Chapter 347: 感应

Just then, Liang Yan seemed to sense something, startling him awake from his meditative trance. He abruptly looked up towards outside the courtyard, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes.

Heart-Devouring Gu!

Since the destruction of the Kuiyin Sect, Liang Yan hadn't sensed the fluctuations of the Heart-Devouring Gu for a very long time.

The Kuiyin Sect had few Heart-Devouring Gu remains left to begin with. After the sect's disintegration, most of its high-ranking members perished, and the remaining Gu worms had dispersed to unknown locations.

The poisonous Gu technique created by Ancestor Kuiyin involved refining the Heart-Devouring Gu into a potent weapon, divided into three parts: planting the Gu, controlling the Gu, and dispelling the Gu. Without knowing the dispelling method, the poisonous Gu planted by the Heart-Devouring Gu was almost impossible to cure!

This vicious poisonous Gu technique was a closely guarded secret within the Kuiyin Sect, taught only to Ancestor Kuiyin's direct disciples or those highly esteemed within the sect.

Even ordinary Foundation Establishment disciples weren't qualified.

Yue Wu, who had diligently managed the Kuiyin Sect's external affairs and carried out Sect Master Yi's orders without regard for his own cultivation, had long since been taught this technique.

Although Liang Yan wasn't qualified to learn the full poisonous Gu technique, his closeness to Yue Wu — almost like a half-disciple, and often serving as Yue Wu's right-hand man — allowed him to learn the Gu control method from Yue Wu.

Back then, he was only at the Qi Refinement stage, yet the Foundation Establishment cultivator controlled by the Heart-Devouring Gu was completely subservient to him, not daring to show the slightest hint of defiance.

After the Kuiyin Sect's destruction, its disciples scattered in desperation, with only a handful surviving. Those who had been manipulated by the Heart-Devouring Gu, however, unexpectedly gained their freedom, finding a blessing in disguise.

The person Liang Yan knew had mysteriously vanished after the Kuiyin Sect was destroyed.

Only those who had experienced the horror of the Heart-Devouring Gu truly understood its terror. Having barely escaped its control, they certainly wouldn't want to repeat the experience and had hidden themselves extremely well.

For all these years, Liang Yan hadn't encountered a single one.

He never expected to suddenly sense the fluctuations of the Heart-Devouring Gu today.

"Do they think that after so many years, everyone from the Kuiyin Sect is dead, and they can't help but show themselves?"

Liang Yan sneered, finding it unsurprising.

Cultivators couldn't stay holed up in their caves indefinitely. Whether facing a bottleneck or lacking cultivation resources, they had to venture out for activities and training.

For decades, the Yuanzhao Sect had relentlessly pursued the remnants of the Kuiyin Sect, openly displaying their intent, and they had the full support of the Wuji Sect, one of the Eight Orthodox Sects.

Even a demonic cultivator from the Kuiyin Sect who had fled to Qingyang City, located at the easternmost point of the Seven Heroes Pass, deep within demonic forces' territory, was captured by the Yuanzhao Sect and his corpse displayed to the public.

This act had caused a huge uproar within the demonic sects.

However, the Yuanzhao Sect didn't make enemies carelessly; they only targeted Kuiyin Sect members, and their actions stemmed from a private grudge between the two sides.

Demonic cultivators were inherently cold-hearted; none were willing to stand up for the Kuiyin Sect remnants. They merely put on a show to prevent the Yuanzhao Sect from acting completely unrestrained.

Nearly all well-known Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators had been purged. Even the few survivors were terrified out of their wits, living like rats, afraid to show their faces.

Fortunately, Liang Yan was only at the Qi Refinement stage back then and hadn't officially taken a master, making him inconspicuous. Otherwise, if the Yuanzhao Sect had marked him, he wouldn't be living so comfortably now.

The Yuanzhao Sect couldn't be bothered to go to great lengths for minor figures like them.

Many obscure Qi Refinement disciples, similar to Liang Yan, had changed their identities after leaving the Kuiyin Sect. As long as they acted cautiously and didn't reveal their past, they had managed to survive to this day.

Of course, they wouldn't have learned that poisonous Gu technique.

"This person probably didn't expect to run into me here, did they?"

Liang Yan sensed the fluctuations of the Heart-Devouring Gu moving further and further away.

The person seemed to have arrived in a hurry and was also departing Fengcang Market in a hurry, likely just stopping for supplies, indicating extreme caution.

Liang Yan's eyes gleamed. He calmed his internal energy, pushed open his door, and walked out.

The immense power of the Heart-Devouring Gu was still fresh in Liang Yan's memory.

He wasn't sure if this poisonous Gu technique would work on Golden Core cultivators, but he was certain that if the opponent was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they would undoubtedly become his puppet!

The stronger, the better!

Thinking of this, Liang Yan's heart burned with anticipation, and an excited expression appeared on his face. However, accustomed to caution, he didn't act too hastily.

With his divine sense firmly locked onto the poisonous Gu's movements, Liang Yan pushed open his door and stepped outside. He paused slightly, glanced at the room on his right, waved his hand to deactivate its restriction, and walked straight in.

Inside the room, a beautiful middle-aged woman sat in meditation. It was Shi Hong.

Shi Hong was cultivating when she was suddenly disturbed. She opened her eyes to find an extra person in the room and was startled. Seeing it was Liang Yan, her expression softened, but she remained subtly vigilant.

"So it's Senior Brother Liang. Has Senior Brother Liang suddenly emerged from seclusion because there's something you need to do? Perhaps I, your junior sister, could assist?"

A hint of gloom flickered in Liang Yan's eyes. He didn't answer Shi Hong's question, instead staring at her and asking, "Have you refined the Cold Ease Fruit?"

Shi Hong nodded, offering a wry smile. "I've already refined the spiritual fruit according to the shopkeeper's method, not wasting a single bit of its medicinal power. Unfortunately, the Cold Ease Fruit's effects don't seem as potent as he claimed; the bottleneck remains unyielding."

At this moment, Shi Hong's cultivation was still at the eighth level of the Qi Refinement stage. She had been stuck before the ninth-level bottleneck for decades and still hadn't broken through.

Liang Yan looked deeply at Shi Hong and said indifferently, "The ninth-level bottleneck is indeed the greatest hurdle in the Qi Refinement stage. Even I, your senior brother, struggled greatly and only managed to break through by chance back then.

"However, with your astonishing talent, Junior Sister, and the aid of the Yama Banner...

"Over the years, I've found you no fewer than ten kinds of elixirs, yet you remain trapped by the bottleneck, which is truly surprising.

"It seems spiritual roots aren't omnipotent after all."

Shi Hong replied with profound shame, "This junior sister is foolish and has disappointed senior brother."

Liang Yan shook his head.

"It's not me who's disappointed, Junior Sister, it should be you yourself.

"Given your age and talent, if you break through now, I could still help you find a Foundation Establishment Pill, and there would be a considerable chance of establishing your foundation.

"A few more years, and there might not be any hope left.

"You possess dual spiritual roots, originally having the potential to form a Golden Core, yet you're stuck at the Qi Refinement stage. Don't you find that regrettable?

"I had intended to become cultivation partners with you, Junior Sister, once you broke through to Foundation Establishment. Then, we could wander the world as immortal companions, how joyful would that be?

"How much longer do you intend to make me wait, Junior Sister?"

Rebuked by Liang Yan directly, Shi Hong lowered her head in shame. However, from an angle Liang Yan couldn't see, her eyes blazed with deep-seated hatred.

"I just remembered something, and I'll be back soon. You stay in the cave dwelling and cultivate diligently, striving to break through your bottleneck as soon as possible."

Liang Yan turned and walked out, closing the door behind him. His face suddenly darkened. He let out a cold snort and murmured to himself, "Do you really think I don't know what you're thinking? If not for your relative obedience and ability to handle petty tasks, would I tolerate you until now!"