Ink-Clad Creator

Yuelai Inn, Room No. 1 (Top Class).

Li Xian lay on the couch, his consciousness struggling between lucidity and drowsiness. The pale moonlight outside the window shone through the paper window onto the bed, like a thin layer of frost.

He closed his eyes, and a flood of dreams washed over him.

First, there was Miss Chunmeng.

She turned around under the peach tree, her crimson wedding dress fluttering in the wind, her eyes crinkling with laughter: "Li Xian, you said you would help me get revenge." As she laughed, blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, and the gold patterns on her wedding dress transformed into black worms, crawling all over her body.

"Madam Meng..." Li Xiang reached out to pull her, but she took a step back, her eyes filled with sorrow: "Don't touch me, you'll get infected with the Gu poison."

The image is shattered.

Next up is Xiao Lingshan.

She stood at the ferry crossing, her blue robes stained with dust, her back to him: "I'm going back to Han Family Fortress." Her voice was soft, "Han Yunyang is seriously injured and unconscious, things have changed within the fortress, and my father... has been placed under house arrest."

"I'll go with you," Li Xian said in the dream.

Xiao Lingshan shook her head: "You already have Miss Chunmeng and Miss Bingwei by your side. What am I?"

She turned around, her eyes reddening: "That night outside Qixia Pavilion, I saw the candlelight in your window, and I saw Bingwei's shadow... I knew then that we were not meant to be together."

"Lingshan, that night was—"

"No need to explain," she interrupted, her smile bitter. "In the world of martial arts, fleeting romances shouldn't be taken seriously. It's just... I thought you were different."

She turned and boarded the boat, her back view resolute. As the boat sailed further away, Li Xian stood on the shore, when suddenly countless vines sprouted from his feet, binding him tightly.

The third one is Bingwei.

She lay naked in Li Xian's arms, her skin as cold as snow, her eyes vacant: "The task Linghan Palace gave me was to take your vital essence to help me break through the bottleneck in my cultivation technique." She reached out and stroked Li Xian's face, "I didn't want to, but Aunt Xiao threatened me with my sister's life..."

"Your sister?"

"She was turned into a medicine man, suffering a fate worse than death in the ice cellar of Linghan Palace." Tears rolled down Bingwei's cheeks, falling to the ground and turning into ice crystals. "So that night, I had no choice but to do as she said. I used a special aphrodisiac from Linghan Palace to absorb the remaining energy of the holy water in your body when you were confused and infatuated."

Her voice trailed off: "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Finally, there's Peng Shitao.

She sat before the medicine stove, her back to Li Xian, decocting medicine. The pot bubbled and steamed, filling the air with its aroma. She hummed a little tune from Peach Blossom Village, her voice clear and melodious like a bell.

"Shitao," Li called to her.

She turned around, her face still covered in soot, and smiled innocently: "Brother Li, the medicine is almost ready. After you finish drinking it, your meridians will feel better."

"Aren't you afraid?" Li asked first. "Following someone like me, you could lose your life at any moment."

Peng Shitao tilted her head and thought for a moment: "Yes, I am afraid. But I am even more afraid... even more afraid that you will face all this alone." She lowered her head and stirred the medicine spoon, her voice gradually lowering, "Sister Chunmeng is under a spell, Sister Lingshan misunderstands you, Sister Bingwei is not in control of her own destiny... Brother Li, you have so many women around you, but not one of them can truly stay with you."

She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears: "Can I?"

The figures of four women flashed alternately in the dream, their voices overlapping, their faces blurred. Li Xian's head throbbed with pain; he tried to break free, but only sank deeper into the abyss.

Just then, a dark red light appeared deep within the dream.

The light gradually expanded, transforming into a blood-red void. In the center of this void, suspended, was a dark red crystal riddled with cracks. The crystal slowly rotated, crimson light seeping from its cracks, outlining a human figure in the void.

The outline gradually became clear—it was a man who looked seven parts like Li Xian, but his eyes were as weathered as ancient stars, and a wicked smile played on his lips.

managers.

"Mr. Li, was the dream good?" the manager asked, his voice ringing out directly in Mr. Li's mind, carrying a metallic quality.

Li Xian stared at him: "Was this your doing?"

"I'm just personifying your deepest fears and desires." The manager shrugged. "Miss Chunmeng's poison, Xiao Lingshan's misunderstanding, Bingwei's guilt, Peng Shitao's innocence—aren't these all things you can't let go of?"

"What exactly do you want?"

"A deal." The administrator slowly floated closer. "I'll help you solve all your problems: save Elder Feng, remove the curse from Chunmeng, quell the internal strife in Han Family Fort, and even... heal your shattered meridians."

Li Xian sneered: "And the price?"

"Three things," the manager said. "First, I need energy. From now on, all the energy you acquire—whether it's internal energy or the free-floating energy of heaven and earth—will be 70% mine, used to repair the crystal and solidify the entity."

"Secondly, I need 'experience.' As an energy consciousness, I have never truly possessed a physical body. So... I will occasionally take over your body and experience human emotions, appetite, and sexual desire."

Li Xian's face darkened: "You want to use my body—"

"Don't worry, I won't forcibly take over," the manager interrupted. "Each takeover will last no more than three hours. And... I'll prioritize tasks you don't want to do but have to. For example, dealing with those women, or feigning compliance with various factions."

His smile deepened: "After all, you're much more indecisive than I am on this point."

"And the third one?"

"If I succeed in the future, I can completely restore your freedom. How about that? Pretty good, right?"

Li fell silent for a moment, then the second thing was too...

The sound of the night watchman's drum came from outside the window; it was past midnight.

Elder Feng has only two days to live. Miss Chunmeng's poison has already invaded his heart meridian. The internal strife in Han Family Fortress is still unresolved, and Han Yunyang remains unconscious. As for himself, his meridians are shattered, and he has no internal energy left. Without the help of a leader, he will have difficulty even protecting himself.

"What if I refuse?" Li asked first.

"Then you will die tonight." The administrator said calmly, "The Soul-Seizing Technique of the Bone Master has left a hidden wound on your soul. If I don't nurture it with my energy, your soul will dissipate and you will die within three days."

Are you threatening me?

"I'm stating the facts." The manager reached out, a ball of dark red energy appearing in his palm. "Look at your own soul."

Li looked down and realized that his dream body had become semi-transparent, with a dark crack on his chest that was slowly spreading.

"This crack is invisible to ordinary people. But cultivators above the Divine Origin Realm can tell at a glance that you are doomed." The administrator withdrew his energy. "At that time, Chu Huaizhou will no longer recruit you, and Han Jinan will no longer protect you. You will only become a dying research subject that various forces are vying for."

Cruel, but true.

Li Xian closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again, his gaze had become resolute: "Fine, I agree. But there are a few conditions."

"explain."

"First, prior notification is required before taking over a body, unless it is a matter of life and death."

"Can."

"Second, you must not harm the people around me—Chunmeng, Lingshan, Shitao, the drone team, and the innocent people of Hanjiabao."

"As long as they don't threaten me."

The manager laughed: "You're barely able to take care of yourself, yet you're always thinking of others. Fine, I agree."

He extended his right hand, a dark red contract rune appearing in his palm: "By swearing an oath of souls, we enter into a symbiotic pact. You help me solidify my physical form, and I will help you reach the pinnacle—how about it?"

Li Xian also extended his right hand.

The moment their palms touched, the contract runes were imprinted deep into their souls!

A vast amount of knowledge flooded into his mind: the complete design blueprint of the molecular-level magnetic beam knife, the analysis of the energy structure of the Gu worm, the flaws in the Thunderous Might Technique, the advanced methods of creating holy water, and even... the administrator's unique understanding of the cosmic string theory!

At the same time, a gentle yet powerful energy surged from the dark red crystal, flowing throughout Li Xian's meridians. The broken meridians were forcibly repaired by the energy, and although not fully restored, they could barely support the circulation of internal energy.

"This is the advance payment," the manager said, his voice weakening. "Now, it's time to fulfill our promise."

The dream shattered.

Li Xian suddenly opened his eyes!

The sky outside the window was just beginning to lighten; it was already early morning.

The people of Han Family Fort booked the backyard of the inn. Elder Feng lay in the east wing, his breath as faint as a candle flickering in the wind.

Han Jinan, Elder Peng, and Xiao Lingshan stood guard by the bedside, all with solemn expressions.

"Young Master Li." Upon seeing Li Xian enter, Han Jinan immediately stood up. "The Thunder Pattern Iron has been retrieved."

He presented a palm-sized piece of metal—dark purple in color, with naturally occurring lightning crackles on its surface, shimmering faintly in the morning light. This was the lightning-patterned iron used to forge the "Nine Heavens Thunder Seal," and also the core material for manufacturing molecular-level magnetic beam knives.

Li Xian took the Thunder Pattern Iron; it felt heavy and cold to the touch. He looked at the dark palm print on Elder Feng's shoulder—overnight, the print had spread another half inch, and the surrounding skin had completely withered.

"You all get out," Li said.

Han Jinan was taken aback: "Young Master Li, healing requires our protection—"

"I need absolute silence," Li Xian said firmly. "No one is allowed to enter or spy on us for one hour."

Xiao Lingshan looked at him, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes, but she finally nodded: "Father, Elder Peng, let's go out."

The three of them left the room and closed the door.

Li first placed the Thunder Pattern Iron on the table, then took out a sonic vibrator, three Stardust Energy Crystals, and the miniature parts that Superman had rushed to make last night from his pocket.

"Superman, connect to my optic nerve and project the molecular-level magnetic beam knife assembly diagram," he commanded in his mind.

"Roger that, boss," Superman's voice echoed in my mind. "But... can you even understand such complex design drawings now?"

"I don't understand it," Li said, "but the managers do."

As soon as he finished speaking, a dark red light appeared in Li Xian's eyes.

The administrators took over the body.

He flexed his fingers, feeling the texture of the flesh, and a curious smile appeared on his lips: "So this is what it feels like to be 'alive'... Interesting."

He didn't delay any longer, and his hands moved like butterflies flitting among flowers.

The laser-patterned iron was cut into dozens of tiny parts by the high-frequency vibration of the sonic oscillator; stardust energy crystals melted at the fingertips, turning into flowing liquid light that seeped into the parts; the micro-parts were precisely assembled, emitting a soft "click" sound.

The whole process was smooth and seamless, as if it had been rehearsed a thousand times.

"The principle of the molecular-level magnetic beam knife is to use the 'Ray-patterned iron' to conduct a high-precision magnetic field, cutting energy nodes at the microscopic level." The manager explained to Li Xian in his mind while assembling the device. "The essence of the Bone-Eating Yin-Yang Palm of the Bone-Slaying Master is to inject Yin-Yang energy into the enemy's body, eroding the meridians and flesh. To break it, we must find the energy nodes and peel them off one by one."

"Can you do it?" Li asked first.

"Boltzmann's brain has traversed the universe, witnessing more forms of energy than you've ever eaten meals," the administrator chuckled. "What's a mere Yin energy compared to that?"

Fifteen minutes later, a peculiar "knife" appeared on the table.

It has no physical blade, only a dark purple handle. A three-inch-long purple light blade floats at the top of the handle, with countless tiny points of light moving within it, like a galaxy flowing.

"It's done." The manager picked up the magnetic beam knife and walked towards the bed.

He lifted Elder Feng's robe, revealing a jet-black palm print. At the center of the print, the skin was completely carbonized, and the dark red flesh beneath could be seen slowly writhing—that was the Yin energy eroding life force.

The administrator pressed his left hand against Elder Feng's chest, channeling a gentle energy to protect his heart meridian. His right hand held the magnetic blade, its tip lightly touching the edge of the palm print.

"Sizzle..."

The light blade emitted a faint electric shock as it cut into the skin. Strangely, there was no bleeding—the magnetic beam blade cut at the microscopic level, destroying only the energy structure without harming the physical tissue.

The manager's gaze was focused, his wrist as steady as a rock. The blade of light traced the edge of the palm print, melting away the black energy in its wake like ice and snow.

"See that?" he said to Li Xian in his mind. "The nodes of Yin Sha energy are distributed in the pattern of the 'Seven Star Soul Devouring Array.' The old ghost withered bones did put in some effort, but unfortunately... he doesn't understand what true energy manipulation is."

The light blade cut into the center of the palm print!

"puff!"

A plume of black gas erupted from the wound, twisting into a skull shape in the air and emitting a silent roar! But the magnetic beam blade spun, its purple light blazing brightly, completely shredding the black gas!

Elder Feng's body trembled violently, and he spat out a mouthful of black blood! The black blood fell to the ground, corroding small pits.

But at the same time, the dark palm print on his shoulder faded away at a speed visible to the naked eye!

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the palm print completely disappeared, leaving only a patch of newly formed, pink skin.

The administrator sheathed his sword, then took out a stardust crystal, crushed it, and sprinkled it on Elder Feng's chest. The crystalline powder seeped into the skin, transforming into gentle energy to nourish the damaged meridians.

"Alright." He placed the magnetic blade on the table. "The Yin energy has been eliminated, and the meridians have been restored. After another half month of recuperation, I should be able to recover seventy to eighty percent of my strength."

Before the words were even finished, the dark red light in the manager's eyes faded.

Li regained control of his body, but felt a sudden dizziness and almost fell over—the treatment had consumed a lot of his mental energy.

He steadied himself on the edge of the table, catching his breath for a moment, before calling out, "You can come in now."

The door was pushed open.

Han Jinan was the first to rush in. Seeing that the palm print on Elder Feng's shoulder had disappeared and his breathing was steady and long, he was overjoyed: "Young Master Li, this...this is healed?!"

"The Yin energy has been eliminated, but the meridians still need to be nourished," Li Xian said weakly. "Get the medicine according to this prescription, three times a day, for half a month."

He handed Han Jinan a prescription—one that Peng Shitao had written the night before.

Elder Peng stepped forward to take his pulse, and after a moment exclaimed in astonishment, "He's really healed! That cold, evil energy in his meridians has completely disappeared! Young Master Li, what kind of medical skill do you possess?!"

"It's not medical skill," Li shook his head, "it's a 'technique'."

He didn't explain further, turning to Xiao Lingshan: "Take me to see Miss Chunmeng. And... Han Yunyang."

Miss Chunmeng lay in the west wing, barely breathing.

The black lines on her left arm spread to her collarbone and were encroaching towards her heart. Her eyes were closed and her brows were furrowed; she was clearly in great pain.

Peng Shitao stayed by the bedside, her eyes red and swollen, clearly having cried.

"Brother Li, Sister Meng... she vomited three mouthfuls of black blood this morning. The Gu worm is about to break into her heart meridian." Peng Shitao's voice choked with sobs. "I used golden needles to lock her meridians, but I can only hold on for another two hours."

Li Xian sat down on the edge of the bed and took Miss Chunmeng's cold hand in his.

"Manager, it's your turn."

"Remember, 70% of the energy belongs to me," the manager's voice rang out.

The next moment, a dark red light flashed in Li Xian's eyes again.

He took out the magnetic blade, but instead of immediately using it, he first cut his fingertip and squeezed out a drop of blood. The blood floated in the air and was woven by the administrator using a special technique, transforming into a dark red rune.

"The Mother-Child Heart-Eating Gu is essentially an 'energy symbiosis'," the administrator explained while operating the device. "The mother Gu is in the hands of the withered bone old ghost, and the child Gu is inside the host's body. The two share energy through some kind of spiritual connection. There are two ways to remove the Gu: one is to kill the mother Gu, and the other is... to sever the connection and transform the child Gu into an independent life form."

"You want to use the second one?" Li asked first.

"Of course. The first one is too cheap for that old skeleton." The manager chuckled. "I want him to taste what it's like to be devoured by the very Gu he raised."

A dark red talisman was injected into Miss Spring Dream's chest!

Her body trembled violently, and a black insect-like shadow slithered wildly beneath her chest skin, trying to escape! But the talismans formed a net, locking it firmly in place!

The manager held a magnetic beam knife and lightly touched the insect's head with the tip of the blade.

"Peeling begins."

The blade sliced ​​into the skin, yet left no wound. The tip precisely pierced the connection point between the Gu worm and Miss Spring Dream's meridians, severing those energy tentacles bit by bit!

This is a more delicate procedure than treating Elder Feng. The venomous insect has already partially fused with the heart meridian; the slightest carelessness could endanger the host's life.

But the manager's hand was frighteningly steady.

One incense stick, two incense sticks...

Peng Shitao held her breath in nervousness, while Han Jinan and the others watched intently.

Finally, as the third incense stick burned out, the manager put away his sword.

On Miss Chunmeng's chest, a complete insect shadow was peeled away from the talisman! It was a three-inch-long black Gu worm with two horns on its head and seven golden rings on its tail, which was now struggling wildly in the talisman.

"The offspring worm has been removed, but some worm poison remains in the host's body." The administrator sealed the worm in a jade bottle and then took out a stardust crystal. "Now, remove the remaining poison."

The crystals melted in her palm, turning into a pale golden liquid. The liquid seeped into Miss Chunmeng's skin, and wherever it touched, the black lines receded like a receding tide!

Fifteen minutes later, Miss Chunmeng's left arm returned to its fair color, and the dark aura in her chest disappeared without a trace.

Her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

"I...I'm still alive?" The voice was weak, but there was already life in it.

"With me here, you won't die," the manager said calmly—in Li Xian's voice. The dark red light in his eyes faded, and he returned his body to Li Xian.

Li Xian felt most of his energy being drained—the "reward" collected by the administrators. But he couldn't care less; he quickly helped Miss Chunmeng up: "How are you feeling?"

Miss Chunmeng examined her body and exclaimed in shock, "The Gu poison...it's all gone?! Even the meridians that were damaged have been repaired?!"

"Hmm." Li Xian nodded. "The venomous insect has been removed, and the remaining poison has been cleared. After a few more days of rest, you will be able to recover your strength."

Miss Chunmeng looked at him, her eyes suddenly reddening. She reached out and stroked Li Xian's face: "What price did you pay?"

"It's just a little bit of energy," Li Xian said, downplaying the issue. "Let's go see Han Yunyang."

Han Yunyang was placed in the north wing.

He lay on the bed, his face ashen, his lips purplish-black. His chest rose and fell slightly, but he was barely breathing.

Xiao Lingshan sat on the edge of the bed, holding Han Yunyang's hand, her eyes filled with tears. Seeing Li Xian enter, she hurriedly wiped away her tears and got up to make way.

"Is there any hope for Yunyang?" Her voice trembled.

Li Xian didn't answer first; he checked on Han Yunyang's condition.

Han Yunyang's condition was worse than Miss Chunmeng's. The larvae of the Gu had fully hatched, burrowing into his brain and partially fusing with his nerves. Even more troublesome was his cultivation of a forged version of the "Heavenly Thunder True Explanation," causing the thunder and fire energies to surge erratically through his meridians, creating a bizarre balance with the Gu poison.

If the curse is forcibly removed, the balance will be broken, and the thunder and fire energies will instantly burn away his heart meridian.

"Manager, can you solve this?" Li asked in his mind.

"It's a bit troublesome, but not impossible," the manager said. "We need Han Jinan's cooperation. His Thunderous Might can guide the thunder and fire energies within Han Yunyang's body. I'll take the opportunity to remove the Gu worms."

Li Xian looked at Han Jinan: "Master Han, your son's condition is special. I need you to guide the thunder and fire energies within his body so that I can remove the poison."

Han Jinan didn't hesitate: "How?"

The administrators have taken over the body again.

He had Han Jinan sit behind Han Yunyang, placing his palms against his son's back: "Circulate your internal energy, slowly transferring the 'Thunderbolt Technique' of the Thunderous Might Technique into his body. Remember, be slow and steady."

Han Jinan closed his eyes and circulated his internal energy. Greenish-blue lightning energy surged from his palms and seeped into Han Yunyang's meridians.

Han Yunyang's body trembled violently, and fine arcs of electricity appeared on his skin!

Taking advantage of the moment, the manager took out the magnetic beam knife and lightly touched Han Yunyang's brow with the tip of the blade.

The blade pierced the skin half an inch deep, but no blood flowed. The tip of the blade moved at a microscopic level, searching for the connection between the Gu worm and the nerves.

This time, even the managers looked serious.

Time passes little by little.

One stick of incense, two sticks of incense, three sticks of incense...

Han Jinan's forehead was covered in cold sweat, clearly indicating that he had exhausted himself. Xiao Lingshan clenched her fists nervously, her nails digging into her palms.

Suddenly, Han Yunyang opened his eyes! His eyes were completely black, with no whites!

"The Gu worms are turning on their backs!" the administrator shouted. "Master Han, increase your power by thirty percent!"

Han Jinan gritted his teeth, and his lightning-infused energy surged!

Han Yunyang let out a beast-like roar, black blood seeping from his seven orifices!

The manager's eyes flashed, and the magnetic beam blade suddenly split into hundreds of fine threads, piercing into various parts of Han Yunyang's head!

"Get out here!"

He suddenly drew his knife!

A complete black Gu worm was pulled out, bound by threads of light! The Gu worm was larger than the one inside Miss Chunmeng's body, with four horns on its head and twelve golden rings on its tail. It was struggling wildly at this moment, spewing out black poisonous mist from its mouth!

"Seal!" The administrator was prepared and covered the Gu worms with a jade bottle.

Han Yunyang's body went limp, and he fell back onto the bed. The bleeding from his seven orifices stopped, and the darkness in his eyes faded, restoring his clarity.

He looked around blankly: "Where...where am I? Father? Ling Shan?"

"Yunyang!" Xiao Lingshan cried tears of joy.

Han Jinan also breathed a sigh of relief, his gaze towards Li Xian filled with gratitude: "Young Master Li, I am deeply grateful. From this day forward, Han Family Fort owes you a life."

The manager retreated into the depths of his consciousness, and Li regained control of his body, only to feel a wave of exhaustion—after three consecutive high-precision operations, his mental energy was on the verge of depletion.

He forced a smile and said, "Lord Han, although your son's poison has been cured, his meridians are severely damaged and he needs to rest for three months. Also..."

He looked at Xiao Lingshan: "Lingshan, you said there's a traitor inside the fortress?"

Xiao Lingshan's expression turned serious: "Yes. Before I escaped from Han Family Fortress, I personally witnessed Elder Cao and Elder Tian throwing a black powder into the well. Afterwards, most of the disciples in the fortress behaved strangely, their eyes were empty, as if... they were being controlled."

"It's Gu," Li Xian said in a deep voice. "The Bone Master used Gu to control Elders Cao and Tian, ​​and then used them to control the entire Han Family Fortress."

Han Jinan flew into a rage: "Cao Yan! Tian Heng! I have treated them well, yet they dare to—"

"They were also caught in a bind," Li Xian interrupted. "The most urgent task is to return to Han Family Fortress to remove the curse."

Just then, Peng Shitao's voice came from outside the door: "Brother Li, someone has delivered a letter."

Li Xian took the letter, opened it, and his expression changed slightly.

The letter contained only one line:

"Tomorrow at noon, at the mass grave in the west of the city, we will settle our scores."

"—The Bone Master"

There is also a line of small print on the back:

"If you don't come, I will refine Bingwei into a Gu corpse."