Chapter 341: Purging the Dark Mark and Breaking Through
In the quiet shop, Lin Langtian stepped forward, stopping next to Dugu Qi. Convincing this renowned Poison Master to act as his bodyguard for ten years was only the beginning; now, Lin Langtian had to prove his ability by suppressing the dark curse consuming Dugu Qi. Without results, any promises would hold no weight, and Lin Langtian could hardly feel secure having a guardian who was constantly on the edge of being overtaken by dark magic.
Looking at Dugu Qi, Lin Langtian saw the toll of decades spent fighting the curse. The old man's face, once weathered but proud, was now even more worn and skeletal, yet a trace of defiance still remained in his sharp gaze, fitting of his title. Gently placing his left hand on Dugu Qi's shoulder, Lin Langtian sent a controlled burst of force to break down the fabric, revealing a body that was no more than a frame of bones.
Seeing this frail form, Lin Langtian, despite his usual composure, couldn't help but shake his head slightly. Extending his index finger, a small flicker of black-gold light coiled around it. He activated the Golden Spirit Wheel Mirror with a serious expression and warned, "I'm about to begin. Suppressing this dark mark will be extremely dangerous. Elder Dugu, prepare for the worst possible outcomes."
Dugu Qi's face shifted slightly at this, but he managed a strained smile. "Don't worry, this broken old body of mine is at your disposal. Go ahead, young friend."
Nodding gravely, Lin Langtian extended his mental energy, carefully wrapping it around the black-gold light, and pressed his finger gently to Dugu Qi's back. Instantly, the black-gold light shot into Dugu Qi's body, causing him to tremble violently.
Lin Langtian narrowed his eyes as he guided the black-gold light through Dugu Qi's main meridians, inching closer to the cursed blackened bones inside. Through his extended spiritual perception, he took in the state of Dugu Qi's body and frowned as he saw the dark, necrotic bone structure, wrapped tightly in a malicious, inky aura.
"Even a powerhouse of the Wheel-Turning Realm has been reduced to this," Lin Langtian murmured. "This remnant map containing the Devouring Ancestral Symbol's legacy must have attracted powerful beings of the dark arts. I'll need to be careful."
Realizing the extent of the curse, Lin Langtian decided it was impossible to remove it in a single session; a slow, methodical approach would be necessary. Carefully, he maneuvered the black-gold light toward the tainted bones. As the light circled around the blackened bone, the dark aura pulled away, as if repelled, trembling as it retreated.
Lin Langtian's brows arched with surprise at this reaction. Wasting no time, he commanded the black-gold light to wrap itself around a section of the cursed bone.
"Arrgh…" Dugu Qi's closed eyes flew open, and a guttural cry escaped his throat as raw agony tore through him. An intense surge of energy, like a final burst of strength, erupted from him.
"I'm suppressing the dark mark," Lin Langtian said, glancing briefly at Dugu Qi's sweat-drenched face. "If you can endure the pain, we can continue. But if it's too much, there's little more I can do."
Dugu Qi clenched his teeth, sensing the fear that the curse seemed to have for the black-gold light. Though he couldn't fathom how Lin Langtian was managing this, he gritted out, "Don't worry. I am the Poison Master—I can bear this much pain. Just do what you must, and I swear I won't make a sound!"
Lin Langtian couldn't help but respect the old man's resilience, a testament to his years as a legendary master. Renewed, Lin Langtian focused his mental energy, allowing the Golden Spirit Wheel Mirror's power to absorb the cursed energy seeping from the bones.
Unbeknownst to Lin Langtian, his own Demon Seed, sensing the released dark energy, also absorbed part of it, becoming smoother and more lustrous.
As time passed, the cursed section of bone began to lighten, gradually returning to a healthier color. Meanwhile, Dugu Qi's entire body was soaked in sweat, his aged face twitching involuntarily as he gritted his teeth against the pain.
"Are… are you finished?" Dugu Qi asked, his fists clenched so tightly his veins bulged.
Lin Langtian, forehead beaded with sweat from the prolonged exertion of spiritual control, nodded. "It's getting late. Let's end today's session here. Elder Dugu, the dark mark is even stronger than I anticipated, so a complete removal all at once isn't possible. We'll need to take it slow."
"Will the dark mark really be fully removed?" Dugu Qi asked with hope.
"Certainly," Lin Langtian replied confidently. The Golden Spirit Wheel Mirror naturally suppressed dark energies, and he still had the Devouring Ancestral Symbol—a bane to such evil forces. Removing the curse was simply a matter of time.
"But… with my current power, fully purging the mark will take time," Lin Langtian said. "If you're hoping for a swift return to full strength, I'm afraid that's not possible."
Dugu Qi's face reflected slight disappointment, but he quickly accepted the reality. "I've struggled against this mark for decades," he said, managing a smile. "To even have this much relief from a young talent like you is extraordinary. What's a bit more waiting?"
Inside the quiet shop, Lin Langtian approached Dugu Qi. Though he had convinced the renowned Poison Master to serve as his bodyguard for ten years, Lin Langtian still needed to make good on his promise to alleviate the curse afflicting Dugu Qi. Without doing so, Dugu Qi's loyalty couldn't be guaranteed, and Lin Langtian couldn't feel secure with a protector constantly on the brink of being overtaken by dark magic.
"Elder Dugu, I may not be able to remove the dark curse completely right now," Lin Langtian said, "but I can clear a portion of it for now. I'll stay here over the next few days to help purge the dark marks. By then, Elder Dugu, you should be able to recover to the peak of the Life Transformation Stage."
"Peak Life Transformation?" Dugu Qi's eyes lit up. For someone whose strength had been pushed to near Nirvana Stage, reaching the peak of Life Transformation would be a blessing. Lin Langtian's words also filled him with hope that he might one day regain his former power, bringing a tear to his eye. How far he had fallen—once counted among the ten great masters of the Western Mystic Region and known across the land as the Poison Master, he now hid away in a small shop. But now, with Lin Langtian's help, there was a path back.
"Good, good!" Dugu Qi's raspy voice sounded joyful. "Such incredible talent at such a young age… You must have had quite the teacher. And your name, young friend?"
"Lin Langtian, disciple of Yuan Gate," Lin Langtian replied simply.
"Yuan Gate?" Dugu Qi paused, a look of realization dawning on him. "You're not… a direct disciple of those three old founders, are you?"
Dugu Qi's expression stiffened slightly. As a powerful figure from the Western Mystic Region, he had always been at odds with the leaders of the Eastern Mystic sects, especially Yuan Gate, where he had even defeated one of their founders, Ren Yuanzi, in the past. Given Lin Langtian's talent, it seemed only natural to Dugu Qi that he might be a favored student of one of these leaders.
Sensing Dugu Qi's concern, Lin Langtian assured him, "I'm merely a new disciple of Yuan Gate this year. As for the three founders, I've never even met them. So, rest assured, Elder Dugu—your history with Yuan Gate's founders has no bearing on us."
Dugu Qi exhaled, relieved, but still impressed. "A new disciple? To think that a new recruit could wield such power. Truly astonishing."
Lin Langtian only nodded politely at the compliment before taking his leave to rest in a guest room that Dugu Qi provided. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he closed his eyes and began meditating. Though the Golden Spirit Wheel Mirror had greatly assisted in purging the dark marks, it had still taken a toll on his energy and spiritual focus.
After some time, as his mind settled, Lin Langtian's awareness drifted to his dantian, where his demon seed resided. From within the seed, wisps of dark energy began to emerge, carrying a potent and nearly liquid form of energy.
"Such pure energy…" he murmured, frowning slightly in surprise. "Normally, a dark curse wouldn't have energy this pure. Could this energy have… a different origin?"
Suddenly, it dawned on him: the energy belonged to Dugu Qi.
As he reflected on this, Lin Langtian grew more composed. It seemed that over years of invasion by the dark curse, some of Dugu Qi's natural energy had been absorbed by the curse and stored within it, creating a sizable reserve. While it had been a torment for Dugu Qi, for Lin Langtian, who had inadvertently drawn the curse into his own demon seed, it was an unexpected windfall.
Feeling his lips curve into a slight smile, Lin Langtian controlled his spiritual energy to gather the concentrated, slightly gray liquid energy within him. With precision, he directed it along his meridians. After a complete circuit, the gray tinge was entirely stripped away, leaving behind a mass of pure, potent energy.
Though the energy was now safe, Lin Langtian took further precautions, using the Golden Spirit Wheel Mirror to refine it a final time. When the energy thickened to a slightly viscous texture, he felt assured enough to let it flow into his dantian. The moment it settled within, Lin Langtian felt an overwhelming surge of vitality, like a refreshing coolness flooding him.
"No wonder this energy feels so vast," he thought with admiration. "It's from a Wheel-Turning stage master, after all. Even a fraction of it is immense…"
His words had barely faded when he sensed a powerful surge rising within him, its vibrations stirring his core.
"The Nirvana Tribulation?" Lin Langtian's eyes widened, but then a smile crept across his face. "With this unexpected boost, I might just break through to the Eightfold Nirvana Stage!"
Breathing deeply, he focused his mind, guiding the energy within him as it began to swirl and burn, his core drawing from the potent power of his internal flames. After nearly thirty minutes of intense focus, Lin Langtian opened his eyes, his forehead damp with perspiration.
At last, he had reached the Eightfold Nirvana Stage!
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