venerables in bowing together, shouting, "The Little Witch Venerable's Divine Abilities are peerless, and her magical power is boundless!"

The female voice said indifferently, "Enough, all of you get up."

The Black Wind Demon Venerable and the others quickly stood up straight, remaining extremely respectful and not daring to be the least bit negligent.

The Black Wind Demon Venerable asked tentatively, "Then I wonder if the Little Witch Venerable needs us to provide some of that thief Han Qing's personal items? For example, his clothing, hair, or nails? Or perhaps the Magic Treasures and weapons he commonly uses?"

In his mind, performing a curse technique surely required these mediums that contained the opponent's aura in order to...

...precisely lock on and curse the person to death invisibly.

However, the female voice in the black mist let out a disdainful snort:

"Heh, clothing? Hair? Nails?"

"Those are nothing more than low-level, inferior witchcraft tricks. Only those..."

"...amateur witches who haven't even touched the threshold would use such crude methods."

"What I practice is the supreme Grand Witch-Priest Art that points directly to the Origin of heaven and earth and manipulates the karmic life trajectory! Why would I need those filthy mortal objects?"

"I only need—Karma!"

"Karma?"

The Black Wind Demon Venerable was stunned, his face full of bewilderment. The other seven Demon Venerables also looked at each other, not understanding.

The female voice in the black mist only said plainly, "All phenomena in the world have their destinies. Every action has its trace. As long as something has existed, it will leave behind a bond; as long as there has been contact, entanglement will be created."

Her voice seemed to carry a strange magic, causing the eight Demon Venerables present to feel a sudden wave of heart palpitations.

"Black Wind."

The female voice suddenly locked its perception onto the Black Wind Demon Venerable. "I remember you saying earlier that you and that Han Qing not only clashed directly but even reached some kind of transaction, is that so?"

The Black Wind Demon Venerable nodded. "Little Witch Venerable, that is indeed the case."

"Very good."

The female voice in the black mist said with satisfaction, "Since there was a struggle and a transaction between you, it means a 'Cause' has been planted and a 'Fruit' has been formed."

"And that is enough."

"You, come forward."

"Me?" The Black Wind Demon Venerable felt a bit apprehensive.

However, facing that strange black mist and the encouraging gazes of the other seven Demon Venerables...

The Black Wind Demon Venerable could only grit his teeth and steel himself, trudging toward the black mist with difficulty.

When he was only a few dozen feet away from the black mist...

He could clearly feel the suffocating cold and evil aura diffusing from within it.

Right at that moment!

A strange black needle, as thin as a cow's hair yet flashing with a faint, dark light, suddenly shot out from the churning black mist!

The black needle was fast to the extreme, as if it ignored spatial distance, arriving before the Black Wind Demon Venerable's brow in an instant!

With a faint, almost imperceptible sound, that dark light had already sunk into his Ancestral Aperture between the brows!

The Black Wind Demon Venerable's burly body twitched violently, his face contorting.

The strange black needle only stayed at his brow for a split second before retracting into the black mist like a bolt of lightning.

At the same time, a drop of essence blood was drawn out by the black needle and floated before the black mist.

Under the shroud of the black mist, that drop of essence blood tumbled violently, its light flickering as countless blurred images flashed and changed upon it.

Those images were everything the Black Wind Demon Venerable had recently experienced.

From the first encounter at the edge of the Misty Forest, to Han Qing's later forceful extortion, and then to the transaction reached by both parties... scene after scene, event after event, passed by rapidly like a revolving lantern.

All the images suddenly froze!

They froze on a young figure dressed in moon-white brocade robes, handsome and elegant, with a faint, non-committal smile playing on his lips.