Infinite Professions

Chapter 173 - 84: Demon Skill

Within the mountains of Ten Thousand Beasts, Shen He put away his mount and silently entered Red Maple Valley.

This Red Maple Valley, though not as prominent as a Core Formation Sect in past days, was still a significant power, with several Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and its Red Maple Spiritual Vein had reached Tier Three. It was said to have some connection with the Xuanxiao Sect among the Core Formation Sects and was hopeful of becoming the sixth Pill Sect.

Unfortunately, all of that is now but yesterday’s flower.

The present Red Maple Valley is dark and deep, devoid of any Spiritual Energy. The once-proud Cultivation Marketplace and the peripheral Spirit Stream Spirit Field have all turned to ruins and wastelands, and the Red Maple Spiritual Vein has disappeared without a trace.

Shen He stood on a desolate piece of land, looking at the long-dried Red Maple Creek. Recalling the days of being a Spirit Farmer back then, he couldn’t help but shake his head with a sigh and turned towards his Spirit Land.

Yang Yun, most likely is dead.

Although everyone has their fate, the vicissitudes of life and changes in life’s encounters still evoke sighs from people.

Coming to the once Spirit Field, now also desolate, but as a Longevity Immortal Hermit, Shen He could clearly sense a powerful Spiritual Energy brewing deep within this earth.

It was the Gathering Spirit Nourishing Vein Array he secretly set up when he left back then. Using the array’s power and the effect of the Longevity Immortal Blessed Land, it quietly absorbed the Spiritual Qi of Red Maple Valley, strengthening itself to grow an Earth Vein.

Now, nearly a century apart, this underground Gathering Spirit Nourishing Vein Array is still functioning. It has become one with the Earth Vein, combined with the power of the Land of Longevity, has already elevated the Spirit Vein to Tier Four, surpassing the Red Maple Spiritual Vein back then.

"Could it be that the Red Maple Valley Spiritual Vein was depleted by my Hidden Cultivation Land?"

Feeling the deeply hidden Earth Vein Spiritual Energy beneath his feet, such a thought popped into Shen He’s mind, with some small guilt.

But he quickly dismissed it, because his Array Dao accomplishment wasn’t high back then. The Gathering Spirit Nourishing Vein Array he laid out was only Tier One. Even with the effect of the Longevity Immortal Blessed Land, it couldn’t possibly drain the Red Maple Spiritual Vein in a short time.

Besides, the devastation evident in the Red Maple Valley Marketplace clearly indicates it underwent the ravages of battle.

"The Gathering Spirit effect of the Hidden Cultivation Land is subtle and gradual; it can’t massively plunder the Spiritual Qi of surrounding Spirit Veins. This has already been tested."

"It should be a cultivator battle that destroyed the Red Maple Earth Vein, causing Earth Vein Spiritual Energy to disperse, which was just absorbed by my upgraded Longevity Immortal Blessed Land."

"Only in this way could a new Earth Vein be cultivated in a short period and, by relying on the Spirit Gathering effect of the Blessed Land, gradually reached Tier Four."

"All of this must be very ancient, probably even before the final battle of the Four Righteous and Demonic Sects. In this way, my decision to leave Red Maple Valley back then was wise; otherwise, I would have inevitably been caught in the crossfire."

Shen He murmured to himself, already having sorted out the threads.

Although he gained a Tier Four Spirit Vein from this revisit, Shen He did not develop on the spot but instead resumed his Escape Light, heading towards another Cultivation Marketplace in his memory, the "Poison Dragon Pond."

This Poison Dragon Pond is actually much like Red Maple Valley, also hidden deep within the mountains, but is managed by a Foundation Establishment power adept at raising venomous snakes, hence named Poison Dragon Pond.

As Shen He drove the Escape Light and arrived, he saw the dense mist and miasma permeating the forest, with beams of Escape Light frequently flying up and down, indicating that the marketplace was still maintained and had not become like the ruins of Red Maple Valley.

Shen He concealed himself within, and the first sight was the Spirit Field, but what was planted in the field was not the usual White Spirit Rice but a type of Ghost Shell Rice exuding a cold aura.

"Ghost Spirit Rice?"

"The specialty Spirit Rice of the Netherworld Sect!"

"Could it be that this Poison Dragon Pond has already fallen under the control of the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect?"

Shen He observed coldly, seeing Spirit Farmers in the fields, mostly in black clothing, with ominous and stern expressions. In the fields were also bloody flesh and fertilizer, with bones buried deep.

"Demon Dao Spiritual Plant Technique!"

Shen He coldly observed, said nothing, changed his appearance and donned evil cultivator attire, then concealed and approached the Poison Dragon Pond Marketplace.

Entering the marketplace, it was also dark, with people hurriedly coming and going, all dressed in evil attire.

The surrounding shops sold items related to evil magic and demonic skills, various pills refined from human flesh and blood, and all kinds of Demonic Dharma Artifacts, Soul Banners, and bone puppets, truly a demon cave.

Shen He wandered a few circles, then entered a shop.

The shop was shadowy, but inside there were not many people, only a voluptuous and scantily clad enchanting woman.

"What would you like, dear guest?"

The woman approached with a smile, observing Shen He.

Shen He was straightforward: "I want to inquire about something."

"No problem, follow me!"

The woman was not surprised, leading him upstairs to a compartment: "What information does the guest want to inquire about?"

Shen He uttered three words: "Red Maple Valley!"

"Red Maple Valley?"

The woman murmured, then softly laughed and said, "Ten Spirit Stones."

"..."

Shen He looked at her without speaking, simply taking out ten Spirit Stones.

The woman accepted with a smile and then said, "Ninety-five years ago, due to some Core Formation opportunity, there was internal strife and a major battle among the several Foundation Establishment cultivators of Red Maple Valley, breaking the Red Maple Earth Vein Spirit Array, causing the Primordial Spirit to dissipate into mundane land, leading to heavy casualties among the valley’s cultivators, leaving them to scatter as birds and beasts."

"Is that so."

Shen He murmured and then continued to inquire: "What about the outcome and reasons for victory and defeat in the Four Righteous and Demonic Sects battle, and the secret of the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect’s widespread transmission of techniques?"

"Hmm!?"

The woman’s gaze hardened, then she quoted, "Three hundred Spirit Stones!"

Shen Hex remained silent and simply handed over the Spirit Stones.

The woman received the Spirit Stones, her smile even more radiant.

"A hundred years ago, an Ancient Cultivator Cave Mansion emerged on Hidden Sword Mountain, sparking a war among the Four Righteous and Demonic Sects and Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain."

"In the end, the Orthodox Dao was disastrously defeated, the Cloud Dragon Sect was wiped out, from Core Formation Ancestors to Qi Refining disciples, none escaped alive; the Xuanshao Sect also retreated to their Mountain Gate after a Core Formation Ancestor fell, relying on their Spirit Land Array to resist the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect."

"The cause for victory and defeat was that the Netherworld Ancestor, Netherworld Monarch, successfully broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm and launched a surprise night attack on the Cloud Dragon Sect Mountain Gate, annihilating Cloud Dragon Sect at all costs."

The woman explained in more detail.

But Shen Hex furrowed his brow: "The Cloud Dragon Sect has a long legacy and profound foundation, even a Nascent Soul shouldn’t easily destroy it, right?"

"Indeed!"

The woman nodded: "But the Netherworld Sect’s legacy is even longer, with a deeper foundation. The Netherworld Demon Monarch even used some Forbidden Techniques, annihilating the Cloud Dragon Sect at any cost."

"At any cost?"

Shen Hex’s gaze sharpened: "Why go to such lengths?"

"No one knows!"

The woman shook her head: "But that is how the Netherworld Demon Monarch acts, for that he even killed another Core Formation Ancestor within the Netherworld Sect, later heavily integrating the Two Netherworld and Yellow Springs Sects, and spreading various Demon Path Techniques widely, making rumors abound."

Shen Hex promptly asked: "What rumors?"

"Some say the Netherworld Demon Monarch made a mistake in his cultivation and fell into madness, which is why he acts this way. Others say he glimpsed the opportunity for Divinity Transformation and is spreading the Demon Skills to practice the Gu Insect method in the Inland Cultivation Realm, to eventually devour the cultivated Gu Insects and break through to Divinity Transformation."

The woman spoke straightforwardly: "But regardless of the reason, now the Inland Cultivation Realm belongs to the Netherworld Demon Monarch and the Demonic Evil Cultivators. The Netherworld Demon Monarch leads a siege on Xuanxiao Mountain, and the Xuanshao Sect defends their Mountain Gate, I’ve heard they’ve already sent disciples to seek aid from the Overseas Cultivation Realm, and many Righteous Cultivators have gone overseas."

Shen Hex’s gaze sharpened: "The Netherworld Demon Monarch is still besieging Xuanxiao Mountain?"

"Yes!"

The woman nodded: "And the Core Formation Cultivators from the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect are now under Xuanxiao Mountain, so the Inland Cultivation Realm is relatively free. Some suspect the Netherworld Demon Monarch intentionally does this, letting the Inland Cultivators relax and freely cultivate those Demon Dao Techniques."

"Is that so?"

Shen Hex murmured, then changed the topic: "I want to acquire some Demon Skills, does your pavilion have any?"

"Of course there are."

The woman laughed: "Currently, the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect widely spreads the Cultivation Techniques, you can find them if you look everywhere. Our Tingfeng Pavilion has collected them into volumes, also selling at low prices, just earning a little hard-earned fee. What kind of Demon Skills does the guest need?"

Shen Hex smiled: "Do you have those that can quickly enhance Cultivation Realm and combat strength, best if they ensure a stable foundation, pure Magical Power, without clutter. A high cost doesn’t matter, even if it cuts Life Essence, I’m willing to bear it."

"Demon Path Techniques mostly fast-track, but for a solid foundation, pure Magical Power..."

The woman murmured and took out a jade slip: "This ’Self Transformed Sovereignty and Root of All Methods’ should meet your needs, guest."

"Self Transformed Sovereignty and Root of All Methods?"

Shen Hex heard this, also showing interest: "What kind of Cultivation Technique is this?"

"This is an Ancient Cultivation Demon Technique!"

The woman lightly laughed and said: "The guest should know, this Taiyuan Realm is an Ancient Cultivation Realm, this inland is a Land of the Highest Virtue, with Immortals and Buddhas opening sects, and Demons descending to the mortal world, fighting endlessly."

"Later on, for unknown reasons, the Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirit fell dormant, Taiyuan’s rank declined, more so in this inland. The gathered immortals had to ascend, their descendants moved mountain gates overseas, creating today’s world structure."

"Although Immortals, Buddha, and Gods ascended, their legacies weren’t taken away, thus many sects in Taiyuan have Ancient Cultivation Techniques, left behind by past Immortals and Buddhas, extremely extraordinary and earth-shaking."

"This ’Self Transformed Sovereignty and Root of All Methods’ was left by a Demon God, capable of elevating a cultivator’s Spiritual Consciousness and Divine Thought into the Self Transformed Sovereignty Heaven Realm, greatly enhancing one’s comprehension, even penetrating the roots of Heaven and Earth and the origins of Dao. "

"With this Demon Technique enhancing comprehension, cultivation becomes twice as effective, combining the convenience of Demon Skills’ fast-track with no worries of unstable foundation or intrusive clutter; it is popular among Demonic Cultivators."

The woman explained the origin of the technique.

Shen Hex’s gaze turned sharp: "Then what are the side-effects?"

Demon Skills, Demon Skills, since they’re Demon Skills, how can they be without side-effects?

"Side-effects are unavoidable."

The woman lightly laughed and said: "This technique has two major side-effects; first, it heavily consumes Three Flowers Power, for Spiritual Consciousness and Divine Thought to merge into the Great Freedom Heaven Realm, extremely draining the cultivator’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit, even harming the cultivator’s Life Essence, and causing the cultivator to become obsessed. White hair in youth is common, some even get lost in the mystical realm of the Great Freedom Heaven and cannot extricate themselves, ultimately exhausting their Life Essence, dying because of seeking enlightenment."

"That serious?"

Shen Hex’s brow furrowed: "Then what is the second side-effect?"

"The second side-effect..."

The woman lightly laughed and said: "It’s said the creator of this technique was a great demon, who left behind some hold, the more you cultivate this technique, the closer your body and soul become to him, ultimately becoming his Demon Thought Incarnation, Dao Fruit Resources!"

As she said this, she glanced at Shen Hex again, half-jokingly and half-seriously said: "If the guest ascends to the Upper Realm someday, meets this great demon, this technique might bring terrifying danger to you!"

Shen Hex: "..."