Han Shixi's eyes lit up.
He nodded like a pecking chicken, "It's a good thing, a good thing, it's simply a great thing!"
"Does that mean I've done a great deed, Master? Can you teach me something more, preferably Shikigami or something similar? I'm afraid I won't be so lucky next time I encounter an expert of the same caliber..."
Tsunoda Shinichi's previously joyful face instantly fell.
"Hmm?" He let out a syllable from deep within his throat.
Seeing this, Han Shixi knew instantly that things were not good. Just as he was about to beg for mercy, before he could even speak, a crisp and clear slap echoed.
Han Shixi spun in the air like a top for several turns, then landed with a thud.
Half of his cheek was severely swollen, and his mouth was full of blood.
"I hate it the most when people try to take credit from me. Merit and demerit, reward and punishment, I decide for myself. What is the meaning of you trying to claim credit from me? Are you trying to tell me what to do?"
Tsunoda Shinichi looked at Han Shixi coldly and said.
Han Shixi was so scared that cold sweat broke out on his back. He quickly denied, "No, no, no, how dare I tell Master what to do? It was my eagerness, my presumption. Thank you, Master, for slapping me awake!"
"Hmph! I'll let it go this time, but if there's a next time, I'll expel you from the sect!"
Han Shixi shivered at the words.
Being expelled from the sect by Tsunoda Shinichi was not as simple as being kicked out!
It meant having your name erased from the register of the divine path, your soul extracted and refined into a ghost slave!
That would be a fate truly worse than death!
Han Shixi shuddered just thinking about it.
"Please believe me, Master, there will never be a next time, never..." Han Shixi assured him again and again.
"Get up! You are the first disciple I took in the Dragon Country, and I truly wish to nurture you to success. My strictness towards you is also for your own good. I hope you don't blame your master."
Tsunoda Shinichi, adept at the art of "hitting with a stick and then offering a sweet date," immediately changed to a kindly tone to comfort him.
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare," Han Shixi cautiously wiped the sweat from his forehead and said.
"Don't worry, once this matter is settled, I will not only officially teach you the methods of Shikigami but also allow you to cultivate in the villa's spiritual land for an extended period! The faster you grow, the more you can help me solve problems. How could I deliberately suppress you?"
Hearing Tsunoda Shinichi's words, Han Shixi instantly became excited.
Shikigami, that was something he had always dreamed of!
With Shikigami, he would possess absolute power!
At least in the Jianghai region, he could be unrestrained and arrogant! If he disliked someone, he could summon a Shikigami to eliminate them directly!
Most importantly, Shikigami killed silently. Neither human eyes nor surveillance cameras could capture their existence!
Ultimately, it would only become an unsolved mystery!
"When I master Shikigami, the first person I will kill is Han Yifeng! A bastard from a concubine's household, daring to fight me for the position of family head! He's tired of living!"
Han Shixi secretly vowed.
Tsunoda Shinichi seemed to have read Han Shixi's thoughts and revealed a faint smile.
All of this was within his plan!
"By the way, did you handle the matter I asked you to take care of?" Tsunoda Shinichi asked, raising his eyelids slightly.
Han Shixi first showed a confused expression, then understood, and answered loudly, "Reporting to Master, I finished it long ago!"
"Very good," Tsunoda Shinichi nodded with satisfaction. "Then tonight, we will go to their doorstep to collect our debt! To reclaim what rightfully belongs to us!"
"Yes!"
...
Night.
No stars, no moon.
The sky was covered by a thick layer of dark clouds, and the wind howled through the sea and mountains, sounding like the wails of ghosts and gods.
Inside the mountain-top villa.
Nannan was still cultivating.
She had now completely mastered the "Fetal Breath Meditation Technique."
As soon as she closed her eyes, she could switch from nasal breathing to the fetal breath state.
If one were to get close to Nannan's small body, they could hear the sound of great rivers surging within her.
Continuous and resounding throughout her body.
If a martial arts grandmaster saw this scene, they would be greatly astonished.
Because this state of "blood and Qi surging like a river" was rarely seen, let alone in a small child, even some veteran pugilists who had trained for over a decade found it difficult to achieve!
If this were to get out, Nannan would be fiercely sought after by all major martial arts sects!
However, Ying Chen looked at Nannan with an unperturbed expression, as if there was nothing to be surprised about.
This was the difference between ancient esoteric arts and modern martial and magical arts.
In ancient times, esoteric arts and martial and magical arts were inseparable.
Practicing magic was equivalent to practicing martial arts; the body and soul were parallel and mutually reinforcing.
But in modern times, magic and martial arts suddenly parted ways.
Tempering the body and cultivating the soul became two diametrically opposed paths.
As a result, during the battle at the Shennong Sect, everyone was so shocked to see Ying Chen practicing both martial and magical arts that their jaws nearly dropped.
Because this severely violated their understanding!
It severely broke the common sense that had been established for so many years!
"Hmm? Another guest?"
Suddenly, Ying Chen turned his head towards the villa's main entrance.
Then, he glanced at Nannan, who was immersed in meditation, and with a movement of his body, he disappeared into the backyard.
"Master, see? I didn't lie to you, did I?"
Outside the villa gate, Han Shixi pointed at the villa from which wisps of ethereal mist were continuously rising and said.
Tsunoda Shinichi narrowed his eyes and looked at the ethereal mist.
Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed!
A wisp of ethereal mist was caught in his hand.
He brought it to his nose and sniffed gently. The next second, his eyes widened in shock and disbelief!
"Spiritual energy of such high purity? How is this possible!"
"Even in the sacred place of Amaterasu Omikami, I have never seen such spiritual energy!"
"Could I have made a mistake in my judgment?"
Tsunoda Shinichi murmured to himself.
He grabbed another cluster of ethereal mist.
After inhaling it, he slowly closed his eyes and opened them after a long time.
"My judgment was not wrong. The quality of the spiritual energy here far surpasses that of Amaterasu Omikami's sacred place!"
"This means I have truly found a sacred place for cultivation! An unprecedented sacred place for cultivation! It even surpasses Amaterasu Omikami's sacred place!"
"Heaven bestows but does not receive; one will suffer blame. This is a gift from heaven. If I do not take it, heaven will punish me!"
"Shixi!"
Han Shixi quickly stepped forward.
"Knock on the door!"
"Collect the debt!"
Hearing his master's words, Han Shixi straightened his chest and walked towards the villa's main door with a swagger, like a child who had been beaten by a classmate and brought his parents for revenge.
However, just as he raised his hand, before he could even knock on the door knocker, the door creaked open, and a person walked out.
Upon seeing this person, Han Shixi instantly became like a mouse that had seen a cat. His hair stood on end, and he let out a yelp as he fled, covering his head.
This person was none other than Ying Chen, who had nearly killed Han Shixi!
"Mas... Master... it's him!"
"It's him! He almost killed your disciple during the day!"
"Master, you must avenge your disciple!"
Han Shixi trembled, pointing at Ying Chen.
Tsunoda Shinichi glanced at Han Shixi and cursed him for being useless.
Then, with a forced smile, he said, "Revenge or not. Have you forgotten? Today, we are here to collect our debt in a proper and legal manner!"