Chapter 500: Tell Him Later

Chapter 500: Tell Him Later

Zhao Changhe rose from the pool, directly channeling the Six Harmonies Divine Art to dry his clothes.

With a "boom," the garments nearly turned to ash from the true qi.

Even Zhao Changhe was startled. Looking inward, he saw the boundless true qi surging like a river, almost giving the illusion of tidal waves—how many times greater than before, three or five times at least!

The once pitifully weak Six Harmonies Divine Art, previously only useful as a supplement, had now fully risen, contending with the Blood Fiend Force on equal footing.

This was the second stage of the Blood Rakshasa Body, yet it could no longer suppress the Six Harmonies Divine Art. The art’s intent to dominate and crush the Blood Fiend Force was unmistakable.

But for now, it couldn’t overpower it either—they were evenly matched, locked in a struggle that seemed to spiral together.

Zhao Changhe clenched his fist, then opened it, staring blankly at his palm, feeling the surging power within him. He had never felt so strong.

In terms of sheer strength, this should already be at the level of the Second Hidden Treasury, or at least infinitely close.

Only the final spark was missing—the threshold step. Once crossed, he would reach the Second Realm... much like the state before Red Feather’s breakthrough and Wuding’s fall.

He had felt the gap was still large just two days ago, and now he had reached it...

Half-step Earth Ranking?

If Wang Daozhong came now, Zhao Changhe felt he could beat him up without relying on the Dragon Sparrow’s power—whether he could kill him was another matter.

He let out a long breath and began his descent.

How to take that final step wasn’t something to consider now. First, he needed to find Red Feather... What happened last night? She came for dual cultivation to help, so why did she run away?

...

Yue Hongling was not resting in her room.

When Zhao Changhe had fully reconstructed his meridians and passed out asleep, Sisi quietly slipped away. At the mountainside, she saw a figure in red robes standing silently, as if waiting for her.

The guards stationed at the foot of the mountain to keep anyone from coming up meant nothing to Yue Hongling.

But she had stopped halfway up, not advancing further, as if she knew what was happening above and chose not to disturb, instead standing guard.

Sisi hesitated for a moment, then finally trudged over with her head down: "Sister Yue... I didn’t use the gu."

Yue Hongling felt a pang of sympathy. She looked at her for a long time, a thousand words unspoken, finally condensing into two: "Thank you..."

Sisi asked in surprise, "You’re thanking me? Did dressing up as you give you a sense of participation? Who told you to disguise as me when you were with him, hmm?"

"..." Yue Hongling’s sympathy nearly evaporated. She was both amused and exasperated—still being stubborn and provoking even now.

She had given away her first time, and the man didn’t even know it was her.

She could have taken the chance to plant a gu, but she did nothing, freely offering her pure body.

Watching Sisi remove her disguise, Yue Hongling sighed: "When he wakes up, should we tell him?"

Sisi looked up, thinking: "Can you do me a small favor?"

"Tell me."

"After you leave, then tell him."

Yue Hongling was puzzled: "Why? We’re obviously staying here for a while. If you don’t tell him, are you willing to let him remain wary and treat you only as a maid?"

"I’m willing."

"..."

Sisi coaxed, "It’s not like I’m asking you to hide it forever—just a few days late. Will you help me with this?"

Yue Hongling felt that even if Sisi were to act spoiled right in front of her, she would indulge her. This small request was nothing, so she nodded.

Sisi smiled faintly, finally changing back into her queenly attire. She strolled past Yue Hongling and down the mountain: "It’s settled. Don’t slip up, okay... Ah..."

Perhaps she pulled at a sore spot, the little enchantress nearly stumbled. Too embarrassed to look at Yue Hongling, she lifted her skirt and scurried away.

Yue Hongling was both annoyed and amused, truly unable to fathom what this damned spirit was thinking.

The little enchantress flew back to her own sacred hall, glanced back at Yue Hongling’s dazed expression, and murmured to herself: "Because then he’ll remember me all the more. My sister Yue, so straightforward—how will you ever compete with those other enchantresses?"

Meanwhile, Yue Hongling went up the mountain to check on Zhao Changhe. Just as she reached the summit, she saw him coming down. They faced each other, paused, and both smiled.

Yue Hongling asked, "Done?"

"Done." Since Yue Hongling was here, Zhao Changhe didn’t ask where she had been. He strode forward, hugged her tightly, and kissed her fiercely: "Good sister, you are truly my goddess of destiny."

Yue Hongling’s heart was deeply conflicted. When she agreed to Sisi, she hadn’t thought taking credit for herself would feel so awful. How was she supposed to respond?

Just as she was struggling, she felt Zhao Changhe’s muscles stiffen.

She seized the chance to change the subject: "What’s wrong? Something still not fitting? Look inward and adjust again?"

"No..." Zhao Changhe hesitated.

The scent seemed off... but earlier, he had been groggy, and his senses couldn’t be trusted...

He didn’t dwell on it, taking Yue Hongling’s hand and heading down: "It’s dawn. Let’s go. First, I’ll check on Han Wubing’s condition—maybe my newly realized methods can help. Also, today should be a critical time for Sisi to establish the new kingdom’s system. I want to observe and maybe offer some advice. You should come too? A queen holding court—it’s a sight to broaden your horizons."

Yue Hongling didn’t refuse. Though she knew nothing of such matters and had no interest, this experience had taught her she needed a broader perspective. It was strange—how did Zhao Changhe have such insight? He was the one she had rescued from Zhao Village...

They couldn’t find Han Wubing. He had already left the night before, following the Xia army that had entered the secret realm.

He had left a note for Zhao Changhe, handed over by a maid:

"My sword qi is recovering; it’ll be fine in a few days. Don’t worry."

"The Sword Hut is where I came from. Regardless of the beginning and end, old ties remain. Now that there’s a connection to the Listening Snow Pavilion hidden behind it, I’m uneasy. I can’t stay here to heal and train, so I’m leaving first to investigate."

"I tried to say goodbye, but they said you were at the Sacred Hall... Absorbing the spirit tribes and pacifying the Miao frontier is indeed important for this world, but I’m no good at such things, so I won’t disturb you. The Xia people are leaving; I’ll go with them. After we exit, I’ll stay temporarily in Taoyuan Town. I might help guard the Miao and spirit tribes for a while, as a small contribution."

"As for meeting some exotic girl here—I seriously considered it, but I can’t. It feels like it would interfere with my sword practice. Better to let each walk their own path."

"When my sword is accomplished, I might want to fight you again. How did you train so fast? Damn it."

"That’s all. Farewell."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

He read the note over and over, amazed: "Forget the tsundere content—the fact that he wrote a farewell letter at all... Before, he would have just left. His personality has really changed."

Yue Hongling said, "The story of Shi Wuding touched a swordsman. Someone as solitary as Han Wubing may find it hard to make friends again. You’re an exception to him, so he cherishes it."

Zhao Changhe nodded, his gaze lingering on the line "I might want to fight you again." He stared for a while, then smiled faintly.

It seemed all martial hearts were alike. He wanted that too, though he was too shy to say it.

The old promise at Sword Lake, interrupted by many things—that fight had been far from satisfying.

He hoped that when they fought again, both would be at the peak of this world. That would be a tale worth telling.

In good spirits, Zhao Changhe tucked away the note, took Yue Hongling’s hand, and swayed as they climbed to the Sacred Hall.

At the entrance, they heard Sisi’s cold, dignified voice inside: "...Establish the Beast Taming Bureau, appoint the former Sacred Mountain elder Mu En as its director. Organize the secret arts of the tribes, search for the texts taken by Doro, and focus on researching our ancient spirit-controlling techniques."

"Tiger Roar Stockade, for its merit in guiding the envoy, shall be elevated to a guardian tribe of the Sacred Hall, granted lands and forests..."

"Thousand Serpent Stockade, for its merit in slaying Shi Wuding, shall be granted..."

He didn’t know how many official positions and titles had already been changed. It was clear that Sisi, having spent time abroad, had deliberately studied the systems of the Great Xia and the old Black Miao Kingdom. A hybrid regime combining the ancestral sacred hall with governance was visibly taking shape.

But Zhao Changhe’s mind wandered. He stared blankly at Sisi on the throne, his expression gradually turning dazed.

The Art of Ultimate Bliss contained a method for discerning a woman's purity... Back when Huangfu Qing was a noble consort, she was still a virgin, and Zhao Changhe had been able to spot the anomaly from that alone.

But at this very moment, he seemed to discover that the majestic Sisi upon the throne...

Did not seem to be a virgin anymore...

Was it an illusion?

Could the crimson dream from last night not have been Hongling?

...

A Glance at Old Zhao's Skills

At everyone's request, here is a summary of Zhao Changhe's current status and skills:

Comprehensive Cultivation: Half-step into the Second Realm of Hidden Treasures, lacking only the final push.

1. External Cultivation: Blood Fiend Cultivation, Blood Asura Body Second Stage.

Physical Traits: Strength is vastly increased, strike resistance is slightly enhanced—high offense, standard defense. Building upon the old fierce and destructive power, this volume develops a sharp and concentrated direction of destruction (corresponding to the sword), recently combined with the Undying Blood Demon Body to grant a new rapid healing ability.

2. Internal Cultivation: Liuhe Divine Cultivation, Second Realm Hidden Treasure Level.

Internal Traits: High compatibility with other energies, strong capacity to mimic various traits, long endurance, and high resistance to abnormal statuses (such as poison). The mimicking and endurance functions could not be manifested before, but they are only now beginning to have room for display.

As for Skills:

1. Saber Techniques: The Blood Fiend Saber Technique that accompanies the Blood Fiend Cultivation, Second Realm Hidden Treasure Level.

Deities and Buddhas Disperse: A leaping slash. An explosion of strength carrying a dread effect; it has evolved from a toad leap to something that can be infused into regular attacks, though the leaping slash still maximizes its utilization. Negative effect: Mocked by the Longque saber for causing red-eye disease.

Heaven and Earth Without Self: A buff state fully empowered by the Blood Fiend energy, providing a comprehensive increase across all three attributes and heavily ignoring pain. He used to lose his sanity, but now he can retain it. The Second Realm Hidden Treasure effect can stir the opponent's own fiendish aura to attack their brain, leaving them "without self" (used to kill Ying Shuang).

The sequela is that he becomes highly weakened and exhausted afterward, and is easily backlashed by the fiendish aura. Longque mocks it as a brain-dead state with swollen limbs, lying paralyzed afterward just short of drooling...

Hell Is Thus: A horizontal slash. A stealth-type skill, silent and fast as lightning.

Combined with the Spring Water Sword Intent, it is claimed to be a self-created move called "Listening to Spring Rain Overnight in a Small Building," but it is actually a variant of "Hell Is Thus." It hides the ferocious aura to look gentle, making ambushes even more effective... chosen based on the specific environment.

Blood Flooding the Mountains and Rivers: An area-of-effect attack that mobilizes the surrounding fiendish aura to form a mountain of sabers and a sea of blood. The more malevolent the environment, the stronger the power. It can also target a single person, causing the blood and qi within their body to burst and kill them; the more hostile the opponent is, the better the effect.

Shattering the Thousand Armies: Passed down by Longque, a half-moon saber beam of immense power that requires the empowerment of Longque to be fully unleashed.

Yellow Sand Saber Technique, Clever Fox Saber Technique: Taking only their essence, stolen from Hu Lie and Chi Li via the Heavenly Book.

2. Sword Techniques:

Daily sword forms utilize the Sword Emperor's inheritance, among which the ultimate techniques are:

Styx Surge: Each strike absorbs a portion of the opponent's strength; the longer the duel drags on, the more it flows like a mighty river.

Sword of Yuan Tu: A flying thrust concentrating power into a single point, chasing the soul and snatching the spirit, completely unstoppable.

Note: Three moves were originally extracted, but Tang Wanzhuang integrated them into the saber techniques, leaving only two moves. They have already been passed on to Yue Hongling.

Spring Water Sword Technique: Stolen via the Heavenly Book and personally taught by Tang Wanzhuang. He did not learn the forms but took only the sword intent, especially the intent of the shimmering refracted light, which has been added to "Listening to Spring Rain Overnight in a Small Building."

Setting Sun Divine Sword: Taught by Yue Hongling during their dual cultivation in Miaojiang. It has not been used yet and is suspected to be a late-stage inheritance of the Sword Emperor. Additionally, Old Zhao has basically learned the large number of ordinary sword techniques Yue Hongling inherited from the Luoxia Villa.

Sea-Calming Sword Technique: Stolen from the Wang family via the Heavenly Book; he only knows the basics, used exclusively for posing as Wang Daozhong.

3. Fists and Palms (Not used in many scenarios, since weapons are usually carried):

Bibo Qingyi: A grappling technique taught by Tang Wanzhuang, elegant and difficult to defend against, though a bit effeminate.

Shenhuang Wind and Thunder Palm: A defensively oriented palm technique taught by Situ Xiao. Upon bursting, it also carries the resounding roar of wind and thunder, possessing considerable power.

Sky-Overturning Sea-Calming Palm: A Wang family palm technique, rated alongside the Black Tortoise Fist as the second most fierce and fierce, but unfortunately he only knows the basics, used exclusively for posing as Wang Daozhong.

Crane-Controlling Art: A method for remote object control passed down by the Thief Saint.

4. Lightweight Skills and Movement Forms:

Blood God Sect's Bloodless Footsteps + Tang Family's Water-Treading Ripple + Thief Saint's Lightweight Skill, the three are used in combination and have not yet formed his own unique routine.

5. Special Skills:

Spring-Returning Formula: A healing art. One of the Azure Dragon laws, a foundational law of the world. His cultivation in it was ordinary before, but recently, combined with the Undying Blood Demon Body, his mastery has taken a massive stride forward.

Method of Echoing the Heavenly Stars: A secret art of the Four Symbols Cult passed down by the Vermilion Bird, aligning the acupoints of the body. Previously used to break through the gate, it holds further significance for the future.

Disguise Art: Passed down by the Thief Saint.

Dual Cultivation of the Art of Ultimate Bliss: Everyone understands.

Discernment of Women of the Art of Ultimate Bliss: Everyone understands.

Soul-Snatching of the Art of Ultimate Bliss: Everyone understands.