Although Twelve still had doubts, Gao Yang refused to explain, and she had no way to force the truth from him.
"Then when will you give me my Foundation Pill?" she demanded.
Gao Yang extended his arm and, without hesitation, sliced open a deep cut. "This blood should be more useful than any Foundation Pill."
The faint fragrance of his blood spread through the air. Twelve's expression darkened. "Who would drink blood like that?!"
Circulating his Qi, Gao Yang's wrist wound slowly closed. He withdrew his hand and said calmly, "Then I'll have to trouble Fifth Senior Sister to refine it into medicine instead."
Twelve ground her teeth. "No! You are not going back to that woman's room. Don't be fooled—she only wants your blood!"
"We're just trading what we both need," Gao Yang replied.
Furious, Twelve spun on her heel and stormed off.
Once she was gone, Gao Yang realized he could no longer practice in his room. Twelve's intuition was too sharp—sooner or later she'd notice something he couldn't explain.
Moments later, Twelve returned, a large porcelain bowl in her hands. With a loud thud, she slammed it onto the table. "Didn't you say you'd give me blood? Then fill it!"
If he filled that bowl, he'd lose half his life. Even with Blood‑and‑Qi Pills, he'd need days to recover.
Yet Gao Yang didn't hesitate. He reopened the wound and let the blood pour out.
Twelve watched, lips parting as if to speak—but in the end, she said nothing.
When the bowl was finally full, Gao Yang's face had gone deathly pale.
"Senior Sister," he asked weakly, "will this be enough to repay a Foundation Pill?"
Twelve was silent for a long while before turning away. As she left, her voice drifted back, soft and distant: "Take that blood to your Fifth Sister for refinement. You don't owe me anything anymore."
Gao Yang used Qi to seal the wound and let out a bitter laugh. He knew perfectly well what Twelve meant—but he had no such thoughts. His life was already hanging by a thread, and the Bai Family was far too powerful to provoke.
Swallowing a Blood‑and‑Qi Pill, he steadied himself, lifted the bowl, and went to Fifth Sister's quarters.
Before he could knock, the door creaked open. The Fifth Sister stood there, nostrils flaring, her eyes gleaming. "Junior Brother… all this blood, is it for me?"
"I'd like to ask Sister to refine it into pills," Gao Yang said respectfully. "When I recover, I'll make sure you're well compensated."
She licked her lips, greed flickering in her eyes, but at last she restrained herself. "Very well. Come back later to collect them."
Gao Yang bowed. "Thank you, Sister."
After leaving, he hesitated briefly—then headed straight for the rear mountain.
Azure Mountain Sect was divided into three areas: the front mountain, the temple itself, and the rear mountain. The back slopes teemed with unbound wraiths who paid little respect to the sect's disciples. Few dared go there.
All the better. Gao Yang needed solitude to practice the Exorcising Seal.
The moment he entered the rear mountain, he sensed several unseen gazes watching him. He released a surge of Qi, revealing his Sea of Qi Stage cultivation. Half the presences vanished at once, though a few faint ones lingered.
Gao Yang took out several Blood‑and‑Qi Pills and called politely, "I only wish to borrow this place for training. I mean no offense. If you agree, these pills are yours."
From the brush emerged the face of a beautiful woman—her long, pale neck stretching unnaturally from the shadows. She bit one pill delicately and retreated. "This young man is an old acquaintance of mine," she said in a melodious voice. "Give him some face."
The remaining presences withdrew, the pills vanishing one by one.
Gao Yang bowed. "My thanks, seniors."
Finding a clearing, he sat cross‑legged and adjusted his breathing. Once his depleted energy had recovered somewhat, he rose and turned toward the serpent‑woman still hidden among the trees.
"Lady Serpent," he said, "could I trouble you for a favor?"
It was the first time anyone had called her a lady. Her smile blossomed, forked tongue flicking playfully. "Of course you can—but it'll cost two Blood‑and‑Qi Pills."
Gao Yang tossed them over without argument.
Her body remained veiled by the foliage; he still hadn't seen her true form.
Facing the empty air, Gao Yang lifted his palm. The Seven Fiends sigils beneath his skin flared, gathering a chill yin aura. "Be careful," he warned.
At first, the serpent‑woman looked unconcerned.
But when Gao Yang struck, the seal manifested in a flash of dark light. Her eyes widened—she spat a veil of water that spread into a translucent barrier. The seal landed soundlessly against it, yet the yin energy seeped through the film, rushing toward her hidden body.
"Can't block it?!" she gasped, spewing a plume of violet poison mist.
The mist and the yin energy collided with a hiss. With Gao Yang's second strike, the power surged violently, shredding the miasma and driving straight for her.
Startled, the serpent‑woman recoiled, her long neck bending into an S‑shape as she spat another cloud of venom, barely holding the seal at bay.
Then came the third strike. The fourth. Each heavier than the last.
With a hiss, she vanished into the brush. When she reappeared, she had taken human form—a striking beauty with narrow, glimmering eyes. Her expression turned grave as she met two of his seals head‑on, shattering them, though the effort left her gasping and pale.
Just as Gao Yang prepared to unleash a fifth seal, he paused, then dismissed it with a flick of his hand.
Relieved, the serpent‑woman let out a melodious laugh. "Such skill, little brother. That fifth strike—I wouldn't have survived it."
Gao Yang didn't believe a word. The only reason he'd stopped was to avoid revealing his full strength.
The rear mountain was crawling with spirits. Only a fool would think they'd keep their promises after taking his pills.
He bowed again. "Thank you for your guidance, senior."
The serpent‑woman's forked tongue flicked as her sinuous body swayed closer, stopping five paces away. "But tell me, human—why is the yin within you so dense?"
"I was born with the Natural Yin Body," Gao Yang answered.
She shook her head. "I don't believe it. I've eaten many with that physique. They may have died once and returned, but their bodies still hold yang qi. You're different. The yin inside you is thick—alive. If not for the faint trace of yang still lingering, I'd think you were one of us."
Gao Yang knew that whatever made him different must tie back to that voice in the well. But he only said firmly, "It's because of the Natural Yin Body."
The serpent‑woman didn't argue. She slithered closer, resting one hand on his shoulder as she circled him slowly. "No need to hide your secrets from me, little brother. I don't care what you are. I only have one small favor to ask—and if you agree, I'll grant you anything you desire."
Her breath brushed his ear, the forked tongue tracing its edge as she whispered, voice dripping with honey. "Anything at all."