Qi Arts Master Chapter 9
The Yin Slaughter Group was the Blood Cult's elite unit, specialized in gathering intelligence, assassinations, and bodyguarding through the honey trap.
Its leader, Yo Hyang, cultivated the Blood Harvest Yin Supplement technique. Naturally, this granted an unnatural surge in inner power. On top of that, it had the bonus effect of restoring youth and enhancing beauty.
Whether due to the technique or her innate nature, Yo Hyang had always loved blood and men. There were various ways to practice Blood Harvest Yin Supplement, but she typically immersed herself in blood and absorbed the power through meditative breathing. She believed this method worked best for skin care.
And whenever she took a fancy to a man, her hobby was to toy with him sexually, then drain not just his blood but his very yang essence before killing him.
True to her name, Yo Hyang always carried a seductive fragrance like an aphrodisiac incense. Men with weak inner power could fall into her illusions from the scent alone.
Right now, Ni Daeyeok was suffering under that very fragrance and seductive voice.
Yo Hyang smiled wider at his agony. Her red lips, which made her smile all the more enchanting, contrasted sharply with her smooth white skin, creating an intoxicating aura.
She wore blood-red garments that clung tightly to her body, accentuating every curve. Her slender, graceful fingers ended in long nails painted the same crimson as her lips.
"Ho ho ho~!"
Ni Daeyeok let out a groan of pain under her seductive voice.
"Urgh……."
It felt like someone had shoved a hand into his mind and was stirring it around. His thoughts grew muddled, cold judgment impossible.
Dam Soyeon, bound beside him, watched Ni Daeyeok's suffering with worried eyes.
"Now, what should I do with this cute little miss?"
Yo Hyang dragged her sharp red nail slowly down Dam Soyeon's cheek.
"Ow!"
Dam Soyeon shrieked and shook her head violently.
"Ho ho ho~ Squirm like that, and I might just kill you, you know?"
Yo Hyang thrust her narrow face right up to Dam Soyeon's nose, her red eyes flashing with menace.
The moment Dam Soyeon sensed the chilling killing intent in those crimson eyes, her mind reeled, and she fainted.
"Ho ho ho ho, fainting from just this much killing intent is a problem~"
As Yo Hyang toyed with Ni Daeyeok and Dam Soyeon like playthings, one of her Yin Slaughter Group subordinates approached cautiously. She was dressed similarly, in revealing attire.
"Leader."
"What?!"
Yo Hyang glared at the intruder with irritation for interrupting her fun.
"We seem to have a tracker on our tail."
"What? How? Didn't we erase all traces and stick to unmarked paths?!"
"I don't know…… But contact with the rear guards has been cut off. They should signal every quarter-hour, but it's been a full half-hour with nothing. The ones we sent to check are also silent."
The Yin Slaughter Group often guarded high officials, thanks to their stunning looks. Protocol demanded scattering members to the front, rear, and flanks to guard against threats. Inner and outer units exchanged flute signals every quarter-hour to confirm all clear—but the signals had stopped.
Then, a massive beast's roar erupted from behind Yo Hyang.
KRROOAAARRR——!
The earth-shaking Lion's Roar made the Yin Slaughter women clap their hands over their ears and hurriedly recite the Heavenly Disturbance Heart Method. Thin, eerie high-pitched tones spread, soothing their rattled insides.
All eyes turned to the roar's source. The dense trees began shaking violently.
CRACK!
Trees snapped and exploded outward in a shower of splinters. The sudden blast wounded several nearby Yin Slaughter members.
From the clearing created by the shattered trees emerged one man and one beast.
"Whew, still can't quite control the power. But looks like we found them. Good job, tiger."
Tian Ailang's praise drew a pleased rumble from the white tiger, who looked like a giant cat.
Yo Hyang startled at Tian Ailang's sudden appearance, but her eyes soon gleamed with hunger at his striking looks.
"Oho ho~. And who might you be?"
She flirted shamelessly, subtly directing her aphrodisiac scent toward him with her inner power.
Tian Ailang grimaced and fanned away the weird smell. He scanned the surroundings.
Weirdly dressed women exuded strange energies and scents, all on high alert. Off to the side, the Damga siblings lay unconscious in pain.
Can't tell their exact condition yet, but at least they're alive. Good.
Only after grasping the situation did Tian Ailang turn to Yo Hyang. She radiated an unpleasant energy—similar to demonic qi, but different. And she held sharp nails poised at the Damga siblings' throats, a clear threat.
"I'm their bodyguard," he said coldly.
Yo Hyang shuddered with excitement, thrilled not just by how he'd brushed off her scent, but by the perfect harmony of his voice and features.
"Haa……."
She let out an aroused moan. Now she realized—this was the unidentified man from Blood Brain's intel.
"Why'd they leave out how gorgeous he is?"
Overcome with lust, she caressed her own body and licked her lips.
Tian Ailang wasn't for a quick harvest and discard. She wanted to keep him by her side, savor him long-term.
But one thing nagged at her. She'd heard the Demonic Cult's Corpse Subduing Unit was wiped out, yet Ni Daeyeok didn't seem capable of that. He'd desperately tried to activate a formation when captured, and it looked decent enough to stall them—but annihilate? No way.
That left the handsome stranger as the likely culprit.
Better safe than sorry.
"All remaining Yin Slaughter Group—form the Heavenly Disturbance Eight Directions Formation now! Capture him alive. Do not kill!"
At her command, the group moved in perfect unison, encircling Tian Ailang and activating the formation.
Lewd moans filled the air alongside flute notes, especially spells to entrance men.
Yo Hyang was confident: no matter how strong, no man could resist a dozen beauties weaving the Heavenly Disturbance Eight Directions Formation's bewitchment arts.
But contrary to her expectations, Tian Ailang observed calmly. If anything, he just looked puzzled.
Nearly naked women surrounded him, blatantly flaunting their bodies and moaning strangely. The formation's yin energy tickled his head, ears, nape, chest, groin.
He frowned. Free from formations and illusions, the bewitchment barely touched him—but it soured his mood.
Unnoticed by them, Tian Ailang quietly circulated his protective aura. The sticky yin energies clinging to his body slid away, leaving him refreshed.
He addressed Yo Hyang at the formation's heart.
"Are you from the Demonic Cult too?"
"Ho ho~ Comparing us to those Demonic Cult trash? We're the Blood Cult's pretty ones. Come join us, young master, and taste paradise together."
Yo Hyang admired his mental fortitude but figured his fall was imminent. The kidnapping mission would succeed, plus she'd claim a far more valuable prize. Her body quivered in anticipation.
To amp the formation, she moaned seductively and bent low, baring her cleavage.
Tian Ailang ignored it and pressed on.
"Blood Cult? Then why do you reek of demonic qi?"
"Ho ho~ We're from the same womb, after all."
"Why do I sense so many mixed energies from you all—especially you?"
"Oh, come on~ That's just 'cause they all love me so much. You'll feel it too, young master. So enough stiff talk—let's get together~"
"Young master, together~"
The Yin Slaughter women echoed her, ramping up the flirtation.
A deep furrow creased Tian Ailang's brow.
Her words and the energies evoked a memory of his grandfather.
—Ailang, the world holds countless martial arts. Diversity deserves respect, but some are taboo.
—What are they, Grandpa?
—Blood Harvest, Yin Harvest, Power Absorption. Demonic arts that steal others' qi to boost your own. The orthodox sects forbid them utterly. If they appear, they're named public enemies—hunted and executed relentlessly. Even demonic cults and unorthodox schools avoid them. Too much heat; better alternatives exist.
—So aren't those demonic arts gone?
—Doubt it. Human greed is a hell of a motivator. But if you meet such practitioners, show no mercy. The main reason they're taboo? They use even powerless civilians as cultivation fodder. Spare them, and innocents die.
"Disgusting."
"Pardon?"
Yo Hyang blinked in confusion at his icy tone. Something was wrong—the formation's casters were suddenly sweating, faces pale with fear.
"So you practice demonic arts."
WHOOOOSH——
Tian Ailang exhaled his inner power across his body. It shredded their foul energies along the wind's flow.
Then he stomped, channeling qi into the earth.
CRRRACK—— BOOM!
The ground split from him outward, swallowing the Yin Slaughter women.
"Kyaaah!"
They screamed, scrambling to evade the collapsing earth.
Tian Ailang launched himself at them.
KYAAACK——!
They tried physical attacks, but they bounced off harmlessly. The Yin Slaughter Group relied on special physiques and arts for missions—not raw power. Leader Yo Hyang was peak transcendent realm entry; a few vice-leaders hit peak master. Most were first-rate.
Not bad, nearing master themselves—but against Tian Ailang, they were deer before a tiger.