Chapter 464: Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel
Liu Er returned to the army camp and immediately entered his tent to inspect the treasure bestowed upon him by his teacher.
He saw that the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel stood three feet tall, its body constructed from Scarlet Gold and Dark Crystal.
The Scarlet Gold part resembled blazing flames in motion, while the Dark Crystal part was like the depths of the night sky, shimmering with a strange light.
Two flood dragons—one purplish-red, the other azure-blue—coiled around the vessel’s body, spiraling outward. Their bodies curved to form a pair of handles. Then, at the vessel's neck, the dragons entwined again, spiraling upward. Upon reaching the vessel's mouth, the two dragons faced each other, mouths open, releasing strands of breath.
These breaths were drawn back into the vessel, transforming into red and blue qi. At times, they alternated; at others, they merged—magnificent yet bewitching.
A demon cultivator’s treasure carried the aesthetics of the demon race—such styles were typically lavish and colorful, using vivid contrasts in hue.
Liu Er observed for a while and felt from the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel the former splendor of the Blood Slaughter Dynasty, and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
He attempted to infuse it with mana, but the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel showed no reaction.
Liu Er thought to himself, “Master said this treasure is called the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel; it must be related to the dual energies of Yin and Yang.”
Liu Er was male and possessed abundant Yang energy.
With that in mind, he tried infusing it with Yang energy.
In the next instant, the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel suddenly erupted with a powerful suction force, greedily devouring the Yang energy he had infused like a whale.
Liu Er’s expression changed drastically.
For the vessel not only swallowed the externally released Yang energy, it also suctioned his palm firmly onto the vessel’s handle. With profound force, it began furiously drawing Yang energy from within his body.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh...
In that moment, a mini whirlwind stirred around Liu Er inside the tent.
Liu Er’s eyes widened in shock and horror.
He was unable to move, his entire being overawed by the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel. He could only watch helplessly as vast reserves of Yang energy from his body were siphoned away.
It lasted for a full cup of tea's time before the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel ceased its suction and returned to normal.
Liu Er collapsed to one knee on the ground, completely drained, letting the vessel fall to the floor.
“What kind of demonic treasure is this?!”
Liu Er's face was filled with fright.
He looked at his hands—once full of flesh and blood, now gaunt and withered; his arms were nothing but skin wrapped around bone.
A buzzing rang in Liu Er’s ears, his vision darkened, and his eyes sank deep into their sockets. He looked like a skeleton—utterly wretched.
With slow movements, he retrieved a pill and gradually absorbed its medicinal power. It took an entire stick of incense’s time before his condition slightly improved.
“My Yang energy... the Yang essence I’ve built up over half my life...” Liu Er was on the verge of tears.
Though he hadn’t cultivated with boy-practice techniques, he had been under strict discipline from his master and had never released his Yuan Yang.
Now, though his Yuan Yang remained intact, most of the Yang energy he had accumulated was drained. It left Liu Er in a state of extreme weakness—like someone who had indulged in ten years of ceaseless carnal pleasures.
Liu Er continued studying the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel.
This time, when he picked up the demonic vessel, it felt significantly heavier.
Infusing it with mana again proved useless, but once he penetrated it with spiritual sense, he sensed a faint response.
Liu Er continued extending his spiritual sense, pushing it deeper into the treasure.
Suddenly, the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel activated. The purplish-red dragon on its body glowed vividly and spat out wisps of Yin energy from its mouth.
As soon as this Yin energy touched Liu Er, it merged perfectly into his body like fledgling swallows returning to the nest.
Liu Er’s face showed astonishment. “My Yang energy... was completely transformed into Yin energy?”
He absorbed for a while longer before realizing something was terribly wrong. “Stop—stop now!”
Fortunately, this time, the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel responded to his spiritual command and obediently stopped.
Liu Er let out a huge sigh of relief—his face had turned pale from fright moments earlier.
“This treasure is truly mysterious—it can actually convert my Yang energy into pure Yin energy.”
“If I kept channeling like this, wouldn’t I turn into a woman? Or worse—a eunuch?”
“No wonder it's called the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel.”
Liu Er then thought of Dual Cultivation.
Normally, Dual Cultivation involved Yin and Yang energy—one from a male cultivator, the other from a female. The fusion of these dual energies would yield mutual benefits and boost cultivation for both.
But now, it was Yin and Yang from the same person. One energy—both Yin and Yang.
“Then what exactly is the use of this vessel?”
“Conversion of Yin and Yang... wait a minute.”
“Could I perhaps do this?”
Liu Er sat cross-legged and began circulating his Yang and Yin energy in unison.
He had Yuan Yang and abundant Yang energy, which regenerated much faster than average.
The Yang and Yin energies merged, immediately forming a unified Yin-Yang balance, rapidly accelerating his cultivation.
“So, this is a treasure that enhances cultivation speed.”
“Strange...”
“Why did Teacher give this to me now? If he had given it when I first became his disciple, wouldn’t I already be at the Nascent Soul stage?”
“Perhaps Teacher intends for me to infiltrate the Liangzhu Kingdom while remaining at the Golden Core stage. After all, a Nascent Soul cultivator draws much more suspicion and defense than a Golden Core one.”
“Or maybe... Teacher has some other purpose—one I haven’t yet figured out.”
As Liu Er pondered, a subordinate came to report.
It turned out that after Ning Zhuo left for the meeting, Liu Er had felt uneasy and sent a subordinate to follow in secret and gather intelligence.
The subordinate brought back two pieces of information.
“You’re saying the strategist and Double Purity had a falling out?” Liu Er brightened—this was good news.
Then he heard another: “Mu Lan acted arrogant and forceful, stormed into the granary, and even injured Zhao Xi.”
Liu Er found it a bit odd and shook his head. “Mu Lan is from the Grand General’s Mansion. She has her backing—that’s why she acts so boldly. Jealous... If I did the same, I’d be kicked out on the spot.”
“We haven’t received our rations either. Turns out the supply convoy was ambushed by the Stone Dwelling Old Monster.”
“That old freak is slippery—specializes in Earth techniques and not the least bit honest. A Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Essence—crafty as a fox!”
Liu Er was still musing when another subordinate arrived with bad news.
Upon hearing it, Liu Er couldn’t keep calm. He shot to his feet and exclaimed, “What?! Third Brother went to storm Red Flower Camp?!”
Zhang Hei, filled with rage, charged to the gates of Red Flower Camp, roaring like thunder, “Mu Lan, get out here!”
Mu Lan had just returned to the army camp, simmering with resentment from having been set up. Hearing Zhang Hei’s bellow, her face immediately turned furious.
Naturally, she couldn’t let Zhang Hei shout at her gate unchecked. She stepped out at once, “You black brute—what are you yelling about?”
Zhang Hei held the Black Serpent Spear and pointed it at Mu Lan, shouting, “Mu Lan! You let your soldiers provoke ours—using numbers to bully the few—leaving our men severely injured and nearly dead! You’ve gone too far! In the ambush earlier, you dumped the blame on us and ran off!”
“Draw your weapon. Today your Grandpa Zhang will teach you a lesson!”