American Comics: Tales of Cultivator

# Chapter 102: Baleful Qi, Recruitment

Baleful Qi has different qualities. The purer the condensed Baleful Qi, the higher the grade of the Core formed later.

Generally, Baleful Qi quality refers to the purity of Earthly Fiend Qi.

However, while Earthly Fiend Qi is the mainstream choice for Sha Condensation in the Jambudvīpa World, various sects and schools have also forged their own paths, choosing different types of Baleful Qi.

Within Heshan Dao, there are methods for collecting Corpse Baleful Qi and Yin Baleful Qi to condense Baleful Qi.

In the Ten Thousand Corpse Pit and Mass Grave Pit of ancient battlefields, corpses accumulate. When corpses combine with earth energy, they will condense Baleful Qi over time. If ordinary people stay in such places for too long, yin evil will enter their bodies, which can shorten their lifespan in mild cases. Those with weaker constitutions might even perish instantly when struck by this Baleful Qi.

This sinister Baleful Qi is called Yin Corpse Baleful Qi.

Many Demonic Cultivators and Rogue Cultivators, unable to find high-grade Baleful Qi, can only settle for this inferior Yin Corpse Baleful Qi to condense Sha.

However, the quality of Yin Baleful Qi collected from such Ten Thousand Corpse Pits, or Corpse Baleful Qi produced by thousand-year-old ancient corpses, is truly subpar.

Even if they successfully condense it and are lucky enough to form a Core later, limited by the quality of the Baleful Qi, forming a mid-grade Core is already a blessing from the heavens.

Most only manage a sixth or seventh-grade Minor Core, with no hope of reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

This is why Tang Song did not choose this type of Yin Corpse Baleful Qi for Sha Condensation.

Any type of Yin Baleful Qi or Corpse Baleful Qi, unless collected from the Extreme Yin Baleful Qi in the Yellow Springs, can guarantee the quality of the cultivator's Core Formation later.

As for the Extreme Profound Yin Sha, which Boss Tang regarded as his last resort, it is a method of collecting Baleful Qi from the Joyous Union Sect. The people of the Joyous Union Sect regard something from within the human body as Baleful Qi, using this 'human baleful qi' to replace Earthly Fiend Qi.

Using a method of union/harvesting, they collect threads of Pure Yin Qi to condense Extreme Profound Yin Sha.

The Extreme Profound Yin Sha condensed using this method is a level higher in quality than Yin Corpse Baleful Qi. Many True Inheritance disciples of the Joyous Union Sect used this to form top-grade Great Cores.

However, this method has extremely high requirements for a woman's constitution and cultivation.

To condense Extreme Profound Yin Sha, it often requires hundreds of female cultivators, harvesting and supplementing for over a decade.

Compared to other Sha Condensation methods, condensing this Extreme Profound Yin Sha truly requires painstaking effort.

However, although it's like grinding an iron rod into an embroidery needle, as long as one has patience, successfully condensing the Sha is not a problem.

In the history of the Joyous Union Sect, there was a Yao Cultivator who attained the Dao as an Other. It was a Green Fox spirit. Relying on its handsome appearance and the innate racial ability of foxes, it seduced hundreds of female cultivators and only took a few years to successfully condense Extreme Profound Yin Sha, making it one of the shortest Sha Condensation times among Joyous Union Sect disciples.

However, later, this unlucky Green Fox, while collecting Nine Heavens Gang Qi and attempting Gang Qi Refining, was ambushed by a strike of heavenly lightning and was directly struck into charcoal.

Because of the universality of this Sha Condensation method, it also became a Secret Not Passed Down of the Joyous Union Sect.

Disciples who are granted this Sha Condensation method will have a Spiritual Sense Seal branded deep within their Sea of Consciousness by the Joyous Union Sect's Sect Suppressing Treasure, the Joyful Union Bell.

If anyone attempts Soul Searching, or if a disciple leaks this Sha Condensation method, it will trigger a strike from the Joyful Union Bell across space.

As the Joyous Union Sect's Sect Suppressing Treasure, the Joyful Union Bell has already condensed its Primordial Spirit and taken true form. No cultivator below the Nascent Divinity stage can withstand a single strike from it.

However, just like Daoist Styx, Tang Song thought to himself, even if the Joyful Union Bell's force was strong, it shouldn't be able to chase him all the way to the Marvel Universe, right?

Looking at the pale-faced Fox, who was deep in sleep, Tang Song formed a Hand Seal with both hands. He drew out a wisp of greenish, nearly transparent Yin Qi from Fox's body.

He took out a white jade box from his Five Yin Pouch. Tang Song guided this wisp of Yin Qi, allowing it to slowly enter the jade box.

In her sleep, Fox didn't feel anything amiss. She just lightly hummed twice, hugged Tang Song like an octopus, and fell back into deep sleep.

Tang Song gently pulled out his arm, put on his bathrobe, and walked to the villa's terrace. Playing with the jade box in his hand, he looked down at the pitch black jungle.

Considering the situation in the Marvel Universe, Extreme Profound Yin Sha seemed to be his first choice.

However, Tang Song was still somewhat unwilling. Although Extreme Profound Yin Sha has a certain chance of forming a top-grade Great Core, the chance is pitifully small.

Moreover, Baleful Qi like Extreme Profound Yin Sha, obtained from women, is notoriously weak when used for Magical Combat, and the Daoist Techniques and Magic Arts cultivated from it are famously weak.

The Joyous Union Sect has never been ranked among the top twenty sects in the Jambudvīpa World.

While the Tianhe True Method cultivated by Tang Song is known as having the most profound Magic Power in the Jambudvīpa World.

If he could find a suitable Earthly Fiend Qi, Tang Song could cultivate several extremely formidable Daoist Techniques from the Tianhe True Method.

He just didn't know what attribute the mass of Earthly Fiend Qi in the Subterranean World had. It would be best if it were Metal Element or Primordial Magnetic Earth Baleful Qi.

For the former, Tang Song could continue to refine his Sword Pill and refine a set of Magic Treasure Sword Pellets called 'Twenty-Four Bridges and Moonlight Night'.

For the latter, if that Earthly Fiend Qi was condensed from Primordial Magnetic Essence Baleful Qi, and if he could also find Big Dipper Heavenly Gang, with Primordial Magnetic Essence Baleful Qi and Big Dipper Heavenly Gang cultivated in sequence, he could synthesize Arctic Primordial Magnetic Gang Fiend Qi. This Magic Power also has another name, called Innate Five-Colored Divine Radiance, a Grade of Gang Fiend Qi that is top-tier formidable even in the Jambudvīpa World.

He just didn't know if he could get what he wished for.

Tang Song looked at the jungle in the darkness. In the white jade box in his hand, faint wisps of green light were swimming.

In the darkness, a thread-thin black light escaped from the jungle and shot towards Tang Song.

Tang Song slightly raised his hand. The black light landed in his palm, transforming into a small and exquisite black snake. The little black snake rubbed its head against his palm and obediently crawled to his thumb, transforming into a black jade thumb ring.

Almost immediately after the black light, just as the little black snake transformed into the black jade thumb ring and settled on Tang Song's thumb, a streak of red light transformed into a Blood Shadow and landed in Tang Song's shadow.

......

The next day, as dawn was breaking, several helicopters and cargo ships arrived on the island one after another.

Descending from the helicopters were over a dozen fully armed mercenaries. Judging by their attire and equipment, they were elites.

Tang Song saw the Stealth Shoulder Armor worn by the security personnel at the Auction on several of them.

These people were clearly Charles Bishop Weyland's confidantes.

These replicated Shoulder Armor pieces, suspected to be obtained from Alien Creature Technology, had a high technological level. At the very least, the one Boss Tang had in his possession, after finding some individuals known as 'tech gurus', still couldn't be replicated.

What the cargo ships transported were some equipment, weapons, and supplies.

Clearly, Charles Bishop Weyland was treating this place as a transit base.

It seemed that since everyone had arrived, Charles Bishop Weyland sat in a wheelchair, pushed by a black big man, and appeared before the crowd, telling the crowd about the purpose of this trip to Antarctica.

......

"This alien creature is called an Alien!"

"It is a man-made killing weapon!"

"They will parasitize their youngling in the host's chest cavity, absorbing the host's nutrients, and finally burst out of the chest!"

In a conference room in the villa, the black big man under Charles Bishop Weyland pointed at the photos flashing on the projection screen, introducing the dangers of the Alien to the crowd.

A pitch black body that seemed forged from steel, a sharp tail, a hammer-shaped mouth dripping highly corrosive liquid, a streamlined body – from its appearance, it was a perfect killing machine.

Among the people present, even Storm Shadow, who had been holding his katana and stood proudly at the back, couldn't help but frown upon seeing the Alien's appearance.

In contrast, the soldiers he brought, who were wearing helmets, each one was expressionless, standing there like wooden dummies.

Tang Song sat in the front row with his legs crossed, looking at the Alien in the pictures, stroking the jade ring on his thumb. His look was as calm as if he were looking at a kitten or a puppy.

Judging purely from the strength displayed by these Aliens in the movies, these Aliens could only deal with ordinary people.

Not to mention himself, even the eight soldiers he brought, once injected with Lizard Serum, dealing with over a dozen Aliens would be easy.

The black big man took in everyone's expressions. Upon seeing Charles Bishop Weyland nod slightly at him, he continued his introduction: "This creature has another characteristic. Once it successfully parasitizes a host, the youngling will automatically fuse with the host's gene and possess some of the host's abilities. In short, this is a very troublesome creature!"

"Our destination is a Pyramid under the ice in Antarctica. There are many of these creatures inside, so please be careful!"

"What is our objective? These Alien creatures?"

Baroness adjusted her black-rimmed glasses and asked the black big man.

The black big man cast a questioning gaze towards his Boss.

Charles Bishop Weyland, supported by his private doctor beside him, shakily stood up and turned and looked at the crowd.

Actually, it was mainly Tang Song and Storm Shadow's two groups.

The remaining people were all Charles's own confidante mercenaries.

"There is something I need at the bottom of the Pyramid. My time is running out. As long as you can help me enter there this time, I will do my best to help you accomplish the matters I promised you!"

"If everyone has no objections, we will depart from San José tomorrow and fly directly to Ushuaia, where I have arranged an icebreaker to meet us..."

Charles Bishop Weyland hadn't spoken more than a couple of sentences when he covered his mouth and coughed violently, making anyone who saw it worry that he might cough himself into a seizure. His private doctor hurriedly helped him sit down and carefully fed him a pill.

Tang Song came for the identity of a formal member of the Sacred Shield Brotherhood. A few Aliens, for him, were just a matter of lifting a finger. Naturally, he wouldn't withdraw.

On the other side, Baroness and Storm Shadow exchanged opinions, and neither spoke.

After reaching a consensus, Charles Bishop Weyland was pushed out of the conference room.

Just as Tang Song stood up, Storm Shadow, dressed in white, took a step ahead, walking in front of Boss Tang, and looked back at Boss Tang with a hint of provocation.

Tang Song nodded slightly at him and lightly stroked the thumb ring on his thumb with his index finger.

Click!

Boss Tang was composed, but seeing Storm Shadow's provocative action, the bodyguards surrounding Boss Tang immediately stood up, each one immediately drew the handguns they had concealed.

Fox, who was sitting beside Tang Song, was even more like performing magic, as two large-caliber silver revolvers appeared in her hands, pointing directly at Storm Shadow.

Swish! Seeing Storm Shadow being pointed at with guns, the Cobra Soldiers he brought all simultaneously drew their guns.

The two sides immediately faced off in this conference room.

Storm Shadow looked at the revolvers Fox pointed at him. A chill made his temples throb violently.

Storm Shadow stared at the woman holding the guns beside Tang Song with some surprise. One must know, with his strength, at this distance of less than three steps, even if someone was holding a gun, he could quickly counter-kill the opponent.

From this woman, he actually felt a sense of death threat.

The gun muzzles stimulated Storm Shadow's nerves. His right hand moved towards the hilt of his katana, subconsciously about to draw his blade.

Just at this moment, a hand firmly grabbed his wrist.

"What?" Storm Shadow widened his eyes, looking at Tang Song who had suddenly appeared in front of him.

He hadn't seen at all how Tang Song got in front of him.

"Let's go!"

Tang Song released the hand holding Storm Shadow's wrist, patted his shoulder, ignoring the pale-faced Storm Shadow.

He tilted his head and called out. Fox put away the twin guns in her hands and obediently followed behind Boss Tang. Watching Tang Song and his group leave the conference room, Storm Shadow still maintained the posture of drawing his blade but not moving. Baroness walked forward with some doubt.

Her hand had just touched Storm Shadow's shoulder.

Thud! Storm Shadow directly fell to the ground.

Baroness was startled and quickly squatted down, reaching her hand towards Storm Shadow's nose.

Thankfully, he was still breathing!

......…

Just as Tang Song and Storm Shadow's two groups were facing off, at the Central Laboratory Hatchery on Isla Nublar, several invisible beings silently bypassed the Hatchery's security system and sneaked into the Laboratory.

Soon, dinosaur eggs disappeared from the Hatchery out of thin air.

......…

War and chaos in Africa is the theme here. None of the major powers want peace here.

This is the best dumping ground for weapons, and a paradise for mercenaries to get rich.

This place belongs to the lions and hyenas!

Six armored vehicles full of soldiers. Kane sat in the passenger seat, holding a Federal General Purpose Machine Gun in his hand.

"You wait here for me, I'm going to meet the employer!"

"Yes, Boss!"

The soldiers got out of the vehicles and stood neatly in four rows. Black soldiers carrying AKs coming and going looked at this group of soldiers with envious and jealous eyes.

Compared to them, who had nothing but a gun each, the equipment on these mercenaries was truly too luxurious.

Each person wore an LBV Tactical Vest over their clothes. Their limb joints were covered with pitch black, three-layered high-strength fiber woven bulletproof armor.

In addition, each soldier's FAST Kevlar Tactical Helmet had an integrated pig-snout Gas Mask attached underneath. The left side of the helmet exterior had a Radio Headset suspended via an NVG Mount slot.

Furthermore, the belts these soldiers wore also had one Mk3a2 Offensive Hand Grenade, one M8 Smoke Grenade, and one M7290 Flashbang each, one SIG Sauer 9mm Pistol, and the outside of their tactical boots gaiters even had an M9 Bayonet attached.

These tactical equipment, which sounded extremely advanced and impressive to those unfamiliar with them, were armed to the teeth. In short, this was a Special Operations Team composed of thirty elite soldiers.

"Lieutenant Colonel Kane, please have a seat!"

Kane met this employer at the Federal French Army Station.

He was a tall and burly middle-aged man, wearing a suit, bald head. His bald, egg-like forehead was covered in soil-like cracks. His accent and voice were stiff, sounding like a German.

Of course, what was most eye-catching was the Steel Mechanical Glove he wore on his right hand.

Hearing his address, Kane's gaze narrowed.

"You know me!"

"Germany's most formidable Special Operations Instructor, awarded the Hero Medal three times, Lieutenant Colonel Kane, known as the King of Special Forces, how could I not know you!"

The man clapped his hands. "Let me introduce myself, I am the Commander of the Allied French Army, Wolfgang von Strucker! I am responsible for this eastern front operation against Wakanda!"

"You're German!" Kane frowned upon hearing the man's name.

He didn't relax his wary just because he met a fellow countryman.

"Relax, it's not the time of World War II anymore. Although I am German, that doesn't affect the fact that I am currently the Commander of the French Army, does it!"

"How did you know my identity?"

"We have the world's most comprehensive database. Battlefield behavior comparison, plus some behavior patterns, it's actually not difficult to find out!"

The man walked to the wine cabinet and picked out a bottle of red wine, opened it with a corkscrew, and poured two glasses using stemware.

"It is truly an honor to meet the renowned Lieutenant Colonel Kane this time!"

Wolfgang von Strucker handed the wine to Kane.

.........

Tat-tat-tat!

The Type-Z Assault Rifle developed by Stark Industries before closing its Weapons Manufacturing Department made a crisp sound like a lighter.

Several soldiers moved in groups of three, operating in the residential area in an organized manner. Their tactics were agile, coordinating with the enemy's position via electronic communication, easily carrying out targeted strikes.

A modified bulletproof armored vehicle. Several command staff, using drones, firmly locked onto the Rebel Army's position.

"Coordinates 335, target holding a rocket launcher,"

The German big man wearing windproof glasses shook the remote control stick on the controller.

Under the drone's small wings, two cigar-sized missiles flew out.

Boom!

directly blowing up the two black persons carrying rocket launchers inside, along with the entire room!

"Great team!"

Wolfgang von Strucker looked at the retrieved video footage.

This was the data/information left behind when this mercenary team led by Kane accepted a mercenary mission.

Wolfgang von Strucker's eyes showed a strange look. The strength of this team was completely on par with their Hydra Special Operations Team.

Their tactical coordination, equipment, and individual strength were the elites of elites.

If he could recruit Kane for his own use, Wolfgang von Strucker was making plans in his mind.

Hydra has more than one snake head. The open and secret struggles between them were even equally fierce.

This branch led by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker was the one left behind by the Third Reich.

Red Skull founded the Hydra Legion, while he long commanded Hydra afterwards.

He was born into a Prussian noble family at the end of the 19th century, inheriting the title of Baron.

He participated in the Franco-Prussian War, World War I, and World War II, known for the terror scars on his face.

He had been injected with Hydra's Super Soldier Serum and had his right hand modified into a special bionic arm (known as the Satan Claw) to maintain his superpower and remain eternally youthful.

Having undergone the baptism of two world wars, he was tempered into a military strategist. He was also a master of disguise. At the same time, he was also one of Hydra's snake heads.

Hydra is not just one branch. The strength of the branch led by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker reached its peak during the Third Reich, but with the collapse of the Third Reich, the strength and influence of his branch greatly declined.

Among the loose allies of Hydra, strength is valued more.

If he had another team of elite soldiers at his disposal, his influence within Hydra would undoubtedly increase significantly.

Baron Wolfgang von Strucker was making plans, calculating the possibility of successfully recruiting Kane.

.........

A five-star hotel in San José. The room rate for one night's stay was thirty thousand US dollars.

Of course, being expensive also had its value. Even the bathroom was a perfect blend of neutral, elegant colors and high-grade marble finishes.

After washing up, Boss Tang, wearing a bathrobe, came into the room. His mobile phone suddenly projected a virtual image.

"Boss!"

The background of the screen was a vast, boundless wilderness, with military tents everywhere.

Kane, in a camouflage uniform, sat in a jeep. The screen was a bit shaky.

Kane first greeted Tang Song, and then proceeded to report the battlefield situation to Tang Song.

"Boss, currently the UN Forces of the World Security Council are being blocked by Wakanda's troops in the Grand Canyon area."

"The situation is currently in a stalemate. Based on the strength displayed by the Wakandan Army, the UN Forces have no power to retaliate at all. However, Wakanda seems to have no intention of expanding their gains..."

"I am currently leading thirty people as mercenaries and have joined the joint forces. If there's a chance, I will enter Wakanda during the chaos..."

Tang Song listened to Kane's report while casually picking up an apple from the fruit plate and took a bite.

The World Security Council forming the so-called UN Forces, the mastermind behind it is naturally self-evident. Hydra's influence spans across multiple countries based on S.H.I.E.L.D.. It's fine that Wakanda usually deliberately hides itself.

They attacked a Hydra base and naturally left clues.

They were pursued by Hydra's influence and finally found the clues of Wakanda exposed to the outside. This is how the matter of the UN Forces attacking Wakanda came about.

Alexander Pierce is indeed worthy of being a Hydra snake head. Although he is old, he is increasingly sinister and malicious.

A snake's bite goes three inches deep into the bone! Let alone Hydra! Truly vicious. Tang, as the mastermind, had no self-awareness whatsoever.

The information transmission between the two is all done through Red Queen information encryption. It is impossible for ordinary people to crack it. Even artificial intelligence like J.A.R.V.I.S. cannot do it in a short time.

"That Secret Passage may have already been exposed. Don't take risks."

"Wait until the UN Forces and Wakandans erupt in a larger-scale conflict. If absolutely necessary, reveal the position of this Passage to Hydra!"

A Secret Passage that has already been exposed has become chicken ribs, tasteless to eat, yet a shame to discard.

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Tang Song's eyes.

Given the value of Vibranium, if Hydra knew about a Secret Passage directly leading to Wakanda, they would definitely send elites to ambush.

The Wakandans would wait at the end of the Passage like waiting for a rabbit by a stump. Once the two sides start fighting, when the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman benefits.

"There's no need to rush this matter. Be careful!"

"Yes, Boss!"

Tang Song closed the virtual projection.

Tap-tap-tap!

At this moment, his room door was suddenly knocked!

Tang Song 'saw' the woman outside the room door and raised an eyebrow.

"Please come in!"

(end of chapter)