Chapter 00236: The Scheming Woman
# The Scheming Woman
Chapter 236
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 236: The Scheming Woman
Just as Ding Huan was thinking about how his Great Universe Technique had leveled up, another wave of lightning arcs came crashing down.
These lightning arcs were even more powerful than the ones he had faced when he broke through to the Starry Sky Realm.
The first wave of lightning arcs had already injured his recently healed body.
When the second wave of lightning arcs fell, Ding Huan didn’t dare to take them head-on.
Not only did he summon his Farewell Spear, but he also frantically activated his Great Universe Technique.
Crack!
The lightning arcs struck the Farewell Spear, and the terrifying force of the impact made Ding Huan feel as if his hands were about to be destroyed.
To his surprise, in the next moment, his Great Universe Technique actually absorbed all the lightning arcs into the galaxy within his sea of consciousness.
The terrifying lightning arcs were instantly swept away by the stars in his sea of consciousness.
As the third and fourth waves of lightning arcs fell, the small stars and star particles in his sea of consciousness became even clearer.
Feeling the powerful aura of his true essence and the strength of his sea of consciousness, Ding Huan felt that even if a Void God Realm expert came, he wouldn’t be afraid.
This was the true Great Universe Technique.
It was only when he condensed the stars that his Great Universe Technique truly took shape.
The first nine waves of lightning arcs were the tribulation he faced when he broke through to the Starry Sky Realm, while the second nine waves, totaling 108 lightning arcs, were the tribulation for his Great Universe Technique truly taking form.
Even the Heavenly Dao seemed to feel that his Great Universe Technique was too heaven-defying, so it tried to kill him in his infancy.
But hehe, not only had he survived, but his Great Universe Technique had also truly taken shape.
From this day forward, even if his physical body was destroyed, as long as his primordial spirit remained, his Great Universe Technique would remain, and the universe he had built would remain.
As clusters of spiritual clouds descended, Ding Huan was overjoyed.
He hadn’t expected such a reward.
At this moment, he absorbed every last bit of the spiritual clouds, further solidifying his cultivation.
Standing up, Ding Huan looked at the nearly depleted Starry Sky Spirit Vein beneath him and sighed.
Creating the Great Universe Technique had consumed quite a bit.
Starry Sky Spirit Veins were valuable, and he was still lacking in such resources.
When he had the chance, he would definitely go to the starry sky to search for more.
If he could find a few Starry Sky Spirit Veins and implant them under the Blue Star Sect, the sect would inevitably prosper.
Now, what he needed to do was seal off the Hidden Sword Mountain with sealing and trapping formations.
From now on, this place would be considered the territory of his Blue Star Sect.
Outside the Hidden Sword Mountain, Ding Huan planted formation flags one by one.
As a sixth-grade formation master, and with a sea of consciousness stronger than even a Void God Realm cultivator, setting up formations was a breeze for him.
The Hidden Sword Mountain wasn’t actually very large, only about a hundred miles in radius.
What was truly vast were the surrounding mountain ranges, which were of no use to Ding Huan.
What he wanted was the cosmic vortex entrance within the Hidden Sword Mountain.
Ding Huan was well aware that even if one didn’t cultivate the Great Universe Technique, this cosmic vortex entrance was still incredibly valuable.
It could be used to comprehend the laws of the universe when cultivating other techniques, though without the Great and Small Universe Techniques, this comprehension would be more difficult.
Additionally, if used properly, this cosmic vortex entrance could directly connect to the void of the universe, making its value immeasurable.
Many sects hadn’t yet realized the importance of this vortex entrance, and Ding Huan had no intention of giving them the chance to do so.
As he planted formation flags one by one, the mist-shrouded Hidden Sword Mountain gradually disappeared from view.
Ding Huan also sealed off the poisonous vein at the entrance of the cosmic vortex in the Hidden Sword Mountain and used the Great Universe Pearl to absorb all the poisonous mist.
However, he still couldn’t set up a teleportation formation.
Teleportation formations were different from other formations; they required specific materials, not just formation flags.
Ding Huan decided to make a trip to the Heavenly Artifact Sect.
First, he had made an appointment with Qi Xin Yue.
If Qi Xin Yue could leave the Divine Clan, she would go to the Heavenly Artifact Sect.
Second, the Heavenly Artifact Sect had many materials, and there might be what he needed to set up a teleportation formation.
In truth, Ding Huan knew very well that the chances of Qi Xin Yue leaving the Divine Clan were less than one in ten thousand.
Still, he had to go and check.
On the way to the Heavenly Artifact Sect, he would pass by the Twin Soul Sect, so he might as well destroy it along the way.
...
In the main hall of the Desolate God Sect, an old man stared at Qing Yu.
“Is everything you just said true?”
This old man held a high status in the Ascension Realm.
He was the dean of the Longyan Academy, Shi Qiu.
In terms of cultivation, he was no weaker than Qiao Sha.
In terms of understanding various great Dao techniques and ancient texts, there was probably no one in the entire Three Heavens Star Continent who could surpass him.
Not only Shi Qiu, but almost everyone in the hall was staring at Qing Yu.
At least a third of them had a fervent gleam in their eyes.
Qing Yu bowed respectfully.
“I guarantee that everything I just said is true. Ding Huan not only has a technique that allows mortals to cultivate, but he also has a secret technique for modifying ancient cultivation methods. Not only that, he also possesses other powerful ancient techniques and divine abilities, though I’m not clear on the specifics.”
“How do you know all this?” Liu Yin Yu stared at Qing Yu, her suspicion evident.
Even if Ding Huan really had these things, how would Qing Yu, a mere maid, know about such secrets? If Ding Huan were someone who couldn’t keep secrets, how could he have killed Yi Wan Dao?
Qing Yu’s eyes reddened.
“Because both Ding Huan and I were servants of the young lady. We often talked, and over time, we grew closer…”
Yi Jiang’s already ugly expression turned even uglier.
This insignificant Ding Huan had ruined three of his women.
The first, Guan Wan, had been taken away by Ding Huan.
The second, Han Xiao Nu, who was about to be engaged to him, had also refused to continue the engagement because of Ding Huan.
And now, this third one, Qing Yu, whom he had intended to use as a dual cultivation cauldron, had been defiled by Ding Huan before he could even start.
“She has indeed been with a man,” a woman said indifferently.
“Since you’ve been with Ding Huan, why are you betraying him now?” Liu Yin Yu’s voice was even colder.
Qing Yu finally couldn’t hold back her tears.
“Because he was just toying with me. As soon as we passed the Lost Swamp, he was going to abandon me. I was so angry that I tried my best to slander him, hoping he would be punished. I’m not a good woman. I couldn’t bear the thought of him leaving me…”
Qing Yu was desperately making up lies to save her life.
She didn’t expect that some of her fabricated words would actually be true.
At the very least, Ding Huan really could modify cultivation techniques and allow people without spiritual roots to fuse with gene spiritual roots to cultivate.
“Then why are you telling us this now?” Liu Yin Yu continued to press.
Qing Yu looked up at Liu Yin Yu. “Senior, I really don’t want to die. I want to live.”
“Who would kill you?” Liu Yin Yu asked in surprise.
“The young master. He made me cultivate the Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art, a technique meant to benefit others. I… I…”
At this point, Qing Yu couldn’t say another word.
She collapsed to the ground, her face as pale as a sheet of paper.
“You… you’re lying…”
Yi Jiang hadn’t expected this maid to be so shameless as to lie about him.
It was true that Qing Yu had cultivated the Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art, and he had called her here because of that.
But this didn’t make sense.
He hadn’t been the one to make her cultivate it; it was Guan Wan who had done so.
“Whether it’s a lie or not, everyone here can see. This maid has cultivated a sacrificial technique. Anyone who isn’t blind can see that. It seems I, Liu Yin Yu, almost turned a blind eye and handed my disciple over to someone like… well, never mind.”
Liu Yin Yu seemed to hold back out of respect for Qiao Sha’s face, omitting the word “scum.”
“Come here. The Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art isn’t a life-threatening technique.”
To everyone’s surprise, Shi Qiu, the dean of Longyan Academy, spoke kindly to Qing Yu and beckoned her over.
Though Qing Yu was still on the ground, she struggled to her feet upon hearing Shi Qiu’s words and stumbled over to him.
Shi Qiu slapped his palm on Qing Yu’s forehead, and in the next moment, Qing Yu felt as if her internal organs were being rearranged.
In just a few breaths, the true essence of the Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art she had cultivated was completely dissolved.
“Thank you, senior, for saving my life.” Qing Yu knew full well that Shi Qiu had saved her life and quickly knelt down to express her gratitude.
With the true essence of the Great Phoenix Crimson Cloud Art she had cultivated for years now gone, Yi Jiang could no longer use her as a cauldron.
“You just need to switch to another cultivation technique. It’s not a big problem. At most, it’ll take a few more years,” Shi Qiu sighed.
“Yes, senior. I will never forget your kindness.” Qing Yu kowtowed repeatedly, even drawing blood.
She knew very well that this was only the first step.
The most important thing for her now was to escape.
“When you were with Ding Huan, did he tell you where he got those techniques?” Shi Qiu asked directly.
Shi Qiu was a wise man.
With so many powerful figures present, no one would allow him to take Qing Yu away.
Qing Yu said fearfully, “He said they came from a ruin in the mortal world. I asked him several times, but he always avoided the question.”
This was normal.
No matter how foolish someone was, they wouldn’t reveal such secrets.
At this moment, Gu You Chang suddenly stepped forward.
“Sect leaders, seniors, I have something to say.”
Qiao Sha chuckled. “Speak freely. Everyone here has the right to speak.”
He had been embarrassed by Shi Qiu and Liu Yin Yu earlier and was in a bad mood.
Gu You Chang clasped his hands and said, “I am one hundred percent certain that what Qing Yu said is false. Not to mention Qing Yu, even Guan Wan wouldn’t catch Ding Huan’s eye. I’ve gotten along quite well with Ding Huan. Ever since we started traveling together, he’s been studying formations every night. Aside from when we were all together, I doubt Ding Huan ever spoke to Qing Yu alone. I don’t understand where Qing Yu got the idea that she and Ding Huan had a secret relationship.”
(End of Chapter)