Immortal Spirit Physique

The dust had settled.

Blood and fire slowly faded within the cave.

The young Bai Ze bounced over to Chu Liang, rubbing against him and circling around, clearly excited; it seemed the beating it had just received barely hurt at all.

Jiang Xiaobai floated down beside Chu Liang and asked softly, “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Chu Liang shook his head. “What about you, Senior Sister Jiang?”

“I’m alright as well.” Jiang Xiaobai’s expression remained serene, as if she had not just survived a deadly ordeal.

In truth, Chu Liang now felt that the giant lizard was never really a threat to her.

A fifth realm peak demon beast seemed, on paper, certain to kill a fourth realm cultivator. But this was Jiang—well, the unspoken Jiang Yuebai, a figure regarded as the most talented of her generation in Mount Shu.

A true prodigy.

Such prodigies defied common logic. Whether it was mastery of myriad immortal arts and top-tier divine techniques, or the powerful flying swords and magical artifacts they wielded, these were enough to bridge many gaps.

In the earlier battle, Jiang Xiaobai had already inflicted considerable damage upon the giant lizard. The wound left by the Heavenly Sword Technique would surely be fatal given time. As for its last desperate attack, it was unlikely to succeed. After all, Jiang Xiaobai hadn’t even used any artifacts yet in that brief fight—but no one would believe that a top disciple from Mount Shu lacked life-preserving treasures.

Perhaps she simply felt it wasn’t time, or necessary.

Not everyone was like Chu Liang, who threw around his precious life-saving treasures as if they were worthless.

Jiang Xiaobai glanced at the giant lizard’s corpse, then scrutinized Chu Liang; she too was surprised by his sudden strike.

“What artifact did you use earlier? Its power was immense… and extremely cold and sinister,” she finally asked.

“It was something I seized from a Soul Warden of the Underworld Sect—a Profound Yin Thunder,” Chu Liang replied truthfully.

“So that's it. I’ve heard that Profound Yin Thunder is difficult to craft and quite valuable. If you handed it over to the Sword Transmission Hall, you could exchange it for a fair amount of sword coins,” Jiang Xiaobai said.

How true…

Chu Liang felt a pang of regret.

When he had asked Lady Phoenix before, she’d dismissed it as a “trinket,” so he’d thought it was nothing special. Now, he realized that his master’s idea of “small” was already “big” to him.

These three “trinkets” could kill a fifth realm peak demon beast outright. Even if it was already wounded, it was still terrifying.

In fact, what he didn't know was that the giant lizard’s physical defense, strength, and speed were nearly flawless; its only weakness lay in its mind. The Profound Yin Thunder’s greatest strength was its spiritual assault, which was the key to killing it in a single blow.

Jiang Xiaobai seemed to see his regret and smiled gently. “Let me repay you with some sword coins. You’ve helped me so much, I can’t let you suffer a loss.”

“No need,” Chu Liang shook his head. “We’re fellow disciples of Mount Shu—no need for such formalities…”

Jiang Xiaobai saw through his fragile pride and said plainly, “Gratitude is still necessary.”

“In that case…” Chu Liang suddenly shifted the topic, “Instead of sword coins, could you teach me a technique or two?”

“Hmm?” Jiang Xiaobai was taken aback. “You mean Shrinking the Earth to an Inch or the Heavenly Sword Technique? I think you don’t need to aim so high…”

Her implication was that Chu Liang couldn’t learn those yet.

“No, just something ordinary is fine.” Chu Liang smiled sheepishly. “My master… is a body cultivator.”

“Lady Phoenix, the head of Silver Sword Peak? I’ve always admired her,” Jiang Xiaobai recalled the peak master and gave him a sympathetic smile.

Few disciples on Mount Shu knew who Chu Liang was, but most knew that Lady Phoenix had a rather unfortunate disciple.

“Heh.” Chu Liang replied with a polite, bitter smile.

“Then come here again tomorrow at noon. I’ll be waiting and will teach you some techniques,” Jiang Xiaobai promised.

Chu Liang was delighted and nodded. “Thank you, Senior Sister Jiang. But… this place…”

He looked around at the chaos, puzzled.

Was it still safe to stay here?

“No matter,” Jiang Xiaobai said. “Just don’t speak of what happened here when you leave, alright?”

“But shouldn’t we report such a demon beast attack within the sect…” Chu Liang was slightly confused.

“I’ll handle it,” Jiang Xiaobai said. “Today’s events are rather strange…”

“Hmm?” Chu Liang was puzzled, but nodded.

Seeing his confusion, Jiang Xiaobai hesitated, then said, “Since you’ve suffered this disaster with me, you deserve to know the truth. Bai Ze is so close to you, you must be good-hearted, so there’s no harm in telling you…”

“My constitution is unusual—a legendary Immortal Spirit Body. From childhood, my cultivation has been twice as effective, but there’s one thing…”

“For demon beasts, my bloodline is highly attractive… it seems if they consume it, their power will surge.”

“I usually keep my distance from the sect’s spirit pets and mounts, always careful to avoid injury and the scent of blood, lest it attract demon beasts.”

Hearing this, Chu Liang felt a twinge of excitement.

A constitution that attracts demon beasts…

It sounded a bit like the legendary Monk Tang’s flesh—a dangerous trait, indeed.

But if he had such a body, he could lure demon beasts, slay them, exchange the trophies at the White Tower, use the rewards to grow stronger, then attract even fiercer beasts…

A healthy industry chain would form.

While he was lost in thought, Jiang Xiaobai continued, “But… being a woman, sometimes bleeding is unavoidable…”

As she said this, her cheeks flushed slightly.

Chu Liang, however, remained calm, not at all embarrassed. To him, this was nothing to be ashamed of.

Living on Mount Shu and avoiding demon beasts was no easy feat. The sect kept many spirit pets and mounts—it was impossible to ban them just for her sake. Yet those tamed beasts, if they smelled her blood, would become wild and frenzied—making things very complicated.

Seeing his untroubled demeanor, Jiang Xiaobai went on, “So every month, I retreat to Treasure Tower Peak for a few days. Here, thanks to the ancient Demon Suppression Tower, even after five hundred years, demon beasts still fear to approach—it's a sanctuary.”

“Plus, with Bai Ze baby warding off outsiders, I can always stay here in peace.”

“Until today, when it suddenly brought you here…”

Chu Liang glanced at the Bai Ze cub circling them, thinking this divine beast didn’t seem particularly bright, so its odd behavior wasn’t surprising.

“Also, the giant lizard’s appearance is strange. Why would it suddenly come to Treasure Tower Peak, which no demon beast has dared enter, and find this cave so precisely…” Jiang Xiaobai frowned lightly.

A beauty’s frown, like mist veiling a white lake.

Chu Liang instantly understood her meaning.

Her Immortal Spirit Body was a secret, but if she could share it with Chu Liang so easily, it wasn’t a tightly kept one. Many within Mount Shu likely knew.

For this demon beast to appear so oddly and strike so accurately… perhaps someone in Mount Shu had manipulated events.

Perhaps even someone close to her.

That thought weighed heavily on the heart.

Jiang Xiaobai paused, then said, “That’s all for now. So I ask you not to spread word—let me report this to my master first, then we’ll plan carefully.”

“I understand,” Chu Liang nodded.

“Is there anything else you wish to ask?” Jiang Xiaobai finally said.

“I want to ask…” Chu Liang hesitated, then looked up, “The Seven Stars Gazette once said you and Feng Chaoyang of Heaven King Sect were involved—is it true?”