The Journey of Immortal Cultivation
Chapter 47: Special Chili Powder Attack

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Special Chili Powder Attack

So this is what it feels like to be stabbed; lethal injuries are not as trivial as depicted in movies and TV shows! The body of a mortal simply cannot endure the excruciating pain of a non-human. She acknowledged once again the gap between herself and Cultivators; in the face of such terrifying power, she was mere meat on the chopping board, left to be slaughtered at will!

At this moment, a servant woman happened to be cleaning the courtyard and saw this sharp and ruthless sword strike from the outside of the house. She was so terrified that she dropped her broom and screamed at the top of her lungs.

Her scream was robust and piercing, snapping Shi Jishan, in his frenzied state, back to clarity. Subconsciously, she drew her sword, and a jet of blood spurted out. A few Blood Beads splashed up and landed on her face. She closed her lips mechanically, her tongue tasting the metallic tang of fresh blood.

This novel taste brought her to a sudden halt. Demon Extermination was the heavenly duty of Cultivators, and she had accompanied her Elders down the mountain several times, having killed quite a few demons in her lifetime. But slaughtering defenseless, innocent people? She had never done that before; after all, she was a Cultivator, not an executioner.

Shi Jishan suddenly realized that she had just viciously stabbed Ning Xiaoxian, aiming straight for the heart. If the woman hadn’t dodged in time, she would have died under her sword.

"I almost took her life!" This thought jumped into her mind, slowing down her movements. "What to do? Someone outside has seen it, they saw that I injured her! If Senior Brother Quan finds out later, will he ever forgive me?"

Thinking of Quan Shifang, a vicious thought suddenly swirled in her chest. "Why should I consider what Quan Shifang thinks, why do I still long for his forgiveness? He’s nothing but a faithless wretch! He’s merely a man who disdained my affection!"

"Enough, enough! Since I’ve already attacked, I should just kill her outright! After all, once word gets out, it’s not like I can win back Senior Brother Quan’s heart. This woman has embarrassed me time and again, I will kill her to feel utterly satisfied, to shatter Quan Shifang’s heart!"

Although her mind raced with these thoughts, it all happened in the blink of an eye.

"Run fast! Her killing intent hasn’t waned!" Changtian urged in Ning Xiaoxian’s ear with urgency. He could see that this woman had been taken over by her Heart Demon, and she would not stop until she had killed Ning Xiaoxian. At this critical moment, how he wished he could stand beside her instead of being just a voice. "Once you’re out of the house, head into the God Demon Prison. Hurry!" With life hanging by a thread, all other concerns had to be set aside.

Ning Xiaoxian was originally terrified by her injury; she had never suffered such a severe wound in her life. She had thought she might suffer many injuries along the way, but never guessed that her first grievous wound would come from her fellow Human Clan member rather than a demon. Her feet felt nailed to the ground, unable to move. Thankfully, Changtian’s continuous urging snapped her out of her daze sooner than Shi Jishan.

This woman would not let her go! She realized this immediately.

Seizing the moment while Shi Jishan was still dazed, she swiftly grabbed her storage bag and pulled out a loosely-wrapped paper packet, tossing the red powder inside directly at Shi Jishan’s eyes!

Though she was panicked, the substance she grabbed had an amazing effect, rivaling the Lime Powder that Lord Wei Xiaobao from "Lu Dingji" often carried with him.

The chili powder ground by the head chef of Huang Mansion*!

Today, she had already bid farewell to Old Huang, and the two head chefs of Huang Mansion were naturally aware that she was leaving. As fellow culinary peers, they had exchanged skills, and as heroes appreciate heroes, the two chefs presented their treasured possessions to Ning Xiaoxian. One of the chefs was from Tan State, and the gift he gave was the chili, which was not yet widely popular at the time.

Tan State is known for its perennial cold weather, coupled with dampness in the earth, which has shaped the unique palate of its residents: a love for spicy food. On a cold day, consuming a few chili peppers warms the body, causing beads of sweat to form on the tip of the nose; it truly serves to ward off the cold and dampness. Without exception, all local dishes—from stir-frying, roasting, steaming, and pan-frying to stewing, boiling, pot-cooking, braising, frying, and even cold mixing—are incomplete without a spicy kick.

This chef, hired by Old Huang to Siping County, had to consider the milder taste preferences of his employer’s household, but he himself was a die-hard fan of spicy food, often cooking a couple of spicy dishes on the side for himself. He treasured a specialty from his hometown that he carried with him—homemade chili powder that he dried and ground himself.

The ingredients he used for his personal consumption were quite particular, namely the "King of Chili" known as Chicken Heart Chili. These chilies, small as chicken hearts and distinct in appearance from the common long conical peppers, pack ten times the heat, making them fiercely spicy. The chef would mix whole Chicken Heart Chilies with yellow peppers, chili seeds, and some chili stems, dry them, and then finely grind them in a stone mortar, essentially extracting the intense oily heat from these ingredients.

When Ning Xiaoxian got her hands on it, she tasted a few grains out of curiosity, and immediately felt an explosion of dry, fresh, and hot flavors on her tongue, followed by a burning sensation filling her mouth. After gulping down several mouthfuls of cool spring water, she barely managed to suppress the fiery spice. Changtian couldn’t help but tease her over her disheveled appearance.

Just a few grains had rendered her in such a state. So what about Shi Jishan, who had chili powder directly thrown into her eyes?

Ning Xiaoxian acted swiftly, and Shi Jishan, who had never expected such a lowly attack from an ordinary woman, was caught off guard. In an instant, a cloud of powder leaped into her eyes.

She closed her eyes in shock. Unfortunately, no matter how powerful a Cultivator is, their Divine Skills do not extend to their eyes.

Such a potent substance acted swiftly upon contact. She instantly felt a flame erupt in her eyes, causing a scorching painful sensation at the back of her eyes. The unfamiliar and intense pain was so overpowering and fierce that it made her eyes water profusely and blurred her vision.

Only then did she step back and let out her first scream! Once she cried out, it seemed the pain in her eyes worsened, and the burning sensation seemed to travel from her eyes into her brain, igniting the pain in her head like a fuse to an explosion.

Ning Xiaoxian wasn’t just standing around. The woman in front of her had suddenly lost her sight and was momentarily unable to pay her any mind, but she would undoubtedly start swinging wildly like a madman soon. Staying put would be stupid.

The door was right across from her. And between her and the door was only a Shi Jishan!

Time was of the essence. She felt a splitting pain in her shoulder but gritted her teeth and ignored it as she prepared to crouch down and dart past Shi Jishan. This move was incredibly risky—if Shi Jishan sensed her presence, a mere raise of her hand would cut Ning Xiaoxian in two.

She was betting that this fool of a woman had too little experience dealing with enemies and wouldn’t react promptly.

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PS: Chili Powder*: Chili peppers originated from the tropical regions of South America and were introduced to the regions of Xiang and Chu in China at the end of the Ming Dynasty. But this is a story about time-traveling immortals, so let’s not fuss over details.