The last one froze, still kneeling, still shaking. He dared not lift his head, the smell of blood choking him.
Lao Xie exhaled slowly, his expression calm, almost serene. He rested his sword on his shoulder and leaned slightly closer. "Good. One dog left alive. Crawl back to your master. Tell him this—if he sends more pests to trail me, I'll peel his skin next."
The disciple's body jolted in fright, but he didn't dare speak. He only kowtowed again and again.
Lao Xie's steps carried him past the survivor without another glance. On the ground, the others twitched faintly, blood seeping into dirt. With a flick of his wrist, his sword cut swift and merciless—ending what life remained before he dragged the corpses into shadow. A wisp of qi flared, turning the stains into nothing but blackened ash.
Lao Xie stepped back onto the path, hands clasped calmly behind his back. To him, it was no different than brushing away refuse. The lanterns ahead glowed faintly in the night, while behind him, the lone boy still knelt, too broken to rise.
When he finally reached his hut, the night had deepened into silence. His quarters were modest—little more than a narrow cot, a low table, and a flickering oil lamp casting faint light against the wooden walls. He shut the door softly behind him, the outside world severed as cleanly as a blade through flesh.
He set his sword against the wall, then sat cross-legged on the cot, his eyes closing briefly as if settling into meditation. But before he could sink fully into thought, a shimmer rippled across his vision.
A pale-blue panel unfurled silently in the air.
[Cling~]
[System Notification]
First Kill Detected. You have been issued additional rewards. Do you want to claim it now?
[Yes] / [No]
*"Additional rewards?" Lao Xie mused inwardly, eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the faint shimmer of the panel. His gaze lingered on the two hovering options before him.
Without hesitation, his finger tapped the glowing [Yes].
A faint ripple passed through the air— Poof~ —and several items began to materialize out of nothingness, drifting weightlessly in the dim light.
Another panel followed swiftly after, its letters etched in cold brilliance,
[REWARDS RECEIVED]
1. Spirit Stone — 200x
2. Trait — Qi Absorption
3. Healing Pills 1st Grade — 5x
[Achievement Unlocked] 'Blooded Blade'
Rewards : 20x Spirit Stones
The glow thickened. A single jade bottle descended gently, its surface catching the faint flicker of his oil lamp. Around it, several pouches bulging with spirit stones floated in the still air.
Lao Xie's lip curled faintly. "More spirit stones and pills? Hah. What's next—are you trying to turn me into a merchant?" His tone carried a thread of dry annoyance, though his eyes had already moved on.
They fixed sharply on the second reward. A different panel bloomed into view, its aura heavier, as though the system itself weighed the significance of what it was about to reveal.
[New Trait Acquired]
Trait Gained: [Qi Absorption]
Effect: Grants the ability to directly absorb the Qi of any human. Only applies to the living—if dead, the body must be freshly slain within an hour. However, the Qi absorbed will not be pure—it will corrode into corrupted qi.
"Qi Absorption…" Lao Xie muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he studied the glowing panel.
After a few moments, the system's voice suddenly resounded in his mind, calm and measured, carrying neither warmth nor malice.
"Host, allow me to clarify. By using Qi Absorption, you may seize the qi of others directly. The amount stolen can even push your realm higher, if sufficient Qi is consumed. However, the Qi absorbed is not pure—it carries corruption. This technique was notorious among demonic cultivators. Many sects banned it outright, for fear of disciples falling into wicked."
Lao Xie gave a low scoff. "So, you're telling me I could've used this on the two I just killed?"
The voice returned, steady as a blade edge, without pause or hesitation. "Not yet. Your current meridians cannot handle the collision of corrupted qi against the pure qi you cultivate. Unless you gain a countermeasure, absorption would cripple you. There are… exceptions, but I will not mention them for now."
Lao Xie leaned back slightly, lips curving faintly. "Hmph. Isn't this just a demonic technique, then?"
"Essentially, yes."
Lao Xie raised his hand lazily, and another panel appeared in front of him.
[AFFINITY]
Yao Yue
Interest: 2 Star
Relationship: Elder – Disciple
Age: 32
Cultivation Stage: Qi Refinement, 8th Stage (Weakened State)
Affiliation: Silver Crescent Mountain Peak, Elder
He stared at the name for a long moment. Memories stirred—her words echoing clearly in his mind.
"I managed to stabilize my cultivation, but I'll never be able to fully remove the demonic qi. My meridians are gradually being corrupted. Demonic qi and normal qi can't coexist… I'm stuck at the peak of Qi Refinement, unable to step into Qi Condensation Realm."
"It doesn't work. This kind of qi can't be removed by normal means."
A faint grin touched Lao Xie's lips. "Sweet."
"System," he asked softly, "can I control how much I absorb?"
"Complete control rests in your hands. You may take everything, or just a drop."
His grin widened, eerie in the quiet hut. He tilted his head slightly, as though considering a cruel joke. "So even Elder Yao could be in my grasp, if I wish it."
"It is possible. However, it is not wise yet. Absorbing from her will introduce corrupted qi into your meridians. Without a countermeasure, collision with your current qi would be disastrous."
Lao Xie chuckled under his breath, resting his chin in his hand. "Then the way to cure her is already in my hand… I only need the key to survive the aftermath."
His thoughts ran deeper, his grin sharpening. Elder Yao's shadow lingered in his mind, graceful yet tainted, beautiful despite the corruption. Soon, she would walk right into his palm, just as Ling Ruxin already had.
"Who would say no to a beauty?"
He gestured his hand again, and another panel appeared.
[INFORMATION]
Name: Lao Xie
Age: 15
Cultivation Stage: Qi Refinement, 7th Stage
Physique: Heaven-Piercing Sword Physique
Race: Human
Luck: ???
Spiritual Root: Primordial Ancient Spirit Root
Traits: Observe Lv1, Qi Absorption LvMAX
"I'm catching up to you, Yao Yue." he said as he look at another panel where Elder Yao's information was shown.
Out of sudden, the system spoke again, this time with a faint note of approval—though it was empty, mechanical, devoid of human emotion. "Your decisiveness is commendable. You killed without human without hesitation."
Lao Xie leaned back against the cot, scoffing softly. "Hah, worthless dogs. And yet this is the second time I've been tailed. They're getting impatient, aren't they?"
His smile curved darker. "Whether it's the same person or not… it doesn't matter. I can test this new toy on whoever dares to come next."
The panels faded one by one, swallowed by the quiet. The hut fell silent again, only the faint flicker of the oil lamp against the wooden walls.
Lao Xie closed his eyes, sinking into cultivation as if blood and death were nothing more than passing shadows.
Outside, the night stretched on—until at last, the first strands of morning light crept through the narrow window.