Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation

Chapter 196

The Fiend Corpse was under Wang Yu’s divine sense control. It consumed a great deal of his focus. At most, he could still operate one additional magic tool against the enemy. Compared with controlling the Snowjade, this was even more taxing.

This was closely tied to the strength of the Fiend Corpse. After all, it was one great realm higher than Wang Yu, and it was also a special variant.

Corpse Dao cultivators were not like Wang Yu, who relied on full control. They instead released the zombie’s innate bloodthirsty nature, providing only some guidance and key commands.

That way, they could unleash group corpse tactics.

Wang Yu had only entered this path halfway, and he was not truly skilled in the fighting methods of Corpse Dao cultivators. However, he possessed exceptional talent in this area, being especially adept at grasping details and performing micro-control.

On the other hand, the Yin Corpse Descending Evil Curse was his hidden trump card. He needed to cooperate with Qingyang to use it. At this moment, the tactic had already succeeded halfway, so he directed the Lunar Yin Fiend Corpse to unleash Corpse Control Arts.

In an instant, corpse qi boiled, and waves of lunar demonic energy surged forth.

Within a radius of a thousand meters, everything was engulfed by the gray-white lunar demonic energy. The sea of flames erupting from True Personage Flame Spitting’s palm was instantly extinguished, and his face revealed surprise.

“So this is your reliance… a third-rank early-stage Fiend Corpse.”

After confirming, his focus shifted even more to the corpse and Wang Yu, while his vigilance toward the environment lessened. He shouted loudly:“City Lord of Jade Spirit, perhaps this Demonic Corpse indeed possesses early-stage Core Formation strength. But you… can you truly match such a level of battle?”

With a swish—

The crimson practice sword recorded in intelligence reports appeared in True Personage Flame Spitting’s hand. As a low-grade magic treasure and his natal treasure, the power he drew from it was even more astonishing.

With a single reverse slash, a crimson arc extended for several hundred meters, easily carving out a fiery sword qi sharp enough to split mountains.

By relying on the treasure’s might, he actually cut open one-third of the lunar demonic sea field created by the corpse. Such strength indeed belonged to a Core Formation cultivator, and it was terrifying.

Yet, True Personage Flame Spitting’s expression was even more shocked than Wang Yu’s.

“An Variant Mutant Demonic Corpse?”

He instantly became cautious, no longer wasting words to disrupt Wang Yu’s mindset. He instead unleashed his full power without reservation.

Three crimson pellets flew out from his mouth and formed a Three Talents formation behind him. Each pellet was wreathed in blood-like flame.

This was his strongest trump card: Three Pellet Flame Spit.

True Personage Flame Spitting’s target was not the Fiend Corpse, nor the demonic field that covered half the battlefield, but Wang Yu himself.

He understood clearly who the true objective was.

With a flicker of his figure, the vague silhouette of a red serpent slid past beneath his feet.

This was a third-rank low-grade movement art: Serpent Spirit Escape. It required refining the soul of a serpent demon. The higher the soul’s grade, the stronger the escape technique.

As a Core Formation cultivator, even though he was only at the early stage, all aspects of his foundation far surpassed Wang Yu.

Even in terms of physical body, which Wang Yu was most proud of, True Personage Flame Spitting was not far inferior. The two could likely be considered equal.

The life transformation at the Core Formation stage was a great metamorphosis.

Though most cultivators would not deliberately temper their bodies, as one’s cultivation realm rose, the body naturally grew stronger. After all, a cultivator who could live long had to possess a body capable of accommodating vast and surging vitality.

Unless Wang Yu could raise his body refinement to the peak of the second rank, he was still inferior in physique compared to True Personage Flame Spitting.

Core Formation was a comprehensive strengthening.

If Foundation Establishment could fight three or four dozen peak Qi Refining cultivators, then Core Formation could fight seventy or eighty peak Foundation Establishment cultivators. Before one’s mana was exhausted, crossing an entire major realm to fight upward was nearly impossible.

When the enemy suddenly appeared before him, even though Wang Yu had prepared, he could not avoid feeling nervous. Using himself as bait was indeed dangerous.

Especially when facing an elder, the danger multiplied.

The fire cores behind True Personage Flame Spitting spun faster and faster, almost forming a complete crimson flame ring, with sparks brewing at the center.

“It is now.”

Wang Yu willed, and the Yin Corpse Descending Evil Curse he had long prepared suddenly descended upon True Personage Flame Spitting. It followed a gaze and malice that came from the unseen.

True Personage Flame Spitting stiffened.

Terrifying lunar demonic energy erupted directly within his body. His mana instantly fell into disorder, and his spell failed. His meridians were clogged by the demonic energy, leaving him with only fifty percent of his mana.

His body was corroded. The lunar yin fiend energy, which damaged the essence of life itself, sought to burrow into his very bones. His limbs weakened, and his breathing grew heavy.

The searing pain spread into his consciousness, and his vision darkened. He could only forcibly rely on divine sense to suppress the curse’s torment, but even so, half of his divine sense was lost.

The Yin Corpse Descending Evil Curse.

This was a single-combat technique that forced an overwhelmingly negative state. It was also the fundamental reason why Wang Yu classified the Lunar Yin Fiend Corpse as an exceedingly rare variant.

The battle opportunity lasted only a fleeting moment.

With Wang Yu’s battle instincts, he would never let such timing slip.

The Demonic Flood Dragon roared—

The power of the Yin Nether Demonic Flood Dragon Spine was unleashed to its peak. A twelve to thirteen meter long flood dragon followed tightly behind his palm strike. The perfected Mysterious Yin Hand was condensed within that tiny square inch.

A thunderous sound, a body flying backward—

True Personage Flame Spitting was like a kite with its string cut. A black palm print appeared on his face. His neck was shifted an inch, and his head was knocked to the side.

Yes, Wang Yu’s slap had landed squarely on his face.

His already blurry vision went entirely black. The Mysterious Yin power invaded his head, causing both senses and divine sense to fail for an instant.

At that moment—

In a corner of the Lunar Yin Field, Qingyang Zhenren suddenly leapt out, spinning as he threw a scroll.

High-Grade Treasure: Map of Mountains and Rivers! This is the life-bound treasure of the founder of the Ink-Water Sect. Only those who follow his path can fully unleash the power of this high-grade treasure.

Qingyang infused ninety percent of his cultivation power in a single breath.

As the Map of Mountains and Rivers radiated its spiritual light, a visible ink-and-wash mountain range shot out, instantly stretching across the sky and spanning nearly ten thousand meters.

It pressed down violently toward True Personage Flame Spitting, who was still being hurled backward.

In the distance, Wang Yu could not help but swallow. A shadow nearly ten thousand meters wide descended from above. Even knowing he would be unharmed, he still felt a shiver of fear.

He murmured in his heart:

“This is the power of a peak Core Formation cultivator… one strike covers ten thousand meters, and destroying a city would be effortless.”

True Personage Qingyang’s situation was special. He was merely a vessel to channel power; the real threat was the treasure itself.

A cultivator’s life-bound treasure grows stronger with their advancement, but after each promotion, the cultivator must refine it with more potent materials. Otherwise, it is like a child swinging a giant hammer: the force backfires, leaving cracks in the treasure after a full-strength strike.

The Map of Mountains and Rivers had been refined by the Ink-Water Sect Founder to its peak. It was only one step away from advancing to the fourth stage.

As expected, True Personage Flame Spitting died without any pain. The earth beneath him sank several meters, leaving only a puddle of flesh and the shattered Core.

With the Core broken, immortality was meaningless.

One strike.

Both soul and body annihilated. Life extinguished. Dao vanished.

At this moment, Qingyang flew over, panting heavily. He had spent considerable time preparing this attack, and a trace of regret showed on his face.

“The body is destroyed. That alone is worth quite a few spirit stones.”

Wang Yu was speechless.

After retrieving the storage ring, he handed it directly to Qingyang, who then picked up the Core fragments. This was essentially the essence of a Core Formation cultivator.

Grinding it into powder was a favorite of masters of the Human Core Technique, a nearly universal supreme-grade material. Adding a bit of Core Formation powder to any pill dramatically increased both its quality and success rate.

The value of this single Core Formation alone exceeded 500,000 spirit stones. True Personage Flame Spitting’s entire fortune might not even match its worth.

After receiving the storage ring, Qingyang roughly understood Wang Yu’s intentions. Opening a blind box seemed interesting. Perhaps there were items even more valuable than the Core.

“I’ll take the gamble,” he said.

“Any knowledge-based scriptures will be copied for you later. The rest, including this ring, will belong to me.”

“Agreed.”

This was also an unspoken rule among cultivators exploring together. Any knowledge that could be copied was shared.

Unless it was a restricted inheritance jade slip, like the Taiyin Nether Eye, selection went first to those strong and highly contributive, either individually or as a team.

With efficiency in mind, Wang Yu summoned the Lunar Yin Fiend Corpse to clean the enemy remnants. Core Formation blood and flesh were highly nourishing.

Next, Qingyang remained in place, meditating to restore his cultivation power. Wang Yu, with little energy expenditure, rode his three-tailed snow fox to handle the Yellow Crystal Iron Mine.

The temporary workforce here was substantial, at least three to four hundred. During the battle, most had fled, while a few hid in the mines to observe.

Wang Yu could not let this group escape.

The outer patrols now played their role. Each one was captured. The benevolent Lord of Wang City gave them two choices: leave or serve the Lord of Jade Spirit City.

The former miners bowed in submission, not refusing out of shame, but because leaving properly meant their deeds would be commemorated with a monument praising their achievements.

Controlling the spread of information, Wang Yu waited until late afternoon, near dusk, for True Personage Qingyang to fully recover.

“The spiritual vein environment here is too poor. I need a third-rank vein to sustain my daily cultivation.”

Hearing this, Wang Yu’s mind moved.

“I remember the Ink-Water Sect only has one lower-grade third-rank vein. Qingyang Daoist Brother has the Founder’s relic. If it is not submitted…”

No need to say more explicitly. Wang Yu tactfully added:

“Why not stay in Jade Spirit City? The Lord’s Mansion has several spiritual veins, the highest reaching mid third-rank. They can support seven or eight Core Formation cultivators easily.”

The difference between spiritual vein grades was far greater than cultivator levels. The radiation range alone was vast, and the core’s pure spiritual energy was a true treasure for cultivation.

For future considerations, Wang Yu’s invitation was worth accepting.

Conflicts within the sect and with the Sect Master were also matters Qingyang needed to weigh. He was momentarily silent.

“Let’s deal with it after the current matters. Bringing the experience from this battle into the next will make it much easier.”

Indeed.

Compared to the mine, the Jade Thunder Banana Grove only had a single early-stage Core Formation cultivator. Applying the tactics proven against True Personage Flame Spitting, the second battle was naturally also successful.

There were minor accidents.

Wang Yu was nearly burned by divine flame, and the Azure Water Sword was damaged using offense as defense.

Thus, the second Core Formation battle came to an end.