Chapter 2: Demonic Cultivation Brings Heavenly Punishment

In the early morning, Lu Chen suddenly woke up.

"That Female Yama King barged into my dream again... hiss, this old waist probably will hurt for another day."

He looked pained and subconsciously rubbed his lower back on both sides.

"Huh?"

The imagined pain didn't appear; instead, a refreshing feeling surged from his back and spread through his whole body.

"This feeling, how could it be so refreshing and invigorating?"

Since picking up the ring, this is the first time he's woken up feeling so relaxed.

"Right! Just now in the dream, something seemed to appear."

After his brain fully synchronized the dream's memories, Lu Chen finally remembered the existence of the system.

With a thought, a system interface indeed appeared before his eyes.

"I didn't expect it to really awaken."

Lu Chen felt energized and then looked at the manual in his hand.

This was given to him by Empress Qi Luo before he woke up.

Given her strength, the manual she gave him is definitely not an ordinary one.

After all, even when cultivating together in dreams, the dual cultivation technique she uses differs from that of the senior sisters of the Nine Deep Sect.

When the senior sisters cultivate together, he only feels empty and weak, but when Empress Qi Luo does, he even feels his soul being drained.

"Myriad Slaughter Demonic Classic? What kind of manual is this? It sounds pretty powerful."

After glancing at the manual's name, his interest was immediately piqued.

"It's still early; the senior sister shouldn't be calling me this early. Let me first flip through the manual to test the system's functions!"

He said as he was about to open the manual, and the next second, the system suddenly popped up a prompt.

【Detected demonic cultivation, one volume of the Myriad Slaughter Demonic Classic!】

【Original effect: Using killing intent as a guide, quickly raise the realm. But practicing it consumes lifespan, attracts inner demons, affects emotions! Long-term practice may provoke the Heavenly Dao's scrutiny, inviting heavenly punishment!】

【Reversed effect: Using killing intent as a guide, quickly raise the realm. Practicing it extends lifespan, suppresses inner demons, stabilizes mindset! Long-term practice can also attract the Heavenly Dao's blessings, enhancing fortune!】

【Note: The reversed effect depends on the host's realm; the higher the realm, the better the reversed effect!】

"Holy shit! This reversed effect is that powerful?"

Generally speaking, demonic arts are strong but come with huge side effects; many times, even demonic cultivators will avoid such heavily negative demonic arts.

But such side effects, the system can not only directly eliminate them, but also directly reverse them into positive effects.

Practicing demonic arts not only doesn't reduce lifespan but actually increases it—saying that out loud, even Lu Chen himself wouldn't believe it.

Moreover, the key point is that demonic cultivators go against heaven; many demonic arts rely on killing intent for cultivation, inherently disrupting the cosmic order, making them prone to the Heavenly Dao's scrutiny and even inviting heavenly punishment.

As a result, after the system's reversal, it actually can still enhance fortune.

If those righteous path people knew that the fortune they earned over decades of merit was actually less than what he gains from just a few days of demonic cultivation, wouldn't they be literally angered to death?

"Looks like, the stronger the side effects of a technique, the stronger it becomes after reversal!"

Lu Chen's mind shook.

He forcefully suppressed his excitement and began to attempt cultivation.

"Without killing intent as aid, cultivation speed might be slower, but since there are no side effects, giving it a try is fine."

The next moment, he sat cross-legged and immediately began trying to cultivate this demonic art.

This demonic art uses lifespan as a guide, with killing intent and heavenly-earth spiritual qi as auxiliaries; if cultivated in a place with extremely strong killing intent, its speed can increase manyfold.

The Nine Deep Sect has a Kill Qi Hall, but although he is an inner disciple, he cannot enter without reaching Foundation Establishment.

Although his initial practice was somewhat unfamiliar and his cultivation talent isn't particularly strong, through relentless effort he still managed to complete one cycle of cultivation.

As cultivation progressed, the system also kept exerting force.

Not long after, a flash of spiritual light rushed into his mind, and his realm broke through at that moment!

"What a powerful cultivation method! Actually breaking through after just one cycle!"

"Ninth Layer of Qi Refining... I don't know how many times I've returned to this realm."

Before, no matter how hard he cultivated, his newly broken-through realm would quickly be sucked away by a certain senior sister who possessed both wealth and beauty.

But now, he doesn't have to worry about that.

"Awesome!!"

After years in the demonic sect, this is the first time he felt his body and mind refreshed and his spirits uplifted a hundredfold while practicing demonic arts.

Moreover, he vaguely felt that his bad luck seemed to have dissipated somewhat.

All this is probably the system taking effect.

"Ninth Layer of Qi Refining; as long as he reaches Foundation Establishment, he can enter the Kill Qi Hall."

"Moreover, he doesn't have to worry about being taken to the Burial Ground."

The so-called Burial Ground is the Nine Deep Sect's Kill Qi cultivation ground; after five years in the sect, if one hasn't broken through to Foundation Establishment, they will be sent there.

There, countless demonic beasts roam, dangers are endless, and the vast majority of those sent there perish within a few days.

Only a very few fortunate ones might escape death and even gain an opportunity.

Lu Chen, in another week, will reach the final limit of his five-year period.

To avoid being sent there, he has been squeezing in time to diligently cultivate during this period.

He originally wanted to cultivate a bit longer, but just then a figure appeared at the door.

"Senior Brother, the senior sister is calling you."

"Got it."

He responded with a sound and quickly rose.

Because the upper-level sect Tianmo Sect demanded it, all female disciples of the Nine Abyss Sect with Yin Spiritual Roots practice the Dual Cultivation Technique.

Although the purpose of this demand is unclear, precisely because of this, these outer and inner sect disciples have become the usual Dual Cultivation targets of the other side.

He possesses a high-level Yang Spiritual Root, which can be called an Innate Cauldron Saint Body.

Any senior sister who practices the Dual Cultivation Technique knows him.

Generally speaking, if luck is good, one needs to visit a senior sister two or three times a day, and in free time one can also cultivate a bit on one's own.

But if luck is bad, one cannot even find time to eat over the course of a day.

Moreover, some of those senior sisters also possess special techniques that can forcibly extract Yang energy cultivation; thinking of this, Lu Chen feels a lingering fear.

After putting away the Myriad Slaughter Devil Classic, he left the door trembling with fear.

Just after stepping out, he saw many people gathered around an outer sect disciple's quarters in the distance.

"Please, senior brother, grant me a few more days; I will definitely break through Foundation Establishment!!"

"As long as I don't have to go to the Burial Bone Ground, I'm willing to be your ox and horse!!!"

From the crowd of onlookers came several miserable cries; Lu Chen knew that someone else had been taken to the Burial Bone Ground again.

"The deadline is next month......"

"Those who go there have a nine-in-ten chance of dying...... No, I haven't yet seen anyone come back."

Thinking of this, Lu Chen felt another wave of lingering fear.

In the Devil Sect, if you don't strive, someone will always force you to strive.

"Cough cough."

He withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at the crowd of onlookers.

Whether he will be sent to the Burial Bone Ground is still unknown, but if he doesn't hurry to the senior sister's place and anger her, it could be more painful than death!

Among the inner sect and core disciples, there are over a dozen senior sisters who practice the Dual Cultivation Technique.

Of these six, their personalities are not dark; if you upset them, at worst you'll become a eunuch or a desiccated corpse.

But if you encounter the several other senior sisters with black hearts, the result is that your Yang energy is drained, your body turned into a puppet, your soul imprisoned, and you spend eternity as a puppet slave.

Thinking of this, his steps unconsciously quickened a bit.

Leaving the outer sect, he arrived at the room where the inner sect senior sister resides.

Noticing the senior sister's figure inside, Lu Chen's lower body tightened.

This senior sister is named Mei Qianxue, at the Foundation Establishment Perfection realm.

She is the darkest among all the senior sisters, but ordinarily one cannot notice it.

The vast majority of Devil Sect disciples, due to practicing devilish arts, have relatively volatile emotions.

But she is different; she chiefly cultivates the Charm Technique, and a glance back with a smile brings forth a hundred charms.

Compared to being violently drained, at least the vast majority of people die happily under this senior sister's pomegranate skirt.

But don't look at her smiling facade; her means of killing are endless.

Many times, in the second before being killed, you might still think she is acting for your benefit.

Moreover, she has a nasty hobby: she likes to watch men fight over her until their heads are broken and blood flows, even to the point of death.

As she herself says, this is called "deep affection."

"Senior sister is really beautiful...... that figure......"

Lu Chen thought of this, and unconsciously uttered a few words.

After coming to his senses, he realized he seemed to be under the influence of the Charm Technique, was about to adjust his state, when suddenly he heard the system's voice in his mind.

【Detected negative effect: Charmed by the Charm Technique, consciousness blurred】

【Effect reversed: Under the Charm Technique's influence, consciousness becomes clearer!】

As the system's voice faded, Lu Chen felt his mind become a burst of clarity; his previously disturbed spirit regained calm, even clearer than usual.

He blinked slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smile.

"Not bad for the system."

But the next second, he returned to his previous state.

"Senior sister, you summoned me."

Through the screen, one could see Mei Qianxue Senior Sister's blurry silhouette; she was half-reclining on the bed, her fragrant shoulder half-exposed, without turning around.

Upon hearing Lu Chen's words, she slightly turned her head, glancing at him with the corner of her eyes.

"Ah, it's the junior brother coming; hurry over so Senior Sister can see if your cultivation has progressed these days."