Every elder looked at what the patriarch was holding, but when they read it, they almost reeled back in shock. In the two pieces of paper were each a sketch of a beautiful woman with a bounty of over 500,000 top-grade spirit stones.
In particular, was the woman with a bounty of 1,000,000 top-grade spirit stones. This bounty alone already surpassed the previous highest bounty offered by Sky Palace at 650,000 for a rogue cultivator named "The Manipulator".
"So you want us to be on the lookout" asked Zen, the battle-hardened Elder with a spear.
The patriarch nodded "Yes, Sky Palace has put special emphasis on this matter on its urgency, although urgent, it's not a priority for us"
The meeting continued but Elder Lili couldn't help but focus on the wanted poster of the girl with emerald tinted eyes, her eyes widening in surprise.
"They look so alike... " thought Elder Lili
From a distance, these two appear to be the same person but upon closer inspection, they're are key differences in their facial structure and beauty.
Yinling looks ethereal and out of this world but the sketch just shows a very beautiful woman, nothing compared to Yinling.
"So that concludes the meeting, I have sent you a batch of these posters for you to hang up, any questions," The patriarch said.
Hearing no one speak up "Then this meeting is adjourned" and with that, the holographic screens disappeared leaving the patriarch alone in the big quiet room.
Looking around at the empty seats and quiet room, the patriarch wasn't so sure he liked this new technology.
----
As the holographic screen flickered out of existence, Elder Lili slumped back into her chair, cradling her face in her hands. The memory of her reaction to Jun's display of skill lingered uncomfortably in her mind.
"How will I ever look them in the eye again..."
With a deep, resigned sigh, she forced herself upright and moved closer to the book that lay open on her desk—the Scarlet Rage technique. Her eyes traced the script, a sense of begrudging awe creeping into her tone.
"He truly is a monster."
----
Separating, Jun walked to an open area of their room. According to most if not all novels he has read, the dantian is the area in which a cultivator must get hit in order for their cultivation to be abolished. The dantian is conceptualized as a vital center within the human body that stores and manages qi, or spiritual energy.
With this in mind, this place is the command center of your spiritual energy, your energy is stored and managed here. In reading hundreds of cultivation techniques, Jun has come to realize the dantian plays a huge role in the new cultivation system he was creating so he spent a considerable amount of time studying it.
Even body-refining cultivators are not spared from this fate, the dantian plays a crucial role in allowing them to perform powerful physical feats, execute martial techniques, and sustain their enhanced bodies which all use the spiritual energy stored in their dantian.
That being said, the dantian isn't formed in the body tempering realm but rather in the Qi realm so he doesn't have to worry about that now.
Standing in place, Jun looked at Yinling who was ready.
"You do know how to do this... right?" Jun asked.
Yinling paused, her voice steady yet revealing a hint of doubt. "I believe so... The technique involves a direct hit to your abdomen, channeling my energy into your dantian. The force, combined with my energy, should abolish your cultivation."
With a deep breath, Jun braced himself, his muscles tensing instinctively.
Yinling interpreted his readiness as a cue. She dashed forward, her form blurring slightly, and with a focused determination, her palm aimed squarely at Jun's stomach.
"Can I back out now..." Jun mused inwardly, bracing for impact.
BOOM
The collision was monumental. Yinling's fist connected with Jun's abdomen, unleashing a torrent of energy that seemed to ripple through the air.
Jun's legs wobbled beneath him as if the very ground was pulling away. He staggered backward, each step a battle against the invisible force trying to fold him in half. With a grimace etched deep on his face, he succumbed, his knee hitting the ground with a thud that echoed his own internal collapse.
His dantian felt as if it were fracturing, invaded by Yinling torrent of energy, the once stable and powerful energy within dissipating like smoke in the wind.
Jun clamped a hand over his mouth, muffling the cry of anguish that surged up within him, determined not to worry Yinling any further.
Gritting his teeth, Jun's hands flew to his midsection, fingers clawing desperately at the fabric of his clothing as if trying to physically tear away the pain that had taken root inside him. His breathing turned ragged, sharp intakes of air that spoke volumes of his attempt to stifle the agony.
For a moment, he teetered on the edge of collapse, his body a tableau of resistance against the pain. Then, with a barely suppressed groan, he leaned forward, forehead resting against the cold ground, a bead of sweat tracing a path down his temple, mingling with the dust beneath him.
"Jun!" Yinling's voice was laced with concern as she rushed to his side, kneeling beside him, her eyes wide with worry.
As Jun strained against the excruciating pain, his strength waned, and he found himself collapsing onto the ground, a grimace of agony etched across his face. Each meridian within him felt shattered, sending waves of piercing pain through his body, each pulsating in pain, as if he were being stabbed hundreds of times in 1 second every second.
Yinling hovered anxiously, her heart in her throat as she witnessed Jun's torment. But as moments passed, the intensity of Jun's suffering began to wane, allowing him to muster a semblance of control.
Gasping for breath, Jun managed to utter, "I- I'm okay now, Yinling," his voice barely above a whisper. His attempt to rise was feeble, but Yinling was swiftly at his side, her support unwavering as she assisted him to a plush red velvet couch.
"Thank you," he breathed out, gratitude mingling with his pain.
"Save your thanks for when you've fully recovered," Yinling replied, her tone carrying a mix of concern and firmness.
Jun offered a weak smile in response, his mind racing to the healing technique he had planned to use on himself. About to heal himself, Jun realized he made a stupid mistake. He had forgotten that he no longer had spiritual energy to manipulate so that meant he couldn't use the healing technique he created.
"Damn," Jun cursed under his breath, his gaze darting desperately around in search of something—anything—that could alleviate his condition. Then, his eyes locked onto Yinling, her eyes a light shade of emerald, clouded with concern for him.
"Of course! How could I forget"
"Yinling, I need you to heal me," he said, a note of urgency in his voice.
Yinling, momentarily startled by the request, hesitated. "Me? But I'm not familiar with your healing technique. Why can't you do it your—" Her voice trailed off as the realization dawned on her, understanding why Jun had turned to her for help.
Jun offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I'll guide you through it. And considering how advanced your energy manipulation skills have become since I first created this technique, this will be a breeze."
Hearing Jun's words, Yinling felt herself gaining confidence from Jun's faith in her abilities. Extending out her hand towards Jun's abdomen, she felt herself flush a little but pressed forward " S- so now what?"
"Move some of your energy towards your palm and imagine your energy as being calm and soothing filled with vitality and we will go from there"
Nodding, Yinling followed Jun's instructions, within seconds Yinling completed them much faster compared to when Jun first did it.
"Now slowly adjust the intensity of your energy, think of it when you attack someone, your energy vibrates at a much higher rate to induce damage but in this case, make it soothing"
Yinling was trying her best to follow instructions, she adjusted the intensity and within 20 seconds, she got a reaction.
"That's it! keep going!" Jun encouraged, feeling Yinling's vitality-filled energy sweep through his body, his meridians starting to reform.