Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 100 - 97: To Take, First Give, Psychological Gambit

Chapter 100: Chapter 97: To Take, First Give, Psychological Gambit

After years of cultivation, he released all the accumulated "Accumulated Corpse Qi."

Xiao Changhe’s face was contorted with distress.

However, he had already designed his tactics and fighting strategy.

Once the "Exploding Sword" was executed, his body moved like a shadow, passing through the pitch-black corpse Qi with a palm probing out.

Black Qi swirled around his palm, resembling a ghostly claw.

[Bone-Corrosive Palm]

This palm strike was his killer move.

It was also the brilliant play he reserved for the final moment, to turn the tide when cornered.

As long as the opponent retreated,

he could hide within the black fog and silently deliver this palm strike.

The palm strength would corrode bones and melt muscles, capable of melting gold and slicing through iron. Without having cultivated a unique Golden Body Method, anyone hit by this palm had only a dead end.

It could be said to be extremely vicious.

Xiao Changhe’s charge was premeditated; it could not be said to be neither quick nor fierce.

Just as he burst out of the black fog, his chest suddenly pained.

In front of him, the young lad who was desperately struggling to move forward, dragging his spear in escape, had somehow managed to twist his body in a bizarre way, just like a twisted dough stick, and with a swift upward thrust of his spear from an impossible angle, pierced through his own heart.

"Returning Horse Spear."

Xiao Changhe’s eyes were filled with unwillingness and defiance.

He, of course, knew of the Returning Horse Spear and had seen many before.

But he had never seen anyone, like the youth in front of him, use it in such a strange and sudden manner.

When the spear was thrust, the opponent’s feet hadn’t even turned; they were still facing forward.

It was solely with the twisting force of the waist and the rotational momentum of the upper body,

that he delivered such a swift and concealed thrust.

"You dare to kill me?"

Along with his refusal to accept his fate, Xiao Changhe was also somewhat puzzled.

He was a Managing Elder of the Lishan Sword Sect, one of the Seven Great Sects, on an important mission, and not just some expendable, idle disciple. Did this man not fear the Lishan Sect’s retaliation?

"Since I’ve already killed you, why waste words?"

Zhou Ping’an’s spear moved, and with a surge of power like a tide, he shattered Xiao Changhe’s internal organs.

Feeling the last vestiges of life fade from his opponent,

he immediately leaped forward, grabbed Xiao Changhe with one hand and Tian Shouyi’s corpse with the other, vaulted over the courtyard wall, and disappeared into the deep night.

Meanwhile, the Armored Warriors gathering from all around hadn’t even managed to get close.

The clash between several people, though it seemed lengthy to describe,

took only about a dozen breaths’ worth of time.

In the distance, a flash of Jinguang winked out, indicating that the powerful Qi-blood Spirit had come to a halt.

It seemed to have sensed that the battle here had ended.

There was no need to rush over anymore.

And another familiar Qi also vanished into the night...

’Thankfully, nothing unexpected happened.’ Zhou Ping’an thought, a hint of joy rippling through his mind as he carried two corpses.

His Ninth Level Ghostly Shadows Step was fully activated, making him run faster and faster, almost leaving the Green Lady behind.

This caused the red-robed woman to break out in a cold sweat from worry.

"No way, that silk map cannot have any accidents."

"Could it still be inside the mansion?"

"No, that’s not right. Such an important item, not occupying any space, nobody would let it out of their sight. It should be carried on the person."

She was incredibly conflicted, wanting to remind Zhou Ping’an or to directly ask for the "Karmic Fire Red Lotus Visualization Diagram," but didn’t know how to broach the subject.

What if revealing her intentions prematurely alerted him and aroused his suspicions, leading to malicious thoughts? It was common for allies to turn on each other over a treasure, weapons drawn against one another.

Had they met at the Washing Flowers Pavilion, the Green Lady would have thought herself to possess various advantages with a higher status and more authority in speech, not needing to worry too much about Zhou Ping’an’s thoughts.

But after this perilous night battle,

and narrowly escaping with her life,

she realized that she was actually the one at a disadvantage.

The man had somehow persuaded Third Miss Lin of the Lin Family, Lin Huaiyu, to take action and halt a powerful enemy.

Moreover, he displayed shockingly adept martial arts and adaptability during the night attack.

If she were to truly fight Zhou Ping’an to the death,

the Green Lady, even with full confidence, admitted that her chances of victory would not exceed 30%.

This realization was profound to her.

Furthermore, she was injured at the time.

Although the wound on her shoulder was not severe, it could still affect her combat strength to some extent.

The Green Lady was filled with anxiety, fretting over her gains and losses.

Zhou Ping’an suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He shifted from extreme motion to extreme stillness,

as if this barren mound had been his intended destination all along.

"No one is following; let’s do it here."

"Here?"

The Green Lady looked back, indeed, although the city was in turmoil, and there was a mess in the direction of the County Warden’s Mansion with some noise carried over from there.

The aura of that great Buddha Sect master and that extremely conspicuous Jinguang no longer appeared...

Clearly, they had accepted the reality of the death of the County Magistrate.

"Last time, after the battle with Baicao Hall, killing people like Deng Yuanhua and Gao Jin, I intended to swallow Baicao Hall whole. Yet, it turned out that I was making wedding clothes for Tian Shouyi and Xiao Changhe, letting them reap the benefits."

Zhou Ping’an looked at the two corpses as if he saw two treasures.

Of course, this was all an act.

He had long noticed the unease and anxiety in the Green Lady’s heart and was happy to leave her hanging.

This Red Lotus Celestial Maiden might seem gentle and amiable on the surface, but deep down, she harbored a sense of superiority. If she didn’t speak down to him, it was only because of her high level of cultivation.

Understandable, considering she was the Red Lotus Celestial Maiden.

With so many experts under her command, apart from Saintess Yunling, she probably didn’t need to care much for the Helm Master’s face within the territory of the Guangyun Subruder.

Zhou Ping’an could sense this from the implications in her words.

He could sense the pride and self-regard in her heart.

If he didn’t crush this arrogance and obliterate the notion that she could take him for granted...

Should there be further cooperation or issues in the future, it would cause unnecessary troubles.

Therefore, Zhou Ping’an was very clear about what he wanted.

’You want the Red Lotus Visualization Technique, right? Just say it, how would I know if you don’t ask...’

Asking outright naturally places one in a weaker position.

Sometimes, psychological advantage is gained in the subtlest of interactions.

If he were dealing with Lin Huaiyu and Xiao Jiu, Zhou Ping’an would naturally not resort to these underhanded and petty tricks.

If others treat me with sincerity,

I treat others with sincerity in return.

Interactions between people shouldn’t be so roundabout.

It’s just a matter of reciprocity.

"This is..."

Zhou Ping’an bent down and after a brief search, he retrieved a silver-patterned silk handkerchief from the inner pocket of Tian Shouyi’s robe, on which a red lotus was embroidered, blooming vibrantly as if searing the eyes.

It must be said, it was exactly the same as the real imagery.

If it weren’t for the actual cultivation experience, no matter how sharp the eyesight and perception, it would be difficult to discern.

Zhou Ping’an was able to tell at a glance that this was a fake imagery because he had created it himself...

Moreover, he had mimicked the Karma Fire Red Lotus in his mind bit by bit, transferring some of the spiritual essence into it.

The imagery was indistinguishable.

The aura was equally authentic.

Even if Zhou Ping’an said the silk map was fake, the Green Lady would not believe it.

Upon the appearance of the silk handkerchief, her breath couldn’t help but become quietly heavier.

The atmosphere between the two was tense.

It was as if the previous shoulder-to-shoulder battle and mutual assistance were all false.

"What a fine item..."

Just as Zhou Ping’an sighed, he heard the Green Lady beside him speak in a hoarse voice, "Brother Zhou, this silk map is an important treasure of the sect, bestowed to the Holy Maiden by the elder mother, not to be coveted by others. You see..."

"I see," Zhou Ping’an paused for quite a while before smiling and saying, "The sect’s expert who visited the County Warden’s Mansion last night must have come for this treasure too. Since the Green Lady desires it, how could I, Mr. Zhou, take what others love? Here, take it..."

He handed over the silk handkerchief as if it were no more than an ordinary handkerchief, not a rare divine treasure hardly found in the world.

"Brother Zhou, you..."

The Green Lady was somewhat moved.

Such a good person.

Despite his astonishing talents and superior martial arts, he harbored not a hint of greed.

Looking at this obviously precious treasure, he was not moved at all.

No, he was moved, but considering the camaraderie, he was letting her have it.

Born into humble circumstances, besieged by misfortune, yet he constantly strove for self-improvement and also possessed a fervent and pure heart.

In that moment, the Green Lady almost wanted to reveal the secret of the silk map to the young man with clear eyes before her.

And moreover, assist him in cultivating this skill.

Because what no one knows is that the reason why every "Dharma Protector Deity General" can never achieve Seventh Level Perfection, remedy their foundations, and shed their mortal bones,

Is that those who cultivate the "Purifying Lotus Body" lack a sufficiently powerful soul to control the raging power at the critical moment of transformation.

Once someone cultivates both the "Karmic Fire Red Lotus Visualization Method" and the "Purifying Lotus Body," and has enough Sunflame Pills to purify their body and bloodline, it’s possible to ascend in a single leap, becoming a "Red Lotus Dharma King."

Sometimes there are vacancies for Dharma King within the sect, sometimes one or two appear, with status and position higher than all the Saint Heirs and Holy Maidens.

Without the elder mother, the Dharma King is the most revered.

It’s not just about status difference; more importantly, as a Red Lotus Dharma King, one possesses incredibly formidable power. When Dharma Kings of the past appeared, laying waste to an entire region was commonplace, and some even conquered half a kingdom.

Of course, if she were to assist this man, it would undoubtedly be a grievous sin against the sect. Before he could fully develop, hiding and fleeing would become inevitable.

Not only would everyone from the Guangyun Subruder hunt her down, but even the several Holy Maidens and the top experts of the main sect would take action.

Because it would break the rules.

Although her mind was filled with many thoughts,

The Green Lady did not show any of it on her face, but instead, smiling joyfully, she said, "With this treasure in hand, it will be a great achievement. When speaking with the Holy Maiden, it’ll be easier. Brother Zhou, I will think of a way for you regarding the Heart Devouring Pill in the future."

Feeling happy,

The Green Lady had a hard time keeping her words in check.

Her voice trembled with excitement as she continued, "Moreover, by eliminating County Magistrate Tian Shouyi today, there are some benefits.

After all, the City Guards were trained by him, perfectly at his command. Even if someone else were to lead the troops, it would be difficult to apply their strength effectively...

After a while, when the Subruder’s forces head to Qingyang, we should be able to break through in one attack and take the city in our hands.

Whichever one of us arrives then cannot discount our contributions."