Chapter Forty: The Rapid Mastery Guide to the Star-Absorbing Demon Technique

Prison Warden Hu walked to the cell and asked, “Are you Qi Jiacai?”

“Yes…”

“You were once a notorious thief preying on respectable families, captured by the Wind-Chasing Division in the first year of Yonghe. Sentenced to thirty years. Is that correct?”

“That’s right…” Qi Jiacai replied, his weathered face thick with shame. “I was young and foolish then. It was only after entering prison that I truly repented. Sir, is there something you wish to ask me?”

Hu smiled faintly. “Indeed, there’s a small matter I need to discuss with you.” He made a gesture, and the guards behind him understood at once, opening the cell door and dragging Qi Jiacai out.

“Take him to the punishment chamber. Lord Xu wants a word.”

“Yes, sir!” Two guards held him firmly and headed toward the chamber.

Qi Jiacai’s eyes flickered. Though he had been imprisoned for over a decade in the Heavenly Prison, barely surviving on meager food, he had never neglected his martial arts practice. Now, outside his cell, if he struck suddenly…

But he only considered it for a moment—he dared not act. The special restraints on his body severely limited his strength; even if he tried, the skilled guards of the Heavenly Prison would likely kill him on the spot.

Being questioned in the punishment chamber might mean a harsh beating, but between survival and certain death, he chose life without hesitation.

Once they arrived, the two guards exchanged glances, fetched heavy chains, and hoisted Qi Jiacai by his hands so he hung above the ground. His feet and body were secured to a wooden post, making any struggle futile. Only then did the guards step aside.

At the door, Prison Warden Hu asked cheerfully, “Lord Xu, how’s this? Shall we add more restraints?”

“This will suffice.” Xu Boqing nodded slightly. “This is my first trial of the technique. I hope, Warden Hu, that you won’t let anyone disturb me.”

“As you command. We’ll wait outside. If you need anything, just call.” Hu, himself trained in martial arts, knew the dangers of being disturbed when practicing advanced arts—especially with a name like ‘Great Skill of Energy Transformation,’ this was clearly not for his eyes. With a gesture, the guards filed out, and Hu followed, leaving Xu Boqing alone inside.

With only himself and the bound Qi Jiacai left in the chamber, Xu wasted no words. He placed his palm on Qi Jiacai, circulating his inner force according to the methods described in the Star-Absorbing Demon Art.

Qi Jiacai’s eyes widened in terror as he stared at the young eunuch before him. Now he understood—he hadn’t been brought here for questioning, but to be used for martial practice!

He struggled desperately, but the chains held him tight. Even the most powerful masters would be helpless in such restraints, let alone someone of his level. He could feel his inner strength stirring uncontrollably, a wave of invisible fear engulfing him.

He cried out in panic, “Spare me, Lord! If you have questions, I’ll tell you everything, just spare my life!”

Xu Boqing merely looked at him silently, not bothering with words of condemnation or retribution.

As Xu grew familiar with the art’s circulation, he could clearly sense a steady stream of Qi pouring into his body, then being drawn into the furnace within. The somewhat sinister energy was swiftly consumed by his boundless pure Yang flames, transformed into motes of light that spread through his limbs and bones, continuously strengthening his own delicate inner strength.

Qi Jiacai stared in horror, feeling as if the floodgates of a dam had been opened within him. Years of carefully nurtured inner force poured out uncontrollably, vanishing like water through a breach.

He tried to resist, but it was futile. Growing weaker by the moment, he could only curse in a hoarse voice, “Damn eunuch, you wretched fiend, I’ll—!”

Even Xu Boqing had to admit: decades of accumulated inner strength were indeed formidable, so he intensified the extraction.

Qi Jiacai’s already withered hair turned completely white, and his gaunt frame shriveled further before their eyes. His curses dwindled to whispers until he lost consciousness entirely.

Xu Boqing withdrew his force, a trace of delight on his face. As he had anticipated, the Star-Absorbing Demon Art’s flaws were perfectly resolved by his pure Yang constitution! The inner furnace acted as a filter—any Qi absorbed was refined, all impurities and incompatible attributes burned away, leaving only the purest energy to be assimilated.

There was no longer any issue of conflicting energies!

As for the “retention” problem—even if only a fraction of the absorbed power remained, it wasn’t lost or dissipated. After refinement, the essence was condensed and transformed into his own strength.

In essence, there was no real loss—only a concentration and transformation. The problem was solved perfectly.

Looking at his own hands, Xu Boqing’s gaze shifted to a whip in the corner of the chamber. He had a sudden realization. Using the Dragon-Subduing Crane Control Technique, he reached out, and the whip leapt into his grasp.

He flicked it, the whip cracking through the air. Spotting an abandoned wooden stake, he snapped his wrist, sending the whip whistling out. With a sharp crack, the stake split cleanly in two.

“Interesting…” he mused.

The sound was loud enough to draw attention; the chamber door burst open as several skilled guards rushed in, Warden Hu following once he saw there was no danger.

Seeing Xu Boqing standing at ease, idly playing with the execution whip, Hu relaxed. But when his eyes fell on Qi Jiacai—now a withered husk, barely clinging to life and aged beyond recognition—he couldn’t help but flinch. The man had looked like a middle-aged skeleton before, but now he seemed twenty years older, barely breathing.

So this was the terrifying effect of the Great Skill of Energy Transformation?

Hu swallowed hard and bowed. “Sir, I heard commotion inside and feared the prisoner had broken free. I brought men in lest you be harmed—please forgive the intrusion.”

“No harm done.” Xu Boqing casually dropped the whip. “This was the first test of the energy-transforming art. Qi Jiacai’s deep reserves made it quite a task, but the result is satisfactory. He’s just an ordinary man now.”

“My congratulations on your mastery, sir.” Hu’s eyes glinted as he smiled. “I’ve already prepared wine and dishes at the Spring Fragrance Pavilion. Might I have the honor of your company?”

Xu Boqing considered for a moment, then nodded. “Very well, I’ll accept your invitation.” With so many prisoners and nowhere for them to run, there was no rush. Besides, with his newfound power, he needed time to adapt—and there were matters of ongoing ‘cooperation’ to discuss.

“An honor, sir. This way, please.” Hu gestured politely, then, after Xu Boqing departed, glanced at the nearly lifeless Qi Jiacai and then at the guards. With a subtle signal, he left as well.

As soon as the two officials were gone, the guards exchanged knowing looks, grabbed whips from the floor, and lashed Qi Jiacai’s body.

Already half-dead, the man soon breathed his last.