flstandardbreds Chapter 11 Fate
Chapter 11 Fate
"Hoo—" Zhang Yunling sat in his wooden house, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled the stale air from his body.
He has spent a whole day and night refining the Hundred Demon Qi Condensation Pill, a third-grade pill, and is now ready to take it. If the effect is good, he can break through several realms and directly join the ranks of the upper-class disciples of the Black Cliff Sect. His strength will also undergo a qualitative transformation compared to now.
Thinking about all this, Zhang Yunling's heart began to stir with excitement. In particular, he had already promised that once he reached a certain level of strength, he would follow Chu Yanbing and work for her to repay her kindness. He could also cultivate their relationship and make it easier for them to become Daoist partners in the future. This became a major motivation for him on his path to becoming stronger.
"Then, let's begin the breakthrough!" Zhang Yunling made up his mind, took out the Hundred Demon Qi Condensation Pill from his storage bag, and as soon as the pill was taken out, its fragrance spread out, and a powerful force rippled outward from within the pill.
With a swift grab, Zhang Yunling swallowed the Qi Condensation Pill in one gulp. Just like the second-grade Qi Condensation Pill he had taken years ago that helped him become a cultivator, Zhang Yunling placed the pill in his mouth, allowing it to slowly melt and its medicinal power to gradually spread throughout his body.
As time passed, Zhang Yunling, who was sitting cross-legged, suddenly became covered in sweat on his forehead, and his body became increasingly hot. Presumably, the power of the demon core had taken effect, and it began to release the compressed power, constantly impacting Zhang Yunling's dantian and stimulating his cultivation.
Immediately, one hour after another passed, and his cultivation level gradually increased, from the fourth level of Qi Refining to the fifth level, the sixth level of Qi Refining... until the tenth level of Qi Refining, achieving the Great Perfection of Qi Refining!
A day passed quickly. Zhang Yunling used all his strength to absorb the medicinal effects, and finally, without wasting a single bit, he completely absorbed them, transforming them into his Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivation level, which remained in his dantian.
In this way, although rapid advancement may destabilize his foundation, his cultivation level has already reached this point, so he can temporarily suppress his cultivation to solidify his foundation and make a breakthrough when the time is right.
Overjoyed, Zhang Yunling used his divine sense to examine his dantian and meridians. He had hoped to reach the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining, but an unexpected surprise appeared.
Based on this calculation, the next level he needs to break through is the realm known as the "Foundation Building Stage".
"No, no, we can't be too hasty. We should talk to Senior Sister Chu first." Zhang Yunling suddenly remembered that Chu Yanbing had once told him that if he was afraid of something happening to him if his cultivation improved too quickly, he could seek her help.
Having said that, he excitedly leaped up from the futon, his head hitting the ceiling. With a painful yelp, Zhang Yunling rubbed the back of his head and rushed towards the wooden cabin door. Looking at the sky, which had turned pitch black again, he was filled with excitement. He first peeked out to look down, and seeing that no one was around, he rubbed his hands together and assumed a launching stance.
He has now reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining. Although he only broke through tonight, he truly possesses this level of cultivation. Generally speaking, one can fly after reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining, and now that he has reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, flying should be effortless for him.
Zhang Yunling slammed his left foot off the ground, followed immediately by a step with his right. Although there was no floor to step on after that, he gritted his teeth and leaped forward, muttering to himself, "Fly! Fly! Fly!"
Recalling Chu Yanbing's teachings, the spiritual energy within his body reacted swiftly, sensing the spiritual energy in the air and the surrounding world. Zhang Yunling's body, which had almost fallen after rushing forward, suddenly stopped and hovered in mid-air.
"Really, really succeeded?" Zhang Yunling looked at everything in front of him in disbelief. He was still in a running posture, but his feet were already in the air. It seemed that he had completed the legendary flying through the air.
All of this happened too suddenly. Although it was reasonable for him to do all this with his current cultivation level, it was only less than ten days ago that he had rapidly improved from a novice Qi Refining Level 2 cultivator to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining. This really made Zhang Yunling feel that it was unreal and dreamlike.
"No, I have to go and share this with Senior Sister Chu!" Zhang Yunling simply gave up thinking about those things and immediately rushed excitedly towards the wooden house where Chu Yanbing was.
Just as he was about to reach it, Zhang Yunling suddenly stopped. Remembering Chu Yanbing's usual care for him, he stood at the door of the wooden house and straightened his clothes. He was wearing the Black Cliff Sect disciple's robe that Chu Yanbing had given him that day. The black fitted robe, combined with his already jet-black and shiny long hair, and his handsome face now filled with a gentle smile, made him look like a celestial being descended to earth.
"Senior Sister Chu, I have some things I'd like to discuss with you. Do you have the time?"
Zhang Yunling awaited the other party's reply with anticipation, and sure enough, a short while later, Chu Yanbing personally opened the door to greet him. "It's Junior Brother Yunling, hehehe, I've long heard that you've made great progress in alchemy these past few days and achieved another breakthrough in your cultivation. But why didn't you tell Master about this, instead of coming to see me?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunling felt somewhat at a loss for words. What Chu Yanbing said was indeed reasonable. His breakthrough in cultivation was largely due to Liao Daozi's guidance and support. However, the reason he rushed to find Chu Yanbing first was because she was his great benefactor who had led him onto the path of cultivation, and she deserved his respect and attention.
"I thought that my senior sister had done so much for me and had been so kind to me. It was time for me to repay her. That's why I came to tell you about this as soon as possible. Please don't blame me, senior sister." Zhang Yunling lowered his head with a slightly aggrieved look on his face. No matter what his cultivation level was, he was still a simple-minded and silly boy when facing Chu Yanbing.
Chu Yanbing smiled, slowly walked forward, and suddenly hugged Jin Yunling tightly. Her expression suddenly changed drastically:
"In that case, it's time for you to repay me."
"Wh...what?...?"
Zhang Yunling felt a tearing pain in his chest. When he looked down, he saw a gleaming short sword hidden in Chu Yanbing's sleeve!
At this moment, the blade was gradually stained red with the blood overflowing from his heart, and the moonlight shone on it, reflecting Chu Yanbing's extremely cold and terrifying face.
"Why..."
Zhang Yunling stared in disbelief at Chu Yanbing, who was tightly embracing him while simultaneously plunging a sword into her heart, and asked, her face pale.
"Why? Hehehe... Hahahahahahahaha! Zhang Yunling... You don't really think that my approaching you was just a coincidence, do you... Hmph! Now that you're about to die, I'll tell you the whole truth so you can die knowing why!"
As she spoke, Chu Yanbing continued to twist the hilt of her sword, hastening Zhang Yunling's death.
"Hmph, let me tell you the truth. Although I am only at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, I have actually suppressed my cultivation at this level for ten years, all for one thing—once I refine the Perfect Foundation Establishment Pill, I can use it to form a Perfect Foundation Establishment Platform. In the future, my path to immortality will be smooth, and I will rise step by step! Hahahahahaha!" Chu Yanbing laughed maniacally, venting her ecstatic joy at Zhang Yunling.
Zhang Yunling trembled violently, letting out a hoarse growl: "Why...why me?!"
"Why you? Hahahaha! Zhang Yunling! You are the last of the three medicinal herbs needed for my Perfect Foundation Establishment Pill! A dantian belonging to a Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator who possesses at least four of the five-colored spiritual roots! Fortunately, as a fourth-grade alchemist, my divine sense is much stronger than yours, otherwise finding someone like you would be extremely troublesome..."
Chu Yanbing suddenly pulled out the short sword stuck in Zhang Yunling's chest, and with her left hand, she slapped Zhang Yunling away, sending him crashing into the wooden table and chairs in the room.
As his injuries worsened, Zhang Yunling could no longer hold back and vomited a mouthful of blood. Seeing his utterly wretched state, Chu Yanbing walked slowly towards him with a mocking air, continuing, "..."
“Originally, I didn’t notice you, Zhang Yunling. It’s all your father’s fault.” As soon as she finished speaking, Chu Yanbing took out an item from her storage bag. It was the Zhang family heirloom that Zhang He had told her about—a white vase!
Zhang Yunling's eyes were bloodshot, but his severe injuries and excessive blood loss left him powerless to resist. Chu Yanbing gently stroked the vase, then turned and said, "Back then, when I flew over your mortal towns, I originally intended to use my divine sense to find someone suitable for alchemy, but I unexpectedly sensed the aura of this vase... Hmph, how laughable that old geezer Zhang He thought it was some kind of worthless family heirloom of your Zhang family, utterly ridiculous!"
Upon hearing his father's name, Zhang Yunling's pupils constricted sharply, his eyes filled with panic. Blood slowly welled from his mouth as he struggled to utter, "What...did you...do to my father...?"
"What's wrong? Hahahaha! If it weren't for the fact that you're useful to me, I could have killed you and that old geezer together and taken the treasure. But now there's no need to pretend anymore. It's only right that I kill for the treasure."
After saying that, Chu Yanbing carefully stroked the white vase in her hand, and finally carefully put it back into her storage bag. "Now, I've said everything I needed to say, and you can die in peace."
Hearing this, Zhang Yunling was already weeping bitterly, his chest a bloody mess, but his cultivator's self-healing abilities kept him alive from immediate death. Suddenly, he remembered the powerful technique he had learned—the Divine Speed Ghost Step—his only hope of escaping this place!
"You she-devil! I was blind... I was completely bewitched by you!" Zhang Yunling took out the flying sword that Chu Yanbing had given him from his storage bag and threw it at her, while he took the opportunity to use his Swift Ghost Steps to try to escape.
Chu Yan sneered and with a wave of her hand, she deflected the flying sword that was heading her way, watching as Zhang Yunling fled out of the wooden house.
"Ugh!" Before he could run a few steps, Zhang Yunling was kicked back by Fan Linyuan, who had been lying in ambush for a long time. "Kid, you can't blame anyone else. It's just that you're too kind-hearted and too stupid. This cultivation world is a dog-eat-dog world, full of deceit and treachery. You received so many favors from others for no reason, and you still can't understand why. Hmph, you deserve to die."
Zhang Yunling's face showed despair. Fan Linyuan in front of him was at least at the Foundation Establishment stage, and Chu Yanbing behind him was even more cruel and terrifying. With the two of them attacking him, his fate was sealed and he could not escape his doom!
Chu Yanbing pressed down on Zhang Yunling's still bleeding chest, then gripped her right hand and thrust the short sword toward his abdomen.
No...no!!!
Zhang Yunling's last struggle, made with all her remaining strength, had completely dissipated as her dantian was removed.
"Hahahaha... Hahahahahahahahaha! Got it! Got it!" Chu Yanbing plunged the short sword into Zhang Yunling's abdomen, cupping the faintly glowing yellow dantian in her hands. It was only the size of a walnut, with patterns of red, green, brown, and blue on it. "With it, I can refine a perfect foundation for my Dao, and my path to immortality will be smooth sailing! Hahahahahahahaha!"
As Zhang Yunling listened to Chu Yanbing's grand ambitions, his consciousness began to blur. His only thought was to keep telling himself that in his next life, he would not read any books of sages or serve as an official in the imperial court; he must find a way to become a cultivator...
Until finally, my brain completely lost its rationality, and only four words kept echoing in my mind:
To take revenge and become an immortal.