I Have an Omen System-Chapter 53 - 52: The Puppet Sect

Huh?

Qin Xuan was startled.

"What did I... just say?" the young woman asked, bewildered.

"Senior Sister, you said I would bear the karma of the Giant Spirit. I..."

Qin Xuan started to speak, but for some reason—perhaps because the young woman’s state of mind was too volatile—the environment inside the pavilion suddenly became illusory. That familiar, powerful repulsive force returned.

"Wait, I’m not—" Qin Xuan shouted.

But before he could finish, the pavilion vanished.

When he came to his senses, he found himself outside the Earth Fire Cultivation Room, though he didn’t know when he had appeared there.

To Qin Xuan’s surprise, however, his Realm—which had stagnated without consuming the Fiery Blood Ginseng—had begun to advance spontaneously from the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer toward the Tenth Layer after he came out!

The Fire Attribute Foundation Establishment Cultivator standing guard nearby smiled. "Congratulations on your progress, Junior Brother Qin. You’re one step closer to Foundation Establishment. If you’d be so kind, the total is one thousand Contribution Points."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Qin Xuan took a deep breath.

Wincing with a pang of regret, he transferred 1,000 Contribution Points. The number on his Identity Token changed from 2210 to 1210.

’Looks like I was in that mysterious pavilion for at least half a month this time.’

Qin Xuan had experienced before how the flow of time in the mysterious pavilion was different from the outside world.

Fortunately, the gains far outweighed the costs. The Silver Bone Shadow Soldier alone was something that even ten thousand Contribution Points couldn’t buy, not to mention he had also learned of the Void Proofing Technique from the Nameless Senior Sister!

Qin Xuan gazed at the Silver Bone Shadow Soldier lying quietly in his Storage Ring, his thoughts turbulent.

’It’s a shame I couldn’t ask for the specific details of how to use the Void Proofing Technique, and there’s also the karma of the Giant Spirit Blood Demon... I wonder when I’ll see the Nameless Senior Sister again.’

Just then, a streak of black light shot across the sky at incredible speed.

Qin Xuan quickly caught it.

"Stewards of the Holy Sect’s Plague and Poison Altar—Qin Xuan, Li Chenyu, Feng Xishuang, Wan Tao, and Huo Xu—hear this order! The rules for the ’Flame Demon’ assessment are now being announced!"

"An inheritance from an Ancient Purple Mansion Daoist has appeared at the Cold Nether Sect in the Red Flame Country. Those who successfully slay ten Cultivators of the same Realm from the Cold Nether Sect will obtain the Flame Demon’s inheritance!

The one who slays the most Cultivators will be rewarded with the Holy Sect’s Spiritual Artifact, the Soul-devouring Banner!"

BOOM!

A grandiose voice suddenly exploded in his ears.

Qin Xuan understood instantly.

The Yanxue Sword Demon wanted them, a group of Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Demon Cultivators, to go to the Red Flame Country and stir up trouble.

According to the Holy Sect’s intelligence, this Purple Mansion Daoist’s inheritance was very likely the work of the ancient Puppet Sect.

The Puppet Sect was a supreme Sect that had once produced a Venerable Divinity Transformation. It belonged to the Righteous Dao, but the entire Sect had been annihilated in a great cataclysm ten thousand years ago.

Only a few scattered ruins remained, buried in the river of history.

In fact, the Blood Demon Sword Sect’s current Bone Shadow Soldiers were derived from the Puppet Sect’s Puppet Armor Warriors, with the only difference being that the materials had been changed from Refined Iron Spirit Ore to Cultivator skeletons.

’The Yanxue Sword Demon is quite generous, putting up a Spiritual Artifact as a prize.’

The greatest difference between a Spiritual Artifact and a Magical Artifact is that a Spiritual Artifact has the potential to grow, whereas a Magical Artifact does not.

This was especially true for the Holy Sect’s Soul-devouring Banner. Devour ten souls of Cultivators at the same Realm, and it becomes a Ten Souls Banner. Devour ten thousand, and it becomes a Ten Thousand Souls Banner!

’I have to find a way to get my hands on that Soul-devouring Banner...’

As for modifying the Fire Crow Banner, he could do that at the same time. With the Void Proofing Technique as a safety net, Qin Xuan no longer had any worries. He decided to cultivate both of the Blazing Fire Sect’s Positional Divine Techniques simultaneously!

...

He returned to the Demon Disciple Dormitory and briefly handled the transition of duties.

Cao Da and Zhao Youliang had both passed the Blood Pool Trial and become Outer Sect Instructors.

However, Zhao Youliang didn’t have an Inner Sect senior sister to leech off of, so he only obtained an ordinary Barbarian Bone Blood Talisman. Cao Da, on the other hand, had acquired a rarer Blood Talisman in the Blood Pool and was being particularly mysterious about it, not letting anyone know.

His whole demeanor had become more spirited than before, and he was growing increasingly arrogant.

He didn’t even show Qin Xuan any respect.

Qin Xuan said, "Old Zhao, has anything happened these past few days?"

Zhao Youliang replied, "Senior Brother Qin, now that you mention it, something did happen."

"A few days ago, a Senior Brother Zhang by the name of Zhang Yangzhou came looking for you. He said Steward Cheng Hao is dead and that you should be careful..."

Hearing this, Qin Xuan’s eyelid twitched. "I understand," he said flatly. "You may go."

’The Divination was accurate, after all.’

’If I recall correctly, Cheng Hao chose the Withered Marrow Spring, which was a certain death sentence. Now that he’s dead, the murderers were most likely Master Wen Xiang and her people.’

He was rather surprised that Zhang Yangzhou would come to warn him, though.

Zhao Youliang hesitated, looking like he wanted to say more.

Qin Xuan asked, "What is it, Old Zhao? If there’s something else, feel free to speak."

Zhao Youliang said, "Senior Brother Qin, Huang Xu has been getting very close with Cao Da recently. The two of them have been bad-mouthing you behind your back..."

"Did Cao Da bully you?"

Zhao Youliang wiped away a tear and said aggrievedly, "Brother Xuan, no, but he’s always cursing you behind your back. I just can’t stand it."

"..."

Qin Xuan was speechless. "Forget it. We’ll deal with this after I get back."

’I can’t believe Old Zhao has turned into such a drama queen.’

’The Holy Sect is a real dye vat; it changes everyone!’

Qin Xuan didn’t take Zhao Youliang’s words to heart. After all, their statuses were different now, and they saw things differently.

Zhao Youliang was still squabbling over the petty trifles between Instructors, while he himself was now on the radar of a Golden Core Blood Demon.

But after thinking it over, Qin Xuan felt that Zhao Youliang wouldn’t have said this to him for no reason.

Especially when he heard Zhao Youliang call him "Brother Xuan," Qin Xuan’s sharp senses told him something was wrong.

Just then, the massive ball of light in his mind suddenly flickered, and three ancient bamboo sticks flew out.

[Middle-Middle Draw: Stand up for Zhao Youliang, cripple Cao Da, and display an appropriate amount of power. The aftermath will be stable, quelling the turmoil before it begins. Outcome: Neutral.]

[Middle-Lower Draw: Stand up for Zhao Youliang and kill Cao Da with a single palm strike. This will provoke Ma Wei of the Inner Sect, leading to endless trouble. Outcome: Inauspicious.]

[Middle-Lower Draw: Ignore the situation. Cao Da will grow more arrogant, conspire with Ma Wei, and seize your position as Steward of the Plague Bone Altar. Outcome: Inauspicious.]

’Damn, I didn’t think Old Zhao and Cao Da would be this much trouble!’

’You can’t trust anyone in the Holy Sect!’

With a flip of his hand, Qin Xuan tossed out a Magical Artifact.

Zhao Youliang focused his gaze and saw it was a sharp, broken half of a beast’s bone. It pulsed with a dark luster and was exceptionally sharp. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"This is the Top-Grade Magical Artifact, the Vengeful Poison Dragon Fang. Not only is it sharp, but it can also release a Resentful Decay Poison Fog. Old Zhao, you’re the only true friend I’ve made since joining the Holy Sect. Take this for self-defense."

"After I leave, don’t get into any arguments with Cao Da. Keep a low profile and protect yourself. I don’t want to come back and find there’s no one left to call me ’Brother Xuan’."

Zhao Youliang was stunned. He never expected Qin Xuan to just give him a Top-Grade Magical Artifact. That was something not even the Foundation Establishment Elders possessed!

But what happened next shocked and moved Zhao Youliang even more.

Qin Xuan summoned Cao Da. "Junior Brother Cao, how has the production of Corpse Centipede Pills been recently?"

Speaking to Qin Xuan face-to-face, Cao Da was still very respectful. "Senior Brother Qin, the demand for our Corpse Centipede Pills exceeds the supply. This is..."

"What? You dare to embezzle Master Wen Xiang’s Spiritual Marrow? Don’t think I can’t touch you just because you have an Inner Sect senior sister backing you!"

Before Cao Da could finish, Qin Xuan cut him off, erupting in fury. A Copper Bone Shadow Soldier with a golden skull suddenly burst from the ground.

It opened its mouth and spat out a plume of eerie green fire, incinerating half of Cao Da’s arm to ash.

"This... This is Instructor Li’s corpse!" Cao Da’s face went deathly pale. Clutching his gushing shoulder, he rolled on the ground, trembling all over. He instantly recognized the remains of Li Cang, the man who had once tortured him to death.

Even though he had almost died and had his soul scattered, Cao Da didn’t dare to harbor the slightest improper thought.

Zhao Youliang had no idea about the backstory, but he had witnessed the entire scene of Qin Xuan lashing out for his sake and was moved to tears.

’I can’t believe Qin Xuan would offend an Inner Sect senior sister for my sake.’

"In this life, I, Zhao Youliang, am Senior Brother Qin’s dog! In the Demon Sect, Senior Brother Qin is my only family!" Zhao Youliang vowed in his heart.

Little did he know, Qin Xuan’s attitude was completely different.

’Old Zhao is so treacherous. He almost provoked that Ma Wei from the Inner Sect into hating me.’

’I’ve given you the Vengeful Poison Dragon Fang. That old fox Hou Qi has already awakened his Innate Wisdom. You’re on your own, kid. Good luck.’

Amidst Cao Da’s complete submission and Zhao Youliang’s profuse tears of gratitude, Qin Xuan mounted his Dark Cloud Spiritual Artifact and leisurely set off for the Red Flame Country.