Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy-Chapter 389 - 353: Qinlong Province!

"Hmm, that’s also true..."

Li Jiufang’s response made Qi Xiu smile and nod his head.

Families like the Wu Family and the Gao Family were indeed wildly ambitious. If they were to acquire something from the Food Demon Sect, the entire Dianchuan Province might well become their dining table.

Li Jiufang was naturally kind-hearted, possessing a universal spirit of saving the people and a vision of rebuilding peace. Thus, even as a member of the Wu Family, he did not hand over that item related to the Food Demon Sect to his family, fearing that it would lead to greater calamity and disaster.

"By the way, what’s your real name? If you are a member of the Wu Family, wouldn’t your name be Wu Jiufang?"

"My birth name is Wu Qiu’an, but now that the Wu Family has turned traitorous, the name Wu has become a mark of infamy, so Brother Qi, you might as well continue to call me Li Jiufang."

When he mentioned his birth name, Li Jiufang’s expression was unexpectedly calm. Perhaps he himself did not like that power-hungry, wildly ambitious family. Compared to that, the Li Jiufang who was loved by the people was the real him.

Qiu’an, seeking peace... indeed doesn’t sound as pleasant as Jiufang.

Approaching Li Jiufang, Qi Xiu placed a hand on his shoulder, his hand swirling with colorful brilliance, exuding ancient mystery. "I’ll ask you, if you were given a chance, would you be willing to live another life and continue your long-standing wish to benefit the people?"

Hearing the words "benefit the people," a hint of brilliance reemerged in Li Jiufang’s somber eyes. "To start over? Easy to say, but to do it..."

"That’s not for you to worry about. I’m only asking if you’re willing," Qi Xiu stated, interrupting Li Jiufang’s self-doubt, each word emphatic and decisive.

Slowly lifting his head to gaze into the tranquil eyes of the young Daoist before him, which seemed as profound as the distant heavens, Li Jiufang took a deep breath and nodded.

"Good! Since it is so, I shall lend you a hand today. Consider it a blessing for your past good deeds."

With a light chuckle, Qi Xiu suddenly activated "The Secret of the Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture," and a terrifying suction force burst from his palm, swallowing all of Li Jiufang’s cultivation like a whale consuming water.

"Your cultivation comes from the Wu Family, the root of trouble. If you wish to start anew, then let go completely."

Qi Xiu precisely controlled the power of the Star Absorption Skill to draw out all of Li Jiufang’s cultivation without harming his physical body’s foundation.

As his vital energy dispersed, Li Jiufang showed a trace of pain; the feeling of having his cultivation forcibly extracted was akin to having live flesh gouged out, like a torturous slow execution. Yet facing such pain, Li Jiufang remained silent, his eyes faintly revealing a sense of relief.

Bloodstained Layer Five...

Blood-stained Triple Realm...

Bloodstained LayerOne...

With a CRACK, a series of fragmented sounds came from Li Jiufang’s spine. His cultivation regressed, causing his Heaven and Earth Bridge to close once again, and the Bloodstained Heaven Palace also shattered. At this moment, he had become a Dao-Entering Realm cultivator.

And it wasn’t over yet. After falling back to the Dao-Entering Realm, the three golden flower marks atop Li Jiufang’s head also withered one by one. The Body-Protecting True Gang dimmed until it became a faint glow like tissue paper, then it went out completely.

The rapid weakening of his body left Li Jiufang unable to even maintain a seated position. His face was as pale as paper, and he had to support himself with his hands on the ground to avoid collapsing.

After extracting the last bit of cultivation from Li Jiufang, Qi Xiu slowly lifted his hand and took out a colorful, soft, and springy spiritual peach with four green leaves on top, each leaf displaying a different expression: joy, anger, sorrow, and delight.

"This is the Bone-Sculpting and Flesh-Changing Spiritual Peach. Eat it, and you can remold your appearance and form as though naturally born anew. Your current face isn’t bad, but if you want to live another life, then change it."

"Thank you..."

Taking the spiritual peach with difficulty, Li Jiufang bit into it. The fiery, tangy sweetness caused beads of sweat to exude from his pores the instant it touched his tongue. Under the marvelous effects of the spiritual peach, his face seemed like malleable clay, ready to be kneaded and reshaped; even the bones beneath his skin could stretch and shrink.

After some remodeling and adjustments, Li Jiufang’s appearance completely changed. Gone was the refined and exceptional elegance, replaced by a face so extraordinarily ordinary yet instilling a deep sense of reliability.

"Hmm, with this rebirth, from now on, you have no ties to that rebellious Wu Family, and others looking to trouble you won’t be able to trace your roots. How about it, do you have any suitable True Scriptures or Dharma Gates? If not, I can lend you a couple. Though they’re not profound, they are still treasures."

Looking at Li Jiufang, who had reshaped his appearance, Qi Xiu nodded slowly. He was not one to owe favors lightly. Saving Li Jiufang was a nod to his character and moral integrity; helping him to begin anew was to avoid taking advantage of him without reason. For every cause, there is an effect, and thus his conscience was clear.

"There’s no need to trouble yourself, Brother Qi. I still possess several True Scriptures and Dharma Gates. Having been granted a new life today, I, Jiufang, will remember your great kindness, Brother Qi. If there’s ever anything I can do, I will not hesitate, though it may mean plunging into fire or water."

Looking down at his body, reborn and transformed, Li Jiufang gave Qi Xiu a deep bow and spoke sincerely.

"That’s enough. As long as you remain true to your heart and be yourself, then my saving you today wasn’t in vain."

Waving his hand, Qi Xiu rode the Escape Light, taking Li Jiufang into the sky and away. Along the way, the two spoke about the circumstances surrounding the Wu Family’s pursuit over the past few years.

From Li Jiufang, Qi Xiu learned that the siege and pursuit of the Wu Family by the County Yamen and the Gao Family were ruthless and severe. It wasn’t just the County Yamen and various military forces in pursuit; numerous bounties were also distributed, inciting major Sects and aristocratic Families to join the manhunt.

In just a few short years, the vast Wu Family had nearly been captured to the last person. Only individuals like Li Jiufang, who had not held important positions in Dianchuan Province and had a weaker presence, managed to narrowly escape the calamity. However, if it weren’t for Qi Xiu’s sudden appearance, he might have ended up in the hands of the Zhenwu Escort Agency.

Controlling the Escape Light, Qi Xiu and Li Jiufang headed north together. In half a day’s time, they were already nearing the border of Dianchuan Province. Continuing forward would mean crossing the provincial border and entering the adjacent Qinlong Province.

"Back then, when I accidentally discovered that item and learned of its connection with the Food Demon Sect, I sent it away to avoid detection. For safety, I entrusted it to my cousin who had married into Qinlong Province. She and I have always had a close relationship, so the item would be safe with her."

"Qinlong Province? You did have quite the foresight." Hearing that Li Jiufang had sent the item to Qinlong Province, Qi Xiu’s eyebrows slightly raised.

Although Qinlong Province and Dianchuan Province are neighbors, the Military Governors of Qinlong Province were at odds with Dianchuan Province’s Military Governor, Gao Tianxiong, even to the point of hostility. If the item were in Qinlong Province, not even the long reach of the Gao Family and the County Yamen would dare to extend there.

"Back then, I just thought it would be safer, nothing more," Li Jiufang said with a helpless smile. "But my cousin is indeed fortunate; had she not married into Qinlong Province, she would likely have fallen into the Gao Family’s dungeons long ago."

"Yes, my cousin has a perverse nature and a fiery temper. My aunt spent a long time trying to persuade her to marry. But who would have thought? One year, during an accident where she was rescuing a cousin of mine captured by Demons, she unexpectedly met her current husband. They hit it off immediately, and within three days they had decided on a lifetime together. I guess this is what people commonly call destined fate."

Mentioning his cousin, Li Jiufang also revealed a somewhat odd expression. His cousin had shown outstanding cultivation talent from a young age. However, due to the family rules, women could only cultivate up to the Dao-Entering Realm. Unable to advance her cultivation further due to the family constraints, the cousin vented all her resentment onto the male members of her generation. Without exception, all the males of Li Jiufang’s generation had suffered under this cousin’s tyranny. Even after their cultivation surpassed hers, the shadow of their childhood trauma still made them shiver at the mention of this cousin. So when she decided to marry into the distant Qinlong Province, her male relatives saw her husband almost as a savior.

"It looks like you’re quite afraid of your cousin. Is her cultivation high? What is she called?" Noticing the complicated expression on Li Jiufang’s face, Qi Xiu asked out of curiosity.

"It’s not fear; she’s a good person and treats us kindly, it’s just that she’s hot-tempered. Her cultivation is only at the Dao-Entering Realm. Her real name is Wu Yuran; she goes by the alias Jia Yufei outside."

"Who? Jia Yufei?" Qi Xiu was taken aback upon hearing the name, as the image of a striking woman with peculiar red eyes and an unruly, demonic aura came to his mind.

"Brother Qi, do you know my cousin?" Li Jiufang was surprised by Qi Xiu’s reaction; his expression made it clear that he knew this cousin. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"I suppose you could say that. Back then, your cousin almost took my life with one palm strike," Qi Xiu laughed lightly and shook his head.

He had not yet truly stepped into cultivation in those days. He had secluded himself in Baoho County to create "The Secret of the Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture." The day he emerged from seclusion, he encountered Song Tingye bringing Jia Yufei, hoping he would marry into their family. And this Jia Yufei, just as Li Jiufang described, was brash and aggressive, immediately wanting to test his strength upon meeting him. At the time, Qi Xiu was merely a martial practitioner in the True Intent Realm, while Jia Yufei was a bona fide Dao-Entering Realm cultivator. If it weren’t for the nascent Hunyuan Power he had begun to comprehend, he might not have died by this woman’s hand, but he certainly would have been left severely injured.

"Ah?" Li Jiufang was stunned, never expecting his cousin to have such a connection with Qi Xiu.

"Don’t worry, it’s all in the past," Qi Xiu waved his hand to indicate that Li Jiufang shouldn’t overthink it. Qi Xiu didn’t consider himself a gentleman, but he also wasn’t the type to hold a grudge against a woman over such matters.

While speaking, Qi Xiu and Li Jiufang had already crossed the provincial boundary and entered Qinlong Province. Upon entering Qinlong Province, Qi Xiu immediately felt a significant rise in the ambient temperature, accompanied by a thick, dry, and hot scent. Looking up, the vast land stretched out desolate and barren, with what seemed like grains of sand wrapped in the wind.

"Qinlong Province borders Northwestern Daliang and has a dry climate prone to storms. Compared with the clear four seasons of Dianchuan Province, the environment here is somewhat lacking. However, it is rumored that Qinlong Province was the capital for nearly eight dynasties in the Near Ancient Era. The heritage buried beneath is profound, and ancient relics often appear. Therefore, many people from other provinces come to Qinlong Province to search for traces and treasures."

A voracious reader, Qi Xiu naturally recalled the historical records of Qinlong Province as he gazed upon the expanse before him.