Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation

Chapter 148

The first thing upon returning to Cold Blood Peak was naturally to head for the stone house district. The Spirit Slave capture missions of each peak no longer needed to be reported or exchanged at the sect halls, but were handled directly by the Spirit Slave stewards of each peak.

Wang Yu was already familiar with the place. Compared to years ago when three stewards competed against each other for benefits from Spirit Slave tasks, each trying to curry favor with their True Inheritor above, now only one steward remained. It was Steward Liu, who had long followed Yan Ling, the True Disciple.

He was also the only acquaintance Wang Yu had in the stone house district.

“Steward Liu.”

This man was already in his nineties and had served Yan Ling for many years. Perhaps he would even be rewarded with a Foundation Establishment Pill. Wang Yu therefore greeted him politely.

Steward Liu rubbed his eyes in surprise. “Brother Wang, you actually returned alive?”

“Yes. There were some twists and turns. Old Ning and the others all perished in the Taihu Spiritual Domain. I was lucky and hid in the Withered Leaf Marsh without being discovered. I was delayed for several years and only returned today.”

“Fortunate indeed, fortunate indeed. It is enough that you survived. It was only a Spirit Slave capture task. I will give you the reward at once.”

…

Steward Liu openly helped him take advantage of the system. It was puzzling, but Wang Yu would not refuse free resources.“According to the rules, the reward for a slave capturing mission is eight hundred contribution points each time. I will round it up for you. One thousand. By the way, during these years you were absent, Her Highness Yan Ling formed three new capture squads, active in the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain. Would you like to join one and serve as a team leader?”

Wang Yu waved his hands repeatedly. In the past he would have accepted, but now he would not.

“I have already broken through Foundation Establishment. This time I came not only to hand in my task, but also to advance further in Cold Blood Peak. I wish to know if True Disciple Yan Ling is available to meet me.”

At these words, Steward Liu was first shocked. He carefully examined him and then showed a troubled expression.

“This… Her Highness Yan Ling is preparing for battle. It is not suitable to disturb her. Why not let me take Brother Wang to the Merit Hall of Cold Blood Peak to register? With Cold Blood Peak’s certification you may then collect Foundation Establishment resources and benefits at the sect halls.”

“That is fine. I will trouble Steward Liu to lead the way.”

“No trouble. Please.”

If he could not meet now, then later would be fine. It was not urgent. As long as he obtained the Foundation Establishment token, everything else could be collected from the sect halls.

At Cold Blood Peak a record had to be registered. The sect halls also required registration. Both sides kept information.

On the way, Steward Liu cautiously probed.

“Could Brother Wang tell me how you achieved Foundation Establishment? I recall you possessed Wasted Spiritual Roots… and are not yet forty years old.”

This question was somewhat offensive, but Wang Yu had long expected it.

Who would not be curious about the secret behind it?

A Foundation Establishment cultivator under forty, and with Wasted Spiritual Roots. Was this not worthy of envy? With double spiritual roots one could normally only achieve Foundation Establishment around fifty. And you, with five roots? How could it be!

Wang Yu gave a faint smile. He was not famous in the sect, but after today he would cause a great stir. He already had his words prepared, with the renowned Three Young Masters of Law Enforcement as his background.

“Steward Liu, no need to test me. This matter is not something I must conceal.”

He sighed and continued.

“My aptitude is low, and I was born a Spirit Slave. In order to defy the heavens and change my fate, I had no choice but to madly burn my lifespan. By the age of sixteen I was already withered like an old man.

“Fortunately, Senior Brother Su took pity on me, pulled me from the mire of Spirit Slavery, and gave me spiritual pills to restore my youthful appearance. Feeling how difficult cultivation was, I could only continue burning my lifespan.

“Years ago, when I reached Qi Refining ninth layer, I was one step from death by exhaustion. Yet Heaven did not wish for me to perish. I met a noble benefactor.”

As he spoke, Wang Yu revealed the law enforcement token he had obtained from Zhuo Shouqing.

“Senior Brother Zhuo could not bear to see me fall. He granted me the Great Foundation Seizing Method. On this trip to the Taihu Spiritual Domain, I sought out a righteous cultivator and seized his foundation. Only then did I gain a temporary long life and achieve Foundation Establishment.”

Steward Liu was utterly dumbfounded.

That such a thing existed in the world. Because of poor aptitude he burned his life, discovered that Wasted Spiritual Roots could never reach Foundation Establishment, and then seized another’s foundation by demonic secret art, forcing entry into the realm.

Though his future potential was zero, for a lowly cultivator like Steward Liu, it was still enviable.

After all, whether he himself could achieve Foundation Establishment was still unknown and full of risks.

As for Wang Yu, his prepared story was well considered. With the Three Young Masters of Defying Spirit as witnesses, those of noble background would disdain him, while those without backing might covet the Great Foundation Seizing Method.

Those who desired such a method with severe side effects would mostly be Qi Refining cultivators, who posed little threat.

And the Three Young Masters, who knew the true situation, would conceal matters for him. For with the Demonic Embryo Mysterious Origin Curse cultivated, his future was limitless.

Having already invested in him, they would surely continue to support him. Why share with outsiders?

With such backing secured, the road ahead was without fear. Today he could even use Steward Liu’s mouth to spread this story, cutting off trouble before it began.

If someone still risked everything, then so be it. Better to draw them out into the open than to hide in the shadows.

Without further incident, the registration was smoothly completed.

Afterwards Wang Yu left Cold Blood Peak, leaving Steward Liu standing in a daze.

…

…

All-Halls Market, the Hall of Records.

The one managing affairs here was a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator at the seventh layer, someone Wang Yu had never met before. Holding the Foundation Establishment token given to him by Cold Blood Peak, he stepped forward respectfully and said:

“Inner Sect disciple Wang Yu of Cold Blood Peak, having recently reached Foundation Establishment, has come to register and receive the Foundation Establishment benefits.”

“A new Foundation Establishment from Cold Blood Peak?”

The man wore a lotus crown, a dark-green embroidered robe with crane patterns, his gait noble and his bearing refined. He did not look like someone from the Demonic Dao but more like an accomplished figure of the Righteous Dao.

“Yes.”

Wang Yu lowered his head with strict courtesy. To be the head of a hall within All-Halls Market meant that even if one’s cultivation was not overwhelming, their identity must be extremely prestigious.

“Rise. Wait a moment.”

Before long, the man stepped out from the inner hall and tossed a storage pouch to Wang Yu, saying:

“As an Inner Sect disciple who has advanced, you have two choices.

“One, remain a disciple. When the next True Disciple selection comes, you may take on the True Disciple trial task and compete for a position.

“Two, become a deacon. You may receive a superior mansion within Cold Blood Market and choose a post in one of the halls of All-Halls Market, with an annual stipend of five thousand spirit stones.”

Wang Yu did not hesitate.

“I choose the second.”

In truth, he had once considered the True Disciple position. Especially after deciding to remain in the Demonic Dao, the True Disciple identity could provide great advantages.

But the choice now was a matter of reality. Wei Zhong’s downfall was still fresh before his eyes. Wang Yu could not ensure he would not meet the same fate. Simply put, the risk was too high. No matter how great the benefits, it was empty hope, useless.

Furthermore, the True Disciple selection was held once every two hundred years. After Yan Ling’s generation finished competing, it would take at least another twenty or thirty years. The next Inner Sect Grand Competition would be a hundred years later, and only the top ten would qualify to compete.

By that time, barring accidents, he should already be in Core Formation, possibly qualified to be listed as an elder of a peak.

He could then study the Blood Reversal Sect’s core inheritances. Compared to putting himself in danger by striving for True Disciple, it was simply not worthwhile.

Moreover, he had used the excuse of the Foundation Seizing Method. If he truly became True Disciple, it would be easy for others to see the flaw while he was still in Foundation Establishment. Better to wait until Core Formation, when even if his Demonic Embryo Mysterious Origin Curse was exposed, it would not matter.

“Since you have chosen, do you have a position in mind?”

“The Law Enforcement Hall of Evil God Market. I was already an enforcer there before.”

Hearing this, the hall master with the refined bearing was slightly surprised. “So you know those three scions... Very well, very well.”

After a moment of silence, he continued.

“In the storage pouch you were given are higher-level sect benefits, including a set of first-rank superior robes, an advanced storage pouch with fifty cubic meters of space, and a second-rank technique exchange token.

“Since you chose the second path, I will also grant you a second-rank Law Enforcement token, together with the accessories matching your identity. With this token, you may command all enforcers of one market. Go now.”

“Yes.”

Wang Yu did not ask further. He had obtained what he wanted, so there was no need to linger. His time was also tight.

As for establishing a residence outside the sect, not every Foundation Establishment cultivator qualified. One had to apply to the sect, and this matter would mostly fall to the three young masters of Blood Reversal Sect. After finishing his current tasks, he would need to make that trip.

Now, it was time to go to the Hall of Impartation and collect the second-rank technique of the Coldblood Technique. Although he had created his own “Cold Blood Spirit-Ascending Art,” the sect had an official advancement technique.

Moreover, it was in a different direction than his deduction, and the corresponding spells, secret arts, artifacts, and pill recipes could all be obtained. Their value was extraordinary.

The way to the Hall of Impartation was familiar. Before long, he arrived and handed over his token.

A jade slip of inheritance was placed in his hand.

He extended his divine sense.

Foundation Establishment superior-grade technique “Heavenly Cold Yin Blood Art,” cultivable up to Core Formation. However, the part concerning aptitude improvement had been removed. It only contained effects to enhance the ice attribute.

Included:

Second-rank pill recipes: Ice Spirit Pill (cultivation), Cold Moon Pill (for practicing escape arts).

Second-rank artifact crafting methods: Heavenly Cold Spear, Yin Blood Sword, Snow-Hidden Ice Needle (quality determined by materials and smith).

Second-rank low-grade spells: Freezing Rain, Ice Sword Qi.

Second-rank middle-grade spells: Chasing Moon Spear, Nine Swords of Yin Blood.

Second-rank high-grade spells: Frost Moon Wings (escape art), Ice Wheel Art, Extreme Ice Chaotic Slaughter.

Foundation Establishment secret arts: Ice Coffin Seal, Cold-Absorbing Art, Breathless Curse.

This was the full content of the jade slip inheritance. Wang Yu could not learn them all, there was not enough time, but there were many good methods among them.

It was indeed a complete second-rank inheritance.

Of the pills, both were excellent. For artifacts, he had no interest, preferring spells instead.

Freezing Rain could alter the environment to give him the upper hand. He would learn it.

Frost Moon Wings should be practiced together with Cold Moon Pill, as an escape art. He would also learn this. His gaze had always been high, so he would learn all three high-grade spells and all three secret arts.

Among the secret arts, the Cold-Absorbing Art was the most valuable, a method to assist cultivation in ice-rich environments.

The Breathless Curse, as its name suggested, concealed one’s aura. It was perfect, since his Night Concealment Mantra was no longer available. He could now pair this with the Invisibility Spell.

As for the Ice Coffin Seal, nothing more needed to be said.