Chapter 19: Skin-Flaying

"Do you truly wish to learn these divine arts?"

Seeing Lu Yang's eager expression, Wang Borong was somewhat surprised and couldn't help saying, "Junior brother, the path of immortality always prioritizes realm; you must distinguish the primary from the secondary."

In his view, Lu Yang had already earned so many contribution points at such a young age; future prospects aside from Foundation Establishment, at least reaching the Great Perfection of Qi Refining was very hopeful, so why practice those divine arts with extreme side effects? Even if his combat power reached the heavens, what then? When his lifespan finally ended, wouldn't he still be a handful of dust and ash?

"Life is short; do not deceive yourself."

Speaking thus, Wang Borong wore a sorrowful expression: "You are still young and do not yet understand this truth: flowers bloom again, but man never returns to youth."

"You are now in your prime, but what about ten years later? What about twenty years later?"

"The choice you make today may seem gratifying, but in reality, its drawbacks may only become apparent decades later; by then, there will be no medicine for regret."

Before his words finished, Wang Borong seemed to fall back into memories; after a long while, he sighed, "You do not know; when I was young in the Holy Sect, I was very glorious, but one misstep caused me to waste my entire life; even now, every time I recall it, I am in agony."

As he spoke, Wang Borong's eyes turned red.

Under the influence of alcohol, he simply pulled Lu Yang and began recounting his glorious past.

Actually, there was nothing special; it was merely that in his youth he did not understand the importance of true qi grades and accidentally obtained and cultivated a technique below the seventh grade.

As a result, his true qi grade was too low; he had no hope of Foundation Establishment in his lifetime, and even perfecting Qi Refining was difficult.

For decades, half his body has been buried in the yellow earth, while his former fellow disciples and the women he admired have each extended their lifespans, remaining in their youthful prime to this day.

How much regret and heartache this must cause; alas, who can restart life?

"What? I can restart? Then it's fine."

Seeing Wang Borong drunk and passed out like this, Lu Yang finally stood up and, following Wang Borong's description, found that book, "Heavenly Demon Blood-Transformation Divine Light."

Undeniably, this is indeed a demonic art.

Lu Yang exchanged it, his expression grave: "Quick cultivation, large side effects, high danger; it possesses almost all the characteristics a demonic path should have."

To master this divine art, one must first select a magical treasure, then use the treasure to flay one's own living skin, refine it with secret methods, and undergo eighty-one days to forge a single Blood-Transformation Treasure Light, attaching it to the magical treasure; ordinary cultivators who merely brush against it are injured, and those who touch it die.

"At the same time, I myself will become a blood shadow existing by relying on the magical treasure."

"As long as the treasure is not damaged, the blood shadow will not perish."

"The side effect is halving one's lifespan; moreover, after transforming into a blood shadow, one is no longer human, merely possessing a human form, so cultivation will no longer progress."

"Good, indeed suitable for me!"

Lu Yang's eyes brightened, and he immediately decided to practice this divine art.

During the practice process, he discovered this divine art actually had another version, seemingly modified and optimized by a great cultivator.

"After all, this divine art is indeed extraordinarily marvelous."

"The modified version does not require the practitioner to flay their own skin for blood sacrifice; instead, it requires the practitioner to blood-sacrifice their own brothers, children, or descendants."

"In this way, the divine art can still be forged; however, since the blood shadow forged this way is ultimately not the practitioner themselves, it is difficult to manipulate freely, so there is a danger of backlash. But I am different; whether in this life or the next, the blood shadow will only be me!"

Several days later, Lu Yang left the Library Pavilion.

Besides that, he purchased a full copy of "Divine Firmament Sword Control True Art" again; after all, only then could he openly wield it in the future.

The next day, the "technique" arrived.

"Demon!"

Looking at Yun Miaoqing, who tightly gripped the sword at her neck with an unyielding expression staring at him, Lu Yang suddenly felt a sensation as if a lifetime had passed.

However, he quickly cast it from his mind.

"Sorry, I need the method and experience for forging sword pills."

"What? How would you know... hmm... wait, you...!"

One time makes a stranger, two times make a friend; relying on his familiarity with Yun Miaoqing, Lu Yang went all out and quickly extracted the needed knowledge and experience from her.

Pulling up his trousers, Lu Yang turned and left.

This time, he went to "Ten Thousand Treasures Peak," the peak corresponding to the Outer Sect Treasure Refining Hall, one of the four Inner Sect peaks, where most of the Holy Sect's magical treasures originate.

"I wish to rent an earth-fire furnace."

Arriving at the front desk, Lu Yang directly stated his request; after providing sufficient contribution points, a quarter-hour later he was invited into the highest-grade furnace chamber.

After making full preparations, he took out the materials.

Three liang of Jin Jing, three liang of jade marrow, two liang of cinnabar, two liang of sword qi; then he formed the hand seals, drew fierce fire from the earth's core, and threw them all into the furnace!

"Although most sword pills from the Yushu Sword Pavilion are forged by elders within the sect, that is in the Righteous Path, where one need not worry about someone tampering behind the scenes. This is the Initial Holy Sect; rather than pinning hopes on the moral standards of the refiner, it is better for me to do it myself; at worst, I will just try a few more times."

One set of materials costs 2000 contribution points.

Lu Yang had earned a total of 10,000 contribution points; after purchasing divine arts and techniques and repaying loans, his entire fortune could only buy three sets of sword pill forging materials.

"If all three fail, then I will come again in the next life!"

With this thought, Lu Yang began strictly following the methods and experience extracted from Yun Miaoqing to control the earth fire and slowly refine all the materials.

Jin Jing melts jade marrow; cinnabar combines with sword qi.

Gradually, a pill appeared within Lu Yang's spiritual sense; however, before he could rejoice, he saw the pill suddenly tremble in place.

"Boom!"

It exploded.

One set of materials was ruined; Lu Yang calmly waved his sleeve to sweep away the debris and silently summarized the lessons learned: "... My steps should have been fine."

"The problem lies in the final step."

Lu Yang reviewed Yun Miaoqing's memories, and understanding gradually surfaced in his eyes:

"Forging a sword pill requires the sword and heart to unite; yet my cultivation of the Divine Firmament Sword Control True Art has not been long, and my realm in the sword path is obviously lacking."

According to the rules, this is a hard requirement that can only be honed slowly.

However, this is viewed from the perspective of the Righteous Path; after all, the Righteous Path emphasizes gradual progress and rarely employs means that seek quick profit and harm the harmony of heaven and earth.

But the Demonic Path does not care about such things.

"Sword and heart uniting, in the end, is control over the sword pill... Since that is so, if I cultivate the Heavenly Demon Blood-Transformation Divine Light simultaneously, the effect should be the same!"

"It might even work better!"

After all, the Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light is a treasure sacrificed with one's own body; once cultivated, it becomes almost one with the treasure, so its compatibility must far exceed the so-called unity of sword and heart.

"However, to achieve this, the prepared Mafei Powder cannot be used beforehand."

Refining the sword pill is a delicate task; if he takes medicine to suppress pain, causing his reaction during the refinement to lag by half a beat, failure is very likely.

So he must remain fully conscious throughout the entire process.

"As for the Demonic Path, one must be ruthless to oneself; otherwise, how can one be called a talent?"

Thinking of this, a streak of ruthlessness instantly appeared in Lu Yang's eyes.

Moments later, he sat cross-legged before the earth-fire furnace, stuffed a piece of rag into his mouth, and once the sword pill took shape again, he manipulated the sword qi to descend upon himself.

(End of this chapter)