novelraw Chapter 24 : Chapter 24
Chapter 24 : Chapter 24
Chapter 24: The Twelve Scattered Hands of the Chan Sect
I studied the Tao Ancestor Tai Chi Fish for a long time, convinced it was the key to countering the bone demon, trying various methods to activate it.
First, I used a few drops of my blood, then Golden Crow and Black Dragon blood— no reaction.
Channeling the scorching airflow from my right foot’s sole was like pouring water into the sea.
“To activate it, it must involve my blood, and it happens in life-threatening moments. Does my blood change under danger?”
It seemed to require a lot of blood.
The more blood, the stronger and longer its reaction.
All guesses and analysis…
Gritting my teeth, I decided to do something reckless. I cut my wrist with the sword, letting blood soak the Tai Chi Fish— nearly half a bowl— but nothing happened.
“Forget it… I’ll try again in a life-or-death moment.”
I quickly channeled the scorching airflow to stop the bleeding and heal, wrapping my wrist. Then, I drank a cup of diluted Golden Crow blood to replenish my vitality.
Forming the “Midnight-Noon Tai Chi Seal” with my hands, I practiced the Jade Void Breathing Technique, guiding the scorching airflow through the thirteen silver veins to refine the Golden Crow blood’s fiery energy.
Lately, I’d been drinking it daily, my physical strength growing significantly.
After half an hour, I stopped.
“My body feels unchanged… Before, Golden Crow blood made me hot, my heart and blood flow speeding up.”
“Let’s try another cup.”
Days ago, after my first cup, I lost my fear of it.
My scorching airflow could refine it, no cross pendant needed.
Cai Yutong nearly burned to death from one cup. The pendant saved her, transforming her into an immortal-like being.
I’d drunk ten cups without burning or transforming, only gaining strength.
I didn’t know whether to be frustrated or relieved.
The eleventh cup tasted like water, my body unresponsive.
“My body’s hit another limit. I need a breakthrough to progress.”
How to break through?
Diluted Golden Crow blood was weak— what about undiluted?
Could it provide enough stimulus?
I acted.
I could still fight.
I couldn’t wait for the bone demon to come for me— that was waiting to die.
I drank a cup of undiluted Golden Crow blood. It grew hotter in my stomach, like molten lava. I practiced the Jade Void Breathing Technique, channeling the scorching airflow to refine it.
The thirteen silver veins couldn’t handle it— the blood threatened to burn through my organs.
Smoke rose from my body, blood boiling.
My mouth felt like it could spit fire.
“Not so bad— I can handle it.”
The fountain in my right foot surged fiercely, clashing with the blood.
Suddenly.
“Splash!”
A piercing cold surged from my left foot’s sole.
The first silver vein sprouted from the cold fountain, tracing up my left leg to my burning organs.
A second vein.
Third, fourth…
Soon, thirteen veins emerged from my left foot, totaling twenty-six with the right foot’s veins.
The blood’s fiery energy was instantly suppressed.
Right foot hot, left foot cold.
Two opposing airflows.
My body swung between extremes— sweating one moment, sweat freezing into ice the next.
“Too uncomfortable!”
I stopped breathing exercises, rushing outside, frantically practicing the Chan Sect’s Twelve Scattered Hands on the deck.
“Thud! Thud! Thud…”
Alternating palms and fists.
Blinding speed, unpredictable movements.
“Heaven-Overturning Palm Seal.”
Forming a palm seal, I leaped a meter high, descending.
The palm wind condensed, like a massive seal. Without touching the grave, the soil sank, forming a three-foot-square dent.
As if pressed by a giant seal.
“Taiyi Sea-Splitting.”
The palm seal became a knife.
The wind sliced the air like an invisible blade.
“Yellow Dragon Ascending.”
Like a dragon, I stepped five times in the air, as if climbing a void staircase. The fifth step took me eight or nine meters high.
I’d practiced the Twelve Scattered Hands for years on the mountain.
Once just for fitness, I never imagined such power.
Against Xie Tianshu’s group, I didn’t need these moves.
Though called “scattered hands,” it wasn’t just hand techniques but a synthesis of fists, palms, footwork, legwork, finger seals, and claw marks— twelve core martial forms.
Not rigid.
Each move infinitely variable, fluid as will.
I lost track of time. When my body’s cold and heat balanced, I stopped, surrounded by team members drawn by the noise.
Their expressions varied— shock, awe, admiration, fervor.
Some guessed I’d swallowed the Buddha’s relic but dared not covet. With my displayed might, one serious punch could pierce their chests.
They thought I was flexing to deter unrest.
Qin Ke approached, wiping my forehead’s sweat: “Brother Weiyi, you’re even stronger— from Golden Crow blood?”
“Yes.”
I didn’t deny it.
I planned to let the crew drink it gradually, enhancing their physique to survive this strange world.
Cai Yutong’s transformation was undeniable. She believed hiding it bred suspicion, better to be open.
Qin Ke, hopeful yet nervous, asked, “Can I drink it?”
“Of course.”
I added, “But wait until the first mate wakes.”
Four days ago, Zhao Meng’s condition worsened. Desperate, I gave him diluted Golden Crow blood and the cross pendant.
Its effect was too slow; he was fading.
I gave him Black Dragon blood, putting the dragon-patterned ring on his finger.
Since then, he changed drastically daily.
This morning, his knee and shoulder fractures healed, his body growing to nearly three meters.
Thankfully, he didn’t undergo Xie Tianshu’s grotesque transformation.
Only sparse black scales on his arms and legs.
His hair turned fiery red, like Golden Crow feathers.
…
With my left foot’s fountain opened, my strength surged, giving me confidence to face the bone demon again.
Last time was too humiliating!
Wearing the corpse armor, Tai Chi Fish around my neck, silver-threaded gloves, three-headed snake bracelet, scripture belt, black iron seal, and Golden Crow blood in my pocket, I held the Yellow Dragon Sword and black spear.
The spear was too heavy, cumbersome, so I discarded it.
Near the bone demon’s grave, I poured Golden Crow blood on the scripture belt, activating it.
My speed surged, a blood-red phantom, sword in hand, rushing to the grave’s top, where I’d dug a pit. The ice coffin was melted.
Inside…
Empty.
My body went numb, heart leaping.
The bone demon had escaped?
I channeled both hot and cold airflows, heightening my senses, scanning for traces. Nothing. Even the tombstone’s bone chimes were gone.
“Lying immobile in the coffin, using only hair, she was terrifying. Now free…”
I couldn’t fathom her strength unrestrained.
“Since she attacked me and likely Dr. Qi, she’ll strike again. No new victims yet— maybe her body has issues, like being confined to the grave.”
“I can’t let her fully revive, or I’ll have no chance.”
After pondering, I decided even if she was terrifying, I had a fighting chance now. If fear stopped me today, I’d be at her mercy later.
Following her footprints, I cautiously approached the Golden Crow’s corpse.
At the blood pool, I saw the red-robed figure.
She sat cross-legged, golden radiance flowing, black hair floating like threads, a pair of meter-long fiery wing shadows on her back, like Cai Yutong’s during her transformation, dazzling.
Without hesitation, I pushed my speed to the limit, reaching a meter behind her, leaping, and slashing down.
“Splash!”
The strike was the Taiyi Sea-Splitting from the Twelve Scattered Hands.
All my strength poured in, the sword’s yellow glow flashing, cleaving the air.