Chapter 56: The Bone and Blood Pill, Raiding the Corrupt Cultist Base

Chapter 56 - The Bone and Blood Pill, Raiding the Corrupt Cultist Base Note: Don't Forget to join my Patreon.com/flokixy to get access to +40 Advance Chapters I have to stop if there is no support Due to the impact of the ancient great calamity, the spiritual energy in the world had been greatly weakened. This made cultivation in the modern era increasingly difficult for practitioners of the Dao, and masters at the level of "Human Sovereigns" were now nearly extinct. After prolonged stagnation in their cultivation and facing the pressing limits of their lifespans, some practitioners could no longer endure the torment and abandoned the righteous path. They delved into forbidden texts of dark arts, creating various shortcuts to rapidly enhance their power. One such method involved using the bones and blood of spiritually gifted children to forge what was known as the "Bone and Blood Pill." However, this type of pill required the mass slaughter of promising cultivators—the very roots of future generations in the Daoist tradition. For the sake of short-term gains, it was akin to killing the chicken that laid golden eggs. Moreover, excessive consumption of these pills corrupted the minds of practitioners, causing them to lose all sense of morality and familial ties, leaving behind a trail of destruction. When this practice first emerged, it spread like wildfire, wreaking havoc on the Daoist community. As a result, the transmission of Daoist teachings was interrupted for nearly forty to fifty years. Only through the combined efforts of the leaders of the Daoist sects did they manage to suppress the chaos and restore order. Had it not been for the decisive actions of the then-leader of the Daoist world, the interruption might have lasted even longer. Thus, the foremost taboo of the Daoist world was established: the prohibition against using humans to forge pills. "Master, I've come to ask for your assistance in destroying the base of these corrupt practitioners," Liu Dong said earnestly. "According to reliable intelligence, the overseer of this base is a sixth-tier cultivator. We are far from being a match for him, so we must rely on you, Master." Liu Dong's expression grew somber. A sixth-tier cultivator was not someone ordinary weapons could harm. Even heavy artillery like rocket launchers would barely scratch them, and if they retaliated, many lives would be lost. While more advanced weaponry, such as missiles, was available to the special operations team, deploying them would obliterate the entire base. Not only would they lose all the painstakingly gathered clues, but they would also risk alerting other hidden forces. The best way to deal with rogue Daoists, therefore, was with another Daoist. Yaoyao nodded softly, her voice sweet yet resolute. "Uncle Liu, I'm willing to help." She harbored a deep hatred for those who practiced dark arts, even more so than malevolent ghosts. Without hesitation, she clenched her tiny fists, her demeanor resembling that of an indignant little lion ready to pounce. "To avoid any leaks, Master, let us depart immediately!" The special operations team had already prepared for departure. Even if Yaoyao hadn't agreed, they would have gone ahead regardless. Before Liu Dong could proceed, Grandmother Gu instinctively furrowed her brows. Though she understood the urgency of the situation, she still didn't want her precious granddaughter to be out gallivanting in the middle of the night. But before she could voice her concerns, Yaoyao shook her head and interjected, "You're bringing too many people, Uncle Liu. That'll draw too much attention and slow us down. Pick two people, and I'll take you there directly." Yaoyao was well aware that a sixth-tier cultivator's spiritual perception could extend up to ten miles. Liu Dong's plan—to bring a large group requiring vehicles—would undoubtedly alert the enemy long before they reached the base. Hearing this, Liu Dong paused, then chuckled bitterly. He realized he had underestimated the situation. At this level, a sixth-tier cultivator could no longer be considered human in the conventional sense. "Alright, I'll select two people right away," Liu Dong replied. Though he didn't fully understand the master's abilities, he trusted that someone of her caliber wouldn't make empty promises. It was best to simply follow her instructions. Moments later, four young members of the special operations team arrived at the Gu residence. Two men and two women, their ages ranging from late teens to early twenties. Three of them radiated spiritual energy fluctuations indicative of third-tier cultivators, while one cold-faced young man stood out—he was already at the fourth tier. Clutching a peach-wood sword, he eyed Liu Dong skeptically. "Is this really the master you spoke of?" His tone was sharp, laced with disbelief. If not for direct orders from higher-ups mandating cooperation with Liu Dong, he would have stormed off without a second thought. What nonsense was this? The toddler before him couldn't be older than four. Even if she had started cultivating from birth, there was no way she could rival a sixth-tier practitioner! Without a sixth-tier fighter on their side, this mission was tantamount to suicide. Especially since they were only equipped with small firearms due to the need for stealth. "Xuan Hui, show respect to the master. I will handle the arrangements; just follow orders," Liu Dong admonished. The identity of Yaoyao was kept confidential, known only to the highest-ranking officials within the special operations division. If not for Liu Dong's discovery of her, even his position wouldn't grant him access to such classified information. Still, Xuan Hui remained unconvinced. As the most talented young member of the team, he carried an air of arrogance. "The directive says I must obey you, and I will—but not if it means walking straight into death. If you can't convince me otherwise, I'll refuse the order outright." His life, after all, was precious to him. "You... you..." Liu Dong stammered, caught between frustration and helplessness. He noticed that the other three members shared similar doubts. If he couldn't clarify things, the team would likely refuse to cooperate. These were geniuses within the organization, not ones to blindly follow orders. "Master, what do you think about this...?" Liu Dong turned to Yaoyao cautiously, silently praying she wouldn't take offense. Otherwise, they might as well pack up and go home to sleep. But Yaoyao paid little heed to their skepticism. She waved her small hand dismissively, her dimples peeking through her cherubic smile. "Big brothers and sisters, if you want proof, I'll give you a glimpse!" She extended her tiny hand toward Xuan Hui, the leader of the group. Tiny whirls of flesh-like energy spiraled around her fingers, visible to the naked eye. At first, Xuan Hui sneered, thinking the little girl was putting on a show. But the next moment, his body stiffened. The world around him seemed to expand infinitely, and that small hand loomed over him like a colossal pillar, crushing him under its weight. In that instant, the once-arrogant Xuan Hui buckled under the immense pressure. To everyone's astonishment, his knees gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, half-kneeling. "What... Xuan Hui... why are you kneeling?" The other three members, unaffected by the display, stood frozen in shock. They couldn't believe that a mere gesture from the child had reduced their comrade to this state. If they hadn't known how prideful Xuan Hui was, they would have thought he was acting. "Big brother, do you believe me now?" A crisp, sweet voice rang out. Xuan Hui felt the oppressive weight vanish. Trembling, he raised his head to look at the little girl before him. Gone was his arrogance, replaced by sheer terror. "I humbly beg for your forgiveness, Master. I failed to recognize your greatness." Xuan Hui bowed deeply, his pride shattered. To him, strength was the ultimate persuader. The sensation of being utterly powerless, like an ant clutched between fingertips, had driven home the reality: this child could end his life with a mere flick of her wrist. Since her power far surpassed his own, he was more than willing to comply. Yet, one question lingered in his mind: was a sixth-tier cultivator truly this strong? No one could answer him, for none present had ever witnessed a sixth-tier practitioner in action. They merely knew they were powerful—but to what extent, they had no concept. "Then let's go." "Third Brother, wait for good news from me." After settling the matter, Yaoyao bid farewell to her family and pulled out several "Ground-Shrinking Talismans" she had prepared earlier. Originally intended for her brothers, she distributed them among the group instead. To avoid alarming them, Yaoyao waited until they were outside the Gu residence before activating the talismans with a hand seal. Liu Dong and his team experienced the breathtaking speed of "shrinking distances into inches." In just half an hour, they arrived ten miles away from their destination. As they gazed at the trees swaying in the night breeze, every member of the special operations team was visibly shaken. For the first time, they realized the true potential of Daoist techniques—and how profoundly they could be applied.