He cautiously channeled his energy, releasing a devouring force like a wisp of black smoke that surged into Chu Qingzhi's body.

Under his focused and meticulous control, the black wisp avoided Chu Qingzhi's blood vessels and bones, absorbing only the mysterious cold poison through her meridians.

The cold poison appeared gray, resembling smoke.

Guided by the black wisp, the cold poison flowed out of Chu Qingzhi's body and slowly entered Chu Qingyun's.

Despite the cold poison being wrapped in black energy, as it flowed through his meridians into the mysterious vortex, Chu Qingyun felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his body chilled to the bone, and he couldn't help but shiver.

"The devouring force envelops the cold poison, and even just circulating through my meridians once is as painful as being pierced by needles and knives.

Imagine, Qingzhi isn't a martial artist, her physique is weak, how terrifying the pain she endures every month when the cold poison acts up?"

Thinking of this, Chu Qingyun felt both heartache for his sister and was amazed by her silent endurance and resilience.

As time passed, more and more gray cold poison surged into Chu Qingyun's vortex.

The thing he worried about didn't happen; the vortex showed no abnormalities, and he wasn't invaded by the cold poison.

This result invigorated him, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Great! This method really works, Qingzhi can be saved!"

Although he was excited inside, Chu Qingyun dared not be careless, continuing to cautiously cast his spell, gradually devouring the cold poison.

Now he didn't have to worry about being affected by the cold poison himself, he just needed to control the devouring force to avoid harming Chu Qingzhi.

The room was silent, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Chu Qingyun focused on casting his spell, forgetting the passage of time.

Unknowingly, the sky outside the window began to brighten.

When Chu Qingyun had completely devoured the cold poison from his sister's body, helping her out of danger, daylight had already broken.

"Phew..."

After a whole night of hard work, Chu Qingyun, both mentally and physically exhausted, finally relaxed.

Although Chu Qingzhi had only temporarily passed the crisis, the cold poison problem was not eradicated.

A month later, her cold poison would still flare up.

But Chu Qingyun had found a way to clear the cold poison, without spending money or having side effects!

Previously, every time Chu Qingzhi took the Fiery Sun Pill, she relied on its violent medicinal power to forcibly resist the invasion of the cold poison.

The cold poison would eventually be exhausted by the medicinal power, but the pain of the ice and fire forces clashing inside her body was unimaginable to ordinary people.

Because of this, the tormented Chu Qingzhi was so weak, like paper, and unable to cultivate.

Seeing his sister still in a state of slumber, Chu Qingyun did not wake her.

He rubbed his tired face and sat cross-legged by the bed.

He took out an elixir to restore spiritual power and consumed it, preparing to channel his energy and recover his spiritual power and physical strength.

While cultivating, he used his mind to observe the mysterious vortex for any abnormalities.

It turned out he was overly concerned; the gray mist-like cold poison stored in the mysterious vortex was gradually fading.

Then, Chu Qingyun noticed the nine rings of the mysterious vortex and immediately frowned.

"Huh? The color of those nine rings seems to have changed again?"

He distinctly remembered that when he mastered the Heaven Devouring Art yesterday, only the first ring was black, while the other eight rings were light gray.

At that time, he wondered if the different colors of the nine rings represented some kind of significance.

Now, the second ring had also turned jet black.

Even the third ring was gradually solidifying, its color deepening.

After pondering for a moment, Chu Qingyun suddenly thought of a possibility, and his eyes lit up.

"I understand!

It's because when I killed those six assassins, I used the Heaven Devouring Art to devour their spiritual power.

After my strength increased, the second ring turned black.

Last night, I devoured the cold poison from Qingzhi's body, further enhancing my strength, which is why the third ring started to change color.

Those nine rings correspond exactly to the nine levels of the Hualing Realm.

I now have two black rings, and the third ring is about to turn black, which means my strength is between the second and third levels of the Hualing Realm!"

With this realization, Chu Qingyun's doubts were resolved.

He became even more curious about the mysterious vortex and resolved to study and ponder its effects more, to deepen his understanding of the Heaven Devouring Art.

Before long, the medicinal power of the elixir was fully absorbed by Chu Qingyun.

The gray cold poison stored in the vortex also completely faded, merging into the vortex.

The third ring of the vortex naturally turned black.

This indicated that his strength level had recovered to the third level of the Hualing Realm.

"Advancing two levels in one day, the Heaven Devouring Art is indeed extraordinary!

At this rate, recovering to the Spirit Sea Realm within a month is definitely possible!"

Chu Qingyun was secretly delighted and planned to continue cultivating to quickly enhance his strength.

At this moment, the long-unconscious Chu Qingzhi finally woke up.

She lifted the thick quilt, looked at Chu Qingyun's back, and asked weakly, "Brother, did you save me?"

Chu Qingyun ended his cultivation and nodded to Chu Qingzhi, "It's okay now, the cold poison has receded."

Seeing Chu Qingzhi's face still pale, he smiled and comforted her, "Don't worry, I've found a way to solve the cold poison for you.

You must be starving, right? I'll go cook for you."

Chu Qingzhi shook her head, reached out to hold Chu Qingyun's arm, and said worriedly, "Brother, eating can wait.

Last night, when you were fighting those assassins, I was worried about your safety and looked out from under the window..."

Chu Qingyun immediately understood what she meant and asked, "So, you saw the state of those assassins?"

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"Yes." Chu Qingzhi nodded.

Chu Qingyun asked again, "Are you afraid?"

Chu Qingzhi quickly shook her head and looked up at Chu Qingyun, her expression sincere, "I'm not afraid!

Those assassins wanted to kill us, no matter what means you used to kill them, they deserved it!

I'm just worried that the techniques and methods you used will be mistaken for demonic arts by the world, leading to criticism and attacks.

If the news spreads, you'll become a target, and there will be no place for us in Lingjiang City..."

Chu Qingyun patted her head, smiling as he reassured her, "Don't worry, I've already destroyed the evidence, last night's events won't get out.

Besides, I won't use such methods to harm innocent people, I only kill those who deserve it.

Even if it comes to the point where we have nowhere to stay, I'll take you away from Lingjiang City.

The world is vast, there's always a place for us."

Chu Qingzhi also smiled slightly and nodded, "Brother, no matter the situation, no matter where we go, I'll always be with you."

"Alright, rest a bit more, I'll go get some food."

Chu Qingyun instructed his sister and was about to turn and leave.

But just then, a dull sound suddenly came from outside the house.

"Bang!"

The old gate of the Abandoned Garden was kicked open, collapsing into pieces.

With the sound of hurried footsteps, a team of guards in blue uniforms, wielding gleaming battle knives, rushed into the courtyard.

A total of ten guards surrounded the room where Chu Qingyun was, exuding a murderous aura.

Chu Qingyun was startled, quickly grabbing a long sword and pushing open the door.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw a middle-aged man in luxurious clothing, accompanied by a guard captain, stepping into the courtyard.

The middle-aged man was thin, with a sinister face and a pair of bushy mustaches.

His eyes were like those of an eagle, flashing with a chilling gleam.

Chu Qingyun recognized him at a glance; it was Ling Zifeng's third uncle.

The Third Elder of the Ling Family, Ling Zhan, a master of the eighth level of the Spirit Sea Realm!

The guard captain beside Ling Zhan had reached the ninth level of the Hualing Realm.

The ten guards were also elite, with strength around the seventh level of the Hualing Realm.

As for their purpose, Chu Qingyun knew full well.

"Sure enough, the Ling Family's spies couldn't be fooled, they found the Abandoned Garden so quickly!"

With this thought flashing through his mind, Chu Qingyun stood calmly under the eaves, watching Ling Zhan stride forward.

"Chu Qingyun! Surrender immediately and come with me to the Ling Family to be punished!"

Ling Zhan commanded coldly and authoritatively, locking onto Chu Qingyun with his invisible spiritual sense, and unleashed an overwhelming pressure upon him.

He didn't bother with pleasantries, stating his purpose directly.

He was here to capture Chu Qingyun, take him back to the Ling Family for punishment, and avenge Ling Zifeng!

Chu Qingyun stood with his sword, his gaze sweeping over Ling Zhan and the many guards, showing no trace of fear.

Even if he hadn't been crippled, he wasn't a match for Ling Zhan, let alone now.

Moreover, Ling Zhan had brought ten guards and a guard captain.

He also had to protect Chu Qingzhi, who was weak and unable to defend herself.

In the current situation, escaping unscathed was as difficult as climbing to the heavens!

Seeing Chu Qingyun remain silent, Ling Zhan's tone grew colder.

"Chu Qingyun, don't think you can resist!

Otherwise, I'll crush all your bones and drag you out like a dead dog!"

"Ling Zhan! You talk too much!"

Chu Qingyun shouted coldly, secretly gathering spiritual power, holding his sword in front of him, ready to strike at any moment.

He knew well that the enmity between him and Ling Zifeng was irreconcilable.

In today's situation, the only option was to fight to the death and carve a path to survival!

"You little brat, you're courting death!"

A fierce gleam flashed in Ling Zhan's eyes as he gritted his teeth and ordered, "Capture him, leave him alive!"

The ten guards responded with a shout of obedience, immediately brandishing their swords and attacking Chu Qingyun.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

Blades and sword lights of various colors attacked Chu Qingyun from all directions, aiming at his vital points.

Ling Zhan's order to 'leave him alive' made the ten guards cautious and restrained.

They dared not use their full strength, fearing they might kill Chu Qingyun in one blow.

After all, with their combined combat power, surrounding and killing a martial artist at the peak of the Hualing Realm was a piece of cake.

This gave Chu Qingyun an opportunity.

He swung his sword, unleashing a flurry of sword lights, blocking the attacks of the ten guards, and took the chance to get close to one of them.

Before the guard could react, Chu Qingyun raised his left palm and struck his shoulder with lightning speed.

"Bang!"

With a dull sound, the guard stood as if struck by lightning, trembling all over.

In the blink of an eye, his spiritual power and life force were completely devoured, turning him into a dried corpse.