Chapter 19: Flaying Skin

"You truly intend to learn these divine abilities?"

Seeing Lu Yang's face filled with desire, Wang Bairong felt somewhat surprised and could not help but say, "Junior Brother, the Immortal Dao always prioritizes cultivation realms above all; you must distinguish between the primary and the secondary."

In his view, Lu Yang had earned so many contribution points at such a young age that, even if Foundation Establishment was not guaranteed in the future, reaching the Great Perfection of Qi Refining was at least very hopeful; why then practice those divine abilities with such severe side effects? Even if one's combat power reached the heavens, what of it? When one's lifespan eventually ended, would one not still turn into a handful of dust and ash?

"Life is bitter and short; do not mislead yourself."

Speaking thus, Wang Bairong displayed an expression of sorrow: "You are still young and do not yet understand this principle: flowers may bloom again, but a person never returns to their youth."

"You are in the prime of life now, but what about ten years from now? What about twenty years from now?"

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

Before his voice had even faded, Wang Bairong seemed to fall into memories once more, and only after a long while did he sigh with emotion: "You do not know that when I was young, I was quite magnificent within the Holy Sect, but I made one wrong step, resulting in a wasted life; every time I recall it now, the pain is so great I wish I were dead."

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

With the alcohol rising to his head, he simply dragged Lu Yang into recounting his glorious past.

Actually, there was nothing much to it; it was merely that in his youth, he did not understand the importance of True Qi Grade, and after accidentally obtaining a cultivation method below Seventh Grade, he practiced it.

As a result, his True Qi Grade was too low, leaving him with no hope of ever reaching Foundation Establishment for his entire life, and even completing Qi Refining was difficult.

For decades, with half his body already buried in the yellow earth, his former fellow disciples and the women he admired had all extended their lifespans one by one and remained in the bloom of youth to this day.

How much regret and heartache this must cause, yet alas, who in life can start over?

"What? I can start over? Then there is no problem..."

Seeing that Wang Bairong had simply drunk himself into unconsciousness, Lu Yang finally stood up and, following Wang Bairong's description, located the book titled "Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light."

It could not be denied that this was indeed a demonic cultivation method.

Lu Yang exchanged his points for it, his expression grave: "Rapid completion, severe side effects, high danger; it possesses almost every characteristic a demonic path method should have."

To successfully cultivate this divine ability, one must first select a magic treasure, then use that treasure to flay one's own living skin, refine it further with a secret technique, and undergo eighty-one days of refinement before forging a single strand of Blood-Transforming Precious Light, which is then attached to the magic treasure; ordinary cultivators who brush against it are injured, and those who touch it die.

"At the same time, I myself will become a blood shadow that exists dependent on the magic treasure."

"As long as the magic treasure remains undamaged, the blood shadow will not perish."

"The side effects are that lifespan is halved, and after transforming into a blood shadow, one is no longer a human body but merely possesses a human form; therefore, cultivation base will no longer advance..."

"Good; indeed, it suits me perfectly!"

Lu Yang's eyes shone brightly, and he immediately decided to practice this divine ability.

During the process of studying it, he discovered that this divine ability actually had another version, seemingly revised and optimized by some great cultivator.

"After all, this divine ability is truly extraordinarily marvelous."

"The revised version does not require the cultivator to flay and blood-sacrifice themselves; instead, it allows the cultivator to blood-sacrifice their own siblings or descendants."

"In this way, the divine ability can still be successfully cultivated; however, since the blood shadow forged in this manner is ultimately not the cultivator themselves, it is difficult to manipulate freely, thus carrying the danger of backlash... but I am different; whether in this life or the next, the blood shadow will always be myself!"

Several days later, Lu Yang left the Library Pavilion.

In addition to that, he paid in full to purchase the "Divine Thunder Sword-Control True Art" once again, after all, only then could he openly display it in the future.

The next day, the "cultivation method" was delivered.

"Demonic fiend!"

Looking at Yun Miaoqing, who tightly gripped her Dharma sword against her neck and gazed at him with unyielding defiance, Lu Yang suddenly felt a sensation as if worlds apart had passed.

However, he quickly cast that feeling aside.

"Apologies, but I require the methods and experience for forging a sword pill."

"What? How could you possibly know... mmm... wait, you...!"

Familiarity breeds ease; relying on his knowledge of Yun Miaoqing, Lu Yang went all out and quickly extracted the knowledge and experience he needed from her through dual cultivation.

Pulling up his trousers, Lu Yang turned and left.

This time, he headed to "Ten Thousand Treasures Peak," the peak corresponding to the Outer Sect's Treasure Refining Hall, one of the four Inner Sect peaks, from which most of the Holy Sect's magic treasures originated.

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

Arriving at the front desk, Lu Yang directly stated his request, and after paying sufficient contribution points, he was ushered into the highest-grade furnace room within a quarter of an hour.

After making full preparations, he brought out his materials.

Three taels of Gold Essence, three taels of Jade Marrow, two taels of Cinnabar, and two taels of Sword Qi; then, forming hand seals, he drew fierce fire from the earth's core and threw everything together into the furnace!

"Although most sword pills from the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion are forged by elders within the sect, that is in the Righteous Path, where one need not worry about someone secretly tampering with things; here in the Chusheng Sect, rather than pinning hopes on the moral standards of treasure refiners, it is better to do it myself; at worst, I can simply try a few more times..."

One set of materials cost 2, 00 contribution points.

Lu Yang had only earned 10, 00 contribution points in total; after purchasing the divine ability cultivation method and repaying loans, his entire fortune could only afford materials for three attempts at forging a sword pill.

"If all three attempts fail, then I shall try again in the next life!"

Holding this thought, Lu Yang began to strictly follow the methods and experience extracted from Yun Miaoqing, controlling the earth fire to slowly refine all the materials.

Gold Essence melted with Jade Marrow, Cinnabar merged with Sword Qi...

Gradually, a medicinal pill appeared within Lu Yang's spiritual sense, but before he could feel joy, the pill suddenly trembled in place...

"Boom!"

It exploded.

One set of materials wasted, Lu Yang calmly waved his sleeve to sweep away the debris and silently summarized the lessons learned: "... y steps should have been correct."

"The problem lies in the final step."

Lu Yang reviewed Yun Miaoqing's memories, and gradual realization slowly emerged in his eyes:

"Forging a sword pill requires the sword and the heart to unite, yet I have not practiced the Divine Thunder Sword-Control True Art for long, so my realm in the Sword Dao is clearly lacking."

By rights, this was a rigid requirement that could only be honed slowly over time.

However, that was from the perspective of the Righteous Path; after all, the Righteous Path emphasizes gradual progress and rarely employs shortcuts or methods that harm heavenly principles.

But the Demonic Path does not adhere to such principles.

"The union of sword and heart is, in essence, control over the sword pill... if that is the case, cultivating the Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light simultaneously should yield the same effect!"

"It might even produce a better result!"

After all, the Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light involves sacrificing one's body to the treasure; once successfully cultivated, one merges almost completely with the magic treasure, so the compatibility must far exceed the so-called union of sword and heart.

"However, to achieve this, the anesthetic powder prepared in advance cannot be used..."

Forging a sword pill is a delicate task; if he took medicine to suppress pain, causing his reactions during refinement to be a half-beat slow, failure was highly likely.

Therefore, he must remain fully conscious throughout the entire process.

"This is the Demonic Path; one must be ruthless toward oneself... otherwise, how can one be called talented?"

Thinking thus, a trace 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 his sword qi to strike toward his own body...

(End of Chapter)