Chapter Nine: The Heart-Linking Art

Qi Fei circulated the chill within his body, transformed from the Spirit Jade, and, guided by the true essence of the Bloodshadow Immortal, performed the Heart Demon Sect’s mystical technique—“Spirit Resonance Method.” In an instant, the abundant martial true energy within him vanished without a trace, hidden deep within his meridians and acupoints.

The Bloodshadow Immortal withdrew the true essence he had injected into Qi Fei, hastily redirecting his own true essence to suppress the eruption of the corpse poison’s icy chill within his body.

Experiencing firsthand the wonders of the Spirit Jade and the “Spirit Resonance Method,” Qi Fei could not help but feel deep admiration. The chill transformed from the Spirit Jade and the method complemented each other exquisitely, truly a matchless marvel. It was as if time itself had wound backward; in a mere moment, all his martial cultivation disappeared entirely. Not to mention others—even Qi Fei himself could no longer sense a trace of martial true energy within.

Summoning all his strength, Qi Fei threw a few harsh punches forward, and, indeed, as before he had formed true energy, not the faintest gust of force followed.

“Master, I now fully understand the technique to conceal my cultivation. How should I restore it?”

The Bloodshadow Immortal opened his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice, “Simply use your mind to guide the chill formed by the Spirit Jade, reverse the flow of the ‘Spirit Resonance Method’, and your cultivation will recover in an instant.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Fei immediately calmed his breath and willed the chill within to move as instructed. With the aid of the Spirit Jade’s power, even without a trace of profound true essence, Qi Fei soon grew adept at this subtle and exquisite Heart Demon Sect technique after half an hour’s practice.

Now, with just a thought, the chill within Qi Fei’s body would instantly circulate through his meridians and acupoints, concealing his cultivation; another thought, reversing the “Spirit Resonance Method,” and a surge of martial true energy would explode within him.

Unlike the forceful and domineering true energy the Bloodshadow Immortal had previously injected, this surge, channeled through the Spirit Jade and the reversed method, not only left Qi Fei’s body unharmed but even seemed to widen his meridians subtly.

Qi Fei could barely contain his joy, almost wishing to shout to the heavens. Now that the Spirit Jade was his, given time, he would surely, as his master had said, be reborn anew. In just these few days, the events in this small valley had thoroughly transformed his once ordinary life.

After catching his breath, the Bloodshadow Immortal slowly opened his hollow, lifeless eyes. His complexion had turned chillingly sinister, streaks of black mist once more crawling across his withered, sallow face.

“Now that you have mastered the ‘Spirit Resonance Method,’ in the future, when you refine a Spiritual Soul at your Spiritual Platform and condense your Martial Soul within your Dantian, you need only perform this method to instantly conceal your cultivation. Moreover, when your strength matures, you can use this method to hide most of your power—luring your enemies into underestimating you, so that when you strike, they will have no chance to defend.”

At this, the Bloodshadow Immortal was seized by a violent coughing fit, black blood welling up ceaselessly from his mouth.

Seeing this, Qi Fei’s heart twisted with pity. He moved to help his master, but the Bloodshadow Immortal waved him off, “I know my end is near. Though you have always respected me, I am aware of my own faults. Your concern may not be genuine. I pass all I know to you, hoping to earn but a little of your sympathy.”

Without letting Qi Fei explain, the Bloodshadow Immortal propped himself up, drew several manuals and a few bottles of elixirs from his robe, and said weakly, “The Heart Sword Sect and Heart Demon Sect—orthodox and unorthodox—both possess the world’s finest martial and arcane arts. All I know is recorded here. Though you now have the Spirit Jade’s protection, you are just setting foot on the path of cultivation. Memorize these manuals, then destroy them. Never carry them, lest you bring disaster on yourself. And unless your life hangs by a thread, never reveal the secrets of the Heart Sword or Heart Demon Sects. Now that you have the Spirit Jade and have mastered the ‘Spirit Resonance Method,’ it is best to conceal your cultivation and return to Cangyun Mountain’s Danxia Sect for safety.”

Qi Fei took the manuals and elixirs, puzzled. He asked, “Months ago, the other disciples who entered the mountain with me all fell to demon beasts. If I return, how will I explain my survival? And, Master, you once said Danxia Sect is but a third-rate sect. Now that I have your teachings, why return to Cangyun Mountain at all?”

“That Danxia Sect, though third-rate, is renowned for its alchemical arts. Alchemy sects forge good relationships, avoid conflict. Now, with first-rate techniques of both orthodox and unorthodox schools, there is no better place than Danxia Sect for quiet cultivation. Though you have my teachings, the path of cultivation is perilous—one misstep can be fatal. Without guidance, forging the Martial Soul and Spiritual Soul is no easy feat.”

The Bloodshadow Immortal continued, “You have formed martial true energy and possess the Spirit Jade. Show a hint of talent, present these elixirs—far superior to what Danxia Sect can refine—and they will welcome you. Though I misjudged others in my past, I will not mistake you. With this opportunity, you are destined for greatness. As for how to survive in the sect, how to allay suspicion—those are matters for your own planning.”

Qi Fei sighed, “So be it. There is an old grudge I must resolve in Danxia Sect. Rest assured, Master, I will remember your teachings, remain humble, and cultivate in peace at Cangyun Mountain.”

After so many words, the dying Bloodshadow Immortal felt exhaustion wash over him. He rested briefly, then roused his spirit once more, saying, “You and I sharing this bond as master and disciple is itself a stroke of fate. Before I die, I have a few sincere words which may greatly benefit your path of cultivation.”

He gestured to a manual in Qi Fei’s hands. “The ‘Mystic Heaven Heart Sutra’—I only taught you a few introductory pages before. Now I give you the complete text. If you wish to forge a Martial Soul, you must study its profound mysteries. Once you reach the stage of Gathering Qi to Form Soul—Second Heaven—you must use internal martial arts to temper your body, refine your muscles and bones, cleanse your marrow. The manual contains a Heart Sword Sect technique for this purpose—the ‘Eight-Armed Thunder Fist.’ Physical tempering is the foundation of martial cultivation. Practice it well.”

If Qi Fei had once harbored resentment or suspicion toward the Bloodshadow Immortal, it vanished at this moment. Looking at his master, suddenly aged ten years and burnt out, listening to his heartfelt, unreserved guidance, Qi Fei was deeply and ineffably moved.

He knelt respectfully before the Bloodshadow Immortal, raised his hand to the heavens, and swore, “Heaven bear witness—if I, Qi Fei, one day achieve mastery, I will cross mountains of corpses and seas of blood if need be to slay that traitor Luo Yunxiang and avenge my master. Should I break this oath, let heaven and earth destroy me.”

The Bloodshadow Immortal, seeing his unreserved inheritance had won back the youth’s trust and gratitude, finally felt a weight lift from his heart. At peace, his complexion improved slightly. After coughing up more black blood, he motioned to Qi Fei, “Qi Fei, go into the house and fetch the refined steel longsword.”

Though puzzled, Qi Fei dared not disobey, and quickly brought out the steel sword his master had once carried.

The Bloodshadow Immortal looked at Qi Fei with a trace of comfort in his eyes. “When my master was dying, he taught me three supreme sword techniques. These three moves, though few, were sought from the world’s foremost sword sect by the Heart Sword Sect’s founder centuries ago—the ‘Executioner’s Sword Canon.’ They possess power to astound gods and frighten ghosts. My master, kind-hearted, never used them for fear of harming innocents. He passed them to me on his deathbed. I only regret my own martial cultivation was destroyed—otherwise, with these three sword techniques and peak innate strength, I could have slain every traitor in the Heart Sword Sect. Now, as my end draws near, and you have sworn your oath to fulfill my last wish, I will pass these ultimate techniques to you.”

Qi Fei was shaken to his core. The Heart Sword Sect’s leader had schemed for years and failed to obtain these techniques, yet he had gained them by a single vow—sword moves said to shake heaven and earth. Fortune had truly favored him this time.