I Was Forced To Marry The Phoenix Empress

Chapter 232: Unforeseen Circumstances

"...You must have wondered why the Demonic Beasts had ’demonic’ as their prefix, right? Usually, most would assume that it was given just because of how violent and ruthless they are against us cultivators. However, that’s not entirely true.

The real reason why these demonic beasts were given that name was because of the dark Qi that they possess.

When the early cultivators witnessed their colleagues and everything around them engulfed by this dark Qi and reduced to ashes, this was the exact word that came to their minds.

The dark Qi, which, just like its name, is completely black and floats around in the air like a thick miasma.

Anything, be it living or non-living, once it is engulfed by the dark Qi, all its Spiritual Qi is sucked dry until only ashes remain. It is because of this reason that the demonic beasts are so feared in the entire continent."

"If they are so strong, then how come we are still able to fight against them?" Yi Chen asked inquisitively.

"That’s because it’s only limited to the Grade 5 beasts and above. The low-ranking ones have yet to develop their dark cores and thus only possess a pseudo core, which can only store Qi from one of the five elements.

Several decades ago, after studying how these demonic beasts use the dark Qi, many martial techniques specialising in stealth, movement and surprise attacks were created, which are still used widely by many cultivators.

However, since only one-fourth of the technique’s efficiency could be utilised, since none of us cultivators actually possess the dark-natured Qi, general cultivators don’t have a very good opinion on those martial techniques, and therefore, it’s limited to a small niche of cultivators..."

Gao Zhen paused to allow Yi Chen to assimilate everything, then said while pointing towards the black tablet, "Unlike the martial techniques which I just mentioned, the stone tablet in front of you has a Qi Absorption Art written on it.

It means that it could allow one to refine the dark Qi using their spirit root and store it in their Qi pool like one’s innate Qi.

This is something which has been contemplated by many over the years, but since there’s no way for a human to have a spirit root with dark nature, it has only met dead ends with no progress at all.

H-however..." Gao Zhen’s eyes suddenly glimmered while looking towards the black tablet, "...in the first ten lines where the Qi Absorption art is being introduced, a method to change the nature of one’s spirit root is clearly stated!"

"I finally understand. Thanks for your explanation, Madam Gao," Yi Chen thanked her with a bright expression and turned towards the black tablet the next instant.

From what he had heard so far and also seeing how bright Gao Zhen’s expression was at the moment, he was clear that the dark Qi wasn’t seen as a taboo by cultivators and thus he had no reason to hide it.

’Since I possess the dark nature already, won’t I have an advantage against them all while using those techniques?’ he chuckled inwardly in anticipation before finally placing his attention on the black tablet.

Seeing this, Gao Zhen smiled and soon immersed herself in going over the rest of the stone tablet.

Several minutes passed.

’So, it’s like this...’

Yi Chen thought a few moments later as he went through the instructions that were written on the first few lines.

’Although quite perplexing, it indeed looks like a breathing technique...’

According to it, once one follows the breathing technique, they’ll begin to lose all their inner Qi, and once their Qi pool is completely emptied, black Qi will enter through their meridians and change the nature of their spirit root.

’But...where is the dark Qi? Madam Gao had stated that it was dark in colour, so it’s apparent that it’s not mixed with the spiritual Qi in the air...’

Yi Chen thought, but didn’t dwell on it for long.

’Well, whatever, I already have the dark nature, so it’s not something I need to worry about.’

With that thought, he finally lowered his gaze towards the next set of lines. It was here that the explanation about how to practice the Abyssal Blackglacial Arts was actually written.

His eyes had just gone over the first three words when suddenly a system pop-up appeared right in front of his eyes.

=======System Alert========

Abyssal Blackglacier Art clashes with Crimson Fire Art.

Learning it will cripple your cultivation.

=========================

’What the hell?!’

Yi Chen’s eyes immediately widened in horror when he looked at the system message.

’Clashes? Will cripple my cultivation?!’

A shiver ran down his spine when he read those words, and he didn’t dare to continue looking at the black tablet any longer.

Pulling his gaze away, he stared at the ground while lost in thought, as his breathing increased rapidly.

It wasn’t just him. A mix of anger, regret and anxiousness had also formed on Gao Zhen’s face at that instant as her breathing quickened.

Seeing Yi Chen’s state, she suddenly said with a bitter expression, "So Young Master Chen has also realised..."

"???" he frowned at her question and couldn’t help but think to himself, ’Is the art not suitable for her as well?’

However, before he could think further in that direction, Gao Zhen’s following words brought him onto the right track.

"It’s just too complex...there’s no way we’ll be able to learn it in a short time," she said while tightly clenching her jaw. Frustration could clearly be seen on her face.

Hearing these words, Yi Chen got the gist of the matter and immediately asked with a frown, "...How long will it take for Madam Gao to master it?"

"Master? I’m not even thinking about it right now. Just understanding the complexities and simplifying it will take me almost two years, as for how long it will take me to master it...I don’t know."

She stared hatefully at the black tablet. What she had thought was a treasured item a few moments back had become the very reason why she was going to fail this mission.

’...There will still be seven months left until the 1-year deadline. Once outside, I’ll start looking for more opportunities.’ She thought with conviction while clenching her fists.

Meanwhile, upon hearing Gao Zhen’s words, Yi Chen was completely aghast.

The first thing that entered his mind was the Silver Cloud Tournament, which was scheduled to happen in two years.

"No! I cannot stay here for so long!"