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--- Chapter 84 ---
A month later.
In the Southeast of the Black Corner Region. Baek Ain and loved ones trained in the seclusion cabin, consolidating their foundation and strengths.
Qing Lin has returned to the Sky Serpent Mansion as if a summer holiday has been over and went to master her eyes' powers. According to the Sky Serpent Mansion's Elder, Qing Lin has reached 1-Star Dou King with the help of her subordinate snakes.
That's good news because Qing Lin will soon catch on to them.
As for the other ladies, Baek Ain praised them for training diligently.
Yi Xian reached 3-Star Dou Emperor with hard work and poison elixirs Baek Ain made, finally taming her Woeful Poison Body up to 50%. She's halfway to her goal because the other part of the poison is "actually." connected to her life, so she needs more preparation to continue.
Yafei also did a great job and reached 2-Star Dou Emperor by absorbing Yin-Based Materials the Eight Gates gave them. At this point, she would reach Dou Ancestor Realm in just a few months.
Meanwhile, Lan Rou chased after the two quickly.
She didn't lack resources, and her new Dou Qi Method outclassed Yafei and Yi Xian.
It makes her cultivation speed faster than theirs, though not by a large margin.
Even though the difference is barely noticeable when entering 1-Star Dou King, Baek Ain could tell Lan Rou's Holy Primal Ghost dou qi is starting to become stronger. Now that she reached 5-Star Dou King in just a month, Baek Ain gifted her with a new Dou Technique.
Using Synthesize, Baek Ain made a suitable Dou Technique for Lan Rou and tailored it to match her Gathering Mystic Mist's mastery.
The Old Ground Demon Ghost's seasoned remembrance combined with Yao Men's memories makes things easier because there are variables of good choice, but in the end, Baek Ain chooses the most suitable one.
Killer Ghost Method, a Mid-Stage Di Class Dou Technique.
A powerful method that changes one's dou qi and body into ethereal form, which gains the practitioner the freedom of human and ghost combined, which is perfect for Lan Rou.
Since Lan Rou's mastery mainly focused on assassination techniques and swift-based attacks, Killer Ghost Method will help her in the long run.
Of course, training this new Dou Technique comes with prices.
Usually, training Dou Technique will require the Dou Practitioner to have matching attributes, so both can unleash the best output. Lan Rou had to pay a hefty price as she couldn't use any of her formerly wind-based Dou Techniques.
Well, she mastered Killer Ghost Method quickly and replaced her arsenal quickly. Even though she lost 50% of her speed-based attack, Lan Rou has enough foundation to become even fiercer.
Lan Rou took the penalty and familiarized herself with Killer Ghost Method, raising her mastery over it. According to Lan Rou's accord, it's not too bad as her fighting prowess becomes noticeably faster and more powerful.
Of course, Baek Ain didn't play around in the meantime.
After becoming a Dou Ancestor, Baek Ain tried his best to master "Spatial Strength." and Record of Burning World.
He also gained several new skills from finishing quests and Old Ground Demon Ghost.
Baek Ain's status looks like this.
[Name: Baek Ain]
[Race: Enhanced Hybrid]
[Age: 15(Irrelevant)]
[Blessings: The Golden Crow & White Tiger]
[Physique: Pure Sun-Swallowing Serpent Physique, Three-Colored Lightning Beast Physique]
[Soul Connection: Gnome(S+), Mighty Rajang(A)]
[Blood Connection: Cross Tail(Replica), Parasites(69+)]
[Innate Skills: Breathing(S), Synthesize(A+), Soul Protection(Unknown)]
[Active Skills: Super Jump(SS), Jade-like Enhancement(A+), Energy Blast(A), Stealth(A), Nirvana Touch(A+), Pyrokinesis(S), Life Drain(S), Revolver(B), Parry(A), Howl of Sovereign White Tiger(S), Fire Avatar(S), Fire Devouring(A), King of Parasite(SS), Cursed Left Eye(C+), Telepathy(B), Wraith's Form(A)]
[Passive Skills: Energy Mastery(S), CQC(S), Pain Resistance(S), Poison Immunity(S), Blade Mastery(S), Blade Intent(S), Hidden Weapon Mastery(A), Healing Factor(S), Sixth Sense(S), Lightning Impulse(S), Parallel Thinking(A), Alchemist Instinct(S), Herbology(S), Eastern Alchemy Mastery(S), Last Man Standing(B), Cinder's Eyes(A), Penetration(S), Golden Rod(A+), Eidetic Memory(A), The Presence of Fear(A), Earth Demon's Touch(D)]
[Cultivation: 2-Star Dou Ancestor]
[Martial Techniques: Four Extreme Arts, Shadow Tiger Steps, Seven Kills Dance, 100 Mimicry Technique, Wings of Freedom, White Poison Art, Wicked Sun's Ripple, Azure Sword Flash]
[Body Technique: Ancestor Blood Mark, Unrecorded Body Tempering Technique]
[Cultivation Technique: The Record of the Burning World(Incomplete)]
Baek Ain obtained eight new skills, mainly from finishing the quest.
The Ruler of the Black-Corner Region's quest gave him Eidetic Memory.
Telepathy is "directly." obtained from a sign in a place in Beast Taming Gate.
Wraith's Form, The Presence of Fear, and Earth Demon's Touch are from the Old Ground Demon Ghost. That wretched elder gave him a decent set of skills.
And cough, cough. Penetration, Golden Rod, and Cursed Left Eye is from war's quest.
Maybe Baek Ain should start synthesizing some skills soon. Having too many skills would cause an imbalance in the long run.
Oh yeah, perks and traits weren't "visibly." included in Baek Ain's status because they are part of a skill or himself. He could have asked Alicia to create a new system panel, but it's cramped already.
Anyway, Baek Ain improved a lot since fighting Queen Medusa.
Weirdly, she hasn't shown any sign of awakening.
Hmm.
Something is fishy.
...
...
Baek Ain and his companions returned to the Beast Taming Gate, checking a few things. He received a few letters from Nalan Yanran, mainly regarding Mystic Cloud Sect's condition.
At the throne room, Baek Ain frowned when reading Nalan Yanran's latest update on the Mystic Cloud Sect. "Disbanded... No way." He was utterly surprised by this news.
He understood if Xiao Yan did something to Mystic Cloud Sect, but that eunuch stayed in the Jia Nan Academy for months without moving a single step.
Baek Ain's confusion answered when flipping to the next page as Mystic Cloud Sect was "actually." absorbed by another sect. However, Nalan Yanran didn't state nor explain the reason because the line ended with scattered inks.
The letter stated something along the lines of "Teacher Yun's Influence." when mentioning this matter. The rest of the letters mostly ask about his condition over here.
"When did this letter arrive?" Baek Ain immediately called and asked the shadow guard, who traversed from Jia Ma Empire to the Black-Corner Region over the past five months.
A male shadow guard appeared from the shadow and answered, "I retrieved that letter from Young Lady Nalan roughly two months ago, greater shadow."
"Two months ago..." Baek Ain fell into deep thought.
"Did she mention anything after giving you this letter?"
"Unfortunately, no." The male shadow guard was troubled. "We tried to investigate, but Young Lady Nalan with the Mystic Cloud Sect vanished from Jia Ma Imperial City. Leaving a barren mountain peak."
"..." Baek Ain.
Baek Ain couldn't even be mad. After all, he and his companions chose to cut any communication for two months, so he could focus on training and reaching Dou Ancestor Realm. The cabin is the only safe area where no one can touch them.
It's a spot protected by the natural environment, which Baek Ain discovered by chance. Even people with "Spatial Strength." couldn't find this place without spending their time breaking layers of illusions.
Rubbing his forehead, Baek Ain sighed and mumbled, "Well, my guess cannot get confirmed now."
"Mystic Cloud Sect is either friend or foe. It's fifty-fifty."
Baek Ain dismissed the shadow guard and checked other information about the Central Plains, getting his interest piqued when someone's name is "grandly." mentioned in the report.
"Han Feng... Yao Chen's Disciple."
"He declared war against a sect from the Demonic Faction, eh?"
[Ding! You have triggered a quest]
[Host, please choose side]
[1st Side: Demonic Faction]
[2nd Side: Han Feng's Side]
"Uh, can I choose after knowing the quest first?" Baek Ain asked with a wry smile.
[There is no fun in that. Also, this quest is unique] Alicia answered with her usual bored monotonous tone.
"If you so..."
[Your choice might hasten your way to destroy Hall of Soul]
"I choose..." Baek Ain stared at the system panel.
"This one."