Chapter 128: Blood Qi Like a Flame

Mo Tang strode through the air above the County Government Mansion. Her voice echoed into every corner, instantly alerting the mansion’s guards and the city’s garrison troops who had not yet left.

"The Morning Bell Ringer from Jingzhou City is here?"

"What’s this person doing coming to our County Government Mansion in the middle of the night?"

"This Morning Bell Ringer lacks some courtesy, doesn’t she? Making such a scene... If word gets out tomorrow, people will think our County Government Mansion is haunted by some Ghostly Creature."

The many guards of the County Government Office frowned to themselves. Government constables from the mansion and some of the city’s garrison troops also hurried over.

However, despite their dissatisfaction, no one dared to step forward and stop her.

A True Master Martial Dao walking on air emanated a pressure that ordinary Martial Artists simply could not withstand.

Li Tianxing had been led to another area. He didn’t see any of Dou Kuan’s men, but was just told to wait for a moment.

Before long, he heard the Morning Bell Ringer’s voice ring out over the mansion.

Li Tianxing’s eyes lit up, and he immediately set off, running in that direction.

’With the Morning Bell Ringer in Bluestone City, many things can finally be explained!’

"You look rather unfamiliar."

Dou Kuan’s voice came from below as he looked up.

He saw a woman walking on air, wearing a Cinnabar Crown. Beneath an interwoven red-and-crimson robe, she wore Silver Scale Armor with a uniquely shaped Heart-Protecting Mirror embedded in the chest.

The crimson feather pattern on it was woven into the lifelike image of a crowing rooster, its head held high.

’Morning Attire!’

Dou Kuan recognized the uniform at a glance and confirmed the newcomer’s identity.

Seeing that she had only brought one person and no other Evil Exterminator Guards, he concluded that her visit was impromptu and that she had not discovered their weakness.

Dou Kuan said in a low voice, "I recall that the Morning Bell Ringer of Jing State is Lord Xu Yang, not some ’Mo Tang,’ and certainly not a woman."

Mo Tang said, "I just took office less than three months ago. This is my first inspection tour of the Evil Extermination Bureaus in all of Jing State’s counties."

"Oh?"

Dou Kuan said, "Lord Mo, if you are inspecting the Evil Extermination Bureaus, what are you doing here at my County Government Mansion in the dead of night?"

Mo Tang said, "I’ve come to ask you for someone."

"Who?"

"Lu Bai."

Upon hearing this, Dou Kuan fell silent for a moment before slowly replying, "That man is a suspect in multiple murders, a vicious criminal. He has just been taken into custody by the government office. What does Lord Mo want with him?"

Mo Tang said, "The cases involving him are likely related to the Witch Race. I intend to interrogate him personally."

"Heh."

Dou Kuan chuckled. "Lord Mo, even if you want to interrogate a prisoner, there’s a proper order to things. Coming to my mansion in the middle of the night to demand someone is against regulations."

’As long as I stall for a while, Lu Bai will be dealt with.’

’By then, even if Mo Tang gets Lu Bai’s corpse, she won’t be able to get anything out of it.’

Mo Tang narrowed her eyes and suddenly said, "Lord Dou, I suspect a member of the Witch Race is hiding in your mansion. I must ask for your cooperation."

"Oh?"

Feigning surprise, Dou Kuan asked, "Lord Mo, what makes you say that? Do you have any evidence? Surely you can’t expect my entire mansion to cooperate with you based on your word alone?"

"That won’t be necessary."

Mo Tang shook her head slightly. "I only need your cooperation, Lord Dou."

"Hm?"

Dou Kuan’s expression changed. His eyes filled with authority as he slowly said, "Are you suspecting me?"

"It’s no trouble."

Mo Tang didn’t answer directly, only saying, "We just need Lord Dou to squeeze out a drop of blood and let it fall into a bowl of water containing rooster’s blood. The result will be clear."

To determine if someone is of the Witch Race, the most important signs are when they activate their bloodline, use a Witch Clan Secret Technique, and a green light appears in their eyes.

There are other methods, such as this blood-drop test.

Rooster’s blood and the blood of the Witch Race repel each other.

First, a drop of rooster’s blood is squeezed into a bowl of water. Then, when the blood of a Witch Race member is dropped in, the water will gradually turn green.

This method has another advantage.

Some people are controlled by the Witch Race’s Gu Techniques and have had a Gu Insect planted inside them.

As long as a Gu Insect is in the body, even if the person is of the Human Race, their blood will still turn the water green when it comes into contact with rooster’s blood!

Dou Kuan’s face darkened.

He was naturally aware of this method. If he did as Mo Tang said, his identity would be exposed instantly.

’Besides, since this woman wants to test me, she must already suspect me!’

’I can’t stay in Bluestone City any longer.’

’In for a penny, in for a pound.’

’First, I’ll take care of this woman!’

In a flash of thought, Dou Kuan suddenly bellowed, "Insolent fiend! I was merely testing you, and you’ve already shown your true colors! Impersonating the Morning Bell Ringer of Jing State is a crime punishable by death!"

"Men, seize her!"

Dou Kuan roared.

"I’d like to see who dares!"

Mo Tang scanned her surroundings as the Blood Qi in her body surged, igniting into what looked like a massive flame that enveloped her.

In an instant, flames shot up around Mo Tang. Her Blood Qi blazed like fire, extending a full six feet from her body. Billowing heat waves burned the very air around her!

The searing Blood Qi alone made the numerous government constables and garrison troops hesitate, not daring to advance.

This was the powerful Blood Qi of a True Master Martial Dao!

After condensing a Blood Qi Golden Core, the Golden Core circulates, causing Blood Qi to rise like a flame.

At first, it’s just the initial ignition of Blood Qi, like a small fire burning on the body.

As one’s Cultivation deepens, this flame grows until the Blood Qi can be cultivated into a raging inferno.

When Blood Qi is like fire, the blaze can extend from a one-foot radius around the body to a maximum of nine feet!

Of course, a nine-foot blaze is the limit for Blood Qi in the Golden Core Realm.

True Masters of the Martial Dao who can cultivate a nine-foot Blood Qi blaze are as rare as a phoenix feather or a qilin’s horn.

It is said that once a nine-foot blaze is achieved, one can even manifest the legendary Golden Core Phenomenon—an illusion condensed from Blood Qi, which is arguably the most powerful technique a True Master Martial Dao possesses!

Lu Bai, who was sneaking through the shadows, suddenly felt something and looked up into the distance.

He saw a graceful figure in the distant sky suddenly erupt in a raging inferno. The person was wreathed in flames, their oppressive might dominating the surroundings.

Even at this distance, Lu Bai could feel the residual heat radiating from that blaze.

’So powerful!’

Lu Bai was secretly amazed.

’To cultivate Blood Qi to such a level... any Yin Soul Little Ghost that gets close would be instantly burned to ash.’

"I’ll hold her off! The rest of you, take that man down!"

Dou Kuan glanced at the surrounding government constables and garrison troops, pointed at He Liangzhi who was not far away, and shouted.

As his voice fell, Dou Kuan suddenly leaped into the air. His Blood Qi erupted, and a ball of fire likewise ignited around his body.

In mid-air, the two True Masters of the Martial Dao stood facing each other, swords drawn and bows bent!

However, Dou Kuan’s blaze was clearly much weaker than Mo Tang’s, appearing to have a radius of only three feet.

Furthermore, Dou Kuan’s Blood Qi lacked the searing, masculine yang energy present in Mo Tang’s!

Although his Blood Qi also took the form of a flame, it gave off a hint of cold, sinister darkness.

Lu Bai seemed to have an epiphany.

’Blood Qi like fire’ just means the Blood Qi rises like a flame.

’But everyone’s Cultivation Technique is different, so the properties of their Blood Qi vary greatly.’

’For instance, even though Mo Tang is a woman, as a Morning Bell Ringer, her Blood Qi must be scorching and full of yang energy to make it easier to exterminate evil spirits and suppress Fierce Ghosts!’

’Judging by the strength of their Blood Qi alone, Dou Kuan is clearly a notch weaker.’

Lu Bai continued to sneak forward, moving closer in that direction.